Systems and methods for composite gun barrel

Abstract

A composite gun barrel comprising an elongated cylinder with a carbon fiber coating. The coating comprises one or more of a stiffening layer, a strengthening layer, and a heat transfer layer. The stiffening layer comprises plies of ultra-high modulus carbon fiber oriented in a unidirectional configuration along a longest axis of the elongated cylinder. The strengthening layer comprises carbon fibers oriented in a unidirectional configuration perpendicular to the stiffening layer. The heat transfer layer comprises carbon fiber oriented in a unidirectional configuration at about a 45° angle to the stiffening layer.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A composite gun barrel coating comprising:
 a stiffening layer of carbon fiber polymer bonded to an elongated cylinder;   wherein the stiffening layer comprises high modulus carbon fibers oriented in a first unidirectional configuration, the first unidirectional configuration oriented about parallel to a longest axis of the elongated cylinder.   
     
     
         2 . The coating of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon fibers comprises a modulus of greater than about 3,400 MPa. 
     
     
         3 . The coating of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon fibers comprise a modulus of greater than about 9,000 MPa. 
     
     
         4 . The coating of  claim 1 , wherein the stiffening layer comprises at least six plies of carbon fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The coating of  claim 1 , wherein the stiffening layer comprises a thickness of about 0.06 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The coating of  claim 1 , further comprising a strengthening layer, the strengthening layer comprising a carbon fiber polymer with carbon fibers oriented in a second unidirectional configuration, the second unidirectional configuration oriented about perpendicular to the first unidirectional configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The coating of  claim 6 , wherein the strengthening layer comprises a modulus less than a modulus of the stiffening layer. 
     
     
         8 . The coating of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat transfer layer, the heat transfer layer comprising a carbon fiber polymer with carbon fibers oriented in a third unidirectional configuration, the third unidirectional configuration oriented between about parallel and about perpendicular to the first unidirectional configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The coating of  claim 8 , wherein the heat transfer layer is configured to transfer heat from the coating. 
     
     
         10 . A composite gun barrel coating comprising:
 a stiffening layer of carbon fiber polymer comprising high modulus carbon fibers oriented in a first unidirectional configuration;   a strengthening layer of carbon fiber polymer comprising carbon fibers oriented in a second unidirectional configuration, the second unidirectional configuration oriented about perpendicular to the first unidirectional configuration; and   a heat transfer layer of carbon fiber polymer with carbon fibers oriented in a third unidirectional configuration, the third unidirectional configuration oriented between parallel and perpendicular to the first unidirectional configuration.   
     
     
         11 . The coating of  claim 10 , wherein the stiffening layer comprises a modulus of greater than about 9,000 MPa. 
     
     
         12 . The coating of  claim 10 , wherein the strengthening layer comprises a modulus less than a modulus of the stiffening layer. 
     
     
         13 . The coating of  claim 10 , wherein the heat transfer layer comprises a modulus less than a modulus of the stiffening layer and greater than a modulus of the strengthening layer. 
     
     
         14 . The coating of  claim 10 , wherein the stiffening layer is bonded to an elongated cylinder, the strengthening layer is bonded to the stiffening layer, and the heat transfer layer is bonded to the strengthening layer. 
     
     
         15 . A composite gun barrel comprising:
 an elongated cylinder comprising a chamber at a proximal end and a muzzle at a distal end, the elongated cylinder further comprising a bore traversing the elongated cylinder from the chamber to the muzzle; and   a carbon fiber coating comprising a stiffening layer, a strengthening layer, and a heat transfer layer;   wherein the stiffening layer comprises ultra-high modulus carbon fibers oriented in a first unidirectional configuration, the first unidirectional configuration oriented parallel to a longest axis of the elongated cylinder;   wherein the strengthening layer comprises carbon fibers oriented in a second unidirectional configuration, the second unidirectional configuration oriented about perpendicular to the first unidirectional configuration;   wherein the heat transfer layer comprises carbon fibers oriented in a third unidirectional configuration, the third unidirectional configuration oriented between parallel and perpendicular to the first unidirectional configuration.   
     
     
         16 . The composite gun barrel of  claim 15 , wherein the stiffening layer comprises a modulus greater than about 9,000 MPa. 
     
     
         17 . The composite gun barrel of  claim 15 , wherein one or more of the stiffening layer, the strengthening layer, and the heat transfer layer extends at least in part from the chamber to the muzzle. 
     
     
         18 . The composite gun barrel of  claim 15 , wherein one or more of the stiffening layer, the strengthening layer, and the heat transfer layer comprise multiple plies of carbon fiber. 
     
     
         19 . The composite gun barrel of  claim 15 , wherein one or more of the stiffening layer, the strengthening layer, and the heat transfer layer comprise multiple plies of carbon fiber configured with more plies laid at the muzzle than at the chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The composite gun barrel of  claim 15 , wherein one or more of the stiffening layer, the strengthening layer, and the heat transfer layer comprise multiple plies of carbon fiber configured with more plies laid at the chamber than at the muzzle.