Bullet With Push-Out Explosive Charge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ammunition with pre-explosive mechanisms are impractical for use in conventional weapons due to length constraints and safety concerns, limiting their deployment and effectiveness in small arms fire.
Innovation Solution
A bullet design featuring a sub-caliber, impact-activated explosive charge that is safely housed within the cartridge, extending only after discharge and locking in place, allowing for safe storage, loading, and use in any conventional firearm without interfering with the rifling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a pre-explosive charge mechanism is added to increase penetration and lethality, then the explosive capability is improved, but the cartridge length increases making it incompatible with conventional firearms
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-explosive charge mechanism is nested within the bullet structure itself, specifically housed in a recessed chamber formed within the bullet's ogive portion. This internal nesting allows the explosive mechanism to be contained within the conventional cartridge length while still providing enhanced penetration and lethality capabilities through the pre-explosion effect.
2Strength
If a protruding pre-explosive charge is used to enhance penetration, then the penetration capability is improved, but the cartridge cannot be safely stored, transported, or loaded in conventional weapons
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-explosive charge mechanism is extracted from the conventional protruding configuration and repositioned within a recessed chamber formed in the bullet's ogive. This extraction from the external protruding position eliminates the safety hazards associated with protruding charges during storage and loading, while the mechanism remains functional for enhancing penetration through controlled pre-explosion at target impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The recessed chamber design with protective cover prevents premature activation of the pre-explosive charge during handling, storage, and loading operations. The preliminary protective structure anti-acts against accidental initiation, ensuring safety while maintaining the penetration-enhancing capability when the bullet strikes the target.
3Strength
If a sub-caliber penetrator is enclosed within a tubular steel body, then the penetration performance is improved, but the device complexity increases with multiple enclosed components
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-caliber penetrator and pre-explosive charge mechanism are merged into a single integrated bullet structure. The penetrator is positioned within the bullet core while the pre-explosive charge is housed in the recessed chamber of the ogive, creating a unified design that achieves enhanced penetration performance without the complexity of separate enclosed tubular structures.
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
Enhances lethality and penetration capabilities by exploding before the main bullet impact, effectively penetrating hardened targets and softening protective gear, while maintaining compatibility with standard cartridges and weapons systems.
Implementation Method 1
The thrust plate is spring metal and when the cartridge is fired, the thrust plate rises pushing the body so that it extends from the leading end of the bullet
Implementation Method 2
The bullet contains a body that is an impact-activated explosive
Data Source
AI summary
A bullet defines a chamber and mechanism for extending an explosive body from the chamber. The chamber has a broader top portion than a lower portion. The bullet further defines a channel passage leading out of the top end of the bullet. The bullet contains the explosive body slidably engaged within the channel passage. A shaft is connected to the body and passes down from the body into the lower portion of the chamber. A thrust plate is connected to the shaft end in the chamber. The thrust plate is spring metal and when the cartridge is fired, the thrust plate rises pushing the body so that it extends from the leading end of the bullet. When the thrust plate rises to the second portion of the chamber, it springs open to prevent subsequent downward motion of the thrust plate and consequently prevents subsequent retraction of the body during flight.