Polymer ammunition having a primer insert with a primer pocket groove

• US 10,234,249 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2018
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Velocity Holdings LLC (Energy Transfer LP)
• Original Assignee: Velocity Holdings LLC (Energy Transfer LP)
• Inventors: Burrow, Lonnie
• Primary Examiner(s): Bergin, James S
• Application Number:
  US15/937,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20180238669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 102465, 102466, 102467, 102439, 102470, 86 18, 86 195, 86 198
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 1/108 Mixtures obtained by warm mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2998/10 Processes characterised by the sequence of their steps
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/004 Filling molds with powder feeding material to presses in general B30B15/302
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/10 Sintering only
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/1021 Removal of binder or filler removal of binder from ceramics C04B35/638
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/1025 not by heating only
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/225 by injection molding
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 5/00 Manufacture of workpieces or articles from metallic powder characterised by the special shape of the product
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 5/06 of threaded articles, e.g. nuts
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 9/04 starting from solid material, e.g. by crushing, grinding or milling C22C1/1084 takes precedence; crushing, grinding or milling, in general, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B02C
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 35/64 Burning or sintering processes C04B33/32 takes precedence ; powder metallurgy B22F
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 1/0458 Alloys based on titanium, zirconium or hafnium
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 14/00 Alloys based on titanium
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 33/0257 characterised by the range of the alloying elements
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 33/0285 with Cr, Co, or Ni having a minimum content higher than 5%
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/02 containing silicon
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/04 containing manganese
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/18 containing chromium
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/42 with copper
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/44 with molybdenum or tungsten
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/48 : with niobium or tantalum
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 38/58 : with more than 1.5% by weight of manganese
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/00 : Manufacture of ammunition; Dismantling of ammunition; Apparatus therefor F42B5/188 takes precedence; manufacturing processes for hollow charges F42B1/036; manufacture of blasting cartridge initiators F42B3/195
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/001 : Devices or processes for assembling ammunition, cartridges or cartridge elements from parts
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/02 : Filling cartridges, missiles, or fuzes; Inserting propellant or explosive charges F42B33/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/04 : Fitting or extracting primers in or from fuzes or charges F42B33/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/02 : Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/025 : characterised by the dimension of the case or the missile
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/30 : of plastics , i.e. the cartridge-case tube is of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/307 : formed by assembling several elements
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/313 : all elements made of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 19/0807 : characterised by the particular configuration of the transmission channels from the priming energy source to the charge to be ignited, e.g. multiple channels, nozzles, diaphragms or filters
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 19/0823 : Primers or igniters for the initiation or the propellant charge in a cartridged ammunition primers for caseless ammunition F42C19/085
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 19/083 : characterised by the shape and configuration of the base element embedded in the cartridge bottom, e.g. the housing for the squib or percussion cap

Abstract

The present invention provides an ammunition having a primer insert having a top surface opposite a bottom surface and a extraction flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface; a coupling element that extends from the bottom surface, wherein the substantially cylindrical coupling element is adapted to receive a polymer overmolding; a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface, wherein the primer recess comprises a recess bottom and a circular recess side wall; a primer flash aperture through the recess bottom that extends through the bottom surface, wherein the primer flash aperture is adapted to receive a polymer overmolding to form a flash hole; and a groove in the primer recess positioned around the primer flash aperture adapted to receive a polymer overmolding, wherein the groove extends at least partially over the bottom surface and the circular recess side wall and the groove is adapted to receive polymer through the primer flash aperture and over the bottom surface and the circular recess side wall.

Claims

1. A polymeric ammunition comprising:

a primer insert comprising;

a top surface opposite a bottom surface and a extraction flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface;

a coupling element that extends from the bottom surface, wherein the coupling element is adapted to receive a polymer overmolding;

a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface, wherein the primer recess comprises a recess bottom and a circular recess side wall;

a primer flash aperture through the recess bottom that extends through the bottom surface, wherein the primer flash aperture is adapted to receive the polymer overmolding to form a flash hole; and

a groove in the primer recess positioned around the primer flash aperture adapted to receive the polymer overmolding, wherein the groove extends at least partially over the recess bottom and the circular recess side wall and the groove is adapted to receive the polymer overmolding through the primer flash aperture and over the recess bottom and the circular recess side wall;

a substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body extending about the primer insert, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body comprises;

a polymeric bullet-end coupling element at a first end opposite a polymeric coupling end connected by a propellant, wherein the polymeric coupling end extends over the coupling element and into the primer flash hole aperture and into the groove to form a flash hole;

a polymeric bullet-end upper portion comprising a bullet-end coupling element connected to the polymeric bullet-end coupling element opposite a projectile aperture adapted to engage a projectile;

a propellant at least partially filling the propellant chamber;

a primer inserted into the primer recess; and

a projectile frictionally fitted in the bullet-end aperture.

2. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, wherein the middle body connection end is a male coupling element with a straight skirt interlock surface that tapers to a smaller diameter at the forward portion on the skirt tip to mate with a female coupling element of the substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end.

3. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, further comprising a diffuser positioned in the primer recess in contact with the primer and comprising a diffuser flash hole aligned with the primer flash hole.

4. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, wherein the groove extends up the circular recess side wall about 95-100 percent the distance from the recess bottom to the top surface.

5. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, wherein the groove extends up the circular recess side wall about 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99.5, 99.9 or 100 percent the distance from the recess bottom to the top surface.

6. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, wherein the primer insert comprises a groove texture.

7. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1 wherein the polymeric ammunition cartridge has a caliber selected from .223, .243, .25-06, .270, .300, .308, .338, .30-30, .30-06, .45-70 or .50-90, 50 caliber, 45 caliber, 380 caliber or 38 caliber, 5.56 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 7.62 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, or 12.7 mm.

8. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body is formed from a ductile polymer, a nylon polymer or a fiber-reinforced polymeric composite.

9. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end upper portion comprises a ductile polymer, a nylon polymer or a fiber-reinforced polymeric composite.

10. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body comprise a polymers selected from the group consisting of polyurethane prepolymer, cellulose, fluoro-polymer, ethylene inter-polymer alloy elastomer, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon, polyether imide, polyester elastomer, polyester sulfone, polyphenyl amide, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride or thermoset polyurea elastomer, acrylics, homopolymers, acetates, copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadinen-styrene, thermoplastic fluoro polymers, inomers, polyamides, polyamide-imides, polyacrylates, polyatherketones, polyaryl-sulfones, polybenzimidazoles, polycarbonates, polybutylene, terephthalates, polyether imides, polyether sulfones, thermoplastic polyimides, thermoplastic polyurethanes, polyphenylene sulfides, polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfones, polyvinylchlorides, styrene acrylonitriles, polystyrenes, polyphenylene, ether blends, styrene maleic anhydrides, polycarbonates, allyls, aminos, cyanates, epoxies, phenolics, unsaturated polyesters, bismaleimides, polyurethanes, silicones, vinylesters, urethane hybrids, polyphenylsulfones, copolymers of polyphenylsulfones with polyethersulfones or polysulfones, copolymers of poly-phenylsulfones with siloxanes, blends of polyphenylsulfones with polysiloxanes, poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers, blends of polyetherimides and polysiloxanes, and blends of polyetherimides and poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers.

11. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end upper portion comprise a polymers selected from the group consisting of polyurethane prepolymer, cellulose, fluoro-polymer, ethylene inter-polymer alloy elastomer, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon, polyether imide, polyester elastomer, polyester sulfone, polyphenyl amide, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride or thermoset polyurea elastomer, acrylics, homopolymers, acetates, copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadinen-styrene, thermoplastic fluoro polymers, inomers, polyamides, polyamide-imides, polyacrylates, polyatherketones, polyaryl-sulfones, polybenzimidazoles, polycarbonates, polybutylene, terephthalates, polyether imides, polyether sulfones, thermoplastic polyimides, thermoplastic polyurethanes, polyphenylene sulfides, polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfones, polyvinylchlorides, styrene acrylonitriles, polystyrenes, polyphenylene, ether blends, styrene maleic anhydrides, polycarbonates, allyls, aminos, cyanates, epoxies, phenolics, unsaturated polyesters, bismaleimides, polyurethanes, silicones, vinylesters, urethane hybrids, polyphenylsulfones, copolymers of polyphenylsulfones with polyethersulfones or polysulfones, copolymers of poly-phenylsulfones with siloxanes, blends of polyphenylsulfones with polysiloxanes, poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers, blends of polyetherimides and polysiloxanes, and blends of polyetherimides and poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers.

12. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end and the substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end upper portion are welded or bonded together.

13. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, wherein the projectile aperture further comprises a mechanical interlock adapted to mate to a groove on a bullet.

14. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end coupling element is welded or bonded to the substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end upper portion.

15. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, wherein primer insert comprises the same material or different materials.

16. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, wherein the primer insert comprises different polymers, different metals, different alloys, or different ceramic compositions.

17. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, wherein the primer insert comprises steel, nickel, chromium, copper, carbon, iron, stainless steel or brass.

18. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, wherein the primer insert comprises 102, 174, 201, 202, 300, 302, 303, 304, 308, 309, 316, 316L, 316Ti, 321, 405, 408, 409, 410, 415, 416, 416R, 420, 430, 439, 440, 446 or 601-665 grade stainless steel or Ti6Al4V.

19. The polymeric ammunition of claim 1, further comprising a diffuser positioned in the primer recess in contact with the primer and comprising a diffuser flash hole aligned with the primer flash hole.