WO1994029667A2

WO1994029667A2 - Gun and projectile for riot control

Info

Publication number: WO1994029667A2
Application number: PCT/GB1994/001240
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Jackson Gilbert
Original assignee: Richmond Electronics And Engineering International Limited
Priority date: 1993-06-09
Filing date: 1994-06-08
Publication date: 1994-12-22
Also published as: GB9311901D0; GB2278909A; WO1994029667A3

Abstract

An ammunition, i.e. a cartridge, for use by the police, e.g. for riot control. The spherical projectile deforms on impact which creates a bigger impact area and a smaller impact force on the target. The bullet is made of plastics and has a cavity which forms a blind passage (24). Said blind passage is surrounded by an Al tube. The blind passage (24) receives a propellant charge housing (6) mounted on a gun. First embodiment: projectile body made of polyurethane. Second embodiment: projectile body made of HD polyethylene with projectile jacket (12) made of polyurethane. The jacket has a specific gravity of 1.2 and a Shore hardness of 55. The body has a specific gravity of 0.91 and a Shore hardness of 62. A handgun without a barrel fires a projectile from a spigot. The gun has a mechanical firing system with a mobile percussion element. The percussion element is a firing spring (102, 104). The percussion spring (112) is cocked by pulling the firing pin rearwards by means of the grip. The gun is fired by pushing a press-button (8) which slides transversely to the firing pin axis.

Description

Title: Projection Device

This invention relates to a projection device for firing a projectile and individually to a projectile for use as part of such a device and to the rest of the device.

Background to the invention

One field of application of the invention is that of protection for firing a projectile so as to deliver a debilitating, but non-lethal, blow to an assailant.

To that end, it is known to fire a flexible baton round, or "plastic bullet", from a purpose built gun. Such guns are relatively bulky and are potentially very dangerous if used at short range.

An alternative type of projection device is disclosed in European Patent Application No 91304149.7 published under the number EP 0467508. In this case, the device is intended to be hand held and uses as a projectile a squash ball which, prior to firing, is accommodated in a muzzle cavity at the front of the device.

This device, although less bulky than the "plastic bullet" gun, is of a limited compactness in view of the constraints placed on the design by the requirment that the muzzle must be large enough to accommodate a squash ball.

The device shown in EP 0467508 is intended to be maintained in a cocked condition prior to firing, and to avoid inadvertent firing includes a withdrawable split pin for restraining the trigger of the device.

Summary of the invention

According to the invention, in a first aspect, there is provided a projection device for firing a projectile, the device comprising a housing for a charge of propellant material, and a projectile having a passage for receiving the housing, wherein the projectile, on operation of the device, is propelled by the force exerted by the propellant material on at least part of the surface of the projectile which defines the passage.

The passage, in effect, provides a chamber, defined within the projectile, for receiving the propellant material, and thus avoids the need to provide a separate barrel or muzzle for accommodating the projectile. Consequently, the device can be of a relatively compact design.

The propellant material may, for example, comprise pre- compressed gas initially contained in a suitable cylinder.

Preferably, however, said charge of propellant material is an explosive charge, which may initially be contained in a cartridge.

Preferably, the device is adapted for use as a hand held personal protection device, which is preferably so arranged as to deliver a non-lethal blow to an assailant or potential assailant.

To that end, the projectile may with advantage be so configured that at normal firing velocities, the projectile does not pierce the skin of an assailant.

The front end of the projectile is preferably part spherical. As a result, the force and pressure exerted by the projectile on impact are not substantially affected by any slight change in orientation of the projectile in flight.

The projectile may be tapered from front to rear so as to help to maintain the orientation of the projectile in flight.

The projectile may with advantage include a rigid core which may be of metal, for example aluminium, so arranged as to resist any tendancy of the passage to be deformed by the pressure of the propellant material.

The core may with advantage be hollow so as to define the passage, and preferably includes an enlarged thickness forward end portion.

Said forward end portion contributes to a centre of gravity for the projectile which is closer to the forward end of the latter than would otherwise be the case, and which therefore improves the stability of the projectile in use.

The housing may with advantage include a generally cyclindrical chamber for containing said charge, the chamber having an outboard end region which is of a reduced diameter so that the housing cannot accommodate a cartridge which includes a bullet. The invention also lies in a projectile for use in a device according to the first aspect of the invention, the projectile having a passage for receiving the housing for propellant charge.

In addition, the invention lies in a device which includes a housing for containing a charge of propellant material and which is adapted to receive said projectile in such a way that the housing extends into the passage in the projectile, to provide a projection device according to the first aspect of the invention.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a projection device for firing a projectile, the device having a body which contains a firing mechanism which need to be cocked prior to operation, and a handle which is capable of being rotated and of undergoing translational movement relative to the rest of the device, selectively to cock the firing mechanism or to place the firing mechanism in a safe condition in which the device cannot be inadvertently operated.

This gives rise to a compact arrangement since only one handle is needed to cock the firing mechanism or to place it in a safe condition.

Preferably, the arrangement is such that the firing mechanism can be placed in a safe condition when uncocked.

When the firing mechanism is in its uncocked condition, it is unlikely that the device would be inadvertently fired. However the placing of the firing mechanism in the safe condition ensures that the firing mechanism does not fire the device if the latter is, for example, dropped. Preferably, the handle is so connected to the firing mechanism that translational movement of the handle results in the cocking of the firing mechanism, and the safe condition of the firing mechanism is selected by rotation of the handle.

The connection between the handle and firing mechanism is preferably also such that the handle has to be rotated away from the angular position corresponding to the safe condition in order to cock the firing mechanism and place the firing mechanism in a condition in which it can be •operated.

Preferably the handle is an integral part of the body, and is situated at the opposite end of the body from the projectile.

The firing mechanism may with advantage comprise a core which is slidable within the body so that a first end of the core can engage a charge of propellent material so as to fire the device, and an abutment which is moveable by rotation of the handle, between a first position in which the device may be fired and a second position, corresponding to the safe condition, in which the abutment engages the core to prevent said first end reaching the charge of propellent material.

The abutment may with advantage comprise a shoulder which surrounds the core and in use engages an enlarged end portion at the end of the core opposite said first end.

The allowable movement of the handle and shoulder is preferably governed by guide means comprising a pin which engages a keying track, one of said pin and keying track being situated in fixed relationship with the handle, the other one of said pin and keying tracking being fixed relative to the rest of the device.

Preferably, the pin is mounted on an outer sleeve, one end of which constitutes the shoulder, and the track is provided on an inner sleeve in which the core is slidably mounted.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which show a projection device having a firing mechanism which has a safe, cocked and fired a condition, and in which:-

Figures 1a - 1c are sectional side views of the device which respectively show the device with the firing mechanism in its cocked, safe and fired conditions;

Figure 2 is an exploded sectional side view of the device shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a sectional end view of part of the device shown in Figure 2, taken along the line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional side view, corresponding to Figure 1b,- showing a modified version of the device; and

Figure 5 is a sectional side view of a projectile which forms part of the device shown in Figure 4.

Detailed description Referring to Figure 1a, the projection device comprises a body 2, at one end of which a projectile 4 is mounted on a housing 6 for an explosive propellant charge (not shown). In use, the device is fired by the operation of a firing button 8 which operates a firing mechanism contained within the body 2. The end of the body 2 opposite the projectile 4 is terminated by a handle 10 which can be used to cock the firing mechanism, or to place the firing mechanism in a safe condition in which operation of the button 8 cannot cause the device to be fired.

With reference to Figure 2, the projectile 4 comprises a cup 12 of an elastomeric material, such as a polyurethane elastomer, which has a partspherical nose 14 which leads into a tapered tail portion 16. The member 12 is moulded around a hollow annular aluminium core 18, the forward end of which is terminated by an enlarged end portion 20. The member 12 also includes a rear opening 22 which communicates with the interior of the core 18 so as to define a blind passage 24 for receiving the housing 6.

The housing 6 has an annular through-passage 26 which, in use, accommodates a cartridge which contains the propellant charge. The passage 26 has a reduced width portion 28 at its front end which prevents the passage 26 from accommodating a cartridge with a bullet.

At. the rear end of the passage 26 there is provided an enlarged diameter portion having a screw thread 30 by means of which the housing 6 is removably attached to an annular breech cap 32 via a correspondingly screw threaded portion 34 on a central boss 37 projecting from the forward end of the cap 32. At the base of the boss there is provided an elastomeric O-ring (not shown) which provides a tight seal between the housing 6 and cap 32 and also gives rise to some resilience in the connection between the cap 32 and housing 6 so as to facilitate the separation of the two components.

The cap 32 includes a central recess 36 which communicates with a central reduced diameter through-bore in the end of the boss 37.

The cap 32 is also removably attached to a front, hollow, open ended portion 42 of the body 2 through screw-threaded connectors 40 and 44 on the cap 32 and body portion 42 respectively.

The body portion 42 includes an upper annular aperture 46, the centre of which is diametrically opposed to the centre of a blind bore 48 at the base of an annular recess 50 in the bottom of the portion 42.

In use, the blind bore 48 accommodates the base of a compression spring 52, the other end of which acts against a corresponding central blind bore 54 in an annular base 56 which is connected to the button 8 via a web of material 58 which includes a circular-through bore 60.

The base 56 and button 8 are a sliding fit respectively in the recess 50 and aperture 46 and are therefore subjected to an upward biasing force exerted by the spring 52. A water resistant seal between the button 8 and the aperture 46 is provided by an O-ring seal 62.

An inner sleeve in the form of a hollow stainless steel tube 64 is attached to the body portion 42 by means of a pin 66 which extends through the body portion 42 and into a blind bore in the tube 64.

The rear end of the tube 64 is of a reduced diameter so as to define an annular forward facing shoulder 68, and an external keying track 70 is provided in the rear of the underside of the tube 64. The shape of the track 70 is shown in plan view in the "MACHINED GATE DETAIL" in Figure 2.

It can be seen from Figure 2 that the tube 64 extends ■rearwardly from the portion 42, and is spaced from a collar 72 also extending from the rear of the portion 42 so as to define an annular cavity, the forward end of which is terminated by a shoulder 74.

That cavity accommodates a compression spring 76 which acts between the shoulder 74 and a rearward facing shoulder 78 on an outer sleeve 80 which forms part of the body 2.

The sleeve 80 is a sliding fit over the tube 64, and includes two O-ring seals 82 and 84 which provide a weather proof seal against the tube 64. The sleeve 80 also includes a lateral through-bore 86 which accommodates a gate pin 88 which extends beyond the inner periphery of the sleeve 80 to engage the keying track 70, and thus to define the path of allowable relative movement between the sleeve 80 and the tube 64.

Towards the rear of the sleeve 80 there are provided two diametrically opposed blind bores 90 and 92, each of which accommodates the radial inboard end of a respective locking pin 94 and 96 which extends through a corresponding aperture (not shown) in the handle 10.

The handle 10 is hollow, and when attached to the sleeve 80, is so spaced from the latter as to define an annular cavity 98 for accommodating an enlarged end portion in the form of a piston 100 attached to the rear end of a core constituted by a firing pin 102 which extends through the tube 64, the hole 60 in the web 58 and into the passage 36 in the breech plug 32.

The forward end of the pin 102 includes a thin protuberance 104 which can extend through the bore 38, and which projects from a head portion 106 of the pin 102 connected to the rest of the pin 102 through a reduced diameter neck 108. Approximately halfway along the pin 102 there is provided an annular rearward facing shoulder 110 which acts as a forward end stop for a compression spring 112 mounted on the rear portion of the pin 102.

That rear portion extends into an axial bore in the piston member 100 and includes a radial through-bore which, as shown in Figure 2, is in registry with a corresponding radial through-bore in the piston 100. A split pin 114 passes through both the through bores to attach the piston 100 to the rest of the pin 102. Prior to the attachment of the cyclinder 100 to the pin 102 and the attachment of the handle 10 to the sleeve 80, the pin 102 is inserted into the body 2 from the front of the latter, causing the spring 112 to be compressed between the shoulders 68 and 110 and the rear end of the pin 102 to protrude beyond the rear of the tube 64 and the rear of the sleeve 80. The piston 100 is then attached to the rear of the pin 102 and the handle 10 is then attached to the sleeve 80. With the device so assembled, the removal of the pin 102 is prevented by the abutment of the piston 100 against the rear of the sleeve 80 (which acts as a shoulder) or against the rear of the interior of the handle 10.

In order to prepare the device for use, the housing 6 is removed from the cap 32, and a cartridge of explosive material is placed in the housing 6.

The housing 6 is then attached again to the cap 32 and the projectile 4 is placed over the housing 6.

The pin 102, the firing button 8, the tube 64, the sleeve 80 and the pin 88 constitute the firing mechanism which is normally kept in the safe condition shown in Figure 1b in which the pin 88 engages in the portion of the keying track marked S. With the firing mechanism in this condition the spring 112 (which exerts a greater force than the spring 76) urges the piston 100 against the sleeve 80 so as to bias the pin 88 into said position in the keying track. With the firing mechanism in the safe condition, the rear end of the sleeve 80 abuts the cylinder 100 so as to prevent the pin 104 reaching the charge of explosive material in the housing 6 even if the device is dropped.

In order to cock the firing mechanism, the user pulls the handle 10 backwards and twists it in a clockwise direction until the pin 88 is in registry with the portion of the keying track marked C. Further rearward movement of the handle 10 moves the pin 102 backwards until the region of the webbing 58 at the bottom of the hole 60 latches into the neck 108 under the influence of the spring 52. The handle is then pushed forward and is further rotated in a clockwise direction until the pin 88 reaches the position marked F.

At this stage, the firing mechanism is in the condition shown in Figure 1a in which the spring 112 no longer exerts a biasing force on the pin 88, and the spring 76 consequently urges the pin 88 towards the rear of the keying track 70, thus retaining the pin 88 in a cradle portion 120 at the end of the track 70.

With the firing mechanism in the cocked position, the sleeve 80 is positioned further forward than is the case when the mechanism is in the safe position, so that the rear of the sleeve 80 no longer prevents the protuberance from 104 reaching the explosive charge. Consequently, the user can fire the device by pressing the button 8 which disengages the web 58 from the neck 108, allowing the spring 112 to propel the pin 102 into the position shown in Figure 1c so that the protuberance 104 strikes, and detonates the charge.

In order to "re-load" the device, the housing 6 is removed from the cap 32, the spent cartridge is discharged from the housing 6 and a fresh cartridge inserted into the housing 6 which is then replaced on the cap 32 and the same or a further projectile 4 is fitted onto the housing 6.

The_. modified version of the device, as shown in Figure 4, has a body and firing mechanism which is identical to the body 2 and firing mechanism of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2. Accordingly, Figure 4 uses the same reference numbers as are used in Figures 1 and 2 to indicate the identical components. The device shown in Figure 4 includes a projectile 150 which is generally spherical and comprises an outer elastomeric skin of polyurethane which surrounds a part spherical body 154 of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

The body 154 is moulded around an aluminium sleeve 156 which defines the passage for receiving the housing 6. With reference to Figure 5, the sleeve 156 includes a first radial outer flange 158 halfway along its length and a second radial outer flange 160 at the entrance of the passage. The flanges 158 and 160 serve to key the sleeve 156 into the body 154.

The outer skin 152 has a relative density of 1.2, and a shore hardness of 55", whilst the body 154 has a relative density of .91 and a shore hardness of 62^β. The body 154 is sufficiently rigid to prevent the core 156 piercing the body 154 and the skin 158 in the event that the projectile 150 is fired at a solid object, for example a brick wall. Thus, the body 154 retains the sleeve 156 in the projectile 150 so that the sleeve 156 does not protrude from the front end of the projectile, thus enabling the projectile to be used subsequently without the risk of the front end of the sleeve 156 causing serious injury.

As can be seen from Figure 5, the skin 152 includes a circular aperture at the rear of the projectile 150, which is surrounded by a circular lip 162. If the rear of the projectile 150 hits a target, the lip 162 closes over the open end of the sleeve 156 so as to prevent the latter causing serious injury. The weight of the projectile 150 is approximately 35 grams.

Claims

1. A projection device for firing a projectile, the device comprising a housing for a charge of propellant material, and a projectile having a passage for receiving the housing, wherein the projectile is, on operation of the device, propelled by the force exerted by the propellant material on a surface of the projectile which defines at least part of the passage.

2. A projection device according to claim 1 in which said housing is adapted to contain a charge of explosive propellant material.

3. A projection device according to either of claims 1 and 2 in which the device is configured for use as a short range hand held personal protection device, for delivering a non-lethal blow to an assailant or potential assailant.

4. A projection device according to claim 3 in which the projectile has a forward end which is so configured that, at normal firing velocities, the projectile cannot pierce the skin of an assailant.

5. A projection device according to either of claims 3 and.4 in which the projectile has a front end which is part spherical.

6. A projection device according to either of claims 4 and 5 in which the projectile includes a rigid core so arranged as to resist any deformation of the passage under the pressure of the propellant material during firing of the device.

7. A projection device according to claim 6 in which the core comprises a sleeve which defines at least part of the passage.

8. A projection device according to claim 7 in which at least part of the core is located in a body portion which is less dense than the core and is sufficiently rigid to retain the core in the projectile on impact of the latter with an object at normal firing velocities, so as to prevent the core being forced through the forward end of the projectile.

9. A projection device according to claim 8 in which the body portion is generally spherical.

10. A projection device according to claim 8 or claim 9 in which the body is contained within an elastomeric skin.

11. A projection device according to claim 10 in which part of the skin provides one or more lips for closing over the entrance to the passage, to so shroud said entrance, as to prevent, or minimise the risk of, the part of the core in the vicinity of the entrance from causing serious injury.

12. A projection device according to any of claims 8 to 11 in which the body is formed of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

13. A projection device according to any of the preceding claims in which the housing is so shaped as to be incapable of containing a cartridge which includes a bullet.

14. A projectile for use in a projection device according to any of the preceding claims, the projectile having a passage for receiving a housing which contains a charge of propellant material.

15. A device for receiving a projectile according to claim 15 to provide a projection device according to any of claims 1 to 10.

16. A projection device for firing a projectile, the device having a body which contains a firing mechanism which is cocked prior to operation, and a handle which can be rotated and can undergo translational movement relative to the body selectively to cock the firing mechanism or to place the firing mechanism in a safe condition in which the device cannot be inadvertently fired.

17. A device according to claim 16 in which the handle is so connected to the firing mechanism that translational movement of the handle results in the cocking of the firing mechanism, and that the safe condition of the firing mechanism is selected by rotation of the handle.

18. A projection device according to either of claims 16 and 17 in which the handle is so connected to the firing mechanism that the firing mechanism cannot be cocked when the angular position of the handle corresponds to the safe condition of the firing mechanism.

19. A projection device according to any of claims 16 to 18 in which the handle is an integral part of the body and is located at the opposite end of the body from the end from which the projectile is fired.

20. A projection device according to any of claims 16 to

19 in which the firing mechanism comprises a core slidable within the body so that a first end of the core engages a charge of propellant material contained in the body so as to fire the device, and an abutment which is moveable by rotation of the handle, between a first position in which the device may be fired and second position, corresponding to the safe condition of the firing mechanism, in which it restrains the core so as to prevent first end reaching the charge of propellant material.

21. A projection device according to claim 20 in which the abutment comprises a shoulder which surrounds the core and, in use, engages an enlarged end portion at the end of the core opposite said first end.

22. A projection device according to claim 20 or claim 21 in which the allowable movement of the handle and the abutment is governed by guide means comprising a pin which engages a keying track, one of said pin and keying track being situated in fixed relationship with the handle, the other of said pin and keying track being fixed relative to the rest of the body.

23. A projection device according to claim 21 in which the pin is mounted on a outer sleeve, one end of which constitutes the abutment, and the track is provided on an inner sleeve in which the core is slidably mounted.

24. A projection device according to claim 1 in which. with the device in a condition ready for firing, the passage in the projectile accommodates both the housing and the charge of propellant material, and the housing retains the projectile in position on the rest of the device.