Metal-Core Polymer-Jacketed Projectile for Armor and Soft Targets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional projectiles are limited in armor penetration ability, durability, and weight, and there is a lack of dual-use projectiles effective against both soft and hard targets, while existing armor-piercing ammunition is heavily regulated.
Innovation Solution
A dual-use projectile design comprising a metal core and polymer jacket, where the jacket is thicker than conventional designs, allowing for fragmentation and expansion upon impact, and the core is composed of materials like cobalt alloys to ensure compliance with federal regulations, enabling both armor penetration and soft target damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional solid lead alloy or lead-core projectiles are used, then weight is excessive limiting ballistic velocity, but armor penetration ability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile uses a composite structure with a lead or lead alloy core combined with a copper or copper alloy jacket. This composite material approach allows optimization of both weight and penetration properties, as the lighter lead core reduces overall weight for higher velocity while the copper jacket provides durability and penetration capability.
2Strength
If armor-penetrating projectiles with steel or tungsten alloy cores are used, then armor penetration ability is improved, but they are heavily regulated and may not be legally available
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameters of the projectile core from regulated steel or tungsten alloys to lead or lead alloys, which are not subject to the same restrictions. By adjusting the core material composition to use lead with appropriate hardness and density, the projectile achieves armor penetration capability while remaining legally available for purchase and use.
3Reliability
If conventional thin PTFE jacketing is used, then compliance with regulations is maintained, but durability and soft target damage ability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile employs a composite jacketing system using copper or copper alloy material instead of thin PTFE coating. This copper jacket provides superior durability, structural integrity, and effectiveness against soft targets while the overall projectile design maintains compliance with federal regulations through proper material composition and weight distribution.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a dual-use projectile for both soft and hard targets is designed, then versatility is improved, but such a projectile is not readily available
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile is designed with universal applicability for both armored and unarmored targets. The copper-jacketed lead core configuration provides optimized performance against soft targets through effective energy transfer, while the durable copper jacket and properly formulated lead core enable penetration of armored vehicles. This multi-functional design makes the projectile readily available for general use without requiring specialized restricted ammunition.
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 projectile effectively penetrates armor while maintaining compliance with federal regulations, providing enhanced performance against both armored and unarmored targets with controlled deformation and fragmentation.
Implementation Method 1
the projectile is fired into a fluid-like body, may result in hydrostatic pressure within the jacket initiating expansion and/or fragmentation of the jacket off of and/or away from the metal core
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a projectile comprising: (1) a metal core, such as a copper alloy core, including a base and a tip, where the base and the tip are separated by a core length along a z-axis running longitudinally through a center of the metal core; and (2) a jacket circumferentially attached to the metal core, the jacket surrounding at least fifty percent of the core length of the metal core, where the jacket includes: a polymer and a first jacket radial thickness along at least a section of an interquartile portion of the core length of greater than 0.03 inches.