Captive piston projectile and method of manufacture
AssigneeThe Secretary of State for Defence
InventorSamuel Brendan Dixon Cooke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A captive piston projectile (40) comprising a payload housing (43), a piston assembly attached to the payload housing (43), and actuation means (46) for urging the piston assembly from a stowed configuration to an extended configuration. The piston assembly comprises a tubular piston member (41) attached around the periphery of the payload housing (43), the attachment optionally being in the form of a circumferential groove (42) within which the piston member (41) can slide. This provides increased thrust whilst maintaining payload volume. Particularly suited to use with barrelled weapons, and also relates to a method of manufacture.
Claims23
A captive piston projectile for launching from a gun barrel, comprising a payload housing, a piston assembly attached to the payload housing, and actuation means for urging the piston assembly from a stowed configuration to an extended configuration, such that in use the piston assembly urges against the breech of a gun barrel to thrust the projectile from the barrel, wherein the piston assembly comprises a tubular piston member attached around the periphery of the payload housing.
The captive piston projectile of claim I wherein the tubular piston member is collapsible such that in the stowed configuration it is collapsed against the payload. housing.
A method of manufacturing a captive piston projectile, comprising steps of:
- a) Providing a payload housing;
- b) Attaching a tubular piston member around the periphery of the payload housing, the tubular piston member being adjustable between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration;
- c) Arranging an actuation means to urge the tubular piston member from the stowed configuration to the extended configuration when the captive piston projectile is in-use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.