Feeding of different kinds of ammunition to a gun in a tank

Abstract: A tank features magazines which hold ammunition units (3a, 3b) of different types. The feeding path includes discharge devices for discharging the ammunition units from the magazines, and a turntable (8) for receiving each respective ammunition unit discharged from the magazines and turning the ammunition unit to a traverse direction which coincides with a preset traverse direction for the gun of the tank. There are further included means for transferring each respective ammunition unit from the turntable to the ramming position in the gun. The turntable is provided with two carrier units (8a, 8b) for ammunition units. The carrier units are alternatingly movable into and out of the feeding path for the ammunition units. On feeding of the first type of ammunition unit (3a), the first unit operates in the feeding path, while the second unit is located outside the feeding path where it carries an ammunition unit (3b) of the second type. On switching from the one ammunition type to the other, the turntable is disposed to move the first carrier unit out of the feeding path and the second carrier unit into the feeding path.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present Invention relates to an arrangement in an ammunition feeding path for ammunition units in a tank, comprising magazines with two types of ammunition, discharge devices for discharging the ammunition units from the magazine or magazines, a turntable for receiving each respective ammunition unit fed from the magazine or magazines and turning each respective ammunition unit to a traverse direction which corresponds to a preset traverse direction of the gun of the tank, and transfer devices which, in this preset traverse direction, transfer each respective ammunition unit from the turntable to a ramming position in the gun. BACKGROUND ART A number of feeding principles for ammunition units are previously known in the gunnery art in conjunction with tanks and armoured fighting vehicles. Thus, it is previously known to retrieve ammunition units or rounds from the magazines in or outside the tank and insert these into a turntable at the bottom of the tank, the ammunition units being swung by means of the turntable to the pertinent traverse direction, whereafter the round can be transferred from the turntable to the ramming position. It is also previously known to have different types of ammunition in the magazines and to fire different types of-ammunition using the same gun. Switching from one ammunition type to another must then take place in the feeding path. EP-A1-22 286 is considered to be the closest prior art. This reference relates to an ammunition feeding arrangement in a feeding path for ammunition units in a tank. The feeding arrangement includes two magazines with two ammunition types and discharge devices for discharging the ammunition units from the magazine(s). A horizontally disposed turntable is adapted for receiving the ammunition units discharged from said magazine or magazines and for pivoting said ammunition units to a traverse position which corresponds to the current traverse direction of the gun of the tank, the turntable for discharged ammunition units being provided with only two ammunition carrier units and said carrier units being disposed mutually parallel on either side of the rotation centre of the turntable, whereby the two carrier units are able to carry a different ammunition unit type. Two cradles are able to pivot between a first position for receiving said discharged ammunition from the respective magazines and a second position for transferring their respective ammunition units to said turntable. Also included are transfer devices which, in said current traverse direction, transfer each respective ammunition unit from the turntable to the ramming position in the gun. On feeding of a first type of ammunition, the carrier unit for this first type of ammunition operates in the feeding path and the second carrier unit which carries a second different type of ammunition is located outside the feeding path. The switching from feeding ammunition units of the first type to the second type is effected by rotating the turntable through an angle in its plane of rotation in order to move the carrier unit for said first type of ammunition out of and the carrier unit for said second type of ammunition into the feeding path. FR-A-288 293 describes an arrangement in an ammunition feeding path for ammunition units in a tank and includes a magazine for ammunition and a discharge device for discharging from the magazine the respective ammunition units. A turntable is adapted for receiving ammunition units fed from the magazine and pivoting of the ammunition units to a traverse position which corresponds to the pertinent traverse direction of the gun of the tank. Transfer devices transfer, in said pertinent traverse direction, the ammunition unit from the turntable to the ramming position in the gun. A cradle disposed in the feeding path transfers each respective ammunition unit from the magazine to the turntable. A loading pendulum disposed in the feeding part transfers respective ammunition unit from the turntable to said ramming position. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM In prior-art feeding arrangements, it has hitherto been necessary first to fire or move aside - inside the tank - an ammunition unit or ammunition units of the first type partially advanced along the feeding path before it becomes possible to switch to the second ammunition type. It is a technical problem to accomplish rapid transition from one ammunition type to another in connection with firing from a gun on a tank, where the space available for ammunition feeding is, as a rule, limited to the extreme. SOLUTION The primary object of the present invention is to accomplish an arrangement which obviates this and other problems, and that which may essentially be considered as characterizing the novel arrangement according to the present invention is that said carrier units are disposed in the same plane on the turntable and in such a way that they are longitudinally offset in relation to one another and that the two ammunition units being located in said two carrier units with their noses pointing opposite directions. Said turntable is rotatable over an angle of 180° for switching from ammunition units of the first type to the second type. Said second position for transferring the respective ammunition units from said cradles to said turntable is the same for the two carriers. The ammunition units being transferred from said cradles to said turntable by a displacement along the longitudinal axis of said ammunition units. The transfer devices include lifting means for raising the ammunition unit which is in said feeding path, from the carrier unit on the turntable. A loading pendulum is carried, via its journal arm, in a journal disposed in front of the breech block of the gun. The pendulum being pivoted upwardly in order to transfer said raised ammunition from said turntable to said breech block in a position in extension of the bore axis of the gun. ADVANTAGES Employing the arrangement proposed in the foregoing, a rapid switch of ammunition type may be obtained. The partially advanced unit of the first type is moved aside from the feeding path, while the second carrier unit, which, as a preparatory measure, is loaded with an ammunition unit of the second type, is moved into the feeding path. Correspondingly, the first carrier unit which was displaced will be prepared for feeding of the first ammunition type when return to this first ammunition type is to take place, and so on. The switch of ammunition type may take place substantially without delay and without the need to first remove from the feeding path or fire from the gun a round already partially advanced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The nature of the present invention and its aspects will be more readily understood from the following brief description of the accompanying Drawings, and discussion relating thereto of one currently proposed embodiment of an arrangement displaying the characteristics significative of the present invention. In the accompanying Drawings: Fig. 1 schematically illustrates discharge from the magazine of ammunition units to a turntable, the transfer from the magazine to the turntable optionally being effected via a pivotal cradle; Fig. 2 is a plan view schematically illustrating the work of the turntable in the feeding path; Fig. 3 is a side elevation schematically illustrating the transfer of an ammunition unit inserted in the turntable to the ramming position with the aid of a loading pendulum; Fig. 4 is a plan view schematically illustrating the function of the turntable, where the two carrier units of the turntable may alternatingly be moved into the feeding path; and Fig. 5 is a plan view schematically illustrating transverse feeding movements for ammunition units in the magazines. DESCRIPTION OF DETAILED EMBODIMENT Referring to the Drawings, a tank is represented in Fig. 1 by two magazines, reference numeral 1 indicating the left-hand magazine and reference numeral 2 the right-hand magazine. Ammunition units 3 and 3' respectively are longitudinally displaceable out of the magazine to a cradle 4, 5, respectively. Discharge is effected in the direction of the arrows 6 and 7. Each cradle 4 and 5 is pivotal to a position at a turntable 8 which is shown from the side. The figure shows pivoting of the cradle 4 to the position 4'. The position 4' is shown by broken lines. From this pivoted position, the ammunition unit is longitudinally displaceable in the direction 9' into a carrier unit 8a in the turntable. In Fig. 2, the position illustrated in Fig. 1 for the carrier unit 8a is indicated by reference numeral 8a'. The turntable pivots about a pivotal centre 9. In Fig. 2, the carrier unit has been pivoted from the position 8a' to the position 8a'' shown by solid lines. This pivoting was effected in the direction of the arrow 10 (counterclockwise). The turntable is provided with a second carrier unit 8b which is disposed in parallel with the carrier unit 8a and is slightly longitudinally offset in relation thereto. In Fig. 2, the carrier unit 8b is shown only in a position which corresponds to the position 8a'' shown by solid lines for the carrier unit 8a. The carrier units 8a and 8b are located on either side of the pivotal centre 9. Of the carrier units 8a and 8b, it is only the unit 8a which is located in the feeding path for the relevant ammunition unit, while the carrier unit 8b lies outside the feeding path. According to Fig. 3, the position 8a'' assumed by the turntable corresponds to the current traverse position of the gun 11. In this traverse position, the ammunition unit 3 may be collected from the carrier unit 8a with the aid of transfer devices which, in the present case, comprise a loading pendulum 12 which, via its journal arm 13, is carried in the journal 14. According to Fig. 3, the turntable is disposed horizontally and the loading pendulum is obliquely inclined in relation to the carrier unit on the turntable. Consequently, the transfer devices may include lifting means (not shown in detail) which raise the round from the carrier unit on the turntable in the direction of the arrow 15. From this raised position, the ammunition unit may be transferred to the loading pendulum 12 in the direction of the arrow 16. The loading pendulum is pivoted upwardly to a position in an extension of the bore axis, in the direction of the arrow 17. This upwardly pivoted position is shown by broken lines for the ammunition unit 3. From the upwardly pivoted position, the ammunition unit is moved to the ramming position in the gun 11 in the direction of the arrow 18. The above-described feeding path for the ammunition unit 3 is equivalent for the ammunition unit 3'. The inward pivoting of the cradle 4, the driving of the turntable, and the functions in the transfer devices may be executed in per se known manners. Infeed and discharge of each respective ammunition unit in each respective carrier unit may likewise be effected in per se known manners. Fig. 4 illustrates the case in which the carrier units 8a and 8b are alternatingly inwardly pivotal into the feeding path by imparting to the turntable a movement through 180°. It will be appreciated from Fig. 4 that, by such a movement, the carrier unit 8b will be inwardly pivoted into the position of the carrier unit 8a, in other words will be inwardly pivoted into the feeding path in which the carrier unit is assumed to be in accordance with the above description. In conjunction with the inward pivoting of the carrier unit 8b into the feeding path, the carrier unit 8a is correspondingly pivoted out of the path where it - in a corresponding manner - will passively follow the operation of the carrier unit 8b in the feeding path. The carrier unit 8b is further assumed to be loaded with one ammunition unit 3b when it is pivoted into the feeding path. The ammunition unit 3a fed to the turntable is correspondingly moved out of the feeding path. By allocating to the carrier unit 8a a first ammunition type 3a and to the carrier unit 8b a second ammunition type 3b, it will be appreciated that switching of ammunition types in the feeding path may be effected in a simple manner in the turntable. Hence, the ammunition unit fed to the turntable need not be advanced further into the feeding path and be fired from the gun before switching of ammunition type can take place. Discharge from the magazines of different ammunition types may be effected in a per se known manner. Fig. 5 shows how transverse feeding movements for ammunition units 3, 3' may be effected in the transverse directions according to the arrows 19 and 20 respectively to the discharge positions of the magazines (not shown in detail).

Claims: An ammunition feeding arrangement in a feeding path for ammunition units (3, 3') in a tank, said feeding arrangement including two magazines (1, 2) with two ammunition types (3a, 3b); discharge devices for discharging the ammunition units from the magazine(s); a horizontally disposed turntable (8) for receiving the ammunition units discharged from said magazine or magazines and for pivoting said ammunition units to a traverse position which corresponds to the current traverse direction of the gun (11) of the tank, said turntable for discharged ammunition units being provided with only two ammunition carrier units (8a, 8b), said carrier units (8a, 8b) being disposed mutually parallel on either side of the rotation centre of the turntable, whereby the two carrier units are able to carry a different ammunition unit type (3a, 3b); two cradles (4, 5) which are able to pivot between a first position for receiving said discharged ammunition from the respective magazines and a second position (4') for transferring their respective ammunition units to said turntable; and transfer devices which, in said current traverse direction, transfer each respective ammunition unit from the turntable (8) to the ramming position in the gun, the arrangement being such that, on feeding of a first type of ammunition (3a), the carrier unit (8a) for this first type of ammunition (3a) operates in the feeding path and the second carrier unit (8b) which carries a second different type of ammunition (3b) is located outside the feeding path whereby the switching from feeding ammunition units of the first type (3a) to the second type (3b) is effected by rotating the turntable through an angle in its plane of rotation in order to move the carrier unit (8a) for said first type of ammunition (3a) out of and the carrier unit (8b) for said second type of ammunition (3b) into the feeding path, characterised in that said carrier units (8a, 8b) are disposed in the same plane on the turntable and in such a way that they are longitudinally offset in relation to one another, the two ammunition units (3a, 3b) being located in said two carrier units (8a, 8b) with their noses pointing opposite directions; said turntable is rotatable over an angle of 180° for switching from ammunition units of the first type (3a) to the second type (3b); said second position (4') for transferring the respective ammunition units from said cradles (4, 5) to said turntable is the same for the two carriers, the ammunition units being transferred from said cradles to said turntable by a displacement along the longitudinal axis of said ammunition units; said transfer devices include lifting means for raising the ammunition unit which is in said feeding path, from the carrier unit on the turntable, and a loading pendulum (12) carried, via its journal arm (13), in a journal (14) disposed in front of the breech block of the gun, said pendulum (12) being pivoted upwardly in order to transfer said raised ammunition from said turntable to said breech block in a position in extension of the bore axis of the gun.

Inventors: LINDBERG SVEN, LINDBERG, SVEN
Applicants: BOFORS AB, AKTIEBOLAGET BOFORS
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F41A9
IPC codes: F41A9