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(11) | EP 1 022 537 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A cartridge with shot scattering means for firing over short distances |
| (57) 1) The cartridge includes a dispersion component (15) positioned in front of the
charge of shot - in the direction of fire - and in contact with it, to cause a considerable
lateral dispersion of the shot even at relatively short distances from the mouth of
the weapon. The dispersion component (15) has a conical shape coaxial with the cartridge
and with the tip turned towards the charge of shot. |
[0001] As is known, cartridges with fragmented ammunition, such as shot for smooth bore hunting rifles, generally include a plastic cartridge case with a metal bottom in which the primer is lodged. The cartridge contains, in order starting with the primer: a charge of powder, a wad of felt, plastic or other material, and the charge of shot. Between the various components of the cartridge there may be cardboard discs to keep them completely separated. At the opposite extremity to the primer, the shot is held in the cartridge case either by folding in the edge of the cartridge case with the so-called star closure, or by placing a cardboard disc on top and folding the edge of the cartridge case in to form a rim which supports the disc.
[0002] In certain types of hunting using a smooth bore rifle such as shooting birds in woodland, shots are normally taken at relatively short distances, even less than 10 meters. At such distances normal cartridges fire a still relatively dense rose of shot, so the target is either missed or, if hit, is excessively damaged by the great density of the shot.
[0003] In order to substantially reduce the problem described above, the present invention employs a cartridge which includes a dispersion component positioned in front - in the direction of fire - of the charge of shot and in contact with it, causing a considerable lateral dispersion of the shot even at short distances from the mouth of the weapon. Said dispersion component is positioned between the shot and the folded rim of the cartridge case, with the cardboard disc where present.
[0004] In a preferred embodiment of the invention said dispersion component, which can be made of cork, plastic or similar material, has a conical shape coaxial with the cartridge and with its tip turned towards the charge of shot. The conical surface of the dispersion component has an angle at the tip of between 30° and 180°, greater dispersion being correlated with a greater angle at the tip of the cone.
[0005] In order to reduce the kinetic energy of the dispersion component and confer on it a large aerodynamic resistance so that it does not become a dangerous missile, it is preferably shaped with a coaxial cavity positioned at the front in the direction of fire, possibly with reinforcing ribs to give it sufficient rigidity and resistance to the pressure of the shot during firing.
[0006] The invention will be understood more clearly on reading the description and examining the appended drawing, which shows a non-limiting example of the invention. In the drawing:
Figures 1 and 2 show views of an axial section and an end section, respectively, of a dispersion component according to the invention;
Figures 3, 4; 5, 6; 7, 8; 9, 10; 11, 12; 13, 14; 15 and 16 show views analogous to figures 1 and 2, respectively, of different forms of construction of dispersion components according to the invention; and
Figure 17 shows a view of a cartridge fitted with a dispersion component according to the invention, sectioned on an axial plane.
[0007] A cartridge for a smooth bore hunting rifle includes a cartridge case 1 (Figure 17) of cardboard, plastic or other similar material, fitted with a brass bottom 3 with a central primer 5 and a plastic plug 7 defining a chamber 9 to contain the powder. The cartridge also includes, proceeding in order from the powder chamber 9 in the direction of fire: a wad 11 of felt, plastic, cardboard or other material, a chamber 13 full of spherical lead shot, and the dispersion component 15 according to the invention. The rim of the cartridge is folded down to form a rim 1A designed to keep the components of the cartridge in position until the moment it is fired.
[0008] The dispersion component 15 (see also figures 1 and 2) is formed of relatively lightweight material, for example cork, and has a conical surface 15A turned towards the shot with an angle at the tip a of approximately 70°; ahead, in the direction of fire, the component is bounded by a flat surface 1B. It has been found that when employing said conical component 15 the rose of shot has a diameter approximately three times that of a cartridge without said component, at the same distance from the mouth of the barrel. For example, at a distance of 20 meters the rose has a diameter of approximately 150 cm, while the rose of a normal cartridge has a diameter of 50 cm.
[0009] The drawing shows many other possible forms of construction of the dispersion component, forms which are particularly suitable for making from plastic. The various forms all have a conical external surface designed to be placed in contact with the shot and incorporate anterior cavities designed to lighten the component and to give it a poorly aerodynamic shape so that the air will tend to slow it down and cause it to fall at a short distance from the weapon. In particular:
- figures 3 and 4 show a dispersion component 25 with a conical cavity 25B coaxial with the conical external surface 25A;
- figures 5, 6; 7, 8 show two dispersion components 35, 45 with cylindrical anterior stepped cavities 35B, 45B coaxial with their external conical surfaces 35A, 45A;
- figures 9, 10; 11, 12 show two dispersion components 55, 65 with respective anterior cavities 55B, 65B defined by a conical internal surface coaxial with the conical external surface 55A, 65A and reinforced internally with interesting ribs 55C, 65C with four and three arms respectively;
- figures 13, 14 show a dispersion component 75 with an anterior cavity 75B defined by a spherical internal surface coaxial with the conical external surface 75A and reinforced internally with intersecting ribs 75C with three arms;
- figures 15, 16 show a dispersion component 85 with four anterior cavities 85B with decreasing elliptical section towards the center of the component, defining reinforcing ribs 85C between themselves.
[0010] It will be understood that the drawing only shows an example given purely as a practical demonstration of the invention, since said invention may vary in shape and arrangement without thereby departing from the scope of the concept underlying the invention. The presence of reference numbers in the appended claims has the purpose of facilitating reading of the claims with reference to the description and does not limit the scope of protection represented by the claims.
1. A cartridge charged with fragmented ammunition characterized in that it includes a
dispersion component (15; 25; 35; 45; 55; 65; 75; 85) positioned in front - in the
direction of fire - of the charge of shot and in contact with it to cause a considerable
lateral dispersion of the shot at short distances from the mouth of the weapon.
2. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said dispersion component
(15; 25; 35; 45; 55; 65; 75; 85) has a conical shape coaxial with the cartridge and
with its tip turned towards the charge of shot.
3. A cartridge as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said conical dispersion component
(15; 25; 35; 45; 55; 65; 75; 85) has an angle at the tip of between 30° and 180°,
greater dispersion being correlated with a greater angle at the tip of the cone.
4. A cartridge as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said conical dispersion component
(15) is made of cork.
5. A cartridge as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said conical dispersion component
(15; 25; 35; 45; 55; 65; 75; 85) is made of plastic.
6. A cartridge as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said plastic conical dispersion
component (25; 35; 45) has at the front - in the direction of fire - a coaxial cavity
(25B; 35B; 45B).
7. A cartridge as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that reinforcing ribs (55C; 65C;
75C; 85C) are housed in said coaxial cavity to stiffen the conical component against
the pressure of the shot during firing.
8. A cartridge charged with fragmented ammunition, such as for example a cartridge with
lead shot for a smooth bore weapon; the whole as described above and as illustrated
by way of example in the appended drawing.