US2386894A - Method of and means for loading ammunition containers - Google Patents

Description

METHOD oF AND MEANS FOR LOADING AMMUNIfrIoN coNTAINERsc. H. A. HARTLEY.

Filed April 3, 1942 NVENTOR.'

cRoYDoN H. A. HARTLEx'-,

www@

AHORA/Ex Patented Oct. 16, 1945 Unire :sur:

METHOD or `msu) MEANS .Fort `1,L ).DI1\TG AMMUNrrIoN CoN'rAINERs poration ofDelaWal-e Claims.

invention relatesto limprovements in apparatuses :for feedingfinachine guns or cannon of military aircraft Iand refers imore specially vto an improved ammunition `container rvand to ja new method andn'ew fmeafnsfor loading this container.

This method{ai-ms'at overcoming the structural and aerodynamic -diicul'ties arising from 'the ever increasing number of machine guns'or cannon mounted in jairplanes#andv the Vcommensurate quantity of ammunition therefor, Yrequired -to be carried Yinside the-stressed skin structures of aircraft.

-'A'lthough Athe problem fis often -acute inl 'fuse'- lages and A nacelles, it Vpresents the greatest diihculties when 'applied "to wing 'construction.

One objeo't of the Vinvention is therefore :to provide lan ammunition container capable'o'i lfeedingY several wing guns 'or cannon and 2v vliich ca ,n bebu'ilt within -the wing of; -an aircraft without substantially 'weakeningthe structural strength of this'wing, though the *basic principle ofthe invention -c'a'n 'be applied equally 'well to ammunition containers located in any other stressed skin component of the airplane.

Anotherfeature of the invention is to utilize 'al-stressed -skin structure Vof theaircraft, such as the top covering of a wing, to form the xed cover of an 'ammunition container.

yAlfurthe'r feature is -to provide removable Aloading means which 'can be readily associated with thefammunition container only at the time of loading, can be conveniently operated, on the ground, so as to vvgive a quick and accurate loading'and .can be quick-ly removed 'or stowed within the gun bay of the wing after loading so as notto interfere with the iflight of theairpl'ane andthe operation of the gun or cannon-feeding mechanism.

A further feature consists in -subdividing the container chordwi'se, by mea-ns of the spars of thewing, into as many longitudinal boxes as lthere are guns 'or cannon in each wing, each of these individual boxes being entirely closed, except for arelatively nariow entrance fslot provided -near the top of a wingrrib, Vwhiclfi forms a 4partition betweentheeontainer and the `gun bay'and being in'Y turn 'subdivided spanwise into substantially square compartments fby the vother ribs of said wing, slots being likewise provided in these ribs so -to form a' horizontal` loading passageway for the cartridge belt, extendingalong the entire length of each box immediately below the fixed cover -f'or'med by the-wing upper double skin.

Another feature resides-in providing sliding meansinsertable betweenthese slots and spanning the gaps therebetween to support the 'be1t along thisfeedway during the loading operation,

Still ,another feature consists in providing bafliesor deflectors under the'antiefriction rollers which are usually provided along this feedw'ay in order ,to minimize the'drag on the belt during feeding, theseibaliles preventing jamming of the belt undertlicse-rollers. v y

Other useful "features of thfe invention Wil1fbecome apparent fromthe kreading ofthe following description made fin `reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 `is a -fra'gmentary longitudinal section of the left wing of a vn'iilitary,aircrafty showing an 4emb,odinie'rit of the present invention in' conjunction with` Vthe several compartmentsloffasinglecontainer. Fig ure 2 is a similar view showing the vloading 'dei vice removed Aand one Abox of the ammunition container operatively connected to algun. M'Figurev 3 is a fragmentary side elevation taken .on the-lineS-B of Figure -1. l

In ,this drawing,` Va' conventional V.wing ,construction is shownconsisting,of a double, top Ycovering or skin a, any Anumber 'of' sparsi b and eitherso'lid or` trussribsxc at vany 'convenientfspacing .into this structure is built an ammunition container extending lspzu'iwise; along the wing and vsubdivided into a series of longitudinal y juxtaposed boxes by the s'pars b themselves, each of these boxes feeding one vof the `guns or cannon of this wing. Each of these'individual boxes V'isrentire'ly closedby the structural parts a, b, c andthe bottom skin d of the wing, except for a' relatively small 4horizon-tal slot iprovided near vthe 'top of the rib -c-II which rib constitutes 'a partitionbetween the ammunition Vcontainer-"and the gunbayje. The length of this slot lis only slightly greater than that of the cartridgejto 'be used'and the height is about one-half inch-` more than the diamet'ero'fthiscartridge; Each of these boxes is fin turn subdivided yspanwise into substantially square compartments 't0 bythe other ribs c of the Wing, slots being likewise provided inthese ribs under the cover a so las to 'forml'a horizontal loading feedway for the cartridge belt f.' This' feedway extends along the 'entire length of each individual box immediately below the fixed cover formed bythe lower skin ca ofthe'double topco'ver-ing a ofthe wing.

Astrong outstanding flange I2, projecting about one inch' into the gun baye, is made integral with lthe U channelil, bracing thetwo skins oi' the lcover' d above the rib "ci-I.. The lower surface of the bottom skin a-I forms ajsm'ooth.

' stiff and continuous insidetop surface, flush with the top of the aligned slots in the ribs c and c-I. This flush horizontal surfacek forms the top of the feedway previously mentioned, while the two spars b constituting the side walls of the box, form also the sides of the feedway. This feedway is normally bottomless, but at the time of theloading, a loading track I3, made of hinged sections, is inserted into the aligned slots so as to `bridge the gaps between the ribs c, c-I, and form the bottom of the feedway.

This insertion is facilitated by anti-friction rollers 14, carried on shafts I5, journalled in brackets I6l and forming part of the reinforcing structure of the ribs c, c-I, around the slots.

Besides this loading track I3, the removable loading equipment of the new ammunition container according to the present invention includes also a loading tool consisting of apair of star sprocket wheels I'I, tted to the calibre of the ammunition to be used and a crank and drive I8 positioned so as to be clear of surrounding interferences and to drive the star Wheels. The star Wheels I'I are mounted on a frame I9 made integral with a lateral clamp 20 for attaching the loading tool to the flange I2 above the entrance slot of the box to be loaded. A counter2l, provided with reset Wheel 22 calibrated to indicate the number of cartridges passing under the star wheels I1 can be incorporated in this tool assembly. After loading one box, this tool can either be shifted along the flange I2 to the next empty compartment or can be stowed in the gun bay e. v

The loading track I3 is an elongated platform made preferably of stainless steel and with downturned edges, on which the ammunition belt can be fed through the slots into the otherwise closed compartments I0. After loading, this track is Withdrawn, folded and likewise stowed in the gun bay e.

On each shaft I is mounted a second roller 23 of slightlylarger diameter than the rollers I 4 and the function of which will become apparent later. -If desired, above each compartment I0 inlthe double top covering a of the wing, there may be provided an emergency service opening, normally closable by a double stopper or plug 24 screwed or bolted to a. reinforced rim L25 of the covering a so as to be ush with both the outer skin of the Wing and the top a-I of the feedway.- However, the presence of this structure is not mandatory andV is suggested merely to meet possible contingencies. Y

Care is exercised in the design and construction of the structural parts ayb, c, d of the Wings, of theseplugs 24 and of the track |3,`so that projections and irregularities inside the box and along the feedway will be avoided. Y

It will be noted that the ammunition container of the present invention forms thus a rigid cellular structure and that the absenceof the usual hinged cover avoids surface irregularities in the path of the highspeedairi'low. v

In loading the box, the cover door (not shown) over the gun is first removed. This cover does not needv to :be larger than is required When'an ordinary ammunition container is used. vThen the usual feed chute i bridging the gap between a box feedway and the corresponding 'gun h is removed, and the loading track I3 is inserted through the successive slots in the ribs c-I, c until the end inside the box is half-way through the last compartment I0. A stop (not shown) is provided to stop the track at this point. The loading tool I9 is then clamped to the ledge I2 above the slot in the rib c--I in such a position that the star wheels I'I of this tool will drive the ammunition belt .f smoothly down the loading track I3. The box is now ready for loading.

The ammunition belt f, made up to the required length, is then brought to the wing and placed on top of the Wing on the opposite side of the gun h from the ammunition box. (For carrying the belt to the airplane and holding it while the box is loaded, a convenient carrier is provided.) One end of the belt f is laid on the end of the loading track I3 which. projects from the box feedway. The belt is then fed by hand into the star Wheels of the loading tool. The belt is then cranked into the box by means of this tool until resistance on the handle I8 indicates that the belt, after having traveled the full length of the loading track I3; fills the last compartment ofthe box.

The loading track is then slowly withdrawn by hand, keeping pressure with the other hand on the loading crank in order to prevent'backward motion ofthe belt. As soon as a suicient-gap has thus been created by this withdrawal between the end of the .track and the last slot, to Aallow for -free fall of the unsupportedpart ofthe belt into the next to last compartmentLthe belt will resume its fall into this latter, until this compartment is in turnlled. A A

This process is continued, withdrawing the track only as neededjto keep the belt moving into the box along the track and filling the compartments one after the other. Markings (not shown)l on the track to indicate -when its inner end reaches a slot and when it is half-way down a compartment are provided as an aid in efficient loading, and, if these marks are labeledwith the corresponding number of rounds, then reference to these numbers in conjunction with the counter 2| will constitute a convenient guide to determine the proper speed at which to-withdraw the loading track. Sections of the loading track may-beremoved as the track is withdrawn ifthis is found desirable for clearance. 'i

When the track I3 has been fully withdrawn and the box fully loaded, the loading tool I9 is removed and the feed chute i is replaced, the end of the ammunition belt extending from the box being slipped into the chute before bringing the latter into position. The belt is then'fed into the gun in the conventionalmanner, except that the-brackets I6 act, during this feeding operation, as bailles or deflectors to prevent a jam' ming of the belt under the rollers I4, 23.

Though the compartments 'I0' are normally entirely closed, except for the' narrow slots in the ribsvc, c-I formingthe feedway, inVv caseA of' emergency, each plug 24 may readily be unscrewed and removed to give access to the interior of any compartment when a link of the belt breaks within the compartment during the feeding operation. f'

26 vindicates projections at the entrance of the feedway to index the loading track. l

The structure herein shownfand described-is illustrative of only one practical application of the invention and it is to be understood'that various modifications may beresorted to Within' the scope of the appended'claims.

Having thus disclosed my invention and one mode of constructing andv using same, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In anY aircraft: stress-taking structural members thereof defining a container vclosed on all sides and having a series'of compartments provided withalignedaperturesin :itheir'side' walls,

:removable :means ipassing yfthro'ugh said apertures to 'bridge all fexcept .the .compartment Lait one end `of the series lan'diconstrncted .to'guidea chain -of VVarticles :into said compartments, Yand Vmeans positioned :adjacent lthe compartment. at the' iother end of said-.series for ffeedingfsaidichainof artr- :cles along said guiding means.

2. In an aircraft: structural .memberssconstituting :integral members of the aircraft-structure and defining a container closed on all sides and wherein some of said structural members constitute spaced partitions subdividing said container into a series of compartments, said container having aligned slots in one end thereof and in each interior partition, a removable guide extending through said slots to bridge the several compartments for directing a chain of articles initially into the compartment most remote from the slotted end of the container and successively to the remaining compartments upon positioning of the guide for cooperation therewith, and means adjacent the slotted container end for feeding the chain of articles'along said guide.

3. In an aircraft: longitudinal and transverse structural members constituting integral members of the aircraft-structure and defining a closed container wherein some of said transverse structural members constitute spaced partitions subdividing said container into a series of compartments, said container having aligned apertures in one end-wall and in each internal partition, a removable chute extending through said apertures to form a temporary feedway for a chain of articles over all compartments except the one most remote from the said slotted endwall of the container, means whereby the chute may be shifted successively from one compartment to the next adjacent compartment, and means for feeding said chain along said chute regardless of its position with respect to the several compartments.

4. In an aircraft: longitudinal and transverse structural members constituting integral members of the aircraft-structure and defining a closed container and wherein some of said structural members constitute the end walls of the container and spaced partitions subdividing said container into a series of compartments, said container having aligned apertures in one end wall and in each partition, a removable chute eX- tending through said apertures to form a temporary feedway for a chain of articles over and through all of said compartments except the one most remote from the slotted end wall, means whereby the chute may be shifted to successiveh7 cooperate with each compartment, and a rotary feeding wheel detachably secured adjacent the slotted end Wall of said container over a projecting end of said chute for driving said chain of articles along said chute and successively into said compartments, beginning with the compartment most remote from said wheel.

5. In an aircraft wing the combination with a container for a chain of articles defined by the spars and ribs of the wing structure, said ribs dividing the container into a series of compartments, of a feedway passing through said compartments and constructed and arranged to be removable therefrom step by step to temporarily bridge over said compartments and to successively guide said chain of articles into the respective compartments aforesaid.

6. The combination with a horizontal container jforfa chain of articles deiinedby .the sparsio'f `an aircraft wing .andidivided into vcompartments by the ribs sofl said '.win'g, ssaid :ribs 'h aving :slots :there- 'inan'dthe :container rand its compartments `being .inaccessible fattopybottom,- sides and ends except `forthe .slots in thelribs, .of 1a 'feedwa-y constructed .and-.arrangedto be'removab'le step-'by-step and passing 'through .saidxslots 'to :temporz-nily bridge said; compartments Yand successively guide said chainl of ar'tic'les towardfone kof ithe '.comparltments, and a rotary chain-feeder means located adjoining one end of said container and of said feedway for urging the said chain of articles along said feedway to successively fill the several compartments beginning with that most remote from said feeder means.

'7. The combination with an aircraft wing having longitudinal spars and a gun bay, of a series of spaced transverse partitions within the wing combining with the skin and spars thereof to create a series of closed compartments extending spanwise of the Wing from one side of the gun bay, all of said partitions with the exception of the one most remote from the gun bay being provided.with slots adjoining their upper edges, a guide removably inserted in said slots from a point adjacent the gun bay to terminate within the compartment most remote from the gun bay, means for impelling a succession of connected articles along said guide for delivery to the compartment most remote from the gun bay, and means for withdrawing the guide from under said connected articles in a series of steps to successively position its inner end in cooperation with the several compartments.

8. The combination with an aircraft wing having a gun bay and longitudinal spars, of spaced transverse ribs disposed between the top and bottom skins of the wing and combining with the spars to create a series of compartments situated spanwise of the Wing at one side of the gun bay, each of said ribs, excepting that most remote from the gun bay, havin-g a slot therein adjoining the top skin of the wing, said slots aligning longitudinally of the wing, a track inserted in said slots and extending through the several compartments and terminating within the compartment most remote from the gun bay and constructed and arranged for periodic Withdrawal to successively terminate in each compartment, and means adjoining said gun bay and the next adjacent compartment for impelling a succession of articles along said track for delivery into each compartment in which said track terminates.

9. The combination with an aircraft wing having a gun bay and longitudinal spars, of spaced transverse ribs disposed between the top and bottom skins of the wing and combining with the spars to create a series of compartments disposed at one side of the gun bay, each of said ribs, excepting that most remote from the gun bay, having a slot therein adjoining the top skin of the Wing, said slots aligning longitudinally of the wing, a track composed of a series of hinged sections inserted through said slots and the several compartments to terminate within the compartment most remote from the gun bay, said track being constructed and arranged to be removable to position its inner extremity successively within each of the several compartments, and means for impelling an interconnected series of articles along said track for delivery to the successive compartments within which said track terminates.

10. The combination with an aircraft wing having a gun bay and longitudinal spars, of spaced transverse ribs disposed between the top and bottom skins of the Wing and combining with the spars to create a series of compartments extending spanwise of the Wing at one side of the gun bay, each of said ribs, excepting that most remote from the gun bay, having a slot therein adjoining the top skin of the wing, said slots aligning longitudinally of the wing, a track composed of a series of hinged sections inserted through said slots 10 and the several compartments to terminate within the compartment most remote from the gun bay and movable to position the inner extremity thereof successively within each of the several compartments, and a star feed wheel removably mounted on the Wing `for impelling an ammunition belt along said track for delivery to the successive compartments wherein the end of the track is situated.

CROYDON H. A. HAR'I'LEY.

Images