Patent GB-909167-A (GB)
Title: Gun loading apparatus
IPC: F41A9/22
Filed: 1960-12-07
Abstract: 909,167. Gun loading apparatus. EVEN, G. F. M. Dec. 7, 1960 [Dec. 11, 1959], No. 42181/60. Class 92. Gun-loading apparatus comprises a revolving magazine 2, lugs 1, rotatable about an axis parallel to and spaced laterally from the barrel bore and located axially behind the breech end of the barrel, the magazine having a plurality of chambers 27- 31 for receiving rounds of ammunition which are inserted cartridge-end foremost from the front of the magazine, means being provided for locking the rounds against displacement in their chambers. The magazine is rotated in steps to bring any one of the chambers to a transfer position adjacent the barrel axis and transfer means are provided for engaging a round and displacing it laterally out of the magazine into alignment with the barrel axis for ramming it into the breech by means of a rammer 120, Fig. 5.- The magazine 2 is rotatably mounted in a stationary outer casing 1 and comprises a body 26 which in its periphery has five part-circular chambers 27-31, the chamber 27, as shown, being in the transfer position for lateral displacement of the round therein through an opening in the casing 1. The five points of the star-shaped body 26 have arms 37-41 carrying rollers at their outer ends which engage a ring-member 3 fixed to the casing 1. The ring 3 has an inwardly-directed flange formed with four arcuate cut-outs 4-7 which serve to provide radial clearance for the rear cartridge rim 54, Fig. 1, to permit introducing the round from the front end of the magazine. Immediately to the rear of the fixed rings 3 is a rotatable ring 20 also formed with arcuate cut-outs 12-14 which, in the position shown in Fig. 2, are positioned intermediate the cut-outs 4-7 of ring 3. In this position a round, e.g. round 8, in chamber 28 has an outer point of its shell circumference engaging a wall segment 21 of ring 20, so that all the rounds except the one in the transfer position, are positively retained against radial displacement. In addition, rollers 32-36 are mounted on the body 26 for engagement with the shells. A lever arm 25 projecting from the ring 20 through a slot in the casing 1 is movable left and right to cause the arcuate contacts in both rings 3, 20 to register and so permit radial displacement of the rounds. The round 46 in the transfer position rests freely on an arcuate cradle 47 having upstanding side flanges 50, 51 and supported from an actuator bracket 48. As each round is pushed home in its chamber the cartridge rim 54 engages behind a pawl 55, Fig. 1, held by a spring plunger 61 to prevent outward movement of the round. When all the rounds have been similarly latched, the locking-ring 20 is shifted back to the locking position shown in Fig. 2 and the rounds are thus retained both axially and radially. A slidable rod 57, Fig. 1, with a handle 58 has a stop 59 engageable with an arm 60 projecting from each of the pawls 55, so that a pull on the handle 58 releases all the rounds for axial displacement which together with the shifting of the ring 20 permits free withdrawal of the rounds from the magazine. The transfer cradle 47, Fig. 5, is supported cantilever fashion from the bracket 48 which is carried at the ends of horizontal bars 105, 106 slidable in bearings in a fixed frame 107. The upper bar 105 has a driver member 109 slidably mounted thereon which is connected to a drive-wheel of an electric or other motor 103 by means of a connecting-rod 104. A hook arm 100 is carried by the lower bar 106 and is adapted to engage drive-pins 99 for rotating the magazine step-by-step. The member 109 is also slidably connected with a further bar 113 slidable in the frame 107 and having a roller 114 mounted at its end for engagement with the rammer 120 to rock it to a ramming position behind the round 46 positioned on the cradle 47. The firing of the gun starts the motor 103 to cause displacement of the cradle 47 with the round 46 to the position shown in Fig. 5, wherein the round is positioned in alignment with the bore 122 of the gun. At the same time the rod 113 is displaced to rock the rammer 120 and the hook arm 100 is moved by the bar 106 to disengage the pin 95 and engage pin 99. After ramming of the round 46, the motor 103 restores the assembly to the prior position and the hook arm 100 rotates the magazine to bring the next round to the transfer position. Axial displacement of the shell resting on the cradle 47 is prevented by a stop-member 123, Fig. 4 (not shown). An electric circuit for automatically controlling the operation of the various mechanisms is described, and the gun may be fired electrically. Alternatively fluid-actuated, e.g. pneumatic, means may be used for operation of the various mechanisms instead of electrical means.