Ordnance – Loading
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2001-01-09
Lavinder, Jack W. (Department: 3644)
Ordnance
Loading
C089S033040
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170380
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for selectively transferring storable units between a storage space and a location outside of the storage space, and, more particularly to such a method and apparatus for storing and handling artillery propellant charge units.
2. Description of the Related Art
The planned introduction of advanced artillery systems calls for the use of a fully automated ammunition handling capability including the storage of propellant charge units. The propellant charge units are molded, combustible containers filled with either ball or stick propellant and referred to as Modular Artillery Charge Systems (MACS). These propellant charge units or modules are illustrated and described in commonly assigned U.S. application Ser. No. 09/144,623, filed Aug. 31, 1998, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
In operating large caliber guns such as self propelled field howitzers, naval guns and fixed gun emplacements, a selective number of the individual propellant charge units would be used, depending upon the type of projectile, range, etc. required. The MACS transfer mechanism then ideally must be able to selectively transfer into or access from a storage magazine, a single charge, or multiple charges. Because the MACS use combustible, nitrocellulose based, charge containers having the external form of right circular cylinders and have handling and strength characteristics similar to cardboard, but which is highly combustible, they present unique problems to automated handling and storage with the space constraints existing in the place of their application.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The advantages and purpose of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages and purpose of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention is directed to an apparatus for selectively transferring storable units between a storage space and a location outside of the storage space, comprising a storage magazine including a plurality of parallel, axially elongated chambers opening through at least one end of the storage magazine, a shuttle having a transfer tube movable relative to the storage magazine between positions of axial alignment with each of the plurality of elongated chambers and the location outside of the storage space, and a feed mechanism to move the units between the transfer tube and the elongated chambers.
In another aspect, the advantages and purpose of the invention are obtained by a system for storing and handling artillery propellant charge units, comprising a storage magazine including a plurality of parallel, cylindrical tubes defining elongated chambers respectively centered on Z axes and having open ends presented at intersecting X and Y axes at one end of the storage magazine, the X and Y axes being perpendicular to the Z axes. A shuttle is translatable on an X axis along the one end of the storage magazine and supports a transfer tube parallel to the cylindrical tubes and movable on a Y axis relative to the storage magazine so that a combination of shuttle translation on the X axis, and movement of the transfer tube on the Y axis, positions the transfer tube in axial alignment with the respective open ends of each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes. A feed mechanism moves the charge units on the Z axes between the respective elongated chambers and the transfer tube. A conveyor aligned with a Z axis delivers charge units to and from the storage magazine and is positioned for transfer of charge units to and from the shuttle mounted transfer tube.
In still another aspect, the advantages and purpose of the invention are obtained by a method for storing artillery charge units in a storage magazine including a plurality of parallel, elongated, cylindrical chambers respectively centered on Z axes and having open ends presented at intersecting X and Y axes at one end of the storage magazine, the X and Y axes being perpendicular to the Z axes, using a shuttle translatable on an X axis along the one end of the storage magazine and supporting a transfer tube parallel to the Z axes and movable on a Y axis. The method comprises the steps of loading the charge units into the transfer tube on one side of the magazine, translating the shuttle on the X axis to a position of registration with an X axis of one of the storage chambers, moving the transfer tube on the Y axis to a position of registration with the Z axis of the one of the storage chambers, and advancing the charge units along the Z axis of and into the one of the storage chambers.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3719288 (1973-03-01), Schmitt
patent: 4824311 (1989-04-01), Mims
patent: 5111730 (1992-05-01), Grabner
patent: 5212338 (1993-05-01), Maher
patent: 5277540 (1994-01-01), Helms
patent: 5458044 (1995-10-01), Delbos
patent: 5837923 (1998-11-01), Gay
Ashton Ned S.
Bender-Zanoni Joseph F.
Livingston Glenn P.
Rodriguez Derek A.
Steward Anthony R.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner
General Dynamics Armament Sys., Inc.
Lavinder Jack W.
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