Abstract: Disclosed is a launch element seater for repeatably placing projectiles or ther launch package elements at an exact location within a breech of a gun. The seater includes a tube closely fit and slidable in the breech and a plate for precisely locating the tube on the breech, the plate encircling the tube and opposing a reference surface on the breech. An internally threaded terminus of the tube threads with a rod entering the tube, and the rod joins a seat member fit closely and slidably in the breech. A positionable set nut threaded on the rod outside the tube locates the innermost position of the rod relative to the tube and thereby locates the seat member and a projectile engaged thereto within the breech.

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: 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: The invention relates to a loading system for loading a round into a pivoting chamber of a gun. The system comprises a control device for controlling pivoting of the chamber, a feed device for feeding rounds and constituted by a feed station in alignment with the trunnion axis of the gun, a loading station in alignment with the axis of the chamber when it is in its loading position, and means for causing the round to pivot from the feed station to the loading station, and to load it into the chamber.

Abstract: A ram head for possibly two-part ammunition which is provided at its bottom with a central rotationally symmetrical form-locking zone. In order to be able to unload the ammunition, a housing (1) is provided with a ring (11) that is arranged to be axially displaceable therein and is provided with a plurality of radially pivotally articulated extraction levers (12), with the extraction levers (12) being spreadable against a spring bias by a plunger (25). The ring is coupled with a slide sleeve (22) that is provided with a centering ring (23) having a shape corresponding to the form locking zone of the ammunition and the axial movement of the ring (11) and of the plunger (25) is controllable by an eccentric shaft (8) mounted on the housing.

Abstract: A chain rammer for ammunition includes a ram head, a rammer drive including two drive wheels connectable to a rotary drive for rotating the drive wheels and two separate chain strands each being connected with the ram head and each passing through the rammer drive for being driven in one of a chain advance and chain reversal direction by a respective one of the two drive wheels. The chain strands are arranged to come into abutting relationship at the rammer drive when driven in the chain advance direction and for separating from the abutting relationship at the rammer drive when driven in the chain reversal direction. Each chain strand includes chain links having hooks arranged to grasp an oppositely disposed chain link when the strands come together at the rammer drive in the chain advance direction to establish a firm mechanical connection between the two chain strands and so that such connection is released again when the chain strands move in the chain reversal direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the automatic loading of a gun of an armored vehicle gun turret has a rotating magazine, a rammer, at least one munitions type sensor, a selection unit, a control unit, and a managing device. The rotating magazine has cells for storing munitions, and is disposed in proximity to a chamber of the gun. The rammer rams munitions stored in the rotating magazine towards a chamber of the gun. The munition type sensor detects a type of munition stored in a cell of the rotating magazine. The selection unit selects a type of munition to be used. The control unit controls the rotating magazine to position a selected type of munition for loading into the chamber of the gun, the rammer to ram the selected type of munition towards the chamber of the gun, and a transfer of the selected munition from the rammer towards the chamber of the gun.

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: To automate the uploading and downloading of a magazine storing rounds of large caliber ammunition in horizontal orientation, a transfer mechanism is equipped with a set of transfer forks and a set of selector gates operating is synchronism with a magazine rotary conveyor to laterally transfer ammunition rounds between a linear transfer conveyor and carrier positions on the rotary conveyor. The selector gates serve to pick rounds from carrier positions swinging through a turnaround of the rotary conveyor during downloading and to provide underlying, rolling support for the rounds during uploading and downloading transfer movement controlled by the transfer forks. Alternatively, the transfer mechanism is equipped to upload and download a pair of magazines stationed on opposite sides of the linear conveyor.

Abstract: Rammer for those artillery pieces which are charged with a shell and propellant separately, intended to move the shell, upon charging the piece, from a charge position in the immediate vicinity of the charge opening of the piece to the rammed position of the shell inside the barrel ahead of the charge space intended for the propellant powder charge. The rammer, which preferably is hydraulically operated, is divided into two piston cylinder systems consisting of a primary rammer and a secondary rammer connected by means of a transverse arm and designed with parallel but counter-directed projection directions. Immediately before the rammer is activated, the secondary rammer is situated along the longitudinal axis of the barrel and with its own piston rod completely retracted immediately behind the shell situated in the charge piston, while the primary rammer is at the same time completely projected. Upon ramming, the primary rammer is drawn in and the secondary rammer is pushed out.

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: An apparatus for loading shells in tubular weapons, particularly tank howitzers, comprises a linearly guided rammer engaging on the bottom of the shell, a pretensioned spring means driving said rammer and a release mechanism acting on the rammer and absorbing the spring tension in the locked position. In order to reliably absorb high ramming forces in a clearance-free manner and so as to suddenly release the same with a limited force requirement, the release mechanism has a fixedly mounted gripper, which cooperates by a planar effective surface with a planar opposite surface on the rammer. The effective surface and the opposite surface are in each case one face of a freely rotatably mounted polyhedron and, in the locked position, are at an angle less than 90.degree. to the force vector of the spring means. For releasing the rammer, the gripper can be pivoted by a release drive acting at right angles to the force vector.

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: An autoloader, affixed to a large caliber gun for movement therewith in azimuth and elevation, includes a rammer mounted by a parallel arm linkage mechanism for controlled movement between a lower loading position and an elevated ramming position. While in the loading position, ammunition rounds are singularly released from an ammunition clip to roll by gravity onto a rammer tray for transport to the ramming position. A chain driven ramming pawl then drives the round into the gun breech. A side flap automatically opens to admit a round loaded into the tray and then closes to confine the round on the tray during transport.

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 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 loading device for large-caliber weapons allows for firing with rounds consisting of different types of projectiles and charges/cartridges of different sizes which are combinable with the projectiles upon being loaded into the weapon. The projectiles are placed in a first magazine at which a first transfer device is disposed. This first transfer device transfers each respective projectile to the axis of the bore of the weapon so as to make possible the interaction of the projectile with a ramming device which rams home each respective projectile placed in the axis of the bore. The charges/cartridges are placed in a second magazine at which second transfer devices are disposed, for transferring each respective charge/cartridge to a defined position behind the associated projectile rammed home by the ramming device.

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 automatic muzzle or front loader weapon which possesses a weapon barrel which is pivotable in the direction of elevation or firing, and including a front or leading barrel segment which is latchable with the weapon barrel so as to be in coaxial alignment therewith. The barrel segment is pivotable into a loading position relative to the weapon barrel and which aligns with a loading tray into which there is insertable a projectile which is received from a storage magazine, whereby the projectile is slidable into the front barrel segment from the loading tray, whereupon the front barrel segment will then pivot in such a manner so as to cause the projectile to slide into the weapon barrel.

Abstract: Apparatus for pushing a load e.g. a projectile comprises an elongate ribbon which can be extended from a condition where it is coiled on a drum to a substantially straight condition for pushing the load. The ribbon has a generally curved cross section when in its straight condition, and at its front end it has a buffer arranged such that when engaged with the load, the compressive force on the ribbon acts eccentrically so as to deflect the ribbon laterally in a direction towards the center of curvature of the cross section and to bias the ribbon against deflection in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A rammer for artillery shells with a carriage behind the gun's tube that supports a tray in alignment with the powder chamber, that has a mechanism at the rear to intercept the shell, that travels on slides along a track paralleling the axis R of the tube, that is coupled to a piston-and-cylinder drive mechanism to accelerate toward the tube, and that has a braking mechanism to brake it at a prescribed distance from the rear end of the tube. The braking mechanism has a shock absorber position in the longitudinal midplane of the carriage with a piston that moves against the force of a friction spring inside a cylinder and that has a piston rod projecting forward beyond the front of the carriage with a stop mounted on it, whereby the stop rests directly against the rear end of the tube when the carriage is in the forward and braked 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: A variable stroke projectile postioning system compensates for temperature by adjusting the volume of a munition chamber which communicates with a projectile and contains a propellant having temperature dependent performance characteristics. The projectile positioning system includes method and apparatus which perform the operative steps of moving the projectile at a forward end of the chamber where its position defines the volume of the chamber, measuring the temperature of the propellant charge to be placed in the chamber for firing the projectile and having temperature dependent performance characteristics, and controlling the moving the projectile in response to the measured temperature of the propellant charge to cause the projectile to be placed at the exact position where it adjusts the amount of chamber volume to provide the correct degree of compensation for the measured temperature.

Abstract: A loading device for a tubular weapon includes two adjacent belt magazines; a separate loading tray cooperating with each magazine and being arranged for pivotal motion about 90.degree. from a cartridge-receiving position into a loading position in alignment with the tubular weapon; a common partition wall forming part of the two magazines and being arranged between the discharge sides of the magazines and the tubular weapon; at least one partition door provided in the partition wall; separate drive chains supported along the discharge side of each magazine and being connected to a respective loading tray for displacing the loading tray; a separate linear guide being in guiding engagement with each loading tray; and a separate curved guide extending generally along the discharge side of the respective magazine and being bent theretoward. The linear guide and the curved guide together guiding the respective loading tray from one of its positions to the other of its positions when displaced by the drive chain.

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: An externally powered automatic gun or cannon system includes a gun with a pivoting chamber, a shell supply and a shell indexer and a shell rammer for feeding shells from the supply into the gun chamber for firing. Fluid pressure actuators are connected for operating the gun chamber, shell indexer and shell rammer and sensors are provided for sensing extreme operating positions thereof. Timing means are responsive to the sensors for determining lengths of operating times. Electronic control means, responsive to the sensors and timing means, control, on a step-by-step basis, operation of the actuators and firing apparatus according to a pre-established sequence of operational steps causing the automatic loading and firing of the automatic gun.

Abstract: Shell feeding apparatus for a rapid fire, gun, such as a medium caliber cannon, comprises an elongate, linear shell rammer having a relatively small diameter, surrounded by a carousel-type shell magazine configured for holding several, for example, about six, shells. The shell rammer includes a pressurized fluid actuation cylinder having two transversely separated bores and two pistons mounted in the bores. Protruding ends of the pistons are interconnected by a motion multiplier which comprises a T-shaped member, to opposite sides of which are mounted two pairs of sprockets. A shell ramming member is fixed to two drive chains entrained over the two pairs of sprockets. The drive chains are fixed to the actuator cylinder so that when pressurized fluid moves the pistons, relative to the cylinder, a distance, "d", at a velocity, "v," the shell ramming member, and hence a shell engaged thereby, is moved a substantially greater distance, "D," at a substantially greater velocity, "V.

Abstract: A flick rammer for artillery rounds. The rammer has a loading tray that is positioned in alignment with the powder chamber at a prescribed distance to the rear of the gun. The tray accommodates the round. The rammer also has a mechanical acceleration component that engages the rear of the round and is connected to a cylinder-type drive mechanism. To improve the device to the extent that ramming will remain rapid whereas the design will be simple enough to operate reliably even at light loads and to occupy very little space, the cylinder-type drive mechanism is a pneumatic cylinder that communicates with a compressed-air reservoir through a rapid-opening control valve, and the mechanical acceleration component is connected to the moving component of the pneumatic cylinder through a stroke-transmission mechanism with a transmission ratio greater than 1.

Abstract: To reduce the space required within the rotatable turret housing 24 of an armored vehicle for transferring cartridged ammunition 3 from a magazine 4 in the hull to a magazine 10 in the turret, the gun barrel 1, which is pivotal about a cradle axis 2, is used as a transporting means for the change of ammunition. To transport the cartridged ammunition 3 into the chamber 15 of the gun barrel, the ammunition 3 of the hull magazine 4 in the removal position 5 is arranged at an angle within vehicle hull 23 so that the ammunition 3 forms a straight line 7 with the bore axis 6 of the gun barrel 1, which has been raised by an elevation angle .alpha. with respect to the horizontal. To guide the cartridged ammunition 3 in the region of the recoil path s of the barrel 1, pivotal conduits or spacers 11, 12 are fastened to hull magazine 4 and to turret magazine 10.

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 compact rammer assembly for forcing ammunition into a gun having a rammer head attached to a pair of chains which are stored in separate spiral tracks positioned between the retracted position of the rammer head and driven sprockets. Each chain composed of links pinned together with vertical tabs at each end of each link; the tabs on each link engaging the tabs on adjacent links of each chain as well as the corresponding tabs on the links of the other chain when the sprockets driven the chains to extend the rammer head.

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: A loading device with a rammer, arranged for coupling with ammunition bases, exhibiting a transport and coupling segment. The coupling segment exhibits a plurality of grippers with claws adapted to engage an undercut base of ammunition. The bearing member for the grippers is movable with respect to the transport segment with a first limit position, corresponding to the maximum distance of the bearing member from the transport segment. The bearing member has a stop element for fixing the position of the bearing member relative to the ammunition base. After the rammer is moved against the base the transport segment is moved toward the coupling segment. The grippers are moved out of their rest positions assumed by the action of a resetting mechanism, and into their gripping positions against the edge of the base of the ammunition by an actuating member.

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: Shell feeding apparatus for a rapid fire, gun, such as a medium calibre cannon, comprises an elongate, linear shell rammer having a relatively small diameter, surrounded by a carousel-type shell magazine configured for holding several, for example, about six, shells. The shell rammer includes a pressurized fluid actuation cylinder having two transversely separated bores and two pistons mounted in the bores. Protruding ends of the pistons are interconnected by a motion multiplier which comprises a T-shaped member, to opposite sides of which are mounted two pairs of sprockets. A shell ramming member is fixed to two drive chains entrained over the two pairs of sprockets. The drive chains are fixed to the actuator cylinder so that when pressurized fluid moves the pistons, relative to the cylinder, a distance, "d", at a velocity, "v," the shell ramming member, and hence a shell engaged thereby, is moved a substantially greater distance, "D," at a substantially greater velocity, "V.

Abstract: The military equipment comprises a turret mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and supporting, by means of a swivelling device with horizontal axis, a main heavy gun totally external to the turret, having its own shield and situated approximately in a plane passing through the axis of rotation of the turret. The swivelling device comprises two lateral supports surrounding the gun and supporting the latter via bearings so as to define an elevation axis situated behind the rotational axis of the turret. One of the supports and the shield of the gun have oppositely situated openings for forming a protected channel for a gun loading system supplying the gun with rounds of ammunition from inside the turret. The feed system constitutes a unitary assembly. It has a frame secured in the gun shield on which a carriage is transversely movable between a position where an ammunition craddle supported by the carriage is aligned with a weapon and a position lateral to the weapon.

Abstract: Manually actuable emergency chambering device for a system including a gun having a barrel provided with a loading end defining a loading chamber and disposed in a closed operator housing, and a loading tray disposed adjacent the loading end of the barrel, the barrel being pivotable about a horizontal trunnion axis. The device includes an elongate element and a rod assembly having a first end mounted for deflection movement relative to a first articulation region fixed relative to the trunnion axis and a second end spaced from the first end and connected to the rear end of the element to permit articulation movement between the element and the rod assembly at a second articulation region, the regions presenting articulation axes parallel to the trunnion axis and the rod assembly being deflectable along a path parallel to a vertical plane containing the barrel bore axis.

Abstract: A loading ramp for cartridges to be supplied from a magazine to a gun of an armored vehicle turret comprises a ramp tube which defines a path of travel for the cartridge from the magazine to the gun. A rocker is pivotally mounted to the bottom of the ramp tube at an end of the tube near the gun. The rocker has a first rocker lever which is near the gun and a second rocker lever which is spaced away from the gun. The second rocker lever carries a stopping cam which can be engaged by the flange of a cartridge to pivot the rocker so that the first rocker lever rises. The first rocker lever is in a correct position for raising the forward end of the cartridge to center it with the gun barrel axis. The rocker is also spring loaded so that the stopping cam is biased into the ramp tube awaiting the passage of a cartridge flange.

Abstract: A weapons system for single-barrel automatic cannons uses PRUNIT rounds consisting of a projectile and a casingless solid body of propellant affixed to the projectile. A respective arming set is provided for at least some of said weapons to form central units therewith. Each arming set comprises means defining first and second energy-flow paths with respective shafts adapted to transmit torque from input ends to output ends of the path. Both of the shafts are connected to a wedge-type breech block for shifting same between open and closed positions. One of the shafts is connected to a loader and the other to a belt feeder for the PRUNITs.

Abstract: A large caliber cannon such as a 155 mm Howitzer uses ammunition rounds consisting of a projectile and a propellant charge which are loaded in sequence into the breech of the cannon. The cannon is mounted on a gun carriage and is free to move in elevation on the carriage about an elevation axis. The carriage is controllable in azimuth for gun pointing. Storage drums for holding a plurality of projectiles and charges are mounted on the carriage. Projectile trays and propellant charge trays are positioned to receive the projectiles and their propellant charges from the storage drums. The trays are pivotally mounted on cradle arms so that they may be rotated between a receiving position and a gun loading position. The cradle arms are pivotally mounted on the gun carriage so that they may be moved between the elevation of the receiving position and a position in alignment with the breech when the cannon is being trained.

Abstract: In a tank or similar military vehicle having a main weapon located atop a tary basket, the improvement comprising one or more ammunition storage magazines located within the vehicle hull behind the basket. Transfer mechanisms are employed to move individual rounds of ammunition from the storage magazines into a rammer located within the basket. The rammer moves the ammunition round upwardly into the firing chamber of the weapon. The system is designed to provide storage capacity for large numbers of ammunition rounds. Another design objective is to provide a transfer mechanism that accomplishes a weapon loading cycle in a relatively short time span.

Abstract: An armored vehicle with a rotatable turret, e.g. a tank, has its gun (cannon) supplied from a munitions bunker behind the turret in which the munitions rounds are stored in tubes inclined at angles less than 90.degree. to the axis of the gun when the breech thereof is aligned with an opening in the magazine through which the rounds are fed from a tunnel in the magazine aligned with the gun. The rounds lie in substantially horizontal planes and are withdrawn from storage tubes by a device movable axially along the tunnel and swingable into alignment with each tube to withdraw the round therefrom and feed it through the opening into the breech of the gun.

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 military tank having a turret, a gun mounted in the forward portion of turret, and ammunition storage magazines in the rear portion of the turret. A loader is arranged within the turret in alignment with the gun to transfer individual rounds of ammunition from the magazine area into the gun. The arrangement provides a compact storage system capable of storing a relatively large number of rounds in a given height turret.

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 turret assembly, particularly for an armoured vehicle, comprises a rotating turret provided with side members projecting upwardly. The side members straddle a large caliber gun and include bearing means defining an elevation axis for the gun. The gun has a shield which cooperates with the side members to define a protective passage for a gun loading conveyor. The conveyor is adapted to carry shells one at a time from a loading station inside the turret to a location inside the shield. Each shell in turn is rammed into the gun after it has been carried by the conveyor into the shield.

Abstract: A ramming unit comprises a tooth (5) which is placed at the front parts of the unit. The tooth is arranged so that it can be raised and lowered, and in its raised position the rear side (5a) of the tooth coacts with a shell (2) or the like when this is rammed in a firearm by means of the ramming unit. In its lowered position the tooth permits the passage of a bag charge (4) or the like which is to be placed behind the shell in the bore of the barrel. The tooth and the other parts are made with force relieving means which transfer substantial parts of the forces arising on the tooth in connection with the ramming direct to said other parts of the ramming unit, and not via the supporting means of the tooth.

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.