Abstract: A method and arrangement for flick ramming projectile components such as shells or propellant powder charges in artillery pieces is disclosed which accelerates the projectile component to the necessary ramming velocity using an electromechanically generated energy supply in the form of starting acceleration from an electric motor. The rotating starting acceleration of the electric motor is mechanically converted into rectilinear acceleration, and the electric motor may be supplemented wit an energy supply obtained from a previously charged energy accumulator which is triggered simultaneously with the start of the electric motor.

Abstract: A device for assembling complete propellant charges from a plurality of modular propellant charges. A plurality of magazine tubes each receives a plurality of modular charges. Each magazine tube has an outfeed aperture. A plurality of ejectors eject the modular charges from the magazine tubes. At least one retrieval tube receives the modular charges from the magazine tubes. A manipulator alters a position of the at least one retrieval tube adjacent any of the magazine tubes for retrieving the modular charges from among the magazine tubes. The manipulator also alters the position of the at least one retrieval tube to be adjacent a loading mechanism of an artillery gun.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for use in gun magazines first and foremost in automatic-loading artillery guns (26) for arranging and stowing modular charges, and for delivering the desired number and type of modular charge (50, 51, 53-55) for each loading occasion that may involve different charge strengths such as different lengths and diameters but which may be combined in the desired manner for each individual occasion to impart the correct performance to projectiles fired from the artillery gun.

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: The present invention relates to a method and a device for artillery guns with fully or semi-automatic loading systems for stowing, handling and, prior to loading the gun in question, for preparing complete propellant charges consisting of modular charges of M(A)CS type, i.e. such complete charges that consist of a number of mutually combinable modular charges which, as they may contain different types of propellant and may be of different standardized lengths can be of different strengths, and which all have a primarily rigid combustible outer casing and where each one incorporates the necessary ignition system. As claimed in the present invention each modular charge is stowed linearly after the other in magazine tubes (4) arranged compactly in parallel on top of and beside each other, each one containing a number of a modular charges of a specific type.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for loading artillery guns intended for non-cartridge ammunition is provided. The loading is done by a pair of flick rammers including a first flick rammer for shells and a second flick rammer for propellant charges. Each of the flick rammers is positioned at an end position where the flick rammers are loaded with the shell and propellant charge, respectively, and in which the gun can recoil between the flick rammers. After the first flick rammer is loaded, it is moved towards the second flick rammer into a position in which the shell in the first flick rammer is in line with a gun barrel. The first flick rammer is then activated to move the shell into the gun barrel. The flick rammers are then jointly displaced in an opposite direction until the first flick rammer is in its end position and the propellant charges in the second flick rammer are in line with the gun barrel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically transferring a vertically standing ammunition component from a delivery opening in a carriage mounted magazine to a flick rammer incorporated in a gun elevation system is provided. In the method, a loading pendulum is positioned immediately outside the delivery opening of the magazine and parallel to the ammunition component. The ammunition component is then ejected from the magazine onto the loading pendulum without changing the vertical orientation of the ammunition component. The ammunition component is then locked in the loading pendulum and the loading pendulum is raised about a first axle to a substantially horizontal position. An outer cradle, in which the loading pendulum is suspended, is then lowered about a second axle coinciding with the trunnion center of the gun to an angle which coincides with the elevation of the gun and to a position above the flick rammer such that the ammunition component is immediate above the flick rammer.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for separate rapid ramming of shells and propellant charges in a heavy artillery gun in which shells and propellant charges, up to the loading operation are separately stored and separately fed to each respective ramming position in the barrel of the gun, the gun includes two magazines disposed one on each side of the barrel of the gun and the loading apparatus for transferring shells and propellant charges to the breech of the barrel. The loading apparatus includes at least one loading cradle with a first track for shells and a second track for propellant charges, each track having a free-flight rammer.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an automatic gun which employs case ejectors (1, 1') for realizing extraction and ejection of the cartridge case from a spent round. The case ejector is also utilized for arresting the breech block during the recoil of the weapon and holding the breech block in an open position so that ramming home of a new round (3') may be executed. The ejector is exposed to the round in process of being rammed home, which round, during its thrust towards the homed position in the barrel, entrains the ejector so that the breech block (2) is released and may execute its closing movement int. al. with the assistance of spring means placed under tension during the opening movement of the breech block. The ejector and the breech block are designed with cooperating arrest and abutment surfaces which take up portions of the kinetic energy of the round which is in the process of being rammed.

Abstract: An automatic weapon is provided with a device for increasing the rate of fire. The breech mechanism of the weapon is controlled by means of recoil movements which arise on discharge of the weapon, and by an operating cam and spring member included in the breech mechanism. Two case ejectors are disposed for arresting the breech block in the total recoil position of the breech and holding the breech block in the open position for ramming-home of a new round. In the arrested position of the breech block, the ejectors are exposable to the new round during its ramming cycle. A portion of the kinetic energy inherent in the round is transmitted to the ejectors which, may accompany the round and release the breech block for actuation by the spring member towards its closed position. The operating cam is movably disposed at least when the breech is located in the total recoil position.

Abstract: The invention relates to bearing means for a gun barrel (3) mounted in the breech casing of a weapon in which the breech casing comprises a sleeve member (2) enclosing a rear part of the gun barrel (3). The bearing means comprises a cylindrical sleeve (10) positioned between said breech casing sleeve member (2) and the adjoining external gun barrel surface. The sleeve (10) is provided with a spring part which consists of a plurality of finger springs (17) distributed about the peripheral surface of the gun barrel and engaging by the force of spring an enlarged cylindrical part (7) of the external gun barrel surface. This enlarged, cylindrical part (7) has such a length (d) in the longitudinal direction of the gun barrel that the finger springs (17) are engaged to said part (7) during the first phase of the recoil during which the shell, projectile or the like has not yet left the bore of the barrel (3).

Abstract: A stripper (5) is arranged at a breech ring of a large-calibre firearm. A ramming unit is arranged to insert a shell (11) and a charge (10) into the bore and chamber of the firearm during an insertion process. During the extraction process of the ramming unit which follows the insertion process the stripper goes into coaction with the bag charge and retains this in the chamber position. The stripper coacts with blocking means which during at least part of the insertion process prevent the stripper from being turned out. At a predetermined insertion position the ramming unit (12) achieves a releasing of the blocking means and at the releasing of the latter the stripper is released and can assume a turned-out position. The stripper is actuated to the turned-in position by means of a closing mechanism, and during this actuation the blocking means are prepared to again retain the stripper in the turned-in position at a renewed ramming.

Abstract: A rammer car has a rammer head which is movably supported in the transversal direction. The rammer car is composed of two units which are arranged to carry out a longitudinal displacement movement between the units in the riding direction of the rammer car. The rammer head is fastened in the first unit and the latter is arranged to be forced by the second unit to carry out a turning movement during the longitudinal displacement movement between the units, during which the rammer head follows the first unit and therewith carries out its turning movement in the transversal direction. After said longitudinal displacement movements the units are co-ordinated for a longitudinal displacement movement together in the longitudinal displacement direction.

Abstract: A breech ring (1) in a firearm, which can be closed and opened with a screw mechanism which comprises a screw (4). The breech ring has conical threads (5) which can coact with corresponding threads on the screw. The threads of both the breech ring and the screw have sectors without threads, arranged so that the screw can be inserted into its final longitudinal displacement position and thereafter turned into coaction with the threads of the breech ring for securing of the screw in the breech ring. In the sectors without threads there are arranged counter-holding plate springs (11a, 11b, and 11c) which in coaction with a stripper achieve a counter-holding and centering function for a bag charge (18) or the like, which has been inserted into the firearm by a ramming unit behind a shell or the like, the position of which in the longitudinal direction is thereafter adjusted during the extraction of the ramming unit from the chamber of the firearm.