Ordnance – Loading
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-03-27
Eldred, J. Woodrow (Department: 3644)
Ordnance
Loading
C089S046000, C089S033100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205904
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The technical scope of the invention is that of an ammunition element feed device for an artillery cannon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
So as to increase the firing rate of artillery cannons we are brought to design weapon systems in which the feed systems for projectiles and/or propellant charges are automatic.
Modern pieces of artillery thus comprise more often than not a storage magazine for projectiles or propellant charges and transfer means enabling said projectiles and/or propellant charges to be transferred to the weapon chamber.
Patents FR2743411, FR2743412, FR2743413 and FR2743414 thus disclose various magazine systems for propellant charges as well as various transfer devices.
Patent EP616185 discloses in particular a feed device comprising a storage magazine for ammunition elements (in this case modular propellant charges) that incorporates at least one row. This device also incorporates a device to transfer said propellant charge modules from the magazine to a loading chute as well as motor means enabling the modules to be moved to the next row to bring them onto the transfer device.
Several rows of propellant charge modules are thus pushed simultaneously by means of a rake pressing on a rear face of the last charge module. The front modules thus find themselves pushed into a cell of a transfer device.
The charge modules are then distributed by means of gravity by the transfer device, the transfer being carried out by controlling the pivoting of one or more retention lugs.
Such a device has numerous drawbacks.
First of all, it can not be used for the storage and distribution of projectiles.
Secondly, it generates numerous mechanical strains on the modules of the propellant charge, notably shocks due to the distribution by gravity and the strains exerted by the lugs during the transfer phases (vibrations).
Lastly, the system is bulky, costly in terms of energy and complex to restock with modules.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the invention is to propose a feed device that overcomes such drawbacks.
Thus, the device according to the invention is of a simple and compact design. It enables the propellant charge modules to be stored and fed in a manner that is both reliable and that avoids mechanical strains.
Its design enables it to be easily adapted to the storage and feed of projectiles to a weapon system.
It thereby becomes possible for an extremely compact system to be made that ensures the fully automatic feed of the weapon, both in projectiles and in propellant charges.
Lastly, the device according to the invention is fully reversible and it thereby easily ensures the replenishing of the magazine with both projectiles and propellant charges.
Thus, the subject of the invention is that of an ammunition element feed device for an artillery cannon, notably in projectiles or propellant charge modules, and comprising at least one storage magazine for the ammunition elements that incorporates at least one row, a device to transfer the ammunition elements from the magazine to a loading chute and motor means enabling the ammunition elements to be moved up one row to bring them onto the transfer device, such feed device being characterised in that each row of the magazine comprises:
a support plate on which the ammunition elements are arranged with their axes perpendicular to their direction of movement in the row,
at least one conveyor belt activated by motorization, said belt pressed to the ammunition elements of the row and constituting the motor means.
The support plate will advantageously incorporate reception cells for the ammunition elements.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the device incorporates at least two retention rollers for each ammunition element, rollers pressing the conveyor belt on the ammunition element and able to distance itself from said element against the action of elastic return means to allow its displacement.
Each retention roller is preferably carried by a lever able to pivot with respect to a frame, lever to which a traction spring has been fastened whose other end is fastened to one end of another lever carrying the next roller.
The device can comprise two side cheeks providing guidance for the charge elements.
According to a particular embodiment more particularly intended to move projectiles, the device comprises two conveyor belts parallel to each other, each belt being pressed onto a different part of the projectile body.
In this case, the device can comprise a cowling incorporating a part having a profile ensuring the centring of a projectile nose cone.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises at least one tipping part mounted pivoting with respect to the support plate, such part being globally L-shaped whose first branch is arranged in the closed position in the extension of the support plate and incorporates a housing to accommodate an ammunition element, and a second branch perpendicular to the first ensures that the element is retained in the magazine, the tipping part being placed between the row in question of the magazine and the transfer device, the pivoting of the tipping device from its closed position to an open position allows the passage of the ammunition element from the magazine to the transfer device.
The device can incorporate a controllable lock ensuring the immobilisation of the tipping part in its starting position.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the transfer device comprises at least one pivoting bucket, motor means being provided to drive the pivoting of the bucket and control means and/or unlocking means ensuring, when the bucket lies opposite a tipping part, the unlocking and/or pivoting of the tipping part in the direction of the bucket, the motor means of the bucket and the control and/or unlocking means being activated in a predefined order by means of a sequencer.
Advantageously, the tipping part comprises at least two wings forming a fork, the space separating the two wings allowing the passage of one branch of the bucket.
The control and/or unlocking means can comprise at least one rack integral with a support of the bucket, rack whose translation is driven by a motor and that is intended to co-operate with a toothed sector integral with the tipping part, the translation of the rack causing the tipping part to pivot.
During its translation, the rack will thereafter release the lock immobilising the tipping part.
According to another characteristic, the bucket is integral with a lift translating with respect to the storage magazine in a perpendicular direction to the rows of the magazine, such lift incorporating means ensuring the positioning of the bucket with respect to a row of the magazine.
These positioning means can comprise at least one sliding pin integral with the lift and co-operating with a hole made in the magazine frame.
According to a preferred embodiment, the lift incorporates two compartments, a first compartment receiving a first projectile transfer bucket and a second compartment comprising at least two buckets to receive propellant charge modules.
The storage magazine in this case comprises at least two groups of two superimposed rows, a first row of projectiles and a second row, arranged above or below the first one, and comprising at least two sub-rows of propellant charge modules, such that when the first compartment of the lift is positioned opposite the first row of projectiles, the second compartment of the lift is positioned opposite the sub-rows of propellant charge modules, a projectile therefore being able to be transferred at the same time as the charge modules.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4494441 (1985-01-01), Magnuson
patent: 4882972 (1989-11-01), Raymond
patent: 5335580 (1994-08-01), Mouterde et al.
patent: 5353679 (1994-10-01), Nordmann
patent: 5440964 (1995-08-01), Bender-Zanoni
patent: 5458044 (1995-10-01), Delbos
patent: 5844163 (1998-12-01), Lindskog
patent: 2743414 (1997-07-01), None
Boutet Claude
Fougeroux Thierry
Eldred J. Woodrow
Giat Industries
Parkhurst & Wendel L.L.P.
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