Ammunition production

Abstract

The invention 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 method of forming a tracer projectile comprising an elongate extrudable outer sheath, which encapsulates an inner core, and located rearwardly of the inner core is a cavity, said method comprising: passing the elongate extrudable outer sheath through a top guide to lead the extrudable outer sheath into at least one floating die to form said cavity, wherein said tracer projectile comprises the inner core encapsulated in the extrudable outer sheath; causing said elongate extrudable outer sheath to be drawn through or formed by the at least one floating die; and wherein said cavity is for receiving a consolidated pyrotechnic.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extrudable outer sheath is selected from copper, steel, a copper steel laminate, or alloys thereof.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said inner core comprises a high density metal.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said high density metal is selected from lead or an alloy thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said inner core further comprises a hardened tip.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said extrudable outer sheath extrudes beyond said inner core to form said cavity.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising lubricating said extrudable outer sheath and at least one floating die, as the extrudable outer sheath is formed, wherein the lubricant is olive oil.

8. The method according claim 1, further comprising one or more of: introducing a consolidated pyrotechnic into the cavity; and attaching said tracer projectile to a case.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the case material is brass.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the floating die is manufactured from steel and tungsten carbide.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the floating die is a forming die.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the floating die is a drawing die.

Description

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the device in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1a: Is a cross section of the floating die and press assembly.

(3) FIG. 1b: Is a cross section of the floating die and mandrel.

(4) FIG. 2: Is a cross section of a tracer projectile.

(5) 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.

(6) 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.

(7) 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.