Twin feed ammunition conveyor for feeding shells to an automatic weapon

摘要

A twin feed ammunition conveyor for feeding shells to an automatic weapon from either of two strips of shackled shells comprises a structure having a longitudinal plane of symmetry. The structure includes an extraction station which receives the strips of shells on respective sides of the plane of symmetry, and in which the shells of each strip are separated from their shackles by a forward displacement into a respective standby location in a distribution station having a central introduction location from which the shells are fed to a shell chamber of the weapon. Means for conveying a shell from the standby locations to the central introduction location comprise two selectively driven rotors each having a pair of axially spaced star wheels operative to engage a shell in the respective standby location and to move it towards the introduction location. Radially slidable pushers on the rotor are guided by cam means to push the shell positively into the introduction location where it is held by a pair of co-operating pushers, one on each rotor, the motion of the rotor effecting the transfer being locked by a pawl upon the arrival of the shell in the introduction location.