Lightweight Cartridge Case

• US 20170328689A1
• Filed: 05/05/2017
• Published: 11/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United States Secretary of the Army
• Original Assignee: United States Secretary of the Army
• Inventors: Dindl, Frank
• Application Number:
  US15/587,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20170328689A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 15/00 Cartridge extractors, i.e. devices for pulling cartridges or cartridge cases at least partially out of the cartridge chamber; Cartridge ejectors, i.e. devices for throwing the extracted cartridges or cartridge cases free of the gun F41A9/54, F41C9/08 take precedence; Means for removing duds or misfires in rocket throwers F41F3/058
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 15/04 specially adapted for cartridge cases being deformed when fired, e.g. of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 15/12 for bolt-action guns
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/28 Gas-expansion chambers; Barrels provided with gas-relieving ports F41A1/06, F41A13/08 and F41A21/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/62 with pressure supplied by a gas cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 39/087 Feed belts manufactured from fabric or plastics material
• 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 5/28 of metal , i.e. the cartridge-case tube is of metal
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/30 of plastics , i.e. the cartridge-case tube is of plastics
• 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 rifle system comprises a rifle and an ammunition round for operation with the rifle. The high pressure ammunition round further comprises a cartridge case having an outer wall wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, the outer wall geometry of the cartridge case is devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor. The rifle further comprising a barrel chamber which fully supports a chambered cartridge case and a rear extraction mechanism for extracting a spent cartridge case through the rear of the barrel chamber.

Claims

1. A high pressure ammunition round configured for being fully supported within a weapon barrel and comprising a cartridge case having a thin walled body region of uniform thickness extending to a base of the cartridge case and a consolidated propellant charge wherein the consolidated propellant charge further comprises a primer cup recess.

2. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 1 further comprising an anvil for impinging the primer material between an indented portion of the cartridge case and the anvil.

3. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 1 wherein bottom surface of the consolidated propellant charge serves as an anvil.

4. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 1 further comprising a peripheral anvil disposed between the consolidated propellant charge and the primer composition.

5. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 1 wherein the cartridge case is formed of a metal material.

6. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 1 wherein the cartridge case is formed of a polymer material.

7. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 1 wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, an outer surface of the cartridge case is devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor and wherein the outer surface further comprises an annular groove for interfacing with a rear tab of a push through link.

8. A high pressure ammunition round configured for being fully supported within a weapon barrel and comprising a cartridge case having a thin walled body region of uniform thickness and a primer cup integral to the cartridge case.

9. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 8 wherein the primer cup is a recess formed in an interior surface of the base and further comprising an anvil disposed partially in the recess and between a primer composition and a propellant charge.

10. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 9 wherein the cartridge case further comprises a head region surrounding the primer cup and the anvil.

11. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 9 wherein the body of the cartridge case extends to the base.

12. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 8 wherein the cartridge case is formed of a metal material.

13. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 8 wherein the cartridge case is formed of a polymer material.

14. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 8 wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, an outer surface of the cartridge case is devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor and wherein the outer surface further comprises an annular groove for interfacing with a rear tab of a push through link.

15. A high pressure ammunition round configured for being fully supported within a weapon barrel and comprising a cartridge case configured for receiving a peripheral primer cup, wherein the cartridge case further comprises a thin walled body region of uniform thickness, a head region configured for partially receiving a base unit and the base unit configured for mating with the head region and receiving the peripheral primer cup.

16. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 15 wherein the peripheral primer cup is a Berdan primer cup.

17. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 15 wherein an inner circumferential surface of the head region and an outer circumferential surface of the base unit comprise reciprocal mating features for attaching the base unit to the head region.

18. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 15 wherein the cartridge case is formed of a metal material.

19. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 15 wherein the cartridge case is formed of a polymer material.

20. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 15 wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, an outer surface of the cartridge case is devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor and wherein the outer surface further comprises an annular groove for interfacing with a rear tab of a push through link.

21. A high pressure ammunition round configured for being fully supported within a weapon barrel and comprising a cartridge case having an integral primer cup formed at the intersection of a head region and a base unit.

22. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 21 wherein the primer cup comprises an interior surface of the base unit and a recess formed in an exterior surface of the head region and wherein the head region further comprises an anvil formed by the exterior surface.

23. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 21 wherein the base unit is configured for partially receiving the head region.

24. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 21 wherein the head region and a base region are made of polymer material.

25. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 21 wherein the base unit is made of metal material.

26. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 21 wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, an outer surface of the cartridge case is devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor and wherein the outer surface further comprises an annular groove for interfacing with a rear tab of a push through link.