Abstract: An ammunition storage and retrieval system for a weapon is provided. The storage and retrieval system includes a main magazine having a main carrier belt that is configured to store a plurality of munitions have a first set of handling characteristics and a handoff unit that retrieves a selected one of the plurality of munitions and transfers the selected munition to the weapon. The main magazine also includes an auxiliary magazine mount. There is further provided a set of auxiliary magazines that are selectively engageable with the auxiliary magazine mount. A first one of the auxiliary magazines is configured to store munitions having the first set of handling characteristics and a second one of the auxiliary magazines is configured to store munitions having a second set of handling characteristics.

Abstract: A linked bucket carrier for safely transporting molded, solid-propellant charges between a transport conveyor and respective storage magazines is described. The propellant charge carrier includes an elongated body having an arc-shaped cross section that defines an elongated slot which is divided into compartments by spacers so that the carrier is capable of holding at least two propellant charges. The carrier may further include clamping fingers extending from the body and arranged on the body in opposing pairs, and the fingers may be pre-formed so that they define an out-of-round cross section adapted to clamp the propellant charges when the propellant charges are positioned within the body.

Abstract: To automate the uploading and downloading of a magazine storing rounds of large caliber ammunition in horizontal orientation, a transfer mechanism is equipped with a set of transfer forks and a set of selector gates operating is synchronism with a magazine rotary conveyor to laterally transfer ammunition rounds between a linear transfer conveyor and carrier positions on the rotary conveyor. The selector gates serve to pick rounds from carrier positions swinging through a turnaround of the rotary conveyor during downloading and to provide underlying, rolling support for the rounds during uploading and downloading transfer movement controlled by the transfer forks. Alternatively, the transfer mechanism is equipped to upload and download a pair of magazines stationed on opposite sides of the linear conveyor.

Abstract: To reliably hold rounds of ammunition on a magazine conveyor, each of a series of ammunition round carriers has a semi-cylindrical bucket providing an axially elongated slot along which are arrayed integral, roller tipped resilient fingers defining a slot opening of a width less than the ammunition round diameter. Forced insertion and withdrawal of a round through the slot opening is accommodated by flexure of the fingers and facilitated by rolling engagement with the rollers. The rollers are pressed against an ammunition round in a bucket by the clamping forces of the fingers to impose both lateral and axial motion restraints on the round to secure its carrier position.

Abstract: A propellant magazine includes a conveyor for mechanizing the handling of propellant charge units into and out of magazine storage. The charge units are contained in open ended tubular packs which are loaded onto the conveyor at a resupplying loading station and are axially discharged from the packs through one open end at a gun loading station. The conveyor is comprised of a series of transversely elongated conveyor elements having a pair of hoops at each end with hoops of each adjacent pair of elements retained in nested relation to pivotally interconnect the elements in chain link fashion. The propellant charge units are discharged axially through the nested hoops along one side of the conveyor.

Abstract: A propellant magazine includes a conveyor for mechanizing the handling of propellant charge units into and out of magazine storage. The charge units are contained in open ended tubular packs which are loaded onto the conveyor at a resupply loading station and are axially discharged from the packs through one open end at a gun loading station. The conveyor is comprised of a series of transversely elongated conveyor elements having a pair of hoops at each end with hoops of each adjacent pair of elements retained in nested relation to pivotally interconnect the elements in chain link fashion. The propellant charge units are discharged axially through the nested hoops along one side of the conveyor.

Abstract: A conveyor for large caliber ammunition includes upper and lower chains mounted within a magazine to run in a compact serpentine path. The lower chain includes platform links on which ammunition rounds (projectiles and propellant canisters) rest in upright orientations. Resiliently backed ball casters, affixed to the upper and lower chains, run in magazine guide tracks and roll on the track bottom surface to provide smooth and efficient conveyor operation. Retainers cradle the ammunition rounds to maintain their upright stand on the conveyor and to ensure that they are safely propelled through the turns in the serpentine conveyor path.

Abstract: An extensible ammunition conveyor includes telescoping conveyor sections mounting pairs of laterally spaced sprockets adjacent the conveyor section ends. A pair of endless chains are trained about these sprockets in coextensive, transversely spaced relation with each chain having transversely lapping run portions extending along the telescoped end portions of the conveyor sections. The sprockets of each pair are mounted in angularly relation to provide an effectively V-shaped open trough for transversely confining cylindrical ammunition rounds during conveyance motivated by driving the chains in unison. Jointly braking and driving the chains in an appropriate direction produces powered extension and contraction of the conveyor.

Abstract: This invention provides an annular piston, annular control valve, liquid propellant gun system, having a dual angle injection mechanism to provide both bore and chamber gas requirements with a single injection control valve. The dual angle feature assures a stable combustion zone. A flexible lip on the projectile is used in conjunction with the dual angle injection mechanism to positively eliminate backflow of propellant through the injection mechanism during the ignition phase of the gun cycle.

Abstract: This invention provides an annular piston, annular control valve, liquid propellant gun system, having a dual angle injection mechanism to provide both bore and chamber gas requirements with a single injection control valve. The dual angle feature assures a stable combustion zone. A flexible lip on the projectile is used in conjunction with the dual angle injection mechanism to positively eliminate backflow of propellant through the injection mechanism during the ignition phase of the gun cycle.

Abstract: A linear linkless ammunition feeding system includes a magazine in which a major portion of an endless ammunition conveyor is supported in serpentine formation on upper and lower sets of opposed rails. Screw feeder elements convey this serpentine formation linearly to an exit end of the magazine where the serpentine conveyor loops thereof are successively unwrapped from the rails by a first shuttle mechanism and accelerated to conveyor gun firing velocity. A second, identical shuttle mechanism stationed at the entrance end of the magazine decelerates the conveyor coming from the gun and wraps it into serpentine loops on the rails.