Abstract: A mechanism for feeding the shells to a weapon one at a time comprises a conveyor for removing one shell from at least one ammunition magazine comprising a frame, mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to a floor for movement from a pick-up position to a transfer position, rails on the frame disposed parallel to the floor, an arm slidably mounted on the rails for movement therealong parallel to the floor, a gripper mounted on the arm for gripping a shell and pivotable from a first position wherein the shell is upright to a second position wherein the shell is aligned with the length of the vehicle. The gripper is operative in the first position to grip a shell when the frame is in the pick-up position and is operative in the second position to release a shell when the frame is in the transfer position. A shell tray is mounted for sliding movement parallel to the floor between a receiving position wherein the tray receives a shell released by the gripper and a holding position.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer with a voltage-controlled oscillator that can be tuned over its total frequency range in increments of a prescribed frequency range a frequency-dictating component. A reference oscillator emits a reference signal of a strictly prescribed frequency that is supplied as a first input signal to a comparator to which is simultaneously supplied a second input signal of a frequency that is a function of the frequency of the output signal from the voltage-controlled oscillator. The comparator generates a fine-tuning signal in accordance with the difference between the frequencies or between the phases of the first and second input signals and supplies the fine-tuning signal to the voltage-controlled oscillator.

Abstract: A flick rammer for artillery rounds. The rammer has a loading tray that is positioned in alignment with the powder chamber at a prescribed distance to the rear of the gun. The tray accommodates the round. The rammer also has a mechanical acceleration component that engages the rear of the round and is connected to a cylinder-type drive mechanism. To improve the device to the extent that ramming will remain rapid whereas the design will be simple enough to operate reliably even at light loads and to occupy very little space, the cylinder-type drive mechanism is a pneumatic cylinder that communicates with a compressed-air reservoir through a rapid-opening control valve, and the mechanical acceleration component is connected to the moving component of the pneumatic cylinder through a stroke-transmission mechanism with a transmission ratio greater than 1.

Abstract: A railroad-vehicle truck with a frame that yields under torsion and consists of transoms (2) and side frames bars (1) welded into an H. The transoms (2) are positioned such that the planes that the transom webs (2k) lie in intersect at one line (S7), which lies between the flanges (21) of the transoms. Each of the flanges of the transoms are fastened to one of the upper and lower flanges on the depressed middle section of the side frame. Helical compression springs are positioned on the upper flanges of the depressed section, with a bolster on the springs, and load dependent side bearings between the compression springs and the bolster. The side frames are resistant to torque over their total length, but the transoms yield under torque. Thus the truck has sufficient corner rigidity and prevents high material stresses caused by torque.

Abstract: A device for measuring axle geometry at the wheel axles of motor vehicles with the wheels turning. The device has at least two frames. A driven pair of rotating cylinders is positioned in each frame. A wheel of the vehicle can rest on the cylinders. The frame can rotate freely in a horizontal plane around a pivot that is positioned away from the pair of cylinders along the length of the vehicle. The frame can also slide freely on the base plate in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A sensing component can be placed against the side of the wheel. The sensing component has a goniometer that measures the position of the sensing component against the wheel and compares it to a reference that is fixed with respect to the device.

Abstract: Rotating and positioning tool for axially symmetrical workpieces, especially for steering tie rods in motor vehicles. A housing with a recess for the introduction of a workpiece accommodates a clamping mechanism with a crown gear that is positioned and driven at its circumference. An empty space inside the crown gear communicates with the outside through an access slot. The space is demarcated by a contour. Three tension rollers are accommodated inside the empty space in such a way that they can be displaced radially inwardly against the force of springs. The rollers roll along the contour. The distance of the contour from its axis of rotation continuously varies through alternating maxima and minima. As the crown gear rotates, the tension rollers are forced in from a starting position where the distance is maximal and securely clamp the workpiece, which is located at the axis of rotation.

Abstract: Equipment for monitoring combat vehicles, especially tanks, firing practice firing with simulated rounds. Each combat vehicle has a laser that emits a pulse of light when the firing button is pressed and devices to receive and display an arriving pulse of light. A television pickup is coupled to a monitoring or targeting device in each combat vehicle and can be connected through a video section with a television monitor at a director's post. At the director's post there are at least two television monitors, each assigned to a given group of combat vehicles. As long as none of the firing buttons in any of the combat vehicles are pressed, the image supplied from the monitoring or targeting device in a selected combat vehicle will appear on each television monitor. When a firing button is pressed in one of the vehicles, the image supplied from the monitoring or targeting device in that vehicle will appear on the monitor associated with the vehicle for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: In ammunition-stowage systems in which the individual shells can be inserted in storage tubes, damage to the shells is prevented when they are inserted too rapidly. A braking device is positioned for this purpose at each storage tube and brakes the longitudinal travel of the shell as soon as the shell arrives at the position inside the storage tube that corresponds to the rest position, in which it is secured in place by the securing hooks. The braking device preferably grasps the impact part of the shell and is connected to a stop that can be displaced longitudinally by a system of rods that activates the braking device when it is displaced as soon as the shell comes to rest against the stop and the stop is shifted out beyond its rest position into the shell-insertion position by the moving shell.

Abstract: A combat vehicle, especially an armored vehicle, with a rotating turret on a hull and with an entry-and-exit hatch that can be closed with a cover and that is mounted in the roof of the hull. The parts of the roof of the hull in the vicinity of the hatch consist of a circular plate that rotates on an axis perpendicular to the roof and in which the hatch is positioned in the plate eccentric to its axis of rotation. To make the hatch as small as possible, while permitting exit from the vehicle at all turret positions, the position of the hatch can be varied.

Abstract: In the turrets of tanks and other battle systems the ammunition is supposed to be stored in the ammunition bunker of the turret itself, in ammunition-stowage systems. Since tank turrets taper upward as a rule whereas the space available for storing ammunition should be completely exploited, the ammunition-stowage system as a whole can not be installed in the turret from above. To allow the ammunition-stowage system to be installed in the turret, the system is divided into three or four storage racks that can be installed individually in the turret from above. The outer storage racks widen outward in conformity with the slope of the side walls of the turret and have inwardly vertical demarcations, with the intermediate storage rack or intermediate storage racks having vertical demarcations or walls.

Abstract: In ammunition-stowage systems in which the shells are stored in storage tubes, the shells are to be prevented from being able to slide out of the storage tubes when severely shaken while on the other hand being easy to grasp for removal and withdrawal from the tubes. A securing and ejector device is positioned at every storage tube for this purpose. The device contains one stop each, which rests on the front of the rim of the shell and is subjected to spring force in such a way that the springs are compressed when the shell is inserted. A hook that can be shifted transversely against the force of a spring engages behind the rear of the base of the shell when a shell has been inserted. To remove a shell, the hook is shifted transversely until it releases the base of the shell, upon which the stop, which is subject to the force of a spring, thrusts the shell out at least as far as the length of the spring allows.

Abstract: An ammunition bunker has a plurality of storage tubes arrayed in rows next to and above each other. A doorway at the rear ends of the tubes is provided through which shelves are inserted and removed from the tubes. The doorway extends over an area which is less than that of the array of tubes such that given tubes lie outside the area of the doorway. In order to access these tubes, the given tubes are mounted at the front ends thereof for pivoting movement at the rear ends of each towards the doorway. Storage tubes disposed adjacent the given tubes in the direction of pivot have cutout portions so as to enable the extraction openings of the pivoted given storage tubes to be in approximately the same position as in the extraction openings of the cutout storage tubes.

Abstract: Apparatus for the supervision of a battle vehicle, especially an armored vehicle, from a control station during training exercises. The apparatus has a television camera which is coupled to an aiming or observation apparatus in the battle vehicle and is connected by a video transmission circuit to a television receiver disposed at the control station. Outside of the battle vehicle, a television camera which can be aimed at the target area is set up in the field and can also be connected to the television receiver disposed in the control station. A remotely controlled switching device is disposed in the control station, by which either the video signal emitted by the television camera in the battle vehicle or the one emitted by the television camera set up in the field can be connected to the television receiver. The switching device is remotely operated by a firing signal transmitted from the battle vehicle.

Abstract: A mechanism that automatically opens the breech block wedge on a semi-automatic weapon, especially a tank cannon with a training liner. Mounted on the breech of the weapon is an electromechanical drive mechanism that includes an electric motor with a drive shaft on which is mounted an energy-saving flywheel that can be connected through adjustable couplings and a reduction gear to an opener shaft on which is mounted an opener lever that shifts the breech block wedge into the open position when the shaft rotates. The flywheel is accelerated to a nominal speed when the couplings are disengaged. Electronic controls then engage the couplings for a predetermined amount of time and turn off the electric motor. Some of the energy of rotation of the flywheel is transferred to the opener lever. The couplings are then disengaged and the electric motor turned on again. The electronic controls are practically activated by the firing pulse and/or the actual firing procedure.