Gas propelled munitions anti-fouling system

Abstract

A gas propelled munitions anti-fouling system has a case having an open forward mouth end, a rear end, and an interior, the rear end defining a pocket that receives a primer and a passage communicating between the pocket and the interior of the case, a quantity of propellant received within the interior of the case, a quantity of anti-fouling composition received within the interior of the case, and a bullet having a rear portion inserted into the open forward mouth end of the case. The anti-fouling composition may have at least one salt and at least one acid. The acid may be anhydrous. The salt may be sodium chloride or sodium nitrate. The acid may be anhydrous citric acid. The anti-fouling composition may have at least one abrasive. The abrasive may be stannic acid. The anti-fouling composition may be 50% salt by weight and 50% acid by weight.

1 . A cartridge for a firearm comprising:
 a case having an open forward mouth end, a rear end, and an interior;   the rear end defining a pocket that receives a primer;   the rear end defining a passage communicating between the pocket and the interior of the case;   a quantity of propellant received within the interior of the case;   a quantity of dry anti-fouling composition received within the interior of the case; and   a bullet having a rear portion inserted into the open forward mouth end of the case.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the dry anti-fouling composition comprises at least one salt and at least one acid. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the at least one acid is anhydrous. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one salt is at least one of the group consisting of sodium chloride, sodium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, ammonium perchlorate, sodium bisulfate, calcium chloride, lead picrate, potassium permanganate, and copper sulphate. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one acid is at least one of the group consisting of anhydrous citric acid, perchloric acid, acetic anhydride, adenosine triphosphate, maleic anhydride, picric acid, formic anhydride, benzoic anhydride, manganese heptoxide, and phthalic anhydride. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 2  further comprising at least one abrasive. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 6  wherein the at least one abrasive is at least one of the group consisting of stannic acid, boron carbide, calcite, ceramic aluminum oxide, staurolite, pumice, rouge, glass powder, silicon carbide, and borazon. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the dry anti-fouling composition is 50% salt by weight and 50% acid by weight. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the dry anti-fouling composition is 49% salt by weight, 49% acid by weight, and 2% abrasive by weight. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the dry anti-fouling composition and propellant are in a condition selected from the group consisting of abutting one another in distinct layers, mixed together, separated by a barrier, separated by a packet wrapper, and encapsulated as a pellet with a core of dry anti-fouling composition and an outer surface covering of propellant. 
     
     
         11 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the propellant is gunpowder. 
     
     
         12 . A shotshell for a firearm comprising:
 a case having an closed forward end, an open rear end, and an interior;   a shell having an open forward mouth end, a rear end, and an interior, wherein the open forward mouth end of the shell receives the open rear end of the case and the interior of the shell is in communication with the interior of the case;   the rear end of the shell defining a pocket that receives a primer;   a passage communicating between the pocket and the interior of the shell;   a quantity of propellant received within the interiors of the shell and case;   a quantity of dry anti-fouling composition received within the interior of the case;   a wad received within the interior of the case; and   a quantity of shot received within the interior of the case.   
     
     
         13 . The shotshell of  claim 12  wherein the dry anti-fouling composition comprises at least one salt and at least one acid. 
     
     
         14 . The shotshell of  claim 13  wherein the at least one acid is anhydrous. 
     
     
         15 . The shotshell of  claim 13  wherein the at least one salt is at least one of the group consisting of sodium chloride, sodium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, ammonium perchlorate, sodium bisulfate, calcium chloride, lead picrate, potassium permanganate, and copper sulphate. 
     
     
         16 . The shotshell of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one acid is at least one of the group consisting of anhydrous citric acid, perchloric acid, acetic anhydride, adenosine triphosphate, maleic anhydride, picric acid, formic anhydride, benzoic anhydride, manganese heptoxide, and phthalic anhydride. 
     
     
         17 . The shotshell of  claim 13  further comprising at least one abrasive. 
     
     
         18 . The shotshell of  claim 13  wherein the at least one abrasive is at least one of the group consisting of stannic acid, boron carbide, calcite, ceramic aluminum oxide, staurolite, pumice, rouge, glass powder, silicon carbide, and borazon. 
     
     
         19 . The shotshell of  claim 13 , wherein the dry anti-fouling composition is 50% salt by weight and 50% acid by weight. 
     
     
         20 . The shotshell of any  claim 13  wherein the dry anti-fouling composition is 49% salt by weight, 49% acid by weight, and 2% abrasive by weight. 
     
     
         21 . The shotshell of  claim 13  wherein the dry anti-fouling composition and propellant are in a condition selected from the group consisting of abutting one another in distinct layers, mixed together, separated by a barrier, separated by a packet wrapper, and encapsulated as a pellet with a core of dry anti-fouling composition and an outer surface covering of propellant. 
     
     
         22 . The cartridge of  claim 13  wherein the propellant is gunpowder. 
     
     
         23 . A propellant composition for a firearm comprising:
 a quantity of propellant; and   a quantity of dry anti-fouling composition, wherein the dry anti-fouling composition comprises a salt and an acid.   
     
     
         24 . The propellant composition of  claim 23  wherein the acid is anhydrous. 
     
     
         25 . The propellant composition of  claim 23  where in the salt is at least one of the group consisting of sodium chloride, sodium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, ammonium perchlorate, sodium bisulfate, calcium chloride, lead picrate, potassium permanganate, and copper sulphate. 
     
     
         26 . The propellant composition of  claim 23  wherein the acid is at least one of the group consisting of anhydrous citric acid, perchloric acid, acetic anhydride, adenosine triphosphate, maleic anhydride, picric acid, formic anhydride, benzoic anhydride, manganese heptoxide, and phthalic anhydride. 
     
     
         27 . The propellant composition of  claim 23  further comprising at least one abrasive. 
     
     
         28 . The propellant composition of  claim 23  wherein the at least one abrasive is at least one of the group consisting of stannic acid, boron carbide, calcite, ceramic aluminum oxide, staurolite, pumice, rouge, glass powder, silicon carbide, and borazon. 
     
     
         29 . The propellant composition of  claim 23  wherein the dry anti-fouling composition is 50% salt by weight and 50% acid by weight. 
     
     
         30 . The propellant composition of  claim 23  wherein the dry anti-fouling composition is 49% salt by weight, 49% acid by weight, and 2% abrasive by weight. 
     
     
         31 . The propellant composition of  claim 23  wherein the propellant composition is 20% salt by weight, 20% acid by weight, 2% abrasive by weight, and 58% gunpowder by weight.