초록 ▼

A discardable sabot includes a first support and a second support, aft of the first support. The first and second supports are dimensioned to cooperate with an inner surface of a weapon barrel so as to maintain the saboted projectile substantially centered along the longitudinal axis of the barrel d

A discardable sabot includes a first support and a second support, aft of the first support. The first and second supports are dimensioned to cooperate with an inner surface of a weapon barrel so as to maintain the saboted projectile substantially centered along the longitudinal axis of the barrel during travel of the projectile from the weapon's chamber to the muzzle. At least one of the supports is a sealing support, configured to provide a substantially gas-tight seal with the barrel and effective to allow the sabot and the projectile to be propelled forward through the barrel by expansion of propellant gas behind the sealing support. The sabot includes surfaces for permitting a flow of a portion of the gas through the sabot while redirecting such portion at least partially transverse to the axis so that the flow applies a torque to the projectile about the axis during travel of the sabot and the projectile between the chamber and muzzle.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A discardable sabot for firing a subcaliber projectile from a weapon having a having a chamber and a barrel, the barrel having rifling and extending from the chamber along a central longitudinal axis to a muzzle, the sabot comprising:a first support;a second support, aft of the fir

[ We claim:] [1.] A discardable sabot for firing a subcaliber projectile from a weapon having a having a chamber and a barrel, the barrel having rifling and extending from the chamber along a central longitudinal axis to a muzzle, the sabot comprising:a first support;a second support, aft of the first support, the first and second supports dimensioned to cooperate with an inner bore of the barrel so as to maintain the projectile substantially centered along the central longitudinal axis of the barrel during travel of the projectile from the chamber to the muzzle, at least one of the first and second supports being a sealing support configured to provide a substantially gas-tight seal with the barrel, effective to allow the sabot and projectile to be propelled forward through the barrel by the expansion of gas behind the sealing support; anda slip obturator encircling the sealing support for forming a seal which accommodates the rifling,wherein the sabot includes surfaces for permitting a flow of a portion of the gas through the sabot while redirecting such portion at least partially transverse to the central longitudinal axis so that the flow applies a first torque to the projectile about the central longitudinal axis during travel of the sabot and projectile between the chamber and the muzzle, the first torque opposite a second torque applied to the sabot by engagement of the sabot with the rifling during the travel of the sabot and projectile between the chamber and the muzzle. [19.] An ammunition system for use with a weapon having a chamber and a barrel extending from the chamber along a longitudinal axis to a muzzle, the system comprising:a case, extending from a base to a mouth;propellant, initially contained within the case; anda saboted projectile initially accommodated within the case mouth and comprising:a subcaliber penetrator comprising: a body having nose and a tail; and a plurality of stabilizing fins projecting from the body;a discardable sabot comprising:an engagement portion for surrounding the projectile and engaging the projectile to prevent relative longitudinal movement;a support dimensioned to cooperate with an inner bore of the barrel so as to maintain the projectile substantially centered along the central longitudinal axis of the barrel during travel of the projectile from the chamber to the muzzle, said support located at least partially within said mouth, a plurality of channels extending through the support and each channel initially containing a sealing device to provide a watertight and airtight seal for maintaining the integrity of the propellant, and wherein ignition of the propellant raises pressure within the case sufficiently to remove said sealing device to permit the channels to cooperate with an expanding gas behind the support and direct a portion of the expanding gas forward from the support and with a nonzero velocity component about the longitudinal axis relative to the support so as to apply a torque to at least the engagement portion.