Magazine and conveyor

Abstract: A propellant magazine includes a conveyor (18) for mechanizing the handling of propellant charge units (20) into and out of magazine storage (10). The charge units are contained in open ended tubular packs which are loaded onto the conveyor at a resupply loading station (22) and are axially discharged from the packs through one open end at a gun loading station (26). The conveyor is comprised of a series of transversely elongated conveyor elements (30) having a pair of hoops (40) at each end with hoops of each adjacent pair of elements retained in nested relation to pivotally interconnect the elements in chain link fashion. The propellant charge units are discharged axially through the nested hoops along one side of the conveyor.

Description: The present invention relates to ammunition magazines and particularly to magazines accommodating automated loading and resupply of propellant charges for large artillery pieces. Background of the Invention Heretofore, the task of handling ammunition for large caliber artillery pieces has been highly labor intensive and time consuming. In the case of howitzers, an ammunition round is typically comprised of two components, a projectile and a propellant, which are stored and handled separately. To load a howitzer, a projectile is manually inserted in the gun breech, followed by the propellant charge, typically packaged in bags. The bags are segmented like a string of sausages and the loader typically must remove unwanted serpents to provide the correct propellant charge or zone. Under these circumstances, the firing rate is quite slow. Resupplying an artillery piece is also a slow procedure. In the case of a mobile or self-propelled howitzer, for example, projectiles and propellant charges must be manually transferred from a field ammunition depot or resupply vehicle and stowed in separate magazines. To reduce the number of military personnel required and to save time, both in terms of resupplying and loading artillery pieces, it has been proposed to provide automated handling equipment for feeding ammunition into a magazine for storage, maintaining the ammunition in a safe and secure magazine storage location, and subsequently feeding the ammunition out of the magazine to the gun for firing. An example of such a proposal can be seen from CH-A-471363. Except for their typically greater size and weight, projectiles are reasonably analogous to cartridged ammunition rounds, and thus approaches utilized heretofore in the automated magazine handling of cartridge rounds can be adapted to projectile magazine handling. One such proposal has been made in our copending application EP-A-0337735 on which disclosure the preambles of independent claims 1 and 12 are based. This is not the case with respect to propellant charges which present altogether different automated handling considerations. The traditional bag propellant, due to its unique physical characteristics, does not readily lend itself to automated handling. Summary of the Invention Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention seeks to provide a magazine serving a large caliber artillery gun and equipped to handle propellant charges on an automated basis. It further seeks to provide a propellant magazine of the above character, which includes a conveyor for automatically conveying propellant charges into and out of magazine storage. The invention also seeks, in this aspect, to provide a propellant magazine of the above-character, wherein the conveyor is adopted to present propellant charges at a gun loading station in a manner accommodating automated loading into the gun. Still further, the invention seeks to provide a propellant magazine of the above-character, wherein the conveyor is adapted to accept propellant charges presented at a resupply loading station and convey the resupplied propellant charges into magazine storage positions on an automated basis. In a second aspect of the invention, the invention seeks to provide a chain conveyor suitable for use with a propellant magazine. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a magazine for storing propellant charge units for a large caliber gun, said magazine including, in combination: A. a resupply loading station; B. a gun loading station; and C. a conveyor trained within said magazine between said resupply loading station and said gun loading station, said conveyor including a series of conveyor elements providing a succession of conveyor positions into which a group of propellant charge units are loaded at said resupply loading station and from which individual propellant charge units are discharged at said gun loading station, characterized by each said conveyor element having hoops formed at each end thereof, said hoops of each adjacent pair of conveyor elements being retained in nested relation to pivotally interconnect said conveyor elements, the propellant charge units of each said group being successively discharged through the nested hoops axially aligned with each said conveyor position upon presentation at said gun loading station. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a chain conveyor for articles comprising a series of modular conveyor elements, each said conveyor element comprising: A. an elongated member; characterized by B. a pair of first hoops affixed to said elongated member adjacent one member end; C. a pair of second hoops affixed to said member adjacent the other member end, said second hoops having an outer diameter slightly less; than the inner diameter of said first hoops D. said conveyor elements being arranged in alternating end-for-end orientations with said second hoops nested in said first hoops at each end of each adjacent pair of conveyor elements, whereby to pivotally interconnect said conveyor elements. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a rear view of a self-propelled howitzer equipped with a propellant magazine constructed in accordance with the present invention. FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a propellant conveyor incorporated in the propellant magazine of FIGURE 1. FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the propellant conveyor of FIGURE 2. FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of one of the modular conveyor elements utilized in the assembly of the propellant conveyor of FIGURES 2 and 3. FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side view of a portion of the propellant conveyor of FIGURES 2 and 3; and FIGURE 6 is a side view illustrating the transfer of propellant charge units from the conveyor of FIGURES 2 and 3 at a gun loading station. Corresponding reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. Detailed Description The propellant magazine of the present invention, generally indicated at 10 in FIGURE 1, is illustrated in its application to a large caliber artillery piece, such as a self-propelled howitzer, generally indicated at 12. The howitzer also contains a magazine, generally indicated at 14, for storing projectiles 16. The projectile magazine is not a part of the present invention and hence is illustrated only in cryptic fashion. Propellant magazine 10 includes a conveyor, generally indicated at 18, on which propellant packs 20 are accommodated in horizontal orientation for conveyance in an endless, serpentine path throughout the magazine interior. A resupply loading station, generally indicated at 22, is located at a turnaround (180° turn) in the serpentine conveyor path where loaded propellant packs 20 serially presented from a resupply source (not shown) are laterally handed off to the conveyor by a transfer mechanism 24. A gun loading station, generally indicated at 26, is located at a position in a straight run of the conveyor proximate the breech end of the howitzer barrel 28 where units of propellant charge are advanced axially out of individual propellant packs 20 to a gun loading mechanism (not shown). As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, conveyor 18 consists of a series of pivotally interconnected, modular conveyor of elements, generally indicated at 30, each of the construction best seen in FIGURE 4. Each conveyor element consists of an elongated central member or rod 32 to which are affixed, such as by welding, a plurality of brackets 34, one adjacent each end and at least one other at an intermediate point. These brackets, extending laterally to each side of the member or rod 32, serve to mount a pair of elongated, clamshell retainers 36 having oppositely faced, arcuate retaining surfaces 37 conforming to the cylindrical surface of propellant packs 20. The bracket adjacent one rod end also mounts a pair of large hoops 38 in side-by-side relation to resemble an eyeglass frame. A pair of small hoops 40 are affixed to the bracket 34 adjacent the other rod end in corresponding side-by-side relation. The inner diameter of each hoop 38 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of each hoop 40. To assemble conveyor 18 from conveyor elements 30, the elements are serially arranged in alternating end-for-end orientations, with the hoops 40 at one end of each element nested in a hoop 38 at the corresponding ends of the adjacent elements to each side. It is thus seen that, as long as the hoops 38 and 40 at both ends of the conveyor elements are maintained in nested relation, the conveyor elements are pivotally interconnected in chain link fashion. To this end and as seen in FIGURE 3, the rod ends forming drive pegs 32a and extending beyond the hoops of each conveyor element run in guide tracks 42 carried by opposed sidewalls 44 of magazine 10 to thereby constrain the conveyor elements against endwise relative movements tending to un-nest the hoops. It will be appreciated that these guide tracks extend in flanking relation with the conveyor throughout its serpentine path to maintain positive control and guidance over the individual conveyor elements. Still referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, it is seen that the propellant packs 20 are held on conveyor 18 in conveyor positions between clamshell retainers 36 of each neighboring pair of conveyor elements 30. The diametrically opposed retaining surfaces 37 of these retainers confronting each conveyor position bear against the propellant pack periphery over sufficient arcs to secure the propellant packs in their conveyor positions while in stationary magazine storage positions and while moving along the serpentine conveyor path. As seen in FIGURES 2 and 6, lateral retention of the propellant packs in their conveyor positions is provided by the small hoops 40 whose inner diameter conforms to the inner diameter of the propellant pack tubular casing 21. These hoops closely confront the casing edge surface 21a at each end of a propellant pack (FIGURE 6) to preclude endwise movement thereof. At the turnaround where resupply loading station 22 (FIGURE 1) is located, the retainers for each conveyor position swing away from their normal diametrically opposed relationship prevailing in the straight run portions of the conveyor path to, in effect, open up to accept lateral handoff of a loaded propellant pack into a conveyor position from transfer mechanism 24 and to permit handoff of an empty propellant pack from a conveyor position to the transfer mechanism. Once a conveyor position leaves resupply transfer station, the clamshell retainers close into diametrically opposed relation with a loaded propellant pack to secure it in its conveyor position. At the other turnarounds, magazine-mounted turnaround guides (not shown) are provided to retain propellant packs in their conveyor positions while the clamshell retainers are opened up. As seen in FIGURE 5, conveyor 20 is driven by drive sprockets 46 and 48 arranged in sets located to each side of the conveyor adjacent each serpentine path turnaround. The drive sprockets 46 and 48 of each set are relatively phased in their angular positions fixed on respective, commonly driven shafts 46A and 48a, such that they alternate their driving engagements with the ends of the rods 32 which conveniently serve as drive pegs 32a. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 4, sprocket 46 is driving engaging drive pegs, while sprocket 48 is not. As the former rotates out of driving engagement with the drive pegs 32a the latter rotates into driving engagement with the drive pegs. Thus the sprockets 46 and 48 of each set alternate in driving the conveyor. This conveyor driving arrangement permits the spacing between adjacent straight runs of the serpentine conveyor path to be minimized and thus provides a high packing density of propellant packs 20 in magazine 10. Since the drive pegs 32a are spaced at a pitch of one conveyor position, a single drive sprocket would necessarily have to be of a significantly larger diameter than sprockets 46, 48, to maintain uninterrupted driving engagement with the conveyor. A larger drive sprocket means greater spacing between adjacent parallel straight runs of the conveyor. By phasing sprockets 46 and 48 one-half conveyor position pitch apart, one of the other of these sprockets of each set is always drivingly engaging the conveyor. As a consequence, high propellant packing storage density is achieved, despite the fact that drive pegs intermediate the ends of the rods 32 and axially aligned with the ends of the propellant packs have been eliminated. As seen in FIGURES 2 and 6, each propellant pack 20 contains a column of propellant charge units 50, each consisting of a quantity of granular propellant confined in a combustible, nitrate impregnated cardboard case. To load propellant into howitzer 12 from a propellant pack presented at gun loading station 26, a pusher 52 (FIGURE 6) is activated to extend into the open rear end of the propellant pack casing 21 and push an appropriate number of propellant charge units 50 axially out the open front end thereof into the howitzer propellant loading mechanism (not shown). This axial gun loading operation is possible due to the hooped link construction of the conveyor elements. It will be appreciated that conveyor guide tracks 42 (FIGURE 3) are interrupted at the loading transfer station 26 to accommodate reciprocation of pusher 52 and axial discharge of propellant charge units 50 from the propellant packs. The propellant pack is retained in place as the charge units are discharged by engagement of the front casing edge 21a against a small conveyor element hoop 40, as seen in FIGURE 6. Suitable means (not shown) are provided with the propellant packs to axially restrain the charge units therein when not being discharged.

Claims: A magazine (10) for storing propellant charge units (50) for a large caliber gun (12), said magazine (10) including, in combination: A. a resupply loading station (22); B. a gun loading station (26); and C. a conveyor (18) trained within said magazine (10) between said resupply loading station (22) and said gun loading station (26), said conveyor (18) including a series of conveyor elements (30) providing a succession of conveyor positions into which a group of propellant charge units (50) are loaded at said resupply loading station (22) and from which individual propellant charge units (50) are discharged at said gun loading station (26), characterized by each said conveyor element (30) having hoops (38,40) formed at each end thereof, said hoops (38,40) of each adjacent pair of conveyor elements (30) being retained in nested relation to pivotally interconnect said conveyor elements (30), the propellant charge units (50) of each said group being successively discharged through the nested hoops (38,40) axially aligned with each said conveyor position upon presentation at said gun loading station (26). The magazine defined in claim 1, wherein each said propellant charge unit group is retained in an opened end, cylindrical propellant pack (20), said resupply loading station (22) including means for loading (24) said packs (20) into said conveyor positions. The magazine defined in claim 2, wherein each said conveyor element (30) includes a retainer (36), said retainers (36) of each adjacent pair of said conveyor elements (30) engagingly retaining said packs (20) in said conveyor positions. The magazine defined in claim 3, wherein said conveyor (18) is trained in an endless serpentine path within said magazine (10). The magazine defined in claim 4, wherein said conveyor elements (30) are of a modular construction. The magazine defined in claim 5, wherein each said conveyor element (30) has a first pair of side-by-side hoops (40) at the other end, said hoops (38) of said first pair having inner diameters slightly larger than the outer diameters of said hoops (40) of said second pair, said conveyor elements (30) being arranged in alternating end-for-end orientations with one said hoop (40) of said second pair nested in one said hoop (38) of said first pair at the ends of each adjacent pair of said conveyor elements (36). The magazine defined in claim 6, wherein each said conveyor position is provided between each adjacent pair of said conveyor elements (30), said propellant packs (20) being maintained in said conveyor positions by peripheral surface engagements of said retainers (36) and endwise engagements by said nested hoops (38,40) at the ends of said conveyor elements (30). The magazine defined in claim 7, wherein each said conveyor elements (30) includes an elongated member (32), said hoops (38) of said first pair affixed to said member (32) adjacent one rod end for lateral extension from opposite sides of said member (32), said hoops (40) of said second pair affixed to said member (32) adjacent the other rod end for lateral extension from corresponding opposite sides of said member (32), a separate said retainer (36) affixed to opposite sides of said member (32) in positions between said hoops (38,40) of said first and second pairs. The magazine defined in claim 8, which further includes drive sprocket means (46,48), said ends of said members (32) extending beyond said first and second pairs of hoops (38,40) to provide drive pegs (32a) engaged by said drive sprocket means (46,48) to propel said conveyor (18). The magazine defined in claim 9, wherein said drive sprocket means (46,48) includes plural sets of first (46) and second (48) side-by-side sprockets, said first and second sprockets (46,48) being driven in common, relatively phased relation such that said first and second sprockets (46,48) alternate in drivingly engaging said drive pegs (32a). The magazine defined in claim 9, which further includes opposed guide tracks (42), said drive pegs (32a) riding in said guide tracks (42) to guide said conveyor (18) along said serpentine path and to maintain said hoops (38,40) in nested relation. A chain conveyor (18) for articles comprising a series of modular conveyor elements (30), each said conveyor element (30) comprising: A. an elongated member (32); characterized by B. a pair of first hoops (38) affixed to said elongated member (32) adjacent one member end; C. a pair of second hoops (40) affixed to said member (32) adjacent the other member end, said second hoops (40) having an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of said first hoops (38); D. said conveyor elements (30) being arranged in alternating end-for-end orientations with said second hoops (40) nested in said first hoops (38) at each end of each adjacent pair of conveyor elements (30), whereby to pivotally interconnect said conveyor elements (30). The chain conveyor defined in claim 12, wherein each said conveyor element (30) further includes a pair of retainers (36) mounted to said member (32) in opposed relation for engaging articles in conveyor positions between adjacent pairs of conveyor elements (30). The chain conveyor defined in claim 13, which further includes means (52) for unloading articles from said conveyor positions axially through said nested first and second hoops (38,40). The chain conveyor defined in claim 14, wherein said member (32) has terminal ends extending beyond said pairs of first and second hoops (38,40) to provide sprocket engaging drive pegs (32a) uniformly distributed along the sides of said conveyor (18). The chain conveyor defined in claim 15, which further includes opposed guide tracks (42), said drive pegs (32a) riding in said guide tracks (42) to guide said conveyor (18) along a predetermined conveyor path and to maintain the nested relation of said first and second hoops (38,40). The chain conveyor defined in claim 16, wherein said predetermined conveyor path is an endless, serpentine path having closely spaced, generally straight line sections interconnected by turnaround sections, said chain conveyor further including plural sets of first (46) and second (48), side-by-side sprockets positioned between said straight line conveyor path sections, said first and second sprockets (46,48) being driven in common, relatively phased relation such that said first and second sprockets (46,48) alternate in drivingly engaging said drive pegs (32a). The chain conveyor defined in claim 17, wherein the articles are propellant charge units (50) contained in open ended, tubular propellant packs (20), said chain conveyor (18) further including a resupply loading station (22) positioned at one of said conveyor path turnaround sections, said resupply loading station (22) including means (24) for loading one of said propellant packs (20) into each of said conveyor positions during movement through said one turnaround section. The chain conveyor defined in claim 18, which further includes a gun loading station (26) positioned at a point in one of said conveyor straightline sections, said gun loading station (26) including pusher means (52) for discharging propellant charge units from each propellant pack (20) while presented at said gun loading station (26), said pusher means (52) penetrating one open end of said propellant packs (20) through a pair of said nested first and second hoops (38,40) at one side of said conveyor (18) to push propellant charge units serially out through the other pack open end and through another pair of said nested first and second hoops (38,40) at the other side of said conveyor (18). The chain conveyor defined in claim 19, wherein said propellant packs (20) are constrained against endwise movements in said conveyor positions by said second hoops (40) of each said nested pair of first and second hoops (38,40).

Inventors: MAHER DAVID LORD, RODRIGUEZ CALLISTA MEG, TRAHAN PAUL ARMAND, MAHER, DAVID LORD, RODRIGUEZ, CALLISTA MEG, TRAHAN, PAUL ARMAND
Applicants: GEN ELECTRIC, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Application year: 1991
Main classification: F41A9
IPC codes: F41A9