CA2539900A1

CA2539900A1 - Ammunition conveyor chain belt

Info

Publication number: CA2539900A1
Application number: CA002539900A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Rudi Beckmann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Heckler und Koch GmbH
Priority date: 2003-09-23
Filing date: 2004-09-22
Publication date: 2005-04-07
Also published as: DE10344027A1; EP1671074A1; WO2005031243A1; KR20070030161A

Abstract

The invention relates to an ammunition conveyor chain comprising a housing (1), for example, for loading and unloading the on-board reloading device of an aeroplane cannon. Said conveyor chain also comprises housing elements (11) that are coupled to each other in an articulated manner, and respectively contain one section (27) of a guide rail for guiding a continuous chain (35) consisting of adjacent cartridge holders (31) that are interconnected in an articulated manner. The aim of the invention is to obtain a stable but simple, flexible arrangement of the housing. To this end, the inventive ammunition conveyor chain is characterised in that respectively two adjacent housing elements (11) are connected by two articulated parts (21, 23) that can be pivoted in relation to each other about a common rotational axis, and both articulated parts (21, 23) of a housing element (11) are connected to a section (27) of the guide rail, which extends essentially from one rotational axis (29) to the next. A curved section of the guide rail is associated with the coupled articulated parts (21, 23).

Description

WO 2005/031293 PCTI~PZ004/010625 Ammunition Conveying Chain Belt The invention relates to an ammunition conveying chain belt with case, for example for loading and unloading the on-board reloading device of an aircraft cannon, with case elements that are hinged to each other, in which in each case a section of a guide rail for guiding a continuous chain belt is arranged, said continuous chain belt consisting of cartridge holders hinged to each other (generic term of Claim 1 ).
Airborne cannon systems in modern combat aircraft are preferably equipped with a mechanized reloading device. These reloading devices also hold the cartridges wluch for some reason could not be fred, for example misllred cartridges, and in particular the shells of f red cartridges, Such reloading devices are very extensive and due to the spatial narrowness in the airplane are especially adapted to said airplane and fixed thereto. Thus they carrot, be immediately removed and replaced by new, full magazines, as is the case for example with the magazines of anti-aircraft guns.
For die loading and unloading of such reloading devices one uses a loading device which is connected on the one hand to a ground launched supply or storeroom and an the other hand is connected to the reloading device in the airplane. This loading device exlubits a conveying chain belt which forms a loop and is activated, which for example can take place by means of the activation of the reloading device in the airplane.
Since the transfer of the cartridges between the reloading device and the conveying chain belt must take place rapidly and free of disturbance, the conveying chain belt must be brought to the reloading device.

A transfer station on the airplane simultaneously handles the removal of empty or unusable cartridges and the feeding of new, full cartridges.
In order to optimize as much as possible the use of the airplane, it is now necessary to keep the transfer times as short as possible.
The conveying chain belt is normally enclosed by a case which in cooperation with this conveying chain belt guarantees a secure guiding of the cartridges, but also protects the cartridges from atmospheric exposure and contact.
Since the conveying chain belt and the case must be adapted to the spatial narrowness and height differences between the aircraft and the ground launched ammunition supply, both are as a rule flexibly constructed. In this connection the individual case elements are joined to one another by chain-like links. These case elements exhibit guides in the interior which hold a conveying chain belt for the cartridges. The guides of the individual case elements are also joined to one another by chain-like links. The case elements of the chain strand running back and forth are fastened to one another in pairs, in order in this way to compensate vibrations that are all too great and in this way to reduce the vibrations.
All in all, such a chain with its case is a very complicated device with many connecting parts between the individual case elements. As a rule the case elements exhibit a track section of the guide of the chain, and the track sections and case elements adjoining each otter are fastened to each other by a number of chain links in such a way that the guidance of the chain is guaranteed without points of discontinuity, while the adjacent case elements can be partially moved toward each other.

WD 2005/03143 PCT/EP2004/OlOb25 Consequently the entire chain with case is rather costly, the possibilities for damage are great and the repair of the chain with case is tedious and expensive.
Proceeding from this problem, it is the object of the invention to simplify the known chain with case that has just been described.
In particular, a chain with case is to be formed which exhibits few parts;
said parts which can be cheaply produced out of plastic for example in die casting.
This problem is generally solved by further developing the initially mentioned ammunition conveying chain belt with case by the fact that - two case elements adjacent to one another are connected by means of two pivoting parts which can both be pivoted in opposition to one another around a common swiveling axis and - the two pivoting parts of a case element are connected with a section of the guide rail, which extends essentially from one swiveling axis to the next, wherein a curved section of the guide rail is assigned to the linked pivoting parts.
Instead of the many connecting links wluch connect case elements of known devices to each other, the inventive adjacent case parts are only connected by a link to a swiveling axis, wluch extends transversely to the running direction of the chain. The guide for the conveying chain belt is formed by a guide rail which extends in sections from a swiveling axis of a case element as a rule in a straight line to the other swiveling axis of the same case element. Consequently the middle lines of two adjacent sections of the guide rails collide at the swiveling axes in such a way that a polygonal course of sections of the guide rails results, in which the link forms a deflection.

EP 0 335 530 A1 shows only a case, but no guide rail, and instead of a continuous chain belt, an MG belt is mentioned, which however for its part is not guided in the case or is only guided via the cartridges.
CH 673 335 A5 shows a case with a guiding groove in which a continuous belt is guided. The sections of the guide groove are however not connected via curve sections, which are seated on the joined pivoting parts, but rather end at gaps which the continuous chain belt must while the pivoting parts are seated on the exterior of the case elements, thus away from the guiding groove.
It is basically possible to produce the case elements out of a suitable metal, for example aluminum sheet, and to produce the sections of the guide rail out of another material, such as brass, and then assemble these components into one part, e.g. to rivet them. In this way every part can be optimized by the material.
However, it is preferred to have at least one part of the case elements be constructed in a single piece with the associated section of the guide rail and the pivoting parts and preferably be constructed of plastic or reinforced plastic (Claim 2). In this way the advantage of the independent material selection is abandoned, but the advantage is gained that the case elements and the sections of the guide rail are produced in a single piece and in this way cannot loosen even after the longest operation. Moreover, the cost-effective production out of plastic is possible. If an error occurs, the entire plastic part is simply replaced.
Repair is consequently simple and cheap. The plastic parts can for example come supplied with the ammunition, say a part of a specified number of ammunition boxes, so that a separation supply route for these cheap plastic parts does not have to be created, but rather over the 4a course of time a certain reserve of replacement parts made of plastic accumulates in every place where aircraft are loaded, said reserve being sufficient in the case of a malfunction.
There are many possible constructions of the link of the sections of the guide rails which extend in a polygonal course through the case elements. However, it is preferred that the one pivoting part of a case element form a disk, while the other pivoting part of the same pivoting part forms a complementary recess, and that both case parts be penetrated in the center by a bolt which extends transversely to the guide rail (Claim 3). The arrangement of the bolt occurs where those forces are greatest, W~'11C~'1 Seep tn tear anart the sentinn~

3 PCTlEP20Q4/010625 of the guide rail. The bolt can therefore absorb these forces.
The two pivoting parts can form the guide between two sections in the deflection of the guide rail. However, it is preferable to have the bolt exhibit a head that is at least partially circular, said head forming a link of the guide rail {Claim 4}. This head has of necessity at least the diameter of the guide rail and must absorb the forces during the deflecting of the chain, to be more precise, every time when a chain link is deflected, it runs into the bolt head. Hence an unusually high load takes place there, so that it is practical to use a special material here. However, a separate component is not necessary, but rather the bolt is constructed as a link, which must exhibit a considerable hardness anyway.
For this purpose it would be possible to use a reinforced plastic or an alloy as material for the bolt. However, in accordance with the invention it is preferred to have the bolt consist of metal, preferably steel. (Claim 5}. In this way a relatively heavy component results, wluch is basically disadvantageous, but the bolt has only a restricted size, but can be correspondingly processed for example by means of heat treatment {e.g. by means of carburizing) and can by means of a surface coating, for example by means of phosphatizing, be particularly smooth, so that it promotes the gliding motion of the chain links.
The bait can be separately allocated to any guide rail. In tlus way it is possible to guide the forward and backward running strand of the continuous chain on different paths. Thus it would for example be possible to travel to several stations, for example to remove empty cartridge shells, to remove misfired cartridges, to remove full cartridges that are still intact and to get new cartridges. However, it is preferred that the bolt connect two case elements WO 2005/031243 PCT/1rP2004/OI0625 to each other, said case elements belonging to the forward and backward running strand of the continuous chain belt and preferably is constructed in two pieces (Claim 6).
In this way the continuous chain connects the aircraft and a ground station, in which the further use of the unloaded cartridges and cartridge shells and the feeding of new cartridges are organized, to the two strands, wlvch follow the same path. At the same time one bolt suffices for two case elements each, to be precise, one bolt suffices for the case element of the forward and the backward running strands, wherein both strands mutually support each other. Hence a simple and therewith sold and reliable, but lightweight ammunition conveying chain belt results.
It is basically possible to construct these mentioned case elements that are firmly connected to one another in one piece. However, it is more practical when each case element is constructed separately from the other element, since then the assembly is simplified because the case elements can be constructed as small and lightweight as possible. Moreover, a partition is necessary between the two strands of the continuous chain belt anyway, in order to prevent interference in a part of this chain traveling in the apposite direction in the event of a loose cartridge or cartridge shell. In addition it toms out to be practical that a part of the bolt lying between the two case elements exhibits a seat for guiding a function element (Claim 7). This function element can be a simple reinforcement, but can also be used to perform significant functions, wherein this function element is particularly protected from access from the outside.
Such function elements are for example communications lines which coordinate the fill and empty status of the aircraft with the ground launched supply device.

However, it has proved to be especially advantageous when the continuous chain belt is connected at least at the two transitions between the forward and backward moving strand to a drive, and that the drives are connected by means of a flexible shaft wl>ich forms the function element (Claim 8). By means of this flexible shaft the strictly synchronous running of all drive units of the continuous chain belt is guaranteed, which prevents the build-up of vibrations in the chain, which otherwise in the case of driving from only a single place would be almost unavoidable.
On the one hand, the accommodation of this flexible sliaft in tile middle of the ammunition conveying chain belt protects this shaft. However, on the other hand, it also gives the ammunition conveying chain belt a certain rigidity wluch prevents case elements adjacent to one another from moving too drastically to one another.
Thus the secure, reliable function of the ammunition conveying chain belt is guaranteed.
A conventional continuous conveying chain belt consists of metal clips which are connected to each other by means of several wire straps and wluch bear a guide on the rear side, by means of which they are guided within the case elements. In accordance with the invention, however; it is preferred that the continuous chain belt consist of single-piece, equally shaped plastic elements for the holding of one cartridge each, said plastic elements which are connected to each other along connection axles which extend at a right angle to the course of the continuous chain belt (Claim 9). These plastic elements can be produced simply and cheaply. If they are damaged, their regIacement is cheaper than their repair. Connection axles are used in the process, instead of several wire straps, which increases the stability and simplicity of the continuous chain belt.
These connection axles can be produced out of plastic. However, it is preferred that the connection axles are constructed as cylindrical pins made of metal or wire WO 2005/031243 PCTI~P20041010625 (Claim 10). Thus the connection axles can also be produced cheaply, but have a superior strength with a small diameter.
Since the connection axles are simple cylindrical pins, production as yard goods is also conceivable. Then an axle is deflected in the desired lengW if necessary from an extruded rod.
Since the plastic elements must move freely against one another to a certain degree, but are supposed to be constructed in a single piece out of plastic, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention it is proposed that the connection axles be seated in two fitted bore holes aligned with each other, which are constructed in two projections spaced apart on the one side of each plastic element, and that on the other side of each plastic element a single projection is constructed which is held with clearance between the projections of the adjacent plastic element and which is penetrated by a clearance bore hole (Claim 11). The spaced apart projections hold the axle perfectly on both sides and lock it in, as a result of which its bending strengdl is favorably influenced.
The projection lying in between on the other hand due to its tolerances permits the angular screwing down of the adjacent plastic elements. Since this simple connection permits relatively great radii of the connection axles, wear of any consequence is hardly to be reckoned with. However, even if wear should occur, replacement of all involved elements can be accomplished easily and cheaply without further ado.
In order to convey fine cartridges as gently as possible, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention the plastic elements can be constructed as oblong attachment recesses for one cartridge each, wherein on the convex side of this recess a formation similar to a dovetail is provided which encompasses a rail piece which is constructed in a single piece on the interior side of each case element, wherein the heads of fine bolts are flush with the rail piece (Claim h2). In this connection the guidance of the continuous chain belt into the case elements is guaranteed in simple fashion, but reliably.
An embodiment of the invention will be described with the help of the attached drawing.
The figures in the drawing show the following:
Figure 1 shows the upper end of an inventive loading device, Figure 2 shows the case elements of the loading device in forward oblique picture, Figure 3 shows a section of the loading device in cross-section, Figure 4 shows a part of the conveying chain belt with cartridges and Figure 5 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a series of case elements whose direction changes from one element to the next.
The figures show only one embodiment. This should in no way restrict the scope of the invention. Rather, other embodiments are also possible.
In all of the figures the same reference characters are used throughout for the same elements.
In Figuxe 1 parts of ammunition conveying chain belt 35 with a flexible case 1 are shown, said ammunition conveying chain belt connecting a reloading device in the interior of the aircraft for a machine gun to an ammunition device for said machine gun on the ground (both not shown). Ammunition conveying chain belt 35 and case 1 are parts of a loading device 3, which accordingly leads from the ground to the aircraft. One part of the conveying chain belt 35 has been left out in order to permit a view of other elements.
This loading device 3 exlibits a forniable section 5 within which a conveying chain belt 35 for the cartridges or cartridge shells circulates, said conveying chain belt being conveyed from the ground to the aircraft and vice versa.
On the aircraft-side, upper end of the formable section 5 there is an aircraft delivery conveyor device 7 at which the conveying chain belt is driven.
This delivery conveyor device 7 exhibits a drive device 9 on the side turned away from the viewer, said drive device being driven by a cardan axle 47 and which, via a transmission and gear wheels, which are seated at the exterior of the delivery conveyor device 7, drives a drive shaft 45.
Tlis drive shaft 45 pivoted on both sides in the delivery conveyor device 7 carries a star wheel 43 adapted to rotate in unison, which engages impulsively in the conveyor chain belt 35.
A section of tlis continuous conveyor chain belt 35 is shown in Figure 4. It exhibits oblong, trough-shaped chain links 31 connected to one another, said chain links which have a bolt piece 37 on the one shell side wlich engages with clearance in a nut section 39 of the adjacent chain link 31.
The bolt piece 37 and nut section 39 are penetrated by a connection pin 49, which is seated in the nut section 39 without clearance and which penetrates the bolt piece 37 with clearance. Due to the clearance which the bolt piece 37 exhibits with regard to the nut section 39 and the connection pin 49, a certain tilting movement between adjacent chain links 31 is permitted.

Each chain link 31 further exhibits an encompassing formation 51 on its convex side, which encompasses rail pieces 27, which cooperate within each part of the two-piece case 1 at the formation of a continuous rail (see Figure 2).
Further the convex part of every chain link 31 exhibits a semicircular guiding groove 53 at its end lying in the middle of the case 1.
The chain links 31 are preferably produced out of plastic in one piece, e.g.
cast. The connection pin 49 consists of metal and is fastened by means of a lock washer (not shown) on the nut section 39.
The conveying chain belt 3S runs with the encompassing formations 51 of each chain link 31 on the rail of a case part until it reaches the delivery conveyor device 7, then runs within stationary guides up to the star wheel 43, is by said star wheel 43 in the guiding grooves 53 and rotates by 1$0° and then runs with the encompassing formations 51 of every chain link 31 back on the rail in the other part of the case 1.
The ground delivery conveyor device 7 (not shown) is set up in similar fashion.
Since the case 1 is flexible and since the conveying chain belt 35 can be farmed not just around the connection pins, but rather also can be formed in transverse direction, it becomes obvious that neither the roller conveyor has to be completely level, nor does the ammunition device to which the loading device 3 is fastened have to be precisely positioned every time with regard to the aircraft. Since the loading of ammunition must be performed as rapidly as possible, WO 2005/031243 PCT/EP2004/010b25 accordingly there is no time for a precise setting of the ammunition device.
These requirements can be fulfilled by means of a flexible loading device 3.
The formable section 5 of the loading device 3 is enlarged in Figure 3 and is shown in cross-section. The formable section 5 can namely be formed in limited fashion, while the two delivery conveyor devices 7 have a rigid case in which the ends of the conveying chain belt circulate. This formable section 5 is shown in detail in Figures 2, 3 and 5.
In Figure 3 three case elements 11 made of plastic can be seen. Each of these case elements 1 i forms a short section of a tube with a roughly rectangular cross-section, as can be seen in particular in Figure 1 or 2. A series of such case elements 11 are joined to one another in order to form a tubular, bendable case along which a conveying chain belt 35 with ammunition 33 (Figure 4) runs. Each of these case elements 11 is fastened on the adjacent case element 11, with which it forms a tube, by means of a link, said link consisting of a pivoting part 21 which projects roughly like a circular plate from the side wall of a case element and which covers a complementary pivoting part 23, which is constructed on the adjacent case element 1 I (see Figure 5).
The two circular plate-shaped case parts 21, 23 are joined by a bolt 29 (see Figure 3) centered to them. Thus both case elements 11 can be counter-rotated in hinge-like fashion around the bolt 29. The bolt 29 is extended and farms the swiveling axis of two case elements 1 I, which form fine first case tube and the second case tube, which is parallel to the first one. Both case tubes are consequently fastened to one another by means of the bolt 29 and together form the case 1.

WO 2DDS1D31243 PCTIGP2DD4IDIOb25 Within each case element I 1 the bolt 29 forms an enlarged bolt head 25, which holds the Link 21, 23 together and exlubits a diameter which in each case element 11 is continued through a rail piece 27. The rail piece 27 and the pivoting parts 21, 23 are produced out of plastic in one piece with the case element 11.
The long surfaces of the case element 11 taper to their ends, so that the case elements 11 which are fastened to each other by means of a joint link 21, 23, can rotate towards each other and away from each other (see Figure 5). Further each case element 11 exhibits at its long surfaces, protruding to the adjacent case element 11, a center boundary strip 13 and a lateral boundary strip 15. Each of these boundary strips 13, 15 engages with a certain clearance in an associated recess 17 (Figure 2) in the adjacent case element I l, so that the tilting movement around an axis which runs at a right angle to the bolt 29 is limited. In this way a noteworthy angle with regard to an axis is prevented from developing at the Location of a bolt head 25 between two adjoining rail pieces 27, said axis which is standing vertically on the axis of the bolt 29, because the engagement of the limiting strips 13, 15 in the corresponding recesses 17 severely restricts the lateral shifting of two adjacent case elements 11.
As mentioned above, the two flexible tubes wlich are each formed by case elements 11 and which hold the forward and backward running strand of the conveying chain belt 35 are fastened to each other by the bolts 29, wlich form the swiveling axes of two adjacent case elements 11 of a tubular case part. Between the adjacent case elements I
1 of a case part the bolt 29 forms a concentrated distance section 59, which exhibits a cross hole 61, whose axis runs parallel to the axis of the case sections 1 I .

A flexible shaft 41 (see Figure 1 ) is passed through the bore holes 6I of these distance sections 59, by means of which a star wheel is driven in the ground delivery conveyor device 7. Tlus star wheel is constructed like the star wheel 43, engages with its radial fingers between two chain links 3 J and therewith drives the conveyor chain belt 35 additionally to the star wheel 43. Mare than two star wheels can also be positioned. More than two of the star wheels can be driven by dle outer cardan axle 47, which can be constructed as a cardan shaft, because the cyclical speed shifts as a result of angles between the different feeding places are compensated by the inherent flexibility of the conveying chain belt 35. The arch of the chain links 31 permits a limited extension of the individual chain Iinlcs 31.
one or more star wheels 43 fihat are constructed differently than the star wheel 43 can also be arranged along the conveying chain belt 35 and can engage in the even running conveying chain belt 35 to its drive.

Claims

1. An ammunition conveying chain belt with case (1), for example for loading and unloading the on-board reloading device of an aircraft cannon, with case elements (11) that are hinged to each other, in which in each case a section (27) of a guide rail for guiding a continuous chain belt (35) is arranged, said continuous chain belt consisting of cartridge holders (31) hinged to each other, wherein - two case elements (11) adjacent to one another are connected by means of two pivoting parts (21,23) which can both be pivoted in opposition to one another around a common swiveling axis and the two pivoting parts (21, 23) of a case element (11) are connected with a section (27) of the guide rail, which extends essentially from one swiveling axis (29) to the next, and a curved section (25) of the guide rail is assigned to the linked pivoting parts (21, 23).

2. Ammunition conveying chain belt according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one part of the case elements (11) is constructed in a single piece with the associated section (27) of the guide rail and the pivoting parts (21, 23) and preferably is constructed of plastic or reinforced plastic.

3. Ammunition conveying chain belt according to Claim 2, characterized in that the one pivoting part (21) of a case element (11) forms a disk, while the other pivoting part (23) of the same pivoting part (11) forms a complementary recess, and that two adjacent case parts (11) are penetrated in the center by a bolt (29) which extends transversely to the guide rail.

4. Ammunition conveying chain belt according to Claim 3, characterized in that the bolt (29) exhibits a head (25) that is at least partially circular, said head forming a link of the guide rail.

5. Ammunition conveying chain belt according to any one of Claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the bolt (29) consists of metal, preferably steel.

6. Ammunition conveying chain belt according to any one of Claims 3 through 5, characterized in that the bolt (29) connects two case elements (11) to each other, said case elements (11) belonging to the forward and backward running strand of the continuous chain belt (35) and preferably is constructed in two pieces.

7. Ammunition conveying chain belt according to Claim 6, characterized in that a part of the bolt (29) lying between the two case elements (11) exhibits a seat (61) for guiding a function element (41).

8. Ammunition conveying chain belt according to Claim 7, characterized in that the continuous chain belt (35) is connected at least at the two transitions (7) between the forward and backward moving strand to a drive (9), and that the drives are connected by means of a flexible shaft (41) which forms the function element (41).

9. Ammunition conveying chain belt according to any one of Claims 1 through 8, characterized in that the continuous chain belt (35) consists of single-piece, equally shaped plastic elements (31) for the holding of one cartridge (33) each, said plastic elements (31) being connected to each other along connection axles (49} which extend at a right angle to the course of the continuous chain belt (35).

10. Ammunition conveying chain belt according to Claim 9, characterized in that the connection axles (49) are constructed as cylindrical pins (49) made of metal.

11. Ammunition conveying chain belt according to Claim 10, characterized in that the connection axles (49) are seated in two fitted bore holes aligned with each other, which are constructed in two projections (39) spaced apart on the one side of each plastic element (31), and that on the other side of each plastic element (31) a single projection (37) is constructed which is held with clearance between the projections (39) of the adjacent plastic element (31) and which is penetrated by a clearance bore hole.

12. Ammunition conveying chain belt according to any one of Claims 9 through 11, characterized in that the plastic elements (31) are constructed as oblong attachment recesses for one cartridge (33) each, and that on the convex side of this recess a formation (51) similar to a dovetail is provided which encompasses a rail piece (27) which is constructed in a single piece on the interior side of each case element (11), wherein the heads of the bolts (25) are flush with the rail piece (27).