System and method for the reversible transfer of ammunition between a primary magazine and a secondary magazine in an automatic cannon

Abstract

An ammunition loading system for loading ammunition into a primary magazine in an automatic cannon includes at least one secondary magazine arranged in an ammunition store beneath the primary magazine of the automatic cannon, a hoisting device for transporting the aforementioned at least one secondary magazine from the ammunition store to the primary magazine, a docking and transfer mechanism for the docking of the secondary magazine with the primary magazine and for the transfer of ammunition between the secondary magazine and the primary magazine, as well as a common drive arrangement for synchronous driving of the secondary magazine and the primary magazine during the transfer of ammunition. A method for the aforementioned ammunition loading system is also provided.

Claims

1. An ammunition transfer system for reversibly transferring ammunition in an automatic cannon, comprising: a primary magazine, at least one secondary magazine, a hoisting device comprising a chain drive arrangement for transporting the at least one secondary magazine to the primary magazine, a docking and transferring arrangement for docking the at least one secondary magazine with the primary magazine and for transferring the ammunition between the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine, wherein the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine each comprise a respective chain conveyor for feeding the ammunition to ammunition outlets of the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine, wherein the respective chain conveyors are driven synchronously with one another via at least one drive arrangement for driving the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine when the ammunition is transferred between the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine, and wherein the docking and transferring arrangement and the at least one drive arrangement are configured to reversibly transfer all ammunition in the primary magazine to the at least one secondary magazine.

2. The ammunition transfer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hoisting device comprises two vertical self-supporting pairs of rails beneath the primary magazine, the two pairs of rails comprising a front pair of rails and a rear pair of rails, configured for transporting the at least one secondary magazine, wherein the chain drive arrangement of the hoisting device is attached and fixed to an outside of the front pair of rails.

3. The ammunition transfer system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a common drive arrangement for synchronized driving of the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine when the ammunition is transferred from the at least one secondary magazine to the primary magazine.

4. The ammunition transfer system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two separate drive arrangements for independent driving of the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine when the ammunition comprises mixed types of ammunition which are transferred from the at least one secondary magazine to different positions in the primary magazine.

5. The ammunition transfer system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a switching unit for switching between a common drive arrangement and the two separate drive arrangements.

6. The ammunition transfer system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a programmable control and monitoring unit for controlling and monitoring the hoisting device and the docking and transferring arrangement.

7. A method for reversibly transferring the ammunition in the ammunition transfer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method comprises: transporting the at least one secondary magazine to the primary magazine via the hoisting device, docking the at least one secondary magazine with the primary magazine, transferring ammunition from the at least one secondary magazine to the primary magazine via the docking and transferring arrangement and via the at least one drive arrangement, and reversibly transferring all ammunition in the primary magazine to the at least one secondary magazine via the docking and transferring arrangement and via the at least one drive arrangement.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one secondary magazine is arranged in a transport carriage and is subsequently docked to the chain drive arrangement of the hoisting device.

9. An ammunition transfer system for reversibly transferring ammunition in an automatic cannon, comprising: a primary magazine, at least one secondary magazine, a hoisting device comprising a chain drive arrangement for transporting the at least one secondary magazine to the primary magazine, a docking and transferring arrangement for docking the at least one secondary magazine with the primary magazine and for transferring the ammunition between the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine, wherein the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine each comprise a respective chain conveyor for feeding the ammunition to ammunition outlets of the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine, wherein the respective chain conveyors are driven synchronously with one another via at least one drive arrangement for driving the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine when the ammunition is transferred between the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine, wherein the hoisting device comprises a self-supporting framework comprising two parallel side-mounted vertical pairs of members between an ammunition store and the primary magazine, wherein the two pairs of members are each linked together via a lower pair of transverse members, two intermediate pairs of transverse members and an upper pair of transverse members, wherein, arranged on an inside of the two vertical pairs of members, are four vertical parallel support rails, two of the four vertical support rails being front support rails and two of the four vertical support rails being rear support rails, between the front support rails and the rear support rails the at least one secondary magazine is transported upwards and downwards to the primary magazine via the chain drive arrangement of the hoisting device, wherein the chain drive arrangement is arranged in the framework as a loop on the inside of the two vertical pairs of members of the framework via chain wheels and drive wheels mounted on the lower pair of transverse members, the two intermediate pairs of transverse members and the upper pair of transverse members of the framework.

10. An ammunition transfer system for reversibly transferring ammunition in an automatic cannon, comprising: a primary magazine, at least one secondary magazine, a hoisting device comprising a chain drive arrangement for transporting the at least one secondary magazine to the primary magazine, a docking and transferring arrangement for docking the at least one secondary magazine with the primary magazine and for transferring the ammunition between the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine, wherein the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine each comprise a respective chain conveyor for feeding the ammunition to ammunition outlets of the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine, wherein the respective chain conveyors are driven synchronously with one another via at least one drive arrangement for driving the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine when the ammunition is transferred between the at least one secondary magazine and the primary magazine, wherein the docking and transferring arrangement comprises four locking bolts arranged in a corner of an ammunition inlet of the primary magazine, four preloaded, V-shaped projecting articulations, movably connected to the four locking bolts, so that the locking bolts, during activation of the articulations, are displaced radially from a closed blocking position into an open position in the ammunition inlet of the primary magazine, wherein the at least one secondary magazine comprises four gate devices arranged in the corners of the ammunition outlets of the at least one secondary magazine, each said gate device being enclosed by a casing comprising a contact surface, a toothed wheel, a chain wheel and a chain link arranged in conjunction with the chain wheel which is driven by the toothed wheel, so that, when the at least one secondary magazine is transported towards the primary magazine and the articulations meet the at least one secondary magazine, the articulations are thereby forced sideways so that the ammunition outlet is opened at the same time as the primary magazine pushes the contact surface down onto the at least one secondary magazine which drives the toothed wheel and the chain wheel in order to draw back the chain link, wherein the ammunition outlet in the at least one secondary magazine is opened so that the ammunition can be transferred between the primary magazine and the at least one secondary magazine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 depicts a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the transfer system comprising a secondary magazine arranged in a hoisting device beneath the primary magazine, for transport of the secondary magazine to the primary magazine for docking (a), as well as a more detailed side view of a hoisting device (b), and when a plurality of secondary magazines is used, they can be kept in a storage place in anticipation of being brought into the hoist, hoisted up and docked with the primary magazine (c).

(3) FIG. 2 a and b depict a schematic perspective view of a secondary magazine and a transport carriage respectively unmounted (a) and mounted (b) on the secondary magazine.

(4) FIG. 3 depicts a schematic side view of an ammunition transfer system and its ammunition storage place, comprising three secondary magazines.

(5) FIG. 4 a-f depict a schematic detailed view of the hoisting of the secondary magazine, the ammunition outlet and the ammunition inlet of the primary magazine before docking (a, b) the docking (c) of the magazines and the transfer of ammunition from the secondary magazine to the primary magazine (c, d, e) and after transfer (f).

(6) FIG. 5a to c depict the gate device respectively in the open position (a) and in the closed (b) position, and the articulation (c) of the primary magazine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) Before the invention is described in detail, it must be appreciated that this invention is not restricted to specific materials or configurations that are disclosed herein. Suchlike configurations and materials may vary. It must also be appreciated that the terminology applied herein is used only to describe specific embodiments, and is not intended to be restrictive so that the scope of the present invention is restricted only by the attached claims.

(8) The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which different illustrative examples of the invention are depicted.

(9) FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a first embodiment (a) of an ammunition transfer system 1 for the reversible transfer of ammunition from an ammunition transfer magazine, referred to as a secondary magazine 3, to a primary magazine 4 in an automatic cannon 5 (transfer can take place in both directions). The simplest form comprises only one secondary magazine 3. The secondary magazine 3 can be arranged beneath the primary magazine 4 in the hoisting device 7 for transport to and from the primary magazine 4. In one embodiment, the secondary magazine 3 can be securely mounted beneath the primary magazine 4 in the hoisting device 7.

(10) The secondary magazine can also be kept outside the hoisting device 7 in a so-called ammunition storage place 6.

(11) The secondary magazine may contain 60 rounds, for example, as in FIG. 1a, although it is not restricted to that number. For example, it may also contain 30 rounds.

(12) FIG. 1b depicts the hoisting device 7 in more detail, which device is driven by a chain drive arrangement 8 to which the secondary magazine 3 is docked for the hoist transport to and from the primary magazine 4. The secondary magazine 3 is docked to the chain drive arrangement 8 via a docking arrangement 9 comprising a locking and coupling arrangement, which is depicted in FIG. 3. The chain drive arrangement 8 is arranged in the framework in the form of a loop on the inside of the vertical pair of members 40 of the framework via chain wheels and drive wheels mounted on the transverse members 41, 42, 43 of the framework. Arranged on the drive chain 32 of the chain drive arrangement 8 is a counter-weight 46 (FIG. 1b) for equalizing any imbalance which may occur during operation. In the second embodiment 1, the drive chain 32 is also driven, preferably by an electric motor 37. 47 are linear bearings which are guided in a linear fashion. FIG. 1c depicts how a secondary magazine 3 is present in the ammunition storage place 6 and is waiting to be introduced into the hoisting device 7, is docked to the chain drive arrangement 8 via a docking arrangement 9 which comprises a locking and coupling arrangement before subsequently being hoisted up to the primary magazine 4.

(13) FIGS. 2a and b depict a transport carriage 11 unmounted (a) and mounted (b) on a secondary magazine 3. The secondary magazine 3 is constructed in an equivalent manner to the primary magazine 4 with two end walls facing towards one another, the end walls being a front end wall 12 and a rear end wall 13, which are held together by two transverse members, the transverse members being an intermediate transverse member 14 and a lower transverse member 15 between the two end walls 12, 13, and a central support 16 mounted on the transverse members 14, 15. The secondary magazine 3 further comprises a chain conveyor 17 for feeding the ammunition 2 to an ammunition outlet 18 on the upper side of the secondary magazine 3, where the transfer of ammunition 2 takes place to a corresponding ammunition inlet on the underside of the primary magazine 4.

(14) In a corresponding manner, the primary magazine 4 comprises a chain conveyor, not illustrated here, for feeding the ammunition 2 to an ammunition outlet on the upper side of the primary magazine 4, where the transfer of the ammunition 2 takes place to the breech casing of the automatic cannon 5.

(15) Also included in the secondary magazine 3 are two drive shafts 20, each having two chain wheels 21 for the synchronization of two separate drive chains 22 arranged in front and rear end walls 12, 13 of the secondary magazine 3. The two drive chains 22 drive the chain conveyor 17 of the secondary magazine 3 and distribute the driving force from an electric drive arrangement 23 to the two drive chains 22.

(16) The transport carriage 11 is configured so that the secondary magazine 3 can be easily attached/mounted (b) to the transport carriage 11 during the hoist transport.

(17) The transport carriage 11 comprises external wheels 50, which run on the slide rails 44, 45 of the framework during the hoist transport (see FIG. 3).

(18) In a further embodiment, the locking and coupling arrangement can comprise a lock hook arranged on the chain drive arrangement 8, not illustrated here, which is then hooked securely in a recess or on a frame on the front end wall 12 of the secondary magazine 3, or alternatively on the transport carriage 11. The position of the lock hook can then be secured via a transverse locking bolt. In another embodiment of the locking and coupling device, this consists of or comprises a remotely controlled magnetic lock, not illustrated here.

(19) In the primary magazine 4, seven drive shafts and seven chain wheels are used to ensure that the drive chains are always synchronized with one another even if any of the drive chains are slack, not depicted here. The drive chains of the primary magazine 4 can also be adjusted manually via a chain adjustment mechanism.

(20) In a special embodiment, the transport carriage 11 is securely mounted on the drive chain of the chain drive arrangement 8 via screwed, bolted or clamped joints between the drive chain and the outsides of the transport carriage 11.

(21) FIG. 3 depicts a second embodiment of an ammunition transfer system 1 adapted so as to be capable of accommodating and feeding a plurality of secondary magazines 3 to and from the primary magazine 4. The secondary magazines 3 are positioned in that part of the ammunition storage place 6 that is arranged beneath the primary magazine in a hoisting device 7. The actual transport upwards to the primary magazine 4 takes place in the same way as in the first embodiment. A plurality of secondary magazines 3 can be set up in the ammunition storage place 6 outside the hoisting device in anticipation of being brought into the hoisting device 7 before being hoisted up and docked with the primary magazine 4.

(22) Secondary magazines 3 that are parked in the ammunition storage place 6 outside the hoisting device according to the second embodiment are rolled forwards to the ammunition storage place 6, whereupon it is positioned and locked securely in a transport carriage 11 (see FIG. 2). The magazine can then be brought into the hoisting device 7, and the hoist transport can begin directly once the transport carriage 11 is securely mounted on the chain drive arrangement 8.

(23) In one embodiment, when more than one magazine is waiting in turn in the ammunition storage place 6 for feeding, the locking and coupling arrangement 10 can be arranged on a transport carriage 11, wherein the secondary magazine 3 is docked to the chain drive arrangement 8 via the transport carriage.

(24) In another embodiment, the hoisting device 7 of the transfer system 1 is arranged in the form of a self-supporting framework comprising two parallel, side-mounted vertical pairs of members 40 between the magazine store 6 and the primary magazine 4 of the automatic cannon 5.

(25) Each of the pairs of members 40 is linked together via a lower pair of transverse members 41, two intermediate pairs of transverse members 42 and an upper pair of transverse members 43. Arranged on the insides of the two vertical pairs of members 40 are four vertical parallel support rails 44, 45. Two front support rails 44 and two rear support rails 45, between which the transport carriage 11 with a secondary magazine 4 mounted is transported up and down to the primary magazine 3 via the chain drive arrangement 8 of the hoisting device 7.

(26) The ammunition storage place 6 can have two horizontal guide rails 51 arranged for controlling the secondary magazines 3 in the horizontal plane during the rolling transport to and from the docking position of the hoisting device 7. The guide rails 51, being one lower and one upper guide rail, are securely mounted on the outsides of the pair of members 40 of the framework.

(27) The different embodiments of the ammunition transfer system ammunition store 1 comprise at least one, two or preferably three secondary magazines 3, or more.

(28) In an alternative embodiment, the hoisting device 7 is driven by a pinion instead of a drive chain, not illustrated here. In a further, alternative embodiment, the hoisting device 7 is driven via a winch and counter-weights, not illustrated here.

(29) The link arm systems of the magazines 3, 4 are driven via separate drive chains arranged in the front and rear end wall parts of the respective magazine 3, 4. The drive chains are synchronized with one another via the drive shafts of the chain conveyors, wherein the drive shafts distribute the driving force from a programmable drive arrangement that is capable of engagement and disengagement, not illustrated here.

(30) The ammunition 2 is transported round in the respective magazine 3, 4 on guide rods, which are connected to the link arm systems via mounting pins, not illustrated here.

(31) The transfer of ammunition 2 between the magazines 3, 4 can take place forwards or backwards depending on whether the primary magazine 4 is to be filled or emptied. For example, the primary magazine must be emptied in the event of a change of the type of ammunition.

(32) In one embodiment, the link arm system of the secondary magazine 3 is driven synchronously with the link arm system of the primary magazine 4 via a slave driver connected to the drive arrangement 23 of the primary magazine 3.

(33) The drive arrangement of the primary magazine 4 is capable of engagement and disengagement and is controlled manually via a control and monitoring unit. Alternatively, the drive arrangement can be remotely controlled.

(34) The slave driver is mounted on the front end wall 12 of the secondary magazine 3 and is attached/connected to one of the drive wheels 21 of the secondary magazine 3. Synchronous driving of the link arm systems of the two magazines permits the rapid and secure transfer of ammunition between the magazines 3, 4.

(35) FIG. 4 a-f depict the docking and transfer process, where hoisting and started docking (a, b), docking in (c), when the ammunition transfer between the magazines 3, 4 has started (d), has come half-way (e) and the position of the docking arrangement after the completed transfer of ammunition 2 between the magazines 3, 4 (f). The area within a circle in the respective image illustrates the docking mechanism. The secondary magazine is hoisted up towards the primary magazine (a), and the docking is activated by the force which the movement in the connecting secondary magazine 3 exerts on the primary magazine 4 in the course of docking of the magazines 3, 4 (b). Via four contact surfaces 63 arranged on the ammunition outlet 18 of the secondary magazine 3 (inlet during emptying), the force is transferred to the docking arrangement via four, preloaded, V-shaped projecting articulation mechanisms, referred to as articulations 64, arranged in the corners of the ammunition inlet 19 of the primary magazine 4 and are movably connected to the four movable locking bolts 61, so that the locking bolts 61 are displaced radially, during activation of the articulations 64, from the closed blocking position to the open position in the ammunition inlet of the primary magazine 4. The locking arrangement of the secondary magazine is described in more detail in FIGS. 5a and b. The chain conveyors of the secondary magazine 3 and the primary magazine 4 comprises a link arm system comprising star-shaped drive wheels 21, which, after docking of the magazines 3, 4, are positioned and synchronized with one another so that the ammunition 2 is transferred between the link arm systems of the magazines 3, 4 via the transfer channel 62 that is released after docking.

(36) A transfer channel 62 between the magazines 3, 4 opens (a), whereupon the transfer of ammunition 2 between the magazines 3, 4 can begin (d). During the return transport of the secondary magazine 3 to the ammunition storage place, the articulations 64, under the influence of the preloading on the articulation mechanisms, return to their starting positions projecting from the primary magazine 4. At the same time, the four locking bolts 61 return to their closed starting positions in the ammunition inlet 19 of the primary magazine 4 (outlet during emptying). The movement of the secondary magazine 3 during docking (b, c) thus regulates the position of the locking bolts 61 between the closed and open position in the ammunition inlet 19 of the primary magazine 4. The outlet 18 of the secondary magazine 3 is likewise closed when the contact surfaces 63 return to the non-preloaded starting position (see also FIG. 5b).

(37) In a second embodiment of the driving of the magazines 3, 4, not illustrated here, in respect of the transfer of mixed types of ammunition, two independent drive arrangements can be used instead of a common drive arrangement. The chain conveyors of the magazines 3, 4 are driven here by separate independent drive arrangements, being one drive arrangement for each chain conveyor. The two independent drive arrangements each comprise control and monitoring functions for independent driving of the respective link arm system, forwards or backwards, at the same or at different speeds.

(38) Independent driving of the link arm systems permits, for example, the transfer of different types of ammunition 2 from the secondary magazine 3 to different positions in the primary magazine 4. Having regard for the question of whether one or a plurality of types of ammunition 2 must be used, the possibility also exists for alternating automatically, via a switching unit, between common synchronous or separate independent driving of the magazines 3, 4 by engaging or disengaging the slave driver and respectively engaging or disengaging the other independent drive arrangement.

(39) FIGS. 5a and b depict the gate device 87 in the secondary magazine 3 in the open (a) and respectively in the closed (b) position. The arrangement consists of or comprises a contact surface 63 in the form of a sprung toothed rack, a toothed wheel 88, a chain wheel 89 and a chain link 90, which are enclosed by a casing 91. The gate device is opened in that the contact surface 63 is pressed down by the contact between the magazines 3, 4, whereupon the toothed wheel 88 rotates and drives the chain wheel 89, and with it the chain link 90, into the open position (a). When separation of the magazines begins, the arrangement returns to the closed position when the movement of the magazines away from one another releases the pressure on the contact surface 63.

(40) The articulations 64 are depicted in more detail in FIG. 5c. The double-acting slide 70 is arranged in a controllable manner, in the radial direction, in relation to the locking bolt 61 via guide pins 72 arranged on the outsides of the locking bolt 61, wherein the guide pins 72 are controllable in longitudinal guide slots 73 on the sides of the double-acting slide 70. The articulations 64 and the locking bolts 61 are preloaded via a compression spring 74 arranged in the double-walled slide 70 between the drawing piston 66 and the locking bolt 61. The compression spring 74 is of a conventional kind and is not described in more detail in the rest of the text.

(41) The ammunition transfer system 1 also comprises a central control and monitoring unit 80 for controlling both the hoisting device 7 and the docking and transfer device 60.

(42) The central control and monitoring unit 80 is preferably remotely controlled, but can also be controlled manually via a keypad on the control and monitoring unit 80.