Multifunction aerodynamic housing for ballistic launch of a payload

摘要

A projectile comprises a payload and an aerodynamic outer housing. The outer housing is arranged, in launch and flight configurations, to surround the payload. The outer housing is further arranged, in the launch configuration, to be launched from a barrel of a launching gun or cannon. The outer housing is further arranged, in the flight configuration, to have a bi-tapered shape that is elongated along a fore-and-aft direction and has a longitudinal profile that tapers in both fore and aft directions. The outer housing is arranged to assume an exoatmospheric configuration upon reaching a target distance-from-launch, a target time-from-launch, a target altitude, or a target velocity. In the exoatmospheric configuration, either (i) the outer housing is arranged to release the payload or (ii) the outer housing and payload are arranged in a propulsion configuration. The projectile can include various additional components or adaptations to enable or achieve specific launch objectives.

主权项

1. A projectile comprising a payload and an aerodynamic outer housing, wherein:
(a) the outer housing is arranged, in launch and flight configurations, to surround the payload; (b) the outer housing is further arranged, in the launch configuration, to be launched from a barrel of a launching gun or cannon; (c) the outer housing is further arranged, in the flight configuration, to have a bi-tapered shape that is elongated along a fore-and-aft direction and has a longitudinal profile that tapers in both fore and aft directions; (d) the outer housing is arranged to assume an exoatmospheric configuration upon reaching a target distance-from-launch, a target time-from-launch, a target altitude, or a target velocity; (e) in the exoatmospheric configuration, either (i) the outer housing is arranged to release the payload or (ii) the outer housing and payload are arranged in a propulsion configuration; the outer housing is arranged to transition from the launch configuration to the flight configuration upon the projectile exiting the barrel; and an aft portion of the outer housing is collapsible, the aft portion of the housing is collapsed in the launch configuration, and the aft portion of the housing is extended in the flight configuration.