Patent Application
20180321023
Projectiles, such as bullets and missiles, may be fired from a variety of delivery devices such as hand guns, rifles, rocket launchers, devices that do not utilize a tubular launch mechanism, and the like. Each projectile will have penetration, fracturing and other characteristics particular to that type and make of projectile. An end user may purchase a projectile based on the penetration, fracturing and other characteristics of the projectiles available for sale. However, the end user is not able to customize projectiles to achieve particular characteristics as may be desired. There is a need, therefore, for a projectile that may be mechanically adapted by an end user so as to achieve desired penetration, fracturing or other characteristics.
The Mechanically Adaptable Projectile of the present invention can be propelled from a cartridge, shell, or vessel by various means, to include but not limited to, explosion, air, spring, magnetic energy, vacuum, or gravity for the purpose of using the projectile for impacting objects in applications similar to, but not limited to, hunting, law enforcement use of force and tactics, target practice, self defense, firearms training and recreational shooting. The projectile will generally be created in the form and shape of a bullet, missile, or ballistic projectile of many different dimensions to be used in firearms and launching devices of a variety of styles to include, but not limited to, rifled and smooth bore firearms, rail guns, tubes, and devices used for launching or firing projectiles. Using a series of Core Projectile Modules, the manufacturer can customize the projectiles by adding or omitting Interchangeable Components that will alter the size, mass, shape, internal ballistics, external ballistics, terminal ballistics, and mechanical characteristics of the projectile.
Definitions as used in this description include: Mechanics (Mechanically, Mechanical)—deals with the action of forces on the bodies and with motion, comprised of kinetics, statics, and dynamics; Reactive Qualities—How the projectile reacts when striking a target medium; Mechanical Characteristics—The relationship of the reactive qualities and mechanics; and, Mechanical Design—Visible characteristics of the component.
The present invention is novel in the ammunition and gun related industry by introducing manufacturer and end user adaptability and customization to a range of projectiles that may be used in modern rifles, pistols, guns and other projectile launching devices.
A first embodiment includes a Core Projectile Module of varied mechanical designs and calibers that utilizes materials with a specific gravity no less than that of water and no more than 270 percent greater than that of water; tensile strength properties no less than 6,000 pounds per square inch; compressive strength properties no less than 6,000 pounds per square inch; and a coefficient of friction of no more than 0.5. The Core Projectile Module is capable of being fitted with Interchangeable Components (See
A second embodiment includes a Core Projectile Module of varied mechanical designs and calibers that utilizes materials with a specific gravity no less than that of water and no more than 270 percent greater than that of water, tensile strength properties no less than 6,000 pounds per square inch, compressive strength properties no less than 6,000 pounds per square inch, and a coefficient of friction of no more than 0.5. The Core Projectile Module is capable of being fitted with Interchangeable Components (See
A third embodiment includes a Core Projectile Module of varied mechanical designs and calibers that utilizes materials with a specific gravity no less than that of water and no more than 270 percent greater than that of water, tensile strength properties no less than 6,000 pounds per square inch, compressive strength properties no less than 6,000 pounds per square inch, and a coefficient of friction no more than 0.5. A Core Projectile Module manufactured from the specified materials will have a bearing surface with a low friction coefficient enabling it to pass down the barrel of a rifle or gun more easily, which lowers heat and pressure within the barrel, enabling higher muzzle velocities and faster external ballistic speed passing through the air, while simultaneously reducing recoil relative to the caliber and mass of the projectile and the powder charge. By reducing the skin friction, these material characteristics enable the projectile to achieve higher flight speeds than previous art made from materials with a higher friction coefficient and an equal ballistic coefficient.
A fourth embodiment includes an Interchangeable Component (See
In a fifth embodiment, the mechanical characteristics of the projectile are affected by the techniques used in manufacturing, such as utilizing specified materials, pressures and heat to enable different manufacturing techniques. Each unique manufacturing method will be used to predictably alter the mechanical characteristics of the various components comprising a Mechanically Adaptable Projectile, thereby altering the characteristics of the pressure wave that is introduced into the specified target upon impact of the projectile. The methods include, but are not limited to, injection molding, blow molding, rotational molding, extrusion molding, lathe/mill machining, and stamping. The chosen method of manufacturing alters the performance of the projectile in a predictable and marketable manner. This enables a manufacturer to use the same material and change the marketable characteristics of the end product by altering the method of manufacturing and not changing the physical design or type of material. For example, a projectile of identical style, shape and size can have two distinct mechanically functional qualities if one is made through a machine lathe process and another is made by an injection molding process. This manufacturer design flexibility allows adjustment of the number of mechanical characteristics for a projectile of identical size, style and shape.
A sixth embodiment a Core Projectile Module includes varied mechanical designs and calibers that utilizes materials with a specific gravity no less than water and no more than 270 percent greater than that of water, tensile strength properties no less than 6,000 pounds per square inch, compressive strength properties no less than 6,000 pounds per square inch, and a coefficient of friction of no more than 0.5. The unique utilization of the specified range and combination of materials, varied velocities, varied sizes, varied mass and varied mechanical designs of a Core Projectile Module enables the manufacturer to create a projectile that efficiently and predictably propagates ballistic pressure waves into specified targets. The rapid fracturing causes the energy from the projectile to rapidly propagate into the animal being impacted by the projectile. This reduces the depth of wound channels. There is a direct connection to the depth of the wound channel and the amount of traumatic vascular tearing. In other words, the present invention allows the end user to choose components of a projectile so as to provide a desired depth of projectile channel upon impact. Previous art relies on vascular injuries and blood loss to increase their incapacitative capabilities. More vascular tearing requires more significant surgical repairs to prevent blood loss. This present invention allows the manufacturer to create a projectile that relies on ballistic pressure waves and remote cerebral effects from ballistic pressure waves that shock the system into incapacitation, rather than relying solely on vascular injuries and blood loss. By design this projectile will penetrate less and therefore create less vascular tearing associated with a wound channel, thus decreasing the surgical complexity of repairing vascular injuries related to a wound channel. This present invention, therefore, departs from the prior art by changing the mechanism of incapacitation from vascular tearing and trauma, which causes massive bleeding, to relying primarily on ballistic shock waves that cause remote cerebral effects as well as remote effects on the spine and internal organs of an animal. This phenomenon is commonly known as “hydrostatic shock.” Each of the mechanisms of incapacitation has their lethal concerns, but incapacitation by hydrostatic shock may provide more minutes for medical intervention, thereby increasing combat effectiveness while pushing back the margin of lethality.
In a seventh embodiment, the Interchangeable Components can be assembled into or onto, i.e., inserted into or “outserted” onto, a Core Projectile Module using ultrasonic welding. This method of manufacturing is unique to the manufacturing of projectiles. No known prior art utilizes this assembly process to alter the performance of a projectile. Ultrasonic welding of Interchangeable Components to the Core Projectile Module enables press fitting of precision Interchangeable Components of varying materials to the Core Projectile Module, forming a precision projectile such that the projectile will withstand the extreme pressures of gun barrels, rifling, and flight through air, additionally affecting how the specified components react with each other upon impact. The fit tolerance of the Interchangeable Component to the Core Projectile Module alters the mechanical characteristics of the entire projectile by pre-stressing or compressing the Core Projectile Module. As the tolerances change from interference fit to varying press fit tolerances, the interaction of individual components upon each other changes as the mechanical interaction of each component is altered by the tightness of the fit tolerance. The mechanics of fracturing upon impact will change based on the fit tolerances of the Interchangeable Component to the Core Projectile Module. The ballistic pressure waves propagate through the target differently based on changes in the fracturing characteristics of the projectile when impacting a specified target. Also, the varied fit tolerances will alter the reactive qualities of the projectile based on the manner in which impact energy propagates through the projectile upon striking a specified target medium. That in turn alters how the pressure wave propagates from the projectile into the target being impacted by the projectile. This produces desirable and predictable qualities in a projectile that are identifiable and marketable. The use of ultrasonic welding is unusual in the bullet manufacturing industry and is novel and unique to the utility of this art.
In an eighth embodiment, the Interchangeable Component (see
In a ninth embodiment, the interchangeable Component can be added or omitted to the Core Projectile Module to reduce the friction coefficient and mass. This will enable the manufacturing of low recoil cartridges and safe rounds for indoor ranges and other target applications. It will also optimize the projectile's ability to fly through the air for long range shooting (see
In a tenth embodiment, the Interchangeable Component can be added to or omitted from the Core Projectile Module (see
In an eleventh embodiment, the Interchangeable Component can be added to the Core Projectile Module to change the length, shape, mass, flight characteristics, rifling twist requirements and specific density of the projectile.
In a twelfth embodiment, the Interchangeable Component can be added to the Core Projectile Module to optimize the projectile to match the barrel twist of a firearm when the projectile is used in such a firearm.
In a thirteenth embodiment the adaptable qualities of a given Mechanically Adaptable Projectile can be changed after the cartridge is fully completed without removing the projectile from the casing.
The Core Projectile Module will now be described in detail. Prior art projectiles (
Referring to
Prior art projectiles may include toxic materials as their core material, whereas the new Mechanically Adaptable Projectile utilizes a non toxic polymer that reduces complications of soil contamination and risk to pregnant shooters. The low friction coefficient of the Core Projectile Module (
A Core Projectile Module impact analysis will now be described. When the Core Projectile Module strikes a medium with lower specific gravity than water, the depth of penetration is deeper than in mediums with a specific gravity of water or greater. This is a predictable quality due to the specifications of the material, manner it is manufactured, combination of mechanical qualities and internal, external and/or terminal ballistics. The adaptability of the inventive projectile enables the changing or adding of Interchangeable Components to the Core Projectile Module by the end user or manufacturer for the purpose of adapting the mechanical qualities, thus altering the propagation of ballistic pressure waves, such as by altering the Core Projectile Module by adding Interchangeable Components with varying specific gravities, friction coefficients and shapes.
For example, when viewing a hole in a material, such as a piece of wood, through which a projectile has traveled, the shape of the hole may indicate that there is a slight projectile instability with the rifle used. The inventive projectile could be used with such a rifle and fitted with an Interchangeable Component that alters the overall specific gravity of the projectile thereby causing stabilized rotation of the projectile fired from that particular rifle. In this manner, the user of the particular rifle could adapt the projectiles fired from his rifle to provide a more stable projectile travel path from the rifle.
In another example of use, a material, such as a piece of wood, may show splitting on the backside of the board around the projectile path of the inventive projectile. The board may be split in a conical pattern outward from the centerline of the projectile path. At the center of the pressure pattern there may be more crushing of the wood material as the pressure wave propagates through the wood. The depth of the damage along the centerline of the projectile's path may be deeper and grows shallower as the pressure wave propagates outward from the centerline. This demonstrates how the building material violently reacted to the ballistic pressure wave which results in crushing and fragmenting of the material from the inventive projectile. A typical projectile path of the inventive projectile through a medium will show a widening damage path as the ballistic pressure wave propagates through the wood.
The Specific Gravity, Projectile Fracturing, and Ballistic Pressure Wave Propagation properties will now be described.
When a ballistic pressure wave impacts an object with a specific gravity nearly equal to that of water, the crushed particles from the medium will ride on the pressure wave as it blows back toward the direction from which the projectile originated. In one test conducted on the inventive projectile, the remaining particles from a Core Projectile Module that was fired into a wood medium were examined. The original Core Projectile Module weighed 151 grains (0.345 ounces). The recovered fragments from the Core Projectile Module weighed 11 grains (0.025 ounces). Such an efficient fracturing and crushing of the Core Projectile Module enables efficient propagation of ballistic pressure waves through the medium.
In one embodiment including a Core Projectile Module with the addition of an Interchangeable Component, the Interchangeable Component is designed to delay the fragmentation of the Core Projectile Module, allowing the projectile to enter the medium more deeply before fragmenting and propagating the ballistic pressure wave into the medium. The Interchangeable Component is altering the mass, tip, meplat, ogive, ballistic coefficient and overall length of the projectile. All of these changes combine to alter the mechanical characteristics, and internal, external and/or terminal ballistics of the projectile when it impacts varying mediums. The end user or the manufacture is able to adapt the projectile to optimize specific qualities depending on the use of the projectile.
Additionally, in this particular embodiment, the components in this particular projectile are lathe turned from Delrin® 150E and 6061 T6 aluminum. This provides for known ductility of the material components, thereby creating a predictable, marketable quality. Annealing one or both of the components will alter the ductility of the components. This can be done before assembling or as an assembled projectile. Changing the ductility of one or both of the components provides a change in fracturing characteristics, which in turn provides a predictable performance change in the Mechanically Adaptable Projectile. Also, the predictable performance of this exact configuration can be altered by changing the method of manufacture, thereby increasing the applications of a single mechanical design by the number of alternate manufacturing methods.
In an embodiment where the projectile is machine lathed instead of utilizing injection molding and investment casting, the fit tolerances of the Interchangeable Component (such as 6000 series T6 aluminum with a sharp point and small meplat) can be altered from interference fit to varying degrees of press fit. By increasing the tightness of the fit, the manufacturer can preload stress on the Core Projectile Module. This will reduce the amount impact needed to cause the Core Projectile Module to fracture, thereby reducing the amount of velocity needed to cause the necessary fracturing for efficient release of ballistic pressure waves into the target object. This in turn enables the use of the projectile in low recoil scenarios and low efficiency barrels. Thus, the inventive projectile enables the use of an identical mechanical design in a greater array of applications while maximizing efficiency. The use of an Ultrasonic Welder will enable the manufacturer to maximize the limits the projectile can be pre-stressed for this application.
A variety of interchangeable components 30 may be placed within component 32 by the end user at the site of discharge of projectile 10, such as at a shooting range, at a law enforcement live operations site, in a hunting setting, or any other location where the projectile 10 may be discharged. Accordingly, the end user of the projectile may alter the characteristics of the projectile in real time, to suit their needs for a particular, live situation in which the end user, i.e., the shooter of the projectile, may find themselves.
Still referring to
In another embodiment, which takes into account Newton's Cradle Effect, the projectile includes a threadably attachable and detachable interchangeable component (
In contrast, the loose fitting interchangeable components may be utilized in scenarios where it is not desirable for the core projectile module and the interchangeable component to remain intact as a single projectile. In one loose fitting embodiment the projectile utilizes spherical interchangeable components that are loosely fitted. Due to Newton's Cradle Effect the spherical interchangeable components separate from the core projectile module during flight and fly directly in front of the Core Projectile Module and will strike an intermediate obstacle, such as glass, just before the Core Projectile Module. The loose fitting Interchangeable Components will shatter the glass directly in front of the Core Projectile Module. This will allow the Core Projectile Module to pass through the intermediate obstacle (glass) and strike a target behind the glass. During testing, it has been observed that when this embodiment of the Core Projectile Module strikes the target, it will function as if there is no Interchangeable Component. In one embodiment the loose fitting Interchangeable Components may be affixed to the Core Projectile Module during manufacturing assembly of the cartridge, and not in the field. In this embodiment the assembly technique holds the loose fitting Interchangeable Components in place during transport and loading. In particular, a clear plastic disc is fitted just over the top of the Core Projectile Module and under the roll crimp of the shell hull. Porcelain may be the best material for this application. Steel has also been utilized.
The projectiles that are adaptable in the field during live police and military events may use threadably attachable/detachable Interchangeable Components. Some of the threaded interchangeable components do not require tools for insertion (
In one embodiment, projectile component 32 of the present invention may be manufactured of a synthetic material, such as Quadrant EPP Acetron® POM-H Homopolymer Acetal. This polymer has a specific gravity of 1.41 g/cc, water absorption of 0.20%, water absorption at saturation of 0.90%, hardness of 89 (Rockwell M), hardness of 122 (Rockwell R), tensile strength of 11,000 psi, tensile strength at 65 Degrees of 7,200 psi, elongation at break of 30%, tensile modulus of 450 ksi, flexural strength of 13,000 psi, flexural modulus of 450 ksi, compressive strength of 16,000 psi, compressive modular of 450 ksi, shear strength of 9,000 psi, izod impact, notched of 1.00 ft-lb/in, coefficient of friction, dynamic of 0.25, K (wear) factor of 200×10exp(−10)inch exp(3)/ft-lb-hr, and limiting pressure velocity of 2,700 psi-ft/min, surface resistivity of 1.00exp(13) ohm, dielectric constant of 3.7 at frequency of 1exp(6) Hz, dielectric strength of 450 kV/in, and a dissipation factor of 0.0050 at frequency of 1exp(6) Hz. These properties of the polymer result in no or very limited turbulence at the back end of the projectile during flight, substantially increasing the speed of inventive projectile 10 during flight. In sample tests of a 12 gauge inventive projectile 10, the projectile was recorded during flight at speeds of over 4,000 feet per second, where as prior art projectiles typically have a maximum speed of 1,200 to 1500 feet per second. The increased speed of inventive projectile 10 is believed to be due to the decreased weight of component 32 manufactured of polymer compared to prior art shells manufactured of metal, and due to the very low air resistance created by inventive projectile 10 due to component 32 being manufactured of polymer materials. In other words, the outer surface 58 of projectile 10 has an extremely smooth low skin friction, compared to the outer surface of prior art metal projectiles, thereby resulting in the extremely fast speeds of projectile 10.
In one embodiment, one of interchangeable components 30 may be manufactured of yellow brass, C27450, having a chemical composition of 60.0 to 65.0 Cu, 0.35 Fe, 0.25 Pb, and the remainder being Zn, with a nominal range of Cu being 62.5 and Zn being 37.5. In another embodiment, one of interchangeable components 30 may be manufactured of Phosphorus deoxidized tellurium bearing Copper, UNS C14500, OSO15 Temper. Use of the yellow brass or Copper alloy will provide an interchangeable component 30 have the mass and other properties that may be desirable to achieve particular ballistics characteristics.
Water has a specific gravity of 1 and we have learned that creating projectiles and interchangeable components from materials with known mechanical properties including their specific gravity enables us to predict how the projectiles will interact with water. We are using water as the preferred medium because the properties of water are not typically susceptible to human error, or organic variability upon creation. With water as the primary “known” we are able to predict how a material will react when hitting a water based medium. This provides an experimental starting point wherein we evaluate how the addition of other variables will alter how a projectile of a known specific gravity will react to water. For example, using a Core Projectile Module with known specific gravity (SG) and other mechanical properties and observe how the projectile interacts with water. When this reaction becomes known then the Core Projectile Module becomes the universal component on which Mechanically Adaptable Projectile can be created.
Then we establish a linear model wherein we juxtapose a specific projectile performance along the linear scale to predict how that projectile will react when striking other mediums wherein the reaction is known as it relates to water. The linear scale would place water at the center of the scale with an SG of 1 and list potential mediums along the scale in both ascending and descending order according to their known SG. A scale could potentially place the SG of air on the lowest end of descending knowns and steel on the highest end of the ascending knowns.
There is a large body of study involving the use of water as a base medium for examining ballistics. Courtney et al have done many studies wherein they examine ballistic pressure waves in water. Courtney et al have taken what they learned and have examined other experiments in light of what they have learned from their studies and they have been able to answer questions about ballistic science that were previously unsettled science. They have intensely studied an entire body of ballistic science involving remote wounding. They have settled numerous beliefs and resolved questions of predecessors in the science. We have used their work and the work of their predecessors and partners to provide a basis of knowledge that has enabled us to develop the scientific principles espoused in the Mechanically Adaptable Projectile science, described herein.
The bodies of various animals are largely water based. The SG of building materials have a range of density (SG) that is greater than water (1.0) and also less than water. This is the basis from which mechanically adaptable projectile components are created. This is the basis of knowledge through which component interchangeability and interactivity is determined.
Through scientific study, a specific core projectile module of a specific design can be used to impact water. Through observation, the reactivity of the component is known and then a pattern of predictable reactivity is discovered by observing the difference in reaction when impacting the same core projectile module to other known mediums. Then that known reactivity is further examined by adding an interchangeable component to the known core projectile module and observing how the interchangeable component alters the previously known reactivity of the core projectile module. In the above process water becomes the central and preferred known upon which predictable reactivity is built.
In the above description numerous details have been set forth in order to provide a more through understanding of the present invention. It will be obvious, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced using other equivalent designs.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14939194 | Nov 2015 | US |
| Child | 15960974 | US |
