Method and apparatus for loading cartridges with pressable plastic bonded explosives

Abstract

Disclosed are an apparatus and method for loading small and medium caliber cartridges with pressable plastic bonded explosives (PBXs). A plurality of pellets are pre-formed to have a high density, and are loaded into a small and medium caliber cartridge one by one. Accordingly, a high and uniform density is obtained. And, when manufacturing small and medium caliber cartridges, the pressable PBXs are anticipated to be massively loaded into the small and medium caliber cartridges in the future.

1 . A method for loading cartridges with pressable plastic bonded explosives (PBXs), comprising:
 forming pellets by compression-molding pressable PBX powder into a size small enough to be accommodated in a cartridge body; and   inserting the pellets into the cartridge body, and loading the pellets with compression.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the step of loading pellets, a plurality of pellets are inserted into the cartridge body one by one, and then compressed. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming a plurality of notch grooves on an inner wall of the cartridge body. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein a pressure is applied to inside of the cartridge body and the notch grooves such that the pellets are loaded thereinto in the form of re-molded ones. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pressable PBX is loaded under a status that an insertion direction of the pellets is irrespective of the notch grooves. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming pellets comprises:
 putting pressable plastic bonded explosives (PBXs) powder into a die;   maintaining a pressure inside the die as a vacuum status; and   continuously applying a predetermined pressure into the pressable PBX powder put into the die for a predetermined time by a punch.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of loading pellets comprises:
 fixing the cartridge body into a die;   inserting pellets into the cartridge body;   maintaining an inner pressure of the cartridge body as a vacuum status; and   continuously applying a predetermined pressure into the pellets for a predetermined time by a punch.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the pressure applied to the pellets is set to be equal to that applied to the pressable PBX powder. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pellets is formed in a cylindrical shape such that its length is longer than its diameter. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for manufacturing cartridges, comprising:
 a pellet forming unit for forming pellets by compression-molding pressable plastic bonded explosives (PBXs) powder into a size small enough to be accommodated in a cartridge body; and   a pellet loading unit for loading the pellets inserted into the cartridge body with compression.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the pellet forming unit comprises:
 a die having a negative shape of the pellets;   a vacuum line for maintaining an inner pressure of the die as a vacuum status; and   a punch for applying a predetermined pressure to the pellets.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the pellet loading unit comprises:
 a die for fixing the cartridge body;   a vacuum line for maintaining an inner pressure of the cartridge body as a vacuum status; and   a punch for continuously applying a predetermined pressure to the pellets inserted into the cartridge body for a predetermined time.