Polymer Ammunition Cartridge Assembly for Lightweight Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional brass ammunition cartridge casings are heavy, expensive, and hazardous, and existing plastic cartridges fail to provide satisfactory performance, safety, and durability for commercial use, leading to issues like bullet separation and weapon jamming.
Innovation Solution
A polymeric ammunition cartridge design featuring a polymer cartridge with a projectile aperture, cartridge neck, sidewall, and cap coupling segment, combined with a retaining cap and cartridge cap, using various polymers and potentially reinforced with fibers, and a manufacturing process involving injection molding and assembly to ensure uniformity and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional brass cartridge casings are used, then strength and reliability are improved, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by transitioning from brass to polymer materials, specifically using high-density polyethylene or nylon with fiber reinforcements. This material substitution maintains sufficient strength for cartridge functionality while dramatically reducing weight, achieving the desired balance between strength and weight reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining polymer matrices (such as polyethylene or nylon) with fiber reinforcements. This composite structure provides the necessary mechanical strength and durability while maintaining the weight advantages of polymer materials, effectively resolving the contradiction between strength requirements and weight reduction goals.
2Reliability
If conventional brass cartridge casings are used, then reliability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters from expensive brass to cost-effective polymers such as high-density polyethylene or nylon. These polymer materials are inherently more affordable while maintaining the structural integrity and reliability needed for cartridge performance, directly addressing the cost reduction goal without sacrificing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality enhancement by incorporating fiber reinforcements specifically in critical stress areas of the cartridge casing. This targeted reinforcement ensures reliability is maintained in key regions while using less expensive polymer materials in other areas, optimizing the balance between reliability and manufacturing cost.
3Weight of moving object
If polymer cartridges are used, then weight is reduced, but manufacturing precision and uniformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials with fiber reinforcements embedded in the polymer matrix to enhance dimensional stability and structural uniformity. This composite construction compensates for the inherent dimensional variations of polymer materials, ensuring consistent bullet-to-casing fit and manufacturing precision while maintaining the weight reduction benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality control by providing thicker wall sections and enhanced structural features in critical areas such as the mouth and base of the cartridge casing. This localized reinforcement ensures uniform bullet seating and consistent dimensional tolerances in key regions, maintaining manufacturing precision while preserving overall weight reduction.
4Weight of moving object
If polymer cartridges are used, then weight is reduced, but durability and safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining polymer matrices with fiber reinforcements to enhance the mechanical properties of the cartridge casing. This composite structure improves durability, impact resistance, and overall reliability while maintaining the weight advantages of polymer materials, effectively resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and durability enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality enhancement by providing thicker walls and reinforced structural features in critical areas of the cartridge casing. This localized reinforcement ensures the cartridge can withstand handling, storage, and firing conditions reliably while maintaining weight reduction in non-critical areas, balancing durability and weight reduction.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present invention provides a polymeric ammunition cartridge and methods of making and using the same.