Overmolded high strength polymer-based cartridge casing for blank and subsonic ammunition

Abstract

A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing for blank or subsonic ammunition has a reduced volume and includes a mouth, a neck extending away from the mouth, and a shoulder extending below the neck. Additionally, the cartridge includes an extraction rim and a groove, a primer pocket and a flash hole in fluid communication with the reduced volume. An inner wall encloses the reduced volume. The mouth has a first diameter and the inner wall has a second diameter and the second diameter is approximately equal to the first diameter. Further, the neck, shoulder, rim, groove, and inner wall all comprise a polymer. Further, the inner wall can be a metallic sleeve overmolded by a polymer sheath. The reduced volume of the propellant chamber permits only enough propellant to propel a bullet engaged in the cartridge casing at subsonic speeds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing for at least one of blank or subsonic ammunition inclosing a reduced volume comprising:
 a first end comprising a mouth;   a neck extending away from the mouth;   a shoulder extending below the neck and away from the first end;   a second end, opposite the first end, comprising:
 an extraction rim and a groove; and 
 a primer pocket in fluid communication with a flash hole, the flash hole in fluid communication with the reduced volume; and 
   an inner wall, extending between the first end and the second end, enclosing the reduced volume;   wherein the mouth has a first diameter and the inner wall has a second diameter and the second diameter is approximately equal to the first diameter, and   wherein the neck, shoulder, rim, groove, and inner wall all comprise a polymer.   
     
     
         2 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced volume of the propellant chamber permits only enough propellant to propel a bullet engaged in the cartridge casing at subsonic speeds. 
     
     
         3 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 2 , wherein the bullet comprises a third diameter and the second diameter is approximately equal to the third diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 1 , wherein the second diameter is constant over a length of the inner wall until the second end. 
     
     
         5 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 1 , wherein the second diameter is constant over a length of the inner wall until the flash hole. 
     
     
         6 . A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing for at least one of blank or subsonic ammunition inclosing a reduced volume comprising:
 an insert comprising:
 an extraction rim and a groove both disposed at one end of the insert; and 
 a primer pocket in fluid communication with a flash hole, the flash hole in fluid communication with the reduced volume; 
   a sleeve section, comprising a metal or a metal alloy, and further comprising:
 a first end comprising a mouth to receive a bullet; 
 a neck extending away from the mouth; 
 a second end opposite the first end; 
 a wall extending between the first end and the second end, enclosing at least a portion of the reduced volume; and 
 a first diameter approximately constant over a length of the wall; 
   a polymer sheath formed over the wall of the sleeve section and the insert, comprising:
 a shoulder extending below the neck and away from the first end; and 
 an outside wall extending the length of the sleeve section. 
   
     
     
         7 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 6 , wherein the insert and the sleeve section are integral and the insert is a metal or a metal alloy. 
     
     
         8 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 6 , wherein the sleeve section further comprises:
 a ridge formed on the wall; and   a key formed on the ridge;   wherein both the ridge and the key engage the polymer sheath, and   wherein the key comprises at least one of a flat portion, a raised portion, or dimples.   
     
     
         9 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 6 , wherein the sleeve section further comprises knurling. 
     
     
         10 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 6 , wherein the insert is polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 6 , wherein the polymer sheath further comprises a neck extending away from the mouth. 
     
     
         12 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 6 , wherein the polymer sheath further comprises:
 an upper component comprising the sleeve section; and   a lower component comprising the insert,   wherein the upper component and lower component are joined together at an overlap/underskirt/taper portion.   
     
     
         13 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 6 , wherein the reduced volume based on the first diameter permits only enough propellant to propel the bullet engaged in the cartridge casing at subsonic speeds. 
     
     
         14 . A high strength polymer-based cartridge casing for at least one of blank or subsonic ammunition inclosing a reduced volume comprising:
 an insert comprising:
 an extraction rim and a groove both disposed at one end of the insert; and 
 a primer pocket in fluid communication with a flash hole, the flash hole in fluid communication with the reduced volume; 
   a sleeve section, comprising a metal or a metal alloy, and further comprising:
 a first end and a second end opposite the first end; 
 a wall extending between the first end and the second end, enclosing at least a portion of the reduced volume; and 
 a first diameter constant over a length of the wall; 
   a polymer sheath formed over the wall of the sleeve section and the insert, comprising:
 a mouth to receive a bullet; 
 a neck extending away from the mouth; 
 a shoulder extending below the neck and away from the first end; and 
 an outside wall extending the length of the sleeve section. 
   
     
     
         15 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 14 , wherein the insert and the sleeve section are integral and the insert is a metal or a metal alloy. 
     
     
         16 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 14 , wherein the sleeve section further comprises:
 a ridge formed on the wall; and   a key formed on the ridge;   wherein both the ridge and the key engage the polymer sheath, and   wherein the key comprises at least one of a flat portion, a raised portion, or dimples.   
     
     
         17 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 14 , wherein the sleeve section further comprises knurling. 
     
     
         18 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 14 , wherein the insert is polymer. 
     
     
         19 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 14 , wherein the polymer sheath further comprises a neck extending away from the mouth. 
     
     
         20 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 14 , wherein the polymer sheath further comprises:
 an upper component comprising the sleeve section; and   a lower component comprising the insert,   wherein the upper component and lower component are joined together at an overlap/underskirt/taper portion.   
     
     
         21 . The high strength polymer-based cartridge casing of  claim 14 , wherein the reduced volume based on the first diameter permits only enough propellant to propel the bullet engaged in the cartridge casing at subsonic speeds.