Extended range tracer folded cup

Claim 2

In a tracer projectile having a tracer cavity extending into the rear end of the projectile, a metal folded cup mating within said cavity and secured therein by a disc, said folded cup comprising a rearward wall, an inner wall and an outer wall concentric with said inner wall, said rearward wall of said folded cup being adjacent the rear end of the projectile, said inner wall and said outer concentric wall extending forwardly axially from said rearward wall and defining an annular cavity between said inner and said outer wall, said inner wall being slightly shorter in length than said outer wall, said inner wall defining a central cavity which extends through said rearward wall, said annular cavity inclosing a greater volume than said central cavity, said folded cup having a forward end integral with said annular cavity and said central cavity, said annular cavity and said central cavity being coextensive with a rearward portion of said forward end and in abutting relation therewith; said folded cup containing pyrotechnic tracer formulation and causing a burning front thereof to proceed forwardly in said central cavity from adjacent said rearward wall whereby said burning front is caused to reverse its direction at said forward end and to proceed rearwardly in said annular cavity to provide a more intense flame and increased pressures therein, said inner wall melting during burning of said pyrotechnic tracer formulation in said annular cavity.

Claim 3

The folded cup according to claim 1 wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium and alloys thereof melting between about 600°-700°C.

Claim 4

The folded cup according to claim 1 wherein said metal is aluminum.

Claim 5

The folded cup according to claim 1 wherein said pyrotechnic formulation comprises two pyrotechnic tracer mixtures, one of said two pyrotechnic tracer mixtures disposed in said central cavity and said forward end and the other pyrotechnic tracer mixture being a downrange pyrotechnic tracer mixture disposed in said annular cavity, said downrange pyrotechnic tracer mixture burning more rapidly than said pyrotechnic tracer mixture disposed in said central cavity and said forward end.

Claim 6

The folded cup according to claim 1 wherein said projectile containing said folded cup is 20mm is size and said inner concentric wall of said folded cup is about 0.035-0.045 inch in thickness.

Claim 7

In a tracer projectile having a tracer cavity extending into the rear end of the projectile, a metal folded cup mating within said cavity and secured therein by a disc, said folded cup comprising a rearward wall, an inner wall and an outer wall concentric with said inner wall, said rearward wall of said folded cup being adjacent the rear end of the projectile said inner wall and said outer concentric wall extending forwardly axially from said rearward wall and defining an annular cavity between said inner and said outer wall, said inner wall being slightly shorter in length than said outer wall, said inner wall defining a central cavity which extends through said rearward wall, said annular cavity inclosing a greater volume than said central cavity, said folded cup having a forward end integral with said annular cavity and said central cavity, said annular cavity and said central cavity being coextensive with a rearward portion of said forward end and in abutting relation therewith; said folded cup containing pyrotechnic tracer formulation, said pyrotechnic tracer formulation comprising two pyrotechnic tracer mixtures, one of said two pyrotechnic tracer mixtures disposed in said central cavity and said forward end of said folded cup, and the other pyrotechnic tracer mixture being a downrange pyrotechnic tracer mixture disposed in said annular cavity, said downrange pyrotechnic mixture burning more rapidly than said pyrotechnic tracer mixture disposed in said central cavity and said forward end of said folded cup, said pyrotechnic tracer mixture in said central cavity and said forward end of said folded cup comprising by weight about 28.0% magnesium, about 55.0% strontium nitrate, and about 17.0% polyvinyl chloride, and said downrange pyrotechnic mixture comprising by weight about 25.0% magnesium, about 45.0% strontium nitrate, about 5.0% calcium resinate, and about 25.0% polyvinyl chloride; said folded cup containing said pyrotechnic tracer formulation causing a burning front thereof to proceed forwardly in said central cavity from adjacent said rearward wall whereby said burning front is caused to reverse its direction at said forward end and to proceed rearwardly in said annular cavity to provide a more intense flame and increased pressures therein, said inner wall melting during burning of said pyrotechnic tracer formulation in said annular cavity.

Claim 8

In a tracer projectile having a tracer cavity extending into the rear end of the projectile, a metal folded cup mating within said cavity and secured therein by a disc, said folded cup comprising a rearward wall, an inner wall and an outer wall concentric with said inner wall, said rearward wall of said folded cup being adjacent the rear end of the projectile said inner wall and said outer concentric wall extending forwardly axially from said rearward wall and defining an annular cavity between said inner and said outer wall, said inner wall being slightly shorter in length than said outer wall, said inner wall defining a central cavity which extends through said rearward wall, said annular cavity inclosing a greater volume than said central cavity, said folded cup having a forward end integral with said annular cavity and said central cavity, said annular cavity and said central cavity being coextensive with a rearward portion of said forward end and in abutting relation therewith; said folded cup containing pyrotechnic tracer formulation, said pyrotechnic tracer formulation comprising two pyrotechnic tracer mixtures, one of said two pyrotechnic tracer mixtures disposed in said central cavity and said forward end of said folded cup, and the other pyrotechnic tracer mixture being a downrange pyrotechnic tracer mixture disposed in said annular cavity, said downrange pyrotechnic mixture burning more rapidly than said pyrotechnic tracer mixture disposed in said central cavity and said forward end of said folded cup, said pyrotechnic tracer mixture in said central cavity and said forward end of said folded cup comprising by weight about 28.0% magnesium, about 55.0% strontium nitrate, and about 17.0% polyvinyl chloride, and said downrange pyrotechnic mixture comprising by weight about 25.0% magnesium, about 45.0% strontium nitrate, about 5.0% calcium resinate, and about 25.0% polyvinyl chloride; said folded cup containing said pyrotechnic tracer formulation causing a burning front thereof to proceed forwardly in said central cavity from adjacent said rearward wall whereby said burning front is caused to reverse its direction at said forward end and to proceed rearwardly in said annular cavity to provide a more intense flame and increased pressures therein, said inner wall melting during burning of said pyrotechnic tracer formulation in said annular cavity.