Projectile weapon

Abstract

A weapon using a barrel through which a projectile travels being propelled through the use of gas expansion. An expansion chamber communicates with the barrel and is “plugged” using a projectile. The expansion chamber is filled with a gas. In the preferred embodiment, the projectile has a collar which seals the opening between the expansion chamber and the barrel. Once the expansion chamber is filled with a gas, the gas is rapidly expanded, thereby forcing the projectile to be propelled through said barrel. In the preferred embodiment, the gas includes a combustible hydrocarbon; in other embodiments, the gas is expanded by thermal means using a high voltage electrical arc.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A projectile weapon comprising: 
 a) a barrel through which a projectile travels;    b) an expansion chamber communicating with said barrel, said expansion chamber filled with a gas;    c) a projectile positioned between said barrel and said expansion chamber; and,    d) means for causing said gas to expand rapidly, thereby forcing said projectile to be propelled through said barrel.    
     
     
         2 . The projectile weapon according to  claim 1 , further including means for filling said expansion chamber with said gas.  
     
     
         3 . The projectile weapon according to  claim 2 , further including a collar positioned between said expansion chamber and said barrel, said collar having a diameter less than a diameter of said barrel.  
     
     
         4 . The projectile weapon according to  claim 3 , wherein said projectile includes: 
 a) a central core; and,    b) a skirt, a diameter of said skirt being larger than the diameter of said collar.    
     
     
         5 . The projectile weapon according to  claim 4 , wherein said skirt is configured to collapse as said projectile is propelled past said collar.  
     
     
         6 . The projectile weapon according to  claim 5 , further including means for driving said projectile against said collar such that the skirt of said projectile substantially seals said collar prior to operation of said means for filling said expansion chamber with said gas.  
     
     
         7 . The projectile weapon according to  claim 2 , wherein said gas is combustible.  
     
     
         8 . The projectile weapon according to  claim 7 , wherein said gas having hydrocarbons and oxygen therein.  
     
     
         9 . The projectile weapon according to  claim 8 , further including a mixing chamber wherein said hydrocarbons and oxygen are mixed before said gas is communicated to said expansion chamber.  
     
     
         10 . The projectile weapon according to  claim 2 , wherein said gas is not combustible.  
     
     
         11 . The projectile weapon according to  claim 10 , wherein said means for causing said gas to expand rapidly includes means for quickly heating said gas in said expansion chamber.  
     
     
         12 . The projectile weapon according to  claim 11 , wherein said means for quickly heating said gas in said expansion chamber includes means for passing an electrical arc through said expansion chamber.  
     
     
         13 . The projectile weapon according to  claim 1 , wherein said expansion chamber and said projectile form a cartridge containing said gas.  
     
     
         14 . The projectile weapon according to  claim 13 , 
 a) wherein said cartridge includes an explosive cap communicating with said gas; and,    b) wherein said means for causing said gas to expand rapidly includes means for causing said explosive cap to ignite.    
     
     
         15 . A weapon comprising: 
 a) a barrel through which a projectile travels;    b) an expansion chamber communicating with said barrel, said expansion chamber filled with a gas;    c) a collar positioned between said expansion chamber and said barrel, said collar having a diameter less than a diameter of said barrel;    d) a projectile positioned between said barrel and said expansion chamber, said projectile having, 
 1) a central core, and,  
 2) a skirt, a diameter of said skirt being larger than the diameter of said collar;  
   e) means for filling said expansion chamber with said gas; and,    f) means for causing said gas to expand rapidly, thereby forcing said projectile is propelled through said barrel.    
     
     
         16 . The projectile weapon according to  claim 15 , wherein said skirt is configured to collapse as said projectile is propelled past said collar.  
     
     
         17 . The projectile weapon according to  claim 16 , further including a mixing chamber wherein hydrocarbons and oxygen are mixed to form the gas communicated to said expansion chamber.  
     
     
         18 . A weapon comprising: 
 a) a cartridge having, 
 1) an expansion chamber having an open end therein,  
 2) a projectile secured to the open end of said expansion chamber such that an interior of said expansion chamber is sealed, and,  
 3) a combustible gas contained within said expansion chamber;  
   b) a barrel accepting said cartridge and through which a propelled projectile travels;    c) means for igniting said combustible gas within said cartridge.    
     
     
         19 . The weapon according to  claim 18 , 
 a) wherein said cartridge includes an explosive cap communicating with said gas; and,    b) wherein said means for igniting includes means for causing said explosive cap to ignite.