M. C. Aerospace Corporation

Carel J Mali

Stephen I Kaylor

Richard A Burmeister

The present invention relates to a regenerative hydraulic starter/speed regulator system for providing initial rotation and acceleration of a rotatable barrel cluster of a gun gas driven Gatling gun, and for controlling the speed of the barrel cluster during the firing of the gun. The hydraulic system includes a high pressure accumulator for containing a supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid. A hydraulic motor/pump unit is connected to either drive or be driven by the barrel cluster, depending on whether the motor/pump unit is operated in either the motoring or pumping mode. Initially, a servo mechanism operates the motor/pump unit in the motoring mode wherein pressurized fluid from the accumulator is supplied to the motor/pump unit to initially rotate and accelerate the barrel cluster in a firing direction until the rotation of the barrel cluster is sustained by the gun gas drive unit. Thereafter, the servo mechanism operates the motor/pump unit in the pumping mode wherein said motor/pump unit is powered by the gun gas driven barrel cluster to supply pressurized fluid to recharge the accumulator. Also, during the firing mode, the motor/pump unit can be operated in the pumping mode to maintain the speed of the barrel cluster at a desired firing speed.

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Union Lake, MI, United States of America

Carel J Mali