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EP-4735824-A1 - AMMUNITION CARTRIDGE

EP4735824A1EP 4735824 A1EP4735824 A1EP 4735824A1EP-4735824-A1

Abstract

Ammunition cartridge comprising a casing (4), a propellant charge (10) contained inside the casing, an ignition device (8), and a projectile (6), the casing (4) including a base (14), a tubular sleeve (16), and a projectile holding section (3), the base (14) closing a first end of the casing and the projectile holding section forming a second end of the casing configured to hold the projectile (6) mounted at said second end of the casing, the projectile holding section (3) having a first holding part (3a) forming a tubular outer extension portion (24) extending axially forwardly from a conical transition portion (23) of the tubular sleeve (16) and configured to grip a center body section (22) of the projectile (6). The projectile holding section (3) further comprises a second holding part (3b) including a tubular inner extension portion (5) extending axially rearwardly and configured to grip the center body section (22) of the projectile.

Inventors

  • GAIDE, ALBERT

Assignees

  • Rabuffo SA

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240617

Claims (19)

  1. 1. Ammunition cartridge comprising a casing (4), a propellant charge (10) contained inside the casing, an ignition device (8), and a projectile (6), the casing (4) including a base (14), a tubular sleeve (16) including a container portion (25) and a conical transition portion (23), and a projectile holding section (3), the base (14) closing a first end of the casing and the projectile holding section forming a second end of the casing, the conical transition portion interconnecting the projectile holding section to the tubular sleeve, the projectile holding section configured to hold the projectile (6) mounted at said second end of the casing, the projectile holding section comprising a first holding part (3a) comprising a tubular outer extension portion (24) extending axially forwardly from the conical transition portion (23) of the tubular sleeve (16) configured to grip a center body section (22) of the projectile (6), and a second holding part (3b) including a tubular inner extension portion (5) extending axially rearwardly and configured to grip the center body section (22) of the projectile, characterized in that the projectile holding section comprises a separately formed part fixed to the tubular sleeve of the casing by a weld connection, said separate part including at least said tubular inner extension portion (5).
  2. 2. The ammunition cartridge of the preceding claim, wherein the separately formed projectile holding section comprises a fixing cone portion (7) welded to the conical transition portion (23) of the tubular sleeve (16).
  3. 3. The ammunition cartridge of the preceding claim, wherein the separately formed holding part comprises said tubular inner extension portion (5) and the fixing cone portion (7) attached to an inner side of the conical transition portion (23) of the tubular sleeve (16), the first holding part (3a) being integrally formed with the tubular sleeve (16).
  4. 4. The ammunition cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the separately formed projectile holding section (3) comprises the tubular outer extension portion (24), the tubular inner extension portion (5) and the fixing cone portion (7).
  5. 5. The ammunition cartridge according to any preceding claim, wherein the base and tubular sleeve are made of stainless steel.
  6. 6. The ammunition cartridge according to any preceding claim, wherein the separately formed holding part is made of stainless steel.
  7. 7. The ammunition cartridge of any preceding claim, wherein the base (14) of the casing is separately formed from the tubular sleeve (16) and attached thereto by welding or crimping.
  8. 8. The ammunition cartridge according to any preceding claim 1-5, wherein the base (14) and tubular sleeve (16) of the casing are integrally formed as a single piece.
  9. 9. The ammunition cartridge according to any preceding claim, wherein a length Lg in of the projectile second holding part (3b) is in a range of 0.2 to 0.5 of an overall length Lg of the projectile holding section (3).
  10. 10. The ammunition cartridge according to any preceding claim, wherein the tubular inner extension portion (5) of the projectile holding section (3) comprises venting holes configured to allow combustion gas and unburned propellant particles, to pass through the tubular inner extension portion (5).
  11. 11 . Ammunition cartridge comprising a casing (4), a propellant charge (10) contained inside the casing, an ignition device (8), and a projectile (6), the casing (4) including a base (14), a tubular sleeve (16) including a container portion (25) and a conical transition portion (23), and a projectile holding section (3), the base (14) closing a first end of the casing and the projectile holding section forming a second end of the casing, the conical transition portion interconnecting the projectile holding section to the tubular sleeve, the projectile holding section configured to hold the projectile (6) mounted at said second end of the casing, the projectile holding section comprising a tubular inner extension portion (5) extending axially rearwardly from an end of the conical transition portion and configured to grip the center body section (22) of the projectile, characterized in that the projectile holding section comprises a separately formed part, said separate part including at least said tubular inner extension portion (5) and a fixing cone portion (7) welded to the conical transition portion (23) of the tubular sleeve (16).
  12. 12. The ammunition cartridge of the preceding claim, wherein the fixing cone portion is mounted against an inner side of the conical transition portion, the inner side facing an inside of the container portion.
  13. 13. The ammunition cartridge of the preceding claim 11 or 12, wherein the projectile holding section comprises a first holding part (3a) comprising a tubular outer extension portion (24) extending axially forwardly from the conical transition portion (23) of the tubular sleeve (16) configured to grip a center body section (22) of the projectile (6), and a second holding part (3b) comprising said tubular inner extension portion (5).
  14. 14. The ammunition cartridge of the preceding claim, wherein the first holding part (3a) is integrally formed with the tubular sleeve (16).
  15. 15. The ammunition cartridge according to any preceding claim 11-14, wherein the base and tubular sleeve are made of stainless steel.
  16. 16. The ammunition cartridge according to any preceding claim 11-15, wherein the separately formed holding part is made of stainless steel.
  17. 17. The ammunition cartridge of any preceding claim 11-16, wherein the base (14) of the casing is separately formed from the tubular sleeve (16) and attached thereto by welding or crimping.
  18. 18. The ammunition cartridge according to any preceding claim 11-17, wherein a length Lg in of the projectile second holding part (3b) is in a range of 0.2 to 0.5 of an overall length Lg of the projectile holding section (3).
  19. 19. The ammunition cartridge according to any preceding claim 11-18, wherein the tubular inner extension portion (5) of the projectile holding section (3) comprises venting holes configured to allow combustion gas and unburned propellant particles, to pass through the tubular inner extension portion (5).

Description

Ammunition Cartridge Field of the Invention This invention relates to an ammunition cartridge, in particular for rifles and firearms. Background of the Invention Conventional ammunition cartridges for firearms and guns of various sizes and purposes typically comprise a deep drawn brass or steel casing containing a propellant charge in the form of powder or granules of a combustible substance, and a projectile assembled in a gripping fit at an open tubular sleeve end of the casing. Most projectiles are massive, cylindrical objects with an aerodynamic tip at the front and a flared shape with a flat base at the rear. The latter is usually mounted inside the cartridge casing whereas the aerodynamical tip is outside the cartridge casing. All cartridges have dimensions that are specified by the corresponding firearm. More specifically, the cartridge case dimensions must match the firearm combustion chamber within tight tolerances because the pressure produced by the propellant’s combustion is so high that without the physical limits set by the thick-walled combustion chamber, the cartridge casing would tear apart. In conventional ammunition cartridges it is not possible to substantially increase the length of the projectile, and in particular the leading (forward) portion of the projectile. The portion of the projectile extending out of the open tubular sleeve end of the casing is limited dimensionally by the inner dimensions of the breech and barrel, and the portion within the cartridge is limited in length by the dimensions of the casing. This is because the length of the tubular sleeve end of the casing that grips the projectile affects the stability and angular positional accuracy of the projectile. In addition, the overall length of the cartridge, from the case basis to the projectile tip is set by the weapon’s magazine. An increase in length of the profiled leading portion of the projectile would push backwards its cylindrical part, the projectile section that matches the case mouthing and is used for gripping solidly the projectile and the cartridge case, reducing the length of the portion of sleeve gripping the projectile. More generally, increasing the overall length of the projective relative to the length of the gripping sleeve end of the projectile, reduces the holding stability and accuracy of the projectile. These constraints limit the dimensions and shape of the projectile. The dimensions and shape of a projectile however affect its aerodynamical behavior, and as a consequence both the accuracy of flight and the range of the projectile. In particular, longer projectiles, with longer leading tip profiles, can be designed to offer better aerodynamic performance than shorter projectiles. Their lower energy loss along the flight path and as a consequence their higher remaining energy increase substantially their impact potential. It is consequently desirable in many applications to increase the length of the projectile in order to improve its range limit, its flight accuracy and its impact potential. Summary of the Invention In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the invention to provide an ammunition cartridge with improved performance, in particular improved projectile flight accuracy and range. It is advantageous to provide an ammunition cartridge that is economical to manufacture in large quantities. It is advantageous to provide improved ammunition cartridges that can be used in existing weapons, in particular ammunition cartridges that have outer dimensions conform to standard widespread cartridge sizes. Objects of this invention have been achieved by providing the ammunition cartridge according to claim 1 . Dependent claims recite various advantageous features or variants. Disclosed herein, is an ammunition cartridge comprising a casing, a propellant charge contained inside the casing, an ignition device, and a projectile, the casing including a base, a tubular sleeve including a container portion and a conical transition portion, and a projectile holding section, the base closing a first end of the casing and the projectile holding section forming a second end of the casing configured to hold the projectile mounted at said second end of the casing. The projectile holding section comprises a tubular inner extension portion extending axially rearwardly and configured to grip the center body section of the projectile. According to a first aspect of the invention, the projectile holding section has a first holding part forming a tubular outer extension portion extending axially forwardly from the conical transition portion of the tubular sleeve and configured to grip a center body section of the projectile, and a second holding part including at least said tubular inner extension portion, the projectile holding section comprising a separately formed part fixed to the tubular sleeve of the casing by a weld connection, said separate part including at least said tubular inner extension portion