Subsonic Projectile with Hydrostatic Ram and Segmented Petals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subsonic projectiles lack the necessary expansion and stopping power when hitting targets due to insufficient propulsion force, and their design prevents them from being fed through automatic or semi-automatic firearm magazines.
Innovation Solution
The development of an expanding subsonic projectile with a body that defines a hollow bore and includes a hydrostatic ram, featuring an ogive of greater than 8 calibers and a plurality of discrete petals, which expands when discharged from a firearm at subsonic speed into a wet target, allowing for predictable expansion and compatibility with magazine feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If subsonic projectiles are constructed with a blunt profile to enable expansion upon impact, then expansion capability is improved, but the projectiles cannot be fed via magazine into automatic or semi-automatic firearms
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile body is divided into multiple discrete petals that are initially contained within the hollow bore. This segmentation allows the projectile to maintain a streamlined ogive shape for magazine feeding while enabling expansion capability through the separated petals that can splay outward upon impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The discrete petals are nested within the hollow bore of the projectile body during magazine feeding. The petals are contained inside the projectile structure, allowing the streamlined external shape to be maintained while the internal components (petals) are prepared for expansion upon target impact.
2Force
If subsonic projectiles are constructed with sufficient propulsion force to expand upon impact, then stopping power is improved, but the projectiles require blunt profile which prevents magazine feeding
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile is segmented into a hollow body containing discrete petals. This segmentation allows the use of a streamlined ogive shape for magazine feeding while the internal petal structure provides the expansion capability when propulsion force is applied upon impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The projectile structure parameters are changed by creating a hollow bore and incorporating discrete petals that can change shape. This allows the external dimensions to remain suitable for magazine feeding while the internal structure enables expansion under propulsion force.
3Shape
If subsonic projectiles are designed for expansion capability, then stopping power is improved, but expansion is unpredictable without sufficient propulsion force
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile is divided into discrete petals within a hollow bore, creating defined expansion pathways. This segmentation ensures predictable expansion behavior as the petals have predetermined separation planes and can expand in a controlled manner upon impact with sufficient propulsion force.
Solution Approach 2:
The projectile structure is designed with specific parameters including ogive greater than 8 calibers and hollow bore geometry that control the expansion process. These parameter changes ensure that when sufficient propulsion force is achieved, the expansion occurs in a predictable and reliable manner.
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 projectile achieves expansion greater than 2 calibers upon impact, ensuring effective stopping power and compatibility with automatic and semi-automatic firearms, while maintaining weight and reliability for cyclic operation.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrostatic ram disposed proximate an open end of the bore... the hydrostatic ram is adapted to move axially within the bore when the projectile is discharged from a firearm at a subsonic speed into a wet target
Implementation Method 2
the projectile is adapted to expand greater than about 2 calibers when the projectile is discharged from a firearm at a subsonic speed into a wet target
Data Source
AI summary
An expanding subsonic projectile has a body having an ogive of greater than about 8 calibers. The body at least partially defines a hollow bore and a hydrostatic ram disposed proximate a first end of the bore.