Abstract: Ammunition transfer apparatus for movement of ammunition rounds from a magazine to a gun spaced apart therefrom is provided. The apparatus includes a transfer unit for withdrawing ammunition rounds from the magazine and inserting withdrawn ammunition rounds into the gun and a reciprocating drive, disposed between the magazine and the gun, for alternatively moving the transfer unit into a first position for withdrawing ammunition rounds and a second position for inserting ammunition rounds. In addition a carrier is attached to the reciprocating drive, for causing up to approximately a 180.degree. rotation of the transfer unit between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A hinged platform assembly includes a platform having an end member with a lobed surface on one side thereof and a relatively flat surface on another side thereof. A socket assembly is provided for receiving the end member and enabling the member to turn about an axis within said socket means. The socket assembly includes an opening therein for enabling insertion of the member into said socket means at one angular relationship between said member and the socket assembly and preventing separation of the member and the socket assembly at all other angular relationships therebetween. The socket assembly further includes opposing surfaces for preventing turning of the member within the socket assembly past a selected angle therebetween, thus allowing the platform to support heavy loads without the need of additional components or struts of any kind.

Abstract: A magazine for storing ammunition rounds includes a plurality of tubular ammunition canisters and a plurality of link assemblies with each link assembly supporting three ammunition rounds in a nested arrangement with longitudinal axes of each of the three supported canisters being approximately equidistant from one another. The link assemblies are interconnected to form a continuous loop and a chassis is supported for supporting the continuous loop in order that the centers of the link assemblies form loci on an oval pattern. The loops and canisters may be moved along the continuous loop by a drive unit and doing such movement the three canisters maintain a fixed spacial relationship as supported by the assembly.

Abstract: An ammunition canister includes a pair of injection molded outer shells with each shell configured for assembly with another shell to form the ammunition canister. Each shell is molded with guide surfaces for controlling movement of ammunition rounds within the canister. An injection molded spring housing assembly, rotatably mounted to one of the shells, includes a spring for applying torque to said drive sprocket and a crank and ratchet are provided for tensioning the spring.

Abstract: Carrier clip apparatus for use in linear linkless ammunition systems, including a cradle attached to a chain along with a plurality of legs, protruding from one side of the cradles, for guiding an ammunition round as the chain is moved in the linear linkless system and for enabling ammunition round transfer as the cradle and chain pass around a chain sprocket. Also provided is a retainer clip, attached to an opposite side of said cradle with a bendable edge portion extending to one side of the cradle in a spaced apart relationship with the legs, for releasably holding said ammunition round in the cradle and against said leg means.

Abstract: An ammunition magazine is provided for a large caliber gun installed on a vehicle in which the magazine is attached to the vehicle in a manner enabling the magazine to be moved from the first position at which ammunition can be moved from the magazines from within the vehicle to a second position at which ammunition rounds can be inserted into the magazine from outside the vehicle. The magazine itself is made of a plurality of attached modular canisters, with each modular canister being configured for supporting an ammunition round and including means for attaching each modular canister to other modular canisters to form a monocoque structure.

Abstract: A Linkless-Ammunition Gun Transfer Unit is provided for the conversion of a linked-ammunition firing gun to a linkless-ammunition firing gun, which includes a drive train for engaging ammunition feed sprockets disposed in the existing ammunition feeder and coupling means for removably attaching a linkless-ammunition feed chute to the ammunition feeder assembly and aligning the ammunition feed sprockets in the ammunition feeder assembly with the ammunition transfer sprockets disposed in the feed chute. Power from the gun is utilized to operate the linkless-ammunition feed mechanism.

Abstract: An ammunition magazine for small arm weapons having a reciprocating bolt and an ammunition feedwell therein includes a housing for storing a plurality of ammunition rounds and a drive spring for urging the ammunition rounds out of the housing. In addition, a feeder is provided for passing the ammunition rounds from the housing into the ammunition feedwell of the small arm weapon. The feeder is configured for being removably inserted into the small arm weapon ammunition feedwell and includes a feeder spring for urging ammunition rounds along the feeder from the ammunition housing and within the ammunition feedwell. An impact system is provided for engaging the reciprocating bolt of the small arm weapon and causing movement of the reciprocating bolt to compress both the drive spring and the feeder spring.

Abstract: A linkless ammunition magazine for small arms weapons utilizes energy taken from a reciprocating bolt to power the feeding of ammunition rounds into the weapon. No modification of existing small arms weapons is required to utilize the magazine. A spring provides an energy buffer for the power input from the reciprocating bolt and is sized to store only a small amount of energy so that it operates at a low stress level. Since the spring is not required to store sufficient energy to move all of the ammunition rounds into the weapon, a larger number of ammunition rounds may be stored in the magazine, and/or, the magazine may operate at higher rates of fire than otherwise possible with totally spring driven ammunition magazines.

Abstract: A drum-type ammunition magazine includes a plurality of concentric ammunition bays therein with each bay having disposed therein a plurality of fixed tiered partitions for supporting linkless ammunition and a rotatably mounted ammunition carrier for moving the linkless ammunition within the bays and between the fixed tiered partitions and toward a port communicating with each ammunition bay. The ammunition carriers may be operated independent of each other, enabling storage of a different type of ammunition in each of the ammunition bays.

Abstract: A lightweight ammunition magazine capable of storing a plurality of "tiers" of ammunition within a semi-monocoque shell without the use of separation partitions between the tiers includes a top and a bottom panel separated by a plurality of partitions to form a plurality of ammunition storage and guiding channels between the top and bottom panels. An endless chain ladder is disposed within the storage and guiding channels for transporting the stored ammunition within the storage and guiding channels to a magazine exit port. The endless chain ladder is configured for holding at least two tiers of ammunition rounds between the top and bottom panels with a longitudinal axis of each ammunition round being approximately perpendicular to the top and bottom panels.

Abstract: A transport mechanism for use in material handling systems whereby a multiplicity of like objects are automatically and rapidly transported from a storage compartment thereof to a predetermined location. Such mechanism receives a plurality of such objects at each of two or more spaced inlet openings, causes the objects to be interleaved in a predetermined sequential manner, and to be successively fed in a single row to said predetermined outlet location. The objects received through each inlet opening are caused to be spaced with respect to each other and with respect to the objects received through the other inlet opening or openings in accordance with the size of each object and in accordance with the number of inlet openings employed, and are then interleaved with the objects from the other inlet openings to come together at the outlet opening in a single row for placement individually and sequentially in a given position at said predetermined location.