Compact ammunition conveyor twister
AssigneeMeggitt Defense Systems, Inc.
InventorDino Yu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conveyor mechanism for use with ammunition rounds includes a plurality of clamshells pivotally interconnected to each other, with each clamshell including a first body and a second body pivotally connected to the first body. Each clamshell is selectively transitional between an ammunition holding configuration and an ammunition release position, with the second body pivoting relative to the first body to facilitate transition between the ammunition holding configuration and the ammunition release configuration. The first and second bodies are configured to cooperatively engage one of the ammunition rounds when the clamshell is in the ammunition holding configuration.
Claims24
A conveyor mechanism for use with ammunition rounds, each ammunition round defining a centerline, the conveyor mechanism comprising:
- a plurality of clamshells pivotally interconnected to each other, each clamshell includes a first body and a second body pivotally connected to the first body, each clamshell being selectively transitional between an ammunition holding configuration and an ammunition release position, the second body pivoting relative to the first body about a pivot axis to facilitate transition between the ammunition holding configuration and the ammunition release configuration, the first and second bodies being configured to cooperatively engage one of the ammunition rounds when the clamshell is in the ammunition holding configuration, and wherein the plurality of clamshells are interconnected to each other to define a closed loop;
- and
- a central support interconnected to the plurality of clamshells, the plurality of clamshells being configured to move over the central support;
- wherein the pivot axis of each clamshell is offset from the ammunition round centerline of the ammunition round received within the respective clamshell and closer to the central support when the ammunition round is engaged with the respective clamshell.
A conveyor mechanism for use with ammunition rounds, the conveyor mechanism comprising:
- a plurality of clamshells pivotally interconnected to each other, each clamshell includes a first body and a second body pivotally connected to the first body, each clamshell being selectively transitional between an ammunition holding configuration and an ammunition release position, the second body pivoting relative to the first body to facilitate transition between the ammunition holding configuration and the ammunition release configuration, the first and second bodies being configured to cooperatively engage one of the ammunition rounds when the clamshell is in the ammunition holding configuration, and wherein the plurality of clamshells are interconnected to each other to define a closed loop;
- wherein inner facing walls of the clamshells have a cam extension configured to engage a similar feature on an opposite side of the closed loop should the clamshells twist in a manner to contact each other, said cam extension being configured to contact the similar feature on the opposite side of the closed loop prior to contacting the ammunition rounds and the cam extension and similar feature on the opposite side of the closed loop are shaped to slide past each other without jamming.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.