# US 2006/0230971 A1 · Projectile > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2006/0230971 A1 - Document ID: US20060230971A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 10/557,321 - Filed: 2005-03-31 - Published: 2006-10-19 - Earliest claimed: 2004-04-02 - Assignees: Techventure Investments Pty Ltd - Inventors: Leslie Harrison - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060230971A1 ## CPC - F42B 5/10: with self-propelled bullet - F42B 5/067: Mounting or locking missiles in cartridge cases (F42B5/18 takes precedence) - F42B 14/02: Driving bands; Rotating bands (F42B14/04 takes precedence) - F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D) ## Abstract A projectile (10) comprises a cylindrical body (12) with a first (leading) end (14) and a second trailing axially opposed end (16). An internal cavity (18) is formed between the ends (14 and 16) and holds a volume of propellant material (22). The first end (14) is closed by a nose (20) that is fixed to the body (12). The end (14) is sealed with a base seal (26) that seats a primer (24) for igniting the propellant (22). The primer (24) is located inboard of the second end (16) and the base seal (26) to reduce the likelihood of accidental activation. Seals (30) are formed about the body (12) for maintaining gas pressure of deflagrating propellant. The seals (30) may be formed integrally with the body (12) or separately from the body (12) and seated in respective grooves (40) formed circumferentially about the body (12). Also disclosed is a breech sleeve (810) shaped to complement the breech of the weapon and a throughway (816) defined by an internal surface, the projectile being able to pass through the throughway (816). ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-32. (canceled) ### Claim 33 A projectile for firing out of a barrel of a weapon, the barrel having an inner diameter, the projectile comprising: a substantially cylindrical body with first and second axially opposite ends and a cavity defined between the first end and the second end for holding a quantity of first propellant, the first end being closed by a nose fixed to the body, the cylindrical body having a first outer diameter which is less than the inner diameter of the barrel and one or more grooves extending circumferentially about an outer circumferential surface of the body, respective seals seated in the one or more grooves, each seal formed separately of the body and protruding radially from the body to form a substantial seal against an inner circumferential surface of the barrel, each respective seal having a second outer diameter greater than or equal to the inner diameter. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A projectile according to claim 33, wherein each groove comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being forward of the second portion in a direction of firing of the projectile, and wherein the first portion is of a greater depth than the second portion. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) A projectile according to claim 34, wherein the first portion has a width equal to a width of the respective seal. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) A projectile according to claim 34, wherein the second portion is shaped to receive a deformed portion of the respective seal. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) A projectile according to claim 36, wherein the second portion has a depth equal to the width of the respective seal. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) A projectile according to claim 34, wherein the second portion has a width greater than a difference between the second outer diameter and the first outer diameter. ### Claim 39 (depends on 33) A projectile according to claim 33, wherein there is provided a first seal adjacent the first end and a second seal adjacent the second end, wherein the outer diameter of the first and second seal is at least equal to the inner diameter of a breech that opens into the barrel of the weapon, such that the second end of the projectile can be supported in the breech. ### Claim 40 A projectile for firing out of a barrel of a weapon, the barrel being made of a barrel material and having an inner diameter, the projectile comprising: a substantially cylindrical body with first and second axially opposite ends and a cavity defined between the first end and the second end for holding a quantity of propellant, the first end being closed by a nose fixed to the body, the cylindrical body having a first outer diameter which is less than the inner diameter of the barrel, the cylindrical body being made of a first material; and at least one seal extending about an outer circumferential surface of the body, each seal protruding radially from the body to form a substantial seal against an inner circumferential surface of the barrel and having a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter and equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the barrel, the at least one seal being made of a second material, wherein the second material is softer than the barrel material, and the first material is harder than the second material. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) A projectile according to claim 40, wherein the projectile comprises at least two seals, a first seal positioned near the first end of the body and a second seal positioned near the second end of the body. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) A projectile according to claim 40, wherein the cylindrical body is provided with a groove for each of the at least one seal, each groove extending circumferentially about an outer circumferential surface of the body. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) A projectile according to claim 42, wherein each groove comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being forward of the second portion in a direction of firing of the projectile, wherein the first portion is of a greater depth than the second portion. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) A projectile according to claim 43, wherein the first portion has a width equal to a width of the seal. ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) A projectile according to claim 43, wherein the second portion has a depth equal to the width of the seal. ### Claim 46 (depends on 43) A projectile according to claim 43, wherein the second portion has a width greater than a difference between the second outer diameter and the first outer diameter. ### Claim 47 (depends on 40) A projectile according to claim 40, wherein the first material comprises steel. ### Claim 48 (depends on 40) A projectile according to claim 40, wherein the first material comprises brass. ### Claim 49 (depends on 40) A projectile according to claim 40, wherein the second material comprises copper. ### Claim 50 (depends on 40) A projectile according to claim 40, wherein at least one of the seals is formed separately from the body. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) A projectile according to claim 50, wherein each seal is in the form of a ring. ### Claim 52 (depends on 40) A projectile according to claim 40, wherein there is provided a first seal adjacent the first end and a second seal adjacent the second end, the second seal having an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the barrel such that the second end of the projectile can be supported in a breech that opens into the barrel of the weapon. ### Claim 53 A projectile for firing out of a barrel of a weapon, the barrel having an inner diameter, the projectile comprising: a substantially cylindrical body with first and second axially opposite ends and a cavity defined between the first end and the second end for holding a quantity of propellant, the first end being closed by a nose fixed to the body, the cylindrical body having a first outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the barrel; and, at least two sets of a plurality of closely spaced seals extending about an outer circumferential surface of the body, each seal protruding radially from the body to form a substantial seal against an inner circumferential surface of the barrel having a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter and equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the barrel, wherein a first set of seals is disposed near the first end and a second set of seals is disposed near the second end. ### Claim 54 (depends on 33) A projectile according to claim 33, wherein each seal is deformed as the seal contacts the inner circumferential surface of the barrel. ### Claim 55 A projectile for firing out of a barrel of a weapon, the barrel having an inner diameter, the projectile comprising: a substantially cylindrical body with first and second axially opposite ends and a cavity defined between the first end and the second end for holding a quantity of propellant, the first end being closed, the cylindrical body having a first outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the barrel; at least one seal extending about an outer circumferential surface of the body, each seal protruding radially from the body to form a substantial seal against an inner circumferential surface of the barrel and having a second outer diameter greater than both the first outer diameter and the inner diameter of the barrel, the at least one seal being made of a second material; and a mass attached to the body and extending over the first end. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) A projectile according to claim 55, wherein the mass comprises a skirt that surrounds a portion of the body adjacent the first end. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) A projectile according to claim 56, wherein the skirt comprises an inner circumferential surface provided with one or more members protruding radially inwards and the body comprises one or more seats for receiving the one or more members thereby attaching the mass to the body. ### Claim 58 (depends on 56) A projectile according to claim 56, wherein the skirt comprises one member and the body comprises one seat where the member is a circumferential lip and the seat is a groove which receives the lip. ### Claim 59 (depends on 58) A projectile according to claim 58, wherein the skirt extends radially of the body to form a substantial seal between the between the body and an inner circumferential surface of the barrel of the weapon from which the projectile is fired. ### Claim 60 A projectile for firing out of a barrel of a weapon, the barrel having an inner diameter, the projectile comprising: a substantially cylindrical body with first and second axially opposite ends and a cavity defined between the first end and the second end for holding a quantity of propellant, the first end being closed by a nose fixed to the body, the cylindrical body having a first outer diameter which is less than the inner diameter of the barrel; and, one or more seals extending about an outer circumferential surface of the body, each seal protruding radially from the body to form a substantial seal against an inner circumferential surface of the barrel and having a second outer diameter, wherein the one or more seals is provided with a lubrication means to lubricate the barrel as the projectile is fired through the barrel. ### Claim 61 (depends on 60) A projectile according to claim 60, wherein the lubrication means comprises a coating of a lubricating material applied to each seal. ### Claim 62 (depends on 60) A projectile according to claim 60, wherein the lubrication means comprises a lubricant contained within each seal such that as the projectile is fired through the barrel the seal is ruptured and the lubricant is released. ### Claim 63 (depends on 33) A projectile according to claim 33, wherein each seal comprises a lubricating material. ### Claim 64 (depends on 33) A projectile according to claim 33, further comprising a primer for igniting the propellant, the primer being supported by the cylindrical body and located inboard of the second end of the cylindrical body. ### Claim at position 34 (depends on 64) . A projectile according to claim 64, further comprising: a base seal closing the second end of the cylindrical body, such that the primer is supported by the base seal, wherein the base seal opens after ignition of the primer to allow gases produced during deflagration of the propellant to escape from the second end of the cylindrical body. ### Claim 66 (depends on 65) A projectile according to claim 65, wherein the base seal is formed so that the base seal is ruptured by the gases produced during deflagration of the propellant, thereby opening the base seal. ### Claim 67 (depends on 66) A projectile according to claim 66, wherein the base seal is formed so that it is consumed during deflagration of the propellant, thereby opening the base seal. ### Claim 68 (depends on 65) A projectile according to claim 65, wherein a flash hole is provided in the base seal such that a flame generated by ignition of the primer can propagate through the flash hole to the propellant.