Metal injection molded primer insert for polymer ammunition

Abstract

The present invention provides an injection molded primer insert for polymer ammunition comprising: a top surface opposite a bottom surface; a primer flash hole aperture positioned in the top surface extending through to the bottom surface; a substantially cylindrical coupling element extending away from the bottom surface forming an interior surface inside the substantially cylindrical coupling element and an exterior surface; a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface, a primer flash aperture positioned in the primer recess to extend through the bottom surface, and a flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface, wherein the flange is adapted to receive a polymer overmolding.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An injection molded primer insert for polymer ammunition comprising:
 a top surface opposite a bottom surface;   a primer flash hole aperture positioned in the top surface extending through to the bottom surface;   a circumferential groove positioned in the bottom surface around the primer flash hole;   a substantially cylindrical coupling element extending away from the bottom surface forming an interior surface inside the substantially cylindrical coupling element and an exterior surface;   a primer recess in the top surface that extends toward the bottom surface,   a primer flash aperture positioned in the primer recess to extend through the bottom surface, and   a flange that extends circumferentially about an outer edge of the top surface, wherein the flange is adapted to receive a polymer overmolding.   
     
     
         2 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises a metal, an alloy, or a ceramic alloy. 
     
     
         3 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises stainless steel or brass. 
     
     
         4 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises 102, 174, 201, 202, 300, 302, 303, 304, 308, 309, 316, 316L, 316Ti, 321, 405, 408, 409, 410, 415, 416, 416R, 420, 430, 439, 440, 446 or 601-665 grade stainless steel steel or Ti6Al4V. 
     
     
         5 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the injection molded primer insert is about 5 percent to about 30 percent smaller than a precured injection molded primer insert. 
     
     
         6 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the injection molded primer insert is about 10 percent to about 20 percent smaller than a precured injection molded primer insert. 
     
     
         7 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the injection molded primer insert is about 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 percent smaller than a precured injection molded primer insert. 
     
     
         8 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the injection molded primer insert further comprises a flash hole groove that extends circumferentially about the primer flash aperture on the top surface in the primer recess. 
     
     
         9 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the flange is a combination of a circumferential groove and one or more notches. 
     
     
         10 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the flange comprises one or more notches or scallops positioned circumferential. 
     
     
         11 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the flange comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 notches positioned circumferential. 
     
     
         12 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the flange comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 scallops positioned circumferential. 
     
     
         13 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises 2-16% Ni; 10-20% Cr; 0-5% Mo; 0-0.6% C; 0-6.0% Cu; 0-0.5% Nb+Ta; 0-4.0% Mn; 0-2.0% Si and the balance Fe. 
     
     
         14 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises 2-6% Ni; 13.5-19.5% Cr; 0-0.10% C; 1-7.0% Cu; 0.05-0.65% Nb+Ta; 0-3.0% Mn; 0-3.0% Si and the balance Fe. 
     
     
         15 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises 3-5% Ni; 15.5-17.5% Cr; 0-0.07% C; 3-5.0% Cu; 0.15-0.45% Nb+Ta; 0-1.0% Mn; 0-1.0% Si and the balance Fe. 
     
     
         16 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises 10-14% Ni; 16-18% Cr; 2-3% Mo; 0-0.03% C; 0-2% Mn; 0-1% Si and the balance Fe. 
     
     
         17 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the injection molded primer insert comprises 12-14% Cr; 0.15-0.4% C; 0-1% Mn; 0-1% Si and the balance Fe. 
     
     
         18 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the injection molded primer insert 1 comprises 16-18% Cr; 0-0.05% C; 0-1% Mn; 0-1% Si and the balance Fe. 
     
     
         19 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the powdered metal comprises 3-12% aluminum, 2-8% vanadium, 0.1-0.75% iron, 0.1-0.5% oxygen, and the remainder titanium. 
     
     
         20 . The injection molded primer insert of  claim 1 , wherein the powdered metal comprises about 6% aluminum, about 4% vanadium, about 0.25% iron, about 0.2% oxygen, and the remainder titanium