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Abstract

Shell feeding apparatus for a rapid fire, gun, such as a medium calibre cannon, comprises an elongate, linear shell rammer having a relatively small diameter, surrounded by a carousel-type shell magazine configured for holding several, for example, about six, shells. The shell rammer includes a pressurized fluid actuation cylinder having two transversely separated bores and two pistons mounted in the bores. Protruding ends of the pistons are interconnected by a motion multiplier which comprises a T-shaped member, to opposite sides of which are mounted two pairs of sprockets. A shell ramming member is fixed to two drive chains entrained over the two pairs of sprockets. The drive chains are fixed to the actuator cylinder so that when pressurized fluid moves the pistons, relative to the cylinder, a distance, 'd', at a velocity, 'v,' the shell ramming member, and hence a shell engaged thereby, is moved a substantially greater distance, 'D,' at a substantially greater velocity, 'V.' Typically the shell ramming distance, 'D,' and velocity, 'V,' are twice as great as the actuation distance, 'd,' and velocity, 'v.' The shell rammer functions as a spindle for the magazine which includes means for moving shells held thereon to a shell ramming position at which the shells are engaged by the shell ramming member.

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First Claim