Consumable cartridge for muzzle loading firearms

• US 8,387,537 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thundercharge Corp.
• Original Assignee: Thundercharge Corp.
• Inventors: Brus, Giovanni, Hearn, William Lee, Dixon, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Parsley, David
• Application Number:
  US11/341,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20060169164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,591 Days
• Field of Search: 102/431, 102/432, 102/433, 102/464
• US Class Current: 102/431
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/18 Caseless ammunition; Cartridges having combustible cases

Abstract

A consumable cartridge for a muzzle loading firearm having a consumable cartridge case composed of a consumable solid material is set forth. The cartridge case including a central internal cavity, the cartridge case having a closed first end and a second end open to the central internal cavity for receipt of granular, explosive powder within the central internal cavity of the cartridge case and a bullet is secured to the closed first end of the cartridge case. The cartridge case is shaped and dimensioned for positioning within a bore of a rifle along with the bullet.

Claims

1. A consumable cartridge for a muzzle loading firearm, comprising:

a consumable cartridge case including a central internal cavity, the cartridge case includes a first end and a second end open to the central internal cavity for receipt of granular, explosive powder within the central internal cavity, the cartridge case being shaped and dimensioned for positioning within a bore of a rifle;

a paper disk covering the second end of the cartridge case maintaining the explosive powder within the central internal cavity of the cartridge case;

wherein the cartridge case is composed of a consumable solid explosive material comprising nitrate salt, perchlorate salt and a fuel.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge case is composed of potassium nitrate, potassium perchlorate and organic fuel.

3. The cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the cartridge case is composed of approximately 20% to approximately 60% by weight potassium nitrate, approximately 15% to approximately 25% by weight potassium perchlorate and approximately 25% to approximately 45% by weight organic fuel.

4. The cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the organic fuel is ascorbic acid, erythorbic acid or other isomers of ascorbic acid or salt, ester or ether thereof.

5. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a bullet is secured to the first end of the cartridge case.

6. The cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the first end of the cartridge case is formed with a substantially frusto-conical shape shaped and dimensioned for receiving a rearward end of the bullet.

7. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge case has a wall thickness of approximately 0.025 inches to approximately 0.125 inches.

8. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the central internal cavity includes a slight taper as it extends from the second end of the cartridge casing to the first end of the cartridge casing such that the central internal cavity adjacent first end of the cartridge case is narrower than the central internal cavity adjacent the second end of the cartridge case.

9. The cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the taper is approximately 0.01 degrees to approximately 5.0 degrees.

10. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the paper disk is composed of nitrocellulose paper, flash paper or nitrated paper.

11. A consumable cartridge for a muzzle loading firearm, comprising:

a hollow cartridge case composed of a mixture of nitrate salt, approximately 15% to approximately 25% by weight potassium perchlorate and an organic fuel; and

wherein the hollow cartridge case is filled with a granular explosive powder.

12. The cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the nitrate salt is potassium nitrate.

13. The cartridge according to claim 12, wherein the cartridge case is composed of approximately 20% to approximately 60% by weight potassium nitrate and approximately 25% to approximately 45% by weight organic fuel.

14. The cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the organic fuel is chosen from the group consisting of polyhydroxy-hydrocarbons (sugar alcohols), polyhydroxy-carboxylic acids (sugar acids) and salts thereof.

15. The cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the organic fuel is ascorbic acid, erythorbic acid or other isomers of ascorbic acid or salt, ester or ether thereof.

16. The cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the cartridge case further includes a binder.

17. A consumable cartridge for a muzzle loading firearm, comprising:

a consumable cartridge case composed of a consumable solid explosive material comprising nitrate salt, perchlorate salt and a fuel including a central internal cavity, the cartridge case includes a first end and a second end open to the central internal cavity for receipt of granular, explosive powder within the central internal cavity, the cartridge case being shaped and dimensioned for positioning within a bore of a rifle;

a paper disk covering the second end of the cartridge case maintaining the explosive powder within the central internal cavity of the cartridge case; and

wherein a bullet is secured to the first end of the cartridge case.

18. The cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the first end of the cartridge case is formed with a substantially frusto-conical shape shaped and dimensioned for receiving a rearward end of the bullet.

19. The cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the cartridge case has a wall thickness of approximately 0.025 inches to approximately 0.125 inches.

20. The cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the central internal cavity includes a slight taper as it extends from the second end of the cartridge casing to the first end of the cartridge casing such that the central internal cavity adjacent first end of the cartridge case is narrower than the central internal cavity adjacent the second end of the cartridge case.