Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
- ~213~61
The present invention relates to a loading bridge for
shells located between a magazine and a gun in an armoured tur-
ret, particularly in an armoured vehicle turret.
In the case of thin, easily damaged coverings for
the propellant charge contained in the shell it is essential that
the round be rammed into the gun barrel whe~ it is precisely
centered if the shell is to be protected against scratching or
scraping on the sharp edged annular join formed where the wall of
the bore enters the breech section of the gun.
The present invention provides for the centering of
the shell on the axis of the bore on the last part of its forward
movement when it is moved forward by a ram.
According to the present invention therefore there is
provided a loading bridge for shells between a magazine and a gun
in an armoured turret, in which on or at the bottom of one end
and situated in front of the breech of the gun there is a rocker
pivoted on an axis at right angles to the axis of bore of the gun
barrel, the rocker having a first rocker arm directed towards
the gun and a second rocker arm directed away from the gun, the
second rocker arm having an override cam which is caused, by
means of a spring, to project into the path of movement of a
shell base flange, the overriding of said cam by said shell base
flange causing movement of said first rocker arm to a position in
which it centres the shell on the axis of the gun barrel bore.
Thus according to the present invention the base, or
as the base, of the end of the loading bridge that is located in
front of the breech opening, on its axis that is perpendicular
to the axis of the bore of the barrel, there is a rocker that has
a first rocker arm that is directed towards the gun and a second
rocker arm that is directed away from the gun. The second rocker
arm has an override cam th~at extends into the path of the base
rim of the shell in such a manner that when the shell base rim
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uns up the cam the first rocker arm will centre the shell on
the axis or the bore.
According to the present invention the base rim of the
shell runs up the ascending surface of the cam and forces it
downwards, that is the inevitable result of the thrust exerted by
the ram, since the base rim of the shell is contained by the load-
ing bridge with very little space left over. Thus, it can exert
a considerable force on the override cam, which then raises the
first rocker arm together with that fraction of the weight o
the shell that is resting upon it. By limiting the downward
travel of the cam it is possible to adjust this lift precisely
to the axis of the bore.
The present invention will be further illustrated by
way of the accompanying drawings, in which:- ~
Figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal section through
the rear portion of a tank turret with the magazine;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the magazine of Figure l;
and
Figure 3 is an enlarged section from Figure 1, with
the loading bridge according to one embodiment of the present
invention, shown in section.
Figures 1 and 2 show the rear portion of an armoured
turret 1 that can be traversed about a stationary axis A-A. A
gun 2 is mounted in this turret, and this can be elevated and
depressed about the axis B-B of the trunnions. The gun 2 is
loaded with a shell 3 over a loading bridge 4 from a magazine 5,
which is a component part of a magazine 8 that rotates in an end-
less track 6, formed by a pair of chains, transversely to the
axis of the bore 7 of the gun 2. The magazine 5 is located in
the lower run of the endless track 6 at the point that lines up
with the axis of the bore 7 of the gun 2. To this end -the gun is
depressed to the level posi-tion. In this aligned position the
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~ lkhead 9 that separates the magazine 8 from the remainder of
the armoured vehicle turret has an aperture. The magazine 8 is
driven around the chain track 6 either by a motor 10 or manually,
in an emergency situation.
The enlarged scale of Figure 3 makes it clear that the
walls of the bore of the gun 2 enter the breech portion 12 at a
sharp-edged annular join 11 and this endangers the shells if they
are not precisely centered as they are moved by the ram 33 from
the magazine container 5 across the loading bridge. Particularly
in the case of thin and easily damaged casings used to contain the
shell's propellant charge this part of -the shell can become
scratche~ or even torn. In ammunition of this type there is a
base rim 13. The loading bridge 4, that by vir-tue of its shape
fits into the breech portion 12 from above, as can be seen prin-
cipally from Figure 2, has at the base, or as its base, at the
end that lies in front of the opening of the breech of the gun
a rocker 14 that has a first rocker arm 18 that faces towards
the gun 2, and a second rocker arm that faces away from the gun
2. The rocker 14 is mounted on a pin 15 that is perpendicular to
the axis of the bore 7. Its second rocker arm incorporates an
override cam for the shell base rim and this cam protrudes under
the action of a spring 16. When this rim runs up the cam the
first rocker arm 18, that is dished, is raised so that the shell
3 is centered on the axis of the bore 7. Thus the shell 3 can
be rammed passed the annular join without any risk of damage.
The downward travel of the cam 17 is limited by an adjustable
stop.
Before firing, the loading bridge 4, that is mainly a
tube, is swung upwards and sideways in order to make room for
the recoiling parts after the shell is fired. A combined elevat-
ing and traversing gear is used to do this, and this gear has a
vertical guide rod 19 and~a chain loop 20.
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This invention results in a considerable improvement
to the construction elements used for an automatic loading system
for large-calibre ammunition. In order to load the gun over the
loading bridge the shell is pushed from the magazine 5 by the
; ram 33. In order that this can be done the ram is moved by a
pair of stiff chains, by guide rollers that are powered by an
electric motor 35 or, in an emergency, manually.
