Bullet Stabilization in Subsonic Flight

Abstract

The present invention relates to increasing the flight stability of a bullet in subsonic flight. The bullet may incorporate features that impart additional angular momentum during flight. Helical fins may be configured such that laminar airflow over the bullet during flight causes the bullet to rotate, increasing the angular momentum of the bullet and stabilizing it during flight. The fins may be self-forming during the use of the bullet or may be formed during manufacturing.

Claims

1. A bullet comprising: a nose section; a cylindrical midsection having a first diameter, wherein a surface of the cylindrical midsection is a first material having a first material hardness; a cylindrical tail section having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is greater than or equal to the first diameter, and wherein a surface of the cylindrical tail section is a second material having a second material hardness; a concave base; and wherein the second material hardness is less than or equal to the first material hardness, and wherein the second material hardness is such that the second material is capable of being mechanically formed into fins.

2. The bullet of claim 1, wherein the first material is selected from the group consisting of copper and lead.

3. The bullet of claim 2, wherein the second material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum and lead.

4. The bullet of any claim 3, further comprising at least one core material.

5. The bullet of claim 4, wherein the at least one core material is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, steel, copper, and lead.

6. A bullet comprising: a parabolic nose; a cylindrical midsection having a first radius; a secant ogive tail; at least one helical fin protruding from the secant ogive tail, wherein the at least one helical fin has a second radius less than or equal to the first radius, and wherein the at least one helical fin has a twist approximately equal to that of a standard barrel rifling.

7. The bullet of claim 6, further comprising at least one jacket material.

8. The bullet of claim 7, wherein the at least one jacket material is selected from the group consisting of copper and lead.

9. The bullet of claim 8, further comprising at least one core material.

10. The bullet of claim 9, wherein the at least one core material is selected from the group consisting of tungsten, steel, copper, and lead.

11. A method of stabilizing a bullet in subsonic flight, the method comprising: firing a bullet comprising a nose section, a cylindrical midsection of a first material and a first diameter, and a cylindrical tail section of a second material and a second diameter; forming fins in the cylindrical tail section of the bullet, wherein the fins are configured to impart angular momentum to the bullet via airflow over the fins during flight; imparting angular momentum to the bullet via the airflow over the fins during flight.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fins are formed by a rifling of a barrel through which the bullet is fired.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the fins are formed by at least one blade inside a casing in which the bullet is loaded.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the fins are formed during manufacturing of the bullet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0009] FIG. 1a is a representation of a bullet with a soft tail section material capable of forming fins.

[0010] FIG. 1b is a representation of a bullet with a soft tail section material capable of forming fins after fins have been formed.

[0011] FIG. 2a is a representation of a bullet with a concave base capable of forming fins.

[0012] FIG. 2b is a representation of a bullet with a concave base capable of forming fins after fins have been formed.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a representation of a bullet with a concave base and a soft tail section material capable of forming fins after fins have been formed.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a representation of a bullet with a parabolic nose, cylindrical midsection, a secant ogive tail section, and a number of helical fins protruding from the tail section.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-section of a bullet with a concave base capable of forming fins assembled with a casing, propellant, and primer.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a representation of a bullet with a soft tail section material capable of forming fins being pressed into a casing with a number of cutting features capable of cutting fins into the tail section of the bullet.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a method of stabilizing a bullet in subsonic flight.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Most commercially available bullets are designed for supersonic flight speeds. As such, when they are fired at subsonic speeds, they may tumble during flight or exhibit other undesirable aerodynamic characteristics. Such problems are typically mitigated by the gyroscopic effect of the angular momentum imparted to the bullet by the rifling of the barrel it is fired through. However, the drag of the air over the bullet can cause a loss of this angular momentum, causing the bullet to lose flight stability.

[0019] A solution to this problem may involve the use of helical fins on the bullet. During subsonic flight, the laminar air flow may pass over the bullet, and across the radial surface of the fins. As the air flows over the fins, the fluid flow will apply a force to the fins due to the fins' twist rate. A portion of the force aligned with the linear velocity vector of the bullet may act to slow the bullet. A portion of the force orthogonal to the linear velocity vector of the bullet may apply a moment to the bullet, causing it to maintain its spin. Thus it may cause the bullet to maintain its angular momentum over its entire flight. This in turn may help alleviate some of the problems inherent in subsonic ballistics, such as, but not limited to, tumbling in flight, loss of impact energy, and the changes in both accuracy and precision of the firearm shots fired at subsonic speeds.

[0020] In some embodiments, the fins may be formed during the manufacturing of the bullet, and be rigidly affixed to the bullet. Conversely, in some embodiments the fins may be self-forming. In such an embodiment, the fins may be formed by the rifling of the barrel through which the bullet is fired, through a carving mechanism in the casing, or through any other forming means that will activate at some point after the manufacturing of the bullet.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1a and 1b, in one embodiment, a bullet having self-forming fins may have a nose section 1, a cylindrical midsection 2, and a cylindrical tail section 3. The nose section 1 is preferably parabolic, but may be hemispherical, a truncated cone, or any other appropriate geometry. The surface of the tail section 3 may be of a material having a material hardness less than the surface of the midsection 2. Alternatively, the tail section 3 may be constructed of the same material as the midsection 2, as long as the tail section does not have a material hardness greater than that of midsection. Further, the tail section 3 may have a diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the midsection 2.

[0022] In an embodiment having a tail section 3 that is softer and wider than the midsection 2, the fins may be formed as follows. When the bullet is fired, the bullet enters the barrel, and engages with the barrel rifling. When the tail section reaches the rifling, the extended diameter causes the tail section to fill the rifling more completely than the midsection. As the bullet travels down the barrel, the portion of the tail section filling the rifling will protrude, while the rest of the surface will be formed to the internal diameter of the barrel. This will cause helical fins 4 to be formed into the tail section of the bullet. Using a tail section of a softer material than the midsection enhances this forming effect, allowing the rifling to cut fins into the tail section while having little effect on the harder surface of the midsection.

[0023] In an embodiment as described above, the tail section material may be a part of the core of the bullet. The nose and midsection may be formed from a jacket of a material having a higher material hardness than that of the core and/or tail section. For example, the bullet may be manufactured with a copper jacket over a lead core. The core may then be formed such that the tail section contains a lip that extends beyond the diameter of the copper jacket. Other materials for the jacket and core are anticipated, and this disclosure is not so limited.

[0024] Once formed, the helical fins may have a larger impact on the flight stability of a bullet in subsonic flight than on one in supersonic flight. This is because subsonic flight is characterized by laminar flow. Thus the air travels smoothly over the length of the bullet, fully engaging with the fins, and imparting angular momentum to the bullet. Conversely, the air does not flow smoothly over a mach wave, and thus at supersonic speeds the air will not fully engage with the fins.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, in another embodiment, a bullet having self-forming fins may have a nose 1, a cylindrical midsection 2, and concave base 5. In this embodiment, the fins may be formed as follows. When the bullet is fired, the expanding gas fills the concave base 5, applying pressure radially against the wall of the concave portion. The portion of the pressure that aligns with the direction of the barrel causes the bullet to travel down the barrel. The portion of the pressure on the thinner side walls of the concave base attempts to expand the side walls. Once the bullet enters the barrel, this pressure expands the side walls into the barrel rifling, forming fins 4 with a twist equal to that of the rifling.

[0026] In an embodiment described above, the bullet may be made of a solid material, or be made of a jacketed core, or be constructed in any other manner common to the art. If the bullet has a jacket and core, then the jacket may extend rearwards towards the tail of the bullet beyond the core. For example, if the bullet has a copper jacket over a lead core, then the core may stop at the depth of the concavity, with sidewalls formed of the copper jacket. In this case, the fins 4 will be formed from the expanded copper. Other materials and constructions may be used, and this disclosure is not so limited.

[0027] FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate a relatively hemispherical concavity. However, other shapes, such as paraboloids, cylinders, or other geometries, are anticipated, and this disclosure is not so limited.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 3, in another embodiment, a bullet having self-forming fins may have a nose section 1, a cylindrical midsection 2, a cylindrical tail section 3, and a concave base 5. The surface of the tail section 3 may be of a material having a material hardness less than the surface of the midsection 2. Alternatively, the tail section 3 may be constructed of the same material as the midsection 2, as long as the tail section does not have a material hardness greater than that of midsection. Further, the tail section 3 may have a diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the midsection 2.

[0029] In such an embodiment, the fins are formed through a combination of the effects described above. When the bullet is fired, the expanding gas in the chamber presses the thin sidewalls of the concavity 5 into the rifling, causing the material to fill the rifling more completely than that of the midsection 2, or than that of a typical bullet. Using a softer material and/or larger diameter for the tail section 3 enhances this effect, providing for more efficient fin 4 formation.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 4, in another embodiment, a bullet may have a nose section 6, a cylindrical midsection 7, a secant ogive tail section 8, and helical fins 9. The nose section 6 is preferably parabolic, but may be hemispherical, a truncated cone, or any other appropriate geometry. This nose geometry, combined with the secant ogive tail section 8 provides for more stable laminar flow over the length of the bullet. This, in turn, enhances the effectiveness of the helical fins 9.

[0031] The fins 9 may extend the full length of the tail section, or for any portion thereof. They may extend out to the diameter of the midsection 7, or any fraction thereof. The twist of the fins 9 would preferably be timed to the twist of the rifling of the gun in which the bullet is to be used.

[0032] The design of this embodiment enhances the flight stability of a bullet at subsonic speed as follows. When the bullet is fired, the rifling of the barrel imparts angular momentum to the bullet, helping it to not tumble during flight. Once the bullet clears the end of the barrel and reaches clean air, the streamline of the airflow will pass smoothly over the nose 6, the midsection 7, and upon reaching the tail section 8 will follow the narrowing curve of the tail. This will provide a large surface of air for the fins 9 to engage with. As the air flows over the fins 9, the fluid flow will apply a force to the fins due to the fins' twist rate. A portion of the force aligned with the linear velocity vector of the bullet will act to slow the bullet. A portion of the force orthogonal to the linear velocity vector of the bullet will apply a moment to the bullet, causing it to maintain its spin. Thus it causes the bullet to maintain its angular momentum over its entire flight. This in turn helps alleviate some of the problems inherent in subsonic ballistics, such as, but not limited to, tumbling in flight, loss of impact energy, and the changes in both accuracy and precision of the firearm shots fired at subsonic speeds.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 5, in an embodiment, a bullet 10 as described above may be used with a suitable casing 11. While a straight casing 11 is illustrated, any suitable casing may be used, such as a necked down casing. The casing may be characterized by a sidewall 12 that defines an interior chamber 13 for holding a propellant. In some embodiments, the propellant may be smokeless powder, although other propellants may be used and this embodiment is not so limited. The casing 11 may include a primer pocket in the base for receiving a primer 14. The ignition end of the primer 14 may be positioned such that, upon striking by the firing pin of a firearm, the flame from the primer 14 may ignite the propellant within the interior chamber 13. A bullet 10, such as any of the novel designs described in this application, may be seated in the casing 11, whereby it may be held in place at least partially by friction. While the bullet 10 is illustrated to have a concave base, any suitable bullet, such as those of FIG. 1, 2, 3, or 4, or any other suitable bullet, may be used and this disclosure is not so limited.

[0034] In another embodiment, a bullet with a self-forming stabilizing means may have such means formed in a way other than by the barrel rifling. For example, referring to FIG. 6, a bullet 15 may be received in a casing 16 having at least one internal cutting blade 17. When the bullet 15 is pressed into the casing 16, the internal blades 17 may cut into the material of the tail section of the bullet 15, forming helical grooves in the tail section. Upon firing the bullet 15, these grooves may help to stabilize the bullet in the same manner as the fins described above. For example, the bullet 15 may be made using a copper jacket over a lead core. The lead core may form the tail section of the bullet 15, such that the surface of the tail section is lead. By pressing the bullet 15 into the casing 16 during loading, the internal blades 17 press into the softer material of the lead, forming helical grooves. These grooves provide the same functionality as the fins described above, and may be viewed to form wide fins between the grooves. While the bullet 15 is illustrated to have such a construction, any suitable bullet, such as those of FIG. 1, 2, 3, or 4, or any other suitable bullet, may be used and this disclosure is not so limited. Further, while a straight casing 16 is illustrated, any suitable casing may be used, such as a necked down casing.

[0035] The internal blades 17 may be formed through a variety of means, and be of a variety of geometries and dimensions. The internal blades 17 may be attached to the inside of the casing 16. Alternatively, they may be made from the material of the sidewall of the casing 16. In such a situation, they may be pressed, crimped inwards, or formed through any other suitable means. The internal blades 17 may be narrow and sharp, as in a knife blade, such that they cut the material of the bullet 15. Alternatively, they may be wider, such that they press the material of the bullet inwards. In such a case, they may be much wider than the gaps between them, whereby they form fins similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 1b, 2b, 3, and 4. So, while narrow, triangular blades 17 are illustrated, internal blades 17 having any of the geometries described, or any other suitable geometry, may also be utilized, and this disclosure is not so limited.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 7, a method of stabilizing a bullet in subsonic flight is provided. In step one 18, a bullet may be fired through a means known to the art. In step two 19, fins may be formed in the tail section of the bullet. Such fins may be formed after firing the bullet, either by the rifling of the barrel, or by another means. One skilled in the art could also readily envision how step two 19 could be performed before step one 18. In such a case, the fins may be formed when the bullet is pressed into a casing, such as in the embodiment of FIG. 6, or they may be formed through other suitable means wherein they are formed before firing the bullet but after manufacturing of the bullet. Alternatively, the fins may be formed during manufacturing of the bullet, such as in the embodiment of FIG. 4. Once the fins are formed and the bullet is in flight, in step three 20, the airflow over the fins may impart angular momentum to the bullet.

[0037] Because angular momentum is directional, conservation of momentum makes it difficult not only to change the amount of angular momentum in a system, but also its direction. In the present invention, this means that once angular momentum is imparted to the bullet in step three 20, it becomes much more difficult to change the orientation of the bullet during flight. This helps protect against tumbling, and subsequently loss of impact energy, and the changes in both accuracy and precision of the firearm shots fired at subsonic speeds.

[0038] The invention here described of novel aerodynamics and construction has been shown to alleviate the problems inherent in subsonic ballistics, such as, but not limited to, tumbling in flight, loss of impact energy, as well as the changes in both accuracy and precision of the firearm shots fired at subsonic speeds. It is understood that the foregoing examples are merely illustrative of the present invention. Certain modifications of the articles and/or methods may be made and still achieve the objectives of the invention. Such modifications are contemplated as within the scope of the claimed invention.