US2610549A - Ammunition supply system for automatic firearms - Google Patents

Ammunition supply system for automatic firearms Download PDF

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US2610549A
US2610549A US682844A US68284446A US2610549A US 2610549 A US2610549 A US 2610549A US 682844 A US682844 A US 682844A US 68284446 A US68284446 A US 68284446A US 2610549 A US2610549 A US 2610549A
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ammunition
rounds
chute
ring
accumulator
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US682844A
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Fonseca Evelyn Cecil Mus Assis
Green Spencer
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Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd
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Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd
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    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41WEAPONS
    • F41AFUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
    • F41A9/00Feeding or loading of ammunition; Magazines; Guiding means for the extracting of cartridges
    • F41A9/29Feeding of belted ammunition

Definitions

  • the links of the belt maintain the long axis of the rounds of ammunition substantially parallel and as a consequence the belt may travel in one direction along a straight line path, the side of the chute (that is the portions thereof which lie adjacent the base and nose of the rounds) being disposed parallel to said path.
  • the belt Prior to the rounds of ammunition entering the firearm the belt is disintegrated to separate the rounds of ammunition from the connecting links,
  • a stripper mechanism being provided for this purpose. 7
  • the stripper mechanism is mounted on the gun so that the belt is disintegratedimme- .diately prior to the j rounds being fed into the breech.
  • the general field of View gisreduced for the gunner which is a particular .disadvantage when the firearm is mounted in tur- 1 rets such as for tanks, high-speed motor boats I and aircraft In such installations it'is' desirable I therefore to place the stripper mechanism at a distance from the firearm.”
  • This arrangement .requires that the chute along which the disintegrated ammunition passes be curved to conform .with the natural tendency of the ammunition ,to movein a curved path in view of the fact vthatthe cartridge cases are tapered, l. e. the long axis of the rounds are inclined to on another.
  • Ifhe present invention has for its object to provide means whereby separated rounds of ammu "ni tion (i. e. ammunition which is not connected together by links to form a belt) are maintained 1 with theirlong axis parallel to one another so that theroundswillmove alonga straight-line path.
  • an ammuvm n s pl svsi m er ati firearms of ;the kind; hereinbei'ore set forth is characterised in that the roundsof am'munitionytravel over at least apart of the path from the source of supply ;.to the firearm I in a separated condition and in that as the ammunitionis fed towards'thefirearm each roundis automaticallyengaged by a spacing memb er which is carried along therewith so that ithe'long-aiics bijth rounds are maintained sub- I lstantially parallel toone another asthe ammuni-. premieres-none the path referred to, said separatingi member. being automaticallydisengaged 9 Claims. (Cl. 8933) chine guns 'generally indicated. by; the reference ammunition supply system,
  • munition chutes.' I A single belt of ammunition passesimm e source of supply located within the fuselage-to 'the bottom of the turret and. enteringfithe' latter 2 from the round prior to the latter entering gun.
  • the number of separating members is less than the number of rounds with which they are to be used and said separating members travel from their position of engagement with the rounds to their position of disengagement thereof and thence back to their position of engagement in a closed circuit, the separating members being repeatedly used.
  • Figure '11s a diagrammatic view showing the the Figure 2 is a schematic detail of the system with some cartridges shown in section,
  • Figure 3 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale on the line 33 of Figure l and showing' the specing members being applied to the rounds of ammunition, 1 .L
  • Figure 4 is a'section on the'line 4+4 o'fi Figure 1 showing a round of ammunition with'a spacing 7 member thereon travelling within thechutetowards a'firearm, H
  • Figure 5 is a section on the line5--'5 of' Figure 1 showing a round of ammunition with a spacing Jmember and another spacing member being returnecl to its position of engagement with the Figure 6 is a sectional view, to an enlarged scale, on the 1ine ti -f Figure 8 showing a detailof Figure '7 is a sectional viewon the line T-Tof Figure 1' showing the means which is provided to remove the spacing members from the roun'ds the rounds being fed.
  • a view in the direction oifarrow'fl of Figure 9 is a detail of a part of one of-the am passes; upwardly towards a'pair oi c'annon manumper it n u e J h ammu on.
  • The. ammunition belt is. disintegrated. in. the 'fstrippen-.,mech.anism. and. the separated. rounds 2 .om' the; single belt? are. fed'by said mechanism to'thefpai'r. of. machine guns, the arrangement Ib'eingTthat.separated rounds. from the. stripper j: mechanism Ware, "delivered. into a'passageway l"3( Figure'I) which terminates .ata fork l'4,,,each branch of which leads into an accumulator chute Each accumulator chute is. pivotallymounted Q-a'sat 'lfifand'isfconnectedwith. saidfork by a telescopiclarm l1 (see. Figure 9);.
  • Each accumul'atorl. chute is urgedi'by anv associated'spring 23 Cw 11)., soj that the telescopic portion is ofminimum "length”andtheiarrangement is such that when rpundshoi ammunition; are. fed into the chutes a "certainnumber of them accumulate th'erein, the v telescopic,arm of thejchute' l1 being extended'for this purpose.”
  • Thegright-handfichute IBf'shown in Figure. l. isin th position invjwhich the telescopic "arm is" ofljminimumv length. and no rounds are ac- I cumulatedfin" the" chute: 1,5 whilst the left-hand chute I"has*been shown in theposition in .which.
  • the present 4 invention generally proposes that; the. rounds of ammunition shall be maintained parallel to one 5 another as they travel from the stripper mechanism 1 2 to each machine gun It). This is achieved by placing a ring 19 (see Figure 4) on thenose of each projectile 20 prior to the belt passing intothe stripper mechanism I2, the ring 0-. having. a diameter substantially equal to that oil theibasetoi the: round. Immediately prior to each: rouncli of ammunition being fed into the gunbreech the ring 19 is removed and-returned 1711391. convenient point for re-use with the s'uc ceeding rounds of ammunition which are being fed towards-the -firearms.
  • Each ring accumulator chute 24 is' of'similar construction tothe 'amm-unition' accumulator chutes I 5: v That'iseach ring-accumulator ispw- 4Q otally mounted at 26 so that itsho'rizr'mta-l arm 21' is movable" towards and away from the ring forki2 2i'
  • the horizontal arm l1 which isconnectedtothe form Z'ZiiS te-Iescopic (being ofsimilar construction tothe arrangement-oi Figure-9) to provide a*continucus* channel for; thef'rings "irrespective of the positionpf the ring 'acc'umulator chute relative-to theiringi'forki
  • Each ri'n g accumulator chute' ' is spring-urged so that the length of the telescopic arm 2-1" is a minimum and as a consequencethe rings lying within 3
  • sprocket 28 the ammunition sprocket
  • the teeth of which are adapted to engage the rounds of ammunition 25 (see Figuresl and 2) as they are fed into eachaccumulator.
  • sprockets '28 will readily engage with the rounds of ammunition and willbe rotated by the ammunition as the latter is fed towards the guns.
  • a sprocket 29 (the ring sprocket) is associated with each branch of the ring fork 22 the teeth of said sprocket engaging with the rings as they pass from the ring accumulators 24 into the ring passageway 2 I.
  • the ammunition sprocket 28 and the ring sprocket 29 are associated with each branch of the forks l4 and22 and are connected together through gearing generally indicated by the reference numeral 30 ( Figure 2) so that as each round of ammunition passes into an ammunition accumulator chute the associated ammunition sprocket 28 is rotated to drive the ring sprocket .29 and permitone of the rings l9 in the corresponding ring accumulator chute 24 to passinto the ring passageway 2 I. It will be clear therefore that the rings l9 from the two ring accumulator chutes 24are permitted to pass into thering passageway 21 at the same rate and in the same order as the rounds of ammunition 2e are fed into the associated ammunition accumulator chutes l5. 7
  • is connected with the turret chute ll through the agency of an acchute H is taken up.
  • Thislaccumulaton chute will be referred to hereinafteras the ring passage accumulator.
  • is'attached to the side wall of the turret chute! l which lies adjacent the projectiles of the ammunition belt and communicates with the chute by an opening in said side wall-see Figure 3.
  • merges into theturret chute ll adjacent saidopening so that as the rings l9 travel out of the accumulator they enter the chute ll through said opening in a direction transversely of the chute, that is, with a movement towards theprojectiles of the ammunition belt.
  • guide strip 32 is such as to-leave the central hole of the rings exposed ( Figure 4). In this way the rings [9 are brought into engagement with the nose of the projectiles so that each of the latter passes through the central hole of one ring. It is to be understood that the guide strip 32 is provided on both sides of the turret chute H: as is shown in Figure 4 and that said guide strip extends over the length of the turret chute I l which lies between the point of admission of the ring passageway 21 to the chute and the entry to the stripper mechanism l2.
  • a spacing device 36 which comprises a pairof discs v33 of polygonal outline (see Figure 6).
  • An endless belt 34 passes around the pair of discs 33, the belt being provided with a plurality of fingers 35 suitably shaped so that each of said fingers engages one ring as it is delivered into theturret chute II from the ring passage accumulator 31..
  • the fingers 35 are arranged so that they will spacethe rings apart to the same extent as the distance between adjacent rounds of belted ammunition.
  • the discs 33 and endless belt 34 carrying. the fingers 35 are disposed to ensure that the ring We will be in full engagement with the projectile of one round, the next ring l9b will be in partial engagement therewith and the third ring
  • 9c will not yet have engaged its associated projectile.
  • the endless belt is rotated by the belt of ammunition through the agency of the rings Illa, lab as the ammunition is drawn along the turret chute ll towards the stripper l2, i
  • The'rings are removed from the projectiles immediately prior to the rounds of ammunition entering the gun.
  • thering adit 25 is attached to the side wall of the. ammunition adit iii which lies adjacent the projectiles of the ammunition belt and communication between the pair of adits is permitted by an opening j in said side wall.
  • the ring adit 25 branches away from the-ammunition adit 8 at said opening and a guide strip 37 is provided adjacent said opening to engage the ringsand direct them from the ammunition adit l 8 through the opening and into the ring adit 25, the arrangement being that as the rounds of ammunition pass towards the gun the guide strip 3!
  • a ramp 38 is providedto engage the inclined shoulder 39 onthe cartridge case of the rounds of ammunition; lhe ramp 38 also serves to support the rounds of ammunition so thatthey are maintainedin spacedrelationshipiand are therefore, easily fed "into the gun.
  • a lip may be provided to engage the extraction groove 40 in the base of the cartridge cases.
  • ammunition supply system for anautomatimfireann comprising a stripper :mechanism z-ndapted to :be disposed :at :a distance ziromialfirecrarmiforreceivingzaibelttoi annnunition;and.sepa- :rating :the links connecting the "rounds in the heltyia 'chutexcommunicated with the stripper mechanism for. ,:r.eceiv.ing "the separated :rounds tandzzed ptedito be connectedto a firearm to in- Qtmduce therounds in successive fashion. into .Lthe
  • Anammunitionsupplysystem for an automaticfirearm comprising a stripper mechanism ndaptdto be disposed at a distance irom'a fire- :varm ifori receiving a belt of ammunition and (separating the links connectingithe rounds inthe belt, a chute communicated with the stripper mechanism for receiving the separated rounds and adapted-to beconnected toa firearmpto in- :troduce the roundsin'successive fashion into the "firearm, aplurality of.
  • spacer members means for -feeding the spacer members into the stripper mechanism, and for applying a spacer member to each round so that the rounds pass through the chute in parallel relationship, means for removing the members from the rounds immediately .priorto the-point i introduction of the rounds to the firearm and a chute for conveying the :members so removed back to the means for introducing them into the stripper mechanism.
  • gearing drivingly connects the sprockets together i so thatroneg-member and one round with a :mem-
  • ammunition :supply system for automatic firearms comprising a stripper mechanism adapted'to be remotely spaced from'the firearms .andjhavingxan inlet'iorreceiving a belt crammunition. said mechanism drawing the belt towardsthefirearms and separating the linkscon- .4o-n ctin therounds together, a. chute communicated with the stripper mechanism for receiving the separate. rounds, telescopic branches on-said chute and adapted to be connected to the firearms.
  • spring 'means normally retaining the branches in contracted position, a plurality of spacing members, each adapted to engage one of the rounds within -;the stripping mechanism, means foralienin themembers'with the rounds and feed n them onto the rounder-means ferremoving the members from the roundsprior to the .entranceoi the mu dsinto the-firearms, .a rertnrnxchn eiforjthe removed members connected tothei me n f r .i'e ding. the.
  • nnrnnnnciisjcrren Theiollowing references are of record in the vfile pft tiiistpatent: I i V j ,”nm'm is'rATEs .PAtmNTs Numberg mnc 7 :Date 1,332,0 0-

Description

septhlfi, 19 52 2,610,549
EVELYN cacu. MUSCHAMP D'ASSIS FONSECA ETAL AMMUNITION SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed July 11, 194a 4 Shee ts-Sheec 1 l/V Vf/V 7'02 5 5 GM 0145.575 FO/VJECA Spin/6'52 6255M ATTORNEYS 6A w m H N o, M m .6 N0 24m a /FG m mm W 4 5a d 0PM M a w E X B YN CECIL MUSCHAMP D'ASSIS FQNSECA AMMUNITION SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Sept. 16, 1952 EVEL Flled July 11 1946 Sept. 16, 1952 2,610,549
EVELYN czcn. MUSCHAMP D'ASSIS FONSECA EIAL AMMUNITION SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed July 11, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 ATTORNEYS 4 Sept. 16, 1952 2,610,549
EVELYN CECIL MUSCHAMP D'ASSIS FONSECA ErAL AMMUNITION SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed July 11, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS E. C. M. D'ASSIS FONSECA SPENCER GREEN yMww 7Z ATTYS' Patented Sept. 16, 1952 AMMUNITION SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Evelyn Cecil Muschamp dAssis Fonseca and Spencer Green, Bristol, England, assignors to The Bristol Aeroplane Company Limited, Bristol, England, a British company Application July 11, 1946, Serial No. 682,844 In Great Britain March 6, 1945 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires March 6, 1965 This invention concerns improvements in or relating to ammunition supply systems forautomatic firearms of the kind in which the ammunition is disposed remotely of the firearm.
To enable ammunition to pass from the source of supply to the firearm it is customary to form the ammunition into a belt which is drawn towards the firearm during operation of the latter.
If the ammunition belt is drawn along a chute to the firearm the links of the belt maintain the long axis of the rounds of ammunition substantially parallel and as a consequence the belt may travel in one direction along a straight line path, the side of the chute (that is the portions thereof which lie adjacent the base and nose of the rounds) being disposed parallel to said path.
Prior to the rounds of ammunition entering the firearm the belt is disintegrated to separate the rounds of ammunition from the connecting links,
: a stripper mechanism being provided for this purpose. 7 Usually the stripper mechanism is mounted on the gun so that the belt is disintegratedimme- .diately prior to the j rounds being fed into the breech. When solocated the general field of View gisreduced for the gunner which is a particular .disadvantage when the firearm is mounted in tur- 1 rets such as for tanks, high-speed motor boats I and aircraft In such installations it'is' desirable I therefore to place the stripper mechanism at a distance from the firearm." This arrangement .requires that the chute along which the disintegrated ammunition passes be curved to conform .with the natural tendency of the ammunition ,to movein a curved path in view of the fact vthatthe cartridge cases are tapered, l. e. the long axis of the rounds are inclined to on another.
Ifhe present invention has for its object to provide means whereby separated rounds of ammu "ni tion (i. e. ammunition which is not connected together by links to form a belt) are maintained 1 with theirlong axis parallel to one another so that theroundswillmove alonga straight-line path.
According-to "the present invention an ammuvm n s pl svsi m er ati firearms of ;the kind; hereinbei'ore set forth is characterised in that the roundsof am'munitionytravel over at least apart of the path from the source of supply ;.to the firearm I in a separated condition and in that as the ammunitionis fed towards'thefirearm each roundis automaticallyengaged by a spacing memb er which is carried along therewith so that ithe'long-aiics bijth rounds are maintained sub- I lstantially parallel toone another asthe ammuni-. premieres-none the path referred to, said separatingi member. being automaticallydisengaged 9 Claims. (Cl. 8933) chine guns 'generally indicated. by; the reference ammunition supply system,
' rounds,
I part of thesiipply system, 7
- immediately prior to firearm.
Figure 1, and
munition chutes.' I A single belt of ammunition passesimm e source of supply located within the fuselage-to 'the bottom of the turret and. enteringfithe' latter 2 from the round prior to the latter entering gun.
Preferably the number of separating members is less than the number of rounds with which they are to be used and said separating members travel from their position of engagement with the rounds to their position of disengagement thereof and thence back to their position of engagement in a closed circuit, the separating members being repeatedly used. y
A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, as applied to an ammunition supply system'jior use in conjunction with a gun turret which is located on the upper surface of the fuselageof an aircraft. The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings whereof,"
Figure '11s a diagrammatic view showing the the Figure 2 is a schematic detail of the system with some cartridges shown in section,
Figure 3 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale on the line 33 of Figure l and showing' the specing members being applied to the rounds of ammunition, 1 .L
Figure 4 is a'section on the'line 4+4 o'fiFigure 1 showing a round of ammunition with'a spacing 7 member thereon travelling within thechutetowards a'firearm, H
Figure 5 is a section on the line5--'5 of'Figure 1 showing a round of ammunition with a spacing Jmember and another spacing member being returnecl to its position of engagement with the Figure 6 is a sectional view, to an enlarged scale, on the 1ine ti -f Figure 8 showing a detailof Figure '7 is a sectional viewon the line T-Tof Figure 1' showing the means which is provided to remove the spacing members from the roun'ds the rounds being fed. into the Figure Sis a view in the direction oifarrow'fl of Figure 9 is a detail of a part of one of-the am passes; upwardly towards a'pair oi c'annon manumper it n u e J h ammu on. belt passes from the source f a chute which is anchored atra point b turret andi on the axis of I c et's? s p lyv t the tu t-b l closed in Patent 2,481,"i26;-.v Means-are, provided whereby the supply chute and hence the:.ammu-' nition belt therein is permitted to be twisted by the turret about its anchorage from a. datumzposition through a complete circle whereupon. itis automatically untwisted and brought back to the datum position. The source of ammunition-sum ply, the supply chute, the anchorage for thel atter and the means for automatically untwistin the supply chute are not shown in the accompanying drawings as these form no part of the *presentinvention:
The. ammunition belt is. disintegrated. in. the 'fstrippen-.,mech.anism. and. the separated. rounds 2 .om' the; single belt? are. fed'by said mechanism to'thefpai'r. of. machine guns, the arrangement Ib'eingTthat.separated rounds. from the. stripper j: mechanism Ware, "delivered. into a'passageway l"3(Figure'I) which terminates .ata fork l'4,,,each branch of which leads into an accumulator chute Each accumulator chute is. pivotallymounted Q-a'sat 'lfifand'isfconnectedwith. saidfork by a telescopiclarm l1 (see. Figure 9);. Each accumul'atorl. chute is urgedi'by anv associated'spring 23 Cw 11)., soj that the telescopic portion is ofminimum "length"andtheiarrangement is such that when rpundshoi ammunition; are. fed into the chutes a "certainnumber of them accumulate th'erein, the v telescopic,arm of thejchute' l1 being extended'for this purpose." Thegright-handfichute IBf'shown in Figure. l. isin th position invjwhich the telescopic "arm is" ofljminimumv length. and no rounds are ac- I cumulatedfin" the" chute: 1,5 whilst the left-hand chute I"has*been shown in theposition in .which.
- "ratearrouhds are fed" along the passageway 13 fsucbes'siva rounds automatically pass alternately "intd'the pair ofaccumulator chutes l5." Inorder to regulate. the passage of the rounds of ammuni- .of, the machine, guns is out ofjcornmission there disposedfat, tuej'roikilatand. associated. with each. accumulator chute I 5] a deflector plate.
.1 t .-v'villbeclearirom .what. has been. said. above that separated rounds of ammunition arefed rennet-the p s ewa .13- tn he ee .1' -'-'P each accumulator chute I5 and along -:its associated; adit; Itv to one of the-machineguns I0.;-
With the disintegration of the ammunitionibelt,
' the lgng axis of eachround of ammunition is snot-longer.- maintained generally parallel to, one iianotheriiand'. the; rounds-have a natural tendency Ii iancnoredito afiiced' support. 40,..Figure.
' witlijsuchf'a' construction when the sepa-- and adits is undesirable in view of the compound curvatures which are necessary-and the present 4 invention generally proposes that; the. rounds of ammunition shall be maintained parallel to one 5 another as they travel from the stripper mechanism 1 2 to each machine gun It). This is achieved by placing a ring 19 (see Figure 4) on thenose of each projectile 20 prior to the belt passing intothe stripper mechanism I2, the ring 0-. having. a diameter substantially equal to that oil theibasetoi the: round. Immediately prior to each: rouncli of ammunition being fed into the gunbreech the ring 19 is removed and-returned 1711391. convenient point for re-use with the s'uc ceeding rounds of ammunition which are being fed towards-the -firearms.
The following description of the means by which. aring is placed on and removed from each projectile is made with-reference to the ammunition supply for one machine gun and it is to be understood that" similarmeans is also provided for the other gun; h 1 "j A ringflchutergenerally'indicatedby'therefterence numeral; 2-1 in Figure I is provided which extends-froma point ahead of theadmission side of the-stripper-mechani'sm' IT to afork lz which branches into a pair' of accumulator chutes 24 each of which is connected with an adi-t 25 which extends towards'theassociated gun H]. In" order to prevent, confusion betweenthe passageway,
accumulator chutes and adits for" theammunitiOn' andfor'the: ringsthe" formefwill be referred to' as the ammunition passagewam; ammunition accumulator chutes'and ammunition adit sitvhilst the latter" will be. referred to a'sthe ring passageway; ring accumulator'chutesand 'ring' aditsr- 5 Each ring accumulator chute 24 is' of'similar construction tothe 'amm-unition' accumulator chutes I 5: v That'iseach ring-accumulator ispw- 4Q otally mounted at 26 so that itsho'rizr'mta-l arm 21' is movable" towards and away from the ring forki2 2i' The horizontal arm l1 which isconnectedtothe form Z'ZiiS te-Iescopic (being ofsimilar construction tothe arrangement-oi Figure-9) to provide a*continucus* channel for; thef'rings "irrespective of the positionpf the ring 'acc'umulator chute relative-to theiringi'forki Each ri'n g accumulator chute' 'is spring-urged so that the length of the telescopic arm 2-1" is a minimum and as a consequencethe rings lying within 3 the 'ring accumulator chute are u'rged along-said chute; I 4 The-ringsf9 are'placedon'the noseoftheproj'ectil'es priorito-the rounds of ammunitiomentering the stripper-mechanism l2, (as'willjbe hereinafter? described) and the rounds with" their "rings' are fedalongi't-he ammuntion passageway intothe ammunition accumulator chutesand thus tothe"- ammunition adit'saiid the" Since each projectile carries one of the the rounds'of-ammun ition id will -be mai-ntained paraller to oneanother-as they passj from -the to movelsin accurved path as mentionediabovei -As Q COnSECiUGITCQthG passageway-t3; ammunitionv correspondammunition are fed. in one-direction through their associated passageway, accumulator and adit, towardsthe gun the rings removed from the projectilesof said ammunition are fed along the ring adit, accumulator and passageway in the opposite direction towards the turret chute l Associated with each branch of the ammunition fork 22 is a sprocket 28 (the ammunition sprocket) the teeth of which are adapted to engage the rounds of ammunition 25 (see Figuresl and 2) as they are fed into eachaccumulator.
'Since the rounds of ammunition as'they pass through each branch of the fork M are spaced apart by. a constant amount as mentioned above,
7 the sprockets '28 will readily engage with the rounds of ammunition and willbe rotated by the ammunition as the latter is fed towards the guns. Similarly a sprocket 29 (the ring sprocket) is associated with each branch of the ring fork 22 the teeth of said sprocket engaging with the rings as they pass from the ring accumulators 24 into the ring passageway 2 I. The ammunition sprocket 28 and the ring sprocket 29 are associated with each branch of the forks l4 and22 and are connected together through gearing generally indicated by the reference numeral 30 (Figure 2) so that as each round of ammunition passes into an ammunition accumulator chute the associated ammunition sprocket 28 is rotated to drive the ring sprocket .29 and permitone of the rings l9 in the corresponding ring accumulator chute 24 to passinto the ring passageway 2 I. It will be clear therefore that the rings l9 from the two ring accumulator chutes 24are permitted to pass into thering passageway 21 at the same rate and in the same order as the rounds of ammunition 2e are fed into the associated ammunition accumulator chutes l5. 7
Th ring passageway 2| is connected with the turret chute ll through the agency of an acchute H is taken up. Thislaccumulaton chute will be referred to hereinafteras the ring passage accumulator. I
"The ring passage accumulator 3| is'attached to the side wall of the turret chute! l which lies adjacent the projectiles of the ammunition belt and communicates with the chute by an opening in said side wall-see Figure 3. The ringpa'ssage'accumulator 3| merges into theturret chute ll adjacent saidopening so that as the rings l9 travel out of the accumulator they enter the chute ll through said opening in a direction transversely of the chute, that is, with a movement towards theprojectiles of the ammunition belt. To ensure that when the rings reach said 2 opening they do not fall into the turret chute II strip 32 is provided to engage the face of the rings which is directed towards the projectiles] The i. guide strip 32 is such as to-leave the central hole of the rings exposed (Figure 4). In this way the rings [9 are brought into engagement with the nose of the projectiles so that each of the latter passes through the central hole of one ring. It is to be understood that the guide strip 32 is provided on both sides of the turret chute H: as is shown in Figure 4 and that said guide strip extends over the length of the turret chute I l which lies between the point of admission of the ring passageway 21 to the chute and the entry to the stripper mechanism l2.
The rings in the ring passage accumulator 3| are maintained in contact with each other since said accumulator is spring-urged to assume its contracted position whilst the projectiles of-the ammunition belt are spaced apart to a greater extent than said rings by the links which-connect the rounds together. With a view to spacing the rings so that one is brought into proper alignment with each round of ammunition as'the rings pass from the ring passage accumulator 3| into the turret chute H as described with reference to Figure 3, there is provided a spacing device 36 which comprises a pairof discs v33 of polygonal outline (see Figure 6).. An endless belt 34 passes around the pair of discs 33, the belt being provided with a plurality of fingers 35 suitably shaped so that each of said fingers engages one ring as it is delivered into theturret chute II from the ring passage accumulator 31.. The fingers 35 are arranged so that they will spacethe rings apart to the same extent as the distance between adjacent rounds of belted ammunition. The discs 33 and endless belt 34 carrying. the fingers 35 are disposed to ensure that the ring We will be in full engagement with the projectile of one round, the next ring l9b will be in partial engagement therewith and the third ring |9c will not yet have engaged its associated projectile. The endless belt is rotated by the belt of ammunition through the agency of the rings Illa, lab as the ammunition is drawn along the turret chute ll towards the stripper l2, i
Since the fingers 35 space the rings I9 to the same extent as the rounds of ammunition in the belt and are driven by the latter it follows that each ring as it ismoved inwardly'from the accumulator 3| to chute H is brought accurately into alignment with one of the projectiles.
The'rings are removed from the projectiles immediately prior to the rounds of ammunition entering the gun. To this end thering adit 25 is attached to the side wall of the. ammunition adit iii which lies adjacent the projectiles of the ammunition belt and communication between the pair of adits is permitted by an opening j in said side wall. The ring adit 25 branches away from the-ammunition adit 8 at said opening and a guide strip 37 is provided adjacent said opening to engage the ringsand direct them from the ammunition adit l 8 through the opening and into the ring adit 25, the arrangement being that as the rounds of ammunition pass towards the gun the guide strip 3! draws the rings jofi the noseof the projectiles and when this operation is completed directs them into-the ring adit In order to prevent the rounds of ammunition 25 moving axially towards the inclined wall convnecting the edits 25 and i8. during removal of the rings, a ramp 38 is providedto engage the inclined shoulder 39 onthe cartridge case of the rounds of ammunition; lhe ramp 38 also serves to support the rounds of ammunition so thatthey are maintainedin spacedrelationshipiand are therefore, easily fed "into the gun. Instead of a ramp 33 a lip may be provided to engage the extraction groove 40 in the base of the cartridge cases.
The rings which have been drawn oil? the noses of the projectiles as described above pass along tithe ring Jadit ZSiand no. backato :the :ring: passage accumulator =3]? :in' ztherimanner indicated... ic-It willibe appaizentjherefore that-a limitedznumber :of';rings.. are :in, continuous use to :serve .a yery emuchzlarser number. of :rounds. -of ammunition.
We claim: V I
:1; ammunition supply system for anautomatimfireann comprising a stripper :mechanism z-ndapted to :be disposed :at :a distance ziromialfirecrarmiforreceivingzaibelttoi annnunition;and.sepa- :rating :the links connecting the "rounds in the heltyia 'chutexcommunicated with the stripper mechanism for. ,:r.eceiv.ing "the separated :rounds tandzzed ptedito be connectedto a firearm to in- Qtmduce therounds in successive fashion. into .Lthe
i. flrearmraplurality :of SPaCBIJmGmbEIS, 11183 1 8101 -.introducing.theispacer members into thestripper .:mechanism.: and for-applying a spacer member to "reach around so'thatrthe rounds passathrough the chute in:parallel relationship, means for remov- :ing :the members from the rounds immediately "prior to ;the Vpointwof. introduction of the rounds to-the firearmand'means'for conveyingthe memberszso removedback- .tothemeans for introducing :them .into the. stripper mechanism. 2; Anammunitionsupplysystem for an automaticfirearm comprisinga stripper mechanism ndaptedto be disposed at a distance irom'a fire- :varm ifori receiving a belt of ammunition and (separating the links connectingithe rounds inthe belt, a chute communicated with the stripper mechanism for receiving the separated rounds and adapted-to beconnected toa firearmpto in- :troduce the roundsin'successive fashion into the "firearm, aplurality of. spacer members, means for -feeding the spacer members into the stripper mechanism, and for applying a spacer member to each round so that the rounds pass through the chute in parallel relationship, means for removing the members from the rounds immediately .priorto the-point i introduction of the rounds to the firearm and a chute for conveying the :members so removed back to the means for introducing them into the stripper mechanism.
.3. The combination of claim 2, "whereinvsaid means for feeding said-members comprises a'telescopic chute, resilient means normally retaining said chute in a contracted position so that the members are forced against one another, said chute being communicated with the stripper .mechanism. y I
4'. The combination of claim '2, wherein: said members are in ring form and engage concentrically-onthe noses of the rounds, and said feeding and applying means for the members "includes.
' achute communicated withthe stripper-mechafnism and guide means for moving the members transversely of the stripper mechanism and'longitudinally of the rounds.
The combination of claim 4, including 53 iiandi-ipassing separate rounds towards. iflrearm, .Faehute communicated with the, strippertmecha- 'inism receiving, the separate .rounds and adapted to be conhectedtothefirearm forintroducing the ,5 rounds .into :the firearm, a plurality f, spacer members; :ac'spacing mechanism connected to the stripping mechanism. and driven by the :moving zammunition belt, said members being moved in spaced stashion :by the spacing mechanism: and 10 .aligned. with themunds to which they aretto be :applied, guide :means connecting the spacing mechanism to =the in1et of. the stripper mechanism :and arranged to .introducethe members :intoithentripper mechanism-so that the members are-engaged on one .of the ends of. the :rounds, .whereby-thexounds are'maintained in the chute .rin'parallel-relationship, meansjor-removing said -:members :from the .rounds immediately prior to the-entrance :of itheirounds into the firearm and 320.43,, chute receiving the members as they "are .re-
:movedzfor conveying the members back to :the
.spacing'mechanism. V
. ."Z. .The combination of. :claim 6, wherein-said .last chute includesatelescopic section'which is spring-urged to contract so that the spacing niembersathereinznre forced against one-another.
'8. The, ceombination of claim v6, wherein :a
sprocket-isxdisposed-in the chute for'the rounds and a sprocket is disposedin the chute-returning the :members :to the spacing "mechanism, and
gearing drivingly connects the sprockets together i so thatroneg-member and one round with a :mem-
ber thereon passesiin the chutes at a time.
ammunition :supply system for automatic firearms comprising a stripper mechanism adapted'to be remotely spaced from'the firearms .andjhavingxan inlet'iorreceiving a belt crammunition. said mechanism drawing the belt towardsthefirearms and separating the linkscon- .4o-n ctin therounds together, a. chute communicated with the stripper mechanism for receiving the separate. rounds, telescopic branches on-said chute and adapted to be connected to the firearms. spring 'means normally retaining the branches in contracted position, a plurality of spacing members, each adapted to engage one of the rounds within -;the stripping mechanism, means foralienin themembers'with the rounds and feed n them onto the rounder-means ferremoving the members from the roundsprior to the .entranceoi the mu dsinto the-firearms, .a rertnrnxchn eiforjthe removed members connected tothei me n f r .i'e ding. the. members onto the round, telescopic brancheswon :said'rreturnchute communicated withthejmeans for rem ving the mem ersfrom theroundsand'sprine means re-' taming said last branches-in e 'escoped position.
EVELYN e 5 .o A-ssisnonsncs. e r
, nnrnnnnciisjcrren Theiollowing references are of record in the vfile pft tiiistpatent: I i V j ,"nm'm is'rATEs .PAtmNTs Numberg mnc 7 :Date 1,332,0 0-
"Pacilli. Feb.'24, 1.920 1,907,3, 12 17 Carroll l. May .2, 19.33 2,3 6,395 :Hall ,i...n,.c.. we Ja -2.1 9
US682844A 1945-03-06 1946-07-11 Ammunition supply system for automatic firearms Expired - Lifetime US2610549A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB5617/45A GB624355A (en) 1945-03-06 1945-03-06 Improvements in or relating to apparatus for supplying ammunition to automatic firearms

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10900725B2 (en) * 2016-11-15 2021-01-26 Nexter Systems Belt ammunition feeding device for dual-feed automatic weapon

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3211416C2 (en) * 1982-03-27 1985-10-17 Rheinmetall GmbH, 4000 Düsseldorf Ammunition feeder with at least one star wheel shaft for a double barrel weapon
FR2715463B1 (en) * 1994-01-21 1996-04-05 Giat Ind Sa Ammunition supply system for a medium caliber firearm.

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1332060A (en) * 1918-10-15 1920-02-24 Pacilli Leonardo Recoll-operated ordnance
US1907342A (en) * 1931-10-27 1933-05-02 William H Capell Aircraft machine gun installation
US2366395A (en) * 1941-01-21 1945-01-02 Molins Machine Co Ltd Cartridge feeding mechanism for automatic guns

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1332060A (en) * 1918-10-15 1920-02-24 Pacilli Leonardo Recoll-operated ordnance
US1907342A (en) * 1931-10-27 1933-05-02 William H Capell Aircraft machine gun installation
US2366395A (en) * 1941-01-21 1945-01-02 Molins Machine Co Ltd Cartridge feeding mechanism for automatic guns

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10900725B2 (en) * 2016-11-15 2021-01-26 Nexter Systems Belt ammunition feeding device for dual-feed automatic weapon

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR933286A (en) 1948-04-15
GB624355A (en) 1949-06-07

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