Method of making a metal injection molded ammunition cartridge

• US 10,612,896 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2018
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• 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): Johnson, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US16/017,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20180306557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0046 Details relating to the filling pattern or flow paths or flow characteristics of moulding material in the mould cavity
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/02 Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/26 Cartridge cases F42B5/18 takes precedence ; manufacturing of cartridge cases B21K21/04
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/285 formed by assembling several elements
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/36 modified for housing an integral firing-cap

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of making a metal injection molded ammunition cartridge comprising the steps of: providing an ammunition cartridge mold comprising a bottom portion having a primer recess extending into the bottom portion adapted to receive a primer, a flash hole positioned in the primer recess through the bottom surface; side walls extending from the bottom portion to a nose end aperture, wherein a propellant chamber is formed between the nose end aperture and the bottom surface; injecting a metal composition into the ammunition cartridge mold to form a metal injection molded ammunition cartridge; and removing the metal injection molded ammunition cartridge from the ammunition cartridge mold.

Claims

1. A method of making a metal injection molded ammunition cartridge comprising the steps of:

providing an ammunition cartridge mold;

injecting a metal composition into the ammunition cartridge mold to form a metal injection molded ammunition cartridge comprising a bottom surface, an extraction flange positioned around the bottom surface;

a side wall extending from the extraction flange toward a nose end to form a nose end aperture;

a propellant chamber extending from the nose end aperture to the bottom surface;

a primer recess extending partially through the bottom surface;

a flash hole extending from the primer recess to the propellant chamber to allow passage between the propellant chamber and the primer recess;

wherein the metal composition comprises stainless steel, ceramic alloys, copper/cobalt/nickel/custom alloys, tungsten, tungsten carbide, carballoy, ferro-tungsten, titanium, copper, cobalt, nickel, alumina oxide, zirconia and aluminum; and

removing the metal injection molded ammunition cartridge from the ammunition cartridge mold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a shoulder in the metal injection molded ammunition cartridge.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of forming a neck between the shoulder and the nose end aperture to form a projectile aperture.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal injection molded ammunition cartridge is a 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm, 308, 338, 3030, 3006, 50 caliber, 45 caliber, 380 caliber, 38 caliber, 9 mm, 10 mm, 12.7 mm, 14.5 mm, or 14.7 mm ammunition cartridge.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal injection molded ammunition cartridge is 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 57 mm, 60 mm, 75 mm, 76 mm, 81 mm, 90 mm, 100 mm, 105 mm, 106 mm, 115 mm, 120 mm, 122 mm, 125 mm, 130 mm, 152 mm, 155 mm, 165 mm, 175 mm, 203 mm, 460 mm, 8 inch, or 4.2 inch.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal composition 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.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal composition comprises (a) 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;

(b) 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;

(c) 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;

or (d) 10-14% Ni;

16-18% Cr;

2-3% Mo;

0-0.03% C;

0-2% Mn;

0-1% Si and the balance Fe.

8. A method of making a metal injection molded ammunition cartridge comprises the steps of:

providing an ammunition cartridge mold;

injecting a metal composition into the ammunition cartridge mold to form a metal injection molded ammunition cartridge comprising a bottom surface, an extraction flange positioned around the bottom surface;

a side wall extending from the extraction flange toward a nose end to form a nose end aperture;

a propellant chamber extending from the nose end aperture to the bottom surface;

a primer recess extending partially through the bottom surface;

a flash hole extending from the primer recess to the propellant chamber to allow passage between the propellant chamber and the primer recess;

wherein the metal composition comprises

a) 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;

b) 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;

c) 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;

d) 10-14% Ni;

16-18% Cr;

2-3% Mo;

0-0.03% C;

0-2% Mn;

0-1% Si and the balance Fe;

e) 12-14% Cr;

0.15-0.4% C;

0-1% Mn;

0-1% Si and the balance Fe;

f) 16-18% Cr;

0-0.05% C;

0-1% Mn;

0-1% Si and the balance Fe;

g) 3-12% aluminum, 2-8% vanadium, 0.1-0.75% iron, 0.1-0.5% oxygen, and the remainder titanium;

or

h) about 6% aluminum, about 4% vanadium, about 0.25% iron, about 0.2% oxygen, and the remainder titanium; and

removing the metal injection molded ammunition cartridge from the ammunition cartridge mold.

9. A method of making a metal injection molded ammunition cartridge comprising the steps of:

injecting molding a metal injection molded ammunition cartridge comprising a bottom surface, an extraction flange positioned around the bottom surface;

a side wall extending from the extraction flange toward a nose end to form a nose end aperture;

a propellant chamber extending from the nose end aperture to the bottom surface;

a primer recess extending partially through the bottom surface;

a flash hole extending from the primer recess to the propellant chamber to allow passage between the propellant chamber and the primer recess;

wherein the metal injection molded ammunition cartridge 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;

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;

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;

10-14% Ni;

16-18% Cr;

2-3% Mo;

0-0.03% C;

0-2% Mn;

0-1% Si and the balance Fe;

12-14% Cr;

0.15-0.4% C;

0-1% Mn;

0-1% Si and the balance Fe;

16-18% Cr;

0-0.05% C;

0-1% Mn;

0-1% Si and the balance Fe;

3-12% aluminum, 2-8% vanadium, 0.1-0.75% iron, 0.1-0.5% oxygen, and the remainder titanium;

or 6% aluminum, about 4% vanadium, about 0.25% iron, about 0.2% oxygen, and the remainder titanium.