Polymer ammunition having a MIM primer insert

• US 10,254,096 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2015
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Velocity Holdings LLC (Centerpoint Energy Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Velocity Holdings LLC (Centerpoint Energy Incorporated)
• Inventors: Burrow, Lonnie
• Primary Examiner(s): Weber, Jonathan C
• Application Number:
  US14/749,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20160033241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 102466, 102467, 102516, 102517, 102465
• 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

One embodiment of the present invention provides a polymeric ammunition having a metal injection molded primer insert.

Claims

1. An ammunition having an injection molded primer insert comprising:

an injection molded primer insert for polymer ammunition comprising

a top surface opposite a bottom surface,

a substantially cylindrical coupling element extending away from the bottom surface forming an interior surface inside the substantially cylindrical coupling element and

an exterior surface,

a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface,

a primer flash aperture positioned in the primer recess to extend through the bottom surface, and

a flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface, wherein the flange is adapted to receive a polymer overmolding;

a polymeric middle body extending from primer insert to a cylindrical middle body coupling region molded from a first polymer, wherein the first polymer is molded over the flange, the inner circumferential surface into the primer flash hole aperture to the flash hole groove and the outer surface and extends to the cylindrical middle body coupling region;

a diffuser inserted into the primer recess;

a primer inserted into the primer flash hole aperture;

a substantially cylindrical polymeric projectile end mated to the substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric projectile end comprises a projectile end coupling region that extends to a shoulder region that reduces to a neck region having a projectile aperture wherein the projectile end coupling region couples to the middle body coupling region;

a projectile frictionally fitted in the bullet-end aperture;

a propellant chamber defined between the primer flash aperture and the projectile aperture; and

a propellant at least partially filling the propellant chamber.

2. The ammunition of claim 1, wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises injection molding of one or more polymers, one or more metals, one or more alloys, or one or more ceramic alloys.

3. The ammunition of claim 1, wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises one or more metals.

4. The ammunition of claim 1, wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises 2-16% Ni;

10-20% Cr;

0-5% Mo;

0-0.6% C;

0-6.0% Cu;

0-0.5% Nb+Ta;

0-4.0% Mn;

0-2.0% Si and the balance Fe.

5. The ammunition of claim 1, wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises 2-6% Ni;

13.5-19.5% Cr;

0-0.10% C;

1-7.0% Cu;

0.05-0.65% Nb+Ta;

0-3.0% Mn;

0-3.0% Si and the balance Fe.

6. The ammunition of claim 1, wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises 3-5% Ni;

15.5-17.5% Cr;

0-0.07% C;

3-5.0% Cu;

0.15-0.45% Nb+Ta;

0-1.0% Mn;

0-1.0% Si and the balance Fe.

7. The ammunition of claim 1, wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises 10-14% Ni;

16-18% Cr;

2-3% Mo;

0-0.03% C;

0-2% Mn;

0-1% Si and the balance Fe.

8. The ammunition of claim 1, wherein the metal injection molded primer insert comprises 12-14% Cr;

0.15-0.4% C;

0-1% Mn;

0-1% Si and the balance Fe.

9. The ammunition of claim 1, wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises 16-18% Cr;

0-0.05% C;

0-1% Mn;

0-1% Si and the balance Fe.

10. The ammunition of claim 1, wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises 3-12% aluminum, 2-8% vanadium, 0.1-0.75% iron, 0.1-0.5% oxygen, and the remainder titanium.

11. The ammunition of claim 1, wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises about 6% aluminum, about 4% vanadium, about 0.25% iron, about 0.2% oxygen, and the remainder titanium.

12. The ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first polymer composition is the same as the second polymer composition.

13. The ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first polymer composition, the second polymer composition or both comprise a nylon polymer.

14. The ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first polymer composition, the second polymer composition or both comprise a fiber-reinforced polymeric composite.

15. The ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first polymer composition, the second polymer composition or both comprise between about 10 and about 70 wt % glass fiber fillers, mineral fillers, or mixtures thereof.

16. The ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the bullet aperture comprises one or more cannelures formed on an inner circumferential surface of the bullet aperture.

17. The ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the substantially cylindrical coupling region and the polymeric bullet-end coupling are welded or bonded together.

18. The ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first polymer composition, the second polymer composition or both comprise 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.

19. The ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the injection molded primer insert is about 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 percent smaller than a precured injection molded primer insert.

20. The ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the flange is a combination of a circumferential groove and one or more notches.

21. The ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the flange comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 notches positioned circumferential, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 scallops positioned circumferential or both.