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A tool and corresponding method for removing folds and buckles in the matal of a propellant containment bag, in a round of ammunition, prior to the addition of explosive propellant. The tool includes a plurality of flexible fingers that are inserted into the propellant containment bag through the p

A tool and corresponding method for removing folds and buckles in the matal of a propellant containment bag, in a round of ammunition, prior to the addition of explosive propellant. The tool includes a plurality of flexible fingers that are inserted into the propellant containment bag through the primer cap aperture. Once inside, the flexible fingers are expanded, pressing the propellant containment bag against the inside of the cartridge case. The tool is advanced to the far end of the propellant containment bag, thereby pulling taut the entire bag. The flexible fingers extend around the tail end of the projectile of the ammunition round, removing folds in the propellant containment bag that may interfere with the dispersion of propellant around the stabilizer fins or other features of the projectile's tail end, when propellant is subsequently added.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A handtool comprising: an elongated member having a plurality of flexible fingers extending from one end, each of said flexible fingers being spring biased so as to diverge away from the longitudinal axis of said elongated member, each of said flexible fingers terminating in an enlarged blunt

1. A handtool comprising: an elongated member having a plurality of flexible fingers extending from one end, each of said flexible fingers being spring biased so as to diverge away from the longitudinal axis of said elongated member, each of said flexible fingers terminating in an enlarged blunt point; and a retracting means for retracting said flexible fingers toward said longitudinal axis. 2. The tool of claim 1, wherein each of said flexible fingers comprised of a plurality of spring wires that converge toward, and are attached to, said enlarged blunt point. 3. The tool of claim 2, wherein said retracting means includes a substantially tubular member positioned around a length of said elongated member so as to be axially and reciprocally movable relative said elongated member, said tubular member contacting said flexible fingers, as said tubular member is advanced against said flexible fingers, the contact of said tubular member against said flexible fingers overcoming the spring bias of said flexible fingers retracting said flexible fingers into said tubular member. 4. The tool of claim 3, wherein the end of said elongated member, opposite said flexible fingers, terminates in a handle means. 5. The tool of claim 3, further including a locking means for temporarily joining said tubular member to said elongated member, preventing the relative movement therebetween. 6. The tool of claim 2, wherein a mechanical fastener attaches said flexible fingers to said elongated member. 7. In an ammunition cartridge having an inner chamber accessible through a primer aperture and in which the tail end of a projectile contacts a volume of propellant material, both the tail end of the projectile and the propellant material being enclosed within a containment bag that is also accessible through the primer aperture, a tool for removing folds and buckles in the containment bag without damaging the projectile, prior to the addition of a propellant material into the containment bag, said tool comprising: an elongated member including a plurality of retractable flexible fingers extending from one end, each of said flexible fingers being spring biased so as to diverge away from the longitudinal axis of said elongated member, each said flexible finger terminating in an enlarged blunt point, and a retraction means for retracting said flexible fingers toward said longitudinal axis. 8. The tool of claim 7, wherein said flexible fingers are spring biased to diverge in an arcuate pattern to a diameter that is greater than the diameter of said inner chamber of said ammunition cartridge. 9. The tool of claim 8, wherein said retraction means retracts said flexible fingers to a diameter smaller than the diameter of said primer aperture. 10. The tool of claim 9, wherein each said flexible finger comprises a plurality of spring wires that converge and are joined at said enlarged blunt point. 11. The tool of claim 10, wherein each said enlarged blunt point is fabricated so as to be incapable of entering an orifice formed on said tail end of said projectile through which an amount of tracer material is exposed. 12. The tool of claim 10, wherein said retracting means includes a substantially tubular member positioned around a length of an elongated shaft so as to be axially and reciprocally movable relative to said elongated shaft, said flexible fingers depending from said elongated shaft such that the advancement of said tubular member against said flexible fingers overcomes the spring bias of said flexible fingers retracting said flexible fingers into said tubular member. 13. The tool of claim 12, wherein said tubular member has an annular flange radially disposed on its outer surface, said annular flange being larger than said primer aperture preventing the passage of said annular flange through said primer aperture. 14. The tool of claim 12, wherein the end of said elongated shaft opposite said flexible fingers, terminates in a handle means. 15. The tool of claim 14, wherein said flexible fingers are formed to extend around said tail end of said projectile to the end of said containment bag without contacting said tail end of said projectile. 16. The tool of claim 12, further including a locking means for temporarily joining said tubular member to said elongated shaft preventing the relative movement therebetween. 17. In an ammunition cartridge having an inner chamber accessible through a primer aperture and in which the tail end of a projectile contacts a volume of propellant material, both the tail end of the projectile and the propellant material being enclosed within a containment bag that is also accessible through the primer aperture, a method for removing folds and buckles in the containment bag prior to the introduction of propellant material utilizing a tool that has a plurality of retractable flexible fingers depending from one end thereof; said method including the steps of: inserting said flexible fingers of said tool into said containment bag through said primer aperture; expanding said flexible fingers such that said flexible fingers press said containment bag against said inner chamber; advancing said flexible fingers toward a back end of said containment bag, opposite said primer aperture; retracting said flexible fingers into said tool; and removing said tool from said cartridge. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of preventing said flexible fingers from being advanced beyond said back end of said containment bag. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein each said flexible fingers is formed from a plurality of spring wires. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said plurality of spring wires terminate, and are joined together, at a blunt point.