AMMUNITION PRODUCTION

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a construction method for improved tracer ammunition production. There is provided a method of forming a component for a round, said method comprising the step of causing said component to be drawn through at least one floating die.

Claims

1. A tracer projectile comprising an elongate outer sheath, the elongate outer sheath encapsulating an inner core and extending rearwardly of the inner core so as to provide a cavity for receiving at least one consolidated energetic material, wherein said outer sheath has a maximum wall thickness variation of 0.03 mm.

2. The tracer projectile according to claim 1, further comprising a case.

3. The tracer projectile according to claim 2, wherein said tracer projectile is attached to said case so as to form a round.

4. The tracer projectile according to claim 3, wherein said case is brass.

5. The tracer projectile according to claim 4, wherein said outer sheath is selected from copper, steel, a copper steel laminate, or alloys thereof.

6. The tracer projectile according to claim 1, wherein the outer sheath is made from a metal laminate.

7. The tracer projectile according to claim 1, wherein the inner core includes a hardened tip.

8. The tracer projectile according to claim 1, further comprising the at least one consolidated energetic material, wherein the at least one consolidated energetic material is a quantity of pyrotechnic material, which is ignitable by a thermal output of a gun propellant.

9. The tracer projectile according to claim 1, wherein the outer sheath has a mean wall thickness variation of 0.02 mm or less.

10. A tracer projectile comprising an elongate outer sheath, the elongate outer sheath encapsulating an inner core and extending rearwardly of the inner core so as to provide a cavity for receiving at least one consolidated energetic material, wherein said outer sheath has a mean wall thickness variation of 0.02 mm or less.

11. The tracer projectile according to claim 10, further comprising a case.

12. The tracer projectile according to claim 11, wherein said tracer projectile is attached to said case so as to form a round.

13. The tracer projectile according to claim 12, wherein said case is brass.

14. The tracer projectile according to claim 13, wherein said outer sheath is selected from copper, steel, a copper steel laminate, or alloys thereof

15. The tracer projectile according to claim 10, wherein the outer sheath is made from a metal laminate.

16. The tracer projectile according to claim 10, wherein the inner core includes a hardened tip.

17. The tracer projectile according to claim 10, further comprising the at least one consolidated energetic material, wherein the at least one consolidated energetic material is a quantity of pyrotechnic material, which is ignitable by a thermal output of a gun propellant.

18. An apparatus for forming a tracer projectile having an elongate outer sheath, the elongate outer sheath encapsulating an inner core, and located rearwardly of the inner core is a cavity for receiving consolidated energetic material, said apparatus comprising: a floating die assembly including at least one floating die; and a mandrel to cause an initial metal workpiece to be drawn through the at least one floating die thereby forming the elongate outer sheath.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the floating die assembly includes a top guide in which the initial metal workpiece is placed and through which the mandrel passes.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the floating die assembly includes multiple floating dies and/or a spacer die.

Description

[0015] Exemplary embodiments of the device in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0016] FIG. 1a: Is a cross section of the floating die and press assembly. FIG. 1b: Is a cross section of the floating die and mandrel.

[0017] FIG. 2: Is a cross section of a tracer projectile.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1a there is shown a floating die assembly 13 where the extrudable outer sheath 16 is passed through a top guide die 17, which acts as a guide to lead the extrudable outer sheath 16 into a first floating die 10 and the second floating die 12. The first die 10 and second die 12 are floating thereby allowing the press to push the mandrel 14, which is contained in a mandrel holder 11, through the top guide die 17 into the extrudable outer sheath 16 in order to form or draw it. The fourth die 18 is a spacer die, which provides room for the mandrel 14 to work, but does no work on the extrudable outer sheath 16 itself.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1b there is shown a close up of the floating draw die assembly 13 of FIG. 1a, where self-adjustment areas 15 can be seen at the external diameters of the first floating die 10 and second floating die 12. The self-adjustment area 15, allows for the self-centring of the floating dies 10 and 12, with respect to the mandrel 14, to allow a more uniform wall thickness to be achieved during pressing of the extrudable outer sheath 16.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown a tracer round 20 with attached case 27. The round 20 has a projectile 29 which is formed from an extruded outer sheath 26 made from a metal laminate. The extrudable outer sheath 26 has an inner core 24 which may contain a hardened tip 28. Behind the inner core is a quantity of pyrotechnic material 22, which is ignited by the thermal output of a gun propellant.