IES84840B2 - Cartridge disassembly device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for disassembling a target shotgun cartridge, comprising a cap retainer (11), suitable for reversibly securing a metal cap of a shotgun Cartridge, and a sleeve grip (21;44), suitable for reversibly gripping a sleeve on a shotgun cartridge, characterised in that the sleeve grip (21;44) can be urged away from the cap retainer (11).

Description

Cartridge disassembly device Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cartridge disassembly device, and particularly to a device suitable for disassembling spent shotgun cartridges into some or all of their component parts.

Background to the Invention Shotgun cartridges are generally composed of several components: a cylindrical outer sleeve, (generally made of plastic, although paper and brass are also used), a centerfire primer, which explodes on impact of the firing pin, located in a metal cap attached to the sleeve, a plug (generally plastic) located in the cap which gives stability to the head, forces a cylindrical profile on the sleeve, and securely retains the sleeve into the cap, a powder charge or a chemical that burns on explosion of the primer forming gases (the expansion of which provides the projectile force), a single projectile (slug) or many smaller projectiles (shot), contained within the sleeve, and a wad of paper or plastic, which separates the powder from the shot/slug, and also keeps the shot together as it travels through the barrel. Typically, a cartridge cap comprises a cylindrical portion set into a base of slightly wider diameter. This wider diameter base provides a lip (often with a rounded or filleted profile) on the outer transition between the two diameters that abuts against the outline of the barrel so preventing the cartridge falling through the barrel and thereby keeping the cartridge in place for firing.

After discharge of the cartridge, what remains in the shotgun barrel is the cap, the sleeve and the inner plug (the latter two generally being made of a high density polythene, the cap generally being made of steel, although the cap may be brass coloured). Disposing of these spent cartridges presents a problem. In the past, the cartridges were either burned or buried as landfill. However, burning the cartridges presents the problem of toxic fumes as well as being prohibited in a number of jurisdictions. Furthermore, in an increasing number of jurisdictions, it is becoming more and more expensive for industry, such as shooting ranges, to dispose of the cartridges in landfill. One previously proposed solution is presented in DE4016826, which discusses manufacturing the cartridge out of biodegradable components to minimise the environmental impact. While this may be an attractive solution, the problem still exists that the vast majority of cartridges are non-biodegradable and toxic to burn.

There therefore exists a need to find an alternative solution to the waste presented by spent shotgun cartridges. j 8 4 8 4 0 Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for disassembling a target shotgun cartridge comprising a cap retainer, suitable for securing a cap (which may be metal) of a shotgun cartridge, and a sleeve grip, suitable for reversibly gripping a sleeve (which may be plastic) on a shotgun cartridge, characterised in that the sleeve grip can be urged away from the cap retainer (thereby pulling the sleeve away from the cap).

As further detailed herein, the target shotgun cartridge may comprise a cap and a substantially cylindrical sleeve, a portion of which is located within a substantially cylindrical cap body of a first diameter, the cap further comprising a substantially circular flat base comprising a second, larger, diameter, thereby creating a lip between the base and cap body.

The invention may comprise a device suitable for the disassembly of shotgun cartridges comprising: a sleeve grip, comprising a plunger whose longitudinal axis lies substantially along a longitudinal axis A, and, a set of sleeve gripping jaws closable around the longitudinal axis of the plunger so as to exert a gripping force between the sleeve gripping jaws and the plunger, a cap retainer comprising a set of cap retaining jaws capable of moving from an open position to a closed position, the cap retaining jaws being arranged to close substantially around the longitudinal axis A, the sleeve grip being movably mounted from a proximal position to a distal position relative to the cap retainer, such that when the sleeve grip is moved a first distance from the proximal position towards the distal position, both the cap retaining jaws and the sleeve gripping jaws are closed.

The cap retainer may comprise a magnetic force. The magnet may be an electromagnet, operable in concert with the movement of the device, such that the electromagnet is deactivated when the sleeve is removed from the cap; thereby allowing the cap to be removed (for example, by gravity, or a second magnet or other cap removal means) and a second cartridge take the place of the first.

The cap retainer can be any means that can reversibly and securely holds the cap of the shotgun cartridge. The cap retainer may comprise a means to permit the movement of the sleeve of a shotgun cartridge along a longitudinal axis A (such means, being, for example, an aperture sized to permit the passage of the sleeve through it) and an abutment (or restriction) mechanism so as to prevent the movement of the cap of the cartridge in the same direction along longitudinal axis A. The abutment mechanism may comprise a lip brace, against which the lip can abut in opposition to the direction of the sleeve grip as the sleeve grip pulls the sleeve away from the cap retainer. The abutment mechanism may comprise at least two edges (flanges) in spaced apart relationship, which may be set apart by a distance greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter. In some embodiments, the abutment mechanism may comprise two substantially parallel flanges.

It has been found, however, that for use with some shotgun cartridge caps, the use of two substantially parallel (straight) edges (such as flanges) to retain the cap as the sleeve is pulled away from the cap can result in the lip of the cap bending and the cap nevertheless being pulled through the aperture between the cap retainer. To at least partially overcome this problem, in some embodiment, the lip brace may comprise a substantially U-shaped edge, of sufficient diameter so as to permit the sleeve of a shotgun cartridge pass between the flanged portions yet prevent the lip of a shotgun cartridge doing so. The curved portion (e.g., substantially semi-circular) of the U-shaped edge abuts (about half the circumference of) the cap: this reduces the scope for the lip of such a cartridge to bend, and accordingly such an embodiment reduces the risk of the cap being pulled through the aperture.

The cap retainer may comprise a cap clamp to grip the cap. In some instances, the gripping force of the cap retainer should exceed the force necessary to pull the sleeve (and plug) away from the cap. The cap retainer may comprise both a cap clamp and a lip brace.

The cap retainer holds the cap fixed in place. The cap retainer may comprise a set of cap retaining arms that can converge around the cap; the cap retaining arms may comprise a cap-engaging means (member) at one end that engages the cap. This could be a magnet.

The cap retainer may comprise a set of cap retaining jaws adapted to reversibly secure the cap of a shotgun cartridge. The cap retaining jaws may be capable of moving from an open position to a closed position (and may be arranged to close substantially around an axis A).

The cap retaining jaws may be partially circular in shape so that when urged together the mouth of the jaws (the cap-securing mouth) is substantially circular or may partially define a circle. The cap retaining jaws may be arranged to grip the cap tightly, (in other words, act as a cap clamp). The diameter of cap-securing mouth may be substantially about equal to the diameter of a metal cap of a shotgun cartridge. Alternatively, the diameter of the capsecuring mouth is greater than the diameter of the cap, but less than the diameter of the lip. In embodiments employing a cap clamp, the diameter of the cap-securing mouth may be slightly less than the diameter of a shotgun cartridge cap, so as to increase the clamping pressure on the cap. There may be a pair (first and second) of cap retaining jaws. Each cap retaining jaw of such a pair may be substantially semicircular in shape. In such embodiments, the risk of pulling a cap through the aperture is greatly minimised, as substantially the entire circumference of the cap is encircled and therefore the entire flange portion of the lip is abutted by the edged portion of the jaws: this greatly reduces the ability of the lip to bend.

The cap retaining jaws may further comprise a counter bore (acting as an abutment mechanism) against which the lip of a shogun cartridge cap can abut. The counter bore may have a diameter at least substantially equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the target cartridge lip, so as to be able to accommodate the lip. Thus, the cap retaining jaws may comprise a cap body encircling portion whose diameter is between the first and second diameters, and a cap lip encircling portion (the counter bore) whose diameter is greater than the second diameter.

The sleeve grip can be of any form that can reversibly and securely hold on to the sleeve as the sleeve grip is pulled away from the cap so as to separate the sleeve from the cap. In some embodiments, this may take the form of two or more gripping members. The gripping members may squeeze the cartridge (flat) between them to secure the sleeve. The sleeve grip may comprise a piercing means that can pierce or hook the sleeve. In some cases, though, this may not be strong enough on its own, as the hook or piercing member may simply rip through the sleeve when the sleeve grip is pulled away from the cap retainer.

The sleeve grip grips the sleeve fast while the sleeve grip moves away from the cap retainer, thereby separating the sleeve and cap. The sleeve grip may comprise a set of sleeve gripping arms that can urge together and converge around the sleeve; the sleeve gripping arms may comprise an external sleeve-engaging means at one end that engages the external surface of the sleeve.

The external sleeve engaging means may comprise means to grip or pierce (at least partially) the sleeve, such as at least one hook (for example, a set or series of saw-tooth projections or hooks that may point away from the cap).

The sleeve grip may comprise a set of sleeve-gripping jaws adapted to reversibly secure the sleeve. The jaws may or may not also comprise means (such as teeth etc.) to grip or pierce the sleeve. The sleeve gripping jaws may be partially circular in shape so that when urged together the mouth of the jaws (the sleeve gripping mouth) is substantially circular or may partially define a circle. The diameter of the sleeve griping mouth is substantially about equal to the external diameter of the plastic sleeve of the target shotgun cartridge sleeve. In other embodiments, the diameter of the sleeve gripping mouth is slightly less than the diameter of a shotgun cartridge sleeve, so as to increase the effective gripping force on the sleeve. There may be a pair (first and second) of sleeve gripping jaws. Each sleeve gripping jaw of such a pair may be substantially semicircular in shape.

The sleeve grip may comprise an interior sleeve grip to grip the sleeve from the inside of the sleeve. The interior sleeve grip may be substantially cylindrical. The interior sleeve grip may take the form of a plunger adapted to be insertable into the cavity of a spent shotgun cartridge. The plunger may be substantially elongate or rod-like and may be substantially cylindrical. The longitudinal axis of the plunger may lie substantially along the longitudinal axis A. One end of the plunger (the sleeve entry end) may be adapted for entering the cavity shotgun cartridge sleeve. The sleeve entry end may be substantially conical or substantially frustroconical in shape. As above, the internal sleeve engaging means may comprise means to grip or pierce (at least partially) the sleeve, such as at least one hook (for example, a set or series of saw-tooth projections or hooks that may point away from the cap). The internal sleeve engaging means may also comprise outward pushing elements that can extend away from the internal sleeve engaging means and towards the interior surface ofthe sleeve, thereby creating a gripping force. The internal sleeve engaging means may comprise a collet to this end. The outward pushing elements may be substantially curved in shape so as to complement the interior surface of the sleeve.

Different elements of the sleeve grip may be combined. For example, the sleeve grip may comprise at least two sleeve-gripping arms, each ending in an exterior sleeve grip (for example, a pair of sleeve gripping jaws) in combination with an internal sleeve grip. In this way, the sleeve gripping jaws can grip around the sleeve and compress the sleeve between the sleeve gripping jaws and the interior sleeve grip (the plunger). The device may comprise sleeve gripping jaws closable about the longitudinal axis of the plunger so as to exert a gripping force between the sleeve gripping jaws and the interior sleeve grip.

The present invention may provide a device for disassembling shotgun cartridges comprising a cap retainer, suitable for securing a cap of a shotgun cartridge, and a sleeve grip, suitable for reversibly gripping a sleeve on a shotgun cartridge, characterised in that the sleeve grip can be urged away from the cap retainer and the sleeve grip comprises an interior sleeve grip adapted to grip the sleeve from the inside of the sleeve and, a set of sleeve gripping jaws closable about the interior sleeve grip so as to exert a gripping force between the sleeve gripping jaws and the interior sleeve grip.

The interior sleeve grip may comprise a plunger adapted to be insertable into the cavity of a spent shotgun cartridge. The longitudinal axis of the plunger may lie substantially along the longitudinal axis A.

The plunger may be provided with a sleeve engaging end. The sleeve engaging end may comprise a gripping portion of slightly greater diameter than the rest of the plunger. The sleeve engaging end may comprise a diameter about 0.05 mm to about 0.1 mm less than the internal diameter of the target sleeve. The increase in diameter may begin at an annular ledge, separating the substantially cylindrical gripping portion from the shaft of the plunger.

A substantially frustroconical insertion tip may extends from the other end of the gripping portion.

The sleeve grip may be movable relative to the cap retainer. Furthermore, the component parts of the sleeve grip may be movable relative to each other.

The device may further comprise a plug removing means (member). The plug removing means may comprise an elongate member adapted to push or pull (or otherwise dislodge) the plug from the interior of the sleeve. The sleeve grip may comprise the plug removing means. The plug removing means may be adapted to push the plug from the sleeve after removal of the sleeve from the cap. The plug removal means may comprise an elongate ram extendable from the (interior) sleeve grip. The elongate ram may be a rod slidably extendable out of the interior sleeve grip. The elongate ram may be fixed in position relative to the cap retainer, and the interior sleeve grip may be slidable past the elongate ram. In use, the sleeve grip may obscure the elongate ram when the sleeve grip is proximal to the cap retainer (e.g., when gripping the sleeve) such that when the sleeve grip is urged away from the cap retainer and is slid back along the length of the elongate ram, the elongate ram is exposed, thereby pushing the plug out of the sleeve as the sleeve is drawn back past the ram by the sleeve grip.

The invention may further comprise a sleeve migration means (member). The sleeve migration means acts to move the sleeve away from the sleeve grip (for example, towards or onto the sleeve removal means). The sleeve migration means may comprise a set of sleevemigration jaws adapted to move or assist in moving the sleeve from the sleeve grip. The sleeve migrating jaws may or may not also comprise means to grip or pierce the sleeve. The sleeve migrating jaws may be substantially curved (partially circular or cylindrical) in shape so that when urged together the mouth of the jaws (the sleeve migrating mouth) is substantially circular or cylindrical or may at least partially define a circle or cylinder. The diameter of the sleeve migrating mouth may be substantially about equal to the diameter of the plastic sleeve of a shotgun cartridge. The diameter of the sleeve gripping mouth may be slightly less than the diameter of a shotgun cartridge sleeve, so as to increase the retaining pressure on the sleeve. Where the sleeve grip comprises a plunger, the sleeve migrating jaws may be closable around the longitudinal axis of the plunger. The diameter of the sleeve migrating jaws may be substantially equal to the external diameter of the plunger (portion that is extendable through the sleeve migrating jaws). The sleeve migrating jaws may be biased shut, (for example, by a biasing means such as one or more springs or other commonly used biasing means). Thus, the sleeve migrating jaws may be biased into a closed position around the plunger, forming a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the plunger (but with sufficient clearance so as to permit the plunger to mover in and out of the sleeve migrating jaws when the jaws are shut).

The sleeve migrating means may be flared at one end so as to permit the entry of the end of the sleeve into the flared end. This flared end may be the end proximal to the sleeve grip and the flared portion may be adapted so as to be able to accommodate a flared and/or irregular end of the sleeve that is typically found at the end of spent cartridges. The sleeve migrating jaws may also be provided with an internal annular flange located immediately to the interior of the sleeve migrating jaws to the flared end. The annular flange may be rounded, filleted and/or chamfered. The rounding, filleting, and/or chamfering may be provided on the portion of the annular flange proximal to the flared end so as to ease the passage of the end of the sleeve through the flared end and over the flange. The sleeve migrating jaws may slidably expand to accommodate the extra diameter of the sleeve. The annular flange may be provided with a sharp, or edged profile on the portion of the flange distal to the flared end, so as to thwart the return of the end of the sleeve back over the annular flange once the full length of the sleeve has passed over the annular flange. A pair (first and second) of sleeve migrating jaws may be provided. Each sleeve-migrating jaw of such a pair may be substantially semicircular or semicylindrical in shape.

The device may be provided with a sleeve removal means (mechanism). The sleeve removal means may be any means that removes the sleeve from the device. In some embodiments, the sleeve removal means may comprise a means for the sleeve grip to release the sleeve.

The sleeve removal means may comprise a sleeve cutter. The sleeve cutter may be located about the plunger on the opposite side of the sleeve migrating means as the sleeve grip. The sleeve migrating means may push the sleeve onto the cutter (or towards the cutter), which may then slice the cartridge into one or more strips. The sleeve cutter may be located within or as part of the sleeve migrating means. The sleeve cutter may comprise at least one blade extendable (or extended) from the plunger, the cutting edge of the blade extendable (extending) tangential to the plunger (for example, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plunger). The blade(s) may emerge out of the surface of the plunger. In use, the sleeve can be pushed over the one or more blades and so is cut into one or more slices that can be removed and recovered for recycling. The cutter may be provided with (at least two) blades. The cutter may be provided with (at least) 4 blades. The cutter may be provided with between 1 and about 20 blades. The cutter may be provided with about 16 blades (about 13 to about 19 blades). The blades may be curved. The blades may be arranged equidistant from each other. The blades may be arranged in spaced apart parallel relationship about the longitudinal axis of the plunger. The plane of the at least one blade may be substantially parallel to and arranged surrounding the longitudinal axis of the plunger. Use of about 16 blades with a sleeve whose circumference is about 62.8 mm provides about 17 strips of approximately 3.7 mm in width. Using substantially less blades (e.g., less than about 12) results in strips that are too thick for many plastic shredders, whereas using substantially more than about 16 blades (more than about 20) results in diminished cutting ability as there is less space between the blades and therefore more pressure on the blades as the plastic is cut. The blades may be removable, and/or replaceable to facilitate sharpening or replacement when blunted or otherwise damaged.

The tool may comprise a synchronising means (mechanism) to reversibly alternate the cap retainer between a cap-securing attitude and a cap-releasing attitude. The synchronising means may direct the cap retainer into a cap-securing attitude in response to the distance the sleeve grip is from the cap retainer (e.g., when the sleeve grip is within a defined detachment distance from the cap retainer).

The synchronising means may switch the cap retainer to a cap-releasing attitude when the sleeve grip is beyond the detachment distance from the cap retainer. This allows the cap retainer to initially retain the cap when the sleeve grip is brought close to the sleeve, retain the cap as the sleeve grip first grips the sleeve, and still retain the cap as the sleeve grip begins to pull the sleeve away from the cap. As the sleeve grip draws the now detached sleeve further away from the cap and past the defined detachment distance, the synchronising means can (also) cause the cap retainer to release the cap, thereby permitting the cap to be removed from the tool for recycling.

The synchronising means may comprise electronic circuitry, arranged such that the activation of the cap retainer is electronically linked to respond to a signal that indicates or, is in some fashion, related to, the movement of the sleeve grip (for example, the various movements may all be on rhythmic cycles whose relative timings are synchronised). In some embodiments, the sleeve grip may be (indirectly) linked to the cap retainer so as to enable synchronised activation of the cap retainer.

The synchronising means may be arranged so as to translate at least some of the (longitudinal) movement of the sleeve grip into at least some (lateral) movement of the cap retainer.

The synchronising means may comprise a shaft (reciprocally) movable in response to the movement of the sleeve grip. The shaft may be engagable with a retainer connector capable of controlling movement of the cap retainer. The retainer connector may be located in fixed relationship to the cap retainer. The synchronising means may comprise a shaft connector for engaging with the shaft, the shaft connector being located in fixed relationship to the sleeve grip. The shaft may comprise a connector engaging portion adapted to reciprocally engage with at least one of the connectors.

The shaft may be fixed to one of the retainer connector or shaft connector and may be reciprocally engagable with the other. The synchronising means may comprise a lever mechanism (the shaft typically acting as the lever). At least one of the shaft connector and retainer connector may act as the fulcrum. In one such lever arrangement, the shaft may be pivotably connected to one or both of the retainer connector or shaft connector. For example, the shaft may be pivotably connected to both the retainer connector and shaft connector, forming a toggle joint between the shaft and cap retainer.

The connector engaging portion may be angled away from the longitudinal axis of movement between cap retainer and the sleeve grip such that as the cap retainer and the sleeve grip move towards each other, the connector engaging portion engages with one of the connectors causing the cap gripping means to move perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of movement.

The shaft may be doglegged, with the angled connector portion creating the dogleg. An advantage of such an arrangement is that judicious selection of the relative lengths of the straight and angled portions of the doglegged shaft permit the synchronising means to move the cap retainer only during certain defined distances between the cap retainer and sleeve grip. This allows the cap retainer to be activated only when the sleeve grip is within the defined detachment distance, thereby enabling both the cap to be securely held during the sleeve disengagement and also the cap to be released once the sleeve has been fully disengaged from the cap. In one such embodiment, the shaft is fixedly attached to the shaft connector and slidably engagable through an aperture in the cap retainer (the sides of the aperture thereby forming the retainer connector). In such an embodiment, the doglegged shaft extends from the shaft connector in a first straight shank portion perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of motion and then is angled away from the cap engaging means, before terminating in a second straight shank portion, substantially parallel to the first shank portion. Where the shaft is fixedly connected to the retainer connector and the shaft is reciprocally engagable with the shaft connector, the arrangement of the dogleg angle will be inverted.

The synchronising means may comprise a dogleg shaped shaft adapted for interconnecting the cap retainer and the sleeve grip, the dogleg shaped shaft comprising an angled portion extending away from the axis A along an angle drawn from the sleeve grip, a medial portion disposed on one end of the angled portion engagable with the sleeve grip, and a lateral portion disposed on the other end of the angled portion engagable with the cap retainer, the dogleg shaft being threadably engagable with the cap retainer through a control aperture in the cap retainer, such that as the sleeve grip is moved from a distal position to a proximal position relative to the cap retainer, and the dogleg shaft passes through the control aperture, the cap retainer is moved from a cap-releasing attitude by the engagement of the lateral portion with the control aperture, to a cap-securing attitude by the engagement of the medial portion with the control aperture. The medial and/or lateral portions of the shaft may be substantially straight and may be substantially parallel with the axis A.

Other arrangements are possible. The shaft may comprise a rack, movable in response to the shaft connector or retainer connector, the rack being engagable with a pinion movably attachable or engagable with the other of the shaft connector or retainer connector. The shaft may comprise a worm gear, engagable with a gear arrangement on one or both of the connectors. The shaft may be replaced by a substantially circular gear wheel, adapted to engage with a gear mechanism on both connectors. One or more of the gear arrangements may be silent (i.e., lacking teeth) so as to enable the cap retainer to be activated only when the sleeve grip is within the defined detachment distance (as described above).The synchronising means may comprise a cam.

It will be appreciated that different aspects of the synchronising means may comprise or combine different features as described herein; for example combing electrical circuitry and/or timing circuits with the use of levers and/or gears/ and/or cams, or combing levers and gears together.

The cap retainer may comprise a closed retainer biasing means biased to retain the cap retainer in a closed position. The cap retainer may comprise an open retainer biasing means biased to retain the cap retainer in an open position. Devices of the invention may comprise both a closed retainer biasing means and an open retainer biasing means. The biasing means may be any suitable mechanism, such as tension means (e.g., spring) or lever and so on.

The device may also be fitted with a sleeve grip control mechanism adapted to reversibly alternate the sleeve grip between a sleeve-gripping attitude and a sleeve-releasing attitude. The sleeve grip control mechanism may comprise one or more sleeve grip activators positioned so as to directly or indirectly activate the sleeve grip when the sleeve grip is within a defined distance proximal to the cap retainer. The sleeve grip control mechanism may comprise one or more sleeve grip deactivators positioned to directly or indirectly deactivate the sleeve grip when the sleeve grip is within a defined distance distal from the cap retainer. The sleeve grip control mechanism may comprise one or more sleeve grip manipulators that control the sleeve grip in response to contact (or other signalling mechanism) with one or both of the sleeve grip control activators or sleeve grip deactivators.

The sleeve grip control mechanism may comprise electrical circuitry, for example, permitting it to be controlled by switches connected to sensors (for example, motion or distance sensors linked to the movement of the sleeve grip control means relative to the cap retainer). Synchronised timing circuitry may also be employed (possibly in combination with any other aspects). The sleeve grip control mechanism may comprise a sleeve grip manipulator to directly control the activation and deactivation of the sleeve grip (for example, the sleeve gripping arms). Thus, the sleeve grip activator may activate the sleeve grip manipulator, which in turn may activate the sleeve grip to grip the sleeve. Analogously, the sleeve grip deactivator may deactivate the sleeve grip manipulator, which in turn may deactivate the sleeve grip, resulting in release of the sleeve.

The sleeve grip control mechanism may comprise one or more levers. The levers may be controllable by one or both of the sleeve grip control activators and sleeve grip deactivators One or both of the sleeve grip activator and sleeve grip deactivator may comprise buffers. The sleeve grip manipulator may be activated and/or deactivated upon contacting the respective buffer. The sleeve grip manipulator may comprise a manipulating lever pivotably mounted to controllably act against the sleeve gripping arms (thereby closing the sleeve gripping arms), the action of the manipulating lever being controlled by contact with one or both of the sleeve grip activator and sleeve grip deactivator. The sleeve grip activator may be located proximal to the cap retainer, such that when the sleeve grip comes within a defined (detachment) distance from the cap retainer, the sleeve grip activator activates the sleeve grip.

The sleeve grip activator may comprise an activating buffer. Within the defined (detachment) distance the activating buffer may contact the manipulating lever so as to cause the manipulating lever to pivot and permit the sleeve gripping arms to close. The sleeve grip deactivator may comprise a deactivating buffer. Within the defined (detachment) distance the deactivating buffer may contact the manipulating lever so as to cause the manipulating lever to pivot and permit the sleeve gripping arms to open.

The sleeve grip control mechanism may comprise a grip biasing mechanism. The grip biasing mechanism may be any suitable biasing means, such as a spring or other tensional means.

The grip biasing mechanism may bias the sleeve gripping arms closed or open. Thus the sleeve grip manipulator may only be required to exert force on the sleeve gripping arms to either open or close, with the force required to operate the counted force being supplied by the grip biasing mechanism. The grip biasing mechanism may comprise both an opening biasing means to urge the sleeve gripping arms open as well as a closing biasing means to force the sleeve gripping arms closed. The sleeve grip manipulator may comprise a switch, controllable by one or both of the sleeve grip activator and sleeve grip deactivator which determines which of these two counter forces (opening biasing means and closed biasing means) acts on the sleeve gripping arm.

Other arrangements of sleeve grip control mechanism are possible. Devices of the invention may comprise gear mechanisms. For example, the sleeve grip manipulator may comprise a gear in the form of a cog or a pinion, with one or both of the sleeve grip activator and sleeve grip deactivator taking the form of a gear or rack. Naturally, reverse arrangements are possible, with one or both of the sleeve grip activator and sleeve grip deactivator comprising cogs or pinions and the sleeve grip manipulator comprising one or more worm gears or racks. It will be appreciated that different aspects of the sleeve grip control mechanism may comprise or combine different features as described herein; for example combing electrical circuitry and/or timing circuits with the use of levers and/or gears, or combing levers and gears together.

Devices of the invention may further comprise a cap cradle to (gently) support the cap prior to the cap being retained by the cap retainer. The cap cradle may comprise a magnetic force. The magnet may be an electromagnet, for example operable in concert with the retaining of the cap retainer, such that the electromagnet is deactivated when the cap is retained by the cap retainer.

The cap cradle may hold the cap in position such that the cap retainer can engage with the cap. The cap cradle may comprise a set of cap cradling arms that can urge together and converge around the cap. The cap cradling arms may be biased to converge together. The biasing means may be any suitable biasing means, such as one or more springs. The cap cradling arms may comprise cap-cradling elements to engage directly with the cap so as to cradle the cap. The cap cradling elements may comprise at least one cap-cradling finger extending from the cap cradling arm.

The distance between the cap-cradling arms may be substantially slightly larger than the diameter of a metal cap of a shotgun cartridge so as to be able to cradle caps that have gone out of round; i.e., that are no longer substantially cylindrical or substantially circular in cross section. In use, the cap cradling arms may be only gently biased closed, so as to permit the cap to be removed from the cap cradle easily by slipping out of the embrace of the cap cradle when the sleeve grip begins to exert a lateral pulling force thereby pulling the cartridge and therefore the cap through over the fingers. The rounded and filleted edging of the lip of the cartridge acts as a wedge to force the cap cradling arms apart as the cap retainer engages with the cap and the cap is pulled laterally through the cap cradle. Once the cap is drawn past the cap cradle by the pulling force of the sleeve grip, the lip of the cap then engages with the counter bore of the cap retaining jaws, which, in combination with the strong retaining force of the cap retainer, prevents the cap from being pulled any further by the pulling force of the sleeve grip.

The invention may also comprise a cap-orienting channel comprising two linear surfaces in spaced apart opposing relationship and each arranged in proximity to one of the cap cradle. The linear surfaces may be spaced apart from each other by at least (and/or approximately) a cap-width distance (i.e., substantially equal or greater than the first diameter). For at least a portion of the cap-orienting channel, the linear opposing surfaces may be substantially parallel to each other. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the cap-orienting channel may be flared, wherein the linear surfaces may be of decreasing distance from each other as they approach the cap-cradle. Each linear surface may terminate proximal to the cap cradle so as to enable a cap travelling along the cap channel between the linear surfaces to be deposited into the cap-cradle. The linear surfaces may comprise ridges, planar surfaces, or surfaces otherwise shaped to complement the external surface. In some embodiments, the cap-orientating channel may comprise a cap retainer, where the linear surfaces act as abutment mechanisms against which the lip of a cap can abut.

The invention may also comprise a sleeve support extendable in relation to the cap cradle such that when the cap of a cartridge is supported by the cap cradle, the sleeve of the cartridge is supported by the sleeve cradle. The sleeve support may be slidably movable in relation to the cap retainer. The sleeve support may retract from a support position when the cap retainer is engaged. This may occur by means of a synchronisation means. The sleeve cradle may be biased to remain slidably extended from the cap cradle. The biasing mechanism may be a return spring.

The invention may also comprise chutes or other means to funnel the disassembled components of the cartridges into separate sorting and/or storage bins. The invention may be mounted on skids or wheels for ease of movement and may also be combined with a clay pigeon firing device, or clay pigeon storage facility.

Some embodiments of the invention may comprise more than one device. A disassembly device of the invention may be placed end to end with a second disassembly device of the invention. The forward stroke action of the first device may act as the return stroke of the second device and vice versa. This arrangement has been found to increase efficiency due to both strokes of the reciprocating movement processing a new cartridge. The devices may also be stacked or otherwise joined. Devices of the invention may be powered by one or a combination of suitable means, such as electricity, petrol, diesel and/or manualyl.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a device for the separation of the metal cap of a shotgun cartridge from the plastic sleeve and/or plug. The present invention can be used to separate one or more of the component parts of a spent shotgun cartridge from each other such that the components can then be processed for recycling. The present invention also provides methods of disassembling shotgun cartridges as herein described and illustrated.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig l(a)-(f): depict a shotgun cartridge, and the component parts into which it is reduced after disassembly by a device of the invention.

Fig 2: schematic plan view of a device of the invention prior to disassembling a shotgun cartridge.

Fig 3: schematic plan view of the device of figure 2 during the first forward stroke.

Fig 4: schematic plan view of the device of figure 3 at the full extent of the first forward stroke.

Fig 5: schematic plan partial view of the device of figure 4 at the beginning of the return stroke.

Fig 6: schematic plan partial view of the device of figure 5 during the return stroke.

Fig 7: schematic plan partial view of the device of figure 6 during the return stroke.

Fig 8: schematic plan partial view of the device of figure 7 towards the end of the return stroke.

Fig 9: schematic plan partial view of the device of figure 8 at the full extent of the return stroke.

Fig 10: cut away detail of plunger and cartridge during the first forward stroke.

Fig 11: cut away detail of plunger and cartridge of fig 10 at the beginning of the return stroke.

Fig 12: cut away detail of plunger and cartridge of fig 11 during the return stroke.

Fig 13: cut away detail of plunger and cartridge of fig 12 during the return stroke.

Fig 14: cut away detail of plunger and cartridge of fig 13 at the full extent of the return stroke.

Fig 15: cut away detail of plunger and cartridge of fig 14 during the second forward stroke.

Fig 16: cut away detail of plunger and cartridge of fig 15 during the third forward stroke.

Fig 17: perspective view of a device of the invention with cartridge in place.

Fig 18: detail of one of third pair of jaws of the device of fig 17.

Fig 19: detail of one of second pair of jaws of the device of fig 17.

Fig 20: detail of one of first pair of jaws of the device of fig 17.

Fig 21: detail of one of cap cradling arms of fig 17.

Fig 22: detail of first and second pairs of jaws of the device of fig 17.

Fig 23: detail of first and second pairs of jaws and plunger/cutter of the device of fig 17.

Fig 24: cut away plan detail of cartridges and sleeve bracket of the device of fig 17.

Fig 25: cut away plan detail of cartridges and sleeve bracket of the device of fig 23.

Fig 26: side-on schematic showing chutes and cap stacking.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure l(a)-(e) depict various features of a typical spent shotgun cartridge 80. The cartridge 80 comprises a hollow plastic sleeve 81 (fig 1(e)). The sleeve 81 comprises a discharge aperture 82 at one end defined by a flared end region 83. The flared end region 83 is typically of non-uniform diameter and shape and portions may have a greater or lesser diameter than the rest of the sleeve 82 (see end on view of fig 1(b)). The second end of the sleeve 81 comprises a sleeve end annular flange 84 of slightly greater external diameter than the sleeve. Prior to disassembly, the second end of the sleeve 81 is lodged within a cap 86 (fig 1(c)), and an annular plug 85 (fig 1(d)) is lodged within the sleeve 81. The annular plug 85 helps to lodge the sleeve 81 within the cap 86. The cap 86 is typically metal, and made out of steel, although other metals, such as brass, are sometimes also used. The cap 86 comprises a substantially circular flat base 88 connected to or integrally formed with a cylindrical portion 87 into which the sleeve 81 fits. The differing external diameters of the cylindrical portion 87 and flat base 88 forms a cap lip 89. When the sleeve 81 has been fully processed by certain embodiments of the invention, the sleeve 81 will be sliced to thin strips of plastic as shown in fig 1(f), In general, 12-bore cartridges are from about 65 mm to about 80 mm long. For example, most cartridges used in the UK are about 68 mm long to about 72 mm long (e.g., 67 mm long), and often about 70 mm long, whereas most 12-bore cartridges used in the US are about 74 mm long to about 78 mm long, and often about 76 mm long. 12-guage cartridges in the US typically come in a range of overall lengths, including about 2 % inches, about 3 inches and about 3 % inches in length (including flared end). These lengths include the flared region: the flared region is typically from about 8.0 mm to about 10 mm long, with the remainder of the cartridge from about 57 mm long to about 64 mm long.

The steel cap is in general from about 5.0 mm to about 30.0 mm in length. A longer steel cap is more costly, but provides better shock absorption. Steel caps may be from about 7.0 mm (or about 7.5 mm) to about 24.0 mm in length.

The external diameter of the flat base 88 (measured across the widest portion of the lip) can be from about 21 mm to about 23 mm. Often the lip has a diameter of about 22.5 mm. The cylindrical portion of the cap can have an external diameter of about 20.5 mm.

The plastic making up the sleeve is typically from 0.3 mm to about 0.8 mm in thickness. The plastic may be from about 0.5 mm to about 0.6 mm in thickness. Some cartridges may have plastic of about 0.3 mm thick. Some cartridges may have plastic of about 0.4 mm thickness. Some cartridges may have plastic of about 0.5 mm thickness. Some cartridges may have plastic of about 0.6 mm thickness. The sleeve typically has an external diameter of from about 20.0 mm to about 21.0 mm. Some cartridges have sleeves with an external diameter of about 20.5 mm.

The above dimensions relate to 12-bore cartridges. Where provided, examples of relevant dimensions of various parts of the device are based around the disassembly of 12-bore cartridges. However, the device may also be used for the disassembly of other sizes and types of cartridge, such as, for example, 20-guage cartridges, 16-guage cartridges and 4.10guage cartridges. In some respects, certain modifications to the exemplified dimensions may be required for optimisation of the device if it is to be used with cartridges of differing dimensions to typical 12-guage cartridges. Such modifications and re-sizing will be apparent to the skilled person based on the required ratios of the parts of the device to the respective dimensions of the cartridge and so on.

Figures 2-16 depict a schematic overview of the operation of the device. Turning to figure 2, the cap 86 of a shotgun cartridge 80 is initially held gently in place along a central longitudinal axis A by a pair of cap cradling fingers 53 located on the end of a pair of cap cradling arms 51. A first pair of jaws 11 are open about the cap 86. A sleeve disassembly unit 7 is movably mounted with respect to the first pair of jaws 11, and can reciprocally slide towards and away from the first pair of jaws 11. The sleeve disassembly unit 7 comprises a second pair of jaws 21 mounted within a second jaw housing 20, the second jaw housing being in fixed relationship to a plunger support block 40. A plunger 42 is fixed to the plunger support block 40 and passes along the longitudinal axis A through the aperture between the second pair of jaws 21. A series of blades 47 are located where the plunger 42 fixes to the plunger support block 40. An elongate ram 9 protrudes through the tip of the plunger 42: the ram 9 passing through the plunger 42 and plunger support block 40 and being fixed to a ram support block 8 which is in fixed relationship to the first set of jaws 11. Thus, as the sleeve disassembly unit 7 moves closer to the first set of jaws 11, the plunger 42 slidably obscures the ram 9: as the sleeve disassembly unit 7 retreats from the first set of jaws 11, the plunger 42 slides over the ram 9 allowing the ram 9 to protrude beyond the plunger 42. Additionally, a third pair of jaws 31 is located between the plunger 42 and the blades 47.

The first portion ofthe initial stroke is depicted in figure 3. The sleeve disassembly unit 7 moves towards the first set of jaws 11. A pair of dogleg struts 22 are fixedly mounted to the second jaw housing 21 and extend through apertures in the first set of jaws 11. Figures 4 and 10 illustrate the contact point when the insertion tip 46 ofthe plunger 42 enters the aperture of the sleeve 81. Shortly after this (see also figure 11), the dogleg struts 22 causes the first set of jaws to dose over the cap 86. As the second jaw housing 20 approaches the first set of jaws 11, a pair of second jaw activators 19 located in fixed relationship to the first pair of jaws 11 come into contact with a pair of second jaw control levers 27, causing them to close the second pair of jaws 21 around the sleeve 81. The sleeve 81 is now gripped between the plunger 42 and the second pair of jaws 21.

The return stroke begins (figures 5 and 11): the sleeve disassembly unit 7 begins to retreat from the first pair of jaws 11. The dogleg struts 22 initially keep the first pair of jaws closed. However the initial retreat pulls the cap 86, still attached to the sleeve 81 out of the embrace ofthe cap cradling fingers 53 and against the closed first pair of jaws 11 (figure 11). The lip of the cap abuts against the first pair of jaws 11 and prevents the cap from following the sleeve 81 as the sleeve 81 is pulled away from the first pair of jaws 11 by the sleeve disassembly unit 7 (figures 5 and 6). As the sleeve disassembly unit 7 pulls back over the ram 8, the annular plug 85 comes into contact with the ram 8 and is pushed out of the end of the sleeve 81 (figures 12 and 13).

As the dogleg struts 22 continue to retreat with the sleeve disassembly unit 7, the first pair of jaws 11 are opened and the cap 86 falls free (figure 7). As the sleeve disassembly unit 7 comes to the end of its stroke length, the second jaw control levers 27 come into contact with a pair of second jaw deactivators 39 located close to and in fixed relationship to the third pair of jaws 31 (figure 8). At the end of the stroke, the second jaw deactivators 39 cause the second jaw control levers 27 to open the second pair of jaws 21, thereby permitting the sleeve 81 to be slid through the aperture ofthe second pair of jaws 21 and into the aperture of the third pair of jaws 31 (figure 14).

A second cycle then ensues. In some embodiments, the gripping force of the third set of jaws retains the sleeve, and the plunger slides forward on a second forward stroke, leaving the sleeve trapped between the third set of jaws. In some embodiments, however, the sleeve end annular rim 84 may not have fully passed over the third jaw internal annular flange 35 of the third set of jaws (see below) and the friction between the shaft of the plunger 42 and the sleeve 81 may keep the sleeve 81 in situ over the plunger 42.

Thus, as the second forward stroke begins, the sleeve remains in place. However, when the plunger 42 approaches the discharge aperture of a second sleeve, the flared end 83 of the second sleeve pushes against the sleeve end annular rim 84 of the first sleeve, thereby pushing the first sleeve along the plunger (past the sleeve engaging end 43: and past the annular ledge 45). At this stage, the second sleeve is gripped between the gripping portion 44 and the second pair of jaws 21 and the first sleeve is adjacent to the second sleeve further along the plunger 42. At the end of the second return stroke, the sleeve end annular rim 84 passes over the third jaw internal annular flange 35 of the third set of jaws, and is thus prevented from returning towards the first set of jaws 11 on the third forwards stroke.

When the plunger 42 inserts into a third cartridge, the second cartridge is pushed along the shaft of the plunger 42 in a similar manner. At the end of the third return stroke, as the second cartridge passes through the third set of jaws, the first cartridge is pushed against the blades 47 and is shredded.

Figure 17 depicts one embodiment of the device, briefly, the cap of the cartridge 86 (see figure 1) may be held within the first set of jaws 11, and the sleeve of the cartridge may be gripped between the second set of jaws 21 and the plunger 42 both of which pull away from the first set of jaws 11 while gripping the sleeve 81, thereby separating the cap 86 from the sleeve 81. As the plunger 42 pulls back from the first set of jaws 11, the plug 86 is pushed out of the sleeve by the ram 9. As the second set of jaws 21 and plunger 42 pull back, the doglegs struts 22 cause the first set of jaws 11 to open, thereby releasing the cap 86. The third pair of jaws 31 push the sleeve 81 along the plunger 42 as the sleeve 81 slides through them. When sufficient sleeves have accumulated along the plunger 42, the end sleeve (the first sleeve to have been pushed onto the plunger) is pushed by the addition of successive sleeves along the plunger 42 and onto the blades 47, thereby slicing the sleeve into strips.

Turning to figures 17-23 in more detail, the device comprises a solid end block 1, fixedly mounted over a base frame 2 which comprises two parallel braces 3 connected by a number of crossbeams 4a, 4b fixedly mounted on top of and set perpendicular to the braces 3. A first jaw housing 10 is fixedly mounted on the end block 2. The first jaw housing comprises a first pair of jaws 11 slidably movable along a channel 12 formed between the cover plate 13 and the housing 10. The cover plate 13 is held in place by fixings 14 (rivets).

The first pair of jaws 11 each comprises a substantially semicircular cap engaging portion 111 (see figure 20). The cap engaging portion 111 is provided with a substantially semicircular annular ledge 112, which divides the cap engaging portion 111 into a wide region 113 positioned towards the end block 1 and a narrow region, 114, positioned towards the plates. The wide region 113 is of slightly wider diameter than the narrow region 114. The wide region 113 is of sufficient diameter so as to accommodate the lip of a cartridge cap, whereas the narrow region 114 is lesser diameter than the lip of a cartridge cap. Thus, when the first pair of jaws 11 are closed around a cartridge cap, the cap cannot be pulled through the first pair of jaws 11 as the lip of the cap abuts against the semicircular annular ledge 112. In some embodiments (such as those tailored for 12-guage cartridges) the diameter of the wide region 113 is about 22.7 mm, and the diameter of narrow region is about 20.6 mm. In some embodiments, a clearance distance is provided for when a cap is not uniformly circular in cross section (for example if it has been trod on or otherwise slightly flattened). The diameter of the wide portion may therefore be at least about 0.5 mm greater than the diameter of the target cap.

Each of the first pair of jaws 11 is provided with a first jaw spring 16 fixed to a first jaw spring mounting 17. In the embodiment shown in the diagrams, the first pair of jaws 11 are spring biased open by the first jaw springs 16.

Returning to figure 17, a single support rod 5, substantially cylindrical, is fixedly mounted on each side of the end block 1 and extends through the first jaw housing 10 and cover plate 13 disposed substantially parallel to the adjacent parallel brace 3. Although the support rod 5 is depicted as being substantially cylindrical, naturally other configurations are possible. It has been found that a curved upper surface helps prevent stray caps and plugs from sitting on the support rod 5 and so becoming lodged between the first jaw housing 10 and second jaw housing 20 during operation of the device; however, other arrangements are possible to avoid this problem, such as judicious placing of screens or covers. In some embodiments, the support rods 5 may be supported by one or more support blocks (not shown) positioned along the frame 2.

In some embodiments, the support rods 5 are fixedly mounted at the opposing end of the frame 2. In other embodiments, a second, mirror image, device is located on the other end of the frame 2, the second device sharing the frame 2 and support rods 5 with the first device. In such embodiments, the support rods 5 may extend between the respective end blocks 1 and first jaw housings 10 of each device. In some versions of such end-to end double embodiments, the sleeve disassembly units 7 (discussed below) of each device may also be fixedly connected to each other so as to permit each sleeve disassembly unit 7 to move reciprocally in concert with each other, in other words, the reciprocal movement of the first device's sleeve disassembly unit 7 may also operate the corresponding reciprocal movement of the second device's sleeve disassembly unit 7: for example, by both the first and second sleeve disassembly units sharing a single plunger support block 40, or, for example, the two plunger support blocks being placed in close back-to back juxtaposition. Other arrangements are possible (such as stacked devices).

The device also comprises a sleeve disassembly unit 7 movably mounted with respect to the end block 1. The sleeve disassembly unit 7 comprises a second jaw housing 20 in fixed relationship to a plunger support block 40. In some embodiments, the distance from the second jaw housing 20 to the plunger support block 40 is about 200 mm. The second jaw housing 20 is fixedly connected to the plunger support block 40 via two support jackets 41. The support jackets 41 may be substantially parallel and substantially cylindrical as shown in the figure. The support jackets 41 are positioned around the support rods 5 so as to permit the support jackets 41 to slide along a portion of the length of the support rods 5. The support jackets may be slidably movable over the support rods 5 by means of brush seals (for example, nylon); these can act as both support and washers. In some embodiments, oil, or other lubricant may be added to aid the movement between the support jackets 41 over the support rods 5. In some embodiments, bearings (such as linear or ball) could be used.

The sleeve disassembly unit 7 may slidably move towards or away from the first jaw housing 10 in a direction substantially parallel to the support rods 5. Naturally, the sleeve disassembly unit 7 could be movably mounted with respect to the first pair of jaws 11 by a number of other mechanisms, which would be apparent to the person skilled in the art (e.g., rollers etc.).

The sleeve disassembly unit 7 also comprises a plunger 42 in the form of an elongate cylindrical member, extending from the plunger support block 40. The longitudinal axis of the plunger 42 is substantially parallel with and substantially aligned with the axis A, around which the various jaws of the device are orientated. The second jaw housing 20 comprises a second pair of jaws 21, which are arranged to close substantially around the plunger (see also fig 19). The second pair of jaws 21 may further comprise a flared second jaw end 125 proximal to the first pair of jaws 11 to allow easy insertion of the flared end region 83 of a cartridge sleeve 81. The second pair of jaws 21 are also provided with annular ribs 126 to increase gripping force on the outside of the sleeve 81.

The plunger 42 is provided with a sleeve engaging end 43 (see for example, figures 2-16 and 26). The sleeve engaging end 43 comprises a gripping portion of slightly greater diameter than the rest of the plunger. The increase in diameter begins at an annular ledge 45, which separates the substantially cylindrical gripping portion 44. A substantially frustroconical insertion tip 46 extends from the other end of the gripping portion 44, the frustroconical shape facilitating easier entry of the sleeve engaging end into the discharge aperture 82 of a sleeve 81. As the diameter of the gripping portion 44 is slightly greater than the diameter of the remainder of the plunger 42, once a sleeve 81 is pushed over the annular ledge 45 and past the gripping portion 44 (by the third set of jaws below), the ledge 45 prevents the sleeve end annular flange 84 of the sleeve 81 from being pushed back up over and onto the gripping portion 45.

In embodiments tailored for 12-guage cartridges, the shaft of the plunger may have a cross sectional diameter of about 18.0 mm. The cross sectional diameter of the sleeve gripping end may be from about 18.5 mm to about 19.8 mm (and may be about 18.55 mm). The sleevegripping end may be about 37 mm long. The plunger may be about 273 mm long. The insertion tip 46 may have a cross sectional diameter of from 0.1 mm to about 10 mm, or about 5 mm to about 10 mm. To allow for a cartridge with a smaller discharge aperture (such as a subsonic cartridge), the cross sectional diameter of the insertion tip may be about 8 mm. For use with different sizes of cartridges, a correspondingly sized plunger may be used. The plunger may be between about 180 mm and about 273 mm. The plunger may be about 4 sleeve lengths long. The plunger may be between about 4 and about 5 sleeve lengths long. The plunger may be about 3 sleeve lengths long. The plunger may be between about 3 and about 4 sleeve lengths long. The plunger may be between about 3 and about 4 sleeve lengths long. The plunger may be between about 2 and about 5 sleeve lengths long. The gripping portion may be up to about one sleeve length long. The gripping portion may be less than a sleeve length long. The gripping portion may be about half a target sleeve length long.

A ram support block 8 is (fixedly) mounted roughly in the middle of the distal crossbeam 4b. The distal crossbeam 4b limits the distance the sleeve disassembly unit 7 can slide back from the first jaw housing 10 by abutting the ram support block 40 at the furthest point the ram support block 40 can slide away from the first jaw housing 10.

The ram support block 8 is fixedly connected to an elongate ram 9 that extends through the plunger support block 40 and through the plunger 42 substantially along the longitudinal axis A, The ram 9 is fixedly mounted with respect to the first jaw housing 10, while the sleeve disassembly unit 7 may slide towards and away from the first jaw housing 10. The plunger 42 can slide from a position covering the ram 9 when the sleeve disassembly unit 7 is proximal to the first set of jaws to one where the ram 9 is exposed, when the sleeve disassembly unit 7 is distal to the first set of jaws 20. The ram 9 may be about 68 mm to about 82 mm from the first set of jaws. The distance from the ram to the first set of jaws may be only slightly more than the length of the target sleeve.

Each side of the second jaw housing 20 is further provided with a dogleg strut 22 extending towards the first jaw housing 10 (see in particular figures 2-9 and 22). The dogleg strut 22 comprises three main segments. The first segment is a medial portion 23, which is fixedly attached to the second jaw housing 20 and set substantially parallel to the axis A. The second segment is an angled portion 24, running from the medial portion 23 in a direction away from the axis A and which creates the dogleg. The third segment is a lateral portion 25, which is also set substantially parallel to the axis A but is further from the axis A than the medial portion 23. The dogleg strut 22 can extend through the cover plate 13, first jaw housing 10, and end block 1 each via a plate aperture 15, and apertures in the first jaw housing 10 and end block 1 respectively.

Each one of the first pair of jaws 11 is also provided with a dogleg abutment aperture 18 through which the dogleg strut 22 can protrude (see figs 2-17, and 20-21). The width of the dogleg abutment aperture 18 is substantially equal to the width defined by the dogleg strut 22, measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A from the medial edge 23a of the medial portion 23 to the lateral edge 25a of the lateral portion 25. This width may also be defined as the retainer opening distance. In use, as the sleeve disassembly unit 7 is brought closer to the first pair of jaws 11, the lateral portion 25 of each dogleg strut 22 slides through the respective dogleg abutment aperture 18, with the lateral edge of the lateral portion 25 engaged with the edge of the dogleg abutment aperture 18 so as to force each of the jaws 11 open. As the sleeve disassembly unit 7 is brought closer to the first set of jaws 11, the angled portion 24 of each of the dogleg struts 22 passes through the dogleg abutment aperture 18. When the medial edge 23a of the medial portion 23 engages with the edge of the dogleg abutment aperture 18, the first pair of jaws 11 are forced shut.

The dogleg struts 22 may be arranged so as to move the first pair of jaws 11 at least about half the diameter of the cap 86 to aid the removal of the cap 86. Thus, the dogleg struts may be offset by between about 10 mm to about 16 mm. The offset may be 10.5 mm. The offset may be 11 mm. The offset may be 15.0 mm. The offset may be at least half the second diameter (i.e., diameter of the flat base 86 and lip). The medial portion 23 may be about 76 to about 84 mm in length, and may be about 81 mm in length measured along the medial, inner side 23a and about 78.23 mm in length measured along the outer, lateral side. The medial portion may be about the length of a target sleeve and may be slightly more than te length of a target sleeve. The angled portion may be about 24 mm to about 26 mm in length, as measured parallel to the axis A. The lateral portion may be about 96 mm to about 108 mm long, and may be about 101 mm long measured along the inner, medial side and about 103.73 mm long measured along the outer, lateral side 25a. The lateral portion 25 may be at least the length of a target sleeve.

A third jaw housing 30 is (fixedly) mounted approximately in the middle of the proximal crossbeam 4a. The proximal crossbeam 4a limits the distance the sleeve disassembly unit 7 can slide back from the first jaw housing 10 by abutting the second jaw housing 20 at the furthest point the second jaw housing 20 can extend. The plunger 42 extends through the third jaw housing 30 and between the third pair of jaws 31.

The third pair of jaws 31 are slidably mounted within the third jaw housing 30 so as to close substantially around the axis A (and the plunger 42) (see figures 2-18, and 22-23). The third pair of jaws 31 are slidably mounted and spring biased in a closed position by means of third jaw springs 36. The each one of the third pair of jaws 31 is substantially hemicylindrical, with a flared end 33 proximal to the second pair of jaws 21 and a narrow end 34 distal to the second pair of jaws 21. The flared end 33 has a slightly wider diameter than the narrow end 34. The wider diameter of the flared end 33 permits the irregular end of a cartridge sleeve to enter between the third pair of jaws 31 and gradually push the third pair of jaws 31 apart as the sleeve passes through the third pair of jaws 31. The flared end 33 is separated from the narrow end 34 by a third jaw internal annular flange 35. The third jaw internal annular flange 35 is chamfered, or rounded on the side proximal to the flared end so as to ease the passage of the end of the sleeve through the flared end 33 and over the third jaw internal annular flange 35. The orientation of the third jaw internal annular flange 35 may be reversed; in that it may be chamfered, or rounded on the side distal to the flared end. This arrangement may aid the passage of certain types of sleeves through the migrating jaws, especially very thin sleeves.

The third pair of jaws 31 slidably expand against the bias of the third jaw springs 36 to accommodate the extra diameter of the sleeve 81. The portion of the third jaw internal annular flange 35 distal to the flared end 33 is edged, so as to thwart the return of the sleeve end annular flange 84 back over the third jaw internal annular flange 35 once the full length of the sleeve 81 has passed over the third jaw internal annular flange 35. When the sleeve 81 is drawn through the third set of jaws 31 as the plunger 42 retreats from the first set of jaws 11, the end of the sleeve migrates past the third jaw internal annular flange 35. When then plunger 42 begins its return stroke and approaches the first set of jaws 11 again, the third jaw springs 36 push the third pair of jaws 31 closed over the plunger 42, and the third jaw internal annular flange 35 prevents the sleeve from returning through the third pair of jaws 31 with the plunger 42. The third pair of jaws 31 therefore effectively pushes the sleeve along the length of the plunger 42. Once the sleeve 81 is pushed along the plunger 42, the sleeve 81 is sliced by the sixteen blades 47 arranged in parallel relationship around the end of the plunger 42 as it extends from the plunger support block 50. The cross sectional diameter of the plunger may taper at it approaches the blades 47.

The diameter of the mouth of the third set of jaws 31 (migrating jaws) may be substantially equal to the diameter of the shaft of the plunger 42. This diameter may be less than the diameter of the target sleeve 81. The diameter of the third set of jaws 31 may be about 18 mm. In some embodiment, the diameter of the flared end 33 may be about and 20mm. The diameter of the third set of jaws may be substantially equal to the external diameter of the target sleeve: this may also apply to the second set of jaws. The diameter of the flared end may be greater than the external diameter of the target sleeve.

The second set of jaws 21 are spring biased in a closed position by second jaw springs 26. The second jaw housing 20 is provided with articulated second jaw control levers 27 each pivotably mounted to the second jaw housing 20 and one of the pair of second jaws 21, so as to be movable between a closed position, wherein the control levers 27 abut the second pair of jaws 21, thereby closing the second pair of jaws 21, and an open position, wherein the levers 27 do not abut the second pair of jaws 21 and the second pair of jaws 21 are kept in an open position. Second jaw springs 26 keep the bias the second pair of jaws 21 shut unless the articulated pivot joint of the second jaw control levers 27 is locked straight. When the articulated 2nd jaw levers 27 are locked straight, the second set of jaws 21 remain open. Other means of arrangement are possible, such as pivotably connecting the levers 27 to the second pair of jaws 21 so that the pivoting movement of the levers 27 between the open and closed position directly pulls or pushes the second pair of jaws 21 into the respective position. The second jaw control levers 27 can be moved laterally (perpendicular to the axis A) by diameter adjustment control means in the form of control screws 28. The control screws can be used to move the movable control block 128. One end of the second jaw control levers 27 is pivotably mounted to the movable control block 128, thereby allowing the movement of the block 128 to control the lateral movement of the second jaw control levers 27 to allow for different diameter of sleeves. The second jaw housing is provided with a second jaw housing end plate 29 which prevents any unwanted lateral (i.e., perpendicular to the axis A) movement of the movable control block 128.

The second pair of jaws 21 (outer sleeve grip) may be between about 10 mm and about 60 mm long. The second pair of jaws may be between about 15 mm and about 40 mm long. The second pair of jaws 21 may be between about 20 mm and about 30 mm long. The second pair of jaws may be about 24 mm long. In tailoring the length of the second pair of jaws 21, consideration must be given to the maximum length of the likely caps 86 being encountered, so as to avoid clamping any part of the cap 86. The diameter of the second pair of jaws 21 (outer sleeve grip) may be substantially equal to the diameter of the diameter of the target sleeve 81, The diameter of the second pair of jaws 21 may be about 20 mm.

The second jaw control levers 27 (toggles) are arranged so as to abut a pair of second jaw activators 19 (in the form of buffers) located on the plates 13 of the first jaw housing 10. An analogous set of second jaw deactivators 39 (also in the form of buffers) are located on the third jaw housing 30. As the sleeve disassembly unit 7 approaches the first jaw housing 10, the second jaw activators 19 push the second jaw control levers 27 closed, thereby forcing the second pair of jaws 21 closed. When the sleeve disassembly unit 7 retreats from the first pair of jaws 11, and the second jaw housing closely approaches the third jaw housing 30, the second jaw deactivators 39 push the second jaw control levers 27 open, thereby causing the second pair of jaws 21 to open and release their grip on the sleeve 81.

The first jaw housing 10 also comprises a pair of cap cradling arms 51, located between the end block 1 and first pair of jaws 11. The cap cradling arms 51 are spring biased closed by means of cap cradling springs 52. The cap cradling springs 52 are of relatively little tension, so that the cap 86 can be pulled from the grasp of the cap cradling arms 51 relatively easily. The cap cradling arms 51 each comprises a cap cradling finger 53 which acts to abut the lip 89 of the cap 86 and thereby retain the cap 86 in position.

In use, the cap 86 remains between the cap cradling arms 51 as the first pair of jaws 11 close around the cap 86. When the sleeve 81 has been gripped between the second pair of jaws 21 and plunger 42 and the sleeve disassembly unit 7 begins to retreat away from the first pair of jaws, 11, the cap 86 is initially pulled out of the cap cradling arms 51 by virtue of the relatively weak gripping force of the cap cradling arms 51. The rounded edge of the lip 89 of the cap 86 also enable the cap 86 to slip over the fingers 53. As the sleeve disassembly unit 7 draws further back from the first pair of jaws 11, the cap 86 begins to slide through the first pair of jaws 11, and in particular, through the narrow region 114 of the first pair of jaws 11 (in some embodiments, such as those depicted in many of the present figures, the first pair of jaws 11 do not tightly grip the cap 86 and the cap 86 is secured from the pulling force of the retreating sleeve disassembly unit 7 by the lip 89 abutting against the narrow region 114 of the first set of jaws).

When the lip 89 of the cap 86 abuts against the annular edge 112, the cap 86 is unable to slide through the first pair of jaws 11 any further and the cap 86 is retained by the first pair of jaws 11. The presence of the cap cradling arms 51 enable the cap 86 to be retained in position before the first pair of jaws 11 engages with the cap 86.

In use, the base of the cap 88 slides down against the surface of the first jaw housing 10 as the cartridge 80 slides between the cap orientating flanges 54. This close relationship between the two flat surfaces (88, 10) helps the cartridge 80 remain close to horizontal as it moves into position down onto the sleeve bracket 55, as an excessively angled position of the cartridge can result in the cap becoming stuck in the cap orientating flanges 54. The cap 86 then sits on a ledge 58 (see fig 22). Formed by a recess in a part of the first jaw housing 10. After the cap 86 has been pulled out of the embrace of the cap cradling arms 51, the flat base 88 of the cap 86 abuts flush with the reverse side of the cap cradling fingers 53. This helps keep the cap in position after the sleeve has been removed and, by so preventing the cap from slipping backwards into the region of the cap cradling arms 51, thereby permits the cap 86 to fall away from the cap retainer 11 when the cap retaining jaws 11 are opened.

The first jaw housing 10 also comprises a pair of cap-orientating flanges 54 arranged perpendicular to the first pair of jaws 11 (see figures 22-23 and 26). The cap-orientating flanges 54 permit the caps 86 to slide into position between the cap cradling jaws 51. Once the cartridge 80 has slotted into position, the sleeve is supported by a substantially curved sleeve bracket 55. The sleeve bracket 55 is slidably mounted within the first jaw housing 10 and spring biased to extend past the first jaw housing 10 by means of a return spring 56, which abuts against a return spring brace 57 (see also figure 17). In use, as the sleeve disassembly unit 7 approaches the first pair of jaws 11, and the plunger 42 enters the sleeve, the second jaw housing 20 presses against the sleeve bracket 55 which then retracts against the first jaw housing 10. In this way, the sleeve 81 is always supported by either the sleeve bracket 55 or the sleeve disassembly unit 7 (by at least the sleeve engaging end 43 of the plunger 42 and sometimes the second pair of jaws 21). The upper surface of the sleeve bracket 55 (i.e., that adapted to contact the sleeve) may be rounded, edged, wedge shaped, or otherwise not flattened: it has been found that a flattened upper surface permits caps and plugs to rest on the sleeve bracket 55 and thereby interfere with the operation of the device.

It has been found that with the arrangement shown in the figures the optimum number of caps to sit between the cap-orientating flanges 54 (with a cap already held between the cap cradling jaws 51,) is about three. It has been found that if many more than about three are used, there is an increased tendency for the caps to lock together, due to the increased downward pressure caused by the extra weight of excess cartridges 80. The width between the cap-orientating flanges 54 is designed to be substantially slightly greater than the diameter of the caps, as the caps can become out of round after firing.

A motor (not shown) (e.g., electric) and a set of hydraulic pistons 61 (partially shown in figure 17) power the reciprocal action of the sleeve disassembly unit 7. A chute 62 is provided to channel the caps and plugs discharged by the device. The chute 62 is depicted as two substantially flat strips set about a cap width distance apart, while being less than a lip width distance from each other, so that a cap may slide between the two strips into a container.

The words comprises/comprising and the words having/including when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

Claims (5)

1. A device for disassembling a target shotgun cartridge, comprising a cap retainer (11), suitable for reversibly securing the cap of a shotgun cartridge, and a sleeve grip (21;44), suitable for reversibly gripping a sleeve on a shotgun cartridge, characterised in that the sleeve grip (21;44) can be urged away from the cap retainer (11).

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target shotgun cartridge comprises a cap (86) and a substantially cylindrical sleeve (81), a portion of which is located within a substantially cylindrical cap body (87) of a first diameter, the cap (86) further comprising a substantially circular flat base (88) comprising a second, larger, diameter, thereby creating a lip (89) between the base (88) and cap body (87); and/or the device further comprises a plug removing means comprising an elongate ram (9) adapted to dislodge a plug (85) from the interior of the sleeve (81) by being extendable from the interior sleeve grip (44).

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein a synchronising means (18;22) is utilised to alternate the cap retainer between a cap-securing attitude and a cap releasing attitude in response to the distance the sleeve grip (21;44) is from the cap retainer (11); and/or wherein the cap retainer (11) comprises an abutment mechanism comprising at least two edges in spaced apart relationship, which may be set apart by a distance greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter such that the lip can abut against the abutment mechanism in opposition to the direction of the sleeve grip (21;44) as the sleeve grip (21;44) pulls the sleeve (81) away from the cap retainer (11).

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a sleeve grip control mechanism (19;27; 39) reversibly alternates the sleeve grip (21;44) between a sleeve-gripping attitude and a sleeve-releasing attitude; and/or wherein the sleeve grip (21;44) comprises an interior sleeve grip (44) comprising a substantially cylindrical plunger (42) adapted to grip the sleeve from the inside of the sleeve (81) by being adapted insertable into the cavity of a spent shotgun cartridge; and/or further comprising a set of sleeve gripping jaws (21), arranged so as to be closable about the interior sleeve grip (44) so as to exert a gripping force between the sleeve gripping jaws (21) and the interior sleeve grip (44); and/or further comprising a sleeve migration means (31) adapted to move a sleeve (81) away from the sleeve grip (21;44) and towards a sleeve removal means (47); and/or wherein the sleeve migration means (31) comprises a set of sleeve-migration jaws (31) adapted to assist in moving the sleeve (81) from the sleeve grip (21;44); and/or wherein the sleeve migrating jaws (31) are biased into a closed position around the plunger (42), forming a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the plunger (42), but with sufficient minimal clearance so as to permit the plunger (42) to move in and out of the sleeve migrating jaws (31) when the sleeve migrating jaws (31) are shut.

5. , A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the sleeve removal means (47) comprises a sleeve cutter (47); and/or wherein the sleeve cutter (47) comprises at least one blade extendable from the plunger (42), the cutting edge of the blade extendable tangential to the plunger (42).