Abstract:
An ammunition system for a rapid fire gun. The ammunition system includes a bullet having a tip that is stored in a retracted position and during flight is deployed to create an aerodynamic shape. Another aspect of the ammunition system is that the bullet has a cylindrical body having a first length in storage and a second longer length after ignition of the propellant.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to bullets/projectiles utilized in ammunition systems for rapid fire weapons. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bullet having an expanding length and/or a deployable aerodynamic tip.  
           [0002]    Many of the multitude of prior bullet designs were brought about by a need to enhance the effectiveness of a soldier during a military conflict. Designers of modern military hardware are well aware that various forms of projectiles for use in ammunition for firearms have been proposed over the years. For example, prior designers have suggested the use of hollow or expanding diameter projectiles, which upon impact expand in diameter to cause infliction of greater damage on the target. Further, some prior designers have suggested the use of composite projectiles, which are found to be of general unitary configuration thereby adding length to the projectile. The added length was mainly to enhance long range accuracy, but upon impact with the target, the composite projectile separates into two separate relatively short projectiles. The short projectiles tend to tumble within the target thereby increasing the damage inflicted on the target.  
           [0003]    The above brief description of prior systems reflects that weapon designers have been primarily concerned with the question as to how to inflict greater damage to the target upon impact therewith. However, these designers have not addressed the desirability of increasing the storage capacity of the weapons, nor the desirability of having bullets with expanding lengths and/or deployable aerodynamic tips to enhance flight, and/or increasing the rate of fire of the weapon. The present invention satisfies these and other needs in a novel and unobvious fashion.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    One form of the present invention contemplates a bullet, comprising: a body member having a first end and a second end and a cavity for a propellant therein; and, a head member coupled with the first end, the head member being moveable between a first retracted state and a second deployed state, wherein the head member being in the second deployed state during at least a portion of the bullet flight.  
           [0005]    Another form of the present invention contemplates, a bullet, comprising: a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end with an internal propellant cavity disposed therein; a propellant located within the internal propellant cavity and adapted to discharge a gaseous flow stream from the second end; and, a tip means coupled to the first end for changing shape in response to an increase in pressure within the cavity created by ignition of the propellant.  
           [0006]    Yet another form of the present invention contemplates, a bullet, comprising: a cylindrical body having a head end and a discharge end, the body having an internal cavity; and a propellant located within the internal cavity, wherein upon ignition of the propellant a gaseous flow stream passes from the discharge end to propel the body and expand the body from a first length to a second length, wherein the second length is greater than the first length.  
           [0007]    Yet another form of the present invention contemplates an ammunition system comprising: a plurality of bullets, each of the bullets comprising: a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end with an internal propellant cavity disposed therein; a propellant located within the internal propellant cavity and adapted to discharge a gaseous flow stream from the second end; and a tip means coupled to the first end for changing shape in response to an increase in pressure within the cavity created by the ignition of the propellant; and the plurality of bullets are arranged in an abutting relationship, wherein the abutting relationship has a first end of one of the plurality of bullets in contact with a second end of another of the plurality of bullets, and each of the plurality of bullets are propelled independently of the others of the plurality of bullets.  
           [0008]    One object of the present invention is to provide a unique bullet.  
           [0009]    Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of one example of a rapid fire gun.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is an illustrative sectional view of an ammunition system comprising a plurality of bullets of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an illustrative sectional view of a plurality of bullets of one form of the present invention comprising a deployable tip portion in a retracted state.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is an illustrative sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention comprising a bullet with a deployable tip in a retracted state.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is an illustrative view of the bullet of FIG. 4 in a deployed state.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is an illustrative sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention comprising a bullet with a deployable tip in a retracted state.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is an end view of the bullet of FIG. 6 in a retracted state.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is an illustrative sectional view of the bullet of FIG. 6 with the tip in a deployed state.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is an illustrative sectional view of an ammunition system comprising a plurality of bullets having a expanding length body.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is an illustrative sectional view of a bullet of FIG. 9 in an expanded state.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 11 is an illustrative sectional view of another bullet of the present invention in an unexpanded form.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 12 is an end view of the bullet of FIG. 11 in an unexpanded form.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 13 is an illustrative sectional view of the bullet of FIG. 11 in an expanded form.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.  
         [0024]    With reference to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a weapon  20  having a magazine  21  coupled thereto for receiving an ammunition system. The present invention is not limited to the particular weapon  20 , and is utilizable with a variety of hand-held and/or machine-mounted weaponry. One form of the present invention is utilizable with a weapon system such as a Vulcan Minigun and/or gattling gun. It is well known that a gattling-style gun separates the round loading, firing, and brass ejection into different barrel positions as they rotate. However, the present invention is not intended to be limited to any one particular type of weapons system. The description of the present invention will not focus on the weapon  20  and, instead, will describe a series of ammunition systems and bullets/projectiles that will enhance the round carrying capability of weaponry.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated one embodiment of an ammunition system  30 . The ammunition system  30  includes a plurality of bullets/projectiles  31 . The example set forth in FIG. 2 shows four bullets/projectiles  31 . However, it is understood that the present invention contemplates an ammunition system that can utilize from two bullets/projectiles to practically an infinite number. Each of the bullets/projectiles  31  include a tip end  32  and a discharge end  33 . An internal cavity  34  is formed within the body  36  of bullet/projectile  31  and is adapted to receive a propellant charge  35 . The propellant charge  35  is located within the internal cavity  34  and in one embodiment is independently ignited for each bullet, such that a gaseous flow-stream passes through the discharge end  33  and propels the bullet/projectile  31  to the target. More specifically, the discharge end  33  includes an outlet  41  that the gaseous flow stream is discharged from. The triggering of the ammunition system  30  could be, but is not limited to: (a) pin firing; (b) electrical impulse ignition/electrical priming; (c) fuel injection/electric spark heat or flame ignition; (d) high-pressure gas propellant/injection; or (e) rail gun/magnetic propulsion. In one embodiment of the present invention, a gunpowder and mechanically operated firing pin/hammer is utilized. In another embodiment of the present invention, a solid propellant, such as gunpowder, and an electrical primer ignition is utilized.  
         [0026]    The bullet/projectile  31  has a substantially cylindrical main body member  36  that is symmetrical about a longitudinal center line  37 . The discharge end  33  includes an annular sealing surface  38  that is disposed in an abutting and sealing relationship with an outer annular surface  39  of the tip end  32  of the adjacent bullet/projectile  31 . In one form of the present invention, the ignition of the propellant charge in the bullet/projectile  31   a  causes a high pressure gas to exert a force on the other force on the other bullets/projectiles  31   b  and  31   c.  The force helps maintain the annular sealing surfaces  38  and  39  in a sealing relationship for the respective non-ignited bullets/projectiles. Further, in one embodiment, the bullets/projectiles  31  are caseless rounds and therefore, the entire bullet/projectile  31  is launched from the weapon on ignition of the propellant  35 . The bullet/projectile  31  may take on a variety of sizes, and shapes in one form is a blunt nose cylindrical shaped metallic casting. The bullet/projectile  31  can have any of a wide variety of lengths. However, the bullet/projectile will have a sufficient length so that when it is set in motion it does not cavitate down the barrel of the weapon system.  
         [0027]    The present invention contemplates, in one form, that the bullet/projectiles may be coupled together, and in another form, may not be coupled together. In one embodiment, a flexible metallic membrane is utilized to couple the head portion of one bullet/projectile with the tail portion of an adjacent bullet/projectile. Upon ignition of the propellant, the connection would be dislodged/broken, and the bullet/projectile would be allowed to proceed toward the target. In another form of the present invention, an adhesive material could be utilized between the head portion of one bullet/projectile and the tail portion of an adjacent bullet/projectile. This adhesive would break under the pressure and/or heat of ignition of the propellant. In yet another form of the present invention, a metallic enriched crystalline structure is utilized as a connecting sealant/adhesive between the head portion of one bullet/projectile and the tail portion of another bullet/projectile, thereby adhering the bullets/projectiles together. This crystal adhesive/connector would be in contact with the propellant at the rear of one bullet/projectile, and when moved in position in the gun, the firing circuit would ignite the propellant. The crystal adhesive/connector would burn up, leaving substantially no material to obstruct the path of the next bullet/projectile.  
         [0028]    Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated another ammunition system  50  of the present invention. Ammunition system  50  includes a plurality of bullets/projectiles  51  that are disposed in an abutting relationship. Each of the bullets/projectiles  51  include a tip end  52  and a discharge end  53 . The bullets/projectiles  51  include an internal cavity  54  disposed within the main body  55 . In a preferred form, the main body  55  is symmetrical about the longitudinal centerline  37 . The internal cavity  54  holds the propellant charge  56  that is utilized to propel the bullet/projectile  51  to the target and also functions to deploy the head member  57  that is coupled to the tip end  52  of the main body member  55 .  
         [0029]    Head member  57  has a retracted position (FIG. 3) wherein its outer surface  58  is in a substantially flat or concave configuration. The concave configuration will be described below with reference to FIG. 4. Upon the ignition of the propellant  56 , a gaseous flow-stream is formed in the internal cavity  54  and discharged through the discharge orifice  45  of the discharge end  53  of the bullet/projectile  51 . The burning of the propellant also creates an increased pressure that bears against the inner surface  59  of the head member  57 . The gas pressure exerted by the propellant within the internal cavity  54  causes the head member  57  to move from the retracted state of FIG. 3 into a deployed state. In one form the head member  57  unfolds and results in a dome-shaped configuration. An example of a deployed expanded head member is set forth with reference to the dome-shaped configuration in FIG. 5. In one form of the present invention the head member changes shape to a more aerodynamic configuration. It is understood that the present invention also contemplates other geometric configurations besides the dome-shaped configuration.  
         [0030]    With reference to FIG. 4, there is illustrated an ammunition system  60  that is substantially similar to the ammunition system  50  of FIG. 3. Like feature numbers will be utilized to represent substantially identical features in ammunition system  60 . Ammunition system  60  includes a plurality of axially spaced abutting bullets/projectiles  61  that are substantially similar to the bullet/projectile  51 . However, the head member  62  of bullet/projectile  61  is a reverse buckling disk. The reverse buckling disk  62  is coupled to the tip end  52  at an annular connection location  63 . Upon ignition of the propellant  56  within the internal cavity  54 , the gaseous flow stream exits the discharge orifice  45  of discharge end  53  to launch the bullet/projectile  61 . Further, the burning of the propellant charge  56  within the internal cavity  54  causes a pressure to act on the inner surface  46  of the reverse buckling disk  62  and move it from a first retracted state to a second deployed state (FIG. 5). The drawing in FIG. 5 illustrates the head member  62  in a deployed state during travel to the target. In a deployed state, the head member  62  forms a substantially dome-shaped configuration. Further, the present invention changes the shape of the bullet tip prior to impact with the target.  
         [0031]    In selecting the reverse buckling disk, the disk properties will be substantially determined by the bullet/projectile size and propellant required for the particular application. Reverse buckling disk technology allows for buckling at pressure as low as 1 psi to 50,000 psi and greater.  
         [0032]    Referring to FIGS. 6 through 8, there is illustrated ammunition system  70 , which is substantially similar to ammunition systems  50  and  60 . The utilization of like feature numbers will be used to represent substantially similar features. Ammunition system  70  includes a plurality of bullets/projectiles  71  that are disposed in an abutting relationship and are preferably symmetrical about a longitudinal center line  37 . Coupled to the tip end  52  of the projectile is a head member  72 . The head member  72  is preferably coupled at an outer annular location  73  to the tip end  52  of the main body member  55 . The head member  72  includes a plurality of folded/overlapping panels  73  that are moveable in response to the increase in pressure within internal cavity  54 . The pressure within internal cavity  54  is increased by the ignition of the propellant  56  and bears against the inner surface  47  of the plurality of panels  73 . The pressure from the burning propellant causes the unfolding/expansion of the panels  73  that are located about the longitudinal center line  37 . In a preferred form the panels are metallic, however other materials are contemplated herein. The plurality of panels  73  are moved from the retracted state in FIGS. 6 and 7 to the deployed state in FIG. 8. The deployed state in FIG. 8, is an example of one geometric shape, however, other shapes are contemplated herein.  
         [0033]    With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is illustrated one embodiment of an alternate ammunition system  80 . Ammunition system  80  includes a plurality of bullets/projectiles  81  that are disposed in an abutting relationship. In a preferred form of the present invention the bullets/projectiles  81  are symmetrical about a longitudinal center line  82 . Each of the bullets/projectiles  81  includes a tip end  83 , a discharge end  84 , and an expandable main body member  85  that is coupled to the head  86 . The main body member is expandable to increase its length in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal center line  82 . An internal cavity  87  is formed within the bullet/projectile  81  to receive a propellant charge  88  that, upon ignition, generates a gas stream that propels the bullet/projectile  81  from the weapon and functions to cause separation from the abutting bullet/projectile  81 . The pressure generated by the ignition of the propellant within the internal cavity  87  acts upon an inner surface  90  on the head  86  and causes the extension of the main body member  85  before the bullet separates from the prior bullet that it abuts.  
         [0034]    In one form of the present invention, the main body member  85  of the bullet/projectile  81  includes an extendable portion  91 . Extendable portion  91  is formed in the substantially cylindrical main body member  85 . In one form of the present invention, the extendable portion  91  is defined by a plurality of axially spaced folds. The folds form a plurality of spaced pleats and in a preferred form, the extendable portion  91  is defined by an accordion folded region. The pressurized gas from the burning propellant acts on inner surface  90  to cause an unfolding of the plurality of axial spaced pleats. As the extendable portion  91  is unfolded, the length of the bullet/projectile  81  increases from a first contracted length to a second extended length, the second extended length being greater than the first contracted length.  
         [0035]    With reference to FIG. 10, there is illustrated the bullet/projectile  81  after being separated from the other bullets/projectiles of the ammunition system  80 . The main body member  85  has been substantially extended by the unfolding of the expansion portion  91 . In another embodiment of the present invention there is contemplated that the bullet/projectile  81  includes a deployable tip as set forth previously with reference to the text and FIGS. 3 through 8. Thus, this alternate embodiment includes the extendable main body member set forth in FIGS. 9 and 10 and a deployable tip as set forth regarding FIGS.  3 - 8 .  
         [0036]    With reference to FIGS.  11 - 13 , there is illustrated another embodiment of a bullet/projectile  200 . A rear tail portion  202  is coupled to the end  201  of the body  199 . The rear tail portion  202  includes a plurality of folding/overlapping panels  203  that are movable in response to the increase in pressure within the internal cavity  205 . The pressure within the internal cavity  205  is increased by the ignition of the propellant  206  and bears against the inner surface  207  of the plurality of folding/overlapping panels  202 . The pressure from the burning propellant  206  causes the unfolding/expansion of the plurality of panels  203  that are located about a centerline of the bullet/projectile  200 . The plurality of panels  203  are moved from the unextended state in FIGS. 11 and 12 to the deployed state in FIG. 13. The formation of the deployed tip end  210  can be accomplished with any of the systems previously disclosed. When the propellant  206  is ignited, the rear tail portion  202  opens and expands in length.  
         [0037]    While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. In reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” or “at least a portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.