US2829553A

US2829553A - Reloading presses for ammunition

Info

Publication number: US2829553A
Application number: US555408A
Authority: US
Inventors: John T Twidwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-12-27
Filing date: 1955-12-27
Publication date: 1958-04-08
Anticipated expiration: 1975-04-08

Description

April 8, 1958 y J. T. 'rwlDwELL 2,829,553

RELOADING PRESSES FOR AMMUNITION Filed Dec. 27. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 la 24 9 "le w n g2 l o n e 5766 @il S 2 58s 3| IAE Hfs 59 ,J e4 3 \f` S JOHN T. TWIDWELL a I 2 BY a 33 n n-.qln ATTOR N E April 8, 1958 J. T. TwlDwELL 2,829,553

` RELOAD'ING PRESSES FOR AMMUNITION Filed Dec. 27. 1955 A 2 sheets-shane w 3 F 7 L5 ATToRN Y K 2,829,553` s v `RELOADING` PRESSES FOR ANIlVIUNIIION `John T. ,'lvvidwell, Pasco, `Wash. y Application December 27, 1955,*Serial No.'5`5 5,4t)8V z claims.:y (ci. 86436) i This invention relatesto `reloading mechanism lvfor ammunition, and `more particularly to reloading devices United Saas pmt@ adapted for the reloading Iofspent rie or pistol casing shellsoffthecenterlire variety. l 4 h 1 One of `the objects`of`thisjinvention is to providerin a` reloading devicefor cartridgegmeans for inserting a new primer cap into a cartridge casing from which a used primer cap has been removed, there being associated therewith a magazine adapted to contain a plurality of newprimer caps and there also being means to transfer the primer cap from the magazine, one at a time, into af position in alignment with the primer cap aperture `in the` cartridge casing or shell for'subsequent insertion thereinto.

n Another object of `this invention issto provide a reloadingdeviceincorporating `means for removlng a spent primer capfrom `a cartridge casing andmeanswfor insert-4 ing anew primer ycapinto the casing, there being common e operating means for both mechanisms.

A further' object of thisfinvention xsto provide antimproved reloading device foi-,ammunition which includes means for holding a `spent cartridge casing, reload plunger means movable toward and. awayifrom the casing for the i plungerV and the. casing `sof-,that subsequent operation of t, the,l reload plunger will effect the insertion of a new primer cap` into the cartridge casing.

e Still another object of `this iven'tion `is to provide `an. improved reloading device in conformity with theyforegoing object and the reload plunger, while'in itsuposition 'Parenti-,darm 8, 195s ice A Y 2 to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood ifromthe following description of speciiic embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several gures and in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of the improved reloading mechanism showing a shell or cartridge casing in place and with parts of the mechanism being broken away to show detailsof internal construction; f

Fig. 2is a side elevational view of the'assembly as shown in Fig. l, parts thereof being broken away to show details of construction; Y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the plane of section line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but showing the device operating upon the spent` cartridge casing to simultaneously resize the neclcthereof and remove the old Iprimer cap;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially along the plane of section line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially along the plane of section line 5-5 of Fig. l;

' Fig. 6 is anenlarged Vvertical section taken' substantially 4along the plane of section line 6 6 of Fig. 1; 25

Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially along the plane of sect-ion line 7A-'7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is Van enlarged vertical section taken substantiallyr along the plane of section line 8 8 of Fig.V 2;`

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing a modied form of construction; i, Fig. l0 is a View similar to Fig. 6 but showing the s modification illustrated in Fig. 9

purpose of inserting a newprimer cap'` therein, a magacasing, and

Fig. `11v is an enlarged vertical section showing the device when used for reinserting a bullet into the neck ofthe cartridge;

` -i Fig. 12'is a vertical section taken through a device con-4 structed for the purpose of removing bullets from a shell Fig. 13 is"an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section'line 13-13 of Fig. 1 but showing the parts in position just prior to the insertion of a new primer cap within thespent cartridge casing.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the assembly will be `,seensto consist essentially of a frame F constructed in any desired manner but as particularly shown, including a pair ofv spaced, parallel, upright members 1 and 2 interconmost remote from thetcartridge casingpis intheipath of casing,`the samewill be exposed for operation thereupon by the plunger means, e i A still further object ofthisinvention is to provide an e improved `type of reloading mechanism incorporating i means associatedwith a common manual operating mech- `anism fo`r"iirst r'esizingthe neck of a spent cartridge casing for shell lwhile simultaneously removing the spent primer cap therefrom and `then `inserting a new primer cap into the cartridge casingw` l,

Another object of' this invention` `to providean improved reloading mechanism for ammunition wherein the neclrof the shellis resizedand prepared fortheinsertion i' of a new bullet, the old primer `removed and a new primer `inserted withoutnecessitating the removal or repositioning of the shellbeing loaded. t i

plicity "of design-irigidity` ofconstruction and economy of manufacture. i Y l, ,'Ihe ,novel featuresmthat f are `consideredcharacteristic of thednventionare set forth withparticularityv in the appended clainisg` r'lhe invention itself, howeverpboth as nected valong corresponding edges by a-transverse web member 3 and a base 4, an upper portion of web member 3 being provided with a slot 3 for the purpose of permitting operating linkage, hereinafter described, to clear such web. As will be seen most clearly in Figs. l and 4, portions of the members 1 and 2 project forwardly of the web 43 and are provided therein with guideways 12, as shown, for the purpose of guidably receiving the carriage member 9 and more particularly the opposite side Yedge portions vof carriage base 10. The carriage base 10 may be provided along one side thereof with a pair of

depressions

70 and 71 Icooperable with the detent plunger69 which is normally urged by springmember 69 into `engagement with the side edge portionl of the carriage, the spring 69 being firmly anchored to the frame ber D. vThis die member is threaded as indicated by reference character 57 for engagement through the vertical threaded bore of the ear 11 and a stop collar 58 is also threadedly-engagedon this portion 57 and retained in position. thereon by the set screw 58 for a purpose which `'will be hereinafter described. i The die is also provided with a longitudinally extending bore which extends completely therethrough and which incorporates an upper internally threaded portion a, a lower bore portion b opening onto the lower end of the die and an intermediate bore portion 62 of lesser diameter than the bore portion b and merging therewith in the frusto conical portion c.

lWith reference now to Fig. 3, itA Wil-l be seen that the bore portion b is adapted to receive the portion `63 of the shell casing S and snugly fit therearound, whereas the internal diameter of the bore portion 62 is so `chosen as to neck-down or constrict the neck 66 of the shell casing S, which neck will normally have been expanded to a greater or lesser degree at the time the casing was red. The bore portion c, of course, provides an entrance mouth into the portion 62 during the constricting or necking-down process.

Fixed to the frame `assembly F below the carriage 9, is a bracket assembly B. This bracket includes a horizontally, forwardly projecting table portion 6, and a depending leg 6 which is rigidly secured to the web 3 by means of suitable fasteners such as the bolts 5. The flange 6 carries a forwardly projecting guide portion 7 disposed in spaced relation below the undersurface of the table portion 6. The table portion 6 is provided therethrough with a vertical hole or opening h and a counter bore h on the upper surface to receive the shell retaining member 32 therein, lthe latter being held in place by set screw 33. The retaining member 32 includes an upraised semicircular lip 34 which is adapted to engage in the annular groove, defined by the ejector rim 35, in the base or back portion of the shell or cartridge casing S and serves to hold the same in place as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3. The retaining member is also provided with a vertical bore 32 therethrough which, when the shell casing S is held by the retaining member, is in vertical alignment with the primer cap aperture p in the back Wall of the shell casing S. Thus, the retaining member '32 presentsa vertical bore through the table portion 6 and this bore conforms in diameter substantially to the diameter of the-primer cap aperture p in the shell casing.

Die member D receives in its internally threaded upper bore portion a a combined ejector and sizing member 59 and including an upper threaded body portion 6@ engageable within the bore portion a and terminating at its upper end in the finger knob n. Depending from the threaded body portion 60 is an elongate stem portion r having adjacent its free Vend an enlarged sizing portici-n64 and terminating at its. free end in a reduced diameter nipple 61 which is adapted to be projected through the primer cap tiring aperture, as shown, and punch out the spent primer cap 39a from the spent cartridge shell casing. The punched out spent primer cap will, of course, fall downwardly through vthe aperture 32 in the retaining member 32. Associated with the threaded body portion 60 of the ejector means is a stop collar or lock nut vmember S8 having a set screw, not shown, preferably associated therewith to retain the proper adjustment of the ejector means, as will be described.

The lowermost position of the carriage 9, and consequently the lowermost position of the die means D, is shown in Fig` 3 and in this position the die means is adjusted vertically by threading the same within the ear portion 11 to achieve the proper height. At this point, the stop collar or lock nut 58 is threaded tightly against the ear 11 and held in place by its associated set screw 58. In this same position, the ejector means must be so positioned as to completely'remove the spent primer cap 39a from the primer cap aperture or pocket pin the shell casing S. For this purpose,the ejector means is adjusted vertically within the die body D so as to attain the proper height and, at this point, the associated stop nut 58"l is locked in place to retain the vproper adjustment. The uppermost yposition of the carriageinember is shown in Fig. 1 and it is'noted in this respectfthat the ysame is held normally in this position by cooperation between the detent member 69 and the pocket 70 in the side of the carriagemember, as is shown. The lowermost position of the carriage member is normally retained by virtue of the engagement of the detent member 69 in the indentation or pocket 71.

Rotatably supported in the bearing portions 20 of frame members 1 and 2 (Figs. 2 and 7) adjacent the upper end portions thereof is a transverse, horizontal shaft member 18 which has pinned thereto, as by the pin member 19, a crank 16 having its forward free end portion pivotally secured, as bythe pivot pin 17, to a pair of depending link members 13 straddling the same and which straddle at their opposite ends and are pivotally secured, by means of pivot pin 14, to an ear portion 15 formed at the upper end of the carriage base 10. Thus, when the shaft 18 is rotated in opposite directions, the carriage 9 will slide vertically up and down in its guideways 12, as previously described.

Atleast one end portion 0f the shaft 18 projects outwardly from a side of the frame F and a handle means 24 is associated therewith which may take the form as specifically shown in the drawings wherein the handle means consists of a bar projecting transversely through the free end portion of the shaft 18 and rigidly secured thereto as by set screw member 25. To prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft 18, an annular groove 23 is formed therein and into which the stem portion of a set screw member 21 carried by the frame F may be projected, as will be most clearly seen in Fig. 7. As the handle 24 is rotated downwardly in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, the carriage 9 will be moved vertically downwardly from its position as shown to the lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 3. As the die member moves downwardly to receive the lshell or cartridge casing S, the neck portion 66 of the shell will be reduced in diameter by the bore portion 62 of the die member while simultaneously therewith the nipple 61 of the ejector means will punch out the spent primer cap 39a. When the die member is again withdrawn by moving the carriage 9 vertically upwardly, the resizing portion 64 of the ejector'mean's Iwill pass upwardly through the then necked down portion 66 of the shell casing S and will re-expand the same to conform to the proper diameter for inserting a 'new bullet thereinto. Thus, upon one complete up and down motion of the carriage, the shell casing is ridded of its spent primer cap, while at the Sametime the neck 66 thereof is resized so as to subsequently received a new bullet therein.

The previously mentioned guide portion 7 below the table portion 6 is provided with a vertical bore therethrough which is in alignment with the bore 32 in the retaining means 32 and reciprocable within this guide bore is areload plunger 8 terminating at its upper end in a reduced diameter stem portion 8 presenting at its upper free end a concave depression to receive a new primer cap therein. The lower end of the reload plunger 8 is threaded, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 8, and a stop collar 36 is adjustably located thereon and maintained in proper place by means of a set screw 36', the purpose of the stop collar being to engage the undersurface of the guide portion 7 to limit the upward travel of the reload plunger so that in its uppermost position it will be effective to properly insert a new primer cap into ythe primer cap aperture p in the shell casing or cartridge casing'S. The guide portion`7 is provided with a depending'bifurcated leg portion 27 Vwhich straddles one end of a'lever member 26 and is pivotally secured thereto by means of a pin 28 extending throughboth members. The le'g27-is provided with-horizontal slots 28 in its bifurcated portions within 'whichthe pivot pin 28 rides. The lower end of the reload plunger 8 is bifurcated, as is illustrated most clearly in Fig. 8, andthe same straddles'an intermediate portion "of -the rlever v26 and is pinned thereto as by means of the pivot 'pin 37. The opposite free end of the lever As pinned as by the member 30to a clevis at the lower end of operating rod 2 9 which extends `forms a common operating means for the carriage and for the reloadplunger Snfor performing sequentialreloading operations in a manner to be described presently.

A transfer plate 41 is pivotally secured to the undersurface of the table portion 6 in face-to-facecontact therewith, such connection Abeing effected by means of a pivot bolt 43. The transfer plate includes a projecting ear portion 41', bestshown in Fig. 5, and secured inspaced relation on the undersurface of the table portion 6in dependingrelation thereto area pair of

stop pin members

55 and 56 which xthe extremities of the pivotal path of movement of theV transfer plate. Projectingthrough a vertical bore in the table portion `6 is the reduced lower end portion 38', Fig. 6, of a magazine38 `andwhich` includes a vertical sight slot 40 to `determine whether or not there is a supply `of primera caps 39 therein.Y The new primer caps 39 whichare disposed within the magazine 3S are stackedfthereinandwill normally tend to fall by y gravity through the lower end thereof. i, n

The transfer plate 41issubstantially equal in` thickness to that of the individual primer caps 39 and said plate has an `opening 45 therethrough which is normally closedv at its bottom by an end portion 47 of a shutter or retainer 46, `whereby the opening 45 will nest the caps 39 one .at a time. When the transfer plate 41 is in the full line position .as shown in Fig. 5, the opening 45 therein, see particularly Fig.-`6 will`be in alignment beneath the lower end of the magazine 38 and thelowerm'ost primer cap 39 will be disposed within such aperture 45 and will be retained in place therein by `means lof the end 47 of `the shutter or retainer 46 which is pivotally secured to the transfer plate by means of the pivot 48. The transfer k plate carrieea stop pin 50 and a `spring 49 connected between postson the retainer strip 46 and the transfer plate "normally lurges, the retainerfsitripto a position with its i end 47 underlyingthe apertureAS in the transferplate so as `to form .al pockettherewith for receiving the lower-A most primer` capin thestack` disposed Within the maga- '1`he upper`portionl of 4the stein 8' of thereload plunger 8, when `th'ereload plunger is `inits lowermost position, as shown inFigs. 3 and 13, is inthe path of movement of the retainer end47 when theutransfer plateis `swung to its reload position shown `in dotted line4 in Fig. l5,; Thus,

when thetransfer platee-sswung toits dotted lineposition shown inFig. 5the `stem `8 of thereload plunger i will cause the `retainer end 47 to `swing aside and uncover the underside of the aperture "lS'through` the' transfer plate and will deposit the primer rcap in the depression in the upper'end 8',;of theireload-,plunger stem.

The table portionflslidably `carries a detent member S1, best shown ind-Fig."fwhich'iis normally spring urged downwardly by the action of the spring leaf 53 secured to th'e-` table portion top by the'screw54, the vdetent being engageablelwithin'a"depression`52 in the plate 4 1 when theY latter in thedo'tted lin`e`position shown inFigL 5. It will lbe vnotedthat'theVV transfer plate includes the enlarged segmental portion 42 underlying the table portion e 6 and of such an varea as to cover the underside or lower end portion of the magazine 38 regardless of the position within which the transfer plate is disposed. The

transfer plate also includes a horizontally projecting lever portion 44 whereby the transfer plate may be manipulated manually. i

- almost, but not quite, entered into the primer cap aper- .ejects thespent primer cap 39a.

ture p in the shell S. Of course, at this time, the spent primer cap 39a is still in the shell casing S. With the parts in this position, the operating handle 24 is rotated downwardly to lower the carriage and cause the die D and its associated ejector means to move toward the shell casing S. At the same time, due to its weight, the reload plunger 8 will be lowered also, withdrawing the reload plunger stem S' from the vertical bore 32 in the retainer member32 so as to permit the spent primer cap to fall downwardly through the bore 32. As the carriage is moved to its lowermost position, the die performs the necking downoperation on the neck 66 of the shell casing while, at the same time, the nipple 61 of the ejector means With the parts still in the lowermost position, the transfer plate 41 is manipulated by swinging its lever 44 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 9, so that a new primer cap is transferred from the magazine 38 to a position resting upon the upper end of the stem 8 of the reload plunger. The common operating means is then moved in the opposite direction to raise the carriage 9 and elevate the reload plunger S so that the new primer cap is pressed into the shell casing S. At this point, the shell casing is removed and is ready for lling with powder.

A modied form of primer cap transfer mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 9 and l0 and it will be seen that in this modification the table portion 6 is provided on its undersurface with a T slot slidably receiving the transfer n plate 141. The body 142 of the transfer plate carries a retainer strip 146 similar to that previously described and having associated therewith a spring means 149 to normally urge the same into closing relation with a vertical opening 145 through the n'ansfer plate. A stop pin i 150 is carried by the retainer plate 141 so that the spring 149 normally urges the retainer strip 146 to the proper underlying position to bore 145.'

One .corner of the transfer plate is provided with an :offset ear `portion 1,45 underlying an adjacent portion of the table 6 and engageable with a pair of stop pins 146' and 147..to limit the two extremities of travel of the `transfer plate 141. In these two positions of the plate,

the` transfer plate opening 145 is respectively aligned with the lower end of the magazine 38 and the lower end of the bore 32' through the retainer means 32. As is the case in the previously described mechanism, the .reload plunger stern4 8 is in the path of movement of the retaining strip 146 `so that the stem moves the retainer aside when the transfer plate is moved to the loading position shown'in dotted lines in Fig. 9 to deposit a new primer cap on the upper end of the stem portion 8' for subsequent insertion of the new primer cap into the shell casing S.

. When a desired quantity of shell casings have been provided with primer caps, they are lled with a suflicient quantity of powder and are then reinserted into the press, one at a time, for the purpose of afxing a new bullet thereinto. For this purpose, the ejector means is removed from the die D and replaced by a bullet'press mechanismy '72 as shown in Fig. l1. The bullet press member is similar to thel ejector means in some respects except that its threaded body portion terminates within the die proper above the bore portion 62 thereof and presents thereat a conical bullet nose receiving depression 72', as most clearly shown in Fig. 11. Of course, a stop collar 72" is associated with the bullet press memberl to obtain the proper adjustment thereof. With the die in its uppermost position, a new bullet 65 is lightly pressed into the upper end ofthe neck 66 and then the die is lowered so that the bullet engaging member 72 thereof will force the bullet into the neck 66. The bullet engaging member 72 is properly adjusted when the same engages the nose of the bullet 65 just as the upper end of the neck 66 of the shell casing S enters into the bore 62 of the die. The iinal size of the shell casing neck 66 as occasioned by the die portion 62 is correct for the finished product and, of course, at the same time that the bullet is being pressed into place, the neck 66 of the shell is being reduced slightly in diameter to firmly engage and clamp upon the bullet portion which is projected into the neck.

Fig. 12 shows a means for removing the bullet from a shell casing S should the occasion for such removal arise. This removing mechanism is associated with the previously mentioned die D and includes an externally tapered collet member 67 which has at least a major portion thereof of greater diameter than the bore portion b of the die. The collet 67 is provided with an upwardly projecting bar portion M threaded at its upper end and receiving thereon a wing nut 68 bearing against a washer 68 overlying the upper end of the die member D. When the bullet extractor is used, the carriage 9 is lowered so as to engage the tapered collet 67 onto the bullet 65 and continued downward pressure on the operating means will cause the collet to be forced into the bore portion b and due to the collet taper, the collet will firmly grip the bullet 65. At this point, the downward pressure is maintained on the operating means and the wing nut 68 is screwed up tight so as to retain the gripping action of the collet upon the bullet. The operating means is operated in the reverse direction to withdraw the bullet from the shell casing S.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: n

1. A cartridge casing reconditioning apparatus comprising an upstanding frame, a horizontal table on said frame, said table having a cartridge casing seat on its upper surface and a vertical bore extending therethrough axially of said seat, a vertically movable support slidably mounted on said frame above said table, a die having a die socket corresponding to the louter shape and dimensions of a cartridge casing, a plunger carried by said die and disposed axially of said die socket with the free end thereof protruding through the open end of said socket and beyond the end of said die, an enlarged sizing portion on said plunger, means mounting said die on said support axially of said seat with said die positioned to t down over a cartridge casing on said seat and said plunger penetrating the cartridge casing and punching the spent primer cap from the breach of the casing to be discharged through said seat bore, said table having an aperture therethrough spaced from said seat bore, a cap magazine mounted on top of said table axially of said aperture for delivering caps through said aperture by gravity, a carrier having an opening therethrough and a thickness corresponding to that of a cap, said carrier being mounted on the underside of said table for movement in face-to-face contact between positions in which said opening is respectively aligned with said aperture to receive one cap at a time from said magazine and with said bore to position the cap thereunder, a shutter movably mounted on the underside of said carrier, means urging said shutter to normally underlie said opening and retain a cap therein but permitting movement of said shutter from under said opening, means for moving said carrier between said positions, a reload plunger slidably mounted on said frame beneath said table in axial alignment with said bore for lifting a ycap in said opening up through said bore and pressing the cap into the cartridge casing breach on said seat, means for simultaneously reciprocating in the same direction said support and said reload plunger to lower said die to reshape a cartridge casing and punch the spent cap therefrom assaid reload plunger is lowered to free said bore for discharging the spent cap and to lift said die to free the cartridge breach as said reload plunger is lifted to feed a new cap from said carrier up through said bore and press it into the cartridge breach, and means for positioning said reload plunger at the lower end of its stroke with the upper end of said plunger immediately below the path of said carrier but in the path of said shutter to remove said shutter from beneath said opening as said carrier is moved into alignment with said plunger and bore to free the fresh cap in said opening for reloading the cartridge casing by upward movement of said reload plunger.

2.' A cartridge casing reconditioning apparatus comprising a horizontal table having a cartridge casing seat on its upper surface and a verticall bore extending therethrough axially of said seat, said table having an aperture therethrough spa-ced from said seat bore, a cap magazine mounted on top of said table axially of said aperture for delivering caps through said aperture by gravity, a carrier having an opening therethrough and a thickness corresponding to that of a cap, said carrier being mounted on the underside of said table for movement in face-to-face contact between positions in which said opening is respectively aligned With said aperture to receive one cap at a time from said magazine and with said bore to position the cap thereunder, a shutter movably mounted on the underside of said carrier, means urging said shutter to normally underlie said opening and retain a cap therein but permitting movement of said shutter from under said opening, means for moving said carrier between said positions, a reload plunger slidably mounted beneath said table in axial alignment with said bore for lifting a cap in said opening up through said bore and pressing the cap into the cartridge casing breach on said seat, means for reciprocating said reload plunger to lower said reload plunger to free said bore and to lift said reload plunger to feed a new cap from said carrier up through said bore and press it into the cartridge breach, and means for positioning said reload plunger at the lower end of its stroke with the upper end of said plunger immediately below the path of said carrier but in the path of said shutter to remove said shutter from beneath said opening as said carrier is moved into alignment with said plunger and bore to free the fresh cap in said opening for reloading the cartridge `casing by upward movement of said reload plunger.

' References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED .STATES4 PATENTS 1,933,940 Sutton Nov. 7, 1933 2,061,977 Newcomb Nov. 24, 1936 2,552,772 Fasig May 15, 1951 2,748,648 Miller June 5, 1956