Combustible ammunition cartridge case

• US 5,138,949 A
• Filed: 09/20/1990
• Issued: 08/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Primex Technologies Inc (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: OLIN Corporation
• Inventors: Swartout, Terry L., Connolly, Terence, Ehlers, Stephen B., Field, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): TUDOR, HAROLD JAY
• Application Number:
  US07/585,423
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 102/430, 102/431, 102/432, 102/433, 102/439, 102/465, 102/466, 102/467, 102/700
• US Class Current: 102/431
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/067 Mounting or locking missiles in cartridge cases F42B5/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/181 consisting of a combustible casing wall and a metal base; Connectors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/192 Cartridge cases characterised by the material of the casing wall cartridge bags F42B5/38
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 102/70 Combustilbe cartridge

Abstract

An ammunition cartridge is disclosed comprising a projectile threadably attached to a combustible case body via a threaded combustible case adapter. At least one of the adapter end have an uniform density of polyurethane resin to provide strength and sufficient support for the threads. The combustible case body may also have an uniform resin density to support threads corresponding to those on the rear end of the adapter. The preferable uniform polyurethane density is about 0.75 grams per cubic centimeter.

Claims

1. An ammunition cartridge comprising:

a combustible case body having a tubular shaped wall with a central portion and at least one threaded open end portion, said central portion having a radial density gradient of a plastic resin across said wall, said threaded end portion of said body having a uniform cross sectional density of said plastic resin; and

a hollow combustible adapter tube attached to said case body, said adapter tube having a central portion with a radial cross sectional density gradient of said plastic resin and at least one threaded end portion having a uniform cross sectional density of said plastic resin wherein said open end portion of said case body is threaded to said one threaded end of said adapter tube.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said plastic resin is polyurethane.

3. The cartridge according to claim 1 wherein another threaded end portion of said adapter tube is threadably engaged with a projectile.

4. The cartridge according to claim 3 wherein said adapter tube has a generally frustoconical shape.

5. The cartridge according to claim 3 wherein said another end portion has a uniform cross sectional density of said plastic resin.

6. In an ammunition cartridge having a combustible case containing a propellant charge and a projectile attached to said case, said case comprising:

a combustible tubular body having a central portion and at least one threaded end portion, said central portion having a first felt density and a radial density gradient of a plastic resin, said one end portion having a second felt density lower than said first felt density, and a uniform cross sectional density of said plastic resin; and

a threaded combustible adapter having one end portion threadably attached to the one threaded end portion of said body, said end portion of said adapter having a uniform cross sectional density of said plastic resin.

7. The cartridge according to claim 6 wherein said adapter has another end portion having threads engaging corresponding threads on said projectile to fasten said projectile and said adapter together.