Cartridges and bullets
09719762 ยท 2017-08-01
Inventors
Cpc classification
F42B5/025
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F42B10/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F42B30/02
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F42B30/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F42B5/02
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
An improved bullet disclosed includes a blend radius disposed between a first tangent thereof intersecting a shank of the bullet and a second tangent thereof intersecting one of a cone ogive and a boattail ogive of the bullet. The bullet also includes at least one dimple formed into a base of the bullet adjacent the boattail ogive, a curved segment joining the dimpled base and the boattail cone and a truncated cone ogive with a meplat end and a shank end, the truncated cone ogive adapted to produce less drag and friction in air than a secant or a tangent ogive. The improved bullet extends an effective flight range and a Coanda effect there around reducing air turbulence and drag on the bullet in flight. A cartridge adapted to receive the improved bullet is necked down and shortened for a COAL (cartridge overall length) nominally the same as conventional cartridges.
Claims
1. An improved bullet comprising: a dual tangent blend radius disposed between a first tangent thereof intersecting a shank of the bullet and a second tangent thereof intersecting one of a cone ogive and a boattail of the bullet; a first curve segment on a base of the bullet, the first curve segment comprising a convex center point within a base profile of the bullet and forms an annular ridge therein; a second curve segment on the base of the bullet, the second curve segment comprising a concave center point outside the base profile of the bullet and forms an annular trough therein, wherein the first curve segment and the second curve segment form an S shaped cross-section on the bullet base configured to extend an effective flight range and a Coanda effect there around reducing air turbulence and drag on the bullet in flight; and a plateau center portion of the base of the bullet lies in a plane intersecting the center points of the curved segments and orthogonal to a central axis of the bullet.
2. The improved bullet of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of annular dimples formed into a base of the bullet adjacent the boattail ogive, the dimples configured to effect a Coanda air flow around the base and reduce a turbulence and a drag on the bullet in flight.
3. The improved bullet of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of curved segments configured to join the bullet base and the boattail, the curved segments configured to effect a Coanda air flow across the curved segments.
4. The improved bullet of claim 1, further comprising a truncated cone ogive with a meplat end and a shank end, the truncated cone ogive configured to produce less drag and friction in air than a secant or a tangent ogive.
5. The improved bullet of claim 1, wherein the dual tangent blend radius is equal to or larger than a radius of the shank of the improved pistol bullet.
6. The improved bullet of claim 1, wherein a radius of curvature and an arc length of a first dual tangent blend radius between the cone ogive and the shank and a second dual tangent blend radius between the boattail cone and the shank are substantially the same.
7. The improved bullet of claim 1, wherein a length of the boattail cone is shorter than a length of the cone ogive but the respective dual tangent blend radii being mirror images of each other.
8. The improved bullet of claim 1, wherein a fineness ratio of the ogive cone length to a diameter of the bullet is larger than 1.20 plus or minus a ten percent manufacturing tolerance.
9. The improved bullet of claim 1, wherein an aspect ratio of a length of the bullet to a diameter thereof is larger than 1.75 plus or minus a ten percent manufacturing tolerance.
10. The improved bullet of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a concavity of the second curved segment to a convexity of the first curved segment is approximately one to one.
11. The improved bullet of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a length of a boattail cone to a length of the shank is approximately one to two.
12. The improved bullet of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a length of a boattail cone to a length of the cone ogive is approximately one to three.
13. The improved bullet of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a length of the boattail to a length of the shank of the bullet is approximately one to two.
14. The improved bullet of claim 4, wherein a ratio of a diameter of the meplat end of the truncated cone to a length of the truncated cone of the bullet is approximately 1.0 to 2.5.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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(12) Throughout the description, similar or same reference numbers may be used to identify similar or same elements in the several embodiments and drawings. Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(13) Reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.
(14) This application discloses novel and unobvious improvements to projectile performance and launch systems in small caliber weapons but the features and performance benefits could be applied to large caliber projectiles as well. Throughout the present disclosure and continuances and/or divisional disclosures thereof, the terms slug, bullet, and projectile may be used interchangeably to generally define a solid mass expelled from a firearm, usually explosively. The term nominal used throughout may define a measurement or a metric near a mean in a normal distribution. Furthermore, the term plateau used in the present disclosure refers to a conventional definition thereof meaning a relatively level surface considerably raised above adjoining surfaces.
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(21) The shape of the bullet ogive, Item 1100, is that of a truncated cone portion, Item 1105, in conjunction with a radius portion, Item 1120, which transitions or blends the ogive with the bearing portion or shank of bullet, Item 1200. The bearing portion of the bullet is nominally cylindrical with an outside diameter and known as the bullet caliber. In the case of the 30 SS (Super Short) and 30 Super the outside diameter of Item 1200 is 0.308. The 30 SS and 30 Super marks indicate a distinctive source of the disclosed bullets to consumers. The leading, flat portion of the truncated cone, Item 1110, is known as the meplat, a French noun which means the flat of. The exterior surface of the conical portion, Item 1105, intersects tangent with the blend radius, Item 1120, at Item 1122. The blend radius, Item 1120, intersects tangent with the bearing portion of the bullet, Item 1200, at Item 1124.
(22) As drawn in
(23) Another aspect of this invention discloses a unique boattail cone, Item 1300, a tapering portion of the bullet that comes after the cylindrical bearing portion of the bullet, Item 1200. Item 1320 is the blend radius from Item 1200 to Item 1305. Item 1305 is the truncated conical portion of the boattail, Item 1300. The exterior surface of Item 1200 intersects tangent with the blend radius, Item 1320, at Item 1324. The blend radius, Item 1320, intersects tangent with Item 1305 at Item 1322. The radius of curvature and arc length of Item 1320 are the same as the radius of curvature and arc length as Item 1120, effectively mirror images of the other. Although shorter in length than Item 1105, Item 1305 has the same cone angle as Item 1105.
(24) After the truncated cone portion, Item 1305, and prior to bullet base, Item 1400, there are various curved segments, Item 1330. The intent of curve segments, Item 1330, is to induce the Coanda effect at the back end of the bullet, Item 1000, to reduce wake turbulence, related drag and improve the ballistic efficiency while in flight. Typically, the flat base of a bullet intersects the conical portion of its boattail in a sharp angle, resulting in significant wake turbulence trailing after the bullet. The result of Item 1330 is akin to the aerodynamic benefit of dimples on a golf ball, which induce the air to more fully envelope the ball, reducing the wake turbulence and adding distance to the flight of a dimpled golf ball versus a smooth surface golf ball.
(25) Item 1332 is the tangent intersection point of Item 1305 and the first curve segment, Item 1333. Item 1334 is the tangent intersection point of Item 1333 and the second curve segment, Item 1335. Item 1333 lies anterior or tangent to Item 1400 and has a center point within the cross sectional profile of the bullet, Item 1050. Item 1336 is the terminal intersection point of Item 1335 and Item 1400. Item 1335 lies anterior to Item 1400 and has a center point outside the cross sectional profile of the bullet, Item 1050. The first curve segment 1333 and the second curve segment 1335 form an S shaped cross-section with the first curve segment 1333 forming an annular ridge and the second curve segment 1335 forming an annular trough in the bullet base 1400. A plateau center portion of the base 1400 lies in a plane intersecting the center points of the curved segments orthogonal to a central axis of the bullet.
(26) The aerodynamic benefits of the features described in Item 1300 apply even more so to conventional rifle bullets, such as those used in the 308 Winchester/7.6251 mm NATO cartridge. Bullets used in that cartridge are longer in overall length with greater fineness and aspect ratios and significantly higher muzzle velocities than the same 0.308 diameter bullets in the 30 SS and 30 Super. Given the same ogive length, bullet diameter and meplat diameter, the truncated cone ogive with the dual tangent blend radius described herein is: (1) less blunt than tangent, secant or hybrid secant ogives resulting in less related drag due to the smaller primary shock and (2) have less surface or wetted area than tangent, secant or hybrid secant ogives resulting is less drag due to friction.
(27) Additionally, secant ogives are not tangent the shank of the bullet at the point of intersection. Depending on the ogive length, ogive radius of curvature and fineness ratio, the non-tangent intersection of a secant ogive with the shank of the bullet can cause secondary shock waves, which is not the case with tangent ogives and truncated cone ogives with the dual tangent blend radius.
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(29) One aspect of this invention discloses a new cartridge with external ballistic and terminal performance superior to the 919 mm Luger in regular and +P and +P+ pressure designations, 40 S&W and 357 SIG, while utilizing the existing pistol magazines and requiring only a change of the barrel and recoil spring. Medium frame semi-automatic pistols in these calibers are designed for centerfire cartridges with a Cartridge Over All Length (COAL) typically less than or equal to the 919 mm Luger, which is 1.169. This drop-in-replacement cartridge for the 919 mm Luger will be derived from the 923 mm Winchester case that has been necked down for 30 caliber bullets (0.308 bullet diameter) and shortened to result in a COAL that is the essentially the same as 919 mm. The designation for this new cartridge is 7.6220 mm and to be known as the 30 SS.
(30) Another aspect of this invention discloses a new 30 caliber cartridge again based on the 923 mm Winchester case resulting in superior external ballistic and terminal performance to the above referenced 7.6220 mm. This cartridge will be designated as the 7.6223 mm and to be known as the 30 Super. This cartridge is designed to be a drop-in-replacement with a new barrel and recoil spring for larger frame pistols that fire longer cartridges like the 38 Super, 10 mm Automatic, 923 mm Winchester and 45 ACP, which have a range of COALs from 1.26 to 1.30. The 30 Super will be derived from the 923 mm Winchester case that has been necked down for 30 caliber bullets (0.308 bullet diameter) and result in a nominal COAL of 1.28. The case length of the 30 Super, 0.900, will be the same as the case of the 923 mm Winchester. The 30 Super is essentially a longer version of the 30 SS with greater powder volume underneath the seated bullet.
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(32) The following numbers apply to medium frame pistols:
(33) TABLE-US-00001 Cartridge: 30 SS 9 mm Luger 40 S&W 357 SIG Bullet Diameter .308 .355 .400 .355 COAL 1.169 1.169 1.135 1.140 Case Length .789 .754 .850 .865 Ogive Length .380 .415 .285 .275 Fineness Ratio 1.234 1.169 .713 .775 (Ogive Length/ Bullet Dia) Rim Diameter .394 .394 .424 .424 Base Diameter .391 .391 .424 .424 Neck Diameter .333 .380 .423 .381 Bottleneck Length .25 0 0 .15 Nom. Bullet Weight 110 124 155 124 (grains) Nom. Bullet Length .64 .623 .600 .623 Aspect Ratio 2.08 1.75 1.50 1.75 (bulletlength/dia) Max. Case Pressure 55 35-38.5 35 40 (kpsi)
(34) The following numbers apply to large frame pistols:
(35) TABLE-US-00002 Cartridge: 30 Super 9 23 Win 38 Super 45 ACP Bullet Diameter .308 .355 .355 .452 COAL 1.280 1.300 1.280 1.275 Case Length .900 .900 .900 .898 Ogive Length .380 .400 .380 .377 Fineness Ratio 1.234 1.127 1.070 .834 Rim Diameter .394 .394 .406 .480 Base Diameter .391 .391 .384 .476 Neck Diameter .333 .381 .384 .473 Bottleneck Length .25 0 0 0 Nom. Bullet Weight 110 124 124 230 (grains) Nom. Bullet Length .64 .623 .623 .64 Aspect Ratio 2.08 1.75 1.75 1.42 Max. Case Pressure 55 55 36.5 21-23 (kpsi)
(36) The above dimensional comparisons between the 30 SS and 30 Super versus other cartridges cited herein reveals significant dimensional and functional differences that result in superior performance by the 30 SS and 30 Super. Case pressure limits obtained from Section 1Centerfire Pistol and Revolver/SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute) Voluntary Performance Standards.
(37) Using the 923 mm Winchester case with its substantially higher allowable pressure for the bottlenecked 30 SS will generate higher muzzle velocity than the 9 mm Luger, 40 S&W and 357 SIG, greater penetration potential than the 9 mm, 40 S&W and 357 SIG due to the higher velocity in conjunction with the smaller cross sectional area, higher expected muzzle energy in comparison with other medium frame cartridges due to the higher allowable case pressure, flatter trajectory and extended effective range due to the higher velocity, greater fineness ratio, greater aspect ratio and smaller bullet diameter. Additionally, the longer bottle neck of the 30 SS versus the 357 SIG allows for wider use in pistols and submachine guns that employ direct blowback actions. With the COAL and case diameter being essentially the same as the 9 mm Luger, all of the above listed benefits can be obtained by simply retrofitting existing 9 mm Luger pistols with a new barrel and stronger recoil spring.
(38) Similar benefits redound to the 30 Super in comparison to the 38 Super, 923 mm Winchester, 10 mm Auto and 45 ACP. The dominant cartridge used in large frame pistols is the 45 ACP. Because of its larger rim and base diameter some additional modifications, other than simply replacing the barrel and recoil spring, may be required.
(39) The 30 Super and 30 SS are both designed with an ogive length sufficient to utilize 30 caliber bullets used in the 30 Carbine cartridge, renowned from WWII. Current 30 Carbine bullet designs include full metal jacket, soft lead round nose, jacketed hollow point and polymer tipped hollow point bullets. As was the case in WWII with the 30 Carbine, the US military uses full metal jacket projectiles for its 9 mm service pistol.
(40) Although not a signatory to the Hague Declaration, which prohibits expanding or flattening bullets, the US uses the 9 mm Luger/NATO cartridge with full metal, copper jacketed bullets and an elliptical profile. Performance superior to the 9 mm NATO round with enhanced terminal effects, greater penetration against soft body armor, increased accuracy and increased effective range are key features sought in the Modular Handgun System.
(41) Another aspect of this invention discloses new 30 caliber cartridges based on the 10 mm Automatic (1025 mm) case that have been necked down for 30 caliber bullets (0.308 diameter), resulting in superior external ballistic and terminal performance. The first cartridge will be designated as the 7.6222 mm and also known as the 30-40 Automatic. This cartridge is designed to be a drop-in-replacement requiring only a new barrel and recoil spring for larger frame pistols that fire the 10 mm Automatic with a nominal COAL of 1.26.
(42) The second cartridge based on the 10 mm Automatic (1025 mm) case will be designated as the 7.6219 mm and also known as the 30-40 AS. This cartridge is designed to be a drop-in-replacement requiring only a new barrel and recoil spring for medium frame pistols that fire either the 40 S&W or the 357 SIG with a nominal COAL of 1.14. The 30-40 AS is essentially a shorter version of the 30-40 Automatic with less powder volume underneath the seated bullet.
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(48) Using a method of identification similar to the one described above for the 30-40 AS: Items 500 through 595 relate to the 357 SIG. Items 700 through 795 relate to the 40 S&W. Items 2900 through 2995 relate to the 30-40 Automatic. Items 900 through 995 relate to the 10 mm Automatic.
(49) The following numbers apply to Medium Frame Pistols:
(50) TABLE-US-00003 Cartridge: 30-40 AS 40 S&W 357 SIG Bullet Diameter .308 .400 .355 COAL 1.140 1.135 1.140 Case Length .760 .850 .865 Ogive Length .380 .285 .275 Fineness Ratio 1.234 .713 .775 Rim Diameter .424 .424 .424 Base Diameter .424 .424 .424 Neck Diameter .333 .423 .381 Bottleneck Length .25 0 .15 Nominal Bullet Weight 110 155 124 (grains) Nominal Bullet Length .64 .600 .623 Aspect Ratio 2.08 1.50 1.75 Max. Case Pressure 40 35 40 (kpsi)
(51) The following numbers apply to Large Frame Pistols:
(52) TABLE-US-00004 Cartridge: 30-40 Auto 10 mm Auto Bullet Diameter .308 .400 COAL 1.260 1.260 Case Length .880 .992 Ogive Length .380 .268 Fineness Ratio 1.234 .670 Rim Diameter .424 .424 Base Diameter .424 .424 Neck Diameter .333 .423 Bottleneck Length .25 0 Nominal Bullet Weight 110 180 (grains) Nominal Bullet Length .64 .660 Aspect Ratio 2.08 1.65 Max. Case Pressure 40 37.5 (kpsi)
(53) The above dimensional comparisons between the 30-40 AS and 30-40 Automatic versus other cartridges based on the 10 mm Automatic case reveal significant dimensional and functional differences that result in superior performance by the 30-40 AS and 30-40 Automatic. The 0.394 rim diameter of the 923 mm Winchester case is sufficiently different than the 0.424 rim diameter of 10 mm Automatic case as to cause new cartridge feeding and spent cartridge extraction problems, if the 30 Super/30 SS cartridges were retrofitted for use in weapons designed for 10 mm Automatic, 40 S&W and 357 Sig cartridges. Otherwise, many of the ballistic and functional benefits of the 30 Super/30 SS cartridges will be evident in 30-40 Automatic/30-40 AS cartridges as well.
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(55) Notwithstanding specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims and their equivalents.