Projectile

• US 20110192309A1
• Filed: 04/08/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Techventure Investments Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Techventure Investments Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Harrison, Leslie Mervyn
• Granted Patent: US 8,474,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/380
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/02 Bullets
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/10 with self-propelled bullet

Abstract

A projectile (10) comprises a cylindrical body (12) with a first (leading) end (14) and a second trailing axially opposed end (16). An internal cavity (18) is formed between the ends (14 and 16) and holds a volume of propellant material (22). The first end (14) is closed by a nose (20) that is fixed to the body (12). The end (14) is sealed with a base seal (26) that seats a primer (24) for igniting the propellant (22). The primer (24) is located inboard of the second end (16) and the base seal (26) to reduce the likelihood of accidental activation. Seals (30) are formed about the body (12) for maintaining gas pressure of deflagrating propellant. The seals (30) may be formed integrally with the body (12) or separately from the body (12) and seated in respective grooves (40) formed circumferentially about the body (12). Also disclosed is a breech sleeve (810) shaped to complement the breech of the weapon and a throughway (816) defined by an internal surface, the projectile being able to pass through the throughway (816).

Claims

1. A caseless projectile for firing out of a barrel of a small arms weapon, the barrel being made of a barrel material and having an inner diameter, the projectile comprising:

a substantially cylindrical body with first and second axially opposite ends and a cavity extending between the first end and the second end for holding a quantity of propellant, the first end being closed by a nose integral to the body, the cylindrical body having a first outer diameter which is less than the inner diameter of the barrel;

a quantity of propellant held in the cavity;

at least two seals extending about an out circumferential surface of the body, a primer for igniting the propellant, the primer being supported by the cylindrical body and located inboard of the second end of the cylindrical body;

each seal being in the configuration of a ring and protruding radially from the body to form a substantial seal against an inner circumferential surface of the barrel and having a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter and equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the barrel;

the seals being spaced apart along the cylindrical body with a portion of the cylindrical body between the seals being exposed.

2. The projectile according to claim 1, wherein the projectile comprises a first seal positioned near the first end of the body and a second seal positioned near the second end of the body.

3. The projectile according to claim 1 wherein the cylindrical body is provided with a respective groove for each of the at least two seals, each groove extending circumferentially about an outer circumferential surface of the body.

4. The projectile according to claim 3, wherein each groove comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being forward of the second portion in a direction of firing of the projectile, wherein the first portion is of a greater depth than the second portion.

5. The projectile according to claim 4, wherein the first portion has a width equal to a width of the seal.

6. The projectile according to claim 4, wherein the second portion has a depth equal to the width of the seal.

7. The projectile according to claim 4, wherein the second portion has a width greater than a difference between the second outer diameter and the first outer diameter.

8. The projectile according to claim 1 wherein the one or more seals is arranged to lubricate the barrel as the projectile is fired through the barrel.

9. The projectile according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the seals comprise a coating of a lubricating material applied thereto.

10. The projectile according to claim 8, wherein a lubricant is contained within at least one of the seals such that as the projectile is fired through the barrel the at least one of the seals is ruptured and the lubricant is released.

11. The projectile according to claim 1 further comprising a sleeve disposed in the cavity, wherein the propellant is held in the sleeve and the sleeve is made of material which undergoes minimial radial expansion by action of pressure generated by deflagration of the propellant.

12. The projectile according to claim 11 wherein the sleeve has an open end near the second end of the body and wherein the primer is adjacent the open end of the sleeve.

13. The projectile according to claim 12 wherein the sleeve has a closed end near the first end of the body.

14. The projectile according to claim 13 wherein the closed end comprises a wall integrally formed as part of the sleeve.

15. The projectile according to claim 1 wherein the seals and the body are made of materials of different hardness.

16. The projectile according to claim 15 wherein the material of the seals is harder than the material of the body.

17. The projectile according to claim 15 wherein the seals are formed separately of the body.