EP1671074A1

EP1671074A1 - Ammunition conveyor chain

Info

Publication number: EP1671074A1
Application number: EP04786984A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rudi Beckmann
Original assignee: Heckler und Koch GmbH
Current assignee: Heckler und Koch GmbH
Priority date: 2003-09-23
Filing date: 2004-09-22
Publication date: 2006-06-21
Also published as: WO2005031243A1; KR20070030161A; CA2539900A1; DE10344027A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an ammunition conveyor chain comprising a housing (1), for example, for loading and unloading the on-board reloading device of an aeroplane cannon. Said conveyor chain also comprises housing elements (11) that are coupled to each other in an articulated manner, and respectively contain one section (27) of a guide rail for guiding a continuous chain (35) consisting of adjacent cartridge holders (31) that are interconnected in an articulated manner. The aim of the invention is to obtain a stable but simple, flexible arrangement of the housing. To this end, the inventive ammunition conveyor chain is characterised in that respectively two adjacent housing elements (11) are connected by two articulated parts (21, 23) that can be pivoted in relation to each other about a common rotational axis, and both articulated parts (21, 23) of a housing element (11) are connected to a section (27) of the guide rail, which extends essentially from one rotational axis (29) to the next. A curved section of the guide rail is associated with the coupled articulated parts (21, 23).

Description

Ammunition conveyor chain

The invention relates to an ammunition conveyor chain with a housing, for example for loading and unloading the on-board reloading device of an aircraft cannon, with housing elements coupled to one another in an articulated manner, in each of which a section of a guide rail for guiding an endless chain is arranged, which is articulated from one another interconnected cartridge holders exists (preamble of claim 1).

On-board cannon systems in modern combat aircraft are preferably equipped with a mechanized reloading device. These reloading devices also accept the cartridges that could not be fired for any reason, for example cartridge failures, and in particular the cartridges' shells.

Reloading devices of this type are very extensive and, because of the spatial confinement in the aircraft, are specially adapted to them and are permanently installed. So they cannot be removed immediately, like the magazines of anti-aircraft guns, and replaced by new, full magazines.

To load and unload such reloading devices, a loading device is used, which is connected on the one hand to a ground-based supply or storage room and on the other hand to the reloading device in the aircraft. This loading device has a conveyor chain which forms a loop and is driven, which can be done, for example, by driving the reloading device in the aircraft. Since the transfer of the cartridges between the reloading device and the conveyor chain must be quick and trouble-free, the conveyor chain must reach the reloading device. be cited. A transfer station on the aircraft simultaneously handles the removal of empty or unusable cartridges and the supply of new, full cartridges.

In order to optimize the use of the aircraft as far as possible, it is now necessary to - keep the transfer times as short as possible.

The conveyor chain is normally surrounded by a housing which, in conjunction with this conveyor chain, ensures that the cartridges are guided safely, but also protects the cartridges from the weather and contact.

Since the conveyor chain and housing have to be adapted to the spatial narrowness and height differences between the aircraft and ground-based ammunition supply, both are generally flexible. Here, individual housing elements are joined together by chain-like links. These housing elements have guides on the inside that accommodate a conveyor chain for the cartridges. The guides of the individual housing elements are also joined together with chain-like links. The housing elements of the chain run running back and forth are attached to one another in pairs in order to compensate for excessive vibrations and thus to reduce them.

Overall, such a chain with its housing is a very complicated device with many connecting parts between the individual housing elements. As a rule, the housing elements have a section of the chain guide, and adjoining section sections and housing elements are fastened to one another by a large number of individual chain links in such a way that the chain is guided as far as possible without any discontinuities, while the adjacent housing elements are movable to a limited extent are. The entire chain with housing is therefore quite complex, the possibilities of damage are great, and the repair of chain with housing is lengthy and expensive.

Based on this problem, it is an object of the invention to simplify the known chain with housing just described.

In particular, a chain with a housing should be formed, which has few parts, for. B. are cheap to produce in plastic, for example, in die casting.

This object is generally achieved in that the aforementioned ammunition conveyor chain with housing is further developed in that

- two adjacent housing elements are connected by means of two joint parts, both of which can be pivoted relative to one another about a common axis of rotation, and - the two joint parts of a housing element are connected to a section of the guide rail which extends essentially from one axis of rotation to the next, the joined joint parts a curve section of the guide rail is assigned.

Instead of the many connecting links which connect housing elements of known devices to one another, the adjacent housing parts according to the invention are each connected only by a joint with an axis of rotation which extends overall transversely to the running direction of the chain. The guide for the conveyor chain is formed by a guide rail which extends in sections from an axis of rotation of a housing element, generally in a straight line, to the other of the same housing element. The center lines of two adjacent sections of the guide rails thus meet at the axes of rotation in such a way that a polygonal sequence of sections of the guide rails results in which the joint forms a deflection. It is fundamentally possible to produce the housing elements from a suitable metal, for example aluminum sheet, and the sections of the guide rail from another material, for example brass, and then to assemble these components into one part, for. B. riveting. So each part can be optimized according to the material. However, it is preferred that at least a part of the housing elements with the associated section of the guide rail and the joint parts is formed in one piece and preferably from plastic or reinforced plastic (claim 2). Thus, the advantage of independent material selection is dispensed with, but the advantage is gained that the housing elements and the sections of the guide rail are manufactured in one piece and cannot loosen even after a long period of operation. In addition, inexpensive production from plastic is possible. If an error occurs, the entire plastic part is simply replaced. The repair is therefore simple and inexpensive. The plastic parts can be supplied with the ammunition, for example, a part on a certain number of ammunition boxes, so that no separate supply route for these cheap plastic parts has to be created, but it accumulates over time at every point where the aircraft is loaded a certain stock of plastic spare parts, which is sufficient in the event of a fault.

Many designs of the articulation of the sections of the guide rails are possible, which extend in a polygon through the housing elements. However, it is preferred that one joint part of a housing element forms a disc, while the other joint part of the same housing part forms a complementary recess, and that both housing parts are penetrated in the center by a bolt which extends transversely to the guide rail (claim 3). The pin is positioned where the forces are greatest that the sections of the guide tearing apart the rail. The bolt can therefore absorb these forces.

The two joint parts can form the guide between two sections in the deflection of the guide rail. However, it is preferred that the bolt has an at least partially circular head, which forms a joint of the guide rail (claim 4). This head necessarily has about the diameter of the guide rail and has to absorb the forces when deflecting the chain, more precisely, every time a chain link is deflected, it runs onto the bolt head. This creates an unusually high load, so it makes sense to use a special material here. However, no separate component is necessary here, but the bolt is designed as a joint, which must have a considerable strength anyway.

For this it would be possible to use a reinforced plastic or a light metal as the material for the bolt. According to the invention, however, it is preferred that the bolt consists of metal, preferably steel (claim 5). This results in a relatively heavy component, which is fundamentally disadvantageous, but the bolt is only of limited size, but can be machined accordingly by heat treatment (e.g. by case hardening) and can be particularly smooth due to a surface coating, for example by phosphating so that it promotes the sliding movement of the chain links.

The bolt can be assigned to each guide rail separately. So it is possible to run the forward and returning run of the endless chain in different ways. For example, it would be possible to travel to several stations, for example to remove empty cartridge cases, to remove cartridge failures, to remove cartridges that are still intact and to fill new cartridges. However, it is preferred that the bolt have two housing elements, which belong to the forward and the returning run of the endless chain, connects to each other and is preferably formed in two parts (claim 6).

The endless chain connects the two strands that follow the same path, the aircraft and a ground station, in which the further use of the discharged cartridges and cartridge cases and the supply of new cartridges is organized. At the same time, one bolt is sufficient for two housing elements, namely that of the leading and that of the returning run, with both runs stiffening against each other. This creates a simple and therefore solid and reliable, but light ammunition conveyor chain.

It is fundamentally possible to form these housing elements, which are firmly connected to one another by the bolt, in one piece. However, it is more expedient if each housing element is formed separately from the other, since the structure is then simplified because the housing elements can be made as small and light as possible. In addition, a partition between the two runs of the endless chain is required anyway, in order to prevent the disruptive engagement in an opposite part of this chain in the case of a loose cartridge or cartridge case. In addition, it proves to be expedient that a part of the bolt lying between the two housing elements has a receptacle for guiding a functional element (claim 7). This functional element can be a simple bracing, but can also be used to carry out essential functions, this functional element being particularly protected against access from the outside.

Such functional elements are, for example, communication lines that coordinate the filling and emptying level of the aircraft with the ground-based supply device. It has turned out to be particularly advantageous, however, that the endless chain is connected to a drive at least at the two transitions between the forward and returning run and that the drives are connected by a flexible shaft which forms the functional element (claim 8). This flexible shaft ensures the strict synchronous operation of all drive units in the endless chain, which prevent the build-up of natural vibrations in the chain, which would otherwise be almost inevitable when the drive was driven from a single point.

The accommodation of this flexible shaft in the middle of the ammunition conveyor chain protects this shaft on the one hand. On the other hand, however, it gives the ammunition conveyor chain a certain rigidity, which prevents the neighboring housing elements from being too drastically offset from one another. This ensures the safe, reliable functioning of the ammunition conveyor chain.

A conventional endless chain consists of metal clips, which are connected to each other by several wire brackets and carry a riveted guide on the back, by means of which they are guided inside the housing elements. According to the invention, however, it is preferred that the endless chain consists of one-piece, identically shaped plastic elements for holding one cartridge each, which are connected to one another along connecting axes which extend transversely to the course of the endless chain (claim 9). These plastic elements can be manufactured easily and cheaply. If they are damaged, replacing them is cheaper than repairing them. Connection axes are used instead of several wire brackets, which increases the stability and simplicity of the endless chain.

These connecting axes can be made of plastic. However, it is preferred that the connecting axes are designed as cylindrical pins made of metal or wire are (claim 10). This means that the connecting axles can also be produced cheaply, but have a superior strength with a small diameter.

Since the connecting axes are simple cylindrical pins, manufacture by the meter is also conceivable. An axis of the desired length is then deflected, if necessary, by an extruded rod.

Since the plastic elements have to move freely against each other to a certain extent, but should be made in one piece from plastic, it is proposed according to one embodiment of the invention that the connecting axes are seated in two aligned bores, which are in two spaced projections on one side of each plastic element are formed, and that on the other side of each plastic element a single projection is formed, which is accommodated with play between the projections of the adjacent plastic element and is penetrated by a play bore (claim 11). The spaced-apart projections fit the axis on both sides with a precise fit and clamp it, as a result of which their flexural strength is favorably influenced. The projection in between, on the other hand, allows the angular adjustment of the adjacent plastic elements due to its tolerances. Since this simple connection permits relatively large radii of the connection axes, it is hardly possible to expect any significant wear. But even if wear and tear should occur, the exchange of all elements involved can be done easily and cheaply.

In order to convey the cartridges as gently as possible, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the plastic elements are designed as elongated receiving troughs for one cartridge each, a protruding design resembling a dovetail that grips around a rail piece being provided on the convex side of this trough. the is formed in one piece on the inside of each housing element, the heads of the bolts being aligned with the rail piece (claim 12). Here is the

Guiding the endless chain in the housing elements in a simple but reliably guaranteed manner.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this shows:

1 shows the upper end of a loading device according to the invention,

2 the housing elements of the loading device in the oblique view,

3 shows a section of the loading device in cross section,

Fig. 4 shows a part of the conveyor chain with cartridges, and

Fig. 5 is a schematic longitudinal section through a series of housing elements, the direction of which changes from one element to another.

The figures show only one embodiment. This is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, other exemplary embodiments are also possible.

The same reference numbers are used throughout the figures for the same elements.

1 shows parts of an ammunition conveyor chain 35 with a flexible housing 1, which connects a reloading device inside the aircraft for a machine gun with an ammunition device for this on the ground (both not shown). Ammunition conveyor chain 35 and housing 1 are part of a loading direction 3, which therefore leads from the ground to the aircraft. A part of the conveyor chain 35 is omitted to allow the view of other elements.

This loading device 3 has a deformable section 5, within which a conveyor chain 35 rotates for cartridges or cartridge cases which are conveyed from the ground to the aircraft or vice versa.

At the aircraft-side, upper end of the deformable section 5 there is an aircraft-side transfer device 7, on which the conveyor chain is driven.

This transfer device 7 has, on the side facing away from the viewer, a drive device 9 which is driven by a drive shaft 47 and drives a drive shaft 45 via a deflection gear and gear wheels which are located on the outside of the transfer device 7.

This drive shaft 45, which is mounted on both sides in the transfer device 7, rotatably supports a star wheel 43 which engages drivingly in the conveyor chain 35.

A portion of this endless conveyor chain 35 is shown in FIG. 4. It has interconnected, elongated, trough-shaped chain links 31 which have a father piece 37 on one shell side, which engages with play in a nut section 39 of the adjacent chain link 31.

Father piece 37 and nut section 39 are penetrated by a connecting pin 49 which sits in the nut section 39 without play and passes through the father piece 37 with play. Because of the play that the father piece 37 has with respect to the nut section 39 and the connecting pin 49, a certain tilting movement between adjacent chain links 31 is permitted. Each chain link 31 also has on its convex side an encompassing design 51 which encompasses rail sections 27 which each contribute to the formation of a continuous rail within each part of the two-part housing 1 (see FIG. 2).

Furthermore, the convex part of each chain link 31 has a semicircular guide groove 53 at its end lying in the middle of the housing 1.

The chain links 31 are preferably made in one piece from plastic, e.g. cast. The connecting pin 49 is made of metal and is fastened to the nut section 39 by means of at least one spring ring (not shown).

The conveyor chain 35 runs with the encompassing designs 51 of each chain link 31 on the rail of one housing part until it arrives at the transfer device 7, then runs within fixed guides up to the star wheel 43, is gripped by this in the guide grooves 53 and by 180 ° pivoted and then runs with the encompassing training 51 of each chain link 31 back on the rail in the other part of the housing 1.

The bottom-side transfer device (not shown) is constructed in a similar manner.

Since the housing 1 is flexible, and since the conveyor chain 35 is also deformable not only around the connecting pins, but also in the transverse direction, it is readily apparent that neither the runway has to be completely flat, nor the ammunition device on which the loading device 3 attached, must be positioned exactly with respect to the aircraft each time. Since the ammunition must be carried out as quickly as possible, remains therefore no time for a precise adjustment of the ammunition device. These requirements can be met by means of a flexible charging device 3.

The deformable section 5 of the charging device 3 is enlarged in FIG. 3 and shown in cross section. The deformable section 5 is namely deformable to a limited extent, while the two transfer devices 7 have a rigid housing in which the ends of the conveyor chain rotate. This deformable section 5 is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 in detail.

3, three plastic housing elements 11 can be seen. Each of these housing elements 11 forms a short section of a tube with an approximately rectangular cross section, as can be seen particularly in FIG. 1 or 2. A number of such housing elements 11 are joined together to form a tubular, bendable housing in which a conveyor chain 35 with ammunition 33 (FIG. 4) runs. Each of these housing elements 11 is fastened to the adjacent one, with which it forms a tube, by means of a joint which consists of a joint part 21 which projects approximately like a circular plate from the side wall of a housing element 11 and covers a complementary joint part 23 which is formed on the adjacent housing element 11 (see FIG. 5).

The two circular plate-shaped housing parts 21, 23 are joined together by a bolt 29 (see FIG. 3) which is in the center thereof. Both housing elements 11 can thus be pivoted relative to one another around the bolt 29. The bolt 29 is extended and forms the pivot axis of two housing elements 11, which form the first and the second housing tube parallel to the first. Both housing tubes are thus fastened to one another by means of the bolts 29 and together form the housing 1. Within each housing element 11, the bolt 29 forms an enlarged bolt head 25 which holds the joint 21, 23 together and has a diameter which is in each

Housing element 11 is continued by a rail piece 27. The rail piece 27 and the joint parts 21, 23 are made in one piece with the housing element 11 from plastic.

The long surfaces of the housing element 11 taper towards their ends, so that the housing elements 11, which are fastened to one another by a common joint 21, 23, can pivot towards and away from one another (see FIG. 5). Furthermore, each housing element 11 has on its long surfaces, projecting toward the adjacent housing element 11, a central limiting strip 13 and a limiting strip 15 on the edge. Each of these limiting strips 13, 15 engages with a certain play in an associated recess 17 (FIG. 2) in the adjacent housing element 11, so that the tilting movement about an axis which runs transversely to the bolt 29 is limited. This avoids that at the location of a bolt head 25 between two adjacent rail pieces 27 there is a significant angle with respect to an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the bolt 29 because the engagement of the limiting strips 13, 15 in the corresponding recesses 17 is lateral Moving two adjacent housing elements 11 strictly limited.

As already mentioned above, the two flexible tubes, which are each formed by housing elements 11 and accommodate the forward or returning run of the conveyor chain 35, are fastened to one another by bolts 29, which each pivot the axes of two adjacent housing elements 11 Form tubular housing part. Between the adjacent housing elements 11 of each housing part, the bolt 29 forms a thickened spacing section 59 which has a transverse bore 61, the axis of which runs parallel to the axis of the housing sections 11. A flexible shaft 41 (see FIG. 1) is guided through the bores 61 of these spacer sections 59, by means of which a star wheel in the bottom-side transfer device 7 is driven. This star wheel is designed like the star wheel 43, engages with its radiation-like fingers between two chain links 31 and thus drives the conveyor chain 35 in addition to the star wheel 43. More than two star wheels can also be arranged. More than two of the star wheels can also be driven by the outer drive shaft 47, which can be designed as a cardan shaft, since the cyclical speed shifts due to angles between the different feed points are compensated for by the inherent flexibility of the conveyor chain 35. The arcuate curvature of the chain links 31 allows a limited expansion of the individual chain links 31.

One or more star wheels 43 can also be arranged along the conveyor chain 35, which are designed differently from the star wheel 43 and engage in the flat-running conveyor chain 35 to drive them.

Claims

claims

1. Ammunition conveyor chain with housing (1), for example for loading and unloading the on-board reloading device of an aircraft cannon, with housing elements (11) articulated to one another, in each of which a section (27) of a guide rail for guiding an endless chain (35 ) is arranged, which consists of juxtaposed, articulated cartridge holders (31), characterized in that - two adjacent housing elements (11) are connected by means of two joint parts (21, 23), both of which are arranged around a common axis of rotation. are pivotable relative to one another, and - the two joint parts (21, 23) of a housing element (11) are connected to a section (27) of the guide rail which extends essentially from one axis of rotation (29) to the next, the joined joint parts (21 , 23) a curve section (25) is assigned to the guide rail.

2. Ammunition conveyor chain according to claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the housing elements (11) with the associated section (27) of the guide rail and the articulated parts (21, 23) is formed in one piece and preferably from plastic or reinforced plastic ,

3. Ammunition conveyor chain according to claim 2, characterized in that the one joint part (21) of a housing element (11) forms a disc, while the other joint part (23) of the same housing part (11) forms a complementary recess, and that two adjacent ones Housing parts (11) are penetrated in the center by a bolt (29) which extends transversely to the guide rail.

4. Muni ion conveyor chain according to claim 3, characterized in that the bolt (29) has an at least partially circular head (25) which forms a joint of the guide rail.

5. Ammunition conveyor chain according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the bolt (29) consists of metal, preferably steel.

6. Ammunition conveyor chain according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the bolt (29) connects two housing elements (11), which belong to the forward and returning run of the endless chain (35), and preferably in two parts is trained.

7. Ammunition conveyor chain according to claim 6, characterized in that a part (59) of the bolt (29) lying between the two housing elements (11) has a receptacle (61) for guiding a functional element (41).

8. Ammunition conveyor chain according to claim 7, characterized in that the endless chain (35) is connected at least at the two transitions (7) between the forward and returning run with a drive (9), and that the drives by a flexible Shaft (41) are connected, which forms the functional element (41).

9. Ammunition conveyor chain according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the endless chain (35) consists of one-piece, identically shaped plastic elements (31) for holding a cartridge (33) each, which together along connecting axes (49) , which extend cruer to the course of the endless chain (35), "are connected.

10. Ammunition conveyor chain according to claim 9, characterized in that the connecting axes (49) are designed as cylindrical pins (49) made of metal.

11. Ammunition conveyor chain according to claim 10, characterized in that the connecting axes (49) sit in two mutually aligned fitting bores which are formed in two spaced projections (39) on one side of each plastic element (31), and in that on the other side of each plastic element (31), a single projection (37) is formed, which is accommodated with play between the projections (39) of the adjacent plastic element (31) and is penetrated by a play bore.

12. Ammunition conveyor chain according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the plastic elements (31) are designed as elongated receiving troughs for one cartridge (33) each, and that on the convex side of this trough a protruding dovetail Similar training (51) is provided, which encompasses a rail section (27) which is formed in one piece on the inside of each housing element (11), the heads of the bolts (25) being aligned with the rail section (27).