Projectiles for ammunition and methods of making and using the same

• US 9,841,260 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2014
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantum Ammunition, LLC
• Original Assignee: Polyone Corporation (Avient Corp.)
• Inventors: Lemke, Paul, Marin, Juan Carlos, Johnson, Steven Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers, Troy
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEMICK, JOSHUA T
• Application Number:
  US15/023,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20160231093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/24 with inclined grooves
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/74 of the core or solid body
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/76 of the casing
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/10 Air gun pellets ; Ammunition for air guns, e.g. propellant-gas containers

Abstract

A projectile 1 for ammunition is disclosed, said projectile 1 comprising an outer profile geometry on an ogive-shaped impact end portion 5 thereof, said outer profile geometry comprising two or more notches 2 extending in at least one of (i) an axial, (ii) parallel or (iii) slightly inclined orientation relative to a dissecting axis 3 extending longitudinally through said impact end portion 5 of said projectile 1, wherein each notch 2 (a) comprises notch surface portions 4,7 so as to increase (i) an overall outer surface area of said ogive end portion 5 of projectile 1, and (ii) a given length of an outer surface periphery Sp extending along a line within a plane normal to said dissecting axis 3, and (b) is surrounded by an outer side surface 51 of said ogive-shaped impact end portion 5 of said projectile 1. In other words, the presence of the two or more notches 2 increases a length of an outer surface periphery Sp extending along a line within a plane normal to said dissecting axis 3 relative to the same outer surface periphery Sp extending within the same plane normal to said dissecting axis 3 when a notch is not present.

Claims

1. A projectile (1) for ammunition, said projectile (1) comprising an outer profile geometry on an ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) thereof, said outer profile geometry comprising three notches (2) equally spaced from one another and extending in (i) an axial, and (ii) parallel orientation relative to a dissecting axis (3) extending longitudinally through said ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) of said projectile (1), wherein each of said three notches (2) (a) comprises notch surface portions (4,7) so as to increase (i) an overall outer surface area of said ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) of projectile (1), and (ii) a given length of an outer surface periphery (S_p) extending along a line within a plane normal to said dissecting axis (3), (b) is surrounded by an outer side surface (51) of said ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) of said projectile (1), (c) is oriented at an angle (A) of greater than zero up to about 45°

relative to said dissecting axis (3), (d) has a notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) extending axially through and being located along a path that represents a largest depth within said notch (2), and (e) extends a length substantially equal to a distance along said dissecting axis (3) from a projectile tip end (18) of said projectile (1) to a transition periphery (52) along said projectile (1), said transition periphery (52) separating said ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) of said projectile (1) from a cylindrical portion (6) extending from said transition periphery (52) to an opposite end (61) of said projectile (1),

wherein said ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) comprises a polymeric matrix material filled with metal particles of a metal, wherein said metal is selected from brass, silver, lead, lead alloy, copper plated lead alloy, copper, or stainless steel.

2. The projectile (1) of claim 1, wherein each of said three notches (2) comprises:

a notch dissecting line (L_nd) extending axially through and being centrally located within said notch (2),

notch outer periphery points (P_L,P_R) along an outer notch perimeter (21) on opposite sides of said notch dissecting line (L_nd), and

right and left-hand line portions (22_L,22_R) of a normal line extending from said notch dissecting line (L_nd) to each notch outer periphery point (P_L,P_R), wherein each of said right and left-hand line portions (22_L,22_R) (i) increases in length along at least a first portion of said notch dissecting line (L_nd) and subsequently (ii) decreases in length along at least a second portion of said notch dissecting line (L_nd) extending between an uppermost periphery portion (23) of said notch (2) and a lowermost periphery portion (24) of said notch (2).

3. The projectile (1) of claim 1, wherein each of said three notches (2) comprises:

notch outer periphery points (P_L,P_R) along an outer notch perimeter (21) on opposite sides of said notch depth dissecting line (L_dd), and

right and left-hand line portions (25_L,25_R) of a normal line extending from said notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) to each notch outer periphery point (P_L,P_R), wherein each of said right and left-hand line portions (25_L,25_R) (i) increases in length along at least a first portion of said notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) and subsequently (ii) decreases in length along at least a second portion of said notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) extending between an uppermost periphery portion (23) of said notch (2) and a lowermost periphery portion (24) of said notch (2).

4. The projectile (1) of claim 1, wherein each of said three notches (2) has a slightly inclined orientation relative to said dissecting axis (3), with each of said three notches (2) being oriented at an angle (A) of from about 15°

to about 30°

relative to said dissecting axis (3).

5. The projectile (1) of claim 1, wherein said notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) curves as said notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) moves from said uppermost periphery portion (23) of said notch (2) to said lowermost periphery portion (24) of said notch (2).

6. The projectile of claim 5, wherein said notch depth dissecting line has a J-shape or reverse J-shape as said notch depth dissecting line moves from an uppermost periphery portion of said notch to a lowermost periphery portion of said notch.

7. The projectile (1) of claim 1, wherein each of said three notches (2) has (i) a first notch surface area (35) and a first depth grade (37) on one side of said notch depth dissecting line (L_dd), and (ii) a second notch surface area (36) and a second depth grade (38) on an opposite side of said notch depth dissecting line (L_dd), said first notch surface area (35) being smaller than said second notch surface area (36) and said first depth grade (37) being greater than said second depth grade (38).

8. The projectile (1) of claim 1, wherein said notch surface portions (4,7) comprise one or more cylindrically-shaped notch surface portions (4,7).

9. The projectile (1) of claim 1, wherein an opposite end (61) of said projectile (1) has a truncated cone shape or a reduced diameter cylindrical shape.

10. A composite or polymer casing comprising the projectile (1) of claim 1 mounted therein.

11. A metal casing comprising the projectile of claim 1 mounted therein.

12. A box of composite casings comprising:

one or more composite or polymer or metal casings in combination with the projectile of claim 1;

a cartridge-holding device; and

an outer box sized to contain said cartridge-holding device with the one or more composite or polymer or metal casings in combination with the projectile of claim 1 positioned therein.

13. A method of making the projectile of claim 1, said method comprising:

injection molding a plastic material filled with metal particles to form the projectile.

14. A method of using the projectile (1) of claim 1, said method comprising:

positioning a composite or polymer or metal casing comprising the projectile (1) in a chamber of a projectile-firing weapon; and

firing the weapon.

15. A method of using the projectile (1) of claim 1, said method comprising:

positioning the projectile (1) in a chamber of a projectile-firing compressed air weapon; and

firing the weapon.

16. The projectile (1) of claim 1, wherein said polymeric matrix material comprises a polyamide, and said metal comprises copper.

17. A projectile (1) for ammunition, said projectile (1) comprising an outer profile geometry on an ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) thereof, said outer profile geometry comprising two to four notches (2) equally spaced from one another and extending in (i) an axial, and (ii) parallel orientation relative to a dissecting axis (3) extending longitudinally through said ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) of said projectile (1), wherein each of said two to four notches (2) (a) comprises notch surface portions (4,7) so as to increase (i) an overall outer surface area of said ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) of projectile (1), and (ii) a given length of an outer surface periphery (S_p) extending along a line within a plane normal to said dissecting axis (3), (b) is surrounded by an outer side surface (51) of said ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) of said projectile (1), (c) is oriented at an angle (A) of greater than zero up to about 45°

relative to said dissecting axis (3), (d) has a notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) extending axially through and being located along a path that represents a largest depth within said notch (2), and (e) extends a length substantially equal to a distance along said dissecting axis (3) from a projectile tip end (18) of said projectile (1) to a transition periphery (52) along said projectile (1), said transition periphery (52) separating said ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) of said projectile (1) from a cylindrical portion (6) extending from said transition periphery (52) to an opposite end (61) of said projectile (1),

wherein each of said ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) and said cylindrical portion (6) comprises a polymeric matrix material filled with metal particles of a metal, wherein said metal is selected from brass, silver, lead, lead alloy, copper plated lead alloy, copper, or stainless steel.

18. The projectile (1) for ammunition of claim 17, wherein said two to four notches comprise three or four notches.

19. The projectile (1) of claim 18, wherein said polymeric matrix material comprises a polyamide, and said metal comprises copper.

20. A projectile (1) for ammunition, said projectile (1) comprising an outer profile geometry on an ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) thereof, said outer profile geometry comprising two to four notches (2) equally spaced from one another and extending in (i) an axial, and (ii) parallel orientation relative to a dissecting axis (3) extending longitudinally through said ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) of said projectile (1), wherein each of said two to four notches (2) (a) comprises notch surface portions (4,7) so as to increase (i) an overall outer surface area of said ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) of projectile (1), and (ii) a given length of an outer surface periphery (S_p) extending along a line within a plane normal to said dissecting axis (3), (b) is surrounded by an outer side surface (51) of said ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) of said projectile (1), (c) has a notch depth dissecting line (L_dd) extending axially through and being located along a path that represents a largest depth within said notch (2), said notch depth dissecting line (i) having a J-shape or reverse J-shape as said notch depth dissecting line moves from an uppermost periphery portion of said notch to a lowermost periphery portion of said notch, and (ii) is oriented at an angle (A) of greater than zero up to about 45°

relative to said dissecting axis (3), and (d) extends a length substantially equal to a distance along said dissecting axis (3) from a projectile tip end (18) of said projectile (1) to a transition periphery (52) along said projectile (1), said transition periphery (52) separating said ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) of said projectile (1) from a cylindrical portion (6) extending from said transition periphery (52) to an opposite end (61) of said projectile (1),

wherein each of said ogive-shaped impact end portion (5) and said cylindrical portion (6) comprises a polymeric matrix material filled with metal particles of a metal, wherein said metal is selected from brass, silver, lead, lead alloy, copper plated lead alloy, copper, or stainless steel.