MULTI-SHOT DISCARDING SABOT ROUND

Abstract

A sabot assembly includes a housing defining an interior space and a plurality of projectiles and received in the interior space. The interior space is at least partially defined by a plurality of concavities, each of which is configured to receive a respective projectile. The housing is configured to separate and fall away once the sabot assembly is fired through a gun barrel, thereby releasing the projectiles from the interior space toward a target prior to impact of the sabot assembly with the target.

Claims

1. A sabot assembly, comprising: a plurality of projectiles; and a housing including an interior space in which the plurality of projectiles is receivable, the interior space at least partially defined by a plurality of concavities, each concavity configured to receive a respective projectile; wherein the housing is configured to release the plurality of projectiles from the interior space once the sabot assembly is fired through a gun barrel.

2. The sabot assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of concavities is configured to maintain each respective projectile of the plurality of projectiles in a predetermined position within the interior space during firing and travel of the sabot assembly through the gun barrel.

3. The sabot assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of concavities is configured to space each respective projectile from each other projectile in the interior space.

4. The sabot assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of concavities is symmetrically spaced about the interior space.

5. The sabot assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of housing segments configured to separate and thereby release the plurality of projectiles once the sabot assembly is fired through the gun barrel.

6. The sabot assembly of claim 5, wherein a nose of the housing is configured to cause the housing to separate into the plurality of segments once the sabot assembly exits the gun barrel after being fired through the gun barrel.

7. The sabot assembly of claim 5, wherein the housing defines a longitudinal axis and is configured to separate longitudinally into the plurality of segments.

8. The sabot assembly of claim 1, wherein: the housing comprises a plurality of longitudinally elongated segments configured to separate and thereby release the plurality of projectiles once the sabot assembly is fired through the gun barrel; and a nose of the housing defines an aperture configured to increase aerodynamic drag against the housing and cause the housing to separate into the plurality of longitudinally elongated segments after the sabot assembly exits the gun barrel.

9. The sabot assembly of claim 1, wherein each projectile is configured to be self-stabilizing during flight.

10. The sabot assembly of claim 1, wherein each projectile has a tear drop profile.

11. The sabot assembly of claim 1, wherein each projectile includes a spherical head with a conical tail.

12. A cartridge, comprising: a shell case; a propellant in the shell case; a primer on the shell case configured to ignite the propellant; and the sabot assembly of claim 1 in the shell case.

13. A sabot assembly, comprising: a segmented housing configured to be propelled through a gun barrel; and a plurality of projectiles in the housing; wherein the housing is configured to separate into segments and thereby release the plurality of projectiles once the sabot assembly is fired through the gun barrel.

14. The sabot assembly of claim 13, wherein the housing is configured to prevent each projectile from deforming as the sabot assembly travels through the gun barrel.

15. A cartridge, comprising: a shell case; a propellant in the shell case; a primer on the shell case configured to ignite the propellant; and the sabot assembly of claim 13 in the shell case.

16. A sabot assembly, consisting of: a plurality of projectiles; and a plurality of elongated housing segments forming a longitudinally elongated housing configured to be propelled through a gun barrel, the housing defining an interior space in which the plurality of projectiles is received; wherein: the interior space is at least partially defined by a plurality of concavities on an interior surface of each elongated housing segment; each projectile is received in a respective concavity; and the housing is configured to separate into the plurality of elongated housing segments and thereby release the plurality of projectiles from the interior space once the sabot assembly is fired through the gun barrel.

17. A cartridge, consisting of: a shell case; a propellant in the shell case; a primer on the shell case configured to ignite the propellant; and the sabot assembly of claim 16 in the shell case.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various drawings unless otherwise specified. In the drawings, not all reference numbers are included in each drawing, for the sake of clarity.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a cartridge containing a novel sabot assembly constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cartridge of FIG. 1 showing one segment of the sabot assembly housing in phantom.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the cartridge of FIG. 1. The primer and propellant are omitted for clarity.

[0018] FIG. 5 a longitudinal sectional view of one segment of the sabot assembly housing of FIG. 1 shown in isolation.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the sabot assembly housing segment of FIG. 5.

[0020] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the sabot assembly taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the sabot assembly of FIG. 7.

[0022] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 1 seated in the chamber of a gun barrel ready for firing.

[0023] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the sabot assembly of FIG. 1 after being fired through a gun barrel. The direction of sabot assembly travel is indicated by a dashed arrow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The details of one or more embodiments of the disclosure are set forth in this document. Modifications to embodiments described in this document, and other embodiments, will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art after a study of the information provided herein. The information provided in this document, and particularly the specific details of the described exemplary embodiment(s), is provided primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. In case of conflict, the specification of this document, including definitions, will control.

[0025] While the making and using of various embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the disclosure provides many applicable inventive concepts that are embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific apparatus and methods described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

[0026] While the terms used herein are believed to be well understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, a number of terms are defined below to facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter disclosed herein belongs. The terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the disclosure. Terms such as a, an, and the are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but rather include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as set forth in the claims.

[0027] As described herein, an upright position is considered to be the position of apparatus components while in proper operation or in a natural resting position as described and shown herein, for example, in FIG. 1. The upright firing position of a firearm is a generally level firing position. Vertical, horizontal, above, below, side, top, bottom, upper, lower, and other orientation terms are described with respect to this upright position during operation, unless otherwise specified, and are used to provide an orientation of embodiments of the invention to allow for proper description of example embodiments. A person of skill in the art will recognize, however, that the apparatus can assume different orientations when in use. The term longitudinally spaced can mean axially spaced along a longitudinal axis of a gun.

[0028] As used herein, the terms front and forward means in a direction extending toward the muzzle of the gun. In some cases, the term forward can also mean forward beyond the muzzle of the gun. The terms aft and rear means in a direction extending away from the muzzle of the gun toward a rear end of a gun. In some cases, the term rearward can also mean rearward beyond the rear end of the gun.

[0029] The term when is used to specify orientation for relative positions of components, not as a temporal limitation of the claims or apparatus described and claimed herein unless otherwise specified.

[0030] The terms above, below, over, and under mean having an elevation or vertical height greater or lesser than and are not intended to imply that one object or component is directly over or under another object or component.

[0031] The phrase in one embodiment, as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, can, might, may, e.g., and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments.

[0032] All measurements should be understood as being modified by the term about regardless of whether the word about precedes a given measurement.

[0033] The terms significantly, substantially, approximately, about, relatively, or other such similar terms that may be used throughout this disclosure, including the claims, are used to describe and account for small fluctuations, such as due to variations in manufacturing or processing from a reference or parameter, whether the reference or parameter is explicitly specified or is generally considered normal or possible within the limits of applicable industry-accepted manufacturing practices and tolerances. Such small fluctuations include a zero fluctuation from the reference or parameter as well. For example, they can refer to less than or equal to 10%, such as less than or equal to 5%, such as less than or equal to 2%, such as less than or equal to 1%, such as less than or equal to 0.5%, such as less than or equal to 0.2%, such as less than or equal to 0.1%, such as less than or equal to 0.05%.

[0034] The terms coupled and connected mean at least either a direct electrical or mechanical connection between the connected items or an indirect connection through one or more passive or active intermediary devices.

[0035] The term gun as used herein means a device that propels one or more projectiles through a tube (i.e., a barrel) using pressure or explosive force. For the avoidance of doubt, the term gun includes pneumatic airguns, firearms, artillery, and cannons.

[0036] All references to singular characteristics or limitations of the present disclosure shall include the corresponding plural characteristic(s) or limitation(s) and vice versa, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the reference is made.

[0037] All combinations of method or process steps as used herein can be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the referenced combination is made.

[0038] The methods and devices disclosed herein, including components thereof, can comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the essential elements and limitations of the embodiments described herein, as well as any additional or optional components or limitations described herein or otherwise useful.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 1-10, there is shown a cartridge 10 containing a novel sabot assembly 20 constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The cartridge 10 includes a shell case 12, a primer 14, propellant 16, and the sabot assembly 20. The sabot assembly 20 includes a housing 22 and a plurality of projectiles 24 uniquely arranged inside the housing 22. The case 12 includes a rear end 13, an open front end 15, and an interior chamber 17. The primer 14 is seated in a recess in the rear end 13 of the shell case 12. The sabot assembly 20 is seated in the open front end 15 of the shell case 12. The propellant 16 is contained in the interior chamber 17 between the primer 14 and the sabot assembly 20.

[0040] In use, when the cartridge is properly seated in the chamber 2 of a gun barrel 4 and fired, an impact upon the primer 14 generated by the gun (not shown) causes the primer 14 to ignite the propellant 16. Ignition of the propellant 16 causes high pressure gases to build up inside the interior chamber 17 and propel the sabot assembly 20 through the barrel 4 of the gun and out of the muzzle 6. Once the sabot assembly 20 is fired through the barrel 4 in this way, the housing 22 is designed to fall away and release the projectiles 24 toward a target (not shown) prior to impact of the sabot assembly 20 with the target.

[0041] Specifically, the housing 22 is shaped and sized to be propelled through a gun barrel 4, and defines a longitudinal axis 25, a base 26, a nose 28, and an interior space 30 in which the projectiles 24 are received. The housing 22 is formed from two longitudinally elongated housing segments 34, 36 that are designed to separate longitudinally and thereby release the projectiles 24 from the interior space 30 once the sabot assembly 20 is fired through the gun barrel 4 as explained above. A recess 35 is defined in the forwardmost tip of each housing segment 34, 36 such that when the housing segments 34, 36 are combined to form the housing 22, the recesses 35 combine to form a separation aperture 32 in the nose 28 of the housing 22. The separation aperture 32 is shaped and sized to increase aerodynamic drag against the housing segments 34, 36 and thereby cause the housing 22 to separate into the housing segments 34, 36 and release the projectiles 24 after the sabot assembly 20 exits the muzzle 6 of the barrel 4 at high speed. In this way, the nose 28 of the housing 22 is configured to cause the housing 22 to separate into the housing segment 34, 36 once the sabot assembly 20 exits the muzzle 6 after being fired through the barrel 4. In other embodiments, the nose 28 can include multiple spaced separation apertures, fins, or scoops (not shown) designed to increase aerodynamic drag and cause the housing 22 to separate into the housing segments.

[0042] Because accuracy at distance is vital for kinetic ammunition to be effective against drones and land mines, the housing 22 of the sabot assembly 20 is specifically designed to seat or nest each individual projectile 24 in order to prevent deformation of the projectiles 24 under the high pressures and velocities to which the projectiles are subjected when explosively propelled (i.e., fired) down a gun barrel 4. Maintaining projectile shape improves projectile velocity and, in turn, projectile range and accuracy upon release of the projectiles 24 from the housing 22 during flight toward the target. By contrast, the projectiles contained in traditional multi-shot cartridges, such as shotshells, flechette rounds, and canister cartridges, deform upon contact with one another during travel through the barrel, which reduces their velocity, range, accuracy and effectiveness.

[0043] Accordingly, the interior space 30 of the sabot assembly housing 22 is at least partially defined by a plurality of concavities 38 that function like pockets which hold the projectiles 24 in position within the interior space. As such, each concavity 38 is shaped and sized to at least partially seat a respective projectile 24 in the interior space 30. The plurality of concavities 38 is symmetrically spaced about the interior space 30 so as to form a symmetrical arrangement of projectiles 24 about the longitudinal axis 25, as best shown in FIGS. 2-3 and 7-8. A symmetrical arrangement of projectiles 24 about the longitudinal axis 25 benefits velocity, accuracy, and range by balancing the sabot assembly during travel through the barrel 4 and ensuring that the projectiles 24 fly toward a target in a predetermined pattern upon release of the projectiles 24 from the housing 22.

[0044] In some embodiments, a symmetrical arrangement of projectiles 24 about the axis 25 includes a plurality of longitudinally extending rows 45 of projectiles 24 arranged about the axis 25. The concavities 38 are symmetrically formed in opposing interior surfaces 42 of each elongated housing segment 34, 36. Each concavity 38 is configured to maintain each respective projectile 24 in a predetermined position within the interior space 30 during firing and travel of the sabot assembly 20 through the gun barrel 4. In this way, the housing 22 is configured to prevent each projectile 24 from deforming as the sabot assembly 20 travels through the gun barrel 4. In some embodiments, the plurality of concavities 38 can be configured to space each respective projectile 24 from each other projectile 24 in the interior space 30. In some embodiments, the interior space 30 can include a central void 50 to both save on materials costs and reduce the weight of the housing, thereby reducing the amount of aerodynamic drag necessary to separate the housing segments 34, 36 and release the projectiles 24.

[0045] The housing segments 34, 36 can be formed from any suitable material, including various natural and synthetic polymeric materials such as plastic, and temporarily coupled together to form the housing 22 using any suitable method known in the art. For example, in some embodiments, the housing segments 34, 36 can be held together using a snap fit, a press fit, an adhesive, contact with the shell case 12 and gun barrel 4, or a combination of the foregoing. It is to be understood that although the housing 22 depicted in the drawings is shown as being formed from two housing segments 34, 36, in other embodiments, the housing 22 can be formed from more than two housing segments, including, for example, three, four, or more housing segments (not shown).

[0046] The projectiles 24 can be formed from any suitable material, including but not limited to metals such as lead, steel, bismuth, tungsten, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, each projectile 24 can be shaped and sized to be self-stabilizing during flight toward a target after release from the housing 22. For example, in some embodiments, each projectile can have a tear drop profile as best shown in FIG. 3. In some embodiments, each projectile can include a spherical head 44 with a conical tail 46, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. In other embodiments not shown, each projectile can have a spherical shape. In still yet other embodiments, the plurality of projectiles 24 can include projectiles with two or more different shapes.

[0047] Although various embodiments have been described in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, in other embodiments, the sabot assemblies 10 disclosed herein can be used alone (i.e., without a propellant-containing cartridge) in pneumatic guns (i.e., airguns).

[0048] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

[0049] It will be understood that the particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention may be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific apparatus and methods described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

[0050] All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein may be made and/or executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of the embodiments included herein, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0051] Thus, although there have been particular embodiments described herein, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.