Jan 27, 2026

US12535308 - Recovery system for high performance large bore projectiles

A ballistic projectile recovery system includes a forward opening in an ogive of the projectile, selectively opened to deploy a portion of the recovery system. A parachute is deployable through the opening, connected to the projectile by riser line(s). A rotational bearing assembly makes the riser line(s) rotationally decoupled from the projectile. A bidirectional drag inducing element extends externally of an ogive of the projectile. A spacer, between a setback plate and the rotational bearing assembly, is deformable in at least the longitudinal direction of the projectile. The setback plate is movable between a first position to a second position made available by the compression of the spacer. In the second position, the setback plate is in contact with the projectile, providing a load path that avoids the rotational bearing assembly to take up strain applied to the projectile in at least the longitudinal direction.

Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
Inventors: James F. Murnane
Filing date: 2024-09-13

projectilerecoveryparachuteballistic

The patent describes a recovery system for large bore projectiles that features a forward-facing opening in the ogive to deploy a parachute, which is connected via riser lines and includes a rotational bearing assembly for decoupling. Additionally, a bidirectional drag-inducing element is incorporated to enhance the projectile’s recovery capabilities.

Claim 1

1 . A ballistic projectile recovery system comprising: a generally forward-facing opening in an ogive of the projectile which is selectively opened to deploy at least a portion of the recovery system; a parachute deployable through the forward-facing opening, and connected to the projectile by one or more riser lines; a rotational bearing assembly oriented coaxially with a longitudinal axis of the projectile, the one or more riser lines being rotationally decoupled from the projectile through the rotational bearing assembly; and a bidirectional drag inducing element extending externally of an ogive of the projectile. a generally forward-facing opening in an ogive of the projectile which is selectively opened to deploy at least a portion of the recovery system; a parachute deployable through the forward-facing opening, and connected to the projectile by one or more riser lines; a rotational bearing assembly oriented coaxially with a longitudinal axis of the projectile, the one or more riser lines being rotationally decoupled from the projectile through the rotational bearing assembly; and a bidirectional drag inducing element extending externally of an ogive of the projectile.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12535308

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12535308