Zipper chain projectile rammer
AssigneeWestern Design Howden
InventorMichael D. Golden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Projectile ramming apparatus includes a rammer pawl for engaging the base of a projectile with a rigidizable chain attached to the rammer pawl for providing reciprocating movement thereto. The rigidizable chaining includes a plurality of rows of links having adjacent links pivotally attached to one another. A perimeter of each link enables fixed engagement of adjacent links on each row upon coordinated pivoting of adjacent links in each row and, further, for enabling release of the fixed engagement upon reverse coordinated pivoting of adjacent links. A drive is provided for reciprocally moving the chain and for pivoting adjacent links in order to rigidize the chain as the chain is moved in a forward direction; and unlocking, or unrigidizing, adjacent links as the chain is moved in a reverse direction.
Claims21
A rigidizable chain comprising:
- a plurality of rows of links, each of the links in all of the rows having identical perimeters;
- means for pivotally attaching two adjacent links of one of the plurality of rows to one link of another of the plurality of rows;
- and
- means, defining a perimeter of each link, for enabling fixed engagement of adjacent links in each row upon coordinated pivoting of the adjacent links in each row and for enabling release of the fixed engagement upon reverse coordinated pivoting of the adjacent links in each row.
A rigidizable chain comprising:
- first, second and third rows of links;
- means for pivotally attaching the one link of the second row to two adjacent link of the third row;
- means, defining a perimeter of each link, for enabling fixed engagement of adjacent links in each row upon coordinated pivoting of adjacent links in each row and for enabling release of the fixed engagement upon reverse coordinated pivoting of the adjacent links in each row.
Projectile ramming apparatus comprising:
- rammer pawl means for engaging a base of a projectile;
- rigidizable chain means, attached to said rammer pawl means, for providing reciprocating movement to said rammer pawl means, said rigidizable chain means comprising a plurality of rows of links;
- means for pivotally attaching two adjacent links of one of the plurality of rows to one link of another of the plurality of rows;
- and means, defining a perimeter of each link, for enabling fixed engagement of adjacent links in each row upon coordinated pivoting of the adjacent links in each row and for enabling release of the fixed engagement upon reverse coordinated pivoting of the adjacent links in each row, the perimeters of each of the links in all of the rows being identical to one another;
- and
- drive means for reciprocally moving the chain means and for pivoting adjacent links in order to rigidize the chain means as the chain means is moved in a forward direction, said drive means being further operative for pivoting adjacent links to cause unlocking of adjacent links as the chain means is moved in a reverse direction.
A method for rigidizing a rigidizable chain having a plurality of rows of links;
- means for pivotally attaching two adjacent links of one of the plurality of rows to one link of another of the plurality of rows;
- means, defining a perimeter of each link, for enabling fixed engagement of adjacent links in each row upon coordinated pivoting of the adjacent links in each row and for enabling release of the fixed engagement upon reverse coordinated pivoting of the adjacent links in each set, the perimeter of each of the links in all of the rows being identical to one another, said method comprising the steps of:
- sequentially pivoting one link of the one of the rows in one direction about a link in the another of the rows;
- and
- thereafter, pivoting a link adjacent to the one link in the another of the rows in an opposite direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.