Patent GB-535716-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to apparatus for conveying ammunition
IPC: F41A9/04
Filed: 1939-11-07
Abstract: 535,716. Ammunition conveyers. WOOD FIELD HOISTING & MANUFACTURING CO., Ltd., and BANDFIELD, C. A. Nov. 7, 1939, No. 29576. [Class 92 (i)] [Also in Group XXX] Relates to ammunition hoists which are reversible for lowering or embarking ammunition and which comprise an endless conveyer fitted with spaced heads which support and convey the rounds, and a pair of shutters spring - urged apart which control access to the conveyer at the lower level. According to the invention, the shutters are operated by positively - geared mechanism acting to open and close the shutters automatically at timed intervals in both directions of working. Fig. 1 shows the mechanism at the upper level and Fig. 10 the mechanism at the lower level. The endless chain 21 is fitted with spaced heads 22 which support and convey the rounds 23, and displaceable shutters 24, Fig. 13, control access to the conveyer at the lower level. The shutters are operated by positively-geared timing mechanism, the conveyer drive being taken by a chain 34 to a counter shaft 29 having face cams 28 controlled by springs 35 to move the arms 25 carrying the shutters. The shutters are consequently opened and closed, not only when raising ammunition, but also when the conveyer is operated in the opposite direction by a handle 27 at the upper level to embark ammunition. When changing over from "raising" to " embarking," a single hand lever 41, Fig. 4, at the upper level is operated to stow the usual retaining-pawl 80 and to render inoperative the usual non-return clutch 39, which parts function only when raising ammunition. The operation of the lever 41 also serves to connect a conveyer brake 42 to the hand gear 27, the brake operating automatically to stop the conveyer as each round reaches the lower level. The driving shaft 26, Fig. 4, of the conveyer is operated by a motor or by the handle 27. When raising ammunition, the non- return ratchet-clutch 39 acts against a fixed wheel 46 if the drive fails, and the retaining- pawl 80 is automatically projected into the hoisting path after the passage of each head. For embarking ammunition, the handle 41 is opeated to rotate a shaft 80a to stow the pawl 80 and release a pinion member 38 to free the wheel 46. The operator at the upper level then actuates the handle 27 to lower ammunition 23 resting on a head 22, the wheel 46 transmitting the drive to the brake 42 which is automatically operated by a rod 58, connected to a device arranged in the wheel 33 at the lower level, to stop the conveyer each time the unloading level is reached by a round. This device, Fig. 12, comprises an arm 55 connected to the spring- operated brake-rod 58 and having a step 55a for engagement with a notch 59a in a ratchetsleeve 59 driven by a pawl 62. By operating a lever 67, the operator at the lower-level can rotate the sleeve 59 ratchet-wise in the reverse direction until the arm 55 is removed from the notch 59a and raised to release the brake. The brake can be released at any time by moving the arm 55 through a rack gear 69 operated by a handle 70.