EP3715775A1 - Portable machine for connecting links and ammunition - Google Patents

Abstract

Ammunition attachment machine (30) intended to form a chain or band with ammunition or cartridge links (20), comprising: - a first slide (31), intended for the introduction in a row of links (10) detached them of each other and their guidance under the effect of gravity and a second slide (32), intended for the insertion of cartridges (20) in a row and their guidance under the effect of gravity; - a mobile mechanism (34 ) provided with a first shaft (36), a second shaft (37) and a third shaft (38), said shafts (36, 37, 38) being mounted parallel to each other and connected by gears (40 ), the mobile mechanism (34) being set in motion by the rotation of the third shaft (38) which drives, in a continuous movement, the rotation of the first shaft (36) in the counterclockwise direction and the rotation of the second shaft (37) clockwise, or vice versa, the first shaft (36) comprising at least two gripping wheels (35) each having spokes nures (41) regularly spaced and circular in shape for driving the bushes (21) of the cartridges (20), the second shaft (37) comprising at least two gripping wheels (42) having regularly spaced grooves (43) allowing to drive the base or the rear part of the links (10), so that, when the mobile mechanism (34) is set in motion, each cartridge (20) is presented by the rotation of the first shaft (36) so synchronous with the link (10) presented by the rotation of the second shaft (37) and is clipped transversely into said link (10); - an electric motor or a manual crank (33) for rotating the third shaft (38) .

Description

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of portable machines or tools, automatic or not, allowing ammunition to be easily and quickly attached to one another using links to produce a flexible band or chain of ammunition connected to one another, in order to to allow the automatic firing of a weapon such as a cannon. The invention can be applied to all types of chained ammunition, preferably but not exclusively medium caliber ammunition, that is to say typically between 15 and 50mm.

State of the art

At present, the use of dummy ammunition, for example in the case of testing automatic firing devices such as gun loading robots of armored vehicles, it is required to quickly and manually assemble a certain number of ammunition in the form of bands.

The ammunition bands considered in the context of the present invention typically consist of cartridges inserted or clipped into a flexible band or chain using metal links or links. The figures 1 and 2 show detailed views of typical links, respectively alone and in combination with a cartridge. The actual link 10 consists of a first part 11 and a second part 12, generally articulated to one another. The second part 12 comprises a loop or handle 13 central relative to the height of the link 10, defining an approximately semi-cylindrical opening, dimensioned to be fitted on the socket 21 of a cartridge 20 of a given caliber. The first part 11 comprises two loops 14, 15 of this type but located, in height, respectively on either side of the central loop 13. Each of these loops 13, 14, 15 generally comprises at its free ends a small loop. 16 oriented in the opposite direction, so as to define a flare allowing easier introduction or removal of the cartridge (this small loop in fact provides a certain elasticity to the corresponding handle). The upper loop 14 of the first part 11 can be extended by a substantially flat and rectangular part 17 extending upwards and the lower loop 15 of the first part 11 can also be extended downwards by a substantially flat part 18, terminated by a finger 19 which is advantageously inserted into the extraction groove 22 of the cartridge 20 in order to guarantee the correct alignment of the cartridge in the chain.

Usually, the ammunition is inserted in an individual link, either by threading or by clipping, in the loops 14, 15 of the first part 11 ( figure 3 ) and then, the link-cartridge assembly created 10, 20 is hooked to the chain 23 already produced by attaching the central loop 13 free at the end of the chain 23 to the new cartridge 20 between the loops 14, 15 of its link ( figure 4 ).

However, it is known that the (re) loading of a chain link of medium or large caliber ammunition is often impossible to carry out with bare hands due to the excessive force required or even the specific size of a turret. armored vehicle for example.

Currently, it happens that this need for attaching ammunition is often met in an unorthodox way through the use of an additional tool such as a hammer or mallet. In this case, the penetration of the cartridge into the handle (or the handles) of a free link can be obtained by a hammer blow, or even by using the foot.

It will easily be understood that this manual process is very approximate and that the relative final position of the ammunition with respect to the link can turn out to be random and variable from one ammunition to another, which risks blocking the equipment for which it is intended. the ammunition chain.

In the field of automatic meshing, large, complex and non-portable machines are currently known, or for small calibers such as 7.62 or 9mm, portable machines pushing or clipping the ammunition into the links.

The document US 2,460,096 discloses a motorized machine for making 20mm ammunition chains, having a cartridge loading wheel, a cartridge supply means for directing the cartridges into the loading wheel, a link assembly wheel formed with pockets for maintaining links around its periphery and having a step-by-step rotational movement, a means for feeding links to direct these towards the assembly wheel, a reciprocating piston carriage having a fixed stroke, a pair of pistons mounted on said carriage in circumferential positions spaced from the axis of the link assembly wheel, one of the pistons being longer than the other and the two pistons having their reciprocating paths respectively in alignment successive pockets on the periphery of the link assembly wheel. The pistons of the piston carriage push the cartridges through the links in the assembly wheel to create an ammunition chain, in two successive stages during the stepwise rotation of the assembly wheel.

The document US 2,480,834 discloses a motorized mechanism in which a pushing slide is driven back and forth located under the discharge port of a vertical hopper of small caliber ammunition, the successive cartridges being thereby driven into the loops articulated with a chain of links arriving from a slide on a conveyor belt, a rotating star wheel allowing continuous operation of the machine.

The document US 2,344,443 discloses a machine comprising a continuous conveyor belt of flexible sheet metal having a plurality of open recesses into which are inserted a plurality of cartridges, means for bringing links for retaining these cartridges in the hollows, a rotating drum having a plurality of grooves and alternating protrusions in its periphery, following the contour of the conveyor belt to engage and drive the latter and means cam type to push the cartridges into a predetermined position in the links when the cartridges are driven by the conveyor belt.

Aims of the invention

The present invention aims to provide a solution for the easy, safe and reproducible production of ammunition strips attached to each other, such as for example medium caliber ammunition.

In particular, the invention aims to reproduce in an automated manner the manual technique of meshing a band of ammunition, in order to save time for gun operators.

In particular, the invention aims to provide a compact and efficient device designed to easily integrate into a confined environment such as the interior of an armored vehicle turret.

Another object of the invention is to quickly produce bands of ammunition, typically a band of 15 cartridges in less than 5 minutes, without mechanical crank force greater than 130N, by manual operation of the machine.

Main characteristic elements of the invention

• une première glissière, destiné à l'introduction en enfilade des maillons détachés les uns des autres et leur guidage sous l'effet de la gravité et une seconde glissière, destiné à l'introduction en enfilade des cartouches et leur guidage sous l'effet de la gravité ;
• un mécanisme mobile muni d'un premier arbre, d'un deuxième arbre et d'un troisième arbre, lesdits arbres étant montés parallèles entre eux et reliés par des engrenages, le mécanisme mobile étant mis en mouvement par la rotation du troisième arbre qui entraîne, selon un mouvement continu, la rotation du premier arbre dans le sens antihorlogique et la rotation du deuxième arbre dans le sens horlogique, ou vice versa, le premier arbre comportant au moins deux roues de préhension présentant chacune des rainures régulièrement espacées et de forme circulaire permettant d'entraîner les douilles des cartouches, le second arbre comportant au moins deux roues de préhension présentant des rainures régulièrement espacées permettant d'entraîner le culot ou la partie arrière des maillons, de sorte que, lors de la mise en mouvement du mécanisme mobile, chaque cartouche est présentée par la rotation du premier arbre de manière synchrone avec le maillon présenté par la rotation du deuxième arbre et est clipsée transversalement dans ledit maillon (10) ;
• un moteur électrique ou une manivelle manuelle pour la mise en rotation du troisième arbre.

The present invention relates to an ammunition attachment machine intended to form a chain or band of ammunition or cartridge links, comprising an essentially cylindrical ogive, a case and a base, attached step by step by links articulated between them. , each link consisting of a first part and a second part, articulated and offset from one another, the second part comprising a central loop or handle with respect to the height of the link, defining an opening approximately semi-cylindrical, sized to fit over the cartridge case of a given caliber cartridge, the first part comprising two loops also of this type but located, in height, respectively on either side of the central loop, said machine comprising:

• a first slide, intended for the introduction in a row of links detached from each other and their guidance under the effect of gravity and a second slide, intended for the introduction in a row of cartridges and their guidance under the effect of gravity ;
• a movable mechanism provided with a first shaft, a second shaft and a third shaft, said shafts being mounted parallel to each other and connected by gears, the movable mechanism being set in motion by the rotation of the third shaft which drives , according to a continuous movement, the rotation of the first shaft in the counterclockwise direction and the rotation of the second shaft in the clockwise direction, or vice versa, the first shaft comprising at least two gripping wheels each having regularly spaced grooves of circular shape making it possible to drive the cartridge cases, the second shaft comprising at least two gripping wheels having regularly spaced grooves making it possible to drive the base or the rear part of the links, so that, when the mobile mechanism is set in motion , each cartridge is presented by the rotation of the first shaft synchronously with the link presented by the rotation of the second shaft and is clipped transversely in said link (10);
• an electric motor or a manual crank for rotating the third shaft.

• les roues de préhension des cartouches et maillons respectifs sont amovibles et adaptées au niveau de la forme des rainures au calibre ou à la taille des cartouches et des maillons respectifs, l'ensemble étant aisément adaptable à d'autres calibres ou tailles par le remplacement des roues de préhension ;
• pour permettre le passage du calibre 40mm au calibre 30mm, le premier arbre comporte une roue de préhension distale de la position en utilisation de l'ogive des cartouches et deux roues de préhension jumelées et proximales de la position en utilisation de l'ogive des cartouches, les deux roues jumelées ayant des rainures respectivement adaptées au calibre 30mm et au calibre 40mm, le retour au calibre 40mm étant assuré par l'enlèvement de la roue prévue pour le calibre 30mm ;
• les deux roues jumelées précitées sont solidarisées par au moins un vérin utilisant une broche à bille ;
• la machine comporte un mécanisme de va-et-vient avec un doigt qui sert de butée bloquant le premier maillon de la colonne se trouvant dans le fond de la première glissière, le doigt se déverrouillant et se rétractant séquentiellement lors de la rotation du mécanisme mobile, de manière à assurer le passage et la préhension des maillons l'un à la suite de l'autre ;
• la première glissière est profilée de manière à ce que les maillons se présentent avec les ouvertures de leurs boucles vers l'avant de la machine ;
• la machine convient pour réaliser des bandes de munitions avec des maillons ayant au moins la boucle centrale comportant à ses extrémités libres une petite boucle orientée dans le sens opposé à celui de la boucle principale, de manière à définir un évasement permettant une introduction ou un retrait transversal plus aisé de la cartouche, la boucle supérieure de la première partie étant prolongée par une partie essentiellement plate et rectangulaire s'étendant vers le haut et la boucle inférieure de la première partie étant prolongée vers le bas par une partie essentiellement plate, terminée par un index qui vient s'insérer dans la rainure d'extraction de la cartouche.

According to preferred embodiments of the invention, the ammunition attachment machine further comprises at least one of the following characteristics or a suitable combination of several of them:

• the gripping wheels of the respective cartridges and links are removable and adapted to the level of the shape of the grooves to the caliber or to the size of the cartridges and the respective links, the assembly being easily adaptable to other calibers or sizes by replacing the gripping wheels;
• to allow the passage from the 40mm caliber to the 30mm caliber, the first shaft comprises a gripping wheel distal of the position in use of the cartridge warhead and two twin and proximal gripping wheels of the position in use of the cartridge warhead , the two twin wheels having grooves respectively adapted to the 30mm caliber and to the 40mm caliber, the return to the 40mm caliber being ensured by removing the wheel provided for the 30mm caliber;
• the two aforementioned twin wheels are secured by at least one jack using a ball pin;
• the machine has a reciprocating mechanism with a finger which acts as a stop blocking the first link of the column located in the bottom of the first slide, the finger unlocking and retracting sequentially during the rotation of the mobile mechanism , so as to ensure the passage and the gripping of the links one after the other;
• the first slide is profiled so that the links appear with the openings of their loops towards the front of the machine;
• the machine is suitable for making ammunition bands with links having at least the central loop comprising at its free ends a small loop oriented in the direction opposite to that of the main loop, so as to define a flare allowing an introduction or a withdrawal easier transverse passage of the cartridge, the upper loop of the first part being extended by an essentially flat and rectangular part extending upwards and the lower loop of the first part being extended downwards by an essentially flat part, terminated by an index which is inserted in the extraction groove of the cartridge.

Brief description of the figures

• The figure 1 , already mentioned, respectively shows a top view and an elevational view of an example of a medium caliber ammunition strip link.
• The figure 2 , already mentioned, represents respective views in elevation of the single link and of the cartridge inserted into the link.
• The figure 3 , already mentioned, represents the two usual meshing modes.
• The figure 4 , already mentioned, represents the constitution of a band of ammunition by meshing cartridges step by step.
• The figure 5 shows a first perspective view, from the front, of a mesh machine according to the present invention, also showing the general principle of operation.
• The figure 6 shows a second perspective view, from the front, of the mesh machine according to the present invention, where the front cover has been removed to show the detail of the movable mechanism.
• The figure 7 shows yet another perspective view of the mesh machine according to the present invention, also showing the detail of the movable mechanism.
• The figure 8 is an internal plan view of the mesh machine according to the present invention, also showing the detail of the movable mechanism.

Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the figures 5 to 8 , the mesh machine 30 comprises a first slide 31, intended for the introduction in a row of links 10 detached from each other and a second slide 32, intended for the introduction in a row of ammunition or cartridges 20 which are for example medium caliber cartridges (30 and 40mm in the example considered). The number of links 10 and the number of ammunition 20 introduced into the machine is preferably identical.

The machine 30 can either be operated manually, thanks to a crank 33, or electrically, thanks to an electric motor replacing the crank 33 (not shown).

In general, a mobile mechanism 34 comprises a set of wheels 35 located on a shaft 36, said wheels 35 being intended to grip a cartridge 20. During the rotation of the shaft 36, the cartridge 20 is inserted into a link 10, which is presented in a synchronized manner by a link shaft 37 when the main shaft 38 is operated by the motor or the crank 33.

When the machine 30 is actuated, the first cartridge 20 available in the bottom of the second slide 32 is thus taken by the movable mechanism 34, brought into contact with the first link 10 available in the bottom of the first slide 31 and the cartridge is clipped transversely in link 10.

The machine 30 comprises an outlet orifice 39, for example provided with a ramp ending in a collection box (not shown), through which the meshed ammunition strip 22 is expelled by gravity.

The mobile mechanism 34 therefore comprises a first shaft 36 provided with a plurality of wheels 35 which are used to grip the cartridges 20. A second shaft 37 allows the advancement of the links 10. For example, the first shaft 36 rotates in the counterclockwise direction. while the second shaft 37 rotates in the clockwise direction. The two shafts 36, 37 are set in motion via a third shaft 38 integral with a crank 33 which can be actuated manually or with an electric motor. The three shafts 36, 37, 38 are mutually parallel and connected by gears 40.

Advantageously, the first shaft 36 comprises at least two wheels 35 having regularly spaced grooves 41 of circular shape making it possible to grip the bushes 21 of the cartridges 20. The second shaft 37 also comprises at least two wheels 42 having grooves 43 making it possible to grasp the base of the links 10. During the rotation of the mobile mechanism 34, the cartridge 20 is clipped longitudinally into the link 10.

Also advantageously, the slides 31, 32 and the gripping wheels 35, 42 are adapted to the size of the ammunition and of the links. They are removable and interchangeable, the whole being easily adaptable to other sizes or calibers. For example, the grooves of the wheels of cartridges 41 can be adapted to the ammunition of caliber 30 and 40mm (the links are identical for these two calibers). The passage from 40mm to 30mm at the level of the grooves can be carried out advantageously by means of a jack using a ball pin 44 acting by securing two twin wheels 41.

Also advantageously, the mesh machine according to the invention 30 comprises a mechanism having a finger 45 which serves as a stop blocking the first link 10 and therefore the entire column of links located in the bottom of the first slide 31. The finger 45 is then unlocked sequentially during the rotation of the mobile mechanism 34.

Still advantageously, the machine will be provided with carrying handles and will preferably have a weight not exceeding 40 kg.

• possibilité de montage en bande de munitions factices ou réelles ;
• portabilité par deux personnes ;
• réduction du temps de montage d'une bande de munitions ;
• adaptation à différents calibres de munitions, par exemple de 20 à 40mm ;
• reconstitution d'une bande de munitions avec des maillons déjà utilisés ;
• fonctionnement manuel ou électrique.

The device according to the present invention has the following advantages:

• possibility of mounting dummy or real ammunition in strips;
• portability by two people;
• reduction of the assembly time of an ammunition strip;
• adaptation to different calibers of ammunition, for example from 20 to 40mm;
• reconstitution of an ammunition strip with already used links;
• manual or electric operation.

List of reference symbols

10

link

11

first link part

12

second part of the link

13

second part loop

14

part one loop

15

part one loop

16

small outer loop

17

flat and rectangular part

18

downward extension

19

index

20

cartridge

21

socket

22

Extraction groove

23

ammunition chain

30

mesh machine

31

chain feed slide

32

cartridge feed slide

33

crank

34

movable mechanism

35

cartridge gripping wheel

36

first tree

37

second tree

38

third tree

39

ammunition line exit

40

gears

41

cartridge gripping grooves

42

link gripping wheel

43

gripping grooves for the links

44

ball pin

45

link stop finger

Claims (7)

Ammunition attachment machine (30) intended to form a chain or band with ammunition or cartridge links (20), comprising an essentially cylindrical ogive, a casing and a base, attached step by step by articulated links (10) between them, each link (10) consisting of a first part (11) and a second part (12), articulated and offset with respect to each other, the second part (12) comprising a loop or shackle (13) central with respect to the height of the link (10), defining an approximately semi-cylindrical opening, dimensioned to fit on the socket (21) of a cartridge (20) of given caliber, the first part ( 11) comprising two loops (14, 15) also of this type but located, in height, respectively on either side of the central loop (13), said machine comprising: - a first slide (31), intended for the introduction in a row of links (10) detached from each other and their guidance under the effect of gravity and a second slide (32), intended for the introduction in a row cartridges (20) and their guidance under the effect of gravity; - a movable mechanism (34) provided with a first shaft (36), a second shaft (37) and a third shaft (38), said shafts (36, 37, 38) being mounted parallel to each other and connected by gears (40), the movable mechanism (34) being set in motion by the rotation of the third shaft (38) which drives, in a continuous movement, the rotation of the first shaft (36) in the counterclockwise direction and the rotation of the second shaft (37) in the clockwise direction, or vice versa, the first shaft (36) comprising at least two gripping wheels (35) each having regularly spaced grooves (41) of circular shape making it possible to drive the bushes (21) cartridges (20), the second shaft (37) comprising at least two gripping wheels (42) having regularly spaced grooves (43) making it possible to drive the base or the rear part of the links (10), to so that, when the moving mechanism (34) is set in motion, each cartridge (20) is presented by the rotation of the first shaft (36) synchronously with the link (10) presented by the rotation of the second shaft (37) and is clipped transversely in said link (10); - an electric motor or a manual crank (33) for rotating the third shaft (38). Ammunition tying machine (30) according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping wheels (35, 42) of the respective cartridges (20) and links (10) are removable and adapted to the shape of the grooves ( 41, 43) to the caliber or size of the cartridges (20) and the respective links (10), the assembly being easily adaptable to other calibers or sizes by replacing the gripping wheels (35, 42). Ammunition attachment machine (30) according to Claim 2, characterized in that , to allow the passage from the 40mm caliber to the 30mm caliber, the first shaft (36) comprises a gripping wheel (35) distal from the position in use of the cartridge nose (20) and two gripping wheels (35) paired and proximal to the position in use of the cartridge nose (20), the two twin wheels (35) having grooves (41) respectively adapted 30mm caliber and 40mm caliber, the return to the 40mm caliber being ensured by removing the wheel (35) provided for the 30mm caliber. Ammunition attachment machine (30) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the two twin wheels are secured by at least one jack using a ball pin (44). Ammunition attachment machine (30) according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a reciprocating mechanism with a finger (45) which serves as a stop blocking the first link (10) of the column. located in the bottom of the first slide (31), the finger (45) unlocking and retracting sequentially during the rotation of the mobile mechanism (34), so as to ensure the passage and gripping of the links (10) the one after the other. Ammunition attachment machine (30) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first slide (31) is profiled so that the links (10) are presented with the openings of their loops (13, 14, 15) towards the front of the machine. Ammunition tying machine (30) according to Claim 1, characterized in that it is suitable for producing ammunition bands (20) with links (10) having at least the central loop (13) having at its free ends a small loop (16) oriented in the opposite direction to that of the main loop (13), so as to define a flare allowing an easier transverse introduction or withdrawal of the cartridge (20), the upper loop (14) of the first part (11) being extended by an essentially flat and rectangular part (17) extending upwards and the lower loop (15) of the first part (11) being extended downwards by an essentially flat part (18 ), terminated by an index (19) which is inserted into the extraction groove (22) of the cartridge (20).

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