GB624358A - Improvements in or relating to ammunition chutes - Google Patents

Abstract

624,358. Ammunition shoots. BRISTOL AEROPLANE CO., Ltd., and FONSECA, E. C. M. D. Dec. 10, 1945, No. 33375. [Class 92 (ii)] Relates to shoots comprising a plurality of flat, frame members so connected that each member can turn relatively to the others in its own plane, ammunition passing successively through an opening in each frame member. According to the invention shoots for conveying separated rounds of ammunition have arms projecting from each frame member in opposite directions to support the rounds, the frames being so held together that an arm projecting from one frame is opposite an arm projecting from the adjacent frame on the other side of the frame opening. Attached to a machine gun 12 at one end and a fixed guide 11 at the other end is a shoot 10 comprising relatively movable members 20 forming a channel of substantially constant depth for any elevation of the gun about an axis 16 which is the line of centre of the horizontal shoot. Each member 20 is substantially rectangular and comprises sides 17a and ends 18a forming part of the side walls 17 and end walls 18 of the shoot respectively. Each side 17a is formed of two parts 17b comprising a horizontal strip 17c from which extends a vertical strip 17d having an out-turned flange 17e, the two parts 17b being superposed to form 17a with the vertical strips 17d on opposite sides of 17c. The composite parts 17a are rigidly attached to the ends 18a as in Fig. 5. The flanges 17e form the bearing surfaces for the rounds of ammunition and the distance between the upper and lower flanges 17e is approximately equal to the diameter of the rounds. The forward end of a round is held in position by the forward upper flange of a member 20 and the forward lower flange 17e of the preceding member 20, while the cartridge case is held by the rear lower flange 17e of the said member 20 and the rear upper flange 17e of the said preceding member 20. Each end 18a of the members 20 carries a bracket 21 supporting a trunnion 22. A flexible spring-loaded cable 23 threaded through the trunnions 22 on each side of the shoot 10 is fixed at one end to the block 14 of the gun 10 and at the other end passes through a flange 13 at the end of the fixed guide 11 to a nipple 24 to hold the members 20 together. When the gun is elevated by an amount A, each member 20 is displaced in a vertical direction relatively to the preceding member 20 (the first member 20 being immovable with respect to the flange 13) so that the distance between co-operating flanges 17e is increased by an amount a which offsets the decrease in effective depth due to twisting of the shoot. To maintain the projectiles in parallel relationship the noses are provided with rings as described in Specification 624,355. The forward end wall of the shoot comprises spacer members 18a and 18<SP>1</SP>a along which the rings pass after being removed from the projectiles.