Ammunication casing assembly and method

Abstract

An ammunition casing is disclosed that may include a base configured as a generally hollow cylindrical structure including a flange extending radially outwardly, an ejector groove circumferentially positioned adjacent to the flange, an outer barrel extending between the flange and a mounting face, a primer pocket positioned at a distal end, a flash hole extending from the primer pocket to a proximate end and a coupling groove circumferentially positioned between the mounting face and the flash hole. In addition, the device may include a sleeve having a necked-down portion at a proximal end, a bulkhead positioned at a distal end, a mounting nipple extending from the bulkhead and configured to engage with the coupling groove of the base and a passageway extending through the sleeve. The device may include where the mounting nipple is configured to mate with the coupling groove.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ammunition casing assembly, comprising:
 a base configured as a generally hollow cylindrical structure including a flange extending radially outwardly, an ejector groove circumferentially positioned adjacent to the flange, an outer barrel extending between the flange and a mounting face, a primer pocket positioned at a distal end, a flash hole extending from the primer pocket to a proximate end and a coupling groove circumferentially positioned between the mounting face and the flash hole;   a sleeve having a mouth at a proximal end, a bulkhead positioned at a distal end, a mounting nipple extending from the bulkhead and configured to engage with the coupling groove of the base and a passageway extending through the sleeve; and   wherein the mounting nipple is configured to mate with the coupling groove.   
     
     
         2 . The ammunition casing assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a rivet lip positioned on the base proximate the coupling groove. 
     
     
         3 . The ammunition casing assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the ammunition casing assembly is assembled by fixedly coupling the base and the sleeve by a rivet lip formed at the proximate end of the base and crimped against the mounting nipple of the sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The ammunition casing assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the rivet lip forms a gas-tight seal between the base and the sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The ammunition casing assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the mounting nipple on the sleeve includes a plurality of lobes configured to prevent rotational movement of the sleeve relative to the base. 
     
     
         6 . The ammunition casing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum alloy, stainless steel, brass, carbon steel, polymers, and composite materials. 
     
     
         7 . The ammunition casing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the primer pocket is configured to receive a primer. 
     
     
         8 . The ammunition casing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve is configured to receive a gunpowder charge and the passageway is configured to direct a charge from the primer into the gunpowder charge. 
     
     
         9 . The ammunition casing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mouth comprises a necked-down portion configured to receive a bullet. 
     
     
         10 . A cartridge comprising:
 an ammunition casing comprising:
 a base configured as a generally hollow cylindrical structure including a flange extending radially outwardly, an ejector groove circumferentially positioned adjacent to the flange, an outer barrel extending between the flange and a mounting face, a primer pocket positioned at a distal end, a flash hole extending from the primer pocket to a proximate end and a coupling groove circumferentially positioned between the mounting face and the flash hole; 
 a sleeve having a mouth at a proximal end, a bulkhead positioned at a distal end, a mounting nipple extending from the bulkhead and configured to engage with the coupling groove of the base and a passageway extending through the sleeve; and 
 wherein the base and the sleeve are fixedly coupled by a rivet lip formed at the proximate end of the base and crimped against the mounting nipple of the sleeve to form a gas-tight seal; 
   a primer press-fit into the primer pocket of the base;   a bullet positioned within the mouth of the sleeve; and   a gunpowder charge disposed within the sleeve, wherein the primer is configured to produce a primer charge that passes through the flash hole of the base and into the passageway of the sleeve to ignite the gunpowder charge.   
     
     
         11 . The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the sleeve includes a necked-down portion at the mouth configured to secure the bullet. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the sleeve includes at least one lobe on the mounting nipple configured to interlock with the rivet lip of the base to prevent relative rotational movement between the base and the sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the bulkhead of the sleeve is configured to align axially with the mounting face of the base. 
     
     
         14 . The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting nipple of the sleeve includes a hexagonal cross-sectional profile configured to interlock with the rivet lip. 
     
     
         15 . A method of forming an ammunition casing assembly, the method comprising:
 forming a base including a flange, an ejector groove, an outer barrel, a primer pocket, a flash hole, a coupling groove, a mounting face, and a rivet lip;   forming a sleeve including a necked-down mouth, a bulkhead, and a mounting nipple extending from the bulkhead;   aligning the sleeve concentrically with the base such that the mounting nipple is positioned within the coupling groove and the bulkhead is axially abutting the mounting face;   inserting a riveting tool through the necked-down mouth of the sleeve and applying an axial force to crimp the rivet lip outwardly against the mounting nipple; and   forming a gas-tight seal between the base and the sleeve.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein forming the sleeve further comprises forming a plurality of lobes on the mounting nipple and providing axial and rotational fixation with the base. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising using a rolling process to form the flange, ejector groove, and outer barrel on the base. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the rolling process comprises:
 providing a base substrate; 
 mounting the base substrate onto a rotational spindle with a mounting shaft configured to align with a primer pocket or pilot hole in the base substrate; 
 rotating the base substrate at a predetermined rotational speed using a motor coupled to the rotational spindle; 
 urging a profile wheel against an outer surface of the rotating base substrate, wherein the profile wheel includes features configured to form a flange, an ejector groove, and an outer barrel; and 
 applying a predetermined force by the profile wheel until the flange, ejector groove, and outer barrel are formed on the base substrate. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the profile wheel is composed of a carbide material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the mounting shaft is configured to releasably secure the base substrate to prevent movement relative to the rotational spindle during profiling.