Patent Application
20210071988
The present technology is directed to a composite rocket launcher. In particular, the present technology is drawn to a light weight composite rocket launcher.
Rocket launchers, including rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launchers are bulky and heavy pieces of equipment made from steel and/or metal to protect against the forces employed during launch of a rocket and/or grenade. The heft and bulk of rocket launchers reduces the maneuverability, transportation, and/or impedes use of the launchers. Rocket launchers can be shoulder-fired devices carried by a shoulder strap, thus weight can be a significant factor in the use and/or transportation of the rocket launcher.
The embodiments herein may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate analogous, identical, or functionally similar elements. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the principles herein are described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Various embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in details below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or can be learned by practice of the herein disclosed principles. The features and advantages of the disclosure can be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or can be learned by the practice of the principles set forth herein.
The present disclosure is drawn to a composite rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launcher. The RPG launcher can have a longitudinally extending launch tube formed by a metal liner over which a composite material can be wrapped and/or bonded with an adhesive. The launch tube can be detachably coupled with a receiver having a launch control system. The launch tube can have an aperture formed therein for operably receiving a firing pin of the launch control system. The aperture can include a firing pin sleeve. The firing pin sleeve can be formed of metal and in at least some instances formed of the same metal as the metal liner of the launch tube.
The launch tube can have a muzzle end and a breech end at opposing ends of the longitudinal length. The composite wrapped metal liner forming the launch tube can have a muzzle sleeve and a breech sleeve coupled at each respective end. The muzzle sleeve and the breech sleeve can assist in terminating the composite wrapping formed over the metal liner.
The launch tube can include a nozzle therein to direct exhaust gases generated by an activated projectile. The nozzle can be formed from a metal, including the same or substantially similar metals to the metal liner. In other instances, the nozzle can be formed from different metal and coupled with the metal liner. The nozzle and metal liner can be coupled by a welding, brazing, and/or any other fusion process between similar metals. In at least one instance, the nozzle can be join two distinct metal liners in forming the launch tube. The composite material can be wrapped and/or otherwise formed over the nozzle and metal liner(s).
The nozzle can be positioned aft, or rearward, of the firing pin sleeve. Depending on the particular implementation of the launch tube, the nozzle can be positioned in substantially the middle of the longitudinally extending launch tube, closer to the muzzle end, and/or closer to the breech end. In at least one instance, the nozzle can be integrally formed with the metal liner as a single piece that receives a composite coating thereon.
The launch tube can include one or more accessory rails disposed around the circumference operable to couple accessories to the RPG launcher. The one or more accessory rails can be disposed on the upper side, side surface, and/or can include more than one accessory rail on each surface. The one or more accessory rails can be operable to receive any number of accessories including, but not limited, to optics, lights, infrared, iron sights, mounting points, etc. In at least one instance, the one or more accessory rails can be picatinny rails.
While the present disclosure is generally described with respect to a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launcher, it is within the scope of this disclosure to use the composite wrapped, metal lined launch tube for any projectile launching system.
The launch tube 100 can be formed by a metal liner 102 overwrapped with a composite material 104. The composite overwrap 104 can be any composite material including, but not limited to, woven fibers, carbon fiber, etc. The composite wrap 104 and a weaver of fibers therein can be aligned along the launch tube 100 to maximize the strength and durability of the launch tube 100. The composite wrap 104 can be overwrapped and/or adhered to the metal liner 102 with an adhesive. The composite wrap 104 formed over the metal liner 102 can dry, harden, and/or temperature cured to form the launch tube 100. In at least one instance, the composite wrap 104 is cured by exposure to a light source at a predetermined wave length (e.g. ultraviolet).
The composite overwrap 104 formed over the metal liner 102 can produce minute voids, air bubbles, and/or gaps between the metal liner 102 and the composite overwrap 104. The metal liner 102 can be formed of a material operable to deform, slightly, to fills theses voids, air bubbles, and/or gaps upon first firing the RPG launcher 10. In at least one instance, the metal liner 102 can be a nickel and/or nickel alloy. In other instances, the metal liner 102 can be any metal with sufficient malleability to deform upon firing and thereby fill the voids, air bubbles, and/or gaps formed by the composite overwrap 104.
The firing pin sleeve 118 can protect the metal liner 102 and the composite wrap 104 during operation of the RPG launcher 10. The firing pin aperture 116 would otherwise expose the metal liner 102 and the composite overwrap 104 to heat and gas from operation, which may reduce the durability of the RPG launcher. In at least one instance, the firing pin sleeve 118 can be inserted into the firing pin aperture 116 and mechanically flared out such that the firing pin sleeve 118 can be axially constrained. The firing pin sleeve 118 can be mechanically flared if the firing pin sleeve 118 material is capable of plastic deformation. In other instances, the firing pin sleeve 118 is brazed, welded, and/or otherwise coupled with the metal liner 102 at a braze joint 122. The brazing, welding, and/or other coupling can produce a substantially continuous metal liner 102 and firing pin sleeve 118. The firing pine sleeve 118 can also be a 2-part sleeve with a threadable coupling on each distal end. In at least one instance, the firing pin sleeve 118 can have the composite overwrap 104 wrapped thereon.
The nozzle 120 can be coupled adjacent pieces of a two part metal liner 102. The metal liner 102 can be formed from two distinct pieces forward of the nozzle 120 and aft of the nozzle 120. The two part metal liner 102 and nozzle 120 can be coupled together via brazing, welding, threading, press-fit and/or other coupling at the braze joint 122 to form a substantially continuous metal liner 102 over which the composite overwrap 104 can be formed.
The RPG launcher 10 can implement one or more of the features described above to implement a launch tube 100 having a reduced overall weight, improved durability, and life cycle.
The receiver 124 can be detachably coupled and engaged with the launch tube 100 providing rapid maintenance, interchangeability, and/or transportation. The receiver 124 can be decoupled from the launch tube 100 reducing the cross-section of the RPG launcher 10 during transportation and/or storage.
The launch control system 126 can include the firing pin 128, a trigger 130, a hammer 132, and/or a safety 134. The launch control system 126 can allow an operator to actuate the trigger 130 causing the hammer 132 to impact the firing pin 128. The firing pin impacting a projectile within the launch tube 100 can cause operation of the weapon. The safety 134 can prevent actuation of the trigger 130 and/or hammer 132, thus rendering the RPG launcher 10 “safe.”
The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the attached claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/742,430, filed Oct. 7, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62742430 | Oct 2018 | US |
