Projectile cartridge assembly and launcher system for firing the same

A projectile assembly comprising:

• a projectile;
• a base having a forward end and a rear end, said base forward end including a substantially cylindrical coupling element and an insert channel formed internally therein to facilitate insertion of a cartridge casing cover, said base rear end including an aperture for receiving said cartridge combustion insert, said base sidewall having an outer extractor groove;
• said cartridge combustion insert extending from said base rear end in the forward direction, having a substantially cylindrical open-ended sidewall terminating at a forward end, and a combustion chamber therein;
• a jacket housing having a closed forward end, and an open base end, said jacket housing open base end having first diameter sized for clearance of said cartridge combustion insert;
• a thrust post including a spindle post having a thrust post base end and a thrust post forward end including a disc or head, wherein upon assembly said thrust post forward end contacts a muzzle-side interior surface of said jacket housing forward end and circumferentially engages an internal sidewall of said jacket housing;
• and
• said cartridge casing or cover having a casing base end including a substantially cylindrical shell forming a flange, wherein upon assembly said cartridge casing flange inserts within said base insert channel.

A projectile assembly for marking a target, comprising:

• a fluid carrying capsule retained by or attached to a cylindrical shell cartridge casing or cover, said capsule having a base end and a forward end, and including an aft-extending skirt having a smaller diameter than a largest diameter of said capsule, said skirt extended from said capsule base end;
• a base-insert subassembly including:
• a base having a forward end and a rear end, said base forward end including a substantially cylindrical coupling element or skirt for receiving a cartridge casing or cover, said base rear end including a primer recess cavity;
• and
• a cartridge combustion insert extending from said base in the forward direction, having a substantially cylindrical open-ended sidewall terminating at a forward open end, and a combustion chamber therein;
• a jacket subassembly comprising:
• substantially cylindrical cartridge jacket housing having a closed forward end, and an open base end, said open base end having first diameter sized for clearance of a forward end of a thrust post;
• said thrust post including a spindle post having a base end and said thrust post forward end including a disc or head, wherein upon assembly of said jacket subassembly, the thrust post topside end will contact a muzzle-side interior surface of said jacket housing and circumferentially engage an internal sidewall of said jacket housing;
• and
• said cartridge casing or cover having a casing base end including a substantially cylindrical shell forming a flange, and an open forward end;
• and wherein said capsule skirt is received by said open forward end of said cartridge casing.

A method of firing a projectile from a launcher, comprising:

• securing a cartridge into said launcher, said cartridge having:
• a base-insert subassembly including:
• a base having a forward end and a rear end, said base forward end including a substantially cylindrical coupling element or skirt for receiving a cartridge casing or cover, said base rear end including a primer recess cavity;
• and a cartridge combustion insert extending from said base in the forward direction, having a substantially cylindrical open-ended sidewall terminating at a forward open end, and a combustion chamber therein;
• a jacket subassembly comprising:
• a substantially cylindrical cartridge jacket housing having a closed forward end, and an open base end, said open base end having first diameter sized for clearance of a forward end of a thrust post;
• said thrust post including a spindle post having a post base end and said thrust post forward end including a disc or head, wherein upon assembly of said jacket subassembly, the thrust post topside end will contact a muzzle-side interior surface of said jacket housing and circumferentially engage an internal sidewall of said jacket housing;
• and
• said cartridge casing or cover having a casing base end including a substantially cylindrical shell forming a flange;
• initiating a propellant charge provided in said cartridge combustion insert, when a high energy primer is not employed;
• forcing the thrust post against the jacket housing and away from the cartridge base;
• uncoupling the projectile from the base-insert assembly;
• and
• propelling the projectile in ballistic flight.

A launcher system for firing projectiles comprising:

• a launcher assembly comprising a chamber adapted to receive a cartridge;
• a barrel forward the chamber, and a bolt rearward of the chamber, the bolt including a firing mechanism for activating the cartridge;
• and
• a cartridge comprising:
• a projectile assembly comprising:
• an outer projectile;
• a jacket housing coupled within an interior portion of the outer projectile;
• and
• a thrust post coupled within an interior portion of the jacket housing;
• a cartridge casing coupled to an end of the projectile assembly and including a combustion insert extending between and interior to the cartridge casing and the projectile assembly;
• the thrust post extending within a portion of the combustion insert;
• the thrust post comprising a disc element and spindle post extending therefrom;
• and
• a propellant charge provided in the combustion insert such that when the firing mechanism activates the cartridge and the charge is initiated, gases are created which force the thrust post away from the cartridge casing, uncouple the projectile assembly from the cartridge casing, and engage projectile assembly with the launcher to provide ballistic flight of the projectile assembly.