Rotary shell reloader
An automatic shell reloader is provided. The shell reloader includes an electric motor coupled to a wheel which, in turn, is pivotally secured at its perimeter to the actuator of the shell reloader. The wheel leverages the power of the electric motor and provides precise control of the reloading operation. The shell reloader is also provided with a current sensing switch to attenuate the electric motor in response to detection of a malfunction.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to shell reloaders and, more specifically, to automatic shell reloaders.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known in the prior art to provide shell reloaders with multiple stations to simultaneously perform multiple reloading operations utilizing a single stroke of a reloader handle. It is also known in the art to automate the reloader whereby the operations and indexing of the reloader to advance shells to the next station is done mechanically rather than manually. It is known in the art to utilize hydraulic pumps for such automation.
One drawback associated with hydraulic systems is the noise associated with the hydraulic motors. The loud noise often masks the sound of the reloading operation. If a user is not able to hear the reloader, the user may miss the sound of a malfunction, which could lead to damage, not only to the shell be processed, but to the reloader, and possibly the user. Another drawback associated with hydraulic systems is that the reloading operation requires a significant amount of power at the top and bottom of the stroke. Accordingly, hydraulic motors must be overbuilt to provide this additional power at the bottom and top of the stroke, leading to increased cost, weight and maintenance associated with the larger motors. Still another drawback associated with prior art hydraulic motors is the inability to precisely attenuate the operation, either at the end of a particular operation or at a point when a malfunction is identified. An additional drawback with hydraulic motors is the inability to identify malfunctions and attenuate operation of the motor. Yet another drawback of the prior art is the difficulty associated with coupling a hydraulic motor to a reloader and the difficulty involved in switching the hydraulic motor between reloaders.
It would be desirable to provide an automatic reloader which produces little noise and which allows the use of a smaller motor and leverage the work output at the bottom and top of the stroke. It would also be desirable to provide a reloader capable of being attenuated at the end of a particular operation, and in the event a malfunction is identified. It would be additionally desirable to provide an automatic reloader with an automatic system for identifying malfunctions and attenuating the motor in response thereto. The difficulties encountered in the prior art described hereinabove are substantially eliminated by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a reloader having means for rotating a rotary motion converter. A linkage couples the rotary motion converter to means for moving a shell and a shell-reloading tool into and out of communication with one another. In the preferred embodiment, the rotating means is an electric motor and the rotary motion converter is a large wheel pivotally coupled at its perimeter to a shaft which actuates the reloader.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic reloader which is of a low cost, lightweight manufacture.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic reloader which produces little noise.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an automatic reloader which is adaptable to automatic attenuation upon detection of a malfunction.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic reloader which is portable.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic reloader which stops quickly after completion of each reloading stroke.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The automatic indexing reloader of the present invention is shown generally as (10) in
As shown in
A handle (32) is coupled to the turret assembly (20) by a plurality of linkages (34), in a manner such as that known in the art, to linearly actuate the turret assembly (20) downward toward the shell carrier (18), and to linearly actuate the turret assembly (20) upward away from the shell carrier (18). Although the foregoing elements may be combined in any manner, size, configuration or orientation known in the art, in the preferred embodiment, the reloader (12) is an MEC Reloader Model 9000 manufactured by Mayville Engineering Company of Mayville, Wis.
When it is desired to convert the reloader (12) to the automatically indexing reloader (10) of the present invention, the handle (32) is removed, along with its associated linkages. The handle (32) is replaced by a pair of actuation arms (36) and (38) which, as shown in
Once the actuation arms (36) and (38) have been installed, link straps (64) and (66), and the cam plate (68) are installed. As shown in
Once the reloader (12) has been reassembled, it is thereafter secured to a motor housing assembly (118).
As shown in
The circuit board (156) is also programmed to detect an overage current in excess of 1.0 amps during the remainder of the loading procedure. The amount of current required to trigger the circuit board (156) to reverse the motor (124) may, of course, be adjusted as desired, but is preferably adjusted so as to slightly reverse and stop the motor (124) in response to a shell (158), such as a hull or case, being crushed during the reloading procedure.
Coupled to the housing (120) is a faceplate (162) and back plate (164), preferably constructed of steel and secured to the housing (120) by bolts or weldments. Provided on the face plate (162) is an on/off switch (166) which is coupled to the motor (124). Also provided on the faceplate (162) is a fuse (168), which is coupled to the motor (124) for easy replacement if amperage to the motor (124) exceeds a predetermined amount. Provided on either side of the housing (120) are actuation switches (170) and (172). The actuation switches (170) and (172) are spaced sufficiently far apart to prevent actuation of both with one hand. The switches (170) and (172) are preferably coupled to the circuit board (156), which is coded to actuate the motor (124) only upon simultaneous actuation of the actuation switches (168) and (170) to avoid a user moving a hand into the automatic indexing reloader (10) during the reloading process.
The reloader (12) is coupled to the housing (120) by a plurality of bolts (174). Although the reloader (12) may be secured to the housing (120) by any suitable means, in the preferred embodiment the reloader (12) is releasably coupled to the housing (120), making it possible to utilize the motor housing assembly (118) in association with additional reloaders.
When it is desired to utilize the automatic indexing reloader (10) of the present invention, a user inserts a shell (158) into the shell carrier (18) actuates the on/off switch (166) and actuates the switches (170) and (172) causing the motor (124) to rotate the actuation wheel (130). This, in turn, causes the pull rod (142) to move the reloader (12) through a reloading cycle, and index the shell (158) to the next station. Once the operation has been performed and the shell (158) indexed to the next station, the carriage bolt (136) actuates the limit switch (140) to shut off the motor (124). An additional shell (158) may be positioned on the shell carrier (18) and the actuation switches (170) and (172) again actuated to move the reloader (12) through another reloading stroke and index the shell (158) to the next station. This process continues until one of the consumables used in the reloading process is gone, a malfunction occurs, or the desired number of shells (158) have been loaded.
In the event a shell (158) is reloaded incorrectly, is misshapen or, for any other reason, begins to be crushed by the reloader (12) during the reloading process, the increased pressure against the turret assembly (20) causes the current sensor (154) to trigger the circuit board (156) to slightly reverse actuation of the motor (124). The crushed shell (158) may thereafter be discarded, fixed or thrown away, depending on the severity of the crushing and the consistency required in the reloading process.
An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown generally as 176 in
When it is desired to use the alternative embodiment of the present invention, the user (not shown) actuates the switch 198 to turn the shaft 180 a predetermined amount sufficient to place the reloader 178 in a position for a first manual operation, after which the chip 196 causes the motor to stop. The user then inserts a wad 200 into a powder-filled hull 202. The user then depresses the switch 198 again to turn the shaft 180 in the opposite direction a predetermined amount sufficient to place the reloader 178 in a position for a second manual operation, after which the chip 196 causes the motor to stop. The user then inserts an empty hull 204 into the reloader 178. The user then repeats these operations until the desired number of operations have been performed.
The foregoing description of the drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention. By way of example, although all assemblies described herein are preferably constructed within a ninety percent variance, and more preferably within a twenty-five percent variance, from the dimensions listed above, the automatic indexing reloader (10) may be constructed of any desired material, or of any suitable dimensions.
Claims
1. An improved system for moving a shell loading tool and a shell into and out of contact with one another, said improvement comprising:
- (a) a rotary motion converter;
- (b) means coupled to said rotary motion converter for rotating said rotary motion converter;
- (c) means for moving the shell loading tool and the shell into and out of contact with one another; and
- (d) a linkage coupled between said rotary motion converter and said moving means.
2. The improved system for moving a shell-loading tool and a shell into and out of contract with one another of claim 1, wherein said rotating means is means for rotating said rotary motion converter through at least 300 degrees of rotation.
3. The improved system for moving a shell-loading tool and a shell into and out of contract with one another of claim 1, wherein said rotating means is means for rotating said rotary motion converter through at least 740 degrees of rotation.
4. The improved system for moving a shell loading tool and a shell into and out of contract with one another of claim 1, wherein 360 degrees of rotation of said rotary motion converter moves the shell loading tool and the shell into and out of contact with one another.
5. The improved system for moving a shell loading tool and a shell into and out of contract with one another of claim 1, wherein said rotary motion converter is a plate.
6. The improved system for moving a shell loading tool and a shell into and out of contract with one another of claim 5, wherein said plate is provided with a substantially arcuate perimeter.
7. The improved system for moving a shell-loading tool and a shell into and out of contract with one another of claim 6, wherein said linkage is coupled to said perimeter of said plate.
8. The improved system for moving a shell-loading tool and a shell into and out of contract with one another of claim 5, wherein said plate is provided a center and a surface defining a plurality of holes located at different distances from said radius.
9. The improved system for moving a shell-loading tool and a shell into and out of contract with one another of claim 8, wherein said linkage is coupled to said plate through at least one of said plurality of holes.
10. The improved system for moving a shell loading tool and a shell into and out of contract with one another of claim 1, wherein said rotating means is a wire winding positioned between a plurality of brushes.
11. The improved system for moving a shell-loading tool and a shell into and out of contract with one another of claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting a length of said linkage.
12. A loader for loading a shell, said loader comprising:
- (a) a shell loading tool;
- (b) a rotary motor;
- (c) a plate coupled to said rotary motor; and
- (d) means for converting rotation of said plate into movement of said shell loading tool and the shell into and out of contact with one another.
13. The loader for loading a shell of claim 12, wherein said converting means comprises:
- (a) means for moving said shell loading tool and the shell into and out of contact with one another; and
- (b) a linkage coupled between said plate and said moving means.
14. The loader for loading a shell of claim 13, wherein linkage is coupled to said plate in a manner which allows said rotary motor to rotate said plate at least 360 degrees.
15. The loader for loading a shell of claim 13, wherein said plate has a first side and a second side wherein said rotary motor is coupled to said first side of said plate and wherein said linkage is coupled to said second side of said plate.
16. The loader for loading a shell of claim 12, wherein said plate is provided with a substantially arcuate perimeter.
17. The loader for loading a shell of claim 16, wherein said linkage is coupled to said perimeter of said plate.
18. The loader for loading a shell of claim 16, wherein said plate is provided a center and a surface defining a plurality of holes located at different distances from said radius.
19. An actuator, a shell loader having a shell loading tool and a shell, said actuator comprising:
- (a) a rotary motor;
- (b) a plate having a first side and a second side, said first side coupled to said rotary motor; and
- (c) a linkage coupled to said second side of said plate.
20. The actuator, a shell loader having a shell loading tool and a shell, of claim 19, wherein linkage is coupled to said plate in a manner which allows said rotary motor to rotate said plate at least 360 degrees.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 15, 2005
Publication Date: Aug 17, 2006
Inventor: James Benn (Johnston, IA)
Application Number: 11/058,364
International Classification: F42B 33/02 (20060101);