General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc.

Anthony J Suchocki

Yeshayahu Shyke Goldstein

Melvin M Widner

Rao L Boggavarapu

Catherine M Keogh

An electrical power feed assembly (12) for supplying high current to an electrothermal gun has first and second electrical connectors (38) and (42) with associated contact portions (40) and (44) for engaging and plastically deforming first and second side contacts (20,22) on a cartridge (14) to provide firing while maintaining the electrical contact without any arcing. The first connector (38) has a curved contact portion (40) that provides an interference fit to plastically deform the first contact (20) and establish the electrical contact as the cartridge (14) is inserted into the gun. The second connector (42) has a pair of curved knife edges (48) that engage and plastically deform the second contact (22) of the cartridge to establish and maintain the electrical contact under spring action of the second connector and by operation of a cam mechanism (50) of a breech block (26) of the gun. The cartridge (14) has its first and second contacts (20,22) made of a relatively soft material, copper and solder preferably, and has the contacts provided with annular shapes that are engaged by the contact portions (40,44) of the first and second connectors (38,42).

Electrical power feed assembly for electrothermal gun and cartridge

Electrical power feed assembly for electrothermal gun

An ammunition magazine (10, 10') for storing rounds of ammunition (14) provides compact storage of endless outer and inner loops (22, 32) for storing first and second sets of the rounds of ammunition. Turns (24, 26) of the outer loop (22) have reaches (28, 30) extending therebetween, and turns (34, 36) of the inner loop (32) have reaches (38, 40) extending therebetween in a nested relationship with the reaches of the outer loop to provide compact storage. A separator plate (42) is located between the reaches (38, 40) of the inner loop (32) to permit movement of the loops with the reaches of the inner loop moving in opposite directions to each other. Storage members (46) of each loop store the rounds of ammunition (14) and are connected by connectors (48) that each include connecting portions (50) receiving adjacent storage members. Each loop (22, 32) preferably has rollers (56) that facilitate movement along the separator plate (42) and along a housing (58) in which the loops are received, and drive members (64) of the loops permit driving of one loop through the other loop by a suitable drive.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Anthony J Suchocki