WO2009049710A1 - Ammunition feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an ammunition feeder for feeding ammunition (M1, M2, M3) from different ammunition containers or ammunition channels onto a common rotor (2) to a weapon, wherein at least two different ammunition types (M1, M2, M3) are fed from the same direction via the feeder (1) to a breech (3) or the like, insertion stars (S2, S3, S6) being integrated into the feeder (1), which place the selected ammunition (M1, M2, M3) in different rotor positions of the rotor (2) relative to the breech (3) or the like.

Description

 DESCRIPTION

ammunition feed

The invention relates to the supply of different types of ammunition from different ammunition containers via a common rotor to a weapon, wherein at least two different types of ammunition of the weapon are presented from the same direction a closure or the like.

From DE 36 29 307 C1 a Doppelpatronen- Wechselzuführer for ungegurtete ammunition designed as a gas pressure supercharger automatic machine gun for two foreign-powered cartridge feeders is known. Compared to other double-cartridge feeders, this feeder differs in that a star wheel is provided on both sides of a rotor between this and the weapon-side ends of the bands, wherein the rotor is connected to the two star wheels and the two conveyor belts via a change gear. The change gear is associated with a control that causes the return transport of the cartridge located in the attachment position in the respective starwheel at a change of ammunition to be fired.

DE 689 05 739 T2 (EP 0 362 064 B1) discloses an automatic rapid-fire turret, in which the ammunition supply system has a star shaft which is located in the extension of the axis of the turret and is rotatably connected thereto. Included is a solid wiper, which is placed between the star wave and a feed star to separate the cartridges from the belt members of the belt. The feed star is driven in rotation by the star wave.

With DE 32 11 416 C2 an ammunition feeder for a double-tube weapon is claimed. Another Patronenzuführeinrichtung is known from DE 30 40 798 C2.

The supply of ammunition in the known as Bushmaster automatic weapon takes place laterally from one direction. The ammunition is supplied from two ammunition canals, whereby the ammunition is passed through so-called degestering stems into the common roof via a switch. is pressed, which has been selected. The two stars rotate in opposite directions, so that here too the ammunition is inserted alternately.

The invention has as its object to bring different types of ammunition or types of different ammunition containers on a common rotor, which are then fed to a weapon or a cartridge chamber.

The object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are shown in the subclaims.

The invention is based on the idea to present two or at least three or four types of ammunition located in different ammunition containers, channels or the like via a common drive to a rotor, wherein a powerless insertion into the rotor is favored. The insertion of the ammunition from the various ammunition containers and / or channels in the rotor takes place, for example, clockwise and / or counter.

The problem to be solved was that the various ammunition from different positions to the rotor must be inserted into this. This problem has been solved in that the insertion stars are designed as half stars, which are synchronized with the rotor and that each ammunition within the rotor comes to rest at different rotor positions. This has the advantage, among other things, that only one ammunition can always be in the rotor and that switching to another ammunition channel ensures that no false ammunition comes to rest in the rotor and is fired. The rotor then, for example, returns a shorter path for feeding the ammunition to the shot from the first channel than for feeding the ammunition to the shoot from the second channel. The unneeded inserter is mechanically separated from the drive. The synchronization between the rotor and the starter itself is primarily mechanically, an electronic monitoring can be provided.

For example, two types of ammunition in girded form and one type of ammunition in ungegurteter form or several strapped or unglutted ammunition types, depending on how much space is provided for the feeder on the weapon.

Used is a rotor shaft with a preferably three-gear jaw clutch, driven by a rotor motor. The dog clutch is in turn by a control roller or Operating shaft. All three gears for feeding the at least three types of ammunition are preferably continuously engaged with the rotor shaft, in the power engagement, however, is only the gear, which is responsible for the supply of the selected ammunition. This force intervention is realized by the respective dog clutch on the rotor shaft.

The rotor shaft is further connected via a linkage with a 2-way clutch and a shaft, here called Entgurterwelle, which in turn is driven by a booster. Through this, the respective (strapped) ammunition channel is selected, operated the appropriate Entgurter- and Inlegestern and placed the ammunition on the operated feeders in the rotor. A control roller also ensures that only one gear is in force engagement with the Entgurterwelle.

With gears, the respective translation is realized, which is necessary to align the rotor and the insertion stars / Entgurtersteme to each other, even in terms of time, that always only the selected type of ammunition is placed by the insertion stars in the rotor.

Reference to an embodiment with drawing, the invention will be explained in more detail.

It shows:

1 is an illustration of a feeder in a plan view,

2 shows a representation of the feeding of the ammunition in the weft direction,

3 shows a representation of the supply of the ammunition in view of the closure,

4 is an enlarged view of the drive for the supply,

5 is a plan view of the rotor shaft with dog clutch,

6 is an enlarged view of FIG. 5,

Fig. 7 is an illustration of the control roller of the rotor shaft.

With 1 in Fig. 1, a feeder for example, three different types of ammunition M1, M2, M3 (the latter not visible here) characterized. The feeder 1 has six stars - -

51 to S6 (FIG. 2, FIG. 3). The star S1 is the rotor 2, through which the ammunition M1, M2, M3 is placed in front of a closure 3. The ammunition M1 and M2 have belt members 4. A common drive 5 takes over the supply of the ammunition M1, M2, M3 in front of the shutter. 3

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 show the drive 5 for the three types of ammunition M1, M2, M3 in a compact representation. The feeder 1 is subdivided into a rotor side 7 and into a so-called degressor side 8. The Entgurterseite 8 is gear technology independent of the rotor side 7 and a rack 9, which actuates the clutches 10, 11, connected together (allows a modular design of the feeder 1).

The drive 5 of the feeder 1 comprises in the preferred embodiment, a rotor shaft

12 (S1) with a 3-speed dog clutch 10, which is functionally coupled via the rack 9 with a 2-speed dog clutch 11 and the Entgurterwelle 13. The Entgurterwelle

13 is in turn driven by a motor (booster not shown). With S6, the insertion core for the ammunition M3, marked with S3 of the insertion star for the ammunition M2 and S2 of the insertion star for the ammunition M1. The starters S6, S3 and

52 are tuned to the rotor 2 (S1) so that the ammunition is placed by the starter in the rotor 2, which has been selected by the operator.

4 shows an enlarged view of the drive 5 with the rotor shaft 12 and the 3-speed dog clutch 10, a transmission 14 (clutch) and the rack or linkage 9. The 3-speed dog clutch 10 is in turn with gears Z1, Z2, Z3 of the transmission 14 in engagement, wherein a frictional connection is made with the gear, which represents the selected Munitionsart M1, M2, M3.

The mechanical force engagement of the jaws 15 (Fig. 5) of the dog clutch 10 is provided by a switching shaft 16, which is designed here as a control roller (Fig. 7). The other gears are blocked by means 17 (Figure 6) on the jaws 15.

On the other hand, the rack 9 is connected to the 2-way clutch 11, which also includes a dog clutch, here a 2-speed clutch. This double-clutch 11 is also operated by a control roller 18 (not shown), so that the clutch 11 is positively connected to the gear Z4, Z5 of the transmission 19, which the degester star S4, S5 and insertion star S2, S3 functionally integrated into the system and thus the corresponding ammunition M1, M2, which has been selected, is supplied from the corresponding ammunition channel to the system.

The three clutch 10 determines the supply stroke for M1, M2 or M3, the two clutch 11, the insertion of M1 or M2 in a respective insertion star S2, S3 and via this in the common rotor. 2

7 illustrates one of the two control rollers 6. The control cams St 1, St 2, St 3 determine the engagement of the claws in the rotor shaft 12 and thus the engagement in the corresponding gear Z1, Z2, Z3 for connection to the rotor shaft 12th Shown in the view of Fig. 5 is the engagement of the jaws in the central gear (selection of ammunition M1) in the rotor shaft 12. Thereby, the gear Z2 is driven by the rotor shaft 12, which is equivalent to the fact that the ammunition M1 from the first Ammunition channel to be supplied to the rotor 2. Accordingly, the gear Z4 with the Entgurterstern S4 is engaged and the inlay S2 is operated.

The process of feeding is as follows:

By an operator, for example, the supply of ammunition M1 is selected. In this case, the middle jaw 15 engages with the rotor shaft 12 and thus the gear Z2. At the same time, the derailment star S4 is driven by the booster via the linkage 9 and the toothed wheel Z4, and the insertion star S2 is addressed, so that the ammunition M1 is enthänet and placed over the insertion star S2 in the rotor 2 (S1). The gears Z1, Z3 of the transmission 14 are disengaged, as well as the gear Z5 of the transmission 19th

The rotor 2 can take a defined position according to the selection of ammunition: 0, 60, 120, 180, 240 or 360 degrees. The booster must in turn take a position 0, 180 or 360 degrees. With regard to the third type of ammunition M3, the booster remains de-energized.

The function of the feeder 1 and the interaction with the weapon (not shown in detail) can be monitored by sensors. The motors have at least one encoder and / or resolver.

Is monitored first, an idle. For the idle state, in addition to checking the exact ammunition selection (M1, M2 or M3), the rotor encoder test, which - -

Amend the ammunition selection must have taken a defined position 0, 60, 120, 180, 240 or 360 degrees. The booster encoder in turn has to take a position 0, 180 or 360 degrees.

With ready to fire or the discrete command "fire" the selected ammunition M1, M2, M3 is conveyed to the feed position by rotation of the rotor 2. The rotation is terminated by reaching the feed position, in which a match of encoder value and monitoring rotor signal is confirmed. The rotor 2 is held in this position and the booster motor and another weapon motor (not shown in detail) are started The booster motor turns the star S4 for the ammunition M1 or S5 for the ammunition M2 by 90 depending on the signal "Ammunition x is selected" Degree in time corresponding to the given cadence. If ammo M3 is selected, the booster motor will not turn.

The weapon engine is started and runs with given values. The "lock locked" signal releases a firing pin in the shutter and normally ignites the supplied cartridge.The ignition is detected via the weapon return and the signal "shot" is generated. With this signal, the weapon motor continues to run until the signal "lock behind" is present (not shown).

If there is no signal within the time window, it can be displayed and a signal can be generated which at least temporarily interrupts the weapon motor.

In the case of single fire, the return from the state "firing" to the state "ready to fire" takes place after each shot. A new shot is only triggered by a new command "Fire." In the case of a burst of fire (series or continuous fire), the weapon remains in the "Firing" state until the set number of shots is reached or the "Fire" command drops by counting the signal "shot".

If there is a failure in the weapon system (missing the signal "shot"), the shutter 3 remains locked and is unlocked only after a time y which can be set, for example, by driving a magnet, then turning it on Continued running of the weapons engine allows, so that the failure can then be transported out of the weapon system like a normal sleeve. The signal for switching ammunition can be generated at any time. If the ammunition is in the relevant star S2 or S3 or S6, the firing state will be checked for the duration of the changeover , At the same time a signal "Switch to ammunition x" is generated and the response is waited for If there is no ammunition, an error signal is generated and the system can then be set to "ready to shoot".

The described feeder 1 is designed so that a fourth ammunition can be supplied to the rotor 2.

Claims

1. Ammunition supply for the supply of ammunition (M1, M2, M3) from different ammunition containers or channels to a common rotor (2) and via this to a weapon, the ammunition (M1, M2, M3) of the weapon via a feeder (1) from the same direction a closure (3) or the like is presented, characterized in that insertion star (S2, S3, S6) in the feeder (1) are involved, the selected ammunition (M1, M2, M3) in different rotor positions of the rotor (2) to the closure (3) or the like. 2. Ammunition supply according to claim 1, characterized in that the feeder (1) by a drive (5) is operated. 3. Ammunition supply according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive (5) comprises at least one rotor shaft (12) with a 3- er clutch (10) and a further 2-er clutch (11) and Entgurterwelle (13), the functional via a rack (9) are coupled together. 4. Ammunition supply according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the Entgurterwelle (13) is driven by at least one motor. 5. Ammunition supply according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that with the ammunition selection of the respective insertion star (S2, S3, S6) for the selected type of ammunition (M1, M2, M3) is driven. 6. Ammunition supply according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that Entgurtersterne (S4, S5) for Entgurten the ammunition (M1, M2) are involved. 7. Ammunition supply according to claim 5, characterized in that the rotor shaft (12) and designed as a 3-speed claw clutch 3-way clutch (10) with gears (Z1, Z2, Z3) of a transmission (14) are engaged, wherein the frictional connection with the gear (Z1, Z2, Z3), which represents the selected Munitionsart (M1, M2, M3). - - 8. Ammunition supply according to claim 7, characterized in that the mechanical force engagement by claws (15) of the dog clutch (10), wherein the claws (15) by a switching shaft (16) are operated. 9. Ammunition supply according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the gears (Z1, Z2, Z3) by a means (17) on the jaws (15) are blocked, which do not come into force engagement with the rotor shaft (12). 10. Ammunition supply according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the 2-er clutch designed as a 2-way clutch (11) by a control roller (18) is operated, so that the clutch (11) with the gear (Z4 , Z5) of a transmission (19) is non-positively connected, which engage the respective Entgurterstem (S4, S5) and insertion gates (S2, S3) functionally in the feed system and thus the corresponding ammunition (M1, M2), which has been selected from the corresponding ammunition channel to the rotor (2) is supplied.