Blank cartridge for firearms

• US 5,907,121 A
• Filed: 12/12/1996
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wolfhart Fritze
• Original Assignee: Wolfhart Fritze
• Inventors: Fritze, Wolfhart
• Primary Examiner(s): TUDOR, HAROLD JAY
• Application Number:
  US08/764,360
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 102/435, 102/439, 102/442, 102/444-447, 102/511, 102/529, 102/530, 102/531
• US Class Current: 102/530
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/025 characterised by the dimension of the case or the missile
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/24 for cleaning; for cooling; for lubricating ; for wear reducing
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 8/14 disintegrating in flight or upon impact

Abstract

The invention concerns a blank cartridge for firearms, with a cartridge casing, whose dimensions correspond to a comparable live cartridge, a propellant charge, and a projectile which can decompose in the barrel of the firearm. The projectile is comprised of a material which contains particles of explosive material and, consequently, deflagrates automatically after the ignition caused by firing (while still in the barrel) and, thus, is consumed within an interval of time which is shorter than the time in which an otherwise identical noncombustible projectile requires to arrive at the muzzle. The decomposition of the projectile does not take place mechanically, but rather thermally and reactively, whereby only a mixture of gases comprising propellant gases and the gaseous remains of the projectile come out of the muzzle, thus substantially eliminating the need for any safety zone in front of the muzzle. According to one embodiment, the projectile material may further comprise an anti-corrosion and/or barrel-lubricating additive which vaporizes upon combustion, while the deflagrating projectile passes through the barrel, and is deposited on the respective adjacent inner wall of the barrel.

Claims

1. A blank cartridge for firearms comprising:

a cartridge casing so dimensioned as to correspond, at least in the bottom region, to a live cartridge;

a projectile engageable with said cartridge casing, and extending outwardly from a front end of said cartridge casing said projectile completely, reactively, and thermally decomposing within a barrel of a firearm, said projectile comprising a material which contains particles of explosive material such that said projectile automatically and completely deflagrates while still inside the barrel of the firearm after ignition of said explosive material upon firing of the firearm and leaves the barrel in a gaseous state; and

,

a propellant charge in association with said cartridge casing and said projectile.

2. The blank cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said projectile further comprises a binder by which said particles of explosive material are held together.

3. The blank cartridge according to claim 2 wherein said binder comprises an organic material.

4. The blank cartridge according to claim 3 wherein said organic material is selected from the group consisting of plastics and polymers.

5. The blank cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said projectile material further comprises a barrel-lubricating additive.

6. The blank cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said projectile material further comprises an anticorrosion additive.

7. The blank cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said projectile material further comprises an additive which intensifies the muzzle flash.

8. The blank cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said projectile further comprises an abrasion resistant jacket and a core.

9. The blank cartridge according to claim 8 wherein said abrasion resistant jacket and said core have a different material composition.

10. The blank cartridge according to claim 9 wherein said core comprises a more rapidly deflagrating material than said jacket.

11. The blank cartridge according to claim 9 wherein said core comprises a more readily ignitable material than said jacket.

12. The blank cartridge according to claim 8, wherein said cartridge casing comprises an inward turned edge engageable with said projectile and wherein said abrasion resistant jacket comprises an external surface having a circumferential bead for form-fitting engagement with said inward turned edge of said cartridge casing.

13. The blank cartridge according to claim 8 wherein said propellant charge is applied on said projectile core.

14. The blank cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said cartridge casing comprises an inward turned edge engageable with said projectile and wherein said projectile comprises an external surface having a circumferential bead for form fitting engagement with said inward turned edge of said cartridge casing.

15. The blank cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said propellant charge is applied on said projectile.

16. The blank cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said propellant charge further comprises a hollow central column connected to said projectile and extending axially and substantially to the bottom of said cartridge casing.

17. The blank cartridge according to claim 3 wherein said propellant charge further comprises a hollow central column integral with said projectile.

18. The blank cartridge according to claim 8 wherein said propellant charge further comprises a hollow central column connected to said projectile and extending axially and substantially to the bottom of said cartridge casing.

19. The blank cartridge according to claim 8 wherein said propellant charge further comprises a hollow central column integral with said projectile.

20. The blank cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said projectile and at least a part of said propellant charge form a single, uniform charging body.

21. The blank cartridge according to claim 20 wherein said cartridge casing is substantially cylindrical having a front end and a bottom.

22. The blank cartridge according to claim 21 wherein said charging body extends axially within said cartridge casing from substantially at the bottom of said cartridge casing to at least the front end of said cartridge casing.

23. The blank cartridge according to claim 21 further comprising detonation powder disposed about the bottom of said cartridge casing.

24. The blank cartridge according to claim 23 wherein said charging body extends axially within said cartridge casing from substantially at said detonation powder to at least the front end of said cartridge casing.

25. The blank cartridge according to claim 22 wherein said charging body extends outwardly from the front end of said cartridge casing, and wherein the portion of said charging body which extends outwardly from the front end of said cartridge casing is so dimensioned as to correspond to the top region of a live cartridge.

26. The blank cartridge according to claim 24 wherein said charging body extends outwardly from the front end of said cartridge casing, and wherein the portion of said charging body which extends outwardly from the front end of said cartridge casing is so dimensioned as to correspond to the top region of a live cartridge.

27. A blank cartridge for firearms comprising:

a cartridge casing;

a projectile engageable with said cartridge casing and extending outwardly from a front end of said cartridge casing, said projectile completely, reactively, and thermally decomposing with a barrel of a firearm, said projectile comprising a material which contains particles of explosive material such that said projectile automatically and completely deflagrates while still inside the barrel of the firearm after ignition of said explosive material upon firing of the firearm and leaves the barrel in a gaseous state; and

a propellant charge in association with said cartridge casing and said projectile.