EP0231443B1 - Sprocket for the cartridge feed mechanism of an automatic firearm - Google Patents

Sprocket for the cartridge feed mechanism of an automatic firearm Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0231443B1
EP0231443B1 EP86115318A EP86115318A EP0231443B1 EP 0231443 B1 EP0231443 B1 EP 0231443B1 EP 86115318 A EP86115318 A EP 86115318A EP 86115318 A EP86115318 A EP 86115318A EP 0231443 B1 EP0231443 B1 EP 0231443B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sprocket
cartridges
cam
disc
cartridge
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP86115318A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0231443A1 (en
Inventor
Erwin Bohler
Werner Bruderer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Rheinmetall Air Defence AG
Original Assignee
Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon Buhrle AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon Buhrle AG filed Critical Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon Buhrle AG
Publication of EP0231443A1 publication Critical patent/EP0231443A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0231443B1 publication Critical patent/EP0231443B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
    • F41A9/00—Feeding or loading of ammunition; Magazines; Guiding means for the extracting of cartridges
    • F41A9/01—Feeding of unbelted ammunition
    • F41A9/04—Feeding of unbelted ammunition using endless-chain belts carrying a plurality of ammunition
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
    • F41A9/00—Feeding or loading of ammunition; Magazines; Guiding means for the extracting of cartridges
    • F41A9/29—Feeding of belted ammunition
    • F41A9/30—Sprocket-type belt transporters

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a deflection wheel for a cartridge feeding device on an automatic multi-tube cannon with a rotating tube bundle and an endless chain for feeding the cartridges to the weapon, with a stationary curve device for radially displacing the cartridges in the deflection wheel and with a number of straight, radially directed guide grooves on the deflection wheel.
  • the cartridges are also supplied by an endless conveyor belt to the multi-tube cannon with a rotating tube bundle.
  • a combing-out wheel which pushes the cartridges out of the conveyor belt and feeds them to the weapon.
  • the cartridges must be accelerated because the division of the conveyor chain is much smaller than the distance between the individual weapon tubes of the tube bundle. In accordance with the small division of the conveyor chain, the cartridges move much more slowly than they should move according to the peripheral speed of the gun barrels (see FIG. 2 of the present application).
  • the combing wheel accelerates the cartridges to the peripheral speed of the tube bundle.
  • the object which is to be achieved with the present invention is to create a deflection wheel which enables the cartridges fed on the conveyor belt to be accelerated uniformly.
  • the deflection wheel When the conveyor belt is deflected by the deflection wheel, the cartridges located on the conveyor belt move on a much larger circular arc than the conveyor belt itself, as a result of which the cartridges are already accelerated.
  • this acceleration alone does not give the cartridge the speed it needs to be inserted into the weapon.
  • the individual cartridges should therefore be additionally accelerated.
  • the endless conveyor belt or an endless conveyor chain could also be designed such that it is deflected on a deflection roller of a relatively small radius, but the cartridges located on the conveyor chain are arranged on a circle of, compared to the radius of the reel, move a very large radius, which could also accelerate the cartridges to the desired speed.
  • a star wheel 10 known per se and provided with five teeth 11 rotates in the direction of arrow A about its axis 12.
  • This star wheel 10 moves an endless conveyor chain 13 in the direction of the two arrows B.
  • a dash-dotted line is indicated in FIG. 1.
  • the shape of the teeth 11 inevitably results from the requirement that the cartridges have to be redirected from a straight line of motion to a circular path of movement and then in turn have to be redirected to a straight line of motion.
  • the transition from the linear to the circular movement path and the transition from the circular to the linear movement path is indicated by the two points 14 and 15.
  • the distance between the individual cartridges 12 increases due to the bending of the conveyor chain 13 by the star wheel 10.
  • the distance between cartridges 12a and 12b is considerably smaller than the distance between cartridges 12b and 12c. This Ab change in position causes acceleration forces that act on the cartridges 12.
  • the cartridges 12 are fed to a firearm, of which only the six gun barrels 16 are indicated. These six weapon tubes 16 are fastened in a housing, not shown, which rotates in the direction of arrow D about an axis 17.
  • the axis of the gun barrel 16a coincides with the axis of the cartridge 12c.
  • the deflection wheel 20 has five sliders 21 which can be moved in the radial direction on the deflection wheel 20, as indicated by arrows E.
  • This deflection wheel 20 moves an endless conveyor chain 22 in the direction of arrow B when the deflection wheel 20 rotates in the direction of arrow A.
  • the cartridges 23 supplied by the conveyor chain 22 enter the troughs 24 of the slide 21.
  • the conveyor chain 22 is also only indicated by a dash-dotted line.
  • the slides 21 are radially displaceably mounted in a disk 25, which can rotate in the direction of arrow A. In front of this disk 25 is a cam disk 26 which cannot be rotated.
  • This cam disk 26 has a control groove or control cam 27 into which rollers 28 protrude, which are mounted on bolts 29 which are fastened to the slides 21.
  • the control groove 27 on the right half of the cam disk 26 has a smaller distance from the axis 30 of the deflection wheel than on the left half of the cam disk 26.
  • the three slides 21 a, b, c are further from the axle 30 removed when the slides 21d and e.
  • the slide 21d thus moves radially outward and at the same time the slide 21a moves radially inward when the deflection wheel 20 rotates a fifth of a turn in the direction of arrow A from the position shown.
  • the control groove 27, which is only indicated schematically here, can be designed such that the cartridge 12b according to FIG. 2 does not move on a circular path 13 but on a spiral path 18 without the unfavorable play indicated in FIG. 2 19 arises.
  • two deflection wheels 20 are arranged on a shaft 31, one deflection wheel 20 of which is located at the rear end of the cartridges to be transported, and the other deflection wheel 20a detects the cartridges in the region of the sleeve mouth.
  • the disks 25 and 25a of the two deflection wheels 20 and 20a are wedged on the shaft 31 and rotate with this shaft 31, on which a gearwheel 32 is wedged at the right end, which can be driven by a motor, not shown.
  • the shaft 31 is mounted in a housing 34 via two ball bearings 33.
  • the cam disc 26a which must not rotate, is fastened to the housing 34 via the sleeve 35, and is thus secured against rotation. Of the five slides 21 shown in FIG.
  • FIG. 4 only one slider 21 and 21 'are visible in FIG. 4.
  • a bolt 29 or 29a is fastened to each slide 21, 21 ', on each of which a roller 28, 28a is mounted, which projects into the control groove 27 or 27a.
  • Guide rails 37, 38 are fastened in the housing 34 and prevent the cartridges 23 from falling out of the slides 21 and 21 '.
  • the cam disk 26 is secured against rotation by a cam 39 which is attached to the housing 34.
  • a sleeve 36 is located between the cam disk 26 and the disk 25.
  • the multi-barrel cannon with a rotating barrel bundle of six weapon tubes 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e and 16f shoots from each individual weapon barrel e.g. 700 cartridges 12 or 23 per minute.
  • FIG. 2 is considerably smaller than the circular arc b between the weapon tubes 16c and 16d (Fig. 2). According to the difference in length between distance a and arc b, the cartridge must be accelerated to a higher speed. To accelerate the cartridges 12 and 23, they are moved according to FIG. 2 on a spiral path 18, on which they are accelerated approximately to the desired speed. How a cartridge 12, 23 can be moved on a spiral path 18 (FIG. 2) can be seen from FIG. 3.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Umlenkrad für eine Patronenzuführvorrichtung an einer automatischen Mehrrohrkanone mit einem rotierenden Rohrbündel und einer endlosen Kette zum Zuführen der Patronen zur Waffe, mit einer ortsfesten Kurveneinrichtung zum radialen Verschieben der Patronen im Umlenkrad und mit einer Anzahl gerader, radial gerichteter Führungsnuten am Umlenkrad.The invention relates to a deflection wheel for a cartridge feeding device on an automatic multi-tube cannon with a rotating tube bundle and an endless chain for feeding the cartridges to the weapon, with a stationary curve device for radially displacing the cartridges in the deflection wheel and with a number of straight, radially directed guide grooves on the deflection wheel.

Bei einer bekannten Patronenzuführvorrichtung dieser Art (siehe US-PS 2 993 414) werden die Patronen ebenfalls durch ein endloses Förderband der Mehrrohrkanone mit rotierendem Rohrbündel zugeführt. Statt jedoch die Patronen mit Hilfe eines Umlenkrades, welches das Förderband umlenkt, der Waffe zuzuführen, ist ein Auskämmrad vorhanden, das die Patronen aus dem Förderband herausschiebt und der Waffe zuführt. Bei diesem Auskämmvorgang müssen die Patronen beschleunigt werden, da die Teilung der Förderkette wesentlich kleiner ist, als der Abstand zwischen den einzelnen Waffenrohren des Rohrbündels. Entsprechend der kleinen Teilung der Förderkette bewegen sich die Patronen wesentlich langsamer, als sie sich entsprechend der Umfangsgeschwindigkeit der Waffenrohre bewegen sollten (s. Fig. 2 der vorliegenden Anmeldung). Das Auskämmrad beschleunigt die Patronen auf die Umfangsgeschwindigkeit des Rohrbündels.In a known cartridge supply device of this type (see US Pat. No. 2,993,414), the cartridges are also supplied by an endless conveyor belt to the multi-tube cannon with a rotating tube bundle. Instead of feeding the cartridges to the weapon with the aid of a deflection wheel which deflects the conveyor belt, there is a combing-out wheel which pushes the cartridges out of the conveyor belt and feeds them to the weapon. During this combing-out process, the cartridges must be accelerated because the division of the conveyor chain is much smaller than the distance between the individual weapon tubes of the tube bundle. In accordance with the small division of the conveyor chain, the cartridges move much more slowly than they should move according to the peripheral speed of the gun barrels (see FIG. 2 of the present application). The combing wheel accelerates the cartridges to the peripheral speed of the tube bundle.

Bei einer anderen bekannten Patronenzuführvorrichtung dieser Art (siehe US-PS 3 437 005) werden die Patronen statt durch ein endloses Förderband durch eine Förderschnecke der Mehrrohrkanone zugeführt. Ein Auskämmrad bringt die Patronen von der Förderschnecke zu den einzelnen Rohren der Waffe. Der Nachteil dieser Vorrichtung besteht darin, dass die Patronen schlagartig beschleunigt werden müssen, da die Umfangsgeschwindigkeit des Auskämmrades gleich ist, wie die Umfangsgeschwindigkeit des Rohrbündels und die Patronen sich auf der Förderschnecke, entsprechend den kleinen Abständen zwischen den einzelnen Patronen, nur raltiv langsam bewegen.In another known cartridge supply device of this type (see US Pat. No. 3,437,005), the cartridges are supplied to the multi-tube cannon by a screw conveyor instead of by an endless conveyor belt. A combing wheel brings the cartridges from the screw conveyor to the individual tubes of the weapon. The disadvantage of this device is that the cartridges have to be accelerated suddenly, since the peripheral speed of the combing wheel is the same as the peripheral speed of the tube bundle and the cartridges on the screw conveyor, according to the small distances between the individual cartridges, move only slowly.

Die Aufgabe, welche mit der vorliegenden Erfindung gelöst werden soll, besteht in der Schaffung eines Umlenkrades, das eine gleichmässige Beschleunigung der auf dem Förderband zugeführten Patronen ermöglicht. Beim Umlenken des Förderbandes durch das Umlenkrad, bewegen sich die sich auf dem Förderband befindlichen Patronen auf einem wesentlich grösseren Kreisbogen als das Förderband selbst, wodurch die Patronen bereits beschleunigt werden. Durch diese Beschleunigung alleine erhält die Patrone jedoch noch nicht die zum Einschieben in die Waffe erforderliche Geschwindigkeit. Mit Hilfe des erfindungsgemässen Umlenkrades sollen daher die einzelnen Patronen zusätzlich beschleunigt werden.The object which is to be achieved with the present invention is to create a deflection wheel which enables the cartridges fed on the conveyor belt to be accelerated uniformly. When the conveyor belt is deflected by the deflection wheel, the cartridges located on the conveyor belt move on a much larger circular arc than the conveyor belt itself, as a result of which the cartridges are already accelerated. However, this acceleration alone does not give the cartridge the speed it needs to be inserted into the weapon. With the aid of the deflection wheel according to the invention, the individual cartridges should therefore be additionally accelerated.

Das erfindungsgemässe Umlenkrad, mit dem diese Aufgabe gelöst wird, ist gekennzeichnet durch

  • - eine Anzahl radial verschiebbare Schlitten, die gleichmässig am Umfang des Umlenkrades verteilt sind und Aussparungen zur Aufnahme von Patronen aufweisen;
  • - Kurvenrollen, die an den einzelnen Schlitten befestigt sind und die mit der ortsfesten Kurveneinrichtung in Eingriff stehen, derart dass jede Kurvenrolle mit dem zugehörigen Schlitten durch die Kurveneinrichtung radial verschiebbar ist;
  • - eine Steuernut an der Kurveneinrichtung, welche die entsprechende Steuerkurve bildet, wobei die an den Schlitten befestigten Kurvenrollen in diese Steuernut hineinragen und die Kurveneinrichtung eine Kurvenscheibe ist;
  • - wobei je ein Schlitten in einer der Steuernuten des Umlenkrades angeordnet ist.
The deflection wheel according to the invention, with which this object is achieved, is characterized by
  • - A number of radially displaceable slides, which are evenly distributed on the circumference of the deflection wheel and have recesses for receiving cartridges;
  • - Cam rollers, which are attached to the individual carriages and which are in engagement with the stationary cam device, such that each cam roller with the associated carriage is radially displaceable by the cam device;
  • - A control groove on the cam device, which forms the corresponding control cam, the cam rollers attached to the slide projecting into this control groove and the cam device being a cam disk;
  • - Wherein a slide is arranged in one of the control grooves of the deflection wheel.

Statt das Umlenkrad in der beschriebenen, erfindungsgemässen Weise auszubilden, könnte auch das endlose Förderband oder eine endlose Förderkette so ausgebildet werden, dass sie auf einer Umlenkrolle von verhältnismässig kleinem Radius umgelenkt wird, wobei aber die auf der Förderkette befindlichen Patronen sich auf einem Kreis von, im Vergleich zum Radius der Rolle, sehr grossen Radius bewegen, wodurch die Patronen ebenfalls auf die gewünschte Geschwindigkeit beschleunigt werden könnten. Dies würde jedoch zu einer ungünstigen Konstruktion der Kette führen.Instead of designing the deflection wheel in the manner described, according to the invention, the endless conveyor belt or an endless conveyor chain could also be designed such that it is deflected on a deflection roller of a relatively small radius, but the cartridges located on the conveyor chain are arranged on a circle of, compared to the radius of the reel, move a very large radius, which could also accelerate the cartridges to the desired speed. However, this would lead to an unfavorable construction of the chain.

Ein Ausführungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemässen Patronenzuführvorrichtung ist im folgenden, anhand der beigefügten Zeichnung ausführlich beschrieben.An embodiment of the cartridge feeding device according to the invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Es zeigt:

  • Fig. 1 ein an sich bekanntes Umlenkrad, wie es bisher für eine Patronenzuführvorrichtung verwendet wurde;
  • Fig. 2 das in Fig. 1 gezeigte Umlenkrad neben einer Mehrrohrkanone;
  • Fig. 3 ein Umlenkrad gemäss der vorliegenden Erfindung und
  • Fig. 4 einen Schnitt nach Linie IV-IV in Fig. 3.
It shows:
  • Figure 1 shows a known deflection wheel, as it has been used for a cartridge feeder.
  • FIG. 2 shows the deflection wheel shown in FIG. 1 next to a multi-tube cannon;
  • Fig. 3 is a deflection wheel according to the present invention and
  • 4 shows a section along line IV-IV in FIG. 3.

Gemäss Fig. 1 dreht sich ein an sich bekanntes, mit fünf Zähnen 11 versehenes Sternrad 10, in Richtung des Pfeiles A um seine Achse 12. Durch dieses Sternrad 10 wird eine endlose Förderkette 13 in Richtung der beiden Pfeile B bewegt. Von dieser Förderkette 13 ist in Fig. 1 nur eine strichpunktierte Linie angedeutet. In dieser Förderkette 13 befinden sich Patronen 12, von denen in Fig. 1 nur der Hülsenboden sichtbar ist. Die Form der Zähne 11 ergibt sich zwangsläufig aus der Forderung, dass die Patronen von einer geradlinigen Bewegungsbahn auf eine kreisförmige Bewegungsbahn umgelenkt und anschliessend wiederum auf eine gerade Bewegungsbahn umgelenkt werden müssen. Der Übergang von der geradlinigen zur kreisförmigen Bewegungsbahn und der Übergang von der kreisförmigen zur geradlinigen Bewegungsbahn ist durch die beiden Punkte 14 und 15 angedeutet. Durch die Biegung der Förderkette 13 durch das Sternrad 10 vergrössert sich der Abstand zwischen den einzelnen Patronen 12. Somit ist der Abstand zwischen Patrone 12a und 12b wesentlich kleiner, als der Abstand zwischen den Patronen 12b und 12c. Diese Abstandsveränderung verursacht Beschleunigungskräfte, die auf die Patronen 12 einwirken.1, a star wheel 10 known per se and provided with five teeth 11 rotates in the direction of arrow A about its axis 12. This star wheel 10 moves an endless conveyor chain 13 in the direction of the two arrows B. Of this conveyor chain 13, only a dash-dotted line is indicated in FIG. 1. In this conveyor chain 13 there are cartridges 12, of which only the sleeve bottom is visible in FIG. 1. The shape of the teeth 11 inevitably results from the requirement that the cartridges have to be redirected from a straight line of motion to a circular path of movement and then in turn have to be redirected to a straight line of motion. The transition from the linear to the circular movement path and the transition from the circular to the linear movement path is indicated by the two points 14 and 15. The distance between the individual cartridges 12 increases due to the bending of the conveyor chain 13 by the star wheel 10. Thus, the distance between cartridges 12a and 12b is considerably smaller than the distance between cartridges 12b and 12c. This Ab change in position causes acceleration forces that act on the cartridges 12.

Gemäss Fig. 2 werden die Patronen 12 einer Feuerwaffe zugeführt, von der nur die sechs Waffenrohre 16 angedeutet sind. Diese sechs Waffenrohre 16 sind in einem nicht dargestellten Gehäuse befestigt, das sich in Richtung des Pfeiles D um eine Achse 17 dreht. Die Achse des Waffenrohres 16a fällt mit der Achse der Patrone 12c zusammen. Bei der Drehung des Sternrades 10 und der Waffenrohre 16 in Richtung der Pfeile A bzw. D, gelangt die nächste Patrone 12b zum nächsten Waffenrohr 16b, die Patrone 12b wird sich daher auf der strichpunktiert angedeuteten Linie 18 bewegen, wobei sich zwischen den Zähnen 11 des Sternrades 10 und der Patrone 12c ein Spiel 19 ergibt, wodurch die Patrone 12c nicht mehr zuverlässig geführt ist und die Gefahr besteht, dass Störungen bei der Patronenzufuhr entstehen. Mit dem erfindungsgemässen Umlenkrad 20 sollen solche Störungen vermieden werden.2, the cartridges 12 are fed to a firearm, of which only the six gun barrels 16 are indicated. These six weapon tubes 16 are fastened in a housing, not shown, which rotates in the direction of arrow D about an axis 17. The axis of the gun barrel 16a coincides with the axis of the cartridge 12c. When the star wheel 10 and the gun barrels 16 rotate in the direction of the arrows A and D, the next cartridge 12b arrives at the next gun barrel 16b, the cartridge 12b will therefore move on the line 18 indicated by dash-dotted lines, whereby between the teeth 11 des Star wheel 10 and the cartridge 12c results in a clearance 19, as a result of which the cartridge 12c is no longer reliably guided and there is a risk of interference with the cartridge supply. Such disturbances are to be avoided with the deflection wheel 20 according to the invention.

Gemäss Fig. 3 weist das erfindungsgemässe Umlenkrad 20 fünf Schieber 21 auf, welche sich in radialer Richtung auf dem Umlenkrad 20 verschieben lassen, wie durch Pfeile E angedeutet ist. Durch dieses Umlenkrad 20 wird eine endlose Förderkette 22 in Richtung des Pfeiles B bewegt, wenn sich das Umlenkrad 20 in Richtung des Pfeiles A dreht. Die von der Förderkette 22 zugeführten Patronen 23 gelangen in Mulden 24 der Schieber 21. Auch die Förderkette 22 ist nur durch eine strichpunktierte Linie angedeutet. Die Schieber 21 sind in einer Scheibe 25 radial verschiebbar gelagert, die sich in Richtung des Pfeiles A drehen kann. Vor dieser Scheibe 25 befindet sich eine Kurvenscheibe 26, welche sich nicht drehen lässt. Diese Kurvenscheibe 26 besitzt eine Steuernut oder Steuerkurve 27 in welche Rollen 28 hineinragen, die auf Bolzen 29 gelagert sind, welche an den Schiebern 21 befestigt sind. Gemäss Fig. 3 weist die Steuernut 27 auf der rechten Hälfte der Kurvenscheibe 26 einen kleineren Abstand von der Achse 30 des Umlenkrades auf, als auf der linken Hälfte der Kurvenscheibe 26. Somit sind die drei Schieber 21 a, b, c weiter von der Achse 30 entfernt, als die Schieber 21d und e. Bei der Drehung der Scheibe 25 verschiebt sich somit der Schieber 21d radial nach aussen und gleichzeitig verschiebt sich der Schieber 21a radial nach innen, wenn sich das Umlenkrad 20 aus der gezeigten Stellung um eine Fünftelsumdrehung in Richtung des Pfeiles A weiterdreht. Die Steuernut 27, die hier nur schematisch angedeutet ist, kann so ausgebildet sein, dass die Patrone 12b gemäss Fig. 2 sich nicht auf einer Kreisbahn 13, sondern auf einer spiralförmigen Bahn 18 bewegt, ohne dass das in Fig. 2 angedeutete, ungünstige Spiel 19 entsteht.3, the deflection wheel 20 according to the invention has five sliders 21 which can be moved in the radial direction on the deflection wheel 20, as indicated by arrows E. This deflection wheel 20 moves an endless conveyor chain 22 in the direction of arrow B when the deflection wheel 20 rotates in the direction of arrow A. The cartridges 23 supplied by the conveyor chain 22 enter the troughs 24 of the slide 21. The conveyor chain 22 is also only indicated by a dash-dotted line. The slides 21 are radially displaceably mounted in a disk 25, which can rotate in the direction of arrow A. In front of this disk 25 is a cam disk 26 which cannot be rotated. This cam disk 26 has a control groove or control cam 27 into which rollers 28 protrude, which are mounted on bolts 29 which are fastened to the slides 21. According to FIG. 3, the control groove 27 on the right half of the cam disk 26 has a smaller distance from the axis 30 of the deflection wheel than on the left half of the cam disk 26. Thus, the three slides 21 a, b, c are further from the axle 30 removed when the slides 21d and e. When the disk 25 rotates, the slide 21d thus moves radially outward and at the same time the slide 21a moves radially inward when the deflection wheel 20 rotates a fifth of a turn in the direction of arrow A from the position shown. The control groove 27, which is only indicated schematically here, can be designed such that the cartridge 12b according to FIG. 2 does not move on a circular path 13 but on a spiral path 18 without the unfavorable play indicated in FIG. 2 19 arises.

Gemäss Fig. 4 sind auf einer Welle 31 zwei Umlenkräder 20 angeordnet, von denen das eine Umlenkrad 20 sich am hinteren Ende der zu transportierenden Patronen befindet, und das andere Umlenkrad 20a die Patronen im Bereich des Hülsenmundes erfasst. Die Scheiben 25 und 25a der beiden Umlenkräder 20 und 20a sind auf der Welle 31 aufgekeilt, und drehen sich mit dieser Welle 31, auf der noch am rechten Ende ein Zahnrad 32 aufgekeilt ist, das von einem nicht dargestellten Motor angetrieben werden kann. Die Welle 31 ist über zwei Kugellager 33 in einem Gehäuse 34 gelagert. Die Kurvenscheibe 26a, die sich nicht drehen darf, ist über die Hülse 35 am Gehäuse 34 befestigt, und damit gegen Drehung gesichert. Von den fünf in Fig. 3 gezeigten Schiebern 21 sind in Fig. 4 nur je ein Schieber 21 und 21' sichtbar. An jedem Schieber 21, 21' ist ein Bolzen 29 bzw. 29a befestigt, auf denen je eine Rolle 28, 28a gelagert ist, welche in die Steuernut 27 bzw. 27a hineinragt. Im Gehäuse 34 sind Führungsschienen 37, 38 befestigt, welche verhindern, dass die Patronen 23 aus den Schiebern 21 und 21' herausfallen. Gemäss Fig. 3 ist die Kurvenscheibe 26 durch einen Nocken 39 gegen Drehung gesichert, der am Gehäuse 34 befestigt ist. Zwischen der Kurvenscheibe 26 und der Scheibe 25 befindet sich eine Hülse 36.4, two deflection wheels 20 are arranged on a shaft 31, one deflection wheel 20 of which is located at the rear end of the cartridges to be transported, and the other deflection wheel 20a detects the cartridges in the region of the sleeve mouth. The disks 25 and 25a of the two deflection wheels 20 and 20a are wedged on the shaft 31 and rotate with this shaft 31, on which a gearwheel 32 is wedged at the right end, which can be driven by a motor, not shown. The shaft 31 is mounted in a housing 34 via two ball bearings 33. The cam disc 26a, which must not rotate, is fastened to the housing 34 via the sleeve 35, and is thus secured against rotation. Of the five slides 21 shown in FIG. 3, only one slider 21 and 21 'are visible in FIG. 4. A bolt 29 or 29a is fastened to each slide 21, 21 ', on each of which a roller 28, 28a is mounted, which projects into the control groove 27 or 27a. Guide rails 37, 38 are fastened in the housing 34 and prevent the cartridges 23 from falling out of the slides 21 and 21 '. 3, the cam disk 26 is secured against rotation by a cam 39 which is attached to the housing 34. A sleeve 36 is located between the cam disk 26 and the disk 25.

Die Wirkungsweise der beschriebenen Patronenzuführvorrichtung ist wie folgt:The operation of the cartridge feeder described is as follows:

Die Mehrrohrkanone mit einem rotierenden Rohrbündel von sechs Waffenrohren 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e und 16f verschiesst aus jedem einzelnen Waffenrohr z.B. 700 Patronen 12 bzw. 23 pro Minute. Dies bedeutet, dass mit dem Sternrad 10 (Fig. 2), bzw. mit dem Umlenkrad 20 (Fig. 3) 4200 Patronen pro Minute zugeführt werden müssen, und dass sich das Umlenkrad 840 mal pro Minute dreht, da es bei jeder Umdrehung 5 Patronen zuführt. Aus diesen wenigen Zahlen ist ersichtlich, dass die Beschleunigung der Patronen 23 bzw. 12 von wesentlicher Bedeutung ist. Solange die Förderkette oder das Förderband 13 (Fig. 2) bzw. 22 (Fig. 3) gestreckt ist, ist der Abstand a zwischen den beiden Patronen 12 und 12a (Fig. 2) wesentlich kleiner als der Kreisbogen b zwischen den Waffenrohren 16c und 16d (Fig. 2). Entsprechend dem Längenunterschied zwischen Abstand a und Kreisbogen b, muss die Patrone auf eine grössere Geschwindigkeit beschleunigt werden. Zur Beschleunigung der Patronen 12 bzw. 23 werden sie gemäss Fig. 2 auf einer spiralförmigen Bahn 18 bewegt, auf der sie annähernd auf die gewünschte Geschwindigkeit beschleunigt werden. Wie eine Patrone 12, 23 auf einer spiralförmigen Bahn 18 (Fig. 2) bewegt werden kann, ist aus Fig. 3 ersichtlich. Während sich ein Schieber 21 von der Stelle des Schiebers 21d zur Stelle des Schiebers 21 c bewegt, wird einerseits eine Patrone 23 von der endlosen Förderkette 22 in die Mulde 24 des Schiebers 21 c hineingelegt, und gleichzeitig wird der Schieber 21d radial verschoben, da sich die Rolle 29 des Schiebers 21 im ansteigenden Teil der Steuernut 27 der ortsfesten Kurvenscheibe 26 bewegt. Während also die Patrone 23 tangential gegen das Umlenkrad 20 zugeführt wird, um in eine der Mulden 24 der Schieber 21a, 21 b, 21 c, 21d, 21 e zu gelangen, wird die Patrone 23 durch den entsprechenden Schieber 21d radial nach aussen bewegt und dabei gleichmässig beschleunigt.The multi-barrel cannon with a rotating barrel bundle of six weapon tubes 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e and 16f shoots from each individual weapon barrel e.g. 700 cartridges 12 or 23 per minute. This means that 4200 cartridges per minute must be fed with the star wheel 10 (FIG. 2) or with the deflection wheel 20 (FIG. 3), and that the deflection wheel rotates 840 times per minute, since it turns 5 with each revolution Feeds cartridges. From these few numbers it can be seen that the acceleration of cartridges 23 and 12 is essential. As long as the conveyor chain or conveyor belt 13 (FIG. 2) or 22 (FIG. 3) is stretched, the distance a between the two cartridges 12 and 12a (FIG. 2) is considerably smaller than the circular arc b between the weapon tubes 16c and 16d (Fig. 2). According to the difference in length between distance a and arc b, the cartridge must be accelerated to a higher speed. To accelerate the cartridges 12 and 23, they are moved according to FIG. 2 on a spiral path 18, on which they are accelerated approximately to the desired speed. How a cartridge 12, 23 can be moved on a spiral path 18 (FIG. 2) can be seen from FIG. 3. While a slider 21 moves from the position of the slider 21d to the position of the slider 21c, on the one hand a cartridge 23 is inserted from the endless conveyor chain 22 into the trough 24 of the slider 21c, and at the same time the slider 21d is displaced radially since the roller 29 of the slide 21 moves in the rising part of the control groove 27 of the fixed cam 26. Thus, while the cartridge 23 is fed tangentially against the deflection wheel 20 in order to get into one of the troughs 24 of the slides 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, 21e, the cartridge 23 is moved radially outwards by the corresponding slide 21d and accelerated evenly.

Claims (3)

1. Sprocket (20) for a cartridge feed mechanism on an automatic multi-barrel gun with a rotating bank of barrels (16) and a continuous track (13) for feeding the cartridges (23) to the gun, with a fixed cam mechanism (26) for radial displacement of the cartridges (23) in the sprocket (20) and with a number of straight, radially orientated control grooves on the sprocket (20), characterised by:
- a number of radially displaceable runners (21) evenly distributed on the circumference of the sprocket (20) and having recesses for receiving cartridges (23);
- cam rollers (28) fixed on the various runners (21) and in engagement with the fixed cam mechanism (26) so that the cam mechanism (26) can radially displace each cam roller (28) with the associated runner (21);
- a control groove (27) on the cam mechanism (26), to form the corresponding control cam, the cam rollers (28) fixed on the runners (21) projecting into said control groove (27) and the cam mechanism (26) being a disc cam;
- a runner (21) is arranged in each one of the control grooves (27) of the sprocket.
2. Sprocket (20) according to Claim 1, characterised in that two discs (25) are keyed on a rotatably mounted shaft (31), that each disc (25) has radially adjustable slides (21), that one said disc (25) is situated at the back end of the cartridges (23) being transported and that the other disc (25a) is situated in the region of the mouth of the cartridge case and the two discs (25, 25a) together with the slides (21) and the disc cams (26, 26a) form the sprocket (20, 20a).
3. Sprocket (20) according to Claim 2, characterised in that a disc cam (26, 26a) is associated with each disc (25, 25a), for displacement of the slides (21) arranged on the disc (25, 25a).
EP86115318A 1985-12-10 1986-11-05 Sprocket for the cartridge feed mechanism of an automatic firearm Expired EP0231443B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH5257/85 1985-12-10
CH525785 1985-12-10

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0231443A1 EP0231443A1 (en) 1987-08-12
EP0231443B1 true EP0231443B1 (en) 1989-01-25

Family

ID=4290567

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86115318A Expired EP0231443B1 (en) 1985-12-10 1986-11-05 Sprocket for the cartridge feed mechanism of an automatic firearm

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US (1) US4885975A (en)
EP (1) EP0231443B1 (en)
DE (1) DE3661973D1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3004781B1 (en) 2013-06-03 2018-05-02 Profense, LLC Minigun with improved feeder sprocket and shaft

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB151647A (en) * 1917-10-25 1921-10-10 Gabriel Szakats Loading mechanism for automatic firearms
DE744343C (en) * 1939-11-04 1944-01-14 Julius Hermann Klemt Machine gun with longitudinally divided cartridge chamber formed by two rollers
US2993415A (en) * 1959-07-10 1961-07-25 Elio W Panicci Combined continuous linkless supplier and cartridge feed mechanism for automatic guns
US3319524A (en) * 1965-11-30 1967-05-16 Gen Electric Transfer mechanism for ammunition
US3421409A (en) * 1967-05-09 1969-01-14 Olin Mathieson Cartridge feed system
US3437005A (en) * 1967-05-25 1969-04-08 Gen Electric Flexible article conveyor for high speed applications
US3429221A (en) * 1967-12-18 1969-02-25 Gen Electric Constant velocity conveyor mechanism
US3492913A (en) * 1968-03-11 1970-02-03 Trw Inc Open chamber gun ammunition feed system
JPS5827162B2 (en) * 1979-08-24 1983-06-08 株式会社ヤクルト本社 Constant speed transport mechanism
US4658701A (en) * 1983-04-13 1987-04-21 Hughes Helicopters, Inc. Side stripping mechanism for linked ammunition

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0231443A1 (en) 1987-08-12
DE3661973D1 (en) 1989-03-02
US4885975A (en) 1989-12-12

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