Cartridges for recoil management of shoulder fired weapons

Abstract

A cartridge (20) has a cartridge case (22) extending along an axis (500) from a base (104) to a mouth (102) and having an interior. A projectile (24) is mounted in the case. A propellant (26) is contained within the case. The propellant has an annular grain encircling the axis.

Claims

1. A cartridge (20) comprising: a cartridge case (22) extending from a base (104) to a mouth (102) and having an interior; a projectile (24) mounted in the case and having a rocket motor (48); a primer (28) mounted in the base, the primer comprising: a main primer charge (194); and a percussion primer (192) having a percussion primer charge (196); and a propellant grain (26) within the case interior, wherein: a nozzle (153) is encircled by the propellant grain and comprises a plurality of radially-open outlet ports (170); and the propellant grain comprises an annular body encircling a centerline (500) of the cartridge.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the propellant grain is a single continuous full annulus piece.

3. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the propellant grain comprises: a non-convoluted inner diameter surface (224).

4. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the propellant grain comprises: a right circular cylindrical inner diameter surface (224).

5. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein the propellant grain comprises: a plurality of axial passageways (700).

6. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein: the propellant grain is adhered (236) to an inner diameter (ID) surface of the case.

7. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein: the propellant grain is an ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP).

8. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein: the propellant grain is in a propellant unit having a fibrous or plastic casing (230).

9. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein: the primer further comprises a primer case (190) containing the main primer charge and having a primer pocket (180); and the percussion primer (192) has a cup mounted in the primer pocket and containing the percussion primer charge (196).

10. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein: the main primer charge (194) comprises BKNO.sub.3.

11. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein: the projectile is a missile having: a seeker (50); and the rocket motor (48); and/or the cartridge contains an ignition train (34) for transferring ignition of the propellant grain to the rocket motor; and/or the case comprises: a base piece (130); and a sidewall piece (132) secured to the base piece.

12. A loaded firearm (400) including the cartridge of claim 1 and further comprising a barrel (402) having: a muzzle (408); and a chamber (404) accommodating the cartridge.

13. The loaded firearm of claim 12 wherein: the case extends through the muzzle.

14. The loaded firearm of claim 12 wherein: the barrel is a rifled (410) barrel.

15. A method for manufacturing the cartridge of claim 1, the method comprising: casting the propellant grain; inserting the cast propellant grain into the case; and inserting the projectile into the case.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising: adhering the propellant grain to an inner diameter (ID) surface of the case.

17. A method for using the loaded firearm of claim 12, the method comprising: igniting the primer; combustion gas from the primer passing radially outward to ignite the propellant; and combustion gas from the propellant driving the projectile from the case.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein: the projectile is a missile; and the combustion gas of the propellant indirectly ignites the rocket motor.

19. A loaded firearm (400) comprising: a barrel (402) having: a muzzle (408); and a chamber (404); and a cartridge (20) accommodated by the chamber and comprising: a cartridge case (22) extending from a base (104) to a mouth (102) and having an interior; a projectile (24) mounted in the case; a primer (28) mounted in the base, the primer comprising: a main primer charge (194); and a percussion primer (192) having a percussion primer charge (196); and a propellant grain (26) within the case interior, wherein: the cartridge has a nozzle (153) encircled by the propellant grain and comprises a plurality of radially-open outlet ports (170); the propellant grain comprises an annular body encircling a centerline (500) of the cartridge; and the case extends through the muzzle.

20. The loaded firearm of claim 19 wherein: the barrel is a rifled (410) barrel.

21. The loaded firearm of claim 19 wherein: the projectile protrudes from the case mouth.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side view of a missile cartridge.

(2) FIG. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 1, taken along line 2-2.

(3) FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of an intermediate portion of the cartridge of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of an aft portion of the cartridge of FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 3 is a partially schematic longitudinal sectional view of a grenade launcher chambering the missile cartridge.

(6) FIG. 4 is a view of a propellant unit of the cartridge of FIG. 1.

(7) FIG. 5 is a plot of recoil force versus time for firing of the grenade launcher of FIG. 1.

(8) FIG. 6 is an end view of an alternate propellant unit.

(9) Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.