Propellant charge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11884604-B2
Application number	US-201615758808-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2016
Priority date	Sep 10, 2015
Publication date	Jan 30, 2024
Grant date	Jan 30, 2024

Abstract

The invention is in the field of propellants. In particular the invention is directed to a propellant for ammunition, such as medium and large caliber gun ammunition, having improved performance. In accordance with the present invention a propellant charge comprises one or more longitudinally extending, progressive-externally burning grains having a number of perforations passing through the grains in the length direction and having a cross-sectional shape (perpendicular to the grain's length direction) that is elongated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Propellant charge comprising one or more longitudinally extending, progressive-externally burning grains having a number of perforations passing through the grains in the length direction,
wherein said grains have a cross-sectional shape (perpendicular to the grain's length direction) that is elongated,
wherein said grains have a cross-sectional shape that is line-symmetric in at most two different lines, and
wherein said grains are cut under an angle of 45°-90°, relative to their longitudinal axis.

2. Propellant charge according to claim 1 , wherein said grains comprise eight or more perforations.

3. Propellant charge according to claim 1 , wherein said grains have a cross-sectional shape that is diamond shaped having four or five edges, or an elongated polygon having six edges, of which four have the same length.

4. Propellant charge according to claim 1 , wherein said grains are made by extrusion.

5. Propellant charge according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of said grains are provided with an outer layer that has a chemical composition that is less energetic than the inner composition of the respective grain.

6. Ammunition comprising a propellant charge according to claim 1 .

7. Propellant charge according to claim 2 , wherein said grains comprise less than eighteen perforations.

8. Propellant charge according to claim 7 , wherein said grains comprise fourteen perforations.

9. Propellant charge according to claim 8 , wherein said grains comprise nine perforations.

10. Propellant charge according to claim 1 , wherein said grains are cut under an angle of about 60°, relative to their longitudinal axis.

Assignees

• TNO
• Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegpast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno

Inventors

• Van Driel Christoffel Adrianus
• Ramlal Dinesh Ravindre
• Zebregs Martijn
• Straathof Michiel Hannes

Classifications

• C06B45/00 Primary

  Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product (explosive charges of particular form or shape F42B1/00, F42B3/00) · CPC title

• C06B45/12

  having contiguous layers or zones · CPC title

• F42B5/16 Primary

  characterised by composition or physical dimensions or form of propellant charge, {with or without projectile,} or powder (chemical composition C06B; {F42B5/24 takes precedence}) · CPC title