GB1487653A - Loading device for a large-bore firearm - Google Patents

Abstract

1487653 Firearm BOFORS AB 14 Jan 1975 [15 Jan 1974] 1598/75 Heading F3C A device for supplying ammunition to a firearm 1, Fig. 1, comprises magazines 3, 4 to be arranged one on each side of the firearm as well as equipment for automatic loading of the firearm with rounds inserted in the magazines, each magazine 3 or 4 has holding members 9 for supporting rounds of ammunition, said holding members forming part of an endless chain and having their longitudinal axes parallel to each other and, in use, to the barrel of the firearm, feed out positions 10, 10<SP>1</SP>, and has a loading-car for transporting a round fed-out from the feedout position to a ramming position coinciding with the axis K of the bore of the firearm. The holding members 9, Figs. 4 and 5 each carry two rounds and are provided with guide rails 54, 55, stub shafts 56 and lugs 57, 58, 59, and coact with wheels 50, 51 on respective shafts 48, 49. Alternatively, the holding members are star-shaped wheels 86, Fig. 9, on respective axles 87. A longitudinal feed mechanism has a tubular unit 41, Fig. 6, which contains a piston 60 having a piston-rod 61 connecting to a feeding head 62. A feeding tooth 42 is carried by the feeding head 62 and extends through a slot 63 in the unit 41 in order to engage a flange 69 of a round 39<SP>1</SP> which is in the feed-out position. In an embodiment loading cars 11, 12, Fig. 1, are provided with a respective loading tube 21, 22 for holding a round fed-out from the magazine 3 or 4, the loading tubes each being displaceable in a longitudinal direction and each having a rammer head 33 mounted therein. Each loading tube has flaps for retaining a round therein while the latter is being transported from the feed-out position to the firearm. The loading tubes can be used alternatively. In operation the rammer head grasps the flange of the outer round which is in the feedout position and transfers it to its loading tube and the inner round is moved rearwardly to the position from which the outer round has been removed. The loading car of the loading tube is actuated in the longitudinal direction to the ramming position. When the loading tube is in alignment with the axis of the bore of the firearm it is displaced axially into engagement with the breech ring. The rammer head moves the round into the bore of the firearm, the breech block moves to its closed position and the rammer head, along with the loading tube, returns to the position where the loading car can move transversally to the feed-out position. At the same time as this takes place, a round is fed-out of the other magazine into the loading tube of the other loading car. The latter is now ready to move its inserted round to the ramming position as soon as the round already in the firearm has been fired and its cartridge case has been removed from the barrel; the loading continues alternatingly until the required amount of ammunition has been fired.