Gun loading apparatus

May 26, 1964 g. _F. _M. _EVEN 3,134,301

GUN LOADING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 12, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1

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May 26, 1964

3,134,301

G. F. M. EVEN

GUN LOADING APPARATUS

Filed Dec. 12, I960

Sheets-Sheet 2

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3,134,301

May 26, 1964

Filed Dec. 12, I960

ISO

G. F. M. EVEN

GUN LOADING APPARATUS

Sheets-Sheet 3

FIG.3

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FIG.6

C 131

127

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47' b !32^} It-Ff ς!30 133 G^=F ~Ϊ34Ϊ

135

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IOB 103/29

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May 26, 1964

3,134,301

G. F. M. EVEN

GUN LOADING APPARATUS

Filed Dec. 12, 1960

Sheets-Sheet 4

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United States Patent Office _Paienled

3,134,301

GUN LOADING APPARATUS

Georges Francois Marie Even, 7 Ave. Pierre Grenier, Boulogne, France

Filed Dec. 12, I960, Ser. No. 75,165

Claims priority, application France Dec. 11, 1959 3 Claims. (CI. 89—33)

This invention relates to gun loading apparatus of the type including a revolving magazine having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced longitudinally-extending magazine chambers each adapted to receive a round of ammunition therein, which magazine is rotatable in steps so as to bring any one of the chambers to a predetermined position, at which the round located in said chamber can be fired from a gun.

In conventional gun loaders of the revolving-magazine type just specified, the rounds of ammunition are inserted into the magazine chambers shell- or ogee-end foremost, and-the magazine chambers are so dimensioned, transversely, as to receive the shell section and a major part of the cartridge section of each round with a narrow fit therein, while the rim, flange or bead provided at the rearmost end of the cartridge of the round would, on insertion of the round shell-end foremost, abut against a rear outer surface of the magazine without entering the chamber. In such gun loaders therefore each magazine chamber in succession, on rotation of the magazine, is brought to a firing position in axial alignment with the rear end of the gun bore, and the round is then fired, with the cartridge remaining in the magazine chamber and being thereafter ejected therefrom. It will be understood that in such conventional arrangements each magazine chamber in succession constitutes, in effect, part of the gun bore.

This conventional loading system has a number of shortcomings. In the first place, the fact that each magazine chamber in turn forms a part of the gun bore necessarily introduces a discontinuity in the over-all cylindrical bore surface at the point where the movable magazine chamber connects with the main or stationary gun structure. Such discontinuity is objectionable since it set a limit to firing accuracy, amoung other reasons. Moreover, it is evident from the inherent geometry of the gun loader as described above that the ammunition has to be introduced into the magazine chambers from the rear end of the magazine, i.e. the end thereof remote from the gun muzzle. This considerably increases the over-all length dimension required for manning the gun; in many cases the available space behind a gun is severely limited.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a gun loading system of the revolving-magazine type in which provision is made for introducing the ammunition into the magazine from the forward end thereof, the end directed towards the gun muzzle. A consequent object is to reduce the over-all length required to install and man a piece of artillery of given size, and to reduce the clearance required rearward of the piece.

A further object is to provide improved gun loading apparatus of the revolving-magazine type in which the rounds of ammunition are not fired directly from the magazine chambers, but are extracted therefrom and rammed into the gun bore prior to firing; consequent objects are therefore to eliminate the discontinuity in the cylindrical bore surface which was introduced by prior revolving-magazine loaders as explained above, and correspondingly to increase firing accuracy. A broad object is the provision of a gun-loading system having improved performance from the standpoints of speed, automatic operation, reliability, precision and operating convenience.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided gun loading apparatus comprising a revolving magazine having a plurality of magazine chambers each adapted to receive a round of ammunition, said chambers being transversely so dimensioned that the rounds are insertable into the chambers cartridge-end foremost, and locking means associated with the magazine for locking said rounds against displacement once inserted into the chambers.

It will be readily appreciated that with such a magazine arrangement it become possible entirely to reverse the whole geometery of the loading system, and to introduce the rounds of ammunition into the magazine from that end directed towards the gun muzzle, in contrast to what was heretofore generally the case.

Hence in accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided gun loading apparatus comprising a revolving magazine rotatable about an axis generally parallel to the bore of a gun to be loaded and spaced laterally to one side therefrom and spaced axially beyond the rear end of the gun bore; a plurality of magazine chambers in said magazine adapted for receiving respective rounds of ammunition inserted thereinto from the ends of said chambers directed towards the gun muzzle cartridge-end foremost and means for locking the rounds of ammunition against displacement in their respective chambers; means for imparting step rotation to the magazine to bring any one of said chambers to an extracting position adjacent the geometric axis of the gun bore; extractor means engageable with a round in extracting position for extracting it laterally out of the magazine into alignment with said bore axis; and rammer means engageable with a round when aligned with said axis for ramming the round into the gun bore.

According to a preferred embodiment, there are provided means powered from a power source, e.g. an electric motor, for operating said magazine-rotating means, said extractor means, and said rammer means, in accordance with a predetermined cyclic time sequence and in timed relationship with the firing of each round of ammunition from the gun.

The above and further objects, features and aspects of the invention will appear as the disclosure proceeds, with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of illustration but not of limitation, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal view in axial section of the main or magazine portion of gun loading apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; the section being taken on line I—I of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is an end view as seen from the front of the magazine shown in FIG. 1, i.e. from the left of FIG, 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on the line III—III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a simplified perspective view illustrating a gun loading system according to the invention including the magazine portion shown in FIGS. 1-3 as well as associated equipment, in one phase of the operating cycle; while

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the system in another phase of its operating cycle;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the required electrical circuitry.

The gun loading apparatus shown comprises, as shown especially in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cylindrical magazine having a stationary outer cylindrical casing 1 in which is rotatably mounted a revolving magazine structure generally designated 2. The revolving structure 2 comprises a body 26 which defines in its periphery five part-circular recesses or chambers 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31, each adapted to receive a round of ammunition therein as will later appear. Thus body 26 has a cross section shaped as a 5.₇pointed star. The rotary structure 2 is journalled for rotation in casing 1 in the following manner. At the rear end of the assembly (the right end in FIG. 1) the body 26 has

3.134,301

Ο · a stub shaft 64 projecting therefrom and rotatable in a bearing sleeve 65 projecting from a rear cross wall of casing 1. At the front end of the assembly each of the five points of the star-shaped body 26 has an arm 37, 38, 39, 48, 41, projecting radially therefrom and carrying 5 at its outer end a roller 41', 42, 43, 44, 45 which engages a cylindrical runway defined by the inner periphery of a ring member 3 secured, e.g. with screws, to the forward end of casing !.

Of the five positions for ammunition defined in the 10 magazine by the five magazine chambers 27 through 31 of rotary body 26, one, the left-hand position in FIG. 2, is an extracting position, and as shown in that figure the cylindrical casing 1 as well as the ring 3 secured thereto have openings therein registering with the corre- 15 sponding recess 27 of body 26 for the extraction of the round of. ammunition positioned in said recess 27, laterally of the device. In each of the remaining four positions, the respective rounds of ammunition are positively retained in their recesses by the locking means now to be 20 described.

The front casing ring 3, in addition to the circular runway previously mentioned and immediately to the rear thereof, has an inwardly directed radial flange which is castellated, being formed with four arcuate cutouts 4, 25 5, 6, 7, concentric with the respective part-circular chambers 28 through 31 in body 26 at the four positions other than the chamber 27 in extracting position. Intermediate and beyond the cutouts 4 through 7 the castellated flange of ring 3 has the arcuate wall sections .15, 16, 30 17, 13, 19, which are all positioned on a common circumference. As will presently appear, the arcuate cutouts 4 through 7 serve to provide radial clearance for the rear cartridge bead or rim 54 (see FIG. 1) of the round of ammunition to permit introducing said ammu- 35 nition from the front end of the loader device.

Positioned in casing 1 immediately to the rear of fixed castellated ring 3 is a rotatable castellated ring 20 which somewhat like the fixed ring 3 is formed with arcuate cutouts 12, 13, and 14 (only three in number) inter- Ί0 connected by arcuate wall segments 21, 22, 23, 24 all disposed on a common circumference. In the normal position shown in FIG. 2, it will be noted that each of the arcuate cutouts 12 through 14 in ring 28 is positioned intermediate the cutouts 4 through 7 of ring 3. In this 45 position a round of ammunition such as 8 positioned in a magazine chamber such as 28, has an outer point of its shell circumference engaging a circumferential wall segment such as 21 of ring 20, so that all four rounds of ammunition other than the particular round in extract- κθ ing position, are positively retained against radial displacement. Further, it is noted that each point of the starshaped body 25 has a roller 32 through 36 pivoted thereon for engagement with two spaced points of each of the four shells positioned in other than extracting position. A 55 lever arm 25 projecting outwardly from the shiftable ring 29 through a slot in casing 1 is shiftable as indicated by arrows 52 and S3 left and right from its normal position shown in FIG. 2, thereby to cause the arcuate cutouts in both rings 3 and 20 to register with one another θθ whereupon the four shells other than the shell 46 in extracting position are released for radial displacement.

The particular shell 46 positioned in extracting position rests freely on an arcuate cradle 47. having upstanding side flanges 50, 51, and supported from an actuator 55 bracket 48 later described.

In accordance with an important feature of the invention the rollers 32 through 36 are preferably mounted for ready removal and replacement by similar rollers of different diameter, whereby a given loader constructed 70 according to the invention will be able to cater for ammunition of different caliber.

As indicated above, with the shiftable lock ring 20 positioned in its normal or locking position shown, each of the four shells 8 through 11 other than the shell 46 in 75 extracting position are retained radially and (as later described) axially in their recesses. In the operation of the loading apparatus as later described the rotatable magazine structure 2 is rotated as indicated by arrow 49 in FIG. 2, and during such rotation the shells slide and/or roll over the circumferential wall segments 21 through 24 of movable lockring 20 and over the circumferential wall segments 16 through 19, which are positioned intermediate the wall segments 21 through 24 and form a substantially continuous circumference therewith, while at the same time the shells are continuously engaged by a related pair of the spaced rollers 32 through 36. When the extractor cradle 47 is empty, as is the case when the shell 46 positioned thereon has just been rammed into the gun, the rotary magazine structure 2 is rotated, through means later described, in the direction of arrow 49 and the next round of ammunition 11 is brought to extracting position on cradle 47.

For introducing ammunition into the magazine as so far described, the lever 25 is shifted in either sense as shown by arrow 52 or 53, thereby imparting to the lockring 20 and angular displacement which brings the cutouts 12, 13 and 14 of lockring 29 into register with the cutouts 5, 6 and 7 respectively of ring 3, or with cutouts 4, 5 and 6 respectively of ring 3, depending on the sense of displacement imparted to the lockring. In either case, all of four of the cutouts, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of fixed ring 3 are then cleared, whereby a round of ammunition can be freely inserted into each of the four chambers of the magazine. As each shell is pushed home in its chamber, the rear cartridge bead or flange such as 54 in FIG. 1,. engages a pawl 55 pivoted on body 26 and rocks said pawl against the restraining action of a spring-biassed plunger 61—62 mounted in said body, rocking the pawl to retracted position and allowing the cartridge rim 54 to pass therebeyond, whereupon the pawl is returned by its spring plunger 61 to a poistion in which it prevents outward movement of the shell. When all of the ammunition has thus been introduced into the magazine and latched in position by the related latch pawls 55, the lockring 20 is shifted back to its locking position shown, and the shells are then retained both axially and radially in the magazine recesses. It will be understood that when a shell has been rotated to extracting position on cradle 47 as earlier described, it is not restrained radially owing to the absence of the lockring surfaces in that position, so that the latching pawl 55 is then inoperative to prevent axial displacement of the shell on its cradle.

Means will now be described for removing the ammunition manually from the magazine when desired. A slidable rod 57 extends axially of the magazine 2 and has a handle 58 secured to its forward end. A stop 59 is secured to the rod 57 in a position to engage an arm 60 projecting from each of the five latch pawls 55 previously mentioned. Thus by exerting a pull on handle 58 as shown by arrow 63, all the latchpawls 55 are simultaneously rocked and all the shells in the four magazine chambers are released for axial displacement. Thus, shifting the lockring 20 by means of lever 25 to its unlocking position will then permit free withdrawal of the ammunition from the magazine.

Operating mechanism will now be described for performing the cyclic sequence of operations whereby the shells in the magazine may be sequentially brought to their extracting position and loaded into a gun bore. Referring especially to FIGS. 1 and 3, the bearing sleeve 65 of casing 1 previously referred to has a stationary flange or disk 66 secured thereto having a notch 67 (see FIG. 3) formed in its periphery. The stub shaft 64 projecting from revolving magazine body 26 also has a flange or disk 68 secured thereto in a position spaced behind flange 66. Disk 68 has five pawls 69 through 73 pivoted on it at angularly equispaced points near its periphery on pivots 74 through 78. Each pawl is provided with a head 79 through S3 and a related spring 84 through 88, having one end attached to the pawl and the other to

3,134,301 disk 68 biasses each pawl so that the heads 79 through 83 tend to engage the notch 67. FIG. 3 shows the pawl 79 as engaging notch 67, thereby locking the revolving magazine 2 in a particular angular position relatively to the fixed casing 1.

For releasing the magazine 2 for angular displacement and imparting angular displacements thereto, the following means are provided. Each pawl 69 through 73 has an arm 89 through 93 projecting at right angles therefrom and a driver pin 95 through 99 projects from said arm. A hook arm 100 is mounted on a stationary frame of the system, in a maimer later described, so as to be reciprocable in the direction shown by arrow 101 and in the reverse direction, and is adapted to engage with its hook-like extremity a particular driver pin 95 through 98 carried by disk 68. Thus, when the hook arm 100 in ¹⁵its reciprocation is advanced to the position shown in chain lines in FIG. 3, it engages the particular driver pin located at that position, which as shown in FIG. 3 is pin 99 of pawl 73. As the hook arm 100 thereupon recedes towards its full line position, it rocks the pawl 73 ²⁰thus engaged against the action of spring 84, thereby disengaging latch head 79 from notch 67 and releasing disk 68 for rotation. Movement of the hook arm 100 then rotates the disk 68 by an angle of substantially 72° to bring the magazine to the next one of its incremental ^δpositions wherein, referring to FIG. 2, the shell 11 is advanced to the extracting position on cradle 47, assumed to have been previously vacated by the shell 46. At the same time the pawl 72 (FIG. 3) is advanced to the posi- „„ tion vacated by pawl 73, so that a subsequent advance of hook arm 100 during its reciprocation will now engage said hook arm with the drive pin 98 of said pawl 72.

With reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, means will now be described for controlling the reciprocation of hook arm „_r100 and movement of extractor cradle 47 in synchronism therewith. It is noted that FIGS. 4 and 5 are a simplified showing in which many of the parts described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 are shown somewhat simplified and rearranged for clarity though they will still be easily ₄₀recognizable and identifiable by their references.

It will be seen that the extractor cradle 47 is supported in cantilever relation from its rear end from the bracket 48 which in turn is carried at the corresponding ends of a pair of vertically spaced horizontal bars 105 and 106 which are bodily slidable together in bearings secured to the fixed frame 107. The upper bar 105 has a driver member 109 mounted thereon for limited sliding displacement between a pair of stops 110 and 111 secured on bar 105, driver member 109 being biassed by a strong compression spring 112 into engagement with the rear ^5Ustop 111. A connecting rod 104 has one end pivoted to driver member 109 and its other end pivoted to a crank pin provided on a drive wheel rotated by an electric (or other) motor 103 which serves to power the whole -system. ^ot&gt;

The afore-mentioned hook arm 100 is shown pivoted to a support 118 carried by the lower bar 106 and actuated by a spring 119 which tends to rock said hook arm into engagement with the drive pins, such as 99, pre- go viously described as carried on disk 68.

The member 109 in addition to its connection with bar 105 is slidably connected with a further bar 113 slidable in the frame 107 and parallel to the bars 105 and 106. The bar 113 has a roller 114 pivoted on its end 65 which is adapted to engage a rammer member 120 to rock it to a ramming position behind the rear end of a shell 46 positioned on cradle 47 in a manner later described. The rod 113 carries two fixed stops 115 and 116 and a spring 117 is arranged between stop 116 and a fixed 70 surface of frame 107 to urge the rod 113 to a retracted position (shown in FIG. 4) where stop 115 engages the frame 107.

In describing the operation of the system of FIGS. 4 and 5, it is assumed that in the normal condition shown 75 in FIG. 4 there are four shells in four of the magazine chambers and a fifth shell 46, on the extractor cradle 47, as will be understood from explanations earlier given. Further, it is assumed that a shell has just been fired by the gun with which the loader apparatus is associated, the rear end of the bore of which gun is indicated at 122. The firing of the gun, through means later described, starts the motor 103 in operation. Rotation of the motor acts through link 104, member 109, spring 112, stop 110, rod 105 and bracket 48, to displace the cradle 47 with shell 46 thereon to a laterally and outwardly displaced position shown in FIG. 5, wherein the shell· is positioned in alignment with the bore of gun 122. The spring 112 is provided strong enough to produce a bodily displacement of rod 105 with member 109 until stop 110 engages frame 107 whereupon spring 112 is compressed. Throughout the advance of bar 105 and bracket 48 and cradle 47, member 109 slides freely along the rod 113. However, a stop 11® engages frame 107, spring 112 is compressed and member 109 then displaces rod 113 through stop 116, compressing spring 117. At the same time the hook arm 100 is acted on by bar 106 to disengage the pin 95 and engage pin 99 as shown in FIG. 5.

The advance of rod 113 advances the roller 114 into engagement with rammer 120 rocking the latter and moving it into position behind the cartridge of shell 46. The rammer 120 is biassed by a spring, not shown, in the direction indicated by arrow 121. The rocking of the rammer 120 by roller 114 simultaneously releases the rammer for displacement by its biassing spring thereby to ram the cartridge 46 home into the gun bore. A gun breech (not shown) is then closed by conventional means. The motor 103 is again started in rotation (by means later described) to restore the assembly to the normal condition shown in FIG. 4. During this restoring or receding movement the hook arm 100 which is now engaging drive pin 99 rotates the revolver magazine in the direction indicated by arrow 123' until the drive pin 99 has reached the position vacated by pin 95. This has completed a circular premutation of the magazine chambers and a new round of ammunition (11) is now positioned in the etxracting position vacated by the round 46 of FIG. 4.

As one round of ammunition, say 46, is fired from the gun, the recoil of the gun compresses the aforementioned spring, not shown, associated with the rammer 120 and rocks said rammer to a position (FIG. 4) in which it is latched by a conventional latching device, not shown. A fresh cycle of loading operations can then proceed. It is noted that the operation of rammer 12® is generally conventional and the associated mechanism therefore has not been shown in any detail, in the interests of clarity.

Throughout the time a shell is resting on the extractor cradle it is being maintained laterally by the cradle flanges 50 and 51, but it is not being retained axially since it was disengaged from its spring pawl 55 by radial movement of the shell on entering the cradle as earlier described. Axial displacement of the shell resting in cradle 47Js prevented by a suitable stop positioned immediately adjacent to the point of the shell and having a surface adapted for sliding engagement by the shell ogee during all or part of the shell’s movement in the loader magazine and the cradle until such time as the shell has been rammed into the gun. As shown, such a stop or guide member comprises a metal sheet element 123 (see FIG. 4) disposed between the loader magazine and the gun breech substantially in a common plane with the surface of the breech with which the gun barrel 122 connects in the loading position. The sheet 123 is shown mounted on a fixed pivot 124 normal to the plane of the sheet so as to be shiftable when required to facilitate the positioning of a round of ammunition in the extractor cradle on initial loading of the magazine. A spring 125 biases the sheet 123 into engagement with the ogee of the shell in the cradle so as to apply the rear end of the cartridge

3,134,301 against a stop fixed with the cradle, and thus more positively to retain the shell against displacement due to shock and vibrations.

Electrical circuitry will now be described with reference to FIG. 6 for automatically controlling the operation of the various mechanisms described in the requisite timed sequence.

At the start of operations the gun breech is assumed to be open, the cartridge case of the precedingly fired shell ejected, the rammer spring compressed or cocked, and the shiftable lockring 20 in its locking position. Referring to the circuit of FIG. 6, this is seen to include a number of switch contacts adapted for automatic mechanical actuation by various components of the system described, and it is first indicated generally that switches A and F are actuated at the ends of the displacement of the extractor cradle drive member 109; switches B and G are actuated at the ends of the displacement of rammer 120; switch C is actuated by the breech movement; switch D is actuated by movement of the lockring 20; and switch E is actuated on ejection of a cartridge from the gun, for which last purpose there is shown in FIG. 6 a vane 124 interposed on the path of the ejected cartridge cases. The enumerated contact switches are interconnected in an operative circuit with an electric power source 125 through a manual cutoff switch H. The actual circuit connections are clearly shown in the drawing and need not be traced in detail except aS will be required for the understanding of the operation of the system now to be described.

In the circuit condition shown in FIG. 6, closure of cutoff switch FI applies power to the motor 103 by way of lead 126, ejector-actuated switch E, lead 127, extractor cradle-actuated switch A, lead 128, rammer-actuated switch B, lead 129, rammer-latch actuated switch G, lead 130, breech-actuated switch C, lead 131, lockring-actuated switch D, lead 132 across motor terminals 103 and over lead 133 to ground. In the circuit condition shown cradle 47 is in the magazine chamber so that switch A is closed and switch F open. Rammer 120 is latched in cocked position so that switches B and G are both closed. Breech is open so that switch C is in the upper position connecting leads 130—131. Vane 124 has been displaced by an ejected cartridge so that switch E is closed.

On completion of the motor-energizing circuit just described the motor 103 is started in operation and rotates excenter disk 108, advancing the cradle 47 laterally to gun-loading position, and rocking rammer 120 which thereupon is released to ram the shell 46 into the gun bore 122. These actions actuate switch A to open position and switch F to closed position, and both switches B and G to open position, whereupon motor 103 is deenergized and stops. When the shell 46 has been loaded into the gun bore 122 the breech is automatically shut by conventional means not shown, and switch C is thereby shifted to the position interconnecting leads 134 and 131. This reenergizes motor 103 through an energizing circuit traceable from source 125 through cutoff switch H, lead 135, closed switch F, lead 134, switch C connecting leads 134—131, lead 131, closed switch D to the motor 103 to grounded lead 133. Motor 103 thereupon resumes its rotation and pulls back the extractor cradle towards and into the magazine to the position shown in FIG. 4 and imparts one step of rotation to the magazine 2.

As the cradle 47 is restored to the position of FIG. 4, switch A is actuated to closed position and switch F to open position, deenergizing the motor circuit. As the shell 46 last loaded is fired (by way of a conventional firing circuit not shown), switch E opens and is not closed again until the vane 124 has been displaced by the movement of the properly ejected cartridge case of the shell 46. Switches B and G associated with rammer 120 are only closed when the rammer spring is recocked and rammer 120 properly latched. On opening of the breech, switch C is again shifted to interconnect leads 130—131, o

thereby restoring all of the circuit connections to the condition shown in FIG. 6. The motor 103 will now be energized again to commence a fresh loading and firing cycle.

It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to any of the specific structural details illustrated and described since the single form of embodiment was here presented for purposes of illustration only, and many modifications may be made therein without exceeding the scope of the invention. Thus the means for extracting the ammunition from the loading magazine may assume various. forms other than the laterally displaceable cradle shown, and such extraction may be performed axially rather than laterally if desired. The step by step angular displacement of the revolving barrel may be imparted by any suitable mechanism other than the reciprocating hook arm and drive pins shown. Also the electric circuitry may assume various forms other than the specific circuit shown in FIG. 6. Besides, the means for cyclically operating the system are not necessarily electrical, and fluid-actuated, e.g. pneumatic, means may readily be devised by those familiar with the art to fulfil equivalent cyclic automatic operation, with suitably arranged fluid valves taking the place of the contact switches heretofore described.

In the ensuing claims, wherever it is stated that a round of ammunition is inserted “cartridge-end foremost,” the word foremost should be interpreted as referring to the direction of movement of the round of ammunition into the magazine chamber.