Claims
- 1. An externally powered gun mechanism capable of a high rate of fire comprising
- a supporting receiver structure carrying at least one gun barrel in fixed stationary relation to the supporting receiver structure,
- at least one driven bolt assembly movable in reciprocating motion towards and away from the associated gun barrel,
- at least one drive chain drive assembly mounted on said supporting structure and continuously operating during a firing cycle to advance the cooperating bolt assembly through a cycle of feeding, ramming, firing, extracting, and ejecting,
- a driven feeder assembly cooperating to feed rounds to said bolt assembly and for ejecting the spent casing,
- means forming a power transmission system for driving said chain drive assembly and for driving said feeder assembly in synchronism with said chain drive assembly;
- said chain drive assembly including means carried thereby and driven along a predetermined path of travel which includes portions defining the timing and sequence of the cycle of feeding, ramming, firing, extracting and ejecting; and
- said means which are driven along said predetermined path being in engagement with said bolt assembly during travel along said predetermined path and being operative to effect reciprocation of said bolt assembly.
- 2. A gun mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said chain drive assembly includes a continuous chain member,
- means to support and to drive said chain through a predetermined path of movement, and
- said means driven along said predetermined path of travel being carried directly by said chain member to advance said bolt assembly towards and away from said barrel.
- 3. A gun mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said predetermined path includes portions defining the feeding and ejecting, loading, firing and extracting components of said cycle.
- 4. A gun mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said chain member carries means to actuate said feeder means as said bolt assembly is positioned to receive a round from said feeder means.
- 5. A gun mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein the time interval for each of the components of said cycle is dependent on the rate and length of travel of said chain and said means carried by said chain along said predetermined path.
- 6. A gun mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein said chain member cooperates with said bolt assembly to reduce the rate of travel during said loading component, maintain said bolt assembly stationary during said firing component, and gradually increase the rate of travel of said bolt assembly during the extraction component of said cycle.
- 7. A gun mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feeder assembly includes
- means forming a feed rotor,
- in-feed means driven by said power transmission, and
- indexing means cooperating with said power transmission to index said feed rotor means to receive a round from said in-feed means to feed said round to said bolt assembly.
- 8. A gun mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein the loading component includes advancing the round and locking the bolt assembly, and
- said extracting component includes unlocking said bolt assembly and removing the spent round.
- 9. A gun mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said power transmission means continuously drives said chain drive assembly.
- 10. A gun mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feeder assembly includes feed sprocket means and a feeder rotor assembly,
- said feed sprocket means being operative to place a round into said feed rotor assembly,
- means cooperating with chain drive assembly to effect movement of said feed rotor assembly to place a round in said bolt assembly and simultaneously to remove a spent casing therefrom.
- 11. A gun mechanism as set forth in claim 10 wherein said power transmission means effects continuous movement of said feed sprocket means, and wherein said feeder assembly includes indexing means to rotate said feed rotor assembly as said bolt assembly is positioned in the rearmost position relative to said barrel.
- 12. A gun mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said chain drive assembly is mounted rearwardly of said barrel,
- said bolt assembly being mounted for cooperation with said chain drive assembly and driven thereby in a reciprocating movement towards and away from said barrel,
- said feeder assembly including a feed rotor assembly and feed sprocket means,
- said feed rotor including multiple chambers to receive a round from said feed sprocket means and to eject a spent casing, and
- said feed rotor means being mounted such that one of said chambers is in alignment with said bolt assembly during movement of the latter towards and away from said barrel.
- 13. An externally powered gun mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said driven feeder assembly includes a continuously driven feed sprocket and an associated feed rotor, and
- indexing means cooperating with said chain drive assembly for intermittently indexing said feed rotor in synchronism with the movement of said feed sprocket and said bolt assembly to sequentially present a round to said bolt assembly.
- 14. An externally powered gun mechanism as set forth in claim 1 further including indexing means cooperating with said chain drive assembly and controlling the feeder assembly to sequentially present a round to said bolt assembly.
- 15. An externally powered gun mechanism capable of high rate of fire up to about 1000 rounds per minute through a cycle of feeding and ejecting, ramming, firing and extracting, comprising
- a supporting receiver structure carrying at least one gun barrel in fixed relation to the supporting receiver structure,
- at least one bolt assembly movable relative to the associated gun barrel,
- at least one bolt control assembly means cooperating with said bolt assembly to effect movement thereof towards and away from the associated barrel and to maintain said bolt assembly stationary during firing,
- means continuously driving said bolt control assembly in a planar predetermined path of travel,
- said bolt control assembly including a plurality of elements supported in spaced relation and supporting a member movable along said planar predetermined path of travel in one direction to control the timing and sequence of said cycle,
- said elements being rotatable elements arranged in a generally rectangular orientation,
- continuously driven and intermittently operable means for feeding ammunition to said bolt assembly,
- means to actuate said ammunition feed means in synchronism with the position of said bolt assembly;
- drive means operatively associated with at least one of said plurality of elements and said continuously driven means to drive the same; and
- means carried by said member and connected directly to said bolt assembly and in engagement therewith as said bolt assembly is moved.
- 16. A gun mechanism as set forth in claim 15 wherein said bolt control assembly includes means movable in a predetermined path different from the path of travel of said bolt assembly,
- said movable means operative to define a firing cycle including loading, ramming, firing and ejecting, and
- said predetermined path including portions defining each component of said firing cycle.
- 17. In a rapid fire, externally powered gun having at least one fixed barrel mounted in fixed relation to a supporting receiver structure and feed means to present a round sequentially to a cooperating bolt assembly reciprocally movable relative to the associated barrel, the improvement comprising
- a control assembly including spaced rotatable support means and means carried by said support means continuously advanceable in one direction along a predetermined rectangular path of travel, the path of travel of said control assembly being operative to define the sequence and timing of loading, ramming, firing and ejecting,
- means continuously driving said continuously advanceable means along said path of travel,
- feed means including a driven feeder assembly and intermittently operable rotor means,
- indexing means cooperating with said control assembly for synchronized intermittent operation of said rotor means; and
- said means carried by said support means including a member carried thereby and directly connected to said bolt assembly to effect movement of said cooperating bolt assembly.
- 18. A rapid fire gun as set forth in claim 17 wherein said continuously advanceable means is operative in cooperation with said feed means to present a round sequentially to the associated bolt assembly, and
- wherein said bolt assembly is constructed and arranged to be maintained stationary relative to the associated barrel during the period of firing of a round while said advanceable means is continuously moving.
- 19. An externally powered gun as set forth in claim 17 wherein said indexing means is a parallel index drive mechanism.
- 20. The method of controlling the sequence and timing of an externally powered weapon wherein said sequence includes the operations of ramming, firing, extracting and loading, and wherein said weapon includes a barrel, a bolt assembly and a feed assembly, the method comprising the steps of
- providing a control assembly including a driven member,
- continuously advancing said driven member along a predetermined generally rectangular path of travel in one direction,
- said path of travel including portions defining the sequence and time of the operations of ramming, firing, extracting and loading,
- maintaining said bolt assembly in direct and continuous contact with said continuously advancing driven member throughout said sequence,
- said bolt assembly in driving contact with said driven member being stationary during loading and firing operations while said driven member is continuously advanced along said predetermined path of travel,
- sequentially indexing a round to said bolt assembly during the loading operation as controlled by the relative position of said driven member along the path of travel, and
- the rate of travel and the length of the path of travel of said driven member determining the time interval of each of said operations.
- 21. The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said bolt assembly reaches a maximum rate of travel during ramming and extracting.
- 22. The method as set forth in claim 20 further including the steps of continuously feeding rounds at a rate less than the rate of travel of said driven member such that a round may be sequentially indexed to said bolt assembly.
- 23. A powered gun mechanism capable of rapid fire comprising:
- means forming a supporting structure,
- at least one gun barrel cooperating with said supporting structure and supported thereby,
- said gun barrel having a chamber cooperating therewith to receive a round to be fired,
- means forming at least one bolt assembly cooperating with said gun barrel,
- at least one chain drive assembly mounted on said supporting structure to effect relative motion between said bolt assembly and said gun barrel,
- said chain drive assembly cooperating with said bolt assembly and said gun barrel to control the sequence of a firing cycle including at least positioning a round in said chamber for firing the round,
- said chain drive assembly including means carried thereby and moveable therewith and directly coupled to said bolt assembly to effect movement thereof relative to said gun barrel,
- means forming a feeder assembly to provide a round to be positioned in said chamber, and
- means forming a power drive system for driving said chain drive assembly and for driving said feeder assembly in synchronism with said chain drive assembly.
- 24. A powered gun mechanism as set forth in claim 23 wherein said chain drive assembly is operative to effect movement of said bolt assembly in a reciprocating fashion.
- 25. A powered gun mechanism as set forth in claim 23 wherein said means forming a drive system continuously drives said chain drive assembly and the means carried thereby.
- 26. A powered gun mechanism as set forth in claim 23 further including external power means continuously driving said drive system, and
- said drive system including means continuously driving both said chain drive assembly and said feeder assembly.
- 27. A powered gun mechanism as set forth in claim 25 wherein said chain drive assembly is operative to effect movement of said bolt assembly, and
- said gun barrel being so mounted on said supporting structure that the barrel is stationary relative to said supporting structure at least prior to firing a round and subsequent to firing a round.
- 28. A powered gun mechanism comprising
- a supporting structure,
- at least one gun barrel mounted on said supporting structure and including a chamber receiving a round to be fired,
- at least one bolt assembly mounted on said supporting structure,
- means to effect relative movement between said bolt assembly and said gun barrel,
- said means effecting relative movement including a plurality of spaced rotatable support elements disposed in planar orientation and means carried by said support elements and advanceable along a predetermined planar path of travel which defines a firing sequence including introducing a round in said chamber, and a dwell for firing the round during which said bolt assembly and gun barrel are stationary with respect to each other,
- said means carried by said support elements including a member moveable along said path of travel and directly and continuously connected to said bolt assembly,
- means for driving said advanceable means along said path of travel, and
- feed means operative in synchronism with said advanceable means to present a round for insertion into said chamber.
- 29. A powered gun mechanism comprising
- at least one gun barrel,
- means to support said gun barrel,
- a bolt assembly cooperating with said gun barrel,
- means forming a chain driving assembly cooperating with said gun barrel and bolt assembly to effect relative movement therebetween,
- said chain drive assembly including support elements and a member carried by support elements and movable relative thereto along a predetermined path in one direction which defines a firing sequence including at least positioning a round to be fired, a dwell period during firing, and extracting the spent casing after a round is fired,
- said member carried by said support elements including means carried thereby and directly connected to said bolt assembly to effect movement thereof,
- means to drive said chain drive assembly such that there is relative motion between said bolt assembly and gun barrel during positioning a round to be fired and extracting a spent casing after a round is fired, and
- means to drive said feeder means in synchronism with said chain drive assembly.
- 30. A powered gun mechanism as set forth in claim 29 wherein said means to drive said chain drive assembly continuously drives the same to effect continuous movement of said member.
- 31. A powered gun mechanism as set forth in claim 29 wherein said bolt assembly is movable relative to said gun barrel and is maintained stationary relative to said gun barrel during said dwell period.
- 32. A powered gun mechanism as set forth in claim 29 further including indexing means cooperating with said chain drive assembly and said feeder means for sequentially presenting a round from said feeder means for positioning the round to be fired.
- 33. A rapid fire gun comprising
- at least one gun barrel and a chamber associated therewith to receive a round to be fired,
- at least one bolt assembly cooperating with said gun barrel,
- at least one chain drive assembly cooperating with said bolt assembly and said gun barrel for effecting relative movement between said bolt assembly and said gun barrel,
- said chain drive assembly including a plurality of supporting elements arranged in a predetermined orientation and a member driven by said supporting elements through a predetermined path of travel defining and controlling the sequence of a firing cycle including feeding, ramming, firing, extracting, and ejecting a spent casing,
- said member driven by said supporting elements including means carried thereby and directly and continuously connected to said bolt assembly to effect movement thereof and to maintain said bolt assembly stationary during firing and feeding,
- feed means cooperating to present a round for a firing cycle, and
- power means for driving at least said chain drive in one direction.
- 34. A gun comprising:
- at least one gun barrel;
- a gun bolt;
- a chain drive operating mechanism effecting relative reciprocal motion between said gun bolt and said barrel;
- means for feeding rounds of ammunition to said gun bolt;
- means carried by said operating mechanism for movement therewith and directly and continuously connected to said gun bolt;
- said feeding means including a first and second rotatable transfer means,
- said first rotatable transfer means being operative to feed a series of rounds sequentially to said second rotatable transfer means,
- said second rotatable transfer means being operative to receive a round of ammunition from said first rotatable transfer means and for translating said round transversely to the face of said gun bolt, and
- said operating mechanism and said means carried thereby cooperating with said gun bolt to maintain said gun bolt stationary as said gun bolt receives a round of ammunition from said second rotatable transfer means and to maintain said gun bolt stationary as a round is fired.
- 35. A gun as set forth in claim 34 wherein said chain drive operating mechanism is an endless chain member,
- said means carried by said operating mechanism having a forward and rearward compartment of travel and lateral components of travel, and
- said lateral components of travel defining the interval during which said gun bolt is stationary.
- 36. A gun as set forth in claim 35 in which said first rotatable transfer means is continuously driven at a uniform rotational velocity and said second rotatable transfer means is driven at a non-uniform rotational velocity.
- 37. A gun as set forth in claim 35 wherein one of said lateral components of travel represents the interval during which a round is received by said gun bolt,
- said forward component of travel representing advancing said gun bolt and a round carried thereby to said barrel,
- the other of said lateral components of travel representing at least the interval during which a round is fired, and
- said rearward component of travel representing rearward advance of a spent casing.
- 38. A gun as set forth in claim 34 further including external power means to drive said operating mechanism and said means for feeding rounds.
- 39. A gun as set forth in claim 38 further including indexing means for rotating said second rotatable transfer means.
- 40. A gun as set forth in claim 37 further including indexing means, and
- said indexing means being operative during said one of said lateral components of travel to effect rotation of said second rotatable transfer means.
- 41. A bolt control assembly for a gun in which a bolt assembly is movable in a reciprocating manner between a rear position and a forward position, comprising:
- a driven chain drive assembly continuously movable during a firing cycle to advance the bolt assembly through a cycle of feeding, ramming, firing, extracting and ejecting;
- said chain drive assembly including means driven along a predetermined path of travel which includes portions defining the timing and sequence of the cycle of feeding, ramming, firing, extracting and ejecting; and
- means connected to and carried by said chain drive assembly and driven along said predetermined path of travel and connected directly to said bolt assembly to effect reciprocating movement thereof.
- 42. A bolt control assembly for a gun as set forth in claim 41 wherein said chain drive assembly includes:
- means spaced in a predetermined geometric pattern and supporting a chain member for movement along said predetermined path;
- said means carried by said chain drive assembly being driven by said chain member to reciprocate said bolt assembly between said positions.
- 43. A bolt control assembly for a gun as set forth in claim 42 wherein the time intervals of the components of said cycle are dependent upon the rate and length of travel of said chain along said predetermined path of travel.
- 44. A bolt control assembly for a gun as set forth in claim 41 wherein:
- said predetermined path of travel is such that during feeding and firing said bolt assembly is stationary while said chain drive assembly is continuously moving to effect continuous movement of said means carried by said chain drive assembly.
- 45. A bolt control assembly for a gun as set forth in claim 41 wherein said predetermined path of travel includes a path of travel of said means transverse to the direction of the reciprocating travel of said bolt assembly; and
- said transverse direction of movement of said means corresponding to positions of said bolt assembly when the latter is stationary.
- 46. A bolt control assembly for a gun as set forth in claim 41 wherein
- said chain drive assembly includes a plurality of elements supported in spaced relation and supporting said means driven along said path of travel; and
- said means driven along said path of travel being movable in one direction to control the said timing and sequence.
- 47. A bolt control assembly for a gun as set forth in claim 46 wherein said elements are rotatable and are arranged in a generally rectangular orientation.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 303,705 filed Sept. 18, 1981, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,607 which in turn is a continuation of application Ser. No. 789,502 filed Apr. 21, 1977, now abandoned which in turn is a continuation of application Ser. No. 418,356 filed Nov. 23, 1973, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
495712 |
Oct 1919 |
FRX |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
303705 |
Sep 1981 |
|
Continuations (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
789502 |
Apr 1977 |
|
Parent |
418356 |
Nov 1973 |
|