Projectiles Patents (Class 102/501)
  • Patent number: 4413564
    Abstract: A shotgun slug having a frusto-conical body that increases a diameter from front to rear and which further includes a plurality of vanes projecting radially from the body which extend obliquely along the length thereof. The top lands of the vanes describe a truncated cone that is axially aligned with the body and which provide an interference fit with the bore of the gun barrel. The pitch of the cone described by the vanes is steeper than that of the supporting body so that the height of the vanes decrease from front to rear. Sufficient radial depth is given to the vanes so that the vanes retain their shape after the slug has been swagged in the barrel during firing. Accordingly, a stabilizing spin is imparted to the slug as it moves through the air towards the target. The slug is further provided with a nose heavy geometry which further enhances its flight characteristics thereby improving both range and accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Inventor: Worthy H. Brown
  • Patent number: 4405100
    Abstract: A turbulence generator is provided on the forward end of a free flight ornce device to induce a turbulent boundary layer over the surface of the device. The turbulent layer generated is thicker than the normal boundary layer and helps reduce drag disparity between similar ordnance devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Peter Daniels
  • Patent number: 4388868
    Abstract: A shell body for fin-stabilized projectiles has an ogival curvature and is composed of two body sections. A front body section has a cylindrical bore extending therethrough and a rear body portion has a cavity therein. A headpiece containing a fuse is connected to the front end of the front body section and a tail tube with a fin-stabilizer unit is connected to the rear of the rear body section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Etablissement Salgad
    Inventor: Amos Frostig
  • Patent number: 4387492
    Abstract: A method for making a plated soft nose bullet and the product resulting therefrom, wherein a core is formed of a deformable first metal and the entire core is then covered with a second metal by an electroplating process. The electroplated second metal is removed from the forward end of the core to expose a portion of the first metal. The plated core then is formed into its final shape in such a manner that a quantity of unplated core material is extruded from the remaining plated portions to form an unplated soft nose for the bullet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Assignee: Omark Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrel F. Inman
  • Patent number: 4386747
    Abstract: A projectile for use with a smooth bore barrel is disclosed wherein longitudinal stability is provided by an oscillating mass within the projectile. A mass is disposed inside the projectile and attached and secured to the projectile by means of a bi-convex spring or equivalent flexible structure so that the mass is set off in oscillation upon the sudden acceleration due to the firing of the projectile. The inertial forces developed by the oscillating mass provide stability throughout the projectile's trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Inventor: Raymond D. Kuhl
  • Patent number: 4383485
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hermetically sealed ballistic projectile having nose, material containing shell and a piston. The nose has a rearwardly increased diameter and a rearward region of decreased diameter, the shell has a forward most region of mating diameter with the rearward region of the nose and is in fixed but frangible contact with the nose. The piston is in hermetic sealed engagement with the inner surface of the forward region of the shell with its forward surface proximate the rearward surface of the nose. Material is used to fill the interior space of the shell between the piston and the rearward inner surface of the shell. The materials can be of a liquid, semi-liquid, slurry or solid consistency and are explosive, hypergolic, incendiary or otherwise reactive or inert, and contained in a single or a plurality of separate component containing compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Arthur D. Coates, William F. Donovan, John A. Rakaczky, Wayman E. Scott
  • Patent number: 4381712
    Abstract: An improved tubular projectile formed from a single piece body member hav a ball valve resiliently held in a closed position therein and a method of manufacture is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William L. Black
  • Patent number: 4372217
    Abstract: A segmented sabot utilizes a double ramp configuration and a centrally poioned obturating band in alignment with the center of gravity of an in-bore projectile to improve the uniformity of the shear traction forces at the interface between the sabot segments and a subcaliber projectile, to reduce propellant gas blow-by and to enhance projectile in-bore and trajectory stability. The increased uniformity of shear traction forces between sabot and projectile interfaces and propellant gas self-sealing design permits a reduction in sabot weight of sufficient magnitude to increase the velocity of the projectile at the muzzle exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Richard D. Kirkendall, William H. Drysdale, Louise D. Kokinakis, Bruce P. Burns
  • Patent number: 4365559
    Abstract: A munition or round for a firearm comprises a shell casing of synthetic resin material formed internally with a plurality of axially spaced annular ribs which snap into corresponding grooves in the shank of the bullet. The bullet shank is also formed with axially extending grooves to vent the space between the base of the bullet and the bottom of the casing, this space receiving a moist firing charge whose solvent vaporizes through the gaps formed by the axially extending groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Inventor: Eric Gruaz
  • Patent number: 4338862
    Abstract: Small arms projectile wherein lead core thereof has its front or nose portion replaced with a structurally integral low-density plastic filler material, the filler material shearing from the lead core to provide a double wound tract upon slight penetration of the projectile into a soft target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Richard Kwatnoski, Robert J. McHugh
  • Patent number: 4337911
    Abstract: A non-spinning projectile for combat use against battlefield targets has a tapered paramidal shape with a sharply pointed nose. A supersonic launch speeds the nose causes formation of a generally conical shock wave. Along its length aft of its nose, the projectile has two fin-like projections spaced apart on each side of a symmetrical undersurface and adapted to capture the shock wave so that its pressure effects provide lifting force to the projectile undersurface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Inventor: Abraham Flatau
  • Patent number: 4307666
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a shot-start projectile apparatus for a w gun tube. The apparatus can be fitted to a projectile as an auxilliary obturator or can be designed to the proper weight and used as the projectile. The apparatus comprises a torque bolt, a rear band, an alignment sleeve, a front band and an alignment nut. The front and rear bands are identical and they are made of metallic or non-metallic material. The remaining components of the apparatus are made of metal. The front and rear bands provide obturation to prevent hot propellant gases from leaking in front of the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Anthony F. Baran
  • Patent number: 4301733
    Abstract: A bullet for a smooth bore shotgun has a nose part preferably of metal and a base part preferably of plastic material. The two parts are assembled together, e.g. by engagement of a male projection on one of the parts into a female recess on the other of the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Inventor: Moises Arciniega Blanco
  • Patent number: 4301736
    Abstract: A hollow tubular projectile is disclosed having about 30 percent less mass han conventional ammunition projectiles and considerably less drag, as a result of precise aerodynamic design details.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Abraham Flatau, Joseph Huerta
  • Patent number: 4299166
    Abstract: A dispenser retains a hermetically sealed metal canister which holds a pyrophoric fluid, radar chaff, other electronic countermeasure materials or a combination thereof for ejection from an aircraft. Several openings in the canister are sealed with Pyrofuze foil material closures and a Pyrofuze wire braid is interconnected between each of the closures and the canister in close proximity to a Pyrofuze delay braid having one end thereof fixedly attached to the canister. A safety tab on one corner of the canister extends downward between the delay braid and the wire braid to prevent cross ignition until the canister is fully ejected from the dispenser. When a gas producing squib on the dispenser is fired, the Pyrofuze delay braid is ignited by the flame front from the squib and the canister is forced from the dispenser causing the safety tab to be automatically removed from the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of American as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Donald J. Carignan, William Lewis
  • Patent number: 4297948
    Abstract: A spin stabilized projectile is arranged to have variable flight stability. he projectile has a casing with a cavity that contains a given mass of fluid. The cavity is shaped to provide a balanced flow of fluid with respect to the axis of spin as the projectile is trajected. This balanced flow alters the flight stability of the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: William F. Donovan
  • Patent number: 4296893
    Abstract: A projectile for shooting from a gun barrel in response to the force of a propellant gas emanating from the aperture of a propellant container, comprising a projectile body having a plurality of spin-producing propellant gas flow passages associated therewith, said passages annularly surrounding, and having their respective axes extending obliquely to, the longitudinal axis of the projectile body, wherein each passage has an inlet portion converging to an adjoining constricted portion, and a diverging portion extending downstream from the constricted portion, the axis of each passage being curved over the entire length of its converging inlet portion and substantially rectilinear over its diverging portion, and the walls of the diverging portion of each passage having a substantially rectilinear form, as viewed in the direction of propellant gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Inventor: Josef Ballmann
  • Patent number: 4295425
    Abstract: A cartridge arrangement having propellant therein and a rocket assisted projectile for firing therefrom by ignition of propellant in the cartridge case, the rocket assisted projectile having an annular securing skirt rearward of a nozzle block and surrounding rifling band, with spaced pressure equalizing vent openings in the securing skirt for pressure equalization relief during debulleting of the projectile from the cartridge case or casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: AAI Corporation
    Inventor: William O. Davis
  • Patent number: 4284008
    Abstract: A segmented sabot utilizes a double ramp configuration and a centrally poioned obturating band in alignment with the center of gravity of an in-bore projectile to improve the uniformity of the shear traction forces at the interface between the sabot segments and a subcaliber projectile, to reduce propellant gas blow-by and to enhance projectile in-bore and trajectory stability. The increased uniformity of shear traction forces between sabot and projectile interfaces and propellant gas self-sealing design permits a reduction in sabot weight of sufficient magnitude to increase the velocity of the projectile at the muzzle exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Richard D. Kirkendall, William H. Drysdale, Louise D. Kokinakis, Bruce P. Burns
  • Patent number: 4280408
    Abstract: A projectile with a penetrating member, in which a pyrotechnic composition is arranged ahead of and rearwardly of the penetrating member. The forward composition, preferably incendiary, is encompassed by a ballistic hood, the rearward composition being at least partially of explosive material is detonatable by an impact detonator. The head portion of the penetrating member is formed of two regions having different slopes to increase the activity of the projectile at flat striking angles against a target. The two regions are separated by a sharp-edged gripping edge. The penetrating member may also include in the interior thereof a plug of a pyrophorically acting metal or alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: Diehl GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Adolf Weber, Siegfried Rhau, Utz-Udo Ahlers