Projectile using shape-memory alloy to improve impact energy transfer

Claim 2

A projectile, comprising: a core; and deforming means of shape-memory alloy in operative contact with said core, said deforming means altering the geometric shape of said core upon impact of the projectile due to shape-memory effect to improve the impact energy transfer of the projectile.

Claim 3

A projectile as in claim 1 wherein said shape-memory alloy has a martensitic state and an austenitic state, said deforming means being dimensionally deformed prior to impact while said shape-memory alloy is in its martensitic state, a change from its martensitic state to its austenitic state recovering said deforming means upon impact to its non-deformed dimension to alter the geometric shape of said core.

Claim 4

A projectile as in claim 2 wherein said deforming means is generally contained within said core.

Claim 5

A projectile as in claim 3 wherein said core has a longitudinal axis, said deforming means comprising a rod that is dimensionally deformed into general axial alignment with said longitudinal axis when said shape-memory alloy is in its martensitic state, said rod recovering to be out of column when said shape-memory alloy is in its austenitic state.

Claim 6

A projectile as in claim 2 wherein said core has a longitudinal axis and includes a nose portion and said deforming means comprises a cap that is complementary to and in contact with said nose portion, said cap being symmetrical about said longitudinal axis with respect to said nose portion when said shape-memory alloy is in its martensitic state, said cap being asymmetrical about said longitudinal axis with respect to said nose portion when said shape-memory alloy is in its austenitic state.

Claim 7

A projectile as in claim 2 wherein said core has a longitudinal axis and includes a nose portion and said deforming means comprises a cap that is complementary to and in contact with said nose portion, said deforming means further including a rod in general axial alignment with said longitudinal axis and having a first length, when said shape-memory alloy is in its martensitic state, said rod reducing in length when in its austenitic state.

Claim 8

A projectile as in claim 2 wherein said core has a longitudinal axis and includes a cutting head, said deforming means being contained within said cutting head and being in general axial alignment with said longitudinal axis, a change of said shape-memory alloy from its martensitic to its austenitic state radially expanding said cutting head with respect to said longitudinal axis, increasing the cross-section of the cutting head.

Claim 9

A projectile as in claim 2 wherein said core has a longitudinal axis and further including a skin surrounding said core, said deforming means being positioned between said core and said skin, a change in said shape-memory alloy from its martensitic to its austenitic state radially compressing said core about said longitudinal axis to improve armor penetration characteristics of the projectile.

Claim 10

A projectile as in claim 2 wherein said deforming means contains voids, said voids enhancing the recovery of said deforming means beyond the inherent recovery of the shape-memory alloy comprising said core if said voids were not present.

Claim 11

A projectile of shape-memory alloy wherein said shape-memory alloy has a martensitic state and an austenitic state, said projectile being dimensionally deformed prior to impact while said shape-memory alloy is in its martensitic state, a change from its martensitic state to its austenitic state recovering said projectile upon impact due to shape-memory effect to its non-deformed dimension to alter the geometric shape of the projectile to improve the impact energy transfer of the projectile.

Claim 12

A projectile of shape-memory alloy wherein said shape-memory alloy has a martensitic state and an austenitic state, said projectile being dimensionally deformed prior to impact while said shape-memory alloy is in its martensitic state, a change from its martensitic state to its austenitic state recovering said projectile upon impact due to shape-memory effect to its non-deformed dimension to alter the geometric shape of the projectile to improve the impact energy transfer of the projectile.

Claim 13

A projectile as in claim 10 wherein said projectile contains voids and said voids enhancing the recovery of said projectile beyond the inherent recovery of the shape-memory alloy comprising said projectile if said voids were not present.

Claim 14

A projectile, comprising: a core having a longitudinal axis; and deforming means of shape-memory alloy being in operative contact with said core and being generally contained within said core, said shape-memory alloy having a martensitic state and an austenitic state, said deforming means comprising a rod that is dimensionally deformed prior to impact into general axial alignment with said longitudinal axis when said shape-memory alloy is in its martensitic state, a change from its martensitic state to its austenitic state recovering said rod upon impact to its non-deformed dimension to be out of column to alter the geometric shape of said core due to shape-memory effect to improve the impact energy transfer of the projectile.

Claim 15

A projectile, comprising: a core having a longitudinal axis; and deforming means of shape-memory alloy being in operative contact with said core and being generally contained within said core, said shape-memory alloy having a martensitic state and an austenitic state, said deforming means comprising a rod that is dimensionally deformed prior to impact into general axial alignment with said longitudinal axis when said shape-memory alloy is in its martensitic state, a change from its martensitic state to its austenitic state recovering said rod upon impact to its non-deformed dimension to be out of column to alter the geometric shape of said core due to shape-memory effect to improve the impact energy transfer of the projectile.

Claim 16

A projectile, comprising: a core having a longitudinal axis and including a cutting head; and deforming means of shape-memory alloy being in operative contact with said core and being contained within said cutting head and being in general axial alignment with said longitudinal axis, said shape-memory alloy having a martensitic state and an austenitic state, said deforming means being dimensionally deformed prior to impact while said shape-memory alloy is in its martensitic state, a change from its martensitic state to its austenitic state recovering said deforming means upon impact to its non-deformed dimension, radially expanding said cutting head with respect to said longitudinal axis due to shape-memory effect, increasing the cross-section of the cutting head to improve the impact energy transfer of the projectile.

Claim 17

A projectile, comprising: a core having a longitudinal axis and including a cutting head; and deforming means of shape-memory alloy being in operative contact with said core and being contained within said cutting head and being in general axial alignment with said longitudinal axis, said shape-memory alloy having a martensitic state and an austenitic state, said deforming means being dimensionally deformed prior to impact while said shape-memory alloy is in its martensitic state, a change from its martensitic state to its austenitic state recovering said deforming means upon impact to its non-deformed dimension, radially expanding said cutting head with respect to said longitudinal axis due to shape-memory effect, increasing the cross-section of the cutting head to improve the impact energy transfer of the projectile.