Projectile with expanding medium

Abstract

A projectile that extends in the longitudinal direction and can be introduced into a cartridge by means of a casing. Moreover, the projectile has a projectile body that contains both a penetrator and an expanding medium. Characterizing the present invention, it is proposed to use metal foam, in particular air-foamed aluminum, as the expanding medium.

Claims

1. A projectile that extends in a longitudinal direction, the projectile comprising: a projectile base that at least partially accommodates a projectile body; a penetrator that is supported inside the projectile body; an expanding medium arranged within the projectile body, the expanding medium being a metal foam; and; a cap that is arranged at an end of the projectile body.

2. The projectile according to claim 1, wherein the projectile base shields the projectile body with regard to a propellant charge.

3. The projectile according to claim 1, wherein a material of the projectile body has a higher density than the expanding medium.

4. The projectile according to claim 1, wherein a material of the penetrator has a higher density than the expanding medium.

5. The projectile according to claim 1, wherein a material of the projectile body has a higher density than the cap.

6. The projectile according to claim 1, wherein the expanding medium contains pores that are adapted to be filled with a compressible fluid.

7. The projectile according to claim 6, wherein the compressible fluid is compressed to the point of plasma formation.

8. The projectile according to claim 1, wherein the penetrator is made of tungsten or a tungsten alloy or a tungsten-containing substrate.

9. A cartridge comprising: a projectile according to claim 1; a casing that encloses the projectile; and a primer that is at least partially arranged in the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawing which is given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein: the sole FIGURE is a schematic cross-section through a cartridge with a projectile according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(2) The FIGURE shows a cartridge with a projectile 9 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, wherein the cartridge extends in the longitudinal direction and is shown as a cross-section.

(3) The cartridge includes a projectile 9 and has a casing 2 and a primer 1 that is located at one end of the casing 2 of the projectile 9. The primer 1 is thus located at the back end of the casing 2 in the direction of flight. The primer 1 is located inside the casing 2 such that it is accessible from outside the casing 2 so that it can be ignited by an ignitor. For the purposes of the present invention, an ignitor can, for example, act mechanically on the primer 1.

(4) The projectile 9 according to the invention has a projectile base 4 that at least partially accommodates a projectile body 6. In the cartridge form, the projectile base 4 is enclosed in the casing 2, namely at the opposite end of the projectile 9 when viewed from the primer, and thus in the direction of flight of the projectile.

(5) Supported within the projectile body 6 are a penetrator 5 and an expanding medium 7. The expanding medium 7 in this case has a lower density than the penetrator 5 and the projectile body 6.

(6) The projectile 9 likewise includes a cap 8 that is arranged at one end of the projectile body 6. In this arrangement, the cap 8 and the end of the casing 2 at which the primer 1 is attached form the two ends of the cartridge in the longitudinal direction.

(7) A metal foam is provided as the expanding medium 7, because it has a low density, is inexpensive to manufacture, and has a simple manufacturing process.

(8) The propellant charge 3 of the casing 2 can be formed of propellant powder, and is in contact with the primer 1. It is thus possible to ignite the propellant charge 3 by acting on the primer 1. The gas produced by the ignited propellant charge 3 can escape from the casing 2 through suitable discharge openings and propel the projectile.

(9) The projectile 9 is propelled by the propellant charge 3, and thus accelerates the projectile body 6 held in the projectile base 4.

(10) An aerodynamic flight is made possible for the projectile by the cap 8. The cap 8 is not necessary for the method of action upon striking the target, however, and is therefore designed such that the cap 8 breaks away or shears off upon impact.

(11) The projectile 9 according to the invention thus strikes the target with the projectile body 6, and in the case of a hard target penetrates the target at least partially. As a result of the at least partial penetration of the projectile body 6 into the hard target or armor, the expanding medium 7 within the projectile body 6 is enclosed. The expanding medium 7 is likewise decelerated in the direction of the target, namely by the abrupt velocity change at the target as well as by the deceleration of the penetrator 5, which likewise pushes the expanding medium 7 in the direction of the target.

(12) As a result of the easy deformability of the expanding medium 7, the penetrator 5 can likewise move in the direction of the target in this case, during the course of which it deforms and compresses the expanding medium 7. As a result of this compression, the expanding medium 7 continues to deform the projectile body 6 so that the latter is crushed and deforms or crushes the target, with the goal of piercing the armor of the target.

(13) The fluid contained in the pores of the metal foam is likewise compressed to the point of plasma formation. As a result of this plasma formation the projectile body 6 is deformed still further to the point when the projectile body 6 breaks apart.

(14) The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned materials. Rather, additional embodiments are possible. Thus, it is possible that the expanding medium 7 itself forms the cap, and consequently the projectile dispenses with a separate part for the cap. Accordingly, the cap can be designed as a single part made of the expanding medium or as a separate component. Moreover, it is possible to use other light metals instead of aluminum for the metal foam.

(15) The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.