OPTIMIZED SUBSONIC PROJECTILES

• US 20190323805A1
• Filed: 06/06/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Taylor, Lucius A., Burkart, Joseph T.
• Granted Patent: US 11,549,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 1/00 Missile propulsion characterised by the use of explosive or combustible propellant charges projecting missiles without use of explosive or combustible propellant charge F41B; launching rockets or torpedoes F41F3/00; missile self-propulsion F42B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/00 Means for influencing, e.g. improving, the aerodynamic properties of projectiles or missiles; Arrangements on projectiles or missiles for stabilising, steering, range-reducing, range-increasing or fall-retarding F42B6/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/22 Projectiles of cannelured type
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/24 with inclined grooves
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/32 Range-reducing or range-increasing arrangements; Fall-retarding means
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/38 Range-increasing arrangements F42B10/34, F42B14/06 and F42B15/105 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/44 Boat-tails specially adapted for drag reduction
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/74 of the core or solid body
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/001 Devices or processes for assembling ammunition, cartridges or cartridge elements from parts
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/02 Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile

Abstract

Various embodiments of optimized subsonic projectiles are provided. For example, one exemplary subsonic projectile can include an elliptical nose cone, a cylindrical body and a boattail with various design features that can be used in a subsonic ammunition cartridge where the subsonic projectile is stabile throughout at least a segment of a flight allowing for better accuracy, maintaining low drag, maximizing range and achieving desired performance while ensuring the projectile stays below the speed of sound and lowering a noise profile of projectile and a launcher firing the projectile.

Claims

1. A subsonic ammunition cartridge comprising:

a casing having a base end and an open end wherein said casing has an internal volume;

a primer inserted in said base end of said casing;

a projectile comprised of a nose cone, a body, and a boattail, wherein said body is disposed between said nose cone and said boattail, wherein a portion of the body section in proximity to said boattail of said projectile is inserted in the open end of said casing and press fitted to the portion of the body section;

wherein the nose cone has a first length, the body has a second length, and the boattail has a third length, wherein the third length is at least 50% as long as the first and second lengths combined.

2. A subsonic ammunition projectile comprising:

a nose cone, a body, and a boattail, wherein said body is disposed between said nose cone and said boattail, wherein the nose cone has a first length, the body has a second length, and the boattail has a third length, wherein the third length is at least 50% of the first and second lengths combined.