FR3046671A1 - SHOP AT OBUS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a magazine (1) for shells (100) having compartments (2) defined by walls (5), compartment (2) adapted to receive the shells (100) arranged horizontally and one above the other columns, and a gripping means (3) for extracting the shells (100) vertically out of the compartments (2), magazine (1) comprising support means (6) arranged between each shell (100) of a same column, support means (6) pivotally mounted between a support position, in which it supports the shell (100) located above the support means (6), and an erased position allowing the passage of the shell (100). ) located under the support means (6), magazine (1) having a holding means (7) located above the longitudinal axis (20) of each shell, holding means (7) retractable between a holding position in which it limits the ascending movements of the shell and a retracted position in which it authorizes the passage of a shell.

Description

The technical field of the invention is that of automated shelling magazines.

In order to allow higher firing rates and to reduce the physical effort of the crew of a large caliber artillery, it is known to automatically feed an artillery weapon in propellant charges and ammunition.

Thus, the patent FR2825144 describes a load store having compartments with walls substantially parallel to each other. Each compartment makes it possible to dispose propellant charges of artillery in a substantially horizontal manner in load columns, superimposed and parallel to each other.

Each propellant charge is supported by a support means thus avoiding a higher load is based on a load below. The charges thus arranged allow an automated gripping means to seize the desired loads.

Such a store with such support means is unsuitable for supporting shells that are extremely heavy relative to propulsive charges. In addition, the device as described does not prevent the rebound of loads stored in the store during shocks and jolts that may occur during firing and transport operations on all terrain vehicles for example. The invention therefore proposes to solve the problem of keeping shells in place in an automated warehouse.

In addition, the invention makes it possible to adapt the magazine according to the length of the type of shell to be transported.

Thus, the invention relates to a magazine for shells characterized in that it comprises at least one compartment defined by at least one pair of walls, compartment adapted to receive the shells arranged substantially horizontally and one above the other in column, and a gripping means for extracting the shells vertically out of their compartment, store comprising at least one support means disposed between each shell of the same column, support means which is pivotally mounted between a support position, in which it supports the shell located above the support means, and an erased position allowing the passage of the shell located under the support means, magazine shell having at least one holding means located above the longitudinal axis of each shell , holding means which is retractable between a holding position in which it limits the upward movements of the shell and a retracted position in which it allows the passage of an ob grasped by the holding means, the passage from the holding position to the retracted position being caused by a support of the gripping means on the holding means during the descent of the gripping means in the compartment.

Advantageously, the holding means can be locked in the holding position by a locking finger.

Advantageously, the magazine comprises a means for longitudinal shimming of the shells comprising, in each compartment, at least one pair of pivoting flaps each around a substantially vertical axis, flaps intended to be placed on either side of the longitudinal axis. the shell and at the warhead of the latter, so as to prevent the horizontal translation of the shell when in the closed position.

Advantageously, each flap comprises at least one support means which is fixed on one of its faces facing towards the inside of the compartment in the open position, such that when the flap is in the open position, the support means contributes to supporting the shell when introduced into the compartment.

Advantageously, the longitudinal position of the wedging means can be adjusted by moving the axis of pivoting of the flaps along the walls in order to adapt the position of the wedging means to the length of the shells to be blocked.

Advantageously, the walls comprise two series of holes, each series of holes being disposed at a lower and upper part of the wall, the longitudinal adjustment of the wedging means being done by positioning each end of the vertical axis of each component. in one or the other of the holes of each series of holes. The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, description made with reference to the appended drawings, drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a three-quarter view of a shell magazine according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a partial front view in cross section of a magazine shell according to the invention.

FIG. 3 represents a partial cross-sectional front view of a shell magazine according to the invention during the capture of a shell.

Figure 4 shows a partial front view in cross section of a shell magazine according to the invention, the shell being extracted from the compartment.

Figure 5 shows a partial view of three quarters of a detail of a shell magazine according to the invention with its shutters closed.

FIG. 6 represents a partial view from above of a detail of a shell magazine according to the invention with its open shutters.

FIG. 7 represents a partial view from above of a detail of a shell magazine according to the invention with its shutters closed.

According to Figure 1, an automated shell magazine 1 is intended to be loaded on board a vehicle to supply a piece of artillery (vehicle and artillery not visible). To this end, the magazine 1 comprises a series of compartments 2 intended to contain shells 100. Each compartment 2 is delimited by a pair of vertical side walls 5 and two compartments 2 adjacent to each other have a wall 5 common.

The magazine shell 1 also comprises a gripping means 3 comprising a clamp 3a for grasping the shells 100 individually in each compartment 2, as and when the supply needs of the piece to extract them from above the store 2 .

This gripping means 3 is made movable along a horizontal rail 4 which extends along the rear face AR of the magazine 1, over the entire length of the magazine. The gripping means 3 moves along the rail 4 by means of a motorisation (motor not visible) of the gripping means 3 meshing on a rack 4a of the rail 4. The gripping means 3 is vertically movable in order to be able to go in and out the clamp 3a in each compartment to grab a shell 100 each time. This vertical mobility is also obtained by moving along a vertical rack (not visible vertical rack).

Each compartment 2 is intended to accommodate shells 100 parallel to each other, in vertical columns where each shell 100 is positioned substantially horizontally with its nose 100a facing the front side of the AV magazine 1. The shells 100 are placed in the store 1 by the front face AV during its supply of shells. This arrangement, rocket 100b forward, allows access to the rockets to adjust them.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, each wall 5 comprises at least one support means 6 located vertically between each shell 100. Each support means 6 is intended to support a shell and is in the form of a part that can pivot relative to the shell. wall 5 about a substantially horizontal axis 5a between a support position, substantially horizontal in which it supports the shell by the lower part of the latter (lower part located below the longitudinal axis 20 of the shell), and an erased position, substantially parallel to the plane of the wall 5 in order to clear the upward passage of the compartment 2 so that the shell 101 located under the support means 6 can come out once the shell 100 located above the medium support 6 has been extracted. Each support means 6 comprises a spring (non-visible spring) whose action tends to maintain medium support 6 in support position (horizontal support means 6).

The raising of the support means 6 along the wall 5 in the erased position is effected by the passage of the shell 101 located under the support means 6.

In order to prevent the vertical movement of the shells 100 during their transport or firing, each wall 5 also includes at least one retractable holding means 7 located above the longitudinal axis 20 of each shell 100. Each retractable holding means 7 is able to pivot between a holding position in which it limits the upward movement of the shell 100 and a retracted position in which it allows the passage of the shell gripped by the clamp. The holding means 7 pivots relative to a horizontal axis 7a integral with the partition 5.

So that the holding means 7 can retract without interfering with the shell that it aims to maintain, we will choose (Figure 2) a length L of the holding means 7 such as the circle of radius L described by the end the holding means 7 is at most tangential with the shell when the latter is resting on the support means 6.

Moreover, to ensure the maintenance of the shell, the holding means 7 will be given an inclination such that in the holding position it interferes with the shell animated with an upward movement. It will be possible to choose an inclination of the holding means 7 ensuring a maximum deflection of the shell of the order of a millimeter. Note in Figure 2, that the angle between the holding means 7 and the vertical is of the order of 75 °. In this position the shell is effectively maintained. If this angle were increased, the possible defeat clearance for the shell would also be increased. If this angle is less than 40 ° the shell is no longer maintained (Figure 3).

Each holding means 7 comprises a spring (not visible spring) whose action tends to maintain holding means 7 in the holding position.

According to Figure 3, the transition from the holding position to the retracted position is caused by a support of the gripping means 3 of the holding means 7 during the descent of the gripping means in the compartment. The holding means 7 is thus pivoted towards the bottom. For this, the gripping means 3 comprises a bearing surface 3b in the form of a sheet metal panel, a substantially vertical portion is intended to interfere with the holding means 7 to fold down (see also Figure 1).

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the holding means 7 can be locked in a substantially vertical position by a locking means 21 comprising a locking pin 21 engaging in a housing 21a of the holding means 7.

As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, to provide better support of the shell 100 and also a better support, several support means 6 and a plurality of support means 6a said means fixed support because not pivoting around a horizontal axis like the other support means 6.

When the flaps 9 are open, this fixed support means 6a, contributes to support the shell 100 when it is placed in a compartment 2 level. For this it is placed at the same height as the other support means 6 of the level concerned.

According to FIG. 7, in order to make the magazine adaptable to shells of different lengths, each wedging means 8 is longitudinally adjustable by moving the flaps 9. For this, the pivot axes 9b of the flaps 9 can be placed in holes 9c of a series of holes 9c located at the top and bottom of each wall 5. The invention thus ensures a perfect fit of the shells in the store to prevent vertical rebounds of shells. The invention also makes it possible to wedge the shells longitudinally as a function of their length.

Claims (6)

1- magazine (1) for shells (100) characterized in that it comprises at least one compartment (2) defined by at least one pair of walls (5), compartment (2) adapted to receive the shells (100) arranged substantially horizontally and above each other in column, and a gripping means (3) for vertically extracting the shells (100) out of their compartment (2), store (1) comprising at least one support means ( 6) disposed between each shell (100) of the same column, support means (6) which is pivotally mounted between a support position, in which it supports the shell (100) above the support means (6) , and an erased position allowing the passage of the shell (100) located under the support means (6), magazine (1) shell (100) having at least one holding means (7) located above the longitudinal axis (20) of each shell (100), holding means (7) which is retractable between a holding position in which it limits the upward movements of the shell (100) and a retracted position in which it authorizes the passage of a shell (100) grasped by the gripping means (3), the passage from the holding position to the retracted position being caused by a support of the gripping means (3) on the holding means (7) during the descent of the gripping means (3) into the compartment (2). 2- magazine (1) for shells (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding means (100) can be locked in the holding position by a locking finger (21). 3- magazine (1) for shells (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a longitudinal means (8) for setting shells (100) having, in each compartment (2), at least a pair of flaps (9) each pivoting about a substantially vertical axis (9b), flaps (9) intended to be placed on either side of the longitudinal axis (20) of the shell (100) and at the warhead (10a) of the latter, so as to prevent the horizontal translation of the shell (100) when in the closed position. 4- magazine (1) for shells (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that each flap (9) comprises at least one support means (6) which is fixed on one of its faces facing towards the inside of the compartment ( 2) in the open position, so that when the flap (9) is in the open position, the support means (6) helps to support the shell (100) during its introduction into the compartment (2). 5- magazine (1) for shells (100) according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the longitudinal position of the wedging means (8) can be adjusted by moving the pivot axis (9b) of the flaps ( 9) along the walls (5) to adapt the position of the wedging means (8) to the length of the shells (100) to be blocked. 6. magazine (1) for shells (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the walls (5) comprise two sets of holes (9c), each series of holes (9c) being arranged at a lower portion and upper wall (5), the longitudinal adjustment of the wedging means being done by positioning each end of the vertical pivot axis (9b) of each flap (9) in one or other of the holes (9c ) of each set of holes.