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, 2007
Filed:
Nov. 08, 2003
Heinrich Heldmann, Kassel, DE;
Michael Kohlstedt, Immenhausen, DE;
Heinrich Heldmann, Kassel, DE;
Michael Kohlstedt, Immenhausen, DE;
Abstract
A firing module having a fully automatic shell supply mechanism for supplying shells to a heavy weapon in a housing. A shell ram having a loading tray is disposed on a free end of a shell transfer arm that is pivotable between a raised position, in which the loading tray is aligned with the gun bore axis, parallel to a plane of elevation, and a lowered position, in which the tray is essentially vertical. A gripping mechanism on a shell transport arm grasps a vertical shell stored in at least one ammunition magazine for supplying a shell from a shell transporter, to the loading tray, in the lowered position of the shell transfer arm. The ammunition magazines and transporter are disposed in the housing ahead of a trunnion. The loading tray is pivotable about a pivot axis, which is essentially vertical in the lowered position of the shell transfer arm, by at least 180° between a receiving position opening ahead of the trunnion, and a delivery position opening behind the trunnion. At least one propellant charge magazine is disposed in the housing next to or behind the trunnion. A fully automatic propellant charge supply mechanism is disposed in the housing for supplying propellant charges to the weapon, and has a propellant charge supply tray pivotable into a region behind the weapon and in alignment with the gun bore axis.