Sealant applicator and method of sealant application for ammunition

Abstract

The invention relates to coating devices and methods for application of sant to ammunition. Provided is a mechanically simple and effective way of weatherproofing or coating high volumes of small caliber sabot ammunition or similar items. The coating device typically consists of a container device, which is chamber of sufficient size and volume to hold sealant, covered by an integral lid comprising a frame holding a diaphram, sealant and means for applying the sealant. The frame and the diaphram are provided with aligning holes. The holes are sized to permit the object to be coated to penetrate through the frame, and deformably penetrate through the diaphram into the chamber and contacting the sealant and means of application. The means to apply the sealant may be a sealant dip, a series of spray jets to spray the sealant, a felt stamp pad, a fluidized bed, various combinations of these or any other type of application means to uniformly coat the object.

We claim: 
     
       1. A sealant applicator for holding and applying sealant to an ammunition, comprising: a chamber containing sealant and a means for applying the sealant; and   an integral lid on the chamber for penetrating the ammunition through into the chamber for sealant application inside the chamber, and removal after sealant application, during removal the integral lid intimately contacting the ammunition and wiping excess sealant from the ammunition.   
     
     
       2. The sealant applicator of claim 1, wherein the means for applying the sealant is a spray system. 
     
     
       3. The sealant applicator of claim 1, wherein the means for applying the sealant is a dip. 
     
     
       4. The sealant applicator of claim 1, wherein the means for applying the sealant is a stamp pad. 
     
     
       5. The sealant applicator of claim 1, wherein the means for applying the sealant is a dip and a stamp pad. 
     
     
       6. The sealant applicator of claim 1, wherein the integral lid is comprised of a frame and a diaphram. 
     
     
       7. The sealant applicator of claim 6, wherein the diaphragm is of hardness Durometer A40-45. 
     
     
       8. The sealant applicator of claim 6, wherein the diaphragm is a silicone rubber. 
     
     
       9. The sealant applicator of claim 6, wherein the diaphram is polysulfide. 
     
     
       10. A method of application of sealant to an ammunition comprising: containing sealant and a means for applying sealant in a chamber;   penetrating the ammunition through the integral lid on the chamber into the chamber   applying sealant to the ammunition inside the chamber   removing the ammunition from the chamber after sealant application, during removal the integral lid intimately contacting the ammunition and wiping excess sealant from the ammunition.   
     
     
       11. A method for application of sealant to an ammunition as claimed in claim 10, wherein the sealant is applied with a spray system. 
     
     
       12. A method for application of sealant to an as claimed in claim 10, wherein the sealant is applied with a dip. 
     
     
       13. A method for application of sealant to an as claimed in claim 10, wherein sealant is applied with a stamp pad. 
     
     
       14. A method for application of sealant to an object as claimed in claim 10, wherein the sealant is applied with a dip and a stamp pad.