Self-consuming projectile with pyrotechnic mass reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional projectiles maintain high residual energy beyond their intended effective range, posing a risk of injury or damage, as they lack effective self-destruct mechanisms to ensure non-lethality and safe dissipation of energy.
Innovation Solution
Integration of pyrotechnic charges within the projectile that burn off at a defined speed, reducing the projectile's mass and velocity, ensuring energy dissipation beyond the effective range, with adjustable composition and ignition timing to maintain functionality within the intended range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional projectiles are used with high muzzle energy, then the projectile maintains sufficient energy at long range (up to 2000 meters), but the residual energy beyond the effective range (200 meters) causes serious injuries and safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mass parameter of the projectile during flight by incorporating a pyrotechnic charge that burns off part of the projectile's mass after the effective range is exceeded. This parameter change causes a corresponding change in kinetic energy, reducing the residual energy that could cause harm beyond the intended effective range while maintaining sufficient energy within the effective range.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the projectile mass is reduced after effective range to limit residual energy, then safety is improved, but the projectile must carry additional pyrotechnic charge components increasing initial mass
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful residual energy from the system by using a pyrotechnic charge to burn off and eject portions of the projectile's mass after the effective range. This extraction of mass directly removes the source of harmful residual energy, achieving safety improvement while the extracted mass is discarded rather than carried back.
Solution Approach 2:
The projectile is designed to discard portions of its mass through the pyrotechnic charge mechanism after serving its intended purpose within the effective range. The burnt-off mass is discarded to reduce residual energy, while the remaining lightweight casing continues flight with minimal harmful energy.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a self-destruct mechanism is integrated into the projectile, then safety beyond effective range is improved, but the reliability of the self-destruction mechanism cannot always be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the projectile's own kinetic energy and mass into a self-destruct mechanism by using a pyrotechnic charge that utilizes the projectile's flight momentum and aerodynamic forces. The burn-off process converts the harmful residual energy into controlled ejection of mass, creating a passive self-regulating system that reduces reliability concerns associated with active electronic self-destruct mechanisms.
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
Ensures non-lethality and increased safety by dissipating residual energy quickly, maintaining identical ballistic properties to combat ammunition within the effective range while preventing excessive range and potential harm.
Implementation Method 1
The pyrotechnic composition then burns at a defined rate during flight. This defined rate of combustion can be adjusted by modifying the composition of the pyrotechnic mixture.
Implementation Method 2
A propellant charge (not shown) of ammunition (also not shown) ignites the pyrotechnic composition upon firing.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A projectile (1) with a projectile casing (2) and at least one pyrotechnic charge (3, 4) incorporated in the projectile casing (2) is proposed, wherein the projectile (1) has an open projectile base (5) with a destructible membrane (6) and the pyrotechnic charge (3, 4) burns away at a defined rate during the flight of the projectile (1), and so the projectile (1) loses mass in such a way that a predetermined effective range is not exceeded. As a result, safety and a nonlethal effect are achieved, in particular outside the effective range.