Method of coding polymer ammunition cartridges

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of coding polymer ammunition cartridges by providing a first colored polymer forming a polymeric bullet-end upper portion comprising a bullet-end coupling element extending to a bullet-end aperture to engage a bullet; providing a second colored polymer forming a polymeric middle body comprising a first coupling end connected to the bullet-end coupling element and a second coupling end connected to a primer insert to form a propellant chamber that connects the bullet-end aperture to the primer insert; and coding the first colored polymer, the second colored polymer or both to identify a projectile type, an ammunition type, a propellant charge, or a combination thereof.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 721,861 filed Sep. 30, 2017, which is a Continuation-in-Part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 724,240 filed May 28, 2015 now U.S. Pat. No. 9,927,219, which is a Divisional Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 011,202 filed Aug. 27, 2013 now U.S. Pat. No. 9,546,849, which is a Divisional Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 292,843 filed Nov. 9, 2011 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,561,543, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 456,664, filed Nov. 10, 2010, the contents of each of which are all incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates in general to the field of ammunition, specifically to compositions of matter and methods of making and using polymeric ammunition cartridge casings having visual indicia thereon.STATEMENT...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method of coding polymer ammunition cartridges by providing colored polymers to identify the type of projectile, ammunition type, propellant charge, or combination thereof. The colored polymers can be used to identify the type of projectile by the color of the pigment. The method involves using one or more pigments to code the polymers. The pigments can be present in an amount of between 0.001 and 10 wt % of the polymer. The colored polymers can be used to identify the type of ammunition by the color of the pigment. The ammunition cartridges can be a 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm, 308, 338, 3030, 3006, or 50 caliber cartridge. The fiber-reinforced polymeric composite can contain between about 3 and about 50 wt % glass fiber fillers or mineral fillers.

Problems solved by technology

Conventional ammunition cartridge casings for rifles and machine guns, as well as larger caliber weapons, are made from brass, which is heavy, expensive, and potentially hazardous.

Plastic cartridge casings have been known for many years but have failed to provide satisfactory ammunition that could be produced in commercial quantities with sufficient safety, ballistic, handling characteristics, and survive physical and natural conditions to which it will be exposed during the ammunition's intended life cycle; however, these characteristics have not been achieved.

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