IL108725A

IL108725A - Cartridge belt made from flexible material

Info

Publication number: IL108725A
Application number: IL10872594A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Mauser Werke Oberndorf
Priority date: 1993-02-24
Filing date: 1994-02-21
Publication date: 1998-09-24
Also published as: ES2088300T3; EP0612970B1; DE59400269D1; EP0612970A1; DE4305525A1

Description

/90/85 108725/2 w>n> i»n» msn>an a>v>i>p ru s*) CARTRIDGE BELT MADE FROM FLEXIBLE MATERIAL The present invention relates to a cartridge belt made of a flexible synthetic material having a predetermined distance between chambers or pockets impressed therein for the reception of cartridges which are formed either with or without cases.

A cartridge belt of the above kind is already known from DE 92 03 731 Ul . In this cartridge belt made of synthetic material especially for caseless cartridges which can be inserted vertically out of the belt into a fire arm, the emptied belt is drawn over a drum and is wound as empties into a roll. This kind of cartridge belt allows firstly to reduce the weight and also less space is required for the empties than in the case of cartridge belts made of metal links.

Another cartridge belt made of synthetic material, e.g. polyethylene, is known from DE-AS 20 12 379. In this cartridge belt grooves for the reception of the cartridges are formed in regular distances by heating. Furthermore, hinges in the form of small grooves are impressed into this cartridge belt in order, to achieve flexibility. After insertion of the cartridges, a thin film strip is laid over the belt and fastened by welding so that the cartridges are held in the position they were inserted. The removal of the cartridges takes place in the fire arm by tearing of the film strip at the corresponding locations by way of the loading mechanism. This known cartridge belt also has the advantages of low weight and relatively low space requirements.

The object of the present invention is to provide a catridge belt whose weight and space requirements, especially for the empties, are decreased even further.

This object is attained in accordance with the present invention in that the cartridge belt is a narrow band in which the reception chambers are formed as closed rings or loops which are capable of being slided axially over the cartridges up to a stop positioned approximately at the center of gravity of the cartridge.

Preferably the catridge belt is made of a material, which is capable of separation and/or shooting.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the belt start and/or the belt end are slanted in the region of the reception chamber.

In another preferred embodiment the stop is formed as a ring groove or ring-like impression on the cartridge case which has a depth of at least twice the thickness of the cartridge belt band.

Preferably the cartridge belt is formed of a woven band made of synthetic or natural fibers in which are provided reception chambers in the form of rings or loops, the parts of the woven band between the reception chambers being fixedly woven together.

In a preferred embodiment the cartridge belt is impregnated with resin .

The present invention provides a number of advantages. The weight of the cartridge belt is reduced further with respect to the known belts in view of the very narrow belt band. Furthermore, when employed with combustible or caseless ammunition, there is no more problem of empties, since in this case the corresponding belt segment also burns. In the case of usual metal cases, the belt segment remains on the case during firing and is thrown away together with it.

Thus no separate discharge and no cartridge link empties space is necessary. Further advantages are simple cartridge feeding, smaller belt loops than in known cartridge belts and thus also smaller ammunition boxes, since tight storage is made possible by the flexible synthetic material.

The invention will now be exemplified on hand of the drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a cartridge belt with inserted cartridge shells in section; Fig. 2 shows the cartridge belt in a view along line II-II; and Fig. 3 shows the cartridge belt as a woven band in a perspective view.

Cartridge belt (1) is made of synthetic material and, in a preferred embodiment is a woven band of synthetic or natural fibers. Cartridge belt (1) as a woven band of 0.1 to 0.2 mm thickness is relatively thin and is only of small width. It has been shown by experiments that cartridge belt ( 1 ) may be a rope in which are formed loops for reception chambers for the cartridges. The cartridge belt may also be a wide band or even an essentially closed receptacle. For easy handling, without much technical effort and sufficient as regards the mechanical properties of the belt, it was found that a woven band of a width of about 8 to 15 mm is suitable. The geometric dimensions of the cartridge belt chosen in each case, as well as the material employed, guarantee the safe taking up of the tensile loads which occur.

Cartrige belt (1) made of a flexible, separable and combustible material is provided with reception chambers (2) which are situated in regular distances from each other and are formed as closed rings or loops (3). Between each of the loops a flat belt band (4) is provided. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the loops (3) may also be formed as half-shells with connected belt bands, which are then put together with the second half-shell so as ;to form a closed ring. A firm connection of the two superposed belt bands (4) can be achieved e.g. by gluing when relatively weak tensile loads are expected, with stronger tensile loads and in order to guarantee perfect function under all conditions of use, one employs a cartridge belt (1) made of a two-layer woven band. In the region of the reception chambers (2) for the cartriges the layers of the woven band lie loosely on top of each other, so that they are arched apart for the insertion of the cartrdges. In longitudinal direction of the cartrige belt (l), in between the reception chambers ( 2 ) , the two layers of the woven band are fixedly woven together as a single band. This creates extraordinarily good tensile strength, but still provides full flexibility of cartridge belt (1).

As material serve synthetic fibers such as e.g. polyamide, where the tensile loads occurring are up to about 250 kg. In order to achieve a stiffening of the woven band and to achieve outer protection, an impregnation e.g. with resin, can be carried out.

Belt start (5) and belt end (6) are slanted in the region of reception chamber (2), as can be seen in Fig. 1. By lateral connection of the two slanted start or end parts and combined sliding of both ends next to each other over a cartridge an elongation of cartridge belt (1) results. In this . manner a continuous cartridge belt (1) can be formed. It is of course also possible to separate the band at any desired place and slant it for the desired belt length.

Because of the flexibility of the cartridge belt, the belted ammunition can be stored considerably tighter than was possible with metal belts employed up to now. The space saving by the tight storing comprises about 25%.

For belting the cartridge belt is moved with loops (3) over the cartridge (7) from the side of projectile (8) up to a stop (9), which is provided approximately at the center of gravity of cartridge (7). In this way the cartridge belt (1) can be supplied to the weapon. Stop (9), in the embodiment of Fig. 1, is formed as a circumferential ring-shaped impression or annular groove (10) in the casing (1 1) of cartridge (7). The depth of this annular groove is at least twice the thickness of the cartridge belt band (4). Usually, the depth of annular groove (10) is chosen 2.5 times the thickness of the belt band (4).

The system can be employed for both, combustible as well as for non-combustible cartridges (7) without any special effort. When the cartridge belt band (4) is supplied to a weapon, belt band (4) is separate at cutting points (12). Thus, after cartridge (7) is pushed into the cartridge magazine of the weapon, whereby both are steered after separation by steered knife of the weapon into annular groove (10). For this purpose annular groove (10) has a depth so that about 2.5 layers of the belt band (4) can lay on top of each other. With completely combustible cartridge (7), loop or eyes (3) and belt band (4) also burn completely so that no empties remain.

With common metal shells, loop (3) of cartridge belt (1) as well as the belt band (4) remain on cartridge (7) and are ejected together therewith. No additional disposal or additional belt-link empty space is required. The cartridge belt (1) according to the invention avoids the problems occurring with most machine weapons during ammunition supply and empties disposal. Disposal of empties in a weapon system is greatly facilitated with the cartridge belt according to the invention made of flexible synthetic material. The cartridge belt according to the invention is especially suitable for combustible cartridges, because the belt preserves the cartridges, and is separable, shootable and combustible.

Claims

108725/2 CLAIMS:

1. Cartridge belt (1) of a flexible plastic or a strip of fabric of natural fibres with chambers or compartments impressed therein at a preselected distance from one another and with cartridges (7) which are inserted in said receiving chambers (2) and which are provided optionally with or without cases, the cartridge belt (1) being a narrow band in which the receiving chambers (2) formed as closed rings or eyes (3), characterised by the fact that the receiving chambers (2) are pushed over the cartridges (7) as far as a stop (9) approximately at the centre of mass of the cartridge (7), the stop (9) being constructed as an annular groove (10) or embossing continuing annularly around the case (1 1) of the cartridge (7) and having a depth of at least twice the thickness of the cartridge belt band (4).

2. Cartridge belt in accordance with Claim 1 , characterised by the fact that the cartridge belt (1) is made of a material capable of being separated and/or closed.

3. Cartridge belt in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that the beginning (5) and/or end (6) of the belt are slanted in the zone of a receiving chamber (2).

4. Cartridge belt in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that the cartridge belt (1) consist of a fabric strip of synthetic or natural fibre in which receiving chambers (2) are provided in the form of rings or eyes, while the parts of the fabric strip which are between , the receiving chambers (2) are permanently interwoven.

5. Cartridge belt in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the cartridge belt ( 1) is impregnated with resin.