US3921326A

US3921326A - Cartridge holder and method of loading a firearm

Info

Publication number: US3921326A
Application number: US463112A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerhard Hupp; Helmut Mader
Original assignee: Industrie Werke Karlsruhe Ausburg AG
Current assignee: KUKA AG
Priority date: 1974-04-22
Filing date: 1974-04-22
Publication date: 1975-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-11-25

Abstract

A cartridge holder for cartridges having a projectile portion and a cartridge charge portion which is advantageously of a distinct diameter from the projectile portion is useable in a firearm having a plurality of gun barrel loading chambers which are, for example, arranged in radial rows at spaced circumferential locations. The cartridge holder includes a first annular part having a side wall with a plurality of circumferentially spaced projectile receiving cylinders distributed around the circumference thereof and of a length and diameter corresponding to the length and diameter of the cartridge projectile portion. The first annular part also has a central cylindrical receiving recess or bore for centering it on a cylindrical mounting portion of the firearm. The cartridge holder also includes an intermediate annular body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders which are made to a diameter such that they will engage over the cartridge charge portion of the cartridges in pressure engagement therewith. The length of the cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders is such that they engage the cartridge charge portion along a portion of the trailing end thereof and project outwardly from the trailing end on the end opposite the projectile. A second annular part has a side facing the side of the first annular part and has a plurality of stub cylinders which are engageable within the cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders. During loading, the first annular part is removed to expose the projectiles so that they may all be introduced simultaneously into the cartridge receiving chambers of the firearm. The second annular part is removable to expose the cartridge charge portion for actuation by a firing mechanism. The cartridge charge portion is advantageously a caseless ammunition charge.

Description

ite States atent H 1 Hupp et al.

[451 Nov. 25, 1975 CARTRIDGE HOLDER AND METHOD OF LOADING A FIREARM [75] Inventors: Gerhard Hupp, Oberndorf, Neckar; Helmut Ma'ider, Schramberg, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Industrie Werke Karlsruhe Augsburg AG, Germany [22] Filed: Apr. 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 463,112

Primary Examiner-Harvey E. Behrend Attorney, Agent, or FirmMcGlew and Tuttle [57] ABSTRACT A cartridge holder for cartridges having a projectile portion and a cartridge charge portion which is advantageously of a distinct diameter from the projectile portion is useable in a firearm having a plurality of gun barrel loading chambers which are, for example, arranged in radial rows at spaced circumferential locations. The cartridge holder includes a first annular part having a side wall with a plurality of circumferentially spaced projectile receiving cylinders distributed around the circumference thereof and of a length and diameter corresponding to the length and diameter of the cartridge projectile portion. The first annular part also has a central cylindrical receiving recess or bore for centering it on a cylindrical mounting portion of the firearm. The cartridge holder also includes an intermediate annular body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders which are made to a diameter such that they will engage over the cartridge charge portion of the cartridges in pressure engagement therewith. The length of the cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders is such that they engage the cartridge charge portion along a portion of the trailing end thereof and project outwardly from the trailing end on the end opposite the projectile. A second annular part has a side facing the side of the first annular part and has a plurality of stub cylinders which are engageable within the cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders. During loading, the first annular part is removed to expose the projectiles so that they may all be introduced simultaneously into the cartridge receiving chambers of the firearm. The second annular part is removable to expose the cartridge charge portion for actuation by a firing mechanism. The cartridge charge portion is advantageously a caseless ammunition charge.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US, Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,921,326

Q Q i 5 g m M m H 3 w US. Patent N0v.25,1975 She6t20f2 3,921,326

CARTRIDGE HOLDER AND METHOD OF v LOADING A FIREARM FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the construction of firearms and cartridge holders therefor and, in particular, to a new and useful cartridge holder for cartridges having a projectile portion and a cartridge charge portion, and which includes a plurality of interengageable annular parts which are adapted to hold a plurality of circumferentially spaced cartridges with one of the parts being removable to expose all of the cartridges for simultaneous insertion into cartridge chambers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The present invention is particularly applicable to a method of reloading a firearm, particularly a short hand fire arm and preferably with caseless cartridges which are storable in a magazine or cartridge holder which is fixed to the firearm and which carries a plurality of cartridges having a projectile portion and a cartridge charge portion. Relatively high demands are made on the modern hand firearm construction. Demands relate mostly to the hitting accuracy, the firing rate, the high initial velocity of the projectiles, the percussion power, the handling ability, the size and weight and the trouble-free operation thereof, etc. It is also of importance to provide a reserve of ammunition which in case of need is not only immediately disposable but also can be simply and quickly reloaded even in action. In view of such requirements, the known hand firearms have relatively limited possibilities. A known rapid fire rifle is equipped with a magazine receiving about twenty cartridges and is of the bar or box type. It is true that the firearm and the corresponding ammunition comply with most of the demands, but the reloading of the magazine associated therewith is complicated and time-consuming principally because only one cartridge after the other can be introduced into the magazine. Moreover, because of the relatively high weight of such cartridges, the user can carry along and store only a limited number thereof.

Because of the complicated reloading operations of .the magazine which are necessary, and the restricted reserve of ammunition which can be carried along, the good properties of such a firearm cannot be fully utilized.

The situation is approximately reversed in respect to 'the known automatic gun whose bar magazine permits .the reception of from to 32 cartridges but which, because of its small volume design, has only a restricted percussion power and range. Since the cartridges must be introduced into the magazine piece-by-piece, their reloading is not only complicated but is also very time consuming. Such properties are most undesirable in action as may be evident.

An automatic gun of an older type .manufactured abroad is also known. This gun comprises a magazine designed as a drum and is adapted to receive some 70 to 72 cartridges. The drum magazine of this firearm has a desirable high cartridge receiving capacity, but also has the drawback that the relaoding can be effected only by inserting cartridge after cartridge, one at a time and, therefore, this is a time-consuming process and unsuitable for use in action. Another drawback is the relatively great number of cartridges which result in a LII the firearm, comprises a plurality of three firearm barrels whose axes are parallel to each other. The magazine is disposed in the longitudinal axis of the firearm between the barrels and the piston and serves to re ceive the ammunition. The magazine forms an integral part of the firearm and receives a plurality of cartridge seats, combustion chambers and sealing means, and is preferably rotationally symmetrical and gas-proof. The magazine housing of such a firearm is also provided with a parting slit extending approximately diagonally which divides it into two approximately equal halves. The half of the magazine housing which is secured to the firearm piston is hinged to the half of the magazine housing adjacent the arm barrels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the known drawbacks of the firearms of the prior art, the present invention provides a simple but highly effective method of reloading the hand firearms of a type mentioned above, which includes a magazine housing divided into two portions. With the invention, the magazine or cartridge holder is provided with a body portion which engages a cartridge charge portion of the cartridge and includes a first cover portion having individual cylinders which engage over the projectile portion of the cartridges. The portion which covers the projectiles is removed to expose the projectiles for simultaneous introduction into the cartridge chambers. The cartridge holder is introduced in the weapon by pivoting the weapon about a pivot so as to open the magazine receiving chamber to permit introduction of the body portion which holds the ammunition at the location of the cartridge charge portion thereof. After introduction, the magazine is again closed by pivoting the weapon back so as to engage over the body portion holding the cartridges. In accordance with the invention, the cartridge charge holder comprises the intermediate annular body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cylindrical portions which are sized to engage over the cartridge charge casing and to extend outwardly from one end thereof. A second annular housing part having a plurality of cylindrical stub cylinders of a number equal to the cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders are engaged within the cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders to close the end of the magazine. The opposite end is closed by the first annular part having the projectile engaging cylinders. The first annular part is easily removable to expose the projectiles for loading into the cartridge chambers. The reloading of cartridges into the device may proceed by inserting the projectile ends of the cartridges into the first annular cover part. After this is done, the cover part with the cartridges, is then united to the second annular cover part which engages into the intermediate part.

The first and second annular parts are interengaged with the intermediate part therebetween and they are held in engagement with the cartridges by a removable sealing tab which is engaged over the abutting edges of the two parts to hold them together. The band may be a self-sealing tape or a tear-off band which may be easily removed to permit separation of the two annular parts. The cylinders of the intermediate part are advantageously sized so that they extend over a portion of the cartridge charge portion of the ammunition and also extend outwardly from the end thereof opposite to the projectile portion. The second part is provided with a plurality of stub cylinders which engage into the projecting part of the cartridge charge part engaging cylinders of the intermediate part. The ammunition is advantageously made of the caseless type and the cartridge charge portion is of a larger diameter than the projectile portion so that when the projectile portions are loaded into the projectile receiving cylinders of the first part, engagement proceeds up to the end edge of the cartridge charge portion of the projectiles.

Each of the two cover parts includes a central bore for positioning the cartridges in alignment with a cylindrical aligning part of the weapon. The second annular part, which is provided with hollow cylinder stub portions is also provided with a plurality of ribs, webs or similar elements distributed around its periphery which, due to their relative length, rest against the inner surface of the opposite cover, or first annular part. The caseless cartridges are fixed in the receptacles both axially and radially by means of the hollow cylinders and hollow cylinder stubs of the various cover parts.

The invention offers a number of considerable advantages, The construction of the receptacle serves to store, receive and fix the caseless cartridges in a relatively simple manner. In considering that the receptacle can be manufactured in large quantities and made, for example, of a synthetic material or an inexpensive stamping, the manufacture becomes so inexpensive that the tool is amortized after a few tens of thousands of pieces. The low manufacturing costs make it possible to design the cartridge holders as throw away receptacles. Due to the relatively small dimensions and weight of the receptacle and, at the same time, due to the maximum storability of the individual cartridges, the user is able to carry along a number of cartridges which is many times larger relative to the conventional ammunition. Thus, the user becomes largely independent of the logistics in respect to cartrdige supply and his readiness for action is considerably extended.

In addition to the above advantages, the caseless cartridges are enclosed in the receptacle in a completely dustand waterproof manner and cannot only be removed therefrom simply and quickly, but can also be reloaded into the firearm with s milar ease, and this is an imperative condition in action. However, the particular advantage of the inventive method is the fact that all of the cartridges can be reloaded into the firearm simultaneously within a period which takes no more time than the reloading of one or two cartridges of the conventional type.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved cartridge holder for cartridges having a projectile portion and a cartridge charge portion for use in a firearm having a plurality of gun barrel loading chambers which comprises a first annular part having a side with a plurality of circ umferentially spaced projectile receiving cylinders distributed around a circumference which are of a length and diameter corresponding to the length and diameter of the cartridge projectile portion and which has a central cylindrical receiving recess, and an intermediate annular body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cartridge portion engaging cylinders which are pressure-engageable over the cartridge charge portion of the cartridges and extend beyond the end thereof opposite to the projectile and further including a second annular part having a side adapted to face the side of the first annular part which includes a plurality of stub cylinders which are engageable within the cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders, the first and second annular parts being separable in order to expose the projectiles for a simultaneous introduction into the cartridge chamber,

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of operating a firearm having a plurality of gun barrels with cartridge chambers using a cartridge holder which includes a first annular part having a sidewall with a plurality of circumferentially spaced projectile receiving cylinders distributed around its circumference of a length and diameter corresponding to the length and diameter of the cartridge projectiles, and having an intermediate annular body with a plurality of circumferentially spaced cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders which are engageable with the cartridge charge portions and extend over one end thereof with a second annular part which has a plurality of stub cylinders which are alignable in the cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders and comprising loading the cartridges into the cartridge holder after they have been inserted into the intermediate annular body by pressing the projectile ends thereof into the receiving cylinders of the first annular part, thereafter covering the opposite ends with the second annular part, opening the magazine chamber of the weapon and, after removing the first annular part, exposing all of the projectiles, aligning the projectiles in respect to the cartridge chambers of the firearm and, thereafter, closing the firearm to engage over the intermediate and second annular part to position the cartridge holder with the cartridges in the firearm.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cartridge holder which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a cartridge holder constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the magazine shown in FIG. 1, partly broken away; and

FIG. 3 is a partial elevational and longitudinal sectional view of a firearm having a cartridge holder therein constructed in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein. comprises a cartridge holder, generally designated 50, which includes a first portion or cover portion, generally designated la, a second portion or second cover portion, generally designated lb, and an intermediate portion, generally designated 2. The three portions are interfitted axially together and they are held in a closed condition by an annular sealing tape or self-sealing band 1c, which extends around the periphery of the abutting side portions, and holds the assembly together.

In accordance with the invention, the intermediate portion or body portion 2 includes a plurality of cartride charge portion engaging cylinders 2a, which are adapted to engage a cartridge charge portion 3a of a cartridge, generally designated 3. Cartridge 3 also includes a projectile portion 3b, and the first cover portion la includes a plurality of projectile engaging cylinders M which extend inwardly from an interior face 52. Cartridges 3 are of a caseless type and the charge is held in an embedding material, such as a plastic, in the cartridge charge portion 3a. The cylinders are advantageously sized so that they are in pressure-engagement with the cartridge charge portion 3a but, in any event, they hold the cartridge at least in the radial direction. Recesses 2b are defined in body 2 to reduce the weight thereof and a central bore 20 serves as a mean for centering the body 2 in respect to a cylindrical mounting portion 54 of a firearm, generally designated 4. (See FIG. 3)

The interior face 52 is provided with the hollow projectile engaging cylinders 1d which are of a number corresponding to the number of cartridges and extend parallel to the central axis 6 of the cartridge holder 50. The length of the hollow cylinders 1d correspond approximately to the free length of the projectile portion 3b and the ends abut against the ledge formed by the larger diameter ends of the cartridge charge portion 3a. Thus, the caseless cartridges 3 are also fixed in the direction of their longitudinal axis, and the projectile is protected against damage and contamination.

The second cover portion lb is of a similar design to the first cover portion la and, on its inner face, it is provided with a plurality of hollow cylinder stubs 1e, corresponding to the number of cartridges, and which extend parallel to the axis 6 of receptacle 1, and are of a diameter such that they engage within the overlapping ends of the cartridge charge portions engaging cylinders 2a. The stub cylinders 1e serve to support the charges of the caseless cartridges 3 and the outer circumferences of the stubs 1e serve to center and retain body 2 in the enclosure formed by the interengagement of cover parts la and lb.

In order to protect the cartridges 3 against damage in the receptacle, there are a plurality of ribs or webs,

such as web 56 of second cover portion 1b which aplplies against webs 58 of first cover portion la. 1 When firearm 4, shown in FIG. 3, is to be reloaded with caseless cartridges, the magazine housing part, 1 which is fixed to the butt end of the firearm, and which is not shown, is tilted away from magazine housing part 4c which is secured to the firearm barrels 4a and 4b. In the embodiment shown, only two barrels are indicated, but there may be any number, for example, three, arranged in an offset radial manner similar to the arrangement of the cartridges 3, shown in FIG. 2. The barrels 4a and 4b include cartridge chambers 5 and 5a which, for example, may be located in an annular cartridge chamber member 5b, which are exposed until intermediate annular body 2 is separated from cover portions la and lb and are located so that the projectiles 3b extend into the associated chambers with which they are automatically aligned. Body 2 is centered in respect to the cartridge chambers by alignment of its central bore 2c over cylindrical part 54 of the weapon so that each cartridge is aligned before the respective cartridge chamber or seat. In the construction shown, it is preferable that one cartridge chamber aligns with each cartridge, and the division of the cartridges in body 2 corresponds to the cartridge chambers on annular member 5b.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the cartridges 3 may be positioned within the associated chambers by positioning the first annular cover part 1a so that its projectile engaging cylinders Id become aligned within the trailing ends of the cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders 2c of the intermediate body 2. The first annular cover part 1a is then pressed axially inwardly to force the cartridges 3 into the chambers to effect a quick and rapid loading of all of the chambers simultaneously.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A cartridge holder for cartridges having a projectile portion, and a cartridge charge portion, for use in a firearm having a plurality of gun barrel loading chambers, comprising a first annular cover part having an interior side wall with a plurality of circumferentially spaced projectile receiving cylinders extending axially in respect thereto and distributed around the circumference thereof and being of a length and diameter corresponding to the length and diameter of the cartridge projectile portion, an intermediate annular body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders engageable over the cartridge charge portion and extending beyond the end thereof on the side opposite the said projectile portion, a second annular cover part having a side adapted to face the first annular cover part with a plurality of stub cylinders extending axially therefrom engageable within the cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders, said first annular cover part being separable axially from the projectiles and said second annular cover part for exposing the projectiles for insertion simultaneously into the barrel loading chambers, said first annular cover part projectile receiving cylinders being of a diameter to be engageable into the cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders of said intermediate annular body to dislodge the cartridge charges from said body and insert them into the gun barrel loading chambers.

2. A cartridge holder for cartridges, according to claim 1, wherein said first and second cover members are axially interengageable over said body, and a sealing tape is wrapped around the side of the abutting edges of said first and second cover portions.

3. A cartridge holder for cartridges, according to claim 1, wherein said projectile engaging cylinders are of a number corresponding to the number of cartridges and extend substantially parallel to the axis of said first and second cover members and said intermediate body member.

4. A cartridge holder for cartridges, according to claim 3, wherein said projectile engaging cylinders of said first cover member are of a length approximately equal to the length of said projectile portions of said cartridges.

5. A cartridge holder for cartridges, according to claim 3, wherein the interior diameters of said projectile engaging cylinders correspond approximately to 7 the largest diameter of the projectiles ofsaid cartridges.

6. A cartridge holder for cartridges. according to claim 5, wherein said second cover member hollow cylindrical stub cylinders correspond in number to the number of cartridges and extend parallel to the axis of said first and second cover members and said intermediate annular body and have end faces engageable into said cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders of said intermediate body and providing means for centering said body in relation to said second cover member.

7. A cartridge holder for cartridges, according to claim 1, wherein said second cover member is provided with a plurality of ribs distributed over its circumference which interengage with said first cover member.

8. A cartridge holder for cartridges, according to claim 1, wherein said cartridges include a cartridge charge portion which is ofa length such that only a part

Claims

1. A cartridge holder for cartridges having a projectile portion, and a cartridge charge portion, for use in a firearm having a plurality of gun barrel loading chambers, comprising a first annular cover part having an interior side wall with a plurality of circumferentially spaced projectile receiving cylinders extending axially in respect thereto and distributed around the circumference thereof and being of a length and diameter corresponding to the length and diameter of the cartridge projectile portion, an intermediate annular body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders engageable over the cartridge charge portion and extending beyond the end thereof on the side opposite the said projectile portion, a second annular cover part having a side adapted to face the first annular cover part with a plurality of stub cylinders extending axially therefrom engageable within the cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders, said first annular cover part being separable axially from the projectiles and said second annular cover part for exposing the projectiles for insertion simultaneously into the barrel loading chambers, said first annular cover part projectile receiving cylinders being of a diameter to be engageable into the cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders of said intermediate annular body to dislodge the cartridge charges from said body and insert them into the gun barrel loading chambers.

5. A cartridge holder for cartridges, according to claim 3, wherein the interior diameters of said projectile engaging cylinders correspond approximately to the largest diameter of the projectiles of said cartridges.

6. A cartridge holder for cartridges, according to claim 5, wherein said second cover member hollow cylindrical stub cylinders correspond in number to the number of cartridges and extend parallel to the axis of said first and second cover members and said intermediate annular body and have end faces engageable into said cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders of said intermediate body and providing means for centering said body in relation to said seconD cover member.

8. A cartridge holder for cartridges, according to claim 1, wherein said cartridges include a cartridge charge portion which is of a length such that only a part thereof is engageable within the cartridge charge portion engaging cylinders of said intermediate body and their diameters are such that the engagement is in a pressure clamping engagement.

9. A cartridge holder for cartridges, according to claim 1, wherein said projectile engagement cylinders are of a length corresponding to the length of the projectile, said cartridges comprising a cartridge charge portion of a larger diameter than the projectiles having an edge engageable with the edges of said projectile engaging cylinders of said first cover part when the first cover part is closed.