Patent Grant
7287475
The present invention provides a non-lethal reloadable training cartridge for deployment of non-lethal ordnance and reuse of the cartridge case and non-lethal payload. In particular, a low impulse non-lethal reloadable training cartridge is provided, wherein the high pressure chamber containing a blank may be easily and quickly removed from the cartridge case without damage to the cartridge case, allowing for repeated reloading of the cartridge case, and reuse of the cartridge case, non-lethal payload and, optionally, the high pressure chamber.
Traditional non-lethal ordnance has consisted of cartridges containing, for example, projectiles consisting of metallic ball bearings coated with a thin layer of plastic or rubber, fabric bags which are filled with lead shot (so-called “bean bags”), and “rubber bullets” formed of hard rubber, foam, plastic or wood. These types of non-lethal ordnance are routinely employed by law enforcement agencies, correctional departments, military organizations, and the like, for instances in which non-lethality is desired.
Non-lethal ordnance, however, performs differently than lethal ordnance, and therefore requires special training. Thus, specialized training is required. As non-lethal ordnance is costly, specialized non-lethal training cartidges are desired.
It is a first object of the present invention to provide a low impulse non-lethal cartridge for use in conventional weapons, such as the 40 mm M203 grenade launcher.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide non-lethal ammunition capable of accelerating a bolt to the rear of the weapons chamber independently of the impulse generated from launching of the non-lethal projectile.
It is a third object of the present invention to provide an ammunition configuration having high/low propellant chambers which allow for consistent propellant burn, and which provide consistent interior ballistics.
In order to achieve the objects of the invention described above, in a first embodiment of the present invention, a reloadable non-lethal training cartridge is provided comprising:
i. a cartridge case having:
ii. a rear high pressure chamber removably disposed within the base threaded aperture of the cartridge case, said rear high pressure chamber having:
iii. a non-lethal payload portion removably attached to the forward end of said cartridge case, said non-lethal payload portion having:
wherein the high pressure chamber may be threadably removed from the cartridge case after firing of the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein the high pressure chamber further comprises an o-ring disposed around the circumferential portion and adjacent the base, so as to contact the cartridge case base threaded aperture and the high pressure chamber base and thereby create a seal.
In a third embodiment of the present invention, the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein the high pressure chamber further comprises:
a washer removably disposed within the interior portion of the circumferential portion of the rear high pressure chamber, adjacent the propellant vent hole, said washer having a aperture disposed therethrough, said aperture having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the propellant vent hole formed in the forward end of the high pressure chamber.
In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein the cartridge case is comprised of a plastic or polymeric material.
In a fifth embodiment of the present invention, the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein the cartridge case is comprised of a metallic material.
In a sixth embodiment of the present invention, the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein the non-lethal payload engagement means and the non-lethal payload of the non-lethal payload portion are removably engaged.
In a seventh embodiment of the present invention, the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein the non-lethal payload engagement means and the non-lethal payload of the non-lethal payload portion are fixedly engaged.
In a eighth embodiment of the present invention, the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge of the sixth embodiment above is provided, wherein the non-lethal payload engagement means is comprised of a threaded portion, an interlocking means, or a frictional engagement means.
In a ninth embodiment of the present invention, the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge of the eighth embodiment above is provided, wherein the non-lethal payload comprises an engagement portion and a payload portion, said engagement portion capable of removable engagement with the non-lethal payload engagement means of the non-lethal payload portion.
In a tenth embodiment of the present invention, the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge of the ninth embodiment above is provided, wherein the non-lethal payload portion is comprised of a hollow or solid foam head, a hollow or solid rubber head, a hollow or solid plastic head, or a hollow or solid head comprised of a combination of foam, rubber or plastic.
In an eleventh embodiment of the present invention, the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge of the tenth embodiment above is provided, wherein the non-lethal payload portion further comprises weighted material disposed within the hollow head.
In a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein the threads formed on the circumferential portion of the high pressure chamber are double threads.
In a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention, the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein the threads formed on the circumferential portion of the high pressure chamber are single threads.
In a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention, the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein the circumference of the base of the rear high pressure chamber is square, pentagonal, hexagonal or octagonal in shape.
In a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention, a reloadable cartridge is provided comprising:
i. a cartridge case having:
ii. a rear high pressure chamber having:
iii. a payload portion removably disposed adjacent the forward end of said cartridge case, said payload portion having:
wherein the high pressure chamber may be threadably removed from the cartridge case after firing of the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge, and the payload portion may be removed and replaced after firing.
In a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention, the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge of the first embodiment above is provided, wherein the non-lethal payload portion further comprises a rotating band disposed around the circumferential portion of the base, the rotating band capable of interacting with a barrel rifling groove.
In a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention, the reloadable cartridge of the fifteenth embodiment above is provided, wherein the payload portion further comprises a rotating band disposed around the circumferential portion of the base, said rotating band capable of interacting with a barrel rifling groove.
As illustrated in
The cartridge case 3 is comprised of a base 5, the base 5 having an exterior portion 7, an interior portion 9, a threaded aperture 11 disposed through said base 5 from the exterior portion 7 to the interior portion 9, a circumferential portion 13 adjacent the base 5, and a forward end 19 adjacent the circumferential portion 13. The circumferential portion 13 has an exterior 15 and an interior 17.
As mentioned above, and as illustrated in
As called for in the first and fifteenth embodiments of the present invention, the base 23 of the rear high pressure chamber 21 has an outer circumference 25 of the base 23 of the rear high pressure chamber 21 is capable of engagement with a removal tool. Conventionally, if a user desired to reuse a non-lethal training cartridge, removal of the rear high pressure chamber was very difficult, and required sending the training cartridges back to the armory for reconditioning. However, with the present invention, as illustrated in
In a further embodiment of the rear high pressure chamber, as called for in the third embodiment herein, and as illustrated in
A firing blank insertion aperture 29 is disposed through said base 23, within the outer circumference 25, so as to allow for the insertion of firing blanks into the rear high pressure chamber. The firing blank insertion aperture may, optionally, be threaded or provided with friction engagement means, so as to allow for the reloading of firing blanks therein without excessive damage to the aperture 29, and the reuse of the rear high pressure chamber 21.
A propellant vent hole 39 having an outer circumference 41 is disposed through the forward end 37 of the rear high pressure. When the reloadable non-lethal training cartridge 1 is fired by a user, the blank is fired, generating high pressure propellant gases within the rear high pressure chamber 21. These propellant gases are allowed to controllably vent through the propellant vent hole 39, thus increasing pressure within the interior portion 9 (acting as the low pressure chamber) of the cartridge 1. This increasing pressure disengages and propels the non-lethal payload portion 43 from the cartridge case 3, and down the barrel of the weapon.
In a preferred embodiment, as called for in the second embodiment of the present invention, and as illustrated in
As illustrated in
For example, frictional engagement means 57, as called for in the sixth embodiment herein, and as illustrated in
Alternatively, the base 45 may be fixedly attached to the non-lethal payload 43, by adhering the non-lethal payload to the base 45 with an adhesive. When fixedly attached, the longevity of the non-lethal payload portion is dependent upon the condition of both the base 45 and the non-lethal payload 53. In contrast, when the base 45 is removably attached to the non-lethal payload 53, if one component is damaged during use, only that component need be replaced, and the remaining component in good condition may be reused.
The non-lethal payload 53 may be comprised of a hollow or solid foam head, a hollow or solid rubber head, a hollow or solid plastic head, or a hollow or solid head comprised of a combing of foam, rubber and/or plastic. Importantly, the non-lethal payload material must consist of a material that is not severely injurious to a person when being struck at a fairly high velocity, such as from 280-350 fps (feet per second).
In a further embodiment of the non-lethal payload portion, as called for in the eleventh embodiment herein, and as illustrated in
As called for in the sixteenth and seventeenth embodiments of the present invention, and as illustrated in
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20070151473 A1 | Jul 2007 | US |
