Patent Grant
9157713
The present invention is generally directed to a projectile that is adaptably fit within a casing of a cartridge for use with a firearm, wherein the projectile has a range limited trajectory characteristic which may be predetermined while providing realistic performance over a certain range for use with conventional firearms. More particularly, present invention is directed to mechanisms of the projectile that function to exhibit a tendency in the projectile to destabilize or otherwise limit downrange travel past a specific desired effective range.
Standard caliber bullets have maximum ranges over distances of kilometers. However, firearm training ranges using such ammunition do not have such considerable area and rely on much shorter target ranges. The Department of Defense, military units, law enforcement and commercial range have specified rules of safety for ranges which require space far beyond the distance between shooter and target. This space not only includes the individual shooting ranges, but also safety fans or shortfall zones, parking areas, and various structures. However, government agencies and commercial entities typically are limited to their existing footprint, and therefore available ranges are limited. Department of Defense, military units, and law enforcement require rigorous training schedules. Limited range availability places constraint on these schedules. There is a desire to add more ranges, but the availability of the space that is required under safety guidelines is limited within the land footprints that are available.
It is desirable to develop and use bullets with limited range to accommodate the limited range area available.
It would further be desirable to provide a design for such ammunition which provides realistic training or recreational use at limited or enclosed ranges, but wherein the ammunition has a limited and predetermined range to increase the available arenas for training.
Accordingly, there is a need for projectiles that can be prepared to limit the effective range of the projectile while capable of maintaining realistic performance.
The present invention in some aspects relates to a rifle or other firearm projectile that exhibits a tendency to destabilize or otherwise limit downrange travel past a specific desired effective range under ballistic phase conditions allowing its use on ranges with limited space.
During firing or the “ballistic phase”, as used herein, propellant is ignited and fired creating propellant combustion heat and the projectile travels through the rifled barrel of the firearm and engages the rifling of the barrel creating friction. The rifling imparts a spin to the projectile 10 such that the projectile 10 is spin stabilized once the projectile 10 leaves the barrel. The spinning creates extremely high centrifugal forces as spins can exceed 100,000 rpm. This spinning also creates considerable friction heat which is combined with the friction heat built up by forward progression. Internal friction built up by movement, if any, of the internal components of the projection also contributed to the heat generated during the ballistic phase. The ballistic phase, also referenced as external ballistics, extends from firing to the velocity termination or impact of the projectile. The “ballistic phase temperatures”, as used herein, are those temperatures achieved during the ballistic phase. Contributing factors to the ballistic phase temperatures comprise the propellant combustion heat, rifling friction, centrifugal forces, spin friction, forward progression friction and internal movement friction. Ballistic phase temperatures of 320 C have been recorded on the sides of the projectile.
In some aspects, the present invention is directed to a projectile that has an aerodynamic body and is adapted for mounting in a cartridge case for firing with conventional firearms, such as rifles and handguns. The projectile incorporates low melting point (LMP) material and is constructed and arranged that, during the ballistic phase of a firing of said projectile, the LMP material melts, which initiates a destabilizing mechanism which alters the stability of the projectile during flight so as to create a catastrophic failure, or other similar destabilizing event, resulting in linear velocity loss.
In further aspects of the invention, the projectile employs a jacket, which may comprise standard copper-alloy common to many centerfire projectiles. The core may be lead-free, utilizing a tin-alloy core, selected based on melting point analysis and ballistic phase temperatures. Heat transfer within the internal ballistic phase of delivery is not adiabatic and leads to the heating of the tin-alloy. Skin friction during the exterior ballistic phase adds further heat to the core material. The tin-alloy at least partially melts and becomes a liquid in the jacket at some point downrange, and the ratio of axial to transverse moments of internal changes radically and affects the stability of the projectile.
In a further aspect of the invention, the same physical projectile composition noted above is used, except that the base of the jacket is formed with an aperture array comprising apertures to allow for ‘shedding’ of the melted core. Sectional density is reduced as mass is removed, leading to a projectile that exhibits a tendency to lose linear velocity at an accelerated rate due to loss of mass, thus limiting its effective range of flight.
The projectile, according to certain aspects of the present invention, comprises a core situated at least partially within a tubular cavity of the jacket. The core may at least partially form the nose of the projectile. The core may comprise a first core material and a second core material, wherein the melting point of the first core material is less than the melting point of the second core material. The first core material and the second core material may be substantially distinct and substantially linearly aligned along the longitudinal axis of the projectile with the first core material forming the first end of the core and the second core material forming the second end of the core. During the ballistic phase of a firing of the projectile, the first core material is at least partially discharged from the projectile through the plurality of apertures and/or from a position adjacent to the second end of the jacket due to melting of the first core material by heat generated during the ballistic phase and as a result thereof the second core material either 1) shifts toward the base of the bullet within and relative to the jacket along the longitudinal axis of the projectile or 2) separates from the jacket, causing projectile instability and linear velocity loss.
In some aspects, the second core material is slip-fitted into the end of the jacket, such that, during the ballistic phase of a firing of said projectile, the first core material is at least partially discharged from the projectile through the plurality of apertures due to melting of the first core material by heat generated during the ballistic phase. As a result, the second core material shifts toward the base relative to the jacket along the longitudinal axis of the projectile. This shortening of the bullet causes accelerated linear velocity loss.
In further aspects, an extending portion of the first core material extends noseward around the second core material between the jacket inner surface and the second core material at the position adjacent to the second end of the jacket, such that the second core material is not directly engaged with the jacket. During the ballistic phase of a firing of said projectile, the extending portion of the first core material is melted and at least partially discharged from the projectile causing the second core material to separate from the jacket. This results in catastrophic failure.
In some aspects of the invention, a first end of the jacket forms at least a portion of the base of the projectile. The jacket includes a plurality of apertures formed therein at the base. A core is situated at least partially within a tubular cavity of the jacket. The core comprises a first core material having a melting point that is no greater than ballistic phase temperatures. During the ballistic phase of a firing of said projectile, the first core material is at least partially discharged or shed from the projectile through the plurality of apertures due to melting of the first core material by heat generated during the ballistic phase. As a result thereof the projectile loses mass and has an accelerated loss of forward velocity.
In further aspects of the invention, the core at least partially forms the nose of the projectile. In addition to the core first material, the core further comprises a second core material distally situated from the first material and fixed to the jacket. The melting point of the first material is less than the melting point of the second core material. The first core material and the second core material are substantially distinct and substantially linearly aligned along the longitudinal axis of the projectile with the first material forming the first end of the core and the second core material forming the second end of the core. During the ballistic phase of a firing of said projectile, the first material is at least partially discharged from the projectile through plurality of apertures due to melting of the first material by heat generated during the ballistic phase. As a result thereof, the center of gravity of the projectile moves adjacent to or forward of the center of pressure causing the projectile to become unstable and lose linear velocity.
In still further aspects of the invention, the second end of the jacket may at least partially form the nose of the projectile. The tubular cavity formed by the jacket comprises an open cavity portion between the core, which is position toward the base, and the nose along the longitudinal axis of the projectile. The core may comprise at least one channel formed in the first material. The channel is longitudinal aligned relative to the longitudinal axis of the projectile and opens at an end into the open cavity portion. The channel may be positioned radially within the first material. The channel may also or instead of be positioned between the first material and the inner surface of the jacket. Additionally, a portion of the jacket which is positioned radial around the first material of the core may increase in thickness in the direction of nose to base.
In another aspect of the invention, the jacket may form at least a portion of the base of the projectile and at least partially forms the nose of the projectile. The projectile further comprises a core situated at least partially within the tubular cavity of the jacket. The core is an elongated body with a first end at the base of the projectile, a second end, and an outer surface in engaged contact with the inner surface of the jacket. The core comprises a first core material having a melting point that is no greater than ballistic phase temperatures. Additionally, the tubular cavity of the jacket comprises an open cavity portion between the core and the nose along the longitudinal axis of the projectile. The projectile is so arranged and constructed that, during the ballistic phase of a firing of said projectile, the outer surface first material of the core disengages from the inner surface of the jacket due to melting of the outer surface of the first material by heat generated during the ballistic phase. As a result thereof, the core becomes freely moving within the jacket causing the center of gravity of the projectile to move noseward adjacent to the center of pressure. This causes the projectile to become unstable and lose linear velocity. In certain aspects of the invention, the core may be conical in shape with an apex directed toward the nose. In further aspects, the first material of the core may comprise an irregular outer surface such that the outer surface is not flush with the inner surface of the jacket. Also or alternatively, the inner surface of the jacket is irregular such that it is not flush with the outer surface of the first material of the core. Irregularities may include, but are not limited to, ribs/rails, bumps, surface depressions and/or channels on either interfacing surface.
In some aspects of the invention, the projectile may comprise a jacket, wherein the inner surface of the jacket defines a tubular cavity and wherein the first end of the jacket forms at least a portion of the base of the projectile and the second end of the jacket at least partially forms the nose of the projectile. The projectile further comprises a core situated at least partially within the tubular cavity of the jacket with a first end at the base of the projectile. The may comprises a material that has a melting point that is no greater than ballistic phase temperatures. The projectile further comprises an insert having a first end aligned toward the base and a second end aligned toward the nose. The insert has an outer surface with a melting point greater than the melting point of the first material. The insert may be positioned at least partially radially within the first material and is thereby engaged to the first material at an interface between the first materials and the insert. During the ballistic phase of a firing of said projectile, the insert of the core at least partially disengages from the first material due to melting of the interface between the first material and the insert by heat generated during the ballistic phase. As a result thereof, the insert becomes misaligned with the axis of the projectile and the center of gravity of the projectile is offset causing accelerated loss of forward velocity.
In certain aspects of the invention, the insert extends beyond the second end of the first material toward the nose. In further aspects, the insert is radially fully within the first material. In other aspects, the first material extends with the jacket to the nose. In these aspects, the jacket may comprise an open cavity portion between the core and the nose along the longitudinal axis of the projectile. In further aspects, such open cavity may be filled with a rigid second material.
In still further aspects and embodiments of the invention, the projectile may comprise a jacket and a core therein. The jacket includes an aperture array, which is one or more apertures formed in its containing wall, wherein total open area defined by all of the one or more apertures is asymmetrically spaced around the longitudinal axis of the projectile. The core comprises first material situated at least partially within a tubular cavity of the jacket and being adjacent to the one or more apertures. The first material has a melting point that is no greater than ballistic phase temperatures resulting from firing said projectile. During the ballistic phase of a firing of said projectile, the first material is at least partially discharged from the projectile through the one or more apertures due to melting of the first material by heat generated during the ballistic phase. As a result, the projectile becomes unstable causing accelerated loss of forward velocity.
In all aspects and embodiments of the invention, an aperture array may be employed at the base of the projectile. The aperture array comprises one or more apertures which increase exposure of the first material to ballistic temperatures and allows shedding. In all aspects and embodiments of the invention, the aperture array is such that the total open area defined by all of the one or more apertures is asymmetrically spaced around the longitudinal axis of the projectile.
An embodiment of the present invention may include a cartridge with range limiting, the cartridge comprising a casing with a cavity, a projectile receiving end, propellant in the casing, and a projectile received in the projectile receiving end. The projectile may comprise a projectile jacket and a core, the projectile having a forward portion with an ogive shape and a rearward portion with a generally cylindrical or tapered cylindrical shape and having a bearing surface for engaging the rifling in a barrel. The projectile includes means for causing delayed instability from the heating of the projectile from the engagement of the bearing surface with the rifling in a barrel upon firing of the cartridge. The means includes utilizing a core material that melts upon firing due to the friction heating by the bearing surface engaging with the rifle barrel upon firing. The means for causing delayed instability from the heating of the projectile may further comprise having core leakage ports defined around a circumference of the projectile, whereby the core material can leak from the leakage ports after firing. The core leakage ports may further comprise one of the group comprising slits in the jacket, openings in the jacket, whereby the core is exposed, and localized thinned regions of the jacket, wherein the thinned region is at least 50% thinner than at an adjacent non thinned region.
The inventions disclosed herein may include a cartridge having a means for causing delayed instability, wherein the means comprises a shiftable mass inside the bullet jacket that is released upon melting of a quantity of the core material and may then change internal positions causing the instability.
The inventions disclosed herein may include a cartridge having a means for causing delayed instability, wherein the means comprises a shiftable mass that is released upon melting of a quantity of the core material and may then change positions causing the instability.
The inventions disclosed herein may include a cartridge having a means for causing delayed instability, wherein the means comprises a shifting the center of mass of the bullet closer to the center of pressure of the projectile due to melting of a quantity of the core material.
An embodiment of the present invention may include a cartridge with range limiting, the cartridge comprising a casing with a cavity, a projectile receiving end, propellant in the casing, and a projectile received in the projectile receiving end. The projectile may comprise a projectile jacket and a core, the projectile having a forward portion with an ogive shape and a rearward portion with a generally cylindrical or tapered cylindrical shape and having a bearing surface for engaging the rifling in a barrel. The projectile may have a quantity of meltable material in the core that will progressively melt due to the transfer of heat from the exterior surface of the projectile inwardly after the bullet is fired and the bullet travels downrange. The jacket may include core leakage ports defined around a circumference of the projectile whereby the core material can leak from the leakage ports after firing. The core leakage ports may comprise one of a group comprising slits in the jacket, openings in the jacket, whereby the core is exposed, and localized thinned regions of the jacket, wherein the thinned region is at least 50% thinner than at an adjacent non thinned region. The projectile may include a shiftable mass inside an interior of the projectile that is initially fixed in position and then is released upon melting of a quantity of the core material and may then change internal positions causing the instability.
The inventions disclosed herein may include a cartridge comprising a quantity of material, wherein a progressive melting of the quantity of material causes a shifting of the center of mass of the bullet closer to the center of pressure of the projectile due to melting of a quantity of the core material.
The inventions disclosed herein may include a cartridge comprising a projectile disclosed herein securely fitted therein, wherein the cartridge is unfired and suitable for use in a hand held firearm.
The aspects and embodiments of the present invention are advantageous to Department of Defense, foreign ministry, law enforcement, and commercial ranges that have limited-range, or desired to add more ranges within their existing footprint. The limited range projectiles disclosed herein allow for a smaller safety fan, thus allowing for rifle-fire at certain ranges that have been unavailable in the past and for the establishment of new ranges on land that would have otherwise been unsuitable.
The aspects and embodiments of the present invention are advantageous because they allow for increased utilization of training range space by reducing the maximum ballistic range of rifle munitions. They further allow users to maintain rigorous training schedules due to increased efficiency and utilization of range space. The limited range projectiles disclosed herein allows for rifle-fire at certain ranges that have been closed to it in the past. Further additional ranges having limited range area may be opened due to reduced size of tracts of land required.
The aspects and embodiments of the present invention are advantageous because they provide a design for limited range ammunition which provides realistic training or recreational use at limited or enclosed ranges.
The aspects and embodiments of the present invention are advantageous due to the simplicity of design allowing for reduced costs.
The above summary of the various representative aspects of the invention is not intended to describe each illustrated aspect or every implementation of the invention. Rather, the aspects are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art can appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the invention. The figures in the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these aspects.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention and methods of construction of the same will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein only the preferred embodiments are shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and methods of construction, and its several details are capable of modification in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawing and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
The invention can be completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various aspects of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
While the present invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the present invention to the particular aspects described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.
For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated.
The invention is directed to projectiles and methods to produce the inventive projectiles.
The general aspects of the present invention further comprise a bearing surface 22 having a bearing length 23 situated between the base heel 20 and a shoulder 26. The invention further comprises an ogive portion 24 having an ogive length 25.
For this aspect of invention, as well as all other aspects and embodiments of the present invention, suitable materials for the first material 30 of the core material are materials and compositions having a melting point that is no greater than ballistic phase temperatures resulting from firing said projectile after adapting it into a cartridge and preparing it into a condition for firing. Such first materials may include, but are not limited to, tin and tin alloys.
For this aspect of invention, as well as other aspects, suitable materials for the second material 32 of the core material are materials and compositions having a melting point that is equal to or greater than ballistic phase temperatures resulting from firing said projectile after adapting it into a cartridge and preparing it into a condition for firing. Such second materials may include, but are not limited to, any rigid material suitable for use as ballistic projectiles.
In this aspect of the invention, the projectile 10 is so arranged and constructed that, during the ballistic phase of a firing of the projectile 10, barrel and air friction and any other conditions included in the ballistic phase and the accompanying ballistic phase temperatures melt and/or loosens the extending portion 38 and exposed portion 36 of the first material 30 between the jacket 13 and the second material 32. In this process, the first material may be at least partially discharged from the projectile from a position adjacent to the second end 40 of the jacket 13. This releases and disengages the second material 32 from the jacket 13 leading to an expected catastrophic failure of the projectile 10 at a pre-determined range. The projectile becomes unstable and has accelerated linear velocity loss. The predetermined range may be set by the determination of the melting point of the first material 30 and various dimensional parameters.
For this aspect of invention, as well as other aspects and embodiments, the projectile may further comprise an aperture array in the base 18 of the projectile 10. If the jacket 13 forms the base 18, as in the present embodiment of
In an aspect of the invention as shown in
In an aspect of the invention as shown in
In an aspect of the invention as shown in
In this aspect of the invention, the first material 30 is fitted in the jacket cavity 34 at the base 18, as shown in
In a further aspect of the invention, as show in
In a further aspect of the invention as shown in
In this aspect of the invention, the first end 53 of first material 30 is fitted in the jacket cavity 34 at the base 18, as shown in
In a further aspect of the invention, as show in
In a further aspect of the invention, it is contemplated that the interface/contact area 58 between the inner surface 52 of the jacket 13 and the core 14 may be varied to control the limited range of the projectile. This may be done by varying the interface 58 by varying the contact between the inner surface 52 of the jacket 13 and the outer surface of the core 14 that confronts the inner surface 52 such that they are not flush, thereby reducing or increasing the interface 58 area. In certain aspects of the invention, this is achieved by forming irregularities in the inner surface 52 of the jacket 13 and/or the outer surface of the core 14. Irregularities including, but are not limited to, ribs/rails on the inner surface 52 and/or channels or ribs/rails on the outer surface of the core 14 that are aligned with the axis 17, bumps on either surface, surface depressions on the outer surface of the core 14, or the like.
In further aspects of the invention as shown in
In this aspect of the invention, the first end 53 first material 30 is fitted in the jacket cavity 34 at the base 18, as shown in
Upon firing of the projectile, the environment of the ballistic phase melts the thin interface 66 between the jacket 13 and insert 60, leading to catastrophic angle of attack failure at a pre-determined range due to a dramatic CG offset as the core axis becomes misaligned with the projectile axis 17, leading to an accelerated loss of forward velocity.
In certain aspects of the invention, as shown in
In certain aspects of the invention, as shown in
For this aspect of invention shown in
In some aspects of the invention, the insert 60 may be various shapes that may be linearly aligned and balanced along an axis and not necessarily a cylindrical rod of constant diameter. The insert 60 may be of various lengths.
In a further aspect of the invention as shown in
Upon firing of the projectile, the extreme temperatures that the nose 16 is subject to during the ballistic phase melts the interface 74 between the jacket end 40 and the rod 70, leading to a release of the rod 70 into open cavity 48 which may cause catastrophic angle of attack failure at a pre-determined range due to a dramatic CG offset as the core axis becomes misaligned with the projectile axis 17, leading to an accelerated loss of forward velocity.
The projectiles of the present invention may be constructed as centerfire projectiles.
The projectiles disclosed here may be sized and shaped to be used as small caliber rifle projectiles. Caliber sizes may include those caliber sizes between and including .22 to .50 and 5.56 mm to 7.62 mm. Examples of calibers may include .22, .223, .243, .270, .300, .308, .30-30, 30-06, .45-70, .50, 5.56 mm, 7 mm, 7.62 mm.
The projectiles disclosed here may be sized and shaped to be used as ammunition of handguns. Caliber sizes may include those caliber sizes between and including .38 to .50 and 9 mm to 10 mm. Examples of calibers may include 9 mm, 10 mm, .38, .40, .41, .44, .45, .50, .300, .357, and .38.
Examples of suitable materials for the jacket include, but are not limited to, conventional jacket material, copper, aluminum, copper alloys, aluminum alloys, brass, tin, tungsten, zinc, iron, and steel and alloys thereof and combinations thereof.
Examples of suitable lower melting point materials include, without limitation, tin, zinc, bismuth, indium, and alloys thereof, and combinations thereof.
Examples of suitable higher melting point materials include, without limitation, lead, lead alloys, tungsten, tungsten alloys, metal containing composites, copper, brass, bronze, steel, and aluminum and alloys thereof and combinations thereof.
Other suitable materials may be found in the incorporated references listed herein, which are incorporated herein by references in their entireties.
The projectiles of the present invention, including all of the aspects and embodiments, are adapted for mounting in a cartridge case for firing. The states of the projectile and cartridge aspects and embodiments described are unfired and prefired states and are undeformed and ready for conventional use.
The above and below references in all sections of this application are herein incorporated by references in their entirety for all purposes, including to extent that they aid in materials, formulations, formulation methods and materials for making and using the compositions of the present invention, including materials used for the core, first material and second material based on melting temperatures and ballistic phase conditions.
For purposes of interpreting the claims for the present invention, it is expressly intended that the provisions of Section 112, sixth paragraph of 35 U.S.C. are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim
All of the features disclosed in this specification (including the references incorporated by reference, including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.
Each feature disclosed in this specification (including references incorporated by reference, any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any incorporated by reference references, any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed The above references in all sections of this application are herein incorporated by references in their entirety for all purposes.
Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose could be substituted for the specific examples shown. This application is intended to cover adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be defined by the attached claims and their legal equivalents, as well as the following illustrative aspects. The above described aspects embodiments of the invention are merely descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. Further modifications of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/800,406, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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| 61800406 | Mar 2013 | US |
