US2450553A - Fuse setting mechanism for guns - Google Patents

Description

Oct.v5, 1948. B. JORGENSEN FUSE SETTING MECHANISM FOR GUNS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 18, 1943 Oct. 5, 1948. B. JORGENSEN I 55 FUSE SETTING MECHANISM FOR GUNS I I Filed June 1a, 1943 4 shets-gsheet 2 B. JORGENSEN FUSE SETTING MECHANISM FOR GUNS Oct. 5, 1948.

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FUSE SETTING MECHANISM FOR GUNS Filed June 1a, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 5, 1948 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE FUSE SET'IENG MECHANISM FOR GUNS Application June 18, 1943, Serial No. 491,353

11 Claims. 1

a. This invention relates to loading mechanisms for guns, and more particularly to mechanisms for automatically setting the fuse of a shell and immediately thereafter transferring the shell into alinement with the gunand ramming the shell into the gun. The invention is illustrated herein as applied to a gun of large caliber particularly adapted for use in an airplane, although in various aspects it is not thus limited in its applicability.

One object of the present invention is to provide improved fuse-setting mechanism adapted to be placed in operation by endwise movement of the shell into position to be engaged by the fusesetting mechanism. To this end and in accordance with a feature-of the invention, the fusevention, means. are provided for feeding the shell to the fuse-setting mechanism, the operation of the feeding means being interrupted by the shell in response to its movement into fuse-setting position. The feeding means is in the form of a conveyor chain upon which a plurality of shells arearranged in tandem, and preferably and as illustrated, the chain is. driven by fluid-pressureoperated means controlled byan electrically operated valve which is in turn controlled by a normally closed switch opened by the nose of the shell upon its movement into fuse-setting position.

Various features of the invention are to be recognized in the novel organization of means for supporting each shell for the fuse-setting operation and for thereafter transferring each shell into alinement with the gun and for moving it into the breech of the gun. In the illustrated construction, a loading tray is positioned between the feed chain and the fuse setter and fluidpressure-operated mechanism is provided for moving the tray transversely of the conveyor chain to transfer each shell into alinement with the gun for ramming. Preferably and as shown, the fluid-pressure-operated mechanism is controlled by the fuse-setting mechanism at the completion of the fuse-setting operation, and as each shell is moved into-ramming position it is rammed into the breech of .the gun by a springoperated rammer, the operating spring of which is loaded for the next succeeding ramming operation by the gun upon counterrecoil.

Asa further feature of the invention; the transfer tray is so mounted that it is automatically moved into alinement with the gun by engagement ofthe tray with a; housing bywhich the rammer is supported so that regardless of the position in which the gun is aimed the shell-will always assume the correct ramming position relatively thereto.

Another feature of the invention relates to members carriedby the rammer-supporting housing which support the empty shell'case as it is ejected from the gun after firing so that the shell case is properly guided without interference with the loading trayzor other mechanism.

These'and other features of the invention,- including various novel combinations of parts and details of;construction, will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In thedrawin s.

Fig 11 is aside elevation, .partly in section, of

one form of apparatus in which the invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

-Fig.;3-is a vertical-section through the fusesetting mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V-V of'Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, illustrating the electrical mechanism for operating the valves which control the admission of pressurefluid to the, fuse setter for turning it in one direction or the other;

Fig. 'Z-is aview illustrating progressive-positions of the loading tray relatively to the breech end of the gun as a shell is carried from the fusesetting position into the ramming position;

Fig.8 is a perspectivev view of the breech end of the gun, showing a portion of the mechanism by which the rammer is operated; and

Fig. 9 is an'electrical diagram of the control system.

Aslshown in Fig. 1, the shells are supported in end-to-end or tandem relationship by a magazine M. The shells are fed one at a time from the magazine onto a loading tray T which supports the shells during the fuse-setting operation. As the shells are fed onto the tray, the nose of the shell is positioned to be operated upon by a fuse setter F which includes means for holding the shell stationary and for turning the fuse ring of the shell ,a predetermined amount. After the fuse has been set, the fuse setter F is moved forward relatively to the shell S which is on the loading tray, whereupon the loading tray is moved upwardly to carry the shell into alinement with a gun G only the breech end of which is illustrated herein. When the shell reaches this position, it is rammed into the gun by a rammer R, and the loading tray and the fuse setter return to the positions illustrated ready to receive another shell from the magazine and to set the fuse thereof.

The magazine M comprises a casing having a top wall It] and side walls l2 (Figs. 1 and 2) between which walls a plurality of shells are supported in tandem by an endless conveyor chain M. The casing is carried by legs I6 and i8 extending upwardly from a support 20. The conveyor chain 14, the upper run of which forms the lower wall of the magazine, is carried by a sprocket Z2 journaled on a shaft 24 extending between the logs l6 and a second sprocket (not shown) located directly behind a sprocket 26 and carried by a shaft 28 journaled between the side walls i2 at the forward end of the magazine. The shaft 24 carrying the sprocket '22 also forms the means by which the casing Ill, I2 is supported :by the legs I6. The conveyor chain carries lugs 30 which extend outwardly at spaced intervals and are arranged to engage the rear ends of the shells to carry them forwardly during movement of the conveyor chain.

The conveyor chain is moved at intervals through a distance which is just sufiicient to move a shell S onto the loading tray T into the position shown in Fig. 1. This movement of the chain is effected by a rack 32 engaging a pinion 34 journaled on a shaft 36 which is in turn supported by and extends from one of the side walls [2 of the magazine. The pinion 34 is connected by a one-way clutch mechanism 38 (Fig. 2) to a sprocket 4B journaled on the shaft 36 and connected by a sprocket chain 42 to the sprocket 26 fixed to the shaft 28 (Fig. 1). Upon movement of the rack rearwardly, or to the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, it drives the conveyor chain through the clutch mechanism 38 and the sprocket chain 42 to move the shells forwardly. The rear end of the rack 32 is formed as a piston rod M to the rearward end of which is secured a piston 56 slidable in a cylinder 48. The piston is normally held in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 by a spring 50 and is arranged to be moved rearwardly by the introduction of fluid under pressure into the cylinder forwardly of the piston upon opening a valve 52. This valve is arranged to be opened automatically by a solenoid 54 at a predetermined time during the operation of the apparatus, as will be later described.

The loading tray T comprises a pair of walls 56 (Fig. '7) arranged in the form of a V between} which a shell may be supported. To the under side of the walls 55 are pivotally connected by pins (Fig. l) a pair of depending brackets 58 which are in turn connected by links filiand pins Bl to a cross arm 62 of a U-shaped frame having vertical upwardly extending arms 64. These arms are connected at their upper and lower ends to the forward ends of parallel links 66 and 68, respectively, the rearward ends of which are pivoted at and 12 to the spaced arms of a U-shaped supporting frame 74 secured to the support 26. The pins 6! by which the links 6E3 are connected to the cross arm 62 extend upwardly and are connected by a tension spring '16 which has a connection to the rearward portion of the loading tray T. This spring normally 4 maintains the loading tray in a central position in which it is in alinement with the shells in the magazine M, Whereas, the connection of the tray to the crcssarm 52 by the links 6!] permits swinging movement of the tray in a horizontal plane so that it may be oriented with respect to the gun as the shells are moved into ramming position, as will be explained. It will be noted that the links 60 diverge rearwardly from their connection with the tray so that they do not provide a para1le1 motion for the tray. Instead, as the tray is swung on the arms in accordance with the position of the gun in azimuth, the links, by reason of their non-parallel relations hip,,cause the tray also to turn as it is swung laterally, and the arrangement of the links is such that when the forward portion of the tray is moved into a position adjacent to the breech end of the gun, the tray will be in axial alinement with the gun, regardless of the position of the gun. The spring also supports the rearward end of the tray but permits rocking movement of the tray in a vertical plane about the pivotal connections to the brackets 58 so that the loading tray may assume the same position in elevation as the gun when the shells are moved into ramming position. The brackets 58 have forwardly extending abutments 19 between which and bosses M on the tray are positioned compression springs 33. These springs cooperate with the spring 55 normally to maintain the tray in a horizontal position but permit some depression of the forward end of the tray to aline the shell with the gun if the gun is pointed slightly downward.

The links 66 have rearwardly and downwardly extending arms 18 which have pin-and-slot connections 86 with pistons 82 movable in cylinders 84. Upon introduction of pressure fluid into the cylinders rearwardly of the pistons, the pistons are moved forwardly and, by reason of their connections to the arms I8 of the links 66, cause the loading tray T, with the shell carried thereby, to be elevated. The cylinders 84 are connected by pipes 86 and a pipe 88 to a valve 913 by which the flow of pressure fluid into the cylinders is controlled. This valve is operated by a solenoid 92 which, when energized, opens the valve and permits fiow of pressure fluid into the cylinder and, upon de-energization closes the valve and disconnects the cylinders from a source of pressure fluid. Pressure fluid within the cylinders is exhausted through a pipe 94 and upon closure of the valve the loading tray returns by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 1.

In order that the loading tray will be properly oriented with respect to the gun as the tray carries a shell S into ramming position, a pair of spaced rolls 9 1 is carried by each of the walls 55 of the loading tray. These rolls are journaled in brackets 96 secured to the upper outer surfaces of the walls at each end of the tray. The rolls are arranged to engage walls of a rammer housing 98 extending rearwardly from the breech end of the gun and secured thereto by a bracket 9%. This housing, as shown in Fig. '7, comprises spaced walls 102 the upper portions of which are parallel and the lower portions of which are divergent. The divergent portions of the walls carry plates [E l having hinge portions I06 extending through apertures in the walls and pivoted to the outer surfaces thereof. Arms Hi8, rigidly connected to the plates I84, cooperate with the outer surfaces of the walls to prevent downward movement of the plates beyond the horizontal positions illustrated. As the loading tray carrying the shell is moved upwardly, the plates I04 are moved upwardly into engagement with the inner surfaces of the walls I02, as shown in Fig. 7, and the rolls 96 on the loading tray engage these walls. By reason of the mounting of the loading tray for movement in both horizontal and vertical planes, it will be swung by the engagement of the rolls with the plates I04 as the tray is moved upwardly so that the shell carried therewith is in alinement with the gun barrel regardless of the position of the gun. After the shell has been rammed, in a manner to be explained, the plates assume the horizontal positions shown at the left in Fig. '7 and serve to guide the shell case as it. is ejected from the gun following the firing.

The rammer R, by which the shell is rammed into the gun after it is in the proper position, comprises a sprocket chain H (Figs. 1 and 2) carried by sprockets H2 and H4. The sprocket H2 is journaled in a bracket H5 supported on the breech block (not shown) for vertical movement therewith, and the sprocket H4 is carried by a shaft I I 8 supported between the upper rearward portions of the walls I02 of the housing 98. The chain I I0 carries lugs I I6 arranged to engage the rear end of the shell and force it into the breech of the gun as the chain is driven. For driving the chain, the shaft H8, carrying the sprocket H4, has mounted on its outer end a sprocket I20, connected by a drive chain I22 to a sprocket I24 (Figs. 2 and 8) mounted on a shaft I26 journaled in a bracket I28 secured to the breech end of the gun, and in the adjacent wall of the breech, The shaft I26 carries a. pinion I30 connected thereto by a suitable one-way clutch mechanism, and this pinion is arranged to be rotated by a rack I32 extending forwardly and connected at its forward end to a rod I34 (Fig. 2) passing through a cylinder I36 mounted in a bracket I 31 coaxial with the horizontal trunnions of the gun. The rod I34 carries a collar I38 which engages one end of a compression spring I40, the forward end of which engages a forward wall of the cylinder I36. This spring urges the rod and the rack I32 rearwardly, but these members are normally constrained against such movement by a latch I44 pivoted to the gun and having a portion which engages the rear end of the rack, as shown in Fig. 8. Upon pivoting the latch upwardly, the rack is free to be moved rearwardly by the spring I to drive the rammer chain H0 through sprocket I24, drive chain I22 and sprocket I20. For releasing the latch when it is time to ram a shell, a release arm I46, connected at one end to the latch, has its other end extending through a hole in one of the walls I02 of the rammer housing, as shown in Fig. '7, in position to be engaged by a shell S. When a shell has been moved into ramming position, as shown at the right in Fig. '7, the shell engages the end of the arm I46, moving it upwardly a. suflicient distance to release the latch I44, whereupon the rack I32 is actuated by the spring I40 to drive the rammer chain H0 and to drive the shell into the breech of the gun. After the shell has been thus introduced into the gun, the breech block is closed in any conventional manner and the gun is fired. The breech block moves upwardly in its closing movement lifting the bracket H5 which supports the forward end of the rammer chain H0 so that the chain is pivoted about the axis of the rear supporting shaft H8. During the recoil of the gun the latch I44 moves rearwardly with it until it is hooked over the end of the rack 7 magazine.

6 I32 which is at this time rearwardly of the position shown in Figs. 2 and 8, the spring I40 being fully expanded. Upon counterrecoil, as the gun returns to battery, the latch moves the rack back to the position shown in Fig. 2, at the same time compressing the spring I40 so that the spring is loaded in readiness for the next ramming operation. It will be understood that during the recoil of the gun, the pinion I30 (Fig. 8) movable with the gun, moves relatively to the rack and is therefore rotated in a direction opposite to that in which it was rotated during the ramming operation. However, no motion is transmitted during recoil to the sprocket I24 through the one-way clutch mechanism.

Prior to the upward movement of the loading tray T from the position shown in Fig. 1 into ramming position, the fuse of the shell is set by mechanism which will now be described. The fuse setter F, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, includes a base I50 secured to the support 20. The upper portion of the base is channelled to provide guideways I5I in which is supported a carriage I52 for limited sliding movement lengthwise of the The carriage is normally maintained in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 by a pair of tension springs I54 secured between pins I55 extending outwardly from the carriage I52 and pins I51 extending upwardly from the base I50. A plate I56, secured to the rearward wall of the base and projecting thereabove, limits the rearward movement of the carriage by the springs I50; whereas forward movement of the carriage is limited by a similar plate I58 secured to the forward wall of the base. The carriage is arranged to be moved forwardly against the force of the springs I54 after the fuse has been set so that the shell may be moved vertically without any interference from the fuse setter. For this purpose, a fluid-pressure motor comprising a piston I60, movable in a cylindrical bore I62 in the base I50, is provided. The forward end of the piston I60 engages a depending portion I64 of the carriage so that upon the introduction of I pressure fluid behind the piston, the carriage is moved forwardly until it is in engagement with the plate I58. The flow of pressure fluid into the space behind the piston is controlled by a valve I66 (Fig. 5) operated by a solenoid I68, so that upon energization of the solenoid the valve operates to permit pressure fluid to flow from a high-pressure line I10 into the space behind the piston. Upon de-energizationof this solenoid the valve is moved by a spring I12 into closed position in which it permits the exhaust of fluid behind the piston I6Il through a pipe I14, whereupon the carriage I52 is moved back to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 by the springs I54.

The fuse-setting instrumentalities include a set of knives I'I6 arranged to be moved into engagement with a fuse ring I'I8 of the shell S and other knives I and I82 (Fig. 4) arranged to grip and hold the shell rearwardly of the fuse ring during the fuse-setting operation. The knives II6 are carried by a cage I84 which is rotatably mounted in an upwardly projecting portion I86 of the carriage I 52. These knives are formed at the rearward ends of levers I88 fulcrumed on pins I90 in the cage I84. The forward ends of the levers are connected by toggle links I92 and I94 to a hollow rod I96 slidable in the forward end of the cage I84. This end of the cage is formed as a sleeve I98 which passes through the portion I86 of the carriage and has secured to its mid-portion a pinion 200. A bush- '7 ing..202 -surrounds asleeve 2B3 formedon the pinion 200 and-the sleeve I98. and cage I84. are held against axial movement .by a -nut 26 i threaded on'areducedforward portion of the sleeve. A bushing2i36 is secured to the: forward portion of the hollow rod:I96 and.is slidable withinthe adjacent :portion of'the-sleeve E93. This-rod is normally :urged forwardly of. the carriage I52 by a compression spring 268; actingbetween the bushing 266' and theeage i84' so that the.- knives I76. are normallly"maintained out of engagement with the fuse ring I'IB of the shell.

The knives: :86, arranged to engage the shell rearwardly ofthe fuse ring,;are stationarily supported in a bracket 2 I6 (Fig. llsecuredtby screws 2I2.to the rearward end of the carriage I52. The knife'. I82 is mounted for vertical movement in the bracket 2E6 and upon being moved upwardly the shell is gripped between the stationaryknives I80; and the movable knife 182 against rotative movement, so that with the knives I16 in engagement with the fuse ring" the fusemay be set'by turning the cage WA.

For thus moving the knives E76 and the knife I82, a fluid-pressure motor, composed of pistons 2M and 2I6 movable in a cylinder 2I8' formed .in the'carriage I 52, is provided. The cylinderfilB has an inlet port 2 59 located between the pistons 2| 4 and 2 I 6 so that upon the introduction of pressure fluid into the cylinder the pistons move outwardly in-opposite directions. The piston 2m acts upon the lowerend ofa lever 22!!- pivoted at 222 on a bracket 224 extending forwardly" from the carriage I52. The upper end of the lever 220 is forked and carries rolls 225 received in an annular groove in thebushing 266 on'the forward end of the hollow rod 596. .The other piston 2I6 acts upon an arm 223 of a' bell-crank lever pivoted .at'236 within a recess formedin the rearward side of the carriage #152. The other mm 232 of the bell-crank lever carries a roll'23 3 engageable with the lower end of the slidab'le knife I82. The bell-crank lever is normally urged in a clockwise'direction by a spring 236 so that when no pressure is exerted between the pistons the bellcrank lever moves the piston 2E6 inwardly permitting the knife 482 to 'drop by gravity out of engagement with the shell. The spring 268, acting on the rod, I66, maintains this'rod in a forward position when there is no pressure between thepistons, and accordingly the adjacent ends of the pistons are located in proximity toeach other. The adjacent portions of the pistons carry packing members 2 3?] secured to the pistons by screws 242. The heads of these screws extend outwardly beyond the packing members and accordingly prevent actual contact of the adjacent ends of the pistons so that the inlet port 2 I9 is never closed thereby.

Upon the introduction of pressure fluid between the pistons they are moved outwardly into the positions shown in Fig. 3 so that the knife I82 cooperates with the stationary knives: I36 to hold the shell against rotation. The hollow rod I96 is moved rearwardiy or 'tothe right, thus moving the toggle links E92, I9 3 toward straightened conditions so that the knives I76 are moved into gripping relationship with the fuse ring Hi8. Theflow of pressure fluid into the cylinder 2I8 between the piston 2E4 and2 I6 is controlledjbya valve 24 3 (Figs which is moved to open position upon energization of a solenoid246. Accordingly, upon energization of this solenoid, the fuse-setting knives H6 are moved into engage- 8 ment with the fuse ring. I78 of the shell and the shell .is locked against bodily rotation by. the knives I80 and I82. .Uponde-energization ofthe solenoid the valve 244 cuts ofif' the flow of pressure fluid into the cylinder=2l8 and opens the cylinder to an exhaust 248,'whereupon the fusesetting knives are immediately moved out of;engagement with the fuse ring by the spring 263 and the bell-crank-lever is moved by thespring 236 to permit the "knife E82 todrop away from the shell so that the shell isrno longer'held by the knives I80 and I82.

For turning the cage I84 bylwhich the fusesetting knives I16 are supported thereby toset the fuse, a fluid-pressure motor comprising a piston 250 (Fig. 5) .slidable in a cylinder'252, formed in a lateral extensionl254 of the carriage I52, is, provided. Formed integrally with the piston is a rack 256 engageable with the lower side of the pinion 26!] mounted onthe sleeve I98 of the cage I84. Upon the introduction'of pressure. fluid into the cylinder 252 rearwardlyof the piston 25!] the piston is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 5 and imparts rotative movement to the cage I 84 to set the fuse. For returning the cage I84 to its initial position after the completion of the fuse-setting operation, a rack=258 is provided engageable with the pinion-20D opposite the rack 256. The rack: 258 is integral with a piston 260 movable in a cylinder 262 formed in 3 pressure fluid is introduced into the cylinder 262 rearwardly of the piston 266 to-move this piston to the left, whereupon the piston 250 is returned to the position shown, thepressure fluid within the cylinder 252 being permitted to exhaust during this -movement.

For controlling the admission of pressure'fluid into the cylinders 252 and 262 a valvemechanism' 264' is provided. This valve-mechanism includes a casing having a high pressure chamber 266 in constant communication with a pressure line268 and a low pressure ordischarge chamber 210 from which fluid discharges through a pipe 2'52. The valve mechanisml264 also includes a pair of sleeve valves 224 and 276 connected by a lever 278' for equal and opposite movements in response to movement of the lever about its supporting pivot 219. 'With'the sleeve'valve 214 in the position illustrated in Fig. 5,, communication between a set of ports 28!) and- 28! in a pipe-282 is cut off by a partition'284 in the pipe'and any fluid within the cylinder 252may pass through the ports 28!! to the discharge pipe 212, At this time, however, similar ports in a pipe 286 associated with the cylinder-262 are in-communication by way of the sleevee2l6 so that the cylinder 262 is connected to the pressure chamber 265, whereas the sleeve 275 prevents discharge of the fluid within the cylinder 262 so'that the pistons 25!) and 266 are normally maintained in the positions illustrated in-which the fuse setter is in a zero position. Upon movement of the lever 218 in a clockwise direction to reverse the positions of the sleeve valves 214 and 216, it will be understood that pressure fluid is admitted to the cylinder252 and discharges from the cylinders, 262 so that the piston. 256' is movedtoward the left to impart a fuse-setting movement to the cage I84. The lever 216 is operated by a pair of solenoids 290 and 292 the armatures of. which are connected to an arm 294.. keyed to the shaft 219 by which 9, the lever 218 iscarried. Upon energizati'on-of'the solenoid 2921Jthe arm-294' is -movedupwardly to rock thelever 2'i8 in aclockwise direction to rereverse the positions of the-valves's This-operation is effected upon only a momentary energization of the solenoid as the valves will-remain in the positions to which'they are moved until'the other solenoid is energized. The solenoid 290 will be energized after the fuse-setting operation has been completed to move the valve back'to the positions illustrated, whereupon the cage I34- supporting the fuse-setting knives will return to its'initial position, as will be explained hereinafter.

For controlling the fuse-setting time, a'- switch 300- is adjustably mounted by means of a screw- 302 one, slideway formed in a bracket-39 isecured to and extending'laterally from the carriageIB'Z.

This switch includes a pivoted actuating a-rm' closes and permits exhaust of pressure fiuid from 1 between the pistons El i-and ZIB (Fig. .3) so'that' the fuse-settingknives move out of engagement with theshell and the fuse-setting operation stops. Any suitable'mechanism may be employed for operatingthe screw-302topositiontheswitch SUB-in accordance withethe desired fuse-setting and, as illustrated herein, the screw is connected by a'fiexible shaft 3l2'and bevelgearing SM, 316 to an'actuating handle 3l8. A pointer 328 carried'by the gear 3I6 cooperateswith a suitably calibrated scale .sothat after the desired fusesetting time has beendetermined; the handle 3-! 8 is turneduntil the pointer registerswith thenume beriof fuse seconds desired and the switch 300 is positioned accordingly.

The various circuits by which the. difierent op erations are control-led to. obtain the proper sequence of operations will now be describedin .detail with reference to Fig. 91 The. energization of the solenoid 54, by which the operation of the shell-feeding chain 14 is controlled, is in turn controlled'by three different switches which insure that theloading tray is in its proper position. that the fuse-setting mechanism is in its proper position and that a shell is not :already positioned with its nose in'the' fus'e'setter; when the chain is'operated. Carried by on'e'ofthe vertical arms of'the U-shaped bracket l4whichsupport the tray-elevating links is-a switch" 324 arranged'to be closedby one of the links (SB-when the'loading' tray isin its lower or shell-receiving position; As:

shown in-Fig. 9; the switch 324' includes a pair of-"spaced' contacts 326 and 328arranged to' be connected by a switch arm 33!] When'thelinks 66 are in=the positions illustrated in Fig. 1, at which time-the loading'tra-y is in itslowermost position. As soon as the loading tray hasbeen elevated from this position, however, the switch arm 33D-ismoved out of engagement with the contacts 326 and 328- by aspring-332i Connected in series-with the switch 331} is'a switch 334 carried bythe plate- I55 (Fig. 3) forming the stop for the rearward movement of-the carriage I522 This switch includes apair of spaced con-- there is no shell inthe fuse setter;

ranged to connect'the contacts when the-switch is in the position shown in'Fig. 9; This switch is operated by the carriage l52-When in its rearward or fuse-setting position by its'engagement' with a pin 342 connected to the switch arm 34% and extending throughtheplate MS in the path of movement ofthe carriage. Accordingly the switch 334 is closed only when thefnse setter is-in its rearward or fuse-setting position. A- third switch 344=is in series with theswitches- 324 and 3341' Thisswitch is secured to a bracket-346* extending forwardly from the carriage152' and includes a pair of spaced contacts 34-8 and'350" arranged to -be=closedby a switch arm 352 when" The switch arm is normally held in position to connect the" contacts 348"and=353 by a spring 35'4'-and' is arranged to be-movedagainst the force exerted'by' the springb a rod 356 (Fig. 3) extending'throu-gh' the hollow rod iefi and terminating'in'aportiorr arranged to beengaged by the nose ofa'sheIl'S when the shell has been moved into the proper: fuse-setting position. Accordingly, it will be, understood that when" no shell isin the fuse'setten the contacts 1 348" and: 350 are; connected by, the-switch arm 3521 Withthe switches 324'} 334? and 344 closed, thevsolenoid 54 is energized. by the .followingcircuit': from-line wire 36ll through; wire 362, switch 324, wire 364, switch 334; wire 3BB',, contacts 348' and 350" of'switch 344, wire 368 to the solenoid, and back through .wire 31!! toavline; wire 372. Thus with the loading tray in its shellreceiving position and'the fuse setter in.itsrear.-- ward position the solenoid 54 is energized .toopen thevalve 52;.whereupon the conveyor-chain: I 4

is Operated by the.fluid pressure motor; comprise-- ing piston 4E'and cylinder 48; to feed arshe-ll. onto the loading tray T Aftera shell-hasbeenfed onto thev loadingv tray into the positionshown in Figs. 1.. and 3, the switch arm 352 is moved out: of engagement with the contacts 348: and 350 E of the switch344- to. break theecircuit to:the:so1e;

noid 54; whereupon the feeding movement "stops."

After the shell has. been: thus fedinto. fuse:- setting position; .thefuse-setting knives. are au-- tomatioally moved into 'engagement-withthe shell as.-'-follows: The sWitch1344Joperated by the shell includes aisecond' pair of contacts 314 'and13'l6 which are normally open but are closedby move-- ment ofvthe switch arm 352 by the shellat theendiof the feedingoperation. A'- circuit isnow completed: to'the solenoid 246which operates-the valve 244- to admitipressure fluid between the pistons 214 and:2.| B: which operate the'fuse-setting knives. Thiscircuit: is as follows: from thelinerwire *36Btthrough' wire 380, contacts-374 and 316. of switch 344;wire382 through the solenoid 246, Wire 384, contacts 336, 388 of the switch-30E) which are-normally. closed by a switohar1n390, and back through wire 392 toline -wire 312 Thus after the shell has been moved into fuse-settingposition', thefuse-settingzk'nives are automatica'l ly moved: into engagement therewith and the 1 mechanism'then comes to'restwith the shell ready for the fuse-setting operation, this being the-p0 SltiOnLOf 1 the parts with the mechanism at" rest at the-end bf the cycle of operations.

The cycle of operations is started by pressing amanually operated push button' 33tl after the de-- sired fuse-setting time has been determined and the switch30l-hasbeen positioned accordingly. Depression of the push button 3 94"c0nnects switch contacts 336 and 398*- to complete a circuit through the-solenoid 292 as follows: from' line" ll wire 360 through wire 400, contacts 393, 398, wire 402, solenoid 232 and Wire 434, back to the line Wire 312. Energization of this solenoid operates the valve 274 (Fig. to admit pressure fluid to the cylinder 252, whereupon the piston 255i and rack 256 are moved to the left to impart rotative movement to the cage 84 to turn the fuse ring I16 of the shell S. When the fuse ring has been turned an amount corresponding to the previous setting or positioning of the switch 300, the arm 308 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction to break the circuit through the solenoid 246 at the contacts 386 and 388 (Fig. 9). Immediately the fuse-setter knives are moved out of engagement with the fuse ring I I8 and the fuse-setting operation stops.

'The movement of the arm 308 b the rack after the fuse has been set to the desired value, also causes a circuit to be completed through a pair of contacts 4I0 and M2 of the switch 300 to energize the solenoid I $3 as follows: from the line wire 360 through wire 4M, contacts H0 and M2, wire M3, solenoid I68 and wire M8, to the line wire 312. The energization of this solenoid opens the valve I33 to admit fluid pressure into n the cylinder I62 behind the piston I60, causing the fuse-setter carriage I52 to be retracted or moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 3, thereby to free the shell for its transfer into ramming position. This transfer does not occur until the fuse setter has been fully retracted, at which time it operates a switch 20 secured to the plate IE8 which limits the movement of the fuse-setter carriage by the piston I60.

After the fuse-setter has been fully retracted, a circuit through the solenoid 32, which operates the valve 90 to admit pressure fluid into the transfer-tray-lifting cylinders 84, is completed as follows: from the line wire 360 through wires, 003, 422, contacts 324, 426 of the switch 420, wire 528, arm 430 of a switch 432, wire 534, solenoid 92 and wire 436, to the line wire 312. The switch 432 may be mounted on the breech end of the gun, as indicated in Fig. 3, and is arranged to be actuated by a projection 4 of the rack I32 which operates the ramming mechanism. When the rack is in the position shown with the spring I (Fig. 2) loaded, the switch arm 430 is in engagement with a contact 442. Upon movement of the rack rearwardly of the gun to ram the shell, the switch arm 139 is moved into engagement with a second contact 444 and upon movement of the gun in counter-recoil to return the rack I32 to the position illustrated, the switch arm is moved back into engagement with the contact 442. The switch arm is pivoted on a pin 446 (Fig. 9) and a tension spring M8 connected to the switch arm provides a snap action therefor.

With the fuse setter in its fully retracted position and the solenoid 92 energized, the loading tray is elevated to carry the shell into ramming position in alinement with the gun. The loading tray is self-alining, as has been explained, so that the shell is carried into the proper position regardless of how the gun is aimed. After the shell has thus been moved into ramming position, the arm I36, connected to the latch I44 which maintains the rack I32 of the rammeroperating mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 8, is engaged by the shell to release the latch. The rack I32 is thus released to the action of the spring I40 to operate the rammer R and load the shell in the gun. Any suitable means, not illustrated, may be provided for automatically 12 closing the breech block after the shell has been properly rammed and for firing the gun.

During the early part of the ramming movement, the rack I32 moves the switch arm 430 away from the contact 442 and into engagement with the contact 444. This interrupts the circuit through the solenoid 92 so that the loading tray returns to its lower position in alinement with the shells in the magazine in readiness to receive another shell during the next feeding movement. This movement of the loading tray closes the switch 324, and it will be understood that the contacts 348 and 350 of the switch 344 are closed, inasmuch as no shell is in the transfer tray. However, the feeding does not begin until the fuse-setter carriage I52 has returned to its normal position to close the switch 334. The engagement of the arm 330' of switch 432 with the contact 444 closes a circuit through the solenoid 290 of the fuse setter as follows: from the line wire 360 through wires 400, 422, switch 420 which is still closed, wire 428, switch arm 430, contact M4, wire 450, solenoid 290 and wire 452, to the line wire 372, The energization of the solenoid 299 swings the lever 218 of the valve 264 back into the position illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, whereupon fluid under pressure flows into the cylinder 262 and exhausts from the cylinder 252 to return the racks to the positions illustrated and to return the fuse setter to its initial or zero position. At the beginning of this movement of the rack 256 the arm 303 of the switch 303 is returned by the spring 3I0 to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 9, thus opening the circuit through the solenoid I58, whereupon the valve I66 closes and the fuse-setter is moved back to its operative position by the springs I54. After the fuse setter has returned to its operative position the switch 334 is closed, whereupon the solenoid 54 of the shell-feeding mechanism is energized, as heretofore explained, to feed another shell onto the loading tray. This feeding movement continues until contacts 348 and 350 of the shell-operated switch 364 are opened, at which time the contacts 3M and 316 of this switch are closed. The closing of these contacts energizes the solenoid 246 to admit fluid under pressure into the cylinder 2IB whereupon the fuse-setting knives are moved into engagement with the shell. The apparatus then comes to rest with the shell in position for a fuse-setting operation, and after the switch 300 is properly positioned by the controller 3I8 and the manually operated switch 394 closed, the foregoing cycle of operations is repeated.

After ramming of the shell, the plates I04 associated with the rammer mechanism return to their horizontal positions, as shown at the left in Fig. 7, so that after firing of the gun the ejected shell will be supported in its rearward movement by these plates so that it will be thrown clear of the fuse-setting mechanism and a suitable receptacle may be provided if desired for receiving the ejected shells.

It will thus be seen that a fully automatic feeding, fuse-setting and loading mechanism has been provided which goes through an entire cycle of operations upon the closing of a manual switch to set the fuse, transfer the shell into ramming position, ram the shell, feed another shell into fuse-setting position and grip the nose of the shell in readiness for a subsequent fuse-setting operation, these operations taking place in the order named. The various operations, with the exception of the ramming, are effected by fluid- 13" pressure mechanisms-and the -ramming is effected by a spring loaded during counterrecoil of the gun. There is thus provided a fully automatic mechanism suitable-for setting the fuses of shells and loading the shells, adapted for use with guns of large caliber.

The construction of the'rammer and themeans for alining the shell with the bore of the gun preparatory" to the ramming operation are not claimed "herein, but form the subject matterof divisional application Serial No. 569,540, filed December 23, 1944, now Patent No. 2,425,425, granted August 12, 1947, in my name.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, fuse-setting mechanism comprising a set of knives for gripping the fuseadjusting member of a shell, means engageable with another portion of the shell for holding the shell against movement during the fuse-setting operation, fluid-pressure-operated means for moving said knives into engagement with the fuse-adjusting member of the shell and for operating said holding means to prevent movement of the shell, fluid-pressure-operated means for feeding a shell into a position in which the nose of the shell lies between said knives, and means operative in response to movement of a shell into said position for admitting pressure fluid to the firstnamed fluid-pressure-operated means and for shutting off the supply of pressure fluid to the last-named fiuid-pressure-operated means.

2. In combination, fuse-setting mechanism including a plurality of knives engageable with the fuse-adjusting member of a shell, means for feeding a shell into a position in which the nose of the shell lies between said knives, and means operative in response to movement of the shell into said position for interrupting the operation of the feeding means and for moving the knives into engagement with the fuse-adjusting mechanism of the shell.

3. In combination, fuse-setting mechanism including a plurality of knives engageable with the fuse-adjusting member of a shell, means for feeding a shell into a position in which the nose of the shell lies between said knives, fluid-pressureoperated means for moving said knives into engagement with the fuse-adjusting member of the shell, fluid-pressure-operated means for operating said feeding means, and means operated by the nose of a shell in response to movement of the shell into said position for admitting pres sure fluid to the first fiuid-pressure-operated 5 means and for interrupting the flow of pressure fluid to the second fluid-pressure-operated means.

4. In combination, means for feeding shells in tandem fuse-setting means positioned to receive the nose of the leading shell and arranged to set the fuse of the shell while the shell is held motionless, said fuse-setting means including means arranged to be engaged by the nose of the leading shell for interrupting the operation of the feeding means.

5. In combination, an endless conveyor for supporting and feeding shells in tandem, fusesetting means positioned to receive the nose of the leading shell and arranged to set the fuse of the shell while the shell is held motionless, fluidpressure-operated means for operating said conveyor, and means engageable by the nose of the shell for interrupting the flow of pressure fluid to said fluid-pressure-operated means in response to movement of theeshell' by theconveyor into a predetermined position with respect to said fusesetting means;

6. In combination, means for feeding shells in" tandem, fuse-setting means positioned to receive the nose of the leading shell, means for operatingsai'd'fuse-setting means to set the fuse of the shell after it has been moved by said feeding means into fuse-setting position, and meansoperative'in response to operationofthe fuse-set! ting means to set the fuse a predetermined amount for retracting. the fuse-setting means and moving the shell transversely to the direction of feed into position to be rammed into a gun.

7. Gun-loading mechanism comprising a loading tray movable transversely of the breech end of a gun for carrying a shell into ramming position, means for feeding a shell onto said loading tray, and a fuse setter positioned-t0 receive the nose of a shell on the loading tray, said fuse setter including means for interrupting the operation of said feeding means after the shell has been moved into a position in which the nose of the shell is correctly positioned for the fuse-setting operation.

8. Gun-loading mechanism comprising a loading tray movable transversely of the breech end of a gun for carrying a shell into ramming position, means for feeding a shell onto said load-' ing tray, fuse-setting means positioned to receive the nose of the shell on the tray, said fusesettin means including means operative in response to movement of the shell into a predetermined position on said tray for operating the fuse-setting means and interrupting the operation of the feeding means, and means operative in response to the setting of the fuse a predetermined amount for moving said loading tray to carry the shell into ramming position.

9. In combination, a gun, means separate from the gun for supporting a plurality of shells in end-to-end relation, means for moving said sup porting means to move the shells one at a time into fuse-setting position, means for setting the fuse of each shell after it has been thus moved, and means operative in response to a completion of the fuse-setting operation for transferring the shells from the fuse-setting position into position to be rammed into the gun.

10. In combination, a gun, an endless conveyor chain mounted separately from the gun for supporting a pluralit of shells in end-to-end relation, means for operating said chain to move the shells one at a time into fuse-setting position, means for setting the fuse of each shell after it has been thus moved, and means operative in response to a completion of the fuse-setting operation for transferrin the shells from the fusesetting position into ramming position.

11. In combination, a gun, means separate from the gun for supporting a plurality of shells in tandem, means for moving said supporting means to carry the shells one at a time into fusesetting position, a transfer tray on which the shells are supported in fuse-setting position, means for setting the fuse of each shell while on the transfer tray, and means operative in response to a completion of the fuse-setting operation for moving said tray to carry the shells from fuse-setting position into ramming position.

BERNHARDT JORGENSEN.

(References on following page) REFERENCES CITED FOREIGN PATENTS The following references are of record in the Number Country Date file of this patent: 22,105 France Dec. 7, 1920 (Addition to No. 502,198)

UNITED STATES PATENTS 28,534 Great Britain 1908 Number Name Date 75,095 Austria Dec. 27, 1918 1,040,210 Kastner Oct. 1, 1912 266,260 Germany Oct. 22, 1913 1,664,676 Goetzenberger Apr. 3, 1928 273,395 Germany Apr. 30, 1914 1,974,523 Varaud Sept. 25, 1934 10 447,412 France Oct. 28, 1912 2,032,960 Varaud Mar. 3, 1936 503,039 France Mar. 8, 1920

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