US3687004A - Ammunition drum and turret for automatic weapons - Google Patents

Ammunition drum and turret for automatic weapons Download PDF

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Publication number
US3687004A
US3687004A US836307A US3687004DA US3687004A US 3687004 A US3687004 A US 3687004A US 836307 A US836307 A US 836307A US 3687004D A US3687004D A US 3687004DA US 3687004 A US3687004 A US 3687004A
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Prior art keywords
munitions
drum
belt
turret
weapon
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Expired - Lifetime
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US836307A
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English (en)
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Jacques Faisandier
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
    • F41A9/00—Feeding or loading of ammunition; Magazines; Guiding means for the extracting of cartridges
    • F41A9/29—Feeding of belted ammunition
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
    • F41A9/00—Feeding or loading of ammunition; Magazines; Guiding means for the extracting of cartridges
    • F41A9/29—Feeding of belted ammunition
    • F41A9/34—Feeding of belted ammunition from magazines

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT Apparatus for the automatic supply of munitions to automatic weapons disposed in turrets comprising a rotating drum for intermediate storage, means adapted to load a belt of munitions in helicoidal form in said drum and to discharge said belt from said drum and a servo control means for the control of the speed of rotation of said drum in dependance of the rate of firmg.
  • the invention relates to turrets for automatic weapons and more particularly to weapons where for reasons of space it is not possible to store munitions in the turret or in munition boxes outside and in the immediate proximity of the turret. Since the filling of conventional munition boxes necessitates a fairly wide and properly arranged access, the invention has particular utility, for example in helicopters, and these conditions do not always exist.
  • the device comprises in combination A rotating drum of annular cross-section serving for intermediate storage between the munition boxes and the weapon A sprocket-wheel disposed to serve the munitions at a level above the drum and rotating in a determined speed ratio in relation to the speed of rotation of the drum, so that the downward movement of the munition belt into the drum is matched to the rotational movement of the latter in order to effect the laying of the belt in helicoidal form in the drum,
  • a corridor or delivery conduit which is disposed between the drum and the turret and in which there is interposed the mechanical part of the device for controlling the speed of rotation of the drum and of the sprocket wheel in dependence on the rate of firing;
  • a well which is vertical, at least in its top portion, and which is situated at the top of the turret and disposed coaxially in relation to the axis of rotation of the latter, and in which the munition belt descends to the level at which the weapon is served;
  • a brake device disposed in said well in order to brake the excessively rapid descent of the munitions, either while the drum is supplied or at the end of the belt; and an electrical servo control device.
  • the flexible cables and flexible pipes are housed in the carriage by folding them in U-shape, thus permitting a very considerable oscillation of the rotating part on each side of a middle position.
  • FIG. 1 the drum, the rotary part of which is designated generally by 1, is mounted on a stationary member 2, member 2 comprises a vertical, cylindrical portion 3 around which the drum 1 rotates.
  • the running track for drum 1 is indicated at 4 and 5 represents one of the guide rollers for the drum.
  • the cylinder 3 contains the electric drive motor 6, a tachometer type drive speed sensor 7, the torque limiter 8, and a first speed reducer 9.
  • the speed reducer 9 transmits the movements of the output shaft of motor 6 to the sprocket wheel 10 through the gear train 12 and, through the second speed reducer 13, to the drum 1.
  • the sprocket wheel 10 which is in the form of a gear the tooth gaps of which receive the munitions 14, is supported by its bearings above the drum, the bearings in turn being mounted above an opening in the cover 15 (FIG. 3) which closes the casing (not shown) containing the rotating drum 1.
  • a removable emergency crank 16 (FIG. 3) permits operation in the event of the failure of the electric motor 6.
  • the munitions arrive or are discharged from the drum through the corridor 17 and pass into the servocontrol corridor 18 containing the belt tension detector designated generally by 19 in FIG. 2.
  • the munitions continue to the turret through the corridor 20, which is seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.
  • the corridors 17 and 20 preferably slope downwardly.
  • the munitions arriving in the turret through the corridor 20 enter through the vertical well 21, passing over the return roller 22 and then under the tensioning roller 23; roller 23 being indicated diagrammatically by two circles (FIG. 4).
  • the corridor 24 munitions arrive at the return roller 25 and then at the weapon, represented diagrammatically at 26, where they arrive on the left of said weapon.
  • the links detached from the belt are discharged through the passage 27.
  • the servocontrol device for the motor 6, of which the mechanical part is illustrated in FIG. 2, includes the belts tension detector designated generally by 19.
  • Tension detector 19 is constituted by two bent levers 30, 31 pivoting with the axis 32 and carrying the roller 33 at one ends. The other end of detector 19 is acted on by a return spring 34, one end of which is fixed at 35 while the other end acts on the two levers 30, 31 to bring them and also the roller 33 into the position indicated in broken lines in FIG. 2.
  • the roller 33 raises the belt, which weighs on the levers against the action of the spring 34.
  • Two rollers 36, 37 delimit the length of the belt which can be raised by the roller 33.
  • a hood 38 also limits the raising of the belt.
  • the weapon applies traction to the belt in the direction of the arrow F thus tending to reduce the lifting of the belt against the action of the spring 34.
  • the angular displacement of the levers 30, 31 is measured by the inductive potentiometer 40 (FIG. 6), the rotor of which is keyed on the shaft 32.
  • the potentiometer 40 supplies a voltage which is compared with the voltage delivered by speed sensor 7 driven by the motor 6. This comparison gives rise to an error voltage which is the variable controlling the feeding of the motor 6.
  • the means for generating the error voltage includes an amplifier 42, a converter 43 and a mixer 44; the error voltage generating circuitry being supplied with power via conductor 45 from a source 46 (not shown).
  • the regulating potentiometer 47 is used when the switch 41 is in the position T. It then regulates the speed of loading or unloading of the rotating drum 1. Operation is as follows The loading of the empty magazine takes place after the tension detector 19 has been locked in the position shown in solid lines (FIG. 2), in which it is held by any suitable locking device (not illustrated). The belt is introduced manually into the corridor downstream of the detector through an opening (not illustrated) and is led through the detector to the sprocket wheel. The motor 6, which is a reversible, adjustable speed type motor, is started up. The speed of motor 6 will at this time be adjusted by the potentiometer 47.
  • the sprocket wheel turns in a direction such that it pulls the belt and delivers it into the drum 1, which rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow F (FIG. 3).
  • the belt is laid helicoidally in the drum. Before completion of the winding the motor is stopped and the end of the belt is suitably introduced through the corridor 20 and the well 21 until it can be attached to the weapon.
  • the belt is opened downstream of the detector, at a position corresponding to the previously mentioned opening of the corridor, and a new belt is attached to the end of the old belt.
  • the rotation of the motor and the switch 4]. are reversed, and the detector 19 is locked in the position shown in solid lines.
  • the belt is opened at a position corresponding to the previously mentioned opening, and the ends of the old belt which is in the corridor 20 downstream and of the new belt upstream are connected together.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the embodiment of an additional idea of the invention, according to which advantage is taken of the presence of the well 21 to house the carriage which efiects the connection between the external inlet of the electric and hydraulic forces and the consumer installations inside the turret, thus making possible with minimum friction, the winding and unwinding of the flexible parts of electric cables and hydraulic pipes which make the connection to the outside.
  • This carriage is housed in an annular drum 50 mounted coaxially in relation to the well 21, around which it turns freely.
  • 51 and 52 designate the cable and pipe entries into the fixed part 54 of the tur' ret
  • 53 designates their entry into the rotating part of the turret.
  • an additional idea of the invention consists in bending the flexible cables and flexible pipes into U-shape, thus enabling the entry box 54 to turn through on each side of the middle position illustrated, which is amply sufficient for practical requirements.
  • a weapons system including a turret mounted automatic weapon, a munitions storage and feed apparatus comprising:
  • drum means mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, said drum means having an unobstructed annular portion of constant cross-section which provides for intermediate storage of munitions in flexible belt form for ultimate delivery to the weapon;
  • sprocket-wheel means mounted ajacent to and above said drum means for delivering munitions to and extracting munitions from said drum means, munitions belts delivered by said sprocket-wheel means falling freely into said drum means annular portion;
  • conduit means for directing the munitions from said drum means to the turret
  • brake means disposed on the weapon side of said well in the direction of belt travel for controlling the descent of the munitions belt.
  • carriage means on the turret said carriage means being disposed coaxially of said vertical well and providing for the delivery of electrical and hydraulic power to the weapon mounted in said turret.
  • said carriage means includes:
  • connection means extending between the stationary and movable parts of the turret, said connection means including flexible conduits housed in said carriage and being formed into a U-shape.
  • a turret for an automatic weapon comprising:
  • a rotatable weapon mounting platform said platform including a vertical well through which a munitions belt may be delivered to a weapon;
  • drum means having an unobstructed annular portion of constant cross-section positioned remotely of said platform, said drum means being mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and providing for intermediate storage of munitions in flexible belt form;
  • sprocket-wheel means mounted adjacent to and above said drum means for delivering munitions to and extracting munitions from said drum means annular portion, munitions belts delivered by said sprocket-wheel means falling freely into said drum means annular portion;
  • brake means mounted in the turret on the weapon side of said vertical well in the direction of munitions travel for controlling the descent of a munitions belt.
  • said weapon mounting platform further comprises:
  • carriage means said carriage means being disposed in the turret and coaxially of said vertical well and provided for the delivery of electrical and hydraulic power to the weapon.
  • connection means extending between the stationary and movable parts of the turret, said connection means including flexible conduits housed in said carriage and being formed into U-shapes.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)
US836307A 1968-06-26 1969-06-25 Ammunition drum and turret for automatic weapons Expired - Lifetime US3687004A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR156561 1968-06-26

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US3687004A true US3687004A (en) 1972-08-29

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US (1) US3687004A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1581603A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3974738A (en) * 1974-08-09 1976-08-17 Emerson Electric Co. Rotary differential ammunition reservoir
DE2839839A1 (de) * 1977-09-28 1979-03-29 Oerlikon Buehrle Ag Patronenzufuehrvorrichtung fuer automatische feuerwaffen
US4213376A (en) * 1978-07-26 1980-07-22 Cadillac Gage Company Storage and feeding apparatus for ammunition belts
US5107750A (en) * 1986-12-24 1992-04-28 Dornier Gmbh Feeding ammunition
US5442991A (en) * 1983-12-05 1995-08-22 Hughes Missile Systems Company Accumulating rotary transfer unit
US5684265A (en) * 1995-07-21 1997-11-04 Kuka Wehrtechnik Gmbh Turret for a wheel-mounted or tracked vehicle
US6453792B1 (en) * 1999-10-29 2002-09-24 Raytheon Company Gun trunnion angular-sensing mechanism
US20090114085A1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2009-05-07 Rheinmetall Landsyteme Gmbh Modular, adaptable ballistic protective construction in particular for a weapons turret
US20090120271A1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2009-05-14 Rheinmetall Landsysteme Gmbh Ammunition supply system
US20100294119A1 (en) * 2009-05-19 2010-11-25 James Buechler Ammunition canister and feed system
US8434397B1 (en) 2012-06-08 2013-05-07 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Helicopter weapon mounting system
US10591233B2 (en) 2015-11-10 2020-03-17 Cmi Defence S.A. Medium-caliber ammunition supply device with turntable

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2401909A (en) * 1942-09-11 1946-06-11 Bell Aircraft Corp Ordnance
US2521346A (en) * 1943-10-21 1950-09-05 Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd Ammunition feed mechanism for machine guns
US2538045A (en) * 1943-04-02 1951-01-16 Sperry Corp Gun mounting
US3427923A (en) * 1967-02-08 1969-02-18 Emerson Electric Co Storage of linked ammunition for cartridge feed systems
US3498178A (en) * 1968-02-23 1970-03-03 Emerson Electric Co Cylindrical ammunition magazine for storing and discharging linked ammunition

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2401909A (en) * 1942-09-11 1946-06-11 Bell Aircraft Corp Ordnance
US2538045A (en) * 1943-04-02 1951-01-16 Sperry Corp Gun mounting
US2521346A (en) * 1943-10-21 1950-09-05 Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd Ammunition feed mechanism for machine guns
US3427923A (en) * 1967-02-08 1969-02-18 Emerson Electric Co Storage of linked ammunition for cartridge feed systems
US3498178A (en) * 1968-02-23 1970-03-03 Emerson Electric Co Cylindrical ammunition magazine for storing and discharging linked ammunition

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Designing Gun Turrets as Integral Part of Aircraft, Part III Aviation, June 1943, pp. 227 229, 231, 343, 344, 346. *
MAMEE, Emerson Electronics and Space Division, May 10, 1968, page 9. *

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3974738A (en) * 1974-08-09 1976-08-17 Emerson Electric Co. Rotary differential ammunition reservoir
DE2839839A1 (de) * 1977-09-28 1979-03-29 Oerlikon Buehrle Ag Patronenzufuehrvorrichtung fuer automatische feuerwaffen
US4213376A (en) * 1978-07-26 1980-07-22 Cadillac Gage Company Storage and feeding apparatus for ammunition belts
US5442991A (en) * 1983-12-05 1995-08-22 Hughes Missile Systems Company Accumulating rotary transfer unit
US5107750A (en) * 1986-12-24 1992-04-28 Dornier Gmbh Feeding ammunition
US5684265A (en) * 1995-07-21 1997-11-04 Kuka Wehrtechnik Gmbh Turret for a wheel-mounted or tracked vehicle
US6453792B1 (en) * 1999-10-29 2002-09-24 Raytheon Company Gun trunnion angular-sensing mechanism
US20090120271A1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2009-05-14 Rheinmetall Landsysteme Gmbh Ammunition supply system
US20090114085A1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2009-05-07 Rheinmetall Landsyteme Gmbh Modular, adaptable ballistic protective construction in particular for a weapons turret
US8297170B2 (en) 2007-08-31 2012-10-30 Rheinmetall Landsysteme Gmbh Modular, adaptable ballistic protective construction in particular for a weapons turret
US20100294119A1 (en) * 2009-05-19 2010-11-25 James Buechler Ammunition canister and feed system
US8151684B2 (en) * 2009-05-19 2012-04-10 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Ammunition canister and feed system
US8573109B2 (en) 2009-05-19 2013-11-05 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Ammunition canister and feed system
US8434397B1 (en) 2012-06-08 2013-05-07 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Helicopter weapon mounting system
US8850950B2 (en) 2012-06-08 2014-10-07 United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Helicopter weapon mounting system
US10591233B2 (en) 2015-11-10 2020-03-17 Cmi Defence S.A. Medium-caliber ammunition supply device with turntable

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1581603A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-09-19

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