Composite rocket launcher

Abstract

A projectile launch system includes a longitudinally extending launch tube having an inner bore formed therethrough. The launch tube having a metal liner and a composite overwrap, and a firing pin aperture formed in the longitudinally extending launch tube. A firing pin sleeve can be coupled with the metal liner and extend through at least a portion of the firing pin aperture, and a receiver including a launch control system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A projectile launch system comprising:
 a longitudinally extending launch tube having an inner bore formed therethrough, the launch tube having a metal liner and a composite overwrap formed over the metal liner;   a firing pin aperture formed in the longitudinally extending launch tube;   a firing pin sleeve coupled with the metal liner and extending through at least a portion of the firing pin aperture; and   a receiver including a launch control system.   
     
     
         2 . The projectile launch system of  claim 1 , wherein the metal liner is a nickel liner and/or nickel alloy. 
     
     
         3 . The projectile launch system of  claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle within the inner bore, the nozzle coupled with the metal liner. 
     
     
         4 . The projectile launch system of  claim 3 , wherein the nozzle is brazed to the metal liner. 
     
     
         5 . The projectile launch system of  claim 1 , wherein the metal liner is formed from a forward metal liner and an aft metal liner, the forward metal liner and the aft metal liner having a nozzle disposed therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . The projectile launch system of  claim 5 , wherein the forward metal liner and the aft metal liner are brazed to the nozzle. 
     
     
         7 . The projectile launch system of  claim 1 , further comprising an accessory rail. 
     
     
         8 . The projectile launch system of  claim 1 , wherein the composite overwrap is coupled with the metal liner by an adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The projectile launch system of  claim 1 , wherein the launch tube has gaps between the metal liner and the composite overwrap, wherein the metal liner expands into the gaps after actuation of a projectile. 
     
     
         10 . The projectile launch system of  claim 1 , wherein launch tube includes a muzzle sleeve and a breech sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . The projectile launch system of  claim 10 , wherein the muzzle sleeve terminates the composite overwrap at a muzzle end of the launch tube. 
     
     
         12 . The projectile launch system of  claim 10 , wherein the breech sleeve terminates the composite overwrap at a breech end of the launch tube. 
     
     
         13 . The projectile launch system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver is detachably coupled to the launch tube. 
     
     
         14 . The projectile launch system of  claim 13 , wherein the receiver is detached from the launch tube during transportation. 
     
     
         15 . A projectile launch system comprising:
 a longitudinally extending launch tube having an inner bore formed therethrough, the launch tube having a muzzle end and a breech end, the muzzle end operable to receive at least a portion of a projectile into at least a portion of the inner bore, the longitudinally extending launch tube comprising:
 a metal liner; and 
 a composite overwrap disposed around the metal liner; 
   a firing pin aperture formed in the longitudinally extending launch tube;   a firing pin sleeve coupled with the metal liner and extending through at least a portion of the firing pin aperture; and   a receiver including a launch control system   wherein the muzzle end of the longitudinally extending launch tube terminates at a muzzle sleeve and the breech end of the longitudinally extending launch tube terminates at a breech sleeve.   
     
     
         15 . The projectile launch system of  claim 14 , wherein the metal liner is a nickel liner and/or nickel alloy. 
     
     
         16 . The projectile launch system of  claim 14 , wherein the metal liner is formed from a forward metal liner and an aft metal liner, the forward metal liner and the aft metal liner having a nozzle disposed therebetween. 
     
     
         17 . The projectile launch system of  claim 16 , wherein the forward metal liner and the aft metal liner are brazed to the nozzle. 
     
     
         18 . The projectile launch system of  claim 14 , wherein the composite overwrap is coupled with the metal liner by an adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . The projectile launch system of  claim 14 , wherein the launch tube has gaps between the metal liner and the composite overwrap, wherein the metal liner expands into the gaps after actuation of a projectile. 
     
     
         20 . The projectile launch system of  claim 14 , wherein the muzzle sleeve terminates the composite overwrap at the muzzle end of the launch tube and wherein the breech sleeve terminates the composite overwrap at the breech end of the launch tube.