Ammunition for providing a multilayer flowering upon impact

Abstract

The disclosed ammunition is adapted for flowering into a plurality of sections upon impact with a body or object. The ammunition comprises a cylindrical casing, a charge disposed within the cylindrical casing and cylindrical projectile, defining a first portion within the casing and a second portion extending from the casing. The projectile comprises a projectile body and projectile jacket. The projectile jacket is disposed about at least a portion of the projectile body. The projectile body and/or the projectile jacket each define a leading end and a plurality of radially arrayed score lines formed therein, extending from the leading end. Upon impact, the projectile body and/or the projectile jacket flower into a plurality of radially arrayed sections, the sections being defined by the score lines formed in the projectile body and/or the projectile jacket.

Claims

1. Ammunition adapted for flowering into a plurality of sections upon impact with a body or object, the ammunition comprising: a cylindrical casing; a charge disposed within the cylindrical casing; and a cylindrical projectile defining a first portion disposed within the casing and a second portion extending from the casing, the projectile comprising a projectile body and projectile jacket, the projectile jacket being disposed about at least a portion of the projectile body; the projectile body defining a projectile body leading end, the projectile body leading end defining a circumference, the projectile body defining a hollow core extending longitudinally from the circumference toward an opposite end of the projectile body, the hollow core having a closed end, the closed end defining a circumference, and the projectile body defining a plurality of radially arrayed score lines formed in the projectile body, the plurality of the radially arrayed score lines extending along a portion of the projectile body from the projectile body leading end; the projectile jacket comprising an exterior surface portion defined by a plurality of radially arrayed score lines, the plurality of radially arrayed score lines extending from a circumference of a projectile jacket opening longitudinally toward a base of the cylindrical projectile, along the projectile jacket exterior surface, to a circumference on a perimeter of the projectile jacket exterior surface proximal of a projectile jacket leading edge, the exterior surface portion defining a convex surface, and the plurality of radially arrayed score lines extending through the projectile jacket to the projectile body; wherein the projectile jacket opening defines a projectile jacket leading edge, the circumference on a perimeter defines a common base of the sections, and the circumference of the projectile jacket opening, the circumference of the leading end of the projectile body, and the circumference of the closed end are equal; wherein upon impact, the projectile body and the projectile jacket each flower in sections, connected only by the common base of the sections, radially outward into a plurality of radially arrayed sections, the sections being defined by the score lines formed in the projectile body and the projectile jacket.

2. The Ammunition of claim 1, further comprising a prong having a first end on a first portion disposed within the cylindrical hollow core, and a second portion extending outwardly therefrom, and wherein upon impact the prong is urged into the projectile, facilitating flowering of the projectile body and the projectile jacket into the plurality of sections; wherein the first end of the prong is in contact with the closed end of the cylindrical hollow core.

3. The Ammunition of claim 2, wherein the projectile jacket is not attached to the prong.

4. The Ammunition of claim 1, further comprising a cylindrical prong within the hollow core, the cylindrical prong in contact with the closed end.

5. The ammunition of claim 1, wherein the projectile jacket opening defines a diameter, the leading end of the projectile body defines a diameter, and the closed end defines a diameter, and the diameter of the projectile jacket, the leading end of the projectile body, and the closed are all equal.

6. Ammunition adapted for flowering into a plurality of sections upon impact with a body or object, the ammunition comprising: a prong; a casing; a projectile disposed at least in part in the casing, the projectile comprising a projectile body and projectile jacket, the projectile jacket being disposed about at least a portion of the projectile body; the projectile body defining a hollow core extending longitudinally from a projectile body opening, the projectile body opening defining a projectile body leading end, toward an opposite end of the projectile body, and the hollow core having a closed end opposite the projectile body opening, and the projectile body defining a plurality of radially arrayed score lines formed in the projectile body, the plurality of radially arrayed score lines extending along a portion of the projectile body from the projectile body leading end; the projectile jacket comprising an exterior surface portion including a plurality of radially arrayed score lines, the plurality of radially arrayed score lines extending from a projectile jacket opening, longitudinally toward a base of the cylindrical projectile, to a circumference on a perimeter of the projectile jacket exterior surface proximal of the projectile jacket opening, the plurality of radially arrayed score lines extending through the projectile jacket to the projectile body, and the projectile jacket opening defining a projectile leading edge; wherein the circumference on a perimeter defines a common base of the sections, and wherein the prong is in abutting contact with the projectile jacket opening, the projectile body opening, and the closed end; wherein upon impact, the projectile body and the projectile jacket each flower in sections, connected only by the common base of the sections, radially outward into a plurality of radially arrayed sections, the sections being defined by the score lines formed in the projectile body and the projectile jacket.

7. The ammunition of claim 6, wherein the prong extends distally and proximally from the projectile jacket opening.

8. The ammunition of claim 6, wherein the hollow core defines a length and a circumference, and the circumference is constant for the entire length.

9. The ammunition of claim 6, wherein the prong is cylindrical and defines a diameter, and the projectile jacket opening defines a diameter, the projectile body hollow core defines a diameter, and wherein the prong diameter, the projectile jacket opening diameter, and the projectile body hollow core diameter are substantially equal.

10. Ammunition adapted for flowering into a plurality of sections upon impact with a body or object, the ammunition comprising: a cylindrical casing; a charge disposed within the cylindrical casing; and a cylindrical projectile defining a first portion disposed within the casing and a second portion extending from the casing, the projectile comprising a projectile body and projectile jacket, the projectile jacket being disposed about at least a portion of the projectile body; the projectile body defining a hollow core extending longitudinally from an opening defining a leading end of the projectile body toward an opposite end of the projectile body, and the hollow core having a closed end opposite the opening defining the leading end of the projectile body, and the projectile body defining a plurality of radially arrayed score lines formed in the projectile body, the plurality of radially arrayed score lines extending along a portion of the projectile body from the projectile body leading end; the projectile jacket comprising an exterior surface portion including a plurality of radially arrayed score lines, the plurality of radially arrayed score lines extending from a projectile jacket opening, longitudinally toward a base of the cylindrical projectile, to a circumference on a perimeter of the projectile jacket exterior surface proximal of a projectile jacket leading edge, the plurality of radially arrayed score lines extending through the projectile jacket to the projectile body, and the projectile jacket leading edge defining a projectile leading edge; wherein the circumference on a perimeter defines a common base of the sections, and wherein the projectile leading edge, the opening defining a leading end of the projectile body, and the closed end define a common bore, and the common bore defines a cylinder along the entire length of the common bore; wherein upon impact, the projectile body and the projectile jacket each flower in sections, connected only by the common base of the sections, radially outward into a plurality of radially arrayed sections, the sections being defined by the score lines formed in the projectile body and the projectile jacket.

11. The ammunition of claim 10, further comprising a prong.

12. The ammunition of claim 11, wherein the prong is in abutting contact with the projectile jacket opening.

13. The ammunition of claim 12, wherein the prong is in abutting contact with the closed end.

14. The ammunition of claim 11, wherein the prong is cylindrical and defines a diameter, and the common bore defines a diameter, and the diameter of the prong, and the diameter of the common bore are substantially equal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary ammunition in accordance with the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the ammunition shown at FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the projectile shown at FIGS. 1 and 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a front end view of the projectile shown at FIG. 3, after the projectile has impacted an object; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of the projectile shown at FIG. 3, after the projectile has been impacted an object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) Referring to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, exemplary ammunition 11 is illustrated. The ammunition 11 includes a cylindrical casing 13, a charge 15 disposed within the cylindrical casing and a cylindrical projectile 17. Charge 15 is fired by detonator 21. The projectile 17 defines a first portion 19 disposed within the casing 13 and a second portion 21 extending from the casing.

(8) As shown at FIG. 3, the projectile 17 comprises a projectile body 31 and projectile jacket 33. The projectile jacket 33 is disposed about at least a portion of the projectile body 31. In one embodiment the projectile body 31 is formed of lead and projectile jacket 33 is formed of copper.

(9) The projectile body 31 defines a projectile body leading end 35 and a plurality of radially arrayed score lines 37 formed in the projectile body 31, extending along a portion of the projectile body from the projectile body leading end 35. Similarly, the projectile jacket 33 defines a projectile jacket leading end 41 and a plurality of radially arrayed score lines 43 formed in the projectile jacket, extending along a portion of the projectile jacket from the projectile jacket leading end 41.

(10) The projectile jacket 33 may also define one or more circumferential grooves 45 extending about the projectile jacket 33. As shown at FIG. 1, a lubricating ring(s) 47 may be disposed about the projectile jacket 33, within the circumferential groove(s) 45. The lubricating ring(s) 47 mitigate frictional contact between the projectile and a gun barrel, through which the projectile passes when the ammunition is fired. The ammunition and the lubricating ring(s) is sized to pass through and lubricate the gun barrel when the ammunition is fired.

(11) The lubricating ring(s) 47 causes increase projectile lateral speed and rotational speed as the projectile exits the gun barrel. As a result of the increased lateral and rotational speed of the projectile, the overall range and accuracy of the projectile may be enhanced.

(12) The presently preferred embodiment, the lubricating ring(s) is formed of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In other embodiments, the lubricating ring(s) 47 may be formed of fluor ethylene propylene or polyimide. In some embodiments the lubricating ring(s) may be reinforced with fiberglass.

(13) As previously noted, the projectile 17 is preferably formed to include score lines formed in the projectile body 31 and/or in the projectile jacket 33. The score lines facilitate expanding, or flowering of the projectile jacket 33 and the projectile body 31 upon impact with a body or other object.

(14) FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the flowering of projectile 17 when it impacts a body or object. As shown therein, the outer projectile jacket 33 flowers into sections 33a, 33b, and 33c defined by the score lines 43 formed in the projectile jacket 33. Similarly, the projectile body 31 flowers into sections 31a, 31b, and 31c, in accordance with the score lines 37 formed in the projectile body 31. As it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the number of sections, and the particular shape thereof, can be modified in accordance with the size and shape of the score lines formed in the projectile jacket 33 and/or the projectile body 31.

(15) In the presently preferred embodiment, score lines 37 on projectile body 31 are formed prior to the formation of projectile jacket 33 about projectile body 31. In that embodiment, the score lines 43 in the projectile jacket 33 separately formed, e.g. either prior to application of the jacket 33 to the projectile 31, or after the projectile 17 is fully formed, without extending through the projectile jacket 33.

(16) In another embodiment the projectile jacket score lines 43 may be formed to extend through the projectile jacket 33, to also score the projectile body 31, i.e. the score lines 37 and 43 may be simultaneously formed after the projectile body 31 and projectile jacket 33 are combined.

(17) As one of ordinary skill will recognize the score lines 37, 43 may be formed using different techniques, the result of which is to define an expanding or flowering pattern that expands the area impacted by the projectile, to provide greater stopping force while keeping the projectile intact.

(18) The length of the projectile score lines may be varied in accordance with the desired flowering effect intended to be achieved. In the presently preferred embodiment, the projectile body score lines 37 extend approximately one half inch long and the projectile jacket score lines 43 are shorter, i.e. one quarter inch long.

(19) In one embodiment projectile 17 includes a prong 51 (shown at FIGS. 1-3) which partially extends into a cylindrical hollow 53, formed through a portion of projectile body 31 and projectile jacket 33. Upon impact, the prong 51 is urged into the projectile 17, further facilitating flowering of the projectile body and/or the projectile jacket into the plurality of sections, as described above. In one embodiment, the cylindrical hollow 53 and the prong 51 are each threaded for mutual engagement.

(20) It is also to be recognized that the use of the lubricating ring(s) enhances the lateral and rotational speed of the projectile as it exits the gun barrel and the action of the projectile upon impact. More specifically, the increased rotational speed of the projectile causes the projectile to rotate as it flowers and in some cases continuing after flowering, such that upon impact the projectile body sections and the projectile jacket sections facilitate boring of the projectile into an impacted body or object.

(21) In addition to enhancing the lethality of ammunition to attackers, the rotation of the flowering projectile may also be useful to destroy an impacted objected. Because the ammunition described herein retains structural integrity, the impact of the projectile is concentrated which, in combination with the expansion and rotation of the ammunition as it impacts, provides effects that may be useful in a variety of circumstances that conventional ammunition may not achieve, e.g. to blow off door hinges, facilitating entry into a particular room.

(22) Accordingly, the desired expansion or flowering of the projectile upon impact may be effected by variety of different factors, including the size and shape of the projectile, the charge the used to fire the projectile, the addition of lubricating ring(s) about the projectile, the manner in which the score lines are formed in the projectile jacket, and/or the projectile body and the inclusion of the prong or similar device to further facilitate the flowering or expansion of the projectile upon impact.

(23) The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.