Projectile cartridge assembly and launcher system for firing the same

Abstract

A cartridge and launcher system for firing projectiles and method of firing the same. The launcher system has a chamber, barrel forward the chamber, and a bolt rearward of the chamber capable of activating a cartridge. The cartridge is a projectile assembly which includes a base insert subassembly having a base and a cartridge combustion insert, and a jacket subassembly having a jacket housing and a thrust post secured therein. The thrust post being couplably engaged with the jacket housing. A casing is couplable to the jacket housing assembly. The combustion insert holds a propellant charge in a combustion chamber, and the thrust post extends therewithin. Upon activation of the charge, gases force the thrust post away from the base, uncoupling the assembly from the base insert subassembly.

1 . A projectile cartridge assembly comprising:
 a projectile;   a base-insert subassembly including:
 a base having a forward end and a rear end, said base forward end including a substantially cylindrical coupling element or skirt for receiving a cartridge casing or cover, said base rear end including a primer recess cavity; and 
 a cartridge combustion insert extending from said base in the forward direction, having a substantially cylindrical open-ended sidewall terminating at a forward open end, and a combustion chamber therein; 
   a jacket subassembly comprising:
 substantially cylindrical cartridge jacket housing having a closed forward end, and an open base end, said open base end having first diameter sized for clearance of a forward end of a thrust post; 
 said thrust post including a spindle or thrust post having a thrust post base end and said thrust post forward end including a disc or head, wherein upon assembly of said jacket subassembly, the thrust post topside end will contact a muzzle-side interior surface of said jacket housing and circumferentially engage an internal sidewall of said jacket housing; and 
   said cartridge casing or cover having a casing base end including a substantially cylindrical shell forming a flange.   
     
     
         2 . The projectile cartridge assembly of  claim 1  wherein said base coupling element or skirt includes an outer diameter increasing as said base coupling element extends in a forward direction for attachment to said cartridge casing or cover. 
     
     
         3 . The projectile cartridge assembly of  claim 1  wherein said cartridge combustion insert is formed integral with said base. 
     
     
         4 . The projectile cartridge assembly of  claim 1  wherein said combustion chamber includes a propellant charge. 
     
     
         5 . The projectile cartridge assembly of  claim 4  wherein said propellant charge includes nitrocellulose propellant or nitroglycerin propellant. 
     
     
         6 . The projectile cartridge assembly of  claim 1  wherein said base is constructed of rigid light-weight metals or alloys. 
     
     
         7 . The projectile cartridge assembly of  claim 6  wherein said base is constructed of aluminum, aluminum alloys, steel, steel alloys, and/or leaded alloys. 
     
     
         8 . The projectile cartridge assembly of  claim 1  including a primer flash hole providing a gas transport cavity, attaching said primer recess cavity with said combustion chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The projectile cartridge assembly of  claim 1  including an ignition primer sized for insertion within said primer recess cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The projectile cartridge assembly of  claim 1  wherein said jacket housing includes a second diameter closer to said forward end than said first diameter, said jacket housing second diameter sized to receive said disc or head in a tighter fit than said jacket housing first diameter. 
     
     
         11 . The projectile cartridge assembly of  claim 1  wherein said cartridge jacket housing includes at last one flat or diametrically opposed flats to facilitate insertion of said cartridge casing or cover over said jacket housing. 
     
     
         12 . The projectile cartridge assembly of  claim 11  wherein said cartridge jacket housing top side is a substantially flat surface, having a beveled edge as said top side descends to an outer surface of said cartridge jacket housing. 
     
     
         13 . The projectile cartridge of  claim 1  wherein said thrust post disc or head includes at least one flat or diametrically opposed flats to facilitate insertion within said jacket housing. 
     
     
         14 . The projectile cartridge of  claim 1  wherein said projectile comprises a fluid carrying capsule retained by or attached to said cartridge casing or cover. 
     
     
         15 . A projectile assembly comprising:
 a projectile;   a base having a forward end and a rear end, said base forward end including a substantially cylindrical coupling element and an insert channel formed internally therein to facilitate insertion of a cartridge casing cover, said base rear end including an aperture for receiving said cartridge combustion insert, said base sidewall having an outer extractor groove;   said cartridge combustion insert extending from said base rear end in the forward direction, having a substantially cylindrical open-ended sidewall terminating at a forward end, and a combustion chamber therein;   a jacket housing having a closed forward end, and an open base end, said jacket housing open base end having first diameter sized for clearance of said cartridge combustion insert;   a thrust post including a spindle post having a thrust post base end and a thrust post forward end including a disc or head, wherein upon assembly said thrust post forward end contacts a muzzle-side interior surface of said jacket housing forward end and circumferentially engages an internal sidewall of said jacket housing; and   said cartridge casing or cover having a casing base end including a substantially cylindrical shell forming a flange, wherein upon assembly said cartridge casing flange inserts within said base insert channel.   
     
     
         16 . The projectile assembly of  claim 15  wherein said cartridge casing flange forms an interference fit with said base channel insert. 
     
     
         17 . The projectile assembly of  claim 15  wherein said thrust post includes a disc element and spindle post extending therefrom. 
     
     
         18 . The projectile assembly of  claim 17  wherein said thrust post extends within a portion of the combustion insert. 
     
     
         19 . The projectile assembly of  claim 15  including a propellant charge provided in the combustion insert such that when a firing mechanism activates the cartridge, said propellant charge is initiated, gases are created which force the thrust post away from the cartridge base. 
     
     
         20 . The projectile assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the thrust post includes at least one vent port formed on a portion of the thrust or spindle post, and optionally, the combustion insert includes at least one channel formed on an exterior surface of the combustion insert. 
     
     
         21 . A projectile assembly for marking a target, comprising:
 a fluid carrying capsule retained by or attached to a cylindrical shell cartridge casing or cover, said capsule having a base end and a forward end, and including an aft-extending skirt having a smaller diameter than a largest diameter of said capsule, said skirt extended from said capsule base end;   a base-insert subassembly including:
 a base having a forward end and a rear end, said base forward end including a substantially cylindrical coupling element or skirt for receiving a cartridge casing or cover, said base rear end including a primer recess cavity; and 
 a cartridge combustion insert extending from said base in the forward direction, having a substantially cylindrical open-ended sidewall terminating at a forward open end, and a combustion chamber therein; 
   a jacket subassembly comprising:
 substantially cylindrical cartridge jacket housing having a closed forward end, and an open base end, said open base end having first diameter sized for clearance of a forward end of a thrust post; 
 said thrust post including a spindle post having a base end and said thrust post forward end including a disc or head, wherein upon assembly of said jacket subassembly, the thrust post topside end will contact a muzzle-side interior surface of said jacket housing and circumferentially engage an internal sidewall of said jacket housing; and 
   said cartridge casing or cover having a casing base end including a substantially cylindrical shell forming a flange, and an open forward end; and wherein said capsule skirt is received by said open forward end of said cartridge casing.   
     
     
         22 . The projectile assembly of  claim 21  wherein said cartridge casing open forward end include knurled grooves exposed at the top surface for receiving said capsule skirt, facilitating a press or friction fit for said capsule. 
     
     
         23 . A method of firing a projectile from a launcher, comprising:
 securing a cartridge into said launcher, said cartridge having:
 a base-insert subassembly including: a base having a forward end and a rear end, said base forward end including a substantially cylindrical coupling element or skirt for receiving a cartridge casing or cover, said base rear end including a primer recess cavity; and a cartridge combustion insert extending from said base in the forward direction, having a substantially cylindrical open-ended sidewall terminating at a forward open end, and a combustion chamber therein; 
 a jacket subassembly comprising: a substantially cylindrical cartridge jacket housing having a closed forward end, and an open base end, said open base end having first diameter sized for clearance of a forward end of a thrust post; 
 said thrust post including a spindle post having a post base end and said thrust post forward end including a disc or head, wherein upon assembly of said jacket subassembly, the thrust post topside end will contact a muzzle-side interior surface of said jacket housing and circumferentially engage an internal sidewall of said jacket housing; and 
 said cartridge casing or cover having a casing base end including a substantially cylindrical shell forming a flange; 
   initiating a propellant charge provided in said cartridge combustion insert, when a high energy primer is not employed;   forcing the thrust post against the jacket housing and away from the cartridge base;   uncoupling the projectile from the base-insert assembly; and   propelling the projectile in ballistic flight.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further including the steps of:
 venting, via at least one vent port formed on a portion of the thrust post and/or at least one channel formed on an exterior surface of the cartridge combustion insert, internal gas pressures produced through initiation of said high energy primer or said propellant charge; and 
 regulating and/or relieving internal gas pressures produced by the initiated propellant charge to ensure proper ballistic operation. 
 
     
     
         25 . A launcher system for firing projectiles comprising:
 a launcher assembly comprising a chamber adapted to receive a cartridge;   a barrel forward the chamber, and a bolt rearward of the chamber, the bolt including a firing mechanism for activating the cartridge; and   a cartridge comprising: a projectile assembly comprising:
 an outer projectile; 
 a jacket housing coupled within an interior portion of the outer projectile; and 
 a thrust post coupled within an interior portion of the jacket housing; 
   a cartridge casing coupled to an end of the projectile assembly and including a combustion insert extending between and interior to the cartridge casing and the projectile assembly;   the thrust post extending within a portion of the combustion insert;   the thrust post comprising a disc element and spindle post extending therefrom; and   a propellant charge provided in the combustion insert such that when the firing mechanism activates the cartridge and the charge is initiated, gases are created which force the thrust post away from the cartridge casing, uncouple the projectile assembly from the cartridge casing, and engage projectile assembly with the launcher to provide ballistic flight of the projectile assembly.   
     
     
         26 . The launcher assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the thrust post includes at least one vent port formed on a portion of the spindle post, and optionally, the combustion insert includes at least one channel formed on an exterior surface of the combustion insert. 
     
     
         27 . The launcher assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one vent port and/or at least one channel allow propellant gases to egress the combustion insert into a larger volume area of the cartridge and/or an exterior portion of the cartridge to regulating and/or relieving internal gas pressures produced by the propellant gases.