Rocket launchers

Claim 1

A LAUNCHER FOR ROCKETS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED LAUNCHER TUBE HAVING MUZZLE AND BREECH ENDS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A ROCKET PRIOR TO IGNITION ADJACENT THE BREECH END THEREOF AND GUIDE THE ROCKET DURING ACCELERATION THROUGH THE TUBE, MEANS PROVIDING INCREASED LAUNCHING THRUST FOR THE ROCKET INCLUDING PISTON MEANS DISPOSED IN THE LAUNCHER TUBE FOR FREE SLIDING MOVEMENT THEREALONG SUBSTANTIALLY SEALING THE LAUNCHER TUBE AGAINST PASSAGE OF GASES FORWARDLY ALONGSIDE THE ROCKET AND INTERCOUPLED WITH THE ROCKET TO IMPART LAUNCHING MOVEMENT THERETO, AND EXPANSION CHAMBER MEANS SURROUNDING, EXTENDING REARWARDLY OF AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE BREECH END PORTION OF SAID LAUNCHER TUBE FORMING AN ENCLOSURE FOR ACCUMULATING THE EXHAUST GASES PRODUCED UPON IGNITION OF THE ROCKET TO APPLY THE PRESSURE OF THE ACCUMULATED GASES AGAINST SAID PISTON MEANS AND EXERT A LAUNCHING FORCE COACTING WITH REACTION THRUST PRODUCED UPON IGNITION OF THE ROCKET FOR DRIVIN THE ROCKET OUT OF THE LAUNCHING TUBE, SAID PISTON MEANS HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATION PRIOR TO IGNITION AND THROUGHOUT LAUNCH BETWEEN SAID EXPANSION CHAMBER AND THE TRAILING END OF THE ROCKET, SAID EXPANSION CHAMBER MEANS PROVIDING A GAS ACCUMULATING VOLUME OF SUFFICIENT SIZE SO THAT A SUBSTANTIALLY EVEN APPLICATION OF EXHAUST GAS PRESSURE AGAINST SAID PISTON MEANS IS PROVIDED TO MAINTAIN SUBSTANTIALLY IMPULSE-FREE ACCELERATION OF THE ROCKET AS IT PROCEEDS THROUGH THE LAUNCHER TUBE.