EP0953818B1 - Feeding device in ammunition elements for an ordnance gun - Google Patents

Description

The technical field of the invention is that of devices for feeding an artillery cannon in ammunition elements.

In order to increase the rate of fire of the cannons artillery we are led to design weapon systems in which the supply of projectiles and / or charges propellants is automated.

Modern artillery thus most often comprises a projectile or charge storage store propellants and transfer means for bringing projectiles and / or propellant charges in the tear.

The patents FR2743411, FR2743412, FR2743413 and FR2743414 describe various magazine systems for loads propellants as well as various transfer devices.

Patent EP616185 more particularly describes a supply device comprising a storage magazine ammunition elements (here propellant charges modular) which has at least one row. These measures also includes a device for transferring the propellant charge from the store to a loading chute and motor means for moving the modules a row to bring them to the transfer device.

Several rows of propellant charge modules are thus pushed simultaneously by means of a rake which supports on a rear face of the last charging module. Modules head are thus introduced into a box of a transfer device.

The load modules are then distributed by gravity by the transfer device, the transfer being ensured by control of the pivoting of one or more cleats of maintenance.

Such a device has many drawbacks.

First of all it cannot be used for storage and the distribution of projectiles.

Then it generates many mechanical stresses on propellant charge modules, in particular shocks due to gravity distribution and the stresses exerted by the cleats during the transport phases (vibrations).

Finally, the system is bulky, costly in energy and complex to replenish in modules.

It is the object of the invention to propose a device supply to overcome such drawbacks.

Thus the device according to the invention is of design simple and compact. It allows to store and supply the propellant charge modules in a safe manner avoiding mechanical stresses.

Its design also makes it easy to adapt to storage and supply of a weapon system in projectiles.

It then becomes possible to realize a system extremely compact, ensuring a totally power supply automated weapon, both projectiles and charges Propellant.

Finally, the device according to the invention is completely reversible and therefore it easily ensures refueling the store with both projectiles and charges Propellant.

• une semelle support sur laquelle sont disposés les éléments de munition avec leurs axes perpendiculaires à leur direction de déplacement dans la rangée,
• au moins un tapis roulant actionné par une motorisation, tapis appliqué sur les éléments de munition de la rangée et constituant les moyens moteurs.

Thus, the subject of the invention is a device for supplying an artillery gun with ammunition elements, in particular projectiles or propellant charge modules, and comprising at least one magazine for storing ammunition elements which comprises at least a row, a device for transferring the ammunition elements from the magazine to a loading chute and motor means making it possible to move the ammunition elements in a row to bring them onto the transfer device, supply device characterized in that each row of the store includes:

• a support sole on which the ammunition elements are arranged with their axes perpendicular to their direction of movement in the row,
• at least one conveyor belt actuated by a motorization, conveyor belt applied to the munition elements of the row and constituting the motor means.

The support sole will advantageously include ammunition receiving cells.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises at least two holding rollers for each piece of ammunition, rollers applying the mat rolling on the element of ammunition and being able to deviate from this last against the action of elastic recall means for authorize his move.

Each retaining roller is preferably carried by a lever pivoting relative to a frame, lever to which is attached a tension spring whose other end is fixed to a end of another lever carrying the neighboring roller.

The device may include two lateral flanges guiding the load elements.

According to a particular embodiment more particularly intended for moving projectiles, the device includes two parallel treadmills one to the other, each carpet being applied on one part different from projectile bodies.

In this case, the device may include a rollover comprising a part having a profile ensuring centering a projectile warhead.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises at least one tilting part mounted pivotable with respect to the support base, overall piece in the shape of an "L" of which a first branch is arranged in the closed position in the extension of the support sole and includes a housing for receiving an ammunition element and a second branch perpendicular to the first ensures keeping the item in the store, the piece of tilting being interposed between the row considered of the magazine and the transfer device, the pivoting of the part for tilting from its closed position to a position open allowing the passage of the munition element of the store to the transfer device.

The device may include a controllable lock ensuring the immobilization of the tilting part in its rest position.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the transfer device comprises at least one pivoting bucket, motor means being provided for controlling the pivoting of the bucket and of the control and / or unlocking means ensuring, when the bucket is facing a piece of tilting, unlocking and / or pivoting of the tilting part towards the bucket, the means bucket motors and the means of control and / or unlocking being actuated in an order defined by means a sequencer.

Advantageously, the tilting part comprises at minus two wings forming a fork, the space separating the two wings allowing the passage of a branch of the trough.

The control and / or unlocking means may comprise at least one rack integral with a support for the trough, rack whose translation is controlled by a motor and which is intended to cooperate with a toothed sector integral with the tilting part, the translation of the rack causing the part to pivot failover.

The rack will then release during its translation the locking latch for the tilting piece.

According to another characteristic, the bucket is integral of an elevator translating in relation to the store storage in a direction perpendicular to the rows of the store, the elevator comprising means ensuring the positioning of the bucket relative to a row of the shop.

These positioning means may include at least a sliding pin integral with the elevator and cooperating with a hole carried by a store frame.

According to a preferred embodiment, the elevator has two compartments, a first compartment receiving a first projectile transport bucket and a second compartment comprising at least two receiving troughs a propellant charge module.

The storage store then has at least two groups of two overlapping rows, a first row of projectile and a second row, arranged above or in below the first, and comprising at least two sub-rows propellant charge modules, so that when the first lift compartment is positioned next to the first row of projectiles, the second elevator compartment is positioned opposite propellant charge module sub-rows, transfer of a projectile which can then be produced at the same time as the transfer of the load modules.

• la figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble schématique d'un dispositif d'alimentation selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue partielle en perspective présentant deux rangées du dispositif d'alimentation ainsi que l'ascenseur,
• la figure 3 est une vue éclatée d'une rangée du magasin recevant des modules de charge propulsive,
• la figure 4 est une vue éclatée d'une rangée du magasin recevant des projectiles,
• la figure 5 est une vue partielle montrant les rouleaux de maintien des éléments de munition,
• la figure 6 est une vue partielle en perspective montrant la coopération des pièces de basculement destinées à recevoir les modules de charge propulsive et des augets pivotants associés,
• la figure 7 est une vue partielle en perspective montrant la coopération d'une pièce de basculement destinée à recevoir un projectile et de l'auget pivotant associé,
• les figures 8a à 8e montrent différentes phases successives du passage d'un élément de munition du magasin à l'auget du dispositif de transfert,
• les figures 9a à 9e montrent différentes phases successives du passage d'un élément de munition de l'auget du dispositif de transfert au magasin,
• la figure 10 est une vue en perspective de l'ascenseur.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows of a particular embodiment, description made with reference to the appended drawings and in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic overview of a supply device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing two rows of the supply device as well as the elevator,
• FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a row of the magazine receiving propellant charge modules,
• FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a row of the magazine receiving projectiles,
• FIG. 5 is a partial view showing the rollers for holding the munition elements,
• FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing the cooperation of the tilting parts intended to receive the propellant charge modules and associated pivoting buckets,
• FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing the cooperation of a tilting part intended to receive a projectile and of the associated pivoting bucket,
• FIGS. 8a to 8e show different successive phases of the passage of an ammunition element from the magazine to the trough of the transfer device,
• FIGS. 9a to 9e show different successive phases of the passage of a munition element from the trough from the transfer device to the store,
• Figure 10 is a perspective view of the elevator.

Referring to Figure 1, a device supply 1 of an artillery gun with elements of ammunition (projectiles 3 and modular propellant charges 4), includes a magazine 2 for storing ammunition elements and a transfer device 28 of the munitions elements of the magazine 2 to a loading chute 5.

The loading chute is secured to an arm transfer which allows it to position itself at the level of the weapon chamber (not shown) to allow the loading. It will be coupled with a postage system of known type (not shown). This "downstream" part of the feeding device is well known to the man of the profession (in particular by patents FR2721387 and FR2743411), it is not part of the present invention and will not be therefore not described here in detail.

Tray 2 which is represented here has 4 rows parallels 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d. Two rows (2a, 2c) receive projectiles and two other rows (2b, 2d) receive propellant charge modules.

Such a configuration is limited to four rows for the clarity of the presentation and of the figures. It is understood possible to design a store with more rows of ammunition elements. It is also possible without departing from the scope of the invention to design a device in which the store contains only projectiles or only propellant charges.

Each row of the store is formed by a subset motorized autonomous which is fixed to a mechanically welded structure 6.

The transfer device 28 includes an elevator 7 comprising two compartments 8a and 8b inside which are pivoted buckets as will be explained further. The elevator moves on guide rails 9a, 9b so as to position each compartment 8a and 8b next to a row of the store. The compartment lower 8b is intended to receive the load modules propellant and the upper compartment 8a receives a projectile. As will be explained below, the structure buckets of each compartment is different and adapted to the geometry of the element of ammunition considered.

The transfer device also includes a certain number of engines (lift movement, tilting of the buckets ....). All the motors of the devices, whether they are in the store or in the elevator are controlled by an electronic sequencer 10 which has received a appropriate programming.

As is more particularly visible on the Figure 2, a row 2d or 2b of propellant charge modules consists of the juxtaposition of several sub-rows 11a to 11f (here six sub-rows) all identical, each under row containing six propellant charge modules. The motorizations of each sub-row can be ordered individually. When elevator 7 is positioned in face of a row, so it's possible, depending on operational needs, to fill it with a variable number modules (number between one and six).

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of a sub-row 11 of the magazine receiving propellant charge modules 4.

This row includes a support sole 12 on which are arranged the propellant charge modules 4.

The sole comprises receiving cells 13 having a cylindrical profile of diameter substantially equal to that of a load module 4. These cells allow to give each charging module a well-defined position in the row. This avoids shocks between load modules. They also make it possible to maintain the modules with sufficient contact area to reduce mechanical stresses during vibrations during phases storage.

The propellant charge modules 4 are therefore located arranged on the sole 12 with their axes 14 perpendicular to their direction of movement X in the sub-row,

The modules 4 are capped by a conveyor belt 15 actuated by a motorization 16 constituted by a roller engine.

The treadmill 15 includes an endless belt 17 in one flexible material with good adhesion properties (for example rubber example). Band 17 is shown here dissociated from its training means. She is willing between the drive roller 16 and an end roller 18. Des holding rollers 19 allow the strip to be applied to the different load modules. We will provide two rollers holding 19 by modular load 4. The different rollers as well as the strip 17 have a width equal to the length of the load modules 4.

The different rollers are carried by a frame 21 which is secured to the sole 12 by means of conventional fasteners, such as bolts (not shown). The rigidity of the sub-row is increased by a rollover comprising two lateral flanges 20 which also provide lateral guidance of the load elements 4.

Figure 5 shows in more detail the mounting of the rollers holding 19 on the frame 21.

Each roller 19 is carried by a lever 22 pivoting by relative to the frame 21 around an axis 23. The lever 22 comprises two branches 22a, 22b. A tension spring 24 is fixed to a first branch 22a, and the other branch 22b carries the roller 19. The other end of the spring 24 is fixed to a end 22a of another lever 22 carrying the neighboring roller.

The tension spring 24 has the effect of applying the two rollers on modular loads 4 per through the band 17 of the treadmill.

The treadmill is therefore applied firmly to each of the modular loads 4 and it has a surface of contact with each relatively important. This surface of cylindrical contact has an area substantially equal to that of the socket 13.

Starting the drive roller 16 will therefore cause the rolling of all modular loads with respect to the sole 12. Each load will come out of its socket 13 to join a neighboring cell. This exit is authorized by the tension springs 24 which connect the rollers of holding 19 two by two and allow a displacement of them. The belt 17 of the treadmill remains during displacement always applied to the load modules by through the holding rollers which avoids all Relative sliding of the load in relation to the treadmill.

Depending on the direction of rotation of the drive roller 16, charges will move in one direction or another. We will run the engine long enough to move the loads of a single cell.

The sole 12 carries at its outlet end 13a a tilting part 25 which is pivotally mounted relative to to the support sole. This piece is overall in shape an "L". When the part 25 occupies its closed position which is shown here, a first branch 25a of the piece of tilting is in the extension of the sole support 12 and it comprises a housing 26 for receiving a propellant charge module, housing of similar geometry to the alveoli.

A second branch 25b is perpendicular to the first and it maintains the charging module in store 2. She also firmly applies the load against the treadmill 15, which allows the training of the load by this one for a displacement towards the interior of the store.

The tilting part 25 is also more visible details in Figure 6 and Figures 8 and 9. The tilting receiving propellant charges includes at minus two wings 251 and 252 forming a fork, the space 34 separating the two wings is intended to allow passage of a branch 27 of a bucket carried by the elevator like this will be described later.

The tilting part 25 being interposed between the considered row 11 of the store and the transfer device 28, the pivoting of the tilting part from its position closed in its open position allows the passage of the element ammunition from magazine 2 to transfer device 28.

Figure 4 is an exploded view showing a row 2 receiving projectiles.

The structure of this row is similar to that described previously. It thus comprises a sole 12 comprising alveoli 13. A clearance 29 will be provided on the sole 12 in order to avoid deterioration of the belt 30 of the projectile 3. Because of the large mass of projectiles, and on the other hand their external profile not cylindrical, two conveyor belts 15a, 15b are provided, identical and parallel to each other. Each treadmill has a structure of the type described above and comprises: a closed strip 17 made of a flexible material, a drive roller 16, end roller 18 and rollers holding 19 connected two by two by spring traction.

The different rollers are still carried by a frame 21 integral with the sole 12. A cowling 31 increases the rigidity of the assembly, the internal profile 32 of the cowling include two converging planes defined to ensure centering the warheads 33 of the various projectiles.

The sole 12 still carries at its outlet end a tilting part 25 pivotally mounted relative to the support sole 12. This part is in the shape of an "L" and has on its branch 25a a receiving housing 26 for a projectile.

The tilting part 25 which is adapted to the reception of a projectile is more particularly visible on the figure 7.

It extends over the entire length of a projectile and has four wings 251, 252, 253 and 254 which determine spaces 34 intended to allow the passage of branches 27 of a bucket carried by the elevator as will be described by the following.

The structure of the elevator will now be described in reference to Figures 6, 7, 8a and 10.

The elevator 7 has two compartments 8a and 8b. The lower compartment 8b is intended to receive the modules propellant charge and it has six pivoting buckets 35 corresponding to the six sub-rows 11a to 11f of the store.

The upper compartment 8a receives a projectile 3 and does not has only one bucket 35.

The pivoting of each bucket around its axis 36 is controlled by motor means 37 arranged in the elevator.

Control and / or unlocking means 38 are also arranged in the elevator and for each bucket 35.

They ensure, when the bucket is in look of a tilting part 25, unlocking and / or the pivoting of the tilting part towards trough 35.

The structure of these means is more particularly visible in Figure 8a.

They include, for each bucket 35, a rack 39 attached to the lift frame, rack and pinion whose translation is controlled by a motor 40.

This rack is intended to cooperate with a sector toothed 41 secured to the tilting part 25. The translation of the rack 39 thus causes pivoting of the tilting part 25.

The tilting part 25 is moreover blocked in its position closed by a locking bolt 42 (see figures 8d, 6 and 7). This lock is slidably mounted on the sole 12 against the action of a spring (not shown) and it comprises a tongue 42a (FIG. 8d) which cooperates with the piece of tilting to immobilize it.

During its translation, the rack 39 pushes the latch 42 so as to release it before ordering the pivoting of the tilting part.

The different motor means of the bucket (37 and 40) are operated in an order defined by the sequencer 10.

The elevator finally includes means ensuring the positioning of its buckets in relation to the store 2.

These means include at least one sliding pin 43 integral with the elevator 7 (see FIG. 10) and cooperating with a hole 44 (Figure 1) carried by the frame of the store.

Here two pawns 43 are provided and are each ordered by a specific motor 45.

The operation of the device will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

Figures 8a to 8e show the different phases successive of the passage of an element of ammunition (module of charge or projectile) from magazine 2 to bucket 35 of the device transfer.

At the start the device is in the state shown in Figure 1, an element of ammunition (projectile and charge) is present in each tilting part 25.

The sequencer 10 first of all controls the movement vertical of the lift until it is positioned opposite of store rows. Benchmarks for example sensors optics or switches can be used to determine the correct position of the elevator. The sequencer 10 then controls the output of the pawns 43 ensuring the positioning of the buckets.

The buckets are then in the position shown in Figure 8a. The sequencer then controls the motor 37 which causes the bucket to tilt, which takes the position visible in Figure 8b.

Then the motor 40 is activated. He moves the rack 39. This one first pushes the lock blocking 42 which releases the tilting part 25, then it causes (by cooperating with the toothed sector 41) the passage of the tilting part 25 from its closed position to its open position (Figure 8c).

This changeover is made possible by the structure particular of tilting parts and buckets. In indeed, the branches 27 of the buckets 35 can pass freely in the spaces 34 determined by the wings 251, 252, 253 and 254 tilting parts 25.

The sequencer 10 then controls the motor 37 which brings back the bucket 35 in a position for carrying the element of ammunition (Figure 8d).

The sequencer finally activates the motor 40 which brings back the rack 39 in its initial position. This results in a return of the tilting part to its closed position and the repositioning of the lock 42 which immobilizes the latter (FIG. 8th).

Advantageously, the operation described above will be conduit for simultaneously placing a projectile and one or several propellant charge modules in the elevator.

This increases the speed of feed of the weapon, so the rate of fire.

For propellant charge modules, the sequencer will order one or more elevator buckets depending the number of charges requested by the artillery servant.

After installation in the elevator, the sequencer will conduct other feeding operations (conventional and not described here): positioning of the lift in relation to at the loading stretcher, placing the projectile and loads in it, loading in the room tear.

The sequencer will also control the advance of the different treadmill the value of an item of ammunition so as to position a projectile again and modular loads in empty tipping pieces.

The feeding device according to the invention can all also easily allow replenishing the store at from the elevator.

Figures 9a to 9e thus show different phases of the passage of a munition element from the bucket 35 of the device transfer to store 2.

The sequencer then controls the different powertrains in a different order from that envisaged previously.

The initial position is shown in Figure 9a. The element ammunition is positioned in the bucket 35.

The sequencer 10 first controls the motor 40 which moves the rack 39. The lock 42 is released and the tilting part, empty takes its open position (figure 9b). The sequencer then controls the motor 37 which makes pivot the bucket 35 (figure 9c). The engine 40 is then actuated and the withdrawal of the rack causes on the one hand return of the tilting part to its closed position and on the other hand the return of the locking bolt 42 (figure 9d).

Bucket 35 is finally returned to its initial position (Figure 9e).

If the store is empty, we can then order the treadmills in the opposite direction to that used previously so as to bring the ammunition element as well positioned in the tilting part to the bottom of the shop.

This return is facilitated by the fact that the piece of tilting 25 applies firmly, thanks to its branch 25b, the ammunition element it contains against band 17 of the treadmill and holding roller 19. The treadmill can therefore easily rotate the element of ammunition to bring it to another position in the row.

Various variants are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

So it is possible to define a system supply only with projectiles or only in propellant charges. The sub-rows intended for propellant charge modules can be in number different, we can advantageously garnish some under rows with nature propellant charge modules different for example provide an alternation of sub-rows filled with lively modules with filled sub-rows slow modules.

Claims (17)

1. Ammunition element feed device (1) for an artillery cannon, notably in projectiles (3) or propellant charge modules (4), and comprising at least one storage magazine (2) for the ammunition elements that incorporates at least one row, a device (28) to transfer the ammunition elements from the magazine to a loading chute (5) and motor means enabling the ammunition elements to be moved up one row to bring them onto the transfer device, feed device is characterised in that each row (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) of the magazine comprises:

   a support plate (12) on which the ammunition elements (3, 4) are arranged with their axes perpendicular to their direction of movement in the row,

   at least one conveyor belt (15) activated by motorization (16), said belt pressed to the ammunition elements of the row and constituting the motor means.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the support plate (12) incorporates reception cells (13) for the ammunition elements.
3. Device according to Claim 2, characterised in that it incorporates at least two retention rollers (19) for each ammunition element, rollers pressing the conveyor belt (15) on the ammunition element and able to distance itself from said element against the action of elastic return means (24) to allow its displacement.
4. Device according to Claim 3, characterised in that each retention roller (19) is carried by a lever (22) able to pivot with respect to a frame (21), lever to which a traction spring (24) has been fastened whose other end is fastened to one end of another lever (22) carrying the next roller.
5. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it comprises two side cheeks (20) providing guidance for the ammunition elements.
6. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4 and more particularly intended to move projectiles (3), characterised in that it comprises two conveyor belts (15a, 15b) parallel to each other, each belt being pressed onto a different part of the projectile body.
7. Device according to Claim 6, characterised in that it comprises a cowling (31) incorporating a part having a profile (32) ensuring the centring of a projectile nose cone (33).
8. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it comprises at least one tipping part (25) mounted pivoting with respect to the support plate (12), such part being globally L-shaped and whose first branch (25a) is arranged in the closed position in the extension of the support plate (12) and incorporates a housing (26) to accommodate an ammunition element, and a second branch (25b) perpendicular to the first ensures that the element is retained in the magazine, the tipping part being placed between the row (11) in question of the magazine and the transfer device (28), the pivoting of the tipping device from its closed position to an open position allows the passage of the ammunition element (3,4) from the magazine to the transfer device.
9. Device according to Claim 8, characterised in that it incorporates a controllable lock (42) ensuring the immobilisation of the tipping part (25) in its starting position.
10. Device according to one of Claims 8 or 9, characterised in that the transfer device (28) comprises at least one pivoting bucket (35), motor means being provided to drive the pivoting of the bucket and control means and/or unlocking means ensuring, when the bucket lies opposite a tipping part (25), the unlocking and/or pivoting of the tipping part in the direction of the bucket, the motor means of the bucket and the control and/or unlocking means being activated in a predefined order by means of a sequencer (10).
11. Device according to Claim 10, characterised in that the tipping part (25) comprises at least two wings (251, 252) forming a fork, the space (34) separating the two wings allowing the passage of one branch (27) of the bucket (35).
12. Device according to one of Claims 10 or 11, characterised in that the control and/or unlocking means comprise at least one rack (39) integral with a support of the bucket (35), rack whose translation is driven by a motor and that is intended to co-operate with a toothed sector (41) integral with the tipping part (25), the translation of the rack causing the tipping part to pivot.
13. Device according to Claim 12, characterised in that the rack (39) during its translation then releases the lock (42) immobilising the tipping part (25).
14. Device according to one of Claims 10 to 13, characterised in that the bucket (35) is integral with a lift (7) translating with respect to the storage magazine (2) in a perpendicular direction to the rows (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) of the magazine, such lift incorporating means ensuring the positioning of the bucket (35) with respect to a row of the magazine.
15. Device according to Claim 14, characterised in that the positioning means comprise at least one sliding pin (43) integral with the lift (7) and co-operating with a hole (44) made in the magazine frame.
16. Device according to one of Claims 14 or 15, characterised in that the lift (7) incorporates two compartments (8a, 8b), a first compartment (8a) receiving a first projectile (3) transfer bucket and a second compartment (8b) comprising at least two buckets to receive propellant charge modules (4).
17. Device according to Claim 16, characterised in that the storage magazine (2) comprises at least two groups of two superimposed rows (2a, 2b), a first row (2a) of projectiles (3) and a second row (2b), arranged above or below the first one, and comprising at least two sub-rows (11a,11b) of propellant charge modules (4), such that when the first compartment (8a) of the lift (7) is positioned opposite the first row (2a) of projectiles (3), the second compartment (8b) of the lift is positioned opposite the sub-rows (11a, 11b, 11c...) of propellant charge modules (4), a projectile therefore being able to be transferred at the same time as the charge modules.

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