Drag effect trajectory enhanced projectile

• US 8,307,766 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2010
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Opco, LLC
• Original Assignee: Liberty Ammunition, Inc.
• Inventors: Marx, PJ
• Primary Examiner(s): HAYES, BRET C
• Application Number:
  US12/784,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20110259231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 102/501, 102/507, 102/508, 102/439, 102/498, 102/509, 102/529, D22/116
• US Class Current: 102/439
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/02 Stabilising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/00 Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material F42B6/00, F42B10/00, F42B14/00 take precedence; for practice or training F42B8/12, F42B8/28; self-propulsion or guidance aspects F42B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type

Abstract

A projectile includes a cartridge and a hollow bullet. A propellant fills the cartridge and the hollow bullet to increase the velocity of the bullet when fired. The hollow bullet has a flattened leading end and an annular ring is secured to the flattened leading end in the center of the flat region. The flattened leading end and the annular ring move a center of pressure forwardly so that a center of pressure is forward of a center of gravity of the bullet when the bullet is in flight. In a second embodiment, a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart slits is formed in a trailing end of the hollow bullet, creating a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart fins that flare radially outwardly upon impact with a soft target.

Claims

1. A round of ammunition, comprising:

a cartridge having a predetermined longitudinal extent;

a projectile having a predetermined longitudinal extent that exceeds the predetermined longitudinal extent of said cartridge, said projectile having a trailing end slideably disposed within said cartridge;

said cartridge and said projectile sharing a common longitudinal axis of symmetry;

said projectile having a hollow interior;

said projectile having a predetermined center of gravity coincident with said longitudinal axis of symmetry;

said projectile having a center of pressure coincident with said longitudinal axis of symmetry, said center or pressure created when said projectile is in flight;

a propellant filling said cartridge and said hollow interior, said propellant filling said cartridge being in open communication with said propellant filling said hollow interior;

said projectile having a flat leading end;

an annular ring secured to said flat leading end in concentric relation to said longitudinal axis of symmetry;

said flat leading end and said annular ring moving said center of pressure forwardly so that said center of pressure is forward of said center of gravity when said projectile is in flight.

2. The round of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart slits formed in said trailing end of said projectile;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart fins formed in said trailing end of said projectile by said plurality of circumferentially spaced slits.

3. The round of claim 2, further comprising:

said slits of said plurality of slits having a straight configuration so that said fins have a rectangular configuration.

4. The round of claim 3, further comprising:

said slits having a longitudinal extent of about one-third of said predetermined longitudinal extent of said projectile.

5. The round of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart weakening lines formed in said trailing end of said projectile;

a plurality of contiguous fins, each fin of said plurality of contiguous fins being positioned between a pair of said weakening lines;

each fin of said plurality of contiguous fins having a deployed configuration and an undeployed configuration;

each fin of said plurality of contiguous fins being substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of symmetry when in its undeployed configuration; and

each fin of said plurality of contiguous fins being oblique to said longitudinal axis of symmetry when said projectile has entered a soft target.

6. The round of claim 5, further comprising:

said weakening lines having a longitudinal extent of about one-third of said predetermined longitudinal extent of said projectile.