1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to artillery systems and, more particularly to a system for automatically feeding primer cartridges in an artillery piece.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Present field artillery pieces operate by detonating a propellant charge behind a projectile in a gun barrel. Typically the propellant charge is detonated by means of a primer cartridge that, in turn, is detonated under the force of an externally applied blow or electrical current. A fresh (unfired) primer cartridge must be used for each firing of the artillery piece.
The technical advancement of heavy armored/mechanized weapons and the necessity of providing responsive, effective fires throughout the supported commander's area of influence has created a need for enhanced rate of fire and reduced labor intensiveness of the crew. Presently, for large caliber artillery pieces with interrupted screw block breech mechanisms such as 155-mm artillery pieces and the like, percussion primers are loaded by hand and various types of automatic feed mechanisms. One primer is typically manually placed in the spindle primer chamber and the firing mechanism is thereafter manually moved over the primer in the ready-to-fire position. This has lead naturally to human errors, injury and problems inserting the primer, especially when the light is dim. Lack of space and/or coordination are additional artillery piece problems associated with hand loading.
Until the present invention, there has not been effective fail-safe alternatives to manual loading of primers. There is need for a primer feed mechanism that automatically feeds live primers and ejects spent primer cases in large caliber artillery pieces (for example a 155-mm gun). Although one known automatic-type primer feed mechanism is taught in U.S. Statutory Invention Registration H-1121 by Carroll et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference, there are problems inherent with this mechanism that include potential accidental misfiring of a primer cartridge before proper closing of the breech, which in turn may result in accidental human casualty. Thus there is still need for a safe and efficient system for loading primer cartridges in the breech of a gun, which the present invention resolves.
In view of the foregoing, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved system for feeding primer cartridges in an artillery piece, which includes a means for automatic primer loading after full breech closure and spent primer extraction before breech opening to maximize safety, thus allowing the gun crew to perform gun misfire, sticker and check fire operations before the breech is opened.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved system for feeding primer cartridges in an artillery piece, wherein the primer cartridges are automatically fed with minimum of handling by operating personnel, thereby saving time during a fire cycle.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved system for feeding primers in an artillery piece that is reliable and able to withstand the repeated recoil of the artillery piece as it is fired over and over. The automatic primer feed mechanism of the present invention offers several advantages. For example, loading is simplified because the gun crew need only handle previously loaded magazine assemblies rather than individual primers.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device for automatically feeding primers, which reduces the number of required gun crew members.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device for automatically feeding primer cartridges to large artillery pieces and the like which is safe, dependable, and easy to maintain.
The above and other objects of the present invention are accomplished using the invention's automatic primer feed mechanism. In particular, the present invention provides a new and improved system for feeding primer cartridges in an artillery piece, which includes mechanisms for automatic primer loading after the artillery piece's breech is closed and spent primer extraction before the breech is opened again. This feature enhances gun crew safety and allows them to perform artillery piece misfire, sticker and check fire operations before the breech is opened.
The mechanism includes a body member for mounting the automatic primer feed mechanism to the carrier assembly of the artillery piece so as to position the mechanism on one side of the breech of the artillery piece. The body member also includes a cam surface member for control of motions of a primer injection arm member. The body member has guides that control movements of and retain a tray member. The tray member includes congruent guide rails for engagement with the body member's guides. A primer extraction member is attached to the body member for extracting spent primers when the tray member is moved to an extraction position of travel. The movement on the tray member is controlled by cooperative action with the injection arm member that is attached through linkages to an actuator attached to the carrier. The mechanism also includes a primer cartridge magazine mounted on the tray member for housing a plurality of primers for insertion into the artillery piece, including a slot in one side to permit the injector arm to cooperatively engage and move primers contained in the magazine upon movement of the injector arm to a ready-to-fire position. The tray member includes an integral receiver for mounting the magazine. Live primer cartridges are stored in the magazine that is attached to the tray. The tray member in turn is attached to the body member and located at a safe distance from the firing chamber within the spindle, thereby preventing flames from reaching a live charge before the primer is injected into the firing chamber. Such a design provides “hands-off” functionality during normal firing operation. The magazine uses a clip-type assembly for holding a plurality of primers. An open tray design allows ease of access to the firing chamber area for manual primer extraction if required.
During a fire cycle of operation, recoil motion of the artillery piece disconnects the primer feed mechanism from external actuator drive linkages wherein the tray member remains locked in a fire position during recoil and counter recoil. An external drive linkage of the primer feed mechanism re-engages the system mounted drive actuator on counter-recoil. The extract cycle of a spent primer cartridge is initiated after counter recoil and the extract cycle is completed prior to the breech of the artillery piece being opened. The primer feed mechanism can be manually, hydraulically, or otherwise power actuated from the fire position to the extract position of the mechanism. Spent primer extraction occurs when the tray member motion is at a location that actuates a pivoting extraction arm member that is retained in a cavity of the body member.
The operation of the device includes: a) opening the breech wherein breech opening locks the tray member in an extract position; b) load charge and projectile; c) close breech fully; d) inject a fresh primer cartridge wherein the injection arm member is manually, hydraulically or otherwise power actuated causing the tray member to translate from the extract to the fire position, and further causing the tray member's linear motion to dwell as the injector arm member rotates to inject a fresh primer, and further causing the linear motion of the tray to resume with the injector arm member in a down position, and further causing the mechanism's tray member to travel to the fire position, and the tray member is locked in a fire position; and e) the tray member is locked in the fire position ready to fire the artillery piece.
The mechanism provides improved safety wherein live primers stored in a magazine are at a distance from the firing chamber hole that prevents flame from reaching a live charge before a fresh primer is injected therein. A fresh primer is loaded after full breech closure and extracted before the breech is opened to maximize safety, and allowing a gun crew to perform misfire, sticker, and check fire operations before the breech is opened.
For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is hereby made to the drawings, wherein like numbers designate like parts, in which:
a,
3
b,
3
c,
3
d and 3e are views of a tray member, an injector arm member, a body member and a magazine assembly in both built up and broken out views respectively;
f shows an assembly view of a primer firing mechanism used with the present invention;
Referring to the drawings, and, in particular, to
The automatic primer feed mechanism 20 functions broadly to contain a plurality of primers 26, to automatically and individually insert unfired primers into the chamber 4 and to automatically extract fired primers from the chamber in a safe manner so that the breech closes prior to insertion of the primer. To this end, the automatic primer feed mechanism 20 generally includes a clip-like magazine 28 for containing a plurality of primer cartridges 26, a mounting assembly formed in a tray 21 for mounting the magazine 28 to the feed mechanism 20, and a firing mechanism 50 retained in an opening 51, which is responsive to an operator input for firing the artillery piece. Preferably, the magazine 28 is a detachable unit so as to permit substitution of a magazine containing fresh primers.
Referring now to
The feed mechanism 20 is attached to the carrier 10 through the body member 23 and the tray member 21 slides on guide rail members attached to the body member. The body 23 is located on one side of the breech of an artillery piece. The body 23 includes a primer extractor member 102 (shown in
a,
3
b,
3
c,
3
d and 3e show views of a tray member, an injector arm member, a body member and a magazine assembly in both built up and broken out views respectively. The tray member 21, shown in detail in
Construction of the magazine 28 can best be understood by reference to
The invention can use various types of a firing mechanism 50 that include a solenoid-type firing mechanism or a mechanical-type firing mechanism. The preferred firing mechanism is shown in
In operation, the mechanism 500 is actuated and ready to fire an artillery piece by pulling or twisting the lever 512 which causes either direct pulling of the lever member and pulling back on the hammer or cause the interfacing dual cam surfaces of the case assembly 509 and the follower 510 to rotate such that the follower 510 is distended outwards from the case assembly 509. Once the lever 512 is released, the follower snaps back towards the case assembly 509 which in turn releases the yoke 503 containing the hammer piece 501, with consequential detonation of a fresh primer cartridge in the firing chamber.
In
Next, initiation of the primer eject cycle as shown in
Next, as shown in
In
In
In
In
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended that these illustrations and descriptions limit the invention. Changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the following claims. For example, the primer feed mechanism can be readily adapted for use with a variety of existing artillery pieces. Moreover, the invention can be used in non-military application where a machine requires an automatic injection mechanism that allows injection of a cartridge into a chamber during operation of the machine and precludes need for opening of an object attached to the injection chamber, thereby affording continuous safe operations of the machine. Therefore to be understood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
This application claims benefit of filing date Apr. 11, 2000 based upon provisional application of Stephen M. Van Dyke-Restifo, Ser. No. (not yet known), entitled “Automatic Primer Feed Mechanism”, and also the filing date of Sep. 6, 2000 based upon provisional application of Stephen M. Van Dyke-Restifo et al., Ser. No. 60/230,450 and also entitled “Automatic Primer Feed Mechanism,” which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for Governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US01/25605 | 8/13/2001 | WO | 6/8/2004 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60230450 | Sep 2000 | US |