Patents by Inventor Roger H. Wiethoff

Roger H. Wiethoff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4860633
    Abstract: An autoloading method and apparatus is disclosed for a turret mounted gun that is pivoted horizontally relative to the turret and must be lowered to a substantially horizontal 0.degree. position for loading selected cartridges from a magazine conveyor, ejecting empty cartridge cases and misfired cartridges from the gun and turret, assisting in replenishing cartridges from outside the turret into the magazine, and off-loading cartridges from the magazine. A partition divides the turret into two compartments with a gunner and a commander located in one compartment and the mechanical components of the autoloader and breech of the gun located in the other compartment. When the gun is returned to the 0.degree. position for ejecting an empty case, the site of the director system remains on target. The turret is preferably mounted on a military land vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Roger H. Wiethoff, Gary J. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4823676
    Abstract: An autoloading method and apparatus is disclosed for a turret mounted gun that is pivoted horizontally relative to the turret and must be lowered to a substantially horizontal 0.degree. position for loading selected cartridges from a magazine conveyor, ejecting empty cartridge cases and misfired cartridges from the gun and turret, assisting in replenishing cartidges from outside the turret into the magazine, and off-loading cartridges from the magazine. A partition divides the turret into two compartments with a gunner and a commander located in one compartment and the mechanical components of the autoloader and breech of the gun located in the other compartment. When the gun is returned to the 0.degree. position for ejecting an empty case, the site of the director system remains on target. The turret is preferably mounted on a military land vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Roger H. Wiethoff, Gary J. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4700609
    Abstract: An autoloading method and apparatus is disclosed for a turret mounted gun that is pivoted horizontally relative to the turret and must be lowered to a substantially horizontal 0.degree. position for loading selected cartridges from a magazine conveyor, ejecting empty cartridge cases and misfired cartridges from the gun and turret, assisting in replenishing cartridges from outside the turret into the magazine, and off-loading cartridges from the magazine. A partition divides the turret into two compartments with a gunner and a commander located in one compartment and the mechanical components of the autoloader and breech of the gun located in the other compartment. When the gun is returned to the 0.degree. position for ejecting an empty case, the site of the director system remains on target. The turret is preferably mounted on a military land vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Roger H. Wiethoff, Gary J. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4481862
    Abstract: A turret is movable in azimuth within a turret support structure and a large caliber cannon is movable in elevation within the turret. A turret ammunition handling system includes an automatic loading mechanism for fixed ammunition cartridges configured with stub cases. The system is configured to move the ammunition cartridges between a turret mounted magazine and the cannon breech at the existing elevation of the cannon. The magazine is movable within the turret and has a plurality of cartridge storage cells therein. A stub case ejection container is movable between a position behind the breech opening, where it accepts ejected cartridge stub cases from the breech, and a position extending through a hatch in the gun mantlet, whereupon the stub case is discharged from the turret. Misfired rounds may be removed from the turret and cartridges may be on-loaded and off-loaded from the turret by the automatic loading mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Roger H. Wiethoff, Bruce G. Heron