Selectable kinetic energy of projectiles

Abstract

Projectiles with sealed propellant are described herein. In one embodiment of the invention, a projectile includes a body having a nose portion and a tail portion, a plurality of propellant charges contained within the body, a plurality of selectable initiators contained within the body for ignition of respective propellant charges, one or more ports for exit of ignition gases produced by the charges for propulsion of the projectile from the weapon, and one or more inductors for inducing a firing current, where at least one initiator only initiates on receiving a firing current which is different from the firing signal required to initiate the other initiators.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A barrel assembly, comprising
 a barrel containing a stack of projectiles arranged axially from nose to tail of, each projectile including   a body having a nose portion and a tail portion,   a plurality of propellant charges contained within the body,   a plurality of selectable initiators contained within the body for ignition of respective propellant charges,   one or more ports for exit of ignition gases produced by the charges for propulsion of the projectile from the weapon, and   one or more inductors for inducing a firing current, wherein at least one initiator only initiates on receiving a firing current which is different from the firing signal required to initiate the other initiators.   
     
     
         2 . A barrel assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the firing currents differ by energy level. 
     
     
         3 . A method of firing projectiles from a barrel, comprising:
 loading the barrel with a stack of projectiles arranged axially nose to tail;   sequentially selecting the leading projectile in the stack for firing;   determining a required kinetic energy or muzzle velocity of the leading projectile;   selecting one or a combination of inductively initiated propellant charges within the leading projectile to achieve the required energy or velocity;   selecting a firing signal or signals required to initiate the selected propellant charges; and   inductively triggering the selected propellant charges.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 determining a required kinetic energy or muzzle velocity of the last projectile;   selecting one or a combination of propellant charges within the barrel to achieve the required energy or velocity;   selecting a firing signal or signals required to initiate the selected propellant charges; and   triggering the selected propellant charges.   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , further comprising triggering any remaining propellant charges in the barrel once the last projectile has been fired.