Ammunition magazine system
AssigneeWestern Design Corporation
InventorMichael D. Golden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ammunition magazine is provided for a large caliber gun installed on a vehicle in which the magazine is attached to the vehicle in a manner enabling the magazine to be moved from the first position at which ammunition can be moved from the magazines from within the vehicle to a second position at which ammunition rounds can be inserted into the magazine from outside the vehicle. The magazine itself is made of a plurality of attached modular canisters, with each modular canister being configured for supporting an ammunition round and including means for attaching each modular canister to other modular canisters to form a monocoque structure.
Claims17
An ammunition magazine system for a large caliber gun installed on a vehicle, said gun being mounted for loading from inside the vehicle, said ammunition magazine system comprising:
- magazine means for supporting a plurality of ammunition rounds comprising a plurality of attached modular canisters, each modular canister being configured for supporting an ammunition round and having means for attaching each modular canister to other modular canisters to form a monocoque structure, said means for attaching each modular canister to other modular canisters comprising means for aligning the attached modular canisters in a circular array about a centerline of the ammunition magazine;
- means attaching the magazine means to the vehicle for enabling the magazine means to be moved from a first position, at which ammunition rounds can be removed from the magazine means from within the vehicle, to a second position, at which ammunition rounds can be inserted into the magazine means from outside the vehicle, said means attaching the magazine means to the vehicle comprising hinge means for enabling the magazine to be rotated from the first to the second position;
- and
- means for separating the magazine means from the vehicle when the magazine means is in the second position.
An ammunition magazine assembly comprising:
- a plurality of attached identical modular canisters, each modular canister being configured for supporting an ammunition round and having means for attaching each modular canister to other modular canisters to form a monocoque structure with an outside envelope of the ammunition magazine having a conical shape, said means for attaching each modular canister to other modular canisters comprising mounting ring means, disposed proximate each end of each modular canister, for attaching each modular canister to up to four other modular canisters.
The ammunition magazine assembly according to claim 9 wherein said means for attaching each modular canister to other modular canisters comprises means for aligning the longitudinal axis of each modular canister in a non-parallel relationship.
A modular ammunition canister comprising:
- a generally cylindrical body configured for supporting an ammunition round therein;
- and
- attachment means for mounting the cylindrical body up to four other cylindrical bodies, identical to said first mentioned cylindrical body, in a honeycomb pattern, said attachment means comprising means for aligning each cylindrical body in a circular array with the other cylindrical bodies about a centerline of the honeycomb pattern, said attachment means comprising a heptagon shaped ring disposed proximate opposite ends of each cylindrical body.
An ammunition magazine assembly comprising:
- a plurality of attached modular canisters, each modular canister being configured for supporting an ammunition round and having means for attaching each modular canister to other modular canisters to form a monocoque structure, said means comprising a heptagon shaped mounting ring disposed proximate each end of each modular canister.
A modular ammunition canister comprising:
- a generally cylindrical body configured for supporting an ammunition round therein;
- and
- attachment means for mounting the cylindrical body to a plurality of other cylindrical bodies identical to said first mentioned cylindrical body in a honeycomb pattern, said attachment means comprising a heptagon shaped mounting ring disposed proximate each end of said generally cylindrical body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.