Ram head

A ram head for permitting extraction of an ammunition unit which in its bottom is provided with a central, rotationally symmetrical form locking zone, said ram head comprising:

• a cylindrical housing having a front end plate and a rear end plate;
• a ring disposed in said housing for axial displacement;
• a plurality of extraction levers symmetrically disposed about a longitudinal axis of said housing, radially pivotally articulated to said ring and extending toward said front end plate;
• first spring bias means disposed in said housing for normally biasing said levers in a direction toward the longitudinal axis of said housing;
• a plunger mounted for axial movement within said housing independently of axial movement of said ring, said plunger engaging said levers and spreading same when said plunger and said ring are in first axial positions;
• second spring bias means disposed in said housing for biasing said plunger and said ring toward said rear end plate and into said first axial positions;
• a slide sleeve coupled to said ring for axial movement therewith, said slide sleeve being provided with a centering ring into which a front portion of said levers extend, said centering ring having a shape to matingly engage in the form locking zone in the bottom of the ammunition unit and extending out of said housing via an opening in said front end plate when said ring is in a second axial position;
• and, an eccentric shaft rotatably mounted on said housing in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis for controlling the axial movements of said ring and of said plunger.