IP Library Granted Patent US 8,985,026
Granted Patent B2
US 8,985,026 · App. 13/681,957 · Granted Mar 24, 2015

Penetrator round assembly

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,985,026
App. No.
13/681,957
Granted
Mar 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques are described for penetrating protective vehicle armor. In one example, a penetrator round assembly comprises a main penetrator rod comprising a tungsten alloy and a solid nose engaged to the main penetrator rod.

Claims (42)

1. A penetrator round assembly comprising:

a main penetrator rod comprising a tungsten alloy; and

a sacrificial solid nose engaged to the main penetrator rod, wherein the nose has a density that is greater than or equal to steel, wherein the nose is configured to perforate an explosive reactive armor cover plate and absorb the initial energy from and be eroded by movement of the cover plate.

2. The penetrator round assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nose is a solid steel nose.

3. The penetrator round assembly of claim 1 , wherein the main penetrator rod has a monolithic construction.

4. The penetrator round assembly of claim 1 , wherein the main penetrator rod has a diameter of greater than about 24 millimeters.

5. The penetrator round assembly of claim 1 , wherein the main penetrator rod has a length greater than 630 millimeters.

6. The penetrator round assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nose has a length that is greater than about 100 millimeters.

7. The penetrator round assembly of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a length of the main penetrator rod and a diameter of the main penetrator rod is greater than about 25.

8. The penetrator round assembly of claim 1 , wherein the main penetrator rods does not comprise depleted uranium.

9. The penetrator round assembly of claim 1 , wherein the nose does not comprise depleted uranium.

10. The penetrator round assembly of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a length of the main penetrator rod and a diameter of the main penetrator rod is greater than about 25.

11. The penetrator round assembly of claim 1 further,

wherein a ratio of a length of the main penetrator rod and a diameter of the main penetrator rod is greater than about 25,

wherein neither the main penetrator rod nor the nose comprise depleted uranium, and

wherein the main penetrator rod does not comprise cobalt.

12. The penetrator round assembly of claim 1 further,

wherein the main penetrator rod has a monolithic construction,

wherein the main penetrator rod has a diameter of greater than about 24 millimeters,

wherein the main penetrator rod has a length greater than 630 millimeters,

wherein the nose has a length that is greater than about 100 millimeters,

wherein a ratio of the length of the main penetrator rod and the diameter of the main penetrator rod is greater than about 25,

wherein neither the main penetrator rod nor the nose comprise depleted uranium, and

wherein the main penetrator rod does not comprise cobalt.

13. The penetrator round assembly of claim 1 further,

wherein the main penetrator rod has a monolithic construction,

wherein the main penetrator rod has a diameter of greater than about 24 millimeters,

wherein the main penetrator rod has a length greater than 630 millimeters,

wherein the nose has a length that is greater than about 100 millimeters,

wherein a ratio of the length of the main penetrator rod and the diameter of the main penetrator rod is greater than about 25,

wherein neither the main penetrator rod nor the nose comprise depleted uranium,

wherein the main penetrator rod does not comprise cobalt, and

wherein when the steel nose impacts the cover plate of the explosive reactive armor (“ERA”) module, the steel nose absorbs an initial energy from a movement of the ERA cover plate without significantly bending the main penetrator rod.

14. The penetrator round assembly of claim 1 further,

wherein the main penetrator rod has a monolithic construction,

wherein the main penetrator rod has a diameter of greater than about 24 millimeters,

wherein the main penetrator rod has a length greater than 630 millimeters,

wherein the nose has a length that is greater than about 100 millimeters,

wherein a ratio of the length of the main penetrator rod and the diameter of the main penetrator rod is greater than about 25,

wherein neither the main penetrator rod nor the nose comprise depleted uranium,

wherein the main penetrator rod does not comprise cobalt, and

wherein when the nose impacts the cover plate of the explosive reactive armor (“ERA”) module, the nose absorbs an initial energy from a movement of the ERA cover plate without significantly bending the main penetrator rod.

Assignments (10)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2021
From: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS LLC
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055215/0559 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 1, 2021
From: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS, INC.
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS LLC
Reel/Frame 055191/0490 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 17, 2020
From: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054799/0623 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jun 6, 2018
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
Reel/Frame 046477/0874 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 14, 2017
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
To: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
Reel/Frame 043865/0372 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2015
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE CO.; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; AMMUNITION ACCESSORIES, INC.; ORBITAL ATK, INC. (F/K/A ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.)
Reel/Frame 036816/0624 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 30, 2015
From: ORBITAL ATK, INC.; ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 036732/0170 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 26, 2013
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.; CALIBER COMPANY; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; SAVAGE ARMS, INC.; SAVAGE RANGE SYSTEMS, INC.; SAVAGE SPORTS CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 031731/0281 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2013
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 029732/0140 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 2, 2013
From: VOLKMANN, ERIC E.
To: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 029556/0544 →