Combustible cartridge cased ammunition assembly

• US 20100229750A1
• Filed: 01/08/2007
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Armtec Defense Products Co. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Armtec Defense Products Co. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mutascio, Enrico R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,146,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/431
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/18 Caseless ammunition; Cartridges having combustible cases
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/181 consisting of a combustible casing wall and a metal base; Connectors therefor

Abstract

A combustible cartridge assembly is described. The assembly of one embodiment includes a projectile, a body having a first end portion coupled to the projectile and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The body is made of a combustible material configured to be consumed upon firing the ammunition round assembly. A sleeve is at least partially contained within the base. The sleeve has a free end portion radially to adjacent to and coupled to the second end portion of the body. The sleeve and the body defines an interior area configured to contain a combustible propellant. A non-combustible base at least partially is coupled to the sleeve and is adjacent to the second end portion of the body.

Claims

1. An ammunition round assembly, comprising:

a projectile;

a base opposite the projectile;

a body having a first end portion coupled to the projectile and a second end portion opposite the first end portion and adjacent to the base, the body being made of a material configured to be consumed upon firing the ammunition round assembly;

a propellant; and

a sleeve at least partially contained within the base and having a free end portion radially adjacent to and coupled to the second end portion of the body, the sleeve and the body defining an interior area configured to contain the propellant.

2. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the second end portion of the body and the free end portion of the sleeve are arranged in a lap joint configuration.

3. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the base is at least partially in contact with the second end portion of the body.

4. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the base includes a flexible band adjacent to the second end portion of the body.

5. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the second end portion of the body abuts an edge of the base.

6. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the base has an opening defined by an edge, the sleeve extends through the opening, and wherein the edge is immediately adjacent to the second end portion of the body.

7. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the base includes a generally cylindrical metallic base portion and a sealing ring, the sealing ring substantially radially aligned with the second end portion of the body.

8. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the free end portion of the sleeve and the body form a lap joint at the second end portion of the body.

9. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the free end portion of the sleeve comprises one or more features selected from the group consisting of a scallop, a hole, a notch, and a slit.

10. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the sleeve includes a dome portion having a primer hole therein, and the assembly further comprises a retention device inside the sleeve for retaining the sleeve in the base.

11. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is a cup-shaped member that fits at least partially within the base.

12. The ammunition round assembly of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is made of a material configured to be consumed upon firing the ammunition round assembly.

13. An ammunition round assembly, comprising:

a non-combustible base having an outer base diameter and an inner base diameter;

an engagement member having an outer engagement member diameter less than the inner base diameter and disposed partially inside and fixed to the base; and

a body having an inner body diameter larger than the outer engagement member diameter and an outer body diameter substantially corresponding to the outer base diameter, the body overlapping with the engagement member at an end adjacent to the base, wherein the body is made of a material configured to be consumed upon firing the ammunition round assembly.

14. The ammunition round assembly of claim 13 wherein the base comprises a cup-shaped portion and a sealing ring, and wherein the sealing ring at least partially encloses the end of the body overlapping with the engagement member.

15. The ammunition round assembly of claim 13 wherein the base further includes a cup-shaped portion and a sealing ring, and wherein the end of the body abuts an edge of the sealing ring.

16. The ammunition round assembly of claim 13 wherein the engagement member further includes a dome portion having a primer hole therein, and wherein the assembly further comprises a retention device inside the engagement member for fixing the engagement member in the base.

17. The ammunition round assembly of claim 13 where the sleeve is a combustible, cup-shaped member.

18. A combustible ammunition round assembly, comprising:

a body having a first end portion configured for engaging a projectile and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the body being made of a material configured to be consumed upon firing the ammunition round assembly;

a base having an edge adjacent to the second end portion of the body opposite the projectile, the base and the body defining an internal space; and

an engagement member positioned to interconnect the body and the base, the engagement member being substantially within the internal space.

19. The ammunition round assembly of claim 18 wherein the engagement member forms a lap joint with each of the base and the body.

20. The ammunition round assembly of claim 18 wherein the base and the body have substantially the same outside diameter.

21. The ammunition round assembly of claim 18 wherein the base and the body form a structure with no substantially spatial discontinuity.

22. A method for assembling an ammunition round assembly, comprising:

coupling a projectile with a combustible cartridge body, the body having an end portion opposite the projectile;

attaching an engagement member to a non-combustible base such that an engagement portion of the engagement member projects beyond an edge of the base;

positioning the engagement portion radially adjacent to the end portion of the body such that the end portion of the body is adjacent to the edge of the base; and

adjusting an overall length of the combustible cartridge assembly by adjusting an amount of overlap between the engagement portion of the sleeve and the end portion of the body.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising forming a lap joint between the engagement portion of the engagement member and the end portion of the body.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein positioning the engagement portion includes positioning the engagement portion radially inward of the end portion.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein adjusting an overall length of the combustible cartridge assembly includes increasing an amount of overlapping between the engagement portion of the engagement member and the end portion of the body.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the base is cup-shaped with an open end defined by the engagement portion, and attaching the engagement member includes placing the cup-shaped sleeve into the base.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein the base includes a metallic base portion and a flexible ring, and wherein attaching the engagement member includes positioning the metallic portion of the base around the engagement member such that the elastomer ring at least partially encloses the engagement portion and is adjacent to the end portion of the body.