Cartridge casing

Abstract

A cartridge casing comprises a casing tube and a head cap. The casing tube bounds at least part of the head cap. The head cap is being fixed relative to the tube by a welding process.

1 . A cartridge casing comprising:
 a casing tube having a first end;   wherein the casing tube bounds at least part of a head cap entered into the first end; and   wherein the head cap is fixed relative to the casing tube by a bond provided by a laser welding process around an internal circumference of the casing tube at an interface between the casing tube and head cap.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge casing of  claim 1  wherein:
 the casing tube is substantially cylindrical and has an internal diameter at the first end which receives the head cap; and 
 the head cap has an external diameter at least part way along its outer periphery sized such that it fits within the first end of the casing tube. 
 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge casing of  claim 2  wherein the relative dimensions of the internal diameter at the first end of the casing tube and the external diameter of corresponding region of the head cap are such when the head cap is located in the casing tube they form an interference fit with one another. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge casing of  claim 1  wherein the casing tube further comprises a corrugation towards the first end of the casing tube which extends at least part way around the internal circumference of the casing tube. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge casing of  claim 4  wherein the corrugation is provided spaced apart from the first end of the casing tube such that the internal circumference of the first end is substantially constant in a region between the first end and the corrugation. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge casing of  claim 5  wherein, when assembled, the head cap extends along the inside of the casing tube towards the corrugation. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge casing of  claim 6  wherein the external diameter of an outer periphery of the head cap that is configured to fit within the first end of the casing tube terminates in an outwardly protruding shoulder, and when the casing tube and head cap are assembled, the casing tube extends towards the outwardly protruding shoulder. 
     
     
         8 . A cartridge comprising a projectile mounted to the cartridge casing of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacturing a cartridge casing, comprising:
 forming a casing tube by a first process, the casing tube having a first end;   forming a head cap by a second process; and   joining the casing tube and head cap by a third process including
 entering the head cap into the first end of the casing tube wherein the casing tube bounds at least part of the head cap entered into the first end, and 
 bonding the head cap and casing tube together using a laser welding process around an internal circumference of the casing tube at an interface between the casing tube and head cap, such that the head cap is fixed relative to the casing tube by a bond provided by the laser welding process. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the first process comprises:
 providing a material sheet; and 
 deforming the material sheet into a substantially cylindrical tube. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein:
 the material sheet is deformed such that the cylindrical tube is open at a first end and closed at a second end opposite to the first end; and 
 removing the closed end of the cylindrical tube such that the cylindrical tube is open at both ends. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the casing tube and head cap are welded to one another by applying a welding process to the external surface of the casing tube, radially outward of where the casing tube is in contact with the external diameter of the head cap. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the casing tube and head cap are welded to one another by applying a welding process to an interface between the casing tube and head cap on the external surface of the casing tube and head cap.