Projectiles with coatings and methods for applying coatings to projectiles

Abstract

A cartridge includes a casing having an open end, a closed end, and a bore extending between the open end and the closed end, a projectile in the bore at the open end, the projectile having an exterior surface, and a propellant in the bore between the projectile and the closed end. A coating is applied to the exterior surface of the projectile such that the coating penetrates the exterior surface and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface to thereby improve the ballistics of the projectile.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present disclosure is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 746,525 filed Jan. 17, 2025, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to coatings for projectiles, projectiles with coatings, and methods for applying coatings to projectiles.BACKGROUND

[0003] Shooting and hunting are popular activities that utilize firearm cartridges that contain projectiles such as bullets. Manufacturers may produce cartridges in large quantities or small batch quantities, and different types of cartridges can include different features and / or components. Manufacturers seek to manufacture cartridges that perform well under various environmental conditions (e.g., high temperature, precipitation) and situational conditions (e.g., low-light visibility, moving targets).SUMMARY

[0004] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0005] In certain examples, a cartridge includes a casing having an open end, a closed end, and a bore extending between the open end and the closed end, a projectile in the bore at the open end, the projectile having an exterior surface, and a propellant in the bore between the projectile and the closed end. A coating is applied to the exterior surface of the projectile such that the coating penetrates the exterior surface and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface to thereby improve the ballistics of the projectile.

[0006] In certain examples, a cartridge includes a casing having an open end, a closed end, and a bore extending between the open end and the closed end, a projectile in the bore at the open end, the projectile having a nose surface and a bearing surface, the bearing surface engages the casing. A polysilazane, perhydropolysilazane, polyperhydridosilazane, or inorganic polysilazane, or a combination thereof, is applied to the nose surface of the projectile.

[0007] In certain examples, a method of manufacturing a cartridge having a projectile inserted into a casing includes manufacturing the projectile, applying a coating to the projectile, wherein coating is applied to an exterior surface of the projectile such that the coating penetrates the exterior surface and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface to thereby improve ballistics of the projectile, and inserting the projectile into the casing.

[0008] Various other features, objects, and advantages will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present disclosure is described with reference to the following Figures. The same numbers are used throughout the Figures to reference like features and like components.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an example cartridge according to the present disclosure.

[0011] FIGS. 2-4 are example methods according to the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] FIG. 1 depicts an example cartridge 10 according to the present disclosure. The cartridge 10 includes a projectile 12 (e.g., bullet) located in a casing 14. The casing 14 has an open first end 15 and an opposite closed second end 16. The casing 14 defines a bore 18 between the ends 15, 16. The bore 18 is filled with a propellant charge 20. A primer 17 is located at the second end 16 and has an exposed base 19. The projectile 12 is inserted into the first end 15 such that a body portion 21 of the projectile 12 is in the bore 18 and a nose portion 22 of the projectile 12 extends from the first end 15. The projectile 12 and the casing 14 extend along an axis 39. The body portion 21 is generally cylindrically shaped and has a circular cross-section. The body portion 21 includes a bearing surface 29 that engages with the interior surface 28 of the casing 14. The nose portion 22 generally radially inwardly tapers towards a tip 36 of the projectile 12. The shape of the nose portion 22 can vary, and for example, the shape of the nose portion 22 can be round-nose, spire-point, hollow point, and / or the like. An example plane (see dashed line 31) is located between the nose portion 22 and the body portion 21 in FIG. 1. The projectile 12 has an exterior surface 24 including a nose surface 32 along the nose portion 22 and the bearing surface 29 (noted above).

[0013] The cartridge 10 is loaded into a projectile-firing weapon (e.g., pistol, rifle, shotgun). The operator of the weapon operates the weapon (e.g., actuates a trigger mechanism) to fire the projectile from the casing 14. The weapon engages with the base on the primer which causes ignition of the propellant charge in the bore 18. The ignition of the propellant charge generates forces that act on the body portion 21 of the projectile 12 and thereby cause the projectile 12 to eject or fire from the casing 14 at a high rate of speed. The projectile 12 is guided by the weapon (e.g., the projectile is fired along a barrel) and exits the weapon toward the target (e.g., a range target, an animal). The cartridge 10 is then removed (manually or automatically) from the weapon and another cartridge 10 is inserted (manually or automatically) into the weapon.

[0014] Note that the type of cartridge 10 can vary, and the example cartridge 10 depicted in FIG. 1 is a center-fire cartridge. However, in other examples, the cartridge of the present disclosure can be another type of cartridge such as a rimfire cartridge or a magnum cartridge. The features and / or components of the present disclosure, such as the coatings and methods of application of the coatings which are described herein below, can be utilized with any type of cartridge.

[0015] The present inventor observed there is a need in the industry to improve the ballistics of projectiles and manufacturers of cartridges and / or projectiles desire to improve the products that are manufactured. Ballistics generally refers to the science related to the projectile motion and / or flight path of the projectile. The ballistics can be affected by several factors such as weight of the projectile, shape of the projectile, the barrel of the firearm along which the projectile travels, speed of the wind in which the projectile travels, humidity of the air in which the projectile travels, gravity, pressure, wind speed, cleanliness of component of the firearm (e.g., the bolt, breach face, chamber, bore), and / or the like.

[0016] In view of several and various factors possibly affecting the projectile, the present inventor endeavored to develop example cartridges with example coatings of the present disclosure that can be applied to the projectile and example application methods to improve the ballistics of the projectile. For example, the present inventor developed the example cartridges with the example coatings and example methods of applying the coating advantageously improve the durability and function of the projectiles in the firing cycle. The coatings can also advantageously improve the performance and durability of the projectile by increasing lubricity, reducing the coefficient of friction and better geometric consistency (e.g., improving eccentricity) across various types, sizes, and / or calibers of cartridges. The example cartridges with the example coatings of the present disclosure can also accommodate and / or account for manufacturing tolerances of the projectile thereby further improving the ballistics of the projectiles and making the projectiles more similar and uniform. For example, the example cartridges with the example coating have increased or improved the ballistics of the projectile (in comparison to conventional projectiles in conventional cartridges) such that the ballistics of the projectile have increased speed at the which the projectile travels, increased spin of the projectile, greater accuracy of the projectile to the target, improved resistance to contaminates adhering to the projectile thereby preventing changes in speed, distance, and / or spin, increased uniformity of similarly manufactured projectiles thereby preventing differences between the speed, distance, and / or spin of the projectile, and / or the like. The example coatings of the present disclosure also seal the projectile thereby preventing the projectile from breaking down or producing debris during loading or firing that could decrease the cleanliness of the firearm and preventing the projectile from accumulating dirt and debris thereon from handling and transporting the cartridges.

[0017] Still referring to FIG. 1, an example coating 30 (depicted as a dash-dot line) is applied to the nose surface 32 of the projectile 12. The extent to which the coating 30 is applied to the surface area of the nose surface 32 can vary. In one example, the coating 30 is applied to at least the upper half of the axial length of the nose surface 32 adjacent to the tip 36. In another example, the coating 30 is applied to the entire nose surface 32. In other examples, the coating 30 is applied to both the nose surface 32 and the bearing surface 29. In still other examples, the coating 30 is applied to only the bearing surface 29 with the coating 30 adhered to the nose surface 32. In other examples, the coating 30 is applied to the casing 14. Note that in this example the coating 30 can be applied to the casing 14 before or after the projectile 12 is assembled with the casing 14. The thickness of the coating 30 applied to the projectile 12 and / or the casing 14 can vary. For example, the thickness of the coating 30 applied to the projectile 12 and / or the casing 14 can be 3.0 microns. In another example, the thickness of the coating 30 applied to the projectile 12 and / or the casing 14 can be 100.0 microns. In another example, the thickness of the coating 30 applied to the projectile 12 and / or the casing 14 can be in the range of 1.0-120.0 microns or other ranges therein (e.g., 1.0-30.0 microns, 3.0-100.00 microns, 5.5-111.1 microns. 85.0-97.0 microns). Note that the example ranges can be inclusive of the end values of the example ranges. In certain examples, the thickness of the coating 30 may depend on the type of projectile 12 (e.g., the coating 30 on a 0.22 projectile is thinner than the coating 30 on a 9 mm projectile).

[0018] The coating 30 is for example a nanoceramic polymer coating. The nanoceramic coating contains ultrafine particles, are generally inert, have good heat and thermal shock resistance, high fracture toughness, good oxidation and / or acid corrosion resistance, and / or has good compression and bending strengths. The coating 30 is advantageously a sub-topical material that penetrates the exterior surface 24 and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface 24 of the projectile 12 to which the coating 30 is applied. The coating 30 bonds covalently in the microporosity of the exterior surface 24. By penetrating the exterior surface 24 of the projectile 12 and filling the microporosity of the exterior surface 24, the coating 30 advantageously cannot be easily removed from the projectile 12 without removing the exterior surface 24 of the projectile 12 and the coating 30 improves the ballistics of the projectile 12.

[0019] The coating 30 of the present disclosure is different than conventional powder coatings, paints, silicone coatings, or ceramic coatings (e.g., such as coating publicly available under the brand name Cerekote) as conventional coatings bond to the outside of the surface or substrate such that the conventional coatings can be scraped, scratched, chemically removed, or worn off. The present inventor further recognized that conventional coatings, such as powder coatings or thin-film ceramic coatings (such as coating publicly available under the brand name Cerekote), are topical and only sit on the surface of the item being coated. As such, these conventional coatings can be removed chemically or through friction without affecting the underlying material.

[0020] In one example, the nanoceramic polymer coating 30 is polysilazane containing silicon and nitrogen. In other examples, the coating could also be perhydropolysilazane, polyperhydridosilazane, or inorganic polysilazane, or a combination thereof. The polysilazane advantageously penetrates the exterior surface 24, for example at the nose surface 32 of the projectile 12, and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface 24 of the projectile 12. The polysilazane advantageously is quick-drying and is durable capable of withstanding the demands of mass production while maintaining consistent properties. The polysilazane can facilitate any of the advantages noted above for the coating, and the polysilazane can specifically improve the ballistics of the projectile 12, improve the lubricity of the projectile 12 and / or the cartridge 10, seal the projectile 12 and / or cartridge 10, promote smoother feeding of the cartridge 10 into the firearm, increase ballistic barrel performance, increase cleanliness of the firearm due to sealing of the projectile 12 and / or cartridge 10, reduce debris, friction, and wear in the firearm, enhance or improve the ballistics of the projectile 12, and / or increase geometric consistency between several projectiles 12. In certain examples, the coating 30 is a polysilazane that is a polymeric resin-solvent blend and / or hydrophobic.

[0021] There are several example methods of the present disclosure for applying the coating to the projectile. Reference is made to FIG. 1 for components of an example cartridge 10. Note that the example methods described herein below include several steps, and any of the steps can be applied to other methods. Also, any of the steps in the methods could be excluded from the methods described herein below.

[0022] FIG. 2 depicts an example method 200 for manufacturing a projectile 12 and / or a cartridge 10 and applying an example coating of the present disclosure to the projectile 12. The method 200 includes at step 201 by manufacturing and finishing the projectile 12. This step can include forming the projectile 12 from a material (e.g., metal such as lead or stainless steel, plastic, ceramic) and / or polishing the exterior surface 24 of the projectile 12. The projectile 12 is transported (e.g., manually transported by hand or transported by a conveyor belt) at step 202 to a spray device (not depicted; e.g., spray nozzle). At step 203, the spray device sprays the coating 30 onto the nose surface 32 of the projectile 12. At step 204, the coating 30 is dried. Note that step 204 can include drying the coating 30 in ambient air, passing air along or around projectile 12 with a fan, and / or transporting the projectile 12 to a drying unit such as an oven. Note that in other examples, the coating 30 can also be applied to the body portion 21 and / or the casing 14 utilizing the spray device. The method 200 can include step 205 filling the casing 14 with the propellant charge 20, step 206 inserting the projectile 12 into the casing 14, and / or step 207 inserting the primer 17 into the casing 14.

[0023] FIG. 3 depicts another example method 300 for manufacturing a projectile 12 and / or a cartridge 10 and applying an example coating 30 of the present disclosure to the projectile 12. The method 300 includes at step 301 manufacturing and finishing the projectile 12. The projectile 12 is inverted and dipped, either manually or by machine, into a volume of the coating contained in a container to thereby apply the coating 30 to the projectile 12, such that the coating 30 is applied to the nose surface 32 of the projectile 12, at step 302. At step 303, the nose surface 32 with the coating 30 thereon is removed from the volume of the coating 30 and allowed to dry. Note that the drying can be allowing the coating 30 to dry in ambient air, passing air along or around the projectile 12 with a fan, and / or transporting the cartridge 10 to a drying unit such as an oven. Also note that the projectile 12 could be left in the inverted position so that any excess coating 30 drips from the nose surface 32 or returned to the upright position (see FIG. 1). The method 300 may be advantageous for small quantities of projectiles 12. Also, the example method could include the step of aggregating a plurality of projectiles 12 onto a dipping rack such that the plurality of projectiles 12 can be dipped in the volume of the coating at the same time. The dipping rack can have a base panel to hold and align the projectiles 12 and a top panel with a plurality of holes therein to hold the projectiles 12 in the dipping rack and permit the nose surface 32 to extend away from the top panel. The top panel can also act as a guide for how far to dip the nose portion 22 into the volume of coating 30 (e.g., the plurality of projectiles 12 are dipped into the container until the coating in the container contacts the top panel) and / or a drip guard to prevent the coating 30 on the nose surface 32 from dripping onto other components projectile 12 and / or the projectile 12. Note that in other examples, the coating 30 is applied to the body portion 21 and / or the casing 14 in similar manner as described above with respect to applying the coating 30 to the nose surface 32. For example, the projectiles 12 could be placed in a dipping rack with the body portion 21 extending away from the top panel. The method 300 can include step 304 filling the casing 14 with the propellant charge 20, step 305 inserting the projectile 12 into the casing 14, and / or step 306 inserting the primer 17 into the casing 14.

[0024] FIG. 4 depicts another example method for manufacturing a projectile 12 and / or a cartridge 10 and applying an example coating 30 of the present disclosure to the projectile 12. The method 400 includes at step 401 of manufacturing and finishing the projectile 12. The projectile 12 is placed into a tumbler mixing system. The tumbler mixing system is configured to receive metered quantities of the projectiles 12 while also receiving and applying the coating 30 onto the projectiles 12, at step 402. The tumbler mixing system can also vibrate the projectiles 12 further assisting with properly and evenly applying the coating 30 to the projectiles 12. In certain examples, the vibratory tumbler system is configured to receive a plurality of projectiles 12 as well as receive projectiles 12 while also dispensing the projectiles 12. The vibratory tumbler system is configured to meter the flow of the projectiles 12 through the vibratory tumbler system and meter the amount of coating 30 received into the vibratory tumbler system to properly apply the coating 30, at step 403. At step 404, the projectiles 12 with the coating 30 applied thereto are dispensed from the vibratory tumbler system. Using the vibratory tumbler system advantageously allows for the coating 30 to be applied to the projectiles 12 in mass quantities with consistent thickness of coating 30 thereon and increases the ability to customize the application of the coating 30 to the projectiles. Note that in this example method, the coating 30 can be applied to the nose portion 22 and the body portion 21. Optionally, the projectiles 12 with the coating 30 applied thereto are dried. The method 300 can include step 405 filling the casing 14 with the propellant charge 20, step 406 inserting the projectile 12 into the casing 14, and / or step 407 inserting the primer 17 into the casing 14.

[0025] Note that another method for applying the coating 30 to the nose surface 32 of the projectile 12 is painting each projectile 12 (e.g., painting the nose surface 32) and / or the casing 14 by hand.

[0026] In certain examples, a cartridge includes a casing having an open end, a closed end, and a bore extending between the open end and the closed end, a projectile in the bore at the open end, the projectile having an exterior surface, and a propellant in the bore between the projectile and the closed end. A coating is applied to the exterior surface of the projectile such that the coating penetrates the exterior surface and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface to thereby improve or increase the ballistics of the projectile.

[0027] In independent aspects, the exterior surface includes a nose surface to which the coating is applied and a bearing surface that engages with the casing. In independent aspects, the coating is applied to both the nose surface and the bearing surface. In independent aspects, the coating is a nanoceramic polymer. In independent aspects, the coating is polysilazane. In independent aspects, the coating is hydrophobic. In independent aspects, the coating is polysilazane, perhydropolysilazane, polyperhydridosilazane, or inorganic polysilazane, or a combination of any of the above.

[0028] In certain examples, a cartridge includes a casing having an open end, a closed end, and a bore extending between the open end and the closed end, a projectile in the bore at the open end, the projectile having a nose surface and a bearing surface, the bearing surface engages the casing. A polysilazane, perhydropolysilazane, polyperhydridosilazane, or inorganic polysilazane, or a combination thereof, applied to the nose surface of the projectile, applied to the nose surface of the projectile.

[0029] In independent aspects, the coating is applied to the bearing surface. In independent aspects, the polysilazane is hydrophobic. In independent aspects, the thickness of the polysilazane on the nose surface has a thickness of 1.0-120.0 microns. In independent aspects, thickness of the polysilazane on the nose surface is 3.0 microns.

[0030] In certain examples, a method of manufacturing a cartridge having a projectile inserted into a casing includes manufacturing the projectile, applying a coating to the projectile, wherein coating is applied to an exterior surface of the projectile such that the coating penetrates the exterior surface and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface to thereby improve the ballistics of the projectile, and inserting the projectile into the casing.

[0031] In independent aspects, the coating is polysilazane, perhydropolysilazane, polyperhydridosilazane, or inorganic polysilazane or a combination of the above. In independent aspects, the coating is polysilazane. In independent aspects, applying the coating to the projectile includes dipping the projectiles into the coating. In independent aspects, the coating is applied to a nose surface of the projectile. In independent aspects, the projectile is one projectile of a plurality of projectiles, and the applying the coating to the plurality of projectiles includes metering the plurality of projectiles received into a vibratory tumbler system and metering the coating received into the vibratory tumbler system and metering the plurality of projectiles dispensed from the vibratory tumbler system with the coating thereon.

[0032] In certain examples, a projectile includes an exterior surface and a coating applied to the exterior surface of the projectile such that the coating penetrates the exterior surface and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface to thereby improve the ballistics of the projectile.

[0033] In the present description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be inferred therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. The different apparatuses, systems, and method steps described herein may be used alone or in combination with other apparatuses, systems, and methods. It is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives, and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

[0034] The functional block diagrams, operational sequences, and flow diagrams provided in the Figures are representative of exemplary architectures, environments, and methodologies for performing novel aspects of the disclosure. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodologies included herein may be in the form of a functional diagram, operational sequence, or flow diagram, and may be described as a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the methodologies are not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, in accordance therewith, occur in a different order and / or concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein. For example, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a methodology can alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all acts illustrated in a methodology may be required for a novel implementation.

[0035] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0012]FIG. 1 depicts an example cartridge 10 according to the present disclosure. The cartridge 10 includes a projectile 12 (e.g., bullet) located in a casing 14. The casing 14 has an open first end 15 and an opposite closed second end 16. The casing 14 defines a bore 18 between the ends 15, 16. The bore 18 is filled with a propellant charge 20. A primer 17 is located at the second end 16 and has an exposed base 19. The projectile 12 is inserted into the first end 15 such that a body portion 21 of the projectile 12 is in the bore 18 and a nose portion 22 of the projectile 12 extends from the first end 15. The projectile 12 and the casing 14 extend along an axis 39. The body portion 21 is generally cylindrically shaped and has a circular cross-section. The body portion 21 includes a bearing surface 29 that engages with the interior surface 28 of the casing 14. The nose portion 22 generally radially inwardly tapers towards a tip 36 of the projectile 12. The shape of the nose portion 2...

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present disclosure is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 746,525 filed Jan. 17, 2025, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to coatings for projectiles, projectiles with coatings, and methods for applying coatings to projectiles.BACKGROUND

[0003] Shooting and hunting are popular activities that utilize firearm cartridges that contain projectiles such as bullets. Manufacturers may produce cartridges in large quantities or small batch quantities, and different types of cartridges can include different features and / or components. Manufacturers seek to manufacture cartridges that perform well under various environmental conditions (e.g., high temperature, precipitation) and situational conditions (e.g., low-light visibility, moving targets).SUMMARY

[0004] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0005] In certain examples, a cartridge includes a casing having an open end, a closed end, and a bore extending between the open end and the closed end, a projectile in the bore at the open end, the projectile having an exterior surface, and a propellant in the bore between the projectile and the closed end. A coating is applied to the exterior surface of the projectile such that the coating penetrates the exterior surface and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface to thereby improve the ballistics of the projectile.

[0006] In certain examples, a cartridge includes a casing having an open end, a closed end, and a bore extending between the open end and the closed end, a projectile in the bore at the open end, the projectile having a nose surface and a bearing surface, the bearing surface engages the casing. A polysilazane, perhydropolysilazane, polyperhydridosilazane, or inorganic polysilazane, or a combination thereof, is applied to the nose surface of the projectile.

[0007] In certain examples, a method of manufacturing a cartridge having a projectile inserted into a casing includes manufacturing the projectile, applying a coating to the projectile, wherein coating is applied to an exterior surface of the projectile such that the coating penetrates the exterior surface and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface to thereby improve ballistics of the projectile, and inserting the projectile into the casing.

[0008] Various other features, objects, and advantages will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present disclosure is described with reference to the following Figures. The same numbers are used throughout the Figures to reference like features and like components.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an example cartridge according to the present disclosure.

[0011] FIGS. 2-4 are example methods according to the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] FIG. 1 depicts an example cartridge 10 according to the present disclosure. The cartridge 10 includes a projectile 12 (e.g., bullet) located in a casing 14. The casing 14 has an open first end 15 and an opposite closed second end 16. The casing 14 defines a bore 18 between the ends 15, 16. The bore 18 is filled with a propellant charge 20. A primer 17 is located at the second end 16 and has an exposed base 19. The projectile 12 is inserted into the first end 15 such that a body portion 21 of the projectile 12 is in the bore 18 and a nose portion 22 of the projectile 12 extends from the first end 15. The projectile 12 and the casing 14 extend along an axis 39. The body portion 21 is generally cylindrically shaped and has a circular cross-section. The body portion 21 includes a bearing surface 29 that engages with the interior surface 28 of the casing 14. The nose portion 22 generally radially inwardly tapers towards a tip 36 of the projectile 12. The shape of the nose portion 22 can vary, and for example, the shape of the nose portion 22 can be round-nose, spire-point, hollow point, and / or the like. An example plane (see dashed line 31) is located between the nose portion 22 and the body portion 21 in FIG. 1. The projectile 12 has an exterior surface 24 including a nose surface 32 along the nose portion 22 and the bearing surface 29 (noted above).

[0013] The cartridge 10 is loaded into a projectile-firing weapon (e.g., pistol, rifle, shotgun). The operator of the weapon operates the weapon (e.g., actuates a trigger mechanism) to fire the projectile from the casing 14. The weapon engages with the base on the primer which causes ignition of the propellant charge in the bore 18. The ignition of the propellant charge generates forces that act on the body portion 21 of the projectile 12 and thereby cause the projectile 12 to eject or fire from the casing 14 at a high rate of speed. The projectile 12 is guided by the weapon (e.g., the projectile is fired along a barrel) and exits the weapon toward the target (e.g., a range target, an animal). The cartridge 10 is then removed (manually or automatically) from the weapon and another cartridge 10 is inserted (manually or automatically) into the weapon.

[0014] Note that the type of cartridge 10 can vary, and the example cartridge 10 depicted in FIG. 1 is a center-fire cartridge. However, in other examples, the cartridge of the present disclosure can be another type of cartridge such as a rimfire cartridge or a magnum cartridge. The features and / or components of the present disclosure, such as the coatings and methods of application of the coatings which are described herein below, can be utilized with any type of cartridge.

[0015] The present inventor observed there is a need in the industry to improve the ballistics of projectiles and manufacturers of cartridges and / or projectiles desire to improve the products that are manufactured. Ballistics generally refers to the science related to the projectile motion and / or flight path of the projectile. The ballistics can be affected by several factors such as weight of the projectile, shape of the projectile, the barrel of the firearm along which the projectile travels, speed of the wind in which the projectile travels, humidity of the air in which the projectile travels, gravity, pressure, wind speed, cleanliness of component of the firearm (e.g., the bolt, breach face, chamber, bore), and / or the like.

[0016] In view of several and various factors possibly affecting the projectile, the present inventor endeavored to develop example cartridges with example coatings of the present disclosure that can be applied to the projectile and example application methods to improve the ballistics of the projectile. For example, the present inventor developed the example cartridges with the example coatings and example methods of applying the coating advantageously improve the durability and function of the projectiles in the firing cycle. The coatings can also advantageously improve the performance and durability of the projectile by increasing lubricity, reducing the coefficient of friction and better geometric consistency (e.g., improving eccentricity) across various types, sizes, and / or calibers of cartridges. The example cartridges with the example coatings of the present disclosure can also accommodate and / or account for manufacturing tolerances of the projectile thereby further improving the ballistics of the projectiles and making the projectiles more similar and uniform. For example, the example cartridges with the example coating have increased or improved the ballistics of the projectile (in comparison to conventional projectiles in conventional cartridges) such that the ballistics of the projectile have increased speed at the which the projectile travels, increased spin of the projectile, greater accuracy of the projectile to the target, improved resistance to contaminates adhering to the projectile thereby preventing changes in speed, distance, and / or spin, increased uniformity of similarly manufactured projectiles thereby preventing differences between the speed, distance, and / or spin of the projectile, and / or the like. The example coatings of the present disclosure also seal the projectile thereby preventing the projectile from breaking down or producing debris during loading or firing that could decrease the cleanliness of the firearm and preventing the projectile from accumulating dirt and debris thereon from handling and transporting the cartridges.

[0017] Still referring to FIG. 1, an example coating 30 (depicted as a dash-dot line) is applied to the nose surface 32 of the projectile 12. The extent to which the coating 30 is applied to the surface area of the nose surface 32 can vary. In one example, the coating 30 is applied to at least the upper half of the axial length of the nose surface 32 adjacent to the tip 36. In another example, the coating 30 is applied to the entire nose surface 32. In other examples, the coating 30 is applied to both the nose surface 32 and the bearing surface 29. In still other examples, the coating 30 is applied to only the bearing surface 29 with the coating 30 adhered to the nose surface 32. In other examples, the coating 30 is applied to the casing 14. Note that in this example the coating 30 can be applied to the casing 14 before or after the projectile 12 is assembled with the casing 14. The thickness of the coating 30 applied to the projectile 12 and / or the casing 14 can vary. For example, the thickness of the coating 30 applied to the projectile 12 and / or the casing 14 can be 3.0 microns. In another example, the thickness of the coating 30 applied to the projectile 12 and / or the casing 14 can be 100.0 microns. In another example, the thickness of the coating 30 applied to the projectile 12 and / or the casing 14 can be in the range of 1.0-120.0 microns or other ranges therein (e.g., 1.0-30.0 microns, 3.0-100.00 microns, 5.5-111.1 microns. 85.0-97.0 microns). Note that the example ranges can be inclusive of the end values of the example ranges. In certain examples, the thickness of the coating 30 may depend on the type of projectile 12 (e.g., the coating 30 on a 0.22 projectile is thinner than the coating 30 on a 9 mm projectile).

[0018] The coating 30 is for example a nanoceramic polymer coating. The nanoceramic coating contains ultrafine particles, are generally inert, have good heat and thermal shock resistance, high fracture toughness, good oxidation and / or acid corrosion resistance, and / or has good compression and bending strengths. The coating 30 is advantageously a sub-topical material that penetrates the exterior surface 24 and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface 24 of the projectile 12 to which the coating 30 is applied. The coating 30 bonds covalently in the microporosity of the exterior surface 24. By penetrating the exterior surface 24 of the projectile 12 and filling the microporosity of the exterior surface 24, the coating 30 advantageously cannot be easily removed from the projectile 12 without removing the exterior surface 24 of the projectile 12 and the coating 30 improves the ballistics of the projectile 12.

[0019] The coating 30 of the present disclosure is different than conventional powder coatings, paints, silicone coatings, or ceramic coatings (e.g., such as coating publicly available under the brand name Cerekote) as conventional coatings bond to the outside of the surface or substrate such that the conventional coatings can be scraped, scratched, chemically removed, or worn off. The present inventor further recognized that conventional coatings, such as powder coatings or thin-film ceramic coatings (such as coating publicly available under the brand name Cerekote), are topical and only sit on the surface of the item being coated. As such, these conventional coatings can be removed chemically or through friction without affecting the underlying material.

[0020] In one example, the nanoceramic polymer coating 30 is polysilazane containing silicon and nitrogen. In other examples, the coating could also be perhydropolysilazane, polyperhydridosilazane, or inorganic polysilazane, or a combination thereof. The polysilazane advantageously penetrates the exterior surface 24, for example at the nose surface 32 of the projectile 12, and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface 24 of the projectile 12. The polysilazane advantageously is quick-drying and is durable capable of withstanding the demands of mass production while maintaining consistent properties. The polysilazane can facilitate any of the advantages noted above for the coating, and the polysilazane can specifically improve the ballistics of the projectile 12, improve the lubricity of the projectile 12 and / or the cartridge 10, seal the projectile 12 and / or cartridge 10, promote smoother feeding of the cartridge 10 into the firearm, increase ballistic barrel performance, increase cleanliness of the firearm due to sealing of the projectile 12 and / or cartridge 10, reduce debris, friction, and wear in the firearm, enhance or improve the ballistics of the projectile 12, and / or increase geometric consistency between several projectiles 12. In certain examples, the coating 30 is a polysilazane that is a polymeric resin-solvent blend and / or hydrophobic.

[0021] There are several example methods of the present disclosure for applying the coating to the projectile. Reference is made to FIG. 1 for components of an example cartridge 10. Note that the example methods described herein below include several steps, and any of the steps can be applied to other methods. Also, any of the steps in the methods could be excluded from the methods described herein below.

[0022] FIG. 2 depicts an example method 200 for manufacturing a projectile 12 and / or a cartridge 10 and applying an example coating of the present disclosure to the projectile 12. The method 200 includes at step 201 by manufacturing and finishing the projectile 12. This step can include forming the projectile 12 from a material (e.g., metal such as lead or stainless steel, plastic, ceramic) and / or polishing the exterior surface 24 of the projectile 12. The projectile 12 is transported (e.g., manually transported by hand or transported by a conveyor belt) at step 202 to a spray device (not depicted; e.g., spray nozzle). At step 203, the spray device sprays the coating 30 onto the nose surface 32 of the projectile 12. At step 204, the coating 30 is dried. Note that step 204 can include drying the coating 30 in ambient air, passing air along or around projectile 12 with a fan, and / or transporting the projectile 12 to a drying unit such as an oven. Note that in other examples, the coating 30 can also be applied to the body portion 21 and / or the casing 14 utilizing the spray device. The method 200 can include step 205 filling the casing 14 with the propellant charge 20, step 206 inserting the projectile 12 into the casing 14, and / or step 207 inserting the primer 17 into the casing 14.

[0023] FIG. 3 depicts another example method 300 for manufacturing a projectile 12 and / or a cartridge 10 and applying an example coating 30 of the present disclosure to the projectile 12. The method 300 includes at step 301 manufacturing and finishing the projectile 12. The projectile 12 is inverted and dipped, either manually or by machine, into a volume of the coating contained in a container to thereby apply the coating 30 to the projectile 12, such that the coating 30 is applied to the nose surface 32 of the projectile 12, at step 302. At step 303, the nose surface 32 with the coating 30 thereon is removed from the volume of the coating 30 and allowed to dry. Note that the drying can be allowing the coating 30 to dry in ambient air, passing air along or around the projectile 12 with a fan, and / or transporting the cartridge 10 to a drying unit such as an oven. Also note that the projectile 12 could be left in the inverted position so that any excess coating 30 drips from the nose surface 32 or returned to the upright position (see FIG. 1). The method 300 may be advantageous for small quantities of projectiles 12. Also, the example method could include the step of aggregating a plurality of projectiles 12 onto a dipping rack such that the plurality of projectiles 12 can be dipped in the volume of the coating at the same time. The dipping rack can have a base panel to hold and align the projectiles 12 and a top panel with a plurality of holes therein to hold the projectiles 12 in the dipping rack and permit the nose surface 32 to extend away from the top panel. The top panel can also act as a guide for how far to dip the nose portion 22 into the volume of coating 30 (e.g., the plurality of projectiles 12 are dipped into the container until the coating in the container contacts the top panel) and / or a drip guard to prevent the coating 30 on the nose surface 32 from dripping onto other components projectile 12 and / or the projectile 12. Note that in other examples, the coating 30 is applied to the body portion 21 and / or the casing 14 in similar manner as described above with respect to applying the coating 30 to the nose surface 32. For example, the projectiles 12 could be placed in a dipping rack with the body portion 21 extending away from the top panel. The method 300 can include step 304 filling the casing 14 with the propellant charge 20, step 305 inserting the projectile 12 into the casing 14, and / or step 306 inserting the primer 17 into the casing 14.

[0024] FIG. 4 depicts another example method for manufacturing a projectile 12 and / or a cartridge 10 and applying an example coating 30 of the present disclosure to the projectile 12. The method 400 includes at step 401 of manufacturing and finishing the projectile 12. The projectile 12 is placed into a tumbler mixing system. The tumbler mixing system is configured to receive metered quantities of the projectiles 12 while also receiving and applying the coating 30 onto the projectiles 12, at step 402. The tumbler mixing system can also vibrate the projectiles 12 further assisting with properly and evenly applying the coating 30 to the projectiles 12. In certain examples, the vibratory tumbler system is configured to receive a plurality of projectiles 12 as well as receive projectiles 12 while also dispensing the projectiles 12. The vibratory tumbler system is configured to meter the flow of the projectiles 12 through the vibratory tumbler system and meter the amount of coating 30 received into the vibratory tumbler system to properly apply the coating 30, at step 403. At step 404, the projectiles 12 with the coating 30 applied thereto are dispensed from the vibratory tumbler system. Using the vibratory tumbler system advantageously allows for the coating 30 to be applied to the projectiles 12 in mass quantities with consistent thickness of coating 30 thereon and increases the ability to customize the application of the coating 30 to the projectiles. Note that in this example method, the coating 30 can be applied to the nose portion 22 and the body portion 21. Optionally, the projectiles 12 with the coating 30 applied thereto are dried. The method 300 can include step 405 filling the casing 14 with the propellant charge 20, step 406 inserting the projectile 12 into the casing 14, and / or step 407 inserting the primer 17 into the casing 14.

[0025] Note that another method for applying the coating 30 to the nose surface 32 of the projectile 12 is painting each projectile 12 (e.g., painting the nose surface 32) and / or the casing 14 by hand.

[0026] In certain examples, a cartridge includes a casing having an open end, a closed end, and a bore extending between the open end and the closed end, a projectile in the bore at the open end, the projectile having an exterior surface, and a propellant in the bore between the projectile and the closed end. A coating is applied to the exterior surface of the projectile such that the coating penetrates the exterior surface and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface to thereby improve or increase the ballistics of the projectile.

[0027] In independent aspects, the exterior surface includes a nose surface to which the coating is applied and a bearing surface that engages with the casing. In independent aspects, the coating is applied to both the nose surface and the bearing surface. In independent aspects, the coating is a nanoceramic polymer. In independent aspects, the coating is polysilazane. In independent aspects, the coating is hydrophobic. In independent aspects, the coating is polysilazane, perhydropolysilazane, polyperhydridosilazane, or inorganic polysilazane, or a combination of any of the above.

[0028] In certain examples, a cartridge includes a casing having an open end, a closed end, and a bore extending between the open end and the closed end, a projectile in the bore at the open end, the projectile having a nose surface and a bearing surface, the bearing surface engages the casing. A polysilazane, perhydropolysilazane, polyperhydridosilazane, or inorganic polysilazane, or a combination thereof, applied to the nose surface of the projectile, applied to the nose surface of the projectile.

[0029] In independent aspects, the coating is applied to the bearing surface. In independent aspects, the polysilazane is hydrophobic. In independent aspects, the thickness of the polysilazane on the nose surface has a thickness of 1.0-120.0 microns. In independent aspects, thickness of the polysilazane on the nose surface is 3.0 microns.

[0030] In certain examples, a method of manufacturing a cartridge having a projectile inserted into a casing includes manufacturing the projectile, applying a coating to the projectile, wherein coating is applied to an exterior surface of the projectile such that the coating penetrates the exterior surface and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface to thereby improve the ballistics of the projectile, and inserting the projectile into the casing.

[0031] In independent aspects, the coating is polysilazane, perhydropolysilazane, polyperhydridosilazane, or inorganic polysilazane or a combination of the above. In independent aspects, the coating is polysilazane. In independent aspects, applying the coating to the projectile includes dipping the projectiles into the coating. In independent aspects, the coating is applied to a nose surface of the projectile. In independent aspects, the projectile is one projectile of a plurality of projectiles, and the applying the coating to the plurality of projectiles includes metering the plurality of projectiles received into a vibratory tumbler system and metering the coating received into the vibratory tumbler system and metering the plurality of projectiles dispensed from the vibratory tumbler system with the coating thereon.

[0032] In certain examples, a projectile includes an exterior surface and a coating applied to the exterior surface of the projectile such that the coating penetrates the exterior surface and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface to thereby improve the ballistics of the projectile.

[0033] In the present description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be inferred therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. The different apparatuses, systems, and method steps described herein may be used alone or in combination with other apparatuses, systems, and methods. It is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives, and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

[0034] The functional block diagrams, operational sequences, and flow diagrams provided in the Figures are representative of exemplary architectures, environments, and methodologies for performing novel aspects of the disclosure. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodologies included herein may be in the form of a functional diagram, operational sequence, or flow diagram, and may be described as a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the methodologies are not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, in accordance therewith, occur in a different order and / or concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein. For example, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a methodology can alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all acts illustrated in a methodology may be required for a novel implementation.

[0035] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0012]FIG. 1 depicts an example cartridge 10 according to the present disclosure. The cartridge 10 includes a projectile 12 (e.g., bullet) located in a casing 14. The casing 14 has an open first end 15 and an opposite closed second end 16. The casing 14 defines a bore 18 between the ends 15, 16. The bore 18 is filled with a propellant charge 20. A primer 17 is located at the second end 16 and has an exposed base 19. The projectile 12 is inserted into the first end 15 such that a body portion 21 of the projectile 12 is in the bore 18 and a nose portion 22 of the projectile 12 extends from the first end 15. The projectile 12 and the casing 14 extend along an axis 39. The body portion 21 is generally cylindrically shaped and has a circular cross-section. The body portion 21 includes a bearing surface 29 that engages with the interior surface 28 of the casing 14. The nose portion 22 generally radially inwardly tapers towards a tip 36 of the projectile 12. The shape of the nose portion 2...

Claims

1. A cartridge comprising:a casing having an open end, a closed end, and a bore extending between the open end and the closed end;a projectile in the bore at the open end, the projectile having an exterior surface;a propellant in the bore between the projectile and the closed end; anda coating applied to the exterior surface of the projectile such that the coating penetrates the exterior surface and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface to thereby improve the ballistics of the projectile.

2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the exterior surface includes a nose surface to which the coating is applied and a bearing surface that engages with the casing.

3. The cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the coating is applied to both the nose surface and the bearing surface.

4. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the coating is a nanoceramic polymer.

5. The cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the coating is polysilazane.

6. The cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the coating is hydrophobic.

7. The cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the coating is hydrophobic.

8. The cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the coating is selected from one or more of the following: polysilazane, perhydropolysilazane, polyperhydridosilazane, or inorganic polysilazane, or a combination thereof.

9. A cartridge comprising:a casing having an open end, a closed end, and a bore extending between the open end and the closed end;a projectile in the bore at the open end, the projectile having a nose surface and a bearing surface, wherein the bearing surface engages the casing; andpolysilazane, perhydropolysilazane, polyperhydridosilazane, or inorganic polysilazane, or a combination thereof, applied to the nose surface of the projectile.

10. The cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the coating is applied to the bearing surface.

11. The cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the polysilazane is hydrophobic.

12. The cartridge according to claim 9, wherein thickness of the polysilazane on the nose surface has a thickness of 1.0-120.0 microns.

13. The cartridge according to claim 9, wherein thickness of the polysilazane on the nose surface is 3.0 microns.

14. A method of manufacturing a cartridge having a projectile inserted into a casing, the method comprising:manufacturing the projectile;applying a coating to the projectile, wherein the coating is applied to an exterior surface of the projectile such that the coating penetrates the exterior surface and fills the microporosity of the exterior surface to thereby improve ballistics of the projectile; andinserting the projectile into the casing.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the coating is selected from one or more of the following: polysilazane, perhydropolysilazane, polyperhydridosilazane, or inorganic polysilazane, or a combination thereof.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the coating is polysilazane.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the applying the coating to the projectile includes dipping the projectiles into the coating.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the coating is applied to a nose surface of the projectile.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the projectile is one projectile of a plurality of projectiles, and wherein the applying the coating to the plurality of projectiles includes metering the plurality of projectiles received into a vibratory tumbler system and metering the coating received into the vibratory tumbler system, and the method further comprising:metering the plurality of projectiles dispensed from the vibratory tumbler system with the coating thereon.

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