U.S. patent application number 16/103667 was filed with the patent office on 2019-02-14 for ammunition with energy absorbing features.
This patent application is currently assigned to MAC LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is MAC LLC. Invention is credited to Nikica Maljkovic, Paul Moshenrose.
Application Number | 20190049223 16/103667 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65274866 |
Filed Date | 2019-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190049223 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moshenrose; Paul ; et
al. |
February 14, 2019 |
Ammunition with Energy Absorbing Features
Abstract
A multi-piece ammunition article that has a base portion
configured to support the majority of the stress load during firing
and a caselet portion that is configured to support the firing
loads. Furthermore, the caselet portion has a weakened surface with
increased compliance which aids in the storage and firing of the
ammunition.
Inventors: |
Moshenrose; Paul; (Bay St.
Louis, MS) ; Maljkovic; Nikica; (New Orleans,
LA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MAC LLC |
Bay St. Louis |
MS |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
MAC LLC
Bay St. Louis
MS
|
Family ID: |
65274866 |
Appl. No.: |
16/103667 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62545263 |
Aug 14, 2017 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 33/001 20130101;
F42B 5/307 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F42B 5/307 20060101
F42B005/307; F42B 33/00 20060101 F42B033/00 |
Claims
1. A multi-piece ammunition article comprising: A base having a
first end and a second end wherein the first end is configured to
receive a primer and wherein the second end is open and is
configured to cooperatively engage with a caselet; the caselet
portion further comprises an elongated body with an outer surface
and defining an inner cavity wherein the caselet further comprises
a base end and a projectile end, wherein the base end is oppositely
configured to cooperatively engage with the open end of the base
portion such that an overlap region is formed thereby forming a
smooth transition between the base portion and the caselet portion,
and wherein the outer surface of the caselet portion is configured
with a contoured surface such that the outer surface is configured
to be uneven.
2. The ammunition article of claim 1 wherein the contoured outer
surface is defined by a pattern selected from a group consisting of
radial grooves, vertical grooves, diagonal grooves axial rows and
intermittent depressions.
3. The ammunition article of claim 1 wherein the contoured outer
surface comprises a plurality of independent structures thereby
modifying the outer surface to reduce the strength thereof.
4. The ammunition article of claim 1 wherein the caselet portion is
a polymeric material.
5. The ammunition article of claim 4 wherein the caselet portion
comprises a first polymeric region and a second polymeric region,
and wherein the first polymeric region is configured to
cooperatively engage with the base portion and the second polymeric
region is configured to cover at least a portion of the first
polymeric region.
6. The ammunition article of claim 1 further comprising an over
mold disposed such that it covers at least a portion of the
caselet.
7. The ammunition article of claim 1 the article is configured to
accommodate a caliber projectile selected from the group consisting
of .22, .22-250, .221, .223, .243, .25-06, .264 USA, .277 USA,
.270, .300, .30-30, .30-40, 30.06, .303, .308, .357, .38, .40, .44,
.45, .45-70, .50 BMG, 500 Nitro, 5.45 mm, 5.56 mm, 6.5 mm, 6.8 mm,
7 mm, 7.62 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 12.7 mm, 14.5 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm,
30 mm, 40 mm and wildcat.
8. The ammunition article of claim 3 wherein the independent
structures are selected from a group consisting of amorphous shapes
and geometric shapes.
9. The ammunition article of claim 6 wherein the over mold further
comprises a corresponding contoured surface to that of the outer
surface of the caselet.
10. The ammunition article of claim 2 wherein the caselet has an
overall contact surface area in contact with a chamber of a weapon
and such contact surface area is reduced by 10%.
11. The ammunition article of claim 2 wherein the axial rows have a
semicircular cross section.
12. The ammunition article of claim 2 wherein the intermittent
depressions have a semicircular cross section.
13. The ammunition article of claim 6 wherein the overmold
comprises an elastomeric material.
14. A method for producing a multi-piece ammunition article
comprising: Having a base portion having a first end and a second
end wherein the first end is configured to receive a primer and
wherein the second end is open and is configured to cooperatively
engage with a caselet Having a caselet portion further comprising
an elongated body with an outer surface and defining an inner
cavity wherein the caselet portion further comprises a base end and
a projectile end, wherein the base end is oppositely configured to
cooperatively engage with the open end of the base portion such
that an overlap region is formed thereby forming a smooth
transition between the base portion and the caselet portion;
Joining the base portion and the caselet portion; and Filling the
article with a propellant.
15. The method for producing a multi-piece ammunition article of
claim 14 wherein the base portion and the caselet portion are
joined from a process selected from a group consisting of molding,
mechanical interference, ultrasonic welding, adhesive, and heat
crimping.
16. The method for producing a multi-piece ammunition article of
claim 14 further comprising: Obtaining a projectile; and Securing
the projectile in the projectile end of the caselet portion.
17. The method for producing a multi-piece ammunition article of
claim 16 wherein the projectile is secured from a process selected
from a group consisting of molding, mechanical interference,
ultrasonic welding, adhesive, and heat crimping.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/545,263 filed on Aug. 14, 2017, the disclosure
of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to ammunition articles, and,
more particularly, to ammunition cartridge casings, where a portion
of the ammunition casing is selectively weakened in order to modify
its response during cycling in the weapon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The nature of ammunition articles illustrates the need for
materials used in the manufacture thereof to demonstrate excellent
mechanical and thermal properties. This is especially true for high
pressure rifle and machine gun ammunition. As a result, prevalent
materials for production of cartridge cases for all calibers of
ammunition in the world today are metals. However, the various
metals used in the manufacture of ammunition articles include
various disadvantages including increased cost of production,
viability for long term storage, and the inability to withstand the
higher pressures of some calibers of ammunitions.
[0004] Given these issues, desirable materials for ammunition
cartridge casing fabrication would be lighter in weight, less
costly and have mechanical properties suitable for use in
ammunition applications.
[0005] Despite many efforts at making the ammunition casings
lighter, the success has proven elusive. A solution is needed which
would allow usage of lightweight materials such polymer components.
Specifically, the solution for usage of polymer components must
address their inferior mechanical and thermal properties.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] This application is directed to a multi-piece ammunition
article that is configured with a base portion designed to support
the majority of the stress load during firing and a caselet portion
that is designed to handle the firing loads and has at least one
layer. Furthermore, many embodiments have a caselet portion with a
weakened surface structure that increases the overall compliance of
the article which aids in the storing and firing of the ammunition
article.
[0007] Many embodiments of the article include a base with a first
end and a second end wherein the first end is configured to receive
a primer and wherein the second end is open and is configured to
cooperatively engage with a caselet. The caselet portion further
has an elongated body with an outer surface and defines an inner
cavity. The caselet portion is configured to have a base end and a
projectile end. The base end is oppositely configured to
cooperatively engage with the open end of the base portion such
that an overlap region is formed thereby forming a smooth
transition between the base portion and the caselet portion.
Furthermore, the outer surface of the caselet portion is configured
with a contoured surface such that the outer surface is configured
to be uneven.
[0008] In other embodiments, the contoured outer surface is defined
by a pattern selected from a group consisting of radial grooves,
vertical grooves, diagonal grooves axial rows and intermittent
depressions.
[0009] In still other embodiments, the contoured outer surface
comprises a plurality of independent structures thereby modifying
the outer surface to reduce the strength thereof.
[0010] In yet other embodiments, the caselet portion is a polymeric
material.
[0011] In still yet other embodiments, the caselet portion is
defined by a first polymeric region and a second polymeric region.
The first polymeric region is configured to cooperatively engage
with the base portion and the second polymeric region is configured
to cover at least a portion of the first polymeric region.
[0012] In other embodiments, the article has an over mold disposed
such that it covers at least a portion of the caselet.
[0013] In still other embodiments, the article is configured to
accommodate a caliber projectile selected from the group consisting
of .22, .22-250, .221, .223, .243, .25-06, .264 USA, .277 USA,
.270, .300, .30-30, .30-40, 30.06, .303, .308, .357, .38, .40, .44,
.45, .45-70, .50 BMG, 500 Nitro, 5.45 mm, 5.56 mm, 6.5 mm, 6.8 mm,
7 mm, 7.62 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 12.7 mm, 14.5 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm,
30 mm, 40 mm and wildcat.
[0014] In yet other embodiments, the independent structures are
selected from a group consisting of amorphous shapes and geometric
shapes.
[0015] In still yet other embodiments, the over mold has a
corresponding contoured surface to that of the outer surface of the
caselet.
[0016] In other embodiments, the caselet has an overall contact
surface area in contact with a chamber of a weapon and such contact
surface area is reduced by 10%.
[0017] In yet other embodiments, the caselet has an overall chamber
contact surface area that is reduced by at least 5%.
[0018] In still other embodiments, the axial rows have a
semicircular cross section.
[0019] In still yet other embodiments, the intermittent depressions
have a semicircular cross section.
[0020] In other embodiments, the overmold comprises an elastomeric
material.
[0021] Many other embodiments include a method for producing a
multi-piece ammunition article where an ammunition article as
described in the many embodiments herein is selected and the
caselet and base portion are joined to form a casing that may be
subsequently filled with a propellant.
[0022] In other embodiments, the method includes the process by
which the base portion and the caselet portion are joined from a
process selected from a group consisting of molding, mechanical
interference, ultrasonic welding, adhesive, and heat crimping.
[0023] In still other embodiments the method includes obtaining and
securing a projectile to the projectile end of the caselet
portion.
[0024] In yet other embodiments, the projectile is secured from a
process selected from a group consisting of molding, mechanical
interference, ultrasonic welding, adhesive, and heat crimping.
[0025] Additional embodiments and features are set forth in part in
the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to
those skilled in the art upon examination of the specification or
may be learned by the practice of the disclosure. A further
understanding of the nature and advantages of the present
disclosure may be realized by reference to the remaining portions
of the specification and the drawings, which forms a part of this
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The description will be more fully understood with reference
to the following figures, which are presented as exemplary
embodiments of the invention and should not be construed as a
complete recitation of the scope of the invention wherein:
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a cross sectional view of an ammunition
article in accordance with the present art.
[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of an ammunition
article in accordance with embodiments.
[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of an ammunition
article having radial ribs in accordance with many embodiments.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of an article having
axial rows according to various embodiments.
[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric view of an article having
various depressions in the body according to various
embodiments.
[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment having multiple
caselet portions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] Described herein is an ammunition article that is an
improvement over the traditional articles, wherein preference is
given to a design of an article that reduces cost and maintains the
mechanical and thermal properties desired in the use of ammunition
articles. In accordance with many embodiments the present invention
describes an ammunition article having a multi-piece configuration
in which a portion of the article is metallic while another portion
is formed of a polymeric type material having a weakened contoured
surface to aid in storage and use of the article.
[0034] For the purposes of the present invention, the term
"ammunition article" as used herein refers to a complete, assembled
round of ammunition that is ready to be loaded into a firearm and
fired. An ammunition article may be a live round fitted with a
projectile, or a blank round with no projectile. An ammunition
article may be any caliber of pistol or rifle ammunition and may
also be other types such as non-lethal rounds, rounds containing
rubber bullets, rounds containing multiple projectiles (shot), and
rounds containing projectiles other than bullets such as
fluid-filled canisters and capsules
[0035] An ammunition casing is a portion of the ammunition article
that physically holds propellant, primer and projectile (if
present). Thus, the ammunition casing is the portion of an
ammunition article that remains after firing and is extracted out
of the weapon.
[0036] In the United States brass is the leading material, followed
in smaller amounts by steel (especially in countries associated
with former Soviet Union) and, in very limited applications,
aluminum. The use of lightweight materials for ammunition cartridge
cases has been extensively investigated over the past 40 years, but
success has been elusive.
[0037] Brass cases (specific gravity .about.8.3) suffer from a
number of disadvantages, the most important of which is heavy
weight and high cost. Given very high costs of copper in recent
years, a need exists for a lower cost alternative to brass
ammunition casings.
[0038] Steel (SPGR .about.7.9) cases have been used extensively in
countries of the former Eastern Block countries as the main
material for their rifle and machine gun ammunition. Steel offers
many advantages over brass--it is significantly less expensive and
its price volatility is lower, it offers a greater range of
achievable mechanical properties and it is slightly (on the order
of 5%) lighter.
[0039] Steel and other ferrous cases, however, also have a series
of disadvantages such as decreased corrosion resistance and
inability to obturate as efficiently as brass cases. Obturation
refers to the ability of the case to efficiently seal the chamber
and focus all of the energy and combustion gases forward in the
process of propelling the projectile through the weapon barrel.
Steel traditionally has been inferior to brass in this area and it
is related to a differing elastic limit between brass and steel.
The most significant downside to steel cases, however, is that
steel is only marginally lighter than brass and thus so far steel
cases have offered only minor weight savings.
[0040] Aluminum (SPGR .about.2.7) has a very serious disadvantage
of potential explosive oxidative degradation and is thus used only
in low-pressure cartridges or in applications that can tolerate
relatively thick casing walls (for example pistol, medium caliber
and low pressure grenade ammunition). As a result of this
characteristic aluminum has not typically been used in ammunition
for rifles or machine guns. It would be of great benefit in
reducing the weight carried if a solution could be found that could
successfully utilize aluminum in rifle or machine gun ammunition
design. Other lightweight non-ferrous materials (ex. Magnesium,
lithium) have broadly the same issues.
[0041] Many lightweight polymeric materials (SPGR 0.8-4.0) have
been investigated; however, to date, polymers have been used only
in niche ammunition applications where their inferior mechanical
and thermal properties can be tolerated (e.g., shotgun shells
contain polyethylene components). There has been a wealth of work
on polymer case. Some of the most relevant work can be found in US
Patent Application US 2006/0207464 A1, incorporated herein by
reference.
[0042] While stability under broad ranges of handling and storage
conditions are crucial, the greatest mechanical demands on the
cartridge material are experienced during the firing event. The
material at the cartridge base end, which supports the primer, must
first absorb the impact of a firing pin on the primer without
mechanical failure. Upon ignition and combustion of an encapsulated
propellant, rapidly expanding gases create high pressure, which
expels a projectile from the barrel of the firearm. The ammunition
cartridge casing must withstand and contain the pressure developed
by the explosion so that the gaseous combustion products expand
only in the direction of the barrel opening, thus maximizing energy
conversion to projectile kinetic energy. The peak chamber pressures
in typical rifle and machine gun ammunition range from 35,000 to
70,000 psi and produce projectile velocities in a range of
1,000-4,000 feet per second.
[0043] A firearm's cartridge chamber closely fits the outside of a
cartridge and thus supports the majority of the cartridge casing
wall in the radial direction; however, in many firearms, a portion
of the cartridge base end protrudes from the chamber and is thus
unsupported. During firing, a stress profile is developed along the
cartridge casing, with the greatest stresses being concentrated at
the base end. This base end is also called the "head" of the
cartridge. Therefore, the cartridge head must possess the greatest
mechanical strength, while a gradual decrease in material strength
is acceptable axially along the casing toward the end that receives
the projectile. As a result of these requirements, the head is
typically the thickest and heaviest portion of the casing. This can
be illustrated in FIG. 1 where it can be seen that the head 110 is
thicker than the remaining portions of the casing.
[0044] A typical brass cartridge casing is engineered to provide a
strength profile along the casing length, which reflects the
varying mechanical demands, with the strongest and hardest material
located at the cartridge base end 110. In metals, a strength
profile is easily induced by varying the heat treatment conditions
from one end of the casing to the other, but this is not an option
for polymers. A mechanical strength profile can be achieved in a
polymeric ammunition cartridge casing by varying the casing wall
thickness, but, since the casing external geometry is fixed by
existing firearm chamber size, an increased casing wall thickness
often results in a cavity with insufficient internal volume to
accept the required propellant charge.
[0045] While the most severe mechanical requirements of an
ammunition cartridge are focused on the head portion 110, the top
portion 120 of the casing must meet several material requirements
as well. Upon combustion of the cartridge propellant, a very large
quantity of energy is released in a matter of a few milliseconds,
thus producing very high stresses and strain rates. The casing
material must possess adequate ductility to absorb the shock of the
explosion without experiencing brittle fracture. Also, the material
must possess sufficient rigidity and strength to avoid creep or
flow when multiple ammunition articles are fired in rapid
succession. Finally, the ammunition casing must relax sufficiently
and shrink away from the chamber wall in order to allow facile
extraction of the spent round.
[0046] A more detailed description of the various embodiments of
the invention is illustrated herein. Turning to FIG. 2, an
embodiment of the present invention is thus illustrated. Shown in
FIG. 2 is an ammunition article in accordance with various
embodiments in which the head portion is a metallic cap 210. The
metallic cap portion 210 is joined to a polymeric caselet portion
220.
[0047] Although many methods are known for attaching the cap and
caselet portions of an ammunition cartridge casing, any method of
attaching the caselet and cap is acceptable provided that the two
components are joined securely and that gaseous combustion products
are not allowed to escape through the assembled casing upon firing.
Many embodiments may include securing methods such as mechanical
interlocking (i.e., ribs and/or threads), adhesives, molding in
place, heat crimping, ultrasonic welding, friction welding etc.
These and other suitable methods for securing individual pieces of
a two-piece or multi-piece cartridge casing are useful in the
practice of the present invention.
[0048] In accordance with many embodiments, the polymeric caselet
portion 220 is designed to meet the design requirements described
above; in that it is capable of handling the mechanical and thermal
demands of that portion of the article during storage and, more
importantly, the firing process. The cap 210 may be configured to
house a live primer in a primer housing portion 230 of the cap.
Additionally, the cap 210 is joined securely to the caselet portion
220 via a smooth transition 240 that forms a smooth interior cavity
250 of the article.
[0049] In accordance with many embodiments the transition portion
240 may be configured to overlap such that the polymeric portion of
the casing is designed to overlap the inside diameter of the cap
portion 210. The cap portion 210 may be configured such that the
inside diameter is smaller in the transition area thereby
integrally accommodating the end of the polymeric portion 220 to
form a smooth transition region 240 on both the outside and inside
of the casing. A propellant charge may be introduced into the
interior cavity formed by the assembled casing. A projectile may
then be inserted into the open caselet end 260 and secured with an
adhesive.
[0050] Other exemplary embodiments of methods for securing the
projectile into the open end of a caselet are as follows: [0051] 1.
forming the caselet by molding the polymeric material of the
caselet around at least a portion of the projectile; [0052] 2.
securing the projectile to the caselet by mechanical interference;
[0053] 3. securing the projectile to the caselet by ultrasonic
welding. [0054] 4. securing the projectile to the caselet by a
combination of molding in place and use of an adhesive; and [0055]
5. securing the projectile to the caselet by heat crimping the
caselet around the projectile.
[0056] The assembled ammunition article may then be loaded into a
firearm chamber and fired.
[0057] It is preferable, according to various embodiments, that a
portion of the caselet 200 may have areas of reduced material or
reduced strength along the casing. The reduction of material may be
through the use of vertical, diagonal or radial ribs; some of such
embodiments are illustrated further in FIGS. 3-7. Other embodiments
may include a faceted design, an elastomeric over mold or some
other flexible design solution with reduced strength but increased
compliance.
[0058] The reduction of material according to various embodiments
may be illustrated in FIG. 3 by way of the grooves 310 in the
caselet portion of the casing. As previously discussed the removed
sections 310 may take on any form that is desirable for
manufacturing. Such as for example the groove may be in the form a
ribs that have been molded into the casing surface or they may be
machined later. The grooves 310 may also be radial ribs that
encompass the casing. In other embodiments the grooves 310 may take
on the form of continuous or incongruent surface features such as
amorphous bumps or any defined geometric shape. Additionally, the
casing may, as discussed previously, be adapted with an elastomeric
over mold. The over mold, in many embodiments may also be
configured with individual shapes or may be configured to match the
surface of the pre-shaped casing. Other embodiments may include
additional layers of over molded or even under molded elastomeric,
thermoset, thermoplastic, or metallic that may be configured with
geometric features similar to those discussed above.
[0059] Such designs are preferable to enhance the survival of the
case. The result of the preferable design allows for greater
elongation and increased longevity of the casing despite the
underlying hydrostatic stress of the system. Additionally, similar
designs help to better facilitate the insertion and removal of the
case from any particular firearm. A similar approach may be used
for single or multi-pieced casings where the number of components
is greater than two. For example, a three piece casings may
incorporate a bottom cap and two separate components for
caselet.
[0060] In accordance with other embodiments, FIG. 4 illustrates an
embodiment where the caselet is weakened by removing portions of
the external surface in axial rows 410, resulting in a faceted
surface. In many such embodiments, the axial rows 410 may have a
cross section in the form of a semicircle, however, any such cross
section may be suitable. Such embodiments illustrate a caselet
having a pencil-like appearance. The depth and width of the facets
can be of any configuration as long as the overall functionality of
the casing is not compromised by the design. In some embodiments
the caselet may have a minimum of 10% reduction in caselet surface
area contacting the weapon chamber. Other embodiments may have a
smaller reduction in caselet surface area contacting the weapon
chamber while still other embodiments may have more than 10%
reduction in caselet contact surface area.
[0061] Similarly, to embodiments described above, faceted surface
increases compliance response of the caselet to impacts on the
weapon frame and assists in ejection. Additionally, faceted surface
may reduce the overall friction with the weapon chamber. This, in
turn, reduces the overall acceleration and ultimate speed of the
ejection process, further improving the ejection characteristics of
the polymeric lightweight ammunition.
[0062] In accordance with other embodiments the caselet may be
weakened by removing intermittent portions of the external surface,
resulting in intermittently placed depressions 510 in the surface
thereof. In many such embodiments, the intermittent depressions 510
may have a cross section of a semicircle or a concave like
depression. Such embodiments may give the caselet a golf ball-like
appearance. Although not illustrated, other embodiments may include
raised portions rather than depressions that produce a similar
effect as the intermittent depressions 510. The size i.e., depth or
height and width of these surface features can be of any
configuration as long as the overall caselet has a minimum of 10%
reduction in caselet surface area contacting the weapon chamber.
Similarly, to embodiments described above, golf-ball-like surface
increases compliance response of the caselet to impacts on the
weapon frame and assists in ejection. Additionally, golf-ball-like
surface may reduce the overall friction with the weapon chamber.
This, in turn, reduces the overall acceleration and ultimate speed
of the ejection process, further improving the ejection
characteristics of the polymeric lightweight ammunition. Although a
specific type of depression is illustrated, it should be understood
that any type of intermittent depression may be suitable.
[0063] As previously discussed, many embodiments of a multi-piece
casing may include three or more portions; one being the cap and
two or more portions making up the caselet portion. For example,
FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a multi-piece ammunition
article having two different portions of the caselet. Similar to
the article illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 5, FIG. 6 comprises a
metallic cap portion 210 adjoined to a first polymeric portion 610.
In a similar fashion as described previously, the first polymeric
portion 610 is connected to the metallic cap portion 210.
Subsequently, the casing comprises a second polymeric portion 620
that may overlay a portion of the first polymeric portion 610. In
some embodiments the second polymeric portion 620 may also be
configured with the any of the surface features described herein
such as the grooves 310, axial rows 410, and/or intermittent
depressions 510. In any number of configurations of polymeric
layers, it is preferable that many embodiments may be configured
such that the strength may be reduced and the compliance increased
through surface features as discussed herein.
[0064] Typical materials used for the overmolding a polymeric
portion are elastomeric or highly damping materials. These are
typically lower in strength than polymeric materials that may be
used for the rest of the caselet 220, and thus lower the overall
rigidity and strength of the caselet. This results in increased
compliance of the case and improves ejection in certain types of
weapons. For example, improvements in ejection can be noted for
weapons such as the MK48 and M240 machine guns.
[0065] As previously discussed the casing is where the primer,
propellant, and projectile are stored and is what remains after the
firing of a round through the firearm of choice. The external
dimensions of the assembled casing are largely guided by the weapon
chamber dimensions. The internal dimensions can vary according to
application needs and fabrication methods.
[0066] In accordance with many embodiments, many different types of
ammunition articles may be provided by the present invention. For
example, embodiments of this invention may be used to produce
ammunition components for various calibers of firearms. Non
limiting examples include .22, .22-250, .221, .223, .243, .25-06,
.264 USA, .277 USA, .270, .300, .30-30, .30-40, 30.06, .303, .308,
.357, .38, .40, .44, .45, .45-70, .50 BMG, 500 Nitro, 5.45 mm, 5.56
mm, 6.5 mm, 6.8 mm, 7 mm, 7.62 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 12.7 mm, 14.5
mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm and other non-standard ("wildcat")
calibers.
DOCTRINE OF EQUIVALENTS
[0067] As can be inferred from the above discussion, the
above-mentioned concepts can be implemented in a variety of
arrangements in accordance with embodiments of the invention. For
example, though the foldable vehicle has been described in relation
to an electric vehicle, it will be understood that the construction
and compacting and nesting mechanisms described could be adapted
for use with other propulsion types, including, for example, a
gasoline powered internal combustion engine. Likewise, although the
vehicle has been described in relation to two platform sections, it
will be understood that any number of structural members could be
used along with the proposed vehicle folding mechanism.
[0068] Accordingly, although the present invention has been
described in certain specific aspects, many additional
modifications and variations would be apparent to those skilled in
the art. It is therefore to be understood that the present
invention may be practiced otherwise than specifically described.
Thus, embodiments of the present invention should be considered in
all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
* * * * *