Ammunition feed

摘要

The invention provides an ammunition feed for an automatic weapon in a helicopter gun turret which is capable of flexing in two planes to accommodate movement of the weapon and rapidly and reliably delivering loosely held rounds. The feed comprises a stranded wire belt, having spindles crimped onto it, which moves in a guide chute. Transverse inverted Vee shape members forming cradles are secured at their midpoints to rollers on the spindles and rounds are trapped and transported between adjacent cradles. The cradles are sufficiently flexible to hold the rounds in position during sharp changes in direction of the feed. A transfer wheel delivers rounds to the breech, the drive for the transfer wheel also driving the cable drive, means being provided to ensure positive drive transmission during gun recoil and further means to stop the feed when firing ceases.