Non-Lethal Projectile Mass Control and Velocity Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-lethal impact projectiles face challenges in achieving optimal accuracy and range while maintaining sufficient pain compliance and preventing serious bodily injury, particularly due to issues with mass properties, penetration potential, and velocity variance, especially in 12 gauge ammunition.
Innovation Solution
A spin-stabilized projectile design with a densified body and compliant nose that adjusts mass distribution and surface area upon impact, combined with a modified high/low pressure propulsion system to ensure consistent velocity and energy delivery across ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a very compliant projectile nose is used to increase impact surface area and reduce penetration, then penetration risk is reduced, but the nose deforms during barrel travel causing damage to rifling bands and decreasing projectile stability
Solution Approach 1:
The nose component transitions from a rigid state during barrel travel to a compliant state upon impact. The resilient material allows the nose to deform dynamically - remaining stable during rotation through rifling bands but expanding upon target contact to increase surface area and reduce penetration risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The projectile is divided into distinct functional segments: a rigid driving band for barrel engagement, a resilient nose for controlled deformation, and a densified body for mass control. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with others.
2Measurement precision
If projectile velocity is increased to maximize accuracy at longer ranges, then accuracy is improved, but energy per unit area increases making penetration more likely
Solution Approach 1:
The nose component transitions from a rigid state during barrel travel to a compliant state upon impact. The resilient material allows the nose to deform dynamically - remaining stable during rotation through rifling bands but expanding upon target contact to increase surface area and reduce penetration risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The projectile's impact characteristics are changed by using a resilient nose material that alters the energy distribution upon impact. The material properties enable the nose to absorb and distribute impact energy across a larger surface area, reducing energy per unit area despite high velocity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If projectile mass is increased to improve effectiveness, then impact energy is improved, but manufacturing precision and repeatability deteriorate due to difficulty in controlling mass properties
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile body combines a densified material (such as metal powder or high-density polymer) with a resin matrix to create a composite structure. This allows precise control of mass and center of gravity while maintaining manufacturing repeatability through consistent material formulation and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the projectile have different material properties optimized for their specific functions: the driving band is rigid for barrel engagement, the body is densified for mass control, and the nose is resilient for controlled deformation. This local differentiation enables precise mass property control.
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 solution enhances accuracy and range while ensuring non-lethal performance by precisely controlling mass and energy dissipation, reducing penetration risk, and minimizing velocity variance, resulting in improved effectiveness and reliability for law enforcement and military applications.
Implementation Method 1
a driving band to engage barrel rifling and in part spin to the projectile
Implementation Method 2
incorporate a heavy metal powder such as tungsten, lead, iron, etc. into a polymer material
Implementation Method 3
The use of compliant noses for the projectile, such as a sponge or foam, dissipate energy upon impact with the target by compression of the foam or sponge by elastic deformation
Implementation Method 4
An improved response can be achieved by using a rigid nose material which will crush under an impact load through plastic deformation
Implementation Method 5
A modified high/low pressure propulsion system to ensure consistent velocity and energy delivery across ranges
Data Source
AI summary
A non-lethal ammunition comprising a projectile having a nose component, a driving band adjacent the nose component, and a base component, wherein a densified material is used to control weight distribution of the projectile to improve flight, stability and delivered impact energy of the projectile and the nose component includes features to maximize impact surface area. The projectile is positioned within a shell having a high pressure and low pressure propulsion system which minimizes velocity variance of the projectile.