Projectile Core-Locking Protrusions for Jacket Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing firearm projectiles fail to effectively retain the core and jacket together upon impact with a target, leading to reduced penetration and accuracy due to inadequate core-holding mechanisms, which are often cumbersome, costly, or result in jacket-core separation.
Innovation Solution
The development of an expanding projectile with a malleable core and a jacket featuring circumferentially-spaced core-locking protrusions that extend into the core, providing a secure locking mechanism to maintain the core within the jacket during impact, manufactured using a method that forms these protrusions within the jacket pre-form and embeds them into the core during the projectile's formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional core-holding mechanisms are used, then the core can be retained in the jacket, but the mechanism becomes cumbersome and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The core-holding mechanism is segmented into multiple discrete protrusions distributed around the jacket's interior circumference. Each protrusion independently engages the core, providing redundant retention points. This segmentation allows the mechanism to remain simple at the component level while achieving reliable core retention through the collective action of multiple protrusions.
Solution Approach 2:
The core-holding function is extracted from complex mechanical devices and simplified to geometric protrusions formed directly as part of the jacket structure. By taking out the essential retention function and implementing it through simple protruding elements rather than complex mechanisms, the design achieves reliability without complexity or increased cost.
2Reliability
If traditional core-holding mechanisms are used, then the core can be retained in the jacket, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The core-holding protrusions are merged with the jacket structure, forming an integrated component rather than separate parts. The protrusions are formed as integral features of the jacket during the same manufacturing process, eliminating the need for additional components, assembly steps, or specialized tooling. This merging approach maintains reliable core retention while simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions are formed as preliminary features during jacket manufacturing, before core insertion. By preliminarily forming the retention features as part of the jacket fabrication process, the design avoids costly post-assembly operations or specialized core-holding devices that would increase manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Reliability
If the jacket wall thickness is increased to improve core retention, then the core can be held more securely, but the projectile weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The jacket wall thickness is modified locally at specific circumferential positions where protrusions are formed, rather than uniformly increasing thickness throughout. The protrusions create localized thickening only where needed for core engagement, while the remainder of the jacket maintains its original thin-wall construction. This local quality approach provides secure core retention at the protrusion sites without significantly increasing overall projectile weight.
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 ensures superior core-retention and expansion upon impact, enhancing penetration and accuracy while simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs, thereby improving the projectile's performance in hunting and law enforcement applications.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of core-locking protrusions extends into the core from an inside of the shank portion, the plurality of protrusions having a spaced-apart arrangement with each of the plurality of protrusions engaging the core to retain the core together with the jacket upon impact with a target
Implementation Method 2
an expanding or mushrooming projectile having a malleable core disposed within a jacket formed from a malleable material
Data Source
AI summary
A firearm projectile has a core extending along a central axis from a base portion to a tip portion, the base portion generally having a cylindrical shape and the tip portion comprising an ogive shape. A jacket encases the core along the base portion and the tip portion, the jacket having a shank portion defining a closed rear end and an ogive portion extending to an open front end. Protrusions extend into the core from an inside of the shank portion, the protrusions having a spaced-apart arrangement with each protrusion engaging the core to retain the core together with the jacket upon impact with a target.