Method of making a polymeric subsonic ammunition cartridge

• US 10,480,915 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• 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): Freeman, Joshua E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cochran, Bridget A
• Application Number:
  US14/725,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20160349028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 102439, 102466
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/745 the core being made of plastics; Compounds or blends of plastics and other materials, e.g. fillers
• 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 5/16 characterised by composition or physical dimensions or form of propellant charge, with or without projectile, or powder chemical composition C06B; F42B5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/307 formed by assembling several elements
• 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 a method of making a subsonic ammunition cartridge having a polymeric casing body having a generally cylindrical hollow polymer body having a body base at a first end thereof and a mouth at a second end to define a propellant chamber; a propellant insert positioned in the propellant chamber to reduce the internal volume of the propellant chamber, wherein the propellant chamber has an internal volume that is at least 10% less than the open internal volume of a standard casing of equivalent caliber; and a primer insert positioned in the body base and in communication with the propellant chamber.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a polymeric subsonic ammunition comprising the steps of:

providing a substantially cylindrical primer insert comprising a base having a top surface opposite a bottom surface, a substantially cylindrical coupling element that extends from the top surface;

a primer recess formed in the bottom surface;

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

a flash hole groove positioned in the primer recess around the primer flash hole aperture;

forming a substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body by overmolding the substantially cylindrical primer insert through the primer flash hole aperture into the flash hole groove and extending the overmolding to a substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling region;

providing a substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end component comprising

a substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end opposite a bullet aperture;

inserting a propellant insert into the propellant chamber to reduce the internal volume of the propellant chamber by at least 10% less;

coupling the substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end to the substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling region to form a propellant chamber that extends from the bullet aperture to the primer flash hole;

inserting a diffuser into the primer recess;

inserting a primer into the primer recess to contact the diffuser;

adding a propellant to the propellant chamber; and

inserting a projectile in the bullet aperture.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of inserting a propellant chamber insert into the propellant chamber to reduce the internal volume of the propellant chamber.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end component comprises a shoulder positioned between the substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end and the bullet aperture.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the internal volume that is about 10.1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25% less than the open internal volume of a standard casing of equivalent caliber.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the propellant chamber contains a propellant volume such that a projectile does not exceed a velocity of 1200 feet per second at sea level under standard atmospheric conditions when fired.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the propellant chamber contains a propellant volume such that a projectile does not exceed the velocity of 1086 feet per second at standard atmospheric conditions when fired.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the projectile is secured to the bullet aperture by a mechanical interference, adhesive, ultrasonic welding, the combination of molding in place and adhesive, or hot crimping after molding.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body comprises 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.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end component comprises 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.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the propellant insert comprises 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 method of claim 2, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body, the substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end component and the propellant insert independently comprise a material selected from the group consisting of polyphenylsulfone, polycarbonate, and polyamide.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body, the substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end component and the propellant insert independently comprise at least one additive selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, lubricants, molding agents, fillers, thermo-oxidative stabilizers, flame-retardants, coloring agents, compatibilizers, impact modifiers, release agents, reinforcing fibers and reinforcing agents.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the propellant insert has a substantially cylindrical shape or a free formed shape.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the propellant insert has a one or more ribs extending into the propellant chamber.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the propellant insert has a radial cross-section selected from the group consisting of circular, ovoid, octagonal, hexagonal, triangular, star, ribbed, square and a combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the radial cross-section of the propellant chamber is irregular in shape or tapers along its longitudinal length.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein the substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body, the substantially cylindrical polymeric bullet-end component and the propellant insert independently comprise the same polymeric material or different polymeric materials.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein the propellant chamber is formed of a separate propellant insert disposed within the internal cavity of the generally cylindrical hollow polymer body.

19. The method of claim 2, further comprising a diffuser ring positioned in the primer recess between the primer and the flash hole groove.