Patent Description:
Installations are known in the industry which are provided with linkless ammunition loading systems; in this respect, it would be desirable to make available further installations including loading systems differing from those currently known in the art.

<CIT> describes an installation comprising a traversing portion configured to be rotatably mounted and supported on a stationary support structure, so as to rotate about a traversing axis. An elevating portion is rotatably supported by the traversing portion about an elevating axis substantially perpendicular to the traversing axis. A firearm assembly is supported by the elevating portion and comprises a barrel configured to fire ammunitions through itself. A magazine is carried by the traversing portion and is configured to contain a plurality of linkless ammunitions to be fed to the barrel. A feeding assembly is configured to transfer the linkless ammunitions from the magazine to the barrel for firing the linkless ammunitions. The feeding assembly is carried by the elevating portion. A transfer device is configured to transfer the linkless ammunitions from the magazine to the feeding assembly.

<CIT> discloses a slip ring for the transport of linkless ammunition and fired cases between a supply means which is stationary with respect to a support and a gun which is journaled for rotation about an axis with respect to said support, comprising: a first transport means which is stationary with respect to said support and is adapted to be driven by the gun; a second transport means which is journaled for rotation about said axis with said support, and a differential means disposed between said first and second transport means and journaled for rotation about said axis with respect to said first and second transport means, said differential means including a plurality of compartments, each for receiving a respective round or case, said first and second transport means each respectively inserting into, or extracting rounds or cases from, said compartments, said first transport means directly coupled to and driving said differential means which is directly coupled to and drives said second transport means.

<CIT> discloses an ammunition infeed apparatus for an automatic firing weapon. This ammunition infeed apparatus comprises an ammunition container filled with a plurality of ammunition loading or cartridge clips. The ammunition container rotates with the firing weapon about the azimuth axis. There is also provided a device for the ejection of the full ammunition loading clips from the ammunition container, a device for the extraction or stripping of the cartridges or ammunition from the ammunition loading clips. This extraction or stripping device comprises an endless conveyor band. Also provided is a flexible endless chain for the transport of the ammunition or cartridges stripped from the ammunition loading clips to the firing weapon.

It is one object of the present invention to realize an installation provided with an improved loading system capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the techniques currently available on the market.

According to the present invention, this and other objects are achieved through an installation provided with a loading system having the technical features set out in the appended independent claim.

It is understood that the appended claims are an integral part of the technical teachings provided in the following detailed description of the present invention. In particular, the appended dependent claims define some preferred embodiments of the present invention that include some optional technical features.

In particular, the installation provided with the loading system offers the following advantages, which are in particular due to some preferred, though not essential, aspects of the present invention:.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following detailed description, provided herein merely as a non-limiting example and referring, in particular, to the annexed drawings as summarized below.

For completeness' sake, the following is a list of alphanumerical references and names used herein to identify parts, elements and components illustrated in the above-summarized drawings.

With reference to <FIG>, numeral <NUM> designates as a whole a turret equipped with an artillery installation <NUM>.

Installation <NUM> is particularly suitable for installation on terrestrial vehicles, e.g. armoured vehicles such as tanks. Nevertheless, it may be used for other applications as well, e.g. aircraft, ships or fixed installations.

With reference to <FIG>, installation <NUM> is represented by means of a block diagram, whereas in <FIG> the construction details of such installation <NUM> are shown in a perspective rear view. In a per se known manner, artillery installation <NUM> comprises a traversing portion or mass <NUM>, an elevating portion or mass <NUM>, and a firearm assembly <NUM>.

Traversing mass <NUM> is configured to be rotatably mounted and supported on a stationary support structure (not numbered), so as to rotate about a substantially vertical traversing (or azimuthal) axis Z.

Elevating mass <NUM> is rotatably supported by traversing mass <NUM> about an elevating axis Y, which is substantially horizontal and perpendicular to vertical axis Z. In particular, when viewing <FIG>, elevating axis Y substantially corresponds to an axis entering perpendicularly through the sheet plane. In a per se known manner, typically traversing mass <NUM> and elevating mass <NUM> are mutually assembled by means of a pair of cheeks (details not shown) fixed to traversing mass <NUM>, whereon elevation bearings are mounted, particularly at elevating axis Y).

A firearm assembly <NUM> is in turn supported by elevating mass <NUM>. Moreover, firearm assembly <NUM> comprises a barrel <NUM> configured to fire ammunitions A. In the embodiment illustrated herein, barrel <NUM> is a cannon, e.g. having a calibre of <NUM>.

Installation <NUM> comprises also a magazine <NUM> configured to contain a plurality of ammunitions A to be fed to barrel <NUM>. In particular, magazine <NUM> is configured to automatically move the plurality of ammunitions A. Furthermore, ammunitions A contained in the magazine are of the type not mutually connected by links -also referred to as linkless ammunitions.

Magazine <NUM> is carried by traversing mass <NUM> and is operatively integral therewith; in particular, as will be further explained hereinafter, magazine <NUM> is separate and distinct from elevating mass <NUM>.

In the embodiment illustrated herein, magazine <NUM> has, at its outlet, a star-element conveyor of a per se known type (not numbered), which dispenses ammunitions A out of itself.

Artillery installation <NUM> further comprises a feeding assembly <NUM> configured to transfer ammunitions A coming from magazine <NUM> to barrel <NUM>, for such ammunitions A to be fired through the latter.

In the embodiment illustrated herein, feeding assembly <NUM> is carried by elevating mass <NUM> and is operatively integral therewith; in particular, unlike magazine <NUM>, feeding assembly <NUM> is separate and distinct from traversing mass <NUM>.

Furthermore, artillery installation <NUM> comprises a transfer device (or "exchanger") <NUM> configured to transfer ammunitions A from magazine <NUM> to feeding assembly <NUM>.

In particular, transfer device <NUM> is mounted on traversing mass <NUM>.

The following will describe further technical features of this exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the implementation example illustrated herein, transfer device <NUM> is mounted in proximity to the elevating axis Y.

As will be described in more detail below, also with reference to some preferred and optional technical features of the present invention, due to this arrangement of transfer device <NUM> the mutual arrangement between transfer device <NUM>, carried by traversing mass <NUM>, and inlet <NUM> of feeding assembly <NUM>, carried by elevating mass <NUM>, always remains substantially the same for any angle of elevation assumed by elevating mass <NUM> relative to traversing mass <NUM> about elevating axis Y; therefore, ammunitions A can be conveyed from magazine <NUM> to barrel <NUM> (through feeding assembly <NUM>) in any mutual operating condition of traversing mass <NUM> and elevating mass <NUM> of artillery installation <NUM>.

With particular reference to <FIG>, there is shown a magnified view of feeding assembly <NUM> visible in the preceding figures.

Feeding assembly <NUM> comprises a conveying guide <NUM> mounted on elevating mass <NUM> and defining a path for transporting ammunitions A from transfer device <NUM> towards barrel <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet of feeding assembly <NUM> substantially coincides with the inlet of conveying guide <NUM>, and both are designated by the same reference numeral <NUM>.

In particular, inlet <NUM> of conveying guide <NUM>, whereat ammunitions A coming from magazine <NUM> are made to arrive via a star element, e.g. a three-lobed one (not numbered in <FIG>), is situated in the vicinity of e elevating axis Y. Ammunitions A are intended to enter - and subsequently slide - therein with their side facing conveying duct <NUM>. As will be further described below, conveying guide <NUM> is advantageously provided as a rigid conduit.

With particular reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, conveying guide <NUM> defines an open path, in particular a path shaped as a whole as a horizontally turned J. Moreover, the path defined by conveying guide <NUM> extends in three dimensions in space and, being compact, makes it possible to reduce the total transversal and lateral dimensions of feeding assembly <NUM>.

The rigid conduit formed by conveying guide <NUM> is, for example, implemented as an open channel in which ammunitions A can slide. In particular, such rigid conduit has a substantially rectangular cross-section, suitable for receiving ammunitions A with their side facing forwards and for directing them towards barrel <NUM>. Furthermore, said conveying conduit or channel is rigid.

Transfer device <NUM> is configured to pick up ammunitions A as they exit magazine <NUM> and supply them to inlet <NUM> of conveying guide <NUM>.

In <FIG> and <FIG>, for completeness' sake, arrows schematically indicate the path followed by ammunitions A between magazine <NUM> and conveying guide <NUM>. In particular, the arrow designated as P0 indicates the magazine path initially followed by ammunitions A exiting magazine <NUM>, which are then picked up by transfer device <NUM>. The arrow designated as P1 indicates the conveyance path followed by ammunitions A going through conveying guide <NUM>. As shown more clearly in <FIG>, conveyance path P1 is substantially curvilinear and bends upwards, rotating by about <NUM>°, thus "overturning" the ammunitions from their previous orientation at inlet <NUM> of conveying guide <NUM>.

Transfer device <NUM> additionally comprises a star element <NUM>, in particular a three-lobed one, rotatably supported about a rotation axis W situated in proximity to the elevating axis Y. In the implementation example illustrated herein, star element <NUM> is aligned with feeding assembly <NUM>.

Multi-lobed star element <NUM> is configured to rotate and pick up ammunitions A exiting magazine <NUM> and supply them to inlet <NUM> of feeding assembly <NUM>, and in particular to the conduit formed by conveying guide <NUM>, for moving them towards barrel <NUM>. As can be seen, ammunitions A are picked up laterally by star element <NUM> from the outlet of magazine <NUM>, and are then delivered to inlet <NUM> of conveying guide <NUM> (in particular, to the inlet of the rigid conduit defined by the latter).

Inlet <NUM> of conveying guide <NUM> (e.g. the inlet of the rigid conduit defined by the latter) is located at the elevating axis Y, being in particular crossed transversally by the latter.

Preferably, rotation axis W is substantially parallel to elevating axis Y; in the embodiment illustrated herein, the distance between rotation axis W and elevating axis Y is such that, in at least a part of the rotation path of star element <NUM>, the centre of ammunition A to be picked up by star element <NUM> lies substantially on elevating axis Y.

In particular, the rotation axis W is spaced apart vertically (i.e. along the direction of the traversing axis Z) from elevating axis Y.

According to a further embodiment, transfer device <NUM> may advantageously be driven by a motor, e.g. via a gear transmission that controls the rotation of star element <NUM> about rotation axis W.

Feeding assembly <NUM> further comprises a conveying mechanism <NUM> configured to push ammunitions A along conveying guide <NUM>. In particular, conveying mechanism <NUM> may be driven by means of a motor (not shown) and/or manually, e.g. by means of a crank <NUM>.

According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, the transmission of the motion from conveying mechanism <NUM> in elevating mass <NUM> to transfer device <NUM> in traversing mass <NUM> may occur through a mechanical connection consisting of a differential gear (not shown in the drawing) that ensures synchronized motion.

Conveying mechanism <NUM> comprises a hollow sliding structure <NUM> and a conveying chain <NUM> sliding in the cavity defined by sliding structure <NUM>. Some exemplary technical features of conveying chain <NUM> are visible in more detail in <FIG>.

Conveying mechanism <NUM> comprises also a plurality of pushing members <NUM> sliding in conveying guide <NUM> and carried by conveying chain <NUM>. Each one of pushing members <NUM> is configured for pushing a respective ammunition A adjacent thereto, which is guided by conveying guide <NUM>.

Sliding structure <NUM> extends substantially parallel to conveying guide <NUM>. In particular, sliding structure <NUM> is fixed to conveying guide <NUM>, e.g. being surrounded along at least a part of its extension by conveying guide <NUM>.

Furthermore, as will be described more in detail hereinafter, preferably sliding structure <NUM> is essentially a rail in which conveying chain <NUM> slides and from/by which pushing members <NUM> are suspended and/or supported, which then extend and slide in uconveying guide <NUM>. In particular, the rail comprises a plurality of rail portions 30a, 30b, extending parallel to and facing each other.

Conveying chain <NUM> forms a closed loop and is configured to transmit a forward motion to pushing members <NUM> mounted thereon. Also, conveying chain <NUM> comprises a plurality of chain links <NUM> mutually connected in an articulated manner. More in detail, chain links <NUM> can move, in particular by rotating in different planes, in order to follow the path delimited by conveying guide <NUM>.

In the embodiment illustrated herein, each one of pushing members <NUM> is shaped substantially as a widened fork, the neck of which - which protrudes and is supported by respective chain link <NUM> - branches off laterally into two arms.

In the embodiment illustrated herein, each one of chain links <NUM> substantially defines a closed-loop shape (e.g. wherein the closed loop forms a substantially rectangular or square shape).

As shown in detail in <FIG>, each closed loop defined by each chain link <NUM> lies in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the previous and/or next chain link <NUM> lies. In this regard, by way of example, in <FIG>, reference number 36a and 36b designate two adjacent chain links. As it becomes particularly apparent when viewing <FIG>, the link 36a is joined to link 36b by means of a connection that - as will be described in more detail below - provides such two components with three degrees of freedom, thus differing from a traditional chain (e.g. a bicycle chain).

In particular, pushing members <NUM> are arranged along conveying chain <NUM> spaced out by a predetermined distance, so that between two pushing members <NUM> a corresponding ammunition A can be housed, which must be guidedly transported along conveying guide <NUM>. In particular, each one of pushing members <NUM> is mounted on a respective chain link <NUM> at predetermined intervals (e.g. at regular and periodic intervals) along conveying chain <NUM>. More particularly, each one of pushing members <NUM> is mounted after a predefined number of successive chain links <NUM>, depending on the diameter or calibre of the ammunition A to be conveyed.

Furthermore, each pushing member <NUM> is fixedly mounted to the respective chain link <NUM> along a mounting axis x1 substantially perpendicular to conveying chain <NUM>.

As it will be further described below, chain links <NUM> carry respective sliding pins <NUM> on their sides.

In particular, sliding pins <NUM> rotatably support rollers <NUM> around themselves. Sliding pins <NUM> slide, preferably via rollers <NUM>, within sliding structure <NUM>, which, as aforementioned, substantially defines a rail along which conveying chain <NUM> is configured to slide and/or by which it is configured to be supported.

In particular, each roller <NUM> carried by the respective sliding pin <NUM> engages into a respective rail portion 30a, 30b that contributes to defining the sliding structure <NUM>. In the embodiment illustrated herein, chain links <NUM> to which ppushing members <NUM> are mounted have no associated sliding pin (and roller).

As illustrated in <FIG>, each one of rail portions 30a, 30b has a C-shape capable of receiving rollers <NUM> preferably carried by respective sliding pins <NUM> protruding from chain links <NUM>, so as to guide and support conveying chain <NUM> as it moves in space.

More in detail, still with reference to the embodiment illustrated by way of example in <FIG>, each one of the horizontal chain links 36a has a lateral sliding pin 38a that protrudes from laterally opposite sides. The ends of lateral sliding pin 38a engage, under the sliding action of rollers <NUM>, into corresponding lateral rail portions 30a of sliding structure <NUM>.

Conversely, each vertical chain link 36b (e.g. when it lacks and does not support an associated pushing member <NUM>) has respective central sliding pin 38b protruding from conveying chain <NUM> on the side axially opposite to the side from which pushing members <NUM> extend. The end of central sliding pin 38b slidably engages into a corresponding central rail portion 30b of sliding structure <NUM>.

In the embodiment illustrated herein, each pushing member <NUM> is supported along its mounting axis x1 through the interposition of an additional roller <NUM> between it and chain link <NUM>. In particular, at one end roller <NUM> is rotatably mounted to chain link <NUM>, while at the other end it is rotatably integral with pushing member <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, there is shown a further implementation variant of conveying chain <NUM>. Compared with the conveying chain illustrated in <FIG>, a lever <NUM> is associated with each pushing member <NUM>. In particular, lever <NUM> is mounted to pushing member <NUM> and is elastically stressed so that it abuts against ammunition A. In this manner, considering that when viewing <FIG> the ammunition feeding direction is from right to left, each ammunition A is pushed against the previous pushing member <NUM> by lever <NUM> mounted to the next pushing member <NUM>.

Moreover, lever <NUM> is moved angularly away from pushing member <NUM> about a thrust axis x2, e.g. substantially perpendicular to mounting axis x1. In particular, a thrust spring <NUM> is provided, which is mounted between pushing member <NUM> and lever <NUM>. Thrust spring <NUM> abuts on pushing member <NUM> at one end and on lever <NUM> at the other end. In the implementation variant illustrated herein, thrust spring <NUM> is, advantageously, a torsion spring.

With reference to <FIG>, there is shown an exemplary way of linking chain links <NUM>. In the embodiment illustrated herein, chain links <NUM> consist of a C-shaped body <NUM> whose ends are crossed by a respective sliding pin <NUM>; in other words, the closed-loop shape of each chain link <NUM> is defined by C-shaped body <NUM> and by a respective sliding pin <NUM>.

In addition, still with reference to <FIG>, each chain link <NUM> is connected to adjacent chain link <NUM> by means of respective sliding pin <NUM>, which fits through a through bore <NUM> formed in the intermediate portion of C-shaped body <NUM> belonging to adjacent chain link <NUM>, situated between the ends of chain link <NUM>. For example, each vertical link 36b is connected to adjacent horizontal link 36a by means of central sliding pin 38b that fits through the (first) through bore 41a formed in the intermediate portion of horizontal C-shaped body 39a. Vice versa, each horizontal link 36a is connected to adjacent vertical link 36b by means of lateral sliding pin 38a that fits through the (second) through bore 41b formed in the intermediate portion of vertical C-shaped body 39b.

With particular reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, conveying mechanism <NUM> further comprises a pair of gear wheels <NUM> cooperating with conveying chain <NUM> in order to move it along sliding structure <NUM>. In particular, at gear wheels <NUM> sliding structure <NUM> is interrupted and allows sliding pins <NUM> of chain links <NUM> to engage with the crown formed by each one of gear wheels <NUM> in order to achieve the movement of conveying chain <NUM>. More particularly, lateral sliding pins 38a are engaged between successive teeth of gear wheels <NUM>. Even more particularly, central sliding pins 38b are engaged into an annular groove (not visible in the drawings) provided on each gear wheel <NUM>; this limits the lateral displacement of chain links <NUM>.

With particular reference to <FIG>, feeding assembly <NUM> comprises also a loading guide <NUM> situated between conveying guide <NUM> and barrel <NUM>. More in detail, loading guide <NUM> is adjacent to the outlet of conveying guide <NUM> at one end and adjacent to the inlet of barrel <NUM> at the other end.

In the embodiment illustrated herein, loading guide <NUM> defines a substantially straight and ascending loading path P2 for the ammunitions coming from conveying guide <NUM> and directed towards barrel <NUM>.

Feeding assembly <NUM> further comprises a loading mechanism <NUM> configured to push the ammunitions A along loading guide <NUM> and towards the inlet of barrel <NUM>. In particular, loading mechanism <NUM> comprises a plurality of loading star elements <NUM> arranged in series and mutually adjacent. Loading star elements <NUM> are configured to rotate and engage in succession ammunitions A which have come sideways from conveying guide <NUM> and which have arrived - still with a lateral orientation - at loading guide <NUM>, so as to cause them to advance up to the inlet of barrel <NUM>.

In particular, loading mechanism <NUM> is rigidly connected to firearm assembly <NUM>, so that the actuation of the whole feeding assembly is regulated by firearm assembly <NUM> itself.

Claim 1:
Linkless ammunition loading installation (<NUM>) comprising:
- a traversing portion (<NUM>) configured to be rotatably mounted and supported on a stationary support structure, so as to rotate about a traversing axis (Z),
- an elevating portion (<NUM>) rotatably supported by said traversing portion (<NUM>) about an elevating axis (Y) perpendicular to the traversing axis (Z),
- a firearm assembly (<NUM>) supported by the elevating portion (<NUM>) and comprising a barrel (<NUM>) configured to fire ammunitions (A) through itself,
- a magazine (<NUM>) carried by said traversing portion (<NUM>) and configured to contain a plurality of linkless ammunitions (A) to be fed to said barrel (<NUM>),
- a feeding assembly (<NUM>) configured to transfer the linkless ammunitions (A) from said magazine (<NUM>) to said barrel (<NUM>) for firing said linkless ammunitions (A), said feeding assembly (<NUM>) being carried by said elevating portion (<NUM>), and
- a transfer device (<NUM>) configured to transfer said linkless ammunitions (A) from said magazine (<NUM>) to said feeding assembly (<NUM>);
wherein said magazine (<NUM>) is separate and distinct from said elevating portion (<NUM>), and said feeding assembly (<NUM>) is separate and distinct from said traversing portion (<NUM>); and
wherein said transfer device (<NUM>) is mounted on said traversing portion (<NUM>) and comprises a star element (<NUM>) rotatably supported about a rotation axis (W);
wherein said feeding assembly (<NUM>) comprises a conveying guide (<NUM>) mounted on said elevating portion (<NUM>) and defining a path for transporting said linkless ammunitions (A) from said transfer device (<NUM>) towards said barrel (<NUM>);
said installation being characterized in that said rotation axis (W) is parallel to said elevation axis (Y);
in that the centre of ammunition (A) to be picked up by said star element (<NUM>) lies on said elevating axis (Y) during a part of the rotation path of said star element (<NUM>);
in that said rotation axis (W) is spaced apart from said elevating axis (Y) along the direction of said traversing axis (Z);
in that said conveying guide (<NUM>) is provided as a rigid conduit;
in that said conveying guide (<NUM>) has an inlet (<NUM>) which is located at said elevating axis (Y); and
in that said inlet (<NUM>) is crossed transversally by said elevating axis (Y).