Gas Favoring Boattail Projectile Design for Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current projectiles, such as bullets and artillery shells, do not fully meet the demands for accuracy and aerodynamic performance, particularly in military, law enforcement, and hunting applications, as they are affected by aerodynamic forces during flight and do not optimize the ogive and boattail design for improved release from a muzzle and shot grouping on a target.
Innovation Solution
A gas favoring boattail projectile design featuring a cylindrical body with a nose ogive, a meplat, a frustum boattail, and a base, where the meplat has a proportional relationship to the boattail, and the boattail has an angular relationship to the cylinder surface, optimizing accuracy and weight parameters, with additional features like a longitudinal conical aperture to reduce drag and enhance propellant efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bullet shapes with standard boattail designs are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but aerodynamic performance and accuracy are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing specific geometric parameters of the projectile, including the boattail angle (15-45 degrees), ogive radius (0.2-0.5 times caliber), and meplat diameter (0.05-0.15 times caliber). These parameter optimizations improve aerodynamic performance and accuracy while maintaining manufacturability through defined ranges rather than overly complex designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the geometric properties of specific projectile regions. The boattail section has a specific taper angle optimized for drag reduction, the ogive has a specific radius of curvature for stable airflow, and the meplat has a controlled diameter for accuracy. Each local region is optimized for its specific function rather than using a uniform design.
2Loss of energy
If longer boattail design is used, then drag is reduced and ballistic coefficient increases, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent defines specific parameter ranges for the boattail geometry, including angles between 15-45 degrees and length proportions relative to caliber. These defined ranges allow manufacturers to achieve optimal drag reduction without requiring extreme precision, as the performance benefits are maintained across a reasonable tolerance band rather than requiring a single optimal value.
3Measurement precision
If meplat diameter is reduced, then accuracy improves, but projectile strength and resistance to deformation decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies the meplat diameter as a proportional parameter (0.05-0.15 times the caliber) rather than an absolute minimum. This proportional approach allows the meplat to be small enough for accuracy while maintaining sufficient absolute size for strength, as the ratio scales with overall projectile size. Larger caliber projectiles naturally have larger meplats in absolute terms while maintaining the same proportional dimensions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The new design achieves improved accuracy and reduced drag, resulting in a higher ballistic coefficient, with the boattail length exceeding previous designs, leading to better flight performance and increased propellant efficiency, and is suitable for various applications including bullets, artillery rounds, and naval ordnance.
Implementation Method 1
At higher velocities, projectiles endured aerodynamic forces during their flights to targets
Implementation Method 2
propelled by the gasses from the exploding gunpowder in the muzzle
Implementation Method 3
the gasses from the exploding gunpowder
Data Source
AI summary
A gas favoring boattail projectile has a body, a nose extending from the body as an ogive, a tip upon the nose, a meplat of the tip, a frustum outwardly of the body and opposite the nose, and a base opposite the tip. The frustum also appears as a boattail and the body appears as a cylinder. The projectile has a caliber denoting its widest diameter and serving as the basis for additional dimensions measured from it. The meplat has a proportional relationship to the boattail and the boattail has an angular relationship to the surface of the cylinder. The relationships of specific features of the invention optimize its accuracy on target while remaining within weight and other specified parameters.