Autoloader for military vehicle

• US 4,860,633 A
• Filed: 05/07/1987
• Issued: 08/29/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FMC Corporation
• Original Assignee: FMC Corporation
• Inventors: Nelson, Gary J., Wiethoff, Roger H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US07/046,741
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 89/33.05, 89/33.03, 89/33.02, 89/36.13, 89/45, 89/46, 89/47
• US Class Current: 89/45
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/16 which is parallel to the barrel axis
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/50 External power or control systems
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/54 Cartridge guides, stops or positioners, e.g. for cartridge extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/76 Magazines having an endless-chain conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 39/22 Locking of ammunition in transport containers

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° 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° 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.

Claims

1. An autoloading apparatus for loading and unloading cartridges having cases into or out of a gun having a breach block and mounted for pivotal movement about a substantial horizontal axis, comprising:

locking means for selectively locking the gun in a predetermined position and unlocking the gun for pivotal movement about said horizontal axis;

magazine conveying means for supporting a plurality of cartridges and having a load-unload station;

load tray means mounted for pivotal movement between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position in alignment with the gun when locked;

cartridge clamp means on said tray for movement between a cartridge clamping position and an open cartridge guiding position;

rammer and extensible empty tray case ejecting means for ramming a cartridge on said load tray means into said gun and after firing to eject the empty cartridge case from said autoloading apparatus;

power means for operating said gun locking means, said magazine conveyor, said load tray means, said cartridge clamping means and said rammer and extensible tray case and eject means;

automated control means for sequentially locking the gun in said predetermined position, driving said magazine to position a selected cartridge at said load-unload station, translating said load tray into said load-unload station, moving the clamp means into gripping engagement with said selected cartridge, moving the tray and selected cartridge into alignment with the gun, moving the rammer for ramming the cartridge into the gun to be fired, closing the breach block, and unloading said locking means for releasing the gun to be aimed and fired;

a rotatable turret mounted for rotation about a vertical axis;

the gun and autoloader apparatus being supported by said turret, means defining a cartridge reload-eject port in said turret, means defining a reload hatch door movably mounted on said turret for opening and closing said reload-eject port, said load tray means including a rear restraint damper, a magazine housing having said magazine conveyor means therein and having a load-unload port therein, a magazine gate assembly having restraining arms movable between a closed and an open position in said load-unload port;

wherein when a cartridge is to be loaded into the magazine conveyor from externally of said turret;

said automatic control means sequentially opening said restraining arms, raising said load tray means into said substantially horizontal position in alignment with said gun, opening said reload hatch doors, and retracting said rear restraint damper;

after one of said cartridges is manually inserted through said reload-eject port and is manually rammed onto said load tray means;

said automatic control means sequentially extending said rear restraint dampener, lowering said load tray means, translating said load tray means into said magazine load-unload port, closing said load station restraining arms, opening said load tray cartridge clamps, translating said load tray means out of said load-unload port, and closing said cartridge clamp means while indexing said magazine conveyor and the cartridge away from said load-unload station.

2. An autoloading method for selectively transferring cartridges having cases between a magazine and a gun having a breech and a breech block with the magazine and the gun being supported by a turret for rotation therewith about a substantially vertical axis with the gun being movable relative to the turret between a substantially horizontal 0°

position and an upwardly inclined position;

said turret having auto loading components therein including a cartridge carrying magazine conveyor in said magazine and adapted to be indexed with a magazine load-unload port having load station restraining arms therein, gun locking means, a load tray movable between a 0°

position in alignment with the gun and a vertical position with cartridge clamps and a rear restraint damper thereon, a rammer and telescopic empty case eject means, a reload hatch door for selectively closing a reload eject port in the turret, power means for selectively operating the above components, and automated control means for controlling said components;

when replenishing cartridges from externally of said turret into said magazine when the gun is locked in said 0°

position with the breech block open, said method comprising the steps of;

said automated controller means first opening said load station restraining arms;

raising said load tray to said substantially horizontal 0°

position;

opening said reload hatch door;

retracting said rear restraint damper on said load tray;

holding said automatic controller means inactive until a cartridge is manually inserted through said reload hatch door and is manually rammed onto said load tray means;

extending said rear restraint damper of said load tray into position to be engaged by the cartridge;

lowering said load tray to said vertical position;

translating said load tray and cartridge into said magazine through said load-unload port for support by said magazine conveyor;

closing said load station restraining arms to restrain the cartridge within said magazine;

opening said load tray cartridge clamps;

translating said empty load tray out of said magazine load-unload port; and

indexing said magazine conveyor to a position for receiving another round.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein about 13.5 seconds is required to replenish one cartridge.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein about 3 minutes and 40 seconds is required to load 19 cartridges into the magazine.

5. A method according to claim 2 wherein said turret is divided into two compartments with the breach of the gun and the majority of the mechanical portions of the autoloader being in one compartment, and at least one operator being in the other compartment;

and additionally comprising the step of sealing said other compartment in substantially airtight engagement relative to said one compartment and with the atmosphere externally of the turret for protection against chemical warfare.