Cartridge for light-weighted projectiles

Abstract

A cartridge that can fire a light-weighted projectile, producing a pressure curve of the propellant gases similar to the pressure curve generated by the shot of a heavy weighted lead-core projectile. The cartridge propels the light-weighted projectile together with a capsule, which contains an inert load of high density metal powder. The capsule is divided in multiple parts, which disassemble when it leaves the firearm muzzle, spreading the metal powder in the air. The metal powder increases the mass which is accelerated by the propellant gases, keeping the pressure curve high enough to cycle a self-loading firearm mechanism. The metal powder consists of very thin particles which spreads and decelerates rapidly in the air, causing a controllable level of danger to personnel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to cartridges designed to propel light-weighted projectiles. This kind of cartridge is widely used for combat simulation and training When said light-weighted projectile is a capsule filled with paint, the cartridge is named marker. Marker cartridges can be used to simulate combat situations with real firearms between infantry or police trainees.[0002]The main problem related to such cartridges is the fact that firearms are designed to operate with heavy lead-core projectiles. When the standard projectile is replaced by a light-weighted one, the internal ballistics is deeply affected and the pressure of the propellant gases falls to very low levels. If the firearm is self-loading, it means automatic or semi-automatic, the propellant gases will not generate enough energy to cycle the firearm mechanism when firing a light-weighted projectile.[0003]To overcome this problem, the solutions given by the prior art use two appro...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The main advantage of the present invention in relation to the prior art is the possibility of using the cartridge in a non-modified standard firearm.

[0008]The present invention is a firearm cartridge which propels a light-weighted projectile together with a collapsing capsule and an inert load of high density metal powder.

[0009]When a self-loading firearm, it means, automatic or semi-automatic firearm, is fired, part of the energy of the propellant gases is used to accelerate the projectile and other part is used to cycle the firearm mechanism. The cycle of the mechanism has basically two steps:

[0010]a) the fired cartridge case is taken out of the chamber and ejected;

[0012]The firearms are designed to cycle with the pressure of the propellant gases created by a common cartridge. A common cartridge uses a lead-core projectile. If the pressure of the shot is, for any reason, smaller than the designed pressure, the cycle will not happen and a new cartridge will not be loaded in the chamber. There are two main factors that define the pressure curve of a shot:

Problems solved by technology

Generally, it's not possible to reach an appropriate pressure if one of these factors is not correctly set up.

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