FIRE ARM CASING AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING

Abstract

This invention relates to a cartridge casing that has a substantially hemispherical end that integrally mates to a welded conforming base that stores a primer. One or more holes in the hemispherical end of the upper chamber aligns with a corresponding hole in the base having a lower pocket to allow primer gasses into the shell casing. The configuration of the base, in combination with upper chamber's distal end hemispherical concavity, removes from the prior art a nipple attachment to the upper chamber and sharp corners in the casing that allow for greater reliability in the integrity in the firing of the bullet, as well as the potential for a greater explosive effect due to a shorter passage to ignite the gun powder more uniformly by the primer source.

Claims

1. A cartridge casing comprising: a substantially concave portion of an upper chamber bonded to a base for minimal separation between the upper chamber, having a concavity at its distal end, and a lower pocket within a lower base, for containing an explosive primer, such that an opening in the concave portion of the upper chamber aligns with a corresponding opening in the lower base to allow passage of the primer's gasses, wherein the upper chamber concavity provides for increased reliability of the base against fracture or deformation.

2. A cartridge casing comprising: a hemispherical concave distal end of an upper chamber integrally welded to a conformable base to establish a minimal separation between the upper chamber and a lower pocket within the base for contain an explosive primer, such that a hole in the hemispherical end of the upper chamber aligns with a corresponding hole to the lower pocket to allow the primer's gasses into the upper chamber.

3. A method for assembling a cartridge casing comprising: (a) welding a hemispherical concave end of an upper chamber to a base conformable to the upper chamber; (b) establishing a minimal separation between the upper chamber and a lower pocket; (c) containing an explosive primer in the lower pocket; (d) creating a hole in the hemispherical concave end of the upper chamber; (e) creating a hole in the lower pocket; (f) aligning the hole in the hemispherical concave end with the corresponding hole in the lower pocket; wherein the upper chamber hemispherical concavity provides for: (1) increasing the volume of the casing, which stores gunpowder, (2) increasing reliability of the base against fracture or deformation, (3) allowing the cartridge to be reloaded.

4. The cartridge casing of claim 1 wherein the a hemispherical concave end conforms to the base to establish a minimal separation between the upper chamber and the base.

5. The cartridge casing of claim 1 wherein a hemispherical concave end is welded to a base to establish a minimal separation between the upper chamber and the base.

6. The cartridge casing of claim 1 wherein an upper chamber hemispherical concavity provides for an increase in the volume of the casing to store gunpowder.

7. The cartridge casing of claim 1 wherein an upper chamber hemispherical concavity allows the cartridge to be reloaded.

8. The cartridge casing of claim 1 wherein a hemispherical concave end is welded to a base to allow the cartridge to be reloaded.

9. The cartridge casing of claim 1 wherein a greater explosive effect of a primer to ignite the gun powder is due to a shorter passage between the upper chamber and the base.

10. The cartridge casing of claim 1 wherein a greater explosive effect of the gunpowder is due to an increased amount of gunpowder in the upper chamber as a result of having an increased length due to the shorter passage between the upper chamber and the base.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is prior art of a sectional view of a conventional prior art firearm cartridge.

[0014] FIG. 2 is prior art of a sectional view of a conventional prior art firearm cartridge

[0015] FIG. 3A is prior art sectional view of a base riveted to a shell casing, in conventional firearm cartridge

[0016] FIG. 3B is sectional view of a base welded to a shell casing in accordance with an embodiment of the invention

[0017] FIG. 4. is a plan view of a cartridge having base welded to a shell casing in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0018] FIG. 5 is an expanded sectional view of a base welded to a shell casing in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The following detailed description includes the best mode of carrying out the invention and is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is determined by reference to the claims. Each part or function is assigned, even if structurally identical to another part, a unique reference number wherever that part is shown in the drawing figures.

[0020] This disclosure details, as shown in FIG. 4, an improvement to a type of cartridge, referred to as a centerfire cartridge, where the primer is located in the center of the cartridge base, separate from the upper chamber 20, containing the gun powder, and constitutes a separate and replaceable component. With the exception of a few .17 caliber, .20 caliber, and .22 caliber pistol and rifle cartridges, small-bore shotgun cartridges, and antiques, almost all pistol, rifle and shotgun ammunition used today is centerfire.

[0021] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, FIG. 3B and FIG. 5 includes the shell case 14, a base 24, and a bullet 16 (FIG. 1). The primer contains an explosive 18 one non-limiting embodiment of the invention, includes the upper portion of a concave conformable base 24, which conformably mates to a substantially concave hemispherical end 25b of the distal end of upper chamber 20. The union between the base 24 and the end 25b is achieved via a weld 30, the top end of the base 24, which contacts the lower end of the upper chamber 20. Among other advantages to be discussed, one effect of this arrangement is that the weld 30 prevents the prior art pressure point 13 FIG. 3A, from manifesting , which as earlier stated frequently causes a shell case 14 to deform or even rip open, thus preventing the spent shell from properly ejecting.

[0022] The substantially hemispherical end 25b of the upper chamber 20, which integrally mates via a weld 30, allows for a controlled amount of gun powder to be loaded, due a calculable and manufacturable volume in the formation of the concavity formed at the end 25b.

[0023] The wave produced by the prior art FIG. 3A, 25a, is not process controlled in its formation and therefore its geometric topology or surface varies from shell to shell. The concavity thus insures a greater degree of accuracy in the amount of gun powder used to fill the chamber 20.

[0024] Further to the incorporation of the substantially hemispherical end 25b of an upper chamber 20 that integrally mates, via a weld 30, to attached base 24, is the reduction of the vertical dimension V.sub.d of FIG. 3B, base 24 as compared to V.sub.d of the prior are (see FIG. 3A, 24). The effect of reducing the vertical dimension V.sub.d in the preferred embodiment of the invention is the minimization of the distance between the upper chamber 20 and the lower pocket 11 in base 24. In effect this allows the chamber 20 to be elongated by the difference between the distance X in FIG. 3A and the distance X in FIG. 3B. The result of this reduction in the X dimension is to allow a greater amount of gunpowder to be packed into the upper chamber as compared to the prior art. This aids in the power produced in the explosion of the gunpowder and hence the velocity of the bullet.

[0025] As mentioned the weld 30 also serves to add further reliability to the preferred embodiment of the invention by removing any requirement for a nipple attachment to the upper chamber 20, which results in sharp corners in the casing, causing unwanted pressure points (force/area of corners), during the ignition of the primer. Such additional extreme pressures result in damaging the upper chamber 20 and the base 24, such that a distortion or a tear, which may interfere with the ejection of the shell from the firearm.

[0026] It is recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art of firearms that the cartridge casing of the preferred embodiment of the invention has a greater explosive effect of a primer due to a shorter passage between the upper chamber and the base to ignite the gun powder

[0027] It is recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art of firearms that the cartridge casing produces a greater explosive effect of the gunpowder due to the upper chamber having an increased length due to the shorter passage between the upper chamber and the base.

[0028] Manufacturing a prior art casing from solid brass would requires the steps such as blanking, annealing, deep drawing and machining, all processes well known by those or ordinary skill in the art of metal manufacturing. Parts must be handled and or cleaned between each step. In the disclosed invention as in shown in FIG. 3B, and FIG. 5 the manufacturing process requires as few as 3 steps: machining/forming the base, drawing the case and welding the base to the casing. The prior art, shown in FIG. 2, having the riveted technology, adds considerably to the cost of manufacturing. In the disclosed invention drawing the case and welding the base to the case may be done at the same step, in one machine sequence, thus drastically reducing cost of manufacturing.

[0029] The welding processes mentioned previously are well developed by those of ordinary skill in the art of designing and fabricating metals using welding machinery as used throughout industry. Although many welding techniques may be employed, the manufacturing process in the preferred embodiment utilizes projection resistance welding, as shown in FIG. 5, which forms a weld 30, fusing the base 24 having a lower pocket 11 to the upper chamber 20. This weld process provides the fastest and most reliable production of the invented product.

[0030] However, it will be recognized that other bonding methods, including welding, brazing, soldering or adhesive processes may be employed without diminishing the integrity of bond of the invented product. In all instances, a weld schedule typically specifies electric current, pressure, timing, etc. dependent on a wide range of considerations, such as equipment availability and production rates.

[0031] One embodiment of the invention is a method for assembling a cartridge casing as in FIG. 3B and FIG. 5, which includes the steps of: (a) welding a hemispherical concave end 25b of the upper chamber 20 to a conformable base 25; (b) establishing a minimal separation between the upper chamber 20 and a lower pocket 11; (c) containing an explosive primer in the lower pocket 11; (d) creating a hole in the hemispherical concave end of the upper chamber 20; (e) creating a hole in the lower pocket 11; (f) aligning the hole in the hemispherical concave end 25b with the corresponding hole in the lower pocket 11; wherein the upper chamber 20 hemispherical concave end 25b provides for: (a) increasing the volume of the casing, which stores gunpowder, (b) increasing reliability of the base against fracture or deformation, (c) allowing the cartridge to be reloaded and thus subsequently utilized.

[0032] While the foregoing invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, additional modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, such modifications and changes are considered to be within the scope of the appended claims.