Fragmenting projectile

• US 9,354,027 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2014
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: G2 Research, INC
• Original Assignee: G2 Research, INC
• Inventors: Flint, Michael Scott, Gombar, Paul Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdosh, Samir
• Application Number:
  US14/269,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20150330751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 102506-510
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type
• 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 12/74 of the core or solid body

Abstract

Embodiments of a fragmenting projectile are disclosed herein. According to various embodiments, a fragmenting projectile includes a substantially solid core of a material, and two or more petals attached to the core. The two or more petals can be formed from the same material used to form the core and can include a trocar tip. A cavity can be bound by the core and inner surfaces of the plurality of petals.

Claims

1. A fragmenting projectile comprising:

a substantially solid core of a material;

a plurality of petals attached to the core and formed from the material, each of the plurality of petals comprising a trocar tip; and

a cavity bound by the core and inner surfaces of the plurality of petals, wherein the fragmenting projectile is configured to fragment by at least one of the plurality of petals pivoting outwardly and separating from the core.

2. The fragmenting projectile of claim 1, wherein the fragmenting projectile does not fragment when engaging wood, and wherein the fragmenting projectile fragments when engaging animal tissue or human tissue.

3. The fragmenting projectile of claim 1, wherein the fragmenting projectile does not fragment when engaging glass, and wherein the fragmenting projectile fragments when engaging animal tissue or human tissue.

4. The fragmenting projectile of claim 1, wherein the plurality of petals comprises eight petals.

5. The fragmenting projectile of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of channels that define the plurality of petals.

6. The fragmenting projectile of claim 5, further comprising a groove formed on the fragmenting projectile.

7. The fragmenting projectile of claim 1, wherein the material comprises a copper alloy having a tensile strength in a range of 36 kilopounds per square inch to 41 kilopounds per square inch.

8. The fragmenting projectile of claim 1, wherein the material comprises a tellurium-copper alloy having 0.5% tellurium, 99.5% copper, and a tensile strength of 37.5 kilopounds per square inch.

9. The fragmenting projectile of claim 1, further comprising break-off notches to encourage failure of the material at the break-off notches.

10. The fragmenting projectile of claim 1, further comprising a dimple formed in the material to encourage failure of the material at the dimple.

11. The fragmenting projectile of claim 10, wherein the dimple comprises a perforation that passes through the material to allow pressure in the cavity to escape through the plurality of petals.

12. The fragmenting projectile of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a point.

13. The fragmenting projectile of claim 1, wherein the fragmenting projectile is formed from a single piece of material.

14. A fragmenting projectile comprising:

a core of a material;

a plurality of petals attached to the core, the plurality of petals being formed from the material, each of the plurality of petals comprising a trocar tip; and

a cavity bound by the core and inner surfaces of the plurality of petals, wherein the fragmenting projectile is configured to fragment by at least one of the plurality of petals pivoting outwardly and separating from the core.

15. The fragmenting projectile of claim 14, wherein the core comprises one third of a total mass of the fragmenting projectile, and wherein the plurality of petals comprise two thirds of the total mass of the fragmenting projectile.

16. The fragmenting projectile of claim 14, wherein the plurality of petals comprises eight petals, wherein the material comprises a copper alloy, and wherein the copper alloy has a tensile strength within a range of 36 kilopounds per square inch to 41 kilopounds per square inch.

17. The fragmenting projectile of claim 14, wherein the fragmenting projectile further comprises two grooves formed on the fragmenting projectile.

18. A fragmenting projectile comprising:

a core of a material;

a plurality of petals attached to the core and formed from the material, each of the plurality of petals comprising a trocar tip, an outer surface, and an inner surface; and

a cavity bound by the core and the plurality of petals, wherein the cavity is defined by inner surfaces of the plurality of petals, wherein the fragmenting projectile is configured to fragment by at least one of the plurality of petals pivoting outwardly and separating from the core.

19. The fragmenting projectile of claim 18, wherein the plurality of petals comprises eight petals, wherein the material comprises a copper alloy, and wherein the copper alloy has a tensile strength within a range of 36 kilopounds per square inch to 41 kilopounds per square inch.

20. The fragmenting projectile of claim 18, wherein the fragmenting projectile further comprises two grooves formed on an outer surface of at least one of the petals.