GB784599A - Loading device for tank weapons - Google Patents

Abstract

784,599. Loading mechanisms for ordnance on armoured vehicles. EVEN, G. Sept. 27, 1955 [Oct. 11, 1954], No. 27521/55. Class92 Relates to automatic loading mechanism for loading a gun supported with its breech outside on an armoured vehicle with projejctiles from a magazine housed in the vehicle. According to the invention a loading cradle 12, Figs. 1, 2, is pivotally mounted on the vehicle for movement about an axis parallel to that of the gun barrel and in its rest position Fig. 2 where it is automatically fed with a projectile 7 from the magazine 6, it fills an opening 10 in the armouring of the vehicle through which the projectiles are moved; the cradle 12 then pivots out from the opening to a loading position in which the projectile is in alignment with the brush 5 and a: rammer 25 which pivots with the cradle, moves longitudinally thereof to push the projectile into the breech while, as soon as the cradle leaves the rest position, a shield 22 is automatically moved to cover the opening from inside the vehicle. The recoil of the gun is used to store energy in a hydraulic power accumulator and hydraulic control means ensure successively (a) the moving of the shield in front of the opening, (b) the pivoting of the loading cradle 12 into loading position, (c) actuation of the rammer 25 and (d) returning the cradle, shield and rammer into rest positions. The gun, cradle and magazine are mounted on and in the turret 2, the cradle being pivoted about an axis coinciding with that of a piston rod 13 fixed to the turret at its ends 14, 15, Fig. 3. In its rest position the open end of the cradle 12 lies against the adjacent end of the magazine 6 and the cradle is pivoted with a projectile into the loading position by means of a rack 17, Fig. 2, meshing with splines of the cradle and forming an extension of a piston rod 67 of a cylinder 19. The projectiles remaining in the magazine are held by a sliding gate 21 secured at one end of the shield 22 which is actuated by a piston 23 in a cylinder 24. The rammer 25 is carried by a lever 26 fixed to a cylinder 27, Fig. 3, slidable on the piston rod 13. The cylinder 27 has a projection 32 which, on recoil of the gun, is engaged by a projection 33 on the breech 5 to drive the cylinder 27 rearwardly until a annular groove 34 thereon is engaged by a lock 35 mounted on a piston 36 slidable in a hollow piston 37 and subjected to the action of a spring 71. As the breech returns to the firing position, a finger 56 on the breech 5 moves a lever system 53, 48 regulating the hydraulic control so that the shield 22 and magazine gate 21 is lifted, the rack 17 actuated and the loading cradle 12 pivoted to the loading position with a projectile 7. The lock 35 is then released from the annular groove 34 of the cylinder 27 which is moved to the left by hydraulic pressure taking with it the rammer 25 which pushes the projectile into the breech. The cylinder finally engages at 52 the lever 48 and moves to effect by hydraulic pressure the return of the various parts to their rest positions.