Rocket weapon system and method therefor

Claim 5

The method of claim 2 wherein the step of firing one or more tracer bullets is effected by a rifle having a selectively indexable rotary magazine for carrying one or more tracer bullets and for aligning each bullet to be fired with a bullet accelerating and guiding passageway of the rifle.

Claim 6

The method of claim 2 wherein the step of providing selectively interconnectable fluid passageway means is effected by the rifle having a normally closed valve and manually operable rod actuating means connected to the valve for actuating same from a closed to an open position.

Claim 7

A pistol-actuated rocket weapon system for aiming and selectively launching a rocket weapon therefrom, said system comprising: rifle means and rocket weapon launching means mounted thereon, said launching means being made up of a launch tube and tube support housing means, said tube having a rocket weapon inserted therein and rocket motor igniter means affixed to said tube at the exhaust end thereof for insertion in the exhaust nozzle of the rocket weapon, said igniter means being disposed adjacent and exposed to the ignitable fuel of the rocket motor within said weapon, said igniter means having first fluid passageway means for effecting ignition of said igniter means, the first passageway means having an inlet port in direct open communication with the exterior of the tube; said tube support housing means having a second fluid passageway means with inlet and outlet ports, said housing means being affixed to said tube at the exhaust end thereof, such that the outlet port of the second passageway means is aligned with the inlet port of the first passageway means, said rifle means being comprised of rifle housing means having depending hand-grip mcans for enabling user support of both the launching means and the rifle means when aiming and selectively firing the rifle and launching means during system use; said rifle housing means being made up of barrel means affixed to its outer end, the barrel means having a passageway between its ends for accelerating and guiding a bullet, magazine means provided on said rifle housing means for carrying one or more tracer bullets and for advancing each tracer bullet of the series of bullets into alignment with the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway of the barrel means, said rifle housing means having upstanding means, said upstanding means being provided with third fluid passageway means, the inlet part of the third fluid passgeway means being in direct open communication with the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway of the barrel means at a point forward of a tracer bullet when the magazine aligns the bullet with the inner end of the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway, means for coupling together said upstanding means and said tube support housing means such that the outlet port of said third passageway means is in direct open communication with the inlet port of the second passageway means, said rifle housing means being provided with a finger-actuatable fire control mechanism, said mechanism including a firing pin for striking a tracer bullet when the magazine aligns the bullet with the inner end of the barrel means as the magazine is actuated by the user during system use, said upstanding means including valve means interposed between and connected to the third passageway means between the inlet and outlet ports thereof; said valve means including means for biasing the valve means to a closed position, and valve actuating means mounted in said rifle housing means, said valve actuating means being connected to said valve means and being selectively operable to open said valve means for effecting fluid communication between the first, second, and third passageway means, the firing pin of said fire control mechanism being actuated to strike a bullet in the magazine in alignment with the inner end of the bullet guiding passageway of said barrel means so as to ignite the powder in the bullet to form high temperature, pressurized gases in the bullet guiding passageway, when said rifle means is finally aimed toward the target; the bullet guiding passageway of the barrel means directing the gases from the passageway through both the open valve means and the first through third passageway means for igniting the motor fuel of the rocket weapon so that the rocket weapon is launched from the aimed system to strike the target.

Claim 8

A pistol-actuated rocket weapon system for aiming and selectively launching a rocket weapon therefrom, said system comprising: rifle means and rocket weapon launching means mounted thereon, said launching means being made up of a launch tube and tube support housing means, said tube having a rocket weapon inserted therein and rocket motor igniter means affixed to said tube at the exhaust end thereof for insertion in the exhaust nozzle of the rocket weapon, said igniter means being disposed adjacent and exposed to the ignitable fuel of the rocket motor within said weapon, said igniter means having first fluid passageway means for effecting ignition of said igniter means, the first passageway means having an inlet port in direct open communication with the exterior of the tube; said tube support housing means having a second fluid passageway means with inlet and outlet ports, said housing means being affixed to said tube at the exhaust end thereof, such that the outlet port of the second passageway means is aligned with the inlet port of the first passageway means, said rifle means being comprised of rifle housing means having depending hand-grip mcans for enabling user support of both the launching means and the rifle means when aiming and selectively firing the rifle and launching means during system use; said rifle housing means being made up of barrel means affixed to its outer end, the barrel means having a passageway between its ends for accelerating and guiding a bullet, magazine means provided on said rifle housing means for carrying one or more tracer bullets and for advancing each tracer bullet of the series of bullets into alignment with the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway of the barrel means, said rifle housing means having upstanding means, said upstanding means being provided with third fluid passageway means, the inlet part of the third fluid passgeway means being in direct open communication with the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway of the barrel means at a point forward of a tracer bullet when the magazine aligns the bullet with the inner end of the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway, means for coupling together said upstanding means and said tube support housing means such that the outlet port of said third passageway means is in direct open communication with the inlet port of the second passageway means, said rifle housing means being provided with a finger-actuatable fire control mechanism, said mechanism including a firing pin for striking a tracer bullet when the magazine aligns the bullet with the inner end of the barrel means as the magazine is actuated by the user during system use, said upstanding means including valve means interposed between and connected to the third passageway means between the inlet and outlet ports thereof; said valve means including means for biasing the valve means to a closed position, and valve actuating means mounted in said rifle housing means, said valve actuating means being connected to said valve means and being selectively operable to open said valve means for effecting fluid communication between the first, second, and third passageway means, the firing pin of said fire control mechanism being actuated to strike a bullet in the magazine in alignment with the inner end of the bullet guiding passageway of said barrel means so as to ignite the powder in the bullet to form high temperature, pressurized gases in the bullet guiding passageway, when said rifle means is finally aimed toward the target; the bullet guiding passageway of the barrel means directing the gases from the passageway through both the open valve means and the first through third passageway means for igniting the motor fuel of the rocket weapon so that the rocket weapon is launched from the aimed system to strike the target.

Claim 9

A rocket weapon system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said valve actuating means is comprised of a pair of axially movable rod means, and rotatable rod means, said rotatable rod means being interposed between said pair of rod means, each of said pair of rod means and said rotatable rod means being provided with rack and gear means for interconnecting each of said pair of rod means to said rotatable rod means.

Claim 10

A rocket weapon system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tube support housing means includes a pair of longitudinally spaced depending lug means for facilitating attachment to said rifle housing means, wherein said rifle housing means is provided with a second pair of upstanding longitudinally spaced lug means, the second pair of upstanding lug means being alignable with the first pair of lug means; and wherein means are provided for interconnecting the first and second pairs of lug means so that the launching means is mounted on and secured to said rifle housing means.

Claim 11

A rocket weapon as set forth in claim 7 wherein said upstanding means is disposed longitudinally forward of the second pair of lug means.

Claim 12

A rifle-actuated rocket weapon system for aiming and selectively launching a rocket weapon therefrom, said system comprising: rifle means and rocket weapon launching means mounted thereon, said launching means being made up of a launch tube and tube support housing means, said tube having a rocket weapon inserted therein and rocket motor igniter means affixed to said tube at the exhaust end thereof for insertion in the exhaust nozzle of the rocket weapon, said igniter means being disposed adjacent and exposed to the ignitable fuel of the rocket motor within said weapon, the rocket weapon being provided with fuse means, said igniter means and said fuse means having first and second fluid passageway means for effecting ignition of said igniter means and for effecting arming of said fuse means, the first and second passageway means being spaced from each other and being arranged to have inlet ports in direct open communication with the exterior of the tube; said tube support housing means having a third fluid passageway means with an inlet port and a pair of spaced outlet ports and with the inlet and outlet ports being in fluid intercommunication with each other, said housing means being affixed to said tube at the exhaust end thereof; such that one of the outlet ports of the third passageway means is aligned with the inlet port of the first passageway means while the other one of the outlet ports of the third passageway means is aligned with the inlet port of the second passageway means, said rifle means being comprised of rifle housing means, said rifle housing means being made up of barrel means affixed to its outer end, the barrel means having a passageway between its ends for accelerating and guiding a bullet therethrough. said rifle means including magazine means for carrying one or more tracer bullets and for advancing each tracer bullet of the magazine means into alignment with the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway of the barrel means at its inner end, said rifle housing means having upstanding means, the upstanding means being provided with fourth fluid passageway means, the inlet port of the fourth fluid passageway means being in direct open communication with the bullet guiding passageway of the barrel means at a point forward of a tracer bullet when the magazine aligns the bullet with the inner end of the bullet guiding passageway, means for coupling together said upstanding means and said support housing means such that the outlet port of said fourth passageway means is in direct open communication with the inlet port of the third passageway means, said rifle housing means being provided with a finger-actuatable fire control mechanism, said mechanism including a firing pin for striking a tracer bullet when the magazine aligns the bullet with the inner end of the barrel means as the mechanism is actuated by the user during system use, said upstanding means including valve means connected to the fourth passageway means and interposed between the inlet and outlet ports thereof; said valve means including means for biasing the valve means to a closed position, and selectively operable valve actuating means mounted in said rifle housing means, said valve actuating means being connected to said valve means and being selectively operable to open said valve means for effecting fluid communication between the first, second, third and fourth passageway means; the firing pin of said fire control mechanism being actuated to strike a bullet in the magazine in alignment with the inner end of the bullet guiding passageway of said barrel means so as to ignite the powder in the bullet to form high temperature, pressurized gases in the bullet guiding passageway, when said rifle means is finally aimed toward the target, the bullet guiding passageway of the barrel means directing the gases from the passageway through the open valve means and the first through fourth passageway means for igniting the motor fuel of the rocket weapon while at the same time arming said fuse means so that the rocket weapon is launched from the aimed system to strike the target.

Claim 13

A rifle-actuated rocket weapon system for aiming and selectively launching a rocket weapon therefrom, said system comprising: rifle means and rocket weapon launching means mounted thereon, said launching means being made up of a launch tube and tube support housing means, said tube having a rocket weapon inserted therein and rocket motor igniter means affixed to said tube at the exhaust end thereof for insertion in the exhaust nozzle of the rocket weapon, said igniter means being disposed adjacent and exposed to the ignitable fuel of the rocket motor within said weapon, the rocket weapon being provided with fuse means, said igniter means and said fuse means having first and second fluid passageway means for effecting ignition of said igniter means and for effecting arming of said fuse means, the first and second passageway means being spaced from each other and being arranged to have inlet ports in direct open communication with the exterior of the tube; said tube support housing means having a third fluid passageway means with an inlet port and a pair of spaced outlet ports and with the inlet and outlet ports being in fluid intercommunication with each other, said housing means being affixed to said tube at the exhaust end thereof; such that one of the outlet ports of the third passageway means is aligned with the inlet port of the first passageway means while the other one of the outlet ports of the third passageway means is aligned with the inlet port of the second passageway means, said rifle means being comprised of rifle housing means, said rifle housing means being made up of barrel means affixed to its outer end, the barrel means having a passageway between its ends for accelerating and guiding a bullet therethrough. said rifle means including magazine means for carrying one or more tracer bullets and for advancing each tracer bullet of the magazine means into alignment with the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway of the barrel means at its inner end, said rifle housing means having upstanding means, the upstanding means being provided with fourth fluid passageway means, the inlet port of the fourth fluid passageway means being in direct open communication with the bullet guiding passageway of the barrel means at a point forward of a tracer bullet when the magazine aligns the bullet with the inner end of the bullet guiding passageway, means for coupling together said upstanding means and said support housing means such that the outlet port of said fourth passageway means is in direct open communication with the inlet port of the third passageway means, said rifle housing means being provided with a finger-actuatable fire control mechanism, said mechanism including a firing pin for striking a tracer bullet when the magazine aligns the bullet with the inner end of the barrel means as the mechanism is actuated by the user during system use, said upstanding means including valve means connected to the fourth passageway means and interposed between the inlet and outlet ports thereof; said valve means including means for biasing the valve means to a closed position, and selectively operable valve actuating means mounted in said rifle housing means, said valve actuating means being connected to said valve means and being selectively operable to open said valve means for effecting fluid communication between the first, second, third and fourth passageway means; the firing pin of said fire control mechanism being actuated to strike a bullet in the magazine in alignment with the inner end of the bullet guiding passageway of said barrel means so as to ignite the powder in the bullet to form high temperature, pressurized gases in the bullet guiding passageway, when said rifle means is finally aimed toward the target, the bullet guiding passageway of the barrel means directing the gases from the passageway through the open valve means and the first through fourth passageway means for igniting the motor fuel of the rocket weapon while at the same time arming said fuse means so that the rocket weapon is launched from the aimed system to strike the target.

Claim 14

A rocket weapon system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said tube support housing means includes a pair of longitudinally spaced depending lug means for facilitating attachment to said rifle housing means, wherein said rifle housing means is provided with a second pair of upstanding longitudinally spaced lug means, the second pair of upstanding lug means being alignable with the first pair of lug means; and therein means are provided for interconnecting the first and second pairs of lug means so that the launching means is mounted on and secured to said rifle housing means.

Claim 15

A rocket weapon as set forth in claim 10 wherein said upstanding means is disposed longitudinally forward of the second pair of lug means.

Claim 16

A rocket weapon system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said rifle housing means and said barrel means have depending hand-grip means, the hand-grip means for assisting in supporting, aiming, and firing the system during use.

Claim 17

A rifle-actuated rocket weapon system for aiming and selectively launching a rocket weapon therefrom, said system comprising: rifle means and rocket weapon launching means mounted thereon, said launching means being made up of a launch tube and tube support housing means, said tube having a rocket weapon inserted therein and rocket motor igniter means affixed to said tube at the exhaust end thereof for insertion in the exhaust nozzle of the rocket weapon, said igniter means being disposed adjacent and exposed to the ignitable fuel of the rocket motor within said weapon, the rocket weapon being provided with fuse means, said igniter means having first fluid passageway means for effecting ignition of said igniter means, said fuse means having second and third passageway means, the first and second passageway means being spaced from each other and being arranged to have inlet ports in direct open communication with the exterior of the tube, the inner end of the third passageway means intersecting the second passageway means at an intermediate point thereof, the outer end of the third passageway means being connected directly to said fuse means, said tube support housing means having a fourth fluid passageway means with an inlet port and a pair of spaced outlet ports and with the inlet and outlet ports being in fluid intercommunication with each other, said housing means being affixed to said tube at the exhaust end thereof such that one of the outlet ports of the fourth passageway means is aligned with the inlet port of the first passageway means while the other one of the outlet ports of the fourth passageway means is aligned with the inlet port of the second passageway means, said rifle means being comprised of rifle housing means, said rifle housing means being made up of barrel means affixed to its outer end, the barrel means having a passageway between its ends for accelerating and guiding a bullet therethrough, said rifle means including magazine means for carrying one or more tracer bullets and for advancing each tracer bullet into alignment with the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway of the barrel means, said rifle housing means having upstanding means, said upstanding means being provided with fifth fluid passageway means, the inlet port of the fifth fluid passageway means being in direct open communication with the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway of the barrel means at a point forward of a tracer bullet when the magazine aligns the bullet with the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway, means for coupling together said upstanding means and said support housing means such that the outlet port of said fifth passageway means is in direct open communication with the inlet port of the fourth passageway means, pin means disposed in both the second and fourth passageway means and extending between the inlet and outlet ports thereof, said pin means for retaining the rocket weapon in the launch tube prior to firing the rocket weapon, said rifle housing means being provided with a finger-actuatable fire control mechanism, said mechanism including a firing pin for striking a tracer bullet when the magazine aligns the bullet with the inner end of the barrel means as the mechanism is actuated by the user during system use, said upstanding means including valve means interposed between and connected to the fifth passageway means between the inlet and outlet ports thereof; said valve means including means for biasing the valve means to a closed position, and selectively operable valve actuating means mounted in said rifle housing means, said valve actuating means being connected to said valve means and being selectively operable to open said valve means, the firing pin of said fire control mcchanism being actuated to strike a bullet in the magazine in alignment with the inner end of the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway of said barrel means so as to ignite the powder in the bullet to form high temperature, pressurized gases in the bullet guiding passageway, when said rifle means is finally aimed toward the target; the bullet guiding passageway of the barrel means directing the gases from the passageway through both the open valve means and the fifth passageway means such that the pin means is advanced from the outlet port of the fourth passageway means through the inlet port of the second passageway means to beyond the intersection with the third passageway means while at the same time the gases are in direct open communication with the first through fourth passageway means for igniting the fuel of the rocket weapon as well as arming said fuse means so that the rocket weapon is launched from the aimed system to strike the target.

Claim 18

A rifle-actuated rocket weapon system for aiming and selectively launching a rocket weapon therefrom, said system comprising: rifle means and rocket weapon launching means mounted thereon, said launching means being made up of a launch tube and tube support housing means, said tube having a rocket weapon inserted therein and rocket motor igniter means affixed to said tube at the exhaust end thereof for insertion in the exhaust nozzle of the rocket weapon, said igniter means being disposed adjacent and exposed to the ignitable fuel of the rocket motor within said weapon, the rocket weapon being provided with fuse means, said igniter means having first fluid passageway means for effecting ignition of said igniter means, said fuse means having second and third passageway means, the first and second passageway means being spaced from each other and being arranged to have inlet ports in direct open communication with the exterior of the tube, the inner end of the third passageway means intersecting the second passageway means at an intermediate point thereof, the outer end of the third passageway means being connected directly to said fuse means, said tube support housing means having a fourth fluid passageway means with an inlet port and a pair of spaced outlet ports and with the inlet and outlet ports being in fluid intercommunication with each other, said housing means being affixed to said tube at the exhaust end thereof such that one of the outlet ports of the fourth passageway means is aligned with the inlet port of the first passageway means while the other one of the outlet ports of the fourth passageway means is aligned with the inlet port of the second passageway means, said rifle means being comprised of rifle housing means, said rifle housing means being made up of barrel means affixed to its outer end, the barrel means having a passageway between its ends for accelerating and guiding a bullet therethrough, said rifle means including magazine means for carrying one or more tracer bullets and for advancing each tracer bullet into alignment with the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway of the barrel means, said rifle housing means having upstanding means, said upstanding means being provided with fifth fluid passageway means, the inlet port of the fifth fluid passageway means being in direct open communication with the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway of the barrel means at a point forward of a tracer bullet when the magazine aligns the bullet with the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway, means for coupling together said upstanding means and said support housing means such that the outlet port of said fifth passageway means is in direct open communication with the inlet port of the fourth passageway means, pin means disposed in both the second and fourth passageway means and extending between the inlet and outlet ports thereof, said pin means for retaining the rocket weapon in the launch tube prior to firing the rocket weapon, said rifle housing means being provided with a finger-actuatable fire control mechanism, said mechanism including a firing pin for striking a tracer bullet when the magazine aligns the bullet with the inner end of the barrel means as the mechanism is actuated by the user during system use, said upstanding means including valve means interposed between and connected to the fifth passageway means between the inlet and outlet ports thereof; said valve means including means for biasing the valve means to a closed position, and selectively operable valve actuating means mounted in said rifle housing means, said valve actuating means being connected to said valve means and being selectively operable to open said valve means, the firing pin of said fire control mcchanism being actuated to strike a bullet in the magazine in alignment with the inner end of the bullet accelerating and guiding passageway of said barrel means so as to ignite the powder in the bullet to form high temperature, pressurized gases in the bullet guiding passageway, when said rifle means is finally aimed toward the target; the bullet guiding passageway of the barrel means directing the gases from the passageway through both the open valve means and the fifth passageway means such that the pin means is advanced from the outlet port of the fourth passageway means through the inlet port of the second passageway means to beyond the intersection with the third passageway means while at the same time the gases are in direct open communication with the first through fourth passageway means for igniting the fuel of the rocket weapon as well as arming said fuse means so that the rocket weapon is launched from the aimed system to strike the target.

Claim 19

A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the second passageway means has an outer end beyond the intersection with the third passageway means, and wherein the outer end includes means for venting the outer end to the atmosphere.

Claim 20

A rocket weapon system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said tube support housing means includes a pair of longitudinally spaced depending lug means for facilitating attachment to said rifle housing means, wherein said rifle housing means is provided with a second pair of upstanding longitudinally spaced lug means, the second pair of upstanding lug means being alignable with the first pair of lug means; and wherein means are provided for interconnecting the first and second pairs of lug means so that the launching means is mounted on and secured to said rifle housing means.

Claim 21

A rocket weapon as set forth in claim 15 wherein said upstanding means is disposed longitudinally forward of the second pair of lug means.

Claim 22

A rocket weapon system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said rifle housing means and said barrel means have depending hand-grip means, the hand-grip means for assisting in supporting, aiming, and firing the system during use.