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(11) | EP 0 671 598 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 158(3) EPC |
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| (54) | TWO-PART CARTRIDGE WAD WITH PNEUMATIC DAMPING |
| (57) Two-part cartridge wad with pneumatic damping intended to the cartridge manufacturing
industry, the wad being comprised of two interchangeable parts which are assembled
and which correspond to a container (1) and to a damper-seal (8). The container (1)
comprises a series of hinged wings (7), as well as a valve (2) for the regulation
of the damping and the air injection. Both the container (1) and the damper (8) have
side walls (3 and 9) of convexo-concave shape, which are intended to absorb radial
deformations with respect to the symmetry axis of the wad. The damper (8) has a quadruple
function: it withstands the flexion and deformation of the material, the friction
against the walls and the compression of air contained. |
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The object of this application for an Invention Patent is a two-element wad with pneumatic damping, which presents a series of advantages and novelties when compared with the wads currently used in the cartridge sector.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Currently, and as far as the state of the art is concerned, it should be noted that, within the cartridge sector, wads are usually manufactured from a single piece of deformable material, due to the need to protect the barrel of the gun against the leading or copperizing derived from repeated shots and the enhancement of the pattern and the complete plugging of gases created during the combustion of powder.
[0003] However, the use of the current wads presents a series of inconveniences, namely the following ones:
- Lack of pattern uniformity when comparing different shots made with the same cartridge and wad and the same rifle.
- Damping by bending and deformation of the constituent material, therefore producing a non-recoverable energy.
- Sudden deformations when the throttling of the gun is reached. The pellets are embedded within the material.
- The amount of energy consumed during these deformations is high, as well as the friction against the gun barrel.
- Each charge needs a wad with specific dimensions, i.e. each different amount of pellets needs a different wad size, as in the case of different lengths of the cartridge case, even for similar charges.
- The wad has an excessive gunshot, thereby causing appreciation errors to the shooter and third parties.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The two-element wad with pneumatic damping which is the object of this Invention is composed of two interchangeable elements which are joined each other, the case and the damper-shutter.
[0005] The case incorporates a series of bendable flaps and a damping regulating and air-injecting valve. Both the case and the damper present a series of cross-section walls of a convexo-concave shape, able to absorb radial deformations with respect to the symmetry axis of the wad.
[0006] The damper has a four-fold action; it stands the bending and deformation of the material, the friction against the barrel and the compression of the air contained.
[0007] The main advantages of the preconized cartridge wad, compared with conventional wads, are the following ones:
- Enhancement of the pattern.
- Need of less energy for a given charge drive.
- The same wad can be adapted to different cartridge case lengths, and house different charges within the same cartridge.
- Different cases and dampers can be interchanged.
- Flexibility to adapt to barrel throttle and different bores for the same gun bores.
- Perfect gas plugging with the lesser friction.
- Smaller embedding of small-shots on the wad material, which makes the wad-charge separation easier.
- Smaller range of the wad
- Smoother recoil
- Damping system with energy recovery.
To complement the subsequent description and in an effort to better understand the main characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to this descriptive report where, as an illustration and without limitation, the most representative details have been included:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a series of figures analogous to those of the above figures 1, 2 and 3, according to another alternative of execution of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EXECUTION
[0012] In the light of the above mentioned figures and according to the numbering system adopted, it can be seen how it has been carried out a cartridge wad formed by two independent elements, the case (1) and the damper-shutter (8). Once assembled, both elements form the cartridge wad itself.
[0013] The case (1) is characterized because it shows a cylindrical external appearance, with a series of flaps (7) connected to it by its lower part while, in turn, the walls (3) present a series of bores which serve to house such flaps (7).
[0014] When the flaps (7) are folded, they are hosed into such holes, and the case presents an external appearance totally cylindrical.
[0015] The case (1) presents smooth inner walls of a trunco-conical shape open outwards. The bottom or base (4) presents a trunco-conical convex shape, ended in a circular ring which is the base of the case itself, where, in turn, the inner walls end.
[0016] The lower area of the case presents at the foremost part a ring-shape groove which serves to connect the damper-shutter (8), while the central area presents a trunco-conical concave shape. In turn, the central area of the base or wall which serves as the bottom of it (4) houses a valve (2) formed by two non-passing holes coinciding with a thin membrane (5) made of the same material as the case. The upper hole of the valve can have a cylindrical or prismatic shape, while the lower one can be trunco-conical or of a similar shape. The dimensions and the thickness of the membrane can vary depending on the needs.
[0017] It should also be noticed that the membrane can be replaced by a cap able to slide throughout the seat forced by the pressure, and acting similarly to the membrane, or even by a hole regulating the air throttle as needed.
[0018] The damper-shutter (8) presents a vase-shape external appearance, with a chamber delimited by bellow-shaped walls (9) or originated by a sinusoidal curve, with slightly rounded inflections. Such wall (9) is supported onto a cross-sectional wall (12) which acts as closure or base of the bellow which, in turn, has a convex-shaped bottom formed by two trunco-conical shapes (11) and (13) connected each other.
[0019] The same wall (12) has a concave-shaped bottom formed by the two trunco-conical shapes (11) and (13) connected each other.
[0020] The upper part or edge (10) of the damper (8) incorporates a ring-shaped groove. The groove has a double-lip edge to provide a better water-tightness when supported on a flat surface. In turn, there is a ring-shaped rib which matches the case (1) thus preventing that once the damper (8) and the case (1) have been connected, they can be easily detached.
[0021] This invention has tried to solve all the inconveniences presented by current wads. For this purpose, a two-element wad has been selected, and both elements will be manufactured by injection or blowing, and will be made of plastic or non-rigid or semi-rigid material.
[0022] After both elements of the wad have been assembled, it can already be installed into the cartridge.
[0023] When the wad is introduced into the cardboard case, the side flaps will be folded inside their housing, remaining in this condition until the wad comes out from the gun. Then they will unfold to serve as stabilizers and brakes.
[0024] When the wad is located inside the case and resting against the powder charge, the damper will be flexed and the air inside the cartridge will be compressed (such compression being determined by the length of the damper bellow). In this position, the wad receives the small-shot charge on its upper part, and it will be ready to be shot.
[0025] Taking all the above into consideration, when the gun is shot the damper will work by flexing the material of its walls (bellow) along with the friction produced against the walls of the case or the gun. When the bellow of the damper is completely folded, the convex cone of the base of the damper will push the folded walls against the concave cone of the wall of the case which produces a deformation until it adapts to the shape of both cones. Then, the air contained and compressed in the chamber (6) will have reached the necessary pressure to open the valve (2) expelling a jet of compressed air which will impel the small-shot charge recovering part of the energy used for the damping and converting it into a useful impulse for the shot. Should this valve be designed so that it opens when it receives the extra pressure from the gun throttle, it will use part of the energy accumulated during the damping to impulse the small-shot charge and, furthermore, it will permit the wad to pass through the gun throttle as the internal resistance to compression decreases.
Since the cross-sectional wall of the case and the closing wall of the damper have a convex-concave shape, they enable to absorb radial contractions to the symmetry axis of the wad thus making the passing of the wad with the small-shot charge through the throttle being smooth and even.
Furthermore, the valve (2) can act either instantaneously or in a progressive way depending on the needs, by simply varying the opening pressure of the valve or the section of the air hole. Under these circumstances, it is easy to make the air flow almost instantaneously or more gradually, thereby achieving the final damping desired.
When the wad comes out from the gun, the flaps tend to unfold. Such unfolding will be favoured by the air which contacts them at a very high speed. Once they have been unfolded, they do not stop the wad, but even they do stabilize its trajectory, making the segregation of the wad and the small-shot charge quick and smooth with a scarce distortion of the trajectory of the small-shot charge.
When the wad is suddenly segregated from the charge, due to the braking effect of the air, it will fall in the nearby of the shooter, and it will not be easy to doubt whether he has reached his target or not.
1. Two-element wad with pneumatic damping, designed to be used with fire weapons cartridges
and similar, essentially characterized because it is formed by two interchangeable
elements which are joined each other, a case (1) and a damper-shutter (8), manufactured
by injection or blowing, and made of plastic or any other non-rigid or semi-rigid
material, so that the case incorporates a series of peripheral flaps (7) foldable
and able to unfold when the wad comes out from the gun, thus stopping the wad quickly
and stabilizing its trajectory, thereby enabling a quick and smooth segregation of
the wad and the small-shot charge, with small distortion of the trajectory.
2. Two-element wad with pneumatic damping, according to the previous claim, essentially
characterized because the case (1) adopts a cylindrical shape with the flaps (7) protruding
from the base. The flaps are connected to the wad by their lower part, and they are
housed in a folded position inside a series of grooves coinciding with the walls (3)
which are flat and of trunco-conical shape open outwards, with the bottom or base
(4) being of a convex trunco-conical shape ended on a circular ring which serves as
a base for the case. The lower area of the case presents at the outmost part a ring-shaped
grooves able to receive and couple the damper-shutter (8), while the central area
presents a concave trunco-conical shape. The central part of the base (4) presents
a valve (2) formed by two holes joined by a thin membrane (5) made of the same material
of the case, which can be replaced by a cap sliding in its seat by means of the pressure,
or by a hole regulating the air output as needed.
3. Two-element wad with pneumatic damping, according to claims 1 and 2 characterized
because the damper-shutter (8) is vase-shaped with a chamber (6) surrounded by walls
(9) with the shape of a bellow fixed to a cross-sectional wall (12) which forms the
closure or base of such wall (9) and formed by two trunco-conical elements (11) and
(13). The upper part (10) of the damper (8) incorporates a ring-shaped groove which
determines a double-lip edge that guarantees the necessary water-tightness since it
rests on a flat surface. Furthermore, a ring-shaped recess on the upper part is housed
inside such case (1) preventing the segregation of the damper (8) and the case (1).
Such damper (8) can support the flexion and bending of the material, the friction
against the walls and the compression of the air contained during the shot.
4. Two-element wad with pneumatic damping, according to claims 1 to 3 characterized because
since the wad is housed inside the case and resting against the small-shot charge
it has been foreseen that it originates a flexion of the damper (8) with the subsequent
compression of the air contained inside it. In this position, the wad receives the
small-shot charge at its upper part and the cartridge is ready to be shot.
5. Two-element wad with pneumatic damping, according to claims 1 to 4 characterized because
the damper (8) - after the shot - acts through the flexion of the material of its
walls (9) along with the friction against the walls (3) of the case (1) or the gun
so that when the bellow of such walls is completely folded, the convex cone of the
damper base will push the folded walls against the concave cone of the case wall thus
deforming them until they adapt themselves to the shape of both cones.
6. Two-element wad with pneumatic damping, according to claims 1 to 5 characterized because
it has been foreseen that the compressed air contained inside the chamber (6) reaches
sufficient pressure to open the valve (2) expelling a jet of compressed air to impel
the small-shot charge thus recovering part of the energy used for the damping converting
it in a useful impulse for the shot irrespective of the fact that such valve (2) is
designed or not to be opened when it receives the extra pressure from the gun throttle
thus enabling the wad to pass through the gun throttle reducing its internal resistance
to compression. The size of the valve can vary.
7. Two-element wad with pneumatic damping, according to claims 1 to 6 characterized because
the cross-sectional wall of the case and that of the damper closing have the adequate
convex-concave shape to absorb the radial deformations to the symmetry axis of the
wad enabling a perfect shutting for different bore diameters as well as the smooth
and even passing of the wad through the gun throttle.