Patent ID: 7806053
Filing Date: 2010-10-05
Classification: F42B

Abstract:
1. A projectile having a plurality of segments adapted to be detached from the rest of the projectile during flight, the projectile being designed in such a way that a spin is imparted to at least a first one of the segments relative to the rest of the projectile during a period of time in which the first segment is being detached from the projectile, wherein the first segment is interconnected with the rest of the projectile at a rifled interface that causes the spin to be imparted to the first segment when it is being detached from the rest of the projectile, wherein the first segment is a tail segment that includes a piston having an outer surface that mates with the inner surface of a mating chamber in the aft end of the rest of the projectile, at least one of the surfaces being rifled so that the spin is imparted to the tail segment when it is being detached from the rest of the projectile, wherein the mating chamber includes a propellant that, when ignited, creates gases that push on the piston and forces the tail segment from the rest of the projectile, and wherein the tail segment includes a gas passage extending through the piston and an igniter which, when ignited, causes hot gases to propagate through the gas passage into the mating chamber to ignite the propellant in the mating chamber.