Container for dispensing casingless propellant charge elements

Claim 2

A dispensing device for casingless propellant charge elements comprising wall means forming a longitudinally extending tubular passageway arranged to hold a plurality of propellant charge elements in serial alignment for dispensing individual ones of the propellant charge elements from one end of said passageway, said wall means comprise a longitudinally extending sleeve arranged to be loaded with the propellant charge elements, said sleeve having a transverse configuration substantially the same as the transverse configuration of the propellant charge elements and the transverse dimensions of said sleeve in the unloaded condition being slightly less than the corresponding transverse dimensions of the propellant charge element whereby said sleeve exerts a compressive or gripping action on the periphery of the propellant charge elements in said passageway, and said sleeve having a slot extending for its entire height for affording a certain amount of expansion in the transverse direction of said sleeve for permitting the loading of the charge elements into the passageway formed by said sleeve.

Claim 3

A dispensing device for casingless propellant charge elements comprising wall means forming a longitudinally extending tubular passageway arranged to hold a plurality of propellant charge elements in serial alignment for dispensing individual ones of the propellant charge elements from one end of said passageway, said wall means comprising a longitudinally extending sleeve arranged to be loaded with the propellant charge elements, said sleeve having means at each end thereof for holding the propellant charge elements within the sleeve, and means at one end of said sleeve for permitting the loading of the propellant charge elements into said passageway within said sleeve about said means at the end of said sleeve for holding the charge elements therein, said sleeve having a first end and a second end, and said means at said first end comprising a radially inwardly extending annular projection having an inside dimension being less than the corresponding outside dimension of the propellant charge elements loaded within said sleeve for retaining said charge elements therein.

Claim 4

A dispensing device for casingless propellant charge elements comprising wall means forming a longitudinally extending tubular passageway arranged to hold a plurality of propellant charge elements in serial alignment for dispensing individual ones of the propellant charge elements from one end of said passageway, said wall means comprising a longitudinally extending sleeve arranged to be loaded with the propellant charge elements, said sleeve having means at each end thereof for holding the propellant charge elements within the sleeve, and means at one end of said sleeve for permitting the loading of the propellant charge elements into said passageway within said sleeve about said means at the end of said sleeve for holding the charge elements therein, said sleeve having a first end and a second end, and said means at said first end comprising a radially inwardly extending annular projection having an inside dimension being less than the corresponding outside dimension of the propellant charge elements loaded within said sleeve for retaining said charge elements therein.

Claim 5

A dispensing device for casingless propellant charge elements comprising wall means forming a longitudinally extending tubular passageway arranged to hold a plurality of propellant charge elements in serial alignment for dispensing individual ones of the propellant charge elements from one end of said passageway, said wall means comprising a longitudinally extending sleeve arranged to be loaded with the propellant charge elements, said sleeve having means at each end thereof for holding the propellant charge elements within the sleeve, and means at one end of said sleeve for permitting the loading of the propellant charge elements into said passageway within said sleeve about said means at the end of said sleeve for holding the charge elements therein, said sleeve having a first end and a second end, said means at said second end of said sleeve comprises a pair of diametrically opposed extensions extending longitudinally from said wall means, a transverse member secured to each of said extensions at the end thereof located outwardly from said second end and extending transversely of said passageway in said sleeve at least a portion of the radial dimension of said passageway whereby charge elements loaded into said sleeve at its first end are held within said sleeve at its second end by said extensions and transverse members.

Claim 6

A dispensing device for casingless propellant charge elements comprising wall means forming a longitudinally extending tubular passageway arranged to hold a plurality of propellant charge elements in serial alignment for dispensing individual ones of the propellant charge elements from one end of said passageway, said wall means comprising a longitudinally extending sleeve arranged to be loaded with the propellant charge elements, said sleeve having means at each end thereof for holding the propellant charge elements within the sleeve, and means at one end of said sleeve for permitting the loading of the propellant charge elements into said passageway within said sleeve about said means at the end of said sleeve for holding the charge elements therein, said sleeve having a first end and a second end, said means at said second end of said sleeve comprises a pair of diametrically opposed extensions extending longitudinally from said wall means, a transverse member secured to each of said extensions at the end thereof located outwardly from said second end and extending transversely of said passageway in said sleeve at least a portion of the radial dimension of said passageway whereby charge elements loaded into said sleeve at its first end are held within said sleeve at its second end by said extensions and transverse members.

Claim 7

A dispensing device for casingless propellant charge elements comprising wall means forming a longitudinally extending tubular passageway arranged to hold a plurality of propellant charge elements in serial alignment for dispensing individual ones of the propellant charge elements from one end of said passageway, said wall means comprise a longitudinally extending sleeve arranged to be loaded with the propellant charge elements, said sleeve having a transverse configuration substantially the same as the transverse configuration of the propellant charge elements and the transverse dimensions of said sleeve in the unloaded condition being slightly less than the corresponding transverse dimensions of the propellant charge element whereby said sleeve exerts a compressive or gripping action on the periphery of the propellant charge elements in said passageway, a dispensing assembly comprises a holder member arranged to enclose and at least partially laterally support said wall means, a member for dispensing the charge elements comprising a first part arranged to be mounted removably on said holder member and a second part movably mounted in said first part for insertion into one end of said passageway formed by said wall means for pushing individual ones of the propellant charge elements from the opposite end of said passageway, said holder member comprises a longitudinally extending tubular member forming a conduit arranged to receive and hold said wall means, said holder member having an annular shaped radially inwardly directed projection at one end of its conduit forming a stop for said wall means inserted therein through the opposite end, and said member for dispensing the charge elements being removably mounted in the opposite end of said holder member.

Claim 8

A dispensing device for casingless propellant charge elements comprising wall means forming a longitudinally extending tubular passageway arranged to hold a plurality of propellant charge elements in serial alignment for dispensing individual ones of the propellant charge elements from one end of said passageway, said wall means comprise a longitudinally extending sleeve arranged to be loaded with the propellant charge elements, said sleeve having a transverse configuration substantially the same as the transverse configuration of the propellant charge elements and the transverse dimensions of said sleeve in the unloaded condition being slightly less than the corresponding transverse dimensions of the propellant charge element whereby said sleeve exerts a compressive or gripping action on the periphery of the propellant charge elements in said passageway, a dispensing assembly comprises a holder member arranged to enclose and at least partially laterally support said wall means, a member for dispensing the charge elements comprising a first part arranged to be mounted removably on said holder member and a second part movably mounted in said first part for insertion into one end of said passageway formed by said wall means for pushing individual ones of the propellant charge elements from the opposite end of said passageway, said holder member comprises a longitudinally extending tubular member forming a conduit arranged to receive and hold said wall means, said holder member having an annular shaped radially inwardly directed projection at one end of its conduit forming a stop for said wall means inserted therein through the opposite end, and said member for dispensing the charge elements being removably mounted in the opposite end of said holder member.

Claim 9

A dispensing device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein a plurality of longitudinally extending slots are formed through said sleeve and extend from said first end a short distance toward said second end for permitting said wall means to be expanded for loading propellant charge elements into said passageway within said sleeve, past said annular projection.

Claim 10

A dispensing device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said transverse members being spaced from said second end of said sleeve by at least the thickness dimension of said charge elements within said passageway whereby individual ones of said charge elements can be removed from the second end of said passageway by sliding the charge elements in a direction transverse to said passageway between said transverse members and the second end of said sleeve.

Claim 11

A dispensing device, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first part of said holder member comprises a closure cap for the opposite end of said holder member and said second part comprises a longitudinally extending plunger movably mounted within said closure cap and arranged to be slidably positionable through said passageway in said wall means and a cover member being secured to said plunger at the opposite end from the end extending into said passageway in said wall means and being disposed in laterally enclosing spaced relationship to said plunger.

Claim 12

A dispensing device, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said cover member forming a longitudinally extending chamber surrounding said plunger and being closed at the end thereof to which the plunger is secured, said chamber having a transverse size sufficient to telescope over said holder member as said plunger is forced through said passageway in said wall means.