Rifle-launched non-lethal cargo dispenser

• US 6,523,478 B1
• Filed: 09/10/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Rouse, William G., Malecki, Raymond J., Hartman, Daniel J., Gonzalez, Noel, Morgan, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/954,282
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 102/483, 102/484, 102/485, 102/216, 89/13, 42/51, 421/05
• US Class Current: 102/485
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/50 by dispersion
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/04 Rifle grenades

Abstract

A rifle muzzle launched projectile having a launch tube defining an interior cavity, and having an opening at one end with an inner diameter sized to fit over the end of a rifle muzzle; a bullet trap located in the launch tube cavity; and a payload assembly mounted on the launch tube. The payload assembly is further configured for safely releasing a payload in a controlled manner. The payload assembly also includes a casing for retaining an aerosol composition; a propellant located in the casing; a primer for igniting the propellant; and a frangible portion of the casing in contact with the aerosol composition.

Claims

1. A rifle-muzzle launched payload delivering projectile, comprising:

(a) a launch tube defining an interior cavity, and having an opening at one end with an inner diameter sized to fit over the end of a muzzle of a rifle;

(b) a bullet trap fixedly located in said launch tube cavity opposite from the launch tube opening, said bullet trap adapted for safely capturing a bullet fired from said muzzle; and

(c) a payload assembly mounted on said launch tube opposite from said opening end, said payload assembly further configured for safely releasing a payload associated therewith in a controlled manner during delivery in absence of shrapnel formation or fragmentation, and wherein said payload assembly further comprises;

(i) a casing having a distal end and a proximal end, said casing defining a chamber adapted for retaining an aerosol composition;

(ii) a propellant housed in a reservoir in said casing for generating an expandable gas into said chamber upon ignition thereof;

(iii) a primer for igniting said propellant; and

(iv) a frangible portion of said casing in contact with the aerosol composition, said frangible casing portion adapted for safely rupturing in a controlled manner under pressure generated by said propellant after ignition, whereby an aerosol cloud is expelled and released into the atmosphere therefrom.

2. The projectile of claim 1, further comprising:

a gas channeling assembly extending longitudinally within said chamber in communication with said propellant reservoir for regulating the flow of the gas radially outward therealong into said chamber; and

said frangible casing portion extending radially around said casing for radial expulsion of said aerosol composition.

3. The projectile of claim 2, wherein the gas channeling assembly further comprises:

a tubular member extending longitudinally from the propellant reservoir into the aerosol composition chamber, said tubular member adapted for providing fluid communication between the propellant reservoir and the chamber during operating;

a plurality of radially directed pores disposed in surface of said tubular member; and

a thin film surrounding and in contact with said tubular member.

4. The projectile of claim 1, wherein the payload is selected from the group consisting of an aerosol composition, electronic devices, unmanned aerial vehicles, flash-bang munitions, sting balls, concussion grenades, and explosive devices.

5. The projectile of claim 4, wherein the aerosol composition is further selected from the group consisting of smoke, crowd control agents, biological agents, chemical agents, obscurants, marking agents, dyes and inks, chaffs and flakes.

6. The projectile of claim 1, wherein the launch tube further comprises a plurality of tail fins extending radially therefrom in a spaced-apart manner proximate to the launch tube opening for providing aerodynamic stability to the projectile.

7. The projectile of claim 1, wherein said payload assembly is further adapted for air-borne flight.

8. The projectile of claim 1, further comprising an impact fuse assembly for activating said primer upon impact of said projectile with a target.

9. The projectile of claim 8, wherein the impact fuse assembly further comprises a safety mechanism to prevent or reduce occurrence of premature activation of said primer during storage, handling and transportation of said projectile.

10. The projectile of claim 1, wherein the frangible portion of said casing is made of a cellulose-based material.

11. The projectile of claim 1, wherein the propellant is selected from the group consisting of single-base propellants, double-base propellants, triple-base propellants, composite propellants, and ball propellants.

12. The projectile of claim 1, wherein the bullet trap further comprises:

a bullet opening in coaxial alignment with the launch tube opening, for permitting the bullet fired from said rifle to pass therethrough;

a plug with an interior cavity opening rearward in communication with the bullet opening, said plug being configured for absorbing the penetrating energy of said bullet to mitigate the peak impact acceleration of said bullet; and

an anvil in contact with a forward portion of said plug, said anvil adapted for retaining the hard component of said bullet and prevent further penetration of said bullet.