US2851928A

US2851928A - Loading mechanism for a non-automatic gun

Info

Publication number: US2851928A
Application number: US565439A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hultgren Karl Sten Rudolf; Martensson Karl Johan Georg
Original assignee: Bofors AB
Current assignee: Saab Bofors AB
Priority date: 1955-02-14
Filing date: 1956-02-14
Publication date: 1958-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1975-09-16
Also published as: DE1037925B; BE545151A; NL92959C; FR1140538A; CH343263A; GB784480A

Description

Sept. 16, 1958 K. s. R. HULTGREN ETAL' ,8 ,9 8

LOADING MECHANISM FOR A NON-AUTOMATIC GUN Eiled Feb 14. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l KARL JOHAN GEORG H M 3M -ATTORNEY5 Sept. 16, 1958 K. 3. R. HULTGREN r-rrAL' 2,

LOADING MECHANISM FOR A NON-AUTOMATIC GUN Filed Feb. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS KARL STEN RUDOLF HULTGRE HAN GE KARI JO ATTORNEY ORG MARTENs United States Patent 6 2,851,928 LOADING MECHANISM FflR A NON-AUTOMATIC GUN Karl Sten Rudolf Hultgren, B ofors, and KarYJohan Gorg Mfirtensson, Karlskoga, Sweden, ass'ignoi's to. Akti'egolaget Bofors, Bofors, Sweden, a corporationof'Swen t Application February. 14, 1956,- Serial No. 565;439- Claims priority, application Sweden Februaryf14, 19551 3 Claims. (CI; 89-45) The-present invention relates to a loading mechanismfor-a gun,-and more particularly to a loadingmechanism for a non-automatic recoiling field gun.-

While loading trays are at present ingeneral'use with automatic guns and stationarily mountedheavy' caliber guns, they have not been heretofore used withnon-automatic field guns. It is customary to load such guns by the gun-crew ramming one round after the oth'er; The-gun crew when ramming the rounds mustbe careful'to -av'oid accidental damaging contact between the breech ring and a round to avoid damage to the breech'ringior' the round As it evident, a ramming operation: which requires special attention on the part of the -gun crew is not fully desirable under combat conditions-.

Accordingly, thep'rincipal objectof the'invention'is to provide a novel loading mechanism which permits rapidramm'ing of a non-automatic recoiling gun without special carefulness on the part of the gun crews Another object of the invention is to provide a n'ovel and improved loading mechanism for anon-automatic recoiling gunwhich greatly simplifies and acceleratesdhe loading and ramming operations.

Still another object of the invention isto plrovidea novel loading tray assembly for a non-automatic recoiling gun.

A further object of the invention is to provide -a:novel loading tray assembly which precludes an accidental damaging contact between a round and the breech-ring for all practical purposes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel loading tray assembly in which the tray is locked either in the ramming position or intheloading position, but is automatically unlocked and moved from one position into the other in accordance with theoperationalcycle of the gun operations.

Other and further features, objects andadvantagesof the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set equipped with a loadingmechanismaccordingto the invention, the tray being shown in its loadingposition.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showingthe tray in its ramming position, and

Figs. 3 to are sectional detail views of the breech r-ing and the breech block-of the gun-in three'difierent operational positions. g A

Referring now to the figures indetail, these figures show' a gun barrel lending in a breech ringh2. The.

barrel and the breech ring are slidably supported in a cradle'3. The cradle mounts two side brackets 4 and 5 including bores for receiving the trunnions (not shown) for elevating and depressing the gun barrel and the cradle. A channeled link 6 is pivoted on one endto 2,851,928 Patented Sept. 16, 1958 trunnion bracket'4 pivotal about'a pivot 7L Theotherend of link 6 is pivoted toa loadi-ng tray 9; pivotal about a==pivot 8'. An arm 10 "is nested in ch'anneled link- 6 pivotal about a transverse pivot 11; The free enclof arm 10' isabifurcated and coacts with aspring loaded pin 12 axially. displaceable paralleltopivot'8; Pin 12 can be fitted in a suita'ble hol'e inna loadingtray 9 after swinging out arm 10: Whenpin 12a inserted m its holeglink 6 is rigidly secured to the loadingtray. Arr'n lfl 'is n'ormally held by meansof -a locking pin 13 in a position suclr that pin'12 :cannot beinserted in'itshole in theiloading tray. A downward movement of link 6 relative to cradle 3 is limited by"an abutment lu'g 14 which is seated on a suitable locking bar a'nd cari -be caused to bear against" the trunnion bracketW: One end of a second link 17 islpivotal. about a pin 16*which 1's mountedJonFa bracket15secured tocra'clle'3. The other end of link-17 is: pivotal about a"pivot 18 eXtendin'g from: loadingtray 9.

As-canv best be seen in Fig. 1, links6 and 17, loading tray 9 and the distance.between pivotsfi'and 16' define atparallelogram, the-components6, 17" and 9 of'which' are relatively movable. The-linkagesystem formed by links? 6- and 17 and the components associated therewith are soarranged that the loaidn'g tray is compelled tomove parallelto'the axisof thebarrel and perpendicul'a'rly thereto; As a result, the loading tray will always oceupy a positiohparallel-to' theaxisof the barrel or more specifically, the bor'e o-f the-ba'rr'el and the loadin'g cha'rnber therein.

The: end of link 17 adjacent to 'bracket 4brackets' 4 i and 5 do not participate 'in'th'erecoiling movement of the barrel and the associated parts-dsbifurcated" to form two "arms- 19 and l 20* each of which is linked by' a pin 22' which is welded to a-tubeZT of arestoring device.- This tube 21 is1closed at' it'supper end.. The lower-end: of the"tube is openl and receives a plunger 23 pivotal= on a pin 24 extending froma member 25 joined to' cradle 3. The upper end of plunger 23,. that is; the

end extending into tube 21; forms a head 26 against which abuts oneend of a coil .spring' 27 encompassing The other end of spring 27 abuts the.- plunger 1 shaft. against a collar forrn'ed at the open-end of tube 21. Thus,

the spring 27 is compressed as the tray is lowered to the position shown'in Fig. Z-andassists in' raising the tray to the position shown in Fig. 1 after the round has been loaded into the' breech block in the manner'hereinafter described.

Bracket 15'has' a hole in which is fitted a spring loaded pin" 28 coa'cting with one. end of a catch 29 so thatitibiases upwardly said end of the catch. The catch is "pivotal about a pin 30 fitted in a bearing member 31 securedto' trunnion bracket'4. Pin 30 extends through bracket 4 and"the end of thepin protruding from the bracket onthe side of breech ring 2' seats ant arm 32 ending in a lug 33. This'lug coactswith adog 34 on: breech ring 2: Catch 29 further coacts with. a nose 35' extendingfrom link 17.

A second catch means 38 is pivotal about a'pivot 36 mounted on a bracket 37 fastened to the breech ring; Catch 38has a hookon'one end and the "other endofthe catch is extended to coact with a second release mean'sin.

itsiprotruding inner end engagesa' guide groove 41in a" breech block 42 which is shown as being movable transversely ofthe' axis of: barrel 1. The breech block is opened by'the recoil movement of the gun for ramming:

of around when the tray is in-its lower position and is 3 moved by springaction to close the loading .chamber of the gun when the tray is in its upper position.

When the breech block is in the position of Fig. 3 pin 39 is biased by spring 40 into the position in which catch 38 occupies its outwardly tilted position. The pin 39 remains in this position as long as it moves within the straight portion of the groove. However, when the breech block moves into the position of Fig. 5, either from its open position or its closed position, the inner protruding endv of pin 39 engages a ridge or rib 43 on the breech block which axially displaces catch 38 into a position in which the catch is withdrawn toward the Wall of the breech ring; When the breech block reaches the position of-Fig. 4 in which ridge 43 has passed pin 39, catch 38 is returned into the position of Figs. 3 or 4 by the action of spring 40. In other words, catch 38 remains stationarily in the position of Figs. 3 and 4 unless its operating pin' 39 is in engagement with ridge 43. As can be seen in Figs. 4 and 5 the catch is positively guided by pin 39.

Catch 38 coacts with a locking member 44 secured to link 17 and extending transversely on both sides thereof. The upper part of member 44 has a bevelled edge which is engageable by the hook of catch 38 and the lower protruding part of member 44 has a shape such that it can abut against the top side of the hook of catch 38as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

. Link 17 has secured thereto a second locking member 45 which extends transversely of link 17 generally parallel with catch member 44. Member 45 coacts with abar 46 which is axially displaceable in a transverse hole formed in the respective wall of breech ring 2. The inner end of bar 46 should be visualized as coacting with the conventional firing mechanism of the gun. Member 45 overlies bar 46 in all positions of link 17 except the position shown in Fig. 1. As a result, bar 46 is pressed back into the breech ring. The firing mechanism should be visualized as being locked in the pressed-in positionof bar 46 by means suitable and well known for the purpose. Accordingly, bar 46 constitutes a control member for the firing mechanism. A round or shell 47 is shown in Fig. ,2 as being placed upon loading tray 9. v v

To simplify the illustration one linkage system and the associated catchmeans are shown in the figures. vHowever, .it should be understood that the same. arrangement may be provided on the other side of the loading tray and the breech ring also toprovide support of the loadingtray. on both sides thereof.

The operation of the loading mechanism as hereinbefore described, is as follows:

' Let it be assumed that the loading mechanism is in the position of Fig. 1 and that a round has beenrammed home. The breech block is shown closed as itis also shown in Fig. 3, but the round has not been fired as yet. The loading tray is shown in its raised or loading position. Then, catch 38 is in its outwardly tilted position (see Fig. 3) so that the lower part of catch member 44 rests upon the top of catch 38 thereby blocking a downward movement of the loading tray. Dog 34 pressed upon lug 33 of catch 29 whereby the catch is disengaged from nose 35 on link 17. Control bar 46 of the firing mechanism is released as catch member 45 does not overlie the protruding end of the bar. Consequently, the firing mechanism is released and the gun is ready to fire.

Before the gun is fired a round 47 is placed upon'the loading tray. If the gun is now fired, thebarrel and with it the breech ring will recoil rearwardly relative to trunnion brackets 4 and 5. As a result, dog 34 loses contact with lug 33 and the lower part of member 44 becomes disengaged from catch 38. The spring loaded pin 28 is now free to turn catch 29 upwardly whereby the catch engages nose 35 thereby retaining the loading tray in the raised position of Fig. l.

When the barrel with the breech ring has recuperated after the completion of the recoil movement, the breech block 42 is opened. During the movement of the breech .block from its closed position into its open position catch:

' defining the four corners of a parallelogram for displac- 38 is temporarily tilted inwardly into the position of Fig. 5 due to the engagement of ridge 43 with pin 39. As a result, the loading tray 9, on which has been placed a new round 47, will swing downwardly by its weight without changing its position parallel to the axis of the'bore of the barrel. The downward movement of the tray is stopped by stop 14 as previously described. The lower end position of the tray is such that the center axis of the round{ on the tray is substantially in alignment with the axis of the bore. As is apparent, the downward movement of the tray is possible because catch 29 has lost contact with nose 35. due to the reengagement of dog 34 with lug 33. Furthermore, the hook of catch 38 engages the bevelled: edge of catch member 44 thereby retaining the loading tray in its lower or ramming position as isshown in Fig. 2. The new round can now be rammed, either by means, of a rammer or by hand. Due to the correct location of the round in relation to the 'loading chamber and th breech ring, the gun crew is relieved of the necessity of being specially careful to avoid an accidental damaging contact between the round and the breech ring. After the round has been rammed, the breech block is closed. During the closing movement, catch38 is again temporarily tilted inwardly by the engagement of pin 39" withridge 43. As a result, catch 38 is disengaged-fro locking member 44. Upon release of member 44 the spring 27 of the restoring device pivots the loading tray into its upper or loading position of Fig. 1. In the mean-:- time, catch 38 has returned into the position of Figs. 3 or, 4 and engages locking member 44 thereby preventing movement of the loading tray into its lower or ramming position. A newround may now be placed upon the load ing tray and the previously described cycle of operations be repeated. I; While theinvention has been described in detail with respect .to a certain now preferred example and embodr ment ofv the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that. various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modificationsin the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured y Letters Patent is:

We claim: 1. A loading mechanism for a non-automatic recoiling gun having a recoiling part that includes a loading chamher, said mechanism comprising a loading tray, a linkage system including two links each pivoted on one end to said-tray and on the other end to a non-recoiling part of the gun, the pivot points of said links approximately ing said loading tray with the longitudinal axis thereof lying within a plane containing the longitudinal axis or said loading chamber whereby the tray is movable between a ramming position at the same level and in front of the loading chamber of the gun and a loadingposition spaced above said level, yieldable means biasing said, links into a raised position in which said tray is in said loading position, releasable catch means coacting with said links for locking said tray in the loading position, and release means on a recoiling part of the gun for releasing said catch means by a recoil movement of the gun whereby the tray is movable into its ramming position by the weight of a round placed thereupon;

2. A loading mechanism for a non-automatic recoiling gun having a recoiling part that includes a loading chainber, said mechanism comprising a loading tray, a linkage system including two links each pivoted on one end to said tray and on the other end to a non-recoiling part of the gun, the pivot points of said links approximately defining the four corners of a parallelogram for displace ing said loading tray with the longitudinal axis thereof lying'within a plane containing the longitudinal axis of) said loading chamber between a ramming position at the same level and in front of the loading chamber of the gun and a loading position spaced above said level, yieldable means biasing said links into a raised position in which said tray is in said loading position, releasable catch means coacting with said links for locking said tray to the loading position, and release means on a recoiling part of the gun for releasing said catch means by a recoil movement of the gun whereby the tray is movable into its ramming position by the weight of a round placed thereupon, said catch means including a movable catch member and spring means biasing said catch member toward engagement with one of said links, and said release means including a projecting element on the recoiling part of the gun engageable with said catch member for moving the latter out of engagement in response to the recoil movement of the gun thereby releasing said tray for movement toward the ramming position.

3. A loading mechanism for a non-automatic recoiling gun having a recoiling part that includes a loading chamber, said mechanism comprising a loading tray, a linkage system including two links each pivoted on one end to said tray and on the other end to a non-recoiling part of the gun, the pivot points of said links approximately defining the four corners of a parallelogram for displacing said loading tray with the longitudinal axis thereof lying within a plane containing the longitudinal axis of said loading chamber between a ramming position at the same level and in front of the loading chamber of the gun and a loading position spaced above said level, yieldable means biasing said links into a raised position in which said tray is in said loading position, releasable catch means coacting with said links for locking said tray in the loading position, release means on a recoiling part of the gun for releasing said catch means by a recoil movement of the gun whereby the tray is movable into its ramming position by the weight of a round placed thereupon, said recoiling part including a breech ring and a breech block movable within said breech ring between open and closed positions, second releasable catch means coacting with one of said links in either position of said tray for locking said tray in either position, and second release means coacting with said second catch means, said second release means being controlled for release of said second catch means by each movement of the breech block between its closed position and its open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,040,210 Kastner N Oct. 1, 1912 2,649,840 Davidson Aug. 25, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 333,661 Germany Mar. 2, 1921 107,734 Sweden June 22, 1943