SUBSONIC POLYMERIC AMMUNITION CARTRIDGE

• US 20160349023A1
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: True Velocity, Inc.
• Original Assignee: True Velocity, Inc.
• Inventors: Burrow, Lonnie
• Granted Patent: US 10,429,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/307 formed by assembling several elements

Abstract

The present invention provides a subsonic ammunition cartridge including a polymeric casing body comprising 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 at the body base and in communication with the propellant chamber.

Claims

1. A subsonic ammunition cartridge comprising:

a polymeric casing body comprising 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 at the body base and in communication with the propellant chamber.

2. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the primer insert is overmolded into the polymeric casing body.

3. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the internal volume that is about 10.5, 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

4. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the internal volume does not contain enough of a propellant for a projectile to exceed the velocity of 1200 feet per second at sea level under standard atmospheric conditions when fired.

5. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the internal volume does not contain enough of a propellant for a projectile to exceed the velocity of 1086 feet per second at standard atmospheric conditions when fired.

6. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the polymer body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyphenylsulfone, polycarbonate, and polyamide.

7. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the polymeric casing 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.

8. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, 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.

9. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, further comprising 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.

10. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the propellant insert has a substantially cylindrical shape.

11. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the propellant insert has a free formed shape.

12. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the propellant insert has a one or more ribs extending into the propellant chamber.

13. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, 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.

14. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the radial cross-section of the propellant chamber is irregular along its longitudinal length.

15. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the radial size of the propellant chamber tapers along its longitudinal direction.

16. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the polymeric casing body and propellant insert are formed of different polymeric materials.

17. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the polymeric casing body and propellant insert are formed of the same polymeric materials.

18. The subsonic ammunition cartridge of claim 1, wherein the propellant chamber is formed of a separate propellant insert disposed within the internal cavity of the generally cylindrical hollow polymer body.

19. An ammunition case subsonic propellant insert comprising:

a polymeric propellant insert adapted to fit in a propellant chamber of an ammunition case to reduce an internal volume by at least 10% that of a standard casing of equivalent caliber.

20. The ammunition case subsonic propellant insert of claim 19, wherein the polymeric propellant insert 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.