US 7,546,917 B1
Pallet adapter and detonation barrier for ammunition
Yuen H. Lam, Morris Plains, N.J. (US); William Paulo, Parsippany, N.J. (US); John A. Sliker, Andover, N.J. (US); and Richard C. Dzury, Dover, N.J. (US)
Assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, D.C. (US)
Filed on Aug. 04, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/161,479.
Int. Cl. F42B 39/00 (2006.01); B65D 1/36 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 206—3  [206/561; 206/565] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for palletizing ammunition and preventing sympathetic detonation of a plurality of cartridges, comprising:
a first pallet adapter comprising rows and columns of cups, the rows and columns of cups being substantially orthogonal to each other, each cup comprising a lower portion that is generally circular and an upper portion that is generally rectangular, the first pallet adapter including side walls located along its entire perimeter, the side walls extending upward beyond the cups;
a plurality of containers for housing the cartridges, wherein one end of each container disposed in one corresponding cup of said cups;
wherein each container includes a body, a cap, and a plurality of generally rectangularly shaped stacking indices;
wherein the plurality of stacking indices include: a first stacking index that is located on a front end of the body; a second stacking index that is located on a rear end of the body; and a third stacking index that is located on the cap;
wherein upon assembly of each container, the second stacking index and the third stacking index join to form a single, double wide stacking index;
wherein the single, double wide stacking index of each container mates with the upper portion of each corresponding cup of said cups of the first pallet adapter;
a detonation barrier disposed on the first pallet adapter, wherein the detonation barrier dampens and absorbs shock waves created by an explosion of one or more cartridges within the container;
a second pallet adapter that is generally similar in construction and design to the first pallet adapter;
wherein the second pallet adapter includes rows and columns of cups, wherein the rows and columns of cups being substantially orthogonal to each other, wherein each cup comprising a lower portion that is generally circular and an upper portion that is generally rectangular, wherein the second pallet adapter includes side walls located along its entire perimeter, and wherein the side walls extend downward beyond the cups; and
wherein the second pallet adapter is disposed in an inverted position with respect to the first pallet adapter, wherein the first stacking index that is located on the front end of the body, mates with the upper portion of each corresponding cup of said cups of the second pallet adapter.