US3437005A - Flexible article conveyor for high speed applications - Google Patents

Description

April 8, 1969 J. M. TRUMPER FLEXIBLE ARTICLE CONVEYOR FOR HIGH SPEED APPLICATIONS Sheet of 5 Filed May 25. 1967 INVENTORI JAY M. TRUMPER,

ATTORNEY.

April 8, 1969 J. M. TRUMPER FLEXIBLE ARTICLE CONVEYOR FOR HIGH SPEED APPLICATIONS Sheet 2 of Filed May 25. 1967 INVENTORZ JAY M. TRUMPER,

BY MC.

HIS ATTORNEY.

April 8, 1969 J. M. TRUMPER FLEXIBLE ARTICLE CONVEYOR FOR HIGH SPEED APPLICATIONS Filed May 25, 1967 INVENTORZ JAY M. TRUMPER HIS ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,437,005 FLEXIBLE ARTICLE CONVEYOR FOR HIGH SPEED APPLICATIONS Jay M. Trumper, Burlington, Vt, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed May 25, 1967, Ser. No. 641,252 Int. Cl. F41d 9/06 US. CI. 89-33 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A flexible conveyor mechanism capable of transferring ammunition rounds between a high rate of fire gun, such as a modern Gatling-gun and an ammunition storage device movable relative thereto, under adverse conditions including twisting, fanning or bending of the conveyor as the result of such relative movement. The conveyor includes an outer guide and an inner helical element gripping and delivering cartridges when powered through means which may be geared to the gun power source.

Background of the invention The invention has application to the field of ordnance and armaments. In particular, it concerns ammunition handling and improvements to a conveyor mechanism for use where flexibility, a high degree of reliability, and rapid delivery is important, that is to say, where ammunition is to be transported between a large capacity, fixedlymounted ammunition container and a relatively movable, high rate of fire automatic gun.

Modern aircraft, particularly those utilized in air-toground support missions typical of todays guerilla warfare combat conditions, require guns having a very high rate of fire since time on target is very short. Several modern gun designs operating on the high rate of fire Gatling-gun principle are currently in the military arsenal for use on ground support aircraft. Presently these guns, in the 20 mm. and 7.62 mm. size, have firing rates exceeding 6,000 shots per minute (spin). The guns may be mounted in pods carried beneath the wings of fighterbomber aircraft, or they may be mounted in a fixed position within the aircraft to fire forward, to the side, or downward. They may also be mounted in flexible turrets so as to provide a wider field of fire.

Such guns obviously require a relatively large ammunition supply. Accordingly, a so-called Linkless Feed System" (LFS) has been developed wherein the ammunition is contained in a large cylindrical housing or drum having a center shaft on which is supported a series of closely spaced parallel walls arranged in a helical configuration from one end of the drum to the other. Live cartridges are placed between the walls with the bullet nose pointing radially inwardly toward the center shaft, the primer or extractor rim ends being captured in spaced, parallel rails running axially of the drum. In this manner, as the shaft turns the cartridges are driven axially along the rails towards an exit sprocket at the transfer end of the drum, whereat a transfer mechanism accepts cartridges from the exit sprocket and feeds them to a conveyor means connected to the gun.

While this has proved to be a reliable high speed feed system, it has been heretofore limited largely to use with fixed gun installations rather than in turret or pintle mounted applications where the gun is movable both in elevation and azimuth with respect to the drum or ammunition container. Because of a lack of a suitable conveyor which could transfer the ammunition to the flexiblymounted gun the LFS has not been used for this application. Instead, belts of ammunition connected by metal links are usually pulled through segmented or sectioned,

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somewhat flexible, metal chuting with a resultant loss of reliability due to the fragile nature of the links, particularly when the belt is twisted, bent or fanned due to the relative movement between the gun and the storage container. Momentary restrictions can also cause the belt to part or stretch, which often results in a jam or stoppage at the feeder entrance.

Accordingly, the primary object of the subject invention is to provide an improved conveyor mechanism having high flexibility and reliability for use in supplying ammunition or the like at extremely high delivery speeds.

A more specific object of the subject invention is to provide an improved conveyor mechanism capable of accomplishing very rapid, reliable transfer of ammunition between a gun and a container relatively movable with respect thereto, which mechanism supports individual cartridges while in the conveyor chuting and also provides a mechanical connection between the gun power source and the container delivery system.

Summary of the invention In a disclosed embodiment, an ammunition container (LFS) and a gun feeder mechanism are shown interconnected by my improved conveyor mechanism. Specifically, the conveyor mechanism is series-connected for ammunition flow between delivery sprocket wheels at the LFS drum and similar sprocket wheels in a feeder mechanism housing located between the conveyor chuting and the weapon breech. The chuting, which may comprise a flexible one-piece member, or a series of segments loosely clipped or otherwise connected together to provide some flexibility, is adapted to surround the cartridges as they move through the conveyor mechanism. The chutin is modified to accept a wire-Wound, relatively stiff helical member, according to my invention. The helical member is geared to the feeder mechanism at one end of the member so as to provide power for rotating the helical member within the chuting to advance individual cartridges captured between the windings or volutes of the member. A flexible torque shaft may also be utilized in connection with the helical member to provide added torque or turning force for powering the delivery sprocket wheel or wheels at the LFS through the conveyor mechanism. In this manner, as the helical member turns, it will advance the cartridges or rounds through the chuting in a manner to provide delivery speeds exceeding 6,000 rounds per minute since one round is preferably delivered per each revolution of the helix. The helix pitch may be varied depending on the desired minimum curvature of the conveyor and the degree of tipping of the cartridges permissible within the ehuting relative to a plane of the crosssection thereof.

Further objects and advantages of my invention, while apparent from the claims appended hereto, will perhaps be better understood from the following detailed escription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorialized, partial view of the socalled Linkless Feed System" (LFS) and a high rate of fire, automatic weapon of the Gatling-gun variety interconnected by the improved conveyor mechanism of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is schematic view of a portion of the apparatus of FIGURE 1, with the chuting removed to illustrate the helical member and torque shaft and a series of cartridges or rounds gripped thereby for transport to the FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the feeder end of an embodiment of my improved conveyor mechanism, partially in cross-section and broken away for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the improved conveyor mechanism of the invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a view along line 5 of FIGURE 4.

Description of the invention As seen in the schematic of FIGURE 1, the Linkless Feed System (LFS), indicated generally at comprises a large outer drum or housing 12 adapted to be supported or attached to an aircraft turret apparatus (not shown), or the like. The drum or housing acts as a container for a number of rounds of ammunition, several of which are indicated at 20. The rounds are adapted to be directed outwardly of the drum, at an opening 12a, being handed off to delivery sprocket wheels supported at the drum by a shaft 23. The improved conveyor mechanism of my invention is indicated generally at 24. The conveyor mechanism, as stated above, interconnects the LFS with a very high rate of fire automatic gun, indicated generally at 30, operating on the Gatling-gun principle. The gun 30, which forms no part of the present invention, comprises a plurality of barrels 32 supported on a rotor 34 for rotation about a common axis. A motor 36 operably connected by gearing, indicated generally at 38, drives the rotor through a ring gear 40. The rotor 34 is rotatably supported in a gun housing 42, which housing may, in turn, be suitably supported by means (not shown) in an aircraft pod or fuselage, depending on the mission requirements and the type of vehicle. On the opposite end from the barrel cluster the rotor supports a second ring gear 44 meshing with still another gear 46 supported on a feeder mechanism shaft 48. The feeder mechanism, which directs the rounds into the gun, is indicated generally at 50. As seen in the partial view of FIGURE 2, wherein the feeder mechanism outer casing 51 has been removed, the feeder essentially comprises a pair of sprocket wheels 52-52 adapted to receive the rounds from the improved conveyor mechanism, hereinafter described in detail, for subsequent handing-off to the gun bolts (not shown) which translate in trackways 53 in the gun rotor.

As best seen in FIGURES l, 3 and 4, the conveyor mechanism of my invention includes an outer, flexible chute or guide 56 having walls forming a hollow member generally rectangular in cross-section. There is thus provided a passageway 60 through which extends a helical member indicated generally at 62. The helical member, one of the primary features of my invention, comprises a series of open wire volutes, indicated at 62a, 62b, 62c, etc., as best shown in the plan view of FIGURE 4. The helical member, in this instance, is a relatively stiff, spring-like continuous wire of suitable diameter, e.g., approximately .09 inch, the exact diameter of the wire being selected depending primarily on the torque requirements for each application, as hereinafter noted in detail. In any event, individual rounds, R1, R2, R3, etc., are enclosed or grasped loosely by the respective wire volutes, as shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4. In the disclosed embodiment it will be seen that at the exit or feeder end of the chute 56, the helical member or wire 62 is supported by a uniquely shaped sprocket 64 having a helical web 64a supported on or integral with an elongated body portion 64b. The webs include a seat 62c receiving the wire or helical member. Journaled at the extreme end of the body portion is a pinion gear, indicated at 66. The pinion gear intermeshes with a ring gear 68 aflixed to the side of one of the pair of exit sprocket wheels indicated at 52-52 mounted on shaft 48. A similar mechanism is located on the LFS or entrance end, as seen in FIGURE 2. As shown in FIG URE l, the feeder assembly 50 includes an outer housing 51 which is adapted to support suitable bearing means, indicated at 74, for journaling the extreme outer end of the support sprocket 64.

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 the rounds rest between the helical wire loops forming the volutes with their longitudinal axes parallel and approximately perpendicular, i.e., slightly tilted from the longitudinal axis of the chute 56. It will therefore be understood that the sprocket support and gearing arrangement shown in FIGURE 3 is substantially similar at both ends of the chute 56. In this manner, as a driving force is transmitted to feeder shaft 48, through gear 46, feeder sprockets 52-52 are operable to turn support sprocket 64 through the interengaged ring and pinion gears 68 and 66, respectively. Since the helical member 62 is firmly secured to the support sprocket web 64a at 64c it will also turn in one direction, that is, it will revolve from right to left, in the drawings. A drive force is therefore transmitted to each round as it bears against the wire loops of the enclosing volutes, as seen in FIGURE 4. At the same time, the support sprocket at the LFS end also turns and through similar intermeshing ring and pinion gears, indicated generally at 80, effects a rotation of the entrance sprocket wheels 22-22, which are supported on the shaft 23, as shown in FIGURE 2. As also indicated in the drawings, it may be desirable, particularly in the larger caliber ammunition sizes, to strengthen the torque-carrying capacity of the helical member 62. To this end, I have provided a flexible shaft 82 which extends from the exit to the entrance end of the chute 56, being attached at both ends to the respective support sprockets. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 3, shaft 82 is received in a bore 84 at the inner end of the support sprocket body being retained therein by a pin 86 received in a smaller bore 88 at right angles to and passing through bore 84. Thus, the motor 36 is enabled to power both the feeder sprocket wheels, the helical member, the entrance sprocket wheels and the LFS. Alternatively, the motor could drive the LFS and entrance sprocket wheels directly. In any event, the helical member will synchronize the delivery of rounds from the LFS to the conveyor chuting and from the chuting to the gun feeder mechanism. Undue stress on the system will be avoided since the helical member can wind-up" or stretch to automatically compensate for slight out-of-sync movements between the gun speed and the LFS speed.

The design of the pitch of the helical member is controlled, to some extent, by the minimum curvature of the conveyor chuting when it is bent, fanned or twisted during operation as the gun swivels and pivots. Suflicient clearance is therefore provided so that when the chuting is bent to its minimum radius the inside pitch of the helical member 62 does not tend to jam the rounds as they move through the chuting. Nor is the outside pitch so great that control of the driving movement on the rounds is lost. The power shaft 82 will provide additional torque, if required, to drive the LFS. Since the shaft is connected to the helix at each end, shaft wind-up will not affect the timing of the handing-off of the ammunition at both the exit or feeder sprocket wheels 52-52 and the entrance or delivery sprocket wheels 2222.

In this manner, I have provided a mechanical power connection between an LFS and gun through an improved conveyor mechanism capable of transmitting ammunition at an extremely high rate of speed (6,000 s.p.m. or higher) which mechanism is reliable, substantially maintenance-free, and easy to manufacture. Since the helical member can be geared directly to the sprocket wheels at each end of the conveyor chute, changes in velocity in either LFS operating speed or the timing of the gun feeder mechanism (i.e., rotating speed of shaft 48) do not create a problem with respect to jamming of ammunition in the helical member or chuting. In certain applications it may be possible to combine the functions of the torque shaft 82 and the helix 62 in one member so that the helix will have sufiicient torque transmitting capacity, in and of itself.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A conveyor mechanism for the rapid transfer of a plurality of discrete articles between a delivery station and a user apparatus, said mechanism comprising:

an elongated, hollow guide member having an entrance end and an exit end;

conveyor means disposed within said guide member for engaging and conveying articles therewith, including a helical wire member having a series of open volutes, each adapted to enclose a respective discrete article;

first means for serially presenting articles delivered from said delivery station into said entrance end of said guide member, including a delivery sprocket,

a first support sprocket disposed within said guide member, and

first gear means operably coupled to said delivery sprocket and said first support sprocket;

second means for serially accepting articles presented at said exit end of said guide member, including a user apparatus feeder sprocket,

a second support sprocket disposed within said guide member, and second gear means operably coupled to said apparatus feeder sprocket and said second support sprocket;

said helical wire member being fixed at the respective ends thereof to said first and said second support sprockets, to synchronize the operation of said first and second means.

2. A conveyor mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said first gear means is fixed in part to said delivery sprocket and is fixed in part to said first support sprocket, and said second gear means is fixed in part to said feeder sprocket and is fixed in part to said second support sprocket, whereby rotation of said feeder sprocket is effective to rotate said delivery sprocket.

3. A conveyor mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said conveyor means further includes a flexible shaft fixed to and between said first and said second support sprockets, said shaft lying substantial- 1y within the volutes of said helical wire member and supplementing the torque transmission capacity of said wire member between said support sprockets.

4. A conveyor mechanism for transferring independent ammunition rounds from a remote storage container to a high rate of fire gun, comprising:

an elongated, flexible outer guide member having walls forming a longitudinal passageway which is generally rectangular in cross-section and has an entrance end and an exit end;

means for delivering rounds from the storage container into said entrance end of said guide member, including a first sprocket wheel for serially handing-off rounds to said guide member so that the longitudinal axes of the rounds entering therewithin are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said guide member;

means for accepting rounds from said exit end of said guide member including a second sprocket wheel and shaft means rotatably supporting said wheel intermediate said exit end and the breach of the gun for handing-off rounds thereto;

a helical member disposed within said guide member and having a series of open volutcs adapted to engage respective ammunition rounds;

support means for supporting said helical members for rotation in one direction including a first support sprocket disposed in said guide member at said entrance end and having a helical seat on the periphery thereof which receives and is fixed to one end of said helical member,

a second support sprocket disposed in said guide member at said exit end and having a helical seat on the periphery thereof receiving the other end of said helical member,

first gear means operably coupled to and between said first sprocket wheel and said first support sprocket,

second gear means operably coupled to and between said second sprocket wheel and said second support sprocket, and

power means operably coupled to one of said sprocket wheels for the rotation thereof and thereby, via the adjacent one of said gear means and the adjacent one of said support sprockets, said helical member, the other of said support sprockets, and the other of said gear means, for the rotation of the other of said sprocket wheels.

5. A conveyor mechanism according to claim 4 further including a flexible shaft extending through said guide members within said helical member and fixed to and between said first and said second support sprockets.

6. A conveyor mechanism according to claim 5 wheresaid first gear means includes a first ring gear fixed to said first sprocket wheel and a mating first bevel gear fixed to said first support sprocket; and

said second gear means includes a second ring gear fixed to said second sprocket wheel and a mating second bevel gear fixed to said second support sprocket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,856,819 10/1958 Meyers et al 8933 X 2,951,422 9/1960 Bobkowski 8933 2,993,415 7/1961 Panicci et al 8933 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

STEPHEN C. BENTLEY, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

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