Patent Application
20250137757
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention is in the technical field of defense systems against airborne threats specifically drones and other projectiles.
More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of anti-drone and defensive projectiles.
Ever since the invention of gun powder and the first time it was used to launch a projectile it has been appreciated that there is an advantage of firing multiple projectiles at soft targets at one time to increase the likelihood of hitting the target. There have also been occasions that these smaller projectiles were interconnected for specialized uses. During the days of sailing ships chains were fired from cannons into the upper sail rigging of other ships to destroy their mast and ability to maneuver. In the modern era heavier caliber weapons have employed proximity fuses to explode a projectile scattering shrapnel over a wider area. Unfortunately, the electronics, cost, and the time needed to deploy exploding projectiles are prohibitive to adaptation in man portable weapons. Furthermore, all of these resulted in random patterns of projectiles.
Today with the advent of FPV (First Person View) drones and bomber drones the need for multi-projectile firing weapon has become more acute. The most common multi-projectile firing weapon is the modern shotgun. Unfortunately, the modern shotgun has some limitations that do not make it ideal for this mission. First the use of unguided projectiles (shot) from a modern shotgun shell creates random patterns that gradually expand as they leave the barrel of the weapon. Close in, where the shot is need to be the most accurate, the pattern spread is the tightest and the chance of hitting the target the least. Further out the pattern expands and makes hits more likely but the energy of the shot quickly diminishes. Finally, although one small BB size round hitting in the right location can incapacitate a soft target like a drone it is also noted that much of the drone would not be incapacitated by a single or even several hits.
There have been several previous patents that included webs or nets but with one exception none included a method to provided consistent spread of the net or web. In most cases the invention relied on a random spreading of the pattern and have failed to be any more consistent than random shot. The one exception relied on a special adaptation to the shotgun barrel to induce a spin on the projectiles relying on centrifugal force to deploy the net or web fully. Unfortunately, this results in an immediate loss in forward velocity and range making the practical application impractical.
Accordingly, objects and advantages of the invention are its immediate spread of the sub-projectiles, larger circumference of the impact area, longer range of the heavier sub-projectiles, automatic web adjustment in the event of a sub-projectile detachment and consistent interception pattern. All of which increase the likelihood of an interception of the incoming drone or projectile.
The present invention comprises a series of sub-projectiles contained within a traditional shotgun shell. The sub-projectiles are arranged around the circumference of the shell supported by a plastic housing, or a sabot, to maintain their position and orientation during firing of the shotgun shell. Each sub-projectile is designed with a slight airfoil planform with the lifting force directed outward from the center of the shell. Each sub-projectile is linked at the center of lift by high tensile strength filament to an opposing sub-projectile. Multiple opposing sub-projectiles are joined at the center through a slip ring. At intervals outward from the center circumferential filaments intersect each of the linking filaments connecting the sub-projectiles through slip rings to form a web. Upon the projectile leaving the barrel of the weapon an immediate outward force is supplied by the aerodynamics of the sub-projectiles to pull the linking filaments and the circumferential filaments into a web shape. In the event one of the sub-projectiles becomes dislodged or disconnected from its opposing sub-projectile the use of slip rings would allow the remaining sub-projectiles to reposition and the web to remain relatively intact. This feature is automatic with the force being supplied by the aerodynamic lifting of the remaining sub-projectiles and the use of non-binding slip rings.
The advantage to this ammunition projectile is that it provides an almost immediate spread of the shot pattern which greatly increases the likelihood of contact for close in projectiles. Secondly, the heavier sub-projectiles will increase the range as they have a higher mass and will travel further before losing energy. Third, the circumferential design of the linking filaments means that any contact with the incoming drone or projectile will most likely result in its destruction. Finally, the circumferential width will be both of greater circumference and more consistent size and pattern at weapon discharge than conventional shot.
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While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.
