Illumining projectile system

An illumining projectile system for illuminating a distant structure or personnel training area following a controlled time delay, the system comprising:

• a hollow case (12) is formed of a cylindrical side wall (14) with a rear end (16) and a front end (18), the rear end having a circular base (20) formed integrally with the side wall, the front end having an opening (22) with an inwardly extending radial flange (24), the hollow case being fabricated of a rigid material selected from the class of rigid materials including steel, aluminum, beryllium, plastic, or other rigid synthetic materials which resist flexing;
• a projectile assembly (25) including a hollow projectile (26) formed of a cylindrical side wall (28) with a rear end (30) and a front end (32), the rear end having a circular base (34) coupled to the side wall, the front end having a generally frusto-conical shaped section (36) extending forwardly from the side wall and terminating in a concave area (38) formed with a recessed cavity (40), a forward chamber (46) is formed within the hollow projectile between the front end, side wall, and circular base, the hollow projectile being fabricated of a transparent rigid material selected from the class of transparent rigid materials including plastic, polycarbonate, or other rigid thermoplastic polymers;
• an impact dome (42) is provided in the concave area of the hollow projectile, the impact dome being fabricated of a resilient elastomeric material selected from the class of elastomeric materials including silicone, rubber, vinyl, or other elastically resilient materials;
• the projectile assembly being positionable within the hollow case with the rear end of the hollow projectile spaced from the rear end of the case to form a rearward chamber (44);
• a hollow sabot (48) formed of a cylindrical side wall (50) with a rear end (52) and a front end (54), the rear end having a circular base (56) formed integrally with the side wall, the front end having an opening (58) with a leading edge (60) in contact with the radial flange of the hollow case, the side wall and base of the sabot having an interior in contact with the side wall and base of the hollow projectile, the side wall of the sabot having an exterior in contact with the side wall of the case, the sabot being fabricated of a frangible material selected from the class of frangible materials including paper, cardboard and plastic;
• a firing assembly (62) including an explosive propellant charge (64) within the rearward chamber in contact with the base of the case and also including a firing means (66) extending through the base of the hollow case in contact with the explosive propellant charge, a plastic support (68) within the rearward chamber to contact and support the explosive propellant charge with an air space (70) in the rearward chamber between the base of the hollow sabot and the explosive propellant charge;
• an illumining assembly (72) positionable within the forward chamber, the illumining assembly having a front end (74) and a rear end (76), illumining side walls (78) formed integrally of the front and rear end, the illumining assembly including sources of illumination (82) with electrical leads (84) extending from the sources to and through the illumining side walls;
• and
• an electrical assembly (86) including a printed circuit board (88), a sensor (90), a timer (92), a source of power (94), and a controller (96), the sensor being adapted to detect when the projectile assembly is fired from the case which activates the controller to illuminate the sources of illumination following a passage of time as determined by the timer.