Stackable kinetic energy ring cartridge

Abstract

A projectile which can be used to defeat an unmanned aerial system. The projectile features sabots which do not impart any forward impedance to the sub-projectiles, and carries a payload of stacked rings enclosed in the projectile. The rings are backed by a support ring, and abut a pusher aft section. The projectile's sabots discard cleanly upon muzzle exit, releasing the ring sub-projectiles to cover a large area, thereby increasing the probability of impacting the target. The rings create large holes in the target, despite comparatively low mass of a given ring as a defeat element, allowing for multiple sub-projectiles to be fired with a single shot, thereby creating the effect of firing multiple projectiles with a single shot.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial system defeat mechanism being a projectile that is generally cylindrical in shape and which is launched in a gun barrel having a muzzle end, and which projectile includes: an aft pusher component (101) having a circumferential notch groove (107) therein for receiving and mating with four equal sabot sections (102), said sabot sections enclosing a plurality of rings (104) as sub projectiles that are stacked within said sabot sections forming a payload, the front end of said sabot sections being open and uncapped, and also having a lip (109) thereon for catching onrushing air flow to open said sabot sections after exiting the muzzle end of the barrel to cause said sabot sections to be thereafter discarded, there being also a flat washer support ring element (103) between said aft pusher component (101) and said stack of rings (104) for dispersing set back forces of said stack of rings across the aft pusher component, and whereby the projectile retains its payload while still in the barrel and releases the payload upon muzzle end exit, so as to allow the rings to disperse to cover a large area.

2. The projectile of claim 1 where one or more of the rings has thickness (710) that is wider compared to the other rings.

3. The projectile of claim 1 where the cross sectional shape of each ring (705) is rectangular.

4. The projectile of claim 1 where the cross sectional shape (405) of each ring is trapezoidal.

5. The projectile of claim 1 where the cross sectional shape of each ring (505) has a top surface that is flat but a lower surface that rises parabolically toward a narrower cross sectional height at the right hand edge of said ring.

6. The projectile of claim 1 where the cross sectional shape of each ring (605) has a lower surface that is flat but a top surface that decreases parabolically toward a narrower cross sectional height at the right hand edge of the ring.

7. The projectile of claim 1 where one or more of the rings has of a different cross sectional shape compared to the other rings.

8. The projectile of claim 1 where one or more of the rings is of a different material.

9. The projectile of claim 8 where the material is metal, steel, plastic or composites.

10. The projectile of claim 1 where one or more of the rings is oriented in a reverse direction compared to the other rings.

11. The projectile of claim 1 where the rings have a symmetrical central hole area (708), and where such hole on one or more of the rings is of a different size compared to the other rings.

Description

LIST OF FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of the projectile 100 according to this invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of the projectile 100 along section lines 2-2 according to this invention.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a right view of the projectile 100 according to this invention.

(4) FIG. 4A shows a right view of ring 404 in the projectile 100 when the ring cross sectional trapezoidal shape 405 is used, according to this invention. FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional view of the ring of FIG. 4A.

(5) FIG. 5A shows a right view of ring 504 in the projectile 100 when the ring cross sectional shape 505 is used, according to this invention. FIG. 5B shows a cross-sectional view of the ring of FIG. 5A.

(6) FIG. 6A shows a right view of ring 604 in the projectile 100 when the ring cross sectional shape 605 is used, according to this invention. FIG. 6B shows a cross-sectional view of the ring of FIG. 6A.

(7) FIG. 7A shows a right view of ring 704 in the projectile 100 when the ring cross sectional rectangular shape 705 is used, according to this invention. FIG. 7B shows a cross-sectional view of the ring of FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) As seen in FIGS. 1 through 3, the sabot sections 102 feature a front rim sufficient to retain the rings and to hold them securely until the assembly exits the barrel. The sabot sections also feature an angled surface 109 that causes them to open as the force of onrushing air hits that surface. This results in the rings being released without any disturbance. Four sabot sections 102 are shown but it may be feasible to have a different number of such sections comprising the sabot. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 3, the projectile employs pusher element 101. The pusher is intended to propel the assembly and absorb the majority of the force from the expanding burnt propellant gasses. The pusher also features a groove 107 in which the sabot sections are retained so that the projectile remains together as it travels down the barrel. The assembled sabot sections 102 form a capless sabot. The front of said sabot sections has a lip area 109 to catch onrushing air after launch, to then help discard the sabot sections following muzzle exit. The assembled sabot (open in the front) is formed by the four sabot sections and is used to retain the rings and to provide stability to the round as it travels down the barrel. In the figures shown, the sabots feature a ring at the front and rear of the sabot which allows the sabot to ride the lands of the barrel (if rifled) to reduce the amount of spin imparted to the projectile and rings. The assembled sabot sections 102 also might feature a rotating band (not shown here) to generate spin in order to spin up the rings. The sabots feature a crimp groove which is used to crimp them into a cartridge case in order to retain the sabots before firing. This feature can be removed if the projectile is not crimped into a case and is held together in a different fashion. A flat support ring 103 is used to distribute setback forces of the rings, to avoid causing damage to the pusher during firing. Support ring 103 is only necessary for pusher materials which are unable to support the setback load of the sub projectiles. A ring sub projectile is shown at 104. These ring sub projectiles can feature other various geometries (and materials) as seen in FIGS. 4A through 7B. The rings are stacked inside of sabot sections 102 which form a carrier assembly for these ring sub projectiles. The design can be adjusted to reduce the mass and adjust the geometry of the pusher and sabots. The design can also be adjusted to eliminate the need for the support ring 103. In addition, the sub projectile ring geometry and material can be adjusted in order to change the amount of drag, center of gravity (CG), and mass, of the sub projectile rings. The assembly can also be adjusted to carry more or fewer sub projectile rings per projectile. For example, the cross sectional shapes of the rings may be changed (beyond the types already shown in FIGS. 46-7B); they may be mixed and/or matched in different cross sectional shapes, different thicknesses; some or all the rings may be turned over, oriented in the reverse direction from the cross sectional shape orientations that are currently shown in the Figures, or rings may be made from different materials other than steel or plastics, or mixed and matched, as to materials, thicknesses and orientations for instance. The size of the hole 708 in the rings, relative to ring diameter 709, for instance, or relative to thickness 710 for example, may also be varied.

(9) While the invention may have been described with reference to certain embodiments, numerous changes, alterations and modifications to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.