US3650176A

US3650176A - Metal belt member for arranging in series of cartridges for rapid fire arms

Info

Publication number: US3650176A
Application number: US789234A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gustav Lindner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-12-05
Filing date: 1969-01-06
Publication date: 1972-03-21
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-21
Also published as: NL6900179A; DE1428686A1; BE726470A; FR2027504A1; GB1241721A

Abstract

A metal belt member for aligning of cartridges on belts for rapid fire weapons which comprises two resilient loops open towards the same side. One of the loops forms the center zone of the belt surrounding with play one of the cartridges, while the other of the loops formed in a pair clampingly surrounds the next adjacent of the cartridges. The other of the loops has a resilient tongue for entrance into a channelure of the cartridge and includes further angularly bent wings, projecting from the marginal edges of the two loop parts forming the loop in pairs and defining a slot therebetween. A rib extends in longitudinal direction of the cartridge belt and projects towards the inside of the loop out of the face of the loop and assumes the tensile stress of the belt, as well as being reduced towards its free end, all loops having slots oriented cross-wise to the longitudinal direction of the belt and aligned on one side of the belt spaced from and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the belt.

Description

United States Patent Lindner [54] METAL BELT MEMBER FOR ARRANGING IN SERIES OF CARTRIDGES FOR RAPID FIREARMS [72 lnventor: Gustav Lindner, Iserlohn, Germany Firma Heinrich IIulter, Jr., lserlohn, Germany [22] Filed: Jan. 6, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 789,234

[73] Assignee:

[ 51 Mar. 21, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 573,374 11/1945 Great Britain ..89/35.l

Primary Examiner--Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley Attamey-Ernest G. Montague [57] ABSTRACT A metal belt member for aligning of cartridges on belts for rapid fire weapons which comprises two resilient loops open towards the same side. One of the loops forms the center zone of the belt surrounding with play one of the cartridges, while the other of the loops formed in a pair clampingly surrounds the next adjacent of the cartridges. The other of the loops has a resilient tongue for entrance into a channelure of the cartridge and includes further angularly bent wings, projecting from the marginal edges of the two loop parts forming the loop in pairs and defining a slot therebetween. A rib extends in longitudinal direction of the cartridge belt and projects towards the inside of the loop out of the face of the loop and assumes the tensile stress of the belt, as well as being reduced towards its free end, all loops having slots oriented cross-wise to the longitudinal direction of the belt and aligned on one side of the belt spaced from and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the belt.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMARZI I912 3,650,176

III-=- IIZZL.

NVENTOR.

BY ajm z METAL BELT MEMBER FOR ARRANGING IN SERIES OF CARTRIDGES FOR RAPID FIRE ARMS The present invention relates to a metal belt member for aligning of cartridges to belts, for rapid fire weapons in general, and to such metal belt member comprising of two resilient band loops or belt links open to the same side, one of which band loops, forming the center zone of the left strip, surrounds one cartridge case with play, while the other band loop formed as a pair, surrounds clampingly the adjacent cartridge case, in particular.

Cartridge belts are known, which consist of metal links, chainlike linked together by means of the clampingly secured cartridge. Such belts disintegrate during the use in the weapon due to the removal of the cartridges from the belt. By directed efficiency of the link forming band loop engaging faces using the cartridge as a pivot pin by the tensile stress of the belt during insertion of the belt into the passage slot of the weapon, an appreciably reduced flexibility and thus easily jams occur, which interfere with the advance of the cartridge belt, so that loading jams occur.

In a known embodiment of the present invention, the links of the belt comprise two longitudially alotted resilient casings one of which forms the center zone of the belt, while the other is formed fork-like. The cartridge serves as a pivot pin and it is coaxially mounted in the two casings of adjacent belt members. In order to provide flexibility of the belt the center casing has a somewhat larger diameter than that of the cartridge. For stiffening of the center casing the latter is equipped on one half side with a rib directed outwardly. In these belts, the movement play is, however, eliminated, as soon as the transportation gripper moves the belt. In this case, the smooth cylindrical inner faces of the casings engage solidly the outer face of the cartridge casing, whereby a straight play-free alignment of the belt is enforced. These forces surmount often the transportation force of the gripper. Loading jams occur thereby.

Another known embodiment starts with the feature, that the cartridge is clamped in a band loop forming the center zone of the belt, which bow surrounds with laterally cranked sections, the forked band loop of the adjacent member, whereby a link is formed inherently with an aligning effect. In this case the flexibility of the belt is still more limited, than the embodiments using the cartridge as a pivot pin, and disturbing flexibility reductions occur more often. Furthermore, the danger exists that during twisting of thebelt, the latter separates due to the resiliency of the band loop bent at a larger diameter.

It is one object of the present invention, to provide a metal belt member for aligning of cartridges in belts for rapid fire weapons, in which an improvement of the flexibility and, thereby, of the maintenance of the movement play under tensile stress of the belt is safely obtained.

It is another object of the present invention, to provide a metal belt member for aligning of cartridges in belts for rapid fire weapons, wherein a rib extending in longitudial direction of the cartridge belt is arranged on a band loop tapered down toward its free end and surrounding the cartridge with play, which rib projects outwardly from the band loop face to the inner side of the band loop and assumes the stress load of the belt.

Due to this arrangement, in simplest and absolutely effectively safe manner the maintenance of the movement play in the belt plane is achieved under tensile stress. By the center band loop reduced in its width, an increased movement angle of the clamped cartridge results, not only in the plane of the stretched belt, but also perpendicularly thereto. The inwardly projected rib engages to the outer of the cartridge casing face at points and lines, respectively, whereby in cross direction of the rib a see-saw-like movement freedom is brought about. One can thus produce the flexibility connection with slight play, nevertheless a great and easy movability of the links can 21 resistance of the pivot connection is advantageously enlarged, and the separation ofthe belt in sections and tinal reassembly or alignment are made possible. The ultimate tensile stress is secured. I

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, which is shown by example only, will the present invention, be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawing which; I 7

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a belt member, designed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross section thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation formed by a section of a cartridge belt formed by alignment;

FIG. 5 is a cross section of the showing in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section along the lines of F IG.- 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the belt member;

FIG. 8 is a schematic showing of the movability of the belt members in the plane; and I 7 FIG. 9 is a schematic showing of the movability of the belt members outside of the plane by twisting.

Referring now to the drawing, the belt member of the present invention is made of metal and comprises two belt link portions or

band loops

1 and 2, curvingly open to the same side (note FIG. 7), of which the band loop 1 forms the center zone of the cartridge belt (see FIG. 4) and aligningly surrounds the members of the cartridge casing 3 with play.

The band loop 2 constitutes a pair of

fork loops

2 and 2" spaced in a fork arrangement and surrounds or grips with its pair of

loops

2 and 2" the cartridge casing 3 with appreciable clamping effect.

The pair of band loops 2' and 2" is rigidly connected with the band loop 1 by means of a transfer web 4. The transfer web 4 forms thereby a bridge-like passage 5 between the cartridge and the loop 1.

The center loop 1 corresponds, as to its width to the extent of the space of the fork of the loop 2 between the

loops

2 and 2" and is positioned in aligning of the belt members in the fork opening passing through a freely movable space in the bridgelike passage 5. I

The loop I tapers down to its free end (see FIG. 6). Furthermore, the loop 1 has a rib 8 extending in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge belt and projects towards the inner or concave side of the loop from the closed bow face. The rib 8 projects over the entire length of the loop and is measured such, that it results in a stiffening of the loop I. The projection of the rib 8 on the inner side ofthe loop 1 extends concentrically to the bending axis of the loop and has such height, that the cartridge 3 to be clamped is surrounded with play (see FIG. 5).

The

loops

1, 2' and 2" are open towards the same side of the cartridge belt (FIG. 5) extending crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge belt and the openings are aligned parallel to but spaced from the center longitudinal axis of the cartridge belt.

At the marginal edges which point towards each other of the two

loops

2 and 2" forming the paired loop 2 there are provided angular wings 6; and 6", which serve guiding purposes. Furthermore, a resilient tongue 7 is arranged on the loop2", which enters an annular groove 3 provided on the cartridge 3 and arrests the latter.

The loop I forming the center zone of the belt strip has within the range of the transfer web 4 recesses 9 at the edges of the two loops 2' and 2" of the paired bow 2 for securing of a uniform loop bend.

As can be ascertained from FIG. 8, an embodiment.

While, as I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: 1. A metal cartridge belt member for cartridge belts for aligning of cartridges on belts for rapid fire weapons comprising two resilient loop portions each open towards the same side to constitute openings crosswise to the longitudinal direction of a cartridge belt and aligned parallel to but spaced from the center longitudinal axis of said cartridge belt member, one of said loop portions constituting a center loop forming the center zone of said belt surrounding with play one of said cartridges and substantially complementary throughout its extent to the periphery of said cartridges, the other of said loop portions being formed in a pair of fork spaced loops clampingly surrounding the next adjacent of said cartridges, said fork spaced loops being spaced from each other by a distance greater than the width of said center loop and laterally disposed relative to said center loop, said fork spaced loops having a resilient tongue means for entrance into a channelure of said cartridge and including angularly bent wings projecting from facing marginal edges of said pair of fork spaced loops and defining a slot therebetween,

said center loop including a rib curvedly extending in iongitudinal direction of said cartridge belt and projecting towards the inside of said center loop out of the face of said center loop for assuming the tensile stress of said belt, said center loop being reduced towards its free end, and

two transfer webs each connecting an outer marginal edge of said center loop to an inner marginal edge of one of said fork spaced loops, said transfer webs and said adjacent portion of said center loop forming a bridge portion spaced from a' cartridge secured by said fork shaped loops by a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the metal forming said loops.

2. The cartridge belt member, as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said center loop continuously reduces in a direction toward its free end.

Claims

1. A metal cartridge belt member for cartridge belts for aligning of cartridges on belts for rapid fire weapons comprising two resilient loop portions each open towards the same side to constitute openings crosswise to the longitudinal direction of a cartridge belt and aligned parallel to but spaced from the center longitudinal axis of said cartridge belt member, one of said loop portions constituting a center loop forming the center zone of said belt surrounding with play one of said cartridges and substantially complementary throughout its extent to the periphery of said cartridges, the other of said loop portions being formed in a pair of fork spaced loops clampingly surrounding the next adjacent of said cartridges, said fork spaced loops being spaced from each other by a distance greater than the width of said center loop and laterally disposed relative to said center loop, said fork spaced loops having a resilient tongue means for entrance into a channelure of said cartridge and including angularly bent wings projecting from facing marginal edges of said pair of fork spaced loops and defining a slot therebetween, said center loop including a rib curvedly extending in longitudinal direction of said cartridge belt and projecting towards the inside of said center loop out of the face of said center loop for assuming the tensile stress of said belt, said center loop being reduced towards its free end, and two transfer webs each connecting an outer marginal edge of said center loop to an inner marginal edge of one of said fork spaced loops, said transfer webs and said adjacent portion of said center loop forming a bridge portion spaced from a cartridge secured by said fork shaped loops by a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the metal forming said loops.

2. The cartridge belt member, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said center loop continuously reduces in a direction toward its free end.