Sub-caliber projectile for low impulse cartridges

Details Sub-caliber projectile for low impulse cartridges Sub-caliber projectile for low impulse cartridges

2000-08-03

2001-12-04

Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3641)

Ammunition and explosives

Cartridges

Practice projectile type

C102S447000, C102S444000, C102S445000, C102S446000, C102S430000, C102S464000, C102S469000, C102S470000, C089S029000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06324983

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to the field of ammunition, and it particularly relates to a sub-caliber projectile for low impulse cartridges used in automatic weapons. More specifically, the present invention relates to a sub-caliber projectile cartridge for use in automatic weapon systems such as the 40 mm MK19 Grenade Machinegun, though the inventive concept is applicable to any caliber of weapon and ammunition.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Automatic weapons such as the 40 mm MK19 Grenade Machinegun are designed to use ammunition with a specific external envelope. The external dimensions of a sub-caliber projectile cartridge must be compatible with the weapon from which it is fired. The cartridge configuration must also withstand the forces encountered during weapon feeding and cycling.
Sub-caliber projectiles are typically used for applications such as inexpensive training ammunition and applications where reduced terminal effects or reduced target damage are desired. Conventional projectiles include sub-caliber training devices and ammunition for large caliber artillery, howitzers and tank guns. These applications are designed for single shot weapon mechanisms and do not address the full automatic weapon operation typical of machineguns such as the 40 mm MK19 Grenade Machinegun.
There is a great and still unsatisfied need for a sub-caliber projectile cartridge for use in automatic weapons. Exemplary sub-caliber projectile applications include non-lethal projectiles and sub-caliber projectiles, short range training ammunition, and low cost training ammunition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One feature of the present invention to satisfy this long felt need is to provide a low impulse sub-caliber projectile cartridge with an external configuration which is compatible with conventional automatic weapon systems such as the 40 mm MK19 Grenade Machinegun.
This allows for the launching of low velocity and/or low mass projectiles or sub-caliber projectiles such as limited range training projectiles, low cost training projectiles, non-lethal rubber balls, batons, rubber projectiles, powders, and a variety of other low impulse projectile configurations, while functioning the MK19 Grenade Machinegun or other firearms in a fully automatic mode. Low impulse refers to the relative ammunition impulse of the sub-caliber projectile configuration relative to the ammunition impulse of the full caliber ammunition for which the weapon was designed.
A further feature of the present invention is to provide a fully automatic weapon function without requiring changes to the weapon itself, while permitting effective firing of reduced velocity and/or reduced mass projectiles.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a sub-caliber projectile cartridge that includes a sub-caliber projectile mechanism comprised of a cavity/inner bore in the forward portion of the cartridge containing the sub-caliber projectile. The cartridge nose configuration provides the external shape required for compatibility with the weapon while allowing the launching of the sub-caliber projectile.
The operation of the 40 mm MK19 Grenade Machinegun using the cartridge of the present invention is as follows: The cartridge travels through the weapon feed mechanism. The outside configuration of the cartridge and the position of the link is preferably constrained to that of conventional ammunition in order to be compatible with the weapon. The link and cartridge are restrained during the delinking operation and cartridge pickup, as the bolt reaches the battery position. As the bolt is returned rearward, the cartridge is cammed down the bolt face into alignment with the barrel.
As the bolt moves forward to the battery position, the cartridge is chambered. Upon firing, the sub-caliber projectile is fired from the nose of the cartridge. Expanding propellant gases from the primary propellant charge in the base of the cartridge case or from a secondary charge in the base of the sub-caliber projectile cavity/inner bore propels the sub-caliber projectile from the inner bore and launches the sub-caliber projectile from the weapon.
Reaction loads are applied to the barrel through the shoulder and through the base of the cartridge to the bolt. The energy imparted to the bolt accelerates the bolt rearward and cycles the weapon.
The present invention enables the practical and efficient use of sub-caliber projectile ammunition in an unmodified automatic weapon such as the MK19 Grenade Machinegun. In one embodiment, the secondary propellant charge can be used as an alternative to bleeding propellant gases from the primary propellant charge, in order to accelerate the projectile.
In another embodiment, the sub-caliber projectile can be contained within a sub-caliber cartridge case which is held within the forward inner bore. The sub-caliber cartridge case can be used to hold the piston and case in the open position until the cartridge is chambered. The sub-caliber cartridge case can be used to control the forces required to accomplish telescoping the cartridge to the closed position. The sub-caliber cartridge case can also be assembled with a primer, propellant, and sub-caliber projectile prior to insertion into the forward inner bore to accomplish cartridge assembly.


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patent: 4686905 (1987-08-01), Szabo
patent: 4862805 (1989-09-01), Szabo
patent: 5359937 (1994-11-01), Dittrich
patent: 5677505 (1997-10-01), Dittrich
patent: 5834681 (1998-11-01), DuBay
patent: 5983773 (1999-11-01), Dionne
patent: 6095051 (2000-08-01), Saxby

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