US3741069A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Feed system for a non rotating multi barrel gun
Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
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Filing: 1972-03-10
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1992-03-10
Abstract
Abstract A test model machine gun having an endless ammunition belt continuously moving during operation, a stationary multi-barrel cluster arranged about the gun axis and a combined feed and gunoperating mechanism including a squirrel cage automatically rotatable in orbit about the barrel cluster in synchronism with the moving belt and equipped with a series of ammunition feed spaces, a four-tooth feed sprocket geared to, and thus automatically operable therewith, for removing rounds from the moving belt for their placement in successive squirrel cage-feed spaces, and a bolt-operating drive cam rotatable within, and in simultaneous orbit with, the squirrel cage and incorporating transfer, feed and ejection sprockets automatically rotatable during orbit of the drive cam to respectively engage and transfer rounds from the squirrel cage, feed the transferred rounds to a captive position in the bolt heads and eject the rounds extracted by the bolts for subsequent positioning in alternate squirrel cage-feed spaces. A four-tooth ejection sprocket, geared to the four-tooth feed sprocket and to the drive cam, is simultaneously operative in sequence with rotation of the squirrel cage to engage the extracted rounds returned thereto and replace them in the moving belt.
Inventors
- 👤 P Stewart
- 👤 D Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:00
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41A; F41A9/00; F41A9/35
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
In a high rate of fire gun having a multi-barrel cluster centered in fixed relation about the gun axis and a bolt mechanism for each barrel; a combined ammunition feed mechanism movably positioned on the gun receiver for rotation in orbit about the fixed barrel cluster, and gun-operating system comprising; a bolt-operating means adjustable in position and interconnected with the operating lug member of, and thereby successively moving the bolt mechanism for each barrel between its forward, firing position and its aft, round-extracting and ejecting position; an intermediately-positioned, rear round guide incorporating a series of evenly-spaced ammunition-feed spaces for receiving and supporting the rear end portions of a predetermined number of rounds being successively fed thereinto; ammunition belt means adapted to supply rounds to said rear round guide-feed spaces; first, main, round-feeding means operably associated with and adjustable in position to remove rounds from the belt and place them in every other one of said feed spaces; an inner round guide slidably supporting the forward end portions of the rounds, and attached in a forwardly-disposed relation to the bolt-operating means and movable in orbit about the stationary barrel cluster, said inner round guide having roundtransfer means assembled thereto and rotatable about its own axis in one direction and automatically engaging and transferring rounds being supported by, and fed into said rear round guidefeed spaces by said first, main, round-feeding means directily into a captive position in successive order in the head portions of the respective bolt mechanisms; and gear train means interconnected between, and operative to actuate each of said bolt-operating means, rear round guide, first, main, roundfeeding means and the roUnd-transfer means of said inner round guide in timed sequence with each other to thereby facilitate the smooth flow of ammunition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
In a high rate of fire gun having a multi-barrel cluster centered in fixed relation about the gun axis and a bolt mechanism for each barrel; a combined ammunition feed mechanism movably positioned on the gun receiver for rotation in orbit about the fixed barrel cluster, and gun-operating system comprising; a bolt-operating means adjustable in position and interconnected with the operating lug member of, and thereby successively moving the bolt mechanism for each barrel between its forward, firing position and its aft, round-extracting and ejecting position; an intermediately-positioned, rear round guide incorporating a series of evenly-spaced ammunition-feed spaces for receiving and supporting the rear end portions of a predetermined number of rounds being successively fed thereinto; ammunition belt means adapted to supply rounds to said rear round guide-feed spaces; first, main, round-feeding means operably associated with and adjustable in position to remove rounds from the belt and place them in every other one of said feed spaces; an inner round guide slidably supporting the forward end portions of the rounds, and attached in a forwardly-disposed relation to the bolt-operating means and movable in orbit about the stationary barrel cluster, said inner round guide having roundtransfer means assembled thereto and rotatable about its own axis in one direction and automatically engaging and transferring rounds being supported by, and fed into said rear round guidefeed spaces by said first, main, round-feeding means directily into a captive position in successive order in the head portions of the respective bolt mechanisms; and gear train means interconnected between, and operative to actuate each of said bolt-operating means, rear round guide, first, main, roundfeeding means and the roUnd-transfer means of said inner round guide in timed sequence with each other to thereby facilitate the smooth flow of ammunition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a high rate of fire gun as in claim 1, wherein said bolt-operating means comprises a main, drive cam mounted for rotation relative to the gun receiver; said cam incorporating a slotted surface extending from an intermediately-disposed slotted portion on the top surface thereof inwardly, and downwardly around its circumference towards the breech of the gun; the said bolt-operating lug member of each of said bolt mechanisms being slidably engaged within said drive cam-slotted surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
In a high rate of fire gun as in claim 2, wherein said rear round guide comprises a squirrel cage consisting of a circular ring positioned on, and rotating relative to said inner round guide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
In a high rate of fire gun as in claim 3, wherein the ammunition-feed spaces of said squirrel cage may be formed by the installation thereto of a plurality of socket-head cap screws extending from the head portions thereof disposed along the aft side of said circular ring-squirrel cage inwardly through the circumference thereof to projecting, forwardly-disposed screw portions arranged along the front side of said ring and respectively acting as round separator elements during the feeding of ammunition thereinto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a high rate of fire gun as in claim 4, wherein said ammunition belt means comprises an endless belt-conveyor system; and said gear train means comprises a manually-actuated, main drive gear interconnected with, and adapted to rotate said endless belt-conveyor system in a predetermined direction for the continuous feeding of ammunition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a high rate of fire gun as in claim 5, wherein said first, main, round-feeding means comprises a four-tooth feed sprocket mounted on a shaft interconnected with, and manually-operable by, said main drive gear of said gear train means, said four-tooth feed sprocket thereby automatically engaging and removing successive rounds from said endless belt-conveyor system for their placement in alternate feed spaces provided between said squirrel cage-screws.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
In a high rate of fire gun as in claim 6, said gear train-shaft further mounting an eight-tooth sprocket engaging the head portions of the screws of, and thereby rotating said squirrel cage in orbit about the barrel cluster, simultaneously with the feeding of rounds by said four-tooth feed sprocket into the proper feed spaces formed between the projecting inner ends of said screws on the opposite side of said squirrel cage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a high rate of fire gun as in claim 7, wherein said inner round guide further incorporates in assembled relation thereto a second, direct round-feeding means rotatable about its own axis in a direction opposite to that of said round-transfer means and engageable with each of the rounds being transferred thereby and placing said rounds in a captive position in the heads of each bolt mechanism, and round-ejection means rotatable about its own axis simultaneously with, and in the same direction as the second, direct round-feeding means for successively engaging and ejecting rounds being extracted from each gun barrel by said bolt mechanisms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
135 words
In a high rate of fire gun as in claim 8, wherein said round-transfer, second, round-feeding and round-ejection means respectively comprise a six-tooth transfer sprocket and three-tooth feed and ejection sprockets assembled to said inner round guide for orbit about the barrel cluster with the rotation of said main drive cam; and said gear train means comprises a main, stationary gear fixedly mounted on the gun receiver, a pair of pinions in mesh with each other and with said stationary gear, a third pinion in mesh with said pair of pinions, and sprocket-mounting shaft means respectively mounting said pinions and said sprockets on opposite ends thereof; said gear train means further comprising a cog wheel mounted to said drive cam and engaging the screws of, and thereby simultaneouSly rotating said squirrel cage in concert therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a high rate of fire gun as in claim 4, wherein said gear train means comprises a first, peripheral gear formed on said main drive cam; a second, peripheral gear formed on said squirrel cage; and drive motor means adapted to be mounted to one side of the gun and incorporating interconnecting gear means of predetermined different sizes and respectively engaging said first and second peripheral gears to thereby rotate said main drive cam and said squirrel cage at selected different rates for each gun cycle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |