Process for direct shaping and optimization of the mechanical characteristics of penetrating projectiles of high-density tungsten alloy

• US 5,069,869 A
• Filed: 05/03/1991
• Issued: 12/03/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CIME Bocuze SA
• Original Assignee: Cime Bocuze
• Inventors: Nicolas, Jean-Claude, Saulnier, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunt, Brooks H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/697,500
• Time in Patent Office: 214 Days
• Field of Search: 419/25, 419/28, 419/29, 75/224, 75/126, 102/517, 102/518, 102/519
• US Class Current: 419/28
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 1/045 Alloys based on refractory metals
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/74 of the core or solid body

Abstract

A process for shaping penetrating projectiles useful in the manufacture of military ammunition, comprising: preparing an alloy of tungsten, nickel, iron and copper by powder metallurgy, compacting the alloy mass into a rough shaped blank having an axis of revolution, sintering the rough shaped blanks thereby producing a blank having a density of at least 17,000 kg/m³, and work-hardening the sintered blank at a temperature ranging from ambient temperature to 500° C., thereby producing a blank having a variable degree of reduction in section in a direction parallel to the axis of the blank.

Claims

1. In a process for making penetrating projectiles useful in the manufacture of military ammunition, the steps consisting essentially of:

preparing a homogeneous alloy of tungsten, nickel and a metal selected from the group consisting of iron and copper by powder metallurgy;

compacting the alloy mass into a rough shaped blank having an axis of revolution;

sintering the rough shaped blank thereby producing a blank having a density of at least 17,000 kg/m³ ; and

without machining;

work-hardening in a rotary hammering operation, the sintered blank at a temperature ranging from ambient temperature to 500°

C., according to the profile defined by the shape of the desired projectile, thereby directly producing, without final machining, the desired projectile having a degree of reduction varying from 5% to 60% in section, and a diameter essentially variable, in a direction parallel to the axis of said projectile, the travel of the hammers being controlled so that the dimensions of the penetrator with regard to diameter have a tolerance of ±

0.05 mm.

2. In a process for making penetrators useful in the manufacture of military ammunition, the steps consisting essentially of:

preparing a homogeneous alloy of tungsten, nickel, and a metal selected from the group consisting of iron and copper by powder metallurgy;

compacting the alloy mass into a rough shaped blank having an axis of revolution;

sintering the rough shaped blank thereby producing a blank having a density of at least 17,000 kg/m³ ; and

without machining;

work-hardening in a rotary hammering operation, the sintered blank at a temperature ranging from ambient temperature to 500°

C., according to the profile defined by the shape of the desired penetrator, thereby directly producing, without final machining, the desired penetrator having a degree of reduction varying from 5% to 60% in section, and a diameter essentially variable, in a direction parallel to the axis of said penetrator, the travel of the hammers being controlled so that the dimensions of the penetrator with regard to diameter have a tolerance of ±

0.05 mm.

3. The process according to claim 2, wherein the alloy is a W-Ni-Fe or W-Ni-Cu alloy prepared from a mixture of appropriate metal powders and wherein a given alloy mass is compressed in a shaping mold and then sintered in hydrogen at a temperature between 1400°

C. and 1600°

C.

4. The process according to claim 3, wherein the alloy mass is compression molded into a cylindrical or parallelpiped shape.

5. The process according to claim 2, wherein work-hardening treatment which achieves a reduction in section is a rotary hammering operation.

6. The process according to claim 5, wherein the rotary hammering operation is produced by means of a hammering apparatus having a rotary-alternating action and fitted with a shaping tool arrangement comprising at least two hammers.