Penetrator and method for using same

Abstract

A penetrator includes a fore body having a center of aerodynamic pressure forward of a center of gravity and a stabilizing portion removably attached to the fore body such that, when attached to the fore body, a center of gravity for the penetrator is forward of a center of aerodynamic pressure for the penetrator. A method of using a penetrator includes propelling the penetrator toward a first target, penetrating the first target with a fore body of the penetrator, and detaching a stabilizing portion of the penetrator from the fore body. The method further includes impacting the second target with the fore body.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A penetrator comprising: 
 a fore body having a center of aerodynamic pressure forward of a center of gravity; and    a stabilizing portion removably attached to the fore body such that, when attached to the fore body, a center of gravity for the penetrator is forward of a center of aerodynamic pressure for the penetrator.    
     
     
         2 . A penetrator, according to  claim 1 , wherein the fore body includes a pin and the stabilizing portion defines a bore for receiving the pin to couple the fore body and the stabilizing portion.  
     
     
         3 . A penetrator, according to  claim 2 , further comprising an adhesive layer between the pin and an interior wall of the bore to bond the fore body to the stabilizing portion.  
     
     
         4 . A penetrator, according to  claim 2 , wherein an interior wall of the bore comprises at least one protrusion and the pin defines at least one groove engaged with the at least one protrusion.  
     
     
         5 . A penetrator, according to  claim 1 , wherein the fore body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, a tungsten alloy, an iron alloy, and steel.  
     
     
         6 . A penetrator, according to  claim 1 , wherein the fore body comprises a material having a density greater than that of aluminum.  
     
     
         7 . A penetrator, according to  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises a plurality of outwardly extending fins for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         8 . A penetrator, according to  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises an outwardly sloping flare for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         9 . A penetrator, according to  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises a tuft disposed proximate an aft end of the stabilizing portion for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         10 . A penetrator, according to  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises a plurality of aftwardly extending flaps for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         11 . A penetrator, according to  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises a balloon disposed proximate an aft end of the stabilizing portion for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         12 . A penetrator, according  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises a ribbon disposed proximate an aft end of the stabilizing portion for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         13 . A penetrator, according to  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing portion comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, magnesium, and a magnesium alloy.  
     
     
         14 . A penetrator, according to  claim 1 , wherein the fore body comprises a material of higher density than that of the stabilizing portion.  
     
     
         15 . A vehicle capable of flight, comprising: 
 a body;    means for propelling the vehicle; and    a plurality of penetrators disposed within the body and dispensable therefrom, at least one of the plurality of penetrators comprising: 
 a fore body having a center of aerodynamic pressure forward of a center of gravity; and  
 a stabilizing portion removably attached to the fore body such that, when attached to the fore body, a center of gravity for the penetrator is forward of a center of aerodynamic pressure for the penetrator.  
   
     
     
         16 . A vehicle, according to  claim 15 , wherein the means for propelling the vehicle comprises an engine or a motor.  
     
     
         17 . A vehicle, according to  claim 15 , wherein the fore body includes a pin and the stabilizing portion defines a bore for receiving the pin to couple the fore body and the stabilizing portion.  
     
     
         18 . A vehicle, according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of penetrators further comprises an adhesive layer between the pin and an interior wall of the bore to bond the fore body to the stabilizing portion.  
     
     
         19 . A vehicle, according to  claim 17 , wherein an interior wall of the bore comprises at least one protrusion and the pin defines at least one groove engaged with the at least one protrusion.  
     
     
         20 . A vehicle, according to  claim 15 , wherein the fore body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, a tungsten alloy, an iron alloy, and steel.  
     
     
         21 . A vehicle, according to  claim 15 , wherein the fore body comprises a material having a density greater than that of aluminum.  
     
     
         22 . A vehicle, according to  claim 15 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises a plurality of outwardly extending fins for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         23 . A vehicle, according to  claim 15 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises an outwardly sloping flare for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         24 . A vehicle, according to  claim 15 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises a tuft disposed proximate an aft end of the stabilizing portion for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         25 . A vehicle, according to  claim 15 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises a plurality of aftwardly extending flaps for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         26 . A vehicle, according to  claim 15 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises a balloon disposed proximate an aft end of the stabilizing portion for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         27 . A vehicle, according  claim 15 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises a ribbon disposed proximate an aft end of the stabilizing portion for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         28 . A vehicle, according to  claim 15 , wherein the stabilizing portion comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, magnesium, and a magnesium alloy.  
     
     
         29 . A vehicle, according to  claim 15 , wherein the fore body comprises a material of higher density than that of the stabilizing portion.  
     
     
         30 . A cartridge, comprising: 
 a casing;    an explosive charge disposed within the casing;    a primer proximate the explosive charge; and    at least one penetrator disposed within the casing forward of the explosive charge, the at least one penetrator comprising: 
 a fore body having a center of aerodynamic pressure forward of a center of gravity; and  
 a stabilizing portion removably attached to the fore body such that, when attached to the fore body, a center of gravity for the penetrator is forward of a center of aerodynamic pressure for the penetrator.  
   
     
     
         31 . A cartridge, according to  claim 30 , wherein the fore body includes a pin and the stabilizing portion defines a bore for receiving the pin to couple the fore body and the stabilizing portion.  
     
     
         32 . A cartridge, according to  claim 31 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of penetrators further comprises an adhesive layer between the pin and an interior wall of the bore to bond the fore body to the stabilizing portion.  
     
     
         33 . A cartridge, according to  claim 31 , wherein an interior wall of the bore comprises at least one protrusion and the pin defines at least one groove engaged with the at least one protrusion.  
     
     
         34 . A cartridge, according to  claim 30 , wherein the fore body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, a tungsten alloy, an iron alloy, and steel.  
     
     
         35 . A cartridge, according to  claim 30 , wherein the fore body comprises a material having a density greater than that of aluminum.  
     
     
         36 . A cartridge, according to  claim 30 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises a plurality of outwardly extending fins for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         37 . A cartridge, according to  claim 30 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises an outwardly sloping flare for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         38 . A cartridge, according to  claim 30 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises a tuft disposed proximate an aft end of the stabilizing portion for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         39 . A cartridge, according to  claim 30 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises a plurality of aftwardly extending flaps for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         40 . A cartridge, according to  claim 30 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises a balloon disposed proximate an aft end of the stabilizing portion for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         41 . A cartridge, according  claim 30 , wherein the stabilizing portion further comprises a ribbon disposed proximate an aft end of the stabilizing portion for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile.  
     
     
         42 . A cartridge, according to  claim 30 , wherein the stabilizing portion comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polymeric material, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, magnesium, and a magnesium alloy.  
     
     
         43 . A cartridge, according to  claim 30 , wherein the fore body comprises a material of higher density than that of the stabilizing portion.  
     
     
         44 . A method of using a penetrator, comprising: 
 propelling the penetrator toward a first target;    penetrating the first target with a fore body of the penetrator;    detaching a stabilizing portion of the penetrator from the fore body; and    impacting the second target with the fore body.    
     
     
         45 . A method, according to  claim 44 , further comprising skewing a spatial orientation of the fore body as it travels toward a second target.  
     
     
         46 . A method, according to  claim 44 , further comprising skewing a spatial orientation of the fore body as it travels through the second target.  
     
     
         47 . A method, according to  claim 44 , further comprising impacting an intermediate target with the fore body prior to impacting the second target with the fore body.  
     
     
         48 . A method, according to  claim 47 , further comprising skewing a spatial orientation of the fore body as it travels toward the second target.  
     
     
         49 . A method, according to  claim 47 , further comprising skewing a spatial orientation of the fore body as it travels through the second target.  
     
     
         50 . A method, according to  claim 44 , wherein propelling the penetrator further comprises propelling the penetrator from a barrel of a gun.  
     
     
         51 . A method, according to  claim 44 , wherein propelling the penetrator further comprises propelling the penetrator from a cartridge disposed within a gun.  
     
     
         52 . A method, according to  claim 44 , wherein propelling the penetrator further comprises dispensing the penetrator from an airborne vehicle.  
     
     
         53 . A method, according to  claim 44 , wherein detaching the stabilizing portion further comprises fracturing an adhesive layer coupling the fore body and the stabilizing portion.  
     
     
         54 . A method, according to  claim 44 , wherein detaching the stabilizing portion further comprises fracturing a pin coupling the fore body and the stabilizing portion.  
     
     
         55 . A method, according to  claim 44 , wherein detaching the stabilizing portion further comprises disengaging a grooved pin from correspondingly grooved bore.  
     
     
         56 . A method, according to  claim 44 , wherein detaching the stabilizing portion further comprises impacting the first target with the stabilizing portion to detach the stabilizing portion from the fore body.  
     
     
         57 . A penetrator, comprising: 
 means for penetrating a target having a center of aerodynamic pressure forward of a center of gravity;    means for aerodynamically stabilizing the penetrator; and    means for removably attaching the means for penetrating the target and the means for aerodynamically stabilizing the penetrator,    wherein a center of gravity for the penetrator is forward of a center of aerodynamic pressure for the penetrator when the means for penetrating the target is attached to the means for aerodynamically stabilizing the penetrator.    
     
     
         58 . A penetrator, according to  claim 57 , wherein the means for penetrating the target comprises a fore body.  
     
     
         59 . A penetrator, according to  claim 57 , wherein the means for aerodynamically stabilizing the penetrator comprises a stabilizing portion.  
     
     
         60 . A penetrator, according to  claim 57 , wherein the means for detachably coupling the means for penetrating the target and the means for aerodynamically stabilizing the penetrator comprises a pin coupling the means for detachably coupling the means for penetrating the target and the means for aerodynamically stabilizing the penetrator.