Self lubricating sabot

• US 4,239,006 A
• Filed: 07/27/1978
• Issued: 12/16/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard D. Kelson
• Original Assignee: Richard D. Kelson
• Inventors: Kelson, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tudor, Harold J.
• Application Number:
  US05/928,512
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 102/38 WR, 102/92, 102/93
• US Class Current: 102/522
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/04 Lubrication means in missiles coatings for reducing friction F42B12/82
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/064 Sabots enclosing the rear end of a kinetic energy projectile, i.e. having a closed disk shaped obturator base and petals extending forward from said base

Abstract

Sabots for modern firearms, including both rifles and pistols, which have reduced friction thus imparting greater sub-caliber projectile velocity are made from a thermoplastic resin containing finely divided solid lubricant fillers. Preferably the forward end of the sabot is tapered to further reduce friction and improve cartridge feeding in automatic firearms.

Claims

1. A unitary one piece plastic sabot for projection through a rifled gun barrel which sabot is constructed from a nylon resin having dispersed particles of a solid lubricant throughout, said sabot consisting of a cylindrical sleeve having a back imperforate closed end and an open forward end defining a cylindrical projectile cavity said sleeve tapering gradually inwardly from a predetermined point on said sleeve to the forward end thereof and containing a plurality of equidistantly radially spaced slots extending axially from said open forward end a predetermined distance, said distance being less than the length of the cavity and at least as great as the lengths of the tapered portion of the sleeve.

2. A unitary plastic sabot according to claim 1 wherein the solid lubricant is a member selected from the group consisting of molybdenum disulfide and graphite.

3. A unitary plastic sabot according to claim 2 wherein the angle of taper does not exceed 45°

.

4. A unitary plastic sabot according to claim 3 wherein the solid lubricant is molybdenum disulfide.

5. A unitary plastic sabot according to claim 3 wherein the solid lubricant is graphite.

6. A unitary plastic sabot according to claim 3 wherein the angle of taper is between about 15°

and 35°

.