US3736835A

US3736835A - Reloading device

Info

Publication number: US3736835A
Application number: US00158366A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Hanson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-06-30
Filing date: 1971-06-30
Publication date: 1973-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-05

Abstract

A bullet sizer-seater-lubricator is combined with a cartridgereloading press having a movable actuating ram. The sizer-seaterlubricator includes oppositely disposed sizing and seating dies and a displaceable lubricator mechanism having a base portion that supports one of the dies. The base portion is engageable by the movable ram to bring the sizing and seating dies in cooperative relationship during the sizing and seating operations. Bullet lubrication follows bullet sizing and is accomplished by feeding lubricant through communicating means in the base portion for injection into the sizing die.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,736,835 Hanson 1 1 June 5, 1973 [54] RELOADING DEVICE 3,005,372 10/1961 Hall ..86/19 [76] Inventor: Roy R. Hanson, 155 Cumberland Drive, Maryland Heights, Mo. 63043 [22] Filed: June 30,1971

[21] Appl. No.: 158,366

[52] U.S.Cl ..86/19,86/43 [51] lnt.Cl ..F42b 31/02 ["58] Field of Search ..'....86/l,'43, l0, 19, 86/23, 24, 28, 33, 37

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,016,076 10/1935 Hess ..86/19 2,019,795 11/1935 Peterson... ..86/19 3,322,020 5/1967 Eckert... ..86/19 2,133,873 10/1938 Sharp ....86/19 2,535,616 12/1950 Wadman etal. ..86/19 Primary ExaminerBenjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examinerl-larold Tudor Attorney.lohn D. Pope, 111

A bullet sizer-seater-lubricator is combined with a cartridge-reloading press having a movable actuating ram. The sizer-seater-lubricator includes oppositely ABSTRACT disposed sizing and seating dies and a displaceable 25 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 51975 3,736,835

INVE NTOR RoY R. HANSON BY W 1 ATTORNEY PATENIEDJ H 5197s 3.736.835

sum 3 or 3 34 56 FIGS 75 I00 g i? Am FIG. 7

- INVENTOR RoY R. HANSON BY Wm ATTO RN EY RELOADING DEVICE This invention is directed to new and useful improvements in cartridge-reloading devices and more particularly to a sizer-seater-lubricator for use in combination with a cartridge-reloading press.

Do-it-yourself cartridge reloading is generally per-- formed by the hobbyist or sportsman to obtain a substantial cost saving over the price of a factory-made cartridge. Reloading includes a reworking of used cartridge cases by subjecting the cases to various forming operations, among others, through the use of appropriate dies. It is well known to use forming dies in combination with a reloading press to obtain the forces necessary to rework the cartridge cases. The reloading press generally includes a lever-actuated ram that provides relative movement between the die and the cartridge case during the reworking operation. Reloading further includes the sizing and lubricating of a molded bullet that is to be assembled to or seated within the cartridge case. The sizing and lubricating operations are generally performed in a device known as a Sizer-lubricator that is similar to a reloading press in that it incorporates a lever-actuated ram to provide relative movement between a sizing die and the molded bullet.

However, the sizer-lubricator device is readily distinguishable from the reloading press by its provision of a lubricant holder and actuator fordelivering lubricant to a bullet. As the lubricating operation differs distinctly from the cartridge case forming operations accomplished in the reloading press, no practical way has been found to combine the lubricating and-resizing operations in one machine. Consequently, the reloading of cartridges characteristically involves the use of two machines, and possibly two different work stations (where space may be at a premium) to complete the cartridge case reworking, and bullet sizing and lubricating operations.

Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of a novel machine for reworking cartridge cases, sizing, seating and lubricating bullets; a novel detachable lubricator device for a cartridge-reloading press; a novel detachable sizer-seaterlubricator for a cartridge-reloading press; a novel lubricant injection mechanism and die holder; and a novel die for sizing, seating and lubricating bullets. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The present invention relates to a novel bullet sizerseater-lubricator for use in combination with a standard reloading press. In one embodiment of the invention the sizer-seater-lubricator is rigidly anchored to a known reloading press at the fixed die support position of the press. The sizer-seater-lubricator includes a displaceable sizing die mounted in the base of the lubricator. Communicating means extending from the lubricator to the sizing die permit injection of lubricant into the die after a bullet disposed therein has been sized. The sized and lubricated bullet, while still positioned in the sizing die, can next be seated in a cartridge case to complete the assembly of the. cartridge together. De tachment of the sizer-seater-lubricator from the reloading press is accomplished by removing the standard locknuts that secure the fixed die to the press.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illus trated,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a known reloading press;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a known reloading press incorporating the sizer-seater-lubricator of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary right side elevation of the reloading press of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view thereof prior to the bullet sizing operation;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view thereof after the bullet sizing operation;

FIG. 7 is another embodiment of the sizing die of FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings for a detailed description of the present invention, a reloading device incorporating one embodiment thereof is generally indicated by reference number 10. Reloading device 10 comprises a known reloading press 12 shown most clearly in FIG. 1 and a sizer-seater-lubricator attachment 14 secured to press 12. Reloading press 12 includes an elongated frame 16 having a plate-like bench rest piece 18 formed for mounting on a flat work surface such as a table top 20 shown slanted in FIG. 3. Press 12 further includes a fixed die support 22 having a removable die 24 threadably secured therein and locked in place by a locknut 26. Die 24 can be interchanged with various other dies having a common thread size such as a punch assembly 28 having an outwardly extending portion 30. As seen most clearly in FIG. 4, punch assembly 28 includes a hollow body portion 32 having internal and external threads and an internal punch 34 adjustably secured in body portion 32. Punch 34 is locked in place with respect to body portion 32 by a nut 33. A movable ram 36 is displaceably collared in press 12 directly below die support 22. Ram 36 includes a slotted end portion 38 for detachably mounting a shell holder 40 thereon, and which shell holder maintains cartridge cases (not shown) in position for reworking in press 12. Ram 36 is actuated toward and away from die 24 or punch assembly 28 by a lever rod 42 pivotally secured to press 12 at pin 44. Lever 42 is additionally pivoted to a link arm 46 arranged to push against ram 36 as lever 42 is moved in a clockwise direction.

Sizer-seater-lubricator 14 includes a flat support plate 48 in the shape of an ellipse. Support plate 48, which is provided with a mounting hole 50 (FIG. 4) formed to accommodate outwardly extending portion 30 of die 28, is disposed intermediate locknuts 26 and die support 22. Under this arrangement sizer-seaterlubricator 14 is anchored to support means 22 in cantilever fashion.

Support plate 48 further includes an aperture 52 (FIG. 4) having a guide collar 54 depending therefrom. A lubricating mechanism 56 comprising a cylindrical lubricant reservoir 58 is suspended from plate 48 for displaceable movement within collar 54. Reservoir 58, which is made of any suitable material such as aluminum, includes a cap 60 threadably secured to one end thereof. Cap 60 is of greater outer diameter than the inner diameter of guide collar 54 such that the lower cap end 62 abuts support plate 48 to define a lower dis-' placement limit position of reservoir 58. Cap 60 can be locked in place on reservoir 58 by any suitable lock means such as a lock screw 64 arranged to bear against an end of reservoir cylinder 58. Reservoir 58 is threadably affixed to a lubricator base portion 66 and which base portion is provided with a lever handle 68 at one end thereof and a sizing die 70 at the other end thereof.

A supply of suitable bullet lubricant 72, such as wax, is stored within reservoir 58 intermediate a piston assembly 74 and base portion 66. Piston assembly 74 includes a piston head 76 secured to one end of a threaded piston shaft 78. Piston head 76 includes a piston ring 80' and a Iocknut 82 for locking head 76 to shaft 78. Shaft 78 is adjustably secured to cap 60 by means of a support nut 84 retained in cap 60 by a retaining ring 86. Rotation of piston shaft 78 with respect to support nut 84 urges lubricant 72 toward base portion 66. Sizing die 70 includes a flange 88 abutting base portion 66 to limit the threaded entry of die 70 in base 66.

In another variation of sizing die 70, such as a sizing die 90 shown in FIG. 7, a retaining ring 92 provided on the outer surface of die 90 limits the entry of die 90 in base portion 66. A Iocknut 94 at the opposite end of die 90 locks die 90 to base 66.

Die 70 is of hollow cylindrical shape having a longitudinal sizer opening 96 formed to accommodate a bullet 95 through one end thereof and a seating anvil 97 through the other end thereof. Die 70 further includes a recessed annular portion 98 at the outer cylindrical surface thereof, and injection ports 100 extending from annular recess 98 into sizer opening 96. An additional pair of opposing injection ports 100 (not shown) are provided in

die

70, 90 away from ports 100 that are shown in section. The opposing pairs of ports 100 are arranged at different levels in die 70, such that ports 100 as shown are further from anvil 97 than the unshown injection ports 100.

Lever handle 68 is pivotally secured to base portion 66 at pin 102 and includes a keyhole opening 104. Lubricating mechanism 56 further includes a plunger 106 having a slotted head portion 108 arranged to be held in keyhole opening 104. Plunger 106 comprises an elongated stem portion 110 slidably mounted in a bore 112 provided in base portion 66. Bore 112 opens into cylinder reservoir 58 and includes a communicating portion 114 extending from reservoir 58 to annular recess 98 of sizing die 70. An air-relief screw 116 is threadably secured in base 66 below reservoir 58.

In operation, reloading press 12, as shown in FIG. 1, is used to rework cartridge cases which, although not shown, have an appearance similar to that of anvil 97. The cartridge case is detachably seated in shell holder 40 atop ram 36 such that movement of lever rod 42 urges ram 36, shell holder 40 and the cartridge case toward die 24 for reworking. To use press 12 for'sizing, seating and lubricating bullets, the cartridge die 24 is removed from die support 22 and replaced by punch assembly 28. Sizer-seater-lubricator 14 is then affixed to press 12 by installing anchor plate 48 on diesu pport 22 such that outwardly extending portion 30 of punch assembly 28 is engaged in mounting hole 50. Locknuts 26 are then threaded to punch assembly 28 to rigidly secure plate 48 to die support 22. Lubricating mechanism 56 can be pivoted about the axis of reservoir 58 within guide collar 54 whereby sizing die is brought into alignment with ram 36.

Anvil 97, which is seated in shell holder 40, is then moved into sizer opening 96 by depressing lever 42. Next, an unsized bullet is disposed in the end of opening 96 facing punch 34. Further depression of lever rod 42 in a clockwise direction causes ram 36 and shell holder 40 to punch base 66, including sizing die 70, toward punch 34. As base 66 rises, the upward movement of reservoir 58 with respect to anchor plate 48 is guided by collar 54. After lever rod 42 has been depressed a predetermined amount, bullet 95 will contact punch 34. Additional clockwise movement of lever rod 42 will cause punch 34 to urge bullet 95 through opening 96 toward a stop position defined by anvil 97, as shown in FIG. 6, whereupon the sizing operation is completed.

With bullet 95thus positioned on anvil 97 each pair of opposing injection ports of sizing die 70 are aligned with a respective bullet lubrication groove 1 18. Clockwise movement of lubricating mechanism lever 68 in base 66 causes plunger 106 to force lubricant 72 through communicating means 114, annular recess 98 and ports 100 for injection of lubricant into lubrication grooves 118. Under this arrangement of injection ports 100, lubricant 72 is selectively introduced into those lubrication grooves 118 that correspond to opposing injection ports 100. If lubricant is desired in only one lubrication groove 118, a pair of opposing injection ports 100 can be eliminated. As stern portion is moved away from sizing die 70 a partial vacuum is formed in communicating means 114 establishing a pressure differential between sizer opening 96 and communicating means 114. This pressure differential has the effect of drawing lubricant that remains in injection ports 100 back into communicating means 1 14, thereby insuring that no residual lubricant from port 100 enters sizer opening 96. Thus the possibility that lubricant will adhere to the base of bullet 95 during sizing thereof to contaminate the charge in a cartridge case is minimal. It should also be noted that when lubricant 72 is disposed in reservoir 58 air pockets can form at the bottom portion of reservoir 58 such that movement of piston head 76 toward base 66 will cause compressed air to enter bore 112 hampering the transmission of lubricant to injection ports 100. This problem is substantially overcome by removing air-relief screw 1 16 to provide an exit for air trapped in reservoir 58 or bore 112. After lubrication of bullet 95, anvil 97, as shown in FIG. 6, is then replaced with a primed, charged and sized case (not shown) and further clockwise depression of lever rod 42 forces lubricated bullet 95 into the case to seat the bullet and case together, thereby forming a completed cartridge. As the cartridge case can be interchanged in shell holder 40 with anvil 97 being of the same general configuration, counterclockwise movement of lever rod 42 will retract ram 36 from base 66 to remove the completed cartridge from opening 96 of sizing die 70. After use, sizer- L seater-lubricator 14 can be detached from press 12 by removing locknuts 26 from punch assembly 28.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that bullets of varying size, shape and hardness can be sized, seated and lubricated in the presently disclosed device in cornbinationwith dies adapted for use with a particular bullet. It will be further appreciated that gas checks comprising small caps, such as that shown dotted at 120 in FIG. 5, for capping the tail end of bullet 95 can be installed during the sizing operation.

Some advantages of the novel sizer-seater-lubricator that are evident from the foregoing description include the use of one machine and one work station to perform all the reloading operations that heretofore ordinarily required use of two machines. Other advantages include the incorporation in a sizer-lubricator structure of means for seating a lubricated bullet, which seating does not require handling of the lubricated bullets.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A detachable sizer-seater-lubricator attachment for a press having a movable actuating ram, said attachment comprising lubricating means for lubricating a bullet and holding means for collar-ing said lubricating means such that said lubricating means is slidably disposed in said holding means, said lubricating means including a sizing and seating die affixed thereto, said die having a first opening at one end for accommodating said bullet for sizing thereof in said die and a second opening at the opposite end thereof for insertion of a cartridge case, said first and second openings communicatmg with each other such that said bullet is seated in said case in said die after sizing, said lubricating means including means' for communicating with said die for lubricating said bullet in said die before said bullet is seated in said cartridge case.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises a support plate having a mounting hole for detachable affixation of said holding means to said press.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said lubricating means includes a base portion and a lubricantreservoir secured to said base portion, said reservoir having a longitudinal axis and said holding means including a support plate having a 'guide aperture embracing said lubricant reservoir such that said reservoir is slidably movable in said aperture along said longitudinal axis.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said lubricant reservoir is generally cylindrical in shape to enable said reservoir to rotate in said aperture about said longitudinal axis, whereby said base portion is rotatable about said longitudinal axis.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said lubricating means includes a base portion and a lubricant reservoir secured to said base portion, said lubricating means further including a plunger mounted to said base portion for engagement with said lubricant reservoir such that movement of said plunger through said lubricant reservoir forces lubricant into said communicating means for injection into said die.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein a lever is connected to said plunger and pivotally secured to said base portion such that movement of said lever in one direction causes said plunger to force lubricant into said communicating means for injection into said die.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said lubricating means include a base portion, a lubricant reservoir secured to said base portion, and air-relief means for permitting pressurized air trapped in said reservoir to escape.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said air-relief means comprise a plug detachably secured in said base portion adjacent said lubricant reservoir such that removal of said plug from said base portion permits said pressurized air to exit from said reservoir.

9. The device of claim 5 wherein said reservoir comprises a hollow cylindrical column movable with respect to said holding means, said column including a cap adjustable in position on said column and arranged to abut said holding means to limit displacement of said lubricating means in one direction.

10. The device of claim'8 wherein said lubricant reservoir includes lubricant pressurizing means for forcing the lubricant toward said communicating means.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said lubricating means includes a base portion and said die is disposed in said base portion.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said die comprises a substantially cylindrical member having peripheral threads for securing said die in said base portion, said die including a flange at one end thereof for abutting said base portion to limit the threaded entry of said die in said base portion.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein said die includes a flange at one end thereof abutting said base portion to limit entry of said die in said base portion, said die having an opposite end portion inserted through said base portion and extending outwardly thereof, and locking means provided at said opposite end portion to lock said die to said base portion.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the outwardly extending end portion of said die is threaded and said locking means include a locknut threaded to said end portion to draw said flange into abutting relationship with said base portion.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein said bullet is movable from the first opening of said die toward the second opening of said die during sizing of said bullet, said die accommodating insertion of a removable support anvil in said second opening, said support anvil having a stop surface to limit movement of said bullet in said die during sizing.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said bullet is movable toward said second opening at the opposite end of said die during seating of said bullet in said car tridge case, said cartridge case and said anvil being in terchangeable in said die such that said cartridge case is substituted for said anvil for seating of said bullet in said cartridge case.

17. In combination, support means having a movable actuating ram, said support means including fixed means for engaging a bullet, and a bullet sizer-seater lubricator attachment detachably secured to said support means, said attachment comprising lubricating means for lubricating said bullet, said lubricating means being movable with respect to said support means and having a sizing and seating die affixed thereto for movement with said lubricating means, said lubricating means including means for communicating with said die for lubricating said bullet in said die, one end of said die having a first opening for accommodating said bullet for sizing, said actuating ram being movable in one direction for engagement with said lubricating means to displace said bullet at the first opening of said one direction to locate said bullet in a second position in said die means wherein said bullet is seated in said cartridge case.

18. The combination of claim 17 wherein said cartridge case is interchangeable with a removable support anvil in the second opening of said die, said anvil having a stop surface to limit movement of said bullet in said die during sizing of said bullet, said stop surface defining said first predetermined position.

19. The combination of claim 17 including holding means for collaring said lubricating means, said holding means being detachably secured to said support means and comprising a plate having a guide aperture, said lubricating means including a lubricant reservoir having a longitudinal axis and a base portion secured to said reservoir, said reservoir being displaceable in said aperture along said longitudinal axis for movement of said lubricating means with respect to said support means.

20. The combination of claim 19 wherein said lubricant reservoir is generally cylindrical in shape to enable said reservoir to rotate in said aperture about said longitudinal axis whereby said base portion is rotatable about said longitudinal axis.

21. The combination of claim 19 wherein said die is affixed to said base portion for alignment with said bullet engaging means.

'22. The combination of claim 20 wherein said die is afiixed to said base portion for alignment with said bullet engaging means in a first rotational position of said lubricant reservoir, rotation of said lubricant reservoir in said aperture from said first rotational position moving said die out of alignment with said bullet engaging means.

23. The combination of claim 17 Wherein said lubricating means include a base portion and a lubricant reservoir secured to said base portion, said communicating means communicating with said reservoir for transfer of said lubricant from said reservoir to said die.

24. The combination of claim 23 wherein said lubricating means further include a plunger mounted to said base portion for engagement with said lubricant reservoir such that movement of said plunger through said reservoir forces lubricant into said communicating means for injection into said die.

25. The combination of claim 24 wherein a lever is connected to said plunger and pivotally secured to said base portion such that movement of said lever in one direction causes said plunger to force lubricant into said communicating means for injection into said die.

Claims

1. A detachable sizer-seater-lubricator attachment for a Press having a movable actuating ram, said attachment comprising lubricating means for lubricating a bullet and holding means for collaring said lubricating means such that said lubricating means is slidably disposed in said holding means, said lubricating means including a sizing and seating die affixed thereto, said die having a first opening at one end for accommodating said bullet for sizing thereof in said die and a second opening at the opposite end thereof for insertion of a cartridge case, said first and second openings communicating with each other such that said bullet is seated in said case in said die after sizing, said lubricating means including means for communicating with said die for lubricating said bullet in said die before said bullet is seated in said cartridge case.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said lubricating means includes a base portion and a lubricant reservoir secured to said base portion, said reservoir having a longitudinal axis and said holding means including a support plate having a guide aperture embracing said lubricant reservoir such that said reservoir is slidably movable in said aperture along said longitudinal axis.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein said lubricant reservoir includes lubricant pressurizing means for forcing the lubricant toward said communicating means.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said bullet is movable toward said second opening at the opposite end of said die during seating of said bullet in said cartridge case, said cartridge case and said anvil being interchangeable in said die such that said cartridge case is substituted for said anvil for seating of said bullet in said cartridge case.

17. In combination, support means having a movable actuating ram, said support means including fixed means for engaging a bullet, and a bullet sizer-seater-lubricator attachment detachably secured to said support means, said attachment comprising lubricating means for lubricating said bullet, said lubricating means being movable with respect to said support means and having a sizing and seating die affixed thereto for movement with said lubricating means, said lubricating means including means for communicating with said die for lubricating said bullet in said die, one end of said die having a first opening for accommodating said bullet for sizing, said actuating ram being movable in one direction for engagement with said lubricating means to displace said bullet at the first opening of said die against said bullet engaging means to cause movement of said bullet into said die to size said bullet and locate said bullet in a first predetermined position in said die, the opposite end of said die having a second opening communicating with said first opening, said second opening accommodating a cartridge case for said bullet, said actuating ram being further movable in said one direction to locate said bullet in a second position in said die means wherein said bullet is seated in said cartridge case.

22. The combination of claim 20 wherein said die is affixed to said base portion for alignment with said bullet engaging means in a first rotational position of said lubricant reservoir, rotation of said lubricant reservoir in said aperture from said first rotational position moving said die out of alignment with said bullet engaging means.