Shotgun Tracer Insert Fusing for Visibility and Ballast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Brightly colored shotgun shell tracers become dulled by flame, smoke, and soot, making them difficult to detect in flight, and manufacturing challenges arise due to various materials and shot types used in tracer bodies, affecting visibility and flight trajectory performance.
Innovation Solution
A 2-piece shotgun shell tracer design featuring a structurally independent tracer insert and ballast chamber support, where the tracer insert is fused with the base wall and ballast chamber support during discharge, and a protective film or cup is used to maintain visibility and aerodynamic performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a shotgun shell tracer is discharged, then the tracer provides flight path indication, but the flame, smoke, and soot from the shotgun barrel dull the tracer's color, degrading visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating the tracer insert with a protective clear coating before discharge. This coating is applied in advance during manufacturing, creating a protective barrier that prevents flame, smoke, and soot from directly contacting and dulling the tracer's colored exterior during flight, thereby maintaining visibility despite the harmful environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a protective clear coating as an intermediary layer between the tracer insert and the harmful environment. This intermediate coating acts as a mediator that protects the tracer's colored surface from direct exposure to flame, smoke, and soot, allowing the tracer to maintain its brightness and visibility while still functioning in the harsh discharge environment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different materials and shot types are used in tracer bodies, then the tracer can be adapted to various performance requirements, but the number of manufacturing challenges increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the tracer into two separate pieces: a tracer insert and a tracer body. The insert contains the propellant and can be made from different materials and configurations, while the body provides the external structure. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component for different shot types and performance requirements without requiring complete redesign of the entire tracer, thereby maintaining manufacturing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality through a standardized tracer body design that can accommodate various tracer inserts with different materials, sizes, and shot types. The universal body structure serves multiple functions: holding different insert types, providing aerodynamic stability, and maintaining consistent external dimensions. This multi-functional design allows a single manufacturing process to produce tracers adapted to various performance requirements without increasing complexity.
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 enhances visibility and aerodynamic stability of the tracer by maintaining its color and shape during flight and improves manufacturing efficiency with a flexible, adaptable design suitable for different shot types and sizes.
Implementation Method 1
Discharge of a shotgun shell including the shotgun shell tracer exerts pressure on projectiles which fuse the at least one tracer insert to at least one of the base wall and/or the ballast chamber support
Data Source
AI summary
A shotgun shell tracer includes a base wall, an obturator, and an edge wall extending from the base wall opposite to the obturator. A chamber support may be engaged to the base wall extending from the base wall within the internal space of the tracer. The shotgun shell tracer may additionally include a tracer insert which may encircle the chamber support. Discharge of a shotgun shell in some embodiments will exert pressure on projectiles which fuse the tracer insert to the base wall and the chamber support, and embed the projectiles into the tracer insert, establishing ballast for the shotgun shell tracer. The chamber support in one embodiment may be a modified spike. The ballast in one embodiment may be a washer replacing embedded projectiles. A conveyor may be used to transport tracer carriers during manufacture of a tracer.