Variable velocity weapon system having selective lethality and methods ...

1. A method for firing a projectile with selectable lethality comprising:

a) loading a cartridge with a saboted projectile into a barrel having a breech end for receiving the cartridge with the saboted projectile and a muzzle end for discharging the saboted projectile, the saboted projectile comprising a penetrator surrounded by a sabot which is configured so as not to release from the penetrator when the projectile exits the muzzle end of the barrel at or below a predetermined muzzle velocity;

b) creating propellant gases behind the projectile so as to accelerate the projectile toward the muzzle end of the barrel; and

c) lowering the muzzle velocity of the projectile such that the sabot will not release from the penetrator by opening a means for venting the propellant gases from the barrel at least at a predetermined venting rate.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sabot comprises at least two leaves being held about the projectile by at least a band that wraps about the outer exterior surfaces of the leaves, thereby holding the leaves in place.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sabot comprises a unitary casting surrounding a penetrator with at least two scores disposed axially lengthwise about the interior surface of the sabot whereby when the predetermined muzzle velocity is exceeded, the increase in both centrifugal force and gas pressure on the front of the sabot caused the sabot material to fracture along the interior scoring and be thrown away from the penetrator.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the sabot comprises at least two leaves and is held about the projectile by a series of paired pins inserted into detents, each pair of a pin and a detent being on opposing surfaces of adjacent leaves.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein each pin is oversized for the detent and the force needed to pull the pin from the detent or to shear the pin is achieved above the predetermined muzzle velocity.

6. A weapon system having a selectable lethality comprising:

a) a barrel for firing a cartridge having a saboted projectile using propellant gases, having a breech end for receiving the cartridge and a muzzle end for discharging the saboted projectile, the saboted projectile comprising a penetrator surrounded by a sabot which is configured so as not to release from the penetrator when the projectile exits the muzzle end of the barrel at or below a predetermined muzzle velocity;

b) the saboted projectile comprising a penetrator and a sabot, wherein at or below a predetermined muzzle velocity the sabot will not release from the projectile; and

c) a means for venting the propellant gases from the barrel at least at a predetermined venting rate which is disposed about the barrel and has at least one opening which can be selectively in communication with the barrel, wherein the venting means lowers the muzzle velocity of the projectile to a level such that the sabot will not release from the penetrator.

7. The weapon system of claim 6 wherein the sabot comprises at least two leaves being held about the projectile by at least a band that wraps about the outer exterior surfaces of the leaves, thereby holding the leaves in place.

8. The weapon system of claim 6 wherein the sabot comprises a unitary casting surrounding a penetrator with at least two scores disposed axially lengthwise about the interior surface of the sabot whereby when the predetermined muzzle velocity is exceeded, the increase in both centrifugal force and gas pressure on the front of the sabot caused the sabot material to fracture along the interior scoring and be thrown away from the penetrator.

9. The weapon system of claim 6 wherein the sabot comprises at least two leaves and is held about the projectile by a series of paired pins inserted into detents, each pair of a pin and a detent being on opposing surfaces of adjacent leaves.

10. The weapon system of claim 9 wherein each pin is oversized for the detent and the force needed to pull the pin from the detent or to shear the pin is achieved above the predetermined muzzle velocity.

11. The weapons system of claim 6 also comprising a means for automatically setting a degree of opening of the venting means, which is connected to the venting means so as to move the venting means from a fully open to a fully closed position and is configured to receive a signal from the range finder scope which directs the degree of opening of the vents once an operator has selected a target and a desired lethality for that target.

12. A method for firing a projectile with a variable velocity comprising:

a) loading a cartridge having a projectile into a barrel having a breech end for receiving the cartridge and a muzzle end for discharging the projectile;

b) opening a means for venting propellant gases from the barrel, the venting means being disposed about the barrel and configured to direct propellant gases which are behind the projectile, as the projectile starts to move from the breech end to the muzzle end, to the front of the projectile, thereby creating a restraining force on the projectile; and

c) creating propellant gases behind the projectile which accelerate the projectile toward the muzzle end of the barrel, imparting a muzzle velocity to the projectile, wherein the opening of the venting means lowers the muzzle velocity of the projectile from a maximum muzzle velocity that is achieved if the venting means is not open.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the cartridge has a saboted projectile, the sabot being configured so as not to release from the projectile if the projectile exits the muzzle end of the barrel at or below a predetermined muzzle velocity, and the venting means being opened such that muzzle velocity of the projectile is lowered to at or below that predetermined muzzle velocity.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the sabot comprises at least two leaves and is held about the projectile by at least a band that wraps about the outer exterior surfaces of the sabot.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the sabot comprises at least two leaves and is held about the projectile by a series of paired pins inserted into detents, each pair of a pin and a detent being on opposing surfaces of adjacent leaves.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein each pin is oversized for the detent and the force needed to pull the pin from the detent or to shear the pin is achieved above the predetermined barrel exiting velocity.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the venting means comprises at least two rows of openings disposed along the length of the barrel, wherein the openings on one side of the barrel are placed about halfway between the openings on an opposing row.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the openings are paired such that a gas flow tube communicates with each pair of adjacent openings.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the openings range from about 1/16.sup.th to 3/16.sup.th the bore area and are distanced about 1.000 to 1.500 inches center to center, the distance being greater than the length of the projectile traversing the barrel.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein a first opening is about 0.032 inches from the end of a chamber and a last opening is about 1/3.sup.rd to 1/2 the barrel length from the muzzle end.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein a valve stem is disposed about each row, the valve stem being able to move such that varying numbers of vents in each row are allowed to communicate with a common gas tube, depending on a desired muzzle velocity.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the venting means comprises at least one row of openings disposed lengthwise down the barrel, the openings being able to selective communicate or not communicate with a common gas vent channel.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the venting means also comprises a valve stem that has a plurality of positions that vary the number of vents in communication with the common gas vent channel, thereby varying the muzzle velocity of the projectile.

24. The method of claim 12 wherein the venting means allows communication between a fixed volume and the barrel.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the fixed volume has a volume of from about 10% to about 100% the volume of the barrel.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the venting means is disposed about 0.032 to 2.000 inches from the end of a chamber in the breech end of the barrel.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the venting means also comprises at least two rows of openings disposed along the length of the barrel, wherein the openings on one side of the barrel are placed about halfway between the openings on the opposing row.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the venting means also comprises at least one row of openings disposed lengthwise down the barrel, the openings being able to selectively communicate or not communicate with a common gas vent channel.

29. The method of claim 12 wherein the venting means allows communication between a plurality of fixed volumes and the barrel.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the fixed volumes have a total volume of from about 10% to about 100% the volume of the barrel.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the venting means is disposed about 0.032 to 2.000 inches from the end of a chamber in the breech end of the barrel.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the venting means allows each fixed volume to be made separately in communication with the barrel.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the venting means allows the fixed volumes to be made serially in communication with the barrel.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the venting means also comprises at least two rows of openings disposed along the length of the barrel, wherein the openings on one side of the barrel are placed about halfway between the openings on the opposing row.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein the venting means also comprises at least one row of openings disposed lengthwise down the barrel, the openings being able to selectively communicate or not communicate with a common gas vent channel.

36. A weapon system having a variable velocity comprising:

a) a barrel for firing a cartridge having a projectile using propellant gasses, having a breech end for receiving the cartridge and a muzzle end for discharging the projectile;

b) a means for venting the propellant gases from the barrel, the venting means being disposed about the barrel and configured to direct propellant gasses which are behind the projectile, as the projectile starts to move from the breech end to the muzzle end, to the front of the projectile, thereby creating a restraining force on the projectile; and

c) a means for creating propellant gases behind the projectile which accelerate the projectile toward the muzzle end of the barrel, imparting a muzzle velocity to the projectile, wherein the opening of the venting means lowers the muzzle velocity of the projectile from a maximum muzzle velocity that is achieved if the venting means is not open.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the cartridge has a saboted projectile, the sabot being configured so as not to release from the projectile if the projectile exits the muzzle end of the barrel at or below a predetermined muzzle velocity, and the venting means being opened such that muzzle velocity of the projectile is lowered to at or below that predetermined muzzle velocity.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the sabot comprises at least two leaves and is held about the projectile by at least a band that wraps about the outer exterior surfaces of the sabot.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the sabot comprises at least two leaves and is held about the projectile by a series of paired pins inserted into detents, each pair of a pin and a detent being on opposing surfaces of adjacent leaves.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein each pin is oversized for the detent and the force needed to pull the pin from the detent or to shear the pin is achieved above the predetermined barrel exiting velocity.

41. The method of claim 36 wherein the venting means comprises at least two rows of openings disposed along the length of the barrel, wherein the openings on one side of the barrel are placed about halfway between the openings on an opposing row.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the openings are paired such that a gas flow tube communicates with each pair of adjacent openings.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the openings range from about 1/6.sup.th to 3/16.sup.th the bore area and are distanced about 1.000 to 1.500 inches center to center, the distance being greater than the length of the projectile traversing the barrel.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein a first opening is about 0.032 inches from the end of a chamber and a last opening is about 1/3.sup.rd to 1/2 the barrel length from the muzzle end.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein a valve stem is disposed about each row, the valve stem being able to move such that varying numbers of vents in each row are allowed to communicate with a common gas tube, depending on a desired muzzle velocity.

46. The method of claim 36 wherein the venting means comprises at least one row of openings disposed lengthwise down the barrel, the openings being able to selective communicate or not communicate with a common gas vent channel.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the venting means also comprises a valve stem that has a plurality of positions that vary the number of vents in communication with the common gas vent channel, thereby varying the muzzle velocity of the projectile.

48. The method of claim 36 wherein the venting means allows communication between a fixed volume and the barrel.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the fixed volume has a volume of from about 10% to about 100% the volume of the barrel.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein the venting means is disposed about 0.032 to 2.000 inches from the end of a chamber in the breech end of the barrel.

51. The method of claim 48 wherein the venting means also comprises at least to rows of openings disposed along the length of the barrel, wherein the openings on one side of the barrel are placed about halfway between the openings on the opposing row.

52. The method of claim 48 wherein the venting means also comprises at least one row of openings disposed lengthwise down the barrel, the openings being able to selectively communicate or not communicate with a common gas vent channel.

53. The method of claim 36 wherein the venting means allows communication between a plurality of fixed volumes and the barrel.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the fixed volumes have a total volume of from about 10% to about 100% the volume of the barrel.

55. The method of claim 53 wherein the venting means is disposed about 0.032 to 2.000 inches from the end of a chamber in the breech end of the barrel.

56. The method of claim 53 wherein the venting means allows each fixed volume to be made separately in communication with the barrel.

57. The method of claim 53 wherein the venting means allows the fixed volumes to be made serially in communication with the barrel.

58. The method of claim 53 wherein the venting means also comprises at least two rows of openings disposed along the length of the barrel, wherein the openings on one side of the barrel are placed about halfway between the openings on the opposing row.

59. The method of claim 53 wherein the venting means also comprises at least one row of openings disposed lengthwise down the barrel, the openings being able to selectively communicate or not communicate with a common gas vent channel.