Abstract:
An inflatable ammunition gripping device for handling a variety of soft and irregularly shaped ammunition without damage to the ammunition. A plurality of inflatable grippers mounted lengthwise inside a tubular transfer tube selectively press relatively large areas of the grippers to grasp ammunition for transfer between a first and a second location or to secure the ammunition in a storage location.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to an ammunition gripping device, and more particularly, to a gripping device for handling a variety of soft and irregularly shaped ammunition without damage to the ammunition. 
     Ammunition transfer mechanisms are widely used for rapidly moving ammunition from a plurality of storage areas into guns on ships, aircraft, armored land vehicles and other military equipment. Metal grippers have been used to grasp the ammunition, store it and load it into the breech of a gun. This worked quite well for the older style of metal ammunition cartridges, however, much of the present day ammunition is encased in soft shelled, irregularly shaped cases made of combustible material to reduce the problem of disposing of spent cartridges. An excess of pressure on the case by metal grippers could cause damage to the case and result in a variety of problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses an ammunition gripping device for handling a variety of soft and irregularly shaped ammunition while applying a considerable amount of force and without damaging the fragile ammunition. the present invention can also handle separated ammunition, where more than one case must be loaded into a gun breech for firing. Applicant&#39;s gripping device includes an elongated transfer tube with a plurality of inflatable elongated grippers mounted inside the transfer tube. Two or more of the grippers are movably mounted to extend lengthwise inside the transfer tube. Two or more additional grippers are fixed mounted to extend lengthwise inside the transfer tube. When the grippers are deflated the grippers are relatively flat. When the grippers are inflated they have a generally circular cylindrical shape so a large surface area of each inflated gripper presses against the ammunition inside the transfer tube. The grippers are not designed to handle any one feature of the ammunition, but can handle a variety of ammunition profiles. 
     When the fixed grippers are deflated and the movable grippers are inflated the movable grippers can be moved lengthwise inside the transfer tube to move the ammunition along the length of the transfer tube. when all of the grippers are inflated the ammunition is tightly secured inside the transfer tube so the transfer tube can be safely moved to transport the ammunition. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation of some fixed ammunition and separated ammunition which can be handled by the gripping device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 shows details of a transfer tube in which the present invention can be used. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric view of a portion of FIG. 2 with portions broken away to show details of the movable grippers. 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of the transfer tube of FIG. 2 showing details of the inflatable grippers. 
     FIG. 5 is an end view of a gripper in a deflated position. 
     FIG. 6 is an end view of a gripper in an inflated position. 
     FIG. 7 is an end view of a gripper having a spring molded inside to increase the speed of change from an inflated position to a deflated position. 
     FIGS. 8-12 show a sequence of operation of the transfer tube and grippers moving ammunition from a storage area into the transfer tube. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     An ammunition gripping device 11 (FIGS. 2-4 of the present invention includes an elongated transfer tube 12 having a pair of inflatable elongated shuttle grippers 13a, 13b each movably connected to tube 12 by a shuttle rail 17a, 17b. Shuttle grippers 13a, 13b can handle a variety of different types of ammunition, such as a single fixed type 18 (FIG. 1) or a separated type of ammunition 19. Shuttle rails 17a, 17b are each slidably mounted in a guide 20a, 20b as shown in FIG. 3 to facilitate gripping and moving the ammunition. A shuttle motor 23 (FIGS. 2, 4) and a plurality of gears 24a, 24b, 25a, 25b are coupled to a rack 29 on each shuttle rail 17a, 17b to move shuttle grippers 13a, 13b along the length of transfer tube 12. A length of coiled tubing 30 (FIGS. 2, 4, 8-12) connected between a first source of pressure 32 (FIG. 4) and shuttle grippers 13a, 13 b provide a means for inflating the grippers. The tubing 30 is encased in a protective shield 31 (FIGS. 2-4). A pair of fixed mounted grippers 35a, 35b (FIG. 4) are mounted inside a pair of channels 36a, 36b extending lengthwise along transfer tube 12 with fixed grippers equally spaced from shuttle grippers 13a, 13b. A pair of tubing 37a, 37b (FIG. 4) couples a second source of pressure 38 to the fixed grippers 35a, 35b. 
     When grippers 13a, 13b, 35a, 35b are in a deflated condition they are each as shown in FIG. 5 where a surface 42 is spaced from ammunition 18. When the grippers are inflated surface 42 presses against ammunition 18 to hold the ammunition securely without exerting enough pressure to cause damage to the ammunition as shown in FIG. 6. Surface 42 has a relatively large area making contact with ammunition 18 so a large total amount of holding force can be applied to ammunition 18 but with a relatively small amount of force per square inch. If no ammunition is adjacent to gripper 35a it expands into a generally cylindrical form as shown in FIG. 7. To increase the speed with which gripper 35a returns to a flat deflated position when pressure is released, a spring 43 can be molded in the gripper 35a as shown in FIG. 7. 
     A sequence of operation for moving ammunition 18 from transfer tube 12 to a magazine 44, is shown in FIGS. 8-12. Ammunition gripping device 11 is positioned adjacent to magazine 44 with shuttle grippers 13a, 13b inside transfer tube 12 in a deflated condition as shown in FIG. 8. Shuttle grippers 13a, 13b (FIGS. 4, 9) are moved by motor 23 and shuttle rails 17a, 17b so a right end portion 49a, 49b grasps a portion of ammunition 18 when shuttle grippers 13a, 13b are inflated. Shuttle grippers 13a, 13b are then moved toward the left (FIG. 10) to pull ammunition 18 approximately half way into transfer tube 12. Fixed grippers 35a, 35b (FIG. 4) are inflated to hold ammunition securely while shuttle grippers 13a, 13b are deflated and moved to the right into the position shown in FIG. 11. Shuttle grippers 13a, 13b are again inflated, fixed grippers 35a, 35b (FIG. 4) are deflated and shuttle grippers 13a, 13b moved toward the left (FIG. 12) to pull ammunition 18 fully into transfer tube 12. Fixed grippers 35a, 35b are again inflated so all of the grippers 13a, 13b, 35a, 35b hold ammunition 18 securely as gripping device 11 moves ammunition 18 to the desired location. 
     The sequence of moving ammunition 18 from transfer tube 12 into the magazine 44 is the reverse of the sequence of moving from magazine 44 to transfer tube 12. Ammunition 18 is moved from the position inside transfer tube 12 (FIG. 12) to a position partially inside the magazine 44 (FIG. 4) similar to FIG. 11. Grippers 13a, 13b are moved to regrip ammunition 18 as in FIG. 10, and the ammunition 18 is moved into the position fully inside magazine 44 (FIG. 9). 
     The present invention provides a gripping device having a plurality of inflatable grippers mounted lengthwise inside a tubular ammunition transfer tube. Relatively large surface areas on the grippers provide a relatively large holding force for a variety of shapes of soft ammunition while providing a relatively low value of pressure per square inch. Thus, soft ammunition can be handled firmly without damage to the ammunition. 
     Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent that modification and variation may be made without departing from what is regarded to be the subject matter of the invention.