Lightweight Cartridge Case and Weapon System

• US 20170328690A1
• 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:
  US15/587,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20170328690A1
• 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 rifle for firing high pressure ammunition, the rifle 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.

2. The rifle of claim 1 wherein the operating pressure is in the range of approximately 30,000 pounds per square inch to approximately 200,000 pounds per square inch.

3. The rifle of claim 1 wherein when the rifle is in a chambered state, an interior surface of the barrel chamber extends the length of the chambered cartridge case such that the entire chambered cartridge case is supported by the chamber.

4. The rifle of claim 1 wherein the rear extraction mechanism comprises a gas extraction mechanism.

5. The rifle of claim 4 wherein the gas extraction mechanism is operated by a residual bore pressure remaining in the chamber after unlocking of a bolt of the rifle.

6. The rifle of claim 4 wherein the gas extraction mechanism further comprises a reservoir for storing a stored propellant gases created during the firing of the ammunition and an inlet passage for reintroducing the stored propellant gases into the chamber.

7. The rifle of claim 4 wherein the gas extraction mechanism further comprises an external tank holding pressurized gas for introduction into the chamber of the rifle after firing of the cartridge case.

8. The rifle of claim 1 wherein the rear extraction mechanism comprises a bolt having a recessed bolt face further comprising a tapered undercut wall configured for interfacing with an expanding cartridge case.

9. A high pressure lightweight ammunition round configured for being fully supported by a barrel chamber and comprising a cartridge case having an outer surface wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, the outer surface is substantially devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor.

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

11. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 9 wherein the cartridge case is formed of a metal material.

12. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 11 wherein the cartridge case is formed of an aluminum material.

13. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 9 wherein the cartridge case is formed of a polymer material.

14. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 9 wherein upon firing of the ammunition round, the cartridge case of the ammunition round expands into a tapered undercut wall of a recessed bolt face of a bolt thereby facilitating extraction of the round by the bolt.

15. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 9 wherein the cartridge case further comprises an annular groove for interfacing with a rear tab of a push through link wherein the annular groove is defined by an outer surface of the cartridge case and extending along an outer diameter of the outer surface.

16. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 15 wherein the annular groove is sized and dimensioned to interface with an M27 push through link.

17. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 15 wherein the annular groove is sized and dimensioned to interface with an M13 push through link.

18. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 15 wherein the annular groove is sized and dimensioned to interface with an M15 push through link.

19. The high pressure ammunition round of claim 15 wherein the annular groove is fire formed to a barrel chamber upon firing of the high pressure of the ammunition round.

20. A rifle system comprising:

a high pressure ammunition round further comprising a cartridge case having an outer surface wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, the outer surface is substantially devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor; and

a 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.

21. The rifle system of claim 20 wherein when the rifle is in a chambered state, an interior surface of the barrel chamber extends the length of the chambered cartridge case such that the entire chambered cartridge case is supported by the chamber.

22. The rifle system of claim 20 wherein the rear extraction mechanism of the rifle comprises a gas extraction mechanism.

23. The rifle system of claim 22 wherein the gas extraction mechanism of the rifle is powered by a residual bore pressure remaining in the chamber after unlocking of a bolt.

24. The rifle system of claim 22 wherein the gas extraction mechanism of the rifle further comprises a reservoir for storing a stored propellant gases created during the firing of the ammunition and an inlet passage for reintroducing the stored propellant gases into the chamber.

25. The rifle system of claim 22 wherein the gas extraction mechanism of the rifle further comprises an external tank holding pressurized gas for introduction into the chamber of the rifle after firing of the cartridge case.

26. The rifle system of claim 20 wherein the rear extraction mechanism of the rifle comprises a bolt having a recessed bolt face further comprising a tapered undercut wall configured for receiving an expanding cartridge case.

27. The rifle system of claim 26 wherein the cartridge case of the ammunition round is configured for expanding into the tapered undercut wall upon firing of the ammunition round thereby forming the rear extraction mechanism.

28. The rifle system of claim 20 wherein a body region of the cartridge case extends to a base of the cartridge case.

29. The rifle system of claim 20 wherein the cartridge case is formed of a metal material.

30. The rifle system of claim 20 wherein the cartridge case is formed of a polymer material.