Burping projectile

Abstract

The present invention provides a burping projectile and, particularly, a non-lethal projectile having a nose-mounted fuze thereon, which initiates an expulsion charge via an ignition shaft in the payload cup of the projectile body at a preset distance from target impact, resulting in sufficient expansion of the projectile body via the forces of propellant gases to create an annular opening between the projectile body side wall and projectile body forward end. The payload is then ejected from this annular opening, the resulting forward velocity of the escaping payload producing a rearward thrust on the projectile, and a concomitant deceleration thereof to a non-lethal forward velocity or a total reverse in direction of travel.

1 . A burping projectile comprising:
 (a) a hollow projectile body having a rear end, a circumferential portion adjacent the rear end defining an interior portion, and a front edge opposite the rear end defined by the circumferential portion;   (b) an interior payload cup cavity, defined by the interior portion of the hollow projectile body, said payload cup comprised of:
 (i) a rear end, 
 (ii) a circumferential portion adjacent the rear end, 
 (iii) a front end disposed opposite the rear end, 
 (iv) a payload cup closure disk disposed adjacent the front end of the payload cup, the payload cup closure disk having an ignition shaft port disposed therethrough; 
 (v) a hollow ignition shaft disposed within the interior payload cup cavity, the hollow ignition shaft having a first end in communication with or formed contiguous with the payload cup closure disk adjacent the ignition shaft port thereof, a second end opposite the first end, a hollow middle portion therebetween having ignition ports disposed therethrough, and ignition propellant disposed within the hollow middle portion; 
 (vi) expulsion propellant disposed within the interior payload cup cavity, at least adjacent to the ignitions ports of the hollow ignition shaft; and 
 (vii) a non-lethal payload disposed within the interior payload cup cavity; 
   (c) a nose-mounted fuze disposed adjacent the front edge of the hollow projectile body, and in communication with the ignition propellant disposed within the hollow ignition shaft, said nose-mounted fuze having a means for initiating the ignition propellant.   
   
   
       2 . The burping projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the projectile body is comprised of aluminum, copper, brass or steel. 
   
   
       3 . The burping projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the annular opening is from about 0.005 to 0.050 inches in diameter. 
   
   
       4 . The burping projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential portion of the hollow projectile body has a thickness of between about 0.030 and 0.125 inches. 
   
   
       5 . The burping projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow projectile body expands from about 0.010 to about 0.100 inches in diameter at the front edge thereof after ignition of the expulsion propellant. 
   
   
       6 . The burping projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the nose-mounted fuze is a point-detonating fuze. 
   
   
       7 . The burping projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the nose-mounted fuze is a proximity fuze. 
   
   
       8 . The burping projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the payload cup further comprises a ballast material disposed within the interior payload cup cavity. 
   
   
       9 . The burping projectile of  claim 7 , wherein the ballast material is a dense powder. 
   
   
       10 . The burping projectile of  claim 8 , wherein the dense powder is metal powder. 
   
   
       11 . The burping projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of ihe circumferential portion of the hollow projectile body tapers towards to the front end thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The burping projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the non-lethal payload is a powdered material. 
   
   
       13 . The burping projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the nose-mounted fuze is in connection with the hollow projectile body via a tethering means. 
   
   
       14 . The burping projectile of  claim 12 , wherein the nose-mounted fuze is tethered to the hollow projectile body via a string or line in connection at a first end thereof with the hollow projectile body, and at a second end thereof with the nose-mounted fuze. 
   
   
       15 . The burping projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the non-lethal payload is comprised of a pyrotechnic flash-bang material. 
   
   
       16 . The burping projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the non-lethal payload comprises a riot control agent. 
   
   
       17 . The burping projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the non-lethal payload comprises a marking dye. 
   
   
       18 . The burping projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the non-lethal payload additionally performs a ballast function. 
   
   
       19 . A burping projectile comprising:
 (a) a hollow projectile body having a rear end, a circumferential portion adjacent the rear end defining an interior portion, and a front edge opposite the rear end defined by the circumferential portion;   (b) an interior payload cup cavity, defined by the interior portion of the hollow projectile body, said interior payload cup cavity comprised of:
 (i) a rear end, 
 (ii) a circumferential portion adjacent the rear end defining an interior payload cup cavity, 
 (iii) a front end disposed opposite the rear end, 
 (iv) a payload cup closure disk disposed adjacent the front end of the payload cup, the payload cup closure disk having an ignition shaft port disposed therethrough; 
 (v) a hollow ignition shaft disposed within the interior payload cup cavity, the hollow ignition shaft having a first end in communication with or formed contiguous with the payload cup closure disk adjacent the ignition shaft port thereof, a second end opposite the first end, a hollow middle portion therebetween having ignition ports disposed therethrough, and ignition propellant disposed within the hollow middle portion; 
 (vi) a partition disposed within the interior payload cup cavity, between the rear end and the front end thereof; 
 (vi) an expulsion propellant disposed within the interior payload cup cavity between the rear end and the partition, and adjacent to the ignitions ports of the hollow ignition shaft; 
 (vii) a non-lethal payload disposed within the interior payload cup cavity between the front end and the partition; 
   (c) a nose-mounted fuze disposed adjacent the front edge of the hollow projectile body, and in communication with the ignition propellant disposed within the hollow ignition shaft, said nose-mounted fuze having a means for initiating the ignition propellant,   
   
   
       20 . The burping projectile of  claim 1 , wherein, when the projectile is fired, the nose-mounted fuze ignites the expulsion propellant when the burping projectile travels to within a preset distance from a target, causing the expulsion propellant to form propellant gases within the interior portion thereof, thereby creating expansion of the hollow projectile body at least at and adjacent to the front edge thereof sufficient to create an annular opening between the front edge of the projectile body and the nose-mounted fuze, through which the non-lethal payload is expelled and causing deceleration of the hollow projectile body. 
   
   
       21 . The burping projectile of  claim 19 , wherein, when the projectile is fired, the nose-mounted fuze ignites the expulsion propellant when the burping projectile travels to within a preset distance from a target, causing the expulsion propellant to form propellant gases within the interior portion thereof, thereby creating pressure upon the partition and subsequent expansion of the hollow projectile body at least at and adjacent to the front edge thereof sufficient to create an annular opening between the front edge of the projectile body and the nose-mounted fuze, the partition being forced forward and expelling the non-lethal payload and the expulsion propellant gases, and causing deceleration of the hollow projectile body.