The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 09, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 03, 1999
Joseph F. Bender-Zanoni, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Anthony R. Steward, Essex Junction, VT (US);
Ned S. Ashton, Plymouth, MN (US);
Derek A. Rodriguez, South Hero, VT (US);
Glenn P. Livingston, Ellicott City, MD (US);
General Dynamics Armament Sys., Inc., Burlington, VT (US);
Abstract
A system and method for selectively transferring storable units, particularly artillery propellant charge units, between a storage space and a location outside of the storage space, the system including a storage magazine having a plurality of parallel, axially elongated chambers opening at an end of the storage magazine, a shuttle having a transfer mechanism tube movable relative to the storage magazine between positions of axial alignment with each of the plurality of elongated chambers and the location outside of the storage space, and a feed mechanism to move the units between the transfer tube and the elongated chambers. Where the elongated chambers are respectively centered on Z axes with open ends presented at intersecting X and Y axes perpendicular to the Z axes, the shuttle is translatable in an X direction and supports the transfer tube on a Z-axis for movement in a Y direction relative to the storage magazine so that a combination of shuttle translation on the X axis and movement of the transfer tube on the Y axis positions the transfer tube in axial alignment with the respective open ends of each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes. The feed mechanism moves the charge units in the Z direction between the respective elongated chambers and the transfer tube. A conveyor aligned with a Z axis delivers charge units to and from the storage magazine and is positioned for transfer of charge units to and from the shuttle mounted transfer tube.