METHOD OF MAKING LIGHTWEIGHT POLYMER AMMUNITION
First Claim
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1. A method of making a polymeric ammunition cartridge having a substantially cylindrical metal primer insert comprising the steps of:
- providing a substantially cylindrical insert comprising a top surface opposite a bottom surface and a substantially cylindrical coupling element that extends from the bottom surface to form a circumferential surface, a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface, a primer flash hole aperture positioned in the primer recess to extend through the bottom surface, and a flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface;
forming a substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body comprising the steps of overmolding a polymer composition over the substantially cylindrical insert by molding the polymer composition over the substantially cylindrical coupling element, over the circumferential surface and into the primer flash hole aperture to form a primer flash hole, forming a substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body extending from the substantially cylindrical insert, and forming a substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end at the end of the substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body;
forming a substantially cylindrical open-ended polymeric bullet-end component comprising the steps of forming a polymeric bullet-end coupling component opposite a bullet-end aperture from a second polymer composition, wherein the polymeric bullet-end coupling component mates to the substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end; and
adhering the polymeric bullet-end coupling component mates to the substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end to form a propellant chamber having a bullet-end aperture opposite a primer flash hole.
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of making a polymeric ammunition cartridge having a substantially cylindrical metal primer insert, a substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body coupled to a substantially cylindrical open-ended polymeric bullet-end component.
40 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of making a polymeric ammunition cartridge having a substantially cylindrical metal primer insert comprising the steps of:
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providing a substantially cylindrical insert comprising a top surface opposite a bottom surface and a substantially cylindrical coupling element that extends from the bottom surface to form a circumferential surface, a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface, a primer flash hole aperture positioned in the primer recess to extend through the bottom surface, and a flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface; forming a substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body comprising the steps of overmolding a polymer composition over the substantially cylindrical insert by molding the polymer composition over the substantially cylindrical coupling element, over the circumferential surface and into the primer flash hole aperture to form a primer flash hole, forming a substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body extending from the substantially cylindrical insert, and forming a substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end at the end of the substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body; forming a substantially cylindrical open-ended polymeric bullet-end component comprising the steps of forming a polymeric bullet-end coupling component opposite a bullet-end aperture from a second polymer composition, wherein the polymeric bullet-end coupling component mates to the substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end; and adhering the polymeric bullet-end coupling component mates to the substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end to form a propellant chamber having a bullet-end aperture opposite a primer flash hole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of making a polymeric ammunition having a substantially cylindrical metal primer insert comprising the steps of:
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providing a substantially cylindrical insert comprising a top surface opposite a bottom surface and a substantially cylindrical coupling element that extends from the bottom surface to form a circumferential surface, a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface, a primer flash hole aperture positioned in the primer recess to extend through the bottom surface, and a flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface; forming a substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body comprising the steps of overmolding a polymer composition over the substantially cylindrical insert by molding the polymer composition over the substantially cylindrical coupling element, over the circumferential surface and into the primer flash hole aperture to form a primer flash hole, forming a substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body extending from the substantially cylindrical insert, and forming a substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end at the end of the substantially cylindrical polymeric middle body; forming a substantially cylindrical open-ended polymeric bullet-end component comprising the steps of forming a polymeric bullet-end coupling component opposite a bullet-end aperture from a second polymer composition, wherein the polymeric bullet-end coupling component mates to the substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end; adhering the polymeric bullet-end coupling component mates to the substantially cylindrical polymeric coupling end to form a propellant chamber having a bullet-end aperture opposite a primer flash hole; inserting a primer inserted into the primer flash hole aperture; at least partially filling the propellant chamber with a propellant; and frictionally fitting a bullet in the bullet-end aperture, wherein the primer, the propellant and the bullet form a sealed propellant chamber.
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Specification