US3720301A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ammunition handling system
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1971-10-13
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Granted: 1973-03-13
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Expires: 1991-10-13
Abstract
Abstract A cartridge storage and feed system is provided including a magazine having a plurality of channels in a planar array, each channel for storing a column of cartridges, and an annular scoop for withdrawing the leading cartridge from each of said channels seriatim for providing a train of cartridges.
Inventors
- 👤 N Garland
- 👤 L Backus
- 👤 D Tassie
- 👤 B Clark
- 👤 J Scanlon
- 👤 O Meier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:59
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41A; F41A9/00; F41A9/61; F41A9/64; F41A9/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
An article storage and feed system, comprising: a plurality of magazine assemblies, each assembly having a plurality of channels, each channel for storing a column of articles; a like plurality of stripping conveyor assemblies, one for each magazine assembly respectively, each including means for individually engaging, accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the discharge end of a first one of said plurality of channels; and next, individually engaging, accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the discharge end of a second one of said plurality of channels; and next individually engaging, accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the discharge end of a third one of said plurality of channels; and so on in sequence to individually engaging accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the last one of said plurality of channels, and thereby providing a train of articles, one from each channel, seriatim; and combining means coupled to each of said conveyor assemblies for combining the like plurality of respective trains of articles into a single train of articles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
An article storage and feed system, comprising: a plurality of magazine assemblies, each assembly having a plurality of channels, each channel for storing a column of articles; a like plurality of stripping conveyor assemblies, one for each magazine assembly respectively, each including means for individually engaging, accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the discharge end of a first one of said plurality of channels; and next, individually engaging, accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the discharge end of a second one of said plurality of channels; and next individually engaging, accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the discharge end of a third one of said plurality of channels; and so on in sequence to individually engaging accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the last one of said plurality of channels, and thereby providing a train of articles, one from each channel, seriatim; and combining means coupled to each of said conveyor assemblies for combining the like plurality of respective trains of articles into a single train of articles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
172 words
An article storage and feed system, comprising: a plurality of magazine assemblies, each assembly having a plurality of channels, each channel for storing a column of articles; a like plurality of stripping conveyor assemblies, one for each magazine assembly respectively, each including means for individually engaging, accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the discharge end of a first one of said plurality of channels; and next, individually engaging, accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the discharge end of a second one of said plurality of channels; and next individually engaging, accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the discharge end of a third one of said plurality of channels; and so on in sequence to individually engaging accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the last one of said plurality of channels, and thereby providing a train of articles, one from each channel, seriatim; and combining means coupled to each of said conveyor assemblies for combining the like plurality of respective trains of articles into a single train of articles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
172 words
An article storage and feed system, comprising: a plurality of magazine assemblies, each assembly having a plurality of channels, each channel for storing a column of articles; a like plurality of stripping conveyor assemblies, one for each magazine assembly respectively, each including means for individually engaging, accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the discharge end of a first one of said plurality of channels; and next, individually engaging, accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the discharge end of a second one of said plurality of channels; and next individually engaging, accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the discharge end of a third one of said plurality of channels; and so on in sequence to individually engaging accelerating and withdrawing the leading article from the last one of said plurality of channels, and thereby providing a train of articles, one from each channel, seriatim; and combining means coupled to each of said conveyor assemblies for combining the like plurality of respective trains of articles into a single train of articles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein: the number of magazine assemblies n; ; the number of channels in each magazine assembly c; and each of said stripping conveyor assemblies provides a train of uniform pitch spacing of articles each having the sequential format of one group of c pitch spaces, each space containing an article; and (n-1) groups of c pitch spaces, each space omitting an article.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein: the pitch spacing of all of said conveyor assemblies are transversely in phase; and taken transversely, only one pitch space in any of said conveyor assemblies contains an article.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein: said combining means sequentially shifts all of said articles transversely from (n-1) conveyor assemblies to one conveyor assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein: said combining means sequentially shifts all of said articles transversely from (n-1) trains to one train.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein: the number of magazine assemblies n; and each of said stripping conveyor assemblies provides a train of articles of uniform linear pitch spacing s.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein: the pitch spacing of all of said conveyor assemblies are, taken sequentially - transversely, 1/n out of phase; and each pitch space in each conveyor assembly contains an article.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein: said combining means sequentially increases the linear pitch spacing of each train to (s)(n), and sequentially shifts all of said articles transversely from (n-1) trains to one train.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein: each said stripping conveyor assembly includes an endless train of elements for carrying articles, stripping means for displacing each leading article From its respective column to a respective element in said endless train.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein: each of said stripping conveyor assembly includes a respective cam surface rotating about an axis, said cam surface sequentially riding under the leading article in each channel and displacing said article from said channel along said cam surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein: each said stripping conveyor assembly further includes a respective article conveyor means for capturing each article in sequence as it is displaced along said cam surface and transporting such article away from said cam surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 11 wherein: said article conveyor means also rotates about said axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 12 wherein: said article conveyor means rotates about said axis at a higher velocity than said cam surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 13 wherein: the number of magazine assemblies n; and said angular velocity of said article conveyor means (n) velocity of said cam means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 14 wherein: each stripping conveyor assembly has (n) respective cam surfaces, uniformly angularly spaced apart.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein: said cam surface is provided on a spiral slot in a disk.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein: said cam surface is provided in part on a first spiral slot in a first disk and in part on a second spiral slot in a second disk longitudinally spaced therefrom.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 17 wherein: each said slot has an additional surface spaced from said cam surface for constraining centrifugal movement of a stripped cartridge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 18 wherein: each said additional surface includes a resilient portion adapted to be distorted to release such stripped cartridges for displacement from said disks.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
80 words
An accelerator for a train of articles comprising: a first article conveyor conveying articles at a first velocity v1; a second article conveyor for conveying articles at a second velocity v2; an intermediate article carrier journalled for rectilinear movement in a guide which is journalled for rotation about an intermediate axis; and means coupled to said carrier and to said guide for causing said guide to rotate about said intermediate axis and said carrier to move rectilinearly in said guide.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
80 words
An accelerator for a train of articles comprising: a first article conveyor conveying articles at a first velocity v1; a second article conveyor for conveying articles at a second velocity v2; an intermediate article carrier journalled for rectilinear movement in a guide which is journalled for rotation about an intermediate axis; and means coupled to said carrier and to said guide for causing said guide to rotate about said intermediate axis and said carrier to move rectilinearly in said guide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2993415A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-12 | 1976-09-11 | 1977-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-12 | 1980-09-11 | 1981-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-12 | 1984-09-11 | 1985-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |