Ejector system and use of the system in large caliber guns

In a tubular cannon including a gun barrel and a breechblock wedge for closing a breech end of the gun barrel, an ejector system for the extraction of cartridge casings or cartridge bottoms from the cannon, comprising:

• a breech ring disposed at the breech end of the gun barrel;
• first and second ejectors having respective recesses;
• means for mounting said ejectors adjacent the breech end of the gun barrel for linear displacement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gun barrel, said means for mounting said ejectors comprising first and second longitudinally extending grooves which are formed in the breech ring and into which a respective one of said ejectors extends;
• first and second ejector claws, each connected to a respective one of said ejectors for grasping a rear of a cartridge casing;
• first and second ejector levers each having an L-shaped configuration comprised of first and second arms, each said first arm extending into a respective one of said recess to slidingly engage the respective said ejector in a displaceable manner, said ejector levers and the associated said ejectors and ejector claws being symmetrically disposed relative to said longitudinal axis of the gun barrel;
• means for mounting said first and second ejector levers adjacent said breech end of said gun barrel for pivotal movement about an axis extending perpendicular to an axis parallel to said longitudinal axis of said gun barrel, so that pivoting of said levers causes said linear displacement of said ejectors;
• and
• means for engaging the respective second arms of said ejector levers to initiate said pivotal movement of said levers during opening of said breechblock.