U.S. patent application number 10/136331 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-21 for container for projectile.
This patent application is currently assigned to GIAT INDUSTRIES. Invention is credited to Avrard, Claude, Delaire, Jean-Philippe, Grange, Gilles, Martinez, Yves, Roche, Joel.
Application Number | 20020170422 10/136331 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8863380 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020170422 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grange, Gilles ; et
al. |
November 21, 2002 |
Container for projectile
Abstract
The invention relates to a container for projectiles conveyed
simultaneously with a container for modular charges using the same
transfer system to load a weapon. The container comprises a rigid
tubular body equipped with a pick-up interface for the transfer
system and means to block the projectile in said container. The
interface is constituted by a crown placed at the end of the body,
protruding with respect to an external surface of the body. The
blocking means are constituted by retractable catches placed on the
inner wall of the body, for example a set of catches designed to
come into contact with the projectile base and a set of catches
designed to be applied to the projectile nose cone.
Inventors: |
Grange, Gilles; (La
Fouilleuse, FR) ; Martinez, Yves; (Saint-Chamond,
FR) ; Delaire, Jean-Philippe; (Saint-Remy les
Chevreuses, FR) ; Roche, Joel; (Saint-Etienne,
FR) ; Avrard, Claude; (Saint-Etienne, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 19928
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320
US
|
Assignee: |
GIAT INDUSTRIES
13, route de la Miniere
Versailles
FR
78000
|
Family ID: |
8863380 |
Appl. No.: |
10/136331 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
89/45 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 39/22 20130101;
F41A 9/38 20130101; F42B 39/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
89/45 |
International
Class: |
F42B 001/00; F41A
009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 17, 2001 |
FR |
0106495 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A container for projectiles conveyed simultaneously with a
container for modular charges using the same transfer system to
load a weapon, wherein it comprises a rigid tubular body equipped
with a pick-up interface for said transfer system and means to
block said projectile in said container.
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said interface is
constituted by a crown protruding with respect to an external
surface of said body.
3. A container according to claim 1, wherein said crown is placed
at one end of said body.
4. A container according to claim 3, wherein said blocking means
are constituted by retractable catches placed on the inner wall of
said body.
5. A container according to claim 4, wherein it comprises a set of
catches designed to come into contact with said projectile base and
a set of catches designed to be applied to the projectile nose
cone.
6. A container according to claim 5, wherein said catches are
retracted by rotation.
7. A container according to claim 5, wherein said catches are
retracted into housings made in the thickness of said body around
hinge pins fixed in said housing.
8. A container according to claim 4, wherein it incorporates three
catches pressing on the projectile base and three catches pressing
on the projectile nose cone.
9. A container according to claim 1, wherein said body is metallic
and comprises a longitudinal slit to ensure the passage of
impulsion means for said transfer system.
10. A container according to claim 9, wherein it comprises a
marking element to ensure its placing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The technical scope of the present invention is that of
projectile containers.
[0002] To ensure the transportation of a piece of ammunition
constituted by a projectile and a propellant charge in module form,
that is to say blacks of agglomerated propellant powder, these are
placed in suitable packing. At present, loading is carried out by
manipulating the projectile and the caseless blocks over very short
distances. Thus, a system to feed a cannon with ammunition
constituted by projectiles and propellant charge modules taken from
a magazine is known. This system, described in patent FR-A-2 764
055 notably comprises a magazine containing modules placed in the
immediate proximity of the cannon and transferred by means of a
pincer onto a loading tray then carefully pushed into the cannon
chamber. An analogous system is used to firstly pick up the
projectiles in combination with the system used to pick up the
modules. However, when the projectiles and modules have to be
transferred over a wide distance from the place of storage of the
weapon, such a system cannot be used. Moreover, because of the
differences in shape and mass of the projectile and the charges,
separate and independent means have always been used to convey the
projectiles and modules. Additionally, the conveyance of these
elements must be reliable and safe whilst able to provide a
suitable rate of fire.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The aim of the present invention is to propose means to
convey the projectiles whilst providing a high level of safety
between the storage place and the weapon loading position.
[0004] A further aim of the invention is to allow the projectiles
and modular charges to be conveyed by the same conveyance
system.
[0005] The invention thus relates to a container for projectiles
conveyed simultaneously with a container for modular charges using
the same transfer system to load a weapon, wherein it comprises a
rigid tubular body equipped with a pick-up interface for the
transfer system and means to block the projectile in said
container.
[0006] According to one embodiment, the interface is constituted by
a crown protruding with respect to an external surface of the body
and placed at one end of the body.
[0007] According to another embodiment, the blocking means are
constituted by retractable catches placed on the inner wall of the
body.
[0008] The container comprises a set of catches designed to come
into contact with the projectile base and a set of catches designed
to be applied to the projectile nose cone.
[0009] Advantageously, the catches can be retracted by rotation,
for example into housings made in the thickness of the body around
hinge pins fixed in said housing.
[0010] According to yet another embodiment, the container
incorporates three catches pressing on the projectile base and
three batches pressing on the projectile nose cone.
[0011] According to yet another embodiment, the body is metallic
and comprises a longitudinal slit to ensure the passage of
impulsion means for the transfer system.
[0012] According to yet another embodiment, the container comprises
a marking element to ensure its placing.
[0013] One advantage of the present invention lies in that all
along the transfer operation for the projectile from the
replenishment area to the weapon loading position the projectile is
protected and not subject to shocks.
[0014] Another advantage lies in the standardization of the
transfer means both for the projectile and the propellant charge
since the same interfaces can be provided on the containers.
[0015] Yet another advantage of the present invention lies in the
evolutivity of these containers as the weapon system is always able
to use them since a modification of the projectile does not modify
the functionality of the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the
invention will become more apparent from the following description
given hereafter by way of illustration and in reference to the
appended drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of the container
according to the invention,
[0018] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the container, and
[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross section showing the blocking means for the
projectile.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The projectile container is intended to be integrated in a
transfer system from a magazine to a weapon implementing this type
of charge. It is understood that when this distance is great, any
deterioration to the projectiles must be avoided as must any falls
or shocks. Taking up the container by gripping means must not cause
any interference to the projectiles.
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a container 1 in the form of a tubular body 2
open at both ends. This body must be made of a material that is
rigid enough to be able to withstand the shocks to which it is
subjected. It may be made, for example, of metal. The body 2 is
provided with a slit 11 along one of its generating lines that
allows access to the inside over a given length. The body
incorporates a crown 4 at one of its ends on which the gripping and
manipulation means of the transfer system (not shown) will act to
carry and block the container during its transportation. Thus, the
container 1 may be transferred from a first storage magazine to an
intermediate magazine by means of a transfer chain, then from the
intermediate magazine to a loading drum in which it may be
immobilized to ensure the transfer of the projectile into the
weapon chamber. We can see that during all these transfer and
handling operations, it is essential for the projectile to be
protected and removed from any direct action.
[0022] The container 1 may additionally incorporate an
electromagnetic circuit 12 allowing its contents to be recognized,
that is to say the type of projectile, data to be memorized even in
the event of an electrical power cut, and thus the ammunition
configuration of the feeding system be recognized at any moment and
in particular when switching on. The data may be read at certain
stages in the transfer of the container using a reader implanted
according to the needs of the ammunition management system. Upon
arrival in one area, for example the replenishment area, the reader
emits signals in the form of a low power electromagnetic wave to
the circuit 12. This wave gives enough power to the circuit 12 to
emit the code stored in its non-volatile memory or to delete it and
record a new code. This code is naturally peculiar to each loaded
projectile and is in the form of a 3 or 4 bit binary code. This
type of circuit incorporating a chip is well known and does not
require further explanation.
[0023] The container according to the invention allows a projectile
to be supported and immobilized in a failsafe manner in whatever
position in space and during all their conveyance or hoisting
phases and the catches to be released reliably and simply, and
provides insulation with respect to external nominal and/or
accidental aggressions. Even in the event of inadvertent ignition,
the unwanted effects are directed along the longitudinal axis of
the container.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the container 1 in which a
projectile 3 is installed. In its base, the body 2 is provided, in
the plane of the Figure, with housings 7 only one of which may be
seen in the section view and in its upper part with housings 8 only
one of which also may be seen in the Figure. The housings 7 and 8
are made in the thickness of the body wall and open inwards. The
housings 7 receive the catches 5 intended to be applied to the base
of the projectile 3. These catches 5 are retractable and are easily
pressed back in a single direction into their housings so as to
allow the projectile to pass. To this end, the catches 5 are
articulated around a hinge pin 9 fastened onto the body 2.
Similarly, the housings 8 are intended to receive the catches 6
that are applied onto the nose cone of the projectile 3. The
surface of the catches 6 opposite the nose cone may be shaped to
follow the external shape of the nose cone. The catches 6 are
retractable and press back into their housing 8 to allow the
projectile to be extracted. So as to keep the projectile 3 in the
container, the catches 6 are locked in their deployed position.
These locking means are constituted by cams and are subject to the
action of manoeuvring means ensuring their retraction when the
projectile is being introduced into or removed from the container.
The manoeuvring means are activated solely at the container
replenishment and unloading posts. During conveyance, the catches
are held in a failsafe manner by an internal device in the
container.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a cross section made level with the catches 5
and we can see the arrangement of three catches evenly spaced over
a diameter of the body, for example at 60.degree..
[0026] The operation of a container-aided transfer system according
to the invention is carried out as follows. The empty container 1
is brought into the replenishment area (not shown) so as to have a
projectile inserted either manually or automatically. The catches 6
are released and the projectile is introduced until reaching the
end near the catches 5 which are automatically pressed down. When
the projectile has passed the housing 7 and has partly pressed down
the catches 6 with its nose cone, the catches 5 resume their
retention position and the projectile comes to press on then by a
displacement in the opposite direction to that of its introduction.
Then the catches 6 are locked and the container can be taken up by
the transfer system. Unlocking and locking the catches 6 is carried
out either automatically by means integral with the magazine or
manually by the crew. We can see that however the container is
displaced, the projectile is protected and immobilized.
[0027] The container is then taken up by the transfer system from
the transfer area to the loading position where the projectile
maybe removed from the container. To this end, the locking means
for the catches 6 are unlocked and the projectile is taken over by
the pusher, a booster for example, passing through the slit 11 and
exerting a thrust to press back the catches 6 and introduce the
projectile using a known process into the weapon chamber. After
this loading phase, the empty container is brought back by the
transfer system to the replenishment area to be filled once again
by a projectile. The circuit 12 is once again incremented to
identify the projectile introduced and a new cycle commences.
* * * * *