40 mm low drag extended range projectile

US8887641B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army · US

Inventors

• Leon Manole · Great Meadows, US
• Arthur Ricardo Pizza · Maywood, US
• Ernest Logsdon · Newton, US
• Gary Anthony Pacella · Stroudsburg, US
• Anthony J. Sebasto · Budd Lake, US
• Wilfredo Toledo · Hasbrouck Heights, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 7, 2013
• Grant date: Nov 18, 2014
• Expiry date: Mar 22, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F42B12/20
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A 40 mm ammunition projectile for firing without significant spin in an M203 or an M320 grenade launcher. The ammunition includes a projectile body having hollow inner cavity therein for an explosive warhead; a projectile fin assembly; a projectile nose element having a conically shaped front area thereon; a decoupled projectile sabot in two or more joining sabot petals enclosing the body; a base cartridge case having vent holes, a bowl area for placement of a copper closure cup containing propellant therein, and a closure plug for threading into the rear of said cartridge case. The projectile fin assembly may provide a canted angle on each fin blade to (relatively very slowly) spin up the round at less than 30 Hz. Projectiles with body length less than five inches may be launched in an M203 grenade launcher while projectiles with body length up to eight inches may be launched in an M320 grenade launcher.