Device for loading a projectile into the chamber of a weapon

Description

[0001] The technical field of the invention is that of devices allowing the loading of a shell into the chamber of a weapon.

[0002] Known devices generally include a stretcher which is intended to receive the shell and which can be moved to allow it to be brought closer to the chamber of the weapon and the shell to be positioned.

[0003] Moving the stretcher allows it to move from a first position, called shell removal, to a second position, called shell placement.

[0004] The shell deposit position is far enough from the weapon to facilitate access to the stretcher and also prevents the weapon from recoiling when fired. The shell is placed in the stretcher either manually or using a clamp attached to a loading robot, for example.

[0005] The shell's loading position is aligned with the axis of the weapon barrel and allows the shell to be introduced into the weapon chamber by simple longitudinal push along the stretcher.

[0006] The shell is usually positioned using a pusher cylinder or a pulse generator. Patent EP1070932 describes a device for loading artillery comprising a stretcher which can tilt from the shell placement position to the position for positioning.

[0007] A pusher ram ensures the advance of the stretcher until it comes into contact with the weapon and also the advance of the shell. A telescopic jamming ram then pushes the shell into position in contact with the forcing cone separating the chamber and the barrel of the weapon.

[0008] This kinematics is complex because it combines tilting and translation. Furthermore, the stretcher must be able to be translated over a significant length and, to avoid any interference, it can only be done after tilting, which increases the time required for loading.

[0009] Patent US4388854 describes a magazine for loading ammunition into the chamber of a weapon. This magazine comprises a movable plate that can be moved to allow it to be brought closer to the chamber of the weapon and the positioning of the ammunition in the chamber of the weapon. The plate is connected to the weapon by a set of connecting rods forming a deformable parallelogram. The pivoting of the connecting rods relative to the weapon causes the plate to move, the connecting rods being driven by a slide, itself connected to a hydraulic cylinder. The slide can be connected to a connecting rod by a sector gear associated with a rack, the sector gear being defined so as to be unlocked when the connecting rods, and therefore the plate, are in a predetermined fixed position. A separately driven arm is used to propel the ammunition into the chamber of the weapon.

[0010] The aim of the invention is therefore to enable a faster but equally reliable movement between the position of depositing the shell and the actual positioning of the latter.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to increase the rigidity of the device, which allows the use of impeller-type loading means.

[0012] Yet another object of the invention is to improve the reliability and efficiency of such a loading device.

[0013] Thus, the subject of the invention is a device for loading a shell into the chamber of a weapon, the loading device comprising a shell holder and a mobile loading means intended to receive the shell, the mobile loading means being connected to the shell holder, the shell holder being able to be moved in order to allow it to be brought closer to the chamber of the weapon and the shell to be positioned, the loading device further comprising a set of carrying rods forming a deformable parallelogram, a pivoting drive element and an unlockable locking means, the shell holder being able to be connected to the weapon by said set of carrying rods, the pivoting of the carrying rods relative to the weapon leading to the movement of the shell holder, the carrying rods being driven by said pivoting drive element, itself being able to be connected to a drive means,the driving element being capable of being made integral with a carrying rod by said unlockable locking means, the driving element being further capable of cooperating with said mobile loading means to move the latter with a view to positioning the shell in the chamber of the weapon, the locking means being defined so as to be unlocked when the carrying rods, and thus the shell support, are in a fixed predetermined position, called the decoupling position, the continued pivoting of the driving element then causing a movement of the mobile loading means, the locking means comprising a lock capable of taking a locked state, in which the driving element is integral with a carrying rod, and an unlocked state, in which the driving element is decoupled from said carrying rod,and an unlocking stop capable of moving the lock from the locked state to the unlocked state when said supporting rod is in the decoupling position, the locking means further comprising a holding member for holding the lock in the unlocked state while said supporting rod is in the decoupling position.

[0014] The lock and the unlocking stop therefore constitute a locking means with automatic unlocking when a desired fixed position, namely the decoupling position, is reached by the carrying rods and the shell support.

[0015] The holding member ensures reliable and effective holding of the lock in the unlocked state and thus ensures reliable locking of the supporting rod in the desired position while the drive element continues to move beyond this position. In the absence of such a holding member, there is a risk of the lock moving from the unlocked state to the locked state while the supporting rod is in the decoupling position, and therefore a risk that the parallelogram does not remain in the fixed position while the drive element continues to move. A movement of the parallelogram beyond this fixed position could hinder the proper functioning of the loading device, in particular the proper movement of the mobile loading means.

[0016] Such a locking means therefore makes it possible, in the unlocked state of the lock, to ensure reliable and effective decoupling between the driving element and the deformable parallelogram, so that the latter is stopped in a fixed position and the driving element can continue to provide its driving force on the mobile loading means. Such an assembly also makes it possible, when the driving element returns to position against the parallelogram, to reconnect the driving element and the parallelogram by locking the lock.

[0017] According to a particular embodiment, the lock comprises an interfering assembly slidably mounted in a guide housing secured to said supporting connecting rod, the interfering assembly comprising a bolt part capable of being received in a housing secured to the driving element and a cam part capable of cooperating with the unlocking stop and the holding member, the interfering assembly being elastically urged towards the housing by a first elastic urging means, such as a spring.

[0018] Preferably, the cam portion comprises an inclined profile and the unlocking stop comprises a fixed stop body secured to the weapon and comprising a bearing surface arranged such that the supporting rod comes to bear against the bearing surface in the decoupling position, the fixed stop body further comprising a ramp configured to cooperate with the inclined profile of the cam portion so as to progressively clear the interfering assembly when the supporting rod approaches the bearing surface.

[0019] The holding member can be connected to the unlocking stop and mounted to move relative to it.

[0020] According to a particular embodiment, the holding member comprises a movable stop capable of moving in translation in two directions orthogonal to each other and configured to be capable of successively occupying a first unlocking position allowing the lock to move from the locked state to the unlocked state, a blocking position, in which the movable stop cooperates with the lock in order to maintain the lock in the unlocked state, and a second unlocking position allowing the lock to move from the unlocked state to the locked state when the supporting connecting rod is moved away from the decoupling position by the driving element.

[0021] Preferably, the shell support has a so-called main axis which coincides with one of the sides of the deformable parallelogram, and the movable stop comprises a latch elastically biased towards the lock by a second elastic biasing means, such as a spring, the axis of which is orthogonal to the plane of said deformable parallelogram, the holding member further comprising a slide elastically biased towards the lock by a third elastic biasing means, such as a spring, the axis of which is orthogonal to the axis of the second elastic biasing means and belongs to a plane parallel to the main axis of the shell support, the latch being carried by the slide.

[0022] According to a particular embodiment, the mobile loading means is a stretcher slidably mounted on the shell support in a positioning direction which coincides with the main axis of the shell support, the driving element being connected by one end to the stretcher by means of a sliding pivot connection, the carrying connecting rods being positioned so as to be oriented, in the decoupling position, in such a way that the positioning direction coincides with the axis of the weapon barrel, the continued pivoting of the driving element causing the translation of the stretcher in the direction of the weapon chamber.

[0023] It is of course possible to provide a mobile loading means other than a stretcher that can be moved in translation.

[0024] To better illustrate the object of the present invention, an embodiment will be described below, for informational and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings. In these drawings: [ Fig. 1 ] shows in a schematic top view, with hidden dotted lines, a loading device according to one embodiment of the invention, device in the depositing position; [ Fig. 2 ] shows a top view of this same loading device at the start of the pivoting movement of the stretcher support; [ Fig. 3 ] shows in top view, with hidden dotted lines, this same loading device at the end of the pivoting movement of the stretcher support, stretcher aligned with the axis of the weapon barrel; [ Fig. 4 ] shows a top view of this same loading device, in the position of being positioned, the stretcher resting against the weapon; [ Fig. 5 ] is a bottom perspective view of the stretcher and stretcher support; [ Fig. 6 ] is a top perspective view of the loading device; [ Fig. 7 ] is a perspective view from below of part of the loading device, showing the locking means ensuring the connection between the driving element and a carrying connecting rod; [ Fig. 8 ] is a side view showing the locking means of the Figure 7 , the lock being in the locked state; [ Fig. 9 ] is a side view analogous to the Figure 8 , showing the lock transition from the locked state to the unlocked state as it approaches the decoupling position of the supporting rod; [ Fig. 10 ] is a view analogous to the Figure 8 , showing the lock held in the unlocked state; [ Fig. 11 ] is a view analogous to the Figure 8 , showing the movement of the driving element beyond the decoupling position and the maintenance of the supporting rod in the decoupling position; [ Fig. 12 ] is a view analogous to the Figure 8 , showing the displacement of the driving element back towards the supporting rod; [ Fig. 13 ] is a view analogous to the Figure 8 , showing the start of the movement of the lock from the unlocked state to the locked state; and [ Fig. 14 ] is a view analogous to the Figure 8 , showing the end of the lock moving from the unlocked state to the locked state.

[0025] If we refer to the Figure 1 , it can be seen that a loading device 1 according to the invention comprises a stretcher C which is intended to receive a shell (not shown) and constitutes a mobile loading means. This stretcher C is intended to be moved in order to allow it to be brought closer to the chamber Ch of a weapon A (of which only the rear end is shown here), to allow the shell to be positioned in the chamber Ch of the weapon A.

[0026] The loading device 1 is here in a first position, called the shell deposit position.

[0027] We notice on the Figure 1 that the stretcher C is laterally offset from the axis A1 of the barrel of the weapon A.

[0028] Stretcher C has an axis A2, called the positioning direction, which is parallel to axis A1 of the weapon barrel A.

[0029] It is in the depositing position that the shell is placed on the stretcher C. This depositing of the shell can be carried out manually or using a depositing system comprising an arm equipped with a clamp. Such depositing systems are well known, for example from patents EP3179194 and EP3150544 to which reference may be made for design details.

[0030] As can be seen on the Figure 5 , the stretcher C is slidably mounted on a stretcher support S, which constitutes a shell support. For this purpose, the stretcher C has lateral tabs C1 which are guided by grooves S1 carried by the stretcher support S.

[0031] We also see on the Figure 5 that the stretcher C carries at its front part a ring C2 comprising a truncated cone profile. This ring C2 is made of plastic material (for example Teflon - registered trademark for polytetrafluoroethylene) and it is intended to come into contact with a cone Co carried by the tube of the weapon A at the entrance of the chamber Ch ( Figure 4 ).

[0032] As described by patent EP1070932, this ring C2 prevents the shell from impacting with the cone Co of the weapon A when it is positioned. This prevents damage to this cone Co, which contributes to the sealing of the chamber Ch of the weapon A during firing. In fact, the cone Co receives the sealing gasket of a screw (not shown) which closes the chamber Ch. Screw seals are well known and described, for example, by patent FR2679990.

[0033] As can be seen on the Figures 1 à 4 And 6, the stretcher support S is connected to the weapon at the level of arms B1. These arms B1, of which only one is visible in the Figures, are integral with the oscillating mass of the weapon A (which conventionally includes the barrel of the weapon and its sled) and they are articulated on trunnions.

[0034] One of the arms B1 carries two sockets in which engage axes D1, each secured to a supporting connecting rod 2a or 2b.

[0035] Each supporting rod 2a and 2b carries at its other end an axis D2 which is housed in a bore S2 of the stretcher support S and which forms an articulation with the latter.

[0036] Furthermore, each supporting rod 2a, 2b has a lateral tab on which a synchronizing rod Bs is fixed by joints.

[0037] The two supporting rods 2a, 2b, the synchronizing rod Bs and the stretcher support S form a deformable parallelogram. The synchronizing rod Bs ensures that the supporting rods 2a and 2b are kept parallel.

[0038] Thus the pivoting of one of the supporting rods 2a or 2b will cause the movement of the stretcher support S (and of the stretcher C which it carries) while maintaining the positioning direction A2 parallel to the axis A1 of the tube. See for example the Figure 2 which shows the beginning of this pivot.

[0039] We see that, during this pivoting movement, the positioning direction A2 approaches the axis A1 of the barrel of the weapon A and, at the same time, the ring C2 approaches the chamber Ch of the weapon A. The final position is represented in Figure 3 In this position, the supporting rods 2a and 2b are perpendicular to the arm B1 and the positioning direction A2 coincides with the axis A1 of the tube.

[0040] As seen in the figures, a driving element 3 is positioned along the front supporting rod 2b. The driving element 3 is here a rod articulated on the same axis D1 and it is driven by a driving means not shown, for example a hydraulic or electric cylinder which acts on the axis D1, for example by means of a pinion. The axis will then be integral in rotation by its end with the driving element 3. Alternatively, a linear cylinder fixed by articulations, on one side on the arm B1 and on the other on the driving element 3, could be used.

[0041] As we see for example on the Figure 6 , the driving element 3 can come into abutment against one side of the front supporting rod 2b. Thus, when the driving element 3 pivots in the counterclockwise direction, it comes into abutment against the front supporting rod 2b and drives it in its movement.

[0042] Conversely, and as is more particularly visible in Figures 7 à 14 , a locking means 4 is interposed between the front supporting connecting rod 2b and the driving element 3.

[0043] The locking means 4 makes it possible to make said supporting rod 2b integral in movement with the driving element 3 as long as the supporting rod 2b is not in a predetermined fixed position, called the decoupling position, and to decouple the supporting rod 2b from the driving element 3 when the supporting rod 2b is in the decoupling position. This decoupling position is, for example, and as illustrated in the Figures for this particular embodiment, adjusted so as to correspond to the position of the supporting rods 2a, 2b in which the positioning direction A2 coincides with the axis A1 of the barrel of the weapon A, in which the supporting rods 2a, 2b are perpendicular to the arm B1 of the weapon.

[0044] If we refer again to the Figure 5 , we can see that the lower face of the stretcher C has a transverse groove C3 which is perpendicular to the positioning direction A2. This groove C3 receives a block 3a ( Figures 3 et 4 ) which is connected to the end of the driving element 3 by a pivot connection. This pivoting block 3a and the groove C3 thus form a sliding pivot connection between the driving element 3 and the stretcher C.

[0045] Thus, when the stretcher support S is stopped, the continued pivoting of the motor element 3 will cause the translation of the stretcher C relative to the stretcher support S in the positioning direction A2. The block translates along the groove C3 during this movement.

[0046] Thus, the driving element 3 can apply the ring C2 against the cone Co of the weapon A ( Figure 4 ). This results in both protection of the cone Co of the weapon A and maintained support of the stretcher C against the tube, which ensures good rigidity for the stretcher C when the shell is placed in position.

[0047] The positioning is done for example by a chain impeller means which is not shown in detail and which is integral with the stretcher C. It is shown on the Figures 1 à 4 , the piston P of this impeller. Such an impeller is described for example by patent FR3043190 to which one can refer for more details.

[0048] It will be noted that when the driving element 3 is operated in the opposite direction (counterclockwise on the Figure 4 ), it will first of all move the stretcher C back onto its stretcher support S then, when the driving element 3 comes to bear against the front carrying rod 2b, it drives this front carrying rod 2b (and the entire deformable parallelogram), whereby the driving element 3 is again secured to the front carrying rod 2b by the locking means 4, as will be described in more detail below.

[0049] After returning the stretcher C to its deposit position ( Figure 1 ), it will therefore be possible to order a new positioning movement by pivoting the motor element 3.

[0050] It can be seen that the present invention makes it possible to ensure, with a single motor means, both the approach of the shell support by circular translation, and then in this case the rectilinear translation of the stretcher until it rests on the weapon.

[0051] The loading device according to the invention is therefore particularly simple and robust.

[0052] In the case where the mobile loading means is a stretcher mounted sliding on a stretcher support, the loading device according to the invention makes it possible, thanks to the rectilinear translation of the stretcher, to protect the cone of the weapon while providing rigidity facilitating loading, in particular with an impulse cylinder.

[0053] We will now describe the locking means 4 with reference to the Figures 7 à 14 , which locking means 4 comprises a lock 7, an unlocking stop 8 and a holding member 9 for holding the lock 7 in the unlocked state.

[0054] The lock 7 is interposed between one of the supporting rods 2b, in particular the front supporting rod 2b, and the driving element 3. The lock 7 is configured to take a locked state, in which the supporting rod 2b is integral in movement with the driving element 3, and an unlocked state, in which the supporting rod 2b is decoupled from the driving element 3.

[0055] This lock 7 comprises an interfering assembly 70, 71 movable relative to a guide housing 72 and a housing 73.

[0056] The guide housing 72 is integral with the supporting rod 2b. In particular, the guide housing 72 is fixed laterally to the supporting rod 2b, in particular by means of two fixing members 74. The guide housing 72 comprises a through opening, in particular of rectangular section, capable of receiving the interfering assembly 70, 71 therethrough.

[0057] The housing 73 is arranged in the driving element 3, in particular, in the lower wall of the driving element 3, such that when the driving element 3 is in contact with the side wall carrying the guide housing 72 of the carrying connecting rod 2b, the housing 73 is located opposite the through opening of the guide housing 72.

[0058] The interfering assembly 70, 71 comprises a bolt portion 70 and a cam portion 71.

[0059] The bolt portion 70 is slidably mounted in the guide housing 72 and is pushed by a first spring 75 housed in the guide housing 72, below the through opening. This first spring 75 has an axis perpendicular to the lower wall of the driving element 3, namely a vertical axis. The bolt portion 70 comprises a bolt head configured to be received in the housing 73 and a bolt tail against which one end of the first spring 75 bears. Thus, the bolt portion 70 is movable between a position in which it projects above the opening of the guide housing 72 and is received in the housing 73, which corresponds to the locked state of the lock 7, and a position in which it does not project above the guide housing 72 and does not cooperate with the housing 73, which corresponds to the unlocked state of the lock 7.

[0060] The cam portion 71 is formed integrally with the bolt portion 70 and extends from the bolt tail. The cam portion 71 has an inclined profile, forming an angle with the bolt portion 70. The inclined profile is oriented opposite the side wall carrying the guide housing 72 and opposite the bottom wall of the drive element 3. The free end of the cam portion 71 is in the form of a cylinder 71a whose axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drive element 3. The width of the cam portion 71, namely along said longitudinal axis, corresponds to the width of the through opening of the guide housing 72.

[0061] The unlocking stop 8 is configured to unlock the lock 7 when the supporting rod 2b abuts against the unlocking stop 8 and to allow the lock 7 to return to the locked state when the supporting rod 2b is no longer abutting against it.

[0062] The unlocking stop 8 comprises a fixed stop body 80 having a bearing surface 81 and a ramp 82.

[0063] The fixed stop body 80 is secured to the arm B1 of the weapon A. In particular, the stop body 80 comprises a main fixing part 80a, of plate type, comprising slots, in particular two slots, through which pass fixing members which secure said part 80a to the wall of the arm B1 against which said part 80a is positioned. The stop body 80 also comprises a support projection 80b which projects above said part 80a and above the upper face of the arm B1. The stop body 80 is arranged and dimensioned such that the upper face of the support projection 80b is located below the lower face of the driving element 3. Thus, the support projection 80b does not interfere with the driving element 3 which moves above it.The bearing projection 80b has a lateral face situated in the extension of a lateral face of said part 80a and an opposite lateral face, called the bearing surface 81, oriented towards the supporting rod 2b. The bearing surface 81 is orthogonal to the upper face of said part 80a and to the lower face of the driving element 3, and extends in a plane parallel to the direction of translational movement of the bolt part 70. The stop body 80 is also arranged such that the bearing surface 81 is opposite the guide housing 72. The bearing surface 81 defines a predetermined fixed stop position of the supporting rod 2b, called the decoupling position. In other words, when the supporting rod 2b, and in particular the guide housing 72 carried by the supporting rod 2b, comes to bear against the bearing surface 81, the supporting rod 2b is stopped in the decoupling position.

[0064] The ramp 82 is delimited between the bearing surface 81 and the upper face of said part 80a. The ramp 82 extends downwardly and away from the supporting rod 2b, from the bearing surface 81. The ramp 82 is configured to cooperate with the cam part 71 when the supporting rod 2b is close to the decoupling position. In particular, the ramp 82 is configured to come into contact with the cylinder 71a at the free end region of the cam part 71 and to allow the movement of the cam part 71 along the ramp 82 over a stroke allowing the retraction of the bolt part 70 and its disengagement from the housing 73 when the guide housing 72 is bearing against the bearing surface 81.

[0065] The holding member 9 makes it possible to maintain the cam part 71 in a fixed position along the ramp 82 when the bolt part 70 is not received in the housing 73, in other words to retain the lock 7 in the unlocked state against the thrust force of the first spring 75 in the decoupling position of the supporting connecting rod 2b.

[0066] The holding member 9 comprises a movable stop 90, 91 carried by a slider 92. The movable stop 90, 91 comprises a latch 90 pushed by a second spring 91. The slider 92 is pushed by a third spring 93.

[0067] The slider 92 is mounted to move in translation inside the fixed stop body 80. In particular, the slider 92 is guided in translation along said part 80a, in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the bearing surface 81. Thus, the axis of the third spring 93 is orthogonal to the axis of the first spring 75, namely horizontal here. One end of the third spring 93 is fixed to said part 80a and its other end bears against the slider 92.

[0068] The latch 90 is mounted movably at the end of the slide 92 opposite the end against which the third spring 93 bears. The second spring 91 is housed in the lower part of the slide 92 and the latch 90 is received in the upper part. The axis of the second spring 91 is parallel to the axis of the first spring 75, namely vertical here, and orthogonal to the axis of the third spring 93. Thus, the latch 90 is movable in translation, independently of the slide 92, in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the bolt part 70, in other words in this case in vertical translation. The slider 92 and the latch 90 are jointly movable in translation in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the bearing surface 81. The holding member 9 is therefore pushed, by the second 91 and third 93 springs, in the direction of the ramp 82 and is capable of being pushed back, against the pushing force of the second 91 and third 93 springs, opposite the ramp 82.

[0069] In operation, as can be seen on the Figure 8 , when the lock 7 is in the locked state, the driving element 3 is integral with the supporting connecting rod 2b and drives it in its pivoting, namely in rotation in a first direction of rotation (arrow F1 to the left on the Figures 8 à 11 ), for a displacement of the deformable parallelogram as illustrated in the Figures 1 et 2 In the locked state, the interfering assembly 70, 71 is held in the high position, namely with the bolt part 70 received in the housing 73, by the first spring 75.

[0070] As can be seen on the Figure 9 , when approaching the unlocking stop 8, in other words, when the supporting rod 2b is moved by the driving element 3 towards the bearing surface 81, the interfering assembly 70, 71 gradually disappears following the ramp 82. More precisely, the cam part 71 comes into contact with the ramp 82 and progresses downwards along this ramp 82, which moves the bolt part 70 in vertical translation downwards against the thrust force of the first spring 75. During its downward travel along the ramp 82, the cam part 71 comes into contact with the latch 90, and pushes it downwards (arrow F2 downwards on the Figure 9 ) against the thrust force of the second spring 91, towards a first unlocking position of the holding member 9. The vertical translational movement of the latch 90 therefore allows the cam part 71 to continue its progression along the ramp 82 and the bolt part 70 to continue its disengagement from the housing 73.

[0071] As can be seen on the Figures 10 And 11 , once the guide housing 72 abuts against the bearing surface 81, in other words, once the supporting rod 2b is stopped in the decoupling position, the bolt part 70 is in the lower position outside the housing 73 and the lock 7 is therefore in the completely unlocked state. In this decoupling position, the latch 90 is pushed by the second spring 91 in the direction of the ramp 82 (arrow F2 upwards on the Figure 11 ), towards its locking position, and locks the cam part 71 against the ramp 82. Indeed, in its locking position, the latch 90 is located in the path of movement of the cam part 71 and therefore prevents the cam part 71 from moving upwards along the ramp 82. Thus, the lock 7 is held in the unlocked state by the latch 90 and the slider 92. As a result, the support rod 2b is also held stationary against the bearing surface 81.

[0072] As can be seen on the Figure 11 , the lock 7 being in the unlocked state, the driving element 3 is decoupled from the carrying rod 2b and the driving element 3 can continue its travel alone by means of its driving means, and move away from the carrying rod 2b. The carrying rod 2b is no longer driven in rotation, as well as the entire deformable parallelogram formed by the two carrying rods 2a, 2b. The driving element 3 can thus move the stretcher C in translation for positioning, as illustrated in the Figure 4 .

[0073] As can be seen on the Figure 12 , after reversing the direction of rotation (arrow F1 to the right) of the driving element 3, the driving element 3 will first move the stretcher C back onto the stretcher support S, then return to contact against the carrying rod 2b and drive it in its movement. The driving element 3 being in contact with the carrying rod 2b, the housing 73 is again in alignment with the through opening of the guide housing 72. The carrying rod 2b being driven by the driving element 3 opposite the bearing surface 81, it leaves its decoupling position.

[0074] As can be seen on the Figures 13 et 14 , the interfering assembly 70, 71, integral with the supporting connecting rod 2b, is therefore also moved in the direction of the latch 90. The cam part 71 then pushes the slide 92 in the direction of movement (arrow F3 to the right on the Figures 8 And 9) of the driving element 3, by compression of the third spring 93. The holding member 9 is then in its second unlocking position and no longer opposes the movement of the cam part 71 along the ramp 82. The cam part 71 can continue to follow the ramp 82 again, in an upward movement, towards the housing 73, and gradually recreates the connection between the driving element 3 and the supporting connecting rod 2b.

[0075] When the cam part 71 has come out of the ramp 82 and the bolt part 70 is in the high position and received in the housing 73, the slide 92 returns to its place, in the locking position, under the action of the third spring 93, and the carrying connecting rod 2b is again made integral with the driving element 3, as shown in the Figure 8 .

[0076] Such a locking means 4 therefore makes it possible to ensure locking between the supporting rod 2b and the driving element 3 up to a desired position of the supporting rod 2b, automatic unlocking between the supporting rod 2b and the driving element 3 at the desired position, and reliable maintenance of the unlocking of the lock 7 and the stopping of the supporting rod 2b at this desired position.In other words, such a locking means 4 allows the driving element 3 to rotate the supporting rod 2b, and therefore the deformable parallelogram, to the desired position, then to allow the driving element 3 to continue its travel beyond this position without stopping while ensuring that the supporting rod 2b is held in position at said position while waiting for the driving element 3 to return, then to release the supporting rod 2b from this position once the driving element 3 is again in contact with the supporting rod 2b and to recreate the connection between the driving element 3 and the supporting rod 2b.

[0077] Thus, as indicated above, the invention makes it possible to ensure, with a single motor means, both the approach of the shell support by circular translation, then the movement of the mobile loading means to the appropriate position for positioning. The loading device according to the invention is therefore particularly simple and robust.

[0078] The movement of the loading device between the shell deposit position and the actual positioning of the latter is fast and reliable since the driving element moves continuously, in one direction of rotation and in the opposite direction of rotation, without pausing or slowing down its movement.

[0079] It is understood that the particular embodiment which has just been described has been given for informational and non-limiting purposes, and that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. - A device (1) for loading a shell into the chamber (Ch) of a gun (A), the loading device (1) including a shell support (S) a movable loading means (C) intended to receive the shell, the movable loading means (C) being connected to the shell support (S), the shell support (S) being movable so as to allow it to be brought closer to the chamber (Ch) of the gun (A) and the positioning of the shell, the loading device (1) further comprising a set of supporting connecting rods (2a, 2b) forming a four-bar linkage, a swiveling driving member (3) and a locking means (4) that can be unlocked, the shell support (S) being able to be connected to the gun (A) by the set of supporting connecting rods (2a, 2b), the swiveling of the supporting connecting rods (2a, 2b) relative to the gun (A) resulting in the movement of the shell support (S), the supporting connecting rods (2a, 2b) being driven by said swiveling driving member (3), which is itself able to be connected to a motor means, the driving member (3) being capable of being secured to a supporting connecting rod (2b) by said locking means (4) that can be unlocked, the driving member (3) being furthermore capable of cooperating with said movable loading means (C) so as to move the latter in order to position the shell in the chamber (Ch) of the gun (A), the locking means (4) being defined so as to be unlocked when the supporting connecting rods (2a, 2b), and thus the shell support (S), are in a fixed predetermined position, referred to as the decoupling position, the continued swiveling of the driving member (3) then causing a movement of the movable loading means (C), the locking means (4) including a latch (7) capable of assuming a locked state in which the driving member (3) is secured to a supporting connecting rod (2b), and an unlocked state in which the driving member (3) is uncoupled from said supporting connecting rod (2b), and an unlocking stop (8) capable of moving the latch (7) from the locked state to the unlocked state when said supporting connecting rod (2b) is in the decoupling position, the locking means (4) further including a holding member (9) for holding the latch (7) in the unlocked state as long as said supporting connecting rod (2b) is in the decoupling position.

2. - The loading device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the latch (7) includes an interfering assembly (70, 71) slidably mounted in a guiding case (72) secured to said supporting connecting rod (2b), the interfering assembly (70, 71) including a bolt part (70) capable of being received in a housing (73) integral with the driving member (3), and a cam part (71) capable of cooperating with the unlocking stop (8) and the holding member (9), the interfering assembly (70, 71) being elastically biased towards the housing (73) by a first elastic biasing means, such as a spring (75).

3. - The loading device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the cam part (71) has an inclined profile and the unlocking stop (8) includes a fixed stop body (80) secured to the gun and having a bearing surface (81) arranged so that the supporting connecting rod (2b) comes to bear against the bearing surface (81) in the decoupling position, the fixed stop body (80) also including a ramp (82) configured to cooperate with the inclined profile of the cam part (71) so as to progressively move aside the interfering assembly (70, 71) when the supporting connecting rod (2b) is brought closer to the bearing surface (81).

4. - The loading device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the holding member (9) is connected to the unlocking stop (8) and movably mounted relative to it.

5. - The loading device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the holding member (9) includes a movable stop (90, 91) capable of moving in translation in two directions orthogonal to each other and configured so as to be capable of successively occupying a first release position allowing the latch (7) to pass from the locked state to the unlocked state, a blocking position in which the movable stop (90, 91) cooperates with the latch (7) in order to keep the latch (7) in the unlocked state, and a second release position allowing the latch (7) to pass from the unlocked state to the locked state when the supporting connecting rod (2b) is moved away from the decoupling position by the driving member (3).

6. - The loading device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the shell support (S) has a so-called main axis (A2) that coincides with one of the sides of the four-bar linkage, and in that the movable stop (90, 91) comprises a catch (90) elastically biased towards the latch (7) by a second elastic biasing means, such as a spring (91), the axis of which is orthogonal to the plane of said four-bar linkage, the holding member (9) further comprising a slide (92) elastically biased towards the latch (7) by a third elastic biasing means, such as a spring (93), the axis of which is orthogonal to the axis of the second elastic biasing means (91) and lies in a plane parallel to the main axis (A2) of the shell support, the catch (90) being carried by the slide (92).

7. - The loading device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the movable loading means is a stretcher (C) slidably mounted on the shell support (S) along a positioning direction (A2) that coincides with the main axis (A2) of the shell support (S), the driving member (3) being connected at one end to the stretcher (C) via a sliding pivot connection, the supporting connecting rods (2a, 2b) being positioned so as to be oriented, in the decoupling position, in such a way that the positioning direction (A2) coincides with the axis (A1) of the barrel of the gun (A), the continued swiveling of the driving member (3) causing the translation of the stretcher (C) towards the chamber (Ch) of the gun (A).