Multiple projectile ammunition

Abstract

A casing has a projectile receiving end portion and a primer receiving end portion. A plurality of projectiles is positioned in a stacked configuration within the casing at the projectile receiving end portion. A propellant receiving space is defined within the casing between an innermost one of the projectiles and the primer receiving end portion of the casing. The innermost one of the projectiles has a gas check body attached thereto at an end face thereof exposed to the propellant receiving space of the casing. A first cannulure is positioned between the gas check body and the primer receiving end portion of the casing for defining a protrusion for limiting displacement of the gas check body toward the primer receiving end portion of the casing. A second cannulure is positioned within the projectile receiving end portion of the casing for forming a protrusion that engages an outermost one of the projectiles.

1 . A round of ammunition, comprising:
 a casing having a projectile receiving end portion and a primer receiving end portion;   a plurality of projectiles positioned within the casing at the projectile receiving end portion thereof, wherein said projectiles are arranged in a stacked configuration, and wherein a propellant receiving space is defined within the casing between an innermost one of said projectiles and the primer receiving end portion of the casing; and   a plurality of indention structures formed within the casing, wherein a first one of said indention structures is positioned between the innermost one of said projectiles and the primer receiving end portion of the casing for defining a protrusion for limiting displacement of the innermost one of said protrusions toward the primer receiving end portion of the casing and wherein a second one of said indention structures is positioned within the projectile receiving end portion of the casing for forming a protrusion that engages an outermost one of said projectiles.   
     
     
         2 . The round of ammunition of  claim 1  wherein an intermediate one of said projectiles is positioned between the innermost one of said projectiles and the outermost one of said projectiles such that the innermost one of said projectiles and the intermediate one of said projectiles are both positioned between said first second indention structures. 
     
     
         3 . The round of ammunition of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a force exerting device disposed between two adjacent ones of said projectiles, wherein said two adjacent ones of said projectiles are in abutted engagement with the force exerting device for maintaining the force exerting device in a deflected configuration such that a reactant force is exerted on said two adjacent ones of said projectiles by the force exerting device.   
     
     
         4 . The round of ammunition of  claim 3  wherein an intermediate one of said projectiles is positioned between the innermost one of said projectiles and the outermost one of said projectiles such that the innermost one of said projectiles and the intermediate one of said projectiles are both positioned between said first second indention structures. 
     
     
         5 . The round of ammunition of  claim 1  wherein the innermost one of said projectiles is seated against the first one of said indention structures. 
     
     
         6 . The round of ammunition of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a force exerting device disposed between two adjacent ones of said projectiles, wherein said two adjacent ones of said projectiles are in abutted engagement with the force exerting device for maintaining the force exerting device in a deflected configuration such that a reactant force is exerted on said two adjacent ones of said projectiles by the force exerting device.   
     
     
         7 . A round of ammunition, comprising:
 a casing having a projectile receiving end portion and a primer receiving end portion;   a plurality of projectiles positioned within the casing at the projectile receiving end portion thereof, wherein said projectiles are arranged in a stacked configuration, and wherein a propellant receiving space is defined within the casing between an innermost one of said projectiles and the primer receiving end portion of the casing, wherein the innermost one of said projectiles has a gas check body attached thereto at an end face thereof exposed to the propellant receiving space of the casing; and   a plurality of cannulures formed within the casing, wherein a first one of said cannulures is positioned between the gas check body and the primer receiving end portion of the casing for defining a protrusion for limiting displacement of the gas check body toward the primer receiving end portion of the casing and wherein a second one of said cannulures is positioned within the projectile receiving end portion of the casing for forming a protrusion that engages an outermost one of said projectiles.   
     
     
         8 . The round of ammunition of  claim 7  wherein an intermediate one of said projectiles is positioned between the innermost one of said projectiles and the outermost one of said projectiles such that the innermost one of said projectiles and the intermediate one of said projectiles are both positioned between said first second cannulures. 
     
     
         9 . The round of ammunition of  claim 7  wherein:
 the projectile receiving end portion of the casing has a substantially cylindrical cross-sectional configuration; 
 the gas check body has a substantially round cross sectional configuration; and 
 the gas check body has an outside diameter approximately the same as an inside diameter of the projectile receiving end portion of the casing. 
 
     
     
         10 . The round of ammunition of  claim 7  wherein the gas check body is engaged with a gas check body engagement surface of the innermost one of said projectiles. 
     
     
         11 . The round of ammunition of  claim 10  wherein the gas check body engagement surface is substantially flat. 
     
     
         12 . The round of ammunition of  claim 10  wherein the innermost projectile includes a gas check body retaining structure extending through an aperture within the gas check body. 
     
     
         13 . The round of ammunition of  claim 12  wherein the gas check body retaining structure in integral with end extends from the gas check body engagement surface of the innermost one of said projectiles. 
     
     
         14 . The round of ammunition of  claim 13  wherein the gas check body engagement surface is substantially flat. 
     
     
         15 . The round of ammunition of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a force exerting device disposed between two adjacent ones of said projectiles, wherein said two adjacent ones of said projectiles are in abutted engagement with the force exerting device for maintaining the force exerting device in a deflected configuration such that a reactant force is exerted on said two adjacent ones of said projectiles by the force exerting device.   
     
     
         16 . A round of ammunition, comprising:
 a casing having a projectile receiving end portion and a primer receiving end portion;   a plurality of projectiles positioned within the casing at the projectile receiving end portion thereof, wherein said projectiles are arranged in a stacked configuration, and wherein a propellant receiving space is defined within the casing between an innermost one of said projectiles and the primer receiving end portion of the casing, wherein the innermost one of said projectiles has a gas check body attached thereto at an end face thereof exposed to the propellant receiving space of the casing;   a plurality of cannulures formed within the casing, wherein a first one of said cannulures is positioned between the gas check body and the primer receiving end portion of the casing for defining a protrusion for limiting displacement of the gas check body toward the primer receiving end portion of the casing and wherein a second one of said cannulures is positioned within the projectile receiving end portion of the casing for forming a protrusion that engages an outermost one of said projectile; and   a force exerting device disposed between two adjacent ones of said projectiles, wherein said two adjacent ones of said projectiles are in abutted engagement with the force exerting device for maintaining the force exerting device in a deflected configuration such that a reactant force is exerted on said two adjacent ones of said projectiles by the force exerting device.   
     
     
         17 . The round of ammunition of  claim 16  wherein:
 the projectile receiving end portion of the casing has a substantially cylindrical cross-sectional configuration; 
 the gas check body has a substantially round cross sectional configuration; and 
 the gas check body has an outside diameter approximately the same as an inside diameter of the projectile receiving end portion of the casing. 
 
     
     
         18 . The round of ammunition of  claim 16  wherein:
 the gas check body is engaged with a gas check body engagement surface of the innermost one of said projectiles; and 
 the gas check body engagement surface is substantially flat 
 
     
     
         19 . The round of ammunition of  claim 18  wherein the innermost projectile includes a gas check body retaining structure extending through an aperture within the gas check body. 
     
     
         20 . The round of ammunition of  claim 19  wherein the gas check body retaining structure in integral with end extends from the gas check body engagement surface of the innermost one of said projectiles.