GB662402A - Improvements relating to loading mechanism for guns - Google Patents

Abstract

662,402. Loading ordnances. AKTIEBOLAGET BOFORS. Oct. 24, 1949. [March 23, 1949]. No. 27226/49. Class 92 (i). Relates to gun loading devices of the kind having a swinging tray 1 which transfers cartridges successively from a vertical hoist 5 to the ramming position shown. According to the invention a spring 29 is used to impart to the tray a force, which acts on the tray during a small part only of its loading movement but is sufficient to impart an impetus which sends the tray from its vertical position, in line with the hoist, to the ramming position. In the construction shown a pawl 6 in the hoist delivers the uppermost cartridge C' to the vertically disposed tray which is pivoted on on arms 2 about an axis coincident with the elevation axis of the gun. The round is supported in position in the tray by a spring- pressed bolt 9 and the tray is retained in the vertical position by a spring-controlled catch 16. The pawl 6 is pivoted and reciprocates vertically, and when it has reached its uppermost position a lug, not shown, movable with it is instrumental in moving the catch 16 to the unloading position. The tray is thus freed to swing under the impetus of a pivoted arm 15 to the ramming position. The arm 15 is linked to a rod 25 which, by releasable catches 26, is normally locked to a spring-urged piston 28. When the catches 16 release the tray 1 the spring 29 drives the piston downwards, and the rod 25 partakes of this movement until released from the piston by movement of the catches 26. The tray, under the resulting short movement of the arm 15 then swings to the position shown where the rammer, which includes a cylinder 52, spring 51, piston rod 53, and a catch 55 for engaging the base of the cartridge, can drive the round into the breech of the gun. The catches 26, see Fig. 7, are released bv the head of a movable rod 33 which enters a tubular extension 32 of the rod 25 and which is connected by mechanism 35 .... 43 to a segment 45 movable with the gun in elevation, where by release of the rod 25 from the piston can be controlled according to the elevation of the gun. The mechanism which retracts the pawl 6 is suitably geared to the piston 28 to compress the spring 29.