Ordnance – Cartridge feeding – Selective feed
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-14
2001-08-14
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3641)
Ordnance
Cartridge feeding
Selective feed
C089S033160, C089S033500, C089S046000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272967
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ammunition storage and retrieval system. More particularly, the invention is directed to a modular magazine for storing and retrieving munitions having different handling characteristics.
Ammunition storage and retrieval systems are a necessary part of nearly every large caliber artillery weapon system. The large size of the ammunition used in these weapon systems often prohibits manual loading of the weapon. Thus, ammunition storage and retrieval systems are provided to store a supply of ammunition for the weapon and to transfer ammunition from the storage area to the weapon for firing.
Each storage and retrieval system is specifically designed to meet the needs of the weapon it serves. One consideration in the design of the storage and retrieval system is the number of munitions the storage and retrieval system should store. The number of stored munitions depends on the operating nature of the weapon served by the system. In particular, the number of munitions stored depends on the size of the munitions and the ease with which the munition store may be restocked. Obviously, an ammunition and retrieval system on board a ship would necessarily hold a greater number of munitions than a similar system on a tank, or other ground based weapon, since the ground based system is easier to restock.
Another consideration for the ammunition storage and retrieval systems are the specific handling characteristics of the munitions used by the particular weapon. The handling characteristics of the munitions will impact the manner in which the munitions are stored as well as the manner in which the munitions are transferred to the weapon. The specific handling characteristics of each munition are determined by the shape and weight of the munition. Specifically, the handling characteristics of a munition include the length, outer configuration, and weight of the munition as well as any other external characteristic, such as fins or other guidance device, that is specific to the particular munition. Both the storage area and the transfer mechanism must be designed to account for the handling characteristics of the munitions to prevent the munitions from being damaged in storage or during transfer to the weapon.
As an additional consideration for these storage systems, certain weapons often fire different types of munitions that are specifically designed to meet different situational needs. For example, a ground based artillery system, such as a howitzer, may fire munitions that have different ranges or different explosive charges. To serve these different purposes, the munitions often have different shapes and weights. To be effective, the storage and retrieval system for the weapon must be capable of storing and retrieving each of the differently shaped munitions.
Certain types of munitions, particularly certain extended range munitions, present a unique problem for storage and retrieval systems. These extended range munitions are problematic because their length is substantially greater than the length of a standard range munition. For example, in the case of the howitzer, a standard range munition for a 155 mm caliber howitzer has a length of about one meter where the extended range munitions have lengths of about one and a half meters. To account for the greater length of the munitions, the length of the storage and retrieval systems will also have to be increased.
However, the extended range munitions are expensive and are expected to be used less frequently than the standard range munitions and, for some scenarios, the extended range munitions may not be required. Thus, most weapons will need to be able to carry a mix of standard range and extended range munitions. The mixture will likely include a large number of standard range munitions combined with a smaller number of extended range munitions. Because the size of the storage system must be increased to compensate for a relatively few extended range munitions, the resulting storage and retrieval system will have an increased weight that will include a large amount of empty space.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need for an ammunition storage and retrieval system capable of storing and retrieving munitions having different handling characteristics and capable of re-configuring to adapt to the varying munition needs of different missions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an ammunition storage and retrieval system that obviates one or more of the limitations and disadvantages of the prior art storage and retrieval systems. The advantages and purposes 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 purposes of the invention will be realized and attained by the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention is directed to an ammunition storage and retrieval system for a weapon. The system includes a main magazine that has an auxiliary magazine mount. The main magazine also includes main carrier belt that is configured to store a plurality of munitions having a first set of handling characteristics. A handoff unit is provided to retrieve a selected one of the plurality of munitions and transfer the selected munition to the weapon.
In another aspect, the invention is directed to a modular magazine for a weapon. The modular magazine includes a main magazine that has an auxiliary magazine mount. There is provided an auxiliary magazine that is selectively engageable with the auxiliary magazine mount of the main magazine. The auxiliary magazine includes a supplemental carrier belt configured to store a plurality of munitions having a second set of handling characteristics and a rammer that operates to transfer a selected one of the munitions from the supplemental carrier belt to the weapon.
In still another aspect, the invention is directed to an ammunition storage and retrieval system for a weapon. The system includes a main magazine that has an auxiliary magazine mount and a main carrier belt that is configured to store a plurality of munitions having a first set of handling characteristics. A handoff unit is provided to retrieve a selected one of the plurality of munitions and transfer the selected munition to the weapon. There is provided a first supplemental magazine that is selectively engageable with the auxiliary magazine mount of the main magazine. The first supplemental magazine includes a first supplemental carrier belt configured to store a plurality of munitions that have the first group of handling characteristics. The engagement of the first supplemental magazine with the auxiliary magazine mount positions the first supplemental carrier belt adjacent the handoff unit. The handoff unit transfers a selected munition from the first supplemental carrier belt to the weapon. There is further provided a second supplemental magazine. The second supplemental magazine is interchangeable with the first supplemental magazine and is selectively engageable with the auxiliary magazine mount. The second supplemental magazine has a second carrier belt that is configured to store a plurality of munitions that have a second set of handling characteristics. A rammer transfers a selected one of the plurality of munitions from the second carrier belt to the weapon.
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: 4015511 (1977-04-01), Folsom et al.
patent: 4434699 (1984-03-01), Tassie
patent: 4765223 (1988-08-01), Beckmann
patent: 5212338 (1993-05-01), Maher
patent: 5271310 (1993-12-01), Muller
patent: 5614689 (1997-03-01), Gyre et al.
Bender-Zanoni Joseph F.
Hallqvist Sten
Maher David L.
Wall Bertil
Carone Michael J.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
General Dynamics Armament Systems, Inc.
Mun Kyongtack K.
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