U.S. patent number 3,813,987 [Application Number 05/251,927] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-04 for loading block.
This patent grant is currently assigned to MTM Molded Products Company. Invention is credited to William J. Minneman.
United States Patent |
3,813,987 |
Minneman |
June 4, 1974 |
LOADING BLOCK
Abstract
A loading block for ammunition cases has a plurality of
variously sized chambers on both sides thereof for holding
ammunition cases during filling. Each chamber has a shelf therein
enabling it to accommodate at least two different case sizes.
Inventors: |
Minneman; William J. (Clayton,
OH) |
Assignee: |
MTM Molded Products Company
(Dayton, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
22953972 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/251,927 |
Filed: |
May 10, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
86/44; 206/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B
39/26 (20130101); B65D 1/36 (20130101); F42B
33/002 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F42B
39/00 (20060101); F42B 33/00 (20060101); F42B
39/26 (20060101); B65D 1/34 (20060101); B65D
1/36 (20060101); F42b 005/30 (); F42b 009/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;86/44 ;206/3,17
;211/6A,6T ;217/25.5 ;224/20 ;269/37 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Sebastian; Leland A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Biebel, French & Bugg
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A loading block for ammunition cases comprising:
a. a frame,
b. a plurality of chambers in said frame,
c. a shelf wall inside the lower portion of each chamber wall to
narrow the effective size of each said chamber in the vicinity
thereof and to support a case therein for filling, and
d. a shelf on the top of each said shelf wall for supporting a
larger case thereon within the upper portions of each said chamber
to enable each of said chambers to accommodate a case of either of
at least two different sizes, for the filling thereof.
2. The loading block of claim 1 wherein a portion of said chambers
opens from one side of said frame and a portion from another
side.
3. The loading block of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of
larger chambers and a plurality of smaller chambers, to enable the
loading block to accommodate cases of any of at least four
different sizes, for the filling thereof.
4. The loading block of claim 3 wherein said chambers are arranged
in interfitting rows of alternate sizes for maximum density
thereof.
5. The loading block of claim 3 wherein a portion of said chambers
opens from one side of said frame and a portion from another
side.
6. The loading block of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of
chambers of at least one additional size to enable the loading
block to accommodate cases of additional sizes, for the filling
thereof.
7. The loading block of claim 6 wherein a portion of said chambers
opens from one side of said frame and a portion from another
side.
8. The loading block of claim 6 wherein chambers of at least two
different sizes are arranged in interfitting rows of alternate
sizes for maximum density thereof.
9. The loading block of claim 6 wherein each of said chambers
opening from said one side of said frame is mounted opposite a
chamber opening from the opposite side of said frame.
10. A loading block for ammunition cases comprising:
a. a frame,
b. a plurality of chambers of a large size arranged in rows in said
frame and opening from one side thereof,
c. a plurality of chambers of a small size arranged in rows in said
frame and also opening from said one side thereof, said rows being
between and in interfitting relation with said rows of large size
for maximum density thereof,
d. a plurality of chambers of intermediate size each attached one
each to the bottoms of said small chambers and opening oppositely
from the openings in said small chambers,
e. a shelf wall inside the lower portion of each chamber wall to
narrow the effective size of each said chamber in the vicinity
thereof and to support a case therein for filling, and
f. a shelf on the top of each said shelf wall for supporting a
larger case thereon within the upper portions of each said chamber
to enable each of said chambers to accommodate a case of either of
at least two different sizes, and to enable the loading block to
accommodate cases of any of at least six different sizes, for the
filling thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to loading blocks, and more particularly to
a universal loading block adapted for holding large quantities of
ammunition cases of a wide variety of sizes for the filling thereof
with powder. The block holds the cases upright and prevents them
from wobbling while they are being filled.
In the refilling of spent ammunition cartridges, or cases, it is
customary first to replace the primer and to re-size the neck of
the case, and then to fill the case with a measured amount of
powder. In order to facilitate filling the case, the case is
usually placed in a holder which maintains it in a convenient,
upright position. The holder customarily accommodates a large
quantity of cases of a given size, to expedite the filling
process.
Where several different cartridge sizes are to be filled, it is
generally necessary to have a loading block adapted to each
particular size. This is not only unnecessarily costly but is also
bulky and often quite unwieldy.
Alternatively, where there is not a great difference among the case
sizes being handled, it is possible to choose one or a few loading
blocks appropriate to a certain range of sizes. However, the
smaller cases within each range are then free to wobble within the
blocks, making such a system equally cumbersome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a loading
block which can accommodate a wide variety of case sizes; a loading
block which will closely engage each case to prevent wobbling
thereof regardless of the case size; a loading block which is
compact and convenient in size and use but which also has high
capacity; and to accomplish the above in an inexpensive,
uncomplicated, durable, easily fabricated, and high useful
configuration.
Briefly, a preferred embodiment of this invention includes a frame
having a plurality of chambers attached thereto. The chambers are
of three different sizes and are arranged in rows. The rows of the
largest chambers alternate in interfitting relation with those of
the smallest, for overall compactness of the block. The
intermediate size chambers are located on the opposite side of the
block and are attached to the bottoms of the smallest chambers. The
intermediate size chambers thus fit into the spaces left by the
small chambers on the opposite side of the block, in between the
bases of the large size chambers.
Inside each chamber and at the base thereof is a wall, called the
shelf wall, which extends part way up into the chamber. The wall
reduces the diameter of the chamber at the base, and the top of the
wall forms a shelf. A shell of one size may thus be inserted all
the way to the base of a chamber. A shell of a slightly larger size
will rest upon the shelf. The smaller shell will then be prevented
by the shelf wall from wobbling. The upper chamber walls will
similarly hold the larger shell.
Thus a total of six different shell diameters can be accommodated
by this invention, either of two sizes in each chamber. The
chambers interfit for maximum compactness, and the sizes thereof
are such that ample depth is provided to prevent the cases from
wobbling. Also, since the graduation from size to size within and
among the various chambers is small, other intermediately sized
cases can also be accommodated with a minimum of wobbling.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top view of a portion of the loading block of this
invention, taken generally in the direction of arrows 1--1 in FIG.
3;
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a portion of the loading block of FIG.
1, looking generally in the direction of arrows of 2--2 in FIG.
3;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the loading block of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the FIG. 1 device taken along
line 4--4 thereof;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the FIG. 1 device taken
generally along line 5--5 thereof; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the FIG. 1 device taken
generally along line 6--6 of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1,
there is illustrated the loading block 10 of this invention.
Loading block 10 includes a frame 11 which is supported by frame
walls 12.
A plurality of chambers 15 is attached in frame 11 and opens in a
direction away from one side or the other thereof. The chambers 15
are of three different sizes, large chambers 16, small chambers 17,
and intermediate chambers 18. Chambers 16 and 17 open through and
in a direction away from the top side 21 of loading block 10;
intermediate chambers 18 open away from the bottom 22 thereof.
Large chambers 16 are arranged in rows, five chambers in each row.
Similarly, small chambers 17 are arranged in rows which interfit
with and alternate with the rows of chambers 16. This arrangement
provides for maximum density of the chambers and minimizes the
waste of space in the loading block.
Intermediate size chambers 18 are attached to the bottoms of small
chambers 17, as may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 5. The large size
chambers 16 extend all the way from the top 21 to the bottom 22 of
block 10 (FIG. 4), but the combined depths of the small and
intermediate chambers 17 and 18 are such that they may be disposed
oppositely from one another in this same distance (FIG. 5). The
arrangement of chambers 17 and 18 thus further enhances the
compactness and utility of this invention, making maximum use of
the space available therein.
Adjacent the bottom of each chamber 15 is a shelf wall 25. Shelf
walls 25 are walls of limited thickness around the walls of each
chamber 15, and serve to narrow the effective size or diameter of
each chamber in the vicinity thereof. On top of each shelf wall, on
the end opposite the bottom of the chamber, is a ledge or shelf
26.
As may be seen, therefore, this invention provides numerous
advantages. For example, each chamber is able to accommodate an
ammunition case of either of at least two different sizes. For a
case having a diameter no larger than that in the base of the
chamber within shelf wall 25, the case rests upon the base of the
particular chamber 15 and is prevented from wobbling therein by
contact with shelf wall 25. On the other hand, a case of slightly
larger size will rest upon shelf 26 and will be prevented from
wobbling by contact with the upper portions of the wall of the
chamber itself. Since three different chambers are provided, a
total of six sizes of case may be received for exact fit, and these
sizes are chosen for the six most commonly encountered cases. Where
other sizes appear, the graduations among the six sizes are
sufficiently small that such in between sizes may easily be
accommodated with a minimum of wobble.
In addition to supporting and holding the ammunition cases for
loading, this invention is also useful, for example, in holding the
cases in an inverted, neck down, position for cleaning and
inspecting the primer pockets.
The arrangement of the chambers within the loading block provides
for maximum density therein with very little waste of volume or
space. The small and medium size chambers are arranged with the
large size chambers in interfitting rows for maximum packing
density. Similarly, the small and medium chambers are opposite each
other, making maximum use of the available space.
Each chamber thus does "double duty." In fact, the volume occupied
by the small and intermediate size chambers actually does
"quadruple duty," since any of four different sizes may be
accommodated in the space required by earlier devices to
accommodate but one size. At the same time, the loading block of
this invention is no larger than typical loading devices which can
handle only a single size shell. Yet this invention replaces six or
more of them. Furthermore, the loading block of this invention is
uncomplicated and easy and inexpensive to fabricate. At the same
time, it is rugged and durable, thereby further enhancing its
utility.
While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a
preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that
the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus and
that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope
of the invention which is defined in the appended claim.
* * * * *