Safe aircraft ammunition container

Abstract

Aircraft ammunition is loaded nose-down in an ejectable container that is attached to the bottom of the aircraft external to primary aircraft structure, to minimize peril in the event of explosion of the ammunition.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to storage of ammunition on board an aircraft, and more particularly, to an ammunition container located on an aircraft external to primary aircraft structure with orientation of the ammunition within an ejectable container so as to ensure aircraft safety.

PRIOR ART

Ammunition containers on board an aircraft are typically housed within the aircraft fuselage or wing, or within gun pods firmly attached to the aircraft. The feeding mechanism draws either belted ammunition from a standard linked ammunition cannister or delinked ammunition from a drum magazine.

Ammunition linked in belts has characteristically been used with weapons having low rates of fire. The ammunition is fed to the gun by a feed mechanism which draws belted ammunition from the container, extracts the ammunition from the belt links, feeds the ammunition to the gun, and ejects the links and spent cases. The linear movements of the gun components in recoil and counter-recoil are transformed mechanically to provide the drive means for the feed mechanism. Electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic devices may provide alternate external power to drive the feed mechanism.

With weapons having high rates of fire, such as those utilizing the Vulcan principle, linkless feed systems are employed because of the problems associated with link and spent ammunition disposal. The linkless feed system contains either a single or twin ammunition conveyor belt within flexible chuting. With a single belt the spent cases are ejected overboard, but in many installations a return conveyor for spent cartridge cases is povided. A central rotor in the form of a helical archimidean screw moves the round from the drum into the conveyor in a multi-stage operation. The system may be driven by a ram air turbine, or from gun gas bled from the barrels. If linked ammunition is used it is fed through the gun via a delinking feeder typically driven by an electric or hydraulic motor.

Each of these weapon systems enclose the ammunition container within an aircraft member. Further, the ammunition is stored in the container and conveyed to the gun with the projectile pointed at either the crew or essential components of the flight system. During periods of emergency which arise from such contingencies as a direct hit or an impending crash, the crew must rely primarily on blast barriers to survive any ensuing explosion of the ammunition container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to aircraft ammunition storage to provide for rapid ejection of the ammunition in times of emergency, and to minimize peril to the aircraft and crew while the container remains in aircraft storage.

More particularly, the ammunition is stored nose-down in the container, directed away from the aircraft and crew. The ammunition container is nested in a cavity in the underside of the aircraft behind the gun turret, with the bottom of the container forming the lower contour of the aircraft.

Pyrotechnic units secure the ammunition storage unit to the aircraft and are adapted to sever and force the container down and away from the helicopter.

In a still further aspect, the forward portion of the system is connected to the storage portion by means of break-away fasteners so that upon ejection the forward portion remains in place.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further objects and advantages thereof, references may now be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a helicopter with part of the fuselage broken away to illustrate an ammunition container coupled to a feed mechanism supplying ammunition to a weapon.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view looking down from the top of a helicopter onto an integrated weapon system including an ammunition container.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an ammunition container with a portion of the outer housing broken away showing nose-down orientation of ammunition.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a helicopter feeding mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a flat storage and linkless feed system supplies ammunition to weapon 11. The storage system incorporates a unique ammunition storage container 2 which is a rectangular box. An ammunition feed chute 4 and a return chute 6 house conveyor elements which transport ammunition to a weapon feeder. Chute 4 is connected to one corner of container 2 and to a flexible-shaft drive booster 7 forward of the container. Another sealed fixed chute 8 is connected from booster 7 and extends forward to a receptacle to which a flexible chute 9 is attached. Chute 9 routes the ammunition into the weapon feeder in a turret 10. The empty conveyor leaves the feeder in a flexible chute which attaches to the other corner of container 2 in the same manner as the feed chute. Chute 6 routes the conveyor back to a corner of the container 2. Chutes 6 and 9 are sealed and serve to vent the gun gases above the turret.

A drive shaft 5a is shown connected between the container 2 and booster 7. Drive shaft 5b is connected from booster 7 to the receptacle of chute 8.

Two beams 14a and 14b contain structure for supporting gear boxes and index mechanisms for required stoker and exit sprockets.

A solid barrier 3 provides blast protection for the aircraft and crew.

To eject container 2, ejection forces are produced by four pyrotechnic thrusters 1 which secure container 2 to helicopter 12. When ejection is initiated, the thrusters 1 sever container 2 and force it down and away from aircraft 12. The forward portion of the feed mechanism is connected to container 2 by means of break-away fasteners 13. When the container is ejected, the forward portion of the feed mechanism remains in place.

In FIG. 3 container 2 is ejected from aircraft 12 with stored ammunition 15 in a nose-down orientation. Thus, the ammunition is always pointed away from the helicopter and crew when stored on board an aircraft.

In FIG. 4, container 2 is located in a cavity behind the gun turret in the underside of aircraft 12. The bottom of the container forms the lower contour of aircraft 12 in the area of the cavity. The container has blow-out cover 16 over its entire surface below the bulk of the ammunition. Should an explosion occur in the storage area, the blow-out cover offers the path of least resistance and vents the majority of the concussion or debris down and away from the aircraft 12 and its crew, control system, and other flight essential components.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rectangular aircraft ammunition container within which ammunition is stored nose-down away from aircraft and crew. Pyrotechnic thrusters secure the container in a cavity in the under side of the aircraft, while break-away fasteners couple the container to the on board feed mechanism. The base of the container is a blow-out cover forming the lower contour of the aircraft in the area of the cavity.

In the event of impending danger, the container may be ejected by firing support thrusters. If the container explodes while secured to the aircraft, the blow-out cover vents the majority of the concussion and debris away from the aircraft.

Having described the invention in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that further modifications may now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An airborne ammunition container for an aircraft, comprising:

a. a housing container to accommodate ammunition pieces;

b. said housing container connected to said aircraft external to the primary aircraft structure;

c. a blowout cover on the bottom of said ammunition container whereby an explosion in the container can be vented down through the cover;

d. means for storing ammunition pieces within said housing container such that the trajectory of said ammunition pieces when detonated within said container is away from said aircraft; and

e. means to eject said housing container from said aircraft.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ejecting means comprise a plurality of pyrotechnic thrusters.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said thrusters are four in number.

4. The combination of claim 1 additionally comprising a solid barrier positioned over said ammunition container whereby the aircraft and crew are provided with blast protection thereby.

5. In an airborne weapon system in which a feed mechanism transports ammunition to a weapon, the combination which comprises:

a. an aircraft fuselage with an ammunition container nested in an underside open cavity and connected to said aircraft external of primary aircraft structure;

b. means for storing ammunition in said container with the projectiles pointing downward away from said fuselage and means comprising a blowout cover on the bottom of the ammunition container;

c. a plurality of breakaway fasteners to connect said container to said feed mechanism; and

d. a plurality of pyrotechnic thrusters to disconnect said container from said aircraft.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein said thrusters are four in number.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 5 additionally comprising a solid barrier positioned over said ammunition container whereby the aircraft and crew are provided with blast protection thereby.