Patent ID: 11920888
Assignee: SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. An apparatus comprising:
a barrel comprising a bore and one or more controllable heaters configured to heat a surface of the bore;
a first chamber configured to position a projectile relative to the barrel, wherein the first chamber is connected to a first purge gas channel and to a second purge gas channel;
a first valve openable to allow flow of purge gas into the first chamber via the first purge gas channel and closeable to prevent flow of purge gas into the first chamber via the first purge gas channel;
a second valve openable to allow flow of purge gas out of the first chamber via the second purge gas channel and closeable to prevent flow of purge gas out of the first chamber via the second purge gas channel; and
a second chamber configured to direct a pressurized light gas behind the projectile for movement from the first chamber and acceleration through the bore.