Ammunition Link Separation Device with Elastic Tabs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing link separation devices for medium caliber weapons' ammunition strips are unreliable due to friction issues and flexibility problems, leading to incomplete separation and accumulation of links within the turret, which interferes with the weapon's operation.
Innovation Solution
A device with an elastic means integral to the weapon's support, featuring tabs positioned above the strip exit and a holding blade below, uses a spring mechanism to ensure each link can pivot relative to the next, ensuring reliable separation without adjustments, with optional elastic or rigid tongues and torsion springs for enhanced reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elastic tab is used to guide the link to pivot, then link separation is attempted, but the link may not pivot sufficiently due to friction and remains locked to the next link
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the link into functional segments: a central stirrup and two side stirrups. The tab interacts specifically with the side stirrup to initiate pivoting, while the central stirrup provides structural support. This segmentation allows the separation function to be targeted and reliable without requiring complex overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The tab acts as an intermediary element between the link and the separation force. It engages with the side stirrup to transmit the pivoting force, mediating the interaction in a way that overcomes friction between links. The tab's geometry and material properties are designed to ensure sufficient pivoting motion occurs during the separation process.
2Ease of operation
If the connection between the tab and turret is made flexible, then the device can adapt to link movement, but the flexibility disturbs the unlinking process
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the tab connection flexible to adapt to movement, the invention inverts the approach by making the tab connection rigid to the support structure. The rigidity ensures that the tab maintains its intended geometry and force transmission path, preventing disturbances to the unlinking process while still allowing the link itself to pivot freely.
3Reliability
If links are not fully separated, then they accumulate at the turret exit and interfere with weapon operation
Solution Approach 1:
The tab is positioned and dimensioned to engage with the side stirrup at the optimal point during link emergence. This preliminary engagement ensures that the pivoting action is initiated at the correct moment, allowing complete separation to occur before the link reaches the turret exit, preventing accumulation and interference with weapon operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation force is applied locally at the side stirrup through the tab, rather than attempting to act on the entire link structure. This localized application of force is sufficient to initiate and complete the pivoting motion needed for separation, ensuring reliability without requiring excessive force or complex mechanisms that would affect productivity.
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 simple, reliable, and consistent method for separating ammunition links, ensuring they are fully disengaged and do not accumulate, improving turret operation and reducing maintenance needs over time.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic means integral with a support of the weapon and placed close to an exit of the strip out of this support, and being able to make each link pivot relative to the next
Implementation Method 2
which tab is pushed by the outlet of a first link against the action of a spring means
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The device has an elastic unit connected to a support (5) of an arm and placed near an exit point of a load strip beyond the support. The unit has elastic tongues (7) arranged above the exit point of the load strip, where the tongues are made of spring steel. The tongues are pushed by an exit point of one link (M1) against the action of a torsion spring and are cooperated with a rear edge of a body of the link for pivoting the link with respect to another link (M2) to unhook the links.