High velocity ignition system for ammunition

• US 9,360,223 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Cartridge Company (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Inventors: Billings, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Bret
• Application Number:
  US14/216,130
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 102/433, 102/434, 102/443
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/16 characterised by composition or physical dimensions or form of propellant charge, with or without projectile, or powder chemical composition C06B; F42B5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 7/02 Cartridges, i.e. cases with propellant charge and missile
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 7/04 of pellet type

Abstract

A high velocity ignition system for ammunition including an casing, a primer, a payload, a first propellant region, a flash tube, a second propellant and at least one channel. The casing has a base portion and a forward portion. The primer is provided in the base portion. The payload is provided proximate the forward portion. The first propellant region is located in the casing intermediate the primer and the payload. The flash tube substantially extends between the primer and the first propellant region. The second propellant region is located in the casing intermediate the first propellant region and the base portion. The at least one channel extends between the first propellant region and the second propellant region. A separator with a forward extending cup and a rearward extending cup has a cylindrical portion that engages the inside surface of the casing, spans the internal distance in the casing, and defines flash pathways between the primer and main propellant and between the main propellant and the secondary propellant.

Claims

1. A shotgun shell with a high velocity ignition system, the shotgun shell comprising:

a shotgun shell casing having a base portion and a forward portion, the forward portion having cylindrical shape with an inside surface;

a primer provided in the base portion;

a payload provided in the forward portion, the payload comprising one of a plurality of shot pellets and a shot gun shell slug, the payload contained entirely in the shotgun shell casing;

a wad positioned rearward of the payload and contacting the inner surface of the forward portion;

a first propellant region located in the casing intermediate the primer and the payload;

a second propellant region located in the casing intermediate the first propellant region and the base portion; and

a separator positioned rearward of the wad, the separator comprising a cylindrical portion that engages the inside surface of the casing, the first propellant region and the second propellant region being entirely spaced apart by the cylindrical portion of the separator, the separator further comprising a flash tube substantially extending between the primer and the first propellant region and at least one flash-tube channel extending between the first propellant region and the second propellant region;

whereby when the primer is ignited propellant in the first propellant region ignites, then propellant in the second propellant ignites, and the payload, wad, and separator are pushed outwardly with respect to the casing.

2. The shotgun shell with the high velocity ignition system of claim 1, wherein the second propellant region extends at least partially around the flash tube.

3. The shotgun shell with the high velocity ignition system of claim 1, wherein the second propellant region has a height that is less than a height of the flash tube.

4. The shotgun shell with the high velocity ignition system of claim 1, wherein propellant in the first propellant region is different than propellant in the second propellant region.

5. The shotgun shell with the high velocity ignition system of claim 1, wherein the wad is configured as a cup facing forward and the cup holds the one of the plurality of shot pellets and the slug.

6. The shotgun shell with the high velocity ignition system of claim 1, wherein the at least one flash-tube channel is open to direct flame emitted from the first propellant region to the second propellant region.

7. A shotgun shell with a high velocity ignition system, the shotgun shell comprising:

a shotgun shell casing having a base portion and a forward portion, the forward portion having cylindrical shape with an inside surface;

a primer provided in the base portion;

a payload provided in the forward portion, the payload comprising one of a plurality of shot pellets and a shotgun shell slug;

a wad positioned rearward of the payload and contacting the inner surface of the forward portion;

a first propellant region located in the casing intermediate the primer and the payload;

a second propellant region located in the casing intermediate the first propellant region and the base portion; and

a separator separating the first propellant region from the second propellant region and having an integral flash tube proximate the primer and extending to the first propellant region, the separator having a plurality of flash pathways between the first propellant region and the second propellant region, wherein when the primer is ignited, the first propellant is then ignited, the second propellant is sequentially ignited, and the payload, the wad, and the separator are pushed outwardly with respect to the casing.

8. The shotgun shell with the high velocity ignition system of claim 7, wherein the separator provides an upwardly facing cup portion and a downwardly facing cup portion.

9. A method of increasing velocity of slugs or pellets fired from shotgun shells without increasing a maximum pressure rating for a gun system in which the ammunition is used, the method comprising:

activating a primer to cause a first flame to be emitted therefrom;

directing the first flame through a separator formed of synthetic resin or plastic and including a flash tube towards a first propellant region in a shotgun shell casing;

igniting the first propellant region with the first flame;

directing a second flame from the first propellant region to the second propellant region through the separator including a plurality of flash-tube channels, wherein the second propellant region is in a spaced-apart configuration from the first propellant region, separated by the separator;

igniting the second propellant region with the second flame; and

propelling one of a plurality of shot pellets and a slug, a wad, and the separator away from the shotgun shell casing with a combined force generated by the ignition of the first propellant region and the second propellant region.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the payload is propelled away from the casing at a rate that is greater than a rate at which igniting only the first propellant region would propel the payload from the casing.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein a total pressure generated by sequential igniting of the first propellant region and the second propellant region is less than a total pressure generated by simultaneous ignition of the first propellant region and the second propellant region.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein there is a delay between igniting the first propellant region and igniting the second propellant region.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein upon firing the payload has left the casing when the second propellant region is ignited.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the second propellant region extends at least partially around the flash tube.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the second propellant region has a height that is less than a height of the flash tube.

16. The method of claim 9, and further comprising placing wadding between the first propellant region and the second propellant region, wherein the wadding extends around the at least one flash-tube channel.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein propellant in the first propellant region is different than propellant in the second propellant region.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the payload comprises a plurality of shot, a slug or combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 9, and further comprising mounting the primer, the flash tube, the first propellant region, the second propellant region, and the at least one flash-tube channel in the casing.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein directing the second flame includes directing the second flame through at least one open flash-tube channel extending from the first propellant region to the second propellant region.