May 5, 2026

US12618623 - Dynamic ram accelerator system

Dynamic ram accelerator operation permits operation with lower acceleration, permitting launch of acceleration sensitive payloads such as crewed vehicles. Operational cost is reduced, and reliability improved, by reducing or eliminating internal consumable parts. Relative motion between a projectile and propellant at entry to the ram accelerator enables initial ram combustion at relatively lower velocity. Valves may maintain separation between sections within the ram accelerator that contain different propellant compositions. Timing of valve opening and closing is coordinated to provide conditions suitable for ram combustion. Control over propagation speed of propellant within the system may be obtained using one or more of baffle shape, baffle spacing, propellant temperature, propellant pressure, propellant mixture, temperature of components such as baffles, and so forth. Before the projectile is launched, internal separators between sections are removed, providing an open path to the ram accelerator exit.

Assignee: PIPELINE2SPACE, INC.
Inventors: Mark C. Russell
Filing date: 2023-06-26

The dynamic ram accelerator system allows for the launch of acceleration-sensitive payloads, such as crewed vehicles, by utilizing lower acceleration and reducing internal consumable parts, which enhances reliability and reduces operational costs. The system features a pre-launch mechanism and a gas control system that coordinates the timing of valves to optimize the conditions for ram combustion and projectile launch.

Claim 1

1 . A system comprising: a pre-launch system comprising; a launch tube having a launch tube entry and a launch tube exit; a ram accelerator system comprising: a first section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is proximate to the launch tube exit; a second section having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end is proximate to the second end; a first fill stage having a fifth end and a sixth end, wherein the fifth end is proximate to the second end and the sixth end is proximate to the third end; a first valve between the fifth end and the second end; and a second valve between the sixth end and the third end; a gas control system; and a control system in communication with the pre-launch system and the ram accelerator system, the control system to: operate the first valve and the second valve to close at a first time; operate the gas control system to fill the first fill stage with a first gas at a second time, wherein the second time is after the first time; operate the first valve to open after the second time; operate the second valve to open after the second time; and after opening the first valve and the second valve, initiate operation of the pre-launch system to launch a projectile, wherein: the projectile is launched such that as the projectile enters the first section, the first gas moves in a direction that is opposite to the projectile and past the projectile, resulting in a first relative velocity of the first gas with respect to the projectile that is a sum of a velocity of the first gas and a velocity of the projectile, and the projectile is launched such that as the projectile enters the second section, the first gas moves in a same direction as the projectile, resulting in a second relative velocity of the first gas with respect to the projectile that is a difference between the velocity of the first gas and the velocity of the projectile. a pre-launch system comprising; a launch tube having a launch tube entry and a launch tube exit; a launch tube having a launch tube entry and a launch tube exit; a ram accelerator system comprising: a first section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is proximate to the launch tube exit; a second section having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end is proximate to the second end; a first fill stage having a fifth end and a sixth end, wherein the fifth end is proximate to the second end and the sixth end is proximate to the third end; a first valve between the fifth end and the second end; and a second valve between the sixth end and the third end; a first section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is proximate to the launch tube exit; a second section having a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end is proximate to the second end; a first fill stage having a fifth end and a sixth end, wherein the fifth end is proximate to the second end and the sixth end is proximate to the third end; a first valve between the fifth end and the second end; and a second valve between the sixth end and the third end; a gas control system; and a control system in communication with the pre-launch system and the ram accelerator system, the control system to: operate the first valve and the second valve to close at a first time; operate the gas control system to fill the first fill stage with a first gas at a second time, wherein the second time is after the first time; operate the first valve to open after the second time; operate the second valve to open after the second time; and after opening the first valve and the second valve, initiate operation of the pre-launch system to launch a projectile, wherein: the projectile is launched such that as the projectile enters the first section, the first gas moves in a direction that is opposite to the projectile and past the projectile, resulting in a first relative velocity of the first gas with respect to the projectile that is a sum of a velocity of the first gas and a velocity of the projectile, and the projectile is launched such that as the projectile enters the second section, the first gas moves in a same direction as the projectile, resulting in a second relative velocity of the first gas with respect to the projectile that is a difference between the velocity of the first gas and the velocity of the projectile. operate the first valve and the second valve to close at a first time; operate the gas control system to fill the first fill stage with a first gas at a second time, wherein the second time is after the first time; operate the first valve to open after the second time; operate the second valve to open after the second time; and after opening the first valve and the second valve, initiate operation of the pre-launch system to launch a projectile, wherein: the projectile is launched such that as the projectile enters the first section, the first gas moves in a direction that is opposite to the projectile and past the projectile, resulting in a first relative velocity of the first gas with respect to the projectile that is a sum of a velocity of the first gas and a velocity of the projectile, and the projectile is launched such that as the projectile enters the second section, the first gas moves in a same direction as the projectile, resulting in a second relative velocity of the first gas with respect to the projectile that is a difference between the velocity of the first gas and the velocity of the projectile. the projectile is launched such that as the projectile enters the first section, the first gas moves in a direction that is opposite to the projectile and past the projectile, resulting in a first relative velocity of the first gas with respect to the projectile that is a sum of a velocity of the first gas and a velocity of the projectile, and the projectile is launched such that as the projectile enters the second section, the first gas moves in a same direction as the projectile, resulting in a second relative velocity of the first gas with respect to the projectile that is a difference between the velocity of the first gas and the velocity of the projectile.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12618623

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12618623