Lightweight Cartridge Case and Weapon System

Abstract

The rifle system comprises a rifle and an ammunition round for operation with the rifle. The high pressure ammunition round further comprises a cartridge case having an outer wall wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, the outer wall geometry of the cartridge case is devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor. The rifle further comprising a barrel chamber which fully supports a chambered cartridge case and a rear extraction mechanism for extracting a spent cartridge case through the rear of the barrel chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rifle for firing high pressure ammunition, the rifle comprising:
 a barrel chamber which fully supports a chambered cartridge case; and   a rear extraction mechanism for extracting a spent cartridge case through the rear of the barrel chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The rifle of  claim 1  wherein the operating pressure is in the range of approximately 30,000 pounds per square inch to approximately 200,000 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         3 . The rifle of  claim 1  wherein when the rifle is in a chambered state, an interior surface of the barrel chamber extends the length of the chambered cartridge case such that the entire chambered cartridge case is supported by the chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The rifle of  claim 1  wherein the rear extraction mechanism comprises a gas extraction mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The rifle of  claim 4  wherein the gas extraction mechanism is operated by a residual bore pressure remaining in the chamber after unlocking of a bolt of the rifle. 
     
     
         6 . The rifle of  claim 4  wherein the gas extraction mechanism further comprises a reservoir for storing a stored propellant gases created during the firing of the ammunition and an inlet passage for reintroducing the stored propellant gases into the chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The rifle of  claim 4  wherein the gas extraction mechanism further comprises an external tank holding pressurized gas for introduction into the chamber of the rifle after firing of the cartridge case. 
     
     
         8 . The rifle of  claim 1  wherein the rear extraction mechanism comprises a bolt having a recessed bolt face further comprising a tapered undercut wall configured for interfacing with an expanding cartridge case. 
     
     
         9 . A high pressure lightweight ammunition round configured for being fully supported by a barrel chamber and comprising a cartridge case having an outer surface wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, the outer surface is substantially devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor. 
     
     
         10 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 9  wherein the body region of the cartridge case extends to a base of the case. 
     
     
         11 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 9  wherein the cartridge case is formed of a metal material. 
     
     
         12 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 11  wherein the cartridge case is formed of an aluminum material. 
     
     
         13 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 9  wherein the cartridge case is formed of a polymer material. 
     
     
         14 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 9  wherein upon firing of the ammunition round, the cartridge case of the ammunition round expands into a tapered undercut wall of a recessed bolt face of a bolt thereby facilitating extraction of the round by the bolt. 
     
     
         15 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 9  wherein the cartridge case further comprises an annular groove for interfacing with a rear tab of a push through link wherein the annular groove is defined by an outer surface of the cartridge case and extending along an outer diameter of the outer surface. 
     
     
         16 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 15  wherein the annular groove is sized and dimensioned to interface with an M27 push through link. 
     
     
         17 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 15  wherein the annular groove is sized and dimensioned to interface with an M13 push through link. 
     
     
         18 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 15  wherein the annular groove is sized and dimensioned to interface with an M15 push through link. 
     
     
         19 . The high pressure ammunition round of  claim 15  wherein the annular groove is fire formed to a barrel chamber upon firing of the high pressure of the ammunition round. 
     
     
         20 . A rifle system comprising:
 a high pressure ammunition round further comprising a cartridge case having an outer surface wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, the outer surface is substantially devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor; and   a rifle further comprising a barrel chamber which fully supports a chambered cartridge case and a rear extraction mechanism for extracting a spent cartridge case through the rear of the barrel chamber.   
     
     
         21 . The rifle system of  claim 20  wherein when the rifle is in a chambered state, an interior surface of the barrel chamber extends the length of the chambered cartridge case such that the entire chambered cartridge case is supported by the chamber. 
     
     
         22 . The rifle system of  claim 20  wherein the rear extraction mechanism of the rifle comprises a gas extraction mechanism. 
     
     
         23 . The rifle system of  claim 22  wherein the gas extraction mechanism of the rifle is powered by a residual bore pressure remaining in the chamber after unlocking of a bolt. 
     
     
         24 . The rifle system of  claim 22  wherein the gas extraction mechanism of the rifle further comprises a reservoir for storing a stored propellant gases created during the firing of the ammunition and an inlet passage for reintroducing the stored propellant gases into the chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The rifle system of  claim 22  wherein the gas extraction mechanism of the rifle further comprises an external tank holding pressurized gas for introduction into the chamber of the rifle after firing of the cartridge case. 
     
     
         26 . The rifle system of  claim 20  wherein the rear extraction mechanism of the rifle comprises a bolt having a recessed bolt face further comprising a tapered undercut wall configured for receiving an expanding cartridge case. 
     
     
         27 . The rifle system of  claim 26  wherein the cartridge case of the ammunition round is configured for expanding into the tapered undercut wall upon firing of the ammunition round thereby forming the rear extraction mechanism. 
     
     
         28 . The rifle system of  claim 20  wherein a body region of the cartridge case extends to a base of the cartridge case. 
     
     
         29 . The rifle system of  claim 20  wherein the cartridge case is formed of a metal material. 
     
     
         30 . The rifle system of  claim 20  wherein the cartridge case is formed of a polymer material.