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US 11,852,445 B2Granted
Entangling projectile system for the disabling of UAV's and other targets of interest
AssigneeAscendance International, LLC
InventorsDonald Bigelow, Cory Michalec, Joseph Garst
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention surrounds a payload for use as a projectile for disabling and neutralizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) threats and the like. The payload uses a central projectile and one or more satellite projectiles tethered to central projectile. The satellite projectiles provide entangling elements. The satellite projectiles are configured to expand outward from the central projectile after firing to provide an entangling projectile system wherein any object or individual within the entangling zone of the projectile system can be ensnared and neutralized through the entangling action of the projectile system.
Claims19
A projectile system comprising:
- a central projectile, and a first satellite projectile tethered to the central projectile with a first flexible line, wherein the first end of the flexible line is constrained by the central projectile, and the second end of the flexible line is interconnected to the satellite projectile;
- the central projectile comprises a longitudinal axis extending from a forward aspect of the central projectile toward a rearward aspect of the central projectile, wherein the longitudinal axis is parallel with an intended direction of travel of the central projectile;
- and
- a first aerodynamic feature, wherein the first aerodynamic feature is configured to induce rotation of the central projectile in a first rotational direction after firing,
- wherein the projectile system is configured to be fired from a barreled weapon,
- wherein the projectile system is configured to be in a stowed configuration prior to firing wherein the first satellite projectile is held proximal to the central projectile, and
- wherein the projectile system is configured to transition to a deployed configuration after firing, wherein the central projectile rotates around the longitudinal axis and centrifugal action causes the first satellite projectile to expand radially away from the central projectile.
4 more elements
A projectile system comprising:
- a central projectile, and a plurality of satellite projectiles each interconnected to the central projectile with a flexible line;
- the flexible lines of the satellite projectiles each having a first end interconnected to the central projectile, and a second end interconnected to the satellite projectiles;
- the central projectile comprising a longitudinal axis extending from a forward aspect of the central projectile to a rearward aspect of the central projectile, wherein the longitudinal axis is parallel with intended direction of travel of the central projectile;
- a plurality of recesses in an external surface of the central projectile, wherein the recesses have the same shape as the satellite projectiles, wherein the recesses are each configured to receive one of the plurality of satellite projectiles therein;
- a plurality of aerodynamic channels in the central projectile extending from the forward aspect of the central projectile toward the rearward aspect of the central projectiles, wherein the plurality of aerodynamic channels have a helical path around the longitudinal axis, the aerodynamic channels are configured to induce rotation of the central projectile in a first rotational direction;
- a first groove in the external surface of the central projectile longitudinally offset from the recesses toward the rearward aspect;
- a plurality of second grooves, wherein each of the second grooves extends from one of the first groove to the plurality of recesses helically in the first rotational direction;
- and
- a plurality of apertures extending through an outer aspect of the central projectile, extending from the first groove to a cavity in an inner aspect of the central projectile, wherein the plurality of apertures are configured to permit the sliding of the flexible lines therethrough,
- wherein the first ends of the flexible lines are within the cavity of the central projectile, wherein the flexible lines extend from the cavity through the apertures, and
- wherein the flexible lines extending through the apertures are wound in the first rotational direction around the central projectile within the first groove, and the satellite projectiles are disposed within the recesses.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.