Saboted Pusher Aerodynamic Drag Delayed Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 40 mm cartridges, such as the M576, experience excessive pellet spread due to tumbling, making them ineffective at extended ranges, especially in smooth bore and rifled barrels, and short barrels like the M203 and M320.
Innovation Solution
A saboted pusher design that utilizes aerodynamic drag to control the release of sub-projectiles, maintaining stability and delaying the dispersal until a greater distance, allowing for a more concentrated and precise payload dispersal at extended ranges by adjusting the pusher's mass and drag features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a traditional shotgun wad is used to release sub-projectiles, then the payload is rapidly released as it exits the muzzle, but this causes excessive spread of pellets at the target
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher is designed with asymmetric mass distribution and aerodynamic features that create dynamic instability after a certain flight distance, causing it to tumble and release the payload. This dynamic transition from stable to unstable flight allows controlled delayed release rather than immediate release at muzzle exit.
Solution Approach 2:
The pusher's aerodynamic properties are specifically designed to change with flight distance and velocity. The center of gravity position, drag coefficient, and aerodynamic stability parameters are optimized so that the pusher maintains stable flight initially, then becomes unstable at the desired release point, achieving precise control over payload dispersal timing and location.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the shot cup is designed to tumble to disperse the payload, then the payload is dispersed for close quarters, but this causes a large spread of pellets at the target and reduces effective range
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher transitions from a stable, non-tumbling flight state to an unstable, tumbling state at a controlled distance from the muzzle. This dynamic transition allows the payload to be dispersed at extended ranges while maintaining tight grouping during the majority of the flight path, unlike traditional designs that tumble immediately.
Solution Approach 2:
The tumbling and payload release functions are extracted from the muzzle exit region and relocated to occur at a specific distance downrange. The pusher carries the payload stable for most of the flight, then extracts and releases it at the optimal point for both range and dispersion.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the pusher rapidly releases its payload to avoid instability, then the payload is released quickly, but this prevents extended range flight and tight grouping
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher is designed with mass distribution and aerodynamic features that create a delayed instability mechanism. It remains stable for extended flight distance, then naturally becomes unstable at the desired release point, eliminating the need for rapid release while maintaining stability throughout the majority of the flight path.
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
This design extends the effective range of the projectile, achieving a more concentrated pellet grouping and increased accuracy by controlling the spread of sub-projectiles through aerodynamic containment, applicable in counter unmanned aerial systems and short-range anti-personnel applications.
Implementation Method 1
A saboted pusher design that utilizes aerodynamic drag to control the release of sub-projectiles, maintaining stability and delaying the dispersal until a greater distance
Implementation Method 2
maintaining stability and delaying the dispersal until a greater distance, allowing for a more concentrated and precise payload dispersal at extended ranges
Data Source
AI summary
A sub-projectile carrier which uses aerodynamic drag to delay the release of a payload in a tailorable manner to control the spread of the payload over a desired range. A 40 mm shotgun style cartridge is shown for use for counter unmanned aerial systems, and for short range anti-personnel applications.