AMMUNITION FOR LIGHT FIREARMS

Abstract

Ammunition (100, 100) for light firearms, the ammunition (100, 100) defining a longitudinal axis (X) and comprising: a tubular casing (1, 1) containing gunpowder (2), provided with a base (3, 3) which delimits a hole (31, 3); a primer cartridge (4) which closes said hole (31, 3); at least one bullet (5) at least partially arranged in the casing (1, 1); a body (6), or base wad, made of polymeric material, defining a cavity (60), arranged in the casing (1, 1); wherein said body (6) comprises: a first part (61) having an outer surface in contact with the inner surface of the casing (1, 1); and a second part (62), spaced apart from the inner surface of the casing (1, 1), formed by a side wall (621) which extends from said first part (61), and by an upper wall (622), spaced apart from said first part (61), transverse to said side wall (621); characterized in that said side wall (621) is completely closed and comprises one or more portions (71, 72) adapted to break at the detonation of the primer cartridge (4, 4) so as to create a passageway (71a, 71b) at each of said one or more portions (71, 72); each portion (71, 72) of said one or more portions (71, 72) having a thickness, orthogonally to the longitudinal axis (X), which is less than the remaining part (7) of said side wall (621).

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. Ammunition for firearms, in particular light firearms, the ammunition defining a longitudinal axis and comprising: a tubular casing containing gunpowder, provided with a base which delimits a hole; a primer cartridge which closes said hole; at least one bullet at least partially arranged in the casing; and a body, or base wad, made of polymeric material, defining a cavity, arranged in the casing; wherein said body comprises a first part having an outer surface in contact with the inner surface of the casing; and a second part spaced apart from the inner surface of the casing, formed by a side wall which extends from said first part, and by an upper wall, spaced apart from said first part, transverse to said side wall; wherein said side wall is completely closed and comprises one or more portions adapted to break at the detonation of the primer cartridge so as to create a respective passageway; and wherein each portion of said one or more portions having a thickness, orthogonally to the longitudinal axis, which is less than the remaining part of said side wall.

12. The ammunition according to claim 11, wherein said thickness is from 0.25 to 1 mm.

13. The ammunition according to claim 11, wherein said body is made of polyethylene, in particular high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

14. The ammunition according to claim 11, comprising two portions of said one or more portions adapted to break at the detonation of the primer cartridge; preferably said two portions being opposite to each other.

15. The ammunition according to claim 11, wherein each portion of said one or more portions has an area from 1 to 15 mm.sup.2.

16. The ammunition according to claim 11, wherein said remaining part of said side wall has a thickness, orthogonally to the longitudinal axis, of at least 3 mm, preferably from 3 to 4 mm.

17. The ammunition according to claim 11, wherein said first part of the body delimits an opening of said cavity which is coaxial to said hole of the base.

18. The ammunition according to claim 11, wherein said cavity is delimited by the inner surface of said first part and by the inner surface of said second part of the body.

19. The ammunition according to claim 11, wherein said second part of the body has a height (H2), parallel to the longitudinal axis, starting from the first part, from 1 to 15 mm.

20. The ammunition according to claim 11, wherein said upper wall is completely closed; preferably wherein the whole upper surface of the body, which comprises, or consists of, the upper surface of said first part and the upper surface of the upper wall, is completely closed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] In the description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which are provided by way of a non-limiting example, in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an example of ammunition according to the invention;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a part of the ammunition in FIG. 1, rotated by 90 about the longitudinal axis X with respect to FIG. 1;

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a component of ammunition according to the invention;

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the component in FIG. 3, cross-sectioned on a plan;

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the component in FIG. 3, cross-sectioned on two plans;

[0041] FIG. 6 shows another perspective view of the component in FIG. 3, rotated by about 90 about the axis X with respect to FIG. 3;

[0042] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the component in FIG. 6, cross-sectioned on a plan;

[0043] FIG. 8 shows a view similar to FIG. 2, in which two parts are broken following the detonation of the primer cartridge of the ammunition;

[0044] FIG. 9 shows a partial sectional view of another example of ammunition according to the invention.

[0045] The same elements, or functionally equivalent elements, have the same reference numeral.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0046] With reference to the drawings, non-limiting embodiments of an ammunition 100, 100 for firearms according to the invention are described.

[0047] Ammunition 100, 100 in particular is an ammunition for light firearms, i.e., capable of being used and transported by a single person by virtue of the contained sizes and weight, such as for example, rifles and machine guns with a rifled barrel.

[0048] In all the embodiments, the ammunition 100, 100, or cartridge, defines a longitudinal axis X and comprises: [0049] a tubular casing 1, 1 containing gunpowder 2, provided with a base 3, 3, or bottom, which delimits a hole 31, 31; [0050] a primer cartridge 4 which closes said hole 31, 31; [0051] at least one bullet 5 at least partially arranged in casing 1, 1; [0052] a body 6, or base wad, preferably made of polymeric material, defining a cavity 60, arranged in the casing 1, 1; [0053] wherein said body 6 comprises, preferably consists of, [0054] a first part 61 having an outer surface 611 in contact with the inner surface of casing 1, 1; [0055] and a second part 62, spaced apart from the inner surface of casing 1, 1, formed by a side wall 621 which extends from said first part 61, and by an upper wall 622, spaced apart from said first part 61, transverse to said side wall 621; [0056] wherein said side wall 621 is completely closed and comprises one or more portions 71, 72 adapted to break at the detonation of the primer cartridge 4 so as to create a passageway 71a, 71b, or opening, at each of said one or more portions 71, 72; [0057] each portion 71, 72 of said one or more portions 71, 72 having a thickness, orthogonally to the longitudinal axis X, which is less than the remaining part 7 of said side wall 621.

[0058] In FIG. 8, the two portions 71, 72 are broken, in particular torn apart, following the detonation of the primer cartridge 4. The passageways, or openings, formed are indicated by numerals 71a, 71b.

[0059] Preferably, body 6 is made of polyethylene, preferably high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

[0060] Preferably, body 6 is monolithic.

[0061] Preferably and advantageously, said thickness of each of the one or more portions 71, 72 is from 0.25 to 1 mm.

[0062] In FIGS. 3 and 4, zone 71 is diagrammatically indicated by means of a dashed rectangle.

[0063] Preferably, each portion 71, 72 has an area from 1 to 15 mm.sup.2. Said area in particular is measured on a surface of the side wall 621, for example on the outer surface of the side wall 621. The dimension of said area affects the intensity and amplitude of the triggering flame which in particular, increase as said area increases.

[0064] The aforesaid remaining part 7 of the side wall 621 in particular is designed to remain integral, or substantially integral, i.e., not to break, at the detonation of the primer cartridge 4.

[0065] Preferably, said remaining part 7 of the side wall 621 has a thickness, orthogonally to the longitudinal axis X, of at least 3 mm, preferably from 3 to 4 mm.

[0066] Preferably, but not exclusively, body 6 comprises two portions 71, 72, for example only two portions 71, 72, adapted to break at the detonation of the primer cartridge 4, such as in the examples shown in the drawings. Preferably, said two portions 71, 72 are opposite to each other, in particular with respect to the longitudinal axis X.

[0067] In variants not shown, a single portion may be provided, or more than two portions adapted to break at the detonation of the primer cartridge 4, may be provided.

[0068] The aforesaid longitudinal axis X is also the longitudinal axis of casing 1, 1. The aforesaid longitudinal axis X preferably is also the central axis of ammunition 100, 100, in particular of casing 1, 1.

[0069] The longitudinal axis X in particular crosses the upper wall 622, the hole 31, and the primer cartridge 4.

[0070] The part 61 of body 6 comprises the aforesaid outer surface 611, which preferably is cylindrical, and an upper surface 612 (see in particular, FIG. 3).

[0071] The outer surface 611 in particular is an outer side surface and extends about the longitudinal axis X. The inner surface of casing 1, 1 is cylindrical at part 61.

[0072] Preferably, substantially the whole outer surface 611 is in contact with a cylindrical portion of casing 1, 1, which is at part 61.

[0073] The upper surface 612 is transverse, preferably orthogonal or substantially orthogonal, to the outer surface 611. Advantageously, the upper surface 612 of part 61 is completely closed.

[0074] More generally, advantageously the whole upper surface of body 6, which comprises, in particular consists of, the upper surface 612 and the upper surface of the upper wall 622, is completely closed. The upper surface of body 6 in particular is proximal to said at least one bullet 5 and distal from base 3, 3.

[0075] The upper surface of body 6, in particular the upper surface 612 and the upper surface of the upper wall 622, and the outer surface of the side wall 621, are in contact with gunpowder 2.

[0076] Body 6 is in contact with base 3, 3. In particular, the lower surface 613 (indicated in FIGS. 2 and 5) of part 61, which corresponds to the lower surface of body 6, is in contact with base 3, 3.

[0077] Part 62 substantially is a protrusion, or projection, with respect to part 61, whereby there is a step between part 61 and part 62. In particular, said step is between the upper surface 612 of part 61 and the upper surface of the upper wall 622 of part 62.

[0078] In other words, the upper surface 612 and the upper surface of the upper wall 622 are spaced apart from each other.

[0079] The second part 62 of body 6 has a height H2 (indicated in FIG. 3), parallel to the longitudinal axis X, starting from the first part 61, which preferably is from 1 to 15 mm, for example from 5 to 15 mm. Height H2 corresponds to the height of said step, i.e., the distance between the upper surface 612 of part 61 and the upper surface of the upper wall 622 of part 62.

[0080] Preferably, the upper surface of the upper wall 622 is orthogonal, or substantially orthogonal, to the longitudinal axis X.

[0081] The upper wall 622 substantially forms a bridge.

[0082] The upper wall 622 preferably is adjacent to the side wall 621.

[0083] Preferably, the overall height of body 6, parallel to the longitudinal axis X, is from 10 to 20 mm. Said overall height of body 6 comprises the height H2.

[0084] By mere way of example, preferably the overall height of body 6 is from 10 to 20% of the overall height, parallel to the longitudinal axis X, of ammunition 100, 100. In particular, for example, for ammunition 100 of the .50 BMG type, said overall height of body 6 preferably is from 10 to 15% of the overall height, parallel to the longitudinal axis X, of ammunition 100; and for example, for ammunition 100 of the 12 caliber type, said overall height of body 6 preferably is equal to or about equal to 20% of the overall height, parallel to the longitudinal axis X, of ammunition 100.

[0085] Each portion 71, 72 is spaced apart, in particular always spaced apart, from the inner surface of casing 1, 1.

[0086] Preferably, the whole side wall 621 is spaced apart, in particular always spaced apart, from the inner surface of casing 1, 1. In other words, the maximum width of part 62, orthogonally to the longitudinal axis X, is less than the inner diameter of casing 1, 1, at least at part 62. The side wall 621 in particular is not intersected by the longitudinal axis X.

[0087] Preferably, but not exclusively, each portion 71, 72 substantially is flat.

[0088] As mentioned above, body 6 delimits a cavity 60. In particular, the part 61 of body 6 delimits an opening of said cavity 60. Said opening is coaxial to said hole 31, 31 of base 3, 3. Said opening is an opening of the lower surface 613 of part 61.

[0089] Cavity 60 in particular is delimited by the inner surface of part 61 and by the inner surface of the part 62 of body 6. In particular, the inner surface of the upper wall 622 forms the bottom of cavity 60. The side surface which delimits cavity 60 preferably is cylindrical.

[0090] The skilled technician may increasingly appreciate the advantages of the invention with a description of the shooting process of ammunition 100, 100.

[0091] During the shooting, the impact of the striker on the primer cartridge 4 induces the detonation of the triggering mixture therein contained, giving rise to an intense flash which impacts on the inner surface of the upper wall 622, causing the breaking of the one or more portions 71, 72, whereby an opening 71a, 71b (FIG. 8) is formed at each portion 71, 72.

[0092] The intense jets of flame escaping through the one or more openings 71a, 71b enter in lightning-fast manner in the part of casing 1 in which there is the gunpowder 2, which is ignited and combusted.

[0093] In such a first step of shooting, due to the effect of the presence of the upper wall 622 and of the one or more portions 71, 72, the share of gunpowder 2 which starts to burn is less with respect to ammunition, for example, of the type described in WO2016128387. Therefore, the peak of pressure generated with ammunition 100, 100 according to the invention never exceeds the safety threshold corresponding to about 4000 bar. Bullet 5 thus undergoes the primary acceleration along the barrel. In the second step of shooting, the very high temperature reached ignites the remaining gunpowder 2 in lightning-fast manner, which level of combustion liveliness generates an equally lightning-fast production of gas pressure such to exert a greater impulse on bullet 5.

[0094] Advantageously, bullet 5 thus reaches a 20% greater muzzle speed, which develops a 45% greater kinetic energy with respect to the ballistic values which can be obtained according to the prior art.

[0095] It should be noted that body 6 is not a triggering device, rather a supplementary component to the triggering device of the ammunition, the latter comprising the primer cartridge 4.

[0096] With particular reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, ammunition 100 of the .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) type is shown, i.e., of the NATO 12.799 mm type, in which base 3 is part of casing 1, or cartridge case. In other words, casing 1 and base 3 form a monolithic component.

[0097] There is one bullet 5 only, partially inserted in casing 1.

[0098] The primer cartridge 4 is inserted in the hole 31 of base 3. Base 3 also delimits a flame hole 32. The incendiary flame generated by the detonation of the primer cartridge 4 may pass through the flame hole 32.

[0099] Hole 31 and the flame hole 32 are coaxial to each other. The flame hole 32 is closed on the bottom by the primer cartridge 4. The flame hole 32 communicates with cavity 60 on the top.

[0100] Body 6 preferably is inserted in casing 1 prior to the tapering operation with which the frustoconical portion 11 (FIG. 1) of casing 1 is obtained.

[0101] The primer cartridge 4 in ammunition 100 is completely external to body 6.

[0102] With particular reference to FIG. 9, it shows ammunition 100 of the 12 caliber type, in which base 3 is a distinct body with respect to casing 1 and is fastened to casing 1. The primer cartridge 4 is inserted in hole 31 and in the cavity 60 of body 6, in particular so that the primer cartridge 4 and the upper wall 622 are spaced apart from each other, being separated from each other by an empty space.

[0103] A plurality of bullets (not shown) completely contained within casing 1 preferably is provided in this type of ammunition 100.

[0104] It is apparent that the invention is not limited to the two specific types of ammunition described.