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 method of forming a shotgun shell tracer comprising:
 a. obtaining a tracer body comprising at least one base wall, at least one obturator, and at least one edge wall, said at least one edge wall defining an internal space into said tracer body,   b. inserting said tracer body into a tubular carrier;   c. transporting said tubular carrier having said tracer body to a loading device constructed and arranged to insert said tracer body into a shotgun shell casing and separating said tracer body from said tubular carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tracer body further comprising:
 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.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 placing at least one tracer insert around said at least one chamber support, said placing occurring prior to said transporting of said tubular carrier to said loading device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one tracer insert is not integral to said at least one chamber support prior to discharge of a shotgun shell including said shotgun shell tracer, and wherein discharge of said shotgun shell comprising said shotgun shell tracer fuses said at least one tracer insert to at least one of said base wall and said chamber support, and embeds projectiles into said at least one tracer insert, establishing ballast for said shotgun shell tracer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , said at least one edge wall comprising an exterior. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the positioning of at least one protector about said exterior of said at least one edge wall prior to inserting said tracer body into said tubular carrier. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one protector comprises film. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one tracer insert is not integral to said at least one chamber support prior to discharge of a shotgun shell including said shotgun shell tracer, and wherein discharge of a shotgun shell comprising said shotgun shell tracer fuses said at least one tracer insert to at least one of said base wall and said chamber support, and embeds projectiles into said at least one tracer insert, establishing ballast for said shotgun shell tracer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one protector is constructed and arranged to separate from said exterior of said at least one edge wall upon exit from a shotgun barrel following discharge of said shotgun shell including said shotgun shell tracer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said shotgun shell tracer has a first pre-discharge state and a second post-discharge state, said at least one tracer insert not being integral to said at least one base wall or said at least one chamber support in said first pre-discharge state, said at least one tracer insert being integral to said at least one base wall or said at least one chamber support in said second post-discharge state. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said shotgun shell tracer has a first pre-discharge state and a second post-discharge state, said at least one tracer insert not being integral to said at least one base wall or said at least one chamber support in said first pre-discharge state, said at least one tracer insert being integral to said at least one base wall or said at least one chamber support in said second post-discharge state. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one tracer insert is constructed and arranged such that discharge of a shotgun shell comprising said shotgun shell tracer exerts pressure which fuse said at least one tracer insert to said at least one base wall or said at least one chamber support, and embed projectiles into said at least one tracer insert, establishing ballast for said shotgun shell tracer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one tracer insert is constructed and arranged such that discharge of a shotgun shell comprising said shotgun shell tracer exerts pressure which fuse said at least one tracer insert to said at least one base wall or said at least one chamber support, and embed projectiles into said at least one tracer insert, establishing ballast for said shotgun shell tracer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3 , said at least one chamber support comprising at least one divider section. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 3 , said at least one edge wall comprising at least one slit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , said at least one slit being constructed and arranged to form at least one petal upon discharge of a shotgun shell comprising said shotgun shell tracer.