Molded frangible armor-piercing projectile

Abstract

Armor-piercing projectiles are made by molding, cooling, and shrinking material around penetrator cores and / or by molding projectiles and inserting penetrator cores, the penetrator cores being precisely positioned in the projectiles with the penetrator cores being released upon impact with targets.

Description

MOLDED FRANGIBLE ARMOR-PIERCING PROJECTILECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This utility patent application claims benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 63 / 539,433 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on September 20, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference thereto in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] Armor-piercing projectiles are used to disable command and control systems, weapons systems, or enemy combatants shielded within or behind tanks, armored vehicles, bunkers, flak jackets, hardened targets, and the like. Conventional metal -jacketed, armor-piercing projectiles utilize jackets of homogenous metal pressed or formed around core penetrators. These known projectiles use substantial energy to release their mechanically bonded jackets from around their penetrators, which reduces down range penetration capability. A “disengaging sabot” type of armor-piercing projectile is also known in which the sabot opens in flight and falls away from the penetrator core, thereby relying solely upon energy from the core to penetrate a target downrange.

[0003] A need exists for an armor-piercing projectile that is simple and cost-effective to manufacture that more efficiently utilizes its kinetic energy to deliver a penetrating core with maximum effect on target.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0004] The present disclosure is directed in general to armor-piercing projectiles that are straightforward to make and use. Molding and insertion processes result in penetrator cores precisely centered and balanced within the projectiles that will deliver maximum energy on targetbut will not over-penetrate unarmored targets and are less likely to ricochet and have a high surface danger zone.

[0005] In one embodiment, a projectile tip arrives on target first and begins a shock wave event on the target preparing for the arrival of a penetrator carried by the projectile. The penetrator arrives next and is released from its jacket with minimal loss of energy thus promoting maximum penetration. Effectively, by the time the penetrator arrives on the target, the jacket encasement is already in the process of disintegrating.

[0006] In another embodiment of the disclosure, a leading edge of a molded portion of a projectile initiates a shock wave event on the target while simultaneously disintegrating and releasing a penetrator core with minimal energy loss.

[0007] In another embodiment of the disclosure, an armor-piercing projectile includes moldable material for molding onto a penetrator core as ajacket, the jacket being shrunk to achieve a mechanical bond between the molded material and the penetrator core, and wherein the penetrator core is pre-assembled into a tip. In this embodiment, the jacket disintegrates upon impacting a target or object. The penetrator core can be a monolithic tip / core and can be preassembled into a base.

[0008] In yet another embodiment of the disclosure, a hardened core is inserted into a projectile tip using a mechanical press fit, a concentric ring lock, an adhesive, or combinations thereof. A portion of, or the entirety of the remaining projectile, is molded around the core and some portion of the tip shank. In another aspect, a portion or the entirety of the remaining projectile is molded around the exposed core and may also be molded around a portion of the base shank. Additionally, or alternatively, a mechanical press fit, a concentric ring lock, an adhesive and combinationsthereof may also be used. The molded portion of the projectile disintegrates upon impacting an object or target.

[0009] In this example, the molding material may include polymers, metal fillers (powder, flakes, shards), and the molding material may further include additives such as carbon, molecules, fibers. Still further, energetic materials may be integrated into the molding material and may be integrated into the tip or the base or the molding material.

[0010] The core in the embodiments may be various shapes diameters, and lengths and may also be tapered, including having multiple tapers. The core may further include surface features to increase surface area for bonding. A high aspect ratio of penetrator core relative to penetrator diameter may be provided, such as greater than a 5: 1 ratio. By way of further example, an armor piercing projectile for a 9mm may include a tapered cavity and a tapered penetrator core.

[0011] Additional objects and advantages of the present subject matter are set forth in, or will be apparent to, those of ordinary skill in the art from the description herein. Also, it should be further appreciated that modifications and variations to the specifically illustrated, referenced, and discussed features, processes, and elements hereof may be practiced in various embodiments and uses of the disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter.Variations may include, but are not limited to, substitution of equivalent means, features, or steps for those illustrated, referenced, or discussed, and the functional, operational, or positional reversal of various parts, features, steps, or the like. Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of the various embodiments, and others, upon review of the remainder of the specification.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] A full and enabling disclosure of the present subject matter, including the best mode thereof directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which refers to the appended figures, wherein:

[0013] FIGURE 1 is an exploded, front perspective view of an exemplary armor-piercing projectile according to an aspect of the disclosure, particularly showing a penetrating core being inserted into a projectile cavity or the projectile can be molded about the core;

[0014] FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of a penetrating core having surface features that may be bonded to jacket material (shown in phantom) in the armor-piercing projectile as in FIGURE 1;

[0015] FIGURE 3A is a rear perspective view of another penetrating core having exemplary surface bonding features for bonding to material (shown in phantom) for use in the armor-piercing projectile as in FIGURE 1;

[0016] FIGURE 3B is a partial sectional, side elevational view of the assembled armor- piercing projectile as in FIGURE 3A;

[0017] FIGURE 4A is a front, exploded perspective view of another embodiment of an armor- piercing projectile;

[0018] FIGURE 4B is a front perspective view of the partially assembled armor-piercing projectile as in FIGURE 4A;

[0019] FIGURE 4C is a partial sectional, elevational view of the assembled armor-piercing projectile as in FIGURES 4A and 4B;

[0020] FIGURE 5A is an exploded, rear perspective view of another embodiment of an armor- piercing projectile;

[0021] FIGURE 5B is a rear perspective view of the assembled armor-piercing projectile as in FIGURE 5A;

[0022] FIGURE 5C is a partial sectional, side elevational view of the assembled armor- piercing projectile as in FIGURE 5B;

[0023] FIGURE 5D is a partial sectional, side elevational view of the assembled armor- piercing projectile as in FIGURE 5C; and

[0024] FIGURE 6 is a rear perspective view of a partially assembled armor-piercing projectile according to another aspect of the disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0025] As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein; however, the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as their equivalents.

[0026] Unless defined otherwise, all technical, engineering, and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. In the event that there is a plurality of definitions for a term, phrase, or acronym herein, those in this section prevail unless stated otherwise.

[0027] Wherever the phrase “for example,” “such as,” “including,” and the like are used herein, the phrase “and without limitation” is understood to follow unless explicitly stated otherwise. Similarly, “an example,” “exemplary,” and the like are understood to be non-limiting.

[0028] The term “substantially” allows for deviations from the descriptor that do not negatively impact the intended purpose. Descriptive terms are understood to be modified by the term “substantially” even if the word “substantially” is not explicitly recited.

[0029] The term “about” when used in connection with a numerical value refers to the actual given value, and to the approximation to such given value that would reasonably be inferred by one of ordinary skill in the art, including approximations due to the experimental and or measurement conditions for such given value.

[0030] The term “effective amount” means a value of plus or minus 10 percent of any stated value unless a different specific value or range is provided.

[0031] The term “lead-free” refers to a projectile that does not use lead intentionally in its composition but may include a trace amount of lead as an unavoidable impurity in other components of a projectile composition.

[0032] The term “toughness” means an ability to absorb energy and plastically deform before fracturing as opposed to be “brittle.” A “toughened resin” refers to a polymer containing an elastomeric component that imparts toughness and means the cured state of the resin. A chemical component providing the quality of toughness may be provided by any constituent component used to produce the resin or may result from a curing reaction.

[0033] The term “hardener” refers to any type of curative agent for a resin.

[0034] The term “ranges” includes all combinations of sub-ranges. For instance, a range from 100-200 includes ranges from, e.g., 110 to 150, 170 to 190, and 153 to 162. Similarly, “limits” means all sub-limit combinations, e.g., a limit of up to 7 also includes a limit of up to 5, up to 3, and up to 4.5.

[0035] The term “frangible” refers to a composition that is designed to exit a weapons barrel in a substantially monolithic form and fragment into multiple pieces either during flight, upon impact with an object, or upon initiation of a fragmentation event initiated by a timer, a pressure change or sensor, et cetera.

[0036] The terms “comprising” and “including” and “having” and “involving” (and similarly “comprises,” “includes,” “has,” and “involves”) and the like are used interchangeably and have the same meaning. Specifically, each of the terms is defined consistent with the common United States patent law definition of “comprising” and is therefore interpreted to be an open term meaning “at least the following,” and is also interpreted not to exclude additional features, limitations, aspects, etcetera. Thus, for example, “a device having components a, b, and c” means that the device includes at least components a, b, and c. Similarly, a phrase such as: “a method involving a, b, and c” means that the method includes at least steps a, b, and c.

[0037] Where a list of alternative component terms is used, e.g., “a structure such as ‘a,’ ‘b,’ ‘c,’ ‘d’ or the like,” or “a or b,” such lists and alternative terms provide meaning and context for the sake of illustration, unless indicated otherwise. Also, relative terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” “front,” and “rear” are intended to identify or distinguish one component or feature from another similar component or feature, unless indicated otherwise herein.

[0038] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; in the sense of “including, but not limited to.”

[0039] The various embodiments of the disclosure and / or equivalents falling within the scope of present disclosure overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art or provide a useful alternative.

[0040] Detailed reference will now be made to the drawings in which examples embodying the present subject matter are shown. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features of the drawings. The drawings and detailed description provide a full and written description of the present subject matter, and of the manner and process of making and using various exemplary embodiments, so as to enable one skilled in the pertinent art to make and use them, as well as the best mode of carrying out the exemplary embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Thus, the examples set forth in the drawings and detailed descriptions are provided by way of explanation only and are not meant as limitations of the disclosure. The present subject matter thus includes any modifications and variations of the following examples as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0041] Turning now to FIGURE 1, an armor piercing round or projectile is broadly designated by element number 10 and includes a generally cylindrical projectile body, jacket, or base 12 having a mouth or cavity 14 molded about a penetrating core or penetrator 16 with a tip 18 (shown here in an exploded view for clarity with a dashed insertion line). The armor piercing projectile 10 may be formed for any caliber, e.g., 20 mm, 11.4 mm (.45 in.) caliber (“.45 ACP”), and thelike. In one aspect, the jacket 12 may be pre-molded to define the empty cavity 14 with the penetrator 16 being inserted after the jacket 12 has been molded.

[0042] To properly mold the projectile body 12 around the penetrator core 16, the penetrator core 16 must be precisely centered in the projectile body 12 and account for differences in material and density of the penetrator core 16, which is usually different from the projectile body 12. For instance, if the penetrator 16 is not radially centered within the projectile body 12 and / or not properly axially or longitudinally positioned in the projectile body 12 (i.e., front-to-back), a center of gravity of the projectile 10 can be negatively impacted, which can adversely affect the ballistics of the armor piercing projectile 10, thereby resulting in missing a target or ineffective target strikes, such as reaching a target in an improper orientation (not point-on) causing the penetrator 16 to miss center of mass.

[0043] Turning to FIGURE 2, an armor piercing projectile 110 includes a projectile body 112 (shown in phantom for clarity) formed about a penetrator core 116. The penetrator core 116 may include a tip 118 and a shank 120 extending from the tip 118. The shank 120 may have radially oriented surface features 122, 124 to increase surface area for bonding to a molding material that forms the projectile body 112. The material of the tip 118 is preferably moldable or machinable, including metal-injection-molded tips, such as steel, titanium, tungsten, tungsten carbide or any other suitable material from solid stock, including amalgams thereof. Alternatively, the tip 118 may be a polymer material and molded onto a leading edge of the shank 120. Likewise, the penetrator core 116 can be any material for armor-piercing applications, including but not limited to tungsten carbide, tungsten heavy alloys, alloy steel, et cetera. These materials are selectedaccording to specific application needs, accounting for density / weight, hardness, toughness, manufacturability, and cost.

[0044] With continued reference to FIGURE 2, the tip / core assembly 116 is inserted into a mold cavity [not shown] and centered axially and radially in the cavity. The molding material is then injected around the tip / core assembly 116 to mold the projectile 112 at least around the shank 120

[0045] FIGURE 3A shows another armor piercing projectile 210 with a penetrator core 216 that may include a tip 218 and a shank 220. Here, the shank 220 may extend from the tip 218 and have longitudinally oriented surface features 222, 224 to promote increased surface area for bonding to a molding material that forms a projectile body 212 (shown in phantom for clarity). The material of the penetrator core 214 and its tip 218 may be steel, titanium, or the like, or the tip 218 may be polymer or other easily disintegrateable or frangible material.

[0046] In some applications, as shown in FIGURE 3B for instance, it may be desirable to have a projectile jacket / base 212 of the armor piercing projectile 210 disintegrate, resulting in maximum penetration of the core 216 and deposition of energy within an original, primary wound cavity. In this example, following an impact and penetration event, the molded projectile jacket 212 disintegrates such that no single piece of the remaining projectile jacket 212 comprises more than 10% of the total initial mass. However, in other applications, it may be desirable to have a portion of the projectile jacket 212 retain sufficient mass to provide for deeper target penetration. In still other applications, following the impact and penetration event, a single portion of the molded projectile jacket 212 will retain a mass equal or greater than 20% of the initial total mass of the molded projectile jacket 212. In yet other applications, it may be desirable to have the samepenetration-depth of the penetrator core 216, regardless of whether the target has a protective layer of armor to avoid “over-penetrating” a target without armor.

[0047] As introduced above, a penetrator core must be properly centered in a projectile body to produce an effective armor piercing projectile. FIGURE 4A shows a partially assembled armor piercing projectile 310 according to the disclosure that includes an exemplary copper or brass base or shank 320 in which a penetrator core 316 with tip 318 is inserted into an opening or aperture 314 of the shank 320 (indicated by a dashed line). The penetrator core 316 is locked into the shank 320 via a mechanical press fit, a mechanical process, an interference fit, and / or an adhesive (not shown). Still further, a mechanical lock between the penetrator core 316 and the shank 320 can be achieved by having a proximal end 326 of the penetrator core 316 lock into a notch or ring 328 inside the base 320.

[0048] As FIGURES 4A and 4B show, the shank 320 may be sized to protrude a predetermined distance to increase a depth of an interference fit between the penetrator core 316 and the base 312. The shank 320 can be shaped differently and may be longer or shorter than the example shown, depending on a length of the penetrator core 316 and a desired locking fit.

[0049] FIGURE 4C shows the molded, assembled armor piercing projectile 310 with the penetrator core 316 extending from the shank 320 and the base 312 molded about the penetrator core 316 and at least part of the shank 320. Although the base 312 is shown substantially forward of the core 316 in this example, the core 316 could be arranged closer to center of mass or farther forward away from the shank 320. Still further, a front-facing core or cavity could be machined in the distal end of the base 312 farthest away from the shank 320. The front-facing cavity can beempty or filled with various compounds to produce desired in-flight or on-target effects. For example, the core or cavity can carry a tracer-compound tracer-energetic.

[0050] Turning to FIGURE 5 A, an armor piercing projectile 410 includes a penetrator core 416 with a tip 418 that may be made from aluminum and machined to be inserted into an opening 414 of a shank 420. The core 416 and the shank 420 may be locked together as shown in FIGURE 5B using a mechanical press fit, an interference fit, adhesives, and the like. In another aspect, the core 416 and the tip 418 may be a unitary or monolithic body, and the shank 420 may be aluminum into which the unitary core 416 and the tip 418 are assembled.

[0051] In FIGURE 5C, the shank 420 is shown partially in phantom to reveal an internal cavity 430 into which energetic materials (not shown) may be inserted before the penetrator core 416 is pressed into the shank 420. Here, the penetrator core 416 may be tapered to correspond with a similar tapering of the cavity 430. As shown in FIGURE 5D, the complementary tapered arrangement locks the penetrator core 416 in place in the shank 420 in the fully molded armor piercing projectile 410, such that the tapered wall of the cavity 430 will promote rapid expansion and subsequent disintegration of the projectile body 412.

[0052] Energetic materials utilized in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGURE 5C can enhance an impact / shock wave event ahead of arrival of the penetrator core 416 on target. Specific energetic materials may be chosen based on desired energetic event characteristics such as ease of ignition, duration of energetic event, heat produced as a result of the energetic event, shock / propagation wave produced, brightness, and / or other desired characteristics.

[0053] FIGURE 6 shows another armor piercing projectile 510 that includes a body or shank520 that may be made from aluminum and machined for a penetrator core 516 to be inserted intoan opening 514 of the body 520. The core 516 and the body 520 may be locked together using a mechanical press fit, an interference fit, adhesives, and the like, or molded together as described hereinabove.

[0054] By way of example and not of limitation, exemplary embodiments as disclosed herein may include but are not limited to:

[0055] EMBODIMENT 1: An armor piercing projectile comprising a jacket having a mass and being shrink-molded onto a penetrator core, the jacket being configured to disintegrate at least ninety percent of the mass upon impact with a target.

[0056] EMBODIMENT 2: The armor piercing projectile as in Embodiment 1, further comprising a tip formed with the core.

[0057] EMBODIMENT 3: An armor piercing projectile comprising a penetrator and a base, the penetrator being inserted in the base.

[0058] EMBODIMENT 4: An armor piercing projectile comprising a penetrator and a tip, the penetrator being inserted in the tip.

[0059] EMBODIMENT 5: The armor piercing projectile as in Embodiment 4, wherein the penetrator is connected to the tip by one of a mechanical press fit, an interference fit, a concentric ring lock, an adhesive, or combinations thereof.

[0060] EMBODIMENT 6: The armor piercing projectile as in Embodiment 4, wherein the penetrator is connected to a base by one of a mechanical press fit, an interference fit, a concentric ring lock, an adhesive, or combinations thereof.

[0061] While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining anunderstanding of the foregoing may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and / or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

That which is claimed is:

1. An armor piercing projectile, comprising: a jacket having a mass, and a penetrator core, the jacket being shrink-molded onto the penetrator core, the jacket being configured to disintegrate at least ninety percent of the mass upon impact with a target.

2. The armor piercing projectile as in Claim 1, further comprising a tip unitarily formed with the core.

3. The armor piercing projectile as in Claim 1, wherein the penetrator core is made of steel, titanium, tungsten, tungsten carbide, or combinations thereof, and the tip is a disintegrateable material.

4. An armor piercing projectile, comprising: a penetrator, and a disintegrateable base, the penetrator being configured for insertion in the disintegrateable base.

5. The armor piercing projectile as in Claim 4, wherein the penetrator is connected to the disintegrateable base by one of a mechanical press fit, an interference fit, a concentric ring lock, an adhesive, or combinations thereof.

6. An armor piercing projectile, comprising: a penetrator, a tip, the penetrator being configured for insertion in the tip; and a disintegrateable jacket, wherein the penetrator is molded to the disintegrateable jacket.

7. The armor piercing projectile as in Claim 6, wherein the penetrator and the tip are connected by one of a mechanical press fit, an interference fit, a concentric ring lock, an adhesive, or combinations thereof.

8. An armor piercing projectile, comprising: a penetrator, and a base, the penetrator being configured for insertion in the base; and a disintegrateable jacket, wherein the penetrator is molded to the disintegrateable jacket.

9. The armor piercing projectile as in Claim 9, wherein the penetrator and the base are connected by one of a mechanical press fit, an interference fit, a concentric ring lock, an adhesive, or combinations thereof.

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