U.S. patent application number 16/175589 was filed with the patent office on 2019-05-02 for primer cup for a primer having deposited ignitable material.
This patent application is currently assigned to Spectre Enterprises, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Spectre Enterprises, Inc.. Invention is credited to Timothy Mohler, Daniel Yates.
Application Number | 20190128656 16/175589 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66245455 |
Filed Date | 2019-05-02 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190128656 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mohler; Timothy ; et
al. |
May 2, 2019 |
Primer Cup for a Primer Having Deposited Ignitable Material
Abstract
A cup for a primer facilitates the use of deposited ignitable
material, for example, a layered thermite material, within a cup
that fits within a standard primer pocket within a firearm
cartridge casing or other location designed for a presently
available primer. The primer cup includes a tube and a disk. The
ignitable material can be deposited on one surface of the disk. The
disk can then be inserted within the tube, wherein it is retained
within the tube by an inwardly projecting ledge at one end of the
tube.
Inventors: |
Mohler; Timothy; (Vero
Beach, FL) ; Yates; Daniel; (Melbourne, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Spectre Enterprises, Inc. |
Melbourne |
FL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Spectre Enterprises, Inc.
Melbourne
FL
|
Family ID: |
66245455 |
Appl. No.: |
16/175589 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62579141 |
Oct 30, 2017 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42C 19/083 20130101;
F42C 19/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F42C 19/10 20060101
F42C019/10; F42C 19/08 20060101 F42C019/08 |
Claims
1. A primer, comprising: a tube having a side wall, the tube
defining a first open end, a second open end, a tube interior, and
a central axis, the second open end defining a ledge projecting
towards the central axis; a disk having a first surface, a second
surface, and an edge, the disk being dimensioned and configured to
fit within the interior of the tube with the periphery of the disk
abutting the wall, the disk having an ignitable material deposited
upon the first surface; and the ledge being dimensioned and
configured to resist passage of the disk therethrough.
2. The primer according to claim 1, wherein: the tube is generally
cylindrical, the tube defining an internal diameter; and the disk
is generally circular, the disk having a diameter that
substantially matches the internal diameter of the tube.
3. The primer according to claim 2, wherein the ledge extends
around substantially the entire wall, the ledge defining the second
open end.
4. The primer according to claim 3, wherein the edge of the disk
includes a first edge portion adjacent to the first surface, and a
second edge portion adjacent to the second surface, the second edge
portion having a diameter corresponding to a diameter of the second
open end, the disk defining a lip extending between the first edge
portion and the second edge portion, the first edge portion
defining a first thickness, the second edge portion defining a
second thickness, the thickness of the second edge portion being
substantially equal to a thickness of the ledge of the tube, the
lip of the disk having a width that is substantially equal to the
width of the ledge of the tube.
5. The primer according to claim 4, wherein the wall defines a
plurality of inwardly extending projections, each of the inwardly
extending projections being disposed a distance above the ledge
that is substantially equal to the thickness of the first edge
portion, whereby the disk is retained between the ledge and the
inwardly extending projections.
6. The primer according to claim 1, wherein the wall defines a
plurality of inwardly extending projections, each of the inwardly
extending projections being disposed a distance above the ledge
that is substantially equal to a thickness of a portion of the edge
of the disk abutting the wall, whereby the disk is retained between
the ledge and the inwardly extending projections.
7. The primer according to claim 1, wherein the ledge extends
around substantially the entire wall, the ledge defining the second
open end.
8. The primer according to claim 7, wherein the edge of the disk
includes a first edge portion adjacent to the first surface, and a
second edge portion adjacent to the second surface, the second edge
portion being dimensioned and configured to substantially fill the
second open end, the disk defining a lip extending between the
first edge portion and the second edge portion, the first edge
portion defining a first thickness, the second edge portion
defining a second thickness, the thickness of the second edge
portion being substantially equal to a thickness of the ledge of
the tube, the lip of the disk having a width that is substantially
equal to the width of the ledge of the tube.
9. The primer according to claim 8, wherein the wall defines a
plurality of inwardly extending projections, each of the inwardly
extending projections being disposed a distance above the ledge
that is substantially equal to the thickness of the first edge
portion, whereby the disk is retained between the ledge and the
inwardly extending projections.
10. The primer according to claim 1, wherein: the first surface
includes a recess defined therein; and the ignitable material is
deposited within the recess.
11. The primer according to claim 1, wherein the ignitable material
includes alternating layers of reducing metal and metal oxide.
12. The primer according to claim 11, wherein the ignitable
material further has interface layers of reducing metal oxide
between the reducing metal layers and metal oxide layers, the
reducing metal oxide having a thickness of less than 1 nm.
13. A cup for a primer, the cup comprising: a tube having a side
wall, the tube defining a first open end, a second open end, a tube
interior, and a central axis, the second open end defining a ledge
projecting towards the central axis; a disk having a first surface,
a second surface, and an edge, the disk being dimensioned and
configured to fit within the interior of the tube with the
periphery of the disk abutting the wall; and the ledge being
dimensioned and configured to resist passage of the disk
therethrough.
14. The cup according to claim 13, wherein: the tube is generally
cylindrical, the tube defining an internal diameter; and the disk
is generally circular, the disk having a diameter that
substantially matches the internal diameter of the tube.
15. The cup according to claim 14, wherein the ledge extends around
substantially the entire wall, the ledge defining the second open
end.
16. The cup according to claim 15, wherein the edge of the disk
includes a first edge portion adjacent to the first surface, and a
second edge portion adjacent to the second surface, the second edge
portion having a diameter corresponding to a diameter of the second
open end, the disk defining a lip extending between the first edge
portion and the second edge portion, the first edge portion
defining a first thickness, the second edge portion defining a
second thickness, the thickness of the second edge portion being
substantially equal to a thickness of the ledge of the tube, the
lip of the disk having a width that is substantially equal to the
width of the ledge of the tube.
17. The cup according to claim 16, wherein the wall defines a
plurality of inwardly extending projections, each of the inwardly
extending projections being disposed a distance above the ledge
that is substantially equal to the thickness of the first edge
portion, whereby the disk is retained between the ledge and the
inwardly extending projections.
18. The cup according to claim 13, wherein the wall defines a
plurality of inwardly extending projections, each of the inwardly
extending projections being disposed a distance above the ledge
that is substantially equal to a thickness of a portion of the edge
of the disk abutting the wall, whereby the disk is retained between
the ledge and the inwardly extending projections.
19. The cup according to claim 13, wherein the ledge extends around
substantially the entire wall, the ledge defining the second open
end.
20. The cup according to claim 19, wherein the edge of the disk
includes a first edge portion adjacent to the first surface, and a
second edge portion adjacent to the second surface, the second edge
portion being dimensioned and configured to substantially fill the
second open end, the disk defining a lip extending between the
first edge portion and the second edge portion, the first edge
portion defining a first thickness, the second edge portion
defining a second thickness, the thickness of the second edge
portion being substantially equal to a thickness of the ledge of
the tube, the lip of the disk having a width that is substantially
equal to the width of the ledge of the tube.
21. The primer according to claim 20, wherein the wall defines a
plurality of inwardly extending projections, each of the inwardly
extending projections being disposed a distance above the ledge
that is substantially equal to the thickness of the first edge
portion, whereby the disk is retained between the ledge and the
inwardly extending projections.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
patent application Ser. No. 62/579,141, filed Oct. 30, 2017, and
entitled "Primer Cup for a Thermite Primer."
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to primers for firearms and
other munitions. More specifically, a cup is provided for
containing the ignitable material of a primer, and for holding the
ignitable material within a firearm cartridge or within another
munition.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0003] Cartridges for firearms, as well as other munitions such as
larger projectile cartridges and explosives are often ignited by a
primer. Presently available primers and detonators are made from a
copper or brass alloy cup with a brass anvil and containing lead
azide or lead styphnate. When the base of the cup is struck by a
firing pin, the priming compound is crushed between the cup's base
and the anvil, igniting the primer charge. The burning primer then
ignites another flammable substance such as smokeless powder,
explosive substances, etc. Lead azide and lead styphnate are
hazardous due to their toxicity as well as their highly explosive
nature. Additionally, present manufacturing methods are very
labor-intensive, with the necessary manual processes raising costs,
causing greater difficulty in maintaining quality control.
[0004] Energetic materials such as thermite are presently used when
highly exothermic reactions are needed. Uses include cutting,
welding, purification of metal ores, and enhancing the effects of
high explosives. A thermite reaction occurs between a metal oxide
and a reducing metal. Examples of metal oxides include
La.sub.2O.sub.3, AgO, ThO.sub.2, SrO, ZrO.sub.2, UO.sub.2, BaO,
CeO.sub.2, B.sub.2O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, V.sub.2O.sub.5,
Ta.sub.2O.sub.5, NiO, Ni.sub.2O.sub.3, Cr.sub.2O.sub.3, MoO.sub.3,
P.sub.2O.sub.5, SnO.sub.2, WO.sub.2, WO.sub.3, Fe.sub.3O.sub.4,
COO, Co.sub.3O.sub.4, Sb.sub.2O.sub.3, PbO, Fe.sub.2O.sub.3,
Bi.sub.2O.sub.3, MnO.sub.2, Cu.sub.2O, and CuO. Example reducing
metals include Al, Zr, Th, Ca, Mg, U, B, Ce, Be, Ti, Ta, Hf, and
La. The reducing metal may also be in the form of an alloy or
intermetallic compound of the above-listed metals.
[0005] A properly designed energetic material, for example, that
which is disclosed in US 2016/0102030, which was invented by K. R.
Coffey et al. and published on Apr. 14, 2016, would provide an
effective alternative to presently used primer materials, as well
as being safer to manufacture. The entire disclosure of US
2016/0102030 is expressly incorporated herein by reference. In
addition to the structures and methods disclosed therein, a primer
cup is disclosed herein for easily installing such a primer within
a conventional cartridge casing, or within another location that is
designed to receive a conventional primer.
SUMMARY
[0006] The above-described needs are met by a primer. The primer
comprises a tube having a side wall. The tube defines a first open
end, a second open end, a tube interior, and a central axis. The
second open end defines a ledge projecting towards the central
axis. The primer further comprises a disk having a first surface, a
second surface, and an edge. The disk is dimensioned and configured
to fit within the interior of the tube with the periphery of the
disk abutting the wall. The disk has an ignitable material
deposited upon the first surface. The ledge of the tube is
dimensioned and configured to resist passage of the disk
therethrough.
[0007] The above-described needs are met by a cup for a primer. The
cup comprises a tube having a side wall. The tube defines a first
open end, a second open end, a tube interior, and a central axis.
The second open end defines a ledge projecting towards the central
axis. The primer further comprises a disk having a first surface, a
second surface, and an edge. The disk is dimensioned and configured
to fit within the interior of the tube with the periphery of the
disk abutting the wall. The ledge of the tube is dimensioned and
configured to resist passage of the disk therethrough.
[0008] These and other aspects of the invention will become more
apparent through the following description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a primer.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a tube for a primer
cup.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tube for a primer
cup of FIG. 2, taken along the lines A-A in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a tube for a primer cup of FIG.
2.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tube for a primer cup of
FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a disk for a primer cup.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the disk for a primer
cup of FIG. 6, taken along the lines B-B in FIG. 5.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a disk for a primer cup
of FIG. 6.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a disk for a primer cup of
FIG. 6.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a primer cup utilizing
a tube of FIG. 2 and a disk of FIG. 5.
[0019] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the primer cup of FIG.
10, taken along the lines C-C in FIG. 9.
[0020] FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a primer cup of FIG. 10.
[0021] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a primer cup of FIG.
10.
[0022] Like reference characters denote like elements throughout
the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Referring to the drawings, an example of a primer cup is
shown. The illustrated example of a primer cup may be used with a
firearm cartridge, or with another munition that utilizes a primer
in any capacity. Although the illustrated example of a primer cup
is intended for use with an ignitable material that can be
deposited on the disk as described below, for example, a thermite
priming material, it is not limited to such use. As used herein,
the terms top, bottom, front, back, side, etc. are used for
convenience only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the
invention. It is recognized that rotation of the components
described herein would result in a different portion of each
component being a top, side, etc.
[0024] The primer cup 10 (FIGS. 1 and 10-13) includes a tube 12
(FIGS. 2-5) and a disk 14 (FIGS. 6-9). The tube 12 and disk 14 are
formed from a malleable metal, for example, brass, soft steel, or
other malleable metals. The illustrated example is made from brass.
The illustrated example of the tube 12 is generally cylindrical,
and the illustrated example of the disk 14 is generally circular.
As used herein, generally cylindrical is defined as sufficiently
cylindrical to fit within a presently used primer pocket. Other
shapes may be used to conform to other primer pockets without
departing from the invention.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the tube 12 includes a side wall 15
having a first edge 16 and a second edge 18. The first edge 16 is
substantially straight, so that it may conform to the shape of a
typical primer pocket. The second edge 18 includes an inwardly
projecting ledge 20 extending about the interior circumference of
the side wall 15. A first opening 22 is defined at the first edge
16 of the tube 12, and extends between the sidewalls 15. A second
opening 24 is disposed within the ledge 20. In the illustrated
example, the openings 22, 24 are generally centrally located with
respect to the sidewall 15. The side wall 15 further includes at
least one inward projection 26 disposed a short distance inward
from the ledge 20. The illustrated example of a tube 14 includes
four inward projections 26, which in the illustrated example are
formed as a result of a crimp 28 corresponding to each of the
inward projections 26.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 6-9, the disk 14 includes a first face
30, a second face 32, and a peripheral edge 34. The peripheral edge
34 includes a first portion 36 adjacent to the face 30, and a
second portion 38 adjacent to the face 32. The edge portion 36 has
a larger diameter than the edge portion 38, resulting in a
circumferential lip 39 being defined by the difference in diameter
between the edge portion 36 and edge portion 38. In the illustrated
example, the edge portion 36 has an exterior diameter that
corresponds to the internal diameter of the sidewall 15 of the tube
12. The edge portion 38 has an exterior diameter that substantially
corresponds to the internal diameter of the opening 24. The
thickness of the edge portion 36 corresponds to the distance
between the ledge 20 and projections 26. The thickness of the edge
portion 38 corresponds to the thickness of the ledge 20. As used
herein, the substantially corresponding dimensions are sufficiently
close so that the disk 14 can be retained within the tube 12 as
described below. The first face 30 of the disk 14 also includes a
recessed portion 40. In the illustrated example, the recessed
portion 40 has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the
second edge portion 38, and is generally centrally located within
the first face 36. In the illustrated example, the difference
between the diameter of the recess 40 and the diameter of the
second edge 38 does not substantially exceed twice the thickness of
the disk 14. The recessed portion 40 also has a depth that does not
substantially exceed half of the thickness of the disk 14. The
recess 14 contains an ignitable material that has been deposited
thereon, and one examples of the recess 14 is filled with thermite
(FIG. 1 shows thermite 42 or other ignitable material 42 in the
recess 40). An example of a suitable thermite may be prepared
according to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/850,902, which was
filed by Kevin R. Coffey et al. on Sep. 10, 2015, and published as
US 2016/0102030 on Apr. 14, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is
expressly incorporated herein by reference.
[0027] An example of a process for making the tube 12 begins with
malleable metal tubing such as brass tubing having an external
diameter corresponding to a typical external diameter for a
standard primer. The tube is cut to a length corresponding to or
slightly longer than the length of a standard primer. One end of
the tube is bent to form the ledge 20. The sidewall 15 of the tube
12 is then crimped to form the inward projections 26.
[0028] The disk 14 is made from a sheet of malleable metal, such as
a brass sheet. Some examples of the process will form multiple
disks 14 simultaneously. A press is utilized to form the disk 14
into the shape that is described above and illustrated in the
drawings. Individual discs 14 can be cut from the sheet before or
after the pressing process. The thermite may be deposited within
the recess 40 either before or after the discs 14 are cut from the
brass sheet, depending upon when the pressing process takes
place.
[0029] Once the disks 14 and tubes 12 are formed, a disk 14 is
inserted into the opening 22 of a tube 12, and moved downward
within the tube 12 until the second edge portion 38 is within the
opening 24, and the first edge portion 36 abuts the ledge 20, and
is retained by the inward projections 26. Once the disks 14 are
installed within the corresponding tubes 12, an adhesive may be
utilized to further secure each disk 14 within its tube 12.
Suitable adhesives are known in the art of manufacturing ammunition
for firearms. As one example, an anaerobic, UV curable adhesive is
known to be drawn into the interface between a conventional primer
and casing, and could also be utilized to adhere the disk within 14
to the tube 12. The inward projections 26 may be formed either
before or after the disk 14 is positioned inside the tube 12.
[0030] The present invention therefore provides a primer that
includes an ignitable material deposited thereon. The ignitable
material can in some examples be a layered thermite material. The
primer can be easily and safely manufactured by depositing the
ignitable material on a disk, and then inserting the disk into a
tube to form the primer cup. The primer can be dimensioned and
configured to fit within a primer pocket of a standard firearm
cartridge or the primer pocket of another munition that utilizes
standard primers.
[0031] A variety of modifications to the above-described
embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this
disclosure. Thus, the invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes
thereof. The particular embodiments disclosed are meant to be
illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the
invention. The appended claims, rather than to the foregoing
specification, should be referenced to indicate the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *