Ram accelerator sweeper baffles

1 . A ram accelerator for accelerating a projectile, the ram accelerator comprising:

a first tube body having a first projectile bore;

a second tube body having a second projectile bore axially aligned with the first projectile bore; and

a baffle positioned between and operably coupling the first and second tube bodies, the baffle having an annular baffle wall defining a central bore that is axially aligned with the first and second projectile bores, and a first chamber and a second chamber arranged adjacent to the annular baffle wall, wherein the first and second chambers extend radially outward from the central bore, wherein the second chamber is separated from the first chamber by a radially inwardly projecting fin,

wherein the annular baffle wall is configured to sweep a combustion wave relative to the projectile to prevent the combustion wave from traveling ahead of the projectile.

2 . The ram accelerator of claim 1 , wherein the baffle has a first baffle member and a second baffle member arranged axially in a series, and wherein each of the baffle members includes at least one annular baffle wall and at least one chamber.

3 . The ram accelerator of claim 1 , wherein the baffle section further comprises a third chamber and a fourth chamber, each of the first, second, third, and fourth chambers being separated from each other by a radially inwardly projecting fin.

4 . The ram accelerator of claim 1 , wherein the baffle is a first baffle, the annular baffle wall is a first annular baffle wall, and the central bore is a first central bore, and wherein the ram accelerator further comprises:

a third tube body having a third projectile bore axially aligned with the first and second projectile bores;

a second baffle positioned between and operably coupling the second and third tube bodies, the second baffle having a second annular baffle wall defining a second central bore that is axially aligned with the second and third projectile bores, and a third chamber arranged adjacent to the second annular baffle wall, wherein the third chamber extends radially outward from the second central bore,

wherein the second annular baffle wall is configured to sweep the combustion wave relative to the projectile to prevent the combustion wave from traveling ahead of the projectile.

5 . The ram accelerator of claim 4 , wherein:

the first baffle has two baffle members arranged axially in a series;

the second baffle has two baffle members arranged axially in a series; and

each of the baffle members includes at least one annular baffle wall and at least one chamber.

6 . The ram accelerator of claim 4 , further comprising:

a fourth tube body having a fourth projectile bore axially aligned with the first, second, and third projectile bores;

a third baffle positioned between and operably coupling the third and fourth tube bodies, the third baffle having a third annular baffle wall defining a third central bore that is axially aligned with the third and fourth projectile bores, and a fourth chamber arranged adjacent to the third annular baffle wall, wherein the fourth chamber extends radially outward from the third central bore,

wherein the third annular baffle wall is configured to sweep the combustion wave relative to the projectile to prevent the combustion wave from traveling ahead of the projectile.

7 . The ram accelerator of claim 6 , wherein:

the first baffle has two baffle members arranged axially in a series,

the second baffle has two baffle members arranged axially in a series;

the second baffle has two baffle members arranged axially in a series; and

each of the baffle members includes at least one annular baffle wall and at least one chamber.

8 . The ram accelerator of claim 4 , wherein the first tube body is axially shorter than the second tube body.

9 . The ram accelerator of claim 6 , wherein the first tube body is axially shorter than the second tube body, and wherein the second tube body is axially shorter than the third tube body.

10 . The ram accelerator of claim 1 , wherein the central bore is smaller in diameter than the first and second projectile bores.

11 . The ram accelerator of claim 1 , wherein the ram accelerator is a railed-tube ram accelerator, wherein the first tube body further comprises a first rail and the second tube body further comprises a second rail, and wherein the first and second rails are configured to guide the projectile through the first and second projectile bores.

12 . A railed-tube ram accelerator for accelerating a projectile, the ram accelerator comprising:

a first tube body having a first projectile bore and a first rail;

a second tube body having a second projectile bore axially aligned with the first projectile bore and a second rail; and

a baffle positioned between and operably coupling the first and second tube bodies, the baffle having an annular baffle wall defining a central bore that is axially aligned with the first and second projectile bores, and a chamber arranged adjacent to the annular baffle wall, wherein the chamber extends radially outward from the central bore,

wherein the first and second rails are configured to guide the projectile through the first and second projectile bores, and wherein the annular baffle wall is configured to sweep a combustion wave relative to the projectile to prevent the combustion wave from traveling ahead of the projectile.

13 . The railed-tube ram accelerator of claim 12 , wherein the baffle has a first baffle member and a second baffle member arranged axially in a series, and wherein each of the baffle members includes at least one annular baffle wall and at least one chamber.

14 . The railed-tube ram accelerator of claim 12 , wherein the chamber is a first chamber, and wherein the baffle further comprises a second chamber separated from the first chamber by a radially inwardly projecting fin.

15 . The railed-tube ram accelerator of claim 14 , wherein the baffle section further comprises a third chamber and a fourth chamber, each of the first, second, third, and fourth chambers being separated from each other by a radially inwardly projecting fin.

16 . The railed-tube ram accelerator of claim 1 , wherein the baffle is a first baffle, the annular baffle wall is a first annular baffle wall, the central bore is a first central bore, and the chamber is a first chamber, and wherein the ram accelerator further comprises:

a third tube body having a third projectile bore axially aligned with the first and second projectile bores;

a second baffle positioned between and operably coupling the second and third tube bodies, the second baffle having a second annular baffle wall defining a second central bore that is axially aligned with the second and third projectile bores, and a second chamber arranged adjacent to the second annular baffle wall, wherein the second chamber extends radially outward from the second central bore,

wherein the second annular baffle wall is configured to sweep the combustion wave relative to the projectile to prevent the combustion wave from traveling ahead of the projectile.

17 . The railed-tube ram accelerator of claim 16 , wherein:

the first baffle has two baffle members arranged axially in a series;

the second baffle has two baffle members arranged axially in a series; and

each of the baffle members includes at least one annular baffle wall and at least one chamber.

18 . The railed-tube ram accelerator of claim 16 , further comprising:

a fourth tube body having a fourth projectile bore axially aligned with the first, second, and third projectile bores;

a third baffle positioned between and operably coupling the third and fourth tube bodies, the third baffle having a third annular baffle wall defining a third central bore that is axially aligned with the third and fourth projectile bores, and a third chamber arranged adjacent to the third annular baffle wall, wherein the third chamber extends radially outward from the third central bore,

wherein the third annular baffle wall is configured to sweep the combustion wave relative to the projectile to prevent the combustion wave from traveling ahead of the projectile.

19 . The railed-tube ram accelerator of claim 18 , wherein:

the first baffle has two baffle members arranged axially in a series,

the second baffle has two baffle members arranged axially in a series;

the second baffle has two baffle members arranged axially in a series; and

each of the baffle members includes at least one annular baffle wall and at least one chamber.

20 . The railed-tube ram accelerator of claim 16 , wherein the first tube body is axially shorter than the second tube body.

21 . The railed-tube ram accelerator of claim 18 , wherein the first tube body is axially shorter than the second tube body, and wherein the second tube body is axially shorter than the third tube body.

22 . The railed-tube ram accelerator of claim 12 , wherein the central bore is smaller in diameter than the first and second projectile bores.