US 12,253,343 B1 · Medium caliber polymer ammunition cartridge

Abstract

A medium caliber polymer-based ammunition cartridge has an insert forming a base end and engaged to a polymer body forming an internal propellant chamber. The polymer body is engaged at its forward end to a polymer nose which has a shoulder that transitions directly into a projectile opening. The shoulder is inwardly radially thickened to increase lateral support about a medium caliber projectile loaded into the cartridge. The thickness of the shoulder may vary along its longitudinal length. One or more crush seals may be integrally formed about an outer surface of the cartridge nose. The crush seals include an annular tip seal and one or more annular shoulder seals. Each of the crush seals deform into an obturating ring to form a seal between the outer surface of the medium caliber polymer cartridge and the inner walls of the firing chamber.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A medium caliber polymer-based ammunition cartridge, comprising:

an insert having a top surface and a bottom surface, a coupling element extending from the top surface, a primer pocket formed through the bottom surface, and a flash hole in fluid communication with the primer pocket and extending through the top surface;
a polymer body engaged to the insert forming an internal propellant chamber, wherein a first end of the polymer body is molded about the coupling element and into the flash hole and wherein a second end, opposite the first end, forms a nose joint;
a nose engaged to the nose joint of the polymer body and having a shoulder transitioning into a projectile opening, wherein thickness of the nose varies radially from the nose joint to the projectile opening and wherein the shoulder is configured to at least partially enclose a driving band engaged about an outer surface of a medium caliber projectile loaded into the cartridge.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Medium caliber polymer ammunition cartridge

Life of this patent

Medium caliber polymer ammunition cartridge

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19