Multi-piece Firearm Projectile with Collapsible Spacer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shotgun slugs tend to cause spalling and shrapnel upon impact due to their design, which can lead to unintended damage and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A multi-piece firearm projectile design featuring a rear and forward section separated by a collapsible spacer, where the rear section impacts the forward section upon collision, reducing spalling and shrapnel through a sliding hammer action, with the forward section having a tungsten carbide tip and both sections made of nitrided steel for enhanced durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional single-piece slug design is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it causes spalling and shrapnel upon impact
Solution Approach 1:
The slug is divided into multiple separate components: a forward section, a rear section, and a collapsible spacer between them. This segmentation allows the sections to move independently during flight and then collapse together upon impact, creating a sliding hammer effect that reduces spalling and shrapnel generation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity for each individual component.
Solution Approach 2:
The slug transitions from a static single-piece structure to a dynamic multi-component system where the collapsible spacer allows relative movement between the forward and rear sections during flight. Upon impact, the spacer collapses and the sections move together, creating a dynamic sliding hammer action that mitigates harmful spalling effects.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a multi-piece design with collapsible spacer is used, then spalling and shrapnel are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slug is divided into multiple separate components: a forward section, a rear section, and a collapsible spacer between them. This segmentation allows the sections to move independently during flight and then collapse together upon impact, creating a sliding hammer effect that reduces spalling and shrapnel generation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity for each individual component.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsible spacer acts as an intermediary element between the forward and rear sections. It maintains separation during flight but collapses upon impact, allowing the sections to move together and create the sliding hammer effect. This intermediary component simplifies the overall design by providing a straightforward mechanism for achieving the desired dynamic behavior.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional slug materials are used, then manufacturing is easier and cheaper, but durability and resistance to spalling are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The slug utilizes composite material construction with nitrided steel sections providing a hardened, durable exterior surface resistant to spalling, while the overall structure incorporates a collapsible spacer system. The nitriding process creates a composite-like structure with a hard outer layer and a tougher interior, combining the benefits of ease of manufacture with enhanced strength and spalling resistance.
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 design significantly reduces spalling and shrapnel generation upon impact, as demonstrated by tests where no shrapnel was produced when firing through steel and aluminum sheets, with clean holes resulting, compared to prior art slugs which generated significant shrapnel.
Implementation Method 1
Collapsible spacer 20 is a collapsible, or crushable spacer that will collapse upon impact of the firearm projectile
Implementation Method 2
In one embodiment the forward and rear sections 10 and 15 are nitrided steel. The nitriding process prevents rust and also provides a hardened outer surface for the rear and forward sections 10 and 15
Implementation Method 3
Firearm projectile 5 generates a double impact on the object that is struck, or impacted by the firearm projectile 5. The double impact may also be referred to as a sliding hammer action
Data Source
AI summary
A firearm projectile has a rear section and a forward section spaced from the rear section. A collapsible spacer is positioned between the forward section and the rear section.