Pre-formed diffuser disk for primer pocket insertion

Abstract

A process for loading a primer into an ammunition cartridge while concurrently forming a diffuser disk includes stamping a sheet to pre-form a diffuser disk therein. The primer, pre-formed diffuser disk and primer pocket of the cartridge are aligned with one another and thereafter, the primer is pressed through the pre-formed diffuser disk into the primer pocket. As the primer is pressed into the pre-formed diffuser disk, the primer severs one or more attachment points to release the pre-formed disk from the sheet and form the diffuser disk while the primer is loaded.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for loading a diffuser disk into an ammunition cartridge, comprising:
 stamping a sheet to pre-form a disk having a diffuser aperture, wherein the pre-formed disk remains connected to the sheet by an attachment point;   centering the diffuser aperture between a primer and a primer pocket of the ammunition cartridge; and   pressing the primer and the pre-formed disk into the primer pocket thereby cutting the attachment point to form the diffuser disk concurrently with installation of the primer.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the stamping of the pre-formed disk comprises forming the attachment point about an outer perimeter of the pre-formed disk by stamping at least one semi-circular recessed arc between the outer perimeter of the pre-formed disk and an inner perimeter of the sheet. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the stamping step further comprises stamping the pre-formed disk with a plurality of attachment points about an outer perimeter of the pre-formed disk. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of attachment points are radially symmetrically disposed about the outer perimeter. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 3 , comprising stamping three attachment points spaced apart from one another around the outer perimeter by substantially 120 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is a copper sheet. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet has a thickness of substantially about 0.005 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the centering step comprises positioning the primer pocket above the diffuser aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the stamping step further comprises stamping at least one alignment aid in the sheet, wherein the alignment aid is configured to aid in centering the diffuser aperture with the primer pocket. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , further comprising stamping a plurality of alignment aids in the sheet. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of alignment aids are stamped proximate to an outer perimeter of the sheet. 
     
     
         12 . A pre-formed diffuser disk configured for insertion into a primer pocket of an ammunition cartridge, the pre-formed diffuser disk comprising:
 a sheet;   a disk formed in the sheet and retained therein by at least one attachment point connecting a perimeter of the disk to the sheet;   a center hole defined through the disk; and   a means, formed in the sheet, for aligning the center hole to the primer pocket.   
     
     
         13 . The pre-formed diffuser disk of  claim 12 , comprising a plurality of attachment points. 
     
     
         14 . The pre-formed diffuser disk of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of attachment points is separated from an adjacent attachment point by a semi-circular recessed arc defined through the sheet. 
     
     
         15 . The pre-formed diffuser disk of  claim 14 , wherein each semi-circular recessed arc has a curvature substantially equal to about 120 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The pre-formed diffuser disk of  claim 12 , wherein the alignment means comprises at least one alignment aid formed proximate an outer perimeter of the sheet. 
     
     
         17 . The pre-formed diffuser disk of  claim 16 , comprising a plurality of alignment aids, each alignment aid positioned substantially equally from an adjacent alignment aid about the outer perimeter of the sheet. 
     
     
         18 . The pre-formed diffuser disk of  claim 16 , comprising a plurality of alignment aids defined substantially an equal distance from one another and proximate an outer perimeter of the sheet, each alignment aid defining a hole configured to engage a gear of a primer loading machine, wherein the primer loading machine engaged to one or more alignment aids substantially concentrically aligns a primer below the center hole and substantially concentrically aligns the primer pocket above the center hole. 
     
     
         19 . The pre-formed diffuser disk of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more indents formed in a bottom surface of the disk, wherein the one or more indents are configured to engage one or more anvil legs of a primer. 
     
     
         20 . A pre-formed diffuser disk for insertion into a primer pocket of an ammunition cartridge, comprising:
 a thin metal sheet;   one or more disks formed in the sheet, wherein each disk is connected to the sheet by two or more attachment tabs, each attachment tab separated from an adjacent attachment tab by a recessed curvature defined through the sheet forming an outer disk perimeter;   a center hole defined through each of the one or more disks;   two or more alignment tabs formed in the sheet and configured to concentrically align each center hole with a primer pocket, wherein an outer diameter of each disk is substantially equal to a maximum inner diameter of the primer pocket; and   one or more indents formed in a bottom surface of each of the disks, wherein the one or more indents are configured to engage at least one anvil leg of a primer.