Electromagnetic gun (railgun) projectile

Abstract

Provided is a railgun projectile that makes it possible to damage multiple targets or a wide area using a single projectile, without installing electronic components that would be affected by the electromagnetic waves during firing or the high heat generated when propelled through the air. The railgun projectile comprises: an exterior member (1) that encloses interior members (3) such as metal spheres in the interior thereof, is formed as a cylinder shape that tapers on the tip end side, and has a bottom portion; and a tip member (2) that has, for example, a recess shape, connects to the tip end portion of the exterior member (1), and melts due to friction heat generated as a result of air resistance. A plurality of grooves (4) are provided in the inner circumference of the exterior member (1) so that the exterior member (1) opens into the shape of petals when the tip member (2) has melted. By opening in this manner, the speed of the exterior member (1) decreases due to air resistance acting as a brake on the exterior member (1), and the interior members (3) such as metal spheres are ejected forward.

Description

Electromagnetic gun (rail gun) bullets

[0001] The present invention relates to a projectile used in an electromagnetic gun (rail gun).

[0002] Generally, a railgun is a device in which a projectile containing a conductive armature and a projectile core is placed between two conductive rails in contact with the rails. An electromagnetic field is generated by passing currents of opposite phase through the two rails, generating a driving force that launches the projectile at high speed and propels the core. The projectiles used in this system generally have a pointed shape to account for air resistance during high-speed flight and small wings for stability. The projectiles, launched at high speed, have high energy and exert enormous destructive power when they hit a target. Alternatively, they can penetrate the target at high speed, destroying its functions.

[0003] The above-mentioned bullets, which are equipped with electronic components and difficult to precisely guide, have raised concerns that their use is limited to ballistic missiles and gliding missiles without evasion capabilities, or to ships and vehicles moving at low speeds. Furthermore, even when dealing with a large number of projectiles flying close together, it is necessary to ensure that each bullet hits each target individually, necessitating the firing of multiple bullets in rapid succession. The objective of this invention is to propose a railgun bullet that has a structure capable of destroying multiple targets with a single bullet, or that has the destructive power to cover a wide area with a single bullet, without the need for electronic components that are difficult to install due to the effects of electromagnetic waves during firing and high heat during flight.

[0004] To solve the above problems, a projectile is designed to contain metal spheres, metal fragments, etc., and to have the function of scattering these inclusions near the target, but without using electronic components or explosives as the inclusion scattering trigger. Regarding the inclusion scattering method described above, the tip material attached to the tip of the projectile's outer casing melts and decomposes due to heat generated by frictional resistance with the air during high-speed flight of the projectile. High-speed air flows in through the release section of the casing, causing the outer casing to open uniformly from pre-established grooves, scattering the projectile's inclusions. Furthermore, the material and structure of the tip material are appropriately designed to ensure reliable operation near the target at an expected distance to the target and a constant launch velocity. Even with the same tip material, the system can also be used to calculate the frictional heat received from the projectile's flight distance, altitude, etc., and then control the current supplied to the rail during launch to change the projectile's launch velocity, enabling inclusion scattering at any distance.

[0005] By scattering numerous metal balls and fragments near the target at high speed, it is possible to damage not only a single target but also surrounding targets. Furthermore, even for targets that change their flight trajectory, damage can be inflicted by scattering the contents within a certain range within the expected trajectory. While high-speed projectiles are expected to penetrate lightweight, thinly armored ships and other targets, this projectile can scatter the contents before impact, thereby expanding the damage. Depending on the settings, it is also possible to scatter the contents after penetrating the target, making it possible to damage additional targets located behind the target. Furthermore, because this projectile does not use electronic components, there is no need for a structure to protect the electronic components from electromagnetic waves during firing or high temperatures during flight, resulting in a compact and inexpensive projectile.

[0006] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a railgun projectile to which the present invention is applied;

[0007] An embodiment of a railgun projectile of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Railgun projectiles generally consist of an armature, a projectile, a projectile holding structure, and other components. The present invention relates to a projectile, and cross-sectional views of the projectile are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The outer packaging member 1 is cylindrical, tapered toward the tip, and has a base. An inner packaging member 3, such as a metal ball, is housed within the outer packaging member 1. A tip member 2, which melts due to air resistance, is bonded to the outer packaging member 1 at its tip. The inner periphery of the outer packaging member 1 is provided with multiple grooves 4 to facilitate fracture, splitting, and flowering when the tip member 2 melts. The grooves 4 are designed to have a depth and shape such that the outer packaging member opens like a petal when the tip member 2 melts and breaks. The projectile is equipped with small wings 5 ​​for stability. These small wings may be attached directly to the outer packaging member 1 or may be attached to the outer packaging member 1 as separate units. When the inner container element 3 is filled, gaps are generated between the outer container element 1 and the inner container element 3. These gaps are then filled with a gap filler 6 (not shown). During this filling process, the inner container element 3 and gap filler 6 are filled in a balanced manner to maintain the center of gravity of the projectile at a set value, in order to accurately maintain the trajectory of the projectile during flight. Because the tip element 2 melts due to frictional heat generated by air resistance, it is designed, for example, with a concave shape that is susceptible to air resistance and reduces heat release, thereby facilitating melting. Furthermore, by varying the thickness of the melting portion, it is possible to control the time until melting. When the tip element 2 melts and falls off, air flows into the outer container element 1 at high speed. This internal pressure induces fracture of the grooves in the outer container element 1, causing the outer container element 1 to open like a petal. The outer container element 1 is braked by air resistance, slowing down, and the inner container element 3, such as a metal ball, is released forward. Because the inner container member 3 is released radially, there is a correlation between the distance to the target and the diffusion area of ​​the inner container member 3. The range of the target to be destroyed can be controlled by the timing of melting the tip member 4. Furthermore, because the inner container member 3 is not exposed to frictional heat with the outside air, its material, shape, etc. can be freely selected. Furthermore, although the outer container member 1, which has become petal-shaped, also decelerates, it still lands near the target and causes damage.The time until the tip element 2 melts and the flight distance depend on the tip shape, material, thickness, etc., so by preparing multiple tip elements 2 and fastening them to the outer shell 1 with screws or other fasteners, it is possible to easily control the flight distance until just before the bullet is fired. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the tip element 2 melts due to frictional heat with the air, so the flight distance also depends on the flight speed. Even with the same tip element 2, the time until melting and the flight distance can be controlled by changing the injection speed. By applying an optimal current and controlling the injection speed when the bullet is fired, the internal element 3 can be released at any flight distance. Furthermore, while this bullet is designed to eject the internal element 3 by melting the tip element 2, even if an enemy interceptor bullet comes head-on and destroys the tip element 2 just before the target, the internal element 3 can be ejected radially forward. Furthermore, to accurately eject the internal element 3 toward the target on the bullet's trajectory, the grooves 4 are designed so that the outer shell 1 blooms evenly in a petal-like pattern. On the other hand, by changing the number, depth, and arrangement of the grooves, it is possible to design the outer packaging material 1 so that the air resistance it experiences varies depending on the direction when it opens into a petal-like shape. For example, if the grooves are designed to be angled upward, it is possible to launch the inner packaging material 3 upward from the front of the projectile's trajectory. Furthermore, the inner packaging material 3 and the gap material 6 can be made in any shape, such as a spherical or rod-like shape, and made of any material, depending on the packing density when packed and the effect upon impact. Furthermore, because this projectile does not use electronic components or explosives, it can be manufactured at low cost and does not require special consideration during transportation.

[0008] The present invention can be used for applications in which an object flying at high speed and having an internal encapsulation portion is dissolved by air resistance, and the internal encapsulation portion is released in any space.

[0009] 1 outer packaging member 2 tip member 3 inner packaging member 4 groove provided on the inner surface of the outer packaging member 5 small wing 6 gap member for stably fixing the inner packaging member inside the outer packaging member

Claims

1. A projectile used for a bullet of an electromagnetic gun (railgun) having a cylindrical shape with a bottom, an outer wrapping member having a plurality of grooves on its inner peripheral surface, and a cylindrical member having a tip member fixed to the release surface at its tip, comprising an inner wrapping material such as a metal ball, and having a plurality of small wings installed on the outer periphery of the bottom. During the flight of the bullet, the tip member melts and decomposes at a pre-planned flight distance due to the heat generated by the friction with the air, and due to the internal pressure generated by the high-speed air flowing in from the release surface, cracks enter from the groove portion of the outer wrapping material, and the outer wrapping material blossoms in a petal shape, so that the inner wrapping material such as the encapsulated metal ball is released to the outside.

2. A bullet characterized in that the tip member of the bullet described above has a concave shape for the purpose of increasing air resistance and heat collection as a means for controlling the flight time until melting.

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