EP1024339B1 - Ammunition magazine for unbelted ammunition - Google Patents

Abstract

A beltless ammunition feed has an endless loop onto which are fitted the rounds and with a transfer loop to move rounds to the weapon. The intermittent loading action of the weapon is compensated for by a tensioning system for the loop drive. The tension adjustment is in relation to the displacement speed of the loop and is controlled to prevent loosing loop tension. The tensioner also compensates for thermal changes in the loop.

Description

The invention relates to an ammunition magazine for beltless guided ammunition with at least one endlessly guided Ammunition guide chain for conveying the ammunition in the ammunition magazine and a chain tensioner for tensioning the Ammunition guide chain with a given chain tension, which is one for increasing chain tension Tensioning movement in the tensioning direction and to lower the Chain tension a tension movement against the tension direction performs.

Such an ammunition magazine is from generic EP-078 482 B1 known. There the ammunition from one endless ammunition guide chain in several around pulleys guided loops through the ammunition magazine transported. One acts on one of the pulleys Tension spring, which is guided around this pulley Loop pushes outwards so that the ammunition guide chain during a tensioning movement of this spring (disengaging movement) being cocked while moving the spring against its tensioning direction (engagement movement) comes loose.

A disadvantage of this clamping system is that the spring force when accelerating the ammunition guide chain can be overcome, the spring thus engages and consequently the ammunition guide chain becomes loose. This is mainly because the spring constant accordingly must be dimensioned low. Does that change from the spring exerted clamping force in the case of thermal conditions Material stretches if the spring is accordingly the expansion movements of the ammunition guide chain disengages, the resulting tension force of the spring not be too strong or too weak for the material the ammunition guide chain is not too stressed becomes.

DE-36 44 513 C2 is also an ammunition magazine with a beltless, endless ammunition guide chain known. Two opposing short ones Loops of the ammunition chain, one of which is coupled to an ammunition transfer device, are slidably guided in the conveying direction. The shifting movement is powered by a prestressed gas pressure spring supported. The drive unit of the ammunition guide chain is in this short loop with coupled ammunition transfer device, so that at Accelerate or slow down the ammunition chain initially just the inert mass of the short loop must be moved. The movement of the rest of the ammunition chain is namely through the slidably guided Loops disconnected first. So you can short acceleration times with comparatively weak dimensioned drive unit. This publication does not go into clamping devices with which the chain tension of the ammunition guide chain is set can be.

A similar principle is known from US Pat. No. 4,573,395. where a short loop of the movement of the rest the ammunition guide chain is disconnected. Here lie however, two loops of this loop do not face each other and are also not movable in the direction of conveyance led, but are parallel to each other and are connected to each other via the two ends of a rocker.

The two lead over this rigid coupling of motion parallel loops are always opposite directed movements.

A disadvantage of the known ammunition magazines with chain tensioners, see for example the ammunition delivery system from document DE-A-19 501 706, is that the chain tensioner in particular when accelerating or braking the ammunition guide chain Engages or disengages, in which there is mainly an undesirable lot in the ammunition guide chain can come.

The invention is based, an ammunition magazine the task of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which especially when accelerating the ammunition guide chain no lots can arise.

The invention solves this problem with an ammunition magazine of the type mentioned above with the characteristic Features of claim 1.

The chain tensioning means then has a means for influencing the spring constant of the chain tensioning device of the tension direction and the speed of the Clamping movement. This measure can be advantageous various movement situations of the ammunition guide chain (thermally induced material expansion, acceleration or braking, etc.), which in turn influence have on the tensioning movement of the chain tensioning device, Be taken into account in such a way that in particular a Loose in the ammunition guide chain avoided if possible becomes.

This means of influencing the spring constant can for example functionally parallel to the chain tensioning device be switched so that it moves the chain tensioner can influence accordingly. It can is an electromechanical component such as a Eddy current brake act depending on the direction and the speed of the clamping movement their braking force changes. A suitable measuring device can be provided for this be the movements of the eddy current brake detected and controls their braking resistor accordingly. The agent may also be a hydraulic one Act element whose hydraulic working pressure is and is controlled depending on the direction (if necessary also by a measuring device which the movements of the hydraulic element detected). There are also numerous other configurations of this By means of conceivable, like cylinder-piston arrangements with one suitable hydraulic fluid, whose viscosity (e.g. through electric fields) can be adjusted accordingly, etc.

The term "ammunition chain" is only in the to understand figuratively, because the ammunition for example also by straps or bands through the ammunition magazine in an endless loop can. The term only serves to make it easier to read of the present description, however, is not restrictive to understand.

The ammunition magazine can also be used for conveying and storing other items are used.

Furthermore, the term "spring constant" only denotes the proportionality factor (preferably first order) between the deflection of the chain tensioning device and the resulting restoring force. This term is meant to does not imply that only spring tension means as Chain tensioners are to be provided, but in turn serves only to make the present description easier to read. In the case of a controlled hydraulic cylinder as a chain tensioner, for example fixed default (possibly saved in a table beforehand) Relationship between engagement and disengagement a hydraulic cylinder of this hydraulic chain tensioner and the one subsequently applied to the cylinder Pressure. Common with a spring However, there is a predetermined relationship between the Engagement and disengagement movement and restoring force, too if, for example, it depends on the position and can be set differently for each position. The from a pair of values of the position of the engagement or disengagement movement and the restoring force acting there The proportionality factor should define the spring constant.

Further preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The agent preferably influences the spring constant in such a way that this with a tensioning movement of the chain tensioning means in the clamping direction essentially independent of speed and is a value to set assumes the specified chain tension (claim 2). It is therefore advantageous when the ammunition guide chain moves, which, for example, a lot in the same caused the spring constant not to change, so that the chain tension with such a tensioning movement of the chain tensioning means essentially their predetermined Can take on value. In this respect, it is this special situation around the normal case of a known Chain tensioner, its spring constant in all situations remains unchanged.

The agent preferably influences the spring constant in such a way that this with a tensioning movement of the chain tensioning means against the tensioning direction at low speed the tensioning movement, in particular due to heat-related material expansion, essentially the Assumes the value for setting the specified chain tension, and at high speed of the clamping movement, especially when the ammunition chain is moving, takes on such a high value that the Tension movement against the tension direction essentially is blocked (claim 3). Towards a tensioning movement the direction of tension thus becomes two cases from each other distinguished, namely that of a slow and that of a quick tensioning movement.

With a slow tensioning movement (e.g. due to heat-related material expansions) a compensation chosen as from the state of the Technology is known. This is because the spring constant remains unchanged, so that the chain tension as with a known chain tensioner without affecting the Spring constant is set. Basically, the The spring constant of the chain tensioning device is chosen in this way be that in the range due to thermal expansion occurring changes in length of the ammunition guide chain the chain tension does not vary too much.

At high speed of the clamping movement, i. H. in particular accelerating the ammunition guide chain, however, the agent influences the spring constant in such a way that the clamping movement against the clamping direction essentially is blocked. In this respect, this remedy works as a kind of lock that "contracts" the chain tensioner prevented. This corresponds to the case of one essentially infinitely high spring constants. Advantageous With this measure, no lots can be found in the ammunition chain arise.

As a particularly easy to implement measure the chain tensioning means is a spring means (claim 4). If other criteria are met, the chain tensioner can also a gas pressure spring or the like his.

The means for influencing the spring constants is preferred one functionally parallel with the chain tensioner coupled hydraulic cylinder with check valve, the check valve is designed so that it opens during a tensioning movement in the tensioning direction (claim 5). This in turn is advantageous simple design of the means for influencing the Spring constants created. The hydraulic cylinder can be dimensioned in such a way that it can be engaged or disengaged force required by its piston at slow or disengagement movements is essentially zero, while it essentially with a rapid movement of the pistons Is infinite. This can e.g. B. through the gap between Pistons and cylinders can be adjusted. The check valve takes into account the case that the hydraulic Cylinder during a tensioning movement of the chain tensioning device against the clamping direction regardless of the speed the tensioning movement no braking forces should cause, whereby the resilience only of the fixed spring constant of the chain tensioning device.

The chain tensioning means preferably engages one for tensioning of the ammunition guide chain Seesaw on, each of the two ends of the seesaw with a Deflection unit for forming a loop with the ammunition guide chain is coupled and to the ammunition guide chain a transfer device for transfer and / or taking over ammunition or ammunition remnants is provided, which - seen in the chain course - between the two deflection units is arranged (claim 6). With this rocker device known as such by accelerating the ammunition chain tensile forces occurring in the chain absorbed by the rocker. In this case, the means to influence is blocked the spring constant the engagement movement of the Chain tensioner so that in corresponding with the drive coupled sections of the ammunition guide chain very high tensile forces can occur. These are now picked up by the seesaw and compensated accordingly. In general, that is between the two deflection units arranged transfer device with a chain drive coupled, so that the compensation function in this case the rocker can be used optimally. The The transfer device, for example, transfers the cartridge to another ammunition feeder which the Ammunition in turn to a rapid-fire weapon transported. The transfer device can synchronize with the transfer receive empty ammunition cases or similar and feed into the ammunition chain.

Two drive units are preferred for driving the Ammunition guide chain provided, each - in the chain course seen - in front of and behind the transfer device are provided, namely - seen in the chain - in front of the first and behind the second deflection unit (Claim 7). These two drive units are advantageous so arranged that they guide the ammunition chain detached from the one between the seesaw Drive section of the ammunition chain can.

The ammunition magazine particularly preferably has one Measuring device for measuring the rocker position and one with the measuring device and the two drive units coupled Control device for controlling the two Drive units depending on the rocker position (Claim 8). Both drive units can be advantageous now be controlled so that they try the rocker always bring to their zero position. The drive units can accelerate accordingly slower, so that the acceleration forces acting on the ammunition guide chain are lower. In this respect lies for In this case, the above mentioned detached driving of the two sections of the ammunition chain. Fast acceleration of the transfer device drive are thus in a seesaw movement of the seesaw recorded the correspondingly slower of the two Drive units is compensated again.

The transfer device with another is preferred endless ammunition supply chain for feeding Ammunition coupled into a firearm, the ammunition supply chain guided over at least two deflection units one of the deflection units for feeding the ammunition intermittently driven into the firearm and the at least one non-driven deflection unit is provided with a locking device which a movement of the deflection unit against the ammunition feed direction blocks (claim 9). In the case of self-feeding Firearms is the ammunition feed movement usually intermittent, i.e. H. there are short rapid accelerations and a subsequent standstill on. The firearm usually serves as a drive for both the ammunition supply chain and the transfer device and the ammunition guide chain in the ammunition magazine. So the total inert mass of this Units accelerated with every shot and then be braked again. The ammunition supply chain of the Ammunition feeder is, however, in some ways elastic and caused by appropriate restoring forces a reciprocating rotary movement of the transfer device, or the non-driven deflection unit as well as the ammunition guide chain in the ammunition magazine. As already mentioned, the latter units have one large inertial mass so that the acceleration forces with the corresponding back and forth movement accordingly are great.

The non-driven deflection unit moves in the opposite direction the direction of ammunition feed, the drive of the driven Deflection unit at the next acceleration (the next shot) apply a great force to this movement taking place in the opposite direction first slow down and then in the right direction to accelerate. The drive of the pulley should be so be disproportionately trained so that he can bring up this acceleration.

However, the locking device has an advantageous effect on the non-driven deflection unit such that such opposite rotation can not occur. The driven deflection unit must therefore the entire system just accelerate in the feed direction, not how first brake as described above. Can thus be advantageous the drive of the driven deflection unit is dimensioned weaker his. They are also on the ammunition supply chain acting loads lower.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Schnittansicht eines Abschnitts eines Munitionsmagazins;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht des in Fig. 1 gezeigten Munitionsmagazins;

Fig. 3

eine weitere Schnittansicht durch das in Fig. 1 gezeigte Munitionsmagazin;

Fig. 3a

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt der Fig. 3;

Fig. 4

eine Aufsicht auf einen mit einer Umlenkrolle gekoppelten Freilauf mit lösbarer Sperre.

The invention and further advantages and features of the invention are explained in more detail below on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment with reference to the attached drawing. The drawing shows:

Fig. 1

is a schematic sectional view of a portion of an ammunition magazine;

Fig. 2

a side view of the ammunition magazine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

a further sectional view through the ammunition magazine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3a

an enlarged section of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4

a supervision of a freewheel coupled with a deflection roller with a releasable lock.

In Fig. 1, an ammunition magazine 2 is shown in which a endless ammunition guide chain 6 cartridges 4 in Direction of funding A promotes. The ammunition guide chain 6 consists of two highly tear-resistant parallel transport chains, their distance from each other essentially the Cartridge length corresponds. They are at a constant distance two parallel transport chains over crossbars 8 with each other connected. The distance between the cross bars 8 from each other is essentially equal to the cartridge diameter plus the diameter of a cross bar 8 and one certain scope for the freedom of movement of the guided Cartridges 4. The endless ammunition guide chain thus formed 6 is in several loops over pulleys 10, 12, 14 and 16 by the one shown in Fig. 1 Section of the ammunition magazine 2 out.

The cartridges 4 are inside the ammunition magazine 2 guided in guideways 18 with little clearance, which, for example, with sliding / roller tracks made of low-wear Plastics are provided. The rigid, thin Cross bars 8 each separate two consecutive Cartridges or their sleeves from each other and promote them through the guideway 18 in the ammunition magazine 2.

The crossbars 8 can be adapted to the cartridge shape Have profile with which tilting of the cartridges 4th is avoided as far as possible. Furthermore, the cross bars 8 axially rotatable on the two chains of the ammunition guide chain 6 attached to the unrolling of the cartridges 4 within the guideway 18 and thus also on to facilitate the crossbars 8.

In a middle loop of the guideway 18 - in the In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 in the middle left of the ammunition magazine 2 - the cartridges are over a feed wheel 20 and transfer wheels 22 and 24 to an ammunition feeder 25 handed over. The ammunition feeder 25 has an ammunition supply chain 26 on that in an endless loop around a first 28 and a second 30 pulley is guided and several successive bowl-shaped receptacle 32 forms. The receptacles 32 are dimensioned so that they can each hold a cartridge 4. The ammunition supply chain 26 is in turn within a guideway 34 performed. In the vicinity of the second deflection roller 30 can a self-retracting firearm may be provided, which the cartridges fed from the ammunition supply chain 26 takes over, shoots and the empty cartridge cases in turn passes to the ammunition supply chain 26.

In a sequence of shots, cartridges 4 are thus removed from the ammunition guide chain 6 in the conveying direction A to the feed wheel 20 transported, from there forcibly over the Transfer wheel 22 to a corresponding receptacle 32 passed to the ammunition supply chain 26 while simultaneously one - seen in feed direction B - further forward lying cartridge on the second guide roller 30 of one Firearm, not shown, is loaded. The one from that previous shot remaining cartridge case simultaneously with the loading of the new cartridge of the ammunition supply chain 26 passed while another blank Cartridge case from the second guide roller 28 over the Transfer wheel 24 forcibly the feed wheel 20 and thus the Ammunition guide chain 6 is passed. The empty cartridge cases are also on the pulleys 16 and 12 transported further.

The feed wheel 20 and the two transfer wheels 22 and 24 are positively connected to the first deflection roller 28, so that the attacking over the second pulley 30 Firearm retraction the ammunition supply chain 26, the first pulley 28, the two Transfer wheels 22 and 24, the feed wheel 20 and also the Ammunition guide chain 6 drives.

By varying the relative position of the first pulley 28 and the two transfer wheels 22 and 24 too the feed wheel 20 can have a wide range of connection angles the ammunition supply chain 26 to the ammunition magazine 2 be covered.

Each loop of the ammunition guide chain 6 forming first and second deflection rollers 14 and 16 are in Direction of conveyance A of the ammunition guide chain 6 is displaceable arranged. For this, reference is made to FIG. 2.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of the in Fig. 1 shown ammunition magazine 2. In the page shown of the ammunition magazine 2 are a first 36 and a second 38 link rail to accommodate a first 40 and a second 42 carriage are provided. The first Carriage 40 is on rollers 44 and 46 in the first Guide rail 36 guided and carries the Axis of the first deflection roller 14. The second is the same Carriage 42 over rollers 48 and 50 in the second link rail 38 guided and carries the axis the second deflection roller 16. On the first carriage 40 the end of a first linkage 52 is pivotally attached, the other end with the first end of a seesaw 54 is pivotally connected. Likewise, the end is one second linkage 56 pivotable on the second carriage 42 attached while the second end of the second linkage 56 can be pivoted with the second end of the rocker 54 connected is. The rocker 54 is in turn one Pivot axis 58 is displaceable in a further link rail 60 guided. In this respect, the ammunition guide chain 6 via the sliding rocker 54, the two linkages 52 and 56, the two slides 40 and 42 and the two deflection rollers 14 and 16 either tensioned or be relaxed.

As described above, the firearm can feed wheel 20 drive, intermittently in the launch stroke of the Cartridges. The ammunition guide chain is located within each drive pulse 6 accelerated strongly initially and then again slowed down. In the ammunition chain occur strong during acceleration Tensile forces due to their inertial mass due to the numerous existing cartridges is very high. This traction during the rocker 54 compensates for the acceleration phase, by the first deflection roller 14 during acceleration in the embodiment shown in FIG is moved to the right, whereby only the between the feed wheel 20 and the first deflection roller 14 Section of the ammunition guide chain 6 accelerated must become. Between the feed wheel 20 and the second deflection roller 16 would also create lots in the ammunition chain 6 arise, which, however, by the seesaw 54 is compensated. The first deflection roller is moving 14 to the right in FIG. 1, i. H. the mobile Carriage 40 to the left in FIG. 2, so the Carriage 42 of rocker 54 is forcibly shown in FIG. 2 moved to the right, which in turn is a movement of the second Deflection roller 16 means in Fig. 1 to the left. at a stationary rocker 54 would thus by the shortening of the loop shown in Fig. 1 between Feed wheel 20 and first guide roller 14 resulting lots between feed wheel 20 and second deflection roller 16 exactly canceled.

A toothed segment 62 is rigidly connected to the rocker 54, in which a gear 64 engages. The gear 64 is actuated A potentiometer 68 via a transmission linkage 66. With the gear segment 62, gear 64, transmission linkage 66 and potentiometer 68 existing facility the pivoting position of the rocker 54 can thus be measured. The potentiometer 68 is one as a bridge branch Wheatstone bridge, not shown, switched, whose other bridge branch consists of two series connected There is resistance. The one between the two resistors and the center tap of the potentiometer 68 The exit of the Wheatstone bridge provides the corresponding Dimensioning of the resistors and the potentiometer a current that is in the middle of the rocker 54 equal to zero and otherwise depending on the position of the rocker 54 is positive or negative. This output signal one is positively connected to the deflection roller 10 Drive (not shown) supplied. The drive is controlled so that he try to rocker 54th to pivot back to the rest or zero position.

Instead of this electrically structured control can also a suitably designed hydraulic control is provided become.

With the rocker construction and the independently driven one Deflection roller 10 is the firearm generated intermittent movement of the ammunition supply chain 26 and the feed wheel 20 in one if possible smooth movement of the ammunition guide chain 6 converted.

3 and 3a show a cross section through the ammunition magazine 2. The cut is made through a central surface along the link rail 60 of the rocker 54. In the illustrated embodiment, the rocker 54 is on provided on both side surfaces of the ammunition magazine 2. The respective pivot axis 58 of the rocker 54 is in one Cross bridge 70 mounted, the two rockers 54 with each other combines. Thus, the cross bridge 70 is inside the link rails 60 slidable on both sides guided.

A chain tension spring 72 provided on both sides acts between the rigid housing of the ammunition magazine 2 and the displaceably guided cross bridge 70. This is the Chain tension spring 72 in a rigid with the housing of the Ammunition magazine 2 connected spring guide cylinder 74 held while their free moving end over one Spring guide rod 76 presses against the cross bridge 70. All in all the chain tension spring 72 presses the entire rocker 54 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 to the right, whereby the two shown in Fig. 1 Deflection rollers 14 and 16 also pushed to the right become. As a result, the ammunition guide chain 6 with pre-tensioned a certain predetermined chain tension. The chain tension results from the spring constant the chain tension spring 72 and its engagement position. The linear applies to ordinary spiral springs Hook's law on wide areas of the engagement position.

If the ammunition guide chain 6 via the feed wheel 20th accelerated, so step in the ammunition guide chain 6 For a short time so strong forces that the resilience of the Chain tension spring 72 is overcome. The result is that the entire rocker 54 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 is moved to the left, creating a total a lot is created in the ammunition guide chain 6. In the worst case, this can be caused by the sudden acceleration force occurring the chain tension spring 72 Push in as far as it will go. The one that still exists Movement impulse occurs in the entire material when struck of the ammunition magazine 2 added. This can in the worst case, to undesirable material cracks or - cause breaks.

The measure, the spring constant of the chain tension spring 72 to increase so much that such a case essentially can be excluded does not lead to the goal here. With large spring constants, this is from the chain tension spring 72 clamping force already exerted after engagement the same over a short distance so strong that the ammunition guide chain 6 is unnecessarily tense, which Management problems and material fatigue occur can. Such a short distance indentation of the chain tension spring 72 can, for example, already thermally induced material strains are caused, because different materials for the housing of the ammunition magazine 2 (aluminum, carbon fiber composites, etc.) and the ammunition guide chain 6 (steel, etc.) be used. In this respect, the spring constant of the Chain tension spring 72 can be chosen so that even at strong temperature changes and the associated Engaging and disengaging movements from the chain tension spring 72 tension force exerted on the ammunition guide chain 6 stays in reasonable areas.

In order with chain tensioning springs 72 so dimensioned anyway Preventing striking is on both sides of the ammunition magazine 2 a hydraulic cylinder 78 is provided, the cylinder of which is rigid with the spring guide cylinder 74 connected is. In the hydraulic cylinder 78 is a Piston 80 parallel to the direction of action of the chain tension spring 72 out. A piston rod 82 of the piston 80 is via a T-groove 84 with the cross bridge 70 non-positively connected. In the piston 80 there is also a ball check valve 86 provided that when the Piston 80 closes in the cylinder, the closing movement is essentially caused by a spring means. When the piston 80 is disengaged, the ball check valve opens 86 due to the ventilation duct of the Ball check valve 86 flowing hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic cylinder 78.

The hydraulic cylinder 78 is dimensioned so that that he quickly engages his piston 80 opposes an essentially infinite resistance. Blocked with such a rapid engagement movement the hydraulic cylinder 78 thus via the piston rod 82 the movement of the cross bridge 70 in the in FIG. 3 illustrated embodiment to the left. A rapid movement of the cross bridge 70 to the left occurs as executed above in the event that the feed wheel 20 the Ammunition chain 6 accelerates. The hydraulic one In total, cylinder 78 causes the spring constants to increase the chain tension spring 72 to a value of almost infinite. This corresponds to the case that the cross bridge 70 or the rocker 54 rigid with the housing of the ammunition magazine 2 is connected. So the whole Acceleration forces only in a swivel motion the rocker 54 is transformed and with corresponding Delay of the two drives of the deflection rollers 10 and 12 again compensated. In other words Tensioning movement against the tension direction of the ammunition guide chain 6 essentially blocked. So it can there are no loose parts in the ammunition guide chain 6.

With very slow tensioning movements, for example caused by thermal material expansion can be the piston 80 without greater resistance engage in hydraulic cylinder 78 because of the gap between piston 80 and cylinder dimensioned accordingly is. For such slow speeds the hydraulic cylinder 78 therefore has no additional resistance ready so that the spring constant of the chain tension spring 72 essentially returned to their normal value for setting the specified chain tension.

Should now in the course of an acceleration of the ammunition chain 6 lots have been created, d. H. the chain tension spring 72 about their position in normal tension The chain may have been engaged by the chain tension spring 72 restoring force acting from the engaged position complete, i.e. with the normal spring constant act on the cross bridge 70. The piston 80 experiences when you disengage from the cylinder namely no essential Resistance because the ball check valve 86 opens when disengaging. In other words, the spring constant with a tensioning movement of the chain tension spring 72 essentially independent of speed and takes the normal value for setting the default Chain tension on. Of course, this also applies to slow expansion movements, for example due to thermal Material expansion of the ammunition guide chain 6, there the resistance of the piston 80 when disengaging substantially is speed independent.

2, a chain adjustment means 90 is also shown, that on the feed wheel 20 or the first deflecting roller 28 acts. The chain adjustment means 90 has a pivotable Worm gear 92 on that by a drive shaft stub 94 can be operated. On the axis of the Feed wheel 20 or the first guide roller is rigid Gear ring 96 attached to the outside of the housing into which the swiveled Worm gear 92 can intervene. Consequently can the position of the ammunition guide chain 6 by means of Turning the worm gear 92, which in the pivoted Condition the ring gear 96 and thus the feed wheel 20 or the first deflection roller 28 rotates.

So the ammunition stock in the ammunition magazine 2 under Use of a suitable floor device, for example also a strapless storage container, which after the works the same principle of operation in the shortest possible time be refilled while at the same time the empty cartridge cases or ignition failure. After this The ammunition guide chain 6 is filled up brought the drive shaft stub 94 into a suitable position, so that they optimally with the self-retracting Firearm can work together.

Fig. 4 shows a top view of a freewheel with detachable Lock for the first pulley 28. The ammunition supply chain 26 of the ammunition feeder 25 as they move around the two pulleys 28 and 30 a resilient mass. If the pulley 30 of the Firearm is driven intermittently, d. H. is briefly accelerated and braked, the ammunition supply chain 26 stretched on the cartridge feed side, while being compressed on the cartridge case discharge side becomes. The first deflection roller is delayed accordingly 28 from the second guide roller 30 via the ammunition supply chain 26 driven.

The second pulley is located between the shots 30 silent while the ammunition supply chain 26 due to their inert mass and the restoring forces cannot immediately go to sleep. The upset or stretched chain sections cause restoring forces in the ammunition supply chain 26 which the first deflection roller 28 to a reciprocating Bring rotation.

With a subsequent acceleration the second Deflection roller 30, for example the next shot, the Ammunition supply chain 26 on the cartridge supply side in the feed direction B accelerates, so it can be the worst Case that the guide roller 28 just one Performs rotational movement in the opposite direction. There the deflection roller 28 non-positively via the transfer wheels 24 with the feed wheel 20 and thus with the entire ammunition guide chain 6 connected in the ammunition magazine 2 is in this reciprocating rotary motion the guide roller 28 moves a large inert mass. This inert mass must now be driven by the Deflection roller 30 are overcome so that the first Deflection roller 28 first braked and then in a Rotary movement brought in the direction of feed B. becomes. Overall, the drive of the guide roller 30 in accelerate a very large mass in this case this drive must be disproportionately large and the ammunition supply chain 26 would be disproportionate should be highly resilient.

To prevent this excessive sizing is the first deflection roller 28 is rigidly coupled to a freewheel 119 (see also Figure 2), the rotational movement of the first deflection roller 28 against the feed direction B locks. Thanks to this freewheel 119, no acceleration the deflection roller 28 and the units coupled therewith occur more against the feed direction B, so that the drive of the second deflection roller 30 always only the total inertial mass of the ammunition supply chain 26 accelerate, but does not have to slow down first.

Since the drive always turns the second deflection roller 30 into one brings predetermined location, which, for example, by the Firing mechanism of a self-retracting firearm is now determined by the extension of the ammunition supply chain 26 on the cartridge feed path and the associated restoring force the first deflection roller 28 then rotated so far in the feed direction B that the ammunition supply chain 26 on the cartridge supply side is slightly compressed. This has a subsequent acceleration the second deflection roller 30 in total less force to apply because of this acceleration positively biased ammunition supply chain 26 one Put part of your chain tension in the acceleration can. The chain part on the cartridge case discharge track is stretched to the same extent as the one Part is compressed on the cartridge feed side. In order to but face such on both lanes through the Ammunition supply chain 26 caused resetting forces, that the acceleration by the second pulley 30th is supported.

The freewheel 119 is not explained in more detail below. because its function and structure from the state of the art is well known. Otherwise, for the Freewheel 119 any other suitable type of locking means be used, the rotation of the first pulley 28 allowed in one direction and in the other Direction essentially (preferably rigid) blocks.

If the freewheel 119 is used as a blocking means, then its locking effect in one direction of rotation in principle not easily solvable. To the free wheel 119 nevertheless allow this blocking effect to be released the freewheel 119 with an additional releasable lock coupled, which is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 4 becomes.

Fig. 4 shows such a releasable lock with the Freewheel 119 is non-positively coupled. In particular the freewheel sits in a ratchet wheel 102 and is rigid coupled to the first deflection roller 28. A housing 115 this releasable lock has one in engagement with the Pawls of the ratchet wheel 102 standing locking cylinder 108 on. The locking cylinder 108 has a flat end face on, which is disengaged by an eccentric shaft 112 Lock cylinder 108 on the steep flanks of the pawls of the Pawl wheel 102 strikes. This will turn the Pawl wheel 102 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 locked clockwise. Furthermore, a rotation of the ratchet wheel 102 counterclockwise also locked by the disengaged locking cylinder 108, since its outer surface exactly on the flat flank strikes a jack. The releasable lock therefore locks with the locking cylinder 108 disengaged, a movement of the Ratchet wheel 102 when the ammunition supply chain 26 both moved in and against the feed direction B. becomes. The axis 120 is therefore only in the by Freewheel 119 rotatable predetermined direction.

The locking cylinder 108 is guided in the housing 115 which the locking cylinder 108 is substantially tangential can be disengaged in the direction of the ratchet wheel 102. The release movement is caused by the eccentric shaft 112 which can be actuated via a rotary rod, not shown is. There is a small recess in the eccentric shaft 112 provided, in which a locking pin 116 engage radially can. This locking pin 116 is by the spring force a spring 118 pressed into this recess. The Eccentric shaft 112 is aligned with the recess in such a way that the locking pin 116 when fully disengaged Lock cylinder 108 engages in the recess. This prevents the eccentric shaft 112 from being disengaged Lock cylinder 108 and thus locked ratchet 102 is rotated unintentionally.

The end face of the Locking pin 116 is designed such that with an appropriate torque on the Eccentric shaft 112 the recess from the locking pin 116 is released so that the eccentric shaft 112 is rotated and thus the locking cylinder 108 into the housing 115 is indentable. The pawls of the ratchet wheel 102 can then when the ratchet wheel 102 moves clockwise insert the locking cylinder 108 into the housing 115, so that the locking effect on the ratchet wheel 102 in this Direction of rotation is canceled.

When the locking action on the ratchet wheel 102 is released, the first deflection roller 28 also against the feed direction B are rotated. The freewheel 119 locks one such movement, however, being rigid with the ratchet wheel 102 is connected, and this now against the feed direction B can be rotated is the locking effect the freewheel 119 is thus canceled. In this condition can load or unload the ammunition magazine 2, for example the location of the ammunition supply chain 26 is set.

Is the ammunition supply chain 26 after loading or unloading again exactly in their position regarding the drive the second deflection roller 30 (for example the self-retracting firearm) may have been brought in the worst case, the locking cylinder 108th and a corresponding pawl of the ratchet wheel 102 to each other are positioned so that the eccentric shaft 112 not in the fully disengaged position of the cylinder 108 can be rotated. In addition, one of these Resistance disengaging the locking cylinder 108 the ratchet wheel 102 unintentionally in one direction of rotation are rotated, in which the freewheel 119 locks. As a result, however, the first deflection roller 28 becomes again moved and thus the previously adjusted in their position Ammunition feed chain 26 misaligned again.

To such a misalignment when locking the Preventing lock cylinder 108 is an additional one Cylinder 114 provided with a hemispherical end face, which is also guided in the housing 115, radially the pawls of the ratchet wheel 102 acts. The cylinder 114 is thereby radially in by the spring force of a spring 118 Direction of the pawls moves. The hemispherical face now presses in this way on the pawls of the ratchet wheel 102 that the ratchet wheel 102 always in the direction of rotation is turned clockwise, in which direction the Freewheel 119 does not lock. Therefore, it just happens a movement of the ratchet wheel 102, but not to one Movement of the first pulley 28. The distance between the two Cylinder 108 and 114 is dimensioned such that with cylinder 114 fully disengaged when the hemispherical end face exactly between two Pawls, an optimal position of the locking cylinder 108 with respect to the pawls, so that the eccentric shaft 112 fully disengage the locking cylinder 108 can.

Claims (9)

1. An ammunition magazine (2) for beltless fed ammunition having:

   a) at least one endlessly fed ammunition feed chain (6) for conveying the ammunition in the ammunition magazine (2), and

   b) a chain tensioning means (72) for tensioning the ammunition feed chain (6) with a predetermined chain tension, which performs a tensioning movement in the tensioning direction to increase the chain tension and a tensioning movement opposite to the tensioning direction to reduce the chain tension,
   characterised in that

   c) the chain tensioning means (72) comprises a means (78) for influencing the spring constants of the chain tensioning means (72) as a function of the tensioning direction and the speed of the tensioning movement.
2. An ammunition magazine according to Claim 1,
   characterised in that the means (78) influences the spring constant in such a manner that this is substantially independent of the speed during a tensioning movement of the chain tensioning means (72) and in so doing assumes a value for adjusting the predetermined chain tension.
3. An ammunition magazine according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that the means (78) influences the spring constant in such a manner that during a tensioning movement of the chain tensioning means (72) opposite to the tensioning direction

   a) when the speed of the tensioning movement is low, in particular on account of heat-induced material extension, the said spring constant essentially assumes the value for adjusting the predetermined chain tension, and

   b) when the speed of the tensioning movement is high, in particular during a transporting movement of the ammunition guide chain (6), the said spring constant assumes such a high value that the tensioning movement opposite to the tensioning direction is essentially blocked.
4. An ammunition magazine according to one of the preceding Claims,
   characterised in that the chain tensioning means (72) is a spring means.
5. An ammunition magazine according to one of the preceding Claims,
   characterised in that the means (78) for influencing the spring constants is a hydraulic cylinder functionally coupled in parallel with the chain tensioning means (72) and having a return valve (86), the return valve (86) being designed so that it opens during a tensioning movement in the tensioning direction.
6. An ammunition magazine according to one of the preceding Claims,
   characterised in that

   a) the chain tensioning means (72) acts on a displaceably guided rocker (54) for tensioning the ammunition feed chain (6),

   b) each of the two ends of the rocker (54) is coupled with a deflection unit (14; 15) for forming a loop in the ammunition guide chain (6), and

   c) at the ammunition guide chain (6) a transfer device (20) is provided to transfer and/or accept ammunition or remaining ammunition, which - seen in the path of the chain - is disposed between the two deflection units (14, 16).
7. An ammunition magazine according to Claim 6,
   characterised by two drive units for driving the ammunition guide chain (6), which - seen in the path of the chain - are each provided in front of and behind the transfer device (20), specifically - seen in the path of the chain - in front of the first deflection unit (14) and behind the second deflection unit (16).
8. An ammunition magazine according to Claim 7,
   characterised by

   a) a measuring device (68) for measuring the rocker position, and

   b) a control device, coupled to the measuring device (68) and the two drive units, for controlling the two drive units as a function of the rocker position.
9. An ammunition magazine according to one of Claims 6 to 8,
   characterised in that

   a) the transfer device (20) is coupled with another endlessly guided ammunition feed chain (26) to supply ammunition into a firearm,

   b) wherein the ammunition feed chain (26) is guided via at least two deflection units (28; 30),

   c) one of the deflection units (30) for supplying the ammunition to the firearm is intermittently driven, and

   d) the at least one non-driven deflection unit (28) is provided with a blocking device which blocks a movement of the deflection unit (28) opposite to the ammunition feed direction.

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