Munitions with shattering penetrator cartridge case

• US 6,598,536 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec AG
• Original Assignee: Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec AG
• Inventors: Burri, Jakob
• Primary Examiner(s): TUDOR, HAROLD JAY
• Application Number:
  US09/945,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20020005138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 102/398, 102/498, 102/506, 102/514-518, 102/520-523, 102/529
• US Class Current: 102/522
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/367 Projectiles fragmenting upon impact without the use of explosives, the fragments creating a wounding or lethal effect practice or training projectiles disintegrating upon impact F42B8/14; projectiles of high-explosive type with fragmentation-hull construction F42B12/22
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/745 the core being made of plastics; Compounds or blends of plastics and other materials, e.g. fillers
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/02 Bullets

Abstract

A sabot projectile (10), comprising a sabot (12) and a shattering penetrator (14) arranged in the sabot (12). The shattering penetrator (14) has a penetrator casing (20), which can be broken into at least two casing portions (22*, 24*) upon impact of the shattering penetrator (14), to which end a predetermined casing breaking area (23*) is respectively arranged between two adjoining casing portions (22*, 24*). A central conduit (30) is arranged in the penetrator casing (20), in which a penetrator core (26) is received, whose core tip element (26.4) projects out of the penetrator casing (20) and constitutes a penetrator tip. The plastic material forming the penetrator core (26) is introduced into the conduit in a flowable state. The penetrator casing (20) is secured against break-up into the casing portions (22*, 24*) by the penetrator core (26).

Claims

1. A sabot projectile, comprising:

a sabot and

a shattering penetrator arranged in the sabot, which has a unitary penetrator casing and a penetrator core

the unitary penetrator casing having at least two casing portions and one casing breaking area arranged between each two adjoining casing portions, to allow the shattering penetrator to be broken in the at least two casing portions upon impact, and the unitary penetrator casing defining a central conduit extending between the two casing portions, and

the penetrator core being received in the central conduit having a predetermined core breaking area generally adjoining the casing breaking area, and having a core portion protruding from the unitary penetrator casing and constituting a penetrator tip, wherein the penetrator core is made from a solidified plastic material shaped in flowable state while being introduced into the central conduit.

2. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the casing breaking area is uniformly frangible.

3. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 1, wherein each casing portion, including the core portion received therein, have approximately identical mass.

4. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the casing breaking areas are constituted by areas of the penetrator casing of reduced casing wall strengths.

5. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the central conduit of the unitary penetrator casing has at least two different cross-sections.

6. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the penetrator tip has a back and the shattering penetrator is designed such that a predetermined tip breaking area is formed at the back of the penetrator tip.

7. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the penetrator casing is put together from several casing elements.

8. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 7, wherein the casing elements are directly connected with each other by screwed connection, soldering, gluing, compression or crimping.

9. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 7, wherein the casing elements are indirectly connected with each other by means of the sabot.

10. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the casing elements are made from identical material.

11. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plastic material is filled with one of the fillers selected from the group consisting of:

glass fibers, glass beads, carbon fibers, powdered mineral rock, chips, and powder.

12. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the conduit has cross-sections that are circular.

13. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 8, wherein the casing elements are indirectly connected with each other by means of the sabot.

14. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 1, wherein the casing elements are made from different materials.

15. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 10, wherein the material is metallic.

16. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 15 wherein the material is steel, brass, or bronze.

17. The sabot projectile in accordance with claim 14 wherein the different materials of the casing elements are selected from the group consisting of:

steel, brass and bronze.