Multi-shot Launcher Comprising External Propellant

Abstract

An underwater gun for firing stacked munitions includes external propellant bays. In some embodiments, after a first munition is launched from the barrel of the launcher, propellant in one of the external propellant bays is ignited. The gas that is generated upon ignition is routed to the bore of the barrel and expels water that is in the barrel. A munition is then immediately launched through the cleared barrel.

1 . A launcher for launching stacked munitions under water, comprising:
 a barrel having a bore, wherein the bore is dimensioned to contain at least a first munition in a first position for launch, a second munition in a second position for launch, and a third munition in a third position for launch, and wherein the munitions are arranged one behind another;   a first channel leading from the bore to a first opening through the external surface of the barrel; and   a first external propellant bay that contains an amount of propellant that is sufficient for clearing water from the bore after the first munition is fired, wherein the first external propellant bay is in fluidic communication with the first opening and the bore through a first pressure relief system.   
     
     
         2 . The launcher of  claim 1  further comprising a water seal that seals a muzzle of the bore prior to the launching the first munition. 
     
     
         3 . The launcher of  claim 1  wherein the first channel is disposed aft of the first munition. 
     
     
         4 . The launcher of  claim 1  further comprising a high pressure conduit, wherein the high pressure conduit fluidically couples the first external propellant bay to the first opening. 
     
     
         5 . The launcher of  claim 1  wherein the first pressure relief system comprises a rupture disc, wherein the rupture disc is disposed at a gas outlet of the external propellant bay. 
     
     
         6 . The launcher of  claim 4  wherein the first pressure relief system comprises a rupture disc, wherein the rupture disc is disposed between the first opening and the high pressure conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The launcher of  claim 1  wherein the first pressure relief system comprises a rupture disc disposed at a gas outlet of the external propellant bay and a one-way pressure-relief device disposed between the first opening and the first rupture disc. 
     
     
         8 . The launcher of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a second channel leading from the bore to a second opening through the external surface of the barrel; and 
 a second external propellant bay that contains an amount of propellant that is sufficient for clearing water from the bore after the second munition is fired, wherein the second external propellant bay is in fluidic communication with the second opening and the bore through a second pressure relief system. 
 
     
     
         9 . The launcher of  claim 8  wherein the second channel is disposed aft of the second munition. 
     
     
         10 . A launcher for launching stacked munitions under water, comprising:
 a barrel having a bore, wherein the bore is dimensioned to contain at least three munitions that are arranged one behind another; and   an external propellant bay that is fluidically coupled to the bore, wherein the external propellant bay comprises:
 (a) an amount of propellant sufficient for clearing water from the bore; 
 (b) a chamber into which the propellant expands as a gas when ignited; and 
 (c) a pressure relief system that is configured to permit the gas to egress from the external propellant bay when propellant contained therein is consumed. 
   
     
     
         11 . The launcher of  claim 10  further comprising a water seal that seals a muzzle of the bore prior to the launching the first munition. 
     
     
         12 . The launcher of  claim 9  wherein the launcher comprises a number, p, of external propellant bays, wherein p=n−1, wherein n is the maximum number of munitions that can be contained in the launcher. 
     
     
         13 . A method for launching stacked munitions under water, comprising:
 launching a first munition from a bore of a barrel of a launcher;   generating an amount of gas that is sufficient to clear the bore of water after the first munition launches, wherein the gas is generated in a bay that is external to the launcher;   exceeding a relief pressure of a pressure relief system that controls a flow of the gas from the bay;   delivering the gas to the bore of the barrel, thereby clearing the bore of water for a period of time; and   launching a second munition within the period of time.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the operation of generating an amount of gas further comprises igniting a propellant that is stored in the bay. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the operation of generating an amount of gas further comprises enabling the gas that is generated when the propellant is ignited to expand into a chamber within the bay. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the operation of delivering the gas to the bore of the barrel further comprises conducting the gas through a high pressure conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the operation of delivering the gas to the bore of the barrel further comprises rupturing a seal disposed between the high pressure conduit and the bore of the barrel.