Link separation device for an ammunition belt

#1. Field of the Invention

#The technical scope of the invention is that of ammunition feed devices for a weapon and, in particular, that of devices enabling the links to be separated from one another upon exiting the weapon after the ammunition has been fired.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#The invention will become more apparent from the following description made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

#FIGS. 1a and 1b shows a perspective view of the links of an ammunition belt that the invention proposes to separate automatically,

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the belt exit with one embodiment of a separation device according to the invention,

#FIGS. 1a and 1b have been described in the preamble to the present application. Their only purpose is to specify the structure of the adjacent links M1, M2 of an ammunition belt, which the invention proposes to dissociate.

#FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a separation device 5 for the links M1, M2 of a belt. In this Figure, a wall 6 is featured integral with the weapon (not shown) or turret. An opening 7 is arranged in this wall to enable the belt to exit.

#In FIG. 2, the letters H and B indicate the top (H) and bottom (B). We can thus see on this Figure that the links M exit the opening 7 oriented with their stirrups 2 open to the bottom B. In this orientation the force of gravity causes the first link M1 to pivot naturally with respect to the second one M2 when it is no longer supported. Furthermore, because of the assembly of the weapon being implemented here, it is the lateral stirrups 2 of a link M that exit first.