Composite projectile and cartridge with composite projectile

• US 9,212,878 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2014
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GFY Products, LLC
• Original Assignee: Einstein Noodles, LLC
• Inventors: Seeman, Daniel Jonathan, Privette, Dewey
• Primary Examiner(s): Bergin, James S
• Application Number:
  US14/191,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20150276361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 102/439, 102/444, 102/501, 102/502, 102/506, 102/517, 102/529, 86/54, 86/55
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/74 of the core or solid body
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/745 the core being made of plastics; Compounds or blends of plastics and other materials, e.g. fillers
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/02 Bullets
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/00 Manufacture of ammunition; Dismantling of ammunition; Apparatus therefor F42B5/188 takes precedence; manufacturing processes for hollow charges F42B1/036; manufacture of blasting cartridge initiators F42B3/195
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/001 Devices or processes for assembling ammunition, cartridges or cartridge elements from parts
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/02 Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile

Abstract

A projectile includes: (a) a cured, toughened polymer resin; and (b) a particulate filler distributed through the resin, the filler having a density greater than a density of the resin, wherein the projectile has average density less than the density of lead.

Claims

1. A method of making a projectile for an ammunition cartridge, comprising the steps of:

(a) mixing together to form a mixture,

(i) an elastomer-modified epoxy functional adduct formed by the reaction of a bisphenol A liquid epoxy resin and a carboxyl terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile elastomer,

(ii) a filler, and

(iii) a curative agent,

(iv) wherein the filler is distributed throughout the mixture;

(b) introducing the mixture into a projectile mold having a cavity in a shape of a bullet;

(c) allowing the elastomer-modified epoxy functional adduct of the mixture to cure so as to form a completed projectile; and

(d) removing the projectile from the mold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the filler has a density greater than a density of the elastomer-modified epoxy functional adduct.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the completed projectile has an average density less than the density of lead.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises heating the elastomer-modified epoxy functional adduct to reduce its viscosity and, thereafter, mixing in the filler.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises heating the elastomer-modified epoxy functional adduct to reduce its viscosity;

thereafter, mixing in the filler; and

thereafter, adding the curative agent.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the filler comprises a particulate filler.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the filler comprises a powder.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the filler comprises tungsten.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the filler comprises lead.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the elastomer content is 40 percent by weight of the elastomer-modified epoxy functional adduct.

11. A method of making an ammunition cartridge, comprising the steps of:

(a) mixing together to form a mixture,

(i) an elastomer-modified epoxy functional adduct formed by the reaction of a bisphenol A liquid epoxy resin and a carboxyl terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile elastomer,

(ii) a filler, and

(iii) a curative agent

(iv) wherein the filler is distributed throughout the mixture;

(b) introducing the mixture into a projectile mold;

(c) allowing the elastomer-modified epoxy functional adduct of the mixture to cure so as to form a completed projectile; and

(d) removing the completed projectile from the mold and assembling the projectile with a primer and propellant within a casing for an ammunition cartridge.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the ammunition cartridge is a cartridge for a pistol.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the ammunition cartridge is a cartridge for a .45 inch caliber pistol.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the filler has a density greater than a density of the elastomer-modified epoxy functional adduct.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the completed projectile has an average density less than the density of lead.

16. A method of making an ammunition cartridge, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a completed projectile, comprising;

(1) a toughened polymer resin comprising an elastomer-modified epoxy functional adduct formed by the reaction of a bisphenol A liquid epoxy resin and a carboxyl terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile elastomer;

(2) a filler distributed throughout the toughened polymer resin, the filler having a density greater than a density of the toughened polymer resin; and

(3) a curative agent by which the toughened polymer resin with distributed filler is cured; and

(b) assembling the completed projectile with a primer and propellant within a casing for an ammunition cartridge.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the ammunition cartridge is a cartridge for a pistol.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the ammunition cartridge is a cartridge for a .45 inch caliber pistol.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the filler comprises a particulate filler.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the completed projectile has an average density less than the density of lead.