US4823699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Back-actuated forward ignition ammunition and method
Assignee: Textron Systems Corp
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Filing: 1987-04-14
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Granted: 1989-04-25
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Expires: 2007-04-14
Abstract
Abstract A back-actuated forward ignition cartridge having a case, a puller sabot and rod penetrator projectile in the forward mouth end of the case, and a combination compacted propellant solid mass and loose propellant charge ignitable by back ignition through actuation of a rear primer and guided flame propagation through a guide tube extending through the compacted propellant mass and to the vicinity of the loose propellant charge, while preventing ignition of the compacted propellant mass as the flame passes along the tube therethrough. The guide tube has a booster ignition charge therein to assist in forward flame propagation and ignition of the loose propellant. Burning of the loose propellant charge effects pressurized constriction of the sabot about the projectile and drives the sabot/projectile from the case and along a barrel bore, thereby increasing the effective burning volume prior to ignition of the compacted propellant solid mass. The burning of the loose propellant also effects ignition of the compacted propellant solid mass, the burning of which impacts a large further thrust to the projectile of greater amount than would be effected by employment of a solely loose propellant charge of material comparable to the employed propellant or propellants.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony L. Farinacci
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:40
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B14/00; F42B14/06; F42B14/061; F42B14/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A back-actuated forward ignition cartridge comprising a cartridge case having an open forward end, a fin-stabilized projectile having stabilizing fins on its rear end, a puller sabot secured in said forward end of said case and carrying said projectile, said puller sabot having a tapered rear end, and said stabilizing fins being disposed rearwardly of said sabot, a compacted propellant formed as a solid mass disposed in the rear section of said case, rearward of said projectile, loose propellant disposed about said tapered rear end of said puller sabot and said projectile fins and disposed forward of said compacted propellant solid mass, primer means disposed in the rear end of said case, and flame-guiding means connecting between said primer means and the forward section of said case and extending through said compacted propellant mass to enable ignition flame propagation from said primer means to the vicinity of said loose propellant to thereby enable primer-initiated ignition of said loose propellant prior to ignition of said compacted propellant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A back-actuated forward ignition cartridge comprising a cartridge case having an open forward end, a fin-stabilized projectile having stabilizing fins on its rear end, a puller sabot secured in said forward end of said case and carrying said projectile, said puller sabot having a tapered rear end, and said stabilizing fins being disposed rearwardly of said sabot, a compacted propellant formed as a solid mass disposed in the rear section of said case, rearward of said projectile, loose propellant disposed about said tapered rear end of said puller sabot and said projectile fins and disposed forward of said compacted propellant solid mass, primer means disposed in the rear end of said case, and flame-guiding means connecting between said primer means and the forward section of said case and extending through said compacted propellant mass to enable ignition flame propagation from said primer means to the vicinity of said loose propellant to thereby enable primer-initiated ignition of said loose propellant prior to ignition of said compacted propellant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a separator disk disintegrable under burning of propellant and disposed between said loose propellant and said compacted solid propellant mass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cartridge according to claim 2, said flame-guiding means comprising a flame-guiding and -insulating tube extending between said primer means and the vicinity of said loose propellant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A cartridge according to claim 3, and a further compacted propellant solid mass disposed forward of said separator disk and surrounding the rear portion of said projectile and being disposed adjacent said loose propellant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cartridge according to claim 4, said further compacted propellant solid mass being formed as a torus disposed about said stabilizing fins.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cartridge according to claim 5, said loose propellant being dispersed within said torus and about said sabot and said stabilizing fins of said projectile.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said loose propellant substantially fills the volume within said case surrounding said sabot, the projectile rear-finned zone of said projectile, and within said further compacted propellant solid-mass torus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cartridge according to claim 1, said flame-guiding means comprising a flame-guiding and -insulating tube extending between said primer means and the vicinity of said loose propellant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cartridge according to claim 1, said compacted propellant mass having a flame-erodable ignition inhibitor on its outer surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cartridge according to claim 9, said flame-guiding means comprising a flame-guiding and -insulating tube extending between said primer means and the vicinity of said loose propellant.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
196 words
The method of firing a cartridge having a rear compacted solid-mass propellant charge, a rear primer, and a projectile in a case, said method comprising: actuating said primer to form an ignition flame, protectively passing a continuation of said ignition flame past said compacted solid-mass propellant to the vicinity of a loose propellant charge adjacent said projectile, to thereby ignite said loose propellant charge without ignition of said solid-mass propellant charge during passage of said ignition flame therepast, and igniting said solid propellant mass through the burning of said loose propellant and after the ejection of said projectile from said case, said projectile being a fin-stabilized projectile having rear stabilizing fins and being carried by a pressure-responsive puller sabot initially secured in said case, and said loose propellant being disposed adjacent and about the rear of said sabot and said fins, said method further comprising effecting pressure-responsive gripping of said projectile as a function of pressure build-up from burning of said loose propellant charge prior to ejection of said projectile from said case, to thereby enable simultaneous ejection of said sabot and projectile from said case as a function of burning of said loose propellant charge.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
196 words
The method of firing a cartridge having a rear compacted solid-mass propellant charge, a rear primer, and a projectile in a case, said method comprising: actuating said primer to form an ignition flame, protectively passing a continuation of said ignition flame past said compacted solid-mass propellant to the vicinity of a loose propellant charge adjacent said projectile, to thereby ignite said loose propellant charge without ignition of said solid-mass propellant charge during passage of said ignition flame therepast, and igniting said solid propellant mass through the burning of said loose propellant and after the ejection of said projectile from said case, said projectile being a fin-stabilized projectile having rear stabilizing fins and being carried by a pressure-responsive puller sabot initially secured in said case, and said loose propellant being disposed adjacent and about the rear of said sabot and said fins, said method further comprising effecting pressure-responsive gripping of said projectile as a function of pressure build-up from burning of said loose propellant charge prior to ejection of said projectile from said case, to thereby enable simultaneous ejection of said sabot and projectile from said case as a function of burning of said loose propellant charge.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 11, said protective passage of said flame continuation past said compacted solid-mass propellant charge being effected by passing said flame continuation through a flame-guiding tube connecting between said primer and the vicinity of said loose propellant charge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 12, said flame-guiding tube having a flame-enhancing booster charge therein, and enhancing said flame continuation by ignition of said ignition booster charge as a function of actuation of said primer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method according to claim 13, in which said projectile has stabilizing fins at its rear end, said loose propellant extends about said sabot and said fins, and a fin-encompassing portion of said compacted solid-mass propellant is formed as a torus disposed about the fin area of said projectile, said method further comprising igniting a said portion of said compacted solid-mass propellant disposed about said fins through burning of said propellant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method according to claim 14, said compacted solid-mass propellant including a further rear compacted solid-mass propellant rearward of said fin-encompassing compacted solid-mass propellant portion, said method further comprising separating said rear compacted solid-mass propellant portion from said fin-encompassing compacted solid-mass propellant torus by a flammable burn-inhibiting separator disk to effect both initial physical separation of the loose propellant charge from the rear compacted solid-mass propellant and a degree of ignition inhibition of said rear compacted solid-mass propellant.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-04-24 | 1992-10-24 | 1993-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-24 | 1996-10-24 | 1997-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-24 | 2000-10-24 | 2001-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |