Sleeve for structurally supporting a penetrator of a kinetic energy projectile
US7270060B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 5, 2003 |
| Grant date | Sep 18, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF42B14/068
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A rod sleeve made of smart material sleeves and/or steel sleeves with smart material rings surrounds the rod of a kinetic energy projectile. The rod may be made of DU, tungsten, or other material. Smart materials are materials such as nickel-titanium (nitinol) and copper aluminum nickel (CAN) that can be trained to change to one or more particular shapes at predetermined temperatures. The change in shape occurs on a molecular level, almost instantaneously. The rod sleeve can be made all or in part from smart material. The smart material is trained to shrink at cold temperatures and expand at hot temperatures. The sleeve may then be heated and expanded to allow the sleeve to be pressed on the rod. As the sleeve cools, it compresses and provides required support to rod during gun launch of the kinetic energy projectile. The sleeve heats up while traveling down range due to the aero-ballistic heating of the sleeve material. At this higher temperature, the sleeve expands. Upon projectile impact with the target, the sleeve minimally penetrates the target, allowing the rod to slip supported through the sleeve and penetrate the target. The sleeve supports the rod as it penetrates the targ…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.