US2449849A - Locking means for flexible chutes - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 21, 1948. R` E, HOLMES 2,449,849

' LOCKING MEANS FOR FLEXIBLEVCHUTES Filed June 1.2i 1945 s sheets-sheet 1 [NVE/vra@ W Poseer E. HOLMES Hmm/5, K/scf-f, f'asm? Haw/s fbi? 7215 Fie/w AR. E. HOLMES LOCKING MEANS FOR FLEXIBLE CHUTES sept. 21, 194s.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June i 12, 1945 IN VEN 'ro/2 Fass/27 I HoL M55 Y Fae 7111s HeM' Sept. 21, 1948. R. E. HOLMES LOCKING MEANS FOR FLEXIBLE CHUTES Filed June 12,. 1945 s t 5m. E s h W S .W L Hm .M T v wf m 2N: /A @.ZNP H... ,W yf.: c, w www. M M. WH M.. ,n .n u

Patented Sept. 21, 1.948L

UMTED? Tl OFFICE 1 l 2,445,849. ,y l LOCKING S" FOR FLEXIBLE CHUTES RobertV Holmes,... Los Angeles, Calif., assgnon l toiHugfl'iesA ToulCompany;- Houston, Tex. av corporation of;Delaware i p Application JunellZ, 1945, Serial No. .599,111

My invention relatesto a ficxible or expansible 1.3 claims; (01.193,25)

e or limit its movement relative to an adjacent unit at the pointof connection.

Another object is to provide a locking member of this-typel which is simple, inexpensive, and easilyinserted"` at the selected locking position Without the use of specialtools, and whichis positively retained jin position to prevent withdrawal dueto vibration or accidental contact.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a locking member attachable to the chute to engagethe interlinkage means between transverse units; a locking member havinga locking portion insertable` through the usual uncoupling opening of a chute toengage the interto a machine gun er cannon froman` ammuninon box, though-it should be clear marit isnot limited thereto.

The articulated structures orffed ol'iutesto which the invention is particularly; applicable-are those having a plurality of interlinked 'units'fexe tending transversely of and outlining arnember guiding passage, thelinterlinking permitting limited expansive and compressive relativefniovement of the units at diiere'nt positions around the member-guiding passage. Oneof theimportant objects of the invention iseto provideior the locking Yof adjacent units rata-selected position or positions. i

One conventional.' interlinkage means? ofsuch articulated feed chutescomprises a link meins ber on each transverse unit linked with la'hook member on an adjacent transverse unit' and prermitting and guiding movement"oftheunits'toyward and away from eachother, hookliinf iting the separation of the units, Furthentlie transverse units `are constructed identically,4 each with aplurality of link `mel'nbers and" `hooksso that the chute vcan be assembled ofsuch units, the link and hook members interlocking; upon assembly. On the other hand, means is `usually provided for disconnectingthe.units `topernvoit inspection `or repair or replacement 'of `individual units. This is conventionally. accomplishedxtby providingan uncoupling opening givingaccessto the hook member and/or the link membertc .un-4 lock the linkage by temporary deformationeot one or both ofthese members.

It is an object of thefinvention to aprovide "ai locking member detachably connectable to.: a` chute formed of V:interlinked transverse 4, units to rigidify thechute Vat the pointoftconnection linkage meansin a manner to prevent or limit collapsinguand/or expanding. of transverse units adjacent the locking member; a locking member having an Y attachment portion detachably connectable tothe chute and a locking portion insertable through an uncouplingopening of the chute; and alocking member insertable to extendlinto the normal path of movement ofthe link member-.to impede such movement.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent to those. skilled in the art from the. following description` of `exemplary embodiments.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is aplanzview, partially. `in section, fof a segment of one `form of 'articulated ammunition chute flexedin its longitudinal plane, showing placement of two locking members to rigidify a portion of 4this segment; 4

Fig.. 2 is a side view, taken asindicated bythe arrow 2 oilEig.` 1;`

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken along the line 3&-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a side view of` the same form ofchute flexed laterally, showing `placement of twolocking members in the bottom of the) chute to rigid ify the adjacent portions;

Fig.` 5 is a bottomv fragmentary view, taken as indicated `by the arrow 5 of Fig., 4; i

Fig. 6 'is a perspective viewof a locking mem.- :ber for this form of chute;

Figrl is a perspectivefragmentaryyiew of the same form of chute, partially broken away to show internal ocnstructional features, withone lockingr member in placeand ,another `inlposition preparatory toinsertion;`

' Fig.-8is a perspectivefview` .oa segmentzof another formyof chute with twolocking `members of different construction in sposition;

Fig. 9 is a perspectiveview of a locking member for the formyofichute shown in Fig. 8;y

\ Fig,` 10.is,a..fragmentary.perspective viewuof` The particular forms of chutes herein-disclosed'- are not, per se, a part of the present invention.

The form shown in Figs. 1 to 7 and 10 to 12, inclu- I 'gagerrient at this point.

sive, is disclosed in detail in copending applicationv Serial No. 535,476, entitled Flexible feed chute, and will not be described in great detail in the instant application as the following brief descrip-` tion, taken with the accompanying drawings, will suiiice to show the mode of connection and utility of the invention.

Referring particularly to Figs, 1 yto 7, the chute is made up of identical transverse `units IQ pressed together serially to form a member-guiding passagell, and expansibly and contractably linked by an interlinkage means l2. Each transverse unit includes a frame l5 formed oi wire bent with abutting ends to form two parallel base wires i6 with offsets Il, two parallel side wires i8 at each end of the base wires, and two parallel top wires i9 extending inward from the side wires I8 on each side and connected'by a curved segment 2D, the'curved segments'Z on each side being spaced to form a longitudinal `opening 2l along the chute giving access to the passage ll.

Each transverse unit includes, also, two U- .shaped attachment members 25, respectively disposed withinV the sidewardly-spaced U-shaped portions of the frame i5. These attachment members serve the dual purpose ofv retaining,

properly spaced, the paired wires 16,'l; i8, I8; i9, i9, and of retaining the interlinkage means l2 corresponding to this transverse unit; For the former purpose, each attachment member is formed with tabs 2l which'are bent outward and thenceinward around the adjacent portions of the wire of the frame to encircle and embrace these portions. There is thus formed along all external `faces of the transverse' unit a shallow channel 28 bounded by tab-formed or wire-formed walls 29, see particularly Figs. 2 and 7; The encirclement oieach tab, relative to its lembraced wire, may be complete oripartial.` In the former instance, the end of the tab will engage the outer surface of the attachment member, but will preferably follow the periphery of the wire even to the end of the tab, whereby the shallow channel 28 will be bounded, at its sides andfnear its' bottom, by inwardly-diverging walls which may be used to retain the locking memberof the invention in place, as will be later described. In the latter instance, the end ofthe tab may terminate a short distancefrom the outer surface of the attachment member to provide a small space between such outer surface and the end of the tab for receiving the locking member of the invention. y l

The interlinkage means includes, on each attachment 25 of each transverse unit, a link means or eye means in the form of a plurality or link members 30, each comprising two arms 3l and an end bar 32, best shown in perspective in Fig. 7, along with a mating hook means, shown as comprising a corresponding number of hook members 35 positioned to engage the link members of an adjacent transverse unit. As best shown near the to permit the latter to clear the cavity of the former, thus releasing the motion-limiting en- Minimum spacing of anyItwo` transverse units is determined by engageme'nt of their wire-encircling tabs 2l. During -movementtoward such minimum-spaced or collapsed position, the link member slides Very near or in surface contact with the interior surface of the 'attachment member of the adjacent transverse unit.

Vllach `transverse unit includes also a U-shaped guide member 38 within each attachment member and suitably secured thereto, as by spot welding, to form a lining therefor. The upper and lower portions of .each `U-shaped guide member are offset to provide lands 39, see Fig. 3, beneath which are link-member-receiving cavities Ylll vwithin which are the hook members 35. Extending from the upper, side, and lower portions of each guide member tofunderlie the three corresponding link members A3i). are three extensions ortongues 42. The tongues of adjacent ytransverse units slidably overlap at all times during relative movement of the units and form an articulated lining for the member-guiding passage l I serving to engage the belted or linked ammunition, suggested in dotted lines in Fig. 3. n'

. 'Such a structure interconnects adjacent transverse units for independent but limited movement at several positions around the periphery of the chute passage Il. The chute can' be collapsed or expanded longitudinally; flexed longitudinally in vvthe central plane of the chute passage I l; flexed laterally so that the central plane of the passage is concentric with an axis above or below the passage; flexed about the longitudinal axis of the passage (due to the flexibility of the transverse units and the interlinkage means) or twisted into various geometric or sinuous patterns. These chutes are usually designed to prevent any sharp-ness of turn which cannot be readily followed by the ammunition belt or other flexible member vkwithout binding.

It is often desirable to lock some section of the chuteagainst expansion `or contraction, e. g., to lockone peripheral portion of the chute at a selectedpositlon to give the chute a predetermined curve at?. such position. The present invention includes a ,simple locking member attachable to the chute at 4such selected position to hold the adjacent interlinkage means either fully expanded or fullyc'ontracted. The spacing of any two ad.- jacent transverse units, at one or allA of the p0- sitions around the periphery of the chute passage, can thus be predetermined or fixed and the chute can ybe rigidied at selected longitudinal or peripheral positions.

. Fig.'..6 shows one form of locking member, indicated generally by the numeral 5G, for the chute construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7. Itr includes a plate-like, chute-engaging attachment portion 5| of a width to be pressed snugly into the shallow peripheral channel 28 in frictional engagement withy the .walls 29, e. g., the inwardly-converging walls .provided near the bottom of the channel bythe bent tab'sxor bythe wires.. Alternatively; it can extend into the small space, previouslynescribed, between the outer surface of the attachment member and the innermostend of `.the bent tab to be locked in place.`

The locking member i! also provideslalocking portion52, shown vas the forward end of aitongue 531bent to extend upward at 5ft-and then `forward and downward at 55 to a rounded tip, for-ming the locking portion52.' The tongue 53 and-locking portion 52 are of such shape, size, andiposition asito extend into a selected one of thefunlocking openings 36 and engage the end bar 32` ofthe adjacent link member 30 to limit or proventi its movement. Preferably, the locking portion 52 lies just below the level of the attachment portion 5I When the latter engages the outer surface ofthe chute, the locking 'portion thus extends into theinterior` of the chute structure in the normal path of movement-of a link member.-

Usually, it suffices to utilzea locking member insertable when adjacent transverse units are in closest-proximity or collapsed position." In this instance, illustrated in the drawings, the tongue 53 can be made cia width only slightly less than the uncoupling opening 36 and; with the usual chute construction, will extend in contact with or very close to the inner surface of the end bar 32 to substantially lock the structure at 'this point against any movement. If the chute design is such `that this inner surface of the end bar 32 more-than clears the opening 36,insertion of the locking member will preclude all but a small amount of relative movement between the ad jacent units at this point. By the same token, if it isdesired to lock adjacent units when in expanded position, the tongue 53 should be of a width to occupy the space between -the outer surface of the end bar32' and the opposed side of the opening 36.

An opening `5l can be formed in fthe attachment portion 5|, if desired, to aid inremovingthe locking member. Usually, however, the lock-` ing member can be removed by inserting a screwdriver beneath the rear oflthe tongue 53 and prying upward.

Usually, the desired limitation of motion between adjacent transverse units Iiican be obtained by the exclusive use of the locking members 50 in the openings'at the top and/orbottom of the chute, as suggested in Figs. 4 and 5 but, if desired, they can be used at the sides ofthe chute, as suggested in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 7.

With the modified form. of chute shown in Fig. 8. the transverse units are formed without a wire frame `but. with passage-outlining, sheet metal, transverse or attachment members 60 bent to form reinforcements fil.` Positioned at .the top and bottom positions, as previously described, are link members. 63 of a double type providing two openings 64 closed by an end bar 65. Correspondingly, two hook members 56 are usedin the relationship shown in Fig. 8, these being respectively opposite two uncoupling openings B7. Anarticulated passage lining is provided by guide members 68 having tongues iii)` slidably overlapping as between the diierent transverse units.

To lock selected sections of suchar chute, a

locking meinber'ii, shown in Fig.. 9,may be em.

ployed. This includes tongues l2 and 'i3 at opposite ends of a chute-engaging portion, shown as comprising a bridge portion '14, Vthese tongues being of -a size to extend respectively'through the paired un-coupling `openings 61 into `the path of. movementof `theend bar 65 to ,lock-.theuchute the locus of motion of` this.` end bar.

6 atthis position ina manner previouslyrdescrbedi One end of this type of locking member can, .as before, bei. considered as. an attachment `portion engageable with they chute .tosanchorz the; .other tongue-providing end` which serves th'e locking function. Preferably, however, thisvembodiment actually; `serves this 4function at each of itsk ends.l This type of locking member iD can be inserted byplacing one endin one .01". theuncoupling openings'A and bowing the. bridge portion.; T4 slightly. with a. long-nosepliers .untilthe other endV enters the other..opening.` The .spring material of which the locking: member is4 formed will Vthen straighten and 1 lie substantially:` `fiat against-.the` surfacel otithe member 6E), spreading the tongues atthe ends and preventing. accidental withdrawal.` Removal can `be effected byiusef of a small screwdriver `forced .under the'` bridge `portion. i

Figs. 10, 11,`and 12 show an alternativefform of locking l,member for the rst-describedich'ute construction. This alternative form of locking member diiifersinl its construction and in the fact that its locking `tongue extends longitudinally of the chute, rather than transversely `or peripherally of the chute passage, asin the formspreviously described. Fig. l0 shows two of these lock-` ing members 8i) vand 8|, respectively in positions preparatory to insertion to effect locking of transverse units in collapsed or expanded position; also,- two locking members 82 and 83 in `inserted position to lock the `transverseunitsin these respective positions.- Y

Each of such locking members is substantially E-shapedand includes a bridge portion 8551` and two end arms lforming the attachmentportion` of the locking members,` the central arm, shown at 31, comprising the tongue previously described. As before, this tongueis bent sothat its end isV offset from the plane including the bridge portion 85 and the end arms 86 so th'at this tongue can be extended through anA uncoupling opening to` obstruct the movement ofthe end bar=32 of the link member 3i) thereadjacent by extending into As before, the chute-engaging attachmentgportion'of the locking member is of such size as to be pressed snugly into i the shallow peripheral channel -28 in frictional engagement with the walls 2Q thereof, the bridge portion 85 andthe endsfof the arms 86 engaging either the inwardly-converging walls at the bottom of the channel or, as is here preferred, extending beneath the innermost endsAA of the bent tabs to extend into the small spaces between such ends and the outer surface ofthe attachment member. In either instance, the locking` member will be rigidly heldin place against accidental removal untila screwdriver or other tool is used to pry it from the shallow channel '28.

This alternative form,A of locking member is particularly `advantageous where it is to be used either tolock two transverse units in either collapsed orexpanded position. In the former instance, the locking member will be pressed into the shallow channel with the transverse units collapsed and with the tongue or4 central arm 81 extending inthe directionin whichthe link members 30 extend, see `the `locking members Bil and 82 of Fig. 10.l The tongue then engages the inner wall of the end bar 32. "If, used to lock two transverse units in expanded position, the units will be movedapart andthelocking memberwill` be .pressed into the shallow channel. with its; tongue .orA central arm `.87 extending "in .an Splhpoff site; direction to engage the outervwallzonithe fend bar 32, se the locking members 8| and 83 of Fig. 10.

These relationships are also shown in Fig. 11, wherein four transverse units 90, 9|, 92, and 93 are shown. Here, the locking members are indicated by the numerals 94, 95, and 96 and are shown as applied to the sides of the chute. The locking members 94 and 95 are inserted in a manner to lock the transverse units 99, 9|, and 92 in collapsed position, while the locking member 95 is inserted oppositely to lock the transverse units v92 and 93 in expanded position. Similarly, Fig. 12 sh'ows the same transverse units and the same locking members, serving the same respective functions but with the locking members applied to the base or bottom of the chute.

`Various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a flexible feed chute, the combination of: a plurality of transverse units disposed side by side to outline a member-guiding passage; an interlinkage means for interconnecting said transverse units for limited movement in a Idirecm tion toward and away from each other, and at ya plurality of positions around the periphery of said passage, Vsaid interlinkage means including a hook means on each transverse unit 4and a link means on each transverse unit engageable with and movable relative to said hook means of an adjacent transverse unit; and means detachably connected to one of two adjacent transverse units for restricting relative movement between these adjacent transverse units in at least one peripheral position, said means including means extensible into the path of movement of said link means relative to said hook means to impede such movement.

2. In a flexible feed chute, the combination of: a plurality of transverse units disposed side by side to outline a member-guidingV passage; an interlinkage means for interconnecting said transverse units for limited movement in a direction toward and away from each other, and at a plurality of positions around the periphery of said passage, said interlinkage means including a hook means on each transverse unit and a link means on each transverse unit engageable with and movable relative to said hook means of an adjacent transverse unit, there being an opening in each transverse unit adjacent andgiving access to said hoo-k means thereof; and means detachably connected to one of two adjacent trans-v verse units for restricting relative movement between these adjacent transverse units in at least one peripheral position, said means includingr means extensible throughsaid opening into the path of movement of said link means relative to said hook means to impede such movement.

3. In combination with a transverse unit of a flexible feed chute slidably receiving a link member of an adjacent unit, a locking member including an attachment portion removably connecta'ble with said transverse unit and a locking portion extending into the path of movement of said link member when said attachment portion is connected to said transverse unit.

4. As an article of manufacture, a locking member for attachment to a transverse unit of a flexible feed chute to rigidify a linkage connecting same relative to an adjacent unit, said locking member including an attachment portion detachably connectable with said transverse unit and a locking portion extending into rigidjfyingl relationship with said linkage when said attachment portion' is connected to said transf verse unit; i

5. As an article of manufacture, a locking member for attachment to a transverse unit of a flexible feed chute having a shallow wall-bounded peripheral channel to` rigidify a linkage movably connecting said transverse unit to an adjacent unit, said locking member having an attachment portion of 'a size to fit snugly in said shallow peripheral channel in engagement with its bounding walls and said locking member having a locking portion extending into rigidifying relationship Ywith said linkage when said attachment portion is in said shallow channel.

6. As an article of manufacture, a locking member for attachment to a transverse unit of a flexible feed chute interconnected with an adjacent unit by a link member of the adjacent unit and having an opening adjacent the path of movement of said link member, said locking member having an attachment portion engageable with said transverse unit and a tongue extending from said attachment portion and positioned to extend through said opening into the path of travel of said link member.

7. As an article of manufacture, a locking member for rigidifying selected portions of a flexible feed chute, said locking member providing .a chute-engaging portion conforming in shape to a portion of said feed chute and a tongue extending from one portion of said chute-engaging portio-n and bent out of the plane of said chuteengaging portion, the forward end of said tongue forming a locking portion.

8. An article as defined in claim 7, in whic said tongue is integral with said one portion of said chute-engaging portion and extends upward therefrom and then downward to said locking portion, said locking portion lying just below the level of said chute-engaging portion.

9. An article as dened in claim '1, Vincluding another tongue extending from an opposite portion of said chute-engaging portion in a direction opposite to said first-named tongue and bent out of the plane of said chute-engaging portion to provide another locking portion.

10. An article as defined in claim 7, in which the locking member is substantially E-shaped t-o provide a bridge portion and two end arms cooperating in defining said chute-engaging por.-

tion, and a central arm comprisingsaid tongue. 11. As an article of manufacture, a locking member for a flexible feed chute, said chute comprising a plurality of transverse units disposed side by side to outline a member-guiding passage, adjacent transverse units being expansibly linked to each other by a link means extendingfrom one adjacent unit to the other, the other adjacent unit having an opening adjacent which an element of the link means moves, said locking mem# ber providing a iirst portion adaptedto' `extend along the `surface of said other adjacent unit and providing a second portion comprisinga tongue extensible through said opening to extend into the path of movement of said element of said link mean-s to restrict such movement.

l2. An article of manufacture as Vdefined in claim ll in which said element of said link means includes front and rear portions, and in which said first and second portions of said locking member are shaped for reversible disposition relative to said other transverse unit to extend said tongue selectively through said opening in two positions to engage selectively said front and rear portions of said element of said link means and lock the two adjacent transverse units selectively in extended or contracted position relative to each other.

13. As an article of manufacture, a locking member for attachment to a transverse unit of a ilexible feed chute comprising a plurality of such transverse units with linkages movably connecting each transverse unit to its adjacent transverse unit, said locking member being adapted to restrict relative movement of such adjacent transverse units and retain same selectively in a collapsed position in which adjacent parts of said adjacent transverse units are close together or in an expanded position in which said adjacent parts are more widely spaced from each other, each transverse unit having a shallow channel bounded by side walls and a bottom wall, said bottom wall having an opening adjacent which one of said linkages moves during relative movement between said adjacent transverse unit-s, said locking member including an attachment portion of a size to t snugly in said shallow channel in engagement with said side walls and including a locking portion extending through tend said locking portion through said opening to engage another portion of said linkage and prevent movement of said adjacent units to said collapsed position.

ROBERT E, HOLMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 20 Number Name Date 1,885,568 Twomley Nov. 1, 1932 1,906,288 Twomley May 2, 1933 2,307,389 Carter Jan. 5, 1943 2,378,652

Nobles et al June 19, 1945

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