Projectile for use with a rifled barrel

Abstract

A multi-component projectile is disclosed. The multi-component projectile is designed for use with a rifled barrel and is configured to, upon exiting the rifled barrel, utilize the spinning forces imparted on the projectile while in the barrel to expand until the multi-component projectile achieves a predetermined pattern that is larger than an area of the barrel from which the projectile was fired. Methods of manufacturing the multi-component projectile are also disclosed.

1 . A multi-projectile assembly, comprising:
 at least a first projectile portion;   at least a second projectile portion; and   a multi-staged radial braking and tether restraint system that interconnects the at least a first and second projectile portions such that spin-generated forces imparted on the assembly cause the at least a first and second projectile portions to radially expand away from their original center of rotation up to a finite expansion limit defined by the multi-staged radial braking and tether restraint system.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-projectile assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a first and second projectile portions are arranged in a circular array and wherein the at least a first and second projectile portions are symmetrical such that they interconnect with one another primarily along their major axis and also along a second axis other than their major axis. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-projectile assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least a first and second projectile portions are arranged in the circular array such that a left interfacing surface of the at least a first projectile portion interlocks primarily along its major axis and also along the second axis other than its major axis with a right interfacing surfacing of the at least a second projectile portion which is adjacent to the at least a first projectile portion. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-projectile assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a first and second projectile portions interconnect with one another such that a cavity is formed between the at least a first and second projectile portions, the cavity being configured to house the multi-staged radial braking and tether restraint system, and wherein the at least a first and second projectile portions further interconnect with one another in such a way that the at least a first and second projectile portions are configured to exit a barrel of a gun simultaneously. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-projectile assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a first and second projectile portions expand away from their original center of rotation substantially within a single plane of expansion and wherein a trajectory of the multi-projectile assembly is substantially orthogonal to the plane of expansion. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-projectile assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a first and second projectile portions benefit from gyroscopic stabilization as they expand from their original center of rotation. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-projectile assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least a third projectile portion, wherein the multi-staged radial braking and tether restraint system interconnects the at least a first, second, and third projectile portions. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-projectile assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising no more than five projectile portions, wherein the multi-staged radial braking and restraint system interconnects the projectile portions of the multi-projectile assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-projectile assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a first and second projectile portions each comprise an anchor point where the multi-staged radial braking and tether restraint system applies forces to the projectile portion and wherein the anchor point is offset from a center of mass of the projectile portion thereby allowing each projectile portion to independently rotate and achieve an independent optimal aerodynamic position upon reaching the expansion limit. 
     
     
         10 . A cartridge including the multi-projectile assembly of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A multi-staged radial braking and tether restraint system, comprising:
 at least a first stage adapted to apply at least a first braking force to a plurality of projectile portions when the plurality of projectile portions expand away from their original center of rotation; and   at least a second stage adapted to apply at least a second braking force to the plurality of projectile portions when the plurality of projectile portions expand away from their center of rotation.   
     
     
         12 . The multi-staged radial braking and tether restraint system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least a first stage comprises a tether which applies the first braking force when the tether is under tension. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-staged radial braking and tether restraint system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least a second stage comprises a plurality of braking applicators established on the tether. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-staged radial braking and tether restraint system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least a second stage further comprises a deformation brake. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-staged radial braking and restraint system of  claim 14 , wherein the deformation brake comprises at least one of an adhesive and a sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-staged radial braking and tether restraint system of  claim 13 , wherein the tether is looped and laid back onto itself and the braking applicators comprise a breakable bond created at points of contact where the tether touches itself. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-staged radial braking and tether restraint system of  claim 13 , wherein the tether is configured in such a way that consecutive loops are pulled through one after another and the braking applicators comprise a breakable bond created along points of contact where the tether touches itself. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-staged radial braking and tether restraint system of  claim 13 , wherein the tether is spooled and wherein the braking applicators comprise a continuous or semi-continuous breakable bond created along points of contact where the tether touches itself. 
     
     
         19 . A projectile portion for use with an interlocking multi-projectile assembly that expands when spin-generated forces are imparted on the assembly, the projectile portion comprising:
 an outer surface;   a first mating surface a second mating surface, both of the mating surfaces being configured to interface with a corresponding mating surface of at least one other projectile portion in the multi-projectile assembly such that when the multi-projectile assembly is fired from a barrel of a rifle, the projectile portions of the multi-projectile assembly exit the barrel substantially simultaneously and wherein the first and second mating surfaces are symmetrically positioned about a major axis of the projectile portion so as to facilitate a circular array configuration of the multi-projectile assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The projectile portion of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second mating surfaces comprise one or more features which facilitate a mono-directional expansion of the multi-projectile assembly, wherein the direction of mono-directional expansion is substantially orthogonal to a trajectory of the multi-projectile assembly and wherein spin-generated forces which cause the mono-directional expansion of the assembly also cause the assembly to be gyroscopically stabilized.