Patent GB-191022848-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Pneumatic Ammunition Conveying Apparatus.
Inventor: COWLEY JAMES THOMAS
IPC: B65G51/02
Filed: 1910-10-03
Granted: 1911-12-04
Abstract: 22,848. Cowley, J. T. Oct. 11, 1909, [Convention date]. Loading-appliances. - Relates to pneumatic ammunition conveyers, and consists in (1) controlling the opening of the despatching terminal by the actual arrival of ammunition in the receiving-terminal, (2) the construction of the airadmission mechanism, (3) the construction of the powderreceiver, (4) means for cushioning and preventing recoil of the shell upon delivery, and (5) other details of construction. The invention is described with reference to the conveyer described in Specification 19,837/09, but is not limited thereto. The handling-room A, Fig. 1, communicates with the turret B, Fig. 2, by a conveyer tube 3, which connects the despatching-terminal 1 to the receiving - terminal 4. The two powder charges pass to the receiver 16, the projectile is brought to rest between the aprons 17, and the pusher 6 is stopped by a rotary valve 20 in a valve casing 7, and is automatically returned by means of a tube 8 to a receiver 18 adjacent to the handling- room A. The valve 20 and valve casing 7, the return tube 8, and the construction of the pusher form the subject-matter of Specification 26,017/11 of even date. The compressed-air reservoir 9 is connected to a supply by a pipe 9<a> provided with a reducing-valve 9<b>. The supply to the reservoir 9 is automatically cut off when the pressure in the reservoir reaches the normal pressure. The operation is as follows. Upon the delivery of a charge in the terminal 4, Fig. 10, the two powder charges pass over the fingers 81 and buffer roller 82 and fall into the receptacle 16, which is mounted upon the shaft 160. A spring-supported plate receives the charges, and is thereby depressed to operate, by means of-a rod 89, a pivoted dog 90, the inner, end of which engages a fixed frame 90<a> provided with two lugs, behind one or other of which the dog 90 snaps as the receptacle 16 is moved to open it. The dog 90 is freed from the locking-lugs only when both charges have been removed, thus preventing the return of the receptacle 16 to closed position with the charges not removed. The projectile, upon arrival in the terminal 4, depresses the pivoted fingers 81, and engages the buffer roll 82, which cushions and stops the projectile. The arm 83 is acted upon by a spring 119, and is connected to a dash-pot 92, 93. The depression of the finger 81 acts through mechanism 98, 99 to open a valve 101 connected to the upper end of a pipe 11, which pipe passes from the turret to the handling-room and serves to control the gate 12 of the despatching-terminal, the admission of air to the conveyer, the operating-lever 47, Fig. 3, and other mechanism, air being slowly admitted to the pipe 11 by a needle valve. When the valve 101 is open, a bolt 60, Fig. 3, is withdrawn to unlock the gate 12, which then opens by means of a spring, the air supply is cut off from the conveyer by an automatic closing of the valve 40, and the lever 47 is locked against motion. Recoil of the buffer 82 is prevented by roller friction clutches 113, which act upon links 112 pivoted to the lever 83, the clutches automatically releasing the links when either apron 17 is opened for the removal of the projectile. Each apron is mounted on a shaft 191, Fig. 15, the shafts carrying at one end segments co-operating with chains and springs to counterbalance the aprons. An arm 202 on each apron co-operates with a lever 203 and rods 206 connected at 207 to the shaft 160 that carries the receptacle 16, so that, when the receptacle is moved in either direction for the removal of the powder charges, the apron 17 on the side corresponding to the position of the receptacle 16 is set free. The operator then draws down the freed apron, and the projectile is free to roll out into the tray 17<a>. The fingers 81, Figs. 10 and 15, are both depressed by the projectile, and, when either apron is drawn down, the corresponding finger is locked in the depressed position by means of an arm on the apron engaging a lever 103. The other finger, being free to rise, does so, and thereby acts to roll the projectile out upon the tray 17<a>. The shaft 160 carries a gear segment 161 engaging a pinion 162 on a shaft 163, which is connected by mechanism 164, 169, 168, 165 to a shaft 166 carrying at its opposite end a lever 170, Fig. 2, connected by links 171, 172 to the shaft of the rotary valve 20 in the casing 7. When the receptacle 16 is closed, the opening in the valve 20 registers with the conveyer tube 3, but when the receptacle 16 is moved in either direction for removal of the powder charges, the valve 20 is rotated to aline with the return tube 8 for the pushers. A pipe 137, Fig. 10, connects the pipe 11 to a valve 135, the plunger of which controls a dog 142 to retain the end thereof in a notch 143 in a plate 144 secured to the receptacle 16, thereby locking the receptacle closed while the air in the pipe 11 is under pressure. When the projectile arrives in the terminal 4 and the pressure in the pipe 11 drops, the spring-actuated plunger of the valve 135 sets free the dog 142 to permit unlocking of the receptacle 16 by pressing down either handle 146, The valve 135 also keeps the pipe 11 open until the receptacle is again closed and locked. At the despatching terminal 1, Fig. 1, a foot-actuated plunger 22 holds back the projectile. The gate 12, Figs. 1 and 3, is closed behind the ammunition by means of a handle 26, and held closed by latches 27, which latches are automatically released after the arrival of the ammunition in the terminal 4 has opened the pipe 11. The main admission valve 40, Fig. 3, is normally closed by a spring, and is opened by moving to the left the lever 47, thus admitting air from the main 10 through an auxiliary valve 44 and port 52 to the main valve to overcome the spring. The shaft 55 operates the locking-bolt 60, and is itself rocked by means of an arm thereon engaging the main valve. Mechanism 72, 74 is also provided to lock the main valve open until the ammunition is delivered to the receiver 4. In a modified arrangement, the needle valve of the pipe 11 is dispensed with, and air at high pressure is admitted to the pipe to release the lever 47 and open the gate 12 more rapidly after the closing of the aprons 17 and receptacle 16. The apparatus may be used for practice purposes ammunition being despatched and returned through the tube 3, and for this purpose the pipe 10 is fitted with a gate valve 10<a> and-a check valve 10<b>. The latches 27 and the main valve are then operated by hand.