Automatic loader for an armored vehicle having a rotatable turret

US4632011A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Rheinmetall GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Josef Metz · Neuss, DE
• Manfred Pehker · Goldkronach, DE
• Erich Zielinski · Haan, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 5, 1984
• Grant date: Dec 30, 1986
• Expiry date: Jun 5, 2004

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F41A9/26
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic loader for an armored vehicle having a rotatable turret adapted to feed vertically stored projectiles from a storage magazine into the loading chamber of a large caliber weapon from which it can be inserted into the gun barrel by means of a rammer. The arrangement of the invention provides a rapid transporting of the vertically stored ammunition from a space saving storage position to a loaded ready to fire position. The automatic loader of the invention includes an automatically driven endless ammunition magazine at least partially mounted within the outer elevation a of the turret and within the inner elevation region b of the vehicle trough. This magazine is separated from the personnel chamber of the armored vehicle by means of armored walls and includes a loading tray which is connected to a feeder for pivotally transporting a vertically stored projectile into a loading position from which it can be slid into the gun barrel of the weapon by means of the rammer. The loading tray functions as a partial ammunition container of the ammunition magazine as well as a feeder for the projectile. The magazine is independently rotatable with respect …