Munition

Claim 2

A ring shaped airfoil munition projectile to be launched from a gun comprising: a means of producing high lift, low drag, and extended range, said means consisting of an annulus having essentially a continuous unbroken exterior airfoil cross section, said annulus having major annular outer and inner substantially curvilinear surfaces which form the diametrical extents of said projectile with at least one of said curvilinear surfaces so configured to provide aerodynamic lift for said projectile, and said annulus having leading and trailing edges joining said major outer and inner surfaces defining the longitudinal extent of said projectile; and means for rotating said projectile.

Claim 3

The projectile of claim 1 wherein same is hollow and has fuse means and is filled with material selected from the group consisting of explosives, incendiary agents and incapacitating agents.

Claim 4

The munition of claim 2 wherein the internal surface of said projectile is scored.

Claim 5

The munition of claim 1 wherein the projectile exterior is metal.

Claim 6

The munition of claim 1 wherein the projectile exterior is of polymeric material.

Claim 7

The munition of claim 1 wherein both the major outer and inner surfaces are configured to provide aerodynamic lift for said projectile.

Claim 8

The munition of claim 1 wherein the rotating means is transmitted by means of a sabot.

Claim 9

The munition of claim 1 wherein the rotating means is an integrated rifling band imposed upon a portion of the lifting body outer surface.

Claim 10

The munition of claim 1 wherein the rotating means is a preengraved rifling surface on the lifting body.

Claim 11

A ring shaped airfoil munition projectile to be launched from a gun having means for producing high lift, low drag, and extended range, said means consisting of: an annulus having essentially a continuous unbroken exterior airfoil cross section, said annulus having annular major outer and inner substantially curvilinear airfoil surfaces defining the dimetrical extent of said projectile, with at least one of said surfaces so configured to provide aerodynamic lift, and said surfaces concentrically defining an axis serving in common as the axis of symetry and the axis of gyroscopic rotation, and said annulus having leading and trailing edges joining said surfaces and defining the longitudinal extent of said projectile; so that upon rotating said projectile on said axis at at least 2000 RPM and propelling it from said gun, leading edge first, in the direction of said axis through the atmosphere the said at least one of said surfaces causes lift which together with low drag airfoil shaping results in a reLatively flat trajectory and extended range.

Claim 12

A ring shaped airfoil munition projectile to be launched from a gun having means for producing high lift, low drag, and extended range, said means consisting of: an annulus having essentially a continuous unbroken exterior airfoil cross section, said annulus having annular major outer and inner substantially curvilinear airfoil surfaces defining the dimetrical extent of said projectile, with at least one of said surfaces so configured to provide aerodynamic lift, and said surfaces concentrically defining an axis serving in common as the axis of symetry and the axis of gyroscopic rotation, and said annulus having leading and trailing edges joining said surfaces and defining the longitudinal extent of said projectile; so that upon rotating said projectile on said axis at at least 2000 RPM and propelling it from said gun, leading edge first, in the direction of said axis through the atmosphere the said at least one of said surfaces causes lift which together with low drag airfoil shaping results in a reLatively flat trajectory and extended range.

Claim 13

The munition of claim 10 wherein it is made from the group consisting of metals, alloys thereof and polymer materials.

Claim 14

The munition of claim 10 wherein the projectile is hollow and has an interior provided with means and filling material selected from the group consisting of explosives, incendiary agents and incompacitating agents.

Claim 15

The munition of claim 12 wherein the projectile interior surface is scored for fragmentation purposes.

Claim 16

A munition to be fired by a gun means comprising a tube-like casing having at one end thereof a ring shaped airfoil projectile concentrically disposed in said casing and said projectile having means of producing high lift, low drag, and extended range, said means consisting of an annulus having essentially a continuous unbroken exterior cross section airfoil, said annulus having major outer and inner airfoil surfaces at least one configured for providing aerodynamic lift and joined by leading and trailing edges with said surfaces being substantially concentric with said casing and said leading edge being outermost relative to said casing, and having near the other end (thereof) of said casing detonation and propelling means for rotating said projectile in the plane of its annulus and ejecting it from said casing and allowing it to enter into trajectory.

Claim 17

A munition to be fired by a gun means comprising a tube-like casing having at one end thereof a ring shaped airfoil projectile concentrically disposed in said casing and said projectile having means of producing high lift, low drag, and extended range, said means consisting of an annulus having essentially a continuous unbroken exterior cross section airfoil, said annulus having major outer and inner airfoil surfaces at least one configured for providing aerodynamic lift and joined by leading and trailing edges with said surfaces being substantially concentric with said casing and said leading edge being outermost relative to said casing, and having near the other end (thereof) of said casing detonation and propelling means for rotating said projectile in the plane of its annulus and ejecting it from said casing and allowing it to enter into trajectory.