U.S. patent number 3,897,732 [Application Number 04/181,491] was granted by the patent office on 1975-08-05 for hypervelocity projectile.
Invention is credited to Walter W. Atkins, Mario A. Persechino.
United States Patent |
3,897,732 |
Atkins , et al. |
August 5, 1975 |
Hypervelocity projectile
Abstract
1. A spherical hypervelocity projectile which comprises a solid
spherical central core of high strength metal, a fiberglass
filament winding wound about said central core, and a plastic,
high-sound-speed material secured about said filament winding.
Inventors: |
Atkins; Walter W. (Alexandria,
VA), Persechino; Mario A. (Temple Hills, MD) |
Family
ID: |
22664491 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/181,491 |
Filed: |
March 21, 1962 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/515; 102/516;
102/518 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B
10/42 (20130101); F42B 12/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F42B
10/00 (20060101); F42B 10/42 (20060101); F42B
12/06 (20060101); F42B 12/02 (20060101); F42B
011/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;102/52,56,66,67,68,69,92,92.5,92.5G,70,64,92.1,92.2,92.3,92.4 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
"1958 Missile Materials Review," Zaehringer et al., Missiles and
Rockets, Vol. 3, No. 3, March 1958, pp. 69-75. .
"Non-Metallics for Missiles," Lux et al., Missiles and Rockets,
Vol. 11, No. 9, Sept 1957, pp. 137, 138, 141, 142, 144..
|
Primary Examiner: Bentley; Stephen C.
Assistant Examiner: Jordan C. T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sciascia; R. S. Branning; Arthur
Crane; M. L.
Government Interests
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or
for the Government of the United States of America for governmental
purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A spherical hypervelocity projectile which comprises a solid
spherical central core of high strength metal, a fiberglass
filament winding wound about said central core, and a plastic,
high-sound-speed material secured about said filament winding.
2. A spherical hypervelocity projectile which comprises a solid
spherical central core of high strength metal, a fiberglass
filament winding wound about said central core, and a metal,
high-sound-speed material secured about said filament winding.
Description
The present invention is directed to projectiles and more
particularly to projectiles capable of making deep penetrations
when impacted against objects traveling at hypervelocities.
Heretofore, objects used for penetrating the surface of airships,
etc., included solid materials such as rods, shaped explosive
charges, spheres, fragments, bullets such as armor piercing
projectiles, etc. These objects have their drawbacks. Armor
piercing projectiles are directional and must strike the surface at
a specific angle. Objects such as fragments, spheres, cubes, etc.,
break up into tiny particles as a result of hypervelocity impact.
For purposes of this invention, hypervelocity is defined as the
velocity at which a projectile shatters upon impact with the target
surface. Such impacts produce hemispherical craters on the surface
of the impact object with a depth to diameter ratio for impacts
under these conditions of about one-half which represents wide
shallow craters on the surface. Armor piercing projectiles, shaped
charges, rods, etc., require orientation or direction in order to
be effective upon impact. Under certain circumstances there is a
requirement wherein orientation or direction is not possible, which
decreases the effectiveness of the last mentioned type.
The present invention is directed to a high strength, composite
hypervelocity projectile which is effective as a kill mechanism
against objects traveling at a hypervelocity, such as ICBM, IRBM,
satellites, space ships, etc.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
projectile capable of deep penetrations when impacted against
objects traveling at hypervelocities.
Another object is to provide a projectile effective against objects
traveling at hypervelocities without a requirement of orientation
or direction of the projectile.
While another object is to provide a projectile which is easy to
fabricate to any desired size.
Still another object is to provide a projectile suitable for
hypervelocity kills without the projectile breaking into many tiny
particles upon impact.
Yet another object is to provide a projectile which will have
maximum penetration upon impact with a body traveling at a
hypervelocity.
Other and more specific objects of the invention will become
apparent upon a careful consideration of the following detailed
description when taken together with the accompanying drawing in
which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a composite type
projectile of this invention; and
FIGS. 2 and 3 are modifications of FIG. 1.
Referring now to the drawing there is illustrated, by example, in
FIG. 1, a cross-sectional view of a projectile made according to
the present invention. The projectile, as shown, comprises a
central core 11 of high strength and high density material coated
with a low acoustical impedance material 12, such as a
filament-wound impregnated phenolic fiberglass cord and with an
outside shell 13 of high impedance and high modulus of elasticity
material such as an outer shell of copper or tungsten carbide,
however, the outer shell may be made of other materials, such as
plastic.
FIG. 2 illustrates a modification of FIG. 1 which illustrates a
projectile which has a core surrounded by a coating 14 of plastic
with fiberglass mixed in the plastic. This forms a composite
coating on the core.
FIG. 3 illustrates a modification of FIG. 1 in which the core is
made of an explosive mixture 15 which will explode under favorable
conditions after impact and with the same low acoustical impedance
material 12 about the core and with a plastic coating as the outer
shell.
In operational use, the projectiles may be fired in the path of an
object or distributed in a large pattern in the path of enemy space
ships or other type objects without any specific orientation of the
projectile. Since the projectiles are spherical it does not matter
from which direction the projectile strikes the object. When
dealing with very high velocity objects, the effect on the object
will be the same whether the object runs into the projectile or
whether the projectile has a direct hit on the object.
When a projectile strikes an object or an object has an impact with
the projectile, there occurs an elastic or diaphragmatic dishing of
the surface of the object, which distributes the resistance over a
considerable area and causes the stress of impact to react upon the
projectile which tends to stop the projectile in a very short
distance. Usually when projectiles of the prior art type strike an
object traveling at a high velocity, the impact breaks the
projectile into many particles such that the degree of penetration
into the object is considerably reduced. It is well known that
standard armor-piercing projectiles will withstand shocks of
impact, however, these projectiles are directional and require a
specific orientation with respect to the object.
The projectiles of the present invention do not require a special
orientation and yet are capable of penetrating surfaces of high
velocity objects. When the projectile of the present invention has
an impact with a high velocity object, the energy of the impact is
transmitted to the center sphere through the outer shell and the
low acoustical impedance material about the core. The covering
absorbs, reflects, and dissipates a substantial portion of the
shocks that are generated upon impact and produces an elastic or
diaphragmatic dishing of the surface of the object. The high
strength wrapping of fiberglass cord or other materials surrounding
the center core is resistant to both the effects of the shock and
break-up while the plastic covering causes dishing of the surface.
The energy on impact required for the elastic dishing is
concentrated at the point of impact and therefore partially
absorbed by the plastic covering. After impact, the metal core or
sphere is slowed down because of energy dissipation and achieves a
slower velocity, which should permit the projectile to penetrate
the surface of the object without breaking up into small
particles.
The modification illustrated by FIG. 2 combines the fiberglass with
the plastic to provide a single covering. In this modification the
covering would require greater energy to break up on impact and
will have a slightly different effect on the velocity of the sphere
as it continues to make an impact with the surface of the object
struck.
The modification as illustrated by FIG. 3 makes use of an explosive
material as the center or core which may be capable of reflecting
and dissipating the shock energy during impact. The shock energy
during impact being absorbed by the plastic covering and the
fiberglass cord which surrounds the explosive core. Such a
structure permits the explosive charge to penetrate the surface hit
sufficiently to produce the greatest damage upon exploding.
The projectiles of the present invention have the advantages of
having no limit in size of fabrication; do not require special
orientation upon impact, therefore the ratio of projectile weight
to total warhead weight is larger than warheads which require
projectile orientation; projectiles are easily fabricated and
produce deep penetration of an object when hit by the projectile or
when the projectile is hit by objects traveling at
hypervelocities.
Obviously many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is
therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described.
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