GB2220467A

GB2220467A - Re-usable ammunition cartridge

Info

Publication number: GB2220467A
Application number: GB8816174A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Christopher Thompson; Vernon Dugdale
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-07-07
Filing date: 1988-07-07
Publication date: 1990-01-10
Also published as: GB8816174D0; GB2220467B

Abstract

There is disclosed a re-usable ammunition cartridge (10) for firing a solid cylindrical round of substantial diameter, such as a baton round (11), the cartridge being cylindrical and open at one end (12) through which the round (11) is taken in order to load the cartridge and thereby define an enclosed space (13) between the inner end (14) of the round (11) and the opposite end (15) of the cartridge. A headed socket (16) is provided at the firing end (15) of the cartridge, and defines a circular passage for receiving a small cartridge blank, such as a 0.38 special blank (17), which contains a propellant charge, and which serves to provide the required propelling force to eject the round (11) upon firing of the cartridge (10). A gas diffuser (18) is arranged in the enclosed space (13) and is also in communication with the socket (16), the diffuser being operative to diffuse the gas generated by the firing of the blank (17) into the enclosed space (13), whereby this applies a propelling force to the inner end (14) of the round (11). <IMAGE>

Description

RE-USABLE AMMUNITION CARTRIDGE This invention relates to a re-usable ammunition cartridge and has been developed primarily, though not exclusively, in connection with the firing of so-called baton rounds or "rubber bullets", which comprise dense cylinders of rubber or plastics material and which are normally intended for use in non-lethal riot control.

The firing of rubber bullets can cause personal injury, and exceptionally can result in fatalities, but in a riot situation it is a weapon which can be effective and is preferable to the use of small bore high velocity bullets.

The existing manufacture of baton rounds is on a oneoff or non-resuable basis, and comprises the assembly of a metal cartridge, a percussive propellant charge, and a solid round of rubber or plastics material housed within the cartridge in immediately in front of the charge.

Following firing of the charge, the round is propelled from the cartridge and passes down the barrel of the gun with which the cartridge is used. The round itself does not usually undergo any deterioration or damage after firing, and often will be capable of re-use, whereas the cartridge is discarded since it is not considered worthwhile to re-charge it with propellant and to reassemble a fresh round within the cartridge.

The existing manufacture of baton rounds is quite expensive and while this may be justified for use in emergency situations, this expense is less acceptable for practice use by crowd control officers, usually military or para-military forces.

The invention has therefore been developed primarily with a view to providing a reusable cartridge for practice firing and which does not require to be re-charged with solid propellant each time it is to be used, and which can readily to re-loaded with a fresh round, which may be a previously fired round.

According to the invention there is provided a reusable ammunition cartridge for firing a solid cylindrical round of substantial diameter, such as a baton round, the cartridge being cylindrical and open at one end through which the round is taken in order to load the cartridge and thereby define an enclosed space between the inner end of the round and the opposite end of the cartridge, and in which: a socket is provided in said opposite end of the cartridge for receiving a small cartridge blank, such as a 0.38 special blank, containing a propellant charge; and, a gas diffuser is arranged in said enclosed space in the cartridge and in communication with said socket, the diffuser being operative, when the round is located in the cartridge and upon firing of the cartridge blank, to diffuse the gas generated by the firing of the blank into said enclosed space which thereby applies a propelling force to the inner end of the round.

The cartridge of the invention can therefore readily be re-used, in that a fresh round (which may be a round which has already been fired one or more times) can readily be introduced through the open end of the cartridge, and then it only remains for a fresh small cartridge blank to be inserted into the socket so that a fresh firing can take place.

The socket will be dimensioned according to the intended calibre of cartridge blank which it is desired to use, and will have a suitable seating to hold the rim of the blank captive.

The gas diffuser is preferably generally cylindrical and is open at its inner end, but is also formed with lateral holes in its wall to direct the gas laterally into the enclosed space. The design parameters of the gas diffuser are carefully selected with reference to the cartridge in which it is fitted, and the type of round which is to be fired, and in particular its diameter relative to that of the internal space defined in the cavity is preferably in a ratio of about 1:4.

The lateral holes in the wall of the diffuser also perform an important function in diffusing the gas generated by the firing of the blank, so that the diffuser acts as a gas moderator and effects a controlled application of propelling force to the inner end of the round.

To prevent the round from falling out of the open end of the cartridge prior to firing, it is preferred that a light crimping action is applied to the wall of the cartridge so as to impart a small frictional contact to the round which will hold the round in place, but not impede its firing.

Conveniently, the gas diffuser and the socket are formed as a one piece assembly, with the socket being provided at an entrance to the cylindrical passage defined by the diffuser and having a head by means of which the assembly is seated in a circular opening formed at the firing end - said other end, of the cartridge. An external thread is preferably provided on the assembly, which is located within the enclosed space of the cartridge and onto which a nut is threaded which clamps the assembly on its seating.

One useful source of supply for the manufacture of the cartridge according to the invention is the existing oneoff baton round cartridge, which of course is designed to be strong enough to withstand the explosive forces generated by the firing of the usual solid explosive charge, and therefore is suitable for use in a cartridge according to the invention.

One embodiment of re-usable ammunition cartridge according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment of re-usable ammunition cartridge in the form of a practice baton round; Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a method of modifying the cartridge of an existing one-off and nonre-usable baton round to form a cartridge for use in the embodiment of the invention; and, Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of an extractor for use with a stuck case.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, a reusable ammunition cartridge according to the invention is designated generally by reference 10 and is intended for firing a solid cylindrical round of substantial diameter, such as a baton round 11, the cartridge being cylindrical and open at one end 12 through which the round 11 is taken in order to load the cartridge and thereby define an enclosed space 13 between the inner end 14 of the round ii and the opposite for firing end 15 of the cartridge 10.

Headed socket 16 is provided at the firing end 15 of the cartridge, and defines a circular passage for receiving a small cartridge blank, such as a 0.38 special blank 17, which contains a propellant charge, and which serves to provide the required propelling force to eject the round 11 upon firing of the cartridge 10.

A gas diffuser 18 is arranged in the enclosed space 13 and is also in communication with the socket, in that it is of generally cylindrical construction, and communicates with the outlet end 19 of cartridge blank 17, to receive the gas generated by the explosion of the charge within blank 17 upon firing of the cartridge 10. The diffuser 18 is therefore operative to diffuse the gas generated by the firing of the blank 17 into the enclosed space 13, whereby this applies a propelling force to the inner end 14 of the round 11.

The cartridge 10 therefore readily can be re-used, in that a fresh round 11 can readily be introduced into the cartridge after each firing, and it then only remains for a fresh small cartridge blank 17 to be inserted into the socket so that fresh firing can take place.

The socket 16 is dimensioned according to the intended caliber of the cartridge blank 17, which in the illustrated arrangement is a 0.38 cartridge special blank, and the socket has a suitable seating 20 to hold the rim 21 of the blank 17.

The gas diffuser 18 is open at its inner end 22, and is also formed with lateral holes 23 in the wall of its passage which directs the gas laterally into the enclosed space 13, prior to applying a propelling force to the inner end 14 of the round 11.

The design parameters of the gas diffuser 18 are carefully selected, with reference to the cartridge 10 into which it is fitted, and the type of round 11 which is to be fired, and in the illustrated arrangement the ratio of the diameters is about 1:4.

The lateral holes 23 in the wall of the diffuser 18 perform an important function in diffusing the gas generated by the firing of blank 17, so that the diffuser acts as a gas moderator and effects a controlled application of propelling force to the inner end of the round.

To prevent the round 11 from falling out of the opening end 12 of the cartridge 10 prior to firing, a light crimping action is applied at 24 to the wall of the cartridge so as to impart a small frictional contact with the round 11 sufficient to hold the round in position, but not to impede its firing.

The gas diffuser 18 and the socket 16 are formed as a one-piece assembly, with the socket being provided at an entrance to the cylindrical passage 25 defined by the diffuser and having a head 26 by means of which the assembly is seated in a circular opening formed at the firing end 15 of cartridge 10. An external thread 27 is provided on the assembly, which is located within the enclosed space 13, and onto which a nut 28 is threaded, and which clamps the assembly on its seating.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cartridge 10 is derived from a standard cartridge of an existing one-off baton round which is normally provided with its own solid propellant charge. The cartridge 10 is then derived from this existing cartridge by fitting the socket and gas diffuser assembly at the firing end 15, and the crimping at 24 of the round 11 after insertion.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically a method of forming the inward dimples 24, by the use of a special tool, and Figure 3 shows a tool for extracting a stuck cartridge case.

Claims

1. A re-usable ammunition cartride for firing a solid cylindrical round of substantial diameter, such as a baton round, the cartridge being cylindrical and open at one end through which the round is taken in order to load the cartridge and thereby define an enclosed space between the inner end of the round and the opposite end of the cartridge and in which: a socket is provided in said opposite end of the cartridge for receiving a small cartridge blank, such as a 0.38 special blank, containing a propellant charge; and, a gas diffuser is arranged in said enclosed space in the cartridge and in communication with said'socket, the diffuser being operative, when the round is located in the cartridge and upon firing of the cartridge blank, to diffuse the gas generated by the firing of the blank into said enclosed space which thereby applies a propelling force to the inner end of the round.

2. A cartridge according to Claim 1, in which the gas diffuser is generally cylindrical and is open at its inner end, but is also formed with lateral holes in its wall to direct the gas laterally into the enclosed space.

3. A cartridge according to Claim 2, in which the diameter of the gas diffuser relative to that of the internal space defined in the cavity is in a ratio of about 1:4.

4. A cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a light crimping action is applied to the wall of the cartridge so as to impart a small frictional contact to the round which will hold the round in place, but not impede its firing.

5. A cartridge according to Claim 2 or 3, in which the gas diffuser and the socket are formed as a one piece assembly, with the socket being provided at an entrance to the cylindrical pa-ssage defined by the diffuser and having a head by means of which the assembly is seated in a circular opening formed at the firing end of the cartridge.

6. A cartridge according to Claim 5, in which an external thread is provided on the assembly, which is located within the enclosed space of the cartridge and onto which a nut is threaded which clamps the assembly on its seating.

7. A cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the cartridge is manufactured by suitable modification of an existing one-off baton round cartridge.

8. A cartridge according to Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.