US3413888A - Electrically-actuated cartridge - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3, 1968 V. B. KALEY ELECTRICALLY-ACTUATED CARTRIDGE Filed Sept. 14; 1966 I INVENTOR I W050? if @4150 BY &

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,413,888 ELECTRICALLY-ACTUATED CARTRIDGE Victor B. Kaley, 2023 Oliver St.,

West Hyattsville, Md. 20782 Filed Sept. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 579,431 9 Claims. (CI. 8928) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cartridge having metallic casing and a bullet at -one end insulated from the casing. A priming composition is secured on the end of the bullet inserted in the casing. A conductor of electricity is secured at one end between the insulation of the *bullet and the metal casing and extends to adjacent the priming composition, which is secured to the bullet, to ignite the same.

The present invention relates to cartridges which are detonated or ignited electrically.

While the prior art is aware of means for electrically igniting cartridges for firing projectiles, the same have drawbacks in that generally a wire has to be inserted lengthwise and interiorly of the cartridge. It is obvious that this is both a laborious and time-consuming operation.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simplified arrangement for igniting the propellant contained within the cartridge.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for electrically igniting the propellant without the use of an ignition wire within the cartridge.

Another object is to provide for a cartridge case which, because of its construction, will permit a higher safe maximum pressure and will consequently impart higher velocity and energy to the projectile.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of the embodiments as shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectioned view of the cartridge and bullet within the gun chamber and depicting its relationship with the electrical firing means;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1 and illustrating the relationship of the priming compound and ground wire with respect to insulation provided on the projectile;

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are other embodiments of the invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating another modification of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like parts, FIGURE 1 illustrates a rifle or pistol barrel 1 having a bore 20 with lands 21 therein insulated from the bullet chamber 2 by insulation 3. The insulation 3 may be of any material which will effectively electrically insulate the barrel from the chamber. It should be understood that the barrel may be insulated at any point forwardly of the chamber and the exact location thereof may be controlled by the length of the projectile being used. Within the barrel 1 and chamber 2 is positioned the cartridge and projectile illustrated generally by the numeral 4.

The cartridge 5, while being depicted as having a grooved portion 6 near its base 7, can be of any desired configuration or type, e.g., such as having a solid base portion and/or being of the consumable variety. The cartridge 5 contains the propellant 8 which may be of any desired type known to those skilled in the art and is introduced into the cartridge through the opening 9 in which the projectile 10 is received.

Patented Dec. 3, 1968 The projectile 10, while disclosed as being domeshaped, can be of any desired shape, and is provided at its base with a primer 11. In the case of a shotgun shell where there is no projectile such as depicted in the several views of the drawing, the primer is attached or lies beneath the base part of the overpowder wad. As also seen in FIGURE 2, lead-in wire 12 extends from the primer 11 and terminates between an external portion of the insulating sleeve 13 positioned about the projectile and the cartridge opening 9. The insulating sleeve 13, like the insulation 3, can be fabricated from any material which satisfactorily electrically insulates the projectile base from the chamber 2.

With continuing reference to FIGURE 1, the numeral 25 generally designates the electrical means for igniting the propellant 8 which will be more fully explained hereinafter. The electrical means 25 comprises a suitable electrical source 14, eg a battery, with one side 15 grounded to the barrel 1 and the other side 16 connected to the chamber 2 through the switch means 17.

In igniting the propellant, the switch means 17 is closed whereby current from the source 14 passes through the chamber 2, the ground wire 12, the primer 11, the bullet 10 which is grounded against the lands 21, through the barrel 1 and back to the source 14. As the primer 11 is ignited, the same causes the propellant 8 to be fired to thereby propel the projectile 10.

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 disclose other embodiments for assembling the primer 11 and the lead-in wire 12 with respect to the base of the projectile. In FIGURE 3, the lead-in wire takes the form of a cap 12, generally U- shaped in cross section, with the open end thereof snugly engaging the insulation 13' and the base member engaging the primer 11'.

FIGURE 4 discloses a modification wherein the primer 11a is extended outwardly beyond the insulation 13a whereby the primer 11a acts as the lead-in conductor.

FIGURE 5 discloses a further modification wherein the insulation 13b takes the form of a ring crimped within a groove disposed medially of the bullet 10 while the primer 11b serves as the current lead-in conductor.

With reference to the embodiment shown in FIGURE 6, the insulation sleeve 13 has been crimped into a groove 22 formed generally medially of the projectile 10 and cooperates with a crimped end portion 23 of the wall defining the cartridge opening 9. In this manner when the propellant is ignited the crimped portion 23 is forced outwardly of the groove to protect the insulation 3 against the erosive effects of the burning propellant.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there is provided a new means for electrically igniting propellant for dischanging projectiles, and it is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the. invention or scope of the subjoined claims. For example, it is considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure to provide in lieu of the separate priming means depicted generally at 11 and the conductor 12, a separate conductor, known and sold in the trade as Power Fuse which when subjected to an electrical charge will explode and act as a primer.

I claim:

1. A projectile to be used for igniting propellant in a cartridge having a wall defining an opening, comprising a housing positioned Within said opening, insulation means encircling a portion of the housing, priming means on said housing engaging said propellant, and means conducting electrical current adjacent the insulation means to the 3 priming means for igniting the same whereby the propellant will be ignited to react against the projectile.

2. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the insulating means includes a portion crimped within a groove within the housing.

3. The projectile of claim 2 wherein the insulating means is comprised of an annular member.

4. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the priming means includes a primer composition and the electrical conducting means is a conductor positioned externally of the insulation means and said wall defining the opening in said cartridge.

5. The projectile of claim 4 wherein the conductor is in the form of a wire.

6. The projectile of claim 4 wherein the conductor is in the form of a cap having a portion engaging the primer and a portion engaging the insulating means.

7. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the insulating means is comprised of a sleeve.

8. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the assembly of the cartridge and projectile are inserted within a firearm having a wall defining a chamber portion and bore portion with the cartridge positioned within the chamber portion and the projectile extending into the bore portion respectively including means insulating the chamber portion from the bore portion, a source of electrical potential including a lead connecting said source to one of said portions, and another lead including means selectively connecting the source to the other of said portions.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the last-mentioned means is a switch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 138,679 5/1873 Mott et al. 102-46 2,313,030 3/1943 Tauscek 10246 X 2,419,371 4/1947 Schlumberger 10238 X 3,228,333 1/1966 Phelps et a1. 10246 3,299,812 1/1967 Suh et al. 102-46 X ROBERT F. STAHL, Primary Examiner.

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