Penetrating projectile system and apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for fracturing rock comprising `a projectile launcher having a muzzle portion, a barrel portion with means defining a smooth internal bore, and a breech portion, a projectile adapted to fit into said bore and be propelled from said launcher comprising a nose cap portion disposed proximate the front end of said projectile and fabricated from a light weight, ductile material, an obturator portion disposed proximate the trailing end of said projectile, a body sleeve portion fabricated from a ductile material disposed between said nose cap portion and said obturator portion, a core body disposed in said body sleeve portion, said core body having a length to diameter ratio greater than 6 to 1 with a minimum hardness of 59 Rockwell C and a density greater than 6 grams/cc, and means disposed behind said obturator for propelling said projectile from said launcher.

Claim 2

An apparatus for fracturing rock comprising `a projectile launcher having a muzzle portion, a barrel portion with means defining a smooth internal bore, and a breech portion, a projectile adapted to fit into said bore and be propelled from said launcher comprising a nose cap portion disposed proximate the front end of said projectile and fabricated from a light weight, ductile material, an obturator portion disposed proximate the trailing end of said projectile, a body sleeve portion fabricated from a ductile material disposed between said nose cap portion and said obturator portion, a core body disposed in said body sleeve portion, said core body having a length to diameter ratio greater than 6 to 1 with a minimum hardness of 59 Rockwell C and a density greater than 6 grams/cc, and means disposed behind said obturator for propelling said projectile from said launcher.

Claim 8

An apparatus for fracturing rock comprising a projectile launcher having a muzzle portion, a barrel portion with means defining a smooth internal bore, and a breech portion, a projectile adapted to be propelled from said launcher, said projectile having a length to diameter ratio of 6 to 1, and comprising a nose section disposed proximate the front end of said projectile, an obturator portion disposed proximate the trailing end of said projectile and comprising an obturator gas seal fin portion, an obturator body portion in front of said gas seal portion, means defining a cavity disposed in the leading end of said obturator body portion, an oxidizable gas generating material disposed in said cavity, and means for igniting said oxidizable gas generating material comprising a frictionally ignitable material disposed between the leading end of said obturator body portion and the trailing end of said projectile, said frictionally ignitable material in frictional contact with the bore of said launcher barrel and in ignitable contact with said oxidizable gas generating material, the diameters of said nose portion and said obturator portion being equal to the inside diameter of said bore, said barrel portion being longer than said projectile, and means for propelling said projectile from said launcher.

Claim 9

An apparatus for fracturing rock comprising a projectile launcher having a muzzle portion, a barrel portion with means defining a smooth internal bore, and a breech portion, a projectile adapted to be propelled from said launcher, said projectile having a length to diameter ratio of 6 to 1, and comprising a nose section disposed proximate the front end of said projectile, an obturator portion disposed proximate the trailing end of said projectile and comprising an obturator gas seal fin portion, an obturator body portion in front of said gas seal portion, means defining a cavity disposed in the leading end of said obturator body portion, an oxidizable gas generating material disposed in said cavity, and means for igniting said oxidizable gas generating material comprising a frictionally ignitable material disposed between the leading end of said obturator body portion and the trailing end of said projectile, said frictionally ignitable material in frictional contact with the bore of said launcher barrel and in ignitable contact with said oxidizable gas generating material, the diameters of said nose portion and said obturator portion being equal to the inside diameter of said bore, said barrel portion being longer than said projectile, and means for propelling said projectile from said launcher.

Claim 10

An apparatus for fracturing rock comprising a projectile launcher having a muzzle portion, a barrel portion having a smooth internal bore, and a breech portion, a projectile adapted to be propelled from said launcher, said projectile having a length to diameter ratio greater than 6 to 1 comprising a nose portion proximate the front end of said projectile, an obturator portion disposed proximate the trailing end of said projectile, a plurality of individual core body projectile members serially disposed between said nose portion and said obturator portion, each individual core body member comprising a nose portion, a tail portion, a body portion having means defining a longitudinal cavity therein extending from said nose portion to said tail portion, and means for propelling said core body members disposed in said cavity comprising an oxidizable gas generating material disposed in said cavity, and a frictionally ignitable material disposed between said individual core body members in frictional contact with the inside surface of said launcher bore and in ignitable contact with said oxidizable gas generating material, means for connecting said nose, obturator and individual core body members to each other, said barrel portion being longer than said projectile, and means for propelling said projectile from said launcher.

Claim 11

An apparatus for fracturing rock comprising a projectile launcher having a muzzle portion, a barrel portion having a smooth internal bore, and a breech portion, a projectile adapted to be propelled from said launcher, said projectile having a length to diameter ratio greater than 6 to 1 comprising a nose portion proximate the front end of said projectile, an obturator portion disposed proximate the trailing end of said projectile, a plurality of individual core body projectile members serially disposed between said nose portion and said obturator portion, each individual core body member comprising a nose portion, a tail portion, a body portion having means defining a longitudinal cavity therein extending from said nose portion to said tail portion, and means for propelling said core body members disposed in said cavity comprising an oxidizable gas generating material disposed in said cavity, and a frictionally ignitable material disposed between said individual core body members in frictional contact with the inside surface of said launcher bore and in ignitable contact with said oxidizable gas generating material, means for connecting said nose, obturator and individual core body members to each other, said barrel portion being longer than said projectile, and means for propelling said projectile from said launcher.