Projectiles with sealed propellant

Abstract

Projectiles with sealed propellant are described herein. In one embodiment of the invention, a projectile includes a chamber having a propellant charger, an exit from the chamber for release of propellant gases into a barrel when the propellant is ignited to fire the projectile, and a seal to block the exit which is opened by ignition of the propellant within the chamber but is resistant to ignition of other propellant in the barrel, where the seal is carried from the barrel by the projectile after the ignition. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

1 . A projectile for use in a barrel with a plurality of stacked projectiles, including: 
 a chamber containing a propellant charge for the projectile,    an exit from the chamber for release of propulsion gases in to the barrel when the propellant is ignited to fire the projectile, and    a seal blocking the exit which is opened by ignition of the propellant within the chamber but is resistant to ignition of other propellant in the barrel,    wherein the seal is carried from the barrel by the projectile after ignition of the propellant.    
     
     
         2 . A projectile according to  claim 1  wherein the seal is held by a retention structure on the respective projectile.  
     
     
         3 . A projectile according to  claim 2  wherein the retention structure includes two or more protrusions in the exit.  
     
     
         4 . A projectile according to  claim 1  wherein the seal provides a sealing effect which is enhanced under pressure form ignition gases external to the chamber.  
     
     
         5 . A projectile according to  claim 1  wherein the seal is a moveable barrier which is shaped to resist movement into the exit under pressure from the ignition gases external to the chamber.  
     
     
         6 . A projectile according to  claim 1  wherein the seal has outer surfaces which undergo a wedge interaction with correspondence surfaces in the exit or chamber when under pressure from ignition gases external to the chamber.  
     
     
         7 . A projectile according to  claim 1  wherein the exit is an aperture in a wall of the chamber and the seal is a rupturable barrier across the aperture.  
     
     
         8 . A projectile according to  claim 1  wherein the seal is resistant to ignition of other propellant charges in the same projectile.  
     
     
         9 . A projectile according to  claim 1  wherein the seal is resistant to ignition of propellant charges in other projectiles in the barrel.  
     
     
         10 . A projectile according to  claim 1  wherein the chamber is formed separately from the body of the projectile.  
     
     
         11 . A projectile according to  claim 1  wherein the chamber is formed integral with the body of the projectile.  
     
     
         12 . A projectile according to  claim 1  further comprising multiple chambers, each having a propellant charge and a respective seal.  
     
     
         13 . A container for a projectile for use in a barrel with a plurality of stacked projectiles, including: 
 a chamber containing a propellant charge for the projectile,    an exit from the chamber for release of propulsion gases into the barrel when the propellant is ignited, and    a seal blocking the exit which is opened by ignition of the propellant within the chamber but is resistant to ignition of other propellant in the barrel,    wherein the seal is carried from the barrel by the projectile after ignition of the propellant.    
     
     
         14 . A container according to  claim 13  wherein the seal is held by a retention structure on the container.  
     
     
         15 . A projectile according to  claim 14  wherein the retention structure includes two or more protrusions in the exit.  
     
     
         16 . A projectile according to  claim 1  wherein the seal provides a sealing effect which is enhanced under pressure from ignition gases external to the chamber.  
     
     
         17 . A barrel assembly including: 
 a barrel and a plurality of projectiles stacked axially in the barrel,    each projectile having at least one chamber containing a respective propellant charge for the projectile,    each chamber in the projectile having an exit for release of propulsion gases into the barrel when the propellant is ignited,    each exit being blocked by a seal which is opened on ignition of the propellant within the chamber but is resistant to ignition of propellant outside the chamber,    wherein the seals are retained by the respective projectiles after ignition of the respective propellant.    
     
     
         18 . A barrel assembly according to  claim 17  wherein each seal once opened seal is held by a retention structure on the respective projectile.  
     
     
         19 . A projectile according to  claim 18  wherein the retention structure includes two or more protrusions in the exit.  
     
     
         20 . A projectile according to  claim 17  wherein the seal provides a sealing effect which is enhanced under pressure from ignition gases external to the chamber.