Non-lethal Projectile with Soft Rear Part for Impact Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-lethal kinetic projectiles face challenges in maintaining stability on trajectory and avoiding lethal impacts due to imbalance of aerodynamic forces and center of gravity, often resulting in destabilization and potential harm from hard plastic rear parts during launch and impact.
Innovation Solution
A projectile design featuring a soft, resilient rear part made of low-density polyethylene or similar materials, combined with an elastic front part and a thermo-formable outer ply, which allows symmetrical sliding and deformation upon impact, maintaining shape integrity and reducing friction during launch while distributing stress effectively upon contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a hard plastic rear part is used to engage the rifling and collect thrust during launch, then the projectile can be propelled effectively, but the hard plastic material may cause lethal effects or serious physiological damage upon impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and mechanical properties of the rear part material from hard plastic to soft, shock-resistant material (such as low-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, or polyurethane with plasticizer). This parameter change allows the material to be deformable upon impact, reducing lethality while maintaining sufficient structural integrity during launch to engage the rifling and collect thrust.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by combining the soft rear part material with the front part of the projectile. The rear part is made of shock-resistant material that can deform upon impact, while the front part maintains necessary hardness for penetration control. This composite approach allows different regions of the projectile to have optimized properties for their specific functions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the center of gravity is positioned for aerodynamic stability, then the projectile maintains stable trajectory, but the imbalance of aerodynamic forces causes destabilization and potential hard impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the mass distribution parameter by making the rear part soft and deformable, which changes how the center of gravity interacts with aerodynamic forces during flight. The soft material allows the projectile to better absorb aerodynamic imbalances without destabilizing, while also preventing concentrated hard impact upon contact with the target.
3Speed
If a sub-caliber projectile design is used to increase exit velocity and flatten trajectory, then range and precision are improved, but the reduced diameter increases penetration capability and potential lethality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material hardness parameter of the rear part to soft, shock-resistant material. This allows the sub-caliber projectile to maintain its velocity and trajectory advantages while the soft rear part deforms upon impact, increasing the effective impact area and reducing penetration depth compared to a fully hard projectile of the same dimensions.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a soft, elastic material is used for the head to reduce impact force, then lethality is reduced, but the material may deform during launch and degrade accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selects soft materials with specific mechanical properties (low-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane with sufficient plasticizer) that have enough structural integrity to maintain shape during launch and flight, yet deform sufficiently upon impact to reduce impact force. The material parameters are carefully chosen to balance these competing requirements.
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 design ensures a projectile that remains intact during launch and flight, maintains stability on trajectory, and upon impact, deforms to absorb energy without causing significant harm, achieving reduced lethality and improved precision over traditional projectiles.
Implementation Method 1
the use of cellular or microstructured materials, particularly polyphenolic foam or polycarbonate, allows for the creation of materials that, upon impact, absorb energy by shearing the cells or elements of the microstructure
Implementation Method 2
the use of aluminum cellular or microstructured materials results in progressive consumption upon impact through buckling of the cell walls or constituent microstructure elements
Implementation Method 3
a soft but shock-resistant, therefore resilient, rear part which can typically be made of low-density polyethylene, preferably pure; polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane containing plasticizer
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a kinetic and/or incapacitating projectile having high energy absorption including: a body (1) made up of at least one portion made of cellular material, foam or open or closed microstructures; a head, made of a resilient polymer material; at least one layer (3) which makes it possible to link the assembly made up of the body (1), the head (2) and optionally a rear portion by annular constriction, said layer being made of a thin material, the thickness of which is less than five hundredths of the diameter of the projectile.