U.S. patent number 3,776,416 [Application Number 05/320,839] was granted by the patent office on 1973-12-04 for article handling system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to General Electric Company. Invention is credited to Eugene Ashley, Burton P. Clark, Francis L. Jarvis, George E. Kontis, Paul A. Spoor.
United States Patent |
3,776,416 |
Ashley , et al. |
December 4, 1973 |
ARTICLE HANDLING SYSTEM
Abstract
A battery gun has a stationary housing; a plurality of barrels
disposed in an annular row and stationary with respect to said
housing; each of said barrels having a respective chamber; feeding
means for receiving a continuous and regular train of projectiles
from a supply; intermediate means for receiving the train from said
feeding means; and distributor means for receiving the train from
said intermediate means for providing projectiles to said chambers;
said intermediate means including means for sensing the presence of
misfired projectiles in said chambers and for providing lacunae in
the train of projectiles corresponding to such misfires, whereby no
projectiles are provided to said distributor means for provision to
chambers containing misfired projectiles.
Inventors: |
Ashley; Eugene (Burlington,
VT), Jarvis; Francis L. (Troy, VT), Clark; Burton P.
(St. George, VT), Kontis; George E. (Essex Junction, VT),
Spoor; Paul A. (Jericho, VT) |
Assignee: |
General Electric Company
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
26896659 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/320,839 |
Filed: |
January 3, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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201357 |
Nov 23, 1971 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
221/21;
198/608 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41F
1/10 (20130101); F41A 17/14 (20130101); F41A
9/35 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F41A
17/00 (20060101); F41A 9/00 (20060101); F41F
1/00 (20060101); F41F 1/10 (20060101); F41A
17/14 (20060101); F41A 9/35 (20060101); B65h
003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;221/21,243
;89/12,13,33MC,137 ;198/22B,40 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Rolla; Joseph J.
Parent Case Text
This is a Division of application, Ser. No. 201,357 filed Nov. 23,
1971.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An article handling system comprising:
a plurality of work stations disposed in an annular row;
article distribution means including:
an annular conveyor rotating about said annular row of work
stations and passing a feeding station for receiving a continuous
series of articles from said feeding station,
means for sequentially transporting each of the articles from said
annular conveyor to a respective one of said work stations, each
work station in progressive sequence receiving one such article,
for halting such article at such respective work station for a
given period of time, and for thereafter discharging such article
from said work station; and
means for sensing the presence of an undischarged article from a
workstation and coupled to said feeding station for providing
lacunae in the series of articles corresponding to such
undischarged articles, whereby no articles are provided to said
conveyor for provision to work stations containing undischarged
articles.
2. An article handling system including:
a plurality of work stations disposed in an annular row and each
having a respective workpiece receiving chamber;
feeding means for receiving a continuous and regular train of
workpieces from a supply;
distributor means for receiving the train of workpieces from said
feeding means, for providing workpieces to each of said chambers,
for retaining for processing each workpiece in said chamber, and
for discharging each processed workpiece from said chamber, and
means for sensing the presence of an undischarged processed article
from a chamber and coupled to said feeding means for providing
lacunae in the train of articles corresponding to such undischarged
workpieces, whereby no workpieces are provided to said distributor
means for provision to chambers containing undischarged, processed
workpieces.
3. A system according to claim 2 wherein:
said distributor means includes:
a distributor ring having a plurality of compartments disposed in
an annular row, each compartment for receiving a respective
workpiece from said feeding means; and
intermediate means for transferring a workpiece from a compartment
to a respective unoccupied chamber and for not transferring from
such compartment if the respective chamber is preoccupied;
said sensing means sensing the presence of an undischarged
processed workpiece by sensing the presence of an untransferred
workpiece in such compartment.
4. A system according to claim 3 wherein:
said sensing means is coupled to said feeding means for
interrupting the passage of workpieces from said feeding means to
said distributor means.
5. A system according to claim 3 wherein:
said feeding means includes:
a feed sprocket for passing workpieces as a train to said
distributor means,
a differential gear system coupling said feed sprocket to a source
of rotary power; and
said sensing means is coupled to said differential gear system for
actuating said differential gear system to decouple said feed
sprocket from said power source when said sensing means senses the
presence of an untransferred workpiece.
6. A system according to claim 5 wherein:
said differential gear system includes:
a spider which is normally locked to provide a fixed gear train
function and which is unlocked by said sensing means to decouple
said feed sprocket.
7. A system according to claim 5 wherein: said spider is locked by
a pawl and detent.
8. A system according to claim 5 wherein:
said spider is locked by a geneva wheel system.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved article handling system,
especially adapted to progressively advance a series of articles to
a plurality of work stations, such as an ammunition feeding system
for a battery gun. The invention herein described was made in the
course of or under a contract or subcontract with the Department of
the Navy.
2. Prior Art
The classic modern revolving battery gun is shown in U.S. Pat. No.
125,563 issued Apr. 9, 1872 to R. J. Gatling. A stationary main cam
is in a housing which encloses and supports a rotating receiver
assembly which has a plurality of barrels and a like plurality of
chambers and bolts. Rounds of ammunition are serially passed
through the housing and handed to each bolt in turn as it passes
the feeding station. The functioning of each bolt is controlled by
the main cam. D. P. Tassie et al in U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No.
76,077 filed Sept. 28, 1970 disclose a nonconventional gun, for
cased ammunition, wherein the receiver assembly, with its barrels,
chambers and bolts, does not rotate, and the main cam in the
housing rotates together with an ammunition distribution ring
assembly. Misfires are extracted in the conventional manner, as
each case, after firing, is normally extracted by the bolt.
Battery guns utilizing liquid propellants have recently been
proposed with a nonrotating receiver assembly. A problem arises in
the treatment of misfires when utilizing a receiver assembly
wherein the chambers are always coaxial with the respective
barrels. The projectile cannot be pushed forwardly through and out
of the chamber because the barrel is in the way. The projectile
cannot be extracted by the bolt because the bolt is unable to sieze
the projectile. A single barrel liquid propellant gun system is
disclosed by D. P. Tassie in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 148,833
filed June 1, 1971 which has been incorporated into the multibarrel
system shown in Ser. No. 76,077, supra.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an ammunition feeding
system for a battery gun which omits feeding a round to any chamber
which contains a misfire.
A feature of this invention is the provision of a battery gun
comprising a stationary housing; a plurality of barrels disposed in
an annular row and stationary with respect to said housing; each of
said barrels having a respective chamber; feeding means for
receiving a continuous and regular train of projectiles from a
supply; intermediate means for receiving the train from said
feeding means; and distributor means for receiving the train from
said intermediate means for providing projectiles to said chambers;
said intermediate means including means for sensing the presence of
misfired projectiles in said chambers and for providing lacunae in
the train of projectiles corresponding to such misfires, whereby no
projectiles are provided to said distributor means for provision to
chambers containing misfired projectiles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention
will be apparent from the following specification thereof taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a rudimentary perspective view of a four-barrel gun
system embodying this invention;
FIG. 2 is a rudimentary schematic showing the principle of the
inventive system for feeding the gun system and sensing
misfires;
FIG. 3 is a rudimentary schematic showing the power train of the
system of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a rudimentary schematic of a first embodiment of the
invention showing a latching device for sensing misfires and
interrupting feeding;
FIG. 5 is a rudimentary schematic of a second embodiment of the
invention showing first escapement device for sensing misfires and
interrupting feeding;
FIG. 6 is a rudimentary schematic of a third embodiment of the
invention showing the power train of a second escapement device for
sensing misfires and interrupting feeding; and
FIG. 7 is an end view of the power train of FIG. 6.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A liquid propellant gun system having four stationary barrels 10
and chambers, and a rotating feed ring 14 is shown in FIG. 1. The
ring 14 has a plurality of partitions 16 forming a plurality of
projectile receiving compartments 18. Four push arms 20 are cam
controlled to sequentially push a selected projectile from its
respective compartment through a transport mechanism into alignment
with a respective chamber, as shown in Ser. No. 76,077, supra.
The ring is supplied from a feeder which is in turn fed either from
a conveyor or directly from a linkless feed drum exit unit. Gun
feed ring, and feed system are geared together for positive control
of all projectiles fed to the gun. In normal firing, the feeder
places projectiles into the feed ring compartments, and these
projectiles are removed, chambered and fired at the appropriate
station. The feed ring compartments return to the feed position
empty.
If one or more barrels misfire, however, the non-firing barrel or
barrels go out of action and no longer accept projectiles.
Henceforth, those projectiles not "comsumed" at the misfired
stations stay in the feed ring and recirculate through the feed
position. The feeder expects each feed ring compartment reaching
the feed position to be empty, however, and already contains a
projectile destined for such a compartment. A double feed situation
will result when the feeder tries to feed an already occupied
compartment.
FIG. 2 illustrates the feed arrangement. Feed ring 14 rotates
continuously. The feeder assembly, consisting of a handoff sprocket
22 and a feed sprocket 24, supplies a continuous flow of
projectiles to the ring. A projectile P-1 is shown in the feed ring
at the position for transfer to the last firing chamber 12, having
almost completed a circuit of the feed ring. This is as far in the
ring as a projectile should normally remain. Any projectile which
passes this position, still in the ring, must have by-passed a
misfired barrel somewhere in the circuit and will remain in the
ring as long as the misfired station remains uncleared.
If P-1 does remain in the ring and does circulate back to the
feeder, a double feed situation arises. Projectile P-2 is destined
for the space already occupied by P-1, and the two will collide
unless some accommodation is made.
A single sensing mechanism serves to adjust both the feeder and the
feed system to intermittent gun feed requirements, and positive
control of the projectiles is maintained at all times. As seen in
FIG. 2, the system operates by sensing a projectile in the feed
ring after it has passed the last firing position. The sensing zone
26 in FIG. 2 shows the approximate position in which sensing takes
place. When a projectile is detected passing through this zone, an
adjustment is made in the drive train between the hand-off sprocket
22 and the feed sprocket 24 which permits the hand-off sprocket to
continue rotating while the feed sprocket stops and drops back at
least one pitch space. The feed sprocket must rotate sufficiently
far to release the projectile ahead of P-2, since that projectile
is already under the control of the hand-off sprocket. Immediately
thereafter, the feed sprocket can be made to pause and to avoid
feeding P-2 into the next space in the hand-off sprocket. Double
feed will thus be avoided. If a single misfired round has appeared
in P-1 position, the feed sprocket and hand-off sprocket should
then be re-engaged in proper timing relationship and the feeding
action continued.
FIG. 3 shows a mechanism through which the described action is
achieved. All power for the feed system is taken from a primary
drive shaft 28. Timing chains 19 and 20 (or gears) transfer power
to the hand-off sprocket 22 and to the input gear 32 of a
differential gear set 34 which drives the feed sprocket 24. Gearing
is provided to match sprocket speeds to main cam speed. Planetary
reductions are shown in the diagram. Under conditions of normal
firing, the spider assembly 36 of the differential is held in
locked position by a pivoted, spring loaded, sensing linkage 38,
and the differential acts as fixed gear train in transmitting
torque to the feed sprocket and on to the feed magazine.
When a misfire has occurred, and a projectile enters the sensing
zone 26, in FIG. 2, the sensing linkage 38 is moved to release the
differential spider assembly. Drive motion at the differential
input will now divide between output 40 and the spider assembly 36
in proportion to the respective resisting torques on each. Since
the output "sees" drive torque, and the spider is essentially free,
the spider will rotate in preference to the output. Thus, the
action of the sensing linkage in releasing the spider assembly is
simply to introduce a pause in the drive motion to the feed
sprocket and the feed magazine, while the main gun and hand-off
sprocket motions continue uninterrupted.
As the gun rotates and projectile P-1 leaves the sensing zone, the
sensing linkage will be released. It will then re-engage the spider
assembly to restore drive torque to the feed sprocket and feed
magazine. FIG. 4 shows how timing relationship can be preserved.
Stop lugs 42 are located in the periphery of the spider assembly in
positions which assure proper timing relationship. For the gear
ratios shown in FIG. 3, for example, a 180.degree. rotation of the
spider assembly will correspond to one pitch of the feed
sprocket.
FIG. 5 shows an alternative scheme for maintaining a more positive
control over the indexing of the spider assembly than is provided
by the system of FIG. 4. A small escapement wheel 44, normally
locked by a spring loaded detent 45, is rotated by the unfired
projectile P-1 moving through the sensing zone. Through appropriate
gearing 46, 48 and 50, the escapement drives the spider through a
controlled angle, which is made equivalent to one round pitch on
the feed sprocket 24. The unfired projectile moving through the
sensing zone initiates and fully controls the motion of the spider.
Proper shaping of the escapement wheel profile makes it possible to
control the drive re-engagement torque characteristic. In order for
a four toothed escapement to correspond to one-fourth turn of the
feed sprocket with the 2/1 ratio between the escapement and the
spider shown in FIG. 5, the differential is placed on the other
side of the planetary reduction in FIG. 2. In this location, a
one-fourth turn of the escapement wheel will produce one-eighth
turn of the spider, which in turn corresponds to one-fourth turn of
the feed sprocket.
A third embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Feed
system power is applied to a shaft 310 to which are fixed a timing
sprocket 312, two hand-off sprockets 314, 316, a forward stop-disk
318 and an aft stop-disk 320. Power is delivered out to the feed
magazine by a shaft 322 to which are fixed two feed sprockets 324,
326, a forward stop-disk 328, an aft stop-disk 330 and the output
bevel gear 332 of a differential gear set 334. A spur gear 336 is
journalled on the shaft 322 and is fixed to the spider 338 of the
differential. The input bevel gear 340 of the differential is fixed
to a shaft 342 to which is fixed a timing sprocket 344. Two idler
gears 346, 348 are respectively journalled to the spider and meshed
with the input and output gears of the differential. A geneva drive
wheel 350 is fixed to a shaft 352 to which is fixed a spur gear 354
which is meshed with the gear 336. A spring detent geneva locking
surface, or other means, not shown, biases the wheel 350 against
undriven movements. A geneva drive wheel assembly 356 is fixed to a
shaft 358 to which is also fixed a timing sprocket 360. A time
chain 362 is meshed with the timing sprockets 312, 344 and 360.
The geneva drive wheel assembly 356 includes a central hub 364
having four slots 366 therein. Each slot is at an angle (e.g.,
45.degree.) to the longitudinal axis and includes an inner
rounded-dovetail cross-section portion 368 and an outer rectangular
cross-section portion 370. Four sliding sectors 372 are
respectively disposed in the slots 366. Each sector includes a
rounded-dovetail cross-section portion 374 riding in the slot
portion 368 and a body portion 376 riding in the slot portion 370.
A ledge portion 378 extends centrifugally from the body portion 376
and carries a pin 380 with a head 382. Each sector is biased
outwardly-upwardly by a rod 384 riding against a compression spring
386, both captured in a blind bore 388 in the sector. The four
sectors are captured to the hub by a disk 390 fixed to the hub by a
plurality of bolts 392.
In operation, power is applied to the shaft 310 and by means of the
timing chain 362 to the shafts 322 and 358. The driven geneva wheel
350 is held stationary against undriven rotation by the detent, and
via gears 354 and 336 holds the spider 338 against rotation. The
feed magazine chuting and the feed sprockets 324, 326 are driven by
the locked-up differential transmission 334 to deliver projectiles
to the hand-off sprockets 314 and 316 and thence to the
compartments 400 of the rotating feed ring 402. The projectiles are
normally carried around by the feed ring and transferred into the
chambers of the gun. In the event of a misfire in a particular
chamber, the projectile loaded therein remains therein and the
respective next projectile for that chamber is blocked from
transfer from the feed ring into that chamber. The blocked
projectile, indicated as projectile A in FIG. 7, rides against a
sector 372 on the rotating geneva drive wheel assembly and forces
it centripetally. The sector rides centripetally downwardly in its
slot 366 against the bias of its spring 386, so that its pin 380 is
brought initially to the same longitudinal level as the geneva
driven wheel, and then as the geneva drive wheel assembly continues
to rotate, the pin rides into a slot of the geneva driven wheel,
drives it around an increment, and rides out. As the geneva driven
wheel rotates one increment (e.g., 90.degree.) via the gears 354
and 336, it rotates the spider one increment (e.g., 45.degree.),
thereby turning the differential input gear 340 and the
differential output gear 332 in opposite directionsrelative to one
another, which causes the feed sprockets 324 and 326 to slow down,
stop, back up, stop, and finally move forward to their original
position and speed. During this sequence the hand off sprockets 314
and 316 and the feed ring 402 have continued to turn one pitch, so
the feed sprockets and magazine have lost one pitch with respect to
the feed ring. As seen in FIG. 7, with misfired projectile "A" at
the geneva drive wheel assembly, projectile "E" in the feed
sprockets will be retained therein for an extra pitch, and no
projectile will be handed to the compartment which already contains
projectile "A."
While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of
this invention, it will be appreciated that the invention may be
embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or
described, and that certain changes in the form and arrangement of
parts and in the specific manner of practicing the invention may be
made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of
this invention within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *