Sleeved projectiles

Abstract

A projectile ( 10 ) is for use with barrel assemblies of the type having a plurality of projectiles axially disposed within a barrel having a bore and a muzzle and which projectiles are associated with discrete propellant charges for propelling said projectiles sequentially through the muzzle of the barrel. Projectile ( 10 ) comprises expandable sleeve ( 11 ) encircling at least part of core ( 12 ). Sleeve ( 11 ) and core ( 12 ) have wedging surfaces ( 14 ) operable to deform trailing part ( 21 ) of sleeve ( 11 ) into sealing engagement with the bore in response to pressure exerted on the projectile ( 10 ). When projectiles ( 10 ) are axially disposed in the bore, rear face ( 24 ) of the leading projectile cooperates with leading face ( 20 ) of the trailing projectile to define a discrete space about spine ( 23 ) for receipt of the propellant charge. Sleeve (11) is retained about the core ( 12 ) during travel to the target.

1 - 51 . (canceled)  
   
   
       52 . A projectile for use with barrel assemblies having a plurality of projectiles axially disposed within a barrel having a bore and a muzzle, and which projectiles are associated with discrete propellant charges for propelling said projectiles sequentially through the muzzle of the barrel, said projectiles comprising: 
 an expandable sleeve for engagement with the bore of the barrel; and    a projectile core about which said expandable sleeve is disposed;    wherein said expandable sleeve and said projectile core have cooperating surfaces operable to deform said expandable sleeve into sealing engagement with the bore of the barrel in response to pressure exerted upon a leading face of the projectile;    wherein said projectile core comprises a sub-calibre spacer extending rearward from the body part to abut the leading face of a trailing projectile permitting projectiles to be axially disposed within said barrel to define a propellant space between said leading projectile and said trailing projectile; and    wherein said expandable sleeve is retained about said projectile core during travel to the target.    
   
   
       53 . A projectile according to  claim 52  wherein the cooperating surfaces are in the form of complementary wedging surfaces.  
   
   
       54 . A projectile according to  claim 52  wherein the projectile core comprises a relatively hard mandrel portion which cooperates with a deformable annular sleeve.  
   
   
       55 . A projectile according to  claim 52  wherein the projectile core includes a forwardly tapering wedging surface and the expandable sleeve includes a complimentary surface that causes the sleeve to expand as the sleeve moves rearward relative to the core.  
   
   
       56 . A projectile according to  claim 52  wherein the projectile core includes a rearwardly tapering wedging surface and the expandable sleeve includes a complimentary surface that causes the sleeve to expand as the core moves rearward relative to the sleeve.  
   
   
       57 . A projectile according to  claim 52  wherein the expandable sleeve is retained about the projectile core by at least one shoulder located on either one or both of the sleeve and the core.  
   
   
       58 . A projectile according to  claim 57  wherein the shoulder is engaged with a corresponding recess on the other of the core and the sleeve.  
   
   
       59 . A projectile according to  claim 52  wherein the projectile core is in the form of a spine incorporating a sub-calibre spacer that extends rearwardly from the projectile core.  
   
   
       60 . A projectile according to  claim 52  wherein the projectile core extends into a passage formed through the expandable sleeve and the sleeve is retained on the core by means of a cap engageable with the inserted end of the core so as to prevent withdrawal of the core from the sleeve, but permitting limited axial movement therebetween for effecting an operative seal between the sleeve and the bore of the barrel.  
   
   
       61 . A projectile according to  claim 52  wherein the projectile core extends into a blind passage formed in the rear end of the expandable sleeve and is retained by means of a collar about the core and engageable with said rear end so as to prevent withdrawal of the core from the sleeve, but permitting limited axial movement therebetween for effecting an operative seal between the sleeve and bore of the barrel.  
   
   
       62 . A projectile according to  claim 61  wherein the trailing portion of a sleeve formed with a blind passage incorporates a shoulder so as to extend behind the projectile core and prevent withdrawal of the core from the sleeve, but permitting limited axial movement therebetween for effecting an operative seal between the sleeve and the bore of the barrel.  
   
   
       63 . A projectile according to  claim 62  wherein the shoulder is engaged with a corresponding recess on the other of the core and the sleeve.  
   
   
       64 . A projectile according to  claim 52  wherein the expandable sleeve is formed as a discarding sabot configured to discard upon impact with a target.  
   
   
       65 . A projectile according to  claim 64  wherein the expandable sleeve is formed as a low mass part of a lightweight material selected from the group consisting of aluminium, magnesium, manganese or of a suitable plastics material.  
   
   
       66 . A projectile according to either  claim 64  or  claim 65  wherein the projectile core is formed of a high mass dense material selected from the group consisting of lead or a composite of lead.  
   
   
       67 . A projectile according to  claim 63  wherein the expandable sleeve is formed as a high mass part of a dense material selected from the group consisting of a lead or a composite or alloy of lead.  
   
   
       68 . A projectile according to either  claim 63  or  claim 67  wherein the projectile core is formed as a low mass part of a lightweight material selected from the group consisting of aluminium, magnesium, manganese or of a suitable plastics material.  
   
   
       69 . A projectile for use with barrel assemblies having a plurality of projectiles axially disposed within a barrel having a bore and a muzzle, and which projectiles are associated with discrete propellant charges for propelling said projectiles sequentially through the muzzle of the barrel, said projectiles comprising: 
 an expandable sleeve for engagement with the bore of the barrel; and    a projectile core about which said expandable sleeve is disposed;    wherein said expandable sleeve and said projectile core having cooperating surfaces operable to deform said expandable sleeve into sealing engagement with the bore of the barrel in response to pressure exerted upon a leading face of the projectile;    wherein a rear working surface of a leading projectile and said leading face of a trailing projectile are in abutment with a combustible spacer tube permitting projectiles to be axially disposed within said barrel to define a propellant space between said leading projectile and said trailing projectile; and    wherein said expandable sleeve is retained about said projectile core during travel to the target.    
   
   
       70 . A projectile according to  claim 69  wherein the cooperating surfaces are in the form of complementary wedging surfaces.  
   
   
       71 . A projectile according to  claim 69  wherein the projectile core comprises a relatively hard mandrel portion which cooperates with a deformable annular sleeve.  
   
   
       72 . A projectile according to  claim 71  wherein the annular sleeve that is moulded about the mandrel to form a unitary projectile which relies on material deformation of the sleeve for outward expansion about the mandrel portion into sealing engagement with the bore of the barrel.  
   
   
       73 . A projectile according to  claim 69  wherein the projectile core includes a forwardly tapering wedging surface and the expandable sleeve includes a complimentary surface that causes the sleeve to expand as the sleeve moves rearward relative to the core.  
   
   
       74 . A projectile according to  claim 69  wherein the projectile core may include a rearwardly tapering wedging surface and the expandable sleeve includes a complimentary surface that causes the sleeve to expand as the core moves rearward relative to the sleeve.  
   
   
       75 . A projectile according to  claim 69  wherein the expandable sleeve is retained about the projectile core by at least one shoulder located on either one or both of the sleeve and the core.  
   
   
       76 . A projectile according to  claim 75  wherein the shoulder is engaged with a corresponding recess on the other of the core and the sleeve.  
   
   
       77 . A projectile according to  claim 69  wherein the projectiles are maintained in spaced apart relationship in the barrel by a spacer tube which contains the propellant.  
   
   
       78 . A projectile according to  claim 69  wherein the combustible spacer tube is a rigid tube which will combust with the propellant.  
   
   
       79 . A projectile according to  claim 69  wherein complimentary surfaces are disposed on the spacer tube and leading face of the projectile respectively, whereby the spacer tube is urged into engagement with the bore of the barrel in response to relative axial compression between the spacer tube and the leading face of the projectile.  
   
   
       80 . A projectile according to  claim 69  wherein the expandable sleeve engaged with the bore of the barrel and a projectile core extending centrally through the sleeve wherein the sleeve has a leading end portion forming an annular recess about the leading portion of the core.  
   
   
       81 . A projectile according to  claim 80  wherein the expandable sleeve is formed as a discarding sabot configured to discard upon impact with a target.  
   
   
       82 . A projectile according to  claim 81  wherein the expandable sleeve is formed as a low mass part of a lightweight material selected from the group consisting of aluminium, magnesium, manganese or of a suitable plastics material.  
   
   
       83 . A projectile according to either  claim 81  or  82  wherein the projectile core is formed of a high mass dense material selected from the group consisting of lead or a composite of lead.  
   
   
       84 . A projectile according to  claim 80  wherein the expandable sleeve is formed as a high mass part of a dense material selected from the group consisting of lead or a composite or alloy of lead.  
   
   
       85 . A projectile according to either  claim 80  or  84  wherein the core formed as a low mass part of a lightweight material selected from the group consisting of aluminium, magnesium, manganese or of a suitable plastics material.