Single barrel gun with a rotary operating mechanism

Claim 2

A gun comprising: a housing; a single gun barrel, having a longitudinal axis, disposed within said housing and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis with respect to said housing; a single gun bolt disposed within said housing and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis; and an operating mechanism for said gun bolt journalled for rotation about said longitudinal axis; said operating mechanism comprising tubular means journalled for rotation within said housing about said longitudinal axis, first coupling means interengaging said gun barrel and said tubular means whereby rectilinear aftward movement of said gun barrel causes rotation of said tubular means, and second coupling means interengaging said gun bolt and said tubular means whereby said rotation of said tubular means provides rectilinear aftward movement of said gun bolt which is accelerated with respect to the movement of said gun barrel, said first coupling means comprising a first quasi-helical cam track fixed to one of a first group consisting of said gun barrel and said tubular means, and a first cam roller fixed to the other of said group and interengaged with said first cam track, and said second coupling means comprises a second quasi-helical cam track fixed to said tubular means, a third cam track fixed to said gun bolt, and a slide, journalled for longitudinal reciprocation, having a second cam roller interengaged with said second cam track and a third cam roller interengaged with said third cam track.

Claim 3

A gun according to claim 1 further including: means to lock said gun bolt to said gun barrel; means to unlock said gun bolt from said gun barrel, effective at a first disposition of said gun barrel aft of the battery disposition of said gun barrel; said first cam track and the effective combination of said second and third cam tracks having the same pitch angle during the aftward travel of said gun barrel from battery to said first disposition, and during further aftward travel of said gun barrel the pitch angle of said effective combination being greater than the pitch angle of said first cam track.

Claim 4

A gun comprising: a housing; a single gun barrel, having a longitudinal axis, disposed within said housing, and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis with respect to said housing; a single gun bolt disposed within said housing and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis; and an operating mechanism for said gun bolt journalled for rotation about said longitudinal axis; said operating mechanism comprising tubular means journalled for rotation within said housing about said longitudinal axis, first coupling means interengaging said gun barrel and said tubular means whereby rectilinear aftward movement of said gun barrel causes rotation of said tubular means, and second coupling means interengaging said gun bolt and said tubular means whereby said rotation of said tubular means provides rectilinear aftward movement of said gun bolt which is accelerated with respect to the movement of said gun barrel, said tubular means comprising a forward tubular means, engaged by said first coupling means, an aft tubular means, engaged by said second coupling means, and a shaft, driven by said forward tubular means and driving said aft tubular means, and detent means for halting rotation of said aft tubular means, said first coupling means permitting rotation in a first direction and precluding rotation in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, of said forward tubular means when said detent means is effective to halt rotation of said aft tubular means whereby said forward tubular means decelerates, torsionally straining said shaft means.

Claim 5

A gun comprising: a housing; a single gun barrel, having a longitudinal axis, disposed within said housing, and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis with respect to said housing; a single gun bolt disposed within said housing and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis; and an operating mechanism for said gun bolt journalled for rotation about said longitudinal axis; said operating mechanism comprising tubular means journalled for rotation within said housing about said longitudinal axis, first coupling means interengaging said gun barrel and said tubular means whereby rectilinear aftward movement of said gun barrel causes rotation of said tubular means, and second coupling means interengaging said gun bolt and said tubular means whereby said rotation of said tubular means provides rectilinear aftward movement of said gun bolt which is accelerated with respect to the movement of said gun barrel, said tubular means comprising a forward tubular means, engaged by said first coupling means, an aft tubular means, engaged by said second coupling means, and a shaft, driven by said forward tubular means and driving said aft tubular means, and detent means for halting rotation of said aft tubular means, said first coupling means permitting rotation in a first direction and precluding rotation in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, of said forward tubular means when said detent means is effective to halt rotation of said aft tubular means whereby said forward tubular means decelerates, torsionally straining said shaft means.

Claim 6

A gun according to claim 3 further including: a gun bolt return spring which is compressed by aftward movement of said gun bolt during an initial portion of the cycle of said gun, and which provides forward movement of said gun bolt during a subsequent portion of said cycle of said gun.

Claim 7

A gun comprising: a housing; a single gun barrel, having a longitudinal axis, disposed within said housing, and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis with respect to said housing; a single gun bolt disposed within said housing and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis; an operating mechanism for said gun bolt journalled for rotation about said longitudinal axis; said operating mechanism comprising tubular means journalled for rotation within said housing about said longitudinal axis, first coupling means interengaging said gun barrel and said tubular means whereby rectilinear aftward movement of said gun barrel causes rotation of said tubular means, and second coupling means interengaging said gun bolt and said tubular means whereby said rotation of said tubular means provides rectilinear aftward movement of said gun bolt which is accelerated with respect to the movement of said gun barrel, said tubular means comprising a forward tubular means, engaged by said first coupling means, an aft tubular means, engaged by said second coupling means, and power transmission means, driven by said forward tubular means and driving said aft tubular means, and detent means for halting rotation of said aft tubular means, said first coupling means permitting rotation in a first direction and precluding rotation in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, of said forward tubular means when said detent means is effective to halt rotation of said aft tubular means, whereby said forward tubular means decelerates, storing energy in said power transmission means.

Claim 8

A gun comprising: a housing; a single gun barrel, having a longitudinal axis, disposed within said housing, and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis with respect to said housing; a single gun bolt disposed within said housing and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis; an operating mechanism for said gun bolt journalled for rotation about said longitudinal axis; said operating mechanism comprising tubular means journalled for rotation within said housing about said longitudinal axis, first coupling means interengaging said gun barrel and said tubular means whereby rectilinear aftward movement of said gun barrel causes rotation of said tubular means, and second coupling means interengaging said gun bolt and said tubular means whereby said rotation of said tubular means provides rectilinear aftward movement of said gun bolt which is accelerated with respect to the movement of said gun barrel, said tubular means comprising a forward tubular means, engaged by said first coupling means, an aft tubular means, engaged by said second coupling means, and power transmission means, driven by said forward tubular means and driving said aft tubular means, and detent means for halting rotation of said aft tubular means, said first coupling means permitting rotation in a first direction and precluding rotation in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, of said forward tubular means when said detent means is effective to halt rotation of said aft tubular means, whereby said forward tubular means decelerates, storing energy in said power transmission means.

Claim 9

A gun comprising: a housing, a gun barrel, having a longitudinal axis, disposed within said housing, and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis with respect to said housing; a gun bolt disposed within said housing and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis; an operating mechanism comprising first means journalled for rotation within said housing, first coupling means interengaging said gun barrel and said first means whereby rectilinear aftward movement of said gun barrel causes rotation of said first means, and second coupling means interengaging said gun bolt and said first means whereby said rotation of said first means provides rectilinear aftward movement of said gun bolt which is accelerated with respect to the movement of said gun barrel, said first means comprising a forward rotating means, engaged by said first coupling means, an aft rotating means, engaged by said second coupling means, and power transmission means driven by said forward rotating means and driving said aft rotating means, and stop means for halting rotation of said aft rotating means, said first coupling means permitting rotation in a first direction and precluding rotation in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, of said forward rotating means when said stop means is effective to halt rotation of said aft rotating means, whereby said forward rotating means decelerates, storing energy in said power transmission means.

Claim 10

A gun comprising: a housing, a gun barrel, having a longitudinal axis, disposed within said housing, and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis with respect to said housing; a gun bolt disposed within said housing and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis; an operating mechanism comprising first means journalled for rotation within said housing, first coupling means interengaging said gun barrel and said first means whereby rectilinear aftward movement of said gun barrel causes rotation of said first means, and second coupling means interengaging said gun bolt and said first means whereby said rotation of said first means provides rectilinear aftward movement of said gun bolt which is accelerated with respect to the movement of said gun barrel, said first means comprising a forward rotating means, engaged by said first coupling means, an aft rotating means, engaged by said second coupling means, and power transmission means driven by said forward rotating means and driving said aft rotating means, and stop means for halting rotation of said aft rotating means, said first coupling means permitting rotation in a first direction and precluding rotation in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, of said forward rotating means when said stop means is effective to halt rotation of said aft rotating means, whereby said forward rotating means decelerates, storing energy in said power transmission means.

Claim 11

A gun comprising: a housing; a gun barrel, having a longitudinal axis, disposed within said housing, and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis with respect to said housing; a gun bolt disposed within said housing and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis; an operating mechanism comprising first means journalled for rotation within said housing, first coupling means interengaging said gun barrel and said first means whereby rectilinear aftward movement of said gun barrel causes rotation of said first means, said first means comprising a forward rotating means, engaged by said first coupling means, an aft rotating means, and power transmission means driven by said forward rotating means and driving said aft rotating means, and stop means for halting rotation of said aft rotating means, said first coupling means permitting rotation in a first direction and precluding rotation in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, of said forward rotating means when said stop means is effective to halt rotation of said aft rotating means whereby said forward rotating means decelerates, storing energy in said power transmission means.

Claim 12

A gun comprising: a housing; a gun barrel, having a longitudinal axis, disposed within said housing, and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis with respect to said housing; a gun bolt disposed within said housing and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis; an operating mechanism comprising first means journalled for rotation within said housing, first coupling means interengaging said gun barrel and said first means whereby rectilinear aftward movement of said gun barrel causes rotation of said first means, said first means comprising a forward rotating means, engaged by said first coupling means, an aft rotating means, and power transmission means driven by said forward rotating means and driving said aft rotating means, and stop means for halting rotation of said aft rotating means, said first coupling means permitting rotation in a first direction and precluding rotation in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, of said forward rotating means when said stop means is effective to halt rotation of said aft rotating means whereby said forward rotating means decelerates, storing energy in said power transmission means.

Claim 13

A gun comprising: a housing; a gun barrel, having a longitudinal axis, disposed within said housing, and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis with respect to said housing; a gun bolt disposed within said housing and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis; an operating mechanism for said gun bolt comprising a forward tubular means journalled for rotation about said longitudinal axis, an aft tubular means journalled for rotation about said longitudinal axis, a shaft rotated by said forward tubular means and rotating said aft tubular means, first coupling means interengaging said gun barrel and said forward tubular means, so that rectilinear aftward movement of said gun barrel causes rotation of said aft tubular means, second coupling means interengaging said gun bolt and said aft tubular means, so that rotation of said aft tubular means causes rectilinear aftward movement of said gun bolt which is accelerated with respect to the movement of said gun barrel.

Claim 14

A gun comprising: a housing; a gun barrel, having a longitudinal axis, disposed within said housing, and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis with respect to said housing; a gun bolt disposed within said housing and journalled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis; an operating mechanism for said gun bolt comprising a forward tubular means journalled for rotation about said longitudinal axis, an aft tubular means journalled for rotation about said longitudinal axis, a shaft rotated by said forward tubular means and rotating said aft tubular means, first coupling means interengaging said gun barrel and said forward tubular means, so that rectilinear aftward movement of said gun barrel causes rotation of said aft tubular means, second coupling means interengaging said gun bolt and said aft tubular means, so that rotation of said aft tubular means causes rectilinear aftward movement of said gun bolt which is accelerated with respect to the movement of said gun barrel.

Claim 15

A gun according to claim 8 wherein: said first coupling means comprises a fist quasi-helical cam track fixed to one of a first group consisting of said gun barrel and said tubular means, and a first cam roller fixed to the other of said group and interengaged with said first cam track.

Claim 16

A gun for firing a round of ammunition comprising: a housing; a gun barrel, having a longitudinal axis, disposed within said housing, and journaled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis with respect to said housing; a Gun bolt disposed within said housing and journaled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis; an operating mechanism for said gun bolt comprising a forward rotating means journaled for rotation about said gun barrel longitudinal axis, an aft rotating means spaced from said forward rotating means by at least the length of a round of ammunition and journaled for rotation about said gun barrel longitudinal axis, power transmission means driven by said forward rotating means and driving said aft rotating means, first coupling means interengaging said gun barrel and said forward rotating means so that rectilinear aftward movement of said gun barrel causes rotation of said aft rotating means, second coupling means interengaging said gun bolt and said aft rotating means, so that rotation of said aft rotating means causes rectilinear aftward movement of said gun bolt which is accelerated with respect to the movement of said gun barrel.

Claim 17

A gun for firing a round of ammunition comprising: a housing; a gun barrel, having a longitudinal axis, disposed within said housing, and journaled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis with respect to said housing; a Gun bolt disposed within said housing and journaled for reciprocation along said longitudinal axis; an operating mechanism for said gun bolt comprising a forward rotating means journaled for rotation about said gun barrel longitudinal axis, an aft rotating means spaced from said forward rotating means by at least the length of a round of ammunition and journaled for rotation about said gun barrel longitudinal axis, power transmission means driven by said forward rotating means and driving said aft rotating means, first coupling means interengaging said gun barrel and said forward rotating means so that rectilinear aftward movement of said gun barrel causes rotation of said aft rotating means, second coupling means interengaging said gun bolt and said aft rotating means, so that rotation of said aft rotating means causes rectilinear aftward movement of said gun bolt which is accelerated with respect to the movement of said gun barrel.

Claim 18

A gun according to claim 10 wherein said gun bolt is journalled to said housing for reciprocation between said first and second rotating means.

Claim 19

A gun according to claim 10 further including: an external rotating source of power, coupled to and driving one of said rotating means.