Modular Cartridge Primer Housing Insert for Ammunition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current small arms ammunition is costly and limited in versatility, as it requires a wide variety of cartridges for different uses, with previous attempts at user-assembled cartridges often being suitable only for short-range target practice and lacking the range of applications provided by the present solution.
Innovation Solution
Modular cartridges with a reusable case and projectile design, incorporating a primer housing insert that can be selectively configured for various propellant amounts and primer types, allowing for hand-assembly and reprocessing, enabling cartridges for diverse uses including target shooting, training, and self-defense.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wide variety of cartridges are provided for different uses (lethal force, target practice, training), then the suitability for different shooting uses is improved, but the cost to acquire and stock the cartridges increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is divided into separate reusable components (case, projectile, primer) and consumable components (propellant). The case and projectile can be reused across multiple cartridges, while only the propellant and primer need to be replaced. This segmentation allows a single case-projectile combination to serve multiple shooting uses by simply changing the propellant type and amount, thereby reducing the need to stock multiple complete cartridge variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable case and projectile design enables a single cartridge platform to perform multiple functions. By adjusting the propellant type (e.g., black powder, smokeless powder, no propellant) and amount, the same case-projectile combination can be used for lethal force, target practice, and training applications, making the system universal across different shooting uses.
2Ease of manufacture
If user-assembled cartridges are provided for hand-assembly, then the cost to the ultimate user is reduced, but the functionality is limited to short-range target practice only
Solution Approach 1:
The reusable case and projectile design enables a single cartridge platform to perform multiple functions. By adjusting the propellant type (e.g., black powder, smokeless powder, no propellant) and amount, the same case-projectile combination can be used for lethal force, target practice, and training applications, making the system universal across different shooting uses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows users to change the parameters of the cartridge by varying the propellant type and amount loaded into the reusable case. This parameter change enables the same physical cartridge components to achieve different performance characteristics suitable for various ranges and applications, from short-range target practice to longer-range training and self-defense.
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 modular cartridge system provides a cost-effective and versatile solution for small arms ammunition, enabling cartridges suitable for a wide range of uses, including indoor and outdoor target shooting, training, and self-protection, by allowing users to assemble and reprocess cartridges with different projectile designs and propellant configurations.
Implementation Method 1
Pulling the trigger of the small arm causes a firing pin to strike against the striking end of the primer 108 to produce a concussion which causes the pressure-sensitive explosive which is contained within the primer 108 to explode
Implementation Method 2
The hot gases and sparks produced by the explosion travel through the flash-hole 118 and ignite the propellant 106 which rapidly conflagrates to produce a high pressure gas pulse
Data Source
AI summary
Modular cartridges are disclosed that can be initially assembled, disassembled, and reprocessed by hand. The cartridge case is suitable for use with a variety of projectile designs and weights and for use with a range of propellant amounts and primer types. The variety of projectiles and range of propelling forces permits the present invention to provide cartridges for all types of uses, including indoor and outdoor target shooting, training, non-lethal self-protection, and lethal uses. The cartridges include a case, a projectile, a primer, and a selectable amount of propellant (if any), and primer housing insert” and which is configured to be releasably attached to the striking end of the case and to contain the primer and the desired amount of propellant.