Abstract: The tracer projectile having a closure disk assembly is described. The tracer projectile includes a projectile base with a tracer cavity formed therein. A pyrotechnic charge is pressed into the tracer cavity and is ignitable by burning propellant such that a trajectory of the projectile is visible when fired. A closure disk assembly covers and seals the tracer cavity. A crown of the closure disk assembly is supported on a ring flange formed by an annular groove in the projectile base. A sidewall of the closure disk assembly surrounds the ring flange. A retaining element is disposed in the annular groove and engages a rim of the closure disk assembly for securing the closure disk assembly to the projectile base over the tracer cavity.

Abstract: Small-, medium-, and large-caliber combustible cartridge cases and propellant combustible containers that are manufactured using reactive injection molding of azido polymers. An injection process for a single propellant combustible charge including the steps of: providing a quantity of azido bearing polymer; providing a quantity of curing agent; optionally providing a quantity of chemical blowing agent; optionally providing a quantity of fibers; optionally providing a quantity of additives and catalysts; and providing a mold defining a male cavity, a female cavity, and an injection port. The injection process further includes mixing together the azido bearing polymer, the curing agent, the optional chemical blowing agent, the optional fibers, the optional additives and catalysts, and injecting the resulting mixture into the mold.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a cartridge case having a shell having a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion and a cylindrical body extending from the first end portion to the second end portion. A reinforcing cap includes a base, a sidewall extending from the base and surrounding the first end portion such that the first edge of the shell abuts an inner face of the base, and a projection extending from the inner face. A ring is pressed against the inner face and forms an air-tight seal between the projection, the inner face, the ring, and the first end portion of the shell. A plurality of indentations form protrusions in the sidewall and the first end portion for interlocking the reinforcing cap to the shell and retaining the ring against the inner face of the base.

Abstract: Nonlethal cartridges adapted to be chambered in a firearm having a barrel that includes rifling are provided. In one example, the cartridge includes a cartridge case and a sabot that is telescopically coupled to the cartridge case and that has a sabot mouth. A projectile includes a polymer base projectile portion disposed in the sabot mouth. A polymer front shell projectile portion is coupled to the polymer base projectile portion and has an outer surface that includes a circular locking rib feature that forms an interference fit with the sabot mouth. The polymer base projectile portion is configured to engage the rifling of the barrel to impart spin stabilization to the nonlethal projectile when propelled from the sabot in response to the expansion of a propellant gas.

Abstract: A container (e.g., an ammunition casing, a rocket housing, or the like) includes a body structure having a wall defining a cavity configured to accept an energetic material, the body structure having a central region situated longitudinally between a first side region and a second side region, wherein the wall within the central region has a thickness that is less than the thickness of the wall within first region and either less than or equal to the thickness within the second side region. A strength reduction pattern is formed at least partially within the central region of the wall such that the strength reduction pattern provides a preferred rupture path when the energetic material is subjected to a predetermined external stimulus.

Abstract: An ammunition primer assembly is provided that includes, but is not limited to a cup having a base and a sidewall, a priming composition located in the cup and disposed on the base, an anvil located in the cup an upper surface, a lower surface and a side surface abutting the sidewall. The anvil defining a central channel formed therethrough. A portion of the base of the cup forms a striking surface. The striking surface is adjacent to a portion of the primer composition that is adjacent to the lower surface of the anvil. The striking surface is offset from a center of the cup.

Abstract: A gun sight for use with a weapon configured for super elevation is disclosed herein. The gun sight includes, but is not limited to, an imaging system that is configured for rotation. The gun sight further includes a drive mechanism that associated with the imaging system and that is configured to rotate the imaging system. The gun sight further includes a gyroscope associated with one of the weapon and the imaging system. The gun sight still further includes a processor that is communicatively coupled with the drive mechanism and the gyroscope. The processor is configured to control the drive mechanism to rotate the imaging system in a manner that causes the imaging system to maintain an initial angular orientation based on information provided by the gyroscope when the weapon is superelevated.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for controlling the trajectory of a projectile having two rotationally decoupled sections, wherein the first section is rotationally decoupled from the second section. The first section of the projectile contains a navigation system. The first section also contains an actuator by which aero-control surfaces on the second section are actuated. The second section may have external aero-spin surfaces which provide a torque counter to the rotation of the base projectile. The apparatus and system also includes embodiments having applications for nose sections of projectiles.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-layered propellant grain is provided. The method of the present disclosure simplifies the setup necessary to produce multi-layered propellants by using industrial equipment that is more energy and space efficient than the machinery that is conventionally employed for such processes. The method comprises providing a first propellant formulation; providing a die configured to provide a structure having an outer shell and a hollow interior when material is extruded therethrough; extruding the first propellant formulation through said die, to produce a first propellant layer having an outer shell defining a hollow interior in the form channel having open ends; providing a second propellant formulation, said second propellant formulation being of low viscosity; injecting said second propellant formulation into said channel defined by said first propellant layer to form a second propellant layer disposed in said channel; and hardening said second propellant layer.

Abstract: A gun sight for use with a weapon configured for super elevation is disclosed herein. The gun sight includes, but is not limited to, an imaging system that is configured for rotation. The gun sight further includes a drive mechanism that associated with the imaging system and that is configured to rotate the imaging system. The gun sight further includes a gyroscope associated with one of the weapon and the imaging system. The gun sight still further includes a processor that is communicatively coupled with the drive mechanism and the gyroscope. The processor is configured to control the drive mechanism to rotate the imaging system in a manner that causes the imaging system to maintain an initial angular orientation based on information provided by the gyroscope when the weapon is superelevated.

Abstract: The invention is a projectile, device and system having a roll control device which may be fixed or deployable, for providing torque counter to the spin of the projectile and providing drag on the projectile. The roll control device includes a guidance collar rotatably attached to the projectile located near a front end of the projectile wherein the guidance collar includes one or more guidance collar aero-surfaces shaped to provide torque counter to the spin on the projectile. The guidance collar aero-surfaces may be controlled by a brake and guidance electronics on the projectile. The invention also includes a body collar fixedly attached to the projectile aft of the guidance collar, wherein the body collar includes one or more body collar aero-surfaces and fixed or deployable drag devices. Another embodiment use only a guidance collar aero-surfaces to orient a fixed drag device relative to an Earth inertial reference frame to create asymmetrical drag on the projectile and thereby altering its trajectory.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a continuous extrusion process for producing a celluloid article including several steps and a celluloid article prepared by the continuous extrusion process.

Abstract: A loading machine for feeding a receiver includes, but is not limited to, a drum cam that is configured to rotate. The drum cam includes, but is not limited to, a first cam path, and a second cam path. A rammer subassembly is positioned proximate the drum cam. The rammer subassembly includes, but is not limited to, a first member that is configured to engage the first cam path and to move longitudinally with respect to the drum cam upon a rotation of the drum cam, and a second member that is configured to telescopically engage the first member and further configured to engage the second cam path and telescopically move with respect to the first member upon the rotation of the drum cam.

Abstract: A system for controlling an object traveling through exoatmospheric space is disclosed herein. The system includes, but is not limited to, a pressure vessel, a pair of solid propellant grains associated with the pressure vessel that is configured to direct a gas into the pressure vessel during combustion, an exhaust nozzle that is in fluid communication with the pressure vessel, and a valve that is coupled with the exhaust nozzle and that is configured to selectively obstruct the gas from venting through the exhaust nozzle.

Abstract: A deployable fairing is driven off of high-pressure gun gases to reduce aerodynamic drag and extend the range of the artillery shell. An artillery shell is provided with a fabric fairing and a piston attached thereto in a rear section of the shell in a stowed state and a chamber. During launch high-pressure gun gasses are captured and stored in the chamber. Once the shell clears the end of the artillery tube, the pressure aft of the shell drops from the high pressure inside the tube to atmospheric pressure outside the tube. The high pressure gun gasses stored in the chamber act over the top surface of the piston to drive the piston aft against the much lower pressure behind the projectile to deploy the fabric fairing attached thereto to reduce the base area of the projectile creating or extending the boat-tail of the shell, hence reduce aerodynamic drag. The aft driven piston engages a locking mechanism that locks the piston in a deployed position.

Abstract: The invention is a projectile, device and system having a roll control device which may be fixed or deployable, for providing torque counter to the spin of the projectile and providing drag on the projectile. The roll control device includes a guidance collar rotatably attached to the projectile located near a front end of the projectile wherein the guidance collar includes one or more guidance collar aero-surfaces shaped to provide torque counter to the spin on the projectile. The guidance collar aero-surfaces may be controlled by a brake and guidance electronics on the projectile. The invention also includes a body collar fixedly attached to the projectile aft of the guidance collar, wherein the body collar includes one or more body collar aero-surfaces and fixed or deployable drag devices. Another embodiment use only a guidance collar aero-surfaces to orient a fixed drag device relative to an Earth inertial reference frame to create asymmetrical drag on the projectile and thereby altering its trajectory.

Abstract: A method for preparing a stabilized nitrocellulose article includes providing a nitrocellulose-containing mat of fibers. The nitrocellulose-containing mat of fibers is treated with a solution that comprises a solvent and a stabilizer to produce the article. The stabilizer is soluble in the solvent. The solvent dissolves the stabilizer and the nitrocellulose in the nitrocellulose-containing mat of fibers is substantially insoluble in the solvent at ambient pressure and temperature. An inflatable bag comprises a shell and the stabilized nitrocellulose article. The shell is formed from a foldable material and has an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface defines an interior cavity of the inflatable bag. The stabilized nitrocellulose article is disposed upon the inner surface of the shell in the interior cavity and is foldable in conformity with at least one fold of the shell.

Abstract: A novel non-toxic IR tracer composition is provided herein which, when incorporated into an IR tracer projectile which is then fired, generates a dim visibility IR trace. Such IR tracer composition is a non-toxic, boron-containing, IR tracer composition comprising: from about 20 to about 30% by weight, or from about 45 to about 60% by weight, of potassium perchlorate; from about 5 to about 16% by weight of a metallic fuel which consists of boron; from about 20 to about 25% by weight, or from about 40 to about 50% by weight, of a non-metallic fuel which consists of sodium salicylate; from about 5 to about 10% by weight of a retardant which consists either of iron carbonate or magnesium carbonate; and an effective amount of binder, wherein the total percentage of such ingredients add up to 100%. A novel IR tracer projectile containing such IR tracer composition for generating a dim visibility IR trace is also provided.

Abstract: Novel non-toxic, heavy-metal free, zinc peroxide-containing, IR tracer compositions are provided herein, which, when incorporated into a medium caliber IR tracer projectile and fired, produce a dim visibility IR trace. Such IR tracer compositions comprise from about 65 to about 75% by weight, of zinc peroxide; from about 15 to about 25% by weight of a fuel which consists of sodium salicylate; and an effective amount of a binder which is selected from the group consisting of calcium resinate and cellulose acetate butyrate. The total percentage of the ingredients adds up to 100%. Medium caliber, i.e., 0.50 caliber, IR tracer projectiles containing such IR tracer compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A jacketed projectile having one-piece steel core provides good performance regarding chamber pressure, barrel wear and accuracy by separating the jacket from a central tapered portion of the core by providing an encircling air gap that facilitates engraving of the jacket during firing.