Shotgun Shell Tracer and Tracer Manufacturing Device

Abstract

A shotgun shell tracer includes a base wall, an obturator, and an edge wall extending from the base wall opposite to the obturator. A chamber support may be engaged to the base wall extending from the base wall within the internal space of the tracer. The shotgun shell tracer may additionally include a tracer insert which may encircle the chamber support. Discharge of a shotgun shell in some embodiments will exert pressure on projectiles which fuse the tracer insert to the base wall and the chamber support, and embed the projectiles into the tracer insert, establishing ballast for the shotgun shell tracer. The chamber support in one embodiment may be a modified spike. The ballast in one embodiment may be a washer replacing embedded projectiles. A conveyor may be used to transport tracer carriers during manufacture of a tracer.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A shotgun shell tracer comprising:
 a. at least one base wall, at least one obturator extending from said base wall, at least one edge wall extending from said at least one base wall opposite to said obturator, said at least one edge wall defining an internal space, wherein the at least one edge wall is constructed and arranged to resist the formation of protrusions upon discharge of said shotgun shell tracer; and   b. at least one chamber support engaged to said at least one base wall wherein said at least one chamber support extends from said at least one base wall within said internal space.   
     
     
         2 . The shotgun shell tracer according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one tracer insert constructed and arranged to encircle said at least one chamber support within said internal space, said at least one tracer insert not being integral to said at least one chamber support prior to discharge of the shotgun shell tracer wherein discharge of a shotgun shell comprising said shotgun shell tracer exerts pressure on projectiles which fuse said at least one tracer insert to at least one of said base wall and said chamber support, and embed said projectiles into said at least one tracer insert, establishing ballast for said shotgun shell tracer. 
     
     
         3 . The shotgun shell tracer according to  claim 2 , said at least one at least one edge wall being constructed and arranged to resist the formation of depressions on the inside surface of the at least one at least one edge wall and protrusions on the outside surface of the at least one at least one edge wall upon discharge of said shotgun shell tracer. 
     
     
         4 . The shotgun shell tracer according to  claim 3 , said at least one at least one edge wall being constructed and arranged to resist the entrapment of powder residue on the outside surface of the at least one at least one edge wall. 
     
     
         5 . The shotgun shell tracer according to  claim 4 , said outside surface of said at least one edge wall comprising a treatment or coating. 
     
     
         6 . The shotgun shell tracer according to  claim 5 , said shotgun shell tracer further comprising a protector disposed proximate to said exterior surface of said at least one edge wall. 
     
     
         7 . The shotgun shell tracer according to  claim 6 , wherein said at least one edge wall is constructed and arranged to resist the formation of protrusions upon discharge of said shotgun shell tracer. 
     
     
         8 . The shotgun shell tracer according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one edge wall is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, resin, and composite material, and combinations thereof.