Superalloy mortar tube

Abstract

A finless mortar tube is made of a superalloy. The superalloy is based on one of cobalt, iron and nickel. The finless mortar tube has an integrally formed blast attenuation device. The mortar tube may be 60, 81 or 120 mm. The mortar tube is capable of a substantial increase in the rate of fire compared to conventional mortar tubes.

1 . A mortar tube made of a superalloy.  
   
   
       2 . The mortar tube of  claim 1  wherein the superalloy is one of cobalt based, iron based and nickel based.  
   
   
       3 . The mortar tube of  claim 1  wherein an external surface of the mortar tube is free of cooling fins.  
   
   
       4 . The mortar tube of  claim 1  further comprising an integral blast attenuation device.  
   
   
       5 . The mortar tube of  claim 1  having an inside diameter of about 60 mm.  
   
   
       6 . The mortar tube of  claim 5  having a wall thickness in a range of about 1.75 mm to about 2.5 mm.  
   
   
       7 . The mortar tube of  claim 1  having an inside diameter of about 81 mm.  
   
   
       8 . The mortar tube of  claim 7  having a wall thickness in a range of about 2 mm to about 5 mm.  
   
   
       9 . The mortar tube of  claim 1  having an inside diameter of about 120 mm.  
   
   
       10 . The mortar tube of  claim 9  having a wall thickness in a range of about 2 mm to about 6.75 mm.  
   
   
       11 . A method of making a mortar tube, comprising: 
 providing a superalloy material; and    forming the mortar tube from the superalloy material.    
   
   
       12 . The method of claim  111  wherein the forming step includes forming a finless mortar tube.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the forming step includes forming a blast attenuation device integral with the mortar tube.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the forming step includes machining the mortar tube from the superalloy material.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the forming step includes forming the mortar tube from the superalloy material using a metal flow-forming process.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the providing step includes providing a superalloy material selected from the group consisting of cobalt based, iron based and nickel based.