Abstract: A central tire inflation and deflation system which quickly inflates or deflates tires to any one of a plurality of pressures selected by the vehicle operator. Inflation pressure is greater than the pressure to which the tires are to be inflated. The system uses a tire valve which deflates the tires when a pressure less than the instantaneous tire pressure but greater than a minimum value is applied to the valve. Pressure on rotary seals which connect the tires to the system is relieved when the system is not operating.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cannon-support mechanism that includes means for loading rds of ammunition into the firing chamber of the cannon. An upright hollow strut or arm has a swingable connection with a rotary firing chamber mechanism such that individual rounds of ammunition can be transferred from a support vehicle directly through the hollow strut into the cannon firing chamber. The hollow strut is raisable or lowerable in the direction of its length, whereby the ammunition transfer function can be carried out with the cannon in a range of different elevations relative to the roof area of the vehicle.

Abstract: An engine-transmission disconnect mechanism that includes mating splines spline grooves on a drive collar-shaft assembly. End areas of selected splines are set back from the collar-shaft interface to facilitate meshed engagement of the splines and grooves when the engine is operated. The mechanism can be shifted between the connect and disconnect modes while the engine is running.

Abstract: A gun traverse apparatus in which the trunnions are mounted in eccentrics which are simultaneously rotated in opposite directions to swing the gun horizontally in limited traverse relative to the carrier on which the gun is mounted. In one embodiment, the carrier is a mobile carrier provided with a transmission for steering, and a signal is transmitted from the gun at the limit of the traverse to actuate the transmission and turn the vehicle further to bring the gun traverse back into its range of movement.

Abstract: The torque driving the final reduction in a planetary winch transmission is split, driving two final but separate output stages to a common ring gear of a drum or the like.

Abstract: A loading apparatus for telescoped round ammunition for a rapid fire gun in which the loading occurs during the recoil and counter-recoil movements of the gun with the recoil and counter-recoil movements of the gun being employed to position a new round into the chamber, discharge the old round from the chamber and reposition the chamber in the breech. One or two magazines of new rounds can be selectively used. The chamber can be moved along tracks out of the breech and back into the breech or can be swung out of and into the breech.

Abstract: A throttling valve develops a pressure to bring recoiling parts of a weapon to rest with a constant force. Counter-recoil is provided from recuperator pressure. The throttling valve is biased with a force proportional to the sine of the gun elevational angle to compensate for the gravitational component inline with recoil. Counter recoil force is controlled by a valve that regulates the recuperator pressure available for counter-recoil by an amount that is proportional to the sine of the gun elevation angle.

Abstract: A military vehicle comprising a hull that is equipped with a rotary turret nd an external gun thereabove; external power means is provided to elevate the gun bodily and turn the gun in the elevation plane. The gun is equipped with at least one ammunition supply tube that can be periodically replenished from an ammunition storage means in the hull without human assistance (other than actuation of control switches or valves).

Abstract: In a track laying vehicle having ground-engagement shoes, the pivot pins of he shoes are coupled together by connectors which are locked in place by means of tapered wedge blocks; the mating surfaces of the pins are also tapered. The tapers on the blocks and coupled pins are in axial directions so that disturbing torques generated during normal shoe operations have no effect on the taper lock action.

Abstract: A base of a TOW missile system is mounted on a rotatable turret of a vehicle and is also rotatably mounted relative to the rotation of the turret so that the orientation of the base about its own rotational axis remains stationary. The positioning of the TOW base on the turret allows the turret to rotate generally about an axis which can be aligned with the person operating the sight. Thus the diameter of the opening in the vehicle is reduced. One embodiment uses a planetary gear system for holding the orientation of the base. A second embodiment uses a flexible link.

Abstract: A heat engine power system includes a fluid fuel heat engine designed to determined performance characteristics for military vehicles, and a cooling subsystem which has enough capacity to carry away the rejected engine heat. When the exigencies of parts support require replacement of the original engine by a more powerful one which at high ambient temperatures and wide-open throttle would overload the cooling subsystem, the speed controls are such that either of two heat sensors closes an electric circuit to a solenoid which is energized to move the throttle to a given position to restrict fuel flow to an amount which limits engine output so that the rejected heat is within the capacity of the cooling subsystem, thus avoiding overheating and failure, and keeping the military equipment in service without permanently sacrificing total available horsepower.