This disclosure relates generally to Gatling-type guns; in particular, this disclosure relates to a magazine feed mechanism for a Gatling gun.
Gatling guns are rapid-fire guns with multiple barrels that rotate around a central axis and are capable of being fired at a rapid rate. Although Gatling guns have become one of the best-known historical rapid-fire guns, the design is mechanically complex and has generally been replaced by modern machine guns. Even though the design is historic, however, it still has some advantages over machine guns. For example, due to the use of multiple barrels, overheating is not as big a problem as conventional machine guns with a single barrel.
Ammunition for Gatling guns are gravity fed. Existing Gatling guns typically have had a hopper that gravity-feeds rounds into the gun's chambers. Other devices, such as drums with an internal rotor, have also been devised for feeding ammunition to Gatling guns; however, these drums are mechanically complex, expensive, and can be fragile.
Unlike the gravity-fed hoppers used with Gatling guns, many modern guns use spring-loaded magazines, which are plentiful and relatively cheap. Typically, when the bolt cycles in modern guns, it strips a round from the magazine and pushes it into the chamber. However, with a Gatling gun, there are difficulties striping rounds from a spring-loaded magazine as the cylinder rotates during firing.
Therefore, a need exists that overcomes one or more of the disadvantages of present devices for feeding Gatling guns with ammunition.
According to one aspect, this disclosure provides a Gatling gun with a gun body, a bolt carrier, a plurality of barrels, a plurality of bolts, a magazine feed mechanism, and a firing mechanism. The gun body defines an opening configured to receive a magazine. The rotatable bolt carrier defines a plurality of chambers. The plurality of barrels are each longitudinally aligned with a respective chamber of the plurality of chambers. The plurality of bolts are each longitudinally aligned with a respective barrel of the plurality of barrels. The magazine feed mechanism is configured to transfer a spring-loaded round from the magazine into a chamber of the plurality of chambers. The firing mechanism is configured to cause each gun bolt to fire a round in its respective chamber at a particular angular displacement during rotation of the rotatable bolt carrier.
According to another aspect, this disclosure provides a Gatling gun with a gun body defining an opening configured to receive a magazine. The gun includes a rotatable bolt carrier defining a plurality of chambers. There are a plurality of barrels each longitudinally aligned with a respective chamber of the plurality of chambers. The gun has a plurality of bolts each longitudinally aligned with a respective barrel of the plurality of barrels. There is means for successively transferring spring-loaded rounds from the magazine into successive chambers of the plurality of chambers and a firing mechanism configured to cause each bolt to fire a round in its respective chamber at a particular angular displacement during the rotation of the rotatable bolt carrier.
According to a further aspect, this disclosure provides a method of feeding rounds into a Gatling gun. The method includes the steps of providing a gun body defining an opening configured to receive a magazine for feeding spring-loaded rounds into a plurality of chambers defined by a rotatable bolt carrier, wherein a magazine feed mechanism extends from the rotatable bolt carrier and rotates concomitant with the bolt carrier; and rotating the magazine feed mechanism to transfer spring-loaded rounds from the magazine into successive chambers of the plurality of chambers.
The present disclosure will be described hereafter with reference to the attached drawings which are given as non-limiting examples only, in which:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principals of the invention. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
This disclosure relates to a Gatling gun with a magazine feed mechanism. Unlike existing gravity-fed hoppers, drums and magazines used with Gatling guns, the present magazine feed mechanism is configured to strip rounds from a spring-loaded magazine and deposit each round into the gun's chambers as the cylinder rotates during firing. There are potentially several advantages to using a spring-loaded magazine. For example, spring-loaded magazines are widely available and, therefore, relatively inexpensive. In some embodiments, the Gatling gun and magazine feed mechanism are configured to be compatible with magazines for Glock™ pistols, although spring-loaded magazines for guns of other gun manufacturers are encompassed within this disclosure. By way of example only, in some embodiments, the Gatling gun could be configured to fire 9 mm rounds with a spring-loaded magazine for a Glock™ 17, Glock™ 19 or similar model. Since these magazines are widely available, generally interchangeable, and offer different magazine capacities, this allows the Gatling gun to operate with several different widely available and inexpensive magazines of varying round capacities.
As shown, the gun body 18 is formed in a generally cylinder shape and rotates in direction of arrow 28 (clockwise when viewed by back 14) as the Gatling gun assembly 10 is fired. In this embodiment, the gun body 18 rotates about hub 30 by rotating crank 32. As shown, there are a plurality of barrels 34 surrounding the hub 30, and the Gatling gun assembly 10 sequentially fires rounds out of each barrel 34 as a user rotates the crank 32. One skilled in the art should understand that this arrangement is typical of Gatling guns.
In the embodiment shown, the gun body 18 includes an opening through which a magazine well 36 receives a magazine 38 with rounds (also called cartridges) for firing by the Gatling gun assembly 10. The magazine well 36 includes a latch mechanism (not shown) that locks the magazine 38 and magazine well 36 together; the user can actuate the latch mechanism to release the magazine 38. Typically, the magazine 38 is a spring-loaded magazine that can feed a plurality of rounds by urging the rounds into the Gatling gun assembly 10 with a spring (or other biasing member). In some embodiments, the magazine 38 could be a Glock™ compatible magazine, such as a magazine configured for a Glock™ 17 or a Glock™ 19. In some cases, the magazine 38 could be dimensioned for 9 mm cartridges, which are widely available for an inexpensive price, but other calibers are within the scope of this disclosure. After firing, the spent shells exit the Gatling gun assembly 10 through an ejection port onto an ejection guide 40.
As seen in
In the embodiment shown, a magazine feed mechanism 52 surrounds the bolt carrier 46 and rotates concomitant with the bolt carrier 46. In this manner, both the magazine feed mechanism 52 and the bolt carrier 46 rotate about a common axis. As discussed herein, the magazine feed mechanism 52 moves with respect to the magazine 38 and is configured to strip a leading cartridge from the magazine 38 and chamber that cartridge into one of the chambers 48.
In the embodiment shown, and now also referring to
In the embodiment shown, the magazine feed mechanism 52 includes a plurality of feed portions 60 spaced equidistant around the circumference of the ring portion 54. The spacing of the feed portions 60 correspond with the chambers 48 in the bolt carrier 46. In other words, there is a feed portion 60 for each chamber 48; as shown, there are eight feed portions 60 corresponding to eight chambers 48; these eight feed portions 60 are spaced apart corresponding to the spacing of the eight chambers 48. As shown, the feed portions 60 each include a curved edge 62 that is configured to engage with a leading round from the magazine 38. The curved edge 62 acts as a cam to strip the leading round from the magazine and move the round into the next chamber 48 as the bolt carrier 46 rotates.
The curvature of the curved edge 62 is configured such that a starting portion 64 of each curved edge 62 is aligned to engage a leading round from the magazine 38 and a terminating portion 66 corresponds with the position of the next chamber 48. As the bolt carrier 46 rotates, the curved edge 62 moves the round along a longitudinal axis of the chamber 48 into the next chamber 48. Thus, in the embodiment shown, the curved edge 62 cams the leading round along a longitudinal axis of the chamber 48 as the bolt carrier 46 rotates. One potential technical advantage, in some embodiments, is that the bolt design can be simplified because the bolt 50 does not need to strip the round from the magazine 38, but the magazine feed mechanism 52 strips the round and moves that round into the next chamber 48 as the bolt carrier 46 rotates.
Referring now to
In the example shown in
Illustrative examples of the Gatling gun assembly disclosed herein are provided below. An embodiment of the Gatling gun assembly may include any one or more, and any combination of, the examples described below.
Example 1 is a Gatling gun with a gun body, a bolt carrier, a plurality of barrels, a plurality of bolts, a magazine feed mechanism, and a firing mechanism. The gun body defines an opening configured to receive a magazine. The rotatable bolt carrier defines a plurality of chambers. The plurality of barrels are each longitudinally aligned with a respective chamber of the plurality of chambers. The plurality of bolts are each longitudinally aligned with a respective barrel of the plurality of barrels. The magazine feed mechanism is configured to transfer a spring-loaded round from the magazine into a chamber of the plurality of chambers. The firing mechanism is configured to cause each gun bolt to fire a round in its respective chamber at a particular angular displacement during rotation of the rotatable bolt carrier.
In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 is further configured such that the magazine feed mechanism is configured to move the round along at least two axes.
In Example 3, the subject matter of Examples 1-2 are further configured such that the magazine feed mechanism is configured to move the round towards at least one of the plurality of barrels as the rotatable bolt carrier rotates.
In Example 4, the subject matter of Examples 1-3 is further configured such that the magazine feed mechanism comprises a ring portion and a plurality of feed portions.
In Example 5, the subject matter of Examples 1-4 are further configured such that the ring portion includes a central opening dimensioned to receive the rotatable bolt carrier.
In Example 6, the subject matter of Examples 1-5 are further configured such that the ring portion is attached to at least a portion of the rotatable bolt carrier.
In Example 7, the subject matter of Examples 1-6 are further configured such that the ring portion is configured to rotate concomitant with rotation of the bolt carrier.
In Example 8, the subject matter of Examples 1-7 are further configured such that the plurality of feed portions are approximately equally spaced around the perimeter of the magazine feed mechanism.
In Example 9, the subject matter of Examples 1-8 are further configured such that each of the plurality of feed portions correspond with a respective chamber of the plurality of chambers.
In Example 10, the subject matter of Examples 1-9 are further configured such that at least a portion of the plurality of feed portions include a cam surface to transfer the round from the magazine to a respective chamber of the plurality of chambers.
In Example 11, the subject matter of Examples 1-10 is further configured such that the cam surface comprises a curved edge of the feed portion.
In Example 12, the subject matter of Examples 1-11 are further configured such that each of the plurality of bolts include an extractor, wherein the extractor is angularly offset approximately 180 degrees with respect the magazine.
In Example 13, the subject matter of Examples 1-12 are further configured to include an extraction guide configured to support engagement of the extractor with the round as the rotatable bolt carrier rotates.
Example 14 is a Gatling gun with a gun body defining an opening configured to receive a magazine. The gun includes a rotatable bolt carrier defining a plurality of chambers. There are a plurality of barrels each longitudinally aligned with a respective chamber of the plurality of chambers. The gun has a plurality of bolts each longitudinally aligned with a respective barrel of the plurality of barrels. There is means for successively transferring spring-loaded rounds from the magazine into successive chambers of the plurality of chambers and a firing mechanism configured to cause each bolt to fire a round in its respective chamber at a particular angular displacement during the rotation of the rotatable bolt carrier.
In Example 15, the subject matter of Example 14 is further configured such that the means for transferring a spring-loaded round from the magazine into a chamber includes a plurality of cam surfaces angularly corresponding to move each round towards a respective chamber of the plurality of chambers as the rotatable bolt carrier rotates.
In Example 16, the subject matter of Example 14 is further configured such that the means for transferring a spring-loaded round from the magazine into a chamber is configured to rotate in a coaxial manner with rotation of the bolt carrier.
In Example 17, the subject matter of Example 1 is further configured such that each of the plurality of bolts include an extractor, wherein the extractor is angularly offset approximately 180 degrees with respect the magazine.
Example 18 is a method of feeding rounds into a Gatling gun. The method includes the steps of providing a gun body defining an opening configured to receive a magazine for feeding spring-loaded rounds into a plurality of chambers defined by a rotatable bolt carrier, wherein a magazine feed mechanism extends from the rotatable bolt carrier and rotates concomitant with the bolt carrier; and rotating the magazine feed mechanism to transfer spring-loaded rounds from the magazine into successive chambers of the plurality of chambers.
In Example 19, the subject matter of Example 18 is further configured such that the magazine feed mechanism includes a cam surface configured to strip the spring-loaded round from the magazine and move the spring-loaded round to a position in which the spring-loaded round can be deposited into the chamber.
In Example 19, the subject matter of Examples 18-19 are further configured such that the magazine feed mechanism includes a plurality of cam surfaces each corresponding to respective chambers of the plurality of chambers, wherein the plurality of cam surface are configured to successively transfer rounds from the magazine to successive chambers of the plurality of chambers as the magazine feed mechanism rotates.
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, from the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of the invention and various changes and modifications may be made to adapt the various uses and characteristics without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3380342 | Chiabrandy | Apr 1968 | A |
3380343 | Chiabrandy | Apr 1968 | A |
3431817 | Walkup | Mar 1969 | A |
3595128 | Hoyt, Jr. | Jul 1971 | A |
3733960 | Ashley | May 1973 | A |
3776416 | Ashley | Dec 1973 | A |
4550641 | Bruderer | Nov 1985 | A |
5817967 | Simon | Oct 1998 | A |
20090314272 | Lin | Dec 2009 | A1 |
Entry |
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“Gatling Gun Feeding Mechanisms”, https://www.forgottenweapons.com/gatling-gun-feeding-mechanisms/, authored by Ian McCollum and published on Jan. 23, 2013 (Year: 2013). |
The Gatling Gun by Paul Wahl and Donald R. Toppel—ARCO Publishing Company, Inc., 219 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003. Copyright Paul Wahl and Donald R. Toppel, 1965. |