Feb 24, 2026

US12560393 - Assembly for positioning and keeping in position a projectile in a stretcher and loading-aid device comprising such an assembly

The invention relates to a rammer ( 1 ) for positioning an artillery shell, the rammer ( 1 ) comprising a stretcher ( 2 ) intended to receive the shell and guide it in translation, the rammer ( 1 ) being characterized in that it comprises a pusher ( 4 ) which can be driven in a reciprocating movement along the stretcher ( 2 ), reciprocating movement which is provided by a pair of closed flexible links ( 6 ) arranged on either side of the pusher ( 4 ), each link ( 6 ) connecting a drive wheel ( 6 b ) and a free wheel ( 6 a ), the pusher ( 4 ) having a bearing surface intended to correspond with a rear face of the shell in order to push it.

Assignee: KNDS FRANCE
Inventors: Maxime Collard, Ludovic Dupont
Filing date: 2024-12-31

artilleryprojectilerammer

The patent describes a rammer assembly designed for positioning artillery shells within a stretcher, featuring a movable arm with a bearing surface that pivots to align the projectile. The system includes a drive mechanism that facilitates the transition of the stretcher between placement and ramming positions, ensuring accurate alignment and positioning of the projectile.

Claim 1

1 . A positioning and position keeping assembly for positioning and keeping in position a projectile in a stretcher, the stretcher having a longitudinal axis X 0 , the stretcher being movable between a first position, called placement position for the projectile and a second position, called ramming position for the projectile, using drive means which are movable, wherein the positioning and position keeping assembly comprises: at least one arm that is movable and includes a bearing surface, the at least one arm being intended to be mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis A 0 orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the at least one arm and, in use, parallel to the longitudinal X 0 of the stretcher, between a raised position permitting a placement of the projectile in the stretcher, and a lowered position wherein the bearing surface is able to cooperate with the projectile received in the stretcher so as to ensure an alignment of the projectile with the longitudinal axis X 0 of the stretcher, a pivoting actuation mechanism intended to cooperate with the drive means and arranged to convert a movement of the drive means during a displacement of the stretcher from the placement position to the ramming position into a pivoting of the at least one arm from the raised position to the lowered position, and elastic return means for the at least one arm so as to return same to the raised position once the stretcher has been placed in the ramming position. at least one arm that is movable and includes a bearing surface, the at least one arm being intended to be mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis A 0 orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the at least one arm and, in use, parallel to the longitudinal X 0 of the stretcher, between a raised position permitting a placement of the projectile in the stretcher, and a lowered position wherein the bearing surface is able to cooperate with the projectile received in the stretcher so as to ensure an alignment of the projectile with the longitudinal axis X 0 of the stretcher, a pivoting actuation mechanism intended to cooperate with the drive means and arranged to convert a movement of the drive means during a displacement of the stretcher from the placement position to the ramming position into a pivoting of the at least one arm from the raised position to the lowered position, and elastic return means for the at least one arm so as to return same to the raised position once the stretcher has been placed in the ramming position.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12560393

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12560393