The invention relates in general to munitions and in particular to the handling of large caliber ammunition, for example, ammunition larger than 40 mm caliber.
A large diameter bearing (turret ring) may be mounted on the deck of a combat vehicle. A turret structure, including a gun, may be horizontally rotatable with the turret ring. A basket may also be mounted on the turret ring. The basket may extend downwardly into the vehicle hull. The basket may rotate with the turret ring and the gun. The basket may carry items incident to gun operations.
Large caliber guns were traditionally loaded by hand. Many autoloaders have been designed and built, each having varying configurations and characteristics. Known autoloaders may require that the gun be moved to a particular azimuth and elevation (usually 0 degrees azimuth and about 0 degrees elevation) to be loaded. So, the gun may be required to go “off target” for loading. Moving a large caliber gun may take significant time, especially moving in the azimuth, because the entire turret may be rotating. Also, in some tank configurations, moving the gun may also move the sight off target, because many sights may have limited azimuth in relation to the turret position.
Other known autoloaders may have several “ready rounds” in the turret, with a larger supply of rounds in the tank chassis. Only the “ready rounds” may be loaded at any azimuth, and usually a fixed elevation. The “ready rounds” add to the weight of the rotating turret.
A need exists for an autoloader that may allow loading at any azimuth of the gun, and a fixed elevation, for all available rounds, without adding significant weight to the turret.
It is an object of the invention to provide a large caliber autoloader that may load a gun at any azimuth.
One aspect of the invention is an autoloader having a rotatable turntable and an elevator that rotates with the turntable. The elevator may include a track. A carriage may be linearly translatable on the track of the elevator in directions toward and away from a plane of the turntable. A transfer device may be rotatably fixed to a pivot of the carriage. The transfer device may include a rail and a gripper that is linearly translatable on the rail.
Another aspect of the invention is an apparatus that includes a vehicle hull having a rotatable turret ring. A basket may be suspended from and rotate with the turret ring. An autoloader may be disposed in the basket. The turntable of the autoloader may rotate independent of the turret ring. An ammunition magazine may be disposed in the vehicle hull. The ammunition magazine may include an access port.
A further aspect of the invention is an autoloader having a rotatable turntable. A base may be fixed to and rotatable with the turntable. A crank case may be rotatably fixed to the base. A yoke may be rotatably fixed to the crank case. A transfer device may be rotatably fixed to the yoke. The transfer device may include a rail and a gripper that is linearly translatable on the rail.
The invention will be better understood, and further objects, features, and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, like or corresponding parts are denoted by like or corresponding reference numerals.
An automatic loader may provide a means to automatically transfer ammunition from a hull-mounted magazine to a chamber of a large caliber gun, and may also provide a means to automatically transfer ammunition from the chamber of the gun back to the magazine. An automatic loader may provide a means to easily upload ammunition to the magazine from an ammunition supply source. An automatic loader may provide a means to dispose of a spent cartridge case. An automatic loader may minimize the volume swept by the automatic loader during operation.
An automatic loader for large caliber ammunition may include a transfer device mounted on an elevating and positioning device. The transfer device may be rotatable within a turret basket by means of a turntable. The turntable may rotate independently of the basket to multiple positions. The automatic loader may perform one or more of the following functions, among others: retrieve ammunition from an active magazine in the hull; align the ammunition with a cannon position; load the ammunition into the cannon; download the ammunition out of the cannon; retract to a stowed position during firing of the cannon; catch a spent cartridge case; eject the spent cartridge case from the vehicle; and transfer ammunition from an external ammunition supply to a magazine located on a vehicle with the automatic loader.
The loading of ammunition into the cannon and the downloading of ammunition out of the cannon may occur at any turret azimuth angle. The loading of ammunition into the cannon and the downloading of ammunition out of the cannon may occur at a fixed elevation angle of the cannon or gun.
A gun 14 may be mounted to a turret structure (the entire turret structure is not shown) via trunnions 16. The elevation of gun 14 may be varied by rotation about trunnions 16. The turret structure may include a turret ring 18 that may be mounted to the deck of the hull 10. The turret ring 18 may be horizontally rotatable with respect to the hull 10 to thereby point the gun 14. The turret structure may include a basket 28 that may rotate with the gun 14 and the turret ring 18.
An automatic loader 12 in accordance with the invention may be mounted in the basket 28. The automatic loader 12 may retrieve ammunition from a magazine 22. Magazine 22 may be integral to the hull 10. The magazine 22 may be an active type of magazine which internally positions the ammunition as required for retrieval at a magazine port 24.
Referring now to
Subsequent to firing, the spent cartridge case must be removed. Referring to
Referring now to
The autoloader 12 may also automatically re-stock the magazine 22 with ammunition. Or, the autoloader 12 may remove all remaining ammunition from the magazine 22. Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring to
Referring now to
When the crank case 64 is rotated by servomotor 66 in a clockwise direction, for example, the interaction of the first gear 72, the second gear 74, and the intermediate gear 76 may cause the yoke 62 to rotate in the opposite, counter-clockwise direction. Thus, the transfer device 26 may remain horizontally oriented throughout the rotation of the crank case 64. In the position shown in
The other functional positions of the transfer device 26 that were described with reference to the autoloader 12 may also be achieved with the autoloader 110.
Because the autoloader of the invention does not require that “ready rounds” be stored in the turret, the turret may have less swept volume than autoloaders that include “ready rounds.” In addition, the basket may be moved easier than known turrets because it is significantly lighter and of lower inertia than known turrets.
While the invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, numerous changes, alterations and modifications to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.
The inventions described herein may be manufactured, used and licensed by or for the U.S. Government for U.S. Government purposes.
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