NARROWING HIGH STRENGTH POLYMER-BASED CARTRIDGE CASING FOR BLANK AND SUBSONIC AMMUNITION

• US 20130014664A1
• Filed: 07/13/2012
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pcp Tactical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pcp Ammunition Company LLC
• Inventors: Padgett, Tony
• Granted Patent: US 8,763,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/439
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/76 of the casing
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/02 Filling cartridges, missiles, or fuzes; Inserting propellant or explosive charges F42B33/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/307 formed by assembling several elements
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/313 all elements made of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 8/04 Blank cartridges, i.e. primed cartridges without projectile but containing an explosive or combustible powder charge

Abstract

A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing includes an upper component of polymer, a bullet of a standard weight, a lower component of polymer, and an insert. The upper component has a shoulder portion and an upper component inner wall has a first slope extending from the shoulder. The lower component has a lower component inner wall having a second slope. The upper and lower component inner walls form a propellant chamber; and the first and second slopes reduce a volume of the propellant chamber. The reduced volume of the propellant chamber permits only enough propellant to propel a bullet engaged in the cartridge casing at subsonic speeds.

Claims

1. A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing for at least one of blank or subsonic ammunition comprising:

an upper component, molded from a polymer, comprising;

a first end having a mouth;

at least an upper inner wall between the first end and a second end of the upper component opposite the first end;

at least one of an overlap portion and a underskirt portion extending from the wall near the second end;

a lower component, molded from a polymer, comprising;

at least one of a tapered portion and an outer tapered portion that engages at least one of the overlap portion and the underskirt portions, respectively, to join the upper and the lower components;

at least a lower inner wall between the upper component and an flash hole;

wherein the upper inner wall and the lower inner wall slope to reduce a volume of a propellant chamber formed by the upper and lower inner walls.

2. The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 1, wherein the reduced volume of the propellant chamber permits only enough propellant to propel a bullet engaged in the cartridge casing at subsonic speeds.

3. The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 1, wherein the upper component further comprises:

an extension engaged at the mouth; and

a cap engaged to an end of the extension opposite the mouth;

wherein the cap elastically deforms when the cartridge is fired.

4. The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 1, wherein a length of the upper component is greater than a length of the lower component.

5. The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 1, wherein a length of the lower component is greater than a length of the upper component.

6. A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing for at least one of blank or subsonic ammunition comprising:

an upper component, molded from a polymer;

a bullet, having a standard weight, removably engaged with the upper component;

a lower component, molded from a polymer, and engaged the upper component;

an insert engaged to the lower component;

a shoulder portion of the upper component;

an upper component inner wall having a first slope extending from the shoulder and directed toward the lower component; and

a lower component inner wall having a second slope extending from the upper component toward the insert;

wherein the upper and lower component inner walls form a propellant chamber; and

wherein the first and second slopes reduce a volume of the propellant chamber.

7. The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6, wherein the reduced volume of the propellant chamber permits only enough propellant to propel the bullet at subsonic speeds.

8. The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6, wherein the standard weight of the bullet is less than one of 125%, 120%, 115%, 110%, and 105% of a maximum weight of the bullet at a particular caliber.

9. The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6, wherein the first slope equals the second slope.

10. The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6, wherein the first slope does not equal the second slope.

11. The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6, wherein the first slope and the second slope narrow the propellant chamber as the first and second slopes progress toward the insert.

12. The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6, wherein the first slope and the second slope narrow the propellant chamber as the first and second slopes progress toward the shoulder.

13. The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6, further comprising:

a first diameter of the upper component inner wall; and

a second diameter of the lower component inner wall;

wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.

14. The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6, further comprising:

a first diameter of the upper component inner wall; and

a second diameter of the lower component inner wall;

wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter.

15. The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of claim 6, further comprising and adhesive disposed between the bullet and the upper component.