Ammunition Production Rail Carriages for Flexible Station Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ammunition production systems face challenges with increased production capacity, reliability, adaptability to different calibers, and flexibility due to fixed conveying chains, leading to increased wear, space requirements, and susceptibility to errors.

Innovation Solution

A rotary cycle or circulation system with a rail/carriage arrangement allows for individual movement profiles of carriages along a closed conveying track, enabling flexible positioning and processing of ammunition parts at various stations, using a drive system with linear motors for precise control and magnetic levitation for reduced friction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the speed of the conveying chain is increased to increase production capacity, then production capacity is improved, but wear of machine parts increases and susceptibility to errors increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction capacityVSAvoidsusceptibility to errors

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by enabling each carriage to have individual, variable movement profiles rather than a fixed uniform conveying speed. The control system dynamically adjusts acceleration, deceleration, and positioning for each carriage based on production requirements, allowing optimized speeds that increase capacity while maintaining reliability through adaptive control rather than fixed high-speed operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a coherent conveying chain with fixed arrangement of stations is used, then positioning is simplified, but space requirement increases and flexibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning simplicityVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the coherent conveying chain into independent carriages that can be individually controlled and positioned. Each carriage operates autonomously with its own movement profile, allowing the system to maintain positioning simplicity for each unit while gaining overall flexibility and adaptability through modular, independent operation of multiple carriages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static fixed arrangement to a dynamic configurable system where carriages can be independently positioned and assigned different movement profiles. This dynamic capability allows the same physical infrastructure to adapt to different production requirements without increasing space requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a purely mechanically released and fixed displaceability of the conveying chain is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different calibers is inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to different calibers

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces fixed mechanical displacement with dynamic, electronically controlled movement for each carriage. The control system can individually adjust the displacement, speed, and acceleration of each carriage to accommodate different caliber requirements, maintaining structural simplicity while achieving high adaptability through software-controlled flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If individual movement profiles for each carriage are implemented, then flexibility and precision are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal control system that manages multiple carriages with individual movement profiles through a single integrated platform. This multi-functional control architecture allows the system to provide flexible, precise individual control for each carriage while avoiding the complexity of separate control systems, as the control unit can universally apply different movement profiles to different carriages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enhances production capacity, reliability, and flexibility while reducing wear and space requirements, allowing for efficient assembly of ammunition with high precision and adaptability to different calibers.

Implementation Method 1

using a drive system with linear motors for precise control

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLinear motor: Linear Motor

Implementation Method 2

magnetic levitation for reduced friction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic levitation: Maglev

Data Source

PatentUS20250327648A1Plant and method for the automated production of ammunition and conveying device

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 SWISSP DEFENCE AG

AI summary

The present invention relates to a plant for the automated production of ammunition, which consists of a plurality of ammunition parts, in particular a case, an ignition element, a projectile and a propellant charge, comprising a plurality of production stations and a conveying device, which conveys the plurality of ammunition parts to and/or from the respective production station, wherein the conveying device is formed by a rail/carriage arrangement, in which the rail defines a conveying track of the plant and a plurality of carriages for holding the plurality of ammunition parts are guided by the rail.