US Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Primex Technologies, Inc.

W Brian Stewart

Donald R Osment

John W Duchek

An armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot kinetic energy projectile includes a pre-molded plastic aft seal sleeve to protect the sabot from damage from the propellant and replaces both the RTV and the protective sheath of conventional designs. The seal is manufactured from thermoplastic polyurethane or thermoplastic polyester elastomer.

Pre-molded aft seal for discarding sabot projectiles

A rocket motor casing comprises a tube made of helically wound and cured phite/epoxy resin. A plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending slits are cut into the graphite/epoxy structure which is subsequently covered by an aramid fiber/rubberized resin system which is hoop wrapped around the outer surface of the graphite/epoxy structure. During gun launching, the motor casing is capable of withstanding inwardly directed circumferential forces which tend to reduce the size of the slits and buckle and bend the aramid fiber/rubberized resin system. This system is capable of withstanding such deformation without failure. After launch the rocket motor is fired which requires the casing to act as a pressure vessel to withstand the outwardly directed forces from the rocket motor. These forces are withstood by the strength of the aramid fiber/rubberized resin system. Sufficient axial strength is provided by the cured and helical wound graphite/epoxy structure.

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Lancaster, PA, United States of America

W Brian Stewart