Stacked Munitions Launcher and Method Therefor

Abstract

A system for launching a plurality of projectiles from a single launch tube is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, the system uses an electromagnetic catapult to sequentially throw a first projectile and a second projectile. The first projectile is thrown while the second projectile is temporarily restrained within the launch tube.

1 . A method comprising:
 engaging a cartridge and an electromagnetic propulsion system, wherein the cartridge comprises a tube containing a first projectile and a second projectile, and wherein the electromagnetic propulsion system comprises a first propulsion coil and a second propulsion coil, and wherein the cartridge locates the first projectile with respect to the first propulsion coil and the second projectile with respect to the second propulsion coil when the cartridge and electromagnetic propulsion system are engaged;   propelling the first projectile from the electromagnetic propulsion system, wherein the first projectile is propelled by a first force that is induced by the flow of electric current in the first propulsion coil; and   disengaging the cartridge from the electromagnetic propulsion system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the flow of electric current in the first propulsion coil generates a first electromagnetic field, and wherein the first force is induced by coupling the first electromagnetic field and a first armature that is operatively coupled to the first projectile. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the flow of electric current in the first propulsion coil generates a first electromagnetic field, and wherein the first force is induced by coupling the first electromagnetic field and the first projectile. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising propelling the second projectile from the electromagnetic propulsion system, wherein the second projectile is propelled by a second force that is induced by the flow of electric current in the second propulsion coil. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising substantially immobilizing the second projectile with respect to the cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein disengaging the cartridge from the electromagnetic propulsion system comprises propelling the cartridge from the electromagnetic propulsion system, and wherein the cartridge is propelled by a third force that is induced by a third electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein engaging the cartridge and the electromagnetic propulsion system comprises engaging a restraint that immobilizes the cartridge with respect to the electromagnetic propulsion system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein disengaging the cartridge from the electromagnetic propulsion system comprises:
 disengaging the restraint to enable motion of the cartridge from the electromagnetic propulsion system; and   propelling the cartridge from the electromagnetic propulsion system, wherein the cartridge is propelled by a third force that is induced by the flow of electric current in a third propulsion coil of the electromagnetic propulsion system.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising a cartridge for simultaneously locating a first projectile and a second projectile in an electromagnetic propulsion system, wherein the cartridge is physically-adapted to demountably engage with the electromagnetic propulsion system. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising the electromagnetic propulsion system. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the electromagnetic propulsion system has a first propulsion coil and a second propulsion coil, and wherein the cartridge locates the first projectile with respect to the first propulsion coil, and further wherein the cartridge locates the second projectile with respect to the second propulsion coil. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising the first projectile and the second projectile. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the cartridge comprises a first restraint for immobilizing the first projectile with respect to the cartridge and a second restraint for immobilizing the second projectile with respect to the cartridge. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the first restraint is physically-adapted to enable motion of the first projectile with respect to the cartridge in the presence of a first electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the second restraint is physically-adapted to enable motion of the second projectile with respect to the cartridge in the presence of a second electromagnetic field. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first projectile;   a second projectile;   a cartridge for containing the first projectile and the second projectile, wherein the cartridge comprises a first physical-adaptation for engaging an electromagnetic propulsion system, and wherein the cartridge has a longitudinal axis, and further wherein the first projectile and second projectile are arranged along the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the first physical adaptation comprises a first restraint for demountably engaging the electromagnetic propulsion system to substantially immobilize the cartridge with respect to the electromagnetic propulsion system. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising the electromagnetic propulsion system. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the electromagnetic propulsion system comprises a first propulsion coil, and further wherein a flow of electric current in the first propulsion coil induces a force on the first armature that propels the first projectile. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the first projectile comprises a first armature, and wherein the electromagnetic propulsion system comprises a first propulsion coil, and further wherein a flow of electric current in the first propulsion coil induces a force on the first armature that propels the first projectile. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a first restraint for substantially immobilizing the first projectile with respect to the cartridge and a second restraint for substantially immobilizing the second projectile with respect to the cartridge. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the electromagnetic propulsion system comprises a first propulsion coil, and further wherein a flow of electric current in the first propulsion coil: (1) induces a first force on the first restraint that enables motion of the first projectile with respect to the cartridge, and (2) induces a second force that propels the first projectile.