Corrugated deforming sabot projectile system for tapered barrels (squeeze sabot system)

Abstract

A corrugated deforming sabot system for carrying a payload down a tapered barrel is provided. The corrugated deforming sabot includes a body for encasing the payload and at least one flange area including a deformable corrugated section surrounding the body. The deforming sabot may further include structural elements that reinforce the corrugated section and transfer compressive forces of the tapered barrel on the corrugated section into grip of the body on the payload. The deforming sabot may further include compressive areas that deform in a manner that prevents elongation of the corrugated section when compressed by the tapered barrel. According to an embodiment, the corrugated deforming sabot includes a flange area comprising deformable corrugated sabot wings that deform to form an airfoil when compressed by the tapered barrel. Various tapered barrel configurations are also provided.

Description

CORRUGATED DEFORMING SABOT PROJECTILE SYSTEM FOR TAPERED BARRELS (SQUEEZE SABOT SYSTEM)Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments disclosed herein relate to tapered barrel systems for firing projectiles, and, in particular to a corrugated deforming sabot projectile and system for tapered barrel applications.Introduction

[0002] Tapered barrels (also termed “squeeze bore” barrels) for firearms and cannons are known in the art. Compared to traditional barrels, which have a uniform bore diameter, tapered barrels have a larger diameter at the breech end which decreases to a smaller diameter at the muzzle. Diagrams of a traditional uniform bore barrel 100 and a tapered barrel 102 are shown in FIGS. 1A and 1 B, respectively.

[0003] Tapered barrels offer some advantages over traditional uniform bore barrels. In a traditional barrel, pressure from expanding propellant gases which force the projectile down the barrel, generally decreases as the projectile travels down the barrel. In tapered barrel systems, the pressure from expanding propellant gases remains relatively higher as the projectile travels down the barrel (due to the reduction in bore diameter), resulting in higher muzzle velocity, reduced time of flight and providing better terminal ballistics (penetrating power). Thus, tapered barrel systems can use less propellant to accelerate the projectile up to a given velocity compared to traditional barrels.

[0004] Tapered barrels require specialized projectiles (bullets or artillery shells) that have regions that deform such that the diameter of the projectile becomes smaller as it travels down the tapered barrel. Some tapered barrel projectiles have fins, flanges, or regions that bend backwards and deform as the projectile travels down the tapered barrel (see for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 3,450,050, 3,680,485, 1 ,944,885, 11 ,473,883 and Swiss Patent No. 703,467 A1).

[0005] Other tapered barrel systems use deforming munitions that carry the projectile down the tapered barrel. For example, U.S. Patent No. 3,011 ,404 discloses a deformable sabot containing liquid propellant that extrudes the propellant into the space behind the sabot as the sabot deforms when it travels down a tapered barrel. U.S. Patent No.4,126,955 discloses a traveling charge munition that elongates and strips away from the projectile as it moves down a tapered barrel.

[0006] Tapered barrel systems present several challenges in comparison to traditional barrels. One challenge is how to keep a deformable projectile / sabot centered in the barrel as it deforms when traveling from the breech to the muzzle - if the projectile is off-center in the barrel accuracy is reduced. Another difficulty is the excessive wearing on the barrel from friction caused by the deformable areas of the projectile / sabot contacting the bore of the barrel - this results in a generally shorter service life for tapered barrels compared to traditional uniform bore barrels. A further difficulty is the manufacture of deformable projectiles and sabots is not straightforward as compared to traditional ammunition. The materials selected must be capable of controlled / predictable deformation. Imperfections and defects during manufacture may cause the projectile and / or sabot to break apart as it moves down the barrel or deform more or less than is required or desirable.

[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for new and improved deforming sabots and tapered barrel systems that overcome the limitations of existing tapered barrel systems.Summary

[0008] A corrugated deforming sabot system fortapered barrel applications is provided. The system includes a tapering bore (squeeze bore) barrel and a deforming sabot with corrugated areas to facilitate a wider range of payloads and performance. As with a traditional tapered bore the gun, ignition of a propellant, producing gas pressure to propel the projectile or payload down a tapering barrel, this increases gas pressure and the acceleration of the round. However, in the corrugated deforming sabot system a deforming sabot is used instead of a simple flange or fins attached to the projectile.

[0009] According to some embodiments, there is a corrugated deforming sabot. The corrugated deforming sabot includes a body for encasing a payload. According to various embodiments, the payload may be a projectile (e.g., a kinetic rod penetrator), a missile or a scramjet.

[0010] The deforming sabot includes at least a first flange area, comprising a deformable corrugated frustum around the body for contacting the bore of a tapered barrel. The body and the flange area may be segmented into two or more petals configured to separate from the payload after the sabot leaves the barrel. According to other embodiments, the petals are configured to remain attached to the payload after the sabot leaves the barrel.

[0011] According to various embodiments, the flange area connects to a leading end of the body and extends toward a trailing end of the body, or connects to a trailing end of the body and extends toward a leading end of the body, or connects to a middle of thebody and extends toward either the leading end of the body or toward a trailing end of the body. According to some embodiments, the sabot includes a second flange area. The first flange area the second flange area may extends toward the same end of the body or extend toward opposite ends of the body.

[0012] The deforming sabot may further include structural elements connecting the corrugated frustrum to the body. The structural elements reinforce the corrugated frustrum and transfer compressive forces of the tapered barrel on the corrugated frustrum into grip of the body on the payload. The deforming sabot may further include compressive areas connecting the corrugated frustrum to the body. The compressive areas deform in a manner that prevents elongation of the corrugated frustrum when compressed by the tapered barrel.

[0013] The deformable corrugated frustum includes a plurality of peaks and troughs with connective material between the peaks and troughs. The peaks and troughs may be constructed of a flexible aluminum alloy.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the corrugated deforming sabot includes a flange area comprising deformable corrugated sabot wings around the body for contacting grooves in a bore of a tapered barrel and structural elements connecting the sabot wings to the body. The sabot wings have compressive areas that deform to form an airfoil when compressed by the tapered barrel. The structural elements reinforce the sabot wings and transfer compressive forces of the tapered barrel on the sabot wings into grip of the body on the payload.

[0015] According to another embodiment, there is a tapered barrel for a_corrugated deforming sabot. The tapered barrel includes a bore having at least one rapid taper bore section interposing two slight taper bore sections. The rapid taper bore section comprises rifling having lands and grooves, where the grooves taper more rapidly to align with the lands as the bore narrows.

[0016] Other aspects and features will become apparent, to those ordinarily skilled in the art, upon review of the following description of some exemplary embodiments.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification. It should be noted that the drawings are not drawn to scale and are for illustrative purposes only. In the drawings:

[0018] FIG. 1A is a diagram of a traditional uniform bore barrel;

[0019] FIG. 1 B is a diagram of a tapered bore barrel;

[0020] FIG. 2A is side view of a corrugated deforming sabot, according to an embodiment;

[0021] FIG. 2B is a top view the corrugated deforming sabot of FIG. 2A;

[0022] FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the corrugated frustrum through section A-A in FIG. 2B;

[0023] FIG. 3A is a cutaway perspective view of the corrugated deforming sabot of FIG.2A, shown in a chambered state;

[0024] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional cutaway perspective view of the corrugated deforming sabot of FIG. 2A, shown in an end bore state;

[0025] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams of corrugated deforming sabots, according to other embodiments;

[0026] FIGS. 5A-5C are cross-sectional diagrams various tapered barrel configurations, according to several embodiments;

[0027] FIG. 5D is a cutaway view of the rapid taper bore section shown in FIG. 5C, according to an embodiment;

[0028] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bore of a non-circular tapered barrel, according to an embodiment;

[0029] FIG. 7A is a front view diagram of a winged round in a chambered state according to an embodiment; and

[0030] FIG. 7B is a front view diagram of the winged round of FIG. 7A in an end bore state.Detailed Description

[0031] Various apparatuses or processes will be described below to provide an example of each claimed embodiment. No embodiment described below limits any claimed embodiment and any claimed embodiment may cover processes or apparatuses that differ from those described below. The claimed embodiments are not limited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses described below.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 2A, shown therein is a corrugated deforming sabot 200, according to an embodiment. The corrugated deforming sabot 200 is for encasing a payload 202 for firing or launching from a tapered barrel. The payload 202 may be a projectile (e.g., a bullet, a shell, a kinetic rod penetrator, etc.) or other payload as described below.

[0033] The sabot 200 includes a body 208 for encasing the payload 202. The body 208 may encase only a portion of the payload 200 such that the payload 202 extends beyond one or both ends 206, 209 of the sabot 200. For example, where the payload 202 is a kinetic rod penetrator, the sabot 200 may only encase the middle of the penetrator while the front tip and the rear stabilizing fins of the penetrator extend out either end of the sabot 200. The sabot 200 and the payload 202 may form part of a round or a munition. Herein, the term “round” is used to refer to the payload 202 and the sabot 200 together.

[0034] When the round is fired, the sabot 200 moves down the tapered barrel carrying the payload 202. The sabot 200 includes a flange area 204. The flange area 204 forms a frustoconical ring around the body 208 to center the payload 202 in the tapered barrel when the round is fired. The flange area 204 is also deformable as described below. The flange area 204 contacts the bore of the tapered barrel, to center the payload 202 in the barrel, and provides a bulkhead that seals propellant gases behind the flange area 204 as the round travels down the barrel similar to an obturator ring / assembly in conventional sabot projectiles.

[0035] The flange area 204 extends from a leading end 206 of the body 208 and extends “backward” toward a trailing end 209 of the body 208. According to another embodiments, the flange 204 may be connected at the trailing end 209 of the body 208 or at or near a midpoint of the body 208 and extends “forward” toward the leading end 206 of the body 208 to provide for more propellant to be used to accelerate the sabot 200 and payload 202. According to other embodiments, the flange 204 may be disposed at or near the middle of the body 208.

[0036] According to some embodiments, the sabot 200 and payload 202 are included in a cartridge or shell for firing from a tapered barrel. According to various embodiments, the flange area 204 may be disposed inside the cartridge case or outside the cartridge case before the round is fired. According to other embodiments, the flange area 204 forms at least part of the cartridge case encasing the propellant.

[0037] The sabot 200 may or may not be discarding. “Discarding” as used herein means the sabot 200 separates from the payload 202 after the round is fired and exits the barrel. A leading end 206 of the body 208 may be shaped to provide an air scoop to assist the sabot 200 from separating from the payload 202 upon exiting the muzzle. According to some embodiments, the sabot is non-discarding and may be shaped into an airfoil as it travels down a non-circular tapered barrel (see FIG. 6)

[0038] The body 208 and flange area 204 of the sabot 200 may be segmented comprising two or more petals 210 arranged symmetrically around the payload 202 toencase it. An interface 212 between two petals 210a, 210b is shown. The petals 210a, 210b are joined at the interface 212 to encase the payload 202 therebetween such that the round can be handled and loaded without the petals 210a, 210b detaching from the payload 202. The petals 210a, 210b are generally configured to separate at the interface 212 some time after the round is fired.

[0039] According to some embodiments, when the round moves down the tapered barrel, the compressive / frictional force of the tapered barrel on the sabot 200 may separate the petals 210 from the payload 202 such that the payload 202 exits the muzzle first followed by the petals 210. According to other embodiments, the sabot 200 and petals 210 are configured to remain attached to the payload 202 while the round is in the barrel and separate from the payload 202 when the round exits the muzzle. In other embodiments, the petals 210 are configured to remain attached to the payload 202 after exiting the barrel and separate at a certain time, at a certain distance or at a certain altitude after leaving the barrel. As noted above, the leading end 206 of each petal 210a, 210b may include an air scoop to aid in separation of the petals 210a, 210b from each other and the payload 202.

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 3A-3B, shown therein is the sabot 200 in a chambered state (FIG. 3A) and an end bore state (FIG. 3B). The chambered state shown in FIG. 3A shows the general structure of the sabot 200 when it is first loaded into the chamber of a tapered barrel before firing. The end bore state shown in FIG. 3B shows the general structure of the sabot 200 immediately before exiting the muzzle of the tapered barrel after firing.

[0041] The sabot 200 includes an inner surface 214 or inner surfaces for contacting the payload 202. Generally, the inner surface 214 is contoured to match the outer surface(s) of the payload 202. In an embodiment, the payload 202 is a bullet or a kinetic rod penetrator, and the inner surface 214 of the sabot 200 is curved to match the substantially cylindrical outer surface of the payload 202.

[0042] An end bore region 220 occupies a volume of the barrel at the leading end 206 of the sabot 200. Generally, the diameter of the end bore region 220 corresponds to the diameter of the muzzle of the tapered barrel. The end bore region 220 is not subjected to compression forces at any time when the round is in the barrel and does not deform from the taper of the barrel as the round travels down the barrel, whereas the flange area 204 does deform from contacting the bore of the tapered barrel.

[0043] The flange area 204 includes compressible areas 222, 223, corrugated section 224, bore contact areas 228 and structural elements 226. Generally, the diameter of the flange area 204 (i.e., at bore contact areas 228), corresponds to the diameter of thetapered barrel. That is, the diameter of the flange area 204 generally shrinks as the round travels down the tapered barrel due to the compressive forces of the barrel acting on the sections 222, 223, 224, 228.

[0044] The corrugated section 224 and bore contact areas 228 serve to concentrate and control the deformation of the sabot 200 during travel down the tapered barrel. According to an embodiment, the corrugated section 224 is a corrugated frustrum 224 that surrounds the body 208 and fills most of the bore. The corrugated frustrum 224 is configured to be deformable such that its diameter shrinks without the corrugated frustrum 224 elongating so as to minimize the material in the sabot 200 that must deform as the bore tapers. The corrugation in the corrugated section 224 is generally provided as a series of longitudinal peaks and troughs. The depth of the corrugation (distance between peaks and troughs) generally increases with distance from the body 208. According to an embodiment, the corrugation may further be arranged in a spiral pattern around the body 208.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 2B-2C the corrugated section 224 may be constructed of composites. For example, the peaks 234 and troughs 232 of the corrugated section 224 may be constructed of a more flexible aluminum alloy than that of the connective material 236 between the peaks 234 and troughs 232. The peaks 234 and troughs 232 of the corrugated section 224 may be a malleable material or even a jointed structure. According to various embodiments, the “corrugation” need not be physical corrugation. In some embodiments, the corrugated section 224 includes “effective corrugation” referring to a composite structure of the corrugated section 224, without visible peaks and troughs, that provides for controlled deformation of the corrugated section 224. In other embodiments, the peaks of the corrugated area may be connected / bridged with a material to provide an aerodynamic surface or airfoil if the sabot is non-discarding.

[0046] According to an embodiment, the peaks 234 and troughs 232 of the corrugated section 224 are further configured to engage rifling in a tapered barrel to impart spin to the sabot 200 and payload 202 as the round travels down the barrel. According to some embodiments, the corrugated section 224 is configured to have a predictable spiral deformation pattern as the round travels down the tapered barrel and the compressive forces of the barrel act on the peaks 234 and troughs 323 causing spiral deformation of the corrugated section 224.

[0047] Referring again to FIGS. 3A-3B, the bore contact areas 228 have a similar deformable corrugated structure and composition to that of the corrugated section 224. The bore contact areas 228 contact the bore as the sabot 200 travels down the barreland transfer the compressive force of the bore to the corrugated section 224 via compressible areas 223. Although the compressible areas 223 are shown as a continuous ring extending around the corrugated section 224, it should be noted that according to some embodiments, the compressible areas 223 may only contact the corrugated section 224 at several points spaced equally around the corrugated section 224. Similarly, the bore contact areas 228 may only be disposed at several points around the corrugated section 224.

[0048] According to some embodiments, the bore contact areas 228 may be part of, or directly connect to, the corrugated section 224 without the intervening compressible areas 223. The bore contact areas 228 may also at least partially deform from the compressive force of the bore such that the diameter for the flange area 204 is reduced in the end bore state (FIG. 3B) as compared to the chambered state (FIG. 3A). In the end bore state, the diameter of the flange area 204 is substantially the same as the diameter of the end bore region 220 and the muzzle of the tapered barrel.

[0049] According to an embodiment, the compressible areas 222 connect the corrugated section 224 to the body 208 and deform in a manner that prevents elongation or unwanted curvature of the corrugated section 224 as it is compressed inward by the tapered barrel (compare FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B).

[0050] The structural elements 226 connect the body 208 to the corrugated section 224 thereby reinforcing the corrugated section 224 and transferring the compressive force from the tapered barrel on the corrugated section 224 into grip on the payload 202. The structural elements 226 may not be fully radial (i.e., may not extend around the entire circumference of the body 208.

[0051] According to various embodiments, certain parts of the sabot 200 may be combined. For example, in some embodiments, one or more of the bore contact areas 228, the structural elements 226 and / or the compressible areas 222, 223 are incorporated into the corrugated section 224.

[0052] The deformability of the corrugated section 224 and compressible areas 222 allow for the sabot 200 to be used in a firearm, launcher or delivery system with a variable or tapered bore barrel. Since the sabot 200 deforms while the payload 202 retains its shape, a variable bore or tapered barrel used to fire or launch the round does not need to be built to exacting specifications and tolerances. This may further extend the service life of the tapered barrel.

[0053] Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, shown therein are diagrams of corrugated deforming sabots 250, 260 for encasing payloads 252, 262 according to severalembodiments. The sabots 250, 260 include multiple flange areas 254a, b, 264a, b. Referring to FIG. 4A, the sabot 250 includes two opposed flange areas 254a, 254b. A first flange area 254a extends “forward” from a middle of the sabot 250 toward a leading end 256 of the sabot 250 and a second flange area 254b extends “backward” from a middle of the sabot 250 toward a trailing end 259 of the sabot 250. Referring to FIG. 4B, the sabot 260 includes serial flanges 264a, 264b extending “backward” toward a trailing end 269 of the sabot 260. A first flange 264a is disposed adjacent a leading end 266 of the sabot 260 and extends toward the middle of the sabot 260 and a second flange 264b is disposed at or near a midpoint of the sabot 260 and extends toward the trailing end 269 of the sabot 260. According to some embodiments, the widest diameter of the first flange areas 254a, 264a may be smaller than the widest diameter of the second flange areas 254b, 264b, for easier seating of the sabot 250, 260 in a tapered barrel.

[0054] Referring to FIGS. 5A-5B shown therein are diagrams of variable bore barrel configurations 400, 402. In comparison to the traditional tapered bore barrel (FIG. 1 B) which continuously tapers from the breach end to the muzzle, the variable bore barrels 400, 402 have tapered bore sections and sections with uniform bore diameter.

[0055] Now referring to FIG. 5A, the variable bore barrel 400 includes a tapered section 406 adjacent to the chamber end 404 and a uniform bore section 408 adjacent to the muzzle 410. The uniform bore section 408 may include rifling to impart spin on the sabot (and payload) for enhanced flight characteristics and accuracy.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 5B, the variable bore barrel 402 includes slight taper bore sections 414, 418, 422 interposed by rapid taper bore sections 416, 420. The rapid taper bore sections 416, 420 provide "steps" in the barrel 402, that is, areas of rapid tapering, with rifling, that may be utilized to effect the spin of a corrugated deforming sabot as described below. The twist rate and depth of the rifling in each section 416, 420 may differ to allow for the round to smoothly travel down the barrel 402 from one tapered section to the next without substantially losing energy or spin. According to various embodiments, the barrel 402 may include more or fewer slight taper bore sections interposed by rapid taper bore sections than shown in FIG. 4B.

[0057] According to some embodiments, the tapered barrels 400, 430 may include a uniform bore section (not shown) at the chamber end 400, 412 to provide for easier seating of a round in the chamber prior to firing the round.

[0058] Referring to FIGS. 5C and 5D, shown therein is a rapid taper bore section 430. The rapid taper bore section 430 may be one of the rapid taper bore sections 416, 420 shown in FIG. 4B. The rifling in the bore section 430 is formed by peaks (lands) 434 andtroughs (grooves) 436 cut in a twisting fashion in the bore forming a first stage 434 and a second stage 438. The second stage 438 includes grooves 436 tapering more rapidly to align with the lands 434 as the bore narrows. The lands 434 and grooves 436, engage with peaks and troughs of the corrugated flange areas of the sabot, which have a spiral deformation pattern, such that different sabot rounds having different deformable corrugated areas / deformation patterns attain different rotational speed from engaging the same “steps” (rifling) in the bore section 430.

[0059] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a tapered barrel 450 with a non-circular bore 452, according to an embodiment. Instead of rifling, the bore 452 of the tapered barrel 450 includes parallel grooves 454 that run the length of the barrel 450 from the breach end 456 to the muzzle 458. The grooves 454 may be inlaid with magnetic rails for magnetic-assisted launching of a payload. According to other embodiments, the tapered barrel 450 may include more than 2 grooves arranged symmetrically around the center of the bore with or without magnetic rails inlaid therein. As with tapered barrels in general, the tapered barrel 450 requires a specialized sabot to support the payload as it travels down the barrel 450.

[0060] FIGS. 7A-7B show diagrams of a winged round 300, according to an embodiment. The winged round 300 may be provided for firing from a tapered barrel with a non-circular bore such as the one shown in FIG. 6. The winged round 300 includes a payload 302 and non-discarding sabot wings 304 which remain attached to the payload 302 after exiting the muzzle. The sabot wings 304 comprise deformable corrugated areas of a similar construction to the corrugated section 224 in FIGS. 3A-3B. As the winged round 300 travels down the tapered barrel, the corrugated areas deform in a manner to shape the sabot wings 304 into an airfoil to facilitate a more efficient gain in altitude, for example, when the payload is an surface-to-air missile or a rocket destined for space.

[0061] The corrugated areas 304 may include magnetic surfaces 306 for engaging magnetic rails in the tapered barrel. The sabot wings 304 more easily maintain contact with the magnetic rails whilst minimizing damage to the rails as the corrugated areas of the sabot wings 304 will deform to absorb any harmful kinetic force.

[0062] The combination of the sabots described herein with a tapered- or variable barrel may be used in a system for launching a variety of payloads. As noted above, the systems may be used in firearms or cannons to fire projectile payloads such as bullets or artillery shells.

[0063] According to some embodiments, the systems may be used as a launch platform for a missile or a scramjet. In such embodiments, the payload is a missile or ascramjet and the sabot is a discarding corrugated deforming sabot or sabot wings as described above. The system provides an accelerator for replacing traditional booster rockets to get the payload up to speed, at least initially during the first stage of acceleration, before the payload’s release and onboard propulsion takes over.

[0064] The system will incur recursive enlargement when attempting to increase performance at larger (relative to materials) bore sizes. For example, the system can be used as a "space gun" that accelerates small rockets, but such an application would require a very large, fixed barrel likely aimed relative to the Earth's rotation. This makes the system likely not viable as a strategic weapon platform in either a ballistic format or as a missile accelerator, due to the extreme inertial shock and recursive size requirements respectively.

[0065] While the above description provides examples of one or more apparatus, methods, or systems, it will be appreciated that other apparatus, methods, or systems may be within the scope of the claims as interpreted by one of skill in the art.

Claims

Claims:1 . A corrugated deforming sabot comprising:a body for encasing a payload; andat least a first flange area, comprising:a deformable corrugated section around the body for contacting a bore of a tapered barrel.

2. The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 1 , further comprising:structural elements connecting the corrugated section to the body, wherein the structural elements reinforce the corrugated section and transfer compressive forces of the tapered barrel on the corrugated section into grip of the body on the payload.

3. The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 1 , further comprising:compressible areas connecting the corrugated section to the body, wherein the compressible areas deform in a manner that prevents elongation of the corrugated section when compressed by the tapered barrel.

4. The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 1 , wherein the payload is one of:a projectile, a missile and a scramjet.

5. The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 1 , further comprising deformable corrugated bore contact areas connected to the corrugated section.

6. The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 5, wherein a compressible area connects the bore contact areas and the corrugated section.

7. The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 1 , wherein the body and the flange area are segmented into two or more petals.

8. The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 7, wherein the petals are configured to separate from the payload after the sabot leaves the barrel.

9. The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 7, wherein the petals are configured to remain attached to the payload after the sabot leaves the barrel.

10. The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 1 , wherein the deformable corrugated section comprises:a frustrum having a plurality of peaks and troughs; andconnective material between the peaks and troughs.11 . The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 10, wherein the peaks and troughs are constructed of a flexible aluminum alloy.

12. The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 1 , wherein the flange area connects to a leading end of the body and extends toward a trailing end of the body.

13. The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 1 , wherein the flange area connects to a trailing end of the body and extends toward a leading end of the body.

14. The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 1 , wherein the flange area connects to a middle of the body and extends toward a leading end of the body or extends toward a trailing end of the body.

15. The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 1 , further comprising a second flange area comprising a second deformable corrugated section around the body for contacting the bore of the tapered barrel.

16. The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 15, wherein the first flange area extends toward a leading end of the body and the second flange area extends toward a trailing end of the body.

17. The corrugated deforming sabot of claim 15, wherein the first flange area and the second flange area both extend toward a trailing end of the body.

18. A corrugated deforming sabot comprising:a body encasing a payload; anda flange area, comprising:deformable corrugated sabot wings around the body for contacting grooves in a bore of a tapered barrel, the sabot wings having compressible areas that deform to form an airfoil when compressed by the tapered barrel; andstructural elements connecting the sabot wings to the body, wherein the structural elements reinforce the sabot wings and transfer compressive forces of the tapered barrel on the sabot wings into grip of the body on the payload.

19. A tapered barrel for a corrugated deforming sabot, the barrel comprising:a bore having at least one rapid taper bore section interposing two slight taper bore sections.

20. The tapered barrel of claim 19, wherein the at least one rapid taper bore section comprises rifling having lands and grooves, wherein the grooves taper more rapidly to align with the lands as the bore narrows.

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