US 7,395,746 B2 · Shell retention device for ammunition loading machine

Abstract

An ammunition manufacturing machine has a frame with a die receptacle, and a reciprocating ram having a free end movable toward and away from the die receptacle. The free end of the die receives a removable shell holder having a recess shaped to receive the base of a casing. The recess has a flat floor portion, and the shell holder is removable along a path lateral to the axis of the ram's motion. A retention element removably encompasses at least part of the shell holder and of the free end of the ram, so that the shell holder is secured by the retention element against lateral removal. The retention element may have a flat upper surface aligned with the floor of the shell holder recess, to provide a guide for sliding the case into the shell holder. The retention element may also have an internal O-ring that compressibly surrounds the end of the ram, to provide a friction fit that holds the retaining element on the ram.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An ammunition manufacturing machine comprising:

a frame including a die receptacle;
a ram defining a ram axis reciprocating along the ram axis with respect to the frame, and having a free end movable toward and away from the die receptacle;
a removable shell holder having a recess shaped to receive the base of a casing and connected to the free end of the ram;
the recess having a flat floor portion;
the shell holder being removable along a path substantially perpendicular to the axis;
a retention element removably encompassing at least a portion of the shell holder and at least a portion of the free end of the ram, such that lateral removal of the shell holder is prevented by the retention element.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Shell retention device for ammunition loading machine

Life of this patent

Shell retention device for ammunition loading machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20