Integrated Pusher Plate for a Canister- or Gun-Launched Projectile and System Incorporating Same

Abstract

A pusher plate assembly for launching a projectile includes a pusher plate, a pressure seal circumferentially extending about the pusher plate, a cage extending from an aft side of the pusher plate, and a plurality of propellant portions disposed in the cage. A projectile system includes a launching tube, a projectile disposed in the launching tube, a pusher plate assembly disposed between an aft end of the projectile and the launching tube, a fuze, a charge igniter operatively associated with the fuze and the plurality of propellant portions, and a retainer disposed within the launching tube proximate a mouth of the launching tube. The pusher plate assembly includes a pusher plate, a pressure seal circumferentially extending about the pusher plate to seal an annulus between the pusher plate and the launching tube, a cage extending from an aft side of the pusher plate, and a plurality of propellant portions disposed in the cage.

1 . A pusher plate assembly for launching a projectile, comprising:
 a pusher plate;   a pressure seal circumferentially extending about the pusher plate;   a cage extending from an aft side of the pusher plate; and   a plurality of propellant portions disposed in the cage.   
   
   
       2 . The pusher plate assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein the cage is formed of wire mesh. 
   
   
       3 . The pusher plate assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure seal comprises:
 an elastomer.   
   
   
       4 . The pusher plate assembly, according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of propellant portions comprises one or more of a nitrate-based solid propellant and an aluminum-based solid propellant. 
   
   
       5 . The pusher plate assembly, according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a projectile motor igniter; and   a motor igniter controller operatively associated with the projectile motor igniter.   
   
   
       6 . The pusher plate assembly, according to  claim 5 , wherein the motor igniter controller includes an accelerometer. 
   
   
       7 . The pusher plate assembly, according to  claim 5 , wherein the motor igniter controller includes a position sensor. 
   
   
       8 . The pusher plate assembly, according to  claim 5 , wherein the motor igniter controller includes a timer. 
   
   
       9 . A projectile system, comprising:
 a launching tube;   a projectile disposed in the launching tube;   a pusher plate assembly disposed between an aft end of the projectile and the launching tube, the pusher plate assembly comprising:
 a pusher plate; 
 a pressure seal circumferentially extending about the pusher plate to seal an annulus between the pusher plate and the launching tube; 
 a cage extending from an aft side of the pusher plate; and 
 a plurality of propellant portions disposed in the cage; 
   a fuze;   a charge igniter operatively associated with the fuze and the plurality of propellant portions; and   a retainer disposed within the launching tube proximate a mouth of the launching tube.   
   
   
       10 . The projectile system, according to  claim 9 , wherein the cage is formed of wire mesh. 
   
   
       11 . The pusher plate assembly, according to  claim 9 , wherein the pressure seal comprises:
 an elastomer.   
   
   
       12 . The pusher plate assembly, according to  claim 9 , wherein at least some of the plurality of propellant portions comprises one or more of a nitrate-based solid propellant and an aluminum-based solid propellant. 
   
   
       13 . The pusher plate assembly, according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a projectile motor igniter; and   a motor igniter controller operatively associated with the projectile motor igniter.   
   
   
       14 . The pusher plate assembly, according to  claim 13 , wherein the motor igniter controller includes an accelerometer. 
   
   
       15 . The pusher plate assembly, according to  claim 13 , wherein the motor igniter controller includes a position sensor. 
   
   
       16 . The pusher plate assembly, according to  claim 13 , wherein the motor igniter controller includes a timer. 
   
   
       17 . A method for launching a projectile from a launch tube, comprising:
 providing a pusher plate assembly disposed between the projectile and the launch tube, the pressure plate assembly comprising:
 a pusher plate; 
 a pressure seal circumferentially extending about the pusher plate to seal an annulus between the pusher plate and the launching tube; 
 a cage extending from an aft side of the pusher plate; and 
 a plurality of propellant portions disposed in the cage; igniting the plurality of propellant portions; 
   burning an opening in the cage with the ignited plurality of propellant portions;   urging the projectile with expanding gases produced by the ignited plurality of propellant portions; and   allowing a progressively larger fraction of the plurality of propellant portions to escape the cage as the pressure plate assembly traverses within the launch tube.   
   
   
       18 . The method, according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 igniting a motor of the projectile with a projectile motor igniter of the pusher plate assembly.   
   
   
       19 . The method, according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 operating the projectile motor igniter based on at least one of an acceleration of the pusher plate assembly, a position of the pusher plate assembly with respect to the launching tube, and an elapsed time from ignition of the plurality of propellant portions.