Polymer Ammunition Cartridge Assembly for Consistent Ballistics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional brass ammunition cartridge casings are heavy, expensive, and hazardous, and existing plastic cartridges fail to meet reliability and performance standards for consistent ballistic performance and safety in commercial quantities.

Innovation Solution

A polymer ammunition cartridge design featuring a polymer cartridge with a projectile aperture, cartridge neck, sidewall, and cap coupling segment, combined with a retaining cap and cylindrical cartridge cap, using compression and alignment of components to ensure uniformity and stability, and filled with a propellant and projectile.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional brass cartridge casings are used, then reliability and performance standards are met, but weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveballistic performance consistencyVSAvoidcartridge weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from brass to polymer, fundamentally altering the density and weight characteristics while maintaining structural integrity through optimized polymer formulation and multi-component design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The cartridge case employs composite construction with multiple polymer components (bullet-end component, middle body component, head-end component) that work together to achieve both weight reduction and reliability requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If conventional brass cartridge casings are used, then reliability and performance standards are met, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveballistic performance consistencyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Weight of moving object

If existing plastic cartridges are used, then weight is reduced, but reliability and ballistic performance consistency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecartridge weightVSAvoidballistic performance consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the cartridge case into three separate components (bullet-end component, middle body component, head-end component) that are assembled together, allowing each component to be optimized for its specific functional requirements while maintaining overall reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Weight of moving object

If existing plastic cartridges are used, then weight is reduced, but safety and handling characteristics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecartridge weightVSAvoidsafety and handling characteristics

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS20260078988A1Lightweight Polymer Cased Ammunition

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 NEXT GENERATION SOLUTIONS

AI summary

One embodiment of the present invention provides a polymeric ammunition cartridge, polymeric ammunition and methods of making the same.