EP0256250B1 - Device for loading cannons, especially armour-plated cannons - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for loading guns, in particular self-propelled howitzers, from a magazine containing the essentially vertical projectiles and arranged below the gun barrel with a loading arm which has a gripper for a projectile and from a receiving position on the magazine in which it is in the is arranged essentially vertically, about an approximately horizontal axis perpendicular to the core axis of the gun barrel and connected to the gun, into a loading position from which the projectile aligned with the core axis can be transported into the cargo space of the gun by means of a piecing device.

Automatic loaders are known for howitzers and guns. They all allow the bullets to be automatically inserted into the cargo space of the gun. These loaders also allow the automatic selection of different storeys in a perfected design, the storeys usually being called up from a remote magazine and first being fed to the actual charger via a long cradle. All automatic loaders are designed to enable fast loading without any manual intervention, with high reliability. The known loaders are structurally very complex and therefore expensive and generally also require a large amount of space, so that the accommodation, for example in armored vehicles, presents difficulties. In addition, they are vulnerable due to their degree of automation in terms of technology and function.

A structurally and functionally simpler version (DE-A 2 826 136) has a loop-shaped circulation magazine immediately below and in front of the cargo space of the gun barrel. The projectile is raised from a receiving position, in which the projectile is located in a vertical plane enclosing the cannon in front of the cargo space, by means of a loading arm moved in the manner of an elevator and then pivoted about a horizontal axis which is seated in the elevator-like lifting arm into the loading position in which the projectile lies in the inner axis of the gun barrel and from which it is transported into the cargo space of the gun by means of a piecer attached to the loading arm.

The disadvantage of this known device is first of all the fact that the circulation magazine must be in front of the cargo space or the base of the weapon, so that accessibility is made more difficult, which in this special known construction is only given from outside the tank anyway. However, the fact that the gun has to be brought from the straightening position to the index position (zero elevation) before each loading process and only then can it be moved back to the straightening position is particularly serious, which reduces the cadence. Finally, a separate lifting device is necessary, which lifts the loading arm with the projectile into the ready position before the loading arm can be pivoted into the loading position.

In contrast, the device forming the preamble has a more favorable design with regard to the use of space and the accessibility of the weapon (EP-A 0 141 900). In addition to the weapon, a bearing block is arranged, on which a loading arm is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis. A charging cradle with gripper is in turn arranged on the loading arm on a vertical axis. The loading process is as follows: In the pick-up position, the approximately vertical gripper takes a bullet from the circulation magazine next to the gun. The charging cradle then pivots about the vertical axis into a position behind the gun and then about a horizontal axis into the loading position. For the charging process, the gun must also be moved to the index position and the charging cradle aligned with the axis of the soul. Furthermore, the charging cradle must be aligned with a turret-mounted attachment, or the attachment must be mounted in alignment with the weapon in the index position.

In another device (EP-A 0 178 484) it is known to mount a loading shell for projectiles and propellant charges on a transfer arm on an axis parallel to the weapon and the transfer arm in turn on a horizontal axis that intersects the core axis of the weapon and is connected to the weapon to store so that the charging cradles can follow the elevation of the weapon. Here, however, projectiles and propellant charges are already aligned horizontally in the magazine and arranged behind the weapon and inside the turret, so that the transfer arm only has to perform a simple pivoting movement between the receiving position, which corresponds approximately to the index position of the weapon, and the loading position in the correct position. This prior art also leaves open where the rammer is located and how the projectile and propellant thus get into the weapon.

Finally, the device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known (JP-A 53.33000), in the large-caliber two-part ammunition, which is housed vertically in two part-circular magazines and transported to a receiving position immediately below the gun. On a horizontal swivel axis, which coincides with the shield axis of the gun, a loading arm is pivotally suspended, which simultaneously grips both ammunition parts (propellant charge and projectile) by means of a gripper and, after swiveling up around the horizontal axis, moves them into a loading position aligned with the core axis. This embodiment has the advantage that the gun can be loaded in every direction and does not always have to be returned to the index position. The relatively small capacity of the magazine and the limited space are disadvantageous.

The invention has for its object to accomplish the loading process with simple constructive means and manageable movements and thereby create an inexpensive and space-saving device that a La which is permitted in any desired position of the gun.

Based on the device mentioned in the introduction, the aforementioned object is achieved according to the invention in that the magazine is designed as a circulation magazine and in that the loading arm can additionally be pivoted about a vertical axis between the receiving position next to the gun barrel and a position below and in front of the gun barrel, and in that the piecer is attached to the loading arm.

The circulation magazine, which contains a certain number of projectiles, is cyclically driven and moves one projectile after the other into the receiving position lying next to the gun. There it is gripped by the loading arm pivoted about the vertical axis into the receiving position, which is essentially vertical, by means of the gripper attached to it and fixed by tensioning the gripper on the loading arm. The loading arm then pivots about the vertical axis into the position below and in front of the gun barrel, in order to then be pivoted upwards about the horizontal axis until the projectile is aligned with the soul axis of the gun barrel. From this position, the projectile is then transported into the cargo space of the gun barrel by means of the attachment. The gun can be fired after the propellant charge has been placed behind the floor and the breech closed.

The device according to the invention is constructed from simple components. The entire loading process consists of simple movements, namely the gripping movement when gripping the projectile in the receiving position and two successive swiveling movements of the loading arm. The simple movement sequences enable a quick charging process that is in the range of 6 to 7 seconds. Because the entire loading device is coupled to the gun barrel via the horizontal pivot axis, it can follow the elevation, so that the gun does not have to be brought into an indexed loading position before each loading process, but can be loaded in any desired direction, so that a high cadence is possible. Since the attachment is also attached to the loading arm, it follows all movements of the loading arm, ensuring that it is always correctly positioned. Furthermore, an overlapping function of the gun and the loader is avoided. Due to the simple structural design, it is also possible to operate the device in manual mode, for example, in order to be able to load in the event of a malfunction (power failure) or when the magazine is empty. There is also enough space for this, since the loading arm can be moved under and next to the weapon. Finally, the simple structure of the device also enables inexpensive retrofitting of existing guns.

According to one embodiment, it is provided that the loading arm has a conveyor which rotates parallel to it and has a driver which engages under the floor of the projectile in the receiving position and by means of which the projectile in the loading position is transported so far into the loading space of the projectile until it can be detected by the piecing device is.

In the simplest case, the conveyor can be a revolving chain which is attached within the loading arm and projects with its driver over the contact surface of the projectile on the loading arm in order to reach under the projectile on the ground. The conveyor is controlled so that the driver is in its lower position when the loading arm goes into the receiving position and the gripper grabs the projectile located there in the circulation magazine, so that the driver at the same time gets under the floor of the projectile during this movement. After swiveling the loading arm back about the vertical axis and swiveling it up about the horizontal axis, the projectile is advanced by means of the conveyor or the driver engaging on the floor of the floor in the direction of the cargo space until a position is reached in which the attachment can engage on the floor around it on the last section of the cargo route into the gun barrel.

The piecing device is expediently pivotable about an axis parallel to the loading arm from a position next to the loading arm into a piecing position acting on the projectile. The piecer is only pivoted into this position when the projectile located on the loading arm has been advanced so far from the carrier until the piecer can attack the projectile.

A further exemplary embodiment of the invention is characterized by a control unit which links the circulation magazine, the pivoting movements of the loading arm and the movements of the gripper and the piecer, which is coupled to the movement of the breech on the gun, so that an automatic movement sequence is possible. A manual drive for the loading arm, its gripper and the piecer, intended for emergency operation, enables a manual loading process, which is nevertheless easier for the gunner, even in an emergency or when the circulation magazine is empty.

• Abb. leine schematische Draufsicht auf die Ausführungsform bei Verwendung im Turm eines Panzerfahrzeugs vor Beginn eines Ladevorgangs;
• Abb. 2eine der Abb. 1 entsprechende Darstellung während des Ladevorgangs;
• Abb. 3eine schematische Seitenansicht zu der Darstellung gemäß Abb. 1 und 2 in einer Zwischenstellung während des Ladevorgangs;
• Abb. 4eine der Abbildung 3 entsprechende Ansicht mit der VBorrichtung in Ladeposition;
• Abb. 5eine den Abbildungen 2 und 3 entsprechende Ansicht gegen Ende des Ladevorgangs und
• Abb. 6eine entsprechende Ansicht nach dem Ladevorgang.

The invention is described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. The drawing shows:

• Fig. A schematic plan view of the embodiment when used in the tower of an armored vehicle before the start of a loading process;
• Fig. 2 shows a representation corresponding to Fig. 1 during the charging process;
• 3 shows a schematic side view of the illustration according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in an intermediate position during the charging process;
• Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 with the V device in the loading position;
• Fig. 5 a view corresponding to Figs. 2 and 3 towards the end of the loading process and
• Fig. 6 a corresponding view after the loading process.

In the drawing, the device is shown by way of example in use with a self-propelled howitzer. Reference is first made to Fig. 3. There the turret 1 and the Gerschütz 2 with the tube 3 and the shield 4 can be seen. The tower 1 sits on the vehicle via a pivot bearing 5. The bottom 6 can also be seen.

The gun 2 has at its end in the turret the cargo space 7 with the base piece 8. Furthermore, the locking wedge 9 can be seen. The soul axis of the gun is labeled 10.

The charging device, designated as a whole by 11, is assigned to the gun 2. Beside and below the gun there is a circulation magazine 12 on the floor 6 (Figs. 1 and 2), which receives several floors 13 and transports them in an endless loop on two essentially part-circular trajectories. The direction of movement of the circulation magazine 12 is indicated by the directional arrow 14.

The loading device 11 has a loading arm 15 which can be pivoted about a vertical axis 16 in the direction of the arrow 17 (FIG. 1). At the end of the swivel path, the loading arm reaches a receiving position on the circulation magazine (Fig. 2).

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the loading arm 15 has two clamp-like grippers 18, which in the receiving position (FIG. 2) can grip and fix a projectile in the circulation magazine. The loading arm can also be pivoted about a horizontal axis 19 which - as shown in FIG. 3 - intersects the core axis 10 of the gun barrel or the axis of the shield 4 in a recessed manner.

The piecing device also has a conveyor 20 running parallel to it, for example a chain, which is provided with a nose-like driver 21. In the receiving position (Fig. 2), this driver engages under the floor of the projectile 13 to be picked up. In addition, an attachment 22 is attached to the loading arm 15 and can be pivoted about an axis 23 (FIGS. 1 and 2) parallel to the loading arm. It is in the swiveled-out position next to the loading arm, follows its movements and is only pivoted under the floor to attach the projectile 13.

The operation of the device is described below:

From the position shown in Fig. 1, the loading arm 15 is moved about the vertical axis 16 in the direction of arrow 17 into the receiving position (Fig. 1 and 2). In this position, the grippers 18 are tensioned so that they grip around the projectile jacket. At the same time, the driver 21 has been moved under the floor of the floor 13. The loading arm then swings back into the position according to Figs. 1 and 3, in which the projectile 13 is located below the cargo space 7 of the gun 2 (Fig. 3). From this position, the loading arm 15 pivots about the horizontal axis 19 into the loading position according to Fig. 4. As soon as the projectile axis is aligned with the core axis 10 of the gun barrel 3, the grippers 18 are released and the projectile 13 by means of the conveyor 20 and the driver 21 in transported the cargo space until the floor ends approximately with the rear edge of the base piece 8. Subsequently, the insert 22 swings around the axis 23 onto the loading arm 15 and transports the projectile 13 into the gun barrel 3 (FIG. 5). The exemplary embodiment shown is a hydraulic telescopic attachment 22. If the projectile has reached the position shown in FIG. 5, the telescope runs back, the propellant charge is introduced into the cargo space and the locking wedge 9 is closed. Immediately after pulling back the telescope of the attachment 22, the empty loading arm 15 can be moved back into the position according to FIG. 3 and a new loading process can be started.

Claims (6)

1. Device for loading guns, particularly tank howitzers, comprising a magazine containing the substantially vertical shells and positioned below the gun tube and having a loading arm, which is provided with a gripper for a shell and pivotable from a reception position on the magazine, in which it is positioned substantially perpendicularly, about an approximately horizontal axis at right angles to the bore axis of the gun tube into a loading position from which the shell aligned with the bore axis can be conveyed by means of a rammer into the gun loading chamber, characterized in that the magazine is constructed as a rotary magazine (12) and that the loading arm (15) is additionally pivotable about a vertical axis (16) between the reception position alongside the gun tube (3) and a position below and in front of the gun tube and that the rammer (22) is fitted to the loading arm (15).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the horizontal pivot pin (19) of loading arm (15) on gun (2) intersects the bore axis (10) of gun tube (3).

3. Device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the loading arm (15) has a rotary conveying means (20) parallel thereto with a driver (21) engaging below the bottom of the shell (13) in the reception position and by means of which the shell (13) in the loading position can be conveyed into the loading chamber (7) of gun (2) until it is engaged by the rammer (22).

4. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rammer (22) is pivotable about an axis (23) parallel to the loading arm (15) from a position alongside said loading arm (15) into a rammer position engaging on shell (13).

5. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized by a control means interlinking the indexing of the rotary magazine (12), the pivoting movements of loading arm (15), the movements of gripper (18) and the rammer (22) and which is coupled with the movement of the breech plate (8) on gun (2).

6. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized by an emergency manual drive for the loading arm (15), its gripper (18) and the rammer (22).

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