Cartridges for recoil management of shoulder fired weapons

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12467703-B2
Application number	US-202218684949-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2022
Priority date	Aug 18, 2021
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

A cartridge ( 20 ) has a cartridge case ( 22 ) extending along an axis ( 500 ) from a base ( 104 ) to a mouth ( 102 ) and having an interior. A projectile ( 24 ) is mounted in the case. A propellant ( 26 ) is contained within the case. The propellant has an annular grain encircling the axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A cartridge ( 20 ) comprising:
a cartridge case ( 22 ) extending from a base ( 104 ) to a mouth ( 102 ) and having an interior; a projectile ( 24 ) mounted in the case and having a rocket motor ( 48 ); a primer ( 28 ) mounted in the base, the primer comprising:
a main primer charge ( 194 ); and
a percussion primer ( 192 ) having a percussion primer charge ( 196 ); and
a propellant grain ( 26 ) within the case interior,
wherein:
a nozzle ( 153 ) is encircled by the propellant grain and comprises a plurality of radially-open outlet ports ( 170 ); and
the propellant grain comprises an annular body encircling a centerline ( 500 ) of the cartridge.

2 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the propellant grain is a single continuous full annulus piece.

3 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the propellant grain comprises:
a non-convoluted inner diameter surface ( 224 ).

4 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the propellant grain comprises:
a right circular cylindrical inner diameter surface ( 224 ).

5 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the propellant grain comprises:
a plurality of axial passageways ( 700 ).

6 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein:
the propellant grain is adhered ( 236 ) to an inner diameter (ID) surface of the case.

7 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein:
the propellant grain is an ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP).

8 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein:
the propellant grain is in a propellant unit having a fibrous or plastic casing ( 230 ).

9 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein:
the primer further comprises a primer case ( 190 ) containing the main primer charge and having a primer pocket ( 180 ); and
the percussion primer ( 192 ) has a cup mounted in the primer pocket and containing the percussion primer charge ( 196 ).

10 . The cartridge of claim 9 wherein:
the main primer charge ( 194 ) comprises BKNO 3 .

11 . The cartridge of claim 1 wherein:
the projectile is a missile having:
a seeker ( 50 ); and
the rocket motor ( 48 ); and/or

the cartridge contains an ignition train ( 34 ) for transferring ignition of the propellant grain to the rocket motor; and/or
the case comprises:
a base piece ( 130 ); and
a sidewall piece ( 132 ) secured to the base piece.

12 . A loaded firearm ( 400 ) including the cartridge of claim 1 and further comprising a barrel ( 402 ) having:
a muzzle ( 408 ); and
a chamber ( 404 ) accommodating the cartridge.

13 . The loaded firearm of claim 12 wherein:
the case extends through the muzzle.

14 . The loaded firearm of claim 12 wherein:
the barrel is a rifled ( 410 ) barrel.

15 . A method for manufacturing the cartridge of claim 1 , the method comprising:
casting the propellant grain; inserting the cast propellant grain into the case; and inserting the projectile into the case.

16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising:
adhering the propellant grain to an inner diameter (ID) surface of the case.

17 . A method for using the loaded firearm of claim 12 , the method comprising:
igniting the primer; combustion gas from the primer passing radially outward to ignite the propellant; and combustion gas from the propellant driving the projectile from the case.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein:
the projectile is a missile; and
the combustion gas of the propellant indirectly ignites the rocket motor.

19 . A loaded firearm ( 400 ) comprising:
a barrel ( 402 ) having:
a muzzle ( 408 ); and
a chamber ( 404 ); and
a cartridge ( 20 ) accommodated by the chamber and comprising:
a cartridge case ( 22 ) extending from a base ( 104 ) to a mouth ( 102 ) and having an interior;
a projectile ( 24 ) mounted in the case;
a primer ( 28 ) mounted in the base, the primer comprising:
a main primer charge ( 194 ); and
a percussion primer ( 192 ) having a percussion primer charge ( 196 ); and

a propellant grain ( 26 ) within the case interior,

wherein:
the cartridge has a nozzle ( 153 ) encircled by the propellant grain and comprises a plurality of radially-open outlet ports ( 170 );
the propellant grain comprises an annular body encircling a centerline ( 500 ) of the cartridge; and
the case extends through the muzzle.

20 . The loaded firearm of claim 19 wherein:
the barrel is a rifled ( 410 ) barrel.

21 . The loaded firearm of claim 19 wherein:
the projectile protrudes from the case mouth.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Esplin Roger C
• Johnson Daniel Kenneth
• Bakarich Morgan J
• Merza Saeed Adil
• Abrams Gary Leonard
• Jensen Cody Alan

Classifications

• F42C19/0826

  comprising an elongated perforated tube, i.e. flame tube, for the transmission of the initial energy to the propellant charge, e.g. used for artillery shells and kinetic energy penetrators · CPC title

• F42C19/0807

  characterised by the particular configuration of the transmission channels from the priming energy source to the charge to be ignited, e.g. multiple channels, nozzles, diaphragms or filters · 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

• F42C19/10

  Percussion caps · CPC title

• F41A1/08 Primary

  Recoilless guns, i.e. guns having propulsion means producing no recoil · CPC title