US1903657A - Cartridge - Google Patents

Description

W. L. REED CARTRIDGE April 11, 1933.

Filed Feb. 23, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 11, 1933.

w. I.. REED 1,903,557

CARTRIDGE Filed Feb. 23, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s i E g .latented Apr. ii, 1933 STATES WILLIAM L. REED, OF MIAMI, FLORIDA CARTRIDGE Application filed February 23, 1932. Serial No. 594,664.

This invention relates to ammunition, but more particularly to the design and construction of a cartridge.

The invention has for its object to increase the velocity, penetration and accuracy of the bullet and to decrease wear on the rifle barrel.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of the cartridge in operative position in a rifle barrel.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the cartridge.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View through the muzzle of a rifle barrel illustrating the bullet having just emerged from the muzzle.

Fig. 4 is a rear plan view of the pusher.

Fig. 5 is a front plan view of the same.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the open end of the cartridge shell showing a modification, and

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing a further modification.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures,

in which '1 indicates a rifle barrel having the usual lands 2, grooves 3 and cartridge chamber 4.

5 indicates the cartridge which includes the shell 6 and bullet 7. The shell 6 includes the powder chamber 8 and the reduced bullet-re: ceiving portion 9.

At about the juncture of the powder chamber 8 and the reduced portion 9, the shell may be provided with an internal shoulder 10, as in Fig. 1, or with an annular crimped groove 10 as in Fig. 6 or with a plurality of punched indentations 10 as in Fig. 7.

As will further appear from Figs. 2, 6 and 7, I provide within the reduced portion 9 of the shell 6, a follower 11 of light metal about the softness of copper, and this pusher 11 is seated snugly against the flange 10 or the equivalent groove or indentations shown in Figs. 6 and 7. It will further appear from these figures that the follower 11 has its rear end definitely concaved to form a recess 12 which formation provides a slight annular face 13. It will also be seen that the front end 14 of the pusher 11, is provided with a deep conical chamber 15, the surface of which is formed of a series of alternate ribs 16 and grooves 17, and that the surface of the pusher directly surrounding the conical recess 15,

is cupped at-18, while the extreme edge is formed on an angle or tapered at 19 as particularly well shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Referring now to the bullet 7, it will be seen that the rear end 20 has a smooth, uninterrupted conical formation and terminates in a point 21, so as to reduce to the minimum the drag of the bullet in flight and thus materially increase its speed and accuracy. The nose 22 of the bullet may be of any approved conical form, it being of course understood that the exact size and formation of the bullet would have to be altered to meet the particular conditions for which the bullet is intended. Likewise, the bullet 7 may be of any approved material such as a lead core and 7 copper-nickel jacket.

I prefer to slightly groove the bullet annularly at 23 (Fig. 3) and to provide the shell with a crimped end 24 to engage this portion 23 so as to more effectively retain the bullet in proper position in the shell.

Having thus fully described the invention, its operation is as follows: The bullet 7 and its pusher 11 having been assembled or loaded in the shell as shown in Fig. 2, upon firing, the pressure behind the pusher 11 acts most effectively upon the concaved chamber 12 and tends to slightly expand the surrounding annular face 13 so as to force it more intimately against the grooves 3 of the rifle 5 barrel when the pusher 11 takes the lands. This effectively prevents pressure leakage and increases the muzzle velocity of the bullet 7. Since with this construction the bullet 7 itself does not have to prevent pressure leakage, it may be made smaller than is the usual practice, so that while it takes the lands of the rifling, its rotation may for the most part be imparted to it by the pusher 11. To that end the conical recess 15 of the push- 5 er is provided with the alternate ribs 16 heretofore described so as to intimately grip the conical end of the bullet frictionally and assist in imparting rotation to the bullet.

A positive interlocking of the bullet with the grooves of the pusher which might tend to prevent rapid separation of the bullet from the usher in flight is to be guarded against. owever this construction of the 5 conical recess 15 in the pusher 11 performs an additional function. When the bullet 7 is clear of the muzzle and is under the influence of the air, the cupped portion 18 of the follower, ofiering resistance to the air, assists 1f 10 in directing air mto the alternate grooves 17 in the conical recess of the pusher 11 to efiect a quick separation of bullet and pusher. Furthermore, the ta ered or angular edge portion 19 of the pus er efi'ectively opens up 15 the crimped end 24: of the shell and greatly assists the entrance of the pusher into the rifling of the rifie barrel as will of course be entirely evident from an inspection of the accompanying drawings.

While I have only described one example of pusher and bullet construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact construction shown and described, but consider myself clearly entitled to all 25 such changes and modifications falling within the limit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A cartridge including a shell having a powder holding portion and a bullet receivmg portion, a pusher in the bullet holding portion, the shell including means for seating the pusher, the pusher including a concaved recess and a surrounding annular face,

the front of the pusher including a conical recess having a surface of alternate ribs and grooves, a cupped portion surrounding the conical recess and an outer tapered portion, a bullet having a conical rear end to be received in the conical recess in the pusher and to be engaged by the ribs therein, an annularly grooved portion on the bullet, the shell having a crimped end for engaging the grooved portion of the bullet.

4 2. A cartridge'including a shell having a powder holding portion and a bullet receiving portion, a pusher in the bullet holding portion, the pusher including a concaved recess and a surrounding annular face, the

front of the pusher including a conical recess having a surface of alternate ribs and grooves, a cupped portion surrounding the v JMWKN conical recess, and an outer tapered portion, a bullet having a conical rear end to be received in the conical recess in the pusher and to be engaged by the ribs therein, the bullet being provided with an annular grooved portion, the shell having a crimped end for engaging the grooved portion of the bullet.

to in testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM L. REED.

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