US3613587A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Projectile retention system for caseless ammunition
Assignee: Hercules LLC
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Filing: 1970-02-24
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Granted: 1971-10-19
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Expires: 1990-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A projectile retention system is provided for caseless ammunition in which the projectile is at least partially housed within the axial cavity extending throughout the propellant charge. The projectiles employed have a groove about the circumference of the projectile. A consumable ring having a greater outside diameter than the projectile is secured in the projectile groove. The surface area of the snapring extending beyond the outside diameter of the projectile provides a bearing surface for the projectile. A second bearing surface is provided within the propellant charge. The projectile assembled with the consumable ring is moved through the axial cavity in the charge until the two-bearing surfaces make contact and restrict movement of the projectile. This retension system prevents the projectile from coming loose when the caseless round is subjected to highdeceleration forces encountered in rapid fire weapons but releases the projectile as a result of initiation of the primer of the caseless round.
Inventors
- 👤 Elliott L King
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 06:11
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B5/00; F42B5/02; F42B5/18; F42B5/184; F42B14/00; F42B14/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S102/00; Y10S102/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
In a round of caseless ammunition, a system for retaining a projectile in a loaded position when the round is subjected to deceleration forces, said round of caseless ammunition having a propellant charge with an axial cavity throughout its length and a projectile being at least partially housed in the axial cavity, said retention system having in combination (a) a projectile with a circumferential groove, (b) a consumable snapring being seated in the groove of said projectile said snapring having an outside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the projectile the surface area of the snapring extending beyond the surface of the projectile providing a first bearing surface and (c) a consumable means providing a second bearing surface within the axial cavity of the propellant charge of the caseless round said second bearing surface restricting forward movement of the projectile with assembled snapring, through the axial cavity in the propellant charge when the first and second bearing surfaces come into engaging relationship.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a round of caseless ammunition, a system for retaining a projectile in a loaded position when the round is subjected to deceleration forces, said round of caseless ammunition having a propellant charge with an axial cavity throughout its length and a projectile being at least partially housed in the axial cavity, said retention system having in combination (a) a projectile with a circumferential groove, (b) a consumable snapring being seated in the groove of said projectile said snapring having an outside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the projectile the surface area of the snapring extending beyond the surface of the projectile providing a first bearing surface and (c) a consumable means providing a second bearing surface within the axial cavity of the propellant charge of the caseless round said second bearing surface restricting forward movement of the projectile with assembled snapring, through the axial cavity in the propellant charge when the first and second bearing surfaces come into engaging relationship.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The projectile-retention system of claim 1 wherein the propellant charge axial cavity is defined by a minor diameter at the forward end and a major diameter at the aft end of the propellant charge and the consumable means providing a second bearing surface area within the axial cavity of the propellant charge is the propellant surface area defined at the point within the axial cavity where the cavity major diameter changes to the cavity minor diameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The projectile retention system of claim 2 wherein the consumable means providing a second bearing surface is comprised of a cylindrical sleeve of sheet propellant having an outside surface, inside surface and a bearing surface said cylindrical sleeve of sheet propellant being secured within the axial cavity of the propellant charge, the outside surface of said sleeve being contiguous with the inside surface of the propellant charge and the bearing surface of the cylindrical sleeve comprising the second bearing surface of the retention system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The projectile retention system of claim 2 wherein the projectile is completely housed in the axial cavity in the propellant charge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The projectile retention system of claim 4 wherein the consumable snapring is prepared from pressboard.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The projectile retention system of claim 4 wherein the consumable and resilient snapring is prepared from Kraft paper containing up to about 70 percent PETN.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3345945A
Cited
US3482516A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-18 | 1975-04-19 | 1975-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-18 | 1979-04-19 | 1979-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-18 | 1983-04-19 | 1983-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |