US2062212A

US2062212A - Ammunition supplying device

Info

Publication number: US2062212A
Application number: US41151A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daum Leon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Schneider Electric SE; Compagnie des Forges et Acieries de la Marine et dHomecourt
Priority date: 1934-11-28
Filing date: 1935-09-18
Publication date: 1936-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 1953-11-24
Also published as: GB442485A; FR794844A; NL43546C; DE634474C

Description

Nov. 24, 1935. DAUM 2,062,212

AMMUNITION SUPPLYING DEVICE Filed Sept. 18, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 24, 1936. DAUM AMMUNITION SUPPLYING DEVICE Filed Sept. 18, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 0&0 aaaum.

Nov. 24, 1936. DAUM AMMUNITION SUPPLYING DEVICE Filed Sept. 18, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 24, 1936. DAUM 2,062,212

AMMUNITION SUPPLYING DEVICE Filed Sept. 18, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 24, 1936. L, DAUM AMMUNITION SUPPLYING DEVICE Filed Sept. 18, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Eh Nb N a f d "V n u n n n u Q R k .m &

mix E N Q Q a ms hm aw mjgw/wwlizzsm Nov, 24, 1936. DAUM AMMUNITION SUPPLYING DEVICE Filed Sept. 18, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Nov. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMNIUNITION SUPPLYING DEVICE Applicationseptember 18, 1935, Serial'No. 41,151

In France November 28, 1934 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for simultaneously supplying with ammunition, such as cartridges, two guns associated for simultaneous training.

The device comprises for each gun two loaders, each for a complete round of ammunition and both arranged so that, by means of a single operating device, it is possible first to simultaneously actuate one of the loaders of each of the two guns, and then by bringing a movable coupling into a second position, to simultaneously actuate the other two loaders of the associated guns.

According to one construction, the elements of the double loaders of one of the guns are coupled with the elements of the second gun in such a manner that the manipulation of the loader of one of the guns facilitates and balances to a. certain extent the effort necessary for the manipulation of the associated loader of the other gun. For purposes of illustration, the device of the 20 present invention is described and shown in association with an ammunition supplying device of the character disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent Nos. 2,004,855 and 2,004,856, comprising a fixed ammunitionhoist and a swivelling, tiltable receiving apparatus in the firing chamber.

The novel device with two loaders and combined manipulating means accords the advantage of permitting two charges which are to be used successively to be supplied simultaneously to each 30 gun.

The fact of being able to have at disposal in the loaders two rounds to be fired renders it possible to ensure an uninterrupted firing rhythm,

while also having at disposal the time necessary 35 elsewhere for supplying ammunition to the sys tem of hoist and receiving apparatus. In other words, the time available for the supply of ammunition to the guns is twice as long as if there were only a single round of ammunition avail- 40 able at each gun at the time of each load. The result of this is that such supply may be effected during the loading of the gun and the consecutive firing of the two available rounds, and that consequently the firing rhythm is limited solely by the time required for manipulating the loaders. for introducing the ammunition into the gun and for the firing operations. It will be appreciated that under these conditions the rapidity of firing may be considerably improved.

One embodiment of the invention has been shown in the accompanying drawings applied, by way of example, to a pair of guns mounted in a light turret for ships of moderate or low tonnage. However, it is to be expressly understood that these drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as defining the scope of the invention. In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, with certain parts shown in section, of one of the guns of a twin gun mount equipped with an ammunition supplying device according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view, with certain parts shown in full and others broken away, taken substantially on the line II--II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section, in elevation, taken substantially on the line III-III of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a plan view, with certain parts shown in section, of the turret of Figures 1-3;

Figures 5 and 6 show the details of the mechanism for manipulating the loaders, Figure 5 being a cross section taken substantially on the line V-V of Figures 1 and 4, while Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through the pivoting axis of a loader; and

Figures 7 and 8 show the organization of the ammunition receiving apparatus at the top of the hoist, Figure 7 being a sectional elevation through the ammunition carriers and Figure 8 a corresponding plan View.

In Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, the guns I are shown mounted in the known manner in the cradles 2, the latter resting by their trunnions 3 on mountings or cradle supports 4. Fixed on each of the cradles in the known manner, in addition to the usual firing members, is a support 5 of horizontal U-shaped cross section for the loaders, their manipulating mechanism and the loading apparatus.

It has been assumed by way of example that each gun comprises a horizontal wedge breechblock. A recess 6 provided in the breechblock 1 (Figure 3) allows the loader and ammunition transported from the waiting position at the side (shown in solid lines in Figure 2) to pass to the loading position behind the gun (shown in chain lines in Figure 2) The head plates 4 of the gun mountings in the example shown are fixed to a rotatable platform 8 which is mounted on a fixed bearing 9 by means of a rolling and centering track. The two cradles carrying the guns are connected for elevation with a single elevating shaft l0 (Figure 2), from which, however, each of the guns may be disengaged, for example in case of damage, by means of the clutches I l.

The platform 8 may support a shield l2 forming a firing chamber and an operating floor I3.

The apparatus forming the ammunition supplying system is positioned along the vertical axis of rotation of the turret between the two guns, and comprises a fixed central hoist l4 and a device l5 for receiving the. ammunition at the top of the hoist. The actual hoist M may be of a known type with a reciprocating hoisting mechanism. It comprises, however, according to the present form of construction of the invention, four tubes arranged symmetrically. In these four tubes, the four rounds of ammunition for the two guns are raised simultaneously.

The element for receiving the ammunition at the mouth of the hoist is shown in detail in Figures 7 and 8. This device comprises a kind of frame or support 56 adapted to pivot about its which rest on the frame it on a level corresponding with the trunnions 3 of the cradles 2.

Each of the carriers ll comprises a spring box 23, in which is movable a cap 2| raised by the ammunition at the end of the introduction of the latter into the carrier. The cap in being raised compresses a spring 20 which subsequently serves to expel the ammunition from the carrier and to ensure its introduction into the corresponding loader. Mounted in the lower part of each carrier is a retractable pawl 22 rotatable on a pin 23 and constantly urged below the ammunition by a torsion spring 24.

After loading the apparatus and suitably swivelling the frame l5 according to the training position of the turret, the carriers ll and their braceframe 83 are tilted about the trunnions l9 so as to be brought into line with the gun loaders into which all of the rounds of ammunition in carriers I! are introduced simultaneously by automatic disengagement of the retractable pawls 22 and consequent operation of the springs 20.

The loader system according to the invention comprises for each of the guns two

loaders

25 and 25a. (Figures 1 to 4) each in the form of a tube open along a wide lateral slit 26 for the passage of the apparatus for ramming the ammunition into the gun, which apparatus may be of any appropriate known rammer or take type.

The

loaders

25 and 25a are supported by arms 21 secured to'shafts 28 and 28 arranged symmetrically above and below and pivotally mounted in the supports 5. The positions of the shafts are determined so that each of the loaders may be brought either into line with the'associated gun for the introduction of the ammunition into the latter, or into a waiting position at the side for receiving the ammunition from carriers ll. In this waiting position, the loaders, are in contact with the stops 58, 59 (Figures land 4) for ,the'upper loaders and 5G and 6! for the lower .whence theyareprojected by the springs 20'.

The waiting positions of the fourloaders are symmetrical relatively ,to' both the vertical axial plane of the turret and the axial plane common to the two guns, so that, for" receiving the ammunition, they are able to occupy positions in correspondence with the pairs of carriers I! of the device [5. The shafts 28 and 28' of the upper and lower loaders are connected at their forward ends to a common transmission mechanism, a constructional example of which is shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6.

The mechanism for the transmission of movement from handwheels 4| to shafts 28 and 28' and their associated

loaders

25 and 25a comprises for each gun two

transverse shafts

29 and 30 connected to the

shafts

28 and 28, respectively, of the corresponding loaders by bevel pinions 3!, 32 and 33, 34, a vertical intermediate shaft 35 connected to the

shafts

23 and 30 by the

bevel pinions

36, 31 and 38, 39, a dog clutch slidably splineol on the shaft 29 so that it can be coupled with either of the pinions 3! or 36 which are mounted idly on the shaft 29, and a handwheel 4H for actuating the shaft 29 through the medium of the pinion 42 and segment 43, the latter being fixed to the shaft 29 by means of the detachable cotter 55. Movement of the clutch 4D is controlled by an arrangement comprising a forked lever 44 engaging a groove formed in the clutch and a rod 45 which is mounted for sliding movement parallel to shaft 29 and carries at its free end an operating handle 56. The rod 45 also carries two

projections

45, 4! adapted to engage

notches

48, 49, respectively, provided in plates 3 l, 36 integral with the pinions 3! and 36.

The setting of the various bevel pinions of the transmission mechanism, the agreement between the dogs secured to the bevel pinions 3!, 36 and the gaps between the teeth of the clutch sleeve 53, and the agreement between the

notches

48, 49 and the

projections

45, 41 are so determined that, the loaders being in their waiting positions at a (Figures 2 and 5), the sleeve ll) may be coupled directly to either of the pinions 3|, 36. The dogs on one side of the clutch become disengaged from the corresponding pinion only when the dogs on the other side have fully engaged the other pinion. At the same time as this operation is effected by the action of the rod 45 on the fork 44, one of the projections 454l enters the corresponding notch of the pinion which has just been declutched, while the other is withdrawn from the notch of the clutched pinion. By means of this arrangement, one of the

loaders

25 or 25a is always mechanically connected to the clutch sleeve 40 and hence to the shaft 29 and the handwheel fil, while the other loader 25a. or 25 is locked by engagement of the

projection

45 or 41 of the rod 45 in the notch of the pinion corresponding to the

shaft

28 or 28 of the said loader.

It will be seen that the effect of the manipulation of the handwheel ti will be to actuate one or the other of the loaders 25 or 250/, according to the position given to the clutch sleeve 40. The handwheel 5! comprises a spring handle 50 which, when the loaders are in the waiting position, engages by means of a nipple a fixed recess 51 provided in the support 5. The shaft 29 is thus locked while the manipulation of the clutch sleeve 43 is being effected.

The transmission mechanisms of the two guns are mounted symmetrically, as shown in Figure 5, relatively to the plane of symmetry of the movable platform or turret. Furthermore, these two transmission mechanisms are coupled in the space between the guns by means of

sleeves

52, 53, for the shafts 25!, and a link 56 for the rods 45. Finally, the attachment of the forks M to the rods 35 (which attachment allows the necessary play by means of a slot or fork) is adapted so that the two sleeves are carried simultaneously either to the right or to the left, as the case may be.

Under such conditions of interconnection of 1 the mechanism for actuating the loaders for the two guns, it will be noted that when the sleeves 40 have been brought into one or the other of their positions (right or left), one of the loaders for one of the guns is coupled with the diagonally symmetrical loader 25 for the other gun.

These loaders are thus mechanically connected to the shafts 29 and may consequently be manipulated at the same time so as to bring them from their waiting positions to their positions in line With the axes of the guns.

Furthermore, due to the fact that the two loaders thus simultaneously actuated are arranged symmetrically one in the upper part and the other in the lower part, it follows that, during the operation, these loaders balance each other, thereby very considerably reducing the expenditure of energy required, so much so that manipulation may be eifected by one attendant operating either of the handwheels 5 i, the hand- Lwheel which is not being used being uncoupled from its shaft 29 by withdrawing the cotter 55 from the corresponding segment 43. This cotter may be attached to one end of a small chain, the other end of which will be attached to a fixed point, and on being disengaged from the shaft 29 may be inserted in a suitable recess (not shown).

In. order to effect loading of the guns, the attendant first operates handwheel 4! so as to bring two diagonally opposite

loaders

25 or 25a into line with the axes of the guns, the rounds of ammunition being then rammed home into the guns by known means. Upon rotating the handwheel 4! in the opposite direction, the empty loaders are returned to their waiting positions. The attendant then displaces the sleeves M1 by acting on operating handle 55. He will thus be ready to ensure the operation of the other two loaders as soon as the guns have been fired and the vbreeches are opened again.

In case of damage to either of the two guns, necessitating the locking of the latter in elevation, that gun may be disengaged from the elevating shaft ID by withdrawing the corresponding coupling sleeve I! (Figure 2). The

sleeves

52 and 53 of the shafts 29 are then uncoupled and the link 54 is dismounted. After these operations, the gun which is in good condition may be elevated and it is possible to fire with the said gun while its loaders are operated separately and successively by means of the operating handwheel 4| of their transmission mechanism.

It will thus be seen that the device of the present invention described in the foregoing enables two charges per gun to be utilized successively under loading operation conditions affording considerable facilities and advantages over loading mechanisms previously known.

. Furthermore, the invention makes available for the operations to be eifected with the ammunition supplying system, hoist and receiving apparatus at the top of the hoist, a period of time double that which would exist if only a single charge per gun were at hand at the time of each load. In other words, by having available for the operations of these latter devices the time required for utilizing the ammunition available in both of the loaders, a smoother and safer supply of ammunition can be attained with less man powerthan in known systems where each load must be separately handled from shell room to gun.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be obvious that the invention is not limited to the particular apparatus shown but is capable of a variety of mechanical embodiments. Various changes, which will now become apparent to those skilled in the art, may be made in the form, details of construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to gun mounts of the type wherein a pair of guns are mounted on a common rotatable supporting platform, the combination of means for delivering ammunition for both guns simultaneously to a point between the guns, a pair of loading members associated with each gun, said members normally occupying positions offset from the axes of the associated guns and in which they are adapted to receive ammunition from said delivering means, and means for simultaneously moving one of the members of each of said pairs from their normal positions to loading positions in line with the axes of said guns and return, said members when in their normal positions being symmetrically arranged with respect to both the vertical plane of symmetry of the gun mount and the plane passing through the axes of the two guns.

2. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to gun mounts of the type wherein a pair of guns are mounted on a common rotatable supporting platform, the combination of means for delivering two rounds of ammunition for each gun simultaneously to a point between the guns, a pair of loading members associated with each gun, said members normally occupying positions in which they are adapted to receive the ammunition from said delivering means, and common means for simultaneously moving one of the members of each of said pairs from their normal positions to loading positions in line with the axes of said guns and return, said members when in their normal positions being offset laterally from the axes of the associated guns and symmetrically arranged with respect to both the vertical plane of symmetry of the gun mount and the plane passing through the axes of the two guns.

3. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to gun mounts of the type wherein a pair of guns are mounted on a common rotatable supporting platform, the combination of means for delivering ammunition for both guns simultaneously to a point between the guns, a pair of loading members associated with each gun, said members normally occupying positions offset from the axes of the associated guns and in which they are adapted to receive ammunition from said delivering means, said normal positions being such that said members are symmetrically arranged with respect to both the vertical plane of symmetry of the gun mount and the plane passing through the axes of the two guns, and means for simultaneously moving two diagonally symmetrical members from their normal positions to loading positions in line with the axes of said guns.

4. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to un mounts of the type wherein a pair of guns platform, the combination of means for delivering ammunition for both guns simultaneously to a point between the guns, a pair of loading members associated with each gun, said members normally occupying positions ofiset from the axes of the associated guns and in which they are adapted to receive ammunition from said delivering means, said normal positions being such that said members are symmetrically arranged with respect to both the vertical plane of symmetry of the gun mount and the plane passing through the axes of the two guns, means for simultaneously moving two diagonally symmetrical members from their normal positions to loading positions in line with the axes of said guns and return, and means for locking the other two members against movement from their normal positions during the time that said first two members are being moved to and from their loading positions.

5. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to gun mounts of the type wherein a pair of guns are mounted on a common rotatable supporting platform, the combination of means for delivering ammunition for both guns simultaneously to a point between the guns, a pair of loading members associated with each gun, said members normally occupying positions offset from the axes of the associated guns and in which they are adapted to receive ammunition from said delivering means, said normal positions being such that said members are symmetrically arranged with respect to both the vertical plane of symmetry of the gun mount and the plane passing throughthe axes of the two guns, means for simultaneously moving two diagonally symmetrical members from their normal positions to loading positions in line with the axes of said guns, and means for selectively coupling one or the other of said diagonally symmetrical pairs of members to said last named means.

6. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to gun mounts of the type wherein a pair of guns are mounted on a common rotatable supporting platform, the combination of means for delivering ammunition for both guns simultaneously to a point between the guns, a pair of loading members associated with each gun, said members normally occupying positions offset from theaxes of the associated guns and in which they are adapted to receive ammunition from said delivering means, said normal positions being such that said'members are symmetrically arranged with respect to both the vertical plane of symmetry of the gun mount and the plane passing through the axes of the two guns, means for simultaneously moving two diagonally symmetrical members from their normal positions to-loading positions in line with the axes of said guns and return, means for selectively coupling one or the other of said diagonally symmetrical pairs of members to said last named means, and means actuated by said coupling means for locking the other two members against movement from their normal positions during the time that said first two members are being moved to and from their'loadin'g positions.

'7. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to gun mounts of the type wherein a pair of guns are mounted on a common rotatable supporting platform, the combination of means for delivering ammunition for both guns simultaneously to a point between the guns, a pair of loading members associated with each gun, said memare mounted on a common rotatable supporting bers normally occupying positions ofiset from the axes of the associated guns and in which they are adapted to receive ammunition from said delivering means, means for simultaneously moving one of the members of each of said pairs from their normal positions to loading positions in line with the axes of said guns and return, said members when in their normal positions being symmetrically arranged with respect to both the vertical plane of symmetry of the gun mount and the plane passing through the axes of the two guns, and stop means for determining the normal positions of said members upon their return from the loading positions.

8. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to gun mounts of the type wherein a pair of guns are mounted on a common rotatable supporting platform, the combination of means for delivering ammunition for both guns simultaneously to a point between the guns, a pair of loading members associated with each gun, the members of each pair normally occupying positions offset from the axis of the associated gun and in which they are adapted to receive ammunition from said delivering means, means for moving each of said members from its normal position to a loading position in line with the axis of its associated gun, an actuating member associated with each gun, means for selectively coupling to each actuating member the moving means of one or the other of the associated pair of loading members, and means for interconnecting the coupling and moving means or" the two guns whereby simultaneous movement of selected loading members of both guns may be effected.

9. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to gun mounts of the type wherein a pair of guns are mounted on a common rotatable supporting platform, the combination of means for delivering ammunition for both guns simultaneously to a point between the guns, a pair of loading members associated with each gun, the members of each pair normally occupying positions offset from the axis of the associated gun and in which they are adapted to receive ammunition from said delivering means, means for moving each of said members from its normal position to a loading position in line with the axis of its associated gun, an actuating member associated with each gun, means for selectively coupling to each actuating member the moving means of one or the other of the associated pair of loading members, and means for interconnecting the coupling and moving means of the two guns whereby simultaneous movement of selected loading members of both guns may be effected, said interconnecting means being renderable ineffective at will in order to permit operation of the loading members of each gun independently of those of the other.

10. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to gun mounts of the type wherein a pair of guns are mounted on a common rotatable supporting platform, the combination of means for delivering ammunition for both guns simultaneously to a point between the guns, a pair of loading members associated with each gun, the members of each pair normally occupying positions offset from the axis of the associated gun and symmetrically disposed above and below the plane passing through the axes of the two guns, means for moving each of said members from its normal position to a loading position in line with the axis of its associated gun, an actuating member associated with each gun, means for selectively coupling to each actuating member the moving meansof one or the other of the associated pair of loading members, and means for interconnecting the coupling and moving means of the two guns whereby-simultaneous movement of selected loading members of both guns may be effected, said coupling means being so constructed and arranged that when interconnected the upper loading member of one gun is actuated at the same time asthe lower member of the other gun.

11. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to gun mounts of the type wherein a pair of guns are mounted on a common rotatable supporting platform, the combination of means for delivering ammunition for both guns simultaneously to a point between the guns, a pair of loading members associated with each gun, the members of each pair normally occupying positions offset from the" axis of the associated gun and in which they are adapted to receive ammunition from said delivering means, a supporting member mounted on and. movable with the breech end of each of said guns and supporting the associated pair of loading members for pivotal movement about axes parallel to that of said gun, a driving shaft rotatably carried by each of said supporting members, means for rotating each of said loading members about its pivotal axis so as to move said member from its normal position to a loading position in line with the axis of the associated gun and return, means for selectively connecting the driving shaft of each gun with the rotating means of one or the other of the associated pair of loading members, and means for coupling said driving shafts together whereby the selected loading members of both guns may be actuated simultaneously.

12. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to gun mounts of the type wherein a pair of guns are mounted on a common rotatable supporting platform, the combination of means for delivering ammunition for both guns simultaneously to a point between the guns, a pair of loading members associated with each gun, the members of each pair normally occupying positions one above the other ofiset from the axis of the associated gun and in which they are adapted to receive ammunition from said delivering means, a supporting member mounted on and movable with the breech end of each of said guns and supporting the associated pair of loading members for pivotal movement about axes parallel to that of said gun, a driving shaft rotatably carried by each of said supporting members, means for rotating each of said loading members about its pivotal axis so as to move said member from its normal position to a loading position in line with the axis of the associated gun and return, a sliding clutch for selectively connecting the driving shaft of each gun with the rotating means of one or the other of the associated pair of loading members, means for simultaneously shifting the sliding clutches of both guns, said means being so constructed and arranged that when the upper loading member of one gun is connected to its driving shaft the lower member of the other gun is similarly connected, and means for coupling said driving shafts together whereby the selected loading members of both guns may be actuated simultaneously.

13. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to gun mounts of the type wherein a pair of guns are mounted on a common rotatable supporting platform, the combination of means for delivering ammunition for both guns simultaneously to a point between the guns, a pair of loading members associated with each gun, the members of each pair normally occupying positions offset from the axis of the associated gun and in which they are adapted to receive ammunition from said delivering means, a supporting member mounted on and movable with the breech end of each of said guns and supporting the associated pair of loading members for pivotal movement about axes parallel to that or said gun, a driving shaft rotatably carried by each of said supporting members, means for rotating each of said loading members about its pivotal axis so as to move said member from its normal position to a loading position in line with the axis of the associated gun and return, means for selectively connecting the driving shaft of each gun with the rotating means of one or the other of the associated pair of loading members, means for coupling said driving shafts together whereby the selected loading members of both guns may be actuated simultaneously, and stop means carried by said supporting members for limiting the movement of said loading members upon their return from loading to normal position.

14. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to a gun, the combination of means for delivering two rounds of ammunition simultaneously to a point adjacent the gun, a pair of loading members associated with said gun normally occupying positions offset from the axis of the gun and in which they are adapted to receive the said two rounds of ammunition from said delivering means, a supporting member mounted on and movable with the breech end of said gun and supporting said pair of loading members for pivotal movement about axes parallel to that of said gun, a driving shaft rotatably carried by said supporting member, means for rotating each of said loading members about its pivotal axis so as to move said member from its normal position to a loading position in line with the axis of the gun and return, and means for selectively connecting the driving shaft with the rotating means of one or the other of said pair of loading members.

15. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to a gun, the combination of means for delivering two rounds of ammunition simultaneously to a point adjacent the gun, a pair of loading members associated with said gun normally occupying positions offset from the axis of the gun and in which they are adapted to receive the said two rounds of ammunition from said delivering means, a supporting member mounted on and movable with the breech end of said gun and supporting said pair of loading members for pivotal movement about axes parallel to that of said gun, a driving shaft rotatably carried by said supporting member, means for rotating each of said loading members about its pivotal axis so as to move said member from its normal position to a loading position in line with the axis of the gun and return, and. a sliding clutch carried by said driven shaft for selectively connecting the latter with the rotating means of one or the other of the said pair of loading members.

16. In apparatus for supplying ammunition to a gun, the combination of means for delivering two rounds of ammunition simultaneously to a point adjacent the gun, a pair of loading members associated with said gun normally occupying positions offset from the axis of the gun and in which they are adapted to receive the said two rounds of ammunition from said delivering means, a supporting member mounted on and movable with the breech end of said gun and the latter with the rotating means of one or the other of the said pair of loading members, means for shifting said sliding clutch into one or the other of its operative positions, and means associated with said last named means for locking 5 the rotating means of that loading member to which the driving shaft is unconnected.

LEON DAUM.