Ammunition Cartridge Marking via Radial Indentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for marking ammunition cartridges, such as laser engraving and press stamping, are expensive and ineffective for applying marks to the lateral surface, and printed marks are prone to wear and counterfeiting, limiting the amount of information that can be reliably encoded.
Innovation Solution
A method using an indenter to radially indent the circumferential surface of the cartridge case, forming durable sub-marks that can encode complex information, such as barcodes, without the need for expensive equipment, using indenters made of harder materials like diamond or metal alloys, controlled by an actuator and computer system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laser engraving techniques are used to mark the cartridge case, then the mark is durable and readable, but the equipment cost becomes very high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex laser engraving system with a simple mechanical indenter that physically indents the cartridge case surface. This mechanical approach achieves durable marks without requiring expensive laser equipment, directly resolving the contradiction between mark durability and equipment cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple, inexpensive indenters that can be easily replaced or modified to create different mark patterns. Instead of investing in expensive, complex laser equipment, the system employs cheap mechanical tools that achieve the same marking function with minimal cost.
2Reliability
If press stamping is used to mark the cartridge case, then the mark is durable, but the method cannot be applied to the lateral surface and die production costs are significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an indenter that can be dynamically positioned and oriented to mark various surfaces of the cartridge case, including the lateral surface. The indenter's ability to adapt its position and the cartridge's positioning flexibility enable marking on multiple surfaces, resolving the limitation of press stamping's fixed application area.
Solution Approach 2:
The marking process is segmented into discrete indent actions that can be applied independently to different locations on the cartridge case. This allows the system to mark the lateral surface, bottom, or any other area without requiring complete reconfiguration, unlike press stamping which requires expensive custom dies for each location.
3Ease of manufacture
If printing techniques are used to mark the cartridge case, then the marking process is simple, but the marks lose readability after firing and can be easily counterfeited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical printing processes with mechanical indentation. The physical indentation creates permanent deformation on the cartridge case surface that cannot be removed by firing or chemical means, maintaining both simplicity and permanence. The mechanical mark survives the firing process unlike printed marks that degrade.
Solution Approach 2:
The indentation mark creates a composite structure where the deformed metal surface forms a permanent record that is integral to the cartridge case itself. This embedded mark cannot be separated or removed without damaging the case, providing anti-counterfeiting protection while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
4Ease of manufacture
If marks are applied to the bottom of the cartridge case, then the marking process is straightforward, but the amount of information that can be encoded is very limited due to limited space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional marking on the bottom surface to three-dimensional utilization of the lateral surface area. The indenter can create marks around the circumference and along the length of the cartridge case, providing significantly more space for encoding information while maintaining the simplicity of the mechanical marking process.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral surface is segmented into multiple marking zones that can encode different types of information. The system can create multiple discrete indent patterns around the circumference, allowing for high-density information encoding similar to barcode technology but with greater capacity due to the available surface area.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient, durable, and reliable marking of ammunition cartridges with high information density on the lateral surface, resistant to wear and removal, without the costs associated with existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
at least one indenter, which selectively radially indents a circumferential surface of a bottom of the case, thereby forming the at least one sub-mark
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing a mark to a case of a cartridge of ammunition. The mark includes at least one sub-mark and is suitable for identification and/or for tracking of the cartridge. At least one indenter selectively radially indents a circumferential surface of a bottom of the case, thereby forming the at least one sub-mark.