METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR LOADING ARTILLERY PIECES BY MEANS OF FLICK RAMMING

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for flick ramming shells (1) and the propellant powder charges in artillery pieces which are loaded with these components separately. The invention therefore comprises both a method and an arrangement and it is characterized above all in that the respective component (1) is accelerated to the necessary ramming velocity using an electromechanically generated energy supply in the form of starting acceleration from an electric motor (2), the rotating starting acceleration of which is mechanically converted into rectilinear acceleration and the energy supply from which can, if required, be supplemented with the energy supply from a previously charged energy accumulator (7, 37a) which is triggered simultaneously with the start of the electric motor.

Description: Method and arrangement for loading artillery pieces by means of flick ramming The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for flick ramming shells and propellant powder charges in artillery pieces which are loaded with these components separately. The expression flick ramming means that the components making up the charge, in the form of shells and propellant powder charges, are, during the start of each loading operation, imparted such a great velocity that they perform their own loading operation up to ramming in the barrel of the piece in more or less free flight at the same time as the loading cradle in which they are accelerated to the necessary velocity is rapidly braked to a stop before or immediately after it has passed into the loading opening of the barrel. Flick ramming is an effective way of driving up the rate of fire even in heavier artillery pieces, and, in this connection, it is in general terms necessary for the shells, for example, to be imparted a velocity of at least approaching 8 metres per second in order for flick ramming to be performed. It is moreover desirable that the ramming velocity can be varied in relation to the elevation of the piece so that the shells are always rammed equally firmly in the loading space of the piece. This is because, in this way, variations of Vo, that is to say the muzzle velocity, as a result of shells/projectiles being rammed with varying degrees of firmness are avoided. The major problem associated with flick ramming heavier artillery shells/projectiles is that of accelerating these to the necessary final velocity within the acceleration distance available, which is usually no longer than the length of the shell or projectile itself. Furthermore, it must be possible to flick ram different types of shell/projectile of different weight and length using one and the same rammer. A further complication in flick ramming shells/projectiles, and to a certain extent in flick ramming propellant powder charges, is that, as soon as they have reached the desired velocity, the rammer or the shell cradle with which they have been accelerated to the desired flick ramming velocity must be rapidly braked to zero while the accelerated shell or propellant powder charge continues its course forwards and into the loading opening of the piece as a freely moving body. Thus far, the practice has primarily been to use pneumatically driven flick rammers in which a pneumatic accumulator provided the necessary energy to impart the requisite flick velocity to the shell in question. In conventional rammers which do not provide flick ramming, there are often chain transmissions for transferring the energy supply between an axially displaced hydraulic or pneumatic piston and the rammer which acts directly on the rear part of the shell. US 4,457,209, in which chiefly Figs 12 and 18 are of interest, can be cited as an example of a hydraulically driven shell rammer, while US 4,957,028 constitutes an example of a purely piston-driven rammer. The present invention relates to an electrically driven flick rammer for artillery pieces. The rammer according to the invention is to begin with characterized in that, for the acceleration of the shells and, where appropriate, the propellant powder charges, it utilizes the starting acceleration from an electric motor, the rotating movement of which is mechanically geared down and converted into a rectilinear movement. According to a development of the invention, it is moreover possible, when necessary, to make use of an extra energy supply from a chargeable energy accumulator which has previously been provided with an energy supply and is then triggered simultaneously with the driving electric motor of the flick rammer being started, and which thus makes even more rapid acceleration possible. In one of the exemplary embodiments which illustrate the invention, the ramming velocity obtained according to the basic principle of the invention is geared up by a specific mechanical arrangement. The basic construction of the electrically driven flick rammer according to the invention can therefore be used for ramming both shells and propellant powder charges, the difference being chiefly that, as far as ramming shells is concerned, it is as a rule only these which are accelerated to flick velocity in a fixed loading cradle, whereas, in the case of propellant powder charges, it may be necessary to accelerate the loading cradle as well and allow it to follow the charges into the loading opening of the barrel because the propellant powder charges may have poor inherent rigidity. The advantages of driving the rammer electrically instead of hydraulically or pneumatically include the fact that the rammer can thus be made much more simple and have fewer component parts and can thus be expected to have a greater degree of availability, at the same time as it becomes possible, by means of electronic control of the driving electric motor, to adjust the ramming velocities accurately at all the elevations of the piece, so that ramming is always the same. The electric motor can therefore also be used to brake the ramming velocity in the event that the energy supply provided by the energy accumulator is too great in relation to the piece elevation at the time. The basic idea underlying the present invention is therefore that, for loading artillery pieces, use is to be made of the starting acceleration of an electric motor in order to accelerate the artillery propellant powder charge or the shell to be loaded into the piece to such a great velocity that it is sufficient for flick ramming the same. For this to be possible, the rotating movement of the electric motor must, as already mentioned, be converted into a linear movement. In connection with the invention, two different basic principles for this are proposed, one of which is based on the use of a drive belt or feed chain driven by the geared-down electric motor via preferably a bevel gear or a planetary gear, while the other is based on the use of a pinion which is connected to the electric motor and drives a rack m the desired axial direction. The invention also includes a method and a number of arrangements which make possible electrically driven flick ramming of both propellant powder charges and shells, m which the energy supply from the electric motor is combined with that from the energy accumulator, the accumulated energy of which is discharged at the same time and parallel to the motor being started. As the shells have such a great dead weight, an energy supply of not inconsiderable magnitude is necessary in addition to an electric motor, which gives rise to a linear movement in the manner already indicated, so as to keep the size of the motor within reasonable limits. According to the basic concept m question, the energy supply which is therefore necessary m addition to the motor is provided by triggering the energy accumulated m an energy accumulator simultaneously with the electric motor being started. During acceleration itself, the shells must have a certain support in the form of a shell cradle, and, m this, they are accelerated to the desired ramming velocity by a shell rammer. The latter must m turn be stopped rapidly before it arrives in the loading opening of the piece. Some of the braking energy developed m this connection can then be used for at least partial recharging of the energy accumulator. According to a preferred development of the invention, the electric motor, which constitutes the core itself of the system, can subsequently be used to complete the recharging of the energy accumulator. In this connection, the simplest way of carrying out this recharging of the energy accumulator is to reverse the electric motor, the other parts of the rammer then following. In addition to the electric motor and the energy accumulator, the rammer according to the invention also requires a locking function which ensures that the energy accumulator is triggered at the correct moment, that is to say simultaneously with the electric motor being started. In this connection, the motor can be used to provide the locking function. The part referred to above as the energy accumulator can advantageously consist of a compressible spring means in the form of one or more interacting coil or pneumatic springs of a type known per se provided that it is possible to achieve sufficient energy accumulation capacity with these. As already indicated, the basic idea of the electric motor-driven rammer, with its energy accumulator for making possible ramming of even heavy shells, allows scope for a number of different detailed embodiments. There are therefore a number of different ways in which the accelerating rotation of an electric motor can be converted into a likewise accelerating rectilinear movement, at the same time as there are a number of different ways of embodying the energy accumulator. A few different preferred ways of embodying the arrangement according to the invention will therefore be described in greater detail below. One of the examples described also comprises, in addition to the basic concept of the invention, a development of the same which makes possible mechanical gearing-up of the ramming velocity to a higher level than is achieved according to said basic concept. The variants described in connection with the appended figures are, however, to be seen only as examples of a few embodiments of the invention, while the latter is as a whole defined in the patent claims below. In the figures described below: Fig. 1 shows the basic principle of the invention, Fig. 2 shows the same variant as in Fig. 1 but m an angled projection and with some component parts omitted so as to clarify the main principle, Figs 3 and 4 show a second variant of the invention in an angled projection and two different operating positions, Figs 5, 6 and 7 show angled projections of a third variant of the invention, Fig. 5 showing the arrangement with the shell m the starting position, Fig. 6 the arrangement with the shell in the launching position and Fig. 7 the main component parts of the drive system with the shell m the starting position, Figs 8 and 9 show a lateral projection and, respectively, a vertical view of another embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 10 shows the section X-X m Fig. 8. Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically the basic principles of the invention m its simplest variant as far as ramming shells is concerned. In the figure, the shell has the reference number 1, while 2 indicates the electric drive motor and 3 the drive wheel of the motor. A feed chain 4 runs around the drive wheel 3 and also around a chain wheel 5 which is driven by the chain but is considerably larger than the wheel 3 and will therefore rotate at a considerably lower speed. By using the feed chain 4, the rotating movement of the electric motor 3, and then chiefly its starting acceleration which is the motor movement of which use is mainly made in application of the invention, is therefore converted into a linear movement which is transmitted to the shell 1 via a shell rammer 6. The acceleration imparted to the shell therefore originates from the starting acceleration of the electric motor. However, the great weight of the shell 1 makes it necessary to provide additional energy as otherwise the motor would have to be exceptionally large, and, according to the invention, this extra energy supply is provided by energy accumulated in an energy accumulator 7 at an earlier stage being released at the same time as the electric motor 2 is started. In its simplest form, the energy accumulator 7 consists of a coil or pneumatic spring which is compressed m its charged state. To trigger the energy accumulator, a locking system 8 is included, as indicated m the figure, which is operationally linked to the starting of the electric motor and which is disconnected at the same time as the electric motor 2 is supplied with starting current. The locking system 8 can advantageously, before starting, be replaced by the motor 2 being loaded m the braking direction, that is to say the direction m which it locks or counteracts the energy accumulator, after which the current direction is switched and increased to its maximum value at the same time as the energy accumulator 7 is triggered. This starting method results in an even more rapid start and therefore greater shell acceleration. To transmit the energy supply from the energy accumulator 7 to the feed chain 4 and thus to the rammer 6 and finally to the shell 1, there is also a second feed chain 9 which runs around on the one hand a guide wheel 10 and on the other hand a drive wheel 11, the latter being mounted firmly on the same spindle as the chain wheel 5 and therefore in turn driving it. When the electric motor 2 is started, the energy supply from the motor is imparted to the feed chain 4, and at the same time the energy accumulator 7 therefore delivers its energy supply, also to the feed chain 4, via the second feed chain 9, the combined energy supply from these two energy sources accelerating the shell 1 m the direction of the arrow A to a velocity which is sufficiently high for the shell to proceed to ramming m tne ramming position of the piece (not shown) . As soon as the shell has achieved the necessary velocity, the rammer 6 is braked to a stop, which takes place at the latest m line with the spindle of the drive wheel 3. The fact that the electric motor has an important role to play m the system can also be used in order to brake the ramming velocity of the shell if the energy supply from the energy accumulator should be too great in any position. Electronically controlling an electric motor using, for example, a velocity sensor as a point of reference is after all a simple routine procedure today. The simplest way of recharging the energy accumulator is, moreover, to reverse the electric motor until it has returned to the original position. Fig. 2 shows in principle the same arrangement as in Fig. 1 but in an angled projection and without the motor 2. In this case, it is assumed that the motor 2 is used to keep the system locked up to the start, for which reason the locking system 8 has been omitted. Otherwise, the various component parts have been given the same reference numbers as in Fig. 1. The motor 2 (not shown) is therefore assumed to be coupled to the drive wheel 3 and thus to drive it via the feed chain 4 running around the wheel 5, to which chain the shell rammer 6 is fixed. The second feed chain 9 runs around the guide wheel 10 and the drive wheel 11 which is mounted firmly on the same spindle as the wheel 5, while the body of the pneumatic spring 7a is fixed in a stand (not shown) and its piston rod is connected to the feed chain 9 which it drives in the direction of the arrow Al when it is released. A number of additional arrows, which indicate the movements of the various feed chains 4 and 9, have also been included in the figure. As can be seen from the figure, starting the motor 2 (not shown) therefore results in the shell 1 being accelerated in the direction of the arrow Al by the combined starting acceleration from the motor 2 (not shown) and the pneumatic spring 7a. To recharge the energy accumulator, that is to say the pneumatic spring 7a, all that is necessary is for the motor 2 to be reversed until the pneumatic spring has been compressed again, after which the system is locked by motor braking and the system is ready for a new operating sequence. It is assumed that, during its acceleration, the shell 1 rests in a system-integral shell cradle which can be in the form of a completely or partly covered channel or the like. However, for the sake of clarity, the shell cradle has not been shown in Figures 1 and 2. The variant of the arrangement according to the invention shown m Figs 3 and 4 includes the same electric motor 2 as in Fig. 2, and this motor drives, via a bevel gear 2a, a first chain wheel 3a which m turn drives a feed chain 4a. Mounted on the latter is a shell rammer 6a of slightly different design, which follows the movement (around the chain wheels) of the chain and in this way provides free access for supplying new shells from the rear. The shell rammer 6a is also provided with special rear guide wheels which follow guide tracks which are included m the shell cradle 12 shown m the figure but are themselves not shown m the figure. This is m order to provide guidance and absorb the torque transmitted by the shell. The shell cradle 12, in which the shell 1 rests during its acceleration, is also shown in the figures. The feed chain 4a runs on around a second chain wheel 5a which can be driven by or driving relative to the feed chain 4a depending on whether the shell 1 is to be accelerated or the energy accumulator 7b, also included here, is to be recharged. The spindle of the chain wheel 5a is connected to the input shaft of a planetary gear 13, on the output shaft 13a of which a toggle- joint arm 14 is firmly arranged. Fixed to the free outer end 15 of the toggle-joint arm 14 via a rotatable pin is one end of the energy accumulator 7b which here consists of a pneumatic spring. The other end of the pneumatic spring 7b is then m turn, via a second pin at point 16, connected to the frame (not shown m Figs 3 and 4) of the rammer. A stop 17 is also arranged firmly on the feed chain 4a. This stop is used to stop the shells 1 wnen they are supplied to the shell cradle 12 from the rear. As can be seen from the figure, the shell rammer 6a will be located on the lower side of the feed chain 4 when the stop 17 is located m a suitable stopping position on the upper side of the feed chain. The stop 17 is used in order to brake the shells when they are supplied to the shell channel 12, and at the same time the stop and the chain are displaced, the braking energy being used in order at least in part to recharge the energy accumulator, that is to say the pneumatic spring 7b. In order for this variant of the invention to function correctly, it is necessary for the entire acceleration distance of the feed chain 4a, that is to say the distance between the starting and stopping positions of the pneumatic spring 7b, to correspond to half a revolution of the toggle-joint arm 14 arranged on the shaft of the planetary gear 13. The system comprising the toggle-joint arm 14 of the planetary gear and the pneumatic spring 7b has two dead-centre positions, the first of which arises when all its articulation points 13a, 15 and 16 lie in a line and the pneumatic spring 7b is fully compressed. A second dead-centre position lies half a revolution from the first, with the pneumatic spring 7b fully expanded. In this connection, however, bringing about rapid energy transmission is of greater interest than using the energy accumulator to its absolute maximum. In order to obtain maximum acceleration from the pneumatic spring 7b, a starting position must be selected in which the toggle-joint arm has already left the dead-centre position and forms an angle with this position. A starting angle of roughly 30° from the dead-centre position has proved to be suitable. At the same time, a limited amount of the accumulated energy of the energy accumulator is therefore sacrificed because the latter is in this position discharged slightly, and at the same time, as the total stroke length is to correspond to half a revolution of the output shaft of the planetary gear, braking of the system is obtained at the end of the stroke, which brings about an initial prestressing of the energy accumulator. This braking will, however, affect only the shell rammer 6a because the shell 1 will in this position have reached its maximum velocity. Fig. 4 shows the position immediately before this braking is started. The arrangement functions in the following manner: In the starting position, the shell 1 is located in the shell cradle 12, while the pneumatic spring 7b and the toggle-joint arm 14 are in the position described above directly at the side with the spring fully compressed, and the motor 2 keeps the system balanced. When the shell 1 is to be rammed, the motor 2 is started, whereupon the feed chain 4 starts to move and with it the chain wheel 5a which rotates the planetary gear 13, and at the same time the toggle-joint arm 14 is driven in the same direction by the energy accumulator, that is to say the pneumatic spring 7b. By virtue of the fact that the planetary gear is connected to the chain wheel 5a, the pneumatic spring 7b therefore delivers its energy supply in this way to the feed chain 4a, while the motor provides its energy supply to the same feed chain 4a via the chain wheel 3a. This combined energy supply then accelerates the shell 1. In the position shown in Fig. 4, the energy accumulator 7b has delivered all its energy, and the shell 1 has reached the desired velocity and continues its flick course forward for ramming in the ramming position (not shown) of the piece. Of the previously mentioned half revolution of the output shaft of the planetary gear, only a small part now remains, which involves an initial prestressing of the pneumatic spring 7b, and the energy necessary for this prestressing can be obtained from rapid braking of the shell rammer 6a which has now completed its function as far as this shell is concerned. Braking of the shell rammer is effected by the pneumatic spring and motor together. For the remaining recharging of the pneumatic spring, use can then be made of the energy which is absorbed by the stop 17 when it stops the next shell fed in, supplemented with the remaining energy necessary from the motor. Moreover, the recharging of the energy accumulator can also be carried out by the motor 2 being reversed by an amount corresponding to half a revolution of the planetary gear. The basic principle underlying the arrangement shown m Figs 5, 6 and 7 is that the rotation movement of the electric motor is to be converted into a linear movement by means of a pinion which drives a rack, and the same basic idea is used for transmitting the energy supply from the energy accumulator to the shell, which m this case is effected by this energy supply being transmitted to the drive wheel of the motor and from there, together with the energy supply from the motor itself, to the shell rammer. Fig. 5 shows the arrangement with the shell m the starting position, Fig. 6 shows the shell when it has achieved its maximum acceleration, and Fig. 7 shows chiefly how the gearwheels concealed m the other figures interact with one another and the rack which drives the shell. A number of the component parts shown m the other figures have been omitted m Fig. 7. The arrangement shown m Figs 5 and 6 and partly m Fig. 7 comprises the shell 1, the shell cradle 12 and the drive motor 2 with its bevel gear 2a, which can all be unmodified. A shell rammer 6c is also included, which is m principle of the previously indicated type. The latter is included m the form of a fixed part m a rammer body 17 which is arranged displaceably m the direction of the arrow B in a frame (not shown m the figure) which also supports the shell cradle 12. The rammer body 17 also includes a fixed rack 18. When the motor 2 is started, it drives, via a bevel gear 2a, a pinion 19 (see also Fig. 7) which m turn drives a pinion 20 which drives the rack 18 and with it the rammer body 17 m the direction of the arrow B. The rammer body 17 also includes a spring holder tube 21 containing a powerful coil spring which, m the compressed state, will drive a second rack 22 m the direction of the arrow C. The rack 22 then m turn engages with a pinion 23 which is mounted firmly on the same spindle 24 as an intermediate gear 25 which is in turn in engagement with the pinion 19 of the motor. As m the previous alternative, this fundamental solution of the invention means that, when the piece is to be loaded, the motor is switched from its braking function and is started, its starting acceleration then beginning, via the pinions 19 and 20, to drive the rack 18 and with it the rammer body 17 m the direction of the arrow B. At the same time, the rack 22 is allowed to begin moving m the direction of the arrow C by the spring m the spring holder tube 21 driving it forwards, energy thus released being supplied via the pinion 23 and the intermediate gear 25 to the motor and being m this way converted into shell acceleration in the direction of the arrow B. Figures 6 and 7 also include a brake 26 for braking the rammer body 17 after acceleration of the shell has been completed. Finally, the variant of the invention shown m Figs 8, 9 and 10 comprises a bevel gear 2a which is driven by an electric motor 2 and the output shaft of which is provided with a pinion 27 which, when the motor rotates, displaces a rack 28 and frame, of which it forms part, m the direction of the arrow D. This is because the whole frame 29 can be displaced along a guide rail 30, and this guide rail constitutes an integral part of the basic body 31 of a loading system. Also arranged m the frame 29 are two guide wheels 32 and 33, and a feed chain 34 runs around these. A shell rammer 6d is also fastened on the feed chain 34 at the level of the marking 35. The feed chain 34 is moreover connected firmly to the guide rail 30 at point 36. Two energy accumulators 37a and 37b are also included, which are fastened one on either side of the frame 29. When these energy accumulators, which consist of coil springs, are triggered, they will act on the frame in the same direction as the motor because they are fixed between the moving frame 29 and the basic body 31. When the motor is started, it drives the frame 29 via the pinion 27 and the rack 28 m the direction of the arrow D. The feed chain 32 and with it the shell rammer 6d follow in the same direction. By virtue of the feed chain being connected firmly to the guide rail 30 and therefore, via the latter, to the basic body 31, each displacement of the frame 29 in the direction of the arrow D along the guide rail 30 will result in twofold displacement of the feed chain 34 and the shell rammer 6d connected to it. The system therefore gives a ratio of 2 to 1 for the movement of the chain and thus also of the shell rammer in relation to the movement of the frame, and the latter obtains its movement energy via on the one hand the starting acceleration of the motor and on the other hand the simultaneously triggered energy accumulators 37a and 37b. Finally, it can be seen from the figures that the shell rammer 6d is mounted along two guide rails 38a and 38b which form part of the shell cradle 39 which is in the form of a slotted tube 39. As previously, the reference number of the shell is 1.

Claims: Patent Claims 1. Method of, during the first part of loading in the loading of artillery pieces which are loaded with the components for loading in the form of shells (1) and propellant powder charges separately, accelerating the component with which the piece is to be loaded to a sufficiently high velocity that the respective component can, during the second, concluding part of the loading operation, cover the final distance in the barrel of the piece up to ramming therein in its own free movement, characterized in that the respective component (1) is accelerated to the necessary ramming velocity using an electromechanically generated energy supply in the form of the starting acceleration from an electric motor (2),' the rotating starting acceleration of which is mechanically converted into rectilinear acceleration. 2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the intended component for loading (1) is accelerated to the desired ramming velocity by an electromechanically generated first energy supply acting linearly in the loading direction combined with a second energy supply released simultaneously in the same direction, which has been accumulated previously in an energy accumulator (7, 7a-d) . 3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said accumulated second energy supply is obtained from at least one spring means (7, 7a-d) compressed at an earlier stage. 4. Method according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the electric motor (2) which is used for generating the electromechanically generated first energy supply is, after the loading operation has been completed, used to supply new accumulated energy to the energy accumulator (7, 7a-d) again in the form of tensioned spring energy or the like. 5. Arrangement for, m accordance with the method according to one of Patent Claims 1-4, during the first part of the loading operation m the loading of artillery pieces, accelerating the component with which the piece is to be loaded, such as a shell (1) or one or more propellant powder charges, to a sufficiently high velocity that the component can, during the second, concluding part of the loading operation, cover the final distance in the barrel of the piece up to ramming m its own free movement, characterized m that the energy generator used for generating this acceleration consists of an electric motor (2), the rotating starting acceleration of which is mechanically converted into the desired linear acceleration movement with which the component is accelerated to the desired ramming velocity. 6. Arrangement according to Claim 5, characterized m that it comprises on the one hand an electromechanical system (2, 2a, 4-11) for generating a first linear energy supply m the loading direction and on the other hand an energy accumulator (7, 7a-d) m which it is possible for a linear second energy supply which can be released m the same direction to have been accumulated m advance, said electromechanical system for generating the first energy supply being connected to said energy accumulator m such a manner that, when the generation of the first energy supply starts, the second is also released, and the interacting energy supplies acting together on a rammer (6, 6a-d) which bears against the component (1) to be rammed. 7. Arrangement according to Claim 6, characterized m that said electromechanical system (2, 2a, 4-11) for developing the first energy supply comprises a geared- down electric motor (2) combined with a mechanical means (2a, 4-11) for converting the rotating starting acceleration of the motor (2) into a linear accelerating movement. 8. Arrangement according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized m that said mechanical means for converting the rotating starting acceleration of the electric motor into a linear accelerating movement consists of a first feed chain (4) which runs in a closed loop in the desired acceleration direction of the component for loading around on the one hand a first chain wheel (3) connected firmly to the output shaft of the motor (2) and on the other hand a second chain wheel (5) arranged m the running direction of the feed chain (4), while the energy accumulator (7, 7a) is coupled to a second feed chain (9) which, in a closed loop, runs parallel to the first feed chain around two chain wheels (10, 11), one of which is mounted firmly on the same spindle as the second chain wheel (5) of the first feed chain, these two last- mentioned chain wheels (11, 5) rotating and driving in the same direction when they are acted on via the motor and, respectively, the energy accumulator, while the shell rammer (6) is connected to and driven by said first feed chain. 9. Arrangement according to Claims 5-8, characterized m that the energy accumulator (7, 7a-d) consists of a spring means m the form of a pneumatic or coil spring, the movement of the two feed chains in one direction, activated by the motor, bringing about an accumulation of energy by stressing the spring means at the same time as a return of the shell rammer (6) to a starting position, while a movement m the opposite direction brings about an acceleration of the shell rammer and the component for loading (1) m question, while energy is supplied from both the motor (2) and the energy accumulator (7, 7a) . 10. Arrangement according to Claims 5-7, characterized m that it comprises a feed chain (4a) which runs around two chain wheels (3a, 5a) m a closed loop and is driven by an electric motor (2) via one of the chain wheels (3a), while a planetary gear (13) is connected to the other chain wheel (5a) of the feed chain (4), which chain wheel can be, depending on the circumstances, either driven by or driving relative to the feed chain, while the output shaft of the planetary gear is connected to a crank arm (14), at the outer end of which, fixed between the latter and a fixed point (16) , a spring means (7b) in the form of a pneumatic or coil spring is arranged, while a shell rammer (6a) is connected to the feed chain (4a) . 11. Arrangement according to Claim 10, characterized in that a full stroke length for the spring means corresponds to half a revolution of the output shaft of the planetary gear (13) and the crank arm (14) fixed to the end of the shaft, the arm having a starting position which corresponds to the starting position of the shell (1), in which it keeps the energy accumulator (7b) compressed and in which the crank arm forms a certain angle with the connecting line through the fixed fastening point (16) of the energy accumulator (7b) and the output shaft (13a) of the planetary gear, and a stopping position which corresponds to the stopping position of the shell rammer (6b) and involves a relatively small prestressing of the energy accumulator brought about by utilizing the braking energy released on braking of the shell rammer (6a) after acceleration of the component for loading in question has been completed. 12. Arrangement according to one of Claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the electric motor (2) and systems connected to it can be driven in optional directions either for acceleration of the shell or for charging the energy accumulator. 13. Arrangement according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the feed chain (4) also bears, in addition to the shell rammer (6b), a stop (17) for braking shells (1) supplied to the arrangement, the energy supplied to the stop (17) during braking of the respective shell (1) being utilized to drive the planetary gear (13) in a direction which at least to an extent brings about charging of the energy accumulator (7b) , while the charging of the same is completed by the electric motor (2) . 14. Arrangement according to Claim 6, characterized m that said mechanical means for converting the rotating starting acceleration of the electric motor (2) into linear acceleration consists of a pinion (19, 20, 23, 25) which is driven by the motor (2) and bears against a first rack (18) connected to the shell rammer, while the energy accumulator comprises a spring means and a second rack (22) which can be displaced relative to the rest of the system by the spring means when the latter is activated and which m turn is also connected to the drive shaft (2) of the electric motor (2) via pinions (23, 25, 19) . 15. Arrangement according to Claim 6, characterized m that said mechanical means for converting the rotating acceleration of the electric motor (2) into linear movement consists of a pinion (27) which is mounted on the output shaft of the motor and, via a rack (28) forming part thereof, drives a displaceable frame (29) , said frame (29) m turn bearing a feed chain (34) which runs around two chain wheels (32, 33) in a closed loop and which is connected on the one hand, in one of its parallel-running portions, to the body (30) m which the frame (29) is displaceable and on the other hand, m its other portion, to the shell rammer (6d), while at least one energy accumulator (37a, 37b) is fixed between the fixed body (31) and the displaceable frame (29) . 16. Arrangement according to one of Claims 5-15, characterized m that it comprises members which start the release of the energy supply from the energy accumulator at the same time as the electric motor is started. 17. Arrangement according to one of Claims 5-16, characterized m that it comprises members for loading the electric motor (2) m a direction which brakes the triggering of the energy accumulators until the time of ramming when the current direction to the motor is switched.

Inventors: ENGSTROEM SVEN-ERIK, HALLQVIST STEN, SANDBERG TORBJOERN, STAALHANDSKE KENT, ENGSTROEM, SVEN-ERIK, HALLQVIST, STEN, SANDBERG, TORBJOERN, STAALHANDSKE, KENT
Applicants: BOFORS WEAPON SYS AB, ENGSTROEM SVEN ERIK, HALLQVIST STEN, SANDBERG TORBJOERN, STAALHANDSKE KENT, BOFORS WEAPON SYSTEMS AB, ENGSTROEM, SVEN-ERIK, HALLQVIST, STEN, SANDBERG, TORBJOERN, STAALHANDSKE, KENT
Application year: 2000
Main classification: F41A9
IPC codes: F41A9