Methods and devices metering and compacting explosive powders

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11512936-B2
Application number	US-202016822313-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2020
Priority date	Mar 19, 2019
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

The present invention includes a powder compaction device comprising a loading platform positioned above a lower platform; a compaction rod aperture positioned in the loading platform; a vertical tube positioned in communication with the compaction rod aperture; a compaction rod positioned in the compaction rod aperture and extending through the compaction rod aperture, wherein the compaction rod comprises one or more reliefs having a powder volume; a drive motor in communication with the vertical tube and connected to the compaction rod to move the compaction rod through the compaction rod aperture; a first funnel-shaped device positioned below the loading platform, wherein the first funnel-shaped device comprises a first funnel aperture, wherein the first funnel aperture aligns with the compaction rod aperture to move the compaction rod through the compaction rod aperture and the first funnel aperture; an adaptor platform secured to the lower platform and aligned with the compaction rod aperture; an ammunition cartridge fixture slidably secured in the adaptor platform, wherein the ammunition cartridge fixture comprises a funnel-shaped opening, an interior cartridge shaped void, and a funnel aperture connecting the funnel-shaped opening to the interior cartridge shaped void, wherein the funnel aperture is aligned with the compaction rod aperture and the first funnel aperture to accommodate the compaction movement of the compaction rod; an ammunition cartridge positioned in the ammunition cartridge fixture; a powder reservoir positioned in communication with the first funnel-shaped device to transport powder to the first funnel-shaped device; a compaction controller in communication with the drive motor and one or more sensors to control the direction of the motor to control the direction of movement of the compaction rod and the force applied to the compaction rod to control the compaction of the powder; and a powder metering controller in communication with the gate and one or more second sensors to control the amount of powder delivered and he powder is despised.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A powder compaction device comprising
a loading platform positioned above a lower platform;
a drive motor connected to the loading platform;
a compaction rod operably extending from the drive motor through the loading platform,
wherein the compaction rod comprises a metering region adjacent to a loading region extending to a compaction end;

a first funnel-shaped device positioned below the loading platform, wherein the first funnel-shaped device comprises a first funnel shaped area extending to a first funnel aperture, wherein the first funnel aperture aligns to allow the metering region of the compaction rod to pass through the first funnel aperture;
an ammunition cartridge fixture positioned below the first funnel-shaped device, wherein the ammunition cartridge fixture comprises a second funnel-shaped area extending to a second funnel aperture that connects to an ammunition cartridge shaped void adapted to receive an ammunition cartridge, wherein the second funnel aperture aligns with the first funnel aperture to allow the loading region of the compaction rod to pass through the second funnel aperture and the compaction end in the ammunition cartridge shaped void;
a one or more metering reliefs positioned in the metering region of the compaction rod, wherein each of the one or more reliefs has a powder metering volume;
a powder reservoir comprising a powder housing connected to a powder gate operably connected to a transport conduit in communication with the first funnel-shaped area to transport a powder from the powder housing to the first funnel-shaped area;
a compaction controller in communication with the drive motor and one or more first sensors to control the vertical movement of the compaction rod and to control the force applied to the compaction rod end whereby controlling the compaction of the powder at the compaction end;
a powder metering controller in communication with the powder gate and one or more second sensors to control the amount of the powder delivered to the first funnel-shaped area; and
a loading controller in communication with the drive motor to control the vertical movement of the metering region of the compaction rod,
wherein the loading controller positions the metering region and the one or more metering reliefs above the first funnel aperture to allow the powder into the one or more metering reliefs to load the powder,
wherein the loading controller releases the powder by moving the metering region and the one or more metering reliefs through the first funnel aperture to allow the powder to release from the one or more metering reliefs and into the second funnel-shaped area of the ammunition cartridge fixture and through the second funnel aperture.

2. The powder compaction device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more metering reliefs consist of a first relief and a second relief.

3. The powder compaction device of claim 2 , wherein the powder metering volume of the first relief is substantially equal in volume to the powder metering volume of the second relief.

4. The powder compaction device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more reliefs consist of a plurality of reliefs.

5. The powder compaction device of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more metering reliefs defines a powder metering volume, wherein all powder metering volumes so defined have substantially equivalent volumes.

6. The powder compaction device of claim 1 , wherein each metering relief has a powder metering volume that is different in volume from every other power metering volume among the metering reliefs.

7. The powder compaction device of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more reliefs increase in volume.

8. The powder compaction device of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more reliefs decrease in volume.

9. The powder compaction device of claim 1 , wherein the compaction rod has a diameter substantially equal to the standard diameter of a projectile aperture in the ammunition cartridge, wherein the ammunition cartridge has standard dimensions for the specific caliber of ammunition.

10. The powder compaction device of claim 1 , wherein the ammunition cartridge shaped void is adapted to receive a 223, 0.243, 0.245, 0.25-06, 0.270, 0.277, 6.8 mm, 0.300, 0.308, 0.338, 0.30-30, 0.30-06, 45-70 or 0.50-90, 50 caliber, 45 caliber, 380 caliber or 38 caliber, 5.56 mm, 6 mm, 6.5 mm, 7 mm, 7.62 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 12.7 mm, 14.5 mm, 14.7 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 57 mm, 60 mm, 75 mm, 76 mm, 81 mm, 90 mm, 100 mm, 105 mm, 106 mm, 115 mm, 120 mm, 122 mm, 125 mm, 130 mm, 152 mm, 155 mm, 165 mm, 175 mm, 203 mm or 460 mm, 4.2 inch or 8 inch ammunition cartridge.

11. The powder compaction device of claim 1 , further comprising a compaction foot connected to the compaction end of the compaction rod to aid in compaction.

12. The powder compaction device of claim 11 , wherein the compaction foot is fixed on the compaction end of the compaction rod.

13. The powder compaction device of claim 11 , wherein the compaction foot extendable from the compaction end of the compaction rod.

14. The powder compaction device of claim 11 , wherein the compaction foot is offset from the compaction rod.

15. The powder compaction device of claim 11 , wherein the compaction foot, the compaction rod or both rotate to compact the powder.

16. The powder compaction device of claim 1 , wherein the loading region has a loading region diameter and the metering region has a metering region diameter and the loading region diameter is less than the metering region diameter.

17. The powder compaction device of claim 1 , wherein the loading region has a one or more feeding regions that allow passage from the second funnel-shaped area into the ammunition cartridge shaped void.

Assignees

• True Velocity Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Overton Kenneth J
• Adkins Peter
• Siuts Tucker

Classifications

• F42B3/00

  Blasting cartridges, i.e. case and explosive (fuse cords, e.g. detonating fuse cords C06C5/00; chemical aspects of detonators, blasting caps or primers C06C7/00) · CPC title

• F42B33/025 Primary

  by compacting (F42B33/004 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F42B33/001

  Devices or processes for assembling ammunition, cartridges or cartridge elements from parts · CPC title

• F42B33/02 Primary

  Filling cartridges, missiles, or fuzes; Inserting propellant or explosive charges {(F42B33/004 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F42B33/002

  Orienting or guiding means for cartridges or cartridge parts during the manufacturing or packaging process; Feeding cartridge elements to automatic machines · CPC title