GB2208092A

GB2208092A - Automatic gun

Info

Publication number: GB2208092A
Application number: GB8308349A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lothar Post; Bernhard Schneider
Original assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
Current assignee: Rheinmetall Industrie AG
Priority date: 1982-03-26
Filing date: 1983-03-28
Publication date: 1989-02-22
Also published as: IT8347839A0; GB2208092B; FR2623608B1; IT1212858B; FR2623608A1; DE3211134C1

Abstract

In the case of the automatic firearm, the external drive encloses two control rollers 20 l, r which can rotate in opposite directions and each have a control groove on the circumferential side in order to move the breech body 18 axially backwards and forwards. A drive 38 having gearwheels for the control rollers 20 l, r has allocated to it a drive 52 for converting a continuous rotary movement into a step by step rotary movement of a left or right transportation shaft 66 l, r, which can be selected by means of a transportation coupling 54, of an ammunition feed 50 (for bolted cartridges) having a feed unit 64 integrated with it. When the breech body 18 moves forwards in the direction of an arrow 40, a cartridge is moved by the ammunition feed 50 into the insertion position. In order to interrupt firing, the ammunition feed 50 is decoupled from the external drive, and a sear 26 brings the control rollers 20 l, r to rest when the breech body 18 is located in its original position to start firing again. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE "Automatic barrel weapon." This invention relates to an automatic barrel weapon.

In the publication "The Machine Gun", Volume IV, parts X and XI, prepared for the Bureau of Ordnance, Department of the Navy, Washington 25, D.C. (USA), 1955 at p.41, and the relevant description, a weapon of the category mentioned is described and termed a "Gatling".

This weapon has an assembly of paraxial barrels with the respective breech assemblies arranged on the periphery of a circle and the rear end portions thereof positioned in a drum. The drum with the barrels is rotatable by means of an electric drive around the central axis of the barrel assembly in a housing integral with the mount. The housing contains an elliptical control track for the reciprocating movement of the breeches. On the forward movement of the relevant breech a cartridge moved synchronously into a loading position is engaged by the breech and fed along the path of a control track into a relevant barrel during the rotation of the drum. The processes of locking the breech on whatever barrel has been loaded and electrically firing the relevant cartridge are effected by control devices in the rotating drum during operation.

After release of the breech the empty cartridge case is extracted and ejected. The barrels fire in succession to one another and all operations proceed accordingly in sequence. When a signal for interruption of fire occurs the detonating device is directly put out of operation and the drum brakes in such a way that no damaging impact is caused by the subsequent intercepting action bringing the drum to a stop. Since in this process barrels already loaded pass through their firing position without firing, the drum has to be rotated back again after being brought to a stop, in order to move the first barrel in the loading sequence into the position suitable for the subsequent commencing of fire. The fulfilment of this requirement is a cumbersome operation.

The object of this invention is to provide a weapon of the kind mentioned wherein after interruption of the firing and the braking operation the weapon will immediately assume an initial position required for the subsequent recommencement of fire.

According to this invention there is provided an automatic barrel weapon having external operating drive means with a first operating device directly stopped by an interruption of fire signal, and a second rotational drive device being progressively braked after the signal occurs to avoid damage, character-ized by, (a) the first operating device comprising a step controlled ammunition feed device engageable and disengageable from the external drive by means of an operable coupling, (b) the second drive comprising a mechanical control of the breech block having an operating cylinder with gearing for positive driven connection to the external drive for non-uniform reciprocating movement of the breech block between a forward commencement and locking position and a rearward position, (c) the operation associated with the forward movement of the breech block comprising moving a cartridge from an ammunition feed device to an insertion position, (d) the signal for interruption of firing being processed to disengage the coupling between the ammunition feed device and the external drive for commencing the braking action of the cylinder, whereby (e) no cartridge is moved into the insertion position and the cylinder is brought to a stop when the breech block occupies the forward commencement position preceding the firing.

The invention is described in more detail with reference to a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing by way of example. Details which are not essential to the invention have been omitted.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows an overall perspective view of a shell-firing gun according to the invention but without cradle and mount, Figure 2 shows an exploded view in perspective and to a larger scale of a breech part of the apparatus of Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows a simplified schematic diagram of the control system.

The shell-firing gun shown in Figures 1 and 2, which is not described in detail, has a barrel 12, a recoil absorbing device 13 and two gear systems 38 and 52 accommodated in a gun housing 15; a control system is described later which serves to operate a breech 18, and an ammunition feed device 50 constructed as an alternating belt-type feed. For the non-uniform reciprocating movement of the breech block 18 in the directions shown by the arrows 40 and 42 a left-hand control cylinder 20 1 and a right-hand control cylinder 20 r, each having a peripheral guide track, are connected with the gearing 38. In Figure 2 the breech block 18 is shown in a forward terminal position 22 from which it can be moved into a rear position 24 by the rotation of the control cylinder 20 in the direction shown by the arrow 42.The gear assembly 52, which operates step-wise, is positively engaged with the gearing 38. The step-gear has a shaft 44 which in Figure 2 is enclosed by a casing IV shown in broken lines and which is described in detail later. For engagement of step gear 52 a drive coupling 54 is provided which can be moved in the axial direction and which serves to transfer drive torque via a reciprocating device 74 to a left-hand transport shaft 66 1 or right hand transport shaft 66 r of a feed unit 64 integrated with the ammunition feed device 50. The said reciprocating device selects the particular shaft to be operated. By means of the reciprocating device 74 a guide 68 can be selected to move a cartridge unit which is in a standby position for the left or right transport shaft into the loading position by pivoting the guide 68 clockwise or counter-clockwise.To indicate the loading condition of the feed unit 64 a sensor 70 is associated with the transport shaft 66 1 and a sensor 72 with the transport shaft 66 r. A trigger 26 comprises a trip arm 28 which, by means of a hydraulic control system 30, can be pivoted into the path of clockwise rotating stop 36 to engage same, this being indicated by a sensor 32, or out of the path in order to release the stop 36. A sensor 16 (Figure 3) is associated with a loading chamber 14 of the barrel 12 and serves to indicate the loading condition. The drive for the two cylinders 20 1 and 20 r which operate the breech 18 and also provide drive torque for the ammunition feed device 50 is effected by a hydraulic power system having a feed pipe 90 and a return pipe 92, both connected with a motor driven pump (not shown). A control valve 94 is provided for preselecting the flow through the pipes 90 and 92. This valve is programmable and the firing cycle for each separate round is preselectable by a device 98 as is the braking process for the interruption of the firing, both after a separate and after sustained fire, by means of a device 100. The valve 94 is preceded by a hydraulic motor 104 provided for the purpose of supplying drive torque already mentioned.

This drives an impulse transmitter 106 which is connected with a computer (not illustrated). The hydraulic control system 30 shown as a cylinder and ram unit and associated with the arm 28 of the trigger 26 is connected with a first magnetic valve 108 having a signal input 110 and a second magnetic valve 112 having a signal input 114. The coupling 54 can be engaged and disengaged by means of a hydraulic control system likewise shown as a cylinder and ram unit, the particularly operating state prevailing being indicated by sensors 58 and 60. The hydraulic control system 56 is connected with a first magnetic valve 116 having a signal input 118, and with a second magnetic valve 120 having a signal input 122. The reciprocating device 74 is actuated by means of a hydraulic control device 76 taking the form of a piston and ram arrangement.

With this latter system sensors 78 and 80 are associated and these serve to indicate the particular operating state prevailing. Under the conditions shown in Figure 3 the shaft 66 1 has been selected, via the device 74, for operation. To the hydraulic control system 76 are connected a first magnetic valve 124 having a signal input 126, and a second magnetic valve 128 having a signal input 130. The zone IV enclosed in broken lines in Figure 2 is repeated in Figure 3 for purposes of clarification. The shaft, which performs one complete rotation per firing cycle, has a switch sector 34' for the trigger 26, a switching sector 102' for the valve 94 and a switching sector 62' for the coupling 54. Within the complete angular range a certain angular range is reserved for each of the aforementioned switch sectors.This ensures that the proportional valve 94, the transport coupling 54 and the trigger 26 with arm 28 will each come into operation at an exactly preselectable moment within each firing cycle. All the sensors are connected with the computer for the purpose of transmitting information to the latter. Similarly, the relevant signal inputs of the magnetic valves are connected with the computer for the purpose of transmitting control signals from the latter. A firing button 140 with a sensor 142 is operated in the direction shown by the arrow F, in order to commence fire, and returns in the direction shown by an arrow H to an inactive position in order to interrupt the fire.

In preparation for firing, pressure has been built up by the pump. The arm 28 is subjected to pressure in the path of the stop 36, the breech 18 occupies position 22 (see Figure 2), and a frictional engagement exists between the gear 52 and the ammunition feed device 50 through the coupling 54. In the feed device there is one round in the stand-by position on each side, while the cartridge chamber 14 is empty. If sustained fire through the left transport shaft 66 1 is required, the valve 94 selects the frequency rate via the device 96 and the hydraulic motor 104 is subject to pressure. A static torque initiated via the gears 38 and 52 is taken up by the arm 28. The weapon is ready for firing.

The sensor 142 is activated by actuating the firing button 140. By actuating the magnetic valves 108 and 112 the arm 28 is caused to release the stop 36, so that the cylinders 20 and the selected shaft 66 1 start to rotate in the preselected manner via gears 38 and 52. The breech 18 returns in the direction shown by the arrow 42 to the reversal position, during which a round is moved into the insertion position by device 36 and is carried along by the breech 18, when the latter moves in the direction shown by the arrow 40, for insertion into the cartridge chamber 14. The breech 18 is secured in the foremost position, in a manner not illustrated or described, and a firing pin 19 situated in the breech 18 is caused to move in the direction shown by the arrow 40, and then immediately back in the direction shown by the arrow 42 to detonate the cartridge in the breech chamber 14.The breech 18 now returns in the direction of the arrow 42 and the empty cartridge casing is discharged by an ejector device 42.

During the further movement of the breech 18 in the direction shown by the arrow 42 a fresh round is moved into the insertion position, as already described, and is fired after being moved into the breech chamber 14.

This process is repeated as long as the firing button continues to be operated. If it returns to its inactive position, by release in the direction shown by the arrow H, then the following operations take place, their sequence being strictly selected by the switch sectors 34', 102' and 62' within the cycle of movements.

The drive coupling 54 is disengaged. A cartridge in readiness in the insertion position is introduced into the chamber 14 and fired. The valve 90, owing to the operation of the device 100, reduces the through-flow so that the reduction of the rotation speed of the hydraulic motor 104 is accompanied by a reduction in speed of the impulse transmitter 106. The breech 18 returns from position 22 in the direction shown by the arrow 42, is disengaged from the spent cartridge casing and again moves in the direction shown by the arrow 40 after passing through the reversal position 24. Owing to the disengaged coupling 54 there is no fresh cartridge in the insertion position, and when the breech is just about to reach the foremost position 22 the arm 28, as a result of the rotation speed, is moved into the path of the stop 36 so that the latter is intercepted at low speed.In the meantime the breech 18 has finally assumed its foremost position 22. The weapon is then in a rest position, in which the proportional valve is once again opened and the static torque is absorbed by the arm 28 subject. to hydraulic pressure.

The cartridge chamber 14 is empty, a cartridge occupies the stand-by position, the coupling 54 is again frictionally engaged between the gearing 52 and the ammunition feed device 50, so that the weapon can be directly returned from its static position to the operating state by release of the stop 36.

For single round firing the device 98 on the valve 94 is actuated, so that the device 96 which serves to preselect the rate of fire is inactive. By operating the firing button 140 and moving the arm 28 to release the stop 36 the frictional engagement between the coupling 54 and the gear 52 is broken after the relevant shaft 66 has performed the transport step required to move a cartridge into the insertion position and after the insertion device 68 has performed the pivoting movement. This once again takes place at a preselectable instant, in accordance with the angular position occupied by the switch sector 62'.

An analogous process takes place via the switching sector 102' associated with the valve 94, so that after the individual shot has been fired the braking process already described in connection with the description of the sustained fire is carried out with the ejection of the now empty cartridge case and return of the weapon to its neutral position, the arm 28 is moved into the path of the stop 36. The valve 94 then immediately reopens, so that the weapon can be directly returned from its static position to the operating state, in accordance with the operation of the device 96 or 98.

Claims

1. Automatic barrel weapon having external operating drive means with a first operating device directly stopped by an interruption of fire signal, and a second rotational drive device being progressively braked after the signal occurs to avoid damage, characterized by, (a) the first operating device comprising a step controlled ammunition feed device engageable and disengageable from the external drive by means of an operable coupling, (b) the second drive comprising a mechanical control of the breech block having an operating cylinder with gearing for positive driven connection to the external drive for non uniform reciprocating movement of the breech block between a forward commencement and locking position and a rearward position, (c) the operation associated with the forward movement of the breech block comprising moving a cartridge from an ammunition feed device to an insertion position, (d) the signal for interruption of firing being processed to disengage the coupling between the ammunition feed device and the external drive for commencing the braking action of the cylinder, whereby (e) no cartridge is moved into the insertion position and the cylinder is brought to a stop when the breech block occupies the forward commencement position preceding the firing.

2. A weapon in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the ammunition feed device comprises a reciprocating feed with alternate operating transport shafts and a change-over device for selection of one or other shaft to be operated.

3. A weapon in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, wherein a hydraulic drive means is provided to drive the breech and the ammunition feed device.

4. A weapon in accordance with Claim 2 or 3, wherein (a) the hydraulic drive system has a hydraulic motor for producing a required driving torque, (b) the motor having a hydraulic fluid supply pump, (c) a proportional control valve connected in the supply to the hydraulic motor, (d) the hydraulic motor driving an impulse transmitter, (e) the impulse transmitter being logically linked to a computer, (f) the valve being programmable, the program pre selecting each interruption of fire after each round, the braking after sustained fire and the frequency for the sustained fire, (g) the braking characteristic being preselected in the form of individual steps and effected hydraulically.

5. h weapon in accordance with Claim 4, wherein, (a) the transport shafts of the ammunition feed device are associated with sensors to indicate the loading state, (b) the drive coupling being associated with two first sensors serving to indicate a loading state, and a second sensor for temporary inclusion in the relevant firing cycle, (c) the trigger being associated with first sensor serving to indicate a loading state and a second sensor for temporary inclusion in the relevant firing cycle, (d) the drive device for the ammunition feed being associated with at least one sensor serving to indicate which of the transport shafts has been selected, (e) a cartridge chamber on the barrel side being associated with a sensor serving to indicate the loading state, (f) the sensors being all wired to the computer for signal processing purposes.

6. A weapon in accordance with any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein means are provided for hydraulically actuating the coupling and the drive device for the ammunition feed unit and an arm of the trigger.

7. A weapon in accordance with Claim 6, wherein, (a) the coupling, the drive device and the arm of the trigger are associated with pairs of magnetic valves, (b) each valve having a signal input, (c) the signal inputs being connected with the computer.

8. A weapon in accordance with any one of Claims 5, 6, 7, wherein each second sensor is associated with a switch sector mounted on a shaft which perform one full rotation per firing cycle.

9. A weapon and method of operation as described herein and exemplified in the drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. Externally driven shell firing gun with a linear action breech block controlled by a roller, the breech being movable along a guide between a forward locked position and a rear terminal position under control of a braking process and with an ammunition feed operatively driven and connected with the roller control, characterised by: (a) the ammunition feed (50) being connectable with the drive by a controllable coupling (54), (b) the drive comprising a hydraulic motor (104), (c) the hydraulic motor (104) being preceded by a programmable proportional valve (94), (d) the proportional valve (94) being connected with a computer which controls the braking process in such a way that the breech block (18), on the interruption of firing takes up a preselectable defined position.

2. A gun in accordance with Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the ammunition feed (50) is contructed as an alternating guide with a left transport shaft (66 1) and a right transport shaft (66 r) and with an alternating device (74) for the selective opration of one or other of the two transport shafts.

3. A gun in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that the hydraulic motor (104) drives an impulse transmitter (106) logically connected to the computer in such a way that the firing cycle is preselectable after each individual round fired for each interruption of fire and preselectable in a separate cycle after continuous fire, the frequency being preselectable in the case of continuous fire.

4. A shell gun in accordance with Claim 2 or 3, characterised by the following features: (a) Sensors (70,72) serving to indicate a charging state, are associated with the transport shafts (66 1) and (66 r) respectively of the ammunition feed (50), (b) first sensors (58,60) being associated with the controllable coupling and serving to indicate the operating state thereof, while a second sensor (62) is associated therewith for incorporation at the appropriate time into the firing cycle in progress, (c) a first sensor (32) being associated with a trigger (26) and serving to indicate the oprating state thereof, a second sensor (34) being associated therewith for incorporation at the, appropriate time into the firing cycle in progress, (d) at least one sensor (78,80) serving to indicate which of the transport shafts (66 1, 66 r) has been selected being associated with the alternating device (74) of the ammuniton feed (50), (e) a sensor (16) being associated with a cartridge chamber in the barrel and serving to indicate the load state, (f) all the said sensors being connected to the computer for the purpose of signal transmfssion.

5. A gun in accordance with Claim 4, characterized by means (30, 56, 76) for actuating an intercepting lever (28) of the trigger (26) as well as the transport coupling (54) and the alternating device (74) of the ammunition feed (5 ).

6. A shell gun in accordance with Claim 5, character ized by the following features: (a) pairs of magnetic valves (116, 120, and 123, 128, and 108, 112) associated with the transport coupling (54), the alternating device (74) and the trigger (26), (b) the magnetic valves (108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128) having signal inputs (110, 114, 118, 122, 124, 126), (c) the signal inputs being connected with the computer.

7. A gun in accordance with Claims 4, 5 or 6, characterized by switch sectors (34', 62', 102') on shaft 44 being associated with the second sensors (34, 62, and 102) the sectors performing a complete rotation after each firing cycle.

8. A gun in accordance with any preceding Claim wherein a hydraulic drive system is provided to drive the breech block and the ammunition feed.

9. A gun in accordance with Claim 8, wherein: (a) the motor has a hydraulic fluid supply pump, (b) the hydraulic motor driving an impulse transmitter, (c) the impulse transmitter being logically linked to the computer, (d) the valve being programmable, the program preselecting each interruption of fire after each round fired, the braking after sustained fire and the frequency for the sustained fire, (e) the braking characteristic being preselected in the form of individual steps and effected hydraulically.

10. A gun and method of operation as described herein and exemplified in the drawings.