US 6,443,045 B1Granted

Rammer for an artillery piece

AssigneeKraus-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG

InventorsMichael Kohltsedt, Arno Borner, Karl Lieberum

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Abstract

A rammer for an artillery piece with a barrel that can be elevated. The rammer has a cradle upstream of the barrel. The cradle is aligned with the powder chamber, has an accommodation for the shell, travels subject to a guide along a track that parallels the axis of the barrel, is coupled to a piston-and-cylinder mechanism that accelerates it toward the barrel, and is provided with a brake. The piston-and-cylinder mechanism is controlled by pneumatic controls that accommodate a rapid-opening valve. The valve diverts air back and forth between a source of compressed air and a vent. There is a pressure-reduction component with an electrically controlled proportional pressure-regulation valve between the source of compressed air and the rapid-opening valve. Signals from a fire direction system or position generator are forwarded to the electric controls. The pressure-regulation valve is then activated, reducing the ramming pressure in accordance with a prescribed formula as elevation decreases.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A rammer and artillery piece combination for use with artillery shells wherein said rammer and artillery piece combination comprises:

an artillery piece with a barrel that can be elevated, said barrel defining a first direction and having an upstream end;
a cradle having an accommodation for a shell with a structure at the upstream end of said cradle for engaging said shell, wherein said cradle is able to travel subject to a guide along a track in a direction that is parallel to said first direction defined by said barrel;
a piston-and-cylinder mechanism coupled to said cradle for accelerating said cradle in said first direction;
a braking mechanism that brakes said cradle at a prescribed distance from said upstream end of said barrel;
wherein said piston-and-cylinder mechanism is controlled by pneumatic controls that accommodate a rapid-opening valve, said valve diverting air back and forth between a source of compressed air and a vent;
further comprising a ramming pressure-reduction component with electrically controlled proportional pressure-regulation valve, said component interposed between said source of compressed air and said rapid-opening valve and operable to receive signals from a position generator, whereupon said pressure-regulation valve is activated and ramming pressure is reduced in accordance with a prescribed formula as the elevation of said barrel decreases.

3 more elements

A rammer and artillery piece combination for use with artillery shells, wherein said rammer and artillery piece combination comprises:

an artillery piece with a barrel that can be elevated, said barrel defining a first direction and having an upstream end;
a cradle that is able to travel subject to a guide along a track in a defined direction;
a piston-and-cylinder mechanism coupled to said cradle for accelerating said cradle in said defined direction, said piston-and-cylinder mechanism being controlled by pneumatic controls that accommodate a rapid-opening valve that diverts air back and forth between a source of compressed air and a vent;
a braking mechanism that brakes and restricts the movement of said cradle at a defined point;
a ramming pressure-reduction component with electrically controlled proportional pressure-regulation valve, said component interposed between said source of compressed air and said rapid-opening valve, said pressure-reducing component operable to receive signals from a position generator and activating said pressure-regulation valve, thereby reducing ramming pressure in accordance with a prescribed formula.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.