Ballistic projectile

• US 4,664,664 A
• Filed: 09/04/1985
• Issued: 05/12/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1976
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Drake, James F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US06/772,198
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 604/891, 604/49, 102/512, 102/502, 102/529, 102/501, 273/428
• US Class Current: 102/502
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 7/00 Devices or methods for introducing solid, liquid, or gaseous remedies or other materials into or onto the bodies of animals for reproduction or fertilisation A61D19/00 ; devices for implanting pellets, radon seeds or the like A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/02 Bullets

Abstract

Ballistic projectiles for subsonic propulsion having a helically twisted body portion nad a tapered nose portion and having an apparent density of up to 5 g/cm³. The projectiles can be propelled through barrels having a complementary barrel without objectionable fouling.

Claims

1. A ballistic projectile which can be propelled from a smooth bore barrel, thereby having spin about the longitudinal axis imparted thereto, said projectile comprising an elongated body portion and a tapered end portion, said projectile body having a configuration which is inscribed longitudinally within the volume enclosed by an imaginary solid helix generated by revolving a non-circular plane figure at a constant rate around an axis contained within and perpendicular to the plane of said figure while simultaneously moving said plane figure along said perpendicular axis at a constant rate, said plane figure having a perimeter wherein all imaginary, extended, straight lines circumscribing the perimeter of said plane figure intersect at points on or outside of said perimeter, at least the surface portions of said inscribed projectile body adjoining the surface of said helical volume having the contour of said helical volume, said projectile having an apparent density up to about 5 grams/cm³.

2. A ballistic projectile according to claim 1 wherein said projectile body is constructed so that within said helical volume no open path exists which extends along the complete length of the projectile body.

3. A projectile according to claim 1 wherein said plane figure has a polygonal perimeter.

4. A projectile according to claim 3 wherein said polygonal perimeter is decagonal.

5. A projectile according to claim 1 wherein said plane figure has a substantially elliptical perimeter.

6. A projectile according to claim 1 wherein said body has a surface substantially free of metallic lead.

7. A projectile according to claim 1 wherein said body comprises a biomedically acceptable organic polymer.

8. A projectile according to claim 6 wherein said projectile contains a biologically active material.

9. A projectile according to claim 8 wherein said biologically active material is an antigen.

10. A projectile according to claim 8 including means for providing sustained release of said biologically active material.

11. A projectile according to claim 8 wherein said biologically active material is carried in a cavity in the body of said projectile.

12. A projectile according to claim 1 wherein said projectile is soluble in the fluids and cells of a living animal body.

13. A projectile according to claim 12 wherein a biologically active material is dispersed throughout said soluble projectile.

14. A projectile according to claim 13 wherein said biologically active material comprises up to 95% by weight, based on the total weight of the projectile, of biologically active material.

15. A projectile according to claim 1 containing a remotely detectable labeling means.

16. A projectile according to claim 15 wherein said labeling means comprises a transponder.

17. A ballistic system for propelling a projectile in a longitudinally oriented spinning mode comprising a projectile according to claim 1 contained within a barrel having a complementary, smooth, helical bore and means for propelling said projectile from said barrel.

18. A ballistic system according to claim 17 wherein said propulsion means is an expanding gas means.

19. A method for ballistically propelling a projectile from a barrel in a longitudinally oriented spinning mode without objectionable fouling of the barrel comprising

(a) providing a projectile according to claim 1,

(b) providing a barrel having a smooth helical bore complementary to said projectile, and

(c) propelling said projectile through and out of said barrel by an expanding gas propulsion means.

20. A ballistically implantable projectile which can be propelled from a smooth bore barrel, thereby having spin about the longitudinal axis imparted thereto, said projectile comprising an elongated body portion and a tapered end portion, said projectile body having a configuration which is inscribed longitudinally within the volume enclosed by an imaginary solid helix generated by revolving a non-circular plane figure at a constant rate around an axis contained within and perpendicular to the plane of said figure while simultaneously moving said plane figure along said perpendicular axis at a constant rate, said plane figure having a perimeter wherein all imaginary, extended, straight lines circumscribing the perimeter of said plane figure intersect at points on or outside of said perimeter, at least the surface portions of said inscribed projectile body adjoining the surface of said helical volume having the contour of said helical volume, said projectile having an apparent density up to about 5 grams/cm³.