U.S. patent application number 11/749170 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-05 for bullet with aerodynamic fins and ammunition using same.
Invention is credited to MIKHAIL Y. RADCHENKO.
Application Number | 20080127850 11/749170 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32322604 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080127850 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RADCHENKO; MIKHAIL Y. |
June 5, 2008 |
BULLET WITH AERODYNAMIC FINS AND AMMUNITION USING SAME
Abstract
An ammunition cartridge includes a tubular blank having a tail
section in a shape of tail fins; a cap mated to a front section of
the tubular blank; a solid core in a shape of a rod inside the
tubular blank between the front and tail sections; and a casing
having a propellant therein, the casing mated to the tubular blank.
The core optionally includes an aerodynamic needle extending beyond
the front portion. A portion of the aerodynamic needle inside the
core is shaped as a spring. A muzzle wad and a washer are in
contact with the muzzle wad and with the aerodynamic needle. The
aerodynamic needle includes a portion embedded in the core that is
shaped as a spring. The core includes a front portion and a rear
portion, and a diameter of the front portion is larger than a
diameter of the rear portion and is substantially equal to a
diameter of the tubular blank. The cap can be conically shaped,
round shaped, or can have a blunt front end, or can be shaped as
two conical sections.
Inventors: |
RADCHENKO; MIKHAIL Y.;
(Moscow, RU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARDMESSER LAW GROUP, P.C.
910 17TH STREET, N.W., SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
32322604 |
Appl. No.: |
11/749170 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10535615 |
May 19, 2005 |
7225742 |
|
|
11749170 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
102/439 ;
102/441; 102/464; 86/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 5/02 20130101; F42B
7/10 20130101; F42B 10/08 20130101; F42B 30/02 20130101; F42B 5/03
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
102/439 ; 86/54;
102/464; 102/441 |
International
Class: |
F42B 10/06 20060101
F42B010/06; F42B 12/00 20060101 F42B012/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 20, 2002 |
RU |
2002131148 |
Nov 18, 2003 |
RU |
PCT/RU03/00501 |
Claims
1. A method for producing an arrow-shaped bullet, the method
comprising: inserting a solid core having a shape of a rod into a
tubular blank; compressing a tail portion of the tubular blank to
form a plurality of tail fins; at least partially inserting a cap
into a front portion of the tubular blank; and compressing the
front portion of the tubular blank to form a taper.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the walls of the
tubular blank, throughout its length, is the same before and after
both compressing steps.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cap includes a circular
channel such that the front portion is compressed into the circular
channel.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressed front portion
includes a plurality of ridges.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the core includes any of metal,
ceramic, plastic and metal-ceramic.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising compressing a rear
portion of the tubular blank to a diameter that is smaller than a
diameter of the core, prior to insertion of the core.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of compressing the front
portion applies pressure to the tubular blank in a spiral
direction.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting a mold into
the rear portion of the tubular blank prior to compressing the rear
portion, and then withdrawing the mold.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising compressing a portion
of the tubular blank prior to insertion of the core so that the
core cannot move freely within the tubular blank.
10. A method for producing an arrow-shaped bullet, the method
comprising: inserting a solid core having a shape of a rod into a
tubular blank; inserting a first mold into the front portion of the
tubular blank; compressing a tail portion of the tubular blank to
form a plurality of tail fins; withdrawing the first mold;
inserting a mold into the front portion of the tubular blank;
compressing the front portion of the tubular blank; and withdrawing
the second mold.
11. An ammunition cartridge comprising: a tubular blank having a
tail section in a shape of tail fins; a cap mated to a front
section of the tubular blank; a solid core in a shape of a rod
inside the tubular blank between the front and tail sections; and a
casing having a propellant therein, the casing mated to the tubular
blank.
12. The ammunition cartridge of claim 11, wherein the core further
comprises an aerodynamic needle extending beyond the front
portion.
13. The ammunition cartridge of claim 12, wherein a portion of the
aerodynamic needle inside the core is shaped as a spring.
14. The ammunition cartridge of claim 13, further comprising an
aerodynamic needle extending from the core and beyond the front
portion.
15. The ammunition cartridge of claim 12, further comprising a
muzzle wad, and a washer in contact with the muzzle wad and with
the aerodynamic needle.
16. The ammunition cartridge of claim 12, wherein the aerodynamic
needle includes a portion embedded in the core that is shaped as a
spring.
17. The ammunition cartridge of claim 12, wherein the core includes
a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein a diameter of the
front portion is larger than a diameter of the rear portion and is
substantially equal to a diameter of the tubular blank.
18. The ammunition cartridge of claim 11, wherein the cap is
conically shaped.
19. The ammunition cartridge of claim 11, wherein the cap has a
blunt front end.
20. The ammunition cartridge of claim 11, wherein the cap is shaped
as two conical sections.
21. The ammunition cartridge of claim 11, wherein the propellant
includes both fast-burning gunpowder and gunpowder blocks.
22. The ammunition cartridge of claim 11, further comprising a
metal armoring rod and a soft metal filling inside the tubular
blank, the metal armoring rod shaped into an extractor-needle.
23. The ammunition cartridge of claim 11, further comprising an
aerodynamic needle projecting forward from the tubular blank,
wherein the aerodynamic needle is formed by compression of a
material of a forward portion of the tubular blank.
24. The ammunition cartridge of claim 11, wherein the rear portion
of the tubular blank is compressed so that there is substantially
no space between the tail fins.
25. The ammunition cartridge of claim 11, wherein the rear portion
of the tubular blank is compressed so that there is empty space
left between the tail fins.
26. An ammunition cartridge comprising: a tubular blank having a
tail section in a shape of tail fins; a tapered front section of
the tubular blank; and a solid core in a shape of a rod inside the
tubular blank between the front and tail sections, wherein the
tapered front section includes a conical portion and a
substantially round portion forward of the conical portion.
27. An ammunition cartridge comprising: a tubular blank having a
tail section in a shape of tail fins; a tapered front section of
the tubular blank; a core in a shape of a rod inside the tubular
blank between the front and tail sections; and pyrotechnic charge
in the tail section.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/535,615, filed May 19, 2005, which
is a U.S. National Phase of PCT/RU03/00501, filed on Nov. 18, 2003,
which claims priority to Russian Patent Application No. 2002131148,
filed on Nov. 20, 2002, which are all incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to ammunition for firearms and
pneumatic smooth-bore weapons and can be used for producing bullets
for cartridges for hunting and sporting guns, as well as certain
military applications.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] An arrow-shaped bullet is known in the conventional art.
This bullet is produced from a solid bar, the front part of which
is tapered and the rear part of which is deformed to create an
aerodynamic empennage (tail section) in the shape of longitudinal
surfaces (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,878, issued on Nov. 12, 1974).
The disadvantage of the method for producing such a bullet is its
high manufacturing complexity.
[0004] Another method for producing an arrow-shaped bullet is known
in the conventional art, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,785, issued on May
14, 1996. This method deforms the rear part of a tubular blank to
create an aerodynamic empennage (tail section) and insert a
functional filling (core) in the tube's cavity. The rear part of a
tubular blank is deformed by inelastic deformation (plastic flow)
of the tube's material, and the thickness of the tube's walls is
altered.
[0005] After the empennage is formed, a core is inserted in the
tube's cavity. A core can have a granular or jelly filling, e.g., a
load released at the moment the bullet hits the target. This core
is kept in the tube's cavity by friction or capillary forces. This
method is not used for inserting solid cores, e.g., metal
cores.
[0006] The disadvantage of this method is its high manufacturing
complexity. Also, a bullet produced by this method cannot be used
for commercial or sport hunting.
[0007] A cartridge comprising a shell having means for inflammation
(a primer), a propelling charge, a bullet, and one or more wads is
also known in the conventional art (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,928,
issued on Aug. 31, 1993). The drawback of this cartridge is that it
is not possible to use arrow-shaped bullets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, the present invention is related to a bullet
with aerodynamic fins, a cartridge using same, and a method for
manufacturing same that substantially obviates one or more of the
disadvantages of the related art.
[0009] In one aspect, there is provided a method for producing an
arrow-shaped bullet, the method comprising: inserting a solid core
having a shape of a rod into a tubular blank; compressing a tail
portion of the tubular blank to form a plurality of tail fins; at
least partially inserting a cap into a front portion of the tubular
blank; and compressing the front portion of the tubular blank to
form a taper. A thickness of the walls of the tubular blank,
throughout its length, is the same before and after both
compressing steps. The cap can have a circular channel such that
the front portion is compressed into the circular channel. The
compressed front portion can have a plurality of ridges. The core
can be made of metal, ceramic, plastic and metal-ceramic. A rear
portion of the tubular blank can be compressed to a diameter that
is smaller than a diameter of the core, prior to insertion of the
core. The step of compressing the front portion can apply pressure
to the tubular blank in a radial-tangential direction. A mold can
be inserted into the rear portion of the tubular blank prior to
compressing the rear portion, and then withdrawing the mold.
[0010] In another aspect, there is provided an ammunition cartridge
including a tubular blank having a tail section in a shape of tail
fins; a cap mated to a front section of the tubular blank; a solid
core in a shape of a rod inside the tubular blank between the front
and tail sections; and a casing having a propellant therein, the
casing mated to the tubular blank. The core further includes an
aerodynamic needle extending beyond the front portion. A portion of
the aerodynamic needle inside the core is shaped as a spring. A
muzzle wad and a washer are in contact with the muzzle wad and with
the aerodynamic needle. The aerodynamic needle includes a portion
embedded in the core that is shaped as a spring. The core includes
a front portion and a rear portion, and a diameter of the front
portion is larger than a diameter of the rear portion and is
substantially equal to a diameter of the tubular blank. The cap can
be conically shaped, round shaped, or can have a blunt front end,
or can be shaped as two conical sections.
[0011] In another aspect, there is provided an ammunition cartridge
including a tubular blank having a tail section in a shape of tail
fins; a tapered front section of the tubular blank; and a solid
core in a shape of a rod inside the tubular blank between the front
and tail sections. The tapered front section includes a conical
portion and a substantially round portion forward of the conical
portion.
[0012] In another aspect, there is provided an ammunition cartridge
including a tubular blank having a tail section in a shape of tail
fins; a tapered front section of the tubular blank; a core in a
shape of a rod inside the tubular blank between the front and tail
sections; and pyrotechnic charge in the tail section.
[0013] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be
apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and
attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written
description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0014] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of
the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED FIGURES
[0015] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0016] In the drawings:
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a method for producing a bullet according
to the claimed method.
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a method of longitudinally clamping a
blank between two crimping matrixes.
[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates a bullet with an extractor in the shape
of an aerodynamic needle.
[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates the ammunition cartridge with muzzle wads
and a bullet having an extractor in the shape of an aerodynamic
needle and the ammunition in which the bullet is further fastened
with a spring.
[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates a multi-bullet ammunition cartridge, with
bullets fastened through the bottom wads, and single-bullet
ammunition cartridge.
[0022] FIGS. 6-17 illustrate alternative embodiments of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0024] The object of the present invention is to remove the above
drawbacks, namely, to develop an inexpensive relatively simple
method for producing a bullet suitable for different kinds of
targets and having low aerodynamic resistance, and also to develop
an ammunition (cartridge) in which this bullet is used.
[0025] In order to achieve this object, a method for producing an
arrow-shaped bullet includes the steps of deforming the rear part
103 (see FIG. 1) of a tubular blank 101 to create the aerodynamic
empennage (tail section, or tail fins) and inserting a core 102
inside the front part 104 of the tubular blank. The core 102 is
inserted in the tubular blank 101 before its deformation. The core
102 may be made of metal, ceramic, metal-ceramic, silicon, silicon
oxide, plastics, and so on. The core 102 is fastened inside the
blank 101 by a simultaneous deformation of the front and rear parts
(104, 103) of the blank 102, to form a taper 150 on the front
portion of the blank. The deformation is carried out by pressing
the blank walls without altering the thickness thereof.
[0026] In general, the core is preferably made of a heavier
material than the tubular blank. For example, the core 102 can be
made of such metals as lead, copper, aluminum, and so forth. The
core could be made of silicon oxide, plastics, ceramics,
metal-ceramics, and so on. In the case of metal-ceramics, such a
core can be made by pouring liquid ceramic material into a mold,
and mixing it with metallic powder, and then baking it. Note that
ceramics are usually hard, but relatively brittle, while the
addition of metallic powder to the ceramic makes the overall
structure both hard and relatively resistant to fracture.
[0027] Also, the core material can be made from pressed lead chips,
or other metallic chips, manufacture waste products, such as small
pieces of metallic wire that is "chopped up" into relatively
smaller pieces, and then pressed together, and so on. As yet
another option, as shown in FIG. 3, the extractor 308 can be made
of the same material as the core 102. Alternatively, the core 102
can be made of a different material, and the extractor can have the
shape of a spring. The spring can be made of a relatively stiff
material, such as steel, while the remainder of the core is made of
a softer material, such as lead or copper or aluminum.
[0028] A second object of the invention is a bullet produced by the
method described above.
[0029] In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the
deformation is carried out by longitudinally clamping the blank 101
between two crimping matrices 206, 207 (see FIG. 2). In order to
keep the bullet inside the ammunition, and while it moves up the
bore in the front part of the core 102, an extractor 308 is added
to the core's material, and the core 102 is inserted in the blank
101 (see FIG. 3). The extractor 308 protrudes beyond the edge 309
of the blank 101, to make it possible to clamp the front part of
the blank 101.
[0030] The extractor 308 is formed to be geometrically coupled with
the muzzle wad 410 (see FIG. 4). When the core 102 is produced as a
combination of a metal armoring rod and a soft metal filling (e.g.,
the filling can be made of lead, copper, aluminum and the like),
the extractor 308 is made of the metal of the core's rod. As one
option, a portion of the extractor 308 settles within of the core
102 (see 314 in FIG. 3).
[0031] The extractor 308 can be formed in the shape of an
aerodynamic needle, in order to improve the bullet's aerodynamic
properties. The core itself can also formed as a set of multiple
elements in order to increase the impact effect of the bullet.
[0032] Another object of the invention is providing an ammunition
cartridge 411 comprising a shell with a means of inflammation
(primer), a propelling charge 412, one or more wads 410, and a
bullet, including one or more bullets produced by the method
described above.
[0033] To fasten a bullet in the ammunition 411, a securing spring
413 is further added that generally follows the shape of the bullet
in the compressed state and thereby keeps the compressed shell. The
spring 413 is fastened in the segments of the muzzle wad 410. The
bullet is inserted therein. A spring 314 is elastically deformed by
compressing it and fixing it inside the bullet and the spring 413
is inserted in the compressed state in the ammunition.
[0034] In order to fasten several bullets in a simple cartridge
411, a through bottom wad 516 is further produced having openings
for the surfaces of the bullets' tail sections 105. The wad is
inserted in the ammunition in such a way that the wad is inserted
between the propelling charge and the bullets' central portions
308. The surfaces of the bullets' tail sections 105 fit into the
wad's openings, and the bullets' tail sections 105 protrude beyond
the wad's forward boundary and are inserted into the propelling
charge's material. As shown in FIG. 5, the central portion of the
blank 101 can be shaped as a polygon in cross-section, e.g., a
triangle, hexagon, etc., or may be round/circular in cross-section,
as shown in FIG. 1.
[0035] As yet a further option, the outer surface of the tubular
blank 101 can have a low friction coating deposited thereon, for
example PTFE (Teflon), in order to reduce the friction between the
bullet and the barrel of the rifle, reduce the wear on the barrel,
and increase the muzzle velocity. Additionally, the propellant 412
can be made of conventional ("black") gunpowder, white gunpowder,
smokeless gunpowder, etc., or can be made of gunpowder blocks, such
as made of nitrocellulose, see element 412-2. Unlike conventional
gunpowder, gunpowder blocks burn gradually, as the bullet moves
forward in the barrel, improving performance. This increases bullet
velocity, and reduces the load on the wad 410.
[0036] FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. In
this case, the structure is similar to that illustrated in some of
the earlier figures, however, a cap is added to the front portion
of the bullet, see 715 in FIG. 7. The cap is pressed against the
core 102, and then the forward portion of the tubular blank 101 is
compressed against the cap, as shown in FIG. 7. Small ridges are
formed on the outside, to hold the cap in place, and to improve the
aerodynamics of the bullet. The cap can be made of any number of
materials, such as plastic, rubber, and so forth. The material of
the tubular blank 102 can be pressed either against the surface of
the cap 715, or can be pressed into the cap.
[0037] Depending on the application, the plastic of the cap 715 can
be either relatively soft, or relatively hard. It can also be made
of the same material as the core, or made of different material
with different properties.
[0038] FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the invention,
where the cap 816 is offset by a small gap relative to the core
102. As further shown in FIG. 8, the tubular blank 101 is pressed
against the cap, to fix it into position. The cap can have a
conical shape, see 816A, or can have a relatively blunt forward
portion, see 816B.
[0039] FIG. 9A illustrates another embodiment of the invention,
where the size of the core, labeled 920 in this figure, is larger
(in diameter) than the diameter of the tubular blank. As further
shown in this figure, the core 920 has an inner portion 922, which
is inserted into the tubular blank, and an outer portion 924, which
has a larger diameter, and extends substantially further forward.
In the case of FIG. 9A, the inner portion 922 is affixed within the
tubular blank by compressing the tubular blank 101 against the
surface of the core 920. The embodiment shown in FIG. 9A is
particularly useful if the core 920 is made of rubber, for
non-lethal bullets. FIG. 9B illustrates another embodiment where
the core 925 extents substantially beyond the tubular blank 101
(and has substantially the same outer diameter as the blank 101),
where this embodiment can be used as an anti-aircraft bullet. In
this case, the blank of the forward portion of the core 925 that
projects beyond the front portion of the tubular blank 101 is at
least as long as the length of the tubular blank 101, or even
longer, and the portion of the core 925 that projects forward of
the tubular blank 101 is substantially longer than the portion of
the core 925 that is inside the tubular blank 101.
[0040] FIG. 10A illustrates another embodiment of the invention,
where a small metallic includes a metallic washer 1030. The washer
1030 serves the same purpose as the securing spring 413 illustrated
in FIG. 4, however, a washer is wider, and generally simpler to
manufacture and assemble.
[0041] FIG. 11A illustrates another example of crimping matrices
and rollers, designated 1140 in this figure, and which is used to
compress the rear portion 103, so as to form the tail fins 105. The
crimping matrices can have rollers, as illustrated in this figure,
for a more symmetrical application of the force to the tubular
blank.
[0042] FIG. 10B illustrates another embodiment of the invention,
where the front portion of the tubular blank 101 is compressed into
a generally conical shape. As shown in FIG. 10B, the application of
the force is not radial, but somewhat tangential, or in a spiral
manner. This avoids defects resulting from uneven deformation of
the tubular blank, and results in a generally more symmetrical
bullet.
[0043] FIG. 11B illustrates another embodiment of the invention,
where the forward portion of the tubular blank is formed as a
conical portion 1131, and a relatively thin portion 1130--somewhat
similar to the extractor discussed earlier, which is used to reduce
the aerodynamic resistance, however, formed as a unitary piece from
the tubular blank 101.
[0044] FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of the invention,
where the rear portion of the tubular blank is compressed to form
tailfins, however, as shown in the bottom figure, there is no
"empty space" left inside the rear portion of the tubular blank. An
alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 13, where the tail fins 105
are formed, however, some empty space, labeled 1335, remains in the
rear portion of the tubular blank--in other words, the tail fins
are not compressed to a point where their inner portions touch each
other. As yet another embodiment, the empty space 1335 can be
filled with a pyrotechnic material, for a tracer around.
Alternatively, the space 1335 can be filled with a gas generating
material, such as gunpowder, so as to reduce the air resistance of
the bullet as it moves forward through air.
[0045] FIG. 14 illustrates another embodiment of the invention,
where a mold 1440 is first insert into the rear portion of the
tubular blank 101. The rear portion is then compressed, as
discussed earlier, to form the tailfins, and then the mold 1440 is
extracted.
[0046] FIG. 15 illustrates another embodiment of the invention,
where a mold is inserted into the forward portion of the tubular
blank 101. The mold 1545 is first inserted (and can either reach as
far as the core 102, or can leave a gap between the mold 1545 and
the core 102). The front portion of the tubular blank 101 is then
compressed around the mold 1545. The mold is withdrawn, and a front
papered portion 150 is then formed. As another alternative, the
rear portion of the tubular blank can be compressed slightly, prior
to insertion of the core, so that the core cannot move freely
within the tubular blank.
[0047] In another embodiment of the invention, where, prior to
forming the front paper of the tubular blank 101, an aerodynamic
cone made of a relatively hard material, or hard plastic, is placed
into the tubular blank. The tubular blank is then compressed, as
shown in this figure. This can be useful in some rifles, where one
of the bullets is directly behind another bullet (smooth-bore
fowling pieces with tubular shop), such that the front conical, or
sharp, portion touches the primer of the bullet just ahead of it,
potentially damaging it. By making the cap blunt, or by making it
soft, this problem is avoided.
[0048] FIG. 16 illustrates another embodiment, where a circular
channel is formed in the core 102, see 1602 in FIG. 16. The forward
portion of the tubular blank is then compressed into the channel
1602, forming the overall shape shown at the bottom of FIG. 17.
This is done to both improve the aerodynamic characteristics of the
bullet, and to insure that the material of the core and the cap
does not crack or fracture when the compression occurs.
[0049] FIG. 17 illustrates another embodiment, where the cap,
labeled 1702, is formed as a double-cone shape. The material of the
tubular blank is then compressed around one of the conical
portions, forming the structure shown in FIG. 17.
[0050] Having thus described preferred embodiments, it should be
apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of the
described method and apparatus have been achieved. It should also
be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and
alternative embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and
spirit of the present invention. The invention is further defined
by the following claims.
* * * * *