Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
  • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
  • F42B5/00—Cartridge ammunition, e.g. separately-loaded propellant charges
  • F42B5/02—Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile
  • F42B5/025—Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile characterised by the dimension of the case or the missile

Definitions

• the present invention relates to devices, systems, and processes related to improved ammunition for pistols and carbines, and more particularly that for small arms.
• the invention relates to improved ammunition for pistols and carbines to provide a cartridge that may be used within the restricted dimensions of these weapons while increasing the effective range normally associated with such ammunition. Additionally, the invention may provide an increase in projectile velocity to impart sufficient projectile cross-sectional energy to allow the perforation of certain body armor types.
• the invention further provides a cartridge which, by means of diameter reduction of the case in the area of the front, and the application of a sabot or bore carrier assembly, allows a small diameter projectile, typically 5.56 millimeters, to be fired from a short compact ammunition that may be employed in a pistol size weapon.
• a weapon chamber is dimensioned to accept the cartridge as described at a tolerance that is preferably between approximately 3 and 9 one thousandths of an inch.
• Fig. 1 illustrates a side elevation partial cross-sectional view of the complete ammunition assembly according to the present invention.
• Fig. 2 illustrates a side elevation cross-section of a weapon chamber according to the present invention.
• Figs. 3A and 3B illustrate preferred weapon chamber tolerances in accordance with the present invention.
• the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and provides, among other things, small arms ammunition of the short compact type used in pistols and carbines.
• the ammunition is generally of such a form that the cartridge overall length is not greater than about 34 millimeters.
• the velocity generated by the ammunition of the present invention is significantly increased but with a decreased recoil felt by the firer.
• the ammunition preferably fires a small diameter projectile designed for penetration.
• the ammunition of the present invention also produces a high projectile velocity with minimized recoil within the confines of a compact ammunition without internal pressures being significantly higher than those normally accepted under a very wide range of operation conditions and environments, and more particularly to a wide range of environmental temperatures.
• a cartridge 100 according to the invention has a case 1 with a projectile 7 and a sabot 8 extending out of the case 1 at a front end 14 of the cartridge 100.
• the case 1 is made of any suitable material for use in ammunition, and more particularly, brass or steel.
• the case 1 is comprised of three sections, namely, a body 4, a conical form 5, and a neck 6, proceeding from a back end 12 to the front end 14 of the cartridge 100, respectively.
• the case 1 contains within it a propellant 2 and a priming cap 3 mounted in the back end 12 opposite the neck 6.
• the cartridge 100 is so dimensioned in length to allow it to operate within a pistol or compact weapon.
• the length of the case L3 is preferably less than or equal to about 24 millimeters and the overall length of the cartridge L4 is preferably less than or equal to about 34 millimeters.
• the body 4 has the largest outer diameter of the cartridge 100. Preferably, the maximum outer diameter of the body 4 is about 10.8 millimeters.
• Length L1 of the body 4 is preferably in the range of from approximately 16.8 to 18.2 millimeters. In a preferred embodiment, L1 measures 18 millimeters.
• the thickness of the casing wall preferably decreases throughout as the body 4 as the distance from the back end 12 increases.
• the cartridge case 1 is reduced in diameter via a conical form 5.
• the conical form 5 preferably has an angle ⁇ measured from the longitudinal axis of the case body 4 in the range of from 28 to 32 degrees, and is more preferably about 30 degrees.
• the conical form 5 transitions a decrease in the case diameter between the body 4 and the neck 6.
• the neck 6 preferably has a length L2 of about 4 millimeters.
• the neck 6 preferably has an outer diameter of about 8.51 millimeters and an inner of about 7.82 millimeters.
• the ratio of the outer body diameter to the outer neck diameter is about 1.27, which is sufficiently small to prevent a choking effect of the case.
• the projectile 7 is held within the case 1 by a sabot 8. Accordingly, the projectile diameter at its base is less than the inner diameter of the cartridge neck 6.
• the base diameter of the projectile is within the range of 5 to 6 millimeters, and preferably the projectile has a base diameter of about 5.7 millimeters.
• Preferred projectiles 7 include a standard M193 projectile, but slight changes in projectile dimensions, mass and material may be applied. Typically, these slight variances would be found amongst the standard M193 projectiles bought off-the-shelf.
• a sabot 8 which covers the base of the projectile 9 and is designed to split open at the muzzle of the weapon to release the projectile for free flight.
• the outer diameter of the sabot 8 is optimally approximately the same as the inner diameter of the neck 6.
• the sabot 8 has a maximum outer diameter of approximately 7.82 millimeters, and an inner diameter sized to accommodate the projectile dimensions.
• the sabot 8 may be formed of any suitable material.
• the sabot 8 is formed from a thermoplastic material, such as polyamide.
• Thermoset-type plastics are also suitable material for forming the sabot 8.
• a metallic base is optionally applied to the back of the sabot 8 (not illustrated in Fig. 1 ).
• the assembly of the projectile 9 and the sabot 8 is held into the cartridge case by means of a crimp 10.
• the ammunition according to the invention presents many desirable features for a compact ammunition intended for use by military and law enforcement. Projectile velocity is significantly increased beyond that of existing ammunition for a sidearm type of weapon, while the recoil is reduced, and at the same time the internal pressures created by firing are acceptable for standard weapon designs.
• FIG 2 a side elevation cross-section of a weapon chamber according to the present invention is illustrated.
• a weapon chamber 30 to fire the cartridge is illustrated which is so dimensioned that it will operate effectively with the cartridge in a pistol or compact carbine as previously described.
• the chamber 30 of the weapon is a generally cylindrically shaped hollow portion inside the weapon.
• the bottom section 20 of the chamber fits around the lower section 12 of the cartridge 100.
• the profile 22, 24 of the weapon chamber 30 is dimensioned to accept the conical form 5 and the neck 6, respectively, of the cartridge 100.
• the chamber has an upper diameter measured around profile section 24. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that there is a slight tolerance between the dimensions of the weapon chamber and the ammunition cartridge 100, with the weapon chamber being only slightly larger than the ammunition cartridge.
• the tolerance, T, between the cartridge and the chamber can range between about 3 one thousandths of an inch to about 9 one thousandths of an inch. However, a tolerance of between 3 and 4 one thousandths of an inch is preferred, with a tolerance of 4 one thousandths of an inch being the optimal tolerance level between the cartridge 100 and the chamber 30. Referring to Figs. 3A and 3B, tolerances in the weapon chamber are illustrated.
• a weapon chamber 30 is manufactured at, for example, a tolerance of 4 one thousandths of an inch, there is preferably a uniform space of 2 one thousandths of an inch between the cartridge and the chamber 30.
• the tolerance between the weapon chamber and the cartridge is as illustrated in Fig 3B.
• a uniform space of V_ T lies between the cartridge and the weapon chamber 30.
• a freebore 26 is provided which is preferably equivalent in length and diameter to the sabot.
• Freebore 26 is generally cylindrical and has a barrel lead 28 of 1.5 degrees formed therein adjacent to the barrel 29.
• the projectile 7 exits the cartridge sitting in the chamber 30 and exits the weapon by passing through the freebore 26, the barrel lead 28, and the barrel 29.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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Country Status (3)

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Family Cites Families (11)

• 2004
  • 2004-01-15 EP EP04775726A patent/EP1597532A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-01-15 US US10/757,427 patent/US20050016414A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-01-15 WO PCT/US2004/000853 patent/WO2005008167A2/en not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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