Ammunition Ejection Chute With Vibration For Turret Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for ejecting casings and links from small to medium caliber ammunition chains or bands in armored vehicle turrets are inefficient, leading to random and uncontrolled ejection paths that can cause clogging, jamming, and safety concerns, with a lack of effective solutions for both ergonomic and mechanical aspects.
Innovation Solution
A device integrated into the turret's mask region, utilizing a motor-driven chute system with vibration assistance to guide and eject casings and links along a controlled path, ensuring separation and ejection outside the turret, independent of the turret's orientation and crew presence, using a combination of ejection and evacuation channels and a motor with unbalance for vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If casings and links are ejected through existing orifices and channels without additional control mechanisms, then the ejection system maintains simple structure, but the ejection path becomes random and uncontrolled causing clogging and jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection system is divided into separate dedicated channels for casings and links. Casings are ejected through a first ejection channel while links are recovered through a second recovery channel, preventing mixing and clogging. This segmentation allows each channel to be optimized for its specific function without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
A vibration motor is introduced as an intermediary element to facilitate the ejection process. The motor vibrates the ejection channel to prevent casings from adhering to the channel walls and ensures reliable ejection. This intermediary component resolves the contradiction by providing controlled ejection assistance without requiring a completely complex mechanical system.
2Reliability
If a vibration motor is added to the ejection channel to prevent adhesion and ensure reliable ejection, then ejection reliability improves, but the device complexity and mechanical stress increase
Solution Approach 1:
A vibration motor is integrated into the ejection channel to generate mechanical vibrations that prevent casings from adhering to the channel walls during ejection. The vibration ensures consistent and reliable ejection of casings without requiring complex mechanical propulsion systems, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity through a relatively simple vibratory mechanism.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If casings and links are ejected without separate dedicated channels, then the ejection system maintains simple architecture, but random ejection paths cause clogging and safety concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection system is divided into separate dedicated channels for casings and links. Casings are ejected through a first ejection channel while links are recovered through a second recovery channel, preventing mixing and clogging. This segmentation allows each channel to be optimized for its specific function without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The link recovery function is extracted from the casing ejection path. Links are diverted into a separate recovery channel that leads to a collection container, while casings follow a dedicated ejection channel. This extraction eliminates the harmful interaction between casings and links that causes clogging and safety issues.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the ejection system is designed to handle both small and medium caliber ammunition, then versatility improves, but the device complexity and design constraints increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection system is designed with universal components that can handle both small caliber (5.56mm-15mm) and medium caliber (20mm-50mm) ammunition. The separate channel architecture allows each channel to be optimized for its caliber while maintaining overall system versatility. The vibration motor and channel design accommodate different casing and link dimensions without requiring caliber-specific subsystems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a controlled, efficient, and safe ejection of ammunition residues, minimizing mechanical stress and ensuring consistent operation across various calibers and orientations, while maintaining the turret's structural integrity and crew safety.
Implementation Method 1
comprising means for vibrating at least a part of these structural elements to promote the said displacement of the bushings and/or the links, the said structural elements comprising at least one chute, characterized in that the said means of vibration include a motor placed at any location in the chute, provided with an unbalance and intended to be actuated only during firing
Implementation Method 2
the recovery of any material (stones, vegetables, etc.) falling under the effect of gravity in a closed circular structure, such as a pipe
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for ejecting (10) cartridges (5) and/or links (2) from a chain or ammunition (1) strip (3) connected to a main (19) and/or secondary (33) weapon in a turret (9) assembled on an armoured vehicle, the ejection device (10) comprising a plurality of structural elements defined geometrically and mechanically, enabling, after shooting ammunition (1), guiding of the movement of the cartridges (5) and/or the links (2) from the inside to the outside of said turret (9), along a predetermined path, and comprising means for vibrating at least one part of these structural elements to encourage said movement of cartridges (5) and/or links (2).