Metal Injection Molded Cased Telescoped Ammunition

• US 20180066925A1
• Filed: 10/11/2017
• Published: 03/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Concurrent Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Concurrent Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Skowron, Todd, Valencia, Juan, Rhodes, Shawn
• Granted Patent: US 10,871,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B21K 21/04 Shaping thin-walled hollow articles, e.g. cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B21K 21/14 closed or substantially-closed ends, e.g. cartridge bottoms
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 1/10 Metallic powder containing lubricating or binding agents; Metallic powder containing organic material
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 1/107 containing organic material comprising solvents, e.g. for slip casting
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2998/10 Processes characterised by the sequence of their steps
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/1021 Removal of binder or filler removal of binder from ceramics C04B35/638
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/1025 not by heating only
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/16 in successive or repeated steps
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/225 by injection molding
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 7/08 with one or more parts not made from powder B22F7/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/00 Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor injection blow-moulding B29C49/06
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/00 Manufacture of ammunition; Dismantling of ammunition; Apparatus therefor F42B5/188 takes precedence; manufacturing processes for hollow charges F42B1/036; manufacture of blasting cartridge initiators F42B3/195
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/045 of telescopic type F42B5/184 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/28 of metal , i.e. the cartridge-case tube is of metal
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/285 formed by assembling several elements

Abstract

Disclosed is a cartridge case for various caliber ammunition that can consist essentially of a powdered metal and/or powdered metal alloy(s) that is formed into the cartridge case through an injection mold processing. Also disclosed is a method for forming a cartridge case, which may include use of Metal Injection Molding (“MIM”) processes to produce the cartridge case which retains a primer, propellant, and/or a bullet. Also disclosed are embodiments related to a case telescoped cartridge that may include a cap and a body. The body can consist essentially of or consists entirely of a powdered metal and/or powdered metal alloy(s) that has been formed through MIM. The cap can comprise plastic that has been formed through plastic molding or comprise powdered metal and/or powdered metal alloy(s) that has been formed through MIM.

Claims

1. A method for producing a cartridge case, the method comprising:

subjecting a Metal Injection Molding (MIM) material to an MIM process to form an elongated member with a head at its first end, a mouth at its second end, and a body lying between the head and the mouth;

wherein the body further comprises sidewalls conjoined with a base to form a hollow cavity;

wherein the head further comprises the base; and

,

wherein the mouth is further configured to receive a projectile.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein:

the hollow cavity is configured to contain propellant; and

the base further comprises a primer pocket structured to receive and retain a primer, the primer pocket further comprising a vent formed within the primer pocket that extends from the primer pocket to the hollow cavity.

3. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising generating an end cap.

4. The method recited in claim 3, wherein the elongated member is produced by a first MIM material and the end cap is produced by at least one of plastic injection molding a polymer and MIM processing a second MIM material.

5. The method recited in claim 3, further comprising configuring the end cap to slidably insert into the mouth.

6. The method recited in claim 3, further comprising configuring the end cap to receive and retain the projectile.

7. The method recited in claim 3, further comprising configuring the end cap to generate a seal between the end cap and at least one of the elongated member and the projectile.

8. The method recited in claim 3, further comprising configuring the body and/or the end cap to at least partially envelop the projectile.

9. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the elongated member consists essentially of powdered metal and/or powdered metal alloy(s) that has been subjected to the MIM process.

10. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the elongated member consists of powdered metal and/or powdered metal alloy(s) that has been subjected to the MIM process.

11. The method recited in claim 3, wherein the end cap consists essentially of powdered metal and/or powdered metal alloy(s) that has been subjected to the MIM process.

12. The method recited in claim 3, wherein the end cap consists of powdered metal and/or powdered metal alloy(s) that has been subjected to the MIM process.

13. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising using an analytical technique to generate variables representing factors and characteristics associated with enabling the cartridge case to be made via the MIM processes and to enable an MIM generated cartridge case to function properly during subsequent use as ammunition in a weapon.

14. The method recited in claim 4, further comprising using an analytical technique to generate variables representing factors and characteristics associated with enabling the cartridge case and/or the end cap to be made via the MIM processes and to enable the MIM generated cartridge case and/or end cap to function properly during subsequent use as ammunition in a weapon.

15. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising mixing or kneading powdered metal and/or powdered metal alloy(s) with a binder material to form the MIM material.

16. The method recited in claim 15, further comprising:

at least partially melting the binder material to form a semisolid metal-binder slurry;

injecting the semisolid metal-binder slurry into a die cavity to form a green preform;

thermally debinding and/or chemically debinding the green preform to generate a net-shape component; and

,

sintering the net-shape component for densification and to generate the elongated member.

17. The method recited in claim 4, further comprising mixing or kneading powdered metal and/or powdered metal alloy(s) with a binder material to form the first MIM material and/or the second MIM material.

18. The method recited in claim 17, further comprising:

at least partially melting the binder material to form a semisolid metal-binder slurry;

injecting the semisolid metal-binder slurry into a die cavity to form a green preform;

thermally debinding and/or chemically debinding the green preform to generate a net-shape component; and

,

sintering the net-shape component for densification and to generate the elongated member and/or the end cap.

19. A cartridge case comprising a body with a head at a first distal end and a mouth at a second distal end, wherein the cartridge case consists essentially of powdered metal and/or powdered metal alloy(s) that is formed into the cartridge case through injection mold processing.

20. An end cap for a cartridge case comprising an elongated member with a first end, a second end, and a longitudinally formed hollow, wherein the end cap consists essentially of powdered metal and/or powdered metal alloy(s) that is formed into the end cap through injection mold processing.