초록 ▼

A high velocity cartridge munition comprises a cartridge shell and a projectile inserted into it. A propulsion chamber within the cartridge shell receives a propulsive charge that may be ignited by a pyrotechnic igniter and that develops propulsive gases that act on the base of the projectile, drivi

A high velocity cartridge munition comprises a cartridge shell and a projectile inserted into it. A propulsion chamber within the cartridge shell receives a propulsive charge that may be ignited by a pyrotechnic igniter and that develops propulsive gases that act on the base of the projectile, driving it out of the cartridge shell. To prevent the pyrotechnic igniter from igniting spontaneously, and from igniting the propulsive charge due to the ambient temperature or because of a fire, which would cause the cartridge shell and projectile to be separated and fly apart, at least one exhaust channel between the propulsion chamber and the exterior of the cartridge shell is filled with a fusible material. The fusible material has a lower melting point than the ignition point of the igniter and of the propulsive charge. If the ambient temperature of the cartridge shell rises above the melting point of the fusible material, it melts, releasing the exhaust channels, so that, upon delayed ignition of the propulsive charge, it burns without pressure buildup, and the cartridge shell and projectile remain together. At least one non-fusible, rupturable member is positioned between the fusible material and the propulsive charge to provide mechanical support under normal conditions but to facilitate release of gases if the propulsive charge ignites.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In a cartridge munition comprising a cartridge shell and a projectile inserted into the cartridge shell and mechanically connected to the cartridge shall, herein a pyrotechnic propulsive charge is locate in a propulsion chamber of the cartridge shell that is ignited by means of a pyrotechnic igni

1. In a cartridge munition comprising a cartridge shell and a projectile inserted into the cartridge shell and mechanically connected to the cartridge shall, herein a pyrotechnic propulsive charge is locate in a propulsion chamber of the cartridge shell that is ignited by means of a pyrotechnic igniter, and whose propulsive gases exert a force on the base of the projectile when they burn, by means of which the projectile is driven out of the cartridge shell when the munition is chambered in a gun barrel, and wherein least one passage exits from the propulsion chamber through the cartridge shell that is substantially filled with a fusible, solid, pressure-tight material whose melting temperature is lower than the ignition temperatures of the pyrotechnic igniter and the propulsive charge of the projectile, the improvement wherein at least one non-fusible, rupturable member is positioned and forms a flat face between the fusible solid material and the propulsive charge in the propulsion chamber, and wherein a non-fusible plug is disposed in the passage containing the fusible material on the side opposite to the rupturable member, said rupturable member and said fusible solid material together having sufficient strength to withstand operating pressures within the propulsion chamber when the projectile is fired out of the cartridge shell, said rupturable material being configured to rupture and release gases from said propulsion chamber when said fusible material has melted and upon ignition of said propulsive charge when the munition is not chambered. 2. The cartridge munition of claim 1, wherein the fusible solid material is a fusible metal. 3. The cartridge munition of claim 1, wherein the fusible solid material is an alloy of at least bismuth and tin or bismuth and lead. 4. The cartridge munition of claim 3, wherein the fusible solid material is a bismuth/tin alloy with from about 30 to about 40% by weight of bismuth and from about 60 to about 70% by weight of tin, having a melting point of from about 140°C. to about 175°C. 5. The cartridge munition of claim 1, wherein the passages are channels that extend from the base of the propulsion chamber to the outer base of the cartridge shell. 6. The cartridge munition of claim 5, wherein the channels are positioned around the igniter of the propulsive charge. 7. The cartridge munition of claim 5, wherein the channels narrow as they progress from the base of the propulsion chamber to the outer base of the cartridge shell. 8. The cartridge munition claim 1, wherein each non-fusible, rupturable member is a disk or cap or form an annular ring. 9. The cartridge munition of claim 1 wherein each non-fusible, rupturable member is scored or weakened. 10. The cartridge munition claim 1, wherein each non-fusible, rupturable member is made of a metal or a rigid polymeric material. 11. The cartridge munition of claim 10, wherein the metal is copper, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, or brass. 12. The cartridge munition of claim 10, wherein the polymeric material is a polycarbonate or polystyrene polymer or copolymer. 13. The cartridge munition of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one passages exits from the propulsion chamber through a sidewall of the cartridge shell. 14. The cartridge munition of claim 1, wherein the rupturable member comprises a solid material without sufficient strength, in the absence of additional mechanical support, to withstand the operating pressures within the propulsion chamber when the projectile is fired out of the cartridge shell. 15. The cartridge munition of claim 1, wherein the rupturable member comprises solid material that has been modified such that, in the absence of additional mechanical support, it cannot withstand the operating pressures within the propulsion chamber when the projectile is fired out of the cartridge shell. 16. The cartridge munition of claim 1, wherein the rupturable member is made from the cartridge shell material by incomplete penetration of at least one passage exit. 17. The cartridge munition claim 1, wherein each passage is filled with a pressure-tight assembly comprising a solid, non-fusible rupture disk or cap that is mechanically reinforced by a fusible, solid material whose melting temperature is lower than the ignition temperature of the pyrotechnic igniter and the propulsive charge of the projectile. 18. The cartridge munition claim 1, wherein the pressure-tight assembly is removable by threaded or other mechanical means. 19. The cartridge munition of claim 1, wherein said non-fusible plug is metal.