Lightweight belt link for telescoped ammunition and belt formed therefrom

• US 4,790,231 A
• Filed: 10/13/1987
• Issued: 12/13/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARES, Inc. (CDG Environmental LLC)
• Original Assignee: ARES, Inc. (CDG Environmental LLC)
• Inventors: Stoner, Eugene M.
• Primary Examiner(s): BENTLEY, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US07/110,044
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 89/35.01, 89/35.02, 102/433, 102/434
• US Class Current: 89/35.02
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 39/087 Feed belts manufactured from fabric or plastics material

Abstract

A lightweight ammunition belt link comprises first, second and third elongate, tubular shell holding rings sized to slidingly receive cylindrical, telescoped amunition. First and second webs interconnect the three shell-holding rings so that the first and second rings are axially spaced apart on a first longitudinal axis and the third ring is on a second longitudinal axis, which is laterally separated from the first axis by slightly over one shell diameter, the third ring is offset between the first and second rings which are spaced apart so that in forming the ammunition belt, the third ring of one link fits between, the first and second rings of a next link, and can be axially aligned therewith. A shell installed into the first and second ring of one link and the interposed third ring of an adjacent link connects the two links together and forms a pivot point enabling one link to hinge around the adjacent link for belt storage. The links include a detent which engages a shell groove to releasably retain the shells in the links. The links are preferably formed of a thermoplastic material such as LEXAN brand thermoplastic for light weight and high strength.

Claims

1. A belt of linked ammunition, comprising:

(a) a plurality of telescoped cylindrical ammunition shells each having an annular recess formed in the cylindrical surface thereof adjacent the forward end thereof;

(b) a plurality of plastic links interconnected by said cylindrical shells;

(c) each link having

(i) first, second and third rings,

(A) each ring defining a smooth cylindrical interior surface of the same interior diameter, said interior diameter being in excess of the exterior diameter of the cylindrical ammunition shells, whereby the shells may be pushed forward through the rings without the rings binding thereon, and

(B) the first ring of each link terminating at its forward extremity in a forward facing annular surface; and

(ii) web means connecting and spacing the rings of the link, such that the first and second rings are spaced apart on one side of the web means and have a common axis for their interior cylindrical surfaces, and the third ring is disposed centrally on the other side of the web means, with the interior cylindrical surface thereof being axially parallel to and at a spaced apart location from the common axis of the first and second rings;

(d) the third ring of each link fitting between the first and second rings of each adjacent link in the belt so as to provide an interior surface in registration with the interior surfaces thereof;

(e) the plural links being interconnected into a belt by the interposition of the cylindrical ammunition shells within said registered cylindrical surfaces of the rings of adjacent links; and

(f) each link having detent means protruding from the cylindrical interior surface of the first ring of the link, said detent means being disposed adjacent the forward facing annular surface of the first ring, and being in engagement with the annular recess formed in the surface of the associated cylindrical ammunition shell, whereby the ammunition shell can be rammed forward out of the links without producing excessive distortion of the plastic links and consequent binding of the shell by the links.

2. The belt of claim 1 wherein the detent means comprises a relatively small upstanding tab which protrudes radially inward from the cylindrical interior surface of the first ring.

3. The belt of claim 2 wherein the tab is beveled on its surface interior of the first ring so as to facilitate loading and pushing of the associated ammunities round through the registered rings of the links.

4. The belt of claim 3 wherein the annular recess is beveled in the same direction as the tab on the first ring of the associated link, to facilitate loading and pushing of the associated ammunition round through the links.

5. The belt of claim 1 wherein each ring further defines a smooth cylindrical exterior surface, of a common exterior diameter.

6. The belt of claim 5 wherein the web of each link extends from the exterior cylindrical surface of the first and second rings to the exterior cylindrical surface of the third ring.

7. The belt of claim 6, wherein the axial length of the portion of the third ring opposite the web is sufficiently reduced from the separation distance between facing surface of the first and second rings, to fit between, and thereby prevent binding of the third ring on, the web of the adjacent link extending from the exterior cylindrical surface of the first and second rings to the exterior cylindrical surface of the third ring.