Range limited projectile system

Claim 2

A weapon including a barrel, a generally cylindrical cartridge case having a closed end and an open end, a projectile received for launching in the cartridge case and closing its closed end, first-force producing means for propelling said projectile out of said barrel and along a desired path at a velocity sufficient to cause said projectile to travel a first distance, and second-force producing means in said projectile for exerting a force in opposition to the direction of the first-force producing means thereby to limit projectile travel to a distance less than said first distance.

Claim 3

A weapon including a barrel, a generally cylindrical cartridge case having a closed end and an open end, a projectile received for launching in the cartridge case and closing its closed end, first-force producing means for propelling said projectile out of said barrel and along a desired path at a velocity sufficient to cause said projectile to travel a first distance, and second-force producing means in said projectile for exerting a force in opposition to the direction of the firstforce producing means thereby to limit projectile travel to a distance less than said first distance.

Claim 4

A weapon including a barrel, a generally cylindrical cartridge case having a closed end and an open end, a projectile received for launching in the cartridge case and closing its closed end, first-force producing means for propelling said projectile out of said barrel and along a desired path at a velocity sufficient to cause said projectile to travel a first distance, and second-force producing means in said projectile for exerting a force in opposition to the direction of the firstforce producing means thereby to limit projectile travel to a distance less than said first distance.

Claim 5

The weapon of claim 1 wherein said barrel and said first-force producing means cooperate to impart a spin velocity to said projectile and said second-force producing means exerts its force along the direction of the spin axis.

Claim 6

The weapon of claim 1 wherein time delay means are provided to delay initiation of said second-force producing means.

Claim 7

The weapon of claim 3 wherein said second-force producing means terminates its action so as to retard the projectile without producing reverse travel of the projectile.

Claim 8

The weapon of claim 1 wherein said second-force producing means is a combustible propellant and saId projectile is provided with a nozzle in its nose through which the products of combustion are exhausted thereby exerting a desired retarding force on the projectile.

Claim 9

The weapon of claim 2 wherein said second-force producing means is a combustible propellant and a nozzle is provided in the nose of said projectile arranged co-axial with the projectile spin axis whereby the products of propellant combustion exhaust through said nozzle to exert the desired retarding force.

Claim 10

The weapon of claim 1 wherein said first-force producing means and said second-force producing means are located in the projectile and said second-force producing means is initiated by said first-force producing means.

Claim 11

A projectile suitable for being propelled from a gun comprising a generally hollow cylindrical body surrounding an enclosed compartment and having a nose portion to be directed toward the target, a forwardly facing nozzle in said nose portion, the compartment in said body being adjacent said nose portion and communicating with said nozzle, means in said compartment for producing a flow of gases through said nozzle, and means for selectively initiating said gas flow thereby to produce a force opposing movement of said body toward a target.

Claim 12

A projectile suitable for being propelled from a gun comprising a generally hollow cylindrical body surrounding an enclosed compartment and having a nose portion to be directed toward the target, a forwardly facing nozzle in said nose portion, the compartment in said body being adjacent said nose portion and communicating with said nozzle, means in said compartment for producing a flow of gases through said nozzle, and means for selectively initiating said gas flow thereby to produce a force opposing movement of said body toward a target.

Claim 13

The projectile of claim 8 wherein the means in said compartment is a combustible propellant and the products of combustion are exhausted through the nozzle.

Claim 14

The projectile of claim 9 wherein said means for selectively igniting the combustible includes a time delay.

Claim 15

A range limited cartridge for firearms comprising a generally cylindrical cartridge case closed at one end, a generally cylindrical projectile extending partially into and closing the open end of said case, said projectile having a cartridge end and a nose portion extending outwardly from the case and defining an enclosed chamber contained in said projectile, a first propellant located between the cartridge case and the projectile, means for igniting said first propellant to expel the projectile from the cartridge case, nozzle means in said nose portion extending outwardly from said chamber, a combustible propellant in said chamber arranged to exhaust the products of combustion through said nozzle means, and means at the cartridge end of said projectile for igniting said rocket propellant.

Claim 16

A range limited cartridge for firearms comprising a generally cylindrical cartridge case closed at one end, a generally cylindrical projectile extending partially into and closing the open end of said case, said projectile having a cartridge end and a nose portion extending outwardly from the case and defining an enclosed chamber contained in said projectile, a first propellant located between the cartridge case and the projectile, means for igniting said first propellant to expel the projectile from the cartridge case, nozzle means in said nose portion extending outwardly from said chamber, a combustible propellant in said chamber arranged to exhaust the products of combustion through said nozzle means, and means at the cartridge end of said projectile for igniting said rocket propellant.

Claim 17

The cartridge of claim 11 wherein said nozzle means is a single nozzle arranged coaxial with the axis of the projectile.

Claim 18

The cartridge of claim 11 wherein a frangible seal closes the entrance of said nozzle.

Claim 19

The cartridge of claim 11 wherein the means at the cartridge end for igniting said rocket propellant is a primer sensitive to combustion of the first propellant and a transfer fuse igniting said combustible propellant.

Claim 20

The cartridge of claim 14 wherein said transfer fuse acts as a time delay between said primer and said rocket propellant.

Claim 21

A range limited projectile for firearms comprising a generally cylindrical body divided into a front compartment and a rear compartment, a forwardly facing nozzle in the nose of said body communicating with said first compartment, a plurality of canted, rearwardly facing nozzles in the trailing end of said body communicating with said rear compartment, propellant means in each of said compartments, ignition means for the propellant in said rear compartment and means for transferring ignition from the propellant in said rear compartment to the propellant in said forward compartment.

Claim 22

A range limited projectile for firearms comprising a generally cylindrical body divided into a front compartment and a rear compartment, a forwardly facing nozzle in the nose of said body communicating with said first compartment, a plurality of canted, rearwardly facing nozzles in the trailing end of said body communicating with said rear compartment, propellant means in each of said compartments, ignition means for the propellant in said rear compartment and means for transferring ignition from the propellant in said rear compartment to the propellant in said forward compartment.

Claim 23

The projectile of claim 16 wherein said means for transferring ignition includes a time delay element.