Subsonic polymeric ammunition with diffuser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11047654-B1
Application number	US-201715798752-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 31, 2017
Priority date	Nov 10, 2010
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

The present invention provides a subsonic ammunition including a polymeric casing body; a propellant insert positioned in the propellant chamber to reduce the internal volume of the propellant chamber; a propellant disposed and confined within the propellant chamber; a primer insert positioned at the body base and in communication with the propellant chamber; a primer and diffuser disposed in the primer insert in combustible communication with the propellant; and a projectile frictionally fitted in the mouth in combustible communication with the propellant.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A subsonic ammunition comprising:
a primer insert comprises a top surface opposite a bottom surface, a substantially cylindrical coupling element extending away from the bottom surface forming, a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface, a primer flash aperture positioned in the primer recess to extend through the bottom surface, a flash aperture groove in the primer recess that extends circumferentially about the primer flash aperture, and a flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface;
a polymeric casing body comprising a generally cylindrical hollow polymer body molded over the substantially cylindrical coupling element, into the primer flash aperture and into the flash aperture groove to form a flash hole and extending toward a mid-body coupling joint;
a nose comprising a projectile aperture that extends to a neck connected to a shoulder that transitions from the projectile aperture to a nose coupler, wherein the nose coupler is connected to the mid-body coupling joint;
a propellant chamber formed between the projectile aperture and the primer flash aperture;
a propellant insert positioned in the propellant chamber to reduce the internal volume of the propellant chamber by at least 10%, wherein the propellant insert comprises a first passage comprising a first aperture having a first diameter about the diameter of the flash hole that extends to about the shoulder wherein the first diameter has a uniformed first diameter, a second passage extending from the first passage wherein the second passage has a second diameter about the size of the projectile aperture, wherein the second diameter has a uniformed second diameter;
a propellant disposed in the propellant chamber;
a diffuser ring having a diffuser aperture positioned in the primer recess aligned with the primer flash aperture;
a primer disposed in the primer recess in contact with the diffuser ring in combustible communication with the propellant; and
a projectile frictionally fitted in the projectile aperture in combustible communication with the propellant.

2. The subsonic ammunition of claim 1 , wherein the internal volume is reduced by about 10.5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25%.

3. The subsonic ammunition of claim 1 , wherein the projectile does not exceed the velocity of 1200 feet per second at sea level under standard atmospheric conditions when fired.

4. The subsonic ammunition of claim 1 , wherein the projectile does not exceed the velocity of 1086 feet per second at standard atmospheric conditions when fired.

5. The subsonic ammunition of claim 1 , wherein the projectile is a .22, .22-250, .223, .243, .25-06, .270, .300, .30-30, .30-40, 30.06, .300, .303, .308, .338, .357, .38, .380, .40, .44, .45, .45-70, .50 BMG, 5.45 mm, 5.56 mm, 6.5 mm, 6.8 mm, 7 mm, 7.62 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 12.7 mm, 14.5 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, or 40 mm projectile.

6. The subsonic ammunition of claim 1 , wherein the polymer body comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyphenylsulfone, polycarbonate, and polyamide.

7. The subsonic ammunition of claim 6 , further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, lubricants, molding agents, fillers, thermo-oxidative stabilizers, flame-retardants, coloring agents, compatibilizers, impact modifiers, release agents, reinforcing fibers and reinforcing agents.

8. The subsonic ammunition of claim 1 , wherein the propellant insert has a circular radial cross-section.

9. The subsonic ammunition of claim 1 , wherein the radial size of the propellant chamber tapers along its longitudinal direction.

10. The subsonic ammunition of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric casing body and propellant insert are formed of the same polymeric materials.

11. The subsonic ammunition of claim 1 , wherein the propellant chamber is formed of a separate propellant insert disposed within the internal cavity of the generally cylindrical hollow polymer body.

12. The subsonic ammunition of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric casing body, the propellant insert, and the nose independently comprise a polymers selected from the group consisting of polyurethane prepolymer, cellulose, fluoro-polymer, ethylene inter-polymer alloy elastomer, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon, polyether imide, polyester elastomer, polyester sulfone, polyphenyl amide, polypropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride or thermoset polyurea elastomer, acrylics, homopolymers, acetates, copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadinen-styrene, thermoplastic fluoro polymers, inomers, polyamides, polyamide-imides, polyacrylates, polyatherketones, polyaryl-sulfones, polybenzimidazoles, polycarbonates, polybutylene, terephthalates, polyether imides, polyether sulfones, thermoplastic polyimides, thermoplastic polyurethanes, polyphenylene sulfides, polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfones, polyvinylchlorides, styrene acrylonitriles, polystyrenes, polyphenylene, ether blends, styrene maleic anhydrides, polycarbonates, allyls, aminos, cyanates, epoxies, phenolics, unsaturated polyesters, bismaleimides, polyurethanes, silicones, vinylesters, urethane hybrids, polyphenylsulfones, copolymers of polyphenylsulfones with polyethersulfones or polysulfones, copolymers of poly-phenylsulfones with siloxanes, blends of polyphenylsulfones with polysiloxanes, poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers, blends of polyetherimides and polysiloxanes, and blends of polyetherimides and poly(etherimide-siloxane) copolymers.

Assignees

• True Velocity Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Burrow Lonnie

Classifications

• F42B5/307 Primary

  formed by assembling several elements · CPC title

• F42B5/30

  of plastics {, i.e. the cartridge-case tube is of plastics} · CPC title

• F42B5/02

  Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile · CPC title

• F42B5/26 Primary

  Cartridge cases (F42B5/18 takes precedence {; manufacturing of cartridge cases B21K21/04}) · CPC title