BACKGROUND
Technical Field
This disclosure relates to ballistic projectiles. In particular, but without limitation, the disclosure relates to a stepped trailing edge bullet.
Bullet shapes and designs are known in the art.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,706 discloses a projectile with an extendable boattail.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,316,468 discloses a bullet.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,139,207 discloses a projectile having increased velocity and aerodynamic performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 11,415,398 discloses a gas favoring boattail projectile.
The purpose of a bullet is to hit a specific target. The distance a bullet travels is determined by its speed and aerodynamic design. A bullet reaches maximum speed before exiting the barrel. Maximum speed is achieved by having the largest surface area possible perpendicular to the expanding gases to generate the most velocity.
After the bullet exits the barrel, expanding gases are no longer trapped behind the bullet to push. Velocity begins decreasing and the gases dissipate into the surrounding air.
The aerodynamics of the bullet will determine the rate velocity decreases, thus determining the distance the bullet will travel. The bullet is a glider. The better the aerodynamics, the greater the distance the bullet will travel.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
SUMMARY
A stepped trailing edge bullet, the stepped trailing edge bullet is disclosed. The stepped trailing edge bullet includes a body cylinder; a leading edge of the stepped trailing edge bullet positioned proximate to a first end of the body cylinder; and a trailing edge of the stepped trailing edge bullet positioned proximate to a second end of the body cylinder opposite the leading edge of stepped trailing edge bullet, where more than one stepped concentric indentations are formed upon the trailing edge of the stepped trailing edge bullet. The disclosed stepped trailing edge bullet improves the accuracy of projectile by maximizing the trailing edge surface area of the projectile and minimizing turbulence in the gun barrel.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the disclosure will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the disclosure, and be protected by the following claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art flat-based bullet 100 and a boat-tailed bullet 110.
FIG. 2 illustrates components of a prior art boat tail bullet 200.
FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic 300 of a conventional boat tail bullet 301 traveling along a rifle barrel 302.
FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic 300 of a conventional boat tail 301 after egress from a gun barrel tip.
FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic view 400 of a conventional flat tail bullet in flight showing air flow 401 after leaving a barrel of a gun.
FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic view 500 of a conventional boat tail bullet in flight showing airflow 501 after leaving a barrel of a gun.
FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic view of an STE bullet in flight showing airflow around the bullet after leaving the barrel of a gun.
FIG. 8 illustrates aspects of stepped trailing edge (“STE”) bullet, according to the disclosure.
FIG. 9 illustrates a rear view of an STE bullet, according to an aspect of the disclosure.
FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic 800 of an STE bullet 801 exiting a rifle barrel 802.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following briefly describes the aspects of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This brief description is not intended as an extensive overview. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements, or to delineate or otherwise narrow the scope. Its purpose is merely to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
It is known that the aerodynamics of the bullet will determine the rate at which velocity decreases, thus determining the distance the bullet will travel. The bullet is a glider. The better the aerodynamics, the greater the distance the bullet will travel.
A disclosed STE (Stepped Trailing Edge) bullet is designed to increase accuracy and range. The STE bullet accomplishes this by:
- 1) Allowing the maximum surface area on the trailing bullet edge for expanding gases to propel the bullet prior to the bullet exiting the barrel;
- 2) After the bullet exits the barrel, the stepped, a tapered trailing edge reduces drag, increasing range.
An optimal STE bullet would be a symmetrical shape similar to a football. The symmetrical shape can be modified to fit a rifle landing, bearing surface and specific distances and speeds of different bullets.
A bullet is a controlled explosion with one piece of shrapnel, the bullet.
The first bullets were round lead balls. The distance was limited, and accuracy was poor.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art flat-based bullet 100 and a boat-tailed bullet 110. The first modification changed the shape of the bullet from a round ball to a cylinder shape. The back of bullet 102 has the most surface area on the trailing edge for expanding gases to push against. The back of bullet 112 has a boat tail and has less surface area on the back which results in less air resistance while in flight.
FIG. 2 illustrates components of a prior art boat tail bullet 200. The point after a tapered leading edge 201 is a bearing surface 202 and is the only part of a bullet that makes contact with rifle bore. A tight fit is required so none of the expanding gases slip by the bullet reducing the bullets velocity. Aerodynamics shows the trailing edge 203 of a bullet is just as important as the leading edge to achieve maximum distance.
FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic 300 of a conventional boat tail bullet 301 traveling along a rifle barrel 302. A boat tail bullet 301 traps expanding gases 303 in the space between the barrel 302 and a taper 304 of the boat tail bullet 301, creating internal turbulence 305. After the bearing surface has egressed the barrel, the bullet has no contact with the barrel. The turbulent gases trapped between the taper and barrel can now push the rear of the bullet off center affecting accuracy.
FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic 300 of a conventional boat tail bullet 301 in flight showing air flow. After the bearing surface has egressed the barrel, the bullet has no contact with the barrel. The turbulent gases trapped between the taper and barrel can now push the rear of the bullet off center affecting accuracy.
FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic 400 of a conventional flat tail bullet in flight showing airflow 401 after egress from a gun barrel tip. After egress, the flat base design 402 produces drag 403, acting as an aerodynamic brake slowing the bullet 401 down.
FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic view 500 of a conventional boat tail bullet 501 after leaving a barrel of a gun. The design of the boat tail bullet 501 attempts to address drag problem shown in FIG. 5. After the boat tail bullet 501 leaves the barrel, drag 502 also slows the boat tail bullet 501 down. By tapering the trailing edge 503, creating a boat tail, some drag 502 is decreased.
The disadvantage of a boat tail is before the bullet leaves the barrel. The boat tail bullet has a smaller surface area on the back of the bullet for expanding gases to push directly against. The conventional tapered edge reduces surface area by 20% or more, reducing the bullets velocity.
The long, pointed nose of these designs moves the center of gravity behind the middle of the bullet, which makes the bullet unstable as the bullet slows. As shown in FIG. 3, a boat tail bullet 301 traps expanding gases 303 in the space between the barrel 302 and the taper 304, creating internal turbulence. After the bearing surface has egressed the barrel 302, the bullet 301 has no contact with the barrel 302. The turbulent gases 305 trapped between the taper 304 and barrel 302 can now push the rear of the bullet 301 off center affecting accuracy.
All current bullet designs are asymmetrical with a leading edge much longer than the trailing edge. Both flat base and boat tail bullets are the main types of bullets used today. Both designs are a compromise on the trailing edge and either reduce velocity or aerodynamics.
FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic view 900 of a STE tail bullet 901 after leaving a barrel of a gun. The design of the STE tail bullet 901 reduces the drag of flat and boat tail bullets in flight shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. After the STE tail bullet 901 leaves the barrel, the aerodynamics of the STE bullet allows air to flow smoothly 902 around the entire bullet, resulting in a longer and more stable flight by reducing drag.
FIG. 8 illustrates aspects of stepped trailing edge (“STE”) bullet 601, 610, 620, 630, according to the disclosure. The STE 601, 610, 620, 630 includes a leading edge 601, 610, 620, 630; a body cylinder 602, 612, 622, 632; and a stepped trailing edge 603, 613, 623, 633. The wide variety of bullet speeds can alter the STE bullet 601, 610, 620, 630 length of leading edges 601, 610, 620, 630 and trailing edges 603, 613, 623, 633. An enlarged view of the trailing edge 640 is illustrated in FIG. 8. The trailing edge 640 includes a proximal end 641 and a distal end 642. Between the proximal end 641 and the distal end 642 lies more than one stepped concentric indentations 643, formed upon and disposed upon and along on the trailing edge 640. The more than one stepped concentric indentations 643 are positioned with a descending radius from a longitudinal axis 640a of the trailing edge 640 beginning at the proximal end 641, where the more than one stepped concentric indentations 643 have a greatest radius from the longitudinal axis 640a, decreasing to a least radius from the longitudinal axis 640a at the distal end 642.
In an aspect, the more than one stepped concentric indentations 643 may have a linear descending profile along the trailing edge 640 as seen from a side perspective of the STE bullet 601, 610, 620, 630. In an aspect, the more than one stepped concentric indentations 643 may have a curvilinear descending profile along the trailing edge 640 as seen from a side perspective of the STE bullet 601, 610, 620, 630. Other profiles of the more than one stepped concentric indentations 643 may be chosen to fit the purpose of the STE bullet 601, 610, 620, 630.
In an aspect, a staggering along the longitudinal axis 640a and/or a radius from the longitudinal axis 640a of the more than one stepped concentric indentations 643 may vary for the size, intended use and typical exit velocity from a gun of the STE bullet 601, 610, 620, 630.
FIG. 9 illustrates a rear view of an STE bullet 700 looking along the longitudinal axis 601 showing multiple, concentric, graduated ridges 701 of the more than one stepped concentric indentations 643 on the trailing edge 640.
FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic 800 of an STE bullet 801 exiting barrel showing expanding gases which have perpendicular surfaces to expand against. STE bullet 801 is propelled by expanding gases 803 in the space between the barrel 802 and a taper 804 of the STE bullet 801, but without creating appreciable turbulence within the expanding gases 803. The lack of appreciable turbulence improves the accuracy of the STE bullet 801 as it travels from the barrel 802.
The disclosed STE bullet 601, 610, 620, 630 described in FIGS. 8-10 allows room for the more than one stepped concentric indentations 643 to be made on the trailing edge 603, 613, 623, 633 of the STE bullet 601, 610, 620, 630. This allows maximum perpendicular surface area to thrust on the trailing edge while increasing aerodynamics by reducing drag. The perfect STE bullet for flight would be symmetrical with the leading edge producing a balanced bullet. But the trailing edge may be modified in length and the number of stepped edges to meet specific goals.
In an aspect, with reference to FIG. 8, the disclosed STE bullet 601, 610, 620, 630 may be created as an article of manufacture, where the article of manufacture includes a leading edge 601, 610, 620, 630; a body cylinder 602, 612, 622, 632; and a stepped trailing edge 603, 613, 623, 633. In an aspect, the stepped trailing edge 640 may include includes a proximal end 641 and a distal end 642. Between the proximal end 641 and the distal end 642 lies more than one stepped concentric indentations 643 on the trailing edge 640. The more than one stepped concentric indentations 643 are positioned with a descending radius from a longitudinal axis 640a of the trailing edge 640 beginning at the proximal end 641, where the more than one stepped concentric indentations 643 have a greatest radius from the longitudinal axis 640a, decreasing to a least radius from the longitudinal axis 640a at the distal end 642.
In an aspect, a staggering along the longitudinal axis 640a and/or a radius from the longitudinal axis 640a of the more than one stepped concentric indentations 643 may vary for the size, intended use and typical exit velocity from a gun of the STE bullet 601, 610, 620, 630.
The disclosed STE bullet may be configured to serve as a ballistic projectile for different uses, such as for a rifle, a handgun, a long gun, an infantry artillery shell or other adaptations of the disclosed stepped trailing edge feature of the STE bullet.
While various aspects of the disclosure have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more aspects and implementations are possible within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
Patent Application
20240377174
