Abstract:
A case trimmer and chamfer tool preferably includes a trim die, an end cutter, a crank, an outer chamfer blade, an inner chamfer blade and a height adjustment ring. The end cutter is slidably retained in the trim die. The inner and outer chamfer blades are spring loaded. The end cutter trims a length of the cartridge case. The inner and outer wall of the cartridge case are chamfered by the inner and outer chamfer blades. An adjustment boss extends downward from one end of the crank and a rotating knob is retained on the other end thereof. The end cutter is retained in the adjustment boss. The height adjustment ring is retained on the adjustment boss. A second embodiment is adapted for handling straight cartridge cases instead of rifle cartridge cases. The case trimmer and chamfer tool and a cartridge case are retained in a loading press.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to reusing cartridge cases and more specifically to a case trimmer and chamfer tool, which allows an inner surface, an outer surface and a length of a case to be chamfered and trimmed at the same time. 
   2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,818,563 to Beaulieu discloses a work-holding chuck and cartridge-case trimmer employing same. The Beaulieu patent includes a work holding chuck designed for use as a cartridge-case holder for reloading ammunition, especially in connection with a trimmer for cartridge cases, in which the holder is provided with a centering ball against which the empty primer pocket in the base is held by retaining fingers when is the case is placed in the holder. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,827 to Dugger discloses a power case trimmer. The Dugger patent includes a battery operated portable hand controlled cartridge case trimmer, which indexes on the entire length of the case and permits resizing based on the total explosive expansion of the cartridge. U.S. Pat. No. 7,155,789 to Gracey discloses a cutter adjustment system. The Gracey patent includes an improvement for a cartridge case trimmer, which indexes on the shoulder of the case as established by the resizing die and permits a rotating cutter assembly to trim the neck of cases from the inside at a controllable angle. 
   Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a case trimmer and chamfer tool, which allows inner and outer surfaces of a cartridge case to be chamfered, and allows a length of the cartridge case to be trimmed with a height adjustment ring. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a case trimmer and chamfer tool, which allows an inner surface, an outer surface and a length of a case to be chamfered and trimmed to an industry standard length at the same time. Throughout this patent application, the terms, “cartridge case” and “shell” refer to the same object. The case trimmer and chamfer tool (case trim tool) includes a trim die, an end cutter, a crank, an outer chamfer blade, an inner chamfer blade. The trim die includes a cutter bore formed through one end and a shell bore formed through the other end. The cutter bore is sufficiently deep to provide lengthwise clearance for the inner and outer chamfer blades. The shell bore is terminated with a shell countersink in the trim die. The cutter bore is sized to rotatably receive the end cutter. A thread is formed on substantially one half of the outer diameter of the trim die, adjacent the shell bore. 
   The end cutter includes a cutter slot formed in substantially one end of the end cutter to receive a thickness of the inner and outer chamfer blades. A spring bore is formed through substantially a length thereof. At least one end cutting edge is formed on the one end of the end cutter to trim a height of a cartridge case. Substantially, the other end of the end cutter is necked-down and threaded. The inner and outer chamfer blades are axially retained in the cutter slot with a fastener. An outer chamfer spring forces the outer chamfer blade toward the one end of the end cutter. An inner chamfer spring forces the inner chamfer blade toward the one end of the end cutter. An adjustable inner chamfer assembly is inserted into the spring bore to adjust the tension of the inner chamfer spring. The inner chamfer spring is axially adjustable for changing cutting pressure of the inner chamfer blade for different calibers of cartridge cases. 
   The crank preferably includes an adjustment boss formed on one end and a rotating knob formed on the other end. An end of the adjustment boss is necked-down to receive an inner perimeter of a height adjustment ring. A second embodiment of the crank substitutes two contact pads for an inclined contact surface formed on a bottom of the crank. The height adjustment ring is located between the adjustment boss and the other end of the trim die. An inclined surface is formed on at least one end of the height adjustment ring to change a distance of the end cutter relative to a cartridge case inserted into the shell bore of the trim die. A second embodiment of the height adjustment ring includes two inclined surfaces instead of one. 
   In use, the case trim tool is threaded into a die holder of a loading press. A standard shell holder is secured to a ram of the loading press. A cartridge case is inserted into the standard shell holder. A press lever of the loading press is pulled to insert the cartridge case into the trim die. The adjustment ring is rotated to provide a particular trim length for the cartridge case. The crank is rotated with the rotating knob, until little or no resistance is felt. The cartridge case is removed and a new cartridge case is inserted. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a case trim tool, which allows an inner surface of a cartridge case to be chamfered. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a case trim tool, which allows an outer surface of a cartridge case to be chamfered. 
   It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a case trim tool, which allows an end of a cartridge case to be trimmed. 
   Finally, it is another object of the present invention to provide a case trim tool, which allows a cartridge case to be trimmed to a specific industry standard length by rotation of a height adjustment ring. 
   These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a case trim tool retained in a loading press in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of a case trim tool in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a necked-down contour of a case trim tool in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 3   a  is an end view of an adjustment boss of a crank of a case trim tool in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is an end view of a height adjustment ring of a case trim tool in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of a height adjustment ring of a case trim tool in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of a case trim tool with a standard shell holder in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a case trim tool with a trim die removed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of a trim die of a case trim tool in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of an outer chamfer blade of a case trim tool in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of an inner chamfer blade of a case trim tool in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a partial cross sectional exploded side view of an end cutter and an adjustable inner chamfer assembly of a case trim tool in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is an end view of an end cutter of a case trim tool in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  is an enlarged cross sectional view of a case trim tool with a second embodiment of a crank and a trim die in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 14  is an end view of two adjustment pads of a second embodiment of a crank of a case trim tool in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 15  is an end view of a second embodiment of a height adjustment ring of a case trim tool in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 16  is a side view of a second embodiment of a height adjustment ring of a case trim tool in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 17  is a cross sectional view of a length spacer of a case trim tool in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 18  is an end view of one end of a crank of a case trim tool in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a side view of a case trim tool  1  retained in a loading press  100 . With reference to  FIG. 2 , the case trim tool  1  preferably includes a trim die  10 , an end cutter  12 , a crank  14 , an outer chamfer blade  16 , an inner chamfer blade  18  and a height adjustment ring  20 . With reference to  FIG. 8 , the trim die  10  includes a cutter bore  22  formed through one end and a shell bore  24  formed through the other end. The cutter bore  22  is sufficiently deep to provide a lengthwise clearance for the inner and outer chamfer blades. 
   An overall length of the trim die  10  preferably equals a length of a nonthreaded portion of the end cutter  12  plus a mid-tolerance of industry standard cartridge case length, minus 0.125 inch, which is the portion of the cartridge case retained in a standard shell holder  102 . The shell bore  24  is terminated with a shell countersink  26  to suit the caliber of cartridge case being trimmed. The shell countersink  26  is terminated with a neck bore  28 . The neck bore  28  is sized to slidably receive a neck  112  of a cartridge case  110 . A diameter of the neck bore  28  is preferably the same size as that of a neck chamber in a rifle. A specific cartridge case requires a specific trim die  10 , counterbore  26 , neck bore  28  and shell bore  24 . 
   The cutter bore  22  is sized to rotatably receive the end cutter  12 . The shell bore  24  is sized to provide clearance for a body  116  of the cartridge case  110  and the shell countersink  26  is to provide clearance for a shoulder  114  of the cartridge case  110 . With reference to  FIGS. 6-8 , at least one o-ring groove  30  is formed in the shell bore  24  at substantially an entrance to receive at least one o-ring  32 . The at least one o-ring  32  prevents the cartridge case  110  from rotating during trimming and chamfering. One o-ring  32  is sufficient to prevent smaller cartridge cases from rotating during trimming, but larger cartridge cases will need more than one o-ring  32  to prevent rotation during trimming. A thread  34  is formed on the outer diameter of the trim die  10 , adjacent the shell bore  24 . A case trim tool assembly  35  is the case trim tool  1  without the trim die  10 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 11-12 , an end cutter  12  includes a cutter slot  38  formed in substantially one end of the end cutter  12  to receive a thickness of the inner and outer chamfer blades. A spring bore  36  is formed through substantially a length the end cutter  12 . At least one end cutting edge  40  is formed on the one end of the end cutter  12  to trim a length of the cartridge case  110 . Substantially the other end of the end cutter  12  is necked-down and a thread  42  formed thereupon. The inner and outer chamfer blades are axially retained in the spring bore  22  with a fastener  44  that is threaded into the end cutter  12 . An outer chamfer spring  46  forces the outer chamfer blade  16  toward the one end of the end cutter  12 . An inner chamfer spring  48  forces the inner chamfer blade  18  toward the one end of the end cutter  12 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 9 , the outer chamfer blade  16  includes a pair of inward angled cutting surfaces  50  formed on one end thereof and a clearance tang  52  formed on the other end thereof. An outer axial slot  54  is formed along an axis of the outer chamfer blade  16  to allow axial adjustment of the pair of inward angled cutting surface  50  relative to an end of the cartridge case  110 . An outer spring support shoulder  56  is formed in substantially a middle of the outer chamfer blade  16  to support the outer chamfer spring  46 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 10 , the inner chamfer blade  18  includes a substantially triangular cutting surface  58  formed on one end thereof and a spring tang  60  formed on the other end thereof. An inner axial slot  62  is formed along an axis of the inner chamfer blade  18  to allow axial adjustment of the triangular cutting surface  58  relative to an end of the cartridge case  110 . An inner spring support shoulder  64  is formed at substantially the other end of the inner chamfer blade  18  to support the inner chamfer spring  48 . 
   An adjustable inner chamfer assembly  66  includes a threaded fastener  68 , a hex nut  70  and an adjustment bushing  72 . The adjustment bushing  72  includes a hex inner perimeter  74  and a shoulder stop  76 . The hex inner perimeter  74  is formed through substantially all of a length of the adjustment bushing  74 . A spring clearance opening  75  is formed through one end of the adjustment bushing  72 . The hex inner perimeter  74  is sized to slidably receive an outer perimeter of the hex nut  70  and an outer perimeter of the inner chamfer spring  48 . The threaded fastener  68  is threadably retained by the hex nut  70 . An outer perimeter of the adjustable bushing  72  is sized to be received by the spring bore  36  in the end cutter  12 . The shoulder stop  76  prevents the adjustment bushing from being fully inserted into the spring bore  36 . The adjustable inner chamfer assembly  66  allows the spring pressure on the inner chamfer blade  18  to be adjusted by rotation of the threaded fastener  68 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 6-8 , the crank  14  includes an adjustment boss  78  formed on one end and a rotating knob  80  retained on the other end. An end of the adjustment boss  78  includes a necked-down contour  82  that is sized to receive an adjustment o-ring  84  and the height adjustment ring  20 . A tapered o-ring groove  83  is formed at a bottom of the necked-down contour  82 . A boss inclined surface  86  is formed on a bottom of the necked-down contour  82  to receive a ring inclined surface  88  formed on an end of the height adjustment ring  20 . The tapered o-ring groove  83  forces the ring inclined surface  88  of the adjustment o-ring  84  against the boss inclined surface  86  of the adjustment boss  78  to eliminate play therebetween. Rotation of the height adjustment ring  130  changes a trimmed length of the cartridge case  110 . A motor could also be used to rotate the end cutter  12  instead of the crank  14 . 
   An indicator mark  89  is formed on a side of the height adjustment ring  20 . With reference to  FIG. 18 , the ring indicator mark  89  on the height adjustment ring  20 ,  130  is aligned with one of the boss indicator marks  91  formed on a side of the adjustment boss  78  or on an end of the crank  14 ′. The following dimension is given by way of example and not way of limitation, it is preferably that each boss indicator mark represents a length of 0.001 inch, but other dimensions may also be used. 
   An o-ring groove  90  is formed in an inner perimeter of the height adjustment ring  20  to receive the adjustment o-ring  84 . A threaded hole  92  is formed in the adjustment boss  78  to threadably receive the thread  42  formed on the end cutter  12 . A shoulder bore  94  is formed on a bottom of the threaded hole  92  to receive the shoulder  76  of the adjustment bushing  72 . An adjustment hole  96  is formed through a top of the crank to provide access to the threaded fastener  68 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 13-17 , a second embodiment of a case trim tool  2  is shown. The case trim tool  2  includes a trim die  10 ′ and a crank  14 ′. The trim die  10 ′ includes a cutter bore  22  formed substantially through a length of the trim die  10 ′; a shell bore  98  formed through the other end of the trim die  10 ′; and a shortened non-threaded length. Otherwise, the trim die  10 ′ includes all the features of the trim die  10 . The crank  14 ′ includes all the features of the crank  14  with the exception of the adjustment boss  78  and a pair of opposing contact pads  130 . The necked-down diameter  82  extends directly from the crank  14 ′. 
   A pair of opposing contact pads  130  are formed on a bottom of the crank  14 ′. A height adjustment ring  132  includes a pair of inclined surfaces  134  formed on one end thereof. An o-ring groove  90  is formed in an inner perimeter of the height adjustment ring  130  to receive the adjustment o-ring  84 . The pair of inclined surfaces  134  mate with the pair of opposing contact pads  130 . Rotation of the height adjustment ring  130  changes a trimmed length of the cartridge case  110 . A length spacer  136  may be used to compensate for a length of a cartridge case. A threaded hole  138  is formed in the length spacer  136  to threadably receive the thread  42  formed on the end cutter  12 . A shoulder bore  140  is formed on an end of the threaded hole  138  to receive the shoulder  76  of the adjustment bushing  72 . An adjustment hole  142  is formed through a top of the length spacer  136  to provide access to the threaded fastener  68 . The threaded hole  92  formed in the necked-down diameter  82  is sized to threadably receive the thread  144  formed on the length spacer  136  or the end cutter  12 . 
   In use, the trim die  10 ,  10 ′ is preferably threaded into a die holder  104  of the loading press  100  and may be secured with a nut  105 . The case trim tool assembly  35 ,  35 ′ is inserted into the trim die  10 ,  10 ′. The standard shell holder  102  is secured to a ram  106  of the loading press  100 . The cartridge case  110 ,  118  is inserted into the standard shell holder  102 . A press lever  108  of the loading press  100  is pulled to insert the cartridge case  110 ,  118  into the trim die  10 ,  10 ′. The adjustment ring  20 ,  130  are rotated to provide a particular trim length for the cartridge case  110 ,  118 . The crank  14 ,  14 ′ are rotated with the rotating knob  80 , until little or no resistance is felt. The cartridge case  110 ,  118  are removed and a new cartridge case is inserted. The trim die  10 ,  10 ′ is removed by loosening the nut  105  and unthreading the trim die  10 ,  10 ′ from the die holder  104 . 
   While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.