Cartridge ammunition and method of making the same

Details Cartridge ammunition and method of making the same Cartridge ammunition and method of making the same

1998-09-22

2001-08-28

Price, Thomas (Department: 3643)

Ammunition and explosive-charge making

Ammunition loading

Filling

Reexamination Certificate

active

06279448

ABSTRACT:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the priority of German Application No. 197 41 841.4 filed Sep. 23, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to cartridge ammunition and a method of making the same.
German Offenlegungsschrift (application published without examination) 41 38 269, to which corresponds U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,599, discloses a cartridge having a combustible cartridge case which, for increasing performance, has three partial charges: a high charge-density first partial charge which is a compressed propellant powder and which is disposed between the rear of the projectile and the cartridge base, a second partial charge which is a bulk propellant powder and which is situated at that side of the cartridge case which is oriented towards the projectile tip, and a third partial charge situated between the first and second partial charges. The third partial charge is a rod-shaped propellant which may also contain bulk propellant powder shaken into the space accommodating the rod propellant.
It is one of the disadvantages of the above-outlined known cartridge that the second partial charge, because of its low charge density, contributes only slightly—if at all—to the desired performance increase of the cartridge. Further, the compression of the first partial charge in the cartridge case leads to problems of reproducibility which is particularly disadvantageous when firing cartridges at low temperatures. Also, introducing the propellant into the known cartridge is a relatively time-consuming process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved method and cartridge of the above-outlined type in which the second partial charge too, significantly contributes to the performance increase of the cartridge.
This object and others to become apparent as the specification progresses, are accomplished by the invention, according to which, briefly stated, the method of making cartridge ammunition includes the following steps: providing a cartridge case having a longitudinal axis; introducing bulk propellant powder into the cartridge case; and oscillating the cartridge case about its longitudinal axis for compacting the bulk propellant powder therein.
Essentially, the invention is based on the principle to use a bulk propellant powder which is densely packed (compacted) by means of a rotary vibrator. The rotary vibrator is arranged in such a manner that its axis of rotation coincides with the longitudinal axis of the cartridge case. As a result of such a positional relationship, the vibrating process results in a parallelization of the longitudinal axes of the individual propellant powder grains with the longitudinal axis of the cartridge case, whereby a relatively high charge-density (packing density) of the propellant charge and thus a substantial performance increase of the cartridge are achieved.
Tests have shown that the frequency with which the rotary vibrator is oscillated is preferably between 0.2 and 10 Hz and the amplitude of the pivotal motion is between 10 and 270° in order to achieve the predetermined compactness of the bulk powder propellant charge in a relatively short time.
In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a first partial charge is provided not by compression in the cartridge case, but as a stacked charge having a compactness which corresponds to that of a compressed partial charge. Since stacked charges may be very accurately made, the cartridges accordingly have a reproducible inner ballistic behavior even when fired at low temperatures. Further, by using such charges as separately deliverable components, an introduction of such charges into the cartridge may be performed in a short period of time.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first partial charge too, is introduced into the cartridge case as a bulk propellant powder compacted by the rotary vibrator until the desired packing density is reached.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2405507 (1946-08-01), Lefren
patent: 2775987 (1957-01-01), Bohlman et al.
patent: 2795990 (1957-06-01), Bohlman et al.
patent: 2807975 (1957-10-01), Bohlman et al.
patent: 4421004 (1983-12-01), Hallstrom et al.
patent: 4764316 (1988-08-01), Brown et al.
patent: 5335599 (1994-08-01), Thiesen et al.
patent: 5619073 (1997-04-01), Posey et al.
patent: 41 38 269 (1993-05-01), None
patent: 492940 (1919-07-01), None
patent: 582846 (1924-12-01), None
patent: 808489 (1937-02-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Cartridge ammunition and method of making the same does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Cartridge ammunition and method of making the same, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cartridge ammunition and method of making the same will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2491457