Auto-segmenting spherical projectile

Abstract

Described are spherical projectiles such as used in birdshot, buckshot, or single ball spherical projectiles, including slugs, muzzle loading projectiles, or any close-to-bore diameter projectile, that is auto-segmenting or self-segmenting upon impact with a target. The projectile or shot disclosed herein retains its shape and structure during flight until impact with soft tissue, whereupon its individual sections separate or segment in a controllable manner, each portion of the projectile imparting or depositing a high amount energy to the tissue and target. The auto-segmenting spherical projectiles can be frangible or non-frangible. This disclosure also provides cartridges such as shotshells that are loaded with the projectiles described herein.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A cartridge comprising:
 a) a cartridge case having a fore end and an aft end, the cartridge case comprising a primer situated at the aft end;   b) a propellant adjacent the primer; and   c) an obturating component adjacent the propellant; and   d) a shot load adjacent the obturating component, the shot load comprising one or more spherical projectiles, each spherical projectile comprising:
 1) two solid hemispherical segments, each comprising a circular face oriented toward the center of the spherical projectile, a circular edge, and an uninterrupted hemispherical surface; and 
 2) a connecting element attached to each circular face off-center towards the circular edge and having a thickness, wherein the two hemispherical segments and the connecting element are monolithic, and wherein the thickness of the connecting element is less than the diameter of each circular face. 
   
     
     
         2 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting element is attached to each circular face at each circular edge, thereby forming a hinge connecting the two hemispherical segments. 
     
     
         3 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the connecting element is less than half the diameter of the hemispherical segment. 
     
     
         4 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more spherical projectiles comprises lead, steel, bismuth, tungsten, tin, iron, copper, zinc, aluminum, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, cobalt, manganese, antimony, alloys thereof, or composites thereof. 
     
     
         5 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more spherical projectiles is lead-free. 
     
     
         6 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more spherical projectiles comprises a frangible material. 
     
     
         7 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more spherical projectiles are selected from birdshot, buckshot, or a single ball spherical projectile. 
     
     
         8 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the circular edge of the one or more spherical projectiles is chamfered. 
     
     
         9 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the shot load further comprises a buffer. 
     
     
         10 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the obturating component is a pre-formed component comprising a gas seal. 
     
     
         11 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the obturating component is a pre-formed component comprising a gas seal section and a shot cup section containing the shot load. 
     
     
         12 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the obturating component is a pre-formed component comprising a gas seal section, a shot cup section containing the shot load, and a collapsible section between the gas seal section and the shot cup section. 
     
     
         13 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the obturating component is an obturating medium comprising a particulate polymeric material. 
     
     
         14 . A cartridge according to  claim 13 , wherein the obturating medium comprises a polyethylene, a polypropylene, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the fore end of the cartridge case is crimped. 
     
     
         16 . A cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting element comprises:
 a) a flat side oriented toward the center of the spherical projectile; and   b) a arcuate side oriented along the circular edge of the spherical projectile.   
     
     
         17 . A cartridge comprising:
 a) a cartridge case having a fore end and an aft end, the cartridge case comprising a primer situated at the aft end;   b) a propellant adjacent the primer; and   c) an obturating component adjacent the propellant, the obturating component comprises a pre-formed gas seal or an obturating medium; and   d) a shot load adjacent the obturating component, the shot load comprising one or more spherical projectiles, each spherical projectile comprising:
 1) two solid hemispherical segments, each comprising a circular face oriented toward the center of the spherical projectile, a circular edge, and an uninterrupted hemispherical surface; and 
 2) a connecting element attached to each circular face at the circular edge thereby forming a hinge connecting the two hemispherical segments, and having a thickness, wherein the two hemispherical segments and the connecting element are monolithic, and wherein the thickness of the connecting element is less than half the diameter of the hemispherical segment. 
   
     
     
         18 . A method of loading a cartridge comprising:
 a) providing or obtaining a cartridge case having a fore end and an aft end, the cartridge case comprising a primer situated at the aft end;   b) sequentially loading into the cartridge case [1] a propellant adjacent the primer, [2] an obturating component comprising a pre-formed gas seal or an obturating medium, and [3] a shot load, wherein the shot load comprising one or more spherical projectiles, each spherical projectile comprising:
 1) two solid hemispherical segments, each comprising a circular face oriented toward the center of the spherical projectile, a circular edge, and an uninterrupted hemispherical surface; and 
 2) an off-center connecting element attached to each circular face and having a thickness, wherein the two hemispherical segments and the connecting element are monolithic, and wherein the thickness of the connecting element is less than the diameter of each circular face.