GB2514325A

GB2514325A - Bullet assembly apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2514325A
Application number: GB201305434A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian David Platts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-26
Filing date: 2013-03-26
Publication date: 2014-11-26
Also published as: GB201305434D0

Abstract

A cartridge assembly device (1) comprises a base (20) upon which a cartridge case Y filled with powder (propellant) Z. A bullet X is placed in the open end of the cartridge Y. Depressing handle (30) causes sliding shaft 21A to rise causing said case and bullet to move in contact with shaft 11A. The distal end of said shaft 11B is in contact with a spring 15 and a piston 12 moving in a cylinder 13. As the shaft moves upwards the bullet enters the container until it contacts the powder therein. Compressive force then causes pressure in the cylinder to rise and the pressure generated is displayed on the pressure gauge 14. The handle is raised until a desired pressure is achieved. The objective of the device is to ensure consistent compressibility of the propellant powder resulting in uniformity of each cartridge when fired.

Description

TITLE: Bullet Assembly Annaratus The present invention relates to a bullet assembly apparatus.

Many people who shoot make their own bullets especially for guns which bullets are no longer mass produced. To do this an open ended bullet case is first filled with a required amount of powder explosive, and the bullet then placed on the case open end. The bullet and case are then placed in a press which squeezes the bullet and ease together to a fixed desired length.

A problem with this process is that the grains of powder are not uniform (all the same), and even though the powder is very accurately measured when poured into the casings, the levels of powder are all varied. So when the bullet is pressed into a case to a fixed desired length the powder compressions are all varied. This affects the performance of each bullet produced, and thus it is difficult to get consistency between bullets.

The invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a bullet assembly apparatus comprising: a) a base to receive the closed end of a bullet case, b) a stop to engage the tip of a bullet in thc open end of the bullet case, c) drive means to drive the base and stop together, d) and a pressure measurement device to measure the pressure applied by the drive means, in use the drive means is used to compress the bullet into the bullet case until a predetermined pressure is reached.

Preferably the stop is connected to one end of a first shaft, and the other end of the shaft is connected to the pressure measurement device. Preferably the shaft slides in a first housing and is biased towards the tip of the bullet. Preferably the other end of the shaft is connected to a piston which slides in a cylinder containing fluid and the pressure measurement device includes a pressure gauge which measures pressure of the fluid.

Preferably the base is supported at one end of a shaft which slides in a second housing connected to the first housing, and the drive means includes a lever to bias the second shaft and base towards the stop.

Preferably the distance of the stop from the base can be varied. Preferably the distance can be varied by changing the distance of the first frame relative to the second frame.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing showing a óross section view.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a bullet assembly apparatus I. Apparatus I is used to drive a bullet X into a bullet case Y filled with explosive Z. Apparatus I has a stop 10th engage the tip of bullet)( in the open end of the bullet caseY.

Stop lOis connected to one end 1 IA ofa first shaft 11. The other end 118 of the first shaft 11 is connected to a piston 12 which slides in a cylinder 13 containing fluid 13A, such as brake fluid. A pressure measurement device in the form of a pressure gauge 14 measures pressure of the fluid. A spring 15 in the cylinder 13 biases the shaft 11 and stop 10 towards the tip of the bullet. Shaft 11 slides in first housing 16 which also supports the cylinder 13. Housing 16 includes a hollow projection 17 with a threaded end I 7A.

Apparatus I has a base 20 to receive the closed end of a bullet case. The base 20 is supported at one end 2 1A of a second shaft 21 which slides in a second housing 22 with a threaded aperture 23 which received the threaded end of projection 17 connected to the first housing 16. A second end 218 of shaft 21 is connected to a drive means in the form of a lever 30 pivoted to second housing 22 to bias the second shaft 21 and base 20 towards the stop 10 when the lever is lowered (and to bias the second shaft 21 and base 20 away from the stop 10 when the lever is raised) , and hence drive the base and stop together.

The distance of the stop 10 from the base 20 can be varied by changing the distance of the first frame relative to the second frame by rotating first housing projection 17 on first housing 16 relative to second housing aperture 23.

In use, a bullet case Y filled with explosive has a bullet X placed in its open end. The lever 30 is raised and bullet case Y and bullet X is placed on stop 20 (see Figure 1). Lever 30 is then lowered so driving base 20 towards stop 10 until bullet tip hits the stop. Bullet X is then pushed into the stop by lowering the lever 30 still further and bullet X is pushed into the bullet case X whilst forcing the first shaft to push piston 12 into cylinder 13 (see Figure 2). The pressure of the oil is measured by gauge 14. The lever 30 is lowered until a predetermined pressure is measured.

In use the drive means is used to compress the bullet into the bullet case until a desired predetermined pressure is reached. This ensures the pressure on the powder is equal in each bullet and bullet case produced. The first and second frames are also adjusted so that the base and stop are set at a desired distance apart to accommodate different sizes of bullet and bullet cases.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. For example, the pressure measurement device may be a digital device, e.g. using a strain gauge.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.