US3585934A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Underwater ammunition
Assignee: Textron Systems Corp
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Filing: 1967-11-24
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Granted: 1971-06-22
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Expires: 1987-11-24
Abstract
Abstract Underwater ammunition is disclosed, in which a flechette projectile is enclosed within the air-filled bore of a watertight sealed disposable barrel adapted to be removably inserted into a carrier cylinder or block for firing. The projectile is suspended by and between a rear-end-cradling pusher sabot, and a frangible guiding-and-supporting unit including a soft rubber nosesupporting cradle slug having a forward relieved surface. A propellant charge and percussion primer are disposed rearwardly of the pusher sabot which is initially anchored by a shear pin, and the projectile is propelled forward by primer ignition of the propellant to shear the shear pin and impart forward motion to the pusher sabot, which in turn drives the projectile through a frangible sealed front barrel convexly domed cover. Forward motion of the sabot is stopped by successive incremental energy absorption through the shearing of an external helical shear thread on the forward section of the pusher sabot at the forward end of its travel, the shearing and compaction of which shear thread, as well as the resultant compaction of a soft malleable length of material in the thread grooves, also seals in the propellant gases within the barrel bore at the end of the sabot forward travel. One or more pressure dropping annular expansion grooves on the rear section of the pusher sabot are employed to obviate blowby of propellant gases during forward motion of the sabot.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth E Mueller
- 👤 John L Critcher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:53
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B30/00; F42B30/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S102/00; Y10S102/703
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
Underwater ammunition comprising: a disposable barrel having a longitudinal bore closed at both ends and having a primer and propellant disposed therein at one end and a frangible closure at its opposite end, a blunt tapered nosed projectile disposed in an air chamber formed in said bore between said propellant and said frangible closure, a pusher piston sabot disposed between said propellant ant the rear end of said projectile, said projectile being a flechette having a blunt tapered nose end, a cylindrical central shank section, and a stabilizing finned rear section, said finned rear section being cradled in a forward recess formed in said bore, a further projectile-supporting unit disposed in and engaging said bore and engaging and supporting a forward portion of said projectile, said further projectile-supporting unit being formed of soft elastic material and disposed about a portion of the nose end of said projectile and between the nose end of said projectile and the forward closed end of said barrel, and said elastic projectile-supporting unit having a central thinwalled central membrane against which is disposed in axial coMpressive cradled relation the forward blunt nosed end of said projectile, the forward surface of said elastic projectile-supporting unit having a central relief configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
Underwater ammunition comprising: a disposable barrel having a longitudinal bore closed at both ends and having a primer and propellant disposed therein at one end and a frangible closure at its opposite end, a blunt tapered nosed projectile disposed in an air chamber formed in said bore between said propellant and said frangible closure, a pusher piston sabot disposed between said propellant ant the rear end of said projectile, said projectile being a flechette having a blunt tapered nose end, a cylindrical central shank section, and a stabilizing finned rear section, said finned rear section being cradled in a forward recess formed in said bore, a further projectile-supporting unit disposed in and engaging said bore and engaging and supporting a forward portion of said projectile, said further projectile-supporting unit being formed of soft elastic material and disposed about a portion of the nose end of said projectile and between the nose end of said projectile and the forward closed end of said barrel, and said elastic projectile-supporting unit having a central thinwalled central membrane against which is disposed in axial coMpressive cradled relation the forward blunt nosed end of said projectile, the forward surface of said elastic projectile-supporting unit having a central relief configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
Underwater ammunition according to claim 1, said central relief configuration formed in the forward surface of said elastic projectile-supporting unit being an outwardly flared recess formed in spaced relation from the rear projectile-nose-engaging surface of said unit by a thin-walled elastic membrane of smaller diameter than the blunt end face of said blunt tapered nose of said projectile.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
Underwater ammunition according to claim 2, and a central connecting bore formed in said elastic projectile-supporting unit between the forward wall of said elastic membrane and the inner mouth of said outwardly flared recess.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Underwater ammunition according to claim 2, and a retainer disc disposed between said elastic projectile-supporting unit and the forward end of said barrel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Underwater ammunition according to claim 4, said retainer disc being a washer formed of relatively rigid frangible material and having a central aperture therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Underwater ammunition according to claim 5, said frangible closure for said barrel being formed as an outwardly convex dome secured in watertight sealed relation at the forward end of said barrel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Underwater ammunition according to claim 6, said frangible convex dome closure being secured in watertight sealed relation in an end face recess formed in the forward end of said barrel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
Underwater ammunition according to claim 7, said convex dome closure being spaced from said frangible retainer disc washer, said barrel having a reduced diameter shoulder section disposed between said retainer disc washer and said frangible convex dome closure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
Underwater ammunition according to claim 2, said pusher piston sabot having a plurality of helical shear threads formed on its outer annular surface for impact stopping of said sabot and for sealing propellant gases upon impact shearing, and a length of malleable material disposed in a portion of said threads for aiding in propellant gas sealing upon sabot impact, and retainer means impact stopping of said sabot by contact therewith of said threads.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
Underwater ammunition according to claim 1, and a further projectile-guiding-and-supporting unit disposed rearwardly of said projectile-supporting unit and including a thin frangible metal disc disposed in contiguous interfacing relation with and between two cylindrical sections of foam plastic, said foam plastic sections being removably secured about said projectile, and, said frangible metal disc having a central aperture through which said projectile extends in a light slip fit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
Underwater ammunition according to claim 1, and a shear pin connection formed between said pusher piston sabot and said barrel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
148 words
Underwater ammunition comprising: a smooth bore disposable barrel having a longitudinal bore closed at both ends and having a primer and propellant disposed therein at one end and a frangible closure at its opposite end, a blunt tapered nosed projectile disposed in an air chamber formed in said bore between said propellant and said frangible closure, and a pusher piston sabot disposed between said propellant and the rear end of said projectile, said projectile being a flechette having a blunt tapered nose end, a cylindrical central shank section, and a stabilizing finned rear section, said finned rear section being cradled in a forward recess formed in said bore, and a further projectile-supporting unit disposed in and engaging said bore and engaging and supporting a forward portion of said projectile, and a shear pin connection formed between said pusher piston sabot and a separable rear section of said barrel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
148 words
Underwater ammunition comprising: a smooth bore disposable barrel having a longitudinal bore closed at both ends and having a primer and propellant disposed therein at one end and a frangible closure at its opposite end, a blunt tapered nosed projectile disposed in an air chamber formed in said bore between said propellant and said frangible closure, and a pusher piston sabot disposed between said propellant and the rear end of said projectile, said projectile being a flechette having a blunt tapered nose end, a cylindrical central shank section, and a stabilizing finned rear section, said finned rear section being cradled in a forward recess formed in said bore, and a further projectile-supporting unit disposed in and engaging said bore and engaging and supporting a forward portion of said projectile, and a shear pin connection formed between said pusher piston sabot and a separable rear section of said barrel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
Underwater ammunition according to claim 12, said shear pin connection comprising a shear pin extending thRough the rear section of said pusher piston sabot and into said separable rear section of said barrel, said separable rear section being the rear closure means for said barrel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
Underwater ammunition comprising: a disposable barrel having a longitudinal smooth bore closed at both ends and having a primer and propellant disposed therein at one end and a frangible closure at its opposite end, a pusher piston sabot disposed between said propellant and the rear end of said projectile, said pusher piston sabot having a plurality of helical shear threads formed on its outer annular surface for impact stopping of said sabot and for sealing propellant gases upon impact shearing, and a length of malleable material disposed in a portion of said threads for aiding in propellant gas sealing upon sabot impact, and retainer means impact stopping of said sabot by contact therewith of said threads.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
116 words
Underwater ammunition comprising: a disposable barrel having a longitudinal smooth bore closed at both ends and having a primer and propellant disposed therein at one end and a frangible closure at its opposite end, a pusher piston sabot disposed between said propellant and the rear end of said projectile, said pusher piston sabot having a plurality of helical shear threads formed on its outer annular surface for impact stopping of said sabot and for sealing propellant gases upon impact shearing, and a length of malleable material disposed in a portion of said threads for aiding in propellant gas sealing upon sabot impact, and retainer means impact stopping of said sabot by contact therewith of said threads.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |