US3238844A - Guiding device for guiding shell casings ejected by the recoil of a gun - Google Patents

Description

March 8, 1966 A. G. CARLSSON 3,238,844

GUIDING DEVICE FOR GUIDING SHELL CASINGS EJECTED BY THE RECOIL OF A GUN Filed Nov. 17, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 k A k A k v \I v V INVENTO AKENT ausmv CIRLSSO/V BYMaMJ/MW AT Toe/v57:

March 8, 1966 A. G. CARLSSON 3,238,844

GUIDING DEVICE FOR GUIDING SHELL CASINGS EJEGI'ED BY THE RECOIL OF A GUN Filed Nov. 17, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet z m Q R R,

G J o 9 N i w \l INVENTOR. ARE/v7 ausm CARL sso/v A-r-raavrr:

March 8, 1966 A. G. CARLSSON 3,233,844

GUIDING DEVICE FOR GUIDING SHELL CASINGS EJECTED BY THE RECOIL OF A GUN Filed Nov. 17, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ARE/V7 G(/S7;4V MRLSSOA/ ATTORNEY:

United States Patent Ofifice 3,238,844 Patented Mar. 8, 1966' 3,238,844 GUIDING DEVICE FOR GUIDING SHELL CASINGS EJECTED BY THE RECOIL OF A GUN Arent Gustav Carlsson, Karlskoga, Sweden, assignor to Aktiebolaget Bofors, Bofors, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Nov. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 411,742 Claims priority, application Sweden, Nov. 21, 1963, 12,873/ 63 4 Claims. (Cl. 89-45) The invention relates to a device for guiding empty shell casings ejected by the recoil action of an automatic gun, in particular of a mobile gun, the barrel of which is pivotal in a vertical plane by means of an elevational system.

When firing mobile automatic guns, empty casings ejected backwardly of the gun barrel by the recoil action tend to accumulate rapidly on the ground behind the gun, thereby interfering with the gun components extending rearwardly of the gun barrel, such as the gun-loading mechanism and the magazine for rounds of ammunition during the operation of the elevational system, of which said components constitute part, and also inconveniencing the gun crew.

The present invention relates to a device, a general object of which is to eliminate or at least to reduce the difficulties caused by empty casings accumulating on the ground in the immediate vicinity of the gun at a location where they may obstruct movements of rearwardly extending gun parts during laying and loading. To attain this object the invention provides a device for changing the direction of movement of the casings as ejected rearwardly of the gun barrel in such a way that the empty casings do not fall upon the ground in the immediate vicinity behind the gun barrel when the barrel is elevated for firing, and thus below the gun magazine and other gunvcomponents extending behind the barrel, but are guided past such components so as to fall upon the ground ata sufficient distance behind the gun.

Thus, according to the invention, a mobile automatic gun of the kind described is provided with a guiding device for empty shell casings which comprises a guide means attached to and carried by a gun component which constitutes part of the elevational system of the gun. This guide means has a curved, upwardly facing concave guide surface extending substantially in the direction of the gun barrel. The forward end of the guide means, in the position of the device as used for guiding casings rearwardly ejected from the gun barrel during recoil, is located below and in front of an imaginary extension rearwardly of the barrel axis and thus below and in front of a casing ejected from the barrel. The rear end of said guide means, at a portion of said guiding surface located rearwardly of an imaginary extension backwards of the axis of the barrel bore, extends obliquely rearwards and upwards from said axis.

The guiding device has a width suitable for safely catching the ejected casings and a satisfactory length for guiding the ejected casings rearwardly past the magazine of the gun. The portion of the guiding device which prevents falling of the casings below the gun magazine, may comprise a plate structure constituting a rearwardly and upwardly curved guide surface, which may have the shape of a bent plate or a curved trough, or may comprise curved rods which in conjunction define a corresponding guide surface, said rods as seen in a projection in the horizontal plane, extending parallel to the barrel direction.

To avoid operational impediments that may be caused due to the guiding device protruding far below the components of the gun during transport of the gun, the guiding device for the casings is pivotally secured to the elevational system by means of joints, about which the guiding device can be articulated in a longitudinal vertical plane of the gun between an active position in which the forward end of the guiding device occupies the position in which it is located below and in front of an imaginary extension rearwardly of the gun bore, and a transport position in which the guiding device is swung upwards towards the magazine so as to be closely located underneath or behind the magazine. For this purpose, the guide means of the guiding device is fastened to one end of suspension rods arranged on either side of the guide means and of the path of the casings ejected rearwardly from the barrel by the recoil, the joints for swinging the guiding device being arranged at the other end of said rods and fastened to a part of the elevational system above said imaginary extension of the barrel.

Preferably, the suspension rods also constitute an array of rods comprising pivots on each rod at the end thereof adjacent the guiding means and also at the end thereof adjacent the elevational system, said pivots being pivotal in a plane extending through said rods. As a result, the guiding means is suspended so as to yield to lateral forces exerted thereupon to which forces the device may be exposed by encountering external obstacles during a change of direction of the carriage supporting the gun.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fractional side view of a mobile automatic gun comprising a guiding device according to the inventon;

FIG. 2 shows, more in detail, the same guiding device in transportion position; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the guiding means for the shell casings in the active position thereof.

FIG. 1 shows parts of the mounting 1 of a gun, said mounting being supported by a carriage comprising track chains 2 and chain wheels 3. The mounting is pivotal in a horizontal plane about a vertical pivot 7 and supports the gun barrel 4 and further components pivotal in a vertical plane together with the barrel about a horizontal pivot 5. These components are parts of the elevational system of the gun which also includes the loading means of the gun, not illustrated, arranged for cooperation with a magazine 6 for rounds of ammunition located behind the barrel and constituting part of the elevational system. The elevational system is illustrated in FIG. 1 at substantially maximal elevational angle for the gun during firing.

The guiding device according to the invention for guiding ejected shell casings, which will be described more in detail, is secured to and suspended from the magazine 6 rearwardly of the barrel and below the magazine. In the exemplified embodiment the guiding device comprises a guide means in the form of a guide plate 8 having a guide surface facing upwardly and concavely curved in reference to the magazine. The forward end of this guide plate 8 is, when the case guiding device is positioned for guiding ejected casings, located below and in front of the path of a casing ejected backwards in the direction of the axis of the barrel, the imaginary extension rearwardly thereof being indicated at 10. In this position the rear end 11 of the guide plate 8 extends obliquely rearwardly-upwardly from the imaginary extension 10 of the barrel axis. Guide plate 8 is secured to a frame 12, which is suspended from two pivotal support rods 13 and 13, respectively, said rods being arranged on either side of the guide plate, pivotal in longitudinal vertical planes of the gun about joints 14 and 14, respectively fastened to magazine 6. Guide plate 8 and frame 12 are thus pivotal between the active position of the guiding device illustrated in FIG. 1, in which the forward end of the guide plate is located below and in front of the imaginary extension 10 of the barrel, and a transport position illustrated in FIG. 2, in which the guiding device is swung upwardly toward the magazine 6. Rods 13, 13' are then located close to the magazine and frame 12 and guide plate 8 are located rearwardly of and close to the magazine.

The casing guiding device is held in a desired position by a pair of adjustable support means (only one being shown), each comprising a sleeve 15 and 15 respectively and a rod 16 and 16' respectively, the rods being lengthwise displaceable and lockable in the sleeves. Each of the support means 15, 16 and 15', 16' respectively is pivotally secured at one of its ends to the respective one of the suspension rods 13, 13', respectively, by means of a joint 20 and 20, respectively, and at the other end to a holder 25 and 25', respectively, which is located on a part of the gun mounting by means of a joint 21, 21', respectively. Said support means 15, 16 and 15', 16 are each provided with a ratchet means 26, which is preferably automatically released if subjected to undue overload and which may be manually released when the guiding device is to be brought into the transport position illustrated in FIG. 2.

To arrange the guiding device yieldable in a lateral direction if subjected to lateral forces by external bstacles during transport or laying, each of the suspension rods 13 and 13 is provided with a joint 17 and 17', respectively, close to the holder for the rods on frame 12 of guide plate 8 and with a joint 18, 18, respectively, at the end of an arm 19 and 19, respectively. The other end of arm 19 and 19 respectively is pivotal in a ver tical plane about the above mentioned joints 14 and 14', respectively. Said joints 17, 17 and 18, 18' are pivotal about pivots perpendicular to a plane through rods 13 and 13', the rods 13 and 13' thus together constituting a linkage system by means of which the guiding device may move laterally when exposed to external lateral forces.

An hydraulic shock absorber 22 and 22', respectively, is arranged between magazine 6 and each one of the arms 19, 19' to absorb shocks when the guiding device drops down into its active position for guiding ejected casings upon being released from its transport position below and behind the magazine.

With the device according to the invention in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 the casings ejected after firing are guided by guide plate 11 past the components of gun which protrude backwardly beyond the gun barrel and fall upon the ground rearwardly of the gun instead of reaching the ground in the direction of the barrel axis where they may constitute an obstacle for said components during elevational movements.

In the embodiment as illustrated, the casing guiding device is, as described above, arranged so as to be swung upwardly during transport into a position, in which guide plate 8 and frame 12 are located close to and behind magazine 6. In this position in which the support means 15 16 and 15' 16', are correspondingly extended, the guiding device is suspended from the magazine by means of hooks 23 for holding frame 12. The hooks may be manipulated by means of a handle 24,

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a certain now preferred example and embodiment of 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 modifications in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A guiding device for guiding empty shell casings ejected by the recoil of a gun, the barrel of which is arranged in an elevational system pivotally mounted in a vertical plane lengthwise of the gun on a gun mounting, and including gun components located above an imaginary rearward extension of said barrel, said guiding device comprising guide means including a guide surface concavely curved in reference to the barrel, and suspension means for securing said guide means to the elevational system to support the guide means in a position in which the front end of said concavely curved guide surface is located below said imaginary extension of the barrel rearwardly of the barrel, the rear end of said guide surface extending obliquely rearwardly-upwardly in reference to an imaginary rearward extension of the barrel axis.

2. A guiding device, according to claim 1, wherein said suspension means comprise two mutually parallel suspension rods arranged on either side of said imaginary extension of the barrel as seen in a projection in a horizontal plane, first joints pivotal in a plane extending through said two suspension rods and each securing said guide means to one of said suspension rods at one end thereof, and second joints also pivotal in said last mentioned plane for securing each of said suspension rods to the elevational system at a component thereof located above said imaginary rearward extension of the barrel.

3. A guiding device according to claim 1, wherein said suspension means comprise joints for fastening the guiding device, pivotal in a vertical plane lengthwise of the gun, to the elevational system at a component thereof located above said imaginary rearward extension, said guide means together with the suspension means being movable as a unit about said joints between an active position for guiding casings ejected rearward of the gun barrel in which position the front end of the guide means is located below said imaginary extension of the barrel, and a transport position in which said suspension means and said guide means are located close to said components extending rearwardly of the barrel above said imaginary extension of the barrel.

4. A guiding device according to claim 3, and further comprising at least one support rod, a first joint pivotally connecting one end of said support rod with said suspension means at a point thereof located a distance from said joints for pivotally fastening said suspension means to the elevational system, and a second joint for pivotally connecting the other end of said support rod to said gun mounting.

No references cited.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. F. C. MATTERN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A GUIDING DEVICE FOR GUIDING EMPTY SHELL CASTINGS EJECTED BY THE RECOIL OF A GUN, THE BARREL OF WHICH IS ARRANGED IN AN ELEVATIONAL SYSTEM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN A VERTICAL PLANE LENGTHWISE OF THE GUN ON A GUN MOUNTING, A INCLUDING GUN COMPONENTS LOCATED ABOVE AN IMAGINARY REARWARD EXTENSION OF SAID BARREL, SAID GUIDING DEVICE COMPRISING GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING A GUIDE SURFACE CONCAVELY CURVED IN REFERENCE TO THE BARREL, AND SUSPENSION MEANS FOR SECURING SAID GUIDE MEANS TO THE ELEVATIONAL SYSTEM TO SUPPORT THE GUIDE MEANS IN A POSITION IN WHICH THE FRONT END OF SAID CONCAVELY CURVED GUIDE SURFACE IS LOCATED BELOW SAID IMAGINARY EXTENSION OF THE BARREL REARWARDLY OF THE BARREL, THE REAR END OF SAID GUIDE SURFACE EXTENDING OBLIQUELY REARWARDLY-UPWARDLY IN REFREENCE OF AN IMAGINARY REARWARD EXTENSION OF THE BARREL AXIS.

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