Multi-shot discarding sabot round

Abstract

A sabot assembly includes a housing defining an interior space and a plurality of projectiles and received in the interior space. The interior space is at least partially defined by a plurality of concavities, each of which is configured to receive a respective projectile. The housing is configured to separate and fall away once the sabot assembly is fired through a gun barrel, thereby releasing the projectiles from the interior space toward a target prior to impact of the sabot assembly with the target.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sabot assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of projectiles; and   a housing including an interior space in which the plurality of projectiles is receivable, the interior space at least partially defined by a plurality of concavities, each concavity configured to receive a respective projectile;   wherein the housing is configured to release the plurality of projectiles from the interior space once the sabot assembly is fired through a gun barrel.   
     
     
         2 . The sabot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of concavities is configured to maintain each respective projectile of the plurality of projectiles in a predetermined position within the interior space during firing and travel of the sabot assembly through the gun barrel. 
     
     
         3 . The sabot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of concavities is configured to space each respective projectile from each other projectile in the interior space. 
     
     
         4 . The sabot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of concavities is symmetrically spaced about the interior space. 
     
     
         5 . The sabot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of housing segments configured to separate and thereby release the plurality of projectiles once the sabot assembly is fired through the gun barrel. 
     
     
         6 . The sabot assembly of  claim 5 , wherein a nose of the housing is configured to cause the housing to separate into the plurality of segments once the sabot assembly exits the gun barrel after being fired through the gun barrel. 
     
     
         7 . The sabot assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the housing defines a longitudinal axis and is configured to separate longitudinally into the plurality of segments. 
     
     
         8 . The sabot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing comprises a plurality of longitudinally elongated segments configured to separate and thereby release the plurality of projectiles once the sabot assembly is fired through the gun barrel; and   a nose of the housing defines an aperture configured to increase aerodynamic drag against the housing and cause the housing to separate into the plurality of longitudinally elongated segments after the sabot assembly exits the gun barrel.   
     
     
         9 . The sabot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each projectile is configured to be self-stabilizing during flight. 
     
     
         10 . The sabot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each projectile has a tear drop profile. 
     
     
         11 . The sabot assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each projectile includes a spherical head with a conical tail. 
     
     
         12 . A cartridge, comprising:
 a shell case;   a propellant in the shell case;   a primer on the shell case configured to ignite the propellant; and   the sabot assembly of  claim 1  in the shell case.   
     
     
         13 . A sabot assembly, comprising:
 a segmented housing configured to be propelled through a gun barrel; and   a plurality of projectiles in the housing;   wherein the housing is configured to separate into segments and thereby release the plurality of projectiles once the sabot assembly is fired through the gun barrel.   
     
     
         14 . The sabot assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the housing is configured to prevent each projectile from deforming as the sabot assembly travels through the gun barrel. 
     
     
         15 . A cartridge, comprising:
 a shell case;   a propellant in the shell case;   a primer on the shell case configured to ignite the propellant; and   the sabot assembly of  claim 13  in the shell case.   
     
     
         16 . A sabot assembly, consisting of:
 a plurality of projectiles; and   a plurality of elongated housing segments forming a longitudinally elongated housing configured to be propelled through a gun barrel, the housing defining an interior space in which the plurality of projectiles is received; wherein:   the interior space is at least partially defined by a plurality of concavities on an interior surface of each elongated housing segment;   each projectile is received in a respective concavity; and   the housing is configured to separate into the plurality of elongated housing segments and thereby release the plurality of projectiles from the interior space once the sabot assembly is fired through the gun barrel.   
     
     
         17 . A cartridge, consisting of:
 a shell case;   a propellant in the shell case;   a primer on the shell case configured to ignite the propellant; and   the sabot assembly of claim  16  in the shell case.