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US3602143A - Tunnel weapon ammunition - Google Patents

  • ️Tue Aug 31 1971

US3602143A - Tunnel weapon ammunition - Google Patents

Tunnel weapon ammunition Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3602143A
US3602143A US883497A US3602143DA US3602143A US 3602143 A US3602143 A US 3602143A US 883497 A US883497 A US 883497A US 3602143D A US3602143D A US 3602143DA US 3602143 A US3602143 A US 3602143A Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
projectile
piston
cartridge case
missiles
propellant
Prior art date
1969-12-09
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US883497A
Inventor
John L Critcher
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
United States Department of the Army
Original Assignee
United States Department of the Army
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
1969-12-09
Filing date
1969-12-09
Publication date
1971-08-31
1969-12-09 Application filed by United States Department of the Army filed Critical United States Department of the Army
1971-08-31 Application granted granted Critical
1971-08-31 Publication of US3602143A publication Critical patent/US3602143A/en
1988-08-31 Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Status Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

  • 238000010304 firing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 19
  • 239000003380 propellant Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 15
  • 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 7
  • 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 6
  • 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 abstract description 6
  • 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 6
  • 239000000565 sealant Substances 0.000 description 3
  • 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
  • 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
  • 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 2
  • 241000692886 Mynes Species 0.000 description 1
  • 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
  • 239000012634 fragment Substances 0.000 description 1
  • 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
  • 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 1
  • 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
    • F42B7/00—Shotgun ammunition
    • F42B7/02—Cartridges, i.e. cases with propellant charge and missile
    • F42B7/08—Wads, i.e. projectile or shot carrying devices, therefor
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
    • F42B7/00—Shotgun ammunition
    • F42B7/02—Cartridges, i.e. cases with propellant charge and missile
    • F42B7/04—Cartridges, i.e. cases with propellant charge and missile of pellet type

Definitions

  • a projectile of this type usually consisted of a cartridge case containing a solid matrix of a plastic-type material in which the missiles were encapsulated, the matrix shattering when leaving a gun barrel from which is was fired. Most were ineffective due to the fact that fragments were substantially diverted from their forward flight path so that only a relatively small portion actually hit the target area.
  • This type projectile is seen in US. Pat. No. 3,059,578 dated Oct. 23, 1962 wherein the missiles are embedded in coaxial cylinders of a plasticlike material. Other rounds employ merely a solid matrix in which the missiles are embedded.
  • Another-method may employ a combustible matrix.
  • the aforesaid type of projectiles are generally fired from a weapon having a rifled barrel.
  • the matrix of the round is provided with a rotating band, which, when engraved by the rifling causes the matrix to spin so that upon leaving the barrel it will disintegrate and allow the missiles to scatter.
  • the present invention is designed to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages and consists briefly of a tubular sabot longitudinally sectionaliz'ed into separate segments and positioned within a cylindrical cartridge case.
  • the sabot is composed of expendable material such as formed plastic and contains a pinrality of speriodal missiles. As the sabot is fired from a gun barrel, it falls apart to allow the missiles to scatter.
  • Still another object is to provide a segmented tubular sabot containing a plurality of missiles and mounted in a cartridge case, wherein the sabot will fall apart when it leaves the firing weapon and the missiles will be permitted to follow a scattering trajectory.
  • FIG. 1 is an axial section view taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 2 of an ammunition round constructed in accordance with the invention, and, a
  • FIG. 2 is a cross section view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
  • a steel cartridge case is indicated by 2 which is internally threaded at its forward end as at 3 and at its rearward end as at 4.
  • a breech plug 5 is threadably mounted in the rearward end of cartridge case 2 and includes a firing pin 6 axially mounted in a bore 7 and a counterbore 8.
  • Breech plug 5 is axially bored as at 9 to receive a primer retainer 10.
  • Primer retainer 10 is axially bored as at 11 to receive a primer cap 12.
  • Primer retainer 10 is counterbored asat 13 to provide a flash passage 13.
  • a steel piston 14 Abutting the forward end of breech plug 5 is a steel piston 14 which is provided with a flange 15 and which engages in the internally threaded portion 4 as shown. Piston 14 is hollow at its rearward portion to provide a chamber 16 and is further provided with a thickened nose portion 17 as shown. Chamber [6 is filled with a propellant 18. A propellant retaining disc 19 is provided at the rearward end of piston 14 as shown.
  • a separable, tubular sabot in dicated generally by 20 is mounted in cartridge case 2.
  • Sabot 20 is composed, as shown, of three equal segments 21 and each segment 21 is provided with a segment of an annular rifling band 22 integral with its rearward end, as shown.
  • Three rows of spheroidal missiles, or shot, 23 are contained in sabot 20.
  • Sabot segments 21 are provided with thickened nose portions 24, as seen in FIG. 1.
  • a sealant 25 is applied at the forward portion of the round between the nose of sabot 20 and the interior wall of case 2, see FIG. 1.
  • sabot 20 has been illustrated in the drawing as divided into three segments, the sabot 20 may be divided into as many segments and contain as many missiles as expedient under the circumstances and three columns of spheroidal missiles are shown by way of example only.
  • sabot 20 containing missiles 23 is inserted through the rearward end of cartridge case 2, then piston 14 until flange 15 abuts a shoulder 26 formed by threads 4, and finally breech plug 5 and its firing components is threaded into threads 4 until it abuts piston 14 which is then held captive.
  • sabot 20 will be pushed tightly against nose 17 of piston 14 and sealant 25 applied, as shown, to retain the sabot in the cartridge case.
  • the round 1 is now ready for firing in a gun, not shown, having a modified barrel. (Sabots are usually used in guns in which the barrel is modified to accommodate the sabot.)
  • a tunnel ammunition round for firing in a rifled gun barrel comprising, a cartridge case having internally threaded end portions, with one such portion forming a shoulder therein, a hollow projectile formed of separable segments mounted for slidable movement in said cartridge case, a plurality of missiles in said projectile, a piston mounted rearwardly of said projectile in said cartridge case and normally held captive by said shoulder at the rearward end thereof, a propellant charge in said piston, and a firing means for said propellant secured in said rearward end of said cartridge case, whereby when said firing means and said propellant are ac tivated, said piston will eject said projectile, and said projectile falling apart upon emerging from the rifled barrel to free said missiles to scatter.
  • said projectile comprises a tubular body defining a thickened nose portion and an integral rifling band at its rearward end, said projectile being longitudinally divided into equal segments and normally forming a unitary projectile in assembly, and a plurality of rows of missiles arranged within said tubular body.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)

Abstract

A tunnel, or canister-type ammunition which consists of a steel cartridge case containing a tubular, a separable sabot of a plastic-type material capsulating spheroidal missiles, a hollow steel piston containing a propellant and a breech plug including a firing pin and a primer. Upon firing the primer and propellant in a gun, the piston propels the sabot which, when emerging from the gun barrel, will fall apart to free the missiles for scattering.

Description

United States

Patent

9/ I 896 Whitmore lull", ""nl/ 2,766,692 10/1956 Mynes 102/91 3,215,076 11/1965 Foote et a1 102/42 C 3,507,220 4/1970 McClure 102/42 C FOREIGN PATENTS 705,327 1966 Italy 102/43 C Primary ExaminerRobert F. Stahl Attorneys-Harry M. Saragovitz, Edward J. Kelly and Herbert Berl ABSTRACT: A tunnel, or canister-type ammunition which consists of a steel cartridge case containing a tubular, a separable sabot of a plastic-type material capsulating spheroidal missiles, a hollow steel piston containing a propellant and a breech plug including a firing pin and a primer. Upon firing the primer and propellant in a gun, the piston propels the sabot which, when emerging from the gun barrel, will fall apart to free the missiles for scattering.

TUNNEL WEAPON AMMUNITION In modern warfare it frequently becomes necessary to employ scatter shot, wherein the missiles are sprayed to substantially increase the possibility of hitting one or more stationary or moving targets within that area. One method was in explosively shattering a projectile containing the missiles immediately prior to reaching the target. A projectile of this type usually consisted of a cartridge case containing a solid matrix of a plastic-type material in which the missiles were encapsulated, the matrix shattering when leaving a gun barrel from which is was fired. Most were ineffective due to the fact that fragments were substantially diverted from their forward flight path so that only a relatively small portion actually hit the target area. One example of this type projectile is seen in US. Pat. No. 3,059,578 dated Oct. 23, 1962 wherein the missiles are embedded in coaxial cylinders of a plasticlike material. Other rounds employ merely a solid matrix in which the missiles are embedded. Another-method may employ a combustible matrix.

The aforesaid type of projectiles are generally fired from a weapon having a rifled barrel. The matrix of the round is provided with a rotating band, which, when engraved by the rifling causes the matrix to spin so that upon leaving the barrel it will disintegrate and allow the missiles to scatter.

However, the problem of visual and audible detection remained. The use of flash suppressors and silencers were not very practical since their use produced a heavy and bulky weapon as well as poor target hit capacity.

The present invention is designed to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages and consists briefly of a tubular sabot longitudinally sectionaliz'ed into separate segments and positioned within a cylindrical cartridge case. The sabot is composed of expendable material such as formed plastic and contains a pinrality of speriodal missiles. As the sabot is fired from a gun barrel, it falls apart to allow the missiles to scatter. I

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a round of ammunition that will minimize audio and visual de tection when fired from a weapon.

Another object is to provide an ammunition round having improved target hit capability.

Still another object is to provide a segmented tubular sabot containing a plurality of missiles and mounted in a cartridge case, wherein the sabot will fall apart when it leaves the firing weapon and the missiles will be permitted to follow a scattering trajectory.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an axial section view taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 2 of an ammunition round constructed in accordance with the invention, and, a

FIG. 2 is a cross section view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawing wherein'reference

character

1 designates generally the round of this invention. A steel cartridge case is indicated by 2 which is internally threaded at its forward end as at 3 and at its rearward end as at 4. A breech plug 5 is threadably mounted in the rearward end of

cartridge case

2 and includes a

firing pin

6 axially mounted in a

bore

7 and a

counterbore

8. Breech plug 5 is axially bored as at 9 to receive a

primer retainer

10.

Primer retainer

10 is axially bored as at 11 to receive a primer cap 12.

Primer retainer

10 is counterbored asat 13 to provide a flash passage 13.

Abutting the forward end of breech plug 5 is a

steel piston

14 which is provided with a

flange

15 and which engages in the internally threaded

portion

4 as shown. Piston 14 is hollow at its rearward portion to provide a

chamber

16 and is further provided with a thickened nose portion 17 as shown. Chamber [6 is filled with a propellant 18. A propellant retaining disc 19 is provided at the rearward end of

piston

14 as shown.

In the illustrated example, a separable, tubular sabot in dicated generally by 20 is mounted in

cartridge case

2.

Sabot

20 is composed, as shown, of three

equal segments

21 and each

segment

21 is provided with a segment of an annular

rifling band

22 integral with its rearward end, as shown. Three rows of spheroidal missiles, or shot, 23 are contained in

sabot

20.

Sabot segments

21 are provided with thickened

nose portions

24, as seen in FIG. 1. In assembly, a

sealant

25 is applied at the forward portion of the round between the nose of

sabot

20 and the interior wall of

case

2, see FIG. 1.

While

sabot

20 has been illustrated in the drawing as divided into three segments, the

sabot

20 may be divided into as many segments and contain as many missiles as expedient under the circumstances and three columns of spheroidal missiles are shown by way of example only.

In assembly,

sabot

20 containing

missiles

23 is inserted through the rearward end of

cartridge case

2, then

piston

14 until

flange

15 abuts a

shoulder

26 formed by

threads

4, and finally breech plug 5 and its firing components is threaded into

threads

4 until it abuts

piston

14 which is then held captive. Now

sabot

20 will be pushed tightly against nose 17 of

piston

14 and

sealant

25 applied, as shown, to retain the sabot in the cartridge case. The

round

1 is now ready for firing in a gun, not shown, having a modified barrel. (Sabots are usually used in guns in which the barrel is modified to accommodate the sabot.)

When the projectile is fired from a gun, not shown, the

firing pin

6 strikes primer cap 12 to fire propellant 18 through flash passage 13 to propel the

piston

14 forward. As

piston

14 slides forward in

cartridge case

2,

flange

15 is sheared. Sabot 20 is propelled forward by piston nose 17. The diameter of

piston

14 is larger than the inside diameter of

threads

3, so that

piston

14 will be retained in the

cartridge case

2 thereby. The

sabot

20 travels as a unit through the gun barrel, not shown, and due to rifling

band

22 on

sabot

20 imparts a spin thereto by the rifling of the gun barrel. When sabot 20 emerges from the gun barrel, it will fly apart and release

missiles

23 to scatter. Piston l4 acts also to seal the powder gases. For purposes obvious, a sealant may be applied to hold the

segments

21 together to retain the tubular shape of the

sabot

20 while in the

cartridge case

2.

What is claimed is:

1. A tunnel ammunition round for firing in a rifled gun barrel and comprising, a cartridge case having internally threaded end portions, with one such portion forming a shoulder therein, a hollow projectile formed of separable segments mounted for slidable movement in said cartridge case, a plurality of missiles in said projectile, a piston mounted rearwardly of said projectile in said cartridge case and normally held captive by said shoulder at the rearward end thereof, a propellant charge in said piston, and a firing means for said propellant secured in said rearward end of said cartridge case, whereby when said firing means and said propellant are ac tivated, said piston will eject said projectile, and said projectile falling apart upon emerging from the rifled barrel to free said missiles to scatter.

2. An ammunition round as set forth in

claim

1 wherein said projectile comprises a tubular body defining a thickened nose portion and an integral rifling band at its rearward end, said projectile being longitudinally divided into equal segments and normally forming a unitary projectile in assembly, and a plurality of rows of missiles arranged within said tubular body.

3. An ammunition round as set forth in

claim

1 wherein said projectileis fabricated from a plastic-type material.

4. An ammunition round as set forth in

claim

1 wherein said missiles are spheroidal in shape.

5. An ammunition round as set forth in

claim

1 wherein said piston is of a cup-shaped configuration, its outer diameter being greater than the inner diameter of said forward threaded portion, and an integral shearable flange at its rearward end adapted to abut said shoulder formed by said rearward portion of said cartridge case, whereby said piston will be held captive until said propellant is fired to propel said piston forward to shear said flange and to eject said projectile and be decelerated by said forward threads.

ing pin in said plug and a primer cap axially secured in said plug, and disposed forwardly of said firing pin.

Claims (6)

1. A tunnel ammunition round for firing in a rifled gun barrel and comprising, a cartridge case having internally threaded end portions, with one such portion forming a shoulder therein, a hollow projectile formed of separable segments mounted for slidable movement in said cartridge case, a plurality of missiles in said projectile, a piston mounted rearwardly of said projectile in said cartridge case and normally held captive by said shoulder at the rearward end thereof, a propellant charge in said piston, and a firing means for said propellant secured in said rearward end of said cartridge case, whereby when said firing means and said proPellant are activated, said piston will eject said projectile, and said projectile falling apart upon emerging from the rifled barrel to free said missiles to scatter.

2. An ammunition round as set forth in claim 1 wherein said projectile comprises a tubular body defining a thickened nose portion and an integral rifling band at its rearward end, said projectile being longitudinally divided into equal segments and normally forming a unitary projectile in assembly, and a plurality of rows of missiles arranged within said tubular body.

3. An ammunition round as set forth in claim 1 wherein said projectile is fabricated from a plastic-type material.

4. An ammunition round as set forth in claim 1 wherein said missiles are spheroidal in shape.

5. An ammunition round as set forth in claim 1 wherein said piston is of a cup-shaped configuration, its outer diameter being greater than the inner diameter of said forward threaded portion, and an integral shearable flange at its rearward end adapted to abut said shoulder formed by said rearward portion of said cartridge case, whereby said piston will be held captive until said propellant is fired to propel said piston forward to shear said flange and to eject said projectile and be decelerated by said forward threads.

6. An ammunition round as set forth in claim 1 wherein said firing means comprises a base plug threadably engaged in said rearward portion of said cartridge case, an axially disposed firing pin in said plug and a primer cap axially secured in said plug, and disposed forwardly of said firing pin.

US883497A 1969-12-09 1969-12-09 Tunnel weapon ammunition Expired - Lifetime US3602143A (en)

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Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3688699A (en) * 1970-01-12 1972-09-05 Federal Cartridge Corp Self-retaining reload capsule for shotgun shells
US4291625A (en) * 1979-03-02 1981-09-29 Stagg Jr George A Shot gun shell construction
US6701848B1 (en) * 2002-11-07 2004-03-09 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Anti-personnel canister
US20050039627A1 (en) * 2003-08-05 2005-02-24 Walter Zanoletti Wad, particularly for steel small shot for cartridges of smooth-bore shotguns or shooting rifles
US20050056183A1 (en) * 2003-09-11 2005-03-17 Meshirer Milton S. Ammunition articles comprising light-curable moisture-preventative sealant and method of manufacturing same
US6988450B1 (en) * 2002-09-25 2006-01-24 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Anti-personnel ammunition
WO2014197079A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-12-11 Nemec William Joseph Advanced modular ammunition cartridges and systems
US10107608B2 (en) * 2015-02-10 2018-10-23 Salvatore Tedde Cartridge for light weapons
US20240401921A1 (en) * 2023-05-29 2024-12-05 John R. Tiffany Accuracy, Low Recoil Shotshell

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US567114A (en) * 1896-09-01 whitmore
US2766692A (en) * 1954-07-14 1956-10-16 Mynes Clyde Spencer Projectile pellet
US3215076A (en) * 1963-09-03 1965-11-02 Remington Arms Co Inc Shotshell
US3507220A (en) * 1969-01-02 1970-04-21 Clifton M Mcclure Ammunition round

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US567114A (en) * 1896-09-01 whitmore
US2766692A (en) * 1954-07-14 1956-10-16 Mynes Clyde Spencer Projectile pellet
US3215076A (en) * 1963-09-03 1965-11-02 Remington Arms Co Inc Shotshell
US3507220A (en) * 1969-01-02 1970-04-21 Clifton M Mcclure Ammunition round

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3688699A (en) * 1970-01-12 1972-09-05 Federal Cartridge Corp Self-retaining reload capsule for shotgun shells
US4291625A (en) * 1979-03-02 1981-09-29 Stagg Jr George A Shot gun shell construction
US6988450B1 (en) * 2002-09-25 2006-01-24 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Anti-personnel ammunition
US6701848B1 (en) * 2002-11-07 2004-03-09 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Anti-personnel canister
US20050039627A1 (en) * 2003-08-05 2005-02-24 Walter Zanoletti Wad, particularly for steel small shot for cartridges of smooth-bore shotguns or shooting rifles
US7032492B2 (en) * 2003-09-11 2006-04-25 Milton S. Meshirer Ammunition articles comprising light-curable moisture-preventative sealant and method of manufacturing same
US20050056183A1 (en) * 2003-09-11 2005-03-17 Meshirer Milton S. Ammunition articles comprising light-curable moisture-preventative sealant and method of manufacturing same
WO2014197079A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-12-11 Nemec William Joseph Advanced modular ammunition cartridges and systems
US20160018199A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2016-01-21 William Joseph Nemec Advanced Modular Ammunition Cartridges and Systems
US10132601B2 (en) * 2013-03-15 2018-11-20 William Joseph Nemec Advanced modular ammunition cartridges and systems
US11300388B2 (en) * 2013-03-15 2022-04-12 William Joseph Nemec Advanced modular ammunition and cartridges and systems
US10107608B2 (en) * 2015-02-10 2018-10-23 Salvatore Tedde Cartridge for light weapons
US20240401921A1 (en) * 2023-05-29 2024-12-05 John R. Tiffany Accuracy, Low Recoil Shotshell

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