Abstract: The present invention relates to an ammunition handling system primarily for self-propelled artillery guns (1). According to the invention, the gun (1) in question is provided with carrier arms (19, 20) which are pivotally journalled in the chassis of the gun and which carry special ammunition magazines (21, 22) or cassettes in which a primary requirement of propellant charges (18) and shells (14) is stored. In such instance, the design of the carrier arms (19 and 20) and magazine (21, 22) is such that the magazine may be pivoted by simple manoeuvres forwards from a transport position where they are folded-in, in a direction towards the centre line of the gun, to a second position closely adjacent the loading breech of the gun or the replenishment position for auxiliary systems (13, 17) utilized on loading of the gun. The present invention also encompasses specific designs of the relevant magazines and a piece of ordnance designed in accordance with the inventive concept has herein disclosed.

Abstract: An ammunition round reorienter is equipped with a gear train having parallel drive paths connecting a common motor to concurrently rotate a platform about a vertical axis and to pivot a tray about a horizontal axis, such that an ammunition round carried by the tray is reoriented both in azimuth and elevation as it is translated between receiving and handoff orientations.

Abstract: A mechanism for inserting a munition into a chamber of a weapon includes a drive device, a munition feed device, a ramming device, a locking device and a retractable stop assembly. The drive device includes a drive element that drives the mechanism through a first rotation and a second rotation about the same axis of rotation. The munition feed device transports and feeds the munition, and the device is coupled to and rotationally driven by the drive device from an initial position through the first rotation to a ramming position and through the second rotation from the ramming position to a locking position. The ramming device is connected to and disposed to rotate with the munition feed device such that the ramming device is aligned with and disposed to ram the munition into the breech chamber when the mechanism is in the ramming position.

Abstract: The high cycle rate transfer device invention disclosed herein enables a continuous conveyance of material in a limited space envelope. Particularly, a roller chain is driven by a center sprocket with outboard rollers on the chain running in a track so that material can be moved in both directions. Pawls on each end of the chain are used to urge the material. Each time the chain is moved, a pawl folding and unfolding mechanism maintains the pawls in a proper position and timed relation to each other.

Abstract: An ammunition transfer system, for large caliber artillery ammunitions of varying dimension, using a shuttle moveable through the transfer device's housing to transfer a projectile into or out of the said device. The said shuttle has gripping devices to engage the rotating band and base area of the projectile to release it according to biasing cams adjacent to the path of travel. The remainder of the projectile is supported by roller devices in the housing of the transfer device. A multiplicity of storage cavities provide the means to store projectiles. The said transfer device may be mounted to a positioning system capable of aligning it with any particular storage cell and transporting it to other destinations.

Abstract: A material hand-off mechanism and process which utilizes a pendulating arm to deliver material to and or accept it from a load station which cooperatively engages the arm. The load station and the arm provide interceptive, interactive and linkless conveyance capable of independent and parallel operations to enhance efficiency and availability of the system. Particularly, the mechanism is suited to transfer ammunition from a storage station into a gun tube. The ammunition is rammed into the gun breech using a flick ram mechanism, which operates in cooperation with the arm, and enables a sure ram of ammunition comprising different modules.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a system for loading a round of ammunition into a pivoting chamber of a gun, in particular a gun of small or medium caliber, the chamber pivoting in reciprocating motion between an open position and a closed position. A first device takes charge of a round of ammunition in a feed station to position it axially on the axis of the chamber when the chamber is in its open position, and to pivot the round while synchronously guiding it with the pivoting motion of the chamber, and a second device loads the round into the chamber, by bearing against the cap of the round so as to push it progressively into the chamber during the pivoting motion of the chamber. Both the first device for taking charge of a round of ammunition, and the second device for loading it into the chamber are controlled by the pivoting motion of the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for rapid loading of separate-loading ammunition in artillery guns, the shell and propellant charge being placed after one another on or in a carrier being accelerated up to a high velocity centered about the longitudinal axis of the gun barrel. Thereafter, the carrier is rapidly retarded to arrest while the shell and the propellant charge are allowed to continue in the direction of the acceleration to their respective ramming positions in the gun.

Abstract: A rotary breech mechanism (10) is provided for loading large caliber guns. The mechanism comprises a rotary transfer member (12) which is cylindrical and mounted in the gun barrel (16) near the breech end (18). A hole (14) through the rotary transfer member (12) is aligned either with an ammunition magazine tube (48) for loading or with the gun barrel (16) for firing of a projectile (20). Once the projectile (20) has been fired, the rotary transfer member (12) is rotated to accept the next projectile, no matter what position the gun is in. The azimuthal orientation of the barrel (16) does not affect the operation of the loading mechanism.

Abstract: An ammunition drum for a large caliber weapon may have two or more drum elements with parallel rotating axles. The ammunition is located in one or more concentric layers of ammunition holders around the rotating axles. To reduce the structural volume and to simplify the loading process, each of the drum elements may contain a recess extending at least (in the width of an ammunition) partially over the length of the drum element and from the circumference of the drum element at least partially to its rotating axle. The drum elements are located relative to each other in a manner such that in an alternating sequence in the position of one drum element in which its recess is located in the connecting plane between the rotating axles of the drum elements, the other drum element may be positioned with all of its ammunition holders in this connecting plane, from where the ammunition may be transferred in a translatory motion into the weapon.

Abstract: A system for automatically loading ammunition into the barrel of a gun, in particular of a tank gun, includes a delivery block which supports a cradle on which is laid ammunition withdrawn from a magazine. The system also includes a device for displacing the delivery block so as to align the ammunition along the axis of the barrel of the gun. A first drive device is included for axially displacing the cradle with respect to the delivery block to bring the ammunition into the vicinity of the entrance of the barrel of gun. A second drive device axially displaces the ammunition with respect to the cradle so as to engage the ammunition inside the barrel.

Abstract: A military tank with a heavy weapon suspended to pivot in elevation in a turret that rotates on a chassis. The turret (2) is on the rear half (1.2) of the chassis (1) and its drive mechanisms are in the forward half. At least the section of the upper surface (1.2) below the turret slopes back and down at a prescribed angle (.alpha.) to the horizontal. The vertical longitudinal cross-section (LM) of the turret is a wedge that tapers together forward with its bottom (2.1) paralleling the upper surface of the chassis and its top (2.2) at another prescribed angle (.beta.) to the horizontal.

Abstract: A redundant ammunition flow device for supplying divided, large caliber ammunition to a loading tray of a gun mounted on a turret of a vehicle for adjustment in elevation about a trunnion includes at least two magazines disposed in the vehicle chassis. Each magazine is a closed loop and includes a plurality of first holders that accommodate in an upright position either a projectile or a propelling charge column which make of the ammunition. A guide formed of a ring segment is fixed to the chassis concentric with the turret rotation axis. Two ammunition transporters are mounted for displacement on the guide to receive at a respective transfer position either a projectile or a propelling charge column from the first holders. Each transporter includes a rotary arm carrying a feed arm supporting second holders for holding a projectile or a propelling charge column.

Abstract: A device for transferring ammunition from a magazine to a transfer arm of an adjustable weapon rotatable about a trunnion. The transfer arm is movable together with the weapon and tilts up to a maximum predetermined angle (.beta.') during azimuth adjustment of the weapon. Two angle compensating elements are rotatable relative to one another about a common axis in planes that are inclined by half the predetermined angle (.beta.'/2) and are operatively disposed adjacent the magazine. A planar turntable is rotatably mounted on the two angle compensating elements for rotation relative thereto about the common axis. The plane of the planar turntable is adjusted by the two angle compensating elements. An ammunition receiving and pivoting device is supported on the turntable for receiving ammunition from the magazine and pivoting the ammunition so that the ammunition can be received by the transfer arm of the weapon.

Abstract: To serve a turret-mounted tank cannon, automated loading apparatus includes a pair of arcuate guide tracks vertically mounted to the turret. The guide tracks, lying on radii centered with the cannon elevating axis, guide a trolley for movement between magazine and cannon loading postions. A rammer, carried by the trolley, is activated to retrieve an ammunition round from magazine storage and to ram the round into the cannon breech regardless of cannon position in elevation and azimuth. The trolley is propelled by a ballscrew, while the rammer is activated by a ballscrew and stiff-backed chain arrangement to achieve an extra long rammer stroke. The rammer is pivotally mounted to the trolley for movement between essentially opposite end-for-end orientations to permit round retrieval from ammunition magazines located in the turret bustle and tank hull, as well as in the turret basket.

Abstract: To handle the transfer of ammunition between a turret bustle magazine and hull magazines of a military tank, a carriage is mounted for horizontal movement between a stow position and a transfer position and for vertical movement between an upper position addressing the bustle magazine and lower positions addressing the hull magazines. An ammunition carrier is mounted to the carriage for rotational motion in a vertical plane driven off the vertical carriage motion, such that the carrier swings around the cannon breech protruding into the turret in assuming reversed end-to-end horizontal orientations when presented to the bustle and hull magazines. Extractor assemblies are axially reciprocated within a carrier tube by a stroke multiplier mechanism to engage and release the base rim of projectile and propellant modules pursuant to transferring modules between the carrier and the hull magazines. Projectile and propellant modules are united while the carrier tube is presented to the bustle magazine.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading tubular weapons with a propellant charge chamber comprises a loading arm pivotably mounted on the pivot bearing of the barrel and having a loading tray for a shell and a rammer engaging on the shell bottom and having a drive, the shell being brought by means of the loading arm into a starting position aligned with the barrel bore axis and transported by means of the rammer into the barrel, into whose rifling it is rammed.

Abstract: The invention relation to a device for identifying and checking ammunition on an automatic-loading device of a firearm. The firearm is capable of firing ammunition of different types. The device includes a rotating magazine having adjacent chambers for accommodating an ammunition round. The device further includes at least one fixed code reader arranged on a path of the magazine. The code reader includes optical detectors aligned in parallel with a center line of the ammunition round. Each ammunition round has a cylindrical coding zone on a cartridge thereof. The coding zones consist of annular coding tracks. The device utilizes the coding zones to identify and check the location of ammunition to expedite loading of the firearm. A method of utilizing the device is also provided.

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: An autoloader, capable of loading regardless of gun elevation, includes arcuate guide tracks mounted to the chute of a weapon pod protecting the breech of an exterior, turret-mounted gun. The guide tracks, of a radius of curvature centered on the gun elevation axis, mounts a trolley for guided movement between a lower magazine position and an upper gun loading position. A compact rammer, pivotally mounted to the trolley, extracts a shell from a magazine affixed to the turret floor while in the trolley magazine position and controls the shell during transfer to the trolley gun loading position. During shell transfer, the rammer is pivoted relative to the trolley to swing the shell out of the chute and into the pod to a ramming position aligning the shell with the gun boreline. The rammer then executes a two-stage ramming stroke to ram the shell into the gun breech. The trolley and rammer are powered by separate electric motors.

Abstract: A loading device for loading a propelling charge into a chamber of a gun barrel having a breech ring, wherein a loading trough is disposed behind the breech ring with the chamber beginning at the rear of the breech ring and the gun barrel has a bore axis. A transfer arm is mouonted for pivotal movement in a direction about an elevation axis of the gun barrel. A loading tray is pivotal transversely to the direction of movement of the transfer arm from a first position off the bore axis of the gun barrel to a second position aligned with the bore axis of the gun barrel and behind and separated from the breech ring. A pivoting device is connected to the transfer arm and the loading tray for pivoting the loading tray between the first and second positions.

Abstract: An ammunition positioner for upright ammunition shells has an arm mounted on a base, capable of being extended parallel to the plane that the shell stands on. The positioner has a pincher-like pickup with two jaws that pivots parallel to that plane. The pickup and its jaws are both controlled by a motor that is secured to the base. The motor's output wheel is coupled to the intake wheel of a transmission by way of a rotating splined shaft and a hollow shaft. The splined shaft is mounted in the base and parallel to the positioning arm. The hollow shaft is coaxial with the splined shaft and is mounted in and parallel to the positioning arm. A sleeve travels back and forth on the splined shaft and couples the hollow shaft to the splined shaft such that the former will rotate along with the latter. The transmission has two cogwheels, one of which is always coupled to the intake wheel and the other of which is coupled to and can be uncoupled from the intake wheel by a gear that can be disengaged.

Abstract: A front-loading mortar mounted on a base, such as the top of an armored vehicle, includes a weapon tube having a muzzle; a trunnion axis about which the weapon tube is pivotal for setting an elevation of the weapon tube; a cardan ring surrounding the weapon tube or cradle tube and being circumferentially displaceable about the weapon tube relative thereto; an additional pivot axis defined in the cardan ring at a location situated in front of the trunnion axis; and a loading manipulator, including a loading tray, for moving a round of ammunition to a loading location in front of the muzzle. The loading manipulator includes a loading rocker articulated to the cardan ring for pivotal motion about the additional pivot axis; an elongate positioner articulated to the cardan ring for pivotal motion about the additional pivot axis; and a bearing affixed to the base and receiving an end of the positioner for longitudinal sliding motion and pivotal motion therein.

Abstract: A tank with an overlying gun which is mounted in a cradle disposed on the crew turret also includes a loading pendulum which is disposed on a journal ring and pivotal in relation to the crew turret. The loading pendulum and the gun are asymmetrically journalled, such that the positions of the gun and the loading pendulum are dependent upon the elevation/depression of the gun. The gun is longitudinally/vertically displaced in the plane of elevation on elevation/depression. This is achieved in that the cradle is retractably disposed in the plane of elevation with the aid of a member determining the degree of retraction of the gun and may be elevated/depressed about an abutment pivotally mounted between the revolving portion, or turret, and the gun. The abutment is movable in the plane of elevation. The abutment and the cradle are adapted in the different elevations/depressions, to adjust the position of the breech of the gun to the pivotal movement of the loading pendulum about its pivotal center.

Abstract: An installation for the mechanized loading of an armored weapon with large caliber cartridges consists of a conveyor device leading from the bottom of the loading area into the turret in the rear of the breech of the weapon with a conveyor container for holding the cartridge and a continuous belt driven by a motor, a guide device which has roller sets arranged in the area of each end of the transport container and two guide tracks, each assigned to one roller set, which lead the transport container with the inserted cartridge from an approximately vertical position on the bottom of the loading area to a horizontal position, level with the weapon, in front of the breech, and a rammer, accelerating the cartridge with open weapon breech into the weapon chamber.

Abstract: A tank (1) is designed with an overlying gun (3) and a crew turret (2). The traverse movements of the gun and the crew turret are coordinated. A complete ammunition handling system (9, 11) for reserve ammunition (10) is provided ancillary to the standard feeding and loading system. The reserve system includes an ammunition tube which is guided by a linkage system (9) between a rest position and a position in an extension of the bore axis (5). The ammunition tube is provided with its own ramming means (11a). At a predetermined traverse position for the gun and the crew turret, reserve ammunition may be transferred to the system when this assumes an initial position. The reserve system may be actuated in a per se known manner so that the ammunition tube assumes a position in association with the breech, where the ammunition unit may be longitudinally displaced into the gun with the aid of the above-mentioned ramming means (11a).

Abstract: An ammunition magazine for stowing large-caliber ammunition in a miltiary tank. The rack has an intake rack comprising rows of essentially horizontal intake tubes positioned one above and next to another for accommodating shells. The rack can be lowered into the tank's ammunition bunker from above. The intake rack is suspended at the top from an antivibration and shock-absorbing suspension on the bottom of an impact-resistant roofing plate that fits into an opening in the roof of the tank and can be locked into the opening along the edge. The rack has at least one centering pin at the bottom that fits into a receptacle on a base secured to the floor of the ammunition bunker when the rack is lowered in.

Abstract: An armoured car or vehicle with front wheel drive has a vehicle hull and a turret with gun, as well as a front revolving magazine located on the bottom of the turret platform in the vicinity of the gun for large caliber ammunition inserted in upright form. In order to be able to carry maximum ammunition stocks within the vehicle and ensure a mechanized, automatic ammunition flow, on the bottom of the vehicle hull behind the front revolving magazine is provided a rear revolving magazine largely filling the rear vehicle space and receiving the ammunition in standing form and between the two revolving magazines is provided a transfer mechanism occupying an empty position on the front revolving magazine from the rear revolving magazine.

Abstract: A tank features magazines which hold ammunition units (3a, 3b) of different types. The feeding path includes discharge devices for discharging the ammunition units from the magazines, and a turntable (8) for receiving each respective ammunition unit discharged from the magazines and turning the ammunition unit to a traverse direction which coincides with a preset traverse direction for the gun of the tank. There are further included means for transferring each respective ammunition unit from the turntable to the ramming position in the gun. The turntable is provided with two carrier units (8a, 8b) for ammunition units. The carrier units are alternatingly movable into and out of the feeding path for the ammunition units. On feeding of the first type of ammunition unit (3a), the first unit operates in the feeding path, while the second unit is located outside the feeding path where it carries an ammunition unit (3b) of the second type.

Abstract: A mechanism for feeding the shells to a weapon one at a time comprises a conveyor for removing one shell from at least one ammunition magazine comprising a frame, mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to a floor for movement from a pick-up position to a transfer position, rails on the frame disposed parallel to the floor, an arm slidably mounted on the rails for movement therealong parallel to the floor, a gripper mounted on the arm for gripping a shell and pivotable from a first position wherein the shell is upright to a second position wherein the shell is aligned with the length of the vehicle. The gripper is operative in the first position to grip a shell when the frame is in the pick-up position and is operative in the second position to release a shell when the frame is in the transfer position. A shell tray is mounted for sliding movement parallel to the floor between a receiving position wherein the tray receives a shell released by the gripper and a holding position.

Abstract: A tank turret magazine system includes a circulating primary magazine, an additional magazine, and a transfer mechanism for moving ammunition containers between the magazines. The additional magazine provides increased storage capacity without increasing the length or width of the turret and without sacrificing automatic operation of the primary magazine. The additional magazine and the transfer mechanism are preferably disposed below the primary magazine. For a direct exchange of ammunition containers from the one magazine to the other magazine, the transfer mechanism includes two transfer levers which are pivotal about an axis and which are able to grip pivot pins mounted on both sides of the ammunition containers. The additional magazine may be configured as a single-row static magazine.

Abstract: In an armoured vehicle with a turret, a weapon mounted therein and a magazine housed in the armoured vehicle and receiving large calibre ammunition in the upright position in a concentric arrangement with respect to the turret rotation axis is arranged a loader, which has a loading arm gripping the ammunition on the magazine and raising it into an aligned position with the weapon bore axis, i.e. the loading position. The loader is arranged on a ring mount positioned roughly below the weapon breech block on the turret platform and whose rotation axis coincides with that of the turret and has a multilever guide supported on the ring mount and movable in a vertical plane, which raises the loading arm with the upright ammunition in a steep movement path and only towards the end of the movement path swings into the loading position.

Abstract: A weapon and ammunition carrier for a gun (3) has a housing (1) which is pivotal about an elevation axis (2) to elevate the gun (3). A magazine (8) for ammunition is provided in the housing, and a loading tray (22) is disposed in the housing between the magazine (8) and the gun (3). The magazine (8) is located behind the rear recoil position of the gun (3) and has upper and lower levels. The upper magazine level is configured to hold projectiles (9) in such a manner that the middle projectile (9) is aligned with the axis of the gun barrel (4), and the lower magazine level is configured to hold propelling charges (10). The magazine (8) is provided with a projectile ejector (11) and with a propelling charge ejector (21), with the projectile ejector (11) also serving as rammer.

Abstract: An armored vehicle with an overhead or top-mounted cannon or barreled weapon, which is supported in a forked cradle support so as to be elevatable about a bearing trunnion axis, and which includes an arrangement for the storge of the ammunition and the conveyance of the ammunition from a main storage magazine and from an auxiliary storage magazine. A vertically standing projectile loading tube or barrel is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, whose longitudinal axis concurrently consists of the azimuthal or bearing axis of the barreled weapon, and which, in the position of rest of the barreled weapon, intersects at one point with trunnion axis and the tilting axis of the rotary shell or projectile chamber of the barreled weapon. Hereby, independently of the elevation of the barreled weapon, the shell or projectile chamber is movable into a vertical position extending coaxially with the loading tube.

Abstract: A device for storing and loading unbelted ammunition in a turret equipped with a tubular weapon, the tubular weapon being equipped with one shaft magazine on either side, with a ring magazine to receive ammunition disposed in the turret basket. Each respective shaft magazine can be supplied with ammunition by way of an associated lifting device. A ring magazine is disposed in a turret basket so as to be rotatable about its axis by means of a drive.

Abstract: A turret gun assembly includes a turret, a gun having a barrel being adjustable in inclination about a trunnion axis, a magazine for accommodating rounds of ammunition, and a loading device for advancing rounds of ammunition from the magazine into a position behind the barrel in a longitudinal alignment therewith. The improvement wherein the loading device has a cam drive having a cam track mounted at an ammunition discharge location of the magazine and a follower guided in the cam track; a transfer arm mounted for pivotal motion about the trunnion axis; an ammunition-gripping holding clamp articulated to the transfer arm by a hinge connection and being arranged for gripping said ammunition.

Abstract: In an apparatus for loading guns, particularly tank howitzers, from a rotary magazine containing the shells and positioned below and alongside the gun barrel, for simplifying construction and movement sequences a substantially vertical loading arm pivotable about a vertical axis between a reception position in the vicinity of the rotary magazine and a position below and upstream of the gun barrel is provided, the loading arm having at least one gripper for a shell and in the last-mentioned position is pivotable about an approximately horizontal axis at right angles to the core axis of the gun barrel into a loading position from which the shell aligned with the core axis can be transported by a rammer into the gun chamber.

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.

Abstract: A loading system for containers holding ammunition in an armored vehicle having a tubular weapon composed of a gun cradle and a barrel having a bore axis, the weapon being mounted in a top gun mount which is rotatable about an azimuth axis, which system includes a first transporting device for transporting a container from a magazine holding a plurality of containers and disposed in a rear section of the armored vehicle into a loading position behind the top gun mount. The system further includes a plurality of such containers, each composed of at least two cells, each cell accommodating a respective cartridge, and connecting elements for connecting the cells in a form and force locking manner for transport to the loading position.

Abstract: A device for feeding and loading a weapon with ammunitions in any direction and any elevation comprising at least one vertical rotatable magazine (20) disposed laterally of the breech (3) of the weapon (2) and formed by an endless cylinder comprising tubular receptacles (22) for the storage of the ammunitions (9), a carrier connected to the weapon (2) for taking up and transferring the ammunitions (9) between the rotatable magazine and the weapon, and a control system (7-8) controlling the position of the receptacles (22) of the cylinder in accordance with the angular position in elevation of the weapon and with the type of ammunitions. The invention is more particularly applicable to light armored cars.

Abstract: A weapon arrangement for a gun barrel adapted to fire a projectile the propellant charge of which is loaded separately from the projectile in to the loading chamber of the gun barrel. Such projectiles have a long range and can be fired at a rapid firing sequence. The wedge breech block is slidably movable mounted in a mating slit of the bottom member at an angle of about 65.degree. with respect to the vertical plane. The mating slit is open towards the rear. A loading tray is pivotally mounted on an extension of the cradle which extends parallel to the gun barrel axis. The loading tray pivots laterally from an inoperative position to a loading position in which it is in alignment with the gun barrel axis so that a projectile from an ammunition magazine can be fed via two ammunition feed chains to the loading tray. A transfer arm is pivotally mounted about the trunion axis of the gun barrel and serves to transfer the projectile from the feed chains to the loading tray.

Abstract: Shell loading apparatus, particularly for an externally mounted tank cannon, provides automated loading of shells from a magazine in a vehicle to a cannon externally mounted to the vehicle. The shell loading apparatus includes a pair of opposed, generally D-shaped cam tracks mounted in a cannon pod rearwardly of the cannon breech. Linear portions of the cam tracks are parallel to the barrel bore axis, arcuate portions of the cam tracks are directed upwardly with straight lead-in segments thereof directed towards a magazine shell extraction position when the cannon barrel is in a specific elevational position for shell loading. A shell rammer is connected to cam followers disposed in the cam tracks. A rammer support is fixed to gun mounting structure parallel to the cam track lead in segment.

Abstract: A system for the rapid assembly of munitions comprising a roller conveyor extending from beneath an on-load gantry, a hoist attached to the on-load gantry, a rail conveyor extending from the on-load gantry to an off-load gantry, a hoist attached to the off-load gantry and dollies which travel between the gantries on the rail conveyor. A munition body is delivered to the on-load gantry by the roller conveyor. The munition body is hoisted onto a dolly and assembly and arming tasks are performed as the munition-laden dolly travels on the rail conveyor. The assembled and armed munition is then removed from the dolly by a hoist on the off-load gantry.

Abstract: A turret carrying an axis-defining gun barrel having a rear-end breech and pivotal in the turret about a horizontal elevation axis transverse to the barrel axis has an apparatus in the turret behind the breech for separately loading projectiles and charges into the breech. This loading apparatus comprises respective projectile and charge magazines in the turret behind the breech set up to feed the projectiles and charges to respective pickup locations both located in the turret horizontally to the same one side of the barrel axis. A loading arm pivotal about the horizontal axis is provided with respective projectile and charge grabs movable on and with the arm between respective pickup positions at the respective stations and loading positions aligned with the breech. Thus in the loading positions the projectiles and charges can be pushed from the grabs into the breech.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic loader for an armored vehicle having a rotatable turret adapted to feed vertically stored projectiles from a storage magazine into the loading chamber of a large caliber weapon from which it can be inserted into the gun barrel by means of a rammer. The arrangement of the invention provides a rapid transporting of the vertically stored ammunition from a space saving storage position to a loaded ready to fire position.The automatic loader of the invention includes an automatically driven endless ammunition magazine at least partially mounted within a predetermined outer elevation of the turret and within a predetermined inner elevation region of the vehicle trough.

Abstract: An assembly for feeding projectile ammunition in an armored vehicle equipped with a rotating turret and weapon carrier utilizes a mother container disposed within the vehicle below the feed port to the weapon carrier. The mother container is movable inwardly and outwardly of the vehicle through a feed door and includes a multiplicity of ammunition containers therewithin. The conveyor system for moving the ammunition containers is disposed within the mother container and is extensible therefrom through the port to move ammunition containers between the mother container and the weapon carrier. The mother container makes it possible to load at one time a number of filled reserve containers, together with their conveyor, after the mother container in use, possibly containing individual containers exhausted by firing, has been removed from the armored vehicle.

Abstract: A device for automatically loading a large-caliber cartridge into the gun bore of a gun carried by a tank turret, comprises a revolving magazine mounted for rotation about the rotational axis of the turret, and independently of the rotation of the turret. The revolving magazine includes two vertical levels of magazine compartments lying radially in the magazine with cartridges facing toward the rotational axis. The revolving magazine includes an elevator which can lift a cartridge from the uppermost level of magazine compartments into a breach opening area of the gun barrel whereat the cartridge can be rammed into the gun barrel bore. In a forward trough area of the tank carrying the tank turret, a second magazine is provided having a plurality of chutes each with at least three cartridges stacked one on top of the other.

Abstract: A shell feeding system comprising an endless loop, nondisintegrating link lt 14 within a magazine 12 for moving telescoped shells into an extraction position where they are side stripped and transferred to a ram load position. A hydraulic cylinder 48 is used to incrementally index belt 14 placing a round into position. Another hydraulic cylinder 76 accomplishes the transfer of an extracted shell 16' to the cannon load position.

Abstract: An autoloader for loading ammunition from plural cavities of a magazine to breech of a gun, comprises a base having a pair of jointed links pivotally connected thereto. Actuators are connected to the links for pivoting the links from a low storage position near the magazine to an extended loading position near the breech. A loading head is fixed to the end of the links and carries a slidably mounted carriage assembly. A gripper assembly is connected to the end of the carriage assembly for receiving and gripping the flange of a round so that it can be extracted from a cavity of the magazine. With movement of the carriage assembly, the round is pulled onto the load head and guided by a guide tube fixed to the load head. The jointed links are then moved to bring the load head near the breech whereupon the carriage assembly is slid forwardly to introduce the round into the breech.