PROPELLANT FOR A PROJECTILE

Abstract

An ammunition round comprises a projectile, and a propellant, the propellant comprising both an explosive and a liquid. The explosive and liquid may be provided in two containers in a gun barrel or in two compartments in a casing.

Claims

1. An ammunition round comprising a projectile and a propellant, the propellant comprising an explosive and a liquid.

2. The ammunition round of claim 1, wherein the explosive is a high explosive charge.

3. The ammunition round of claim 1, wherein the high explosive charge is a shaped charge.

4. The ammunition round of claim 1, wherein the explosive charge and the liquid are contained in respective first and second compartments within a casing.

5. The ammunition round of claim 4, wherein the first and second compartments are located one in front of the other along the axis of the casing.

6. The ammunition round of claim 5, comprising a divider between said first and second compartments.

7. The ammunition round of claim 6, wherein said divider has a center and a circumference and is shaped to extend towards a base of said round at said center and towards a tip of said round at said circumference, thereby to accommodate a shaped charge in said first compartment.

8. The ammunition round of claim 6 comprising a baffle along said divider between said first and second compartments.

9. The ammunition round of claim 1, wherein the liquid is one member of the group comprising water, demineralized water and alcohol.

10. The ammunition round of claim 1, wherein the projectile has a base towards the propellant, the base having a convex shape.

11. The ammunition round of claim 1, wherein the projectile has a base towards the propellant, the base having a concave shape or a flat shape.

12-13. (canceled)

14. A method of firing a gun to launch a projectile, the method comprising: detonating an explosive charge; directing a blast of the detonation into a liquid; launching the liquid into the projectile to launch the projectile.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising shaping the explosive charge to focus the explosion axially along a casing of the projectile.

16. The method of claim 14, comprising placing a baffle between the explosive charge and the liquid to compress the liquid over an extent of a surface.

17. The method of claim 14, comprising shaping a base of the head of the projectile into a concave shape to amplify an explosive force.

18. The method of claim 14, comprising shaping a base of the head of the projectile into a convex shape to moderate an explosive force.

19. An ammunition round comprising a projectile and a casing, the casing having at least two chambers for a propellant.

20. The ammunition round of claim 19, wherein one of said chambers contains explosive and a second of said chambers comprises a fluid.

21. The ammunition round of claim 20, having a base and a tip and an axial direction between said base and said tip, and wherein the one of said chambers containing said explosive is located towards said base in said axial direction and said second of said chambers is axially adjacent said first of said chambers towards said tip.

22. A gun containing an ammunition round comprising a projectile and a casing, the casing having at least two chambers for a propellant.

23. The gun of claim 22, wherein said at least two chambers comprise a container of explosive and a container of liquid.

24. The gun of claim 23, wherein the container of liquid is located between said ammunition round and said container of explosive, or wherein the container of liquid is located is located between said container of explosive and a rear of said gun.

25. (canceled)

26. The gun of claim 23, wherein the container of liquid comprises a jacket around said container of explosive, or wherein said container of explosive is shaped to focus explosive energy.

27. The gun of claim 23, wherein the container of liquid comprises a jacket around said container of explosive, said jacket extending over one or both ends of said container of explosive.

28. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0036] Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

[0037] In the drawings:

[0038] FIG. 1 is simplified diagram showing a bullet as known in the prior art;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of the bullet of FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional diagram showing an ammunition round according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] FIG. 4 is a view of the longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 wherein the propellant chambers are filled with high explosive and fluid; and

[0042] FIG. 5 is an exploded diagram showing parts of the ammunition round of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0043] The present invention relates to an ammunition round.

[0044] The ammunition round is provided with a two-part propellant. In conventional ammunition that comes in a casing, the two-part propellant may be provided within two compartments in the casing. One of the parts of the propellant is a fluid, for example a liquid and for example water. The other part is an explosive, such as high explosive and for example a shaped charge. The explosive is detonated into the liquid and compresses the liquid and also superheats it to form high pressure steam. The continuing force of the explosive is then amplified by the expansion force of the steam, and the propellant thus makes use of both the thermal and kinetic energy of the explosion to provide kinetic energy for launch of the round. Expansion of the steam may in fact serve to cool the barrel.

[0045] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components and/or methods set forth in the following description and/or illustrated in the drawings and/or the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

[0046] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a round of ammunition according to the existing art and have been discussed in the background.

[0047] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrates a round of ammunition 30 according to embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the round 30 comprises a bullet 32 fixed to a casing 34. The casing 34 is hollow as before but the hollow is made of two compartments, an upper compartment 36 which is filled with fluid 44 and a lower compartment 38 that comprises an explosive charge 46. The fluid may be a liquid or a gas, and the liquid may be water, including demineralized water and reduced mineral water, and alcohol, or water with additives, and the explosive may be a high explosive. A detonating pin 40 may detonate the charge. FIG. 4 shows the two propellant compartments filled with fluid and explosive respectively.

[0048] In the example shown, the high explosive is shaped and the divider wall between the explosive and liquid chambers is indicated by reference numeral 42. As defined by the wall the shape is such as to provide a central hollow to support focusing of the explosion. The focused explosion spreads axially up the shell and into the liquid containing compartment. The liquid may serve to amplify the detonation, for example by being compressed or by evaporating or both.

[0049] Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which is a simplified exploded diagram showing the separate parts of the round 30 according to various embodiments of the present invention. As discussed, the interior of the shell 34 is made up of two compartments. As shown in FIG. 5, the two compartments 36 and 38 may be a single structure with a divider 42 in between. Alternatively they may be two separate capsules. In one embodiment a baffle 50 may be placed in between the two compartments. The baffle may serve as a plunger that is launched by the high explosive into the liquid and provides a solid front to the liquid, causing compression and then adding additional spring force to launch the bullet.

[0050] The bullet itself may be shaped to manage or compound the launch force of the explosion. Bullet 32.1 has a concave shape. Bullet 32.2 has a convex shape and bullet 32.3 has a flat shape.

[0051] In the case of large artillery pieces, the propellant is not necessarily built into a casing but rather shells and propellants may be placed separately into the barrels. In such a case a shaped charge or a sack of cordite or gunpowder or the like may be placed in the barrel along with a container of fluid.

[0052] The liquid container may be adjacent the projectile. Additionally or alternatively a liquid container may also be provided behind the explosive in the gun barrel.

[0053] In the case that the liquid is water, the water may usefully be demineralized, so as not to leave mineral deposits lining the gun barrel.

[0054] The liquid may alternatively be an alcohol, which has a lower density than water but also a lower boiling point.

[0055] The liquid may be both water and alcohol, each being kept in a separate container or in a separate chamber in a casing.

[0056] The liquid may be kept in a container made of a material that is waterproof but evaporates with the heat of the explosion so as not to leave traces on the barrel.

[0057] As well as alcohol, any other liquid may be used, especially those liquids whose molecular merits allow it to dissolve in water. The liquids may have additives which influence the mechanical or thermal properties of the liquids.

[0058] The liquid may also be placed in longitudinal containers alongside the explosive in the barrel.

[0059] The present embodiments may be applied to those types of ammunition known in the art where the casing is degradable on firing.

[0060] The same construction may be used in conventional casing type ammunition.

[0061] As used herein the terms comprises, comprising. includes, including, having and their conjugates mean including but not limited to.

[0062] The term consisting of means including and limited to.

[0063] As used herein, the singular form a, an and the include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0064] It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment, and the text is to be construed as if such a single embodiment is explicitly written out in detail. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention, and the text is to be construed as if such separate embodiments or sub combinations are explicitly set forth herein in detail.

[0065] Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

[0066] All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent that section headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarily limiting.

[0067] In addition, any priority document(s) of this application is/are hereby incorporated herein by reference in its/their entirety.