EP1216392B1 - Systeme de manipulation des munitions - Google Patents

Systeme de manipulation des munitions Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1216392B1
EP1216392B1 EP00961307A EP00961307A EP1216392B1 EP 1216392 B1 EP1216392 B1 EP 1216392B1 EP 00961307 A EP00961307 A EP 00961307A EP 00961307 A EP00961307 A EP 00961307A EP 1216392 B1 EP1216392 B1 EP 1216392B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
projectile
tubes
drive
discharging
path
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP00961307A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1216392A1 (fr
Inventor
Ee Tiong Teo
Chong Beng Lim
Tiong Hwa Lim
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ordnance Development and Engineering Company of Singapore 1996 Pte Ltd
Original Assignee
Ordnance Development and Engineering Company of Singapore 1996 Pte Ltd
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1216392A1 publication Critical patent/EP1216392A1/fr
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Publication of EP1216392B1 publication Critical patent/EP1216392B1/fr
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
    • F41A9/00—Feeding or loading of ammunition; Magazines; Guiding means for the extracting of cartridges
    • F41A9/61—Magazines
    • F41A9/64—Magazines for unbelted ammunition
    • F41A9/76—Magazines having an endless-chain conveyor

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an ammunition handling system for a gun and more particularly to such a system which accurately and automatically delivers a series of rounds to the breech of a gun, preferably a large calibre gun.
  • Ammunition supplying systems are well known wherein a large calibre gun is mounted on a gun carriage.
  • the barrel of the gun is controllable in elevation on the carriage and the carriage is controllable in azimuth.
  • the invention relates to an ammunition handling system wherein stationary magazines provide a projectile to a hoist which lifts the projectile up to a carrier.
  • the carrier receives the projectile and rotates to the azimuth position of the gun carriage.
  • the projectile When the carrier reaches the gun azimuth position, the projectile is received from the carrier by a cradle in the gun carriage which is rotated about the gun support trunnion upwardly to a position such that the projectile is adjacent the rear of the gun and the cradle axis is parallel to the axis of the gun bore.
  • the projectile is transferred from the cradle to a transfer tray and the tray is then swung downwardly to a position which is coaxial with the bore of the gun.
  • the projectile is then rammed into the breech to complete the transfer from the magazine to the gun breech.
  • projectile magazines have been used with large calibre artillery weapons to achieve a higher rate of fire, as compared to manual loading by human operators.
  • the existing projectile magazines that are currently operating in the artillery weapon industry usually have separate projectile tubes linked by means of a chain, a conveyor belt, as disclosed in FR-A-2 743 414, or any other means of linkage for the projectile indexing control.
  • this design method may function well according to the specification, it may incur some adverse effects due to the fact that the individual projectile tubes are linked (and therefore dependent) on one another. Hence when the system is subjected to harsh operating conditions and prolonged period of usage, some negative effects occur:
  • the objective of the present invention is to overcome the above defects of the prior art.
  • an ammunition handling system comprising a support for supporting a plurality of projectile tubes, each of said projectile tubes being adapted to house a projectile, guide means on the support for guiding the projectile tubes along a predetermined path, and first drive means for driving the projectiles tubes along the path, wherein the projectile tubes are juxtaposed close enough together so that when in movement along the path they are capable of pushing each other along the path.
  • the projectile tubes can be driven along the path without the need for any connecting chain or belt, as the application of a sufficient driving force to one of the projectile tubes will automatically push all downstream projectile tubes along the path. It will be appreciated that the projectile tubes can be moved along the path by pushing them from behind the direction of motion, rather than pulling a chain or belt to which they are secured.
  • the projectile tubes are arranged in engagement with one another. However, a small gap between the tubes may be acceptable, provided that the projectile tubes can be properly aligned with the drive means and with the loading and discharge apertures described below.
  • the drive means to drive only one projectile tube at any time.
  • the majority of the projectile tubes are not directly driven by the drive means, i.e., we prefer that the majority of the projectile tubes are pushed along by adjacent projectile tubes.
  • the predetermined path is in the form of a closed loop whereby movement of any one of the projectile tubes along the path causes movement of all the other projectile tubes around the loop.
  • the drive means includes at least one drive wheel having a plurality of circumferential recesses adapted to receive one of the projectile tubes therein, the arrangement being such that rotation of the drive wheel drives said projectile tube along said path.
  • the drive wheel may conveniently be configured in the form of a sprocket wheel, i.e., a toothed wheel with the recesses located circumferentially between the teeth.
  • the or each drive wheel may have, for example, 3 to 11 recesses, preferably 7 recesses, equi-spaced about its circumference.
  • projectile tubes there are 22 projectile tubes and a drive wheel with 7 recesses, and at any given time 5 projectile tubes will be received within the recesses, whereby rotation of the drive wheel directly drives these 5 projectile tubes.
  • the other projectile tubes will be pushed along the path by the directly driven projectile tubes.
  • the path of a single projectile tube is as follows. When the projectile tube is outside of engagement with one of the drive wheel recesses, it is pushed along the path by the force of an adjacent upstream projectile tube, and it pushes an adjacent downstream projectile tube along the path. As movement continues, the projectile tube eventually moves into one of the recesses of the rotating drive wheel. At this time the projectile tube is driven along the path by the force of the engagement with the drive wheel, i.e., the walls of the recess engage and push the projectile tube. The path is arcuate when the projectile tube is received with the recess. After rotating through approximately 180° about the rotational axis of the drive wheel, the projectile tube moves out of the recess of the drive wheel, and is again driven by the upstream projectile tube.
  • the path is in the form of an elongate loop.
  • the projectile tubes are preferably closely packed along the loop so that it is not possible for any of the projectile tubes to move along the path independently of the other projectile tubes.
  • a gear reduction unit is preferably operatively arranged between the electric motor and the or each drive wheel to drive the drive wheel in an indexed fashion.
  • a hand crank is desirable for rotating the or each drive wheel manually.
  • the ammunition handling system would normally be automated, and the provision of a hand crank enables the system to be operated manually in the event of a failure of the automation.
  • the support comprises two spaced plates and the projectile tubes are disposed between the support plates.
  • the guide means preferably comprises a guide track in each of the support plates, and each end of the projectile tubes is preferably retained in a respective one of the guide tracks.
  • one of the support plates is provided with a loading aperture, and that the projectile tubes are selectively alignable with said loading aperture in order to load a projectile into the projectile tube aligned with the loading aperture.
  • the loading aperture is usually known in the art as a fuse setting port, and it can be used for manually setting the fuse for the projectile and/or for loading the projectile into the projectile tube. It is also possible to discharge projectiles through the loading aperture.
  • the other of the support plates is provided with a discharging aperture, and that the projectile tubes are selectively alignable with said discharging aperture in order to discharge a projectile from the projectile tube aligned with the discharging aperture.
  • the discharging aperture is usually known in the art as a transfer port, and it is used for discharging the projectile from the projectile tube onto a transfer arm.
  • a discharging mechanism is preferably provided for discharging a projectile from one of the projectile tubes when it is aligned with said discharging aperture.
  • the discharging mechanism preferably comprises a discharging member adapted to push the projectile out of the projectile tube, and a second drive means, preferably in the form of an electric motor adapted to drive the discharging member into and out of the projectile tube.
  • the ammunition handling system desirably further comprises a sensor for detecting when the discharging member has been retracted from the projectile tube following discharge of the projectile.
  • a control means may be operatively linked to the sensor and to the first and second drive means in order to control activation of the first and second drive means in response to signals from the sensor.
  • the ammunition handling system according to the invention is preferably in the form of a projectile magazine in which the projectile tubes are arranged in a carousel-like fashion.
  • the indexing of the projectile tubes of the magazine is achieved without the means of a chain, belt or other form of linkage.
  • the indexing is achieved by means of a "pushing force", produced when the sprockets are driven by an electrical motor, that "pushes" the individual projectile tubes along the track path.
  • This chainless/linkless design concept of this system will greatly minimize the effects of backlash, giving a better accuracy during the indexing of the projectile. It will also reduce the effects of dynamic loading when operating on a rough terrain and much less maintenance will be required. The operating cost will be much lower since the frequency of maintenance is lower in this design, making it a more economical system on a long-term basis.
  • a projectile magazine (1) which has the capacity to store up to 22 projectiles (20) is disclosed.
  • the projectiles (20) are stored horizontally in individual projectile tubes and each projectile is held in place in the tube by the locking sleeve (10).
  • the projectile tubes (2) are placed together in an adjacent manner, forming a rigid closed loop carousel system.
  • Cam followers (3) are incorporated on the sides of each projectile tube (2), which run on the track path (4) that is machined onto the two track plates (5).
  • These projectile tubes (2) are rotated bi-directionally by a pair of sprockets (6) that are splined on the sprocket shaft (7).
  • An electric drive unit or motor (8) drives the sprockets which in turn moves the projectile tubes (2) in the projectile magazine (1).
  • the electrical motor (8) drives the sprocket shaft (7) via a gear reducer (22) for the indexing of the magazine (1).
  • the rotation of the sprocket (6) produces a "pushing force" to drive the projectile tubes (2), which in turn pushes on another in the closed loop since they are packed closely in an adjacent manner.
  • the locking sleeve (10), which slides on the projectile tube (2) is actuated by a solenoid (23). It has two sets of restrainers (17), which are designed to accommodate the four types of projectile configurations. The function of these restrainers (17) is to prevent the projectiles (20) from moving forward while the projectile stopper (18) prevents it from moving in the backward direction. In this way, the projectile (20) is held in place in the projectile tube (2).
  • the restrainers (17) are designed to remain at their locked position by means of torsion springs.
  • the locking sleeve (10) When the locking sleeve (10) is shifted in place with the lock face of the restrainers (17), it restricts the restrainers (17) from opening out, thereby locking the restrainers (17).
  • the solenoid (23) Upon activation of the solenoid (23), the locking sleeve will return to its initial position by its spring, and the restrainers (17) are now free.
  • the various stopping positions for the locking sleeve are catered for due to different projectile configurations.
  • the projectile stopper (18) is designed to remain in its locked position by means of torsion springs. During replenishment, the projectile is pushed through the resupply port (25). In the process, it releases the projectile stopper (18) and allows the projectile to enter into the projectile tube (2). After the projectile is fully seated inside the projectile tube (2), the projectile stopper (18) will automatically spring back and lock at its position, to prevent the projectile from sliding out.
  • a detachable hand crank (24) is provided to recover projectiles (20) from the projectile magazine (1).
  • Figure 2 illustrates that there are two openings on the projectile magazine track plate (5).
  • One of the openings (13) is located at the top, which is for transfer of projectiles (20) out from the projectile magazine (1) to the transfer arm. It is known as a "transfer port”.
  • the second opening (12) is located at the bottom centre of the track plate (5), which is known as a "fuse setting port”. It is used for manually setting the fuse, and for the download or upload of projectiles (20).
  • the Ammunition Handling Control Unit comprising a computer microprocessor, checks the projectile's inventory stored in its memory. It then sends a signal to activate the motor to index the projectile tubes (2).
  • the electric motor (8) drives the sprocket shaft (7) holding the sprockets (6) through a gear reduction unit.
  • the projectile tubes (12) are moved to index the desired projectile (20) to the transfer position.
  • the transfer mechanism for transferring the projectile (20) to the bridge (16, in Figure 2) is shown.
  • Transfer of the projectile (20) to the bridge (16) is achieved by using a mechanical jack assembly (19) that is bolted externally to the rear panel of the projectile magazine.
  • the mechanical jack assembly (19) houses a rigid chain (15) which has a pusher attached to the end of the chain.
  • the motive power to the assembly (19) is provided by an electric motor for the rigid chain (21) mounted to the flange adapter (9) on one side of the rigid chain unit.
  • the AHCU When the correct projectile (20) has been indexed to align with the transfer port (13) in the magazine, the AHCU will signal to the transfer mechanism to push the projectile into the bridge (16) and transfer arm (not shown).
  • the electric motor (21) will be activated to drive the rigid chain (15) in the mechanical jack assembly (19) through a gear transmission. Extension of the rigid chain (15) and pusher (14) from the mechanical jack assembly (19) pushes the projectile (20) out of the projectile magazine (1) over a bridge (16) and finally into the transfer arm (not shown).
  • the rigid chain (15) will retract into the mechanical jack assembly (19) by the reversal of the rotation in the electric motor (21).
  • a sensor at the parked position of the pusher (14) will indicate to the AHCU that the rigid chain (15) has fully retracted for the indexing of the magazine for the transfer of the next projectile (20).

Claims (16)

  1. Système de maniement de munitions comprenant un support pour supporter une pluralité de tubes à projectiles (2), chacun desdits tubes à projectiles (2) étant adapté pour loger un projectile (20), des moyens de guide sur le support pour guider les tubes à projectiles (2) le long d'un chemin préétabli, et des premiers moyens de commande pour commander les tubes à projectiles (2) le long du chemin, caractérisé en ce que les tubes à projectiles (2) sont juxtaposés suffisamment ensemble de sorte que quand ils se déplacent le long du chemin ils sont à même de se pousser les uns les autres le long du chemin.
  2. Système selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le chemin préétabli a la forme d'une boucle fermée.
  3. Système selon la revendication 2, dans lequel les tubes à projectiles sont strictement accolés de sorte qu'il n'est pas possible pour aucun des tubes à projectiles de se déplacer le long du chemin indépendamment des autres tubes à projectiles.
  4. Système selon la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, dans lequel le premier moyen de commande est disposé de manière à commander directement au moins un, mais pas tous, les tubes à projectiles (2).
  5. Système selon la revendication 1, 2, 3, ou 4, dans lequel le premier moyen de commande est disposé de manière à commander directement moins de 50% des tubes à projectiles (2).
  6. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le moyen de commande comprend au moins une roue de contrôle (6) avec une pluralité d'évidures, chacune d'elles étant adaptée pour recevoir l'un des tubes à projectiles, la disposition étant de telle sorte que la rotation de la roue de contrôle (6) bouge les tubes à projectiles (2) logés dans lesdites évidures le long ledit chemin.
  7. Système selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le premier moyen de commande comprend en outre un moteur électrique (8) disposé de manière à actionner la rotation de la ou de chaque roue de contrôle (6).
  8. Système selon la revendication 7, comprenant en outre une unité de réducteur à engrenages disposée fonctionnellement entre le moteur électrique (8) et la ou chaque roue de contrôle (6) pour commander la roue de contrôle (6) de manière indexée.
  9. Système selon la revendication 7, comprenant en outre une manivelle pour tourner à la main la ou chaque roue de contrôle (6).
  10. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant de plus un manchon de blocage (10) tenu par des supports (17), et une butée de projectile (18) sur le ou chaque tube à projectiles (2) pour tenir en place le projectile (20).
  11. Système selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le support comprend deux tabliers espacés (5) et les tubes à projectiles (2) sont placés entre les tabliers de support (5).
  12. Système selon la revendication 11, dans lequel le moyen de guide comprend une chenille de guide (4) sur chacun des tabliers de support (5), et chaque bout des tubes à projectiles (2) est retenu dans chacune respective des chenilles de guide (4).
  13. Système selon la revendication 11 ou 12, dans lequel l'un des tabliers de support (5) est muni d'une ouverture de chargement (12), et les tubes à projectiles (2) sont alignables sélectivement avec ladite ouverture de chargement (12) pour charger un projectile (20) dans le tube à projectiles (2) qui est aligné avec l'ouverture de chargement (12); et l'autre des tabliers de support (5) est muni d'une ouverture de décharge (13), et les tubes à projectiles (2) sont alignables sélectivement aves ladite ouverture de décharge (13) pour décharger un projectile (20) du tube à projectiles (2) aligné avec l'ouverture de décharge (13).
  14. Système selon la revendication 13, comprenant en outre un mécanisme de décharge pour décharger un projectile (20) de l'un des tubes à projectiles (2) lorsqu'il est aligné avec ladite ouverture de décharge (13).
  15. Système selon la revendication 14, dans lequel le mécanisme de décharge comprend un organe de décharge (15) adapté pour pousser le projectile (20) hors du tube à projectiles (2), et un second moyen de commande sous forme d'un moteur électrique (21) apte à commander l'organe de décharge en dedans et en dehors du tube à projectiles (2).
  16. Système selon la revendication 15, comprenant en outre un détecteur pour détecter quand l'organe de décharge (15) a été retiré du tube à projectiles (2) suite au déchargement du projectile (20), et comprenant de plus un moyen de contrôle lié fonctionnellement au détecteur, et au premier et seconde moyens de commande pour contrôler l'activation des premier et seconde moyens de commande en réponse aux signaux du détecteur.
EP00961307A 1999-10-01 2000-09-29 Systeme de manipulation des munitions Expired - Lifetime EP1216392B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SG9904817A SG82643A1 (en) 1999-10-01 1999-10-01 Ammunition handling system
SG9904817 1999-10-01
PCT/SG2000/000141 WO2001025713A1 (fr) 1999-10-01 2000-09-29 Systeme de manipulation des munitions

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1216392A1 EP1216392A1 (fr) 2002-06-26
EP1216392B1 true EP1216392B1 (fr) 2003-05-07

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00961307A Expired - Lifetime EP1216392B1 (fr) 1999-10-01 2000-09-29 Systeme de manipulation des munitions

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1216392B1 (fr)
SG (1) SG82643A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001025713A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU2553502C1 (ru) * 2014-06-26 2015-06-20 Открытое акционерное общество "Конструкторское бюро приборостроения им. академика А.Г. Шипунова" Автоматическая пушка
DE102018109154A1 (de) * 2018-04-17 2019-10-17 Rheinmetall Waffe Munition Gmbh Autolader sowie Fahrzeug mit einem Autolader

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3218930A (en) 1952-08-27 1965-11-23 Philias H Girouard Gun mount with ammunition supplying means
BE633001A (fr) * 1962-06-04
US5151556A (en) * 1990-12-24 1992-09-29 General Electric Company Propellant magazine for field artillery piece
FR2682750A1 (fr) * 1991-10-17 1993-04-23 Giat Ind Sa Magasin de munitions, en particulier pour char.
US5166457A (en) * 1992-01-22 1992-11-24 Lorenzetti James A Ammunition magazine for paint ball gun
DE4205963A1 (de) * 1992-02-27 1993-09-02 Kuka Wehrtechnik Gmbh Panzerhaubitze
US5456154A (en) * 1994-03-29 1995-10-10 Western Design Corporation Compact bustle magazine
FR2743414B1 (fr) * 1996-01-05 1998-02-27 Giat Ind Sa Magasin de stockage et d'alimentation de modules constituant des charges propulsives pour canon d'artillerie

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1216392A1 (fr) 2002-06-26
WO2001025713A1 (fr) 2001-04-12
SG82643A1 (en) 2001-08-21

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