Ammunition for a conductive energy weapon. A receptacle includes a cavity accessible through each of a first opening in a first face of the receptacle, a second opening in the first face of the receptacle, a third opening in a second face of the receptacle and a fourth opening in a third face of the receptacle. A propellant unit is included within the cavity proximate the second opening and a projectile is included within the cavity proximate the second opening. A housing is coupled to at least the second face and the third face of the receptacle and is further configured to couple to the conductive energy weapon. The propellant unit releases a propellant into the cavity, in a direction substantially opposite the projectile's direction of flight, in response to a trigger pull of the conductive energy weapon, and the cavity directs the propellant in the projectile's direction of flight.

Systems and methods for releasing a material into an environment. The material may be encapsulated in a receptacle or otherwise packaged for movement into the environment. The receptacle with the material inside is introduced into the environment. A triggering causes release of the material from the receptacle into the environment.

The invention relates to a cartridge having a projectile secured to a case that contains a propelling charge and closed by a base. A device for igniting the propelling charge has at least two energetic igniter cords that extend between an initiating means secured to a rear part of the case and the projectile. In this cartridge, the cords are joined at their rear part so as to form a strand, and they are fastened by at least one fastening means secured to the cartridge, the strand being connected to the initiating means by a packing gland making it possible to immobilize the cords both radially and axially relative to the initiating means while keeping the cords tight between their fastening means and the initiating means.

The invention relates to a cartridge having a projectile secured to a case that contains a propelling charge and closed by a base. A device for igniting the propelling charge has at least two energetic igniter cords that extend between an initiating means secured to a rear part of the case and the projectile. In this cartridge, the cords are joined at their rear part so as to form a strand, and they are fastened by at least one fastening means secured to the cartridge, the strand being connected to the initiating means by a packing gland making it possible to immobilize the cords both radially and axially relative to the initiating means while keeping the cords tight between their fastening means and the initiating means.

A projectile propulsion system comprises a housing defining a chamber, a propulsive charge including a propulsive charge material loadable into the chamber, a projectile loadable into the chamber proximate to the propulsive charge material, an electric pulse discharge subsystem that provides an electric pulse having a specified pulse amperage for a specified pulse period, a current delivery subsystem electrically connecting the electric pulse discharge subsystem to the chamber to deliver the electric pulse to the propulsive charge material, wherein the specified pulse amperage and the specified pulse period are sufficient to cause at least a portion of the propulsive charge material to generate a propulsive force that is at least partially directed onto the projectile to drive the projectile out of the chamber, and a barrel in fluid communication with the chamber configured to receive the projectile as it is driven from the chamber.

An optical primer for igniting an ignition material in an ammunition cartridge. The primer includes a conductive cylindrical cup electrically coupled to a cartridge case and a circular conductive button including a top button portion positioned in the cup and a bottom button portion extending through an opening in the cup, where the button and the cup are electrically isolated. The primer further includes a first bracket electrically coupled to the button, a second bracket electrically coupled to the cup, and a pair of laser diodes electrically coupled in a reverse parallel direction and being electrically coupled to the first and second brackets, where one of the laser diodes generate a laser beam that ignites the ignition material in response to a current flow in either direction through the case, the cup and the button.

A projectile system has a projectile with a metal body having a first outside diameter, a forward end and a rearward end, a plastic base wad engaged at the rearward end, the plastic base wad of solid plastic having a first length and a second outside diameter, greater than the first outside diameter, and a rifled barrel having a third inside diameter at the tips of the rifling, the third inside diameter greater than the first outside diameter but less than the second outside diameter, and a fourth diameter at the root of the rifling greater than the second outside diameter. With the projectile translating along the rifled barrel, the metal body passes inside the rifling, avoiding metal to metal friction, while the plastic base wad fully engages the rifling, imparting rotation to the metal projectile.

A piston/rocket projectile for use within a launcher system having a barrel and method of firing such are presented herein. The projectile comprises a projectile body having a combustion chamber for propellant, a piston moveable to extend out a base of the projectile as a result of ignition of propellant in the combustion chamber, and vents for expulsion of combustion products from the ignition of propellant out of the projectile base after initial movement of the piston. A casing is secured to the base of the projectile body, enclosing the piston and vents prior to the ignition of propellant, and a frangible joint is disposed between the casing and the base of the projectile body. Upon ignition of propellant in the combustion chamber, the projectile piston is forced against the casing and causes the frangible joint to break, leaving the casing in the barrel. After the piston completes exertion of propulsion force against the casing, combustion products of the ignition of propellant are expelled through the vents out of a lower end of the projectile and solid combustion byproducts from the ignition of the propellant are collected in the casing.

A piston/rocket projectile for use within a launcher system having a barrel and method of firing such are presented herein. The projectile comprises a projectile body having a combustion chamber for propellant, a piston moveable to extend out a base of the projectile as a result of ignition of propellant in the combustion chamber, and vents for expulsion of combustion products from the ignition of propellant out of the projectile base after initial movement of the piston. A casing is secured to the base of the projectile body, enclosing the piston and vents prior to the ignition of propellant, and a frangible joint is disposed between the casing and the base of the projectile body. Upon ignition of propellant in the combustion chamber, the projectile piston is forced against the casing and causes the frangible joint to break, leaving the casing in the barrel. After the piston completes exertion of propulsion force against the casing, combustion products of the ignition of propellant are expelled through the vents out of a lower end of the projectile and solid combustion byproducts from the ignition of the propellant are collected in the casing.

An energy harvesting electronic primer (e-primer) system including smart ammunition with e-primer technology to enhance public safety from the discharge of a firearm by replacing conventional mechanical primers used for the activation of energetic materials with an electronic primer in center fire type ammunitions, grenades, bombs and other explosive devices wherein the ammunition includes an e-primer system having a firing pin, primer cup with a safety switch, antenna, piezo element, diode, capacitor, microcontroller, thermal wire, nanoenergetic and flash hole and radio transmitter circuitry wherein the mechanical force of the firing pin strikes a nanoenergetic material to activate the initial phase of an energetic train unless the e-primer is neutralized by a radio or acoustic signal captured by the antenna mounted within the ammunition where the radio signal includes a deactivation code to neutralize the ammunition. when located in a space specifically designed to receive the radio or acoustic signal.