US20210254942A1 - Subsonic polymeric ammunition - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a subsonic ammunition comprising: a primer insert comprises a top surface opposite a bottom surface, a substantially cylindrical coupling element extending away from the bottom surface forming, a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface, a primer flash aperture positioned in the primer recess to extend through the bottom surface, a flash aperture groove in the primer recess that extends circumferentially about the primer flash aperture, and a flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface; a polymeric casing body comprising a generally cylindrical hollow polymer body molded over the substantially cylindrical coupling element, into the primer flash aperture and into the flash aperture groove and extending toward a mid-body coupling joint; a nose comprising a projectile aperture that extends to a neck connected to a shoulder that transitions from the projectile aperture to a nose coupler, wherein the nose coupler is connected to the mid-body coupling joint; a propellant chamber formed between the projectile aperture and the primer flash aperture; a propellant insert positioned in the propellant chamber to reduce the internal volume of the propellant chamber by at least 10%, wherein the propellant insert comprises a first passage comprising a first aperture having a first diameter about the diameter of the flash hole that transitions as an arc to a second passage that has a second diameter about the size of the projectile aperture, wherein the first diameter has a uniformed diameter that extends to the second diameter; a primer fitted in the primer pocket; a propellant disposed in the propellant chamber; and a projectile positioned in the projectile aperture.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a Divisional Application of and claims priority based on U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/863,644, filed Sep. 24, 2015, which is a Continuation-in-Part Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/011,202, filed Aug. 27, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,546,849, which is a Divisional Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/292,843, filed Nov. 9, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,561,543, which claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/456,664, now expired, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention generally relates to ammunition articles, and more particularly to subsonic ammunition casings having a propellant insert formed from polymeric materials.
STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH
• Not applicable.
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIALS FILED ON COMPACT DISC
• Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with lightweight polymer subsonic ammunition casing and more specifically to a lightweight polymer subsonic ammunition casing having a propellant insert positioned in the propellant chamber to reduce the internal volume of the propellant chamber.
• Generally, there are two types of ammunition: supersonic ammunition, which fires projectiles with velocities exceeding the speed of sound; and subsonic ammunition, which fires projectiles with velocities less than that of the speed of sound and generally in the range of 1,000-1,100 feet per second (fps), most commonly given at 1,086 fps at standard atmospheric conditions. Traditional methods of making subsonic ammunition reduce the propellant charge (and in turn increasing the empty volume left vacant by the reduced propellant charge) in the shell until the velocity is adequately reduced.
• Unfortunately, this empty volume can cause numerous problems including inhibition of proper propellant burn, inconsistent propellant positioning, reduced accuracy and propellant detonation caused by extremely high propellant burn rates. For example, since the propellant is free to move in the large empty volume, shooting downward with the propellant charge away from the primer gives different velocity results than when shooting upwards with the propellant charge close to the primer. Finally, usage of subsonic ammunition, and its attending lower combustion pressures, frequently results in the inability to efficiently cycle semi-automatic or fully automatic weapons where the propellant charge must produce sufficient gas pressure and/or volume to accelerate the projectile and to cycle the firing mechanism. With a reduced quantity of propellant, subsonic ammunition generally fails to produce sufficient pressure to properly cycle the firing mechanism. The art has provided numerous attempts to cure these problems, e.g., the introduction of inert fillers, expandable inner sleeves that occupy the empty space between the propellant and the projectile, insertion of flexible tubing, foamed inserts, stepped down stages in the discharge end of cartridge casings, or complicated three and more component cartridges with rupturable walls and other complicated features. Another approach has been to use standard cartridges in combination with non-standard propellants. However, the result of such prior attempts to solve the production of reliable subsonic cartridges have failed and let to subsonic rounds that have a larger variation in velocity and variance in accuracy potential.
• In addition the use of polymer ammunition results in additional drawbacks, e.g., the possibility of the projectile being pushed into the cartridge casing, the bullet pull being too light such that the bullet can fall out, the bullet pull being too insufficient to create sufficient chamber pressure, the bullet pull not being uniform from round to round, and portions of the cartridge casing breaking off upon firing causing the weapon to jam or damage or danger when subsequent rounds are fired or when the casing portions themselves become projectiles. Accordingly, a need exists to develop solutions that make it possible to manufacture better and more price competitive subsonic ammunition than previously available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention provides a subsonic ammunition comprising: a primer insert comprises a top surface opposite a bottom surface, a substantially cylindrical coupling element extending away from the bottom surface forming, a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface, a primer flash aperture positioned in the primer recess to extend through the bottom surface, a flash aperture groove in the primer recess that extends circumferentially about the primer flash aperture, and a flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface; a polymeric casing body comprising a generally cylindrical hollow polymer body molded over the substantially cylindrical coupling element, into the primer flash aperture and into the flash aperture groove and extending toward a mid-body coupling joint; a nose comprising a projectile aperture that extends to a neck connected to a shoulder that transitions from the projectile aperture to a nose coupler, wherein the nose coupler is connected to the mid-body coupling joint; a propellant chamber formed between the projectile aperture and the primer flash aperture; a propellant insert positioned in the propellant chamber to reduce the internal volume of the propellant chamber by at least 10%, wherein the propellant insert comprises a first passage comprising a first aperture having a first diameter about the diameter of the flash hole that transitions as an arc to a second passage that has a second diameter about the size of the projectile aperture, wherein the first diameter has a uniformed diameter that extends to the second diameter; a primer fitted in the primer pocket; a propellant disposed in the propellant chamber; and a projectile positioned in the projectile aperture.
• In one embodiment, the internal volume that is about 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 25.4, 25.5, 25.6, 25.7, 25.8, 25.9, 26.0, 26.25, 26.5, 26.75, 27, 27.5, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80% or incremental variations thereof less than the open internal volume of a standard casing of equivalent caliber. In one embodiment, the internal volume does not contain enough of a propellant for a projectile to exceed the velocity of 1200 feet per second at sea level under standard atmospheric conditions when fired. In one embodiment, the internal volume does not contain enough of a propellant for a projectile to exceed the velocity of 1086 feet per second at standard atmospheric conditions when fired. In one embodiment, the polymer body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyphenylsulfone, polycarbonate, and polyamide. In one embodiment, the polymeric casing body comprises a polymers selected from the group consisting of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyurethane prepolymer, cellulose, fluoro-polymer, ethylene inter-polymer alloy elastomer, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon, polyether imide, polyester elastomer, polyester sulfone, polyphenyl amide, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride or thermoset polyurea elastomer, acrylics, homopolymers, acetates, copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadinen-styrene, thermoplastic fluoro polymers, ionomers, polyamides, polyamide-imides, polyacrylates, polyatherketones, polyaryl-sulfones, polybenzimidazoles, polycarbonates, polybutylene, terephthalates, polyether imides, polyether sulfones, thermoplastic polyimides, thermoplastic polyurethanes, polyphenylene sulfides, polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfones, polyvinylchlorides, styrene acrylonitriles, polystyrenes, polyphenylene, ether blends, styrene maleic anhydrides, polycarbonates, allyls, aminos, cyanates, epoxies, phenolics, unsaturated polyesters, bismaleimides, polyurethanes, silicones, vinylesters, urethane hybrids, polyphenylsulfones, copolymers of polyphenylsulfones with polyethersulfones or polysulfones, copolymers of poly-phenylsulfones with siloxanes, blends of polyphenylsulfones with polysiloxanes, poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers, blends of polyetherimides and polysiloxanes, and blends of polyetherimides and poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers. In one embodiment, the propellant insert comprises a polymers selected from the group consisting of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyurethane prepolymer, cellulose, fluoro-polymer, ethylene inter-polymer alloy elastomer, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon, polyether imide, polyester elastomer, polyester sulfone, polyphenyl amide, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride or thermoset polyurea elastomer, acrylics, homopolymers, acetates, copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadinen-styrene, thermoplastic fluoro polymers, ionomers, polyamides, polyamide-imides, polyacrylates, polyatherketones, polyaryl-sulfones, polybenzimidazoles, polycarbonates, polybutylene, terephthalates, polyether imides, polyether sulfones, thermoplastic polyimides, thermoplastic polyurethanes, polyphenylene sulfides, polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfones, polyvinylchlorides, styrene acrylonitriles, polystyrenes, polyphenylene, ether blends, styrene maleic anhydrides, polycarbonates, allyls, aminos, cyanates, epoxies, phenolics, unsaturated polyesters, bismaleimides, polyurethanes, silicones, vinylesters, urethane hybrids, polyphenylsulfones, copolymers of polyphenylsulfones with polyethersulfones or polysulfones, copolymers of poly-phenylsulfones with siloxanes, blends of polyphenylsulfones with polysiloxanes, poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers, blends of polyetherimides and polysiloxanes, and blends of polyetherimides and poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers. In one embodiment, the subsonic ammunition further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, lubricants, molding agents, fillers, thermo-oxidative stabilizers, flame-retardants, coloring agents, compatibilizers, impact modifiers, release agents, reinforcing fibers and reinforcing agents. In one embodiment, the propellant insert has a substantially cylindrical shape. In one embodiment, the propellant insert has a free formed shape. In one embodiment, the propellant insert has a one or more ribs extending into the propellant chamber. In one embodiment, the propellant insert has a radial cross-section selected from the group consisting of circular, ovoid, octagonal, hexagonal, triangular, star, ribbed, square and a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the radial cross-section of the propellant chamber is irregular along its longitudinal length. In one embodiment, the radial size of the propellant chamber tapers along its longitudinal direction. In one embodiment, the polymeric casing body and propellant insert are formed of different polymeric materials. In one embodiment, the polymeric casing body and propellant insert are formed of the same polymeric materials. In one embodiment, the propellant chamber is formed of a separate propellant insert disposed within the internal cavity of the generally cylindrical hollow polymer body. In one embodiment, the subsonic ammunition further comprises a diffuser disposed between the primer and the propellant chamber. In one embodiment, the projectile is a 22, .22-250, .223, .243, .25-06, .270, .300, .30-30, .30-40, 30.06, .300, .303, .308, .338, 5.45 mm, 5.56 mm, 6.5 mm, 6.8 mm, 7 mm, 7.62 mm, 12.7 mm, 14.5 mm, or 14.7 mm projectile.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying figures and in which:
• FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of the polymeric cartridge casing;
• FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C depict a cross-sectional view of a polymeric cartridge case having a reduced propellant chamber volume according to the present invention;
• FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of a portion of the polymeric cartridge case having a reduced propellant chamber volume according to one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIGS. 4A-4H depict a top view of the polymer casing having a reduced propellant chamber volume with a substantially cylindrical open-ended middle body component;
• FIG. 5 depicts a side, cross-sectional view of a portion of the polymeric cartridge case displaying ribs and a reduced propellant chamber volume according to one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 6 depicts a side, cross-sectional view of a portion of the polymeric cartridge case having a reduced propellant chamber volume and displaying ribs according to one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 7 depicts a side, cross-sectional view of a polymeric cartridge case having a reduced propellant chamber volume and a diffuser according to one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 8 depicts a side, cross-sectional view of a portion of the polymeric cartridge case having a reduced propellant chamber volume and a diffuser according to one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIGS. 9A-9H depict diffuser according to a different embodiment of the present invention; and
• FIGS. 10A and 10B depict a cross-sectional view of a polymeric cartridge case having a reduced propellant chamber volume according to one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.
• To facilitate the understanding of this invention, a number of terms are defined below. Terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a”, “an” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as outlined in the claims.
• As used herein, the term “ammunition”, “ammunition article”, “munition”, and “munition article” as used herein may be used interchangeably to refer to a complete, assembled round or cartridge of that is ready to be loaded into a firearm and fired, including cap, casing, propellant, projectile, etc. Ammunition may be a live round fitted with a projectile, or a blank round with no projectile and may also be other types such as non-lethal rounds, rounds containing rubber bullets, rounds containing multiple projectiles (shot), and rounds containing projectiles other than bullets such as fluid-filled canisters and capsules. Ammunition may be any caliber of pistol or rifle ammunition, e.g., non limiting examples including .22, .22-250, .223, .243, .25-06, .270, .300, .30-30, .30-40, 30.06, .300, .303, .308, .338, .357, .38, .380, .40, .44, .45, .45-70, .50 BMG, caliber ammunition cartridges, as well as medium/small caliber ammunition such as including 5.45 mm, 5.56 mm, 6.5 mm, 6.8 mm, 7 mm, 7.62 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 12.7 mm, 14.5 mm, 14.7 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 57 mm, 60 mm, 75 mm, 76 mm, 81 mm, 90 mm, 100 mm, 105 mm, 106 mm, 115 mm, 120 mm, 122 mm, 125 mm, 130 mm, 152 mm, 155 mm, 165 mm, 175 mm, 203 mm, 460 mm, 8 inch, 4.2 inch, 45 caliber and the like and military style ammunition.
• As used herein, the term “subsonic ammunition” refers to ammunition that ejects a projectile at velocities of less than the speed of sound at standard atmospheric conditions, e.g., generally in the range of 1,000-1,100 feet per second (fps) but may range from 900-1,200 feet per second (fps) depending on the altitude and atmospheric conditions. Specific examples include about 1000 fps, 1010 fps, 1020 fps, 1030 fps, 1040 fps, 1050 fps, 1060 fps, 1070 fps, 1080 fps, 1086 fps, 1090 fps, and even 1099 fps.
• As used herein, the term “casing” and “case” and “body” are used interchangeably (e.g., “cartridge casing”, “cartridge case” and “casing body”) to refer to the portion of the ammunition that remains intact after firing and includes the propellant chamber and may include the primer insert. A cartridge casing may be one-piece, two-piece, three piece or multi-piece design that includes a mouth at one end and a primer insert at the other separated by a propellant chamber.
• A traditional cartridge casing generally has a deep-drawn elongated body with a primer end and a projectile end. During use, a weapon's cartridge chamber supports the majority of the cartridge casing wall in the radial direction, however, in many weapons, a portion of the cartridge base end is unsupported. During firing, the greatest stresses are concentrated at the base end of the cartridge, which must have great mechanical strength. This is true for both subsonic and supersonic ammunition cartridges.
• There is a need for a subsonic polymer ammunition cartridge to reduce cost, weight and reliability. The traditional avenue to subsonic ammunition is usage of a reduced quantity of propellant compared to traditional supersonic ammunition. For example, a traditional 7.62 mm ammunition uses about 45 grains of propellant and generates projectile velocities of 2000-3000 fps, a subsonic ammunition uses less than about 15 grains of propellant to generate projectile velocities of less than 1100 fps. The present inventors determined that a subsonic cartridge casing may be produced by the design and construction of an engineered internal propellant chamber within the overall internal volume of the casing. The internal propellant chamber positioned within the casing may be in the form of a propellant chamber insert that is made separately and inserted into the chamber. Alternatively the propellant chamber insert may be made as a part of the middle body component and the propellant chamber by increasing the thickness of the side wall. The propellant chamber insert will function to reduce the size of the propellant chamber which will reduce the amount of propellant in the propellant chamber and in turn reduce the velocity of the projectile. In particular, the propellant chamber insert reduces the internal volume of the propellant chamber by more than 25 or 80% compared to the equivalent supersonic casing of the same caliber. In addition, using such a propellant chamber insert allows the internal propellant chamber of existing ammunition cartridge casings to be used allowing ammunition manufacturer to assemble the cartridge casing in a rapid fashion without the need for additional manufacturing steps or complex design parameters.
• The propellant chamber insert when in the form of an integral portion of the cartridge casing is constructed out of the same polymer composition as the cartridge casing. When the propellant chamber insert is a separate insert positioned within the propellant chamber, the propellant chamber insert may be of a similar or a different polymer composition than the cartridge casing. It will also be recognized that in any of the embodiments described herein, the outer wall and inner volume occupying portions of the cartridge casing need not necessarily be of the same polymeric material. For example, the outer wall could be made of polymers with higher temperature resistance to resist the hot chamber conditions, while the inner volume occupying portion could be manufactured out of low cost polymers or be made with voids or ribs to reduce the amount of material used. In one embodiment, the space defined between the outer wall and the propellant chamber includes voids or ribs. In another embodiment, the propellant chamber comprises multiple separate internal volumes each in combustible communication with the primer. In still yet another such embodiment, the propellant chamber has a radial cross-section selected from the group consisting of circular, ovoid, octagonal, hexagonal, triangular, and square. In one embodiment, the radial cross-section of the propellant chamber is irregular along its longitudinal length. In another embodiment, the radial size of the propellant chamber tapers along its longitudinal direction. In another embodiment, the propellant chamber has a radial cross-section selected from the group consisting of circular, ovoid, octagonal, hexagonal, triangular, and square. In one such embodiment, the radial cross-section of the propellant chamber is irregular along its longitudinal length. In another such embodiment, the radial size of the propellant chamber tapers along its longitudinal direction.
• One skilled in the art will also readily observe that different or identical coloring of the polymers used could aid in identification or marketing of the ammunition of the current invention. Another embodiment of this invention would be the usage of transparent or translucent polymers, allowing for easy identification of the propellant level or cartridge load.
• For example, a non-limiting list of suitable polymeric materials, for both the cartridge casing and the propellant chamber insert may be selected from any number of polymeric materials, e.g., polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyamides, polyimides, polyesters, polycarbonates, polysulfones, polylactones, polyacetals, acrylontrile/butadiene/styrene copolymer resins, polyphenylene oxides, ethylene/carbon monoxide copolymers, polyphenylene sulfides, polystyrene, styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer resins, styrene/maleic anhydride copolymer resins, aromatic polyketones and mixtures thereof. Preferred embodiments will be manufactured from any polymer with a glass transition temperature of less than 250° C. Particularly suitable materials include polyphenylsulfones, polycarbonates and polyamides.
• FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of the polymeric cartridge casing. Acartridge10 is shown with apolymer casing12 showing apowder chamber14 with a forward end opening16 for insertion of a projectile (not shown).Polymer casing12 has a substantially cylindrical open-ended polymeric bullet-end18 extending from forward end opening16 rearward toopposite end20. The bullet-end component18 may be formed withcoupling end22 formed onend20. Couplingend22 is shown as a female element, but may also be configured as a male element in alternate embodiments of the invention. The forward end of bullet-end component18 has ashoulder24 formingchamber neck26.Polymer casing12 has a substantially cylindricalopposite end20. Couplingend22 is shown as a female element, but may also be configured as a male element in alternate embodiments of the invention. The middle body component (not shown) is connected to a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30 of the substantiallycylindrical insert32. Couplingelement30, as shown may be configured as a male element, however, all combinations of male and female configurations is acceptable forcoupling elements30 andcoupling end22 in alternate embodiments of the invention. Couplingend22 fits about and engagescoupling element30 of a substantiallycylindrical insert32. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 includes a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30 extending from abottom surface34 that is opposite atop surface36. When contacted thecoupling end22 interlocks with the substantiallycylindrical coupling element30, through thecoupling element30 that extends with a taper to a smaller diameter at thetip44 to form a physical interlock between substantiallycylindrical insert32 andmiddle body component28. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 also has aflange46 cut therein and aprimer recess38 and primer flash aperture formed therein for ease of insertion of the primer (not shown). A primerflash hole aperture42 is located in theprimer recess38 and extends through thebottom surface34 into thepropellant chamber14 to combust the propellant in thepropellant chamber14. When molded thecoupling end22 extends the polymer through the primerflash hole aperture42 to form theprimer flash hole40 while retaining a passage from thetop surface36 through thebottom surface34 and into thepropellant chamber14 to provide support and protection about the primerflash hole aperture42.
• The polymeric and composite casing components may be injection molded. Polymeric materials for the bullet-end and middle body components must have propellant compatibility and resistance to gun cleaning solvents and grease, as well as resistance to chemical, biological and radiological agents. The polymeric materials must have a temperature resistance higher than the cook-off temperature of the propellant, typically about 320° F. The polymeric materials must have elongation-to-break values that to resist deformation under interior ballistic pressure as high as 60,000 psi in all environments (temperatures from about −65 to about 320° F. and humidity from 0 to 100% RH). According to one embodiment, the middle body component is either molded onto or snap-fit to the casing head-end component after which the bullet-end component is snap-fit or interference fit to the middle body component. The components may be formed from high-strength polymer, composite or ceramic.
• Examples of suitable high strength polymers include composite polymer material including a tungsten metal powder, nylon 6/6, nylon 6, and glass fibers; and a specific gravity in a range of 3-10. The tungsten metal powder may be 50%-96% of a weight of the bullet body. The polymer material also includes about 0.5-15%, preferably about 1-12%, and most preferably about 2-9% by weight, of nylon 6/6, about 0.5-15%, preferably about 1-12%, and most preferably about 2-9% by weight, of nylon 6, and about 0.5-15%, preferably about 1-12%, and most preferably about 2-9% by weight, of glass fibers. It is most suitable that each of these ingredients be included in amounts less than 10% by weight. The cartridge casing body may be made of a modified ZYTEL® resin, available from E.I. DuPont De Nemours Co., a modified 612 nylon resin, modified to increase elastic response.
• Commercially available polymers suitable for use in the present invention thus include polyphenylsulfones; copolymers of polyphenylsulfones with polyether-sulfones or polysulfones; copolymers and blends of polyphenylsulfones with polysiloxanes; poly(etherimide-siloxane); copolymers and blends of polyetherimides and polysiloxanes, and blends of polyetherimides and poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers; and the like. Particularly preferred are polyphenylsulfones and their copolymers with poly-sulfones or polysiloxane that have high tensile strength and elongation-to-break to sustain the deformation under high interior ballistic pressure. Such polymers are commercially available, for example, RADEL® R5800 polyphenylesulfone from Solvay Advanced Polymers. The polymer can be formulated with up to about 10 wt % of one or more additives selected from internal mold release agents, heat stabilizers, anti-static agents, colorants, impact modifiers and UV stabilizers.
• Examples of suitable polymers and individual monomers of a copolymer include polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyurethane prepolymer, cellulose, fluoro-polymer, ethylene inter-polymer alloy elastomer, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon, polyether imide, polyester elastomer, polyester sulfone, polyphenyl amide, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride or thermoset polyurea elastomer, acrylics, homopolymers, acetates, copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadinen-styrene, thermoplastic fluoro polymers, ionomers, polyamides, polyamide-imides, polyacrylates, polyatherketones, polyaryl-sulfones, polybenzimidazoles, polycarbonates, polybutylene, terephthalates, polyether imides, polyether sulfones, thermoplastic polyimides, thermoplastic polyurethanes, polyphenylene sulfides, polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfones, polyvinylchlorides, styrene acrylonitriles, polystyrenes, polyphenylene, ether blends, styrene maleic anhydrides, polycarbonates, allyls, aminos, cyanates, epoxies, phenolics, unsaturated polyesters, bismaleimides, polyurethanes, silicones, vinylesters, or urethane hybrids. Examples of suitable polymers also include aliphatic or aromatic polyamide, polyetherimide, polysulfone, polyphenylsulfone, polyphenylene oxide, liquid crystalline polymer and polyketone. Examples of suitable composites include polymers such as polyphenylsulfone reinforced with between about 30 and about 70 wt %, and preferably up to about 65 wt % of one or more reinforcing materials selected from glass fiber, ceramic fiber, carbon fiber, mineral fillers, organo nanoclay, or carbon nanotube. Preferred reinforcing materials, such as chopped surface-treated E-glass fibers provide flow characteristics at the above-described loadings comparable to unfilled polymers to provide a desirable combination of strength and flow characteristics that permit the molding of head-end components. Composite components can be formed by machining or injection molding. Finally, the cartridge case must retain sufficient joint strength at cook-off temperatures. More specifically, polymers suitable for molding of the projectile-end component have one or more of the following properties: Yield or tensile strength at −65° F.>10,000 psi Elongation-to-break at −65° F.>15% Yield or tensile strength at 73° F.>8,000 psi Elongation-to-break at 73° F.>50% Yield or tensile strength at 320° F>4,000 psi Elongation-to-break at 320° F>80%. Polymers suitable for molding of the middle-body component have one or more of the following properties: Yield or tensile strength at −65° F.>10,000 psi Yield or tensile strength at 73° F.>8,000 psi Yield or tensile strength at 320° F.>4,000 psi.
• In one embodiment, the polymeric material additionally includes at least one additive selected from plasticizers, lubricants, molding agents, fillers, thermo-oxidative stabilizers, flame-retardants, coloring agents, compatibilizers, impact modifiers, release agents, reinforcing fibers. In still another such embodiment, the polymeric material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyphenylsulfone, polycarbonate, and polyamide. In such an embodiment, the polymeric material may include a translucent or transparent polymer. In another such embodiment, the polymeric material may include a polymeric material possessing a glass transition temperature of less than 250° C.
• The polymers of the present invention can also be used for conventional two-piece metal-plastic hybrid cartridge case designs and conventional shotgun shell designs. One example of such a design is an ammunition cartridge with a one-piece substantially cylindrical polymeric cartridge casing body with an open projectile-end and an end opposing the projectile-end with a male or female coupling element; and a cylindrical metal cartridge casing head-end component with an essentially closed base end with a primer hole opposite an open end having a coupling element that is a mate for the coupling element on the opposing end of the polymeric cartridge casing body joining the open end of the head-end component to the opposing end of the polymeric cartridge casing body. The high polymer ductility permits the casing to resist breakage.
• FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C depict a cross-sectional view of a polymeric cartridge case according to one embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the described caliber and is believed to be applicable to other calibers as well. This includes various small and medium caliber munitions, including 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm and 0.50 caliber ammunition cartridges, as well as medium/small caliber ammunition such as 380 caliber, 38 caliber, 9 mm, 10 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 45 caliber and the like. The cartridges, therefore, are of a caliber between about 0.05 and about 5 inches. Thus, the present invention is applicable to the military industry as well as the sporting goods industry for use by hunters and target shooters.
• Acartridge casing10 suitable for use with high velocity rifles is shown manufactured with acasing12 showing apropellant chamber14 with a projectile (not shown) inserted into the forward end opening16. Thecartridge casing12 has a substantially cylindrical open-ended bullet-end component18 extending from the forward end opening16 rearward to theopposite end20. The forward end of bullet-end component18 has ashoulder24 forming achamber neck26. The bullet-end component18 may be formed withcoupling end22 formed on substantially cylindricalopposite end20 or formed as a separate component. These and other suitable methods for securing individual pieces of a two-piece or multi-piece cartridge casing are useful in the practice of the present invention. Couplingend22 is shown as a female element, but may also be configured as a male element in alternate embodiments of the invention. The forward end of bullet-end component18 has ashoulder24 formingchamber neck26. The bullet-end component typically has a wall thickness between about 0.003 and about 0.200 inches and more preferably between about 0.005 and more preferably between about 0.150 inches about 0.010 and about 0.050 inches.
• Themiddle body component28 is substantially cylindrical and connects the forward end of bullet-end component18 to the substantially cylindricalopposite end20 and forms thepropellant chamber14. The substantially cylindricalopposite end20 includes a substantiallycylindrical insert32 that partially seals thepropellant chamber14. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 includes abottom surface34 located in thepropellant chamber14 that is opposite atop surface36. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 includes aprimer recess38 positioned in thetop surface36 extending toward thebottom surface34 with a primerflash hole aperture42 is located in theprimer recess38 and extends through thebottom surface34 into thepropellant chamber14 to combust the propellant in thepropellant chamber14. A primer (not shown) is located in theprimer recess38 and extends through thebottom surface34 into thepropellant chamber14. When molded thecoupling end22 extends the polymer through the primerflash hole aperture42 to form theprimer flash hole40 while retaining a passage from thetop surface36 through thebottom surface34 and into thepropellant chamber14 to provide support and protection about the primerflash hole aperture42. The bullet-end18,middle body28 andbottom surface34 define the interior ofpropellant chamber14 in which the powder charge (not shown) is contained. The interior volume ofpropellant chamber14 may be varied to provide the volume necessary for complete filling of thepropellant chamber14 by the propellant chosen so that a simplified volumetric measure of propellant can be utilized when loading the cartridge. Thepropellant chamber14 includes apropellant chamber insert66 that extends from thebottom surface34 to theshoulder24. The thickness of thepropellant chamber insert66 may be defined as the distance from thepropellant chamber14 to the interior of themiddle body component28 and may be varied as necessary to achieve the desired velocity depending on the propellant used. Thepropellant chamber14 includes apropellant chamber insert66 that extends from thebottom surface34 to theshoulder24 at a graduated distance from thepropellant chamber14 to the interior of themiddle body component28. For example,FIG. 2B shows apropellant chamber insert66 that is thicker in the bottom of thepropellant chamber14 and thinner at the near the bullet-end18.FIG. 2C shows apropellant chamber insert66 that is thicker in the bottom of thepropellant chamber14 extending about half of themiddle body component28 and thinner at the near the bullet-end component18 with thepropellant chamber insert66 tapering from towards the bullet-end18. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be made of the same material as the casing or a different material. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be formed by extending the casing wall or may be made by separately forming a insert (not shown) that is inserted into thepropellant chamber14 during assembly.
• Themiddle body component28 is connected to a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30 of the substantiallycylindrical insert32. Couplingelement30, as shown may be configured as a male element, however, all combinations of male and female configurations is acceptable forcoupling elements30 andcoupling end22 in alternate embodiments of the invention. Couplingend22 of bullet-end component18 fits about and engagescoupling element30 of a substantiallycylindrical insert32. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 includes a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30 extending from abottom surface34 that is opposite atop surface36. Located in thetop surface36 is aprimer recess38 that extends toward thebottom surface34. Aprimer flash hole40 extends through thebottom surface34 into thepropellant chamber14. Thecoupling end22 extends the polymer through the primerflash hole aperture42 to form anprimer flash hole40 while retaining a passage from thetop surface36 through thebottom surface34 and into thepropellant chamber14 to provide support and protection about theprimer flash hole40. When contacted thecoupling end22 interlocks with the substantiallycylindrical coupling element30, through thecoupling element30 that extends with a taper to a smaller diameter at thetip44 to form a physical interlock between substantiallycylindrical insert32 andmiddle body component28.Polymer casing12 also has a substantially cylindrical open-endedmiddle body component28. The middle body component extends from a forward end opening16 tocoupling element22. The middle body component typically has a wall thickness between about 0.003 and about 0.200 inches and more preferably between about 0.005 and more preferably between about 0.150 inches about 0.010 and about 0.050 inches.
• The substantiallycylindrical insert32 also has aflange46 cut therein and aprimer recess38 formed therein for ease of insertion of the primer (not shown). Theprimer recess38 is sized so as to receive the primer (not shown) in a friction fit during assembly. Thecartridge casing12 may be molded from a polymer composition with themiddle body component28 being over-molded onto the substantiallycylindrical insert32. When over-molded thecoupling end22 extends the polymer through the primerflash hole aperture42 to form theprimer flash hole40 while retaining a passage from thetop surface36 through thebottom surface34 and into thepropellant chamber14 to provide support and protection about the primerflash hole aperture42. Theprimer flash hole40 communicates through thebottom surface34 of substantiallycylindrical insert32 into thepropellant chamber14 so that upon detonation of primer (not shown) the propellant (not shown) inpropellant chamber14 will be ignited. The bullet-end component18 andmiddle body component28 can be welded or bonded together using solvent, adhesive, spin-welding, vibration-welding, ultrasonic-welding or laser-welding techniques. Other possible securing methods include, but are not limited to, mechanical interlocking methods such as over molding, press-in, ribs and threads, adhesives, molding in place, heat crimping, ultrasonic welding, friction welding etc.
• FIG. 3 depicts cross-sectional view of a portion of the polymeric cartridge case according to one embodiment of the present invention. A portion of a cartridge suitable for use with high velocity rifles is shown with apolymer casing12 showing apropellant chamber14. Thepolymer casing12 has a substantially cylindricalopposite end20. The bullet-end component18 may be formed withcoupling end22 formed onend20. Couplingend22 is shown as a female element, but may also be configured as a male element in alternate embodiments of the invention. The middle body component (not shown) is connected to a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30 of the substantiallycylindrical insert32. Couplingelement30, as shown may be configured as a male element; however, all combinations of male and female configurations is acceptable forcoupling elements30 andcoupling end22 in alternate embodiments of the invention. Couplingend22 fits about and engagescoupling element30 of a substantiallycylindrical insert32. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 includes a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30 extending from abottom surface34 that is opposite atop surface36. Thepropellant chamber14 includes apropellant chamber insert66 that extends from thebottom surface34 to theshoulder24. The thickness of thepropellant chamber insert66 may be defined as the distance from thepropellant chamber14 to the interior of themiddle body component28 and may be varied as necessary to achieve the desired volume to produce the desired velocity depending on the propellant used. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be made of the same material as the casing or a different material. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be formed by extending the casing wall or may be made by forming a separate insert that is formed and then inserted into thepropellant chamber14 during assembly. Located in thetop surface36 is aprimer recess38 that extends toward thebottom surface34. Aprimer flash hole40 is located in theprimer recess38 and extends through thebottom surface34 into thepropellant chamber14. Thecoupling end22 extends the polymer through theflash hole aperture42 to form aprimer flash hole40 while retaining a passage from thetop surface36 through thebottom surface34 and into thepropellant chamber14 to provide support and protection about theprimer flash hole40. When contacted thecoupling end22 interlocks with the substantiallycylindrical coupling element30, through thecoupling element30 that extends with a taper to a smaller diameter at thetip44 to form a physical interlock between substantiallycylindrical insert32 andmiddle body component28.Polymer casing12 also has a substantially cylindrical open-endedmiddle body component28.
• FIGS. 4A-4H depict a top view of thepolymer casing12 with a substantially cylindrical open-endedmiddle body component28. Thepolymer casing12 includes apropellant chamber insert66 positioned in the powder (propellant)chamber14. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be molded as part of the outer wall of thepolymer casing12 or may be formed (e.g., molded, milled, etc.) as a separate insert that is formed and positioned separately in the powder (propellant)chamber14. Visible is theprimer flash hole40 which extends through thebottom surface34 to connect the primer (not shown) to thepropellant chamber14. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be of any shape or profile to occupy the necessary volume in the powder (propellant)chamber14. In addition having any profile, the present invention may have a varied profile throughout the casing which allows the shoulder region to have a greater volume than the base region or to have a multistage propellant load. In addition, thepropellant chamber insert66 may have separate profiles in separate regions to achieve a specific burn and specific ignition.
• FIG. 5 depicts a side, cross-sectional view of a portion of the polymeric cartridge case displaying ribs according to one embodiment of the present invention. Thepolymer casing12 has a substantially cylindricalopposite end20. The bullet-end component18 may be formed withcoupling end22 formed on substantially cylindricalopposite end20. Couplingend22 is shown as a female element, but may also be configured as a male element in alternate embodiments of the invention. The middle body component (not shown) is connected to a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30 of the substantiallycylindrical insert32. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 may be integrated into thepolymer casing12 by over-molded of the polymer, this process is known to the skilled artisan. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 may also be pressed into an insert aperture in thepolymer casing12. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 may be affixed to the insert aperture using solvent, adhesive, spin-welding, vibration-welding, ultrasonic-welding or laser-welding techniques. Couplingelement30, as shown may be configured as a male element, however, all combinations of male and female configurations is acceptable forcoupling elements30 andcoupling end22 in alternate embodiments of the invention. Couplingend22 fits about and engagescoupling element30 of a substantiallycylindrical insert32. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 includes a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30, extending from abottom surface34 that is opposite atop surface36. Located in thetop surface36 is aprimer recess38 that extends toward thebottom surface34. Aflash hole aperture42 extends through thebottom surface34 into thepropellant chamber14. Thecoupling end22 extends the polymer through theflash hole aperture42 to form aprimer flash hole40 while retaining a passage from thetop surface36 through thebottom surface34 and into thepropellant chamber14 to provide support and protection about theprimer flash hole40. Thepropellant chamber14 includes apropellant chamber insert66 that extends from thebottom surface34 to theshoulder24. The thickness of thepropellant chamber insert66 may be defined as the distance from thepropellant chamber14 to the interior of themiddle body component28 and may be varied as necessary to achieve the desired volume in thepropellant chamber66 to achieve the desired velocity depending on the propellant used. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be made of the same material as the casing or a different material. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be formed by extending the casing wall or may be made by forming a separate insert that is formed and then inserted into thepropellant chamber14 during assembly. When contacted thecoupling end22 interlocks with the substantiallycylindrical coupling element30, through thecoupling element30 that extends with a taper to a smaller diameter at thetip44 to form a physical interlock between substantiallycylindrical insert32 andmiddle body component28.Polymer casing12 also has a substantially cylindrical open-endedmiddle body component28. The substantially cylindricalopposite end20 or anywhere within thepropellant chamber14 may include one ormore ribs48 on the surface. The number ofribs48 will depend on the specific application and desire of the manufacture but may include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more ribs. In the counter bore, the polymer was having difficulty filling this area due to the fact that the polymer used has fillers in it, and needed to be reblended during molding. One embodiment includes sixribs48 to create turbulence in the flow of the polymer, thus allowing the material to fill the counter bore.
• FIG. 6 depicts a side, cross-sectional view of a portion of the polymeric cartridge case displaying ribs according to one embodiment of the present invention. One embodiment that reduces bellowing of the insert includes a shortened insert andangled coupling element30 inside of the insert. In addition, the raised portion of the polymer at theprimer flash hole40 was removed, the internal polymer wall was lowered and angled to match the insert and the internal ribs were lengthened. Thepolymer casing12 has a substantially cylindricalopposite end20. The bullet-end component18 may be formed withcoupling end22 formed onend20. Couplingend22 is shown as a female element, but may also be configured as a male element in alternate embodiments of the invention. The middle body component (not shown) is connected to a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30 of the substantiallycylindrical insert32. Couplingelement30, as shown may be configured as a male element, however, all combinations of male and female configurations is acceptable forcoupling elements30 andcoupling end22 in alternate embodiments of the invention. Couplingend22 fits about and engagescoupling element30 of a substantiallycylindrical insert32. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 includes a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30 extending from abottom surface34 that is opposite atop surface36. Located in thetop surface36 is aprimer recess38 that extends toward thebottom surface34. Aflash hole aperture42 extends through thebottom surface34 into thepropellant chamber14. Thecoupling end22 extends the polymer through theprimer flash hole40 to form anaperture coating42 while retaining a passage from thetop surface36 through thebottom surface34 and into thepropellant chamber14 to provide support and protection about theprimer flash hole40. Thepropellant chamber14 includes apropellant chamber insert66 that extends from thebottom surface34 to theshoulder24. The thickness of thepropellant chamber insert66 may be defined as the distance from thepropellant chamber14 to the interior of themiddle body component28 and may be varied as necessary to achieve the desired velocity depending on the propellant used. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be made of the same material as the casing or a different material. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be formed by extending the casing wall or may be made by forming a separate insert that is formed and then inserted into thepropellant chamber14 during assembly. When contacted thecoupling end22 interlocks with the substantiallycylindrical coupling element30, through thecoupling element30 that extends with a taper to a smaller diameter at thetip44 to form a physical interlock between substantiallycylindrical insert32 andmiddle body component28.Polymer casing12 also has a substantially cylindrical open-endedmiddle body component28. The substantially cylindricalopposite end20 or anywhere within thepropellant chamber14 may include one ormore ribs48 on the surface. The number ofribs48 will depend on the specific application and desire of the manufacture but may include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more ribs. In the counter bore, the polymer was having difficulty filling this area due to the fact that the polymer used has fillers in it, and needed to be reblended during molding. One embodiment includes sixribs48 to create turbulence in the flow of the polymer, thus allowing the material to fill the counter bore. Another embodiment of the instant invention is a shortened insert andangled coupling element30 inside of the insert. In addition, raised portions of the polymer at theflash hole40, lowered and angled the internal polymer wall to match the insert and lengthened the internal ribs.
• FIG. 7 depicts a side, cross-sectional view of a polymeric cartridge case having a diffuser according to one embodiment of the present invention. Thediffuser50 is a device that is used to divert the effects of the primer off of the polymer and directing it to theflash hole40. The affects being the impact from igniting the primer as far as pressure and heat. Acartridge10 suitable for use with high velocity rifles is shown manufactured with apolymer casing12 showing apropellant chamber14 with projectile (not shown) inserted into the forward end opening16.Polymer casing12 has a substantially cylindrical open-ended polymeric bullet-end component18 extending from forward end opening16 rearward to theopposite end20. The bullet-end component18 may be formed withcoupling end22 formed onend20. Couplingend22 is shown as a female element, but may also be configured as a male element in alternate embodiments of the invention. The forward end of bullet-end component18 has ashoulder24 formingchamber neck26.
• Themiddle body component28 is connected to a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30 of the substantiallycylindrical insert32. Couplingelement30, as shown may be configured as a male element, however, all combinations of male and female configurations is acceptable forcoupling elements30 andcoupling end22 in alternate embodiments of the invention. Couplingend22 of bullet-end component18 fits about and engagescoupling element30 of a substantiallycylindrical insert32. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 includes a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30 extending from abottom surface34 that is opposite atop surface36. Located in thetop surface36 is aprimer recess38 that extends toward thebottom surface34. Aflash hole aperture42 extends through thebottom surface34 into thepropellant chamber14. Thecoupling end22 extends the polymer through theprimer flash hole40 to form anaperture coating42 while retaining a passage from thetop surface36 through thebottom surface34 and into thepropellant chamber14 to provides support and protection about theprimer flash hole40. Thepropellant chamber14 includes apropellant chamber insert66 that extends from thebottom surface34 to theshoulder24. The thickness of thepropellant chamber insert66 may be defined as the distance from thepropellant chamber14 to the interior of themiddle body component28 and may be varied as necessary to achieve the desired velocity depending on the propellant used. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be made of the same material as the casing or a different material. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be formed by extending the casing wall or may be made by forming a separate insert that is formed and then inserted into thepropellant chamber14 during assembly. When contacted thecoupling end22 interlocks with the substantiallycylindrical coupling element30, through thecoupling element30 that extends with a taper to a smaller diameter at thetip44 to form a physical interlock between substantiallycylindrical insert32 andmiddle body component28.Polymer casing12 also has a substantially cylindrical open-endedmiddle body component28. The middle body component extends from a forward end opening16 tocoupling element22. Located in thetop surface36 is aprimer recess38 that extends toward thebottom surface34 with adiffuser50 positioned in theprimer recess38. Thediffuser50 includes adiffuser aperture52 that aligns with theprimer flash hole40. Thediffuser50 is a device that is used to divert the affects of the primer (not shown) off of the polymer. The affects being the impact from igniting the primer as far as pressure and heat to divert the energy of the primer off of the polymer and directing it to the flash hole.
• FIG. 8 depicts a side, cross-sectional view of a portion of the polymeric cartridge case having adiffuser50 according to one embodiment of the present invention. A portion of a cartridge suitable for use with high velocity rifles is shown manufactured with apolymer casing12 showing apropellant chamber14.Polymer casing12 has a substantially cylindricalopposite end20. The bullet-end component18 may be formed withcoupling end22 formed onend20. Couplingend22 is shown as a female element, but may also be configured as a male element in alternate embodiments of the invention. The middle body component (not shown) is connected to a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30 of the substantiallycylindrical insert32. Couplingelement30, as shown may be configured as a male element, however, all combinations of male and female configurations is acceptable forcoupling elements30 andcoupling end22 in alternate embodiments of the invention. Couplingend22 fits about and engagescoupling element30 of a substantiallycylindrical insert32. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 includes a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30 extending from abottom surface34 that is opposite atop surface36. Located in thetop surface36 is aprimer recess38 that extends toward thebottom surface34. Aflash hole aperture42 extends through thebottom surface34 into thepropellant chamber14. Thepropellant chamber14 includes apropellant chamber insert66 that extends from thebottom surface34 to theshoulder24. The thickness of thepropellant chamber insert66 may be defined as the distance from thepropellant chamber14 to the interior of themiddle body component28 and may be varied as necessary to achieve the desired velocity depending on the propellant used. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be made of the same material as the casing or a different material. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be formed by extending the casing wall or may be made by forming a separate insert that is formed and then inserted into thepropellant chamber14 during assembly. Thecoupling end22 extends the polymer through the primerflash hole aperture42 to form aprimer flash hole40 while retaining a passage from thetop surface36 through thebottom surface34 and into thepropellant chamber14 to provides support and protection about theprimer flash hole40. When contacted thecoupling end22 interlocks with the substantiallycylindrical coupling element30, through thecoupling element30 that extends with a taper to a smaller diameter at thetip44 to form a physical interlock between substantiallycylindrical insert32 andmiddle body component28.Polymer casing12 also has a substantially cylindrical open-endedmiddle body component28. Located in thetop surface36 is aprimer recess38 that extends toward thebottom surface34 with adiffuser50 positioned in theprimer recess38. Thediffuser50 includes adiffuser aperture52 and adiffuser aperture extension54 that aligns with theprimer flash hole40. Thediffuser50 is a device that is used to divert the affects of the primer (not shown) off of the polymer. The affects being the impact from igniting the primer as far as pressure and heat to divert the energy of the primer off of the polymer and directing it to theflash hole40. Thediffuser50 can be between 0.004 to 0.010 inches in thickness and made from half hard brass. For example, thediffuser50 can be between 0.005 inches thick for a 5.56diffuser50. The outer diameter (OD) of the diffuser for a 5.56 or 223 case is 0.173 and the inner diameter (ID) is 0.080. The diffuser could be made of any material that can withstand the energy from the ignition of the primer. This would include steel, stainless, cooper, aluminum or even an engineered resin that was injection molded or stamped. The diffuser can be produce in T shape by drawing the material with a stamping and draw die. In the T shape diffuser the center ring can be 0.005 to 0.010 tall and the OD is 0.090 and the ID 0.080.
• FIGS. 9A-9H depict different embodiment of the diffuser of the present invention.
• FIGS. 10A and 10B depict a cross-sectional view of a polymeric cartridge case having a reduced propellant chamber volume according to one embodiment of the present invention. Acartridge casing10 shows acasing12 showing apropellant chamber14 with a projectile (not shown) inserted into the forward end opening16. Thecartridge casing12 has a substantially cylindrical open-ended bullet-end component18 extending from the forward end opening16 rearward to theopposite end20. The forward end of bullet-end component18 has ashoulder24 forming achamber neck26. The bullet-end component18 may be formed withcoupling end22 formed on substantially cylindricalopposite end20 or formed as a separate component. The bullet-end,middle body component28, bullet (not shown) and other casing components can then be welded or bonded together using solvent, adhesive, spin-welding, vibration-welding, ultrasonic-welding or laser-welding techniques. The welding or bonding increases the joint strength so the casing can be extracted from the hot gun after firing at the cook-off temperature. Other possible securing methods include, but are not limited to, mechanical interlocking methods such as ribs and threads, adhesives, molding in place, heat crimping, ultrasonic welding, friction welding etc. These and other suitable methods for securing individual pieces of a two-piece or multi-piece cartridge casing are useful in the practice of the present invention. Couplingend22 is shown as a female element, but may also be configured as a male element in alternate embodiments of the invention. The forward end of bullet-end component18 has ashoulder24 formingchamber neck26. The bullet-end component typically has a wall thickness between about 0.003 and about 0.200 inches and more preferably between about 0.005 and about 0.150 inches and more preferably between about 0.010 and about 0.050 inches. Themiddle body component28 is substantially cylindrical and connects the forward end of bullet-end component18 to the substantially cylindricalopposite end20 and forms thepropellant chamber14. The substantially cylindricalopposite end20 includes a substantiallycylindrical insert32 that partially seals thepropellant chamber14. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 includes abottom surface34 located in thepropellant chamber14 that is opposite atop surface36. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 includes aprimer recess38 positioned in thetop surface36 extending toward thebottom surface34 with a primerflash hole aperture42 is located in theprimer recess38 and extends through thebottom surface34 into thepropellant chamber14 to combust the propellant in thepropellant chamber14. A primer (not shown) is located in theprimer recess38 and extends through thebottom surface34 into thepropellant chamber14. When molded thecoupling end22 extends the polymer through the primerflash hole aperture42 to form theprimer flash hole40 while retaining a passage from thetop surface36 through thebottom surface34 and into thepropellant chamber14 to provide support and protection about the primerflash hole aperture42. The bullet-end18,middle body28 andbottom surface34 define the interior ofpropellant chamber14 in which the powder charge (not shown) is contained. The interior volume ofpropellant chamber14 may be varied to provide the volume necessary for complete filling of thepropellant chamber14 by the propellant chosen so that a simplified volumetric measure of propellant can be utilized when loading the cartridge. Thepropellant chamber14 includes apropellant chamber insert66 that extends from thebottom surface34 to theshoulder24. The thickness of thepropellant chamber insert66 may be defined as the distance from thepropellant chamber14 to the interior of themiddle body component28 and may be varied as necessary to achieve the desired velocity depending on the propellant used. Thepropellant chamber14 includes apropellant chamber insert66 that extends from thebottom surface34 to theshoulder24 at a graduated distance from thepropellant chamber14 to the interior of themiddle body component28. For example,FIG. 10A shows apropellant chamber insert66 extends from the bottom of thepolymeric cartridge case12 toward theshoulder24. This includes an extendedprimer flash hole40 that connects theprimer recess38 and thepropellant chamber14. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may include aburn tube extension70 that sits above thepropellant chamber bottom72 of thepropellant chamber14.FIG. 10B shows a polymeric cartridge case having a 2 piece insert. Thepropellant chamber14 has a first propellant chamber insert66athat extends from thepolymeric cartridge case12 toward theshoulder24 ending at any point between theprimer recess38 and theshoulder24. The first propellant chamber insert66aextends about half way thepolymeric cartridge case12 to form thepropellant chamber bottom72 of thepropellant chamber14. A secondpropellant chamber insert66bextends from the propellant chamber bottom72 toward theshoulder24. The first propellant chamber insert66aand the secondpropellant chamber insert66bmay be of similar or different materials and have similar or different thicknesses to formpropellant chamber14 of different volumes. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be formed by extending the casing wall or may be made by forming a separate insert (not shown) that is formed and then inserted into thepropellant chamber14 during assembly.
• The substantiallycylindrical insert32 also has aflange46 cut therein and aprimer recess38 formed therein for ease of insertion of the primer (not shown). Theprimer recess38 is sized so as to receive the primer (not shown) in an interference fit during assembly. Thecartridge casing12 may be molded from a polymer composition with themiddle body component28 being over-molded onto the substantiallycylindrical insert32. When over-molded thecoupling end22 extends the polymer through the primerflash hole aperture42 to form theprimer flash hole40 while retaining a passage from thetop surface36 through thebottom surface34 and into thepropellant chamber14 to provide support and protection about the primerflash hole aperture42. Theprimer flash hole40 communicates through thebottom surface34 of substantiallycylindrical insert32 into thepropellant chamber14 so that upon detonation of primer (not shown) the propellant (not shown) inpropellant chamber14 will be ignited. The bullet-end component18 andmiddle body component28 can be welded or bonded together using solvent, adhesive, spin-welding, vibration-welding, ultrasonic-welding or laser-welding techniques.
• Themiddle body component28 is connected to a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30 of the substantiallycylindrical insert32. Couplingelement30, as shown may be configured as a male element, however, all combinations of male and female configurations is acceptable forcoupling elements30 andcoupling end22 in alternate embodiments of the invention. Couplingend22 of bullet-end component18 fits about and engagescoupling element30 of a substantiallycylindrical insert32. The substantiallycylindrical insert32 includes a substantiallycylindrical coupling element30 extending from abottom surface34 that is opposite atop surface36. Located in thetop surface36 is aprimer recess38 that extends toward thebottom surface34. Aprimer flash hole40 extends through thebottom surface34 into thepropellant chamber14. Thecoupling end22 extends the polymer through theflash hole aperture42 to form aprimer flash hole40 while retaining a passage from thetop surface36 through thebottom surface34 and into thepropellant chamber14. When contacted thecoupling end22 interlocks with the substantiallycylindrical coupling element30, through thecoupling element30 that extends with a taper to a smaller diameter at thetip44 to form a physical interlock between substantiallycylindrical insert32 andmiddle body component28.Polymer casing12 also has a substantially cylindrical open-endedmiddle body component28. The middle body component extends from a forward end opening16 tocoupling element22. The middle body component typically has a wall thickness between about 0.003 and about 0.200 inches and more preferably between about 0.005 and more preferably between about 0.150 inches about 0.010 and about 0.050 inches, including the incremental variations thereof.
• It is understood that thepropellant chamber insert66 can be of any geometry and profile to reduce the propellant chamber volume. Thepropellant chamber insert66 may be uniformed in the geometry and profile or may vary in geometry, profile or both to achieve the desired burn and propellant chamber volume. In addition, the propellant chamber insert can be formed simultaneously with the case by over-molding or machining or can be prepared separate from the case and assembled sequentially. Thepropellant chamber insert66 can be bonded, welded or otherwise affixed to the case.
• One embodiment includes a2 cavity mold having an upper portion and a base portion for a 5.56 case having a metal insert over-molded with a Nylon 6 (polymer) based material. In this embodiment, the polymer in the base forms a lip or flange to extract the case from the weapon. One 2-cavity mold to produce the upper portion of the 5.56 case can be made using a stripper plate tool using an Osco hot spur and two subgates per cavity. Another embodiment includes a subsonic version, the difference from the standard and the subsonic version is the walls are thicker thus requiring less powder to decrease the velocity of the bullet creating a subsonic round.
• The extracting inserts is used to give the polymer case a tough enough ridge and groove for the weapons extractor to grab and pull the case out the chamber of the gun. The extracting insert is made of 17-4 SS that is hardened to 42-45 rc. The insert may be made of aluminum, brass, cooper, steel or even an engineered resin with enough tensile strength.
• The insert is over molded in an injection molded process using a nano clay particle filled Nylon material. The inserts can be machined or stamped. In addition, an engineered resin able to withstand the demand on the insert allows injection molded and/or even transfer molded.
• One of ordinary skill in the art will know that many propellant types and weights can be used to prepare workable ammunition and that such loads may be determined by a careful trial including initial low quantity loading of a given propellant and the well known stepwise increasing of a given propellant loading until a maximum acceptable load is achieved. Extreme care and caution is advised in evaluating new loads. The propellants available have various burn rates and must be carefully chosen so that a safe load is devised.
• It will be understood that particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention can be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.
• All publications and patent applications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
• The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.” The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.” Throughout this application, the term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the inherent variation of error for the device, the method being employed to determine the value, or the variation that exists among the study subjects.
• As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (and any form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “includes” and “include”) or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contains” and “contain”) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.
• The term “or combinations thereof” as used herein refers to all permutations and combinations of the listed items preceding the term. For example, “A, B, C, or combinations thereof” is intended to include at least one of: A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, or ABC, and if order is important in a particular context, also BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, ACB, BAC, or CAB. Continuing with this example, expressly included are combinations that contain repeats of one or more item or term, such as BB, AAA, AB, BBC, AAABCCCC, CBBAAA, CABABB, and so forth. The skilled artisan will understand that typically there is no limit on the number of items or terms in any combination, unless otherwise apparent from the context.
• All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (19)

What is claimed is:

1. A subsonic ammunition comprising:

a primer insert comprises a top surface opposite a bottom surface, a substantially cylindrical coupling element extending away from the bottom surface forming, a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface, a primer flash aperture positioned in the primer recess to extend through the bottom surface, a flash aperture groove in the primer recess that extends circumferentially about the primer flash aperture, and a flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface;

a polymeric casing body comprising a generally cylindrical hollow polymer body molded over the substantially cylindrical coupling element, into the primer flash aperture and into the flash aperture groove and extending toward a mid-body coupling joint;

a nose comprising a projectile aperture that extends to a neck connected to a shoulder that transitions from the projectile aperture to a nose coupler, wherein the nose coupler is connected to the mid-body coupling joint;

a propellant chamber formed between the projectile aperture and the primer flash aperture;

a propellant insert positioned in the propellant chamber to reduce the internal volume of the propellant chamber by at least 10%, wherein the propellant insert comprises a first passage comprising a first aperture having a first diameter about the diameter of the flash hole that transitions as an arc to a second passage that has a second diameter about the size of the projectile aperture, wherein the first diameter has a uniformed diameter that extends to the second diameter;

a primer fitted in the primer pocket;

a propellant disposed in the propellant chamber; and

a projectile positioned in the projectile aperture.

2. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the internal volume that is about 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3, 25.4, 25.5, 25.6, 25.7, 25.8, 25.9, 26.0, 26.25, 26.5, 26.75, 27, 27.5, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80% or incremental variations thereof less than the open internal volume of a standard casing of equivalent caliber.

3. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the internal volume does not contain enough of a propellant for a projectile to exceed the velocity of 1200 feet per second at sea level under standard atmospheric conditions when fired.

4. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the internal volume does not contain enough of a propellant for a projectile to exceed the velocity of 1086 feet per second at standard atmospheric conditions when fired.

5. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the polymer body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyphenylsulfone, polycarbonate, and polyamide.

6. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the polymeric casing body comprises a polymers selected from the group consisting of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyurethane prepolymer, cellulose, fluoro-polymer, ethylene inter-polymer alloy elastomer, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon, polyether imide, polyester elastomer, polyester sulfone, polyphenyl amide, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride or thermoset polyurea elastomer, acrylics, homopolymers, acetates, copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadinen-styrene, thermoplastic fluoro polymers, ionomers, polyamides, polyamide-imides, polyacrylates, polyatherketones, polyaryl-sulfones, polybenzimidazoles, polycarbonates, polybutylene, terephthalates, polyether imides, polyether sulfones, thermoplastic polyimides, thermoplastic polyurethanes, polyphenylene sulfides, polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfones, polyvinylchlorides, styrene acrylonitriles, polystyrenes, polyphenylene, ether blends, styrene maleic anhydrides, polycarbonates, allyls, aminos, cyanates, epoxies, phenolics, unsaturated polyesters, bismaleimides, polyurethanes, silicones, vinylesters, urethane hybrids, polyphenylsulfones, copolymers of polyphenylsulfones with polyethersulfones or polysulfones, copolymers of poly-phenylsulfones with siloxanes, blends of polyphenylsulfones with polysiloxanes, poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers, blends of polyetherimides and polysiloxanes, and blends of polyetherimides and poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers.

7. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the propellant insert comprises a polymers selected from the group consisting of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyurethane prepolymer, cellulose, fluoro-polymer, ethylene inter-polymer alloy elastomer, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon, polyether imide, polyester elastomer, polyester sulfone, polyphenyl amide, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride or thermoset polyurea elastomer, acrylics, homopolymers, acetates, copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadinen-styrene, thermoplastic fluoro polymers, ionomers, polyamides, polyamide-imides, polyacrylates, polyatherketones, polyaryl-sulfones, polybenzimidazoles, polycarbonates, polybutylene, terephthalates, polyether imides, polyether sulfones, thermoplastic polyimides, thermoplastic polyurethanes, polyphenylene sulfides, polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfones, polyvinylchlorides, styrene acrylonitriles, polystyrenes, polyphenylene, ether blends, styrene maleic anhydrides, polycarbonates, allyls, aminos, cyanates, epoxies, phenolics, unsaturated polyesters, bismaleimides, polyurethanes, silicones, vinylesters, urethane hybrids, polyphenylsulfones, copolymers of polyphenylsulfones with polyethersulfones or polysulfones, copolymers of poly-phenylsulfones with siloxanes, blends of polyphenylsulfones with polysiloxanes, poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers, blends of polyetherimides and polysiloxanes, and blends of polyetherimides and poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers.

8. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, lubricants, molding agents, fillers, thermo-oxidative stabilizers, flame-retardants, coloring agents, compatibilizers, impact modifiers, release agents, reinforcing fibers and reinforcing agents.

9. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the propellant insert has a substantially cylindrical shape.

10. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the propellant insert has a free formed shape.

11. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the propellant insert has a one or more ribs extending into the propellant chamber.

12. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the propellant insert has a radial cross-section selected from the group consisting of circular, ovoid, octagonal, hexagonal, triangular, star, ribbed, square and a combination thereof.

13. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the radial cross-section of the propellant chamber is irregular along its longitudinal length.

14. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the radial size of the propellant chamber tapers along its longitudinal direction.

15. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the polymeric casing body and propellant insert are formed of different polymeric materials.

16. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the polymeric casing body and propellant insert are formed of the same polymeric materials.

17. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the propellant chamber is formed of a separate propellant insert disposed within the internal cavity of the generally cylindrical hollow polymer body.

18. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, further comprising a diffuser disposed between the primer and the propellant chamber.

19. The subsonic ammunition ofclaim 1, wherein the projectile is a 22, .22-250, .223, .243, .25-06, .270, .300, .30-30, .30-40, 30.06, .300, .303, .308, .338, 5.45 mm, 5.56 mm, 6.5 mm, 6.8 mm, 7 mm, 7.62 mm, 12.7 mm, 14.5 mm, or 14.7 mm projectile.

Images