US2375437A - Combined ammunition magazine and feed means - Google Patents

Description

May 8, 1945. w QHARE 2,375,437

COMBINED AMMUNITION MAGAZINE AND FEED MEANS Filed April 5, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l 1 O 8 1 0 6 i M o I 0 g% 1 om g ng K i O J 2 0 0 Q? 0g 1 O o 5 E O 1 O OO O 0 6 0O 0 N Q O O0 1 0 1 W 1 00 9) 1 0 O TV J72 7 A o JrgeMO-g May 8, 1945.

G. w. QHARE COMBINED AMMUNITION MAGAZINE AND FEED MEANS Filed April 3, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 8, 3945. G. w. OHARE COMBINED AMMUNITION MAGAZINE AND FEED MEANS Filed April 3, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 George fly Maw am;

G. W. OHARE COMBINED AMMUNITION MAGAZINE AND FEED MEANS May 8, 1945.

Filed April 3, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fivezzz rx eoiye WOZQZPQ a. w. OHARE May 8, 1945.

COMBINED AMMUNITION MAGAZINE AND FEED MEANS Filed April 3, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fizz/622257 GeorgeWO'fizre M A Patented May 8, 1945 COMBINED AMMUNITION MAGAZINE AND FEED MEANS George W. OHare, Bellflower, Galifl, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, a corporation of Delaware V Application April 3, 1941, Serial No. 386,665

8 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to ammunition magazines for machine guns. More particularly the invention relates to that type of ammunition magazine which is expressly or primarily designed for use in connection with a machine gun in the wing of an airplane, is disposed in, and extends longitudinally of,

.the wing, and serves to support a flexible cartridge belt in a serpentine or sinuous manner so that it is in readiness for automatic feed through the breech opening of the machine gun by means of the usual machine gun feed means.

One object of the invention is to provide an ammunition magazine of this type which is an improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over, previously designed magazines of the same general type or character and for the same purpose and is characterized by the fact that it is so designed and constructed that the cartridge belt moves or feeds freely from it with a minimum amount of frictional retardation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ammunition magazine of the aforementioned type which is in the form of an elongated housing and has a plurality of serially connected superposed channels whereby the various strands of the cartridge belt are supported independently of one another and the belt as a whole is properly held regardless of the flight attitude of the airplane and hence is not likely to jam in connection with feed thereof to the machine gun.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine gun ammunition magazine of the last mentioned character in which the superposed channels are serially connected at the ends thereof by curved channel sections of substantially semi-circular shape and are so designed or shaped as far as cross section is concerned that it is impossible to feed the belt into them in connection with loading of the magazine unless the cartridges are properly positioned for firing by the machine gun with which the magazine is associated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ammunition magazine of the type and character last mentioned in which one end of one of the superposed channels is disposed adjacent I the breech opening of the machine gun and has a lock-equipped door associated therewith whereby the cartridge belt may be fed into the magazine in connection with charging or loading thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a combined ammunition container and feed means which is generally of new and improved construction and not only is eificient in operation but also is light in weight and does not interfere with the reenforcing structure of the airplane wing with which it is employed.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the improved magazine and its feed means will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an airplane wing having mounted therein a machine gun together with a combined ammunition magazine and automatic feed means embodying the invention, a

portion of the skin of the wing being broken away for purposes of illustration;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view showing the construction and design of the magazine and illustrating the position or location of the star wheel for positively feeding the cartridge belt into the magazine during charging or loading of the latter and also forcing or urging the cartridge belt to the machine gun in connection with use of the latter;

Figure 3 is a front view of the magazine illustrating the manner in which the upper channel is connected to the breech opening of the machine gun and showing the manner in which the carcontainer showing in detail the manner in which the channels serve to separate or space apart the various strands of the belt;

Figure 6 is a detailed front view of the outer end of the magazine; I

Figure 7 is a verticaltransverse section taken on the line l-'! of Figure 5 and showing in detail the cross sectional design of the superposed channels;

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of the inner end of the magazine, taken on the line 8-8 01' Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 9--il of Figure and Figure is a perspective view of a part or portion of the cartridge belt.

The combined magazine and automatic feed means which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is shown in connection with, and as forming a part of, the wing A of an airplane having a machine gun G and serves, as hereinafter described, to retain and feed a cartridge belt B to the gun. The airplane wing A is of standard or conventional design and comprises a front longitudinally extending spar a, a rear longitudinally extending spar a and a series of latterally spacgd cross ribs 11 Such parts of elements of the wing are surrounded by a skin a of sheet metal or other material. The inner ends of the front and rear spars together with certain of the innermost cross ribs define a. compartment a for the machine gun G. Access to this compartment is provided by way of an open- ;n: a in the superincurnbent or superjacent portion of the skin a A panel (1 serves as a removable closure for the opening (1. The machine gun G is mounted in a fixed position within the compartment :2 and extends transversely of the wing A. The barrel of the gun projects forwards and is aligned with a tube or apertured cap a in the leading edge of the wing. The gun G has in the breech thereof a transversely extending opening through which the cartridge belt B is adapted to be fed. In addition to the opening the gun G includes conventional or standard automatic feed means for the belt and when the gun is fired the belt feeds through the breech opening and the cartridges are successively fired in a forwards direction through the barrel of the gun and the tube or apertured cap a in the leading edge of the wing. The belt B when stored or in place in the magazine, is arranged in a serpentine or zigzag manner, as hereinafter described. It is of conventional design and comprises a series of clips which serve to hold, and are interlocked by, the cartridges. The intermediate cross ribs have aligned openings 11. in the central portions thereof, that is, the portions between the front and rear spars a and 11 The magazine serves as a retaining or storage medium for the cartridge belt B and comprises an elongated tube-like housing II and a pair of fittings l2 and I3 at the ends of the housing.

The housing is mounted in, and extends lengthwise oz" the wing A. It extends through, and fits snugly within, the openings 01. in the central portions of the intermediate cross ribs a of the wing and comprises a front wall H, a back wall I5, a top wall l6 and a bottom wall 11. These walls are formed of sheet metal or other suitable material and are rigidly secured together. The top and bottom walls have a, plurality of holes l8 therein in order to reduce to a minimum the weight of the magazine as a Whole. The interior of the elongated housing II is divided into a longitudinally extending upper channel l9, a longitudinally extending lower channel 20, and a longitudinally extending central or intermediate channel 2| by way of four vertically spacedlongitudinally extending inwardly projecting ribs 22 on the front wall I4 and four vertically spaced longitudinally extending inward projecting ribs 23 on the back wall l5 of the housing (see Figure 7). The ribs 22 are formed integrally with the front wall of the housing and by bending such wall back and forth, as indicated in Figure '7. The grooves which are formed between the ribs 22 constitute the front side portions of the longitudinally extending channels I9, 20 and 2| and are adapted to receive the projectile parts of the cartridges on the belt B. The ribs 23 on the back wall l5 of the housing are formed by bending such wall back and forth as clearly disclosed or illustrated in Figure 'I of the drawings. The grooves which are disposed between the ribs 23 define the back side portions of the channels and are adapted to receive the butt ends of the cartridges, that is, the ends with the percussion caps The ribs 22 are of greater thickness than the ribs 23 with the result that the grooves between them are of less height than the grooves between said ribs 23 and hence it is impossible to insert the cartridge belt B into the channels I9, 20 and 2|. unless the cartridges are properly arranged for firing by the machine gun G. In other words, the grooves between the ribs 22 will accommodate only the narrow projectile parts of the cartridges and it is thus impossible to load or charge the magazine unless the cartridges on the belt B are positioned with the projectile parts pointing or facing forwards. When the housing of the magazine is charged the belt is arranged in a. zigzag manner within the superposed channels and the cartridges in each strand the belt are out of con-tact with the cartridges of the other strands because of the spacing of the channels due to the inwardly projecting ribs on the front and back walls i4 and I5. A plurality of vertically extending laterally spaced channel bars 24 are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the front wall H of the housing in order to reenforce the latter and prevent vertical expansion or contraction thereof. Similar channel bars 25 are welded or otherwise secured to the rear face of the back wall l5 of the housing.

The fitting I2 is located at the outer end of the housing II and is connected to such end of the housing by way of a hollow bracket 26 (see Figure 6). It comprises a front wall 21, a back wall 28 and a substantially continuous intermediate wall 29. The front and back walls are substantially circular as far as contour is concerned and embody inwardly extending extensions which 'are aligned with the outer ends of the front and back walls of the housing II and are suitably secured to the side portions of the hollow bracket 26. They are spaced apart by the intermediate wall 29 and have inwardly extending ribs which define a. curved channel section 30 (see Figure 4). The latter is joined to, and serves serially to connect, the outer ends of the upper and lower channels l9 and 20 in the main magazine housing ll. When the cartridge belt B is inserted into the upper channel I9 and is then slid outwards in the direction of the fitting I2 in connection with loading of the magazine it travels or passes first through the channel I9, then around the curved channel section 30 in the fitting l2 and then inwards through the lower channel 20 in the housing II. The front and back walls 21 and 28 of the fitting 12 are formed of sheet metal or any other suitable material.

The intermediate wall 29 is curved in conformity with the peripheries or edges of the front and back walls 21 and 28 and is joined at its ends to the top and bottom portions of the hollow bracket 26. The thickness of the front portion of the channel section 30 corresponds to the thickness of the front portion of any one of the longitudinally extending channel sections in the housing I and the rear portion of said channel section 30 corresponds in thickness to the back portion of any one of said channel sections in the housing.

The fitting |3 is located at the inner end of the housing l, as best shown in Figures 3 and 5. and like the fitting I2, is formed of sheet metal. It comprises a front wall 3|, a back wall 32, and a substantially continuous intermediate wall 33. The front and back walls of the fitting l3 are provided with inwardly projecting ribs and these define a curved channel section 34 which extends between, and serves serially to connect. the inner ends of the lower channel and the intermediate channel 2| in the magazine housing Said front and back walls 3| and 32 are aligned with the inner ends of the front and back walls of the housing H and are secured thereto by way of attaching plates 35. The latter are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the front and back walls of the fitting l3 and have outwardly extending extensions which lap'and are welded to the inner ends of the front and back walls of the housing The intermediate wall 33 extends between, and serves to space apart, the front and back walls 3| and 32 and corresponds in shape to the marginal portions of said front and back walls. It assists in defining the curved channel section 34 and is formed of sheet metal or other suitable material. fed into the magazine in connection with charging of the latter it travels inwards through the lower channel 20 in the housing after passing z.

through the curved channel section in the fitting l2, then travels around the curved channel section 34 in the fitting l3, and finally travels or moves into the intermediate channel section 2| in the housing The outer end of the intermediate channel 2| is closed by way of a cross wall 36 (see Figure 5). The front portion of the curved channel section 34 corresponds in thickness to the front portion of the curved channel section 30 in the fitting |2 and the rear portion of said curved channel section 34 corresponds in thickness to the rear portion of the curved channel section in said fitting l2.

In addition to the housing II and the end fittings |2 and I3 the magazine comprises an open ended trunk 31. This trunk extends between, and serves to connect, the inner end of the upper channel l9 and the breech opening in the machine gun G. It is rectangular in cross section and has the outer end thereof connected by way of a hinge 38 to the inner end of the top wall l6. of the housing The inner or discharge end of the trunk is supported in alignment with the breech opening in the machine gun by way of a vertically adjustable post 39. Such post is suitably supported on one of the structural elements of the airplane wing A, and permits, by reason of its adjustability, proper centering of the discharge end of the trunk with respect to the breech opening in the machine gun. The top wall of the trunk is provided with an opening 40 for magazine charging or loading purposes. A door 4| serves as a closure medium for this opening. One end of the door is connected by way of a hinge 42 to the top wall of the trunk and the other end embodies a latch type lock 43 whereby the door may be locked or secured in its closed position. The look, as best shown in Figure 2, is in the form of a U-shaped wire which overlies the top of the When the belt B isdoor. The crosspiece of the wire is connected to the hinged end of the door. The free ends of the side pieces of the wire project beyond the other end of the door and embody out-turned extensions 44 which are adapted to fit within a pair of oppositely positioned eyelets 45 on the inner extremity of the top wall of the trunk. When the extensions 44 are disposed within the eyelets the door 4| is locked in its closed position. To open the door it is only necessary to withdraw the extensions 44 from the eyelets. This is accomplished by squeezing the side pieces of the U-shaped wire toward one another a sufficient distance to effect complete withdrawal of the extensions from the eyelets. When the lock is in its unlocked position the door 4| may be swung upwards into its open position, as shown in full'lines in Figure 3. The door 4| underlies the opening a in the upper portion of the skin of the airplane wing A and is accessible upon opening or removal of the panel a For the purpose of charging the magazine with the belt B a chute 46 is provided. This chute is of U-shaped cross section and is adapted to guide the belt 13 into the magazine in connection with charging of the latter. In connection with charging of the magazine the panel a is first opened or removed. Thereafter the door 4| is unlocked and swung upwards into its open position in order to provide access to the opening 40 in the upper wall of the trunk 31. After upward swinging of the door 4| the lower end of the chute 46 is inserted through the opening 40 into the inner end of the trunk 31, as shown in Figure 3. After this step or operation one end of the belt B is slid down the chute 46 into the trunk 31. After insertion of one end of the belt into the trunk the belt is shifted or slid manually along the chute. During sliding of the belt the end first inserted into the trunk travels outwards along the upper channel |9, then around the curved channel section 30, then inwards along the lower channel 20, then upwards and outwards around the channel section 34 and finally outwards along or through the intermediate channel 2|. As soon as the end of the belt that is in the intermediate channel strikes the cross wall 36 the operator can feed no more of the belt into the magazine and is duly apprised of the fact that the magazine is full or completely loaded. After loading of themagazine the chute 46 is removed from the trunk 31 and the adjacent end of the belt is fed through the breech opening in the machine gun G. Thereafter the door 4| is swung downwards into its closed position and is locked in place by manipulating the extensions 44 into the eyelets 45.

After locking of the door the compartment a is closed by securing the panel a. in its closed position.

In order to facilitate charging or loadin of the magazine a star wheel 41 is provided. This star wheel is positioned within thefittin |2 at the outer end of the housing H and is rotatably mounted by way of a hollow shaft 48. The latter is disposed in parallel relation with the intermediate wall 29 of the fitting H and extends transversely of the housing The front end of the shaft extends through, and is journalled in, a bearing 49 on the central portion of the front wall 21 of the fitting l2. The rear end of the shaft extends through, and is Journalled in, a bearing 50 on the central portion of the back wall 28. The star wheel 41 is fixedly secured in any suitable manner to the portion of the shaft that is within the fitting l2 and has cutouts on its periphery for receiving and accommodating the cartridges on the belt B (see Figures 4 and 5). The shaft 48 is so positioned that the star wheel is arranged in concentric relation with the curved channel section 39. When the star wheel, as viewed from the front, is turned in a clockwise direction in connection with charging of the magazine it forces the belt B in a positive manner around the curved channel section 30 through the lower channel 20 in the housing thence around the curved channel section 34 and finally along the intermediate channel 2|. Clockwise turning of the star wheel in connection with loading or charging of the magazine is effected by a removable or detachable crank 5|. This crank comprises a shaft 52, a crank arm 53 and a handle 54. The crank arm 53 is connected to, and projects outwardly from, one end of the shaft 52. The other end of the shaft is provided with a diametric notch 55 for receiving and interlocking with a cross pin 56 within the central portion of the hollow shaft 48. In using the crank the notch equipped end of the shaft 52 is inserted into a hole 51 in the leading edge of the airplane wing A and is then shifted rearwards so that it passes through a bearing 58 and into the front end of the hollow shaft 48. The bearing 58, as shown in Fi ure 1, is mounted on; and extends through, the outer end of the front spar a of the wing A. The hole 5'! and the bearing are axially aligned with the shaft 41. When the shaft'52 of the crank is manipulated so that the cross pin 56 of the shaft 48 is in seated relation with the notch 55 a driving connection is established between the crank and the star wheel carrying shaft 48. When the crank is in driving relation with the shaft it may be turned in a clockwise manner so as to effect a positive feed of the belt B into the lower and intermediate channels of the housin in connection with loading or discharging of the magazine. In loading the mesazine the crank 5| is first connected to the star wheel carrying shaft 48. Thereafter one end of the cartridge belt B is fed into the inner end of the upper channel I9 and is fed outwards along such channel until the extremity thereof comes in contact with the star wheel 41. When the leading end of the belt is in contact with the star wheel the operator turns the crank 5| in a clockwise direction. This results in a positive feed of the belt into the magazine. After complete loading of the magazine the crank is detached or removed from the wing A.

The feed means which is associated or combined with the magazine serves after charging or loading of the magazine reversely to rotate the star wheel in order to assist the feed means of the machine gun in feeding the belt through the breech opening in the gun. This means comprises an elastic cord 59 of the so-called shock variety, a wire cable 60 and a drum 6|. The drum, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, is mounted on, and pinned to, the rear end of the hollow star wheel carrying shaft 48. It is disposed rearwards of the fitting l2 and has a cable receiving spiral groove 62 in its periphery. One end of the wire cable 60 is anchored to the drum in such manner that when the star wheel is rotated clockwise in connection with chargin of the magazine the cable is wound around the drum. The other free end of the cable extends inwards alongside of the back wall l5 of the housing The central portion of the elastic shock cord 59 extends around a sheave 63. The latter is mounted on a bracket 64 on the central portion of one of the innermost cross ribs or of the wing. One end of the cord extends outwards through holes in the central portions of the intermediate cross ribs and is anchored to a bracket 65. The other end of the shock cord extends outwards .and is connected by a fitting 66 to the free end of the wire cable 60. The arrangement of the shock cord and cable is such that when the star wheel 41 is rotated in a clockwise manner in connection with charging of the magazine the shockcord is stretched and hence is placed under tension. When the star wheel is released from the crank 5| after loading or charging of the magazine the shock cord is so loaded that it tends reversely to rotate the star wheel. When the magazine is loaded the shock cord is under tension and hence when the machine gun is operated it operates through the medium of the wire cable 60 and the spirally grooved drum 6| to rotate the star wheel reversely and thus assist the feed means of the gun in feeding the cartridge belt through the breech opening in the gun. The shock cord 59 constitutes simple or improved means for supplementing or augmenting feeding of the cartridge belt through the machine gun G. If desired the shock cord may be partially elongated or stretched prior to loading of the magazine. This is accomplished by cranking the star wheel in a clockwise manner by the crank before the leading end of the belt reaches the star wheel in connection with charging of the magazine. The shock cord is effective or operative when a portion of the belt is in the curved channel section 30. When the belt is used to such an extent that no portion thereof is in said channel section 30 the supplemental feed means comprising the shock cord 59, the cable 60 and the drum 6| is ineffective or inoperative. When this occurs the portion of the belt in the upper channel 9 is capable of being readily fed through the machine gun by the machine gun feed means since it is in the form of a straight or rectilinear reach and is free from any reverse bends which would tend to place a strain upon the machine gun feed means. The elastic cord 59, the wire cable 60, and the drum 6| constitute or exemplify power means for rotating or driving the star wheel 41 in such direction as to feed the belt to the machine gun.

With a view of facilitating travel of the cartridge belt B around the curved channel section 34 in the fitting |2 at the inner end of the housing H a pair of rotary star wheels 61 is provided. These wheels are mounted in laterally spaced relation on a horizontally extending shaft 68 in said fitting l3. The ends of the shaft are journalled in bearings 69 on the inner faces of the attaching plates 35. The bearings are so arranged that the shaft and star wheels 6'! are concentrically positioned with respect to the channel section 34. The wheels are adapted to engage the cartridges on the belt B, as shown in Figure 9, and tend to eliminate or materially reduce frictional retardation of the belt as it travels through or around the channel section 34 as well end of the trunk 31, as hereinbefore described.-

Thereafter one end of the belt is slid down the chute into the trunk 31. After introducing one end of the belt into the trunk the belt is slid outwards until the outer extremity thereof is in contact with the star wheel ll. At this point the operator, after connecting the crank 58 to the star wheel carrying shaft Q3, turns the crank in clockwise manner in order to feed the belt into the various channels of the magazine. During clockwise rotation of the star wheel the wire cable 60 is wound around the drum Bi and causes stretching of the shock cord 59, as hereinbefore set forth. As soon as the magazine is fully or completely charged the end of the belt B that is within the trunk 3i is introduced into the breach opening in the machine gun. Thereafter the crank 58 is removed and the door ti and the panel a are locked in place. When the magazine is charged and the machine gun is operated the belt is fed through the machine gun by not only the feed means of the gun but also the supplemental or auxiliary feed means comprising the shock cord 59, the cable 613 and the drum Bi. v

The herein described combined magazine and feed means effectively and emciently fulfills its intended purpose and is characterized by the fact that it eliminates any jamming of the cartridges. In addition it comprehends a free ready feed of the cartridge belt to the machine gun with which it is associated and is especially practical in connection with cartridges of large caliber. The magazine as well as the feed means is light in weight and does not, to any material extent, interfere with the reenforcing structure of the airplane wing A. It may be readily installed and is capable of beingquickly and easily loaded.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An ammunition magazine for a machine gun, comprising an elongated unitary housing structure having therein a serpentine channel for supporting a cartridge belt for lengthwise feed without the difierent strands thereof contacting one another, and composed of a main tubular housing embodying a pair of opposed spaced apart sheet metal walls bent back and forth to form a plurality of straight inwardly and longitudinally extending laterally spaced fiat ribs arranged to form between and at right angles to the two walls three straight parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending channel sections, a separately formed fitting connected to one end of the housing and embodying a pair of opposed spaced part sheet metal walls with instruck arcuate ribs arranged to form between and at right angles to the last mentioned walls a curved channel section connecting the adjacent end of one of the outer straight channel sections to the adjacent end of one of the other two straight on the walls of said housing and fittings that are at the other side of the housing structure being spaced apart a greater distance and designed slidably to receive the butt ends of the cartridges.

2. An ammunition magazine for a machine gun, comprising an elongated unitary housing structure having therein a serpentine channel adapted to support a cartridge belt for lengthwise feed without the different strands thereof contacting one another, and composed of a main tubular housing embodying a pair of opposed spaced apart walls with straight inwardly and longitudinally extending laterally spaced flat ribs arranged to form between and at right angles to the two walls three straight parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending channel sections, a first separately formed hollow fitting connected to one end of the housing and embodying a pair of opposed spaced apart walls with inwardly extending arcuate ribs arranged to form between and at right angles to the last mentioned walls a curved channel section connecting the adjacent end of one of the outer straight channel sections to the adjacent end of the other outer straight channel section, and a second separately formed hollow fitting connected to the other end of the housing and embodying a pair of laterally spaced walls with inwardly extending arcuate ribs arranged to form between and at right angles to the last mentioned walls a curved channel section connecting the adjacent end of said other straight outer channel section to the adjacent end of the intermediate straight channel section, the ribs on the walls of the housing and fittings that are at one side of the housing structure being spaced apart a certain distance and designed slidably to receive the projectile parts of the cartridges and the ribs on the walls of said housing and fittings that are at the other side of the housing structure being spaced apart a greater distance and designed slidably to receive the butt ends of the cartridges.

3. An ammunition magazine for a machine gun, comprising an elongated unitary housing structure having therein a serpentine channel adapted to support a cartridge belt for lengthwise feed without the different strands thereof contacting one another, and composed of a main tubular housing embodying a pair of opposed spaced apart walls with straight inwardly and longitudinally extending laterally spaced flat ribs arranged to form between and at right angles to the two walls three straight parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending channel sections, a separately formed fitting connected to one end of the housing and embodying a pair of opposed spaced apart walls with inwardly extending arcuate ribs arranged to form between and at right angles to the last mentioned walls a curved channel section connecting the adjacent end of one of the outer straight channel sections to the adjacent end of one of the other two straight sections, and a second separately formed fitting connected to the other end of the housing and embodying a pair of laterally spaced walls with inwardly extending arcuate ribs arranged to form between 7 and at right angles to the last mentioned walls a curved channel section connecting the adjacent ends of said other two straight sections, and rotary elements carried by the fittings between said walls thereof and in concentric relation with the curved channel sections and arranged to facilitate travel of the cartridge belt along the latter.

4. In combination with an airplane having a machine gun mounted thereon, an ammunition magazine for the gun comprising a housing structure for a-cartridge belt, mounted fixedly on the airplane in associated relation with the gun and having a discharge opening for the belt, facing in the direction of the cartridge opening of the machine gun, an elongated rigid hollow belt guiding member having one end thereof leading to, and terminating adjacent said cartridge'opening of the machine gun and its other end communicating with the discharge opening of the housing structure and hinged to said structure so that the member as a whole may be swung bodily in order to center the one end with respect to said cartridge opening, and a longitudinally adjustable post extending between the airplane and said one end of the member and serving adjustably to support the member.

5. In combination with an airplane wing having a transversely extending machine gun mounted therein, an ammunition magazine for the gun, comprising an elongated housing structure for a cartridge belt, mounted fixedly in, and extending longitudinally of, the Wing and having one end thereof disposed adjacent the machine gun and provided with a discharge opening, an elongated rigid trunk type member adapted to guide the belt from the discharge opening in the housing structure to the gun and having one end thereof movably connected to said one end of the housing structure so that the member as a whole may be moved bodily in order properly to align the other end thereof with the gun,

and a support within the wing applied to said other end of the member and serving adjustably to support said member.

6. In combination with an airplane Wing having a, transversely extending machine gun mounted therein, an ammunition magazine for the gun, comprising an elongated housing structure for a cartridge belt, mounted fixedly in, and extending longitudinally of, the wing and having one end thereof disposed adjacent the machine gun and provided with a discharge opening, an elongated rigid trunk type member adapted to guide the belt from said opening to the gun, provided in the upper wall thereof with a door-closed opening whereby the belt prior to use thereof may be inserted through the member and into the housing structure in order to charge or load the latter, and having one end thereof leading to, and terminating adjacent, the cartridge opening of the machine gun and its other end communicating with said discharge opening of the housing structure and movably connected to said structure so that themember as a whole may be bodily adjusted in order to bring the one end thereof into centered relation with said cartridge opening in the gun, and an adjustable support disposed in the wing and applied to said one end of the member.

7. An ammunition magazine for a machine gun,

V nel section connecting the adjacent end of one I of the straight channel sections to the adjacent comprising an elongated unitary housing structure having therein a, serpentine channel adapted to support a cartridge belt for lengthwise feed without the different strands contacting one another, and composed of a main tubular housing embodying a pair of opposed spaced apart walls with a plurality of straight inwardly and longttudinally extending laterally spaced fiat ribs arranged to form between and at right angles to the two Walls two straight parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending channel sections, and a separately formed fitting connected to one end of the housing and embodying a pair of opposed spaced apart walls with inwardly extending arouateribs arranged to form between and at right angles to the last mentioned walls a curved chanend of the other channel section, the ribs of the walls of the housing and fitting that are at one side of the housing structure being spaced apart a certain distance and designed slidably to receive the projectile parts of the cartridges and the ribs on the walls of said housing and fitting that are at the other side of the housing structure being spaced apart a greater distance and designed slidably to receive the butt ends of the cartridges.

8. An ammunition magazine for a machine gun, comprising an elongated unitary housing structure having therein a serpentine channel adapted to support a cartridge belt-for lengthwise feed without the difierent strands contacting one another, and composed of a main tubular housing embodying a pair of opposed spaced apart walls with a plurality of straight inwardly and longitudinally extending laterally spaced fiat ribs arranged to form between and at right angles to the two walls two straight parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending channel sections, and a separately formed fitting connected to one end of the housing and embodying a pair of opposed spaced apart walls with inwardly extending arcuate ribs arranged to form between and at right angles to the last mentioned walls a curved channel section connecting the adjacent end of one of the straight channel sections to the adjacent end of the other channel section, the ribs of the walls of the housing and fitting that are at one side of the housing structure being spaced apart a certain distance and designed slidably to receive the projectile parts of the cartridges and the ribs on the Walls of said housing and fitting that are at the other side of the housing structure being spaced apart a greater distance and designed slidably to receive the butt ends of the cartridges, and a rotary element carried by the fitting between said walls thereof and in concentric relation with the curved channel section and arranged to facilitate travel of the cartridge belt along the latter.

GEORGE W. OHARE.

Images