IMPROVED PROPELLANT SYSTEM

摘要

A propellant load arrangement for a large caliber ammunition cartridge case accomodating a ballistic projectile includes a plurality of relatively flat shaped segments of propellant assembled face to face in an ordered arrangement (110, 112). The faces of the segments of the arrangement are optionally parallel or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge case and essentially occupy the entire available propellant volume of the case. The outer peripheral geometry of each segment of the ordered arrangement is shaped to match the corresponding cartridge casing interior geometry and each segment of the ordered arrangement also has a shaped central interior recess opening as required of a geometry of any interfering internal cartridge part and any projectile geometry present. Relatively cool-burning segments can be combined with relatively hot-burning segments in stratified arrangements to provide a cooler boundary layer and reduce tube erosion.