Caseless Ammunition Geometry for Delayed Self-Ignition and Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing caseless ammunition technologies face issues such as self-ignition during long shooting, low power, high manufacturing complexity, weight, and unreliable extraction mechanisms, leading to decreased reliability and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The proposed caseless ammunition design features a shell with a cylindrical part transitioning to an inclined surface and a rear cylindrical part, along with an igniter block that includes a gap between the primer and anvil, and a mechanism for manual extraction using an expanding ring or magnetic washer-marker, which simplifies and enhances reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the propellant charge is placed in the bullet head space, then the ammunition power is improved, but the weapon construction becomes complicated and self-ignition risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the propellant charge, bullet, and shell body into a single integrated caseless ammunition structure. The propellant charge is positioned in the shell body with the bullet, eliminating the need for separate cartridge cases and complex weapon mechanisms required by traditional ammunition designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the cartridge case from the ammunition system, creating caseless ammunition. This removes the need for extraction mechanisms in the weapon and simplifies the overall construction while maintaining the propellant charge in the bullet head space for high power.
2Weight of moving object
If the propellant charge is placed in the bullet, then the ammunition weight is reduced, but the ammunition power decreases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from placing propellant only in the bullet (one-dimensional constraint) to a three-dimensional configuration where the propellant charge is positioned in the shell body surrounding the bullet. This spatial rearrangement allows the propellant to be closer to the bullet while maintaining lower overall ammunition weight.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a conical body shape is used, then the ammunition fits the chamber better, but substantial body drag occurs during flight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the bullet body shape from a sharp conical form to a more streamlined ogival (rounded conical) shape. This curvature optimization reduces air resistance and body drag during flight while maintaining the tapered profile needed for proper chamber engagement and stability.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a membrane-wad and hollow cylinder structure are used, then the propellant containment is improved, but manufacturing complexity and precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin-walled hollow cylinder structure made of flexible material to contain the propellant charge. This flexible shell design provides effective propellant containment while being simpler to manufacture than rigid structured alternatives, reducing manufacturing complexity and precision requirements.
5Reliability
If an expanding ring or magnetic washer-marker is used for extraction, then the extraction reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical extraction systems with alternative mechanisms: an expanding ring that uses radial expansion for extraction, or a magnetic washer-marker that uses magnetic field interaction. These substitutions simplify the extraction mechanism while improving reliability by eliminating complex mechanical linkages.
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
The design delays self-ignition, increases power without increasing weight, reduces air resistance, and ensures reliable extraction, thereby improving the performance and reliability of caseless ammunition.
Implementation Method 1
an expanding ring or magnetic washer-marker
Implementation Method 2
an expanding ring or magnetic washer-marker
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The group of inventions relates to caseless ammunition and to a mechanism for extracting caseless ammunition. The ammunition comprises a shell, a propellant composed of combustible material and placed into a shot chamber, and an igniting unit. Furthermore, the shell body has a cylindrical part which passes into an inclined surface of a leading cylindrical part which passes into a rear cylindrical part. The inclined surface is formed at an angle of 30-45° to the longitudinal axis of the shot body. The leading cylindrical part has a wall thickness equal to 0.122D, where D is the external diameter of the ammunition. The rear cylindrical part has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the leading cylindrical part. A step is formed between the leading cylindrical part and the rear cylindrical part. The rear cylindrical part ends with a bevel. An internal cylindrical input opening, into which the igniting unit is mounted, is formed in the shell body. The technical result consists in postponing the moment of self-ignition of ammunition in a heated weapon.