FR2884600A1 - Ammunition feeding device for weapon e.g. naval weapon, has transfer units with guide pivotably mounted around axle and channel displaced relative to guide by ball pivot, and mounting clearance formed between channel and weapon - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a transfer unit driving ammunition bands (9) from ammunition cases to a weapon pivotably mounted on trunnions, where the unit has a rigid channel (10). The unit has a guide (11) pivotably mounted around an axle merged with an axis (2) of the trunnions of the weapon. A ball pivot (15) slightly displaces the channel with respect to the guide, during the pivoting of the guide. A mounting clearance is formed between the channel and the weapon.

Description

next to the axis of recoil of the weapon, guide mounted pivoting about an axis

  confused with the axis of the trunnions of the weapon.

  According to one characteristic of the invention, the guide may comprise at least one drive wheel links, wheel integral with a means controlling its rotation.

  The means controlling the rotation of the drive wheel may be a crank.

  The drive wheel may advantageously be associated with an anti-return locking means.

  The anti-return locking means may comprise a pivoting tooth which will engage on teeth secured to the drive wheel, tooth maintained pressed against the teeth by a spring means.

  The tooth may be kept away from the drive wheel by a crutch.

  According to a first embodiment of the invention, the transfer means may also comprise a rigid corridor which will be fixed at the outlet of the guide by a ball joint means and which will be connected to the weapon with clearance at a fixed slide, the game, the pivot angle of the guide and the ball joint being defined to allow the recoil movement of the weapon.

  According to a second embodiment, the transfer means may comprise a rigid corridor which is integral with the guide, a corridor which covers an opening for introducing ammunition into the weapon, and whose width is sufficient to allow the recoil movement to the weapon in relation to the corridor.

  In all cases, the rigid corridor will include a blade 30 along the profile of the corridor from its entrance to its exit and providing a positioning stop for the links during their progression in the corridor.

  The device may finally comprise an insertion funnel integral with the retreating part of the weapon, funnel comprising a rear tongue receiving the base of the ammunition and a front finger on which abut the links, the front finger being substantially in the extension of the corridor guide blade when the weapon is in the rest position before firing.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of particular embodiments, description made with reference to the accompanying drawings and in which: - Figures 1 and 2 show in two perspective angles a weapon equipped with a FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view showing the ammunition transfer guide according to a first embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 4a to 4d show, according to different views, the transfer guide. ammunition, shown alone, FIG. 4a being a perspective view, FIG. 4b being a sectional view, FIGS. 4c and 4d showing two other views in cross-section, crank removed, and according to two different positions of the locking means, FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing according to this first embodiment of the invention, the rigid corridor and the guide, covers removed, - Figure 6 is a partial view of the arm e showing the pivot axis of the transfer guide, - Figures 7a to 7c show laterally the transfer guide of the first embodiment of the invention, during different firing phases, Figure 7a device at rest, the FIG. 7b with maximum recoil of the weapon and FIG. 7c with maximum backward movement; FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing a supply device according to a second embodiment of the invention, the cover of the corridor; With the guide being withdrawn, FIGS. 9a to 9c partially show, for this second embodiment, the positioning of the rigid passage with respect to the weapon, the cover of the withdrawn passageway, during different firing phases, FIG. FIG. 9b with maximum recoil of the weapon and FIG. 9c with maximum backward movement; FIG. 10 is finally a perspective view of the introduction funnel implemented in this second embodiment, the corridor being removed; re.

  Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a weapon 1 is pivotally mounted on journals with respect to a carriage 3 formed of a fork, itself pivoting about a vertical axis 4 relative to a base 5. L ' axis 2 of the pins is shown in dashed lines in the figure.

  The weapon 1 is not the object of the present invention and will not be described in detail. It is here equipped with an optronic viewfinder 6.

  This weapon 1 is a medium caliber weapon (caliber less than or equal to 50mm). It is fed by ammunition strips. An ammunition strip includes links that each hold a munition, the links are hinged to each other. It is conventional to make ammunition of small or medium caliber solidarity links to facilitate the supply of the weapon. The latter then comprises a means of demaillonage (not shown) which allows to separate at the entrance of the weapon ammunition with the links.

  The ammunition is arranged in two boxes 7a and 7b placed side by side and integral with a side wall 8 of the carriage 3. Each box contains a band of ammunition 9 and the two bands are linked to each other between each case.

  For this purpose, the ammunition is disposed in the box 7b so that the first link of the band is placed at a first upper lateral edge of the box 7b while the last link of the strip is arranged at the level of the other upper side edge of this box.

  It is thus possible to connect the last link of the strip of the box 7a with the first link of the strip of the box 7b (see Figure 3 - L mark showing the connection between the strips).

  This connection is made in a conventional manner using a suitable tool. Thus, after placing the two boxes 7a and 7b on the weapon, the two strips of each box form a single continuous band of ammunition 9 distributed between the two boxes 7a and 7b.

  The feed device according to a first embodiment of the invention comprises at least one transfer means driving the ammunition 9 of the box 7a or 7b to the weapon 1 pivotally mounted on its trunnions.

  This transfer means comprises at least one corridor 10 and a guide 11 which comprises an inlet 11a disposed above the boxes 7a, 7b and an output 11b oriented substantially in a direction parallel or close to that of the recoil axis R of weapon 1 (see also Figure 3).

  According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the guide 11 is pivotally mounted about an axis 12 which coincides with the axis 2 of the journals of the weapon 1.

  The position of the axis 2 has been identified in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 shows more precisely the method of fixing the axis 12 at the level of a trunnion 36 of the weapon. This axis around which tilts the guide 11 is secured to a cage 13 screwed to the wall 8 of the carriage 3. The cage 13 is used to position the axis 12 in the extension of the axis 2 of the journals.

  The cage 13 also carries a rotating cylindrical roller 14 which guards the ammunition strips.

  The corridor 10 of the transfer means is here a rigid corridor which is fixed at the outlet 11b of the guide 11 by a ball joint 15 (shown schematically in the figures). This ball joint means is designed so as to allow a slight angular clearance of the passage 10 relative to the guide 11, deflection about an axis 16 perpendicular to the plane of Figure 3 and disposed substantially at the junction between the upper edge of the output 11b of the guide 11 and the upper edge of the corridor 10.

  The arrow P in FIG. 3 schematizes this movement.

  The corridor 10 is fixed on the weapon by means (not shown, such as screws). The corridor thus caps an opening for introducing ammunition into the weapon. It is conventional to thus achieve such a connection of a flexible corridor on a weapon. With this embodiment of the invention the corridor is not flexible but rigid and will give the link corridor / weapon a slight clearance (of the order of 1 mm) that will compensate for misalignments that will not could be absorbed by the pivoting of the guide 11 and by the patella 15.

  Figures 4a to 4d show more precisely the structure of the guide 11.

  This is a folded sheet metal casing having an outer wall llc and side cheeks (only the front cheek lld is visible in the figures). The lower part of the guide 11 receives the pivot axis 12. It can be seen in the figures that a rotating cylindrical roller 17 is arranged around this axis 12 to provide guidance for the ammunition strips 9. Another roller 18 is also mounted rotating on the housing. The two rollers 17 and 18 define the inlet 11a of the guide 11.

  The guide 11 also comprises a wheel 19 for driving the links. Such wheels are conventional in strip ammunition training devices. They comprise different arms delimiting cells receiving ammunition 9 (here only one ammunition is represented with a single link). The wheel 19 is secured to a means 20 for controlling its rotation.

  This means 20 is constituted by a crank which directly drives the axis of the wheel 19.

  The drive wheel 19 is also associated with a means 21 providing an anti-return lock of the wheel 19.

  This anti-return locking means comprises a tooth 22 which is pivotable on an axis 23 and which engages teeth 24 secured to the drive wheel 19.

  The tooth 22 is held against the teeth 24 by a spring means 25 (shown schematically in Figures 4c and 4d).

  Furthermore, the tooth 22 can be kept at a distance from the drive wheel 19 by a stand 26 articulated on an axis 27.

  The operation of the guide 11 is as follows.

  Ammunition 9 in strips from a box 7a or 7b are introduced into the guide by the entry lla. When the first munition is positioned in one of the cells of the wheel 19 is actuated the crank 20. The wheel 19 rotates and the ammunition strip is driven and can follow the guide 11 and the corridor 10 to the weapon. The initial loading of this one is thus facilitated. It is not necessary to disassemble the corridor 10 and the guide 11 to be able to bring a band of ammunition to the weapon.

  The anti-return locking means 21 secures the feeding operation. Indeed the movement of the wheel 19 is only possible in one direction. If we stop or release the crank 20, the mass of the ammunition strip can not drive it back.

  When it is desired on the contrary to remove a strip of ammunition engaged in a weapon, it is sufficient to switch with the finger the anti-return means 21 against the action of the return spring 25 (arrow B in Figure 4c). It is thus possible to disengage the tooth 23 from the toothing 24 of the wheel 19. The jack 26 is then positioned in a notch of the tooth 22, which prevents its return to the wheel 19. The wheel 19 is then totally disengaged and it becomes possible to turn it in both directions.

  The stand 26 will then be tilted to replace the anti-return means 21.

  As is more particularly visible in FIG. 5, the rigid corridor 10 is formed of a folded sheet which delimits a passage corridor for the ammunition strip 9.

  The corridor 10 is closed by a cover which is removed in these figures. Figure 5 also partially shows the guide 11 with the sheet 11c removed (the ball 15 is not shown in this figure). It can be seen in this figure that the corridor 10 and the guide 11 each comprise a blade 29 or 28 which is fixed on the bottom plate of the guide or the corridor.

  These blades are in the extension of each other and they follow each the profile of the guide and the corridor.

  Their function is to ensure a positioning stop for the links during their progression in the corridor 10 and the guide 11.

  FIG. 5 shows a link 30 carrying a munition 9. The link is in contact with the blade 29 and the munition is in contact with a lateral plate of the passage 10. The guiding of the ammunition strip is thus perfectly ensured. along the curvature of the corridor 10.

  The operation of this first embodiment of the feeder during firing will now be described with reference to Figures 7a to 7c.

  Before firing the weapon and its power system are in the positions shown in Figure 7a. When firing the weapon 1 back (arrow R), the maximum recoil position is shown in Figure 7b.

  The recoil movement R causes a pull of the ammunition strip which communicates with the guide 11. The latter then pivots about its axis 12 (Figure 7b - arrow Pl). The amplitude of the pivot remains the same regardless of the elevation angle because the axis 12 of pivoting of the guide coincides with the axis 2 of the journals.

  During the pivoting of the guide, the ball joint 15 allows the deflection of the rigid passage 10 with respect to the guide 11 (arrow P2).

  The mounting clearance between the rigid corridor and the weapon will absorb residual misalignments between the corridor and the weapon. In all cases the ammunition remains guided by the blade 29 in the corridor 10.

  Naturally, those skilled in the art will define the feed device such that the swivel angle of the guide, the clearance assembly for the lane / weapon as well as the clearance allowed by the swivel are sufficient to allow the recoil movement of the spool. 'armed.

  After the maximum recoil, the weapon 1 returns to battery (arrow CR), the maximum backspace position is shown in Figure 7c.

  The recoil movement CR causes via the ammunition strip a tilting of the guide 11 around its axis 12 in a direction opposite to that observed during the recoil (Figure 7c - arrow P3). Again the amplitude of the pivot remains the same regardless of the elevation angle because the pivot axis 12 of the guide coincides with the axis 2 of the journals.

  During this pivoting of the guide the patella 15 still allows a slight movement of the rigid passage 10 relative to the guide 11 (arrow P4).

  Again, the mounting clearance between the rigid corridor and the weapon will absorb residual misalignments between the corridor and the weapon. In all cases the ammunition remains guided by the blade 29 in the corridor 10.

  It can be seen that the feed device according to this embodiment of the invention makes it possible to ensure the supply of ammunition of a weapon using a rigid corridor. Manufacturing is therefore very simplified and the cost is reduced.

  It is however possible to associate the pivoting guide according to the invention with a flexible corridor of known type.

  The advantage that results is a limitation of the deformation of the corridor during the operation of the weapon because the recoil is taken by the rotation.

  Furthermore, the drive means incorporated in the guide 11 makes it possible to drive the ammunition strip to the weapon without the need to dismantle the feed passages.

  Figures 8, 9a, 9b, 9c and 10 show a second embodiment of the invention. This mode differs from the previous one in that the guide 11 and the rigid passage 10 form a single rigid piece 110 folded and welded sheet.

  In a manner analogous to FIG. 5, FIG. 8 thus shows the guide / liner 110 assembly removed.

  We see that this guide / corridor has a single blade 29 which is fixed on the bottom plate and which ensures a positioning stop for the links during their progression in the guide / corridor.

  All the previous description relating to the structure of the ammunition drive means within the guide remains valid for this embodiment (description of FIGS. 4a to 4d).

  As is more particularly visible in Figure 9a, the rigid guide / corridor 110 has a flared end which caps the weapon 1 at an opening 31 for the introduction of ammunition in it. This end of the corridor is not secured to the weapon which can therefore freely slide relative to the corridor.

  In order to make the introduction of the ammunition into the weapon more reliable, the latter comprises, at the level of the opening 31, an introductory funnel 34 which comprises a rear tongue 32 receiving the base of the ammunition 9 and a front finger 33 on which come support the links. The funnel 34 is attached to the weapon by quick-release locks 35 (see Figure 10).

  The funnel 34 is defined so that the front finger 33 is substantially in the extension of the guide blade 28 of the corridor 110 when the weapon is in the rest position before firing (Figure 9a).

  Thus ammunition is brought gradually from the rigid corridor to the opening 31.

  The operation of this embodiment during firing will now be described with reference to Figures 9a to 9c.

  Before firing the weapon and its power system are in the positions shown in Figure 9a. When firing the weapon 1 back (arrow R), the maximum recoil position is shown in Figure 9b.

  The recoil movement R causes a pull of the ammunition strip which can move freely in the flared end of the guide / corridor 110. There is not here as in the previous embodiment of pivoting guide 110 around its axis 12.

  The pivoting capacity of the guide 110 nevertheless allows to accompany the pivoting site of the weapon on its trunnions. This movement is done without blocking or deformation of the corridor / guide 110 because the axis 12 of pivoting of the guide coincides with the axis 2 of the trunnions.

  The recoil of the weapon 1 therefore causes a displacement of the insertion funnel 34 towards the rear (FIG. 9b), the ammunition remains guided by the blade 28 in the guide / corridor 110 and then by the front finger 33 and the rear tongue 32 in the funnel 34. They always arrive correctly positioned to the weapon despite the rigidity of the guide / corridor 110.

  After the maximum recoil, the weapon 1 returns to battery (arrow CR), the maximum reverse position is shown in FIG. 9c.

  The recoil movement of the weapon 1 causes the insertion funnel 34 to move forwards (FIG. 9c), the munitions are still guided by the blade 28 in the guide / corridor 110 and then by the front finger 33 and the rear tongue 32 in the funnel 34.

  This embodiment has the previous advantage of ensuring the supply of ammunition of a weapon using a rigid corridor, so very simplified manufacturing and cost is reduced.

  It is of course possible to combine the two previous embodiments.

  In any case, thanks to the invention, the ammunition strips are better protected against moisture than with flexible corridors. Such a characteristic is particularly interesting for naval weapons. As the corridor is composed of very few moving parts, corrosion problems are considerably reduced.

  The invention described here for a medium caliber weapon (caliber between 20mm and 50mm) could of course be implemented with small arms (caliber between 5.56 and 20mm).

Claims (10)

  1- Device for feeding a weapon (1) with munitions secured to links and from at least one box 5 (7a, 7b) with ammunition (9), device comprising at least one transfer means driving ammunition from the body to the weapon which is pivotally mounted on journals (2), transfer means comprising at least one passage (10, 110), characterized in that the transfer means 10 also comprises a guide (11, 110) comprising an entrance (11a) disposed above the crate or crates and an outlet (11b) oriented substantially in a direction parallel or close to the axis of recoil of the weapon, guide pivotally mounted about an axis (12) coincides with the axis (2) of the trunnions 15 of the weapon.   2- Feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide (11, 110) comprises at least one wheel (19) for driving the links, integral wheel means (20) controlling its rotation.   3- feeding device according to claim 2, characterized in that the means controlling the rotation of the drive wheel is a crank (20).   4- Feeder device according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the drive wheel (19) is associated with a locking means (21) anti return.   5- Feeder device according to claim 4, characterized in that the means (21) anti-return lock comprises a tooth (22) pivoting which engages on teeth (24) integral with the drive wheel (19). ), tooth maintained pressed against the teeth (24) by a spring means (25).   6- feeding device according to claim 5, characterized in that the tooth (22) can be kept away from the drive wheel by a stand (26).   7- feeding device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the transfer means also comprises a rigid passage (10) which is fixed at the outlet of the guide (11) by a ball joint means (15) and which is connected to the weapon with clearance at a fixed slide, the game, the pivot angle of the guide (11) and the ball (15) being defined to allow the recoil movement of the weapon .   8- Feeding device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the transfer means also comprises a rigid passage (110) which is integral with the guide, a passageway which covers an opening (31) of introduction of ammunition in the weapon, and whose width is sufficient to allow the recoil of the weapon (1) relative to the corridor (110).   9- feeding device according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the rigid passage (10,110) comprises a blade (28,29) following the profile of the corridor from its entry to its output and providing a positioning stop for the links in their progress in the corridor.   10- Feeding device according to claims 8 and 9, characterized in that it comprises a funnel (34) of introduction secured to the recess of the weapon, funnel comprising a rear tongue (32) receiving the base of the ammunition and a front finger (33) on which abut the links, the front finger being substantially in the extension of the guide blade (28,29) of the corridor when the weapon is in the rest position before firing.