Projectile sealing arrangement

• US 7,475,635 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DefendTex Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Metal Storm Limited
• Inventors: Bambach, Ramon John
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; Bret
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin P
• Application Number:
  US10/512,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20050268807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,129 Days
• Field of Search: 102/438, 102/338, 102/352, 102/360, 102/335, 102/217, 102494-497, 102/345, 86/201, 42/84, 89/201
• US Class Current: 102/438
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/035 the cartridge or barrel assembly having a plurality of axially stacked projectiles each having a separate propellant charge

Abstract

A projectile sealing arrangement for a barrel assembly of a weapon wherein a plurality of projectile assemblies (10) are axially disposed in abutting relationship within a barrel (20), each projectile assembly (10) including a body (11) associated with a discrete propellant charge (15); said sealing arrangement comprising rearward opening (13) communicating with cavity (14) provided in said projectile assembly (10) for retaining the discrete propellant charge (15) and a forward portion (16) of an abutting projectile arranged for operative sealing engagement with a complementary portion (17) of the rearward opening (13). The sealing arrangement suitably includes surface portions of complementary shapes such that, during application of a compressive load (L) to abutting projectile assemblies (10), discrete propellant charge (15) is scaled within the cavity (14). There is also disclosed and claimed a chain of individual projectiles connected head to tail by complementary spigot and socket members.

Claims

1. A projectile arrangement including at least two projectiles coupled together by a frangible coupling to form a chain, wherein each projectile has a head portion, a tail portion and a respective propellant charge, and wherein the frangible coupling includes a first retaining means disposed on the tail portion of the leading projectile engaged by a screw action with a second retaining means disposed on the head portion of the trailing projectile, wherein the first and second retaining means are threadably engaged.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the tail portion of the leading projectile and the head portion of the trailing projectile form a seal around the propellant charge of the leading projectile.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the seal includes an adhesive connection between the leading and trailing projectiles.

4. An arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the seal includes contact between complementary surfaces on the leading and trailing projectiles.

5. An arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the first and second retaining means include complementary spigot and socket.

6. An arrangement as in claim 5 wherein the spigot and socket are provided on the trailing and leading projectiles respectively.

7. An arrangement as in claim 1 wherein either the first or second retaining means is frangible.

8. An arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the coupling is broken by combustion of the propellant charge in the leading projectile.

9. An arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the first retaining means includes a socket formed in the propellant charge.

10. A projectile for a chain of projectiles, having a head portion, a tail portion and a respective propellant charge, the tail portion having a first retaining means and the head portion having a second retaining means, wherein each of the first and second retaining means is able to engage corresponding retaining means on a trailing or leading projectile in a chain by a screw action to form respective frangible couplings, wherein the first and second retaining means are threaded.

11. A projectile according to claim 10 wherein the first and second retaining means includes a socket and a spigot.

12. A projectile according to claim 11 wherein either the spigot or the socket is frangible.

13. A projectile as in claim 10 wherein each coupling is frangible by virtue of combustion of the propellant charge in the leading projectile.

14. A projectile as in claim 10 wherein the first retaining means includes a socket formed in the propellant charge.

15. A projectile as in claim 10 wherein the tail portion includes a sealing surface which forms a seal with the trialing projectile.