US 6,981,449 B2
Projectile launch assembly and method
James E. Sadeck, East Freetown, Mass. (US)
Assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, D.C. (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/748,918.
Prior Publication US 2005/0132629 A1, Jun. 23, 2005
Int. Cl. F42B 10/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 102—485 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A projectile launch assembly comprising:
a launch tube having distal and proximal ends and an inwardly extending structure therebetween, the proximal end being adapted to receive a muzzle of a firearm;
a receiver disposed on the distal end of the launch tube, said receiver having connector structure at a distal end thereof for connection to a projectile;
an energy absorbing plug disposed in said launch tube and having a proximal end portion adjacent the dimple; and
an energy transfer piston disposed in said launch tube and adjacent said plug and having a proximal end configured complementarily to said plug and having a distal end configured complementarily to a proximal end of said receiver;
wherein a bullet fired from the firearm muzzle is absorbed by said plug which is thereby moved with said piston distally in said tube;
wherein said piston engages said receiver to propel the assembly and the projectile from the firearm muzzle; and
wherein the proximal end of said receiver is provided with a recess therein and the distal end of said piston is configured complementarily to the recess.