Automatic loader for an armored vehicle having a rotatable turret

US4690031A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Rheinmetall GmbH · DE

Inventors

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

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 28, 1986
• Grant date: Sep 1, 1987
• Expiry date: Apr 28, 2006

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 a predetermined outer elevation of the turret and within a predetermined inner elevation region 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 rot…