Information
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Patent Grant
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6192561
-
Patent Number
6,192,561
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Date Filed
Wednesday, December 16, 199825 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 27, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 086 11
- 086 23
- 086 24
- 029 13
- 029 131
- 029 132
- 102 464
- 102 468
- 072 115
- 072 118
- 072 126
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A cartridge case former and method includes a front arbor plate, a rear arbor plate and a plurality of arbors extending between the front arbor plate and the rear arbor plate. The cartridge case former also includes a plurality of rotatable roller dies disposed about the arbors for forming a neck of a cartridge case.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to cartridges for guns and, more particularly, to a cartridge case former and method of forming a cartridge case for a cartridge.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide cartridges for guns. Typically, the cartridge includes a cylindrical case made from a brass cylinder, which has a rim with a primer pocket, extractor groove, body, tapered shoulder, neck and mouth. The cartridge also includes a primer disposed in the primer pocket, powder disposed within the body and a bullet disposed in the end of the neck.
The cartridge cases are manufactured in standard sizes. However, some gun operators desire non-standard or “special” cartridges for shooting. To make such cartridges, a standard cartridge case is put into a cartridge-resizing die and the neck is expanded or contracted. The neck may then be reamed internally or externally with a reamer to a desired size.
Although the above special cartridge cases have worked well, they suffer from the disadvantage that several dies and reamers are required to size the neck. Another disadvantage is that the resizing is labor intensive and relatively costly. As a result, there is a need in the art to provide a device and method for forming a neck of a cartridge case to a desired size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a cartridge case former.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cartridge case former which roll forms a neck of a cartridge case to a predetermined size.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of roll forming a neck of a cartridge case.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is a cartridge case former. The cartridge case former includes a front arbor plate, a back arbor plate and a plurality of arbors extending between the front arbor plate and the back arbor plate. The cartridge case former also includes a rotatable roller die disposed about each arbor for roll forming a neck of a cartridge case.
Additionally, the present invention is a method of roll forming a neck of a cartridge case. The method includes the steps of providing a cartridge case, providing a plurality of roller dies and rotating at least either the cartridge case or the roller dies. The method also includes the steps of moving the cartridge case between the roller dies and reducing the neck of the cartridge case to a predetermined size.
One advantage of the present invention is that a cartridge case former is provided for forming a cartridge case. Another advantage of the present invention is that the cartridge case former forms a neck of a standard cartridge case to a non-standard predetermined size. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the cartridge case former roll forms a standard cartridge case to make a non-standard or special cartridge case. Still another advantage of the present invention is that a method is provided of roll forming a neck of a cartridge case.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a cartridge case former, according to the present invention, illustrated in operational relationship with a cartridge case and a lathe.
FIG. 2
is an exploded view of the cartridge case former of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is an end view of the cartridge case former of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
is a sectional view taken along line
4
—
4
of
FIG. 3
illustrating initial forming of a neck of the cartridge case of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 5
is a view similar to
FIG. 4
illustrating final forming of a neck of the cartridge case of FIG.
1
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to
FIG. 1
, one embodiment of a cartridge case former
10
, according to the present invention, is illustrated in operational relationship with a cartridge case
12
and lathe
14
. The cartridge case
12
is generally cylindrical in shape and made of a metal material such as brass. The cartridge case
12
includes a rim
16
having a primer pocket
18
, an extractor groove
20
, a body
22
, a tapered shoulder
24
, a neck
26
and a mouth
28
. It should be appreciated that the cartridge case
12
is of a standard size in the art. It should also be appreciated that, prior to forming with the cartridge case former
10
, the cartridge case
12
is conventional and known in the art.
The lathe
14
includes a headstock
30
such as a chuck, which is rotated by a source (not shown), of the lathe
14
. The lathe
14
also includes a tailstock
32
such as a center. The cartridge case former
10
is mounted to the headstock
30
and the cartridge case
12
is mounted to the tailstock
32
. The tailstock
32
is moved toward the headstock
30
and the cartridge case
12
is engaged with the cartridge case former
10
to form the neck
26
of the cartridge case
12
to a predetermined size. It should be appreciated that the cartridge case
12
could be mounted to the headstock
30
and the cartridge case former
10
could be mounted to the tailstock
32
. It should also be appreciated that the lathe
14
is conventional and known in the art.
Referring to
FIGS. 1 through 3
, the cartridge case former
10
includes an arbor housing
34
. The arbor housing
34
is generally cylindrical in shape. The arbor housing
34
extends axially and is generally circular in cross-sectional shape. The arbor housing
34
is made of a metal material such as aluminum. The arbor housing
34
has a plurality of external threads
36
on each axial end. The arbor housing
34
also has an interior portion
38
recessed axially from each axial end. The interior portion
38
has a passageway
40
formed in a generally triangular or cloverleaf pattern and extending axially therethrough. The arbor housing
34
also includes a protrusion
42
extending axially from the interior portion
34
at each axial end for a function to be described. The arbor housing
34
may include an elongated slot
44
extending radially therethrough for visual inspection by an operator. The arbor housing
34
may also include a pair of opposed flat portions
46
extending axially on an outer surface thereof to allow an operator to turn the cartridge case former
10
with a wrench (not shown).
Referring to
FIGS. 2 through 4
, the cartridge case former
10
includes a first or front arbor plate
48
mounted to one axial end of the arbor housing
34
. The front arbor plate
48
is generally planar and circular in shape. The front arbor plate
48
has a central aperture
50
extending axially therethrough and is generally circular in shape. The front arbor plate
48
is made of a metal material such as aluminum. The front arbor plate
48
has at least one, preferably a pair of opposed locator apertures
52
extending axially therethrough between an outer periphery and the central aperture
50
. Either one of the locator apertures
52
receives the protrusion
42
on the interior portion
38
of the arbor housing
34
. The front arbor plate
48
also includes a plurality of, preferably three arbor apertures
54
extending axially therethrough and spaced about the central aperture
50
between the outer periphery and the central aperture
50
for a function to be described. It should be appreciated that the front arbor plate
48
is of a size and thickness to be disposed within the arbor housing
34
adjacent to the interior portion
38
and substantially flush with the axial end of the arbor housing
34
.
The cartridge case former
10
includes a first or front arbor cap
56
mounted to one axial end of the arbor housing
34
. The front arbor cap
56
is generally planar and circular in shape. The front arbor cap
56
has an annular flange
58
extending generally perpendicular therefrom. The annular flange
58
has a plurality of internal threads
60
for threadably engaging the external threads
36
on one axial end of the arbor housing
34
. The front arbor cap
56
is made of a metal material such as aluminum. The front arbor cap
56
also includes an aperture
62
extending axially therethrough and being circular in shape for a function to be described.
The cartridge case former
10
includes a second or back arbor plate
64
. The back arbor plate
64
is generally planar and circular in shape. The back arbor plate
64
has a central aperture
66
extending axially therethrough and is generally circular in shape. The back arbor plate
64
is made of a metal material such as aluminum. The back arbor plate
64
has at least one, preferably a pair of opposed locator apertures
66
extending axially therethrough between an outer periphery and the central aperture
64
. Either one of the locator apertures
66
receives the protrusion
42
on the interior portion
38
of the arbor housing
34
. The back arbor plate
64
also includes a plurality of, preferably three arbor apertures
68
extending axially therethrough and spaced about the central aperture
66
between the outer periphery and the central aperture
66
for a function to be described. It should be appreciated that the back arbor plate
64
is of a size and thickness to be disposed within the arbor housing
34
adjacent to the interior portion
38
and is substantially flush with the axial end of the arbor housing
34
.
The cartridge case former
10
includes a second or back arbor cap
72
mounted to the other axial end of the arbor housing
34
. The back arbor cap
72
is generally planar and circular in shape. The back arbor cap
72
has an annular flange
74
extending generally perpendicular therefrom. The annular flange
74
has a plurality of internal threads (not shown) for threadably engaging the external threads
36
on the other end of the arbor housing
34
. The back arbor cap
72
is made of a metal material such as aluminum. The back arbor cap
72
also includes an aperture
76
extending axially therethrough and being circular in shape for a function to be described.
The cartridge case former
10
also includes a plurality of, preferably three arbors
78
extending between the front arbor plate
48
and the back arbor plate
64
. The arbors
78
are generally cylindrical and circular in cross-sectional shape. The arbors
78
extend axially and have one end disposed in one of the arbor apertures
54
of the front arbor plate
48
and the other end disposed in a corresponding arbor aperture
70
of the back arbor plate
64
. The arbors
78
are made of a metal material such as aluminum.
The cartridge case former
10
includes a plurality of, preferably three rotatable roller dies
80
. The roller dies
80
are generally cylindrical and circular in cross-sectional shape. The roller dies
80
are made of a metal material such as aluminum. The roller dies
80
have an aperture
82
extending axially therethrough and being generally circular in shape for receiving the arbors
78
. It should be appreciated that the roller dies
80
rotate about the arbors
78
.
The roller dies
80
include a neck portion
84
of an enlarged diameter to roll form the neck
26
of the cartridge case
12
to a predetermined size or diameter The roller dies
80
also include a tapered portion
86
to form the tapered shoulder
24
of the cartridge case
12
. The roller dies
80
further include a body portion
88
which is inclined slightly to roll form an upper portion of the body
22
of the cartridge case
12
. It should be appreciated that one roller die
80
is disposed about one arbor
78
.
To assemble the cartridge case former
10
, one roller die
80
is disposed about one arbor
78
. The roller dies
80
and arbors
78
are orientated such that one end of each arbor
78
is disposed in one of the arbor apertures
52
of the front arbor plate
48
. The front arbor plate
48
is located adjacent the arbor housing
34
such that each roller die
80
is disposed in the passageway
40
of the interior portion
38
and the protrusion
42
is disposed in either one of the locator apertures
52
. The front arbor cap
58
is then threaded onto the arbor housing
34
. Next, the rear arbor plate
64
is located adjacent the arbor housing
34
such that each arbor
78
is located in the arbor apertures
70
and the protrusion
42
is disposed in either one of the locator apertures
68
. The rear arbor cap
72
is then threaded onto the arbor housing
34
.
In operation, the cartridge case former
10
is mounted to the headstock
30
of the lathe
14
as illustrated in FIG.
1
. The cartridge case
12
is mounted to the tailstock
32
of the lathe
14
. As illustrated in
FIGS. 4 and 5
, the cartridge case
12
enters the rotating cartridge case former
10
through the aperture
62
in the front arbor cap
58
and into the passageway
40
of the arbor housing
34
between the roller dies
80
. The three roller dies
80
are self-centering on the cartridge case
12
. The tapered portion
86
and neck portion
84
of the roller dies
80
contact the neck
26
and tapered shoulder
24
of the cartridge case
12
to reduce it and form a secondary neck
90
and secondary tapered shoulder
92
as illustrated in FIG.
4
. The cartridge case
12
is moved axially further into the cartridge case former
10
until the secondary neck
90
and secondary tapered shoulder
92
become the final reduced neck and tapered shoulder of the cartridge case
12
. The cartridge case
10
is then allowed to air cool.
The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.
Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
Claims
- 1. A cartridge case former comprising:a housing; a front arbor plate disposed within said housing; a back arbor plate disposed within said housing; a plurality of arbors disposed within said housing and extending between said front arbor plate and said back arbor plate; and a plurality of generally cylindrical rotatable roller dies disposed within said housing and about said arbors, each roller die having an enlarged generally cylindrical portion for roll forming a neck of a cartridge case and having a tapered portion for roll forming a tapered shoulder of the cartridge case.
- 2. A cartridge case former as set forth in claim 1 wherein said roller dies are three in number.
- 3. A cartridge case former as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing has an interior portion with a passageway extending axially therethrough, said roller dies being disposed in said passageway.
- 4. A cartridge case former as set forth in claim 3 wherein said passageway is generally cloverleaf shaped.
- 5. A cartridge case former as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cartridge case former is made of metal.
- 6. A method of roll forming a neck of a cartridge case, said method comprising the steps of:providing a cartridge case; providing a cartridge case former having a housing, a front arbor plate disposed within said housing, a back arbor plate disposed within said housing, a plurality of arbors disposed within said housing and extending between said front arbor plate and said back arbor plate, and a plurality of generally cylindrical rotatable roller dies disposed within said housing and about said arbors, each roller die having an enlarged generally cylindrical portion for roll forming a neck of a cartridge case and having a tapered portion for roll forming a tapered shoulder of the cartridge case; rotating at least either the cartridge case or the roller dies; and moving the cartridge case between the roller dies and reducing the neck of the cartridge case to a predetermined size.
- 7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of moving comprises moving the cartridge case axially between the dies.
- 8. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of providing a cartridge case comprises providing a cartridge case with a neck having a predetermined diameter.
- 9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of reducing comprises reducing the neck of the cartridge case to a diameter less than the predetermined diameter of the cartridge case.
- 10. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of providing a cartridge case former comprises providing three roller dies spaced from each other.
- 11. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of providing a cartridge case former comprises providing a plurality of roller dies having an enlarged diameter neck portion to reduce the neck of the cartridge case.
- 12. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of rotating comprises rotating only the cartridge case former.
US Referenced Citations (18)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
405161932 |
Jun 1993 |
JP |
143682 |
Apr 1961 |
RU |