Frangible Projectile with Segmented Brass Jacket

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Solution Overview

Problem

Short-range frangible projectiles face issues with precision loss, reloading behavior, and internal ballistic loads, which can lead to destruction, especially with larger calibers, and pose environmental hazards due to uncontrolled fragmentation.

Innovation Solution

A projectile design featuring a brass jacket with coaxial front and rear cylindrical receiving spaces separated by a partition, containing a frangible core with predetermined breaking points and a flare in the rear space, which reduces internal ballistic load and enhances trajectory, and incorporates features like chamfers and blind holes to manage pressure and improve anchoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a frangible core is inserted into a jacket to reduce ricochet risk, then safety is improved, but the projectile may burst in mid-air due to spin-generated radial forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvericochet riskVSAvoidmid-air stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The projectile is segmented into a jacket and a separate frangible core inserted within it. The jacket provides structural integrity to withstand spin forces, while the frangible core remains contained and stable during flight, only becoming hazardous when it impacts a target.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frangible core is nested inside the jacket, with the core occupying the front cylindrical receiving space and the partition providing structural support. This nested configuration allows the weaker frangible material to be protected by the stronger jacket during flight, while still maintaining frangible properties for target impact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the projectile geometry is modified to reduce trajectory length, then range is reduced for safety, but precision is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrajectory lengthVSAvoidshot precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The projectile incorporates different geometric features in different zones: the front cylindrical receiving space accommodates the frangible core with specific anchoring features, while the rear cylindrical receiving space provides ballast and stability. This localized differentiation allows the projectile to maintain precision despite shortened trajectory.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The projectile combines different materials with complementary properties: a jacket material providing structural integrity and aerodynamic stability, and a frangible core material optimized for target impact fragmentation. This composite structure enables both precision flight and controlled fragmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a frangible projectile is used to minimize environmental hazards, then safety is improved, but internal ballistic stress destroys the projectile

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental hazardVSAvoidresistance to ballistic stress
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The projectile is divided into a strength-optimized jacket and a frangible core. The jacket is designed to withstand internal ballistic stresses during firing, while the frangible core is designed to fragment upon target impact. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The jacket acts as an intermediary between the firing system and the frangible core. It transmits the forces of firing while protecting the frangible core from destructive stress, and transmits the frangible core to the target for controlled fragmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the frangible core is pressed into the front receiving chamber to improve anchoring, then stability is improved, but compressed air must be vented to prevent pressure buildup

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecore anchoringVSAvoidinternal pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The partition is designed as a thin-walled structure that can deform elastically under pressure. This flexibility allows the partition to accommodate pressure changes during firing while maintaining the anchoring of the frangible core, and provides visual indication when pressure relief is needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP3230681B1Projectile with reduced ricochet risk
Publication Date: 2019.03.13 RUAG AMMOTEC AG
  • EP3230681B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3230681B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a projectile (5) with a frangible material for short-trajectory ammunition. In order that there are no great losses of precision and that the internal ballistic loading is not so great as to lead to destruction of the projectile, it is proposed according to the invention that the projectile (5) consists of a brass casing (4), the casing (4) has, seen in the direction of flight, a front cylindrical receiving space (4a) and a rear cylindrical receiving space (4b), the two receiving spaces (4a, 4b) are arranged coaxially in relation to the longitudinal axis (15) of the projectile and are separated from one another by a separating wall (16), the separating wall (16) forms the base (18) of the front receiving space (4a) and a core (1) of a frangible material is inserted in the front receiving space (4a), the core (1) protrudes with its tip (17) out of the front receiving space (4a) and, in the region of the separating wall (16), the casing (4) incorporates at least one predetermined breaking location (2), running around the casing (4).