Enhanced performance reactive composite projectiles

• US 20050183618A1
• Filed: 02/10/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: The Government Of The United States Of America, As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy
• Inventors: Nechitailo, Nicholas V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,191,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/516
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/06 with hard or heavy core; Kinetic energy penetrators F42B12/16, F42B12/74 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/44 of incendiary type F42B12/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/46 for dispensing gases, vapours, powders or chemically-reactive substances F42B12/70 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/78 of jackets for smallarm bullets ; Jacketed bullets or projectiles

Abstract

A reactive composite projectile includes a reactive composite material in a solid shape and an encasement material applied to and surrounding the solid shape for exerting compressive forces thereon. Additionally or alternatively, an elongate structure can be positioned in the solid shape. The elongate structure is made from a material having a mass density that is approximately 2 to 10 times the mass density of the reactive composite material.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing launch and in-flight integrity of a reactive composite projectile, comprising the steps of:

providing a reactive composite material in a solid shape; and

encasing the solid shape in an encasement material that applies a compressive force to the solid shape.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said encasement material is tape and wherein said step of encasing comprises the steps of:

applying a tensile force to said tape; and

wrapping said tape about said solid shape while said tensile force is being applied.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said tape is made from a material that chemically reacts with the reactive composite material when the solid shape strikes a target.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein said tape is made from a material that is inert with respect to the reactive composite material when the solid shape strikes a target.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said encasement material is a polymeric material and said step of encasing comprises the steps of:

coating the solid shape with a liquified form of the polymeric material; and

curing the liquified form of the polymeric material so-coated on the solid shape wherein the polymeric material shrinks to thereby apply said compressive force to the solid shape.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said encasement material is a polymeric material and said step of encasing comprises the steps of:

extruding a flexible solid form of the polymeric material over the solid shape; and

curing the flexible solid form of the polymeric material so-extruded over the solid shape wherein the polymeric material shrinks to thereby apply said compressive force to the solid shape.

7. A reactive composite projectile, comprising:

a reactive composite material in a solid shape; and

an encasement material applied to and surrounding said solid shape for exerting compressive forces thereon.

8. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 7 wherein said encasement material comprises tape wrapped under tension onto said solid shape.

9. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 8 wherein said tape is made from a material that chemically reacts with said reactive composite material when the solid shape strikes a target.

10. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 8 wherein said tape is made from a material that is inert with respect to said reactive composite material when the solid shape strikes a target.

11. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 7 wherein said encasement material is a polymeric material shrink cured onto said solid shape.

12. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 7 further comprising an elongate structure positioned in said solid shape, said elongate structure made from a material having a mass density that is approximately 2 to 10 times said mass density of said reactive composite material.

13. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 12 wherein said elongate structure comprises a plurality of fins extending radially outward from an elongate core.

14. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 12 wherein said elongate structure comprises a one-piece structure that defines a plurality of elongate fins extending radially outward from an elongate core.

15. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 12 wherein said elongate structure comprises an assembly that, when assembled, defines a plurality of elongate fins extending radially outward from an elongate core.

16. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 12 wherein said elongate structure comprises an externally threaded rod.

17. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 12 wherein said elongate structure comprises a plurality of elongate rods.

18. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 17 wherein said plurality of elongate rods are bundled together.

19. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 12 wherein said elongate structure is made from a material selected from the group consisting of metals and ceramics.

20. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 7 wherein said solid shape comprises a cylinder.

21. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 7 wherein said solid shape comprises a sphere.

22. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 7 wherein said solid shape comprises a cube.

23. A reactive composite projectile, comprising:

a reactive composite material in a solid shape, said reactive composite material having a mass density; and

an elongate structure positioned in said solid shape, said elongate structure made from a material having a mass density that is approximately 2 to 10 times said mass density of said reactive composite material.

24. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 23 wherein said elongate structure comprises a plurality of fins extending radially outward from an elongate core.

25. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 23 wherein said elongate structure comprises a one-piece structure that defines a plurality of elongate fins extending radially outward from an elongate core.

26. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 23 wherein said elongate structure comprises an assembly that, when assembled, defines a plurality of elongate fins extending radially outward from an elongate core.

27. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 23 wherein said elongate structure comprises an externally threaded rod.

28. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 23 wherein said elongate structure comprises a plurality of elongate rods.

29. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 28 wherein said plurality of elongate rods are bundled together.

30. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 23 wherein said solid shape comprises a cylinder.

31. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 23 wherein said solid shape comprises a sphere.

32. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 23 wherein said solid shape comprises a cube.

33. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 23 wherein said elongate structure is made from a material selected from the group consisting of metals and ceramics.

34. A reactive composite projectile, comprising:

a reactive composite material in a solid shape, said reactive composite material having a mass density; and

an elongate structure positioned in a central portion of said solid shape, said elongate structure made from a material having a mass density that is approximately 2 to 10 times said mass density of said reactive composite material, said elongate structure having an elongate core with fin-like protuberances extending radially outward from said elongate core into said solid shape.

35. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 34 wherein said elongate structure comprises a one-piece structure.

36. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 34 wherein said elongate structure comprises a multiple-piece assembly.

37. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 34 wherein said fin-like protuberances extend longitudinally along said elongate core.

38. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 34 wherein said fin-like protuberances comprise threads.

39. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 34 wherein said solid shape comprises a cylinder.

40. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 34 wherein said solid shape comprises a sphere.

41. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 34 wherein said solid shape comprises a cube.

42. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 34 further comprising an encasement material applied to and surrounding said solid shape for exerting compressive forces thereon.

43. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 42 wherein said encasement material comprises tape wrapped under tension onto said solid shape.

44. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 43 wherein said tape is made from a material that chemically reacts with said reactive composite material when the solid shape strikes a target.

45. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 43 wherein said tape is made from a material that is inert with respect to said reactive composite material when the solid shape strikes a target.

46. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 42 wherein said encasement material is a polymeric material shrink cured onto said solid shape.

47. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 34 wherein said elongate structure is made from a material selected from the group consisting of metals and ceramics.