Abstract:
A cartridge magazine has a carrier member ( 20 ) having a plurality of receptacles ( 21 ) for frictionally retaining therein propellant-containing cartridges ( 11 ), with two elements located in each of the receptacles ( 21 ) for formlockingly retaining respective cartridges from displacement in opposite axial directions of cartridge.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a cartridge magazine which is used, e.g., with powder charge-operated bolt setting tools and which has a carrier member having a plurality of receptacles for frictionally retaining therein propellant-containing cartridges that serve as drive means, and means provided in each of the plurality of receptacles for formlockingly retaining respective cartridges from displacement in an axial direction of cartridge.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,455 discloses storing of propellant-containing cartridges in a strip-shaped cartridge magazine. To this end, a carrier member is provided with a plurality of equidistantly spaced from each other receptacles in which cartridges are frictionally retained. The receptacles are arranged in nose-shaped, projecting to one side of the cartridge magazine elevations. In the receptacles, there is provided a step that serves as a stop for a toric widening of a cartridge and formlockingly retains the cartridge from displacement in the axial direction of the cartridge.  
         [0005]     The drawback of the known cartridge magazine consists in that upon a position-dependent deformation of the plastic material of the cartridge magazine the cartridges are not frictionally retained therein and can fall out of the magazine.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge magazine with which a reliable retaining of cartridges in the receptacles is insured and inadvertent falling out of a cartridge from a receptacle is reliably prevented.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     This and other objects of the present invention, which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by providing, in each of the receptacle further means for formlockingly retaining respective cartridges from displacement in a second axial direction of the cartridges opposite the first axial direction.  
         [0008]     The further means reliably prevents falling of the cartridges out of the receptacles even when the friction between receptacles and the cartridges is reduced or eliminated due to outside influences, e.g., climate conditions.  
         [0009]     Advantageously, the further formlockingly retaining means includes at least one projection for each of the receptacles for engaging from behind a cartridge bottom of a respective cartridge and forming a stop. Such projections can be formed in an already existing cartridge member without any noticeable additional expenses.  
         [0010]     It is further advantageous when the first-mentioned formlockingly retaining means is formed by a step that serves as a stop for a toric widening of a cartridge. The step can be provided on an inner circumference of a receptacle.  
         [0011]     Advantageously, two projections, which located opposite each other, are provided on a rim of a receptacle. This insures an optimal retention of a cartridge in the receptacle. Of course, more than two projections can be provided in a receptacle.  
         [0012]     In a still further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the at least one projection is formed as an embossed or calked member. The projection can be formed by embossing or calking an elevation provided on the carrier member after placing of cartridge, which insures an economical manufacturing.  
         [0013]     In accordance with another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the at least one projection is formed as a pivotal snap or locking element. This insures that the carrier member can be filled with cartridges several times, i.e., provides for a multiple use of the carrier member. The snap or locking element is formed integrally with the carrier member, e.g., from a plastic material by an injection-molding process.  
         [0014]     In accordance with yet another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the at least one projections is formed as a floating clip that surrounds a receptacle, e.g., by 360°. Alternatively, the clip can be formed of several members provided on a rim of a receptacle. With this embodiment, the carrier member can be easily equipped with cartridges, as the floating clip serves as a snap element. Advantageously, the floating clip is formed integrally with the carrier member, e.g., from a plastic material by injection-molding.  
         [0015]     The novel features of the present invention, which are considered as characteristic for the invention, are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional advantages and objects thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The drawings show:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1 a  plan view of a cartridge member of a cartridge magazine according to the present invention before placing of cartridges therein;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2 a  cross-sectional view of the carrier member along line II-II in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3 a  cross-sectional view similar to that of  FIG. 2  but with cartridges placed in the cartridge carrier;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4 a  plan view of a cartridge member with cartridges placed therein of a further embodiment of a cartridge magazine according to the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5 a  cross-sectional view along line V-V in  FIG. 4 ; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 6 a  plan view of a cartridge member of another embodiment of a cartridge magazine according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]      FIGS. 1 through 3  show a carrier member  20  of a strip-shaped cartridge magazine  10  that is formed of a plastic material and has a plurality of equidistantly spaced from each other, arranged one after another, receptacles  21  for propellant-filled cartridges  11  ( FIG. 3 ). In each of the receptacle  21 , there is provided a step  22  that serves as a stop for a toric widening  14  of a cartridge  11 . The stop is designed to formlockingly retain the cartridge  11  in a predetermined axial direction defined by a cartridge axis A and an opening zone  13  of the cartridge  11 . In the receptacle  21 , which is surrounded, at least regionwise by a cylindrical wall  26 , a cartridge  11 , which projects to one side of the carrier member  20 , is frictionally retained.  
         [0024]     On the side of the carrier member  20  remote from the wall  26 , there is provided a projection  23  (see  FIG. 3 ) that engages from behind the toric widening  14  of the cartridge  11  in the region of the cartridge bottom  12  to formlockingly retain the cartridge  11  in a direction opposite the direction of the axial extent of the cartridge  11  (in the direction of the cartridge bottom  12 ). Thus, the cartridges  11  are formlockingly held by stops in both axial directions. Thereby, falling out of cartridges  11  from the carrier member  20  is prevented when the frictional connection between the cartridges  11  and the receptacles  21  is reinforced by external means such as, e.g., kinematic means.  
         [0025]     The projections  23  are formed in the carrier member  20 , which is shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and which is a plastic injection-molded part, by side-shaped elevations  25  upon injection-molding of the carrier member (see  FIGS. 1-2 ). After the cartridges  11  have been placed in the receptacles  21 , the elevations  25  are transformed into the projections  23  by embossing or calking, engaging from behind the cartridges  11  on their bottom  12 . ( FIG. 3 ).  
         [0026]     Sidewise of the carrier member  21 , these are provided transportation recesses  24  in which a transporting element of a setting tool or of a magazine receptacle of the setting tool, or the like can engage for displacing the cartridge magazine  10 .  
         [0027]      FIGS. 4-5  show another embodiment of cartridge magazine  10  that differs from that shown in  FIGS. 1-3  in that projections  23  are formed as pivotal snap or locking elements. The snap elements can be formed directly on the carrier member during an injection process for forming the carrier member. A subsequent calking is not any more necessary. After the carrier member has been formed, the cartridges  11  can be placed in the receptacles  21 , with the snap elements being bent out outwardly by the cartridges. To this end, on a side of the snap element remote from the receptacle, a free space  27  is provided. When the cartridge  11  is completely inserted in the receptacle  21 , the snap element pivots back into its initial position, engaging regionwise the bottom  12  of the cartridge  11 . Advantageously the snap elements have a shape of a segment of a circle and partially surround the respective receptacles  21 .  
         [0028]     In the cartridge magazine  10  shown in  FIG. 6 , the projections  23  are formed as floating clips surrounding the receptacles  21  by 360°. The floating clip can be formed on a carrier member during the injection process when the carrier member  21  is formed. Alternatively, instead of floating clips which completely surround the receptacles, one or more members of the floating clip can be provided at the receptacle  21 .  
         [0029]     Though the present invention was shown and described with references to the preferred embodiments such are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not to be construed as a limitation thereof and various modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore not intended that the present invention be limited to the disclosed embodiments or details thereof, and the present invention includes all variations and/or alternative embodiments within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.