US2542988A - Belt loader - Google Patents

Description

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llllllllllllllll Il| lllllll l/ INVENTOR 'BY A.L.BUREAU f 77 M A. L. BUREAU BELT LOADER Feb. 27, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 2, 1943 A. L BUREAU 2,542,988

BELT LOADER f 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 27, 1951 Filed Feb. 2, 1945 Patented Feb. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 9 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to improvements in machines for loading and forming disintegrable ammunition belts, more particularly being an improvement on the belt loader disclosed in the patent of Arthur L. Bureau, 2,397,944 of April 9, 1946.

Continuous practical use of the latter machine has taught the desirability of simplifying the structure and of so feeding the links on the linkentrance side of the machine as to insure the intertting of their knuckles in the cartridgeramming position. Said use has also taught the advisability of guiding the rounds of ammuntion, especially the last few rounds, through the feed magazine in a particular manner so as to prevent either the last or next to last round from slipping into an obstructing position ahead of the ramming slide.

Thus, one of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine which will automatically load a cartridge belt with a plurality of types of ammunition, for example, ball and tracer ammunition, one simplification of the structure consisting of using only a single feed chute by which a single stream of rounds is delivered to the magazine, the tracer ammunition being interspersed with the ball ammunition in said chute by hand according to current requirements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a belt loader equipped with means for insuring the intertting of the link knuckles on the linkentrance side of the machine, said means consisting of a vibrator which imparts a jogging action to a portion of the link column thereby to accomplish the purpose stated.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for holding the links down on the linkentrance Side of the machine, so as to prevent heaving of the column when reduced to a comparatively few links.

A further object of the invention is to provide the cartridge feed magazine with guides on its inner Iwalls to serve the primary purpose of preventing the last or next to last round from slipping into the feed throat of the magazine and thereby to jam the machine, the secondary purpose of said guides being to prevent the possibility of letting the rounds of ammunition drop backwards into the magazine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention appear in the following speciiication, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved belt loading machine, showing its appearance from the front.

Fig. 2 is a detail plan View of a portion of said machine, particularly illustrating the support for the ammunition trough.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, parts being shown in plan.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail cross section illustrating the normal position of the shutter in relationship t0 the feed magazine.

Fig. 7 is a similar View illustrating the breaklink position of the shutter.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional View of the breaklink lever, illustrating the details of its spring pin.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the belt loading machine, showing its appearance from the rear.

Fig. 10 is a cross section taken on the line Ill- I0 of Fig. 4, parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 11 is a detail section taken on the line lI-H of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section taken on the line |2--l2 of Fig. 4, illustrating the orientation of the last few rounds on the back stroke of the ramming slide.

Fig. 13 is a similar View, illustrating the orientation of said rounds on the forward stroke of the ramming slide.

Figure 14 is a horizontal section taken on the line Iii-I4 of Fig. 10, parts being shown in elevation. i

Fig. l5 is a detail sectional view illustrating how a round is thrust into a pair of links.

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional perspective View, illustrating the relationship of a link to the abutment block.

In carrying out the invention provision is made of a base 2l which comprises the foundation upon which all of the parts of the machine are mounted. The machine can readily be moved from place to place, for which purpose it has handles 22. A source of power in the form of the electric motor 23 is secured to one end of the base (Figs. 1 and 9). A gear box 24 is mounted on the base 2| in line with the motor, and contains speed reduction gearing which is driven by the motor shaft 25. I'he showing of said gearing is omitted with the exception of the driven Worm (Fig. 4) on the terminal shaft 26 (Figs. 3 and 4). A clutch 21 and its operating handle 28 provide a convenient control between the motor and gear box.

The shaft 26 is a vibrator shaft. It has an attached cam 29 (Fig. 3) Which reciprocates a rod 39. That end ofV the rod nearest the cam is socketed in a fitting, the roller 3l of which engages the cam face. This engagement is maintained in part-by a clip 32 which supports the fitting, but largely by a spring 33 (Fig. 1li) which is mentioned again in the following description. A plate 34 attached to the box 24, provides a closure for the recess which contains the case and a support for the clip.

A spur pinion 3f, affixed to the motor sha-ft 25, is the driver for a gear train (Fig. 9), the terminal pinion 3S of which is mounted on one end of a link feedshaft 3l'.L This shaft is supported by bearings 33 and 39, the former of which is part of a fork (Fig. 9) in which the gear train is mounted. The shaft 31 is sufficiently longer than the distance between bearings to establish thepos-ition of its other end substantially centrally over the link chute d (Fig. 4). Said other end has a fixed collar il against which a star wheel 42 is pressed by a spring 43. This spring is mounted on the shaft 31 between a leather or other friction washer Il@ and a set collar 45.

The star wheel is loose on the shaft excepting for the pressure of the spring 33. The tension of the spring is increased or diminished by adjusting the set collar 55. Thus the tendency of the relatively high-rotating shaft 31 to turn the star wheel is controlled by regulating the drag of the washer` lil against said wheel. The teeth of the star wheel engage the links i6 as shown in Fig. and exercise a continuous downward and .forward push on the link series, of a degree determined by the frictional effort of the Washer ed against the wheel. This prevents the heaving of the link column at each return stroke of the feed pawl during the loading operation 'and works effectively down to the last few links. Further, the operation of the star wheel avoids depending entirely upon gravity for feeding the links.

A An adjustment at i? enables increasing or diminishing the effective length of the vibrator rod Si). That end of it opposite to the cam 29 (Fig.V 3) is socketed in a recess :i8 (Figs. 4, 9 and 14) in one of a pair of vibrator bars 49, 50 (Fig. 14). The respective bars are pivoted on bolts 5i, 52 which are bracketed at diagonal points to the sides of the chute i9 at 53, 54. The bar 49 has secured to it a plate 55 which extends 1backward beyond the pivot 5l to a place substantially matching theposition of a lug 56 which depends from the bar 59 on the other side of the chute 439'. The free ends of the plate and lugare coupled by a pin 5i which is bufied with resilient washers 58, 59 at its points of connection, thereby to allow for the diverse motions of the bars. The 'free ends of these bars operate against the sides of the link column (Fig. 14) through openings te, '6I Vin the sides of the chute. The effect of these motions is to push the link column from side to side and results in so jogging the links as to settle their hinge knuckles into final place.

The previously mentioned spring 33 is wrapped around the bolt '5l mainly Vto support it. One of its ends is anchored at 62 in the bar 49. The other end presses against the adjacent side of the link chute. The outward pressure of the spring keeps the rod El) in place at its socketed ends. It also keeps the roller Si (Fig. 3') ypressed against the 'cam '29 and Aproduces the return or outward strokes of the bars 59, 59 in respect to the chute 9 `after said barsrhave been driven inwardly thereof by action of the cam.

Thus the vibrator bars 49, are swung in alternately opposite directions; rst by the cam, second by the spring. On the first and inward swing the bars push against the link column from opposite sides at said diagonal points. This puts a slight twist in the linkcolumn (Fig. 14). On the second and outward swing the barsy retreat from the column, leaving the links to relax and thus settle into the desired close interconnection, the ultimate purpose of which is to obviate the possibility of offering any obstruction to the rounds when rammed in place.

An ammunition feed magazine S3 is mounted on the base 2l. This magazine comprises a single hopper to which the rounds 64 are delivered from a single feed chute E5 and thereupon are ranked in a single erect column because of the upright and narrow connues of the hopper. Said hopper consists of end plates E6, 61 to which the sides S8, 59 are attached to complete Ythe enclosure. A bracket 'm securedat its extremities to the base 2| and the plate SB supports the magazine at that end. A vmember 'H supports the other end of the magazine because of its attachment at 'i2 to one edge of an insert 'i3 in a slot i4 across the top surface of the base 2l. -An abutment block 'E5 is attached at 'it to the opposite edge of the insert and the resulting assemblage is secured inthe cross slot by screws 71 driven vthrough from the under side of the base. Y

The respective member 1| and block 15 have passageways i, 'i9 through which the cartridges td are driven .in the ramming operation. Said passageways consistof slots cut in from the front of the member and block thereby providing avenues of egress for the cartridges as loaded in belt form. The solid rear wall 80 (Fig. 16) ofthe block 15 forms an abutment against which edge porticns,suchas 8l (Figs. 15 and 16) of the links et are pushed by each cartridge as rammed in. A cover Vplate 8'2 is secured at 83 to the block 15 and from there is extended across the space above the insert 13. It rests on the top ones of pairs of ribs 84, 85, occupying confronting positions -on the respective member Il and block 75. The

unsecured end of the Vplate '82 is held down upon the top rib 84' by a bracket 86 which is secured to the 'end plate 61 by screws 8T in common with the interlocated upper portion of the member 1l.

A link-'advancing "slide 88 rides the ribs 811, 85. It has va stud "89 'on which a 'spring-pressed pawl 499 is pivoted. The pressure of the spring is downward, thus keeping the nose 'of the dog in its pushing position against and over the tops of successive links 11S. The Atension of the spring necessarily is considerable because of its having to keep the pawl against the fairly heavy load of links and cartridges on each 'forward stroke.

Under this circumstance the pawl tends to drag the uncoupled links with it on the backstrokes, 'ca-using an undesired heaving ofl the link column.

This tendency vis prevented by the action ofthe star wheel 42 which, as explained, exercises a `constant downward push on the last few :links so as to frustrate the foregoing tendency of the ,pawl'QlL Leaf Y'springs '-9 i, 92 bear down on the -link cha-in (Fig. 10) for 'the purpose of stabilizing it- These springs are secured 'to "the plate 8'2 from which they depend as shown. A `'roller stud '93 (Figs.

-4 and 10) projects upward-ly from the slide 88 and thus occupies the cam slot Sli 'of a plate 95 (Fig. 4). The plate is reciprocable and since the slot is Vformed at an angle 7to the direction of rectilinear motion it follows that the walls of the ycause a break in the belt of links.

slot will produce a cam action on the roller stud. The cam plate 95 is rmly secured at that end opposite which contains the slot to the upstanding wall 96 of the ramming slide 91 by means of screws 98. One of these screws also secures the striker 99 which periodically actuates the plunger of a counter |0|. Said counter is carried by a bracket |02 which is secured to adjoining structure.

The ramming slide 91 has a slidable ribbed connection at |03 with guide grooves |04 in the base 2|. The slide is thus guided in its required rectilinear motion. Any possibility of lateral springing of the cam end of the plate 95 on its working (arrow A, Fig. 4) and return (arrow Bv) strokes is prevented by a roller |05 and the edge |03 of the plate 32. The roller is carried by the bracket 85. It bears on one side of a spline |01 which is upstanding from the cam plate adjacent to its straight edge |08. Said straight edge bears against the plate edge |00, and by virtue of the confinement of the spline thus provided the cam end of the plate 95 is adequately stabilized against deflection. Reciprocation of the ramming slide 91 is produced by a pitman |09 which at its respective ends is connected to a stud ||0 (Fig. 13) pendent from said slide and to the wrist pin (not shown) of a revolvable crank of the gear box 24.

A ledge is cooperable with a break-link lever H2, the purpose of which is to check the cartridges during one ramming cycle and thus The lever is pivoted along the side 09 of the magazine 63 by means of a shaft ||3 and bearings ||4 (Fig. 4). A spring ||5 exerts a constant downward pressure on the inner end I of the lever (Figs. 6 and 8) thus tending to keep its pin ||1 down and in contact with the top of the slide 91. The position which it then assumes is in a plane immediately below the ledge (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) and, loosely stated, constitutes the working or ramming position. Said pin is yieldably mounted in the lever end H6 which is made hollow (Fig. 8) for the purpose. The yieldable mount prevents possible breakage of the lever in case the pin point should be caught in front of the ledge it being noted that the ledge has a beveled approach H9 (Fig. 4) which in that case would force the pin back.

The shaft ||3 carries a shutter |20 which is movable through an opening |2| in the side 53 of the magazine 33. During the ramming operation said shutter assumes the pendent position shown in Fig. 6, virtually coinciding with the side 69 so as to clear the column of cartridges 04. At this time the lever ||2 is in the position shown in Fig. 5. Upon desiring to cause a break in the link belt the handle end of the lever is pushed down. This push should occur when the ramming slide 91 is at the limit of its ramming stroke.

The resulting turn of the shaft i3 will swing the shutter through the opening |2| into the magazine (Fig. '1) whereupon it obstructs the cartridges. ll|."he pin ||1 will ride the ledge and thus support the cartridge column during one ramming cycle, namely, through the return stroke and the ensuing rammingI stroke. The latter will be idle because of the lack of a cartridge, with the result that a pair of the links will remain uncoupled. One link of this pair will be the terminal of a cartridge belt. The other link of said `pair will be the beginning of the next belt, the formation of which will start when the pin |1 drops oil the beveled end ||9 of the ledge 6 at the end of said ramming stroke. Thereupon the shutter |20 returns to its position in Fig. 6 and the column drops the distance of one cartridge diameter.

A trough |23 receives each succeeding cartridge. Said trough has a V-groove |24 for the purpose. The trough is secured by screws |25 in a recess |26 in the top surface of the base. Guides |21 (Fig. 4), attached at a slightly vertical pitch to the inner walls of the sides B8, 69,

define a restricted upright passageway |28 to which the shoulders |23 of the cartridges are confined. Corresponding edges |30 of the guides are rounded to more nearly match the shape of the cartridges. Said. guides extend from places in the magazine approximately on a level with the discharge end of the ammunition trough B5 to places stopping short of the top surface of the base a distance a little greater than the diameter of a cartridge (Fig. 4). The outlet |32 thus defined is occupied by succeeding cartridges as the slide 91 recedes (Fig. 12) and traversed by said slide as it completes its ramming stroke (Fig. 13). The leading end of the slide 91 is recessed at |33 to make a rim contact with the head of the cartridge and thus avoids striking its primer. A cut-out |3305 (Fig. 14) in the forward end of the ramming slide permits said slide to clear the head of the cartridge next succeeding.

The ammunition trough 65 desirably is curved (Fig. 9) and disposed at an upward pitch (Fig. 1) respectively to suit the tapering shape of the cartridges and to insure their gravitation toward the magazine 63. Rounds of both tracer and ball ammunition are placed in the trough 05 by hand, the former being interspersed with the latter in any ratio desired. Lugs |34 (Fig. 1) on the side G5 provide places of attachment of the trough at the magazine end. Rods |35 support the trough elsewhere along its length. These rods are anchored at |35 to a flange of the belt chute |31 (Figs. l and 2) which possesses considerable rigidity. Said chute is secured at |38 to a portion of the base 2|. The rods |35 diverge upwardly where they are socketed in blocks |39 on the nether side of the trough 65. Initially these rods are substantially in line (position C, Fig. 2). But the blocks |39 are sufficiently oiset to each side of the alined position to develop enough tension in the rods when flexed (position D, Fig. 2) to reach the blocks and to insure the retention of the rods.

The operation of the belt loading machine is readily understood. The chutes 40 and 65 are filled with links 46 and cartridges 04 respectively. Both move to the loading point by gravity, but the link chute 40 is supplemented by the star wheel 42 which not only tends to forward the links but more particularly prevents any tendency of the link column to heave in its chute 40 by the action of the feed pawl (Fig. l0) on its return strokes.

Vibration of the link column occurs during the entire operation of ramming. This is caused by the action of the cam 29 (Figs. 3 and 4) on the rod 30. The reciprocation of the rod is accomplished by the cam on the forward stroke and by the spring 33 (Fig. 14) on the return stroke. The result is the rocking of the bars 49, 50 in successively opposite directions and the consequent jogging of the links (Fig. 14) so that the intertting of the knuckles is assured before the column enters the ramming mechanism.

Here successive cartridges are driven through matching link knuckles (Figs. l2, 13 and 14) on each ramming stroke. of the slide S1. Gravity feeds the cartridges inthe magazine, the column of rounds of the .column assuming a .slightlyl for. ward pitch (E, Fig. 12) becauseof their tapered shape and becauseof abutting the guides .[21 .at their shoulders |29. Said. guides make it im` possible to insert the cartridges in. an incorrect position because Were a particular cartridge reversed its large head portion would not fit the restricted passageway 28 (Fig. 4) .and thus stop the cartridge at the top of the ymagasine whence it is readily removed.

The function of greatest importance of the guides 21 is that of keeping the cartridges properly ranked in the: magazine. When the :supply dwindles to the last few rounds, such as E .and F (Fig. l2), there `would be the likelihood `of the cartridge E slipping. down to the position were it not for the obstruction .of the guides E21. The

nose of said cartridge would thereforeenter the base, is but little more than the depth of the slide.

Therefore it is impossible for more than vone cartridge to pass through at a time, especially when the supply is reduced `to the last two at which time the Weight of the column is lacking to p revent that contingency.

Belts of requisite lengths are produced by the break-link action of the lever l l2 (Fig. `5). When this lever `is pushed down (Fig. 7) its carriedshutter i201 lsupports the cartridge column in the magazine during one cycle of motions of the ramming slide 91. Since there is noY cartridge `in position to ram, the forward motion of the .slide remains idle and the link knuckles which would have been the target of ther absent cartridge remain unco-upled. The operator does not. need to maintain pressure upon the lever because the. riding of its pin l Il `on the ledge IH .automatically keeps the shutter I2@ in its obstructing posi-tion.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain preferred examples thereof which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art to which `the ,invention pertains, after understanding .the invention, that various changes and modications -may be made Without .departing from the spirit and scope of the inventiom and it is ,my vilflfelltion, therefore, to cover in the appended vclaims all such changes and modications The invention herein described Ymay be manufactured and used by or for the .Government o f the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as `new and desired' to be secured by Letters Patent of -the UnitedStates is:

1. In a belt loader, a link chute to contain intertting links for delivery to a loading position, vibrator means forjogging the `links to perfect their interntting, said vibrator means 'including bars which are positioned to repeatedlystrike the links, and a power source oractuating .the .Villerator means.

2. In a belt loader, .a -linkchuteto .contain `in.- tertting links for delivery qto a .cartridge :loadlig position, ,a vibrator bar carried by the ao lfnite close tof adj acent.v edges of thellin-ks', spring `nica-nsurging theribrator bar in. one. direction in. respecty to the link' column inthe chute., and pusher means.

.ILO

acting on thebar. counter rto the spring, thereby' enacting. with `the spring vto periodically jog. the. link column.

3:. In a belt loader, a link chute to conraininm terfitt-ing unks for deliveryto acartridge loading. position, a vibrator bar pivoted to `one side `of .the chuteclose-to and contactiblv with adjacentedges of thelinks. .spring means urging. the vibra-tor par in one direction -respsctto link .column in the chutaand pusher means .acting 0n the liar counter to the spring, thereby coasting the. spring to periodically Strike the link edges and 10g the. oo lnrllle. In a :belt loadena Chute to rcontain in.- terttine links for del to a cartridge leading position.Y a pair o f vibrator bars to jos the links, respectively riveted on .Opposite sides y01E the shuts 010s@ i0 adjacent @dass of the links, .spring means urging one .Qi the bars .in one direction in respect to the link column Ain the chute, pusher. means acting on the same bar counter to the spring means, thereby coacting with the spring means Yto vibrate vsaid bar, anda pin coupling the bars, causing the remaining bar to move in unison with said one bar.

5. In a. loader, an article chute to convey inftertting articles toa delivery point, a vibrator bar pivoted toone rs ide of the chute, a portion of the bar extending into the rchute and contacting the article column, a spring acting on the vibra.- tor bar to tend to swing ,it .on ,its pivot in one. direction., and pusher means acting on the vibrar tor bar counter to the spring to swing the bar in the other direction.

6. In a loader, an article chute to convey inter..- tting articles toa delivery p.oint, a pair Aof vibrator bars to jog the articles, respectively pivoted on opposite sides of the chute. close to .the edges of the article column, spring means urging Orle of the bars vin one directionin respect to the article column, a plate on said one bar extending beyond its pivot, .pusher means acting on the same bar counter to the .spring means, thereby coacting with the ,spring means to vibrate ,said bar, and apincouplingthe plate with the .other bar.

'7. In a belt loader, the combination with a llink chute from 4which intertted links are delivered to a loading position .of means for continuously feeding links from s uc-h ,chute by a progression of alternate `advance and .checked rest periods, :and frictionally driven meansv continuously acting on the .links to. positively forward the links during the advance periods and slipping to yield tothe checked linkswhile `I-naintaning a constant pressure thereon during the rest-periods- 8.. In a belt. loader, a 1i-nk .chute in which interitted links Yof an `advancing ,link column alter,.- natel-y res-t and move, link advancing means for alternately resting and moving .the links, Aa star Wheel in -Worki-ng engagement -with the link .co1- umn, a driving shaft `for :the star Wheel, a slip.- iriction drive between said shaft and the ystar wheel, and means, rotating the shaft at a rate higher than required in order to ykeeplinks feed,- ifng to the vlink advancing ,means `so ,as to feed the to a loading D Osggtion, causing said Wheel yto Yact upon the links Continuously through the rest Iand move periods.

9. a :belt loader, la 1li-nk Chute :te .contain s columnA of I intsrfitted links. .a .forward and return .stroke .feed nawlier advancing-the foremost ilinks to a loading position, a star wheel in working engagement with the link column. over-drive means for `the star wheel, and a slip-friction coupling between the over-drive means and the star wheel, causing the star wheel to exercise a continuous but yieldable thrust on that portion of the link column between the star wheel and feed pawl to prevent heaving of said portion on the return strokes of the feed pawl.

ARTHUR L. BUREAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 277,540 Bolton et al May 15, 1883 678,827 Morris July 16, 1901 752,648 Bristol Feb. 23, 1904 Number Number 10 Name Date Stephens June 9, 1908 Blakeslee Jan. 4, 1910 Stilwell Mar. 22, 1910 Ayars Oct. 14, 1913 Nordstrom Apr. 24, 1923 Marasso Aug. 15, 1933 Simpson Sept. 28, 1937 Rodler Oct. 5, 1937 Rodler July 19, 1938 Huyett Dec. 20, 1938 Everett June 17, 1941 Everett Nov. 18, 1941 Turnock July 14, 1942 Pilcher June l, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 20, 1932 Great Britain Dec. 15, 1932

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