Advanced Muzzle Loader Ammunition
AssigneeAlliant Techsystems Inc.
InventorsWilliam J. Worrell, Drew Lee Goodlin, Richard Quesenberry, Jeffrey Bandel, Benjamin R. Vaughan, Sandra L. Case
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A muzzle loaded ammunition round having a bullet and a consumable cartridge case. The cartridge case is hollow and is filled with at least one propellant composition, the cartridge case being constructed from a consumable material, such as foamed celluloid. The bullet is commonly engaged to the propellant composition at least via the cartridge case, the propellant composition having a charge weight.
Claims16
A muzzle loaded ammunition round comprising:
- a fixed round comprising a bullet and a consumable cartridge case;
- the cartridge case is hollow and is filled with at least one propellant composition, the cartridge case being constructed from a consumable material;
- the bullet is commonly engaged to the propellant composition at least via the cartridge case, the propellant composition having a charge weight, wherein the consumable material is a foamed celluloid.
The muzzle loaded ammunition round of claim 7 in which the propellant composition includes at least one energy modifying material.
A method of manufacturing a muzzle loaded ammunition round comprising a bullet and a consumable cartridge case, the method comprising:
- heating at least one sheet of a foamed celluloid to a predetermined softening temperature;
- stretching the at least one sheet about a cylindrical mandrel of a desired diameter of the consumable cartridge case;
- using a vacuum to pull the sheet into a desired shape of the consumable cartridge case;
- closing a first end of the consumable cartridge case;
- filling the consumable cartridge case with at least one propellant composition;
- and
- closing the second end of the consumable cartridge case.
A method of manufacturing a muzzle loaded ammunition round comprising a bullet and a consumable cartridge case, the method comprising:
- extruding foamed celluloid material in a long tube using a thermoplastic extrusion process;
- cutting the tube to a desired length of the consumable cartridge case;
- closing a first end of the consumable cartridge case;
- filling the consumable cartridge case with at least one propellant composition;
- and
- closing the second end of the consumable cartridge case.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.