Ammunition and explosives – Projectiles – Composite
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-09
2001-10-23
Tudor, Harold J. (Department: 3641)
Ammunition and explosives
Projectiles
Composite
C102S516000, C102S518000, C102S520000, C102S527000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305293
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to projectiles and, more specifically, multiple component projectiles utilizing a non-discarding sabot for discharge from a rifled or smoothbore barrel.
2. Present State of the Art
Firearms, such as handguns and rifles, are designed to interact with a cartridge for discharging a projectile, commonly referred to as a bullet. A cartridge includes a metal case which houses a charge such as gun powder. Mounted at one end of the case is a primer. The projectile is crimped or otherwise secured to the opposing end of the case.
During operation, the cartridge is positioned within the chamber of a firearm. By depressing a trigger, a mechanical or electronic device initiates an action which ignites the gun powder which burns at an extremely fast and almost instantaneous rate. As the gunpowder bums, it produces a gas. The rapid expansion of the gas detaches the projectile from the case and pushes the projectile down and out the end of the barrel.
It has long been known that imparting an axial rotation to the projectile significantly improves the accuracy in which the projectile can be fired. Several approaches have been used to impart rotation to the projectile. The most common approach is to form a series of spiral grooves that longitudinally extend along the interior surface of the barrel. The projectile is configured to engage the grooves and thus rotate as the projectile travels the length of the barrel. Momentum allows the projectile to continue to spin after the projectile leaves the barrel.
Depending on the type of projectile used, different approaches have been used to engage the projectile and the grooves. For example, some projectiles are made from relatively soft lead alloys. During discharge, the force of the expanding gas causes the projectile to radially expand, thereby engaging the grooves. Where the projectile is made of a harder material, the projectile is configured having a diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the barrel. As a result, the projectile is forced into the grooves as the projectile travels within the barrel.
Although the operation of firearms has become a refined science, there are still several shortcomings associated with conventional projectiles. For example, extended firing, such as is commonly encountered in the military, results in wearing or deteriorating of the interior surface of the gun barrel. Significant wear on the barrel occurs much earlier when hard projectiles are used. The resulting wear on the barrel can produce irregular flight paths in the projectile and can reduce the speed and distance which the projectile travels. In such cases, it is necessary to replace the gun or at least the barrel thereof.
One additional problem with using lead alloy bullets is that they produce lead build-up on the interior surface of the barrel. Lead build-up increases the resistance on the projectile and can radically increase pressures as well as offset the flight path of the projectile. One approach to solving this problem has been to use various cleaning materials to remove the lead build-up from the interior surface of the barrel. This cleaning process, however, requires the use of toxic solvents that produce a harmful lead waste.
Discarding sabots have been used as another approach to overcoming some of the problems mentioned above. A discarding sabot is simply a plastic jacket that is placed over the projectile. During firing, the expanding gas results in expansion of the projectile and sabot such that the sabot, rather than the projectile, engages the grooves of the barrel. By engaging the grooves, the sabot rotates which in turn imparts a rotational movement to the projectile. As the projectile exits the barrel, the sabot is caught by the surrounding air and peeled off of the projectile, allowing the projectile to freely travel. The discarding sabot thus eliminates and prevents the need for the metal projectile to engage the interior surface of the barrel. As a result, wear on the barrel is minimized. Furthermore, there is no metal fouling or buildup in the barrel.
Although sabots produce some advantages, conventional discarding sabots also produce significant problems. For example, as a discarding sabot leaves the barrel, it rapidly expands to release the projectile. In some instances, the sabot breaks apart resulting in a fouled bore. Specifically, the discarding sabot can clog or otherwise obstruct such systems as sound suppressors, flash suppressors, gas recoil systems, recoil reduction systems, and bore evacuators. Furthermore, if the sabot does not evenly release the projectile, the projectile can become imbalanced and subsequently tumble.
OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved projectiles for firing from the barrel of a gun.
Another object of the present invention is to provide improved projectiles as above which minimize wear of the bore.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide improved projectiles which maximize the effective rotation of the projectile as it is discharged from the barrel of the gun.
Another object of the present invention is to provide projectiles which do not result in bore fouling.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide increased velocity while reducing pressure within the barrel.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved projectiles which maximize accuracy.
To achieve the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a projectile is provided for firing from the barrel of a gun. The projectile comprises a core having an exterior surface extending from a leading conical tip to a substantially cylindrical shaft section. The projectile also includes a sabot sleeve which slips over the shaft section of the core. At the trailing edge of the projectile is a rear cap with a stem which fits into a bore at the rear of the cylindrical shaft section. The rear cap locks the sabot sleeve into position and prevents the sleeve from separating from the other projectile elements. The stem of the rear cap and the bore of the shaft section are constructed with a tight interference fit such that once pressed together they become virtually inseparable.
In one embodiment of the present invention, longitudinal interlock means are provided for mechanically locking the sabot sleeve onto the shaft section of the core such that the sabot remains attached to the shaft section and rear cap when the entire projectile is discharged from the barrel of the gun. By way of example, the leading conical tip of the core tapers outwardly to an annular leading lip. The conical tip then tapers inward to meet the cylindrical shaft section. An annular leading slot is thereby created between the lip and the exterior surface of the shaft section. This annular slot is shaped to receive the leading edge of the sabot sleeve and prevent the sleeve from expanding and separating from the core.
The rear cap comprises a similar tapered surface which tapers outwardly from the rear face of the cap to form an annular trailing lip. The rear cap surface then tapers inwardly to form an annular trailing slot which is shaped to receive the trailing edge of the sabot sleeve.
During assembly, the cylindrical shaft section of the core is inserted into the sabot sleeve such that the leading edge of the sabot sleeve is received within the annular leading slot on the tip of the core. The stem of the rear cap is then inserted into the bore in the cylindrical shaft section and pressed fully into the bore with a hydraulic press. As the cap reaches its final position, the trailing slot on the rear cap engages the trailing edge of the sabot sleeve and prevents it from expanding and separating from the projectile. This interlocking of the complementary features between the core, cap and sabot sleeve prevents radial expansion at the front end of the sabot sleeve and longitudinal sliding of the sabot sl
Fry Grant
Furr Douglas Kay
Kirton & McConkie
Krieger Michael F.
Laser II, LLC
Tudor Harold J.
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