Ammunition cartridge

Abstract

Ammunition cartridge comprising a rigid casing including a tubular sleeve and a base closing an end of the casing, a projectile mounted at another end of the casing, a propellant charge contained inside the casing, and an ignition device. The projectile comprises a solid material body having a volume V1 extending between a tip to a trailing end, wherein the projectile further comprises a cavity that extends into the body from the trailing end, a volume V2 of the cavity being at least fifteen percent (15%) of a combined volume V1+V2 of the projectile solid material and cavity: V2>0.15×(V1+V2).

1 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . Ammunition cartridge comprising a rigid casing including a tubular sleeve and a base closing an end of the casing, a projectile mounted at another end of the casing, a propellant charge contained inside the casing, and an ignition device, the projectile comprising a solid material body having a volume V1 extending between a tip to a trailing end, wherein the casing is made of at least two parts including a base and a tubular sleeve that are assembled together, the tubular sleeve being made of stainless steel, and in that the projectile comprises a cavity that extends into the body from the trailing end, a volume V2 of the cavity being between fifteen percent (15%) and forty percent (40%) of the combined volume V1+V2 of the projectile solid material and cavity: 0.15×(V1+V2)<V2<0.4×(V1+V2). 
     
     
         36 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 35 , wherein the volume V2 of the cavity is at least twenty percent (20%) of the combined volume V1+V2 of the projectile solid material and cavity: V2>0.20×(V1+V2). 
     
     
         37 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 35 , wherein the volume V2 of the cavity is less than thirty percent (30%) of the combined volume V1+V2 of the projectile solid material and cavity: V2<0.30×(V1+V2). 
     
     
         38 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 35 , wherein a length (L) of the casing divided by a maximum diameter (D) of the casing is in a range of 4.5 to 7. 
     
     
         39 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 35 , wherein a depth of the cavity from the trailing end is in a range of 1 to 3 calibers. 
     
     
         40 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 39 , wherein the depth of the cavity from the trailing end is at least 1.5 calibers. 
     
     
         41 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 39 , wherein the depth of the cavity from the trailing end is at most 2.5 calibers. 
     
     
         42 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 35 , wherein the propellant fills an inside of the casing and extends at least partially into the cavity of the projectile. 
     
     
         43 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 42 , wherein the propellant is in the form of loose granules or in a solid pre-form. 
     
     
         44 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 35 , wherein the projectile comprises a flight destabilizing device comprising a consumable material mounted in the cavity and configured to deplete as the projectile flies thus offsetting a centre of gravity (CG) of the projectile from a centre longitudinal axis (A) of the projectile. 
     
     
         45 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 44 , wherein the consumable material comprises or consists of a pyrotechnically active material. 
     
     
         46 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 44 , wherein the consumable material is mounted in a recess in an end wall of the cavity, the recess being symmetrically or asymmetrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal centre axis (A). 
     
     
         47 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 46 , wherein the consumable material comprises an additional layer arranged around the longitudinal centre axis in such a manner that the centre of gravity (CG) of the projectile remains on its centre longitudinal axis even as the additional layer is thinned as it is being consumed. 
     
     
         48 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 35 , wherein the projectile comprises a flight destabilizing device mounted in the cavity, comprising a consumable material and an explosive charge, the consumable material configured to deplete as the projectile flies until such time where it ignites the explosive charge to destabilize the projectile. 
     
     
         49 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 35 , wherein the projectile comprises a flight destabilizing device mounted in the cavity, comprising an explosive charge, ignited by an electric ignition device comprising a conductive coil configured to induce an electric current in the presence of a magnetic field to detonate said explosive charge. 
     
     
         50 . Ammunition cartridge comprising a rigid casing including a tubular sleeve and a base closing an end of the casing, a projectile mounted at another end of the casing, a propellant charge contained inside the casing, and an ignition device, the projectile comprising a solid material body having a volume V1 extending between a tip to a trailing end, wherein the projectile further comprises a cavity that extends into the body from the trailing end and a flight destabilizing device mounted in the cavity. 
     
     
         51 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 50 , wherein a volume V2 of the cavity is at least fifteen percent (15%) of a combined volume V1+V2 of the projectile solid material and cavity: V2>0.15×(V1+V2). 
     
     
         52 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 50 , wherein, the flight destabilizing device comprises a consumable material configured to deplete as the projectile flies thus offsetting a centre of gravity (CG) of the projectile from a centre longitudinal axis (A) of the projectile. 
     
     
         53 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 52 , wherein the consumable material is mounted in a recess in an end wall of the cavity, the recess being asymmetrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal centre axis (A). 
     
     
         54 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 53 , wherein the consumable material comprises an additional layer arranged around the longitudinal centre axis in such a manner that the centre of gravity (CG) of the projectile remains on its centre longitudinal axis even as the additional layer is thinned as it is being consumed. 
     
     
         55 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 50 , wherein the flight destabilizing device comprises a consumable material and an explosive charge, the consumable material configured to deplete as the projectile flies until such time where it ignites the explosive charge to destabilize the projectile. 
     
     
         56 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 52 , wherein the consumable material comprises or consists of a pyrotechnically active material. 
     
     
         57 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 50 , wherein the flight destabilizing device comprises an explosive charge, ignited by an electric ignition device comprising a conductive coil configured to induce an electric current in the presence of a magnetic field to detonate said explosive charge. 
     
     
         58 . Ammunition cartridge comprising a rigid casing including a tubular sleeve and a base ( 14 ) closing an end of the casing, a projectile mounted at another end of the casing, a propellant charge contained inside the casing, and an ignition device, a length of the casing divided by a maximum diameter of the casing being in a range of 4.5 to 7, the projectile comprising a solid material body having a volume V1 extending between a tip to a trailing end, wherein the projectile comprises a cavity that extends into the body from the trailing end, a volume V2 of the cavity being between fifteen percent (15%) and forty percent (40%) of the combined volume V1+V2 of the projectile solid material and cavity: 0.15×(V1+V2)<V2<0.4×(V1+V2), and in that a depth of the cavity from the trailing end is in a range of 1 to 3 calibers. 
     
     
         59 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 58 , wherein the volume V2 of the cavity is at least twenty percent (20%) of the combined volume V1+V2 of the projectile solid material and cavity: V2>0.20×(V1+V2). 
     
     
         60 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 58 , wherein the volume V2 of the cavity is less than thirty percent (30%) of the combined volume V1+V2 of the projectile solid material and cavity: V2<0.30×(V1+V2). 
     
     
         61 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 58 , wherein the depth of the cavity from the trailing end is at least 1.5 calibers. 
     
     
         62 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 58 , wherein the depth of the cavity from the trailing end is at most 2.5 calibers. 
     
     
         63 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 58 , wherein the propellant fills an inside of the casing and extends at least partially into the cavity of the projectile. 
     
     
         64 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 63 , wherein the propellant is in the form of loose granules or in a solid pre-form. 
     
     
         65 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 58 , wherein the casing is made of at least two parts including a base and a tubular sleeve that are welded together. 
     
     
         66 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 65 , wherein the tubular sleeve is made of stainless steel. 
     
     
         67 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 65 , wherein the tubular sleeve is made of a sheet of metal rolled into a tube and welded along a seam. 
     
     
         68 . Ammunition cartridge according to  claim 65 , wherein the tubular sleeve is made of an extruded tube of metal.