Loading table

A loading table including a stable frame with a flat depositing plane (13) for shells (14) lying beside each other and feeding means for removing the shells, one at a time, from the plane, through lateral displacement. The feeding means utilize holding trough segments arranged in an endless chain with two stories of which the upper story comes into connection with the depositing plane. The segments are fastened in the links (16) of two drive chains which by means of the step drive mechanism can be actuated so that at a certain actuation of the step drive mechanism, holding troughs (15) for the shells, which can be composed of holding trough segments in the upper story, are moved forwards one spacing distance. The pairs of holding trough segments are arranged in such a way that said holding troughs which are formed are capable of receiving new shells directly from above under parallel displacement substantially at right angles to the depositing plane in a number corresponding to the number of shells removed from the plane. The holding troughs can then receive two or more shells simultaneously when these are arranged parallel to each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to a loading table comprising a stable frame 
with a substantially flat depositing plane for units of ammunition, e.g. 
shells lying beside each other and with feeding means allotted to the 
units which in dependence on actuations displace the units laterally in 
the plane and remove them, one at a time. 
The new loading table is intended to be mounted on artillery pieces of 
various kinds, such as a field howitzer which can be driven. 
BACKGROUND ART 
A number of loading tables for firearms of the aforementioned type are 
previously known, and of these may be mentioned a loading table which has 
a depositing plane for the shells and on which the shells can roll on the 
depositing plane owing to the inclination of the plane towards the removal 
position and under the control of a step drive mechanism. 
For loading tables it is also previously known to utilize holding troughs 
in which the ammunition units in question can be applied and fed forwards. 
For e.g. a field howitzer, however, there is a need for a technically 
simple loading table, which requires little space but from the point of 
view of functioning shall be capable of permitting effective depositing of 
the ammunition units by means of a loading cassette or the like. Thus, it 
shall be possible to deposit a plurality of ammunition units 
simultaneously in dependence on how the feed from the loading table 
progresses. It shall be possible to lift a predetermined number of units 
simultaneously to the loading table, which number in the present case has 
been chosen to be a maximum of three. However, receiving of only one 
ammunition unit or two ammunition units at a time may take place. Units of 
one kind are received in the respective lift for depositing, but the 
receiving of units of different kinds in the same lift can occur. On 
loading tables of this type there is also a requirement that the 
ammunition units in their applied positions shall be effectively secured 
against actuations from the recoiling parts in connection with firing. 
It is difficult for the previously known loading tables to fulfil these 
requirements, and it is therefore a main purpose of the present invention 
to replace the known loading tables within the identified field of use. 
The principle of rolling cannot be used for an ammunition unit which has 
front guiding cleats instead of a front guide surface, which poses 
problems in maintaining the rolling direction from the table. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A feature for a loading table according to the invention is that its 
feeding means comprises a number of holding trough segments arranged in an 
endless chain in two stories, of which the upper story is located with 
said depositing plane. The holding trough segments can be put together in 
pairs in the plane so that a respective pair forms a holding trough for a 
unit. The holding trough segments are fastened in at least one drive chain 
also comprised in the feeding means and which can be actuated with a step 
drive mechanism belonging to the driving means. Each actuation move the 
holding trough segments forwards a distance corresponding to a spacing 
distance between two holding troughs. In the respective step forwards the 
position of all the holding trough segments in the holding troughs formed 
in the upper storey are in the depositing plane. The holding trough 
segments are arranged so that the holding troughs are capable of receiving 
new units directly from above during parallel displacement substantially 
at right angles to the depositing plane in a number corresponding to the 
number of units removed from the plane and to receive two or more units 
simultaneously when they are arranged parallel to each other. In further 
developments of the invention further details are proposed of the design 
of the holding trough segments of the loading table and the drive chains 
with sprocket wheels. Further, means are proposed of achieving the 
securing function for the ammunition units when these are applied in the 
holding troughs. 
However, the features that can mainly be considered to be characteristic 
for a loading table according to the invention will be noted from the 
claims following. 
Through the proposed invention an effectively functioning loading table is 
obtained, on which shells of various lengths and forms can be placed, 
transported, and removed. The loading table also permits the shells to be 
applied by means of a cassette or the like. The fixing of the shells to 
the loading table during the recoiling movements of the firearm is also 
effective, and does not interfere with the normal functions of the loading 
table. The table can receive various kinds of ammunition which varies as 
to the distance between the rear end and the driving band. The new table 
can also receive shells which have guiding cleats instead of front guiding 
means.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
In accordance with FIGS. 1-3 the new loading table comprises a stable frame 
with a number of vertically arranged beams 1a-1g and a number of 
horizontally arranged beams 2a-2i. The frame comprises two beams 3a, 3b, 
extending straight forwards from the lower parts of the frame and directed 
obliquely upwards, of which one of the beams 3a is fastened at the middle 
part of a lower horizontal beam 2a and the other beam 3b is fastened to a 
lower front corner formed by the beams 2c and 1f. The free ends of the 
beams 3a and 3b are on a level with the upper parts of the frame. 
At the rear parts of the frame, on the two lower horizontal beams 2g and 2i 
a first unit is rotatably supported which supports a horizontally arranged 
clamping bar 4 which is lowerable and removable from the loading table by 
means of the unit. The first unit comprises a first frame part with beams 
5a, 5b, and a second frame part which is set at an angle in relation to 
the first frame part, and which has the beams 6a-6d, the clamping bar 4 
then being connected to the free ends of the beams 6a, 6b, and 6c. 
Positioning elements 7a and 7b fix the first and second frame parts to 
each other. The rotatable support for the first unit is indicated by 8a 
and 8b, and consists, in principle, of a journal support. 
On the same rotatable supports 8a and 8b, but individually adjustable in 
relation to said first unit, there is also a second unit, rotatably 
supported. The second unit has beams 9a and 9b for a part 9c in the form 
of a plate which has a flat surface 9c'. The beams 9a and 9b are guided by 
means of guide elements 10a, 10b, at which securing means not shown are 
arranged, to secure the second unit in various desired angular positions. 
The first unit with the clamping bar 4 can be actuated by means of an 
operating rod 11, which has a handle 11a. The rod is supported at the 
upper ends of the vertical beams 1a and 1b so that it can be displaced in 
its longitudinal direction. The free end of the rod has a rotatable 
support 11b, via which the clamping part is connected, in order to enable 
the actuation movements of the first unit. 
As will be noted from, inter alia, FIG. 4, the loading table is provided 
with a number of holding trough segments 12, arranged in an endless chain. 
The chain is arranged in two stories, of which the upper one is in 
connection with a straight depositing plane 13 for a number of ammunition 
units, e.g. in the form of shells 14. In the example of the embodiment the 
loading table is arranged to be capable of receiving a total of three 
shells simultaneously. It is then characteristic for the loading table 
that it works with holding troughs 15 for the shells, the respective 
holding trough then being intended to receive one ammunition unit. 
The holding troughs are formed in the upper story by the holding trough 
segments assembling in pairs so that a respective pair forms a holding 
trough. The holding trough segments in the respective pair are then 
unsymmetrical in relation to each other in the cross-section according to 
FIG. 4. The holding trough segments in the respective pair substantially 
form a semicircle in the cross-sections. The segment located farthest to 
the front in the feeding direction M then has an arc length which is 
greater than the arc length of the rear segment. The straight depositing 
plane 13 for the shells 14 can be considered to be tangent internally to 
all of the holding troughs formed in said upper story. 
The holding trough segments are fastened at the bottom to links 16 which 
are connected together in an endless drive chain, in accordance with FIG. 
4. Two such drive chains are arranged at the loading table, of which, 
however, only one drive chain is shown in the figures. The holding trough 
segments have a length a and the drive chains are arranged at the ends of 
the respective holding trough segments. The two drive chains comprise two 
sprocket wheels 17, 18, for the respective drive chain. The sprocket 
wheels at the ends of the respective drive chain are supported on the same 
shaft, in accordance with FIG. 6, which shows the front pair of sprocket 
wheels 17, 17' which form the driving wheels in the drive chains. The 
sprocket wheels and shaft are rotatably supported in the frame via ball 
bearings 20, 21. See also FIG. 3, which shows the fastening arrangements 
for the ball bearings 20 and 20' for one and the same drive chain. One end 
of the shaft 19 is applied in a drive wheel 22 described in the following, 
which is comprised in a step drive mechanism for the drive chains. 
The sprocket wheels 17, 18 coact with the links 16 of the respective drive 
chain via straight actuating surfaces 17a and 18a, respectively. Thus, in 
its cross-section shown in FIG. 4, the respective chain wheel has the form 
of a polygon. In the example of the embodiment with three holding troughs 
in the straight depositing plane and step movements with a spacing 
distance b between the holding troughs for each actuation, the sprocket 
wheels have been given the form of a heptagon. This design is particularly 
favourable owing to its unsymmetrical meshing with the links in the 
respective drive chain. The unsymmetrical meshing results in the chain 
tension being kept substantially constant in the respective drive chain 
during the step movement. If the corner 17b of the sprocket wheel 17 is 
considered, it will be noted that at clockwise rotation it will mesh with 
the link 16' in question, and in its uppermost position it would strive to 
stretch the drive chain. At the same time, however, the corner 17c leaves 
its lowest point, and a corresponding slackening function arises, etc. 
During the driving of the chain, the links 16 in the respective drive 
chain slide along a horizontal slide rail 23 (FIG. 4) which moreover in 
accordance with FIGS. 10 and 10a is set at an angle with a side support 
rail 24 which supports the chain links on the outsides. A slide rail 25 
corresponding to said side support rail is also arranged in the lower 
story of the chain. 
The holding trough segments are driven via the relevent sprocket wheel, and 
the drive chain manually by means of a step drive mechanism which 
comprises, the hand wheel 26 shown in FIG. 1, the step drive mechanism 
being arranged so that one turn of the crank corresponds to a step of one 
spacing distance b (FIG. 4). As will be noted from FIG. 2, the crank 26 is 
provided with a stop pin 26a which defines the starting position. The 
support for the hand wheel at the free ends of the frame beams 3a and 3b 
is shown in FIGS. 2 and 12. The hand wheel is in connection with a drive 
wheel, see also FIG. 11, which in an enlarged view and in cross-section 
shows the shaft support for the hand wheel and said wheel 26. Via a belt 
or chain 28 the wheel 27 is in connection with an elongate rotatable shaft 
29 supported in brackets 30 and 31 on the beam 3b and on a built out part 
32 of said beam 3a. The built out part 32 is also supported by a 
transversal element 33 in the frame, which extends from the middle parts 
of the vertical beam 1a to the middle parts of the beam 3b. The inner end 
of the rod 29 has a sprocket wheel 34 which via a chain 35 drives the 
drive wheel 22 mentioned above which actuates the shaft 19 and therewith 
the sprocket wheels 17, 17'. The bearing bracket for the bearing 20 is 
shown in FIG. 8. 
In order to prevent undue movements of the step drive mechanism, the 
rotatable shaft 29 act with a blocking mechanism according to FIG. 9. The 
mechanism comprises an electromagnet 36, which is known in itself, which 
is controlled electrically by the recoiling parts of a firearm, at which 
the loading table is intended to be used. The electromagnet actuates a 
blocking plunger 37 which in the unactuated position of the magnet is 
engaged with a cleat on the shaft 29, and thereby prevents the shaft from 
being further turned. In the actuated position of the magnet, the blocking 
plunger is released from the shaft, and permits it to be turned. As 
regards the design of the holding troughs formed by the pairs of holding 
trough segments, the holding troughs are pulled over the center at the 
rear edge 12c. The rear edge is intended to coact with the front edge of a 
driving band 14a located on the shell in question or the like. The 
respective holding trough segments are made with side recesses 12d which 
extend under the center (applicable to the cross-section) which extend up 
to the center with their middle and front parts with sections 12e and 12f, 
respectively. Through the side recesses, the holding troughs form compound 
recesses, viewed from above. The holding troughs which are thus open from 
straight above permit the shells to be deposited in the holding troughs 
directly from above, i.e. under parallel displacement of the respective 
shell at right angles (see arrow P in FIG. 4) towards the depositing plane 
13. The compound side recesses then permit application of the shells on 
the table by means of a cassette, and the compound side recesses then 
enable gripping means on the cassette to be inserted between the holding 
troughs and released when the respective shell has reached its position in 
the respective holding trough. With the cassette more than one shell can 
be applied simultaneously to the table, and the cassette, in addition to 
the parallel displacement of the shell, also keeps the shells oriented in 
space so that they are in a horizontal position and parallel to each 
other. The cassette is arranged so that, like the loading table, it can 
support three ammunition units. When depositing one or two shells on the 
table from the cassette, this can take place if the cassette has the same 
number of shells as there are empty holding troughs. The empty holding 
troughs should then be farthest towards the outside of the loading table, 
i.e. at the beam 2e and the rod 11, which makes is possible to insert an 
empty compartment in the cassette over the beam 2e and the rod 11. 
The loading table is fastened or can be fastened to the artillery piece in 
question, e.g. a field howitzer, via e.g. the vertical beams 1a, 1b, 1f, 
and 1g. 
The loading table described above functions in the following way. In order 
to enable the application of the shells, the clamping bar 4 is swung over 
rearwards through manual longitudinal displacement rearwards of the rod 
11, and the first and second units with beams 5a, 5b, and 6a-6d are then 
swung over rearwards and therewith the clamping bar 4. The number of 
shells in question are lowered horizontally and parallel to each other by 
means of a cassette or the like at right angles to the depositing plane 
13. When the shells have assumed their positions in the holding troughs, 
the rear edges 12c of these, through coaction with the front edges of the 
driving bands 14a of the shells, prevent the shells from being displaced 
forwards in connection with the subsequent recoil movements of the 
firearm. Movements directed rearwards of the shell are prevented by the 
plate 9c, the surface 9c' of which is located at the rear end 14b of the 
shells. With the suspension of the plate 9c being adjustable in relation 
to the suspension of the clamping bar, the plate can be set for different 
distances between the driving band and the rear end of the shells, i.e. 
the loading table can be used for shells of various types. The suspension 
beams 9a and 9b for the plate, in accordance with the above, are arranged 
so that they can be secured to the guide elements 10a and 10b for securing 
the plate in a position where its surface is located just behind the rear 
end of the shells. The securing means can then consist of a clamping 
device of a kind which is known in itself. 
When the shells have been applied and the cassette has been removed, the 
clamping bar 4 is swung back by means of the rod 11. The distance between 
the underside of the clamping bar and the upper parts of the shells has 
been chosen with comparatively little play, and the shells are thereby 
fixed also as regards to movements directed upwards in connection with the 
recoiling movement of the firearm. However, the play is chosen so that the 
lateral displacement of the shells between the recoiling actions is not 
prevented. 
In order to remove one shell at a time from the loading table to a loading 
tray, not shown, or the like, the hand crank shall be actuated one turn. 
The hand crank is pulled outwards to release the catch 26a and can 
thereafter be turned one turn, provided that the blocking magnet 36 has 
received an all-clear signal from the loading system in front of it, and 
has retracted its blocking device 37. The movements of the hand crank are 
transferred via the wheel 27, the chain 28, the rotatable shaft 29, the 
wheel 34, the chain 35, and the drive wheel 22 to the shaft 19 and 
therewith the sprocket wheels 17 and 17' for the two drive chains. The 
chains are stepped forwards one spacing b, which involves that the holding 
trough segments which form the front holding trough on the table are 
successively tipped down at the front ends of the chain. Because of the 
extended arc form of the front holding trough segment, a long supported 
depositing movement for the shell in question takes place. It is only when 
the holding trough segment has been tipped down to a level with the center 
line 38 (FIG. 4) of the chain that the actual depositing of the shell down 
into a loading tray or the like, not shown, takes place. The following 
rear holding trough segment will, when this tips down over the front edges 
of the chains, give a push to the shell or the like, to ensure that the 
shell will be correctly placed in the loading tray. 
When the crank has been turned one turn and the step and depositing has 
been carried out, the magnet 36 will prevent actuation of the crank a 
further turn until an all-clear signal has been received that the loading 
system in front of the loading table is ready to receive a further shell. 
The all-clear signal actuates the magnet 36 and the crank can thereafter 
be actuated to deposit a new shell. 
When placing new shells on the loading table, the clamping bar 4 is swung 
out of the way, and the cassette can be lowered over the table with the 
number of shells to be loaded. 
The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown above as an example, 
but can be subject to modifications within the scope of the following 
claims and the concept of the invention. Thus, the design of the various 
parts in the table can be varied and/or to a certain extent automated. The 
step drive mechanism can then be made automatic, instead of manual, etc. 
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
The parts comprised in the new loading table consist of technically simple 
components which are easy to manufacture and assemble in efficient 
production. During manufacture, the loading table can be integrated with 
the artillery piece in question, but it can also easily be applied to 
artillery pieces already in field service.