Feeding device, in particular ammunition feed of a cannon, having a plurality of containers for receiving one object each, in particular a military active body

Abstract

A feeding device for an automatic loading system. The feeding device has a plurality of containers, each for receiving one object, and at least one actuator for opening and closing the containers. Each container has one slider and two shell segments arranged pivotably on a holder. The shell segments are pivoted back and forth in a functionally effective manner between a release position and a holding position by linear displacement of the slider. The slider is actuated by releasable contact with the actuator, and/or the slide acts on the shell segments via a control surface and a control element interacting with the control surface. The control element moves along the control surface when the slide is displaced linearly.

Claims

1. Feeding device having a plurality of containers (2) for receiving in each case an object, and having at least one actuating means (15) for opening and closing the containers (2), wherein the containers (2) each have two shell segments (3, 4) arranged pivotably on a holder and in each case a slider (5), wherein the shell segments (3, 4) are pivoted back and forth in a functionally effective manner between a release position and a holding position by linear displacement of the slider (5), wherein the slider (5) is actuated by the actuating means (15), characterized in that the slider (5) is actuated by means of a releasable contact with the actuating means (15).

2. Feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shell segments (3, 4) each have a recess, one wall of the recess (8, 9) forming the control surfaces (10, 11), the slider (5) having a control element (6) projecting laterally into the recesses (8, 9).

3. Feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shell segments (3, 4) are designed as semi-cylindrical half shells, the containers (2) forming a substantially cylindrical full shell in the closed state.

4. Feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shell segments (3, 4) are each pivoted about a pivot point.

5. Feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the slider (5) and the actuating means (15) is releasably connected to one another via a coupling element (15).

6. Feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling element (16) is controlled by means of an actuator in order to open and close the connection.

7. Feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling element (16) has two pivotable holding jaws for opening and closing the connection, the holding jaws in a holding position engaging around an end piece of the actuating means (15) and in a release position of the holding jaws no longer engaging around the end piece and the end piece being retractable in order to release the connection.

8. Feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shell segments (3, 4) each have a securing element (13, 14), the slider (5) holding the securing elements (13, 14) in a form-locking or force-locking connection in the holding position, the connection being releasable by a movement of the slider (5) relative to the shell segments (3, 4).

9. Feeding device according claim 1, characterised in that the distance of the securing elements (13, 14) from the pivot points is greater than a quarter of the diameter of the container (2).

10. Feeding device according to claim 1, characterised in that the feeding device is an ammunition feed (1) of a gun.

11. Feeding device according to claim 1, characterised in that the containers (2) are formed for receiving in each case a military active body.

12. Method for loading and a gun with the feeding device according to claim 1, with the steps of a. Contacting the slider with the actuating means, b. Pivoting the shell segments apart by transmission of force from the actuating means to the slider, linear displacement of the slider and/or transmission of a torque to the shell segments, c. Loading or unloading the container with ammunition; d. Pivoting the shell segments together by linear force transmission of the slider, wherein the shell segments are pivoted radially to the longitudinal axis of the container, and/or by the transmission of a torque to the shell segments, and e. Release of the contact between the actuating means and the slider.

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized by a release of the securing elements before the pivoting apart by force transmission of the slider, and closing of the securing element after the pivoting together by the linear force transmission of the slider or the transmission of a torque.

14. Feeding device having a plurality of containers (2) for receiving in each case an object, and having at least one actuating means (15) for opening and closing the containers (2), the containers (2) each having two shell segments (3, 4) arranged pivotably on a holder and in each case a slider (5), the shell segments (3, 4) being capable of being pivoted back and forth between a release position and a holding position in a functionally effective manner by linear displacement of the slider (5), it being possible for the slider (5) to be actuated by the actuating means (15), characterized in that the slider (5) acts on the shell segments (3, 4) via a control surface (10, 11) and a control element (6) which interacts with the control surface (10, 11), the control element (6) moving along the control surface (10, 11) in the event of a linear displacement of the slider (5).

15. Feeding device according to claim 14, characterized in that the shell segments (3, 4) each have a recess, one wall of the recess (8, 9) forming the control surfaces (10, 11), the slider (5) having a control element (6) projecting laterally into the recesses (8, 9).

16. Feeding device according to claim 14, characterized in that the shell segments (3, 4) are designed as semi-cylindrical half shells, the containers (2) forming a substantially cylindrical full shell in the closed state.

17. Feeding device according to claim 14, characterized in that the shell segments (3, 4) are each pivoted about a pivot point.

18. Feeding device according to claim 14, characterized in that the slider (5) and the actuating means (15) are releasably connected to one another via a coupling element (15).

19. Feeding device according to claim 14, characterized in that the coupling element (16) is controlled by means of an actuator in order to open and close the connection.

20. Feeding device according to claim 14, characterized in that the coupling element (16) has two pivotable holding jaws for opening and closing the connection, the holding jaws in a holding position engaging around an end piece of the actuating means (15) and in a release position of the holding jaws no longer engaging around the end piece and the end piece being retractable in order to release the connection.

21. Feeding device according to claim 14, characterized in that the shell segments (3, 4) each have a securing element (13, 14), the slider (5) holding the securing elements (13, 14) in a form-locking or force-locking connection in the holding position, the connection being releasable by a movement of the slider (5) relative to the shell segments (3, 4).

22. Feeding device according claim 14, characterised in that the distance of the securing elements (13, 14) from the pivot points is greater than a quarter of the diameter of the container (2).

Description

(1) There are now a large number of possibilities for embodying and developing the invention. For this purpose, reference can first be made to the claims subordinate to Claim 1. In the following, a preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing and the accompanying description. The following is shown in the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic side view, a part of an ammunition feeding with a container, the container being shown in a closed and locked state,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the container in a closed but unlocked state, and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of the container in an open state.

(5) In FIG. 1 to 3, an ammunition feeder 1, namely a container 2, can be seen, wherein the container 2 is essentially formed by two shell segments 3, 4. The shell segments 3, 4, are designed as semi-cylindrical shells. The shell segments 3, 4 can each be swivelled back and forth around a pivot point between a closed position (cf. FIGS. 1 and 2) and an open position (cf. FIG. 3). Military active bodies such as cartridges (not shown) can be arranged inside the container 2.

(6) The shell segments 3, 4, together form essentially a fully cylindrical container 2. A slider 5 is now provided for opening and closing the container 2. The slider 5 is guided linearly on a mounting (not shown). The slider 5 is linearly displaceable. In the locked state, the slider 5 is arranged in the position shown in FIG. 1. The slider 5 has a control element 6 in the form of a crossbar, the crossbar or the control element 6 engaging in laterally arranged recesses 8, 9 in the shell segments 3, 4 respectively. Control surfaces 10, 11 extending obliquely to the direction of movement of slider 5 are formed in the recesses 8, 9. When the slider 5 in FIG. 1 is now moved upwards, the slider 5 in the position shown in FIG. 2 comes into contact with the control surfaces 10, 11, which results in a torque, which finally forces the shell segments 3, 4 apart and thus opens the container 2.

(7) In the position shown in FIG. 1, the shell segments 3, 4 are held on the shell segments 3, 4 by two securing elements 13, 14 in the form of holding noses 13, 14. For this purpose, a securing strip 12 is formed on the slider 5, which engages over the holding noses 13, 14 and thus realizes a clamping connection or a positive-locking connection. For example, in order to realize a positive connection, corresponding recesses could be provided on the securing strip 12, in which the retaining lugs 13, 14 engage in the locked position. The retaining lugs 13, 14 are formed integrally on the shell segments 3, 4 or are attached to or connected with the shell segments 3, 4. The securing strip 12 is formed or attached here to one end of the slider 5. However, the securing strip 12 or a corresponding securing device can also be arranged in a central position. However, it is advantageous if the securing strip 12 and the retaining lugs 13, 14 or the corresponding securing elements 13, 14 are located as far as possible from the pivot points, the pivot points here being located in a lower half of the shell segments 3, 4 and the retaining lugs 13, 14 being located in an upper half of the shell segments 3, 4. The fact that the distance from the securing elements 13, 14 to the pivot points is as large as possible, especially greater than half the radius or quarter the diameter of container 2, ensures that the shell segments 3, 4 are held together securely, even if a large-caliber ammunition, for example with a diameter of more than 120 mm, is used.

(8) Shown is a coupling element 16 in the form of an essentially cylindrical receptacle into which a head 17 of the actuating means 15 can engage. It is conceivable for the coupling element 16 to be formed by two pivotable holding jaws which, in the closed state (cf. FIG. 1), are held together by a guide on both sides and, when they have been retracted into the release position, the actuating means 15 can be pivoted apart as soon as they have left the guide, so that the actuating means 15 can be uncoupled from the slider.

(9) In a preferred embodiment, the slider 5 and the actuating means 15 can be connected to each other in a releasable manner via a non-positive and/or positive connection, so that both tensile and compressive forces can be transmitted from the actuating means 15 to the slider 5.

(10) In an alternative embodiment, it is possible that the slider 5 is pressed into the closed, locked position by springs and, for example, only the opening and unlocking of the container 2 is realized by the actuating means 15, i.e. the actuating means 15 transmits only compressive forces but no tensile forces. If only compressive forces are transmitted, it may also be possible to dispense with a coupling, since the slider 5 only has to be displaced along the guide by contact with the actuating means 15, without tensile forces having to be transmitted to the slide 5.

(11) This ammunition guide 1 is used in particular in a belt conveyor or a chain conveyor, a corresponding actuator, i.e. a corresponding actuating means 15, being present in each case at a loading and an unloading point. Due to the fact that the actuating means 15 can be uncoupled from the slider 5, it is possible, on the one hand, to selectively load and open individual containers 2 with, for example, different types of ammunition, and, on the other hand, a particularly space-saving construction is realized.

(12) The disadvantages mentioned at the outset are therefore avoided and corresponding advantages are achieved.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(13) 1 Ammunition feeder 2 Container 3 Shell segment 4 Shell segment 5 Slider 6 Control element 7 Crossbars 8 recess 9 recess 10 Control area 11 Control area 12 Safety bar 13 Retaining lugs/safety elements 14 Retaining lugs/safety elements 15 Actuating means 16 Coupling element/receptacle 17 Head