US 12,188,739 B2
Automated projectile loader and a method of loading projectiles for a vehicle
Babu Natesan, Tamil Nadu (IN); Roshan Samuel Raja Rajesh Kumar, Tamil Nadu (IN); Balaguru Vadivel, Tamil Nadu (IN); Rajakumar Rai S, Tamil Nadu (IN); and Dhanpal Murugesan, Tamil Nadu (IN)
Assigned to CHAIRMAN, DEFENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (DRDO), New Delhi (IN)
Appl. No. 18/260,837
Filed by Chairman, Defence Research And Development Organisation (DRDO), New Delhi (IN)
PCT Filed Jan. 7, 2022, PCT No. PCT/IN2022/050016
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 10, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/162684, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 4, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 202111003860 (IN), filed on Jan. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0077265 A1, Mar. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. F41A 9/37 (2006.01); F41A 9/16 (2006.01); F41A 9/42 (2006.01)
CPC F41A 9/37 (2013.01) [F41A 9/16 (2013.01); F41A 9/42 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated projectile loader (110) for a vehicle, the automated projectile loader (110) comprising:
a carousal projectile unit (210) mounted on a hull of the vehicle, wherein the carousal projectile unit (210) comprises a carousal storage adapted to store a plurality of projectiles oriented in a vertical direction;
a bustle projectile unit (220) disposed at a rear end of a turret of the vehicle, the bustle projectile unit (220) comprising a bustle storage adapted to store a plurality of projectiles and propellants oriented in a horizontal direction;
an automated arm (200) disposed below the turret and adapted to load the plurality of projectiles from one of the carousal storage and the bustle storage in a barrel of the turret, wherein the automated arm (200) is adapted to clasp a projectile from one of the carousal storage and the bustle storage and adapted align the projectile with the barrel;
a controlling unit (104) in communication with the automated arm (200) and configured to:
receive an input indicative of selection of a projectile from one of the carousal storage and the bustle storage; and
operate the automated arm (200) to load the projectile from one of the carousal storage and the bustle storage in the barrel based on the received input.