Enhanced performance reactive composite projectiles

• US 7,191,709 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2004
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Nechitailo, Nicholas V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers; Troy
• Application Number:
  US10/779,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20050183618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 102/506, 102/518, 102/519, 102/520, 102/522, 102/523
• US Class Current: 102/518
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/06 with hard or heavy core; Kinetic energy penetrators F42B12/16, F42B12/74 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/44 of incendiary type F42B12/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/46 for dispensing gases, vapours, powders or chemically-reactive substances F42B12/70 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/78 of jackets for smallarm bullets ; Jacketed bullets or projectiles

Abstract

A reactive composite projectile includes a reactive composite material in a solid shape and an encasement material applied to and surrounding the solid shape for exerting compressive forces thereon. Additionally or alternatively, an elongate structure can be positioned in the solid shape. The elongate structure is made from a material having a mass density that is approximately 2 to 10 times the mass density of the reactive composite material.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing launch and in-flight integrity of a reactive composite projectile, comprising the steps of:

providing a reactive composite material in a solid form, said solid form consisting of one of a sphere and a cube;

disposing an elongate structure in a central portion of said solid form, said elongate structure made from a material having a mass density that is approximately 2 to 10 times said mass density of said reactive composite material, said elongate structure having an elongate core with fin-like protuberances extending radially outward from said elongate core into said solid form; and

encasing the solid form in an encasement material that applies a compressive force to the solid shape.

2. A reactive composite projectile, comprising:

a reactive composite material in a solid form, said solid form consisting of one of a sphere and a cube;

an elongate structure positioned in a central portion of said solid shape, said elongate structure made from a material having a mass density that is approximately 2 to 10 times said mass density of said reactive composite material, said elongate structure having an elongate core with fin-like protuberances extending radially outward from said elongate core into said solid form; and

an encasement material applied to and surrounding said solid form for exerting compressive forces thereon.

3. A reactive composite projectile, comprising:

a reactive composite material in a solid form, said reactive composite material having a mass density, said solid form consisting of one of a sphere and a cube; and

an elongate structure positioned in a central portion of said solid shape, said elongate structure made from a material having a mass density that is approximately 2 to 10 times said mass density of said reactive composite material, said elongate structure having an elongate core with fin-like protuberances extending radially outward from said elongate core into said solid form.

4. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 3 wherein said elongate structure comprises a one-piece structure.

5. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 3 wherein said fin-like protuberances extend longitudinally along said elongate core.

6. A reactive composite projectile as in claim 3 further comprising an encasement material applied to and surrounding said solid form for exerting compressive forces thereon.