Reduced propellant ammunition cartridges

• US 6,283,035 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2000
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Knight'S Armament Co.
• Original Assignee: Knight'S Armament Co.
• Inventors: Adkins, Michael G., Olson, Douglas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Semunegus, Lulit
• Application Number:
  US09/544,128
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 102/447, 102/439, 102/513
• US Class Current: 102/447
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/02 Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile

Abstract

Reduced propellant ammunition cartridges, particularly subsonic cartridges for clandestine use of weapons which normally fire supersonic projectiles, include a length of pliable tubing that has an outside diameter just slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the cartridge neck portion that holds the projectile with such tubing having a length that allows it to snugly fit between the base of the cartridge case and the cartridge neck portion. Such a sized tube is inserted through the neck portion and then its distal end is expanded below the cartridge neck portion to be held captive in the cartridge case. The propellant charge is contained inside the pliable tube by the rear end portion of the casing at its distal end and the projectile at its proximal end.

Claims

1. In a reduced propellant ammunition cartridge including:

a cylindrical case defined by a rear end portion having a primer cap and a flash hole centered therein, a front end portion having a predetermined inside diameter, a powder chamber of diameter greater than said predetermined inside diameter and a tapered neck portion integrally joining said front end portion to said powder chamber and

a cylindrical projectile having a portion ceased in said front end portion of said cylindrical case,

the improvement which comprises;

a pliable tube defined by a proximal end, a distal end and a central body portion integrally joining said proximal end to said distal end,

said distal end and central body portion of said pliable tube having an outside diameter slightly less than said predetermined inside diameter,

said pliable tube being enclosed by and axially aligned with said cylindrical case with said distal end engaging said rear end portion and encircling said primer flash hole

said pliable tube being of predetermined length that said proximal end thereof, extends to said tapered neck portion with said proximal end portion being expanded into engagement with said tapered neck portion, and

a propellant charge solely contained within said ammunition cartridge inside said pliable tube by said rear end portion at said distal end and said projectile at said proximal end.

2. A reduced propellant ammunition cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said pliable tube is made of aluminum metal.

3. A reduced propellant ammunition cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said pliable tube is made of plastic.

4. A reduced propellant ammunition cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of said pliable tube is predetermined to control the maximum quantity of powder charge contained within said ammunition cartridge.

5. A process for the production of a reduced propellant ammunition cartridge which comprises:

providing a cylindrical case defined by a rear end portion with a primer flash hole centered therein, a front end portion having a predetermined inside diameter, a powder chamber of diameter greater than said predetermined inside diameter and a tapered neck portion integrally joining said front end portion to said powder chamber,

providing a projectile having a cylinderical portion to be ceased in said front end portion of said cylindrical case,

providing a pliable tube defined by a proximal end, a distal end and a central body portion integrally joining said proximal end to said distal end, said distal end and central body portion of said pliable tube having an outside diameter slightly less than said predetermined inside diameter, said pliable tube being of predetermined length defined by the distance from said rear end portion of said cylindrical case to approximately the junction of said tapered neck portion with said front end portion of said cylindrical case,

providing a primer cap and installing it in said rear end portion of said cylindrical case,

inserting said pliable tube into said cylindrical case to contact said distal end with said rear end portion of said cylindrical case,

expanding said proximal end of said pliable tube to contact said neck portion of said cylindrical case,

charging a predetermined volume of propellant into said pliable tube through said front end portion of said cylindrical case, and

installing said cylinderical portion of said projectile in said front end portion of said cylindrical case.

7. The process of claim 5 wherein the step of charging a predetermined volume of propellant into said pliable tube follows said step of expanding said proximal end of said pliable tube to contact said neck portion of said cylindrical case and said step of providing a primer cap and installing it in said rear end portion of said cylindrical case.

8. The process of claim 5 wherein the step of charging a predetermined volume of propellant into said pliable tube precedes said step of expanding said proximal end of said pliable tube to contact said neck portion of said cylindrical case and said expanding of said proximal end is accomplished by engagement of said tapered base of said projectile with said proximal end of said pliable tube.

6. A process for the production of a reduced propellant ammunition cartridge which comprises:

providing a cylindrical case defined by a rear end portion with a primer flash hole centered therein, a front end portion having a predetermined inside diameter, a powder chamber of diameter greater than said predetermined inside diameter and a tapered neck portion integrally joining said front end portion to said powder chamber,

providing a projectile having a cylinderical portion to be ceased in said front end portion of said cylindrical case and a tapered base,

providing a pliable tube defined by a proximal end, a distal end and a central body portion integrally joining said proximal end to said distal end, said distal end and central body portion of said pliable tube having an outside diameter slightly less than said predetermined inside diameter, said pliable tube being of predetermined length defined by the distance from said rear end portion of said cylindrical case to approximately the junction of said tapered neck portion with said front end portion of said cylindrical case,

engaging said tapered base of said projectile with said distal end of said pliable tube positioned vertically above and axially aligned with said projectile,

charging propellant into said pliable tube though said proximal end,

installing said cylindrical case around said pliable tube and axially aligned with said projectile and said pliable tube, and

causing said tapered end of said projectile to expand said proximal end of said pliable tube.