Discarding sabot projectile

• US 4,709,638 A
• Filed: 09/24/1981
• Issued: 12/01/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Broden, David E., Warren, John B., Martwick, Wilford E.
• Primary Examiner(s): TUDOR, HAROLD JAY
• Application Number:
  US06/305,077
• Time in Patent Office: 2,259 Days
• Field of Search: 102/501, 102/517, 102/518, 102/519, 102/520, 102/521, 102/522, 102/523
• US Class Current: 102/522
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/068 Sabots characterised by the material F42B14/067 takes precedence

Abstract

A low dispersion discarding sabot projectile comprising: a full caliber cylindrically shaped pusher having a cup-like forward facing recess concentric with the external surface of said pusher, a circumferential groove for receiving a rotation ring, said groove being positioned in approximate radial register with a rear surface of said recess, and a concave recess in the rear end face of said pusher; a cylindrically shaped subcaliber projectile having: (i) a rear portion adapted to be inserted into said forward facing recess of said pusher, (ii) a main body portion projecting forward from said pusher, and (iii) a nose portion; and a discarding sabot of lightweight frangible material disposed around said main body portion, the forward portion of said sabot being spaced radially away from the external surface of said nose portion.

Claims

1. A low dispersion discarding sabot projectile comprising:

(a) a full calibre cylindrically shaped pusher of lightweight metallic material having a cup-like forward facing recess concentric with the external surface of said pusher, said cup-like forward facing recess of said pusher being stepped with the aft portion thereof being of slightly smaller diameter than the forward portion thereof;

(b) a cylindrically shaped subcalibre projectile of dense metallic material having;

(i) a rear portion adapted to be inserted into said forward facing recess of said pusher,

(ii) a main body portion projecting forward from said pusher, and

(iii) a forward tip portion having a surface thereof concentric with the longitudinal axis of said projectile;

(c) a discarding sabot of lightweight frangible material disposed around said main body portion, the forward portion of said sabot being

(i) in approximate radial register with said forward tip portion, and

(ii) spaced away from the external surface of said forward tip portionpiece, said sabot having external surfaces concentric with said primary axis and being adapted, after said projectile has accelerated down a gun barrel, to separate apart and away from said subcalibre projectile, said separation commencing at the forward portion of said sabot; and

(d) said apparatus being further characterized by said aft portion of said pusher recess being adapted to closely engage a short longitudinal portion of said subcalibre projectile.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by the rear portion of said subcalibre projectile having a boat tail shape, with said closely engaged short longitudinal portion being immediately forward of said boat tail shaped rear portion.

3. A low dispersion discarding sabot projectile comprising:

(a) a full calibre cylindrically shaped pusher having;

(i) a cup-like forward facing recess concentric with the external surface of said pusher, said cup-like forward facing recess of said pusher being stepped with the aft portion thereof being of slightly smaller diameter than the forward portion thereof;

(ii) a circumferential groove for receiving a rotation ring, said groove being positioned in approximate radial register with a rear surface of said recess, and

(iii) a concave recess in the rear end face of said pusher;

(b) a cylindrically shaped subcalibre projectile having;

(i) a rear portion adapted to be inserted into said forward facing recess of said pusher,

(ii) a main body portion projecting forward from said pusher, and

(iii) a forward tip portion having a surface thereof concentric with the longitudinal axis of said projectile;

(c) a nose piece mounted on said forward tip portion, said pusher, projectile and nose piece being assembled so that the individual longitudinal axes thereof are in alignment with one another and with a primary axis;

(d) a discarding sabot of lightweight frangible material disposed around said main body portion, the forward portion of said sabot being;

(i) in approximate radial register with said forward tip portion, and

(ii) spaced away from the external surface of said nose piece, said sabot having external surfaces concentric with said primary axis and being adapted, after said projectile has accelerated down a gun barrel, to separate apart and away from said subcalibre projectile, said separation commencing at the forward portion of said sabot; and

,

(e) said apparatus being further characterized by said aft portion of said pusher recess being adapted to closely engage a short longitudinal portion of said subcalibre projectile.

4. Apparatus of claim 3 further characterized by the rear portion of said subcalibre projectile having a boat tail shape, with said closely engaged short longitudinal portion being immediately forward of said boat tail shaped rear portion.

5. A low dispersion discarding sabot projectile comprising:

(a) a full calibre cylindrically shaped pusher of lightweight material and having;

(i) a cup-like forward facing recess concentric with the external surface of said pusher, said cup-like forward facing recess of said pusher being stepped with the aft portion thereof being of slightly smaller diameter than the forward portion thereof;

(ii) a circumferential groove for receiving a rotation ring, said groove being positioned in approximate radial register with a rear surface of said recess, and

(iii) a concave recess in the rear end face of said pusher;

(b) a cylindrically shaped subcalibre projectile of dense material having;

(i) a rear portion inserted into said forward facing recess of said pusher,

(ii) a main body portion projecting forward from said pusher, and

(iii) a forward tip portion having a surface thereof concentric with the longitudinal axis of said projectile;

(c) a discarding sabot of lightweight frangible material disposed around said main body portion of said projectile, the forward portion of said sabot being spaced radially away from the external surface of said forward tip portion, said sabot being adapted, after said projectile has accelerated down a gun barrel, to separate apart and radially away from said subcalibre projectile, said separation commencing at the forward portion of said sabot in response, at least in part, to aerodynamic forces applied to said forward portion which is radially spaced away from said forward tip portion of said projectile; and

(d) said apparatus being further characterized by said aft portion of said pusher recess being adapted to closely engage a short longitudinal portion of said subcalibre projectile.

6. Apparatus of claim 5 further characterized by the rear portion of said subcalibre projectile having a boat tail shape, with said closely engaged short longitudinal portion being immediately forward of said boat tail shaped rear portion.