Ares, Inc.

Kniarmco Inc.

Other

Saco Defense Inc.

Eugene M Stoner

C Reed Knight, Jr

Richard R Gillum

John Wilson

Seth Bredbury

An automatic cannon, especially for cylindrical, telescoped shells, comprises a receiver in which is rotatably mounted an interconnected gun barrel and barrel extension or rotor. The rotor is connected to a power source, which may be an external source, for being driven at a relatively uniform rotational velocity for firing. A chamber having two laterally spaced apart, feed through, shell-holding cavities, is radially slidably mounted in a centrally located, transverse rotor aperture. Three cooperative camming means, responsive to rotor rotation, cause shell feeding, firing and ejection. Shell camming means simultaneously transport shells from an associated feeder into the chamber cavities and fired shell casings from the chamber cavities to a receiver ejection port. Chamber camming means cause the chamber to slide radially, while rotating, so that each of the shell holding cavities trace out a preferably cardioid-shaped path, the cavities being aligned with barrel for shell firing at the cusp of the path so that a preselected firing dwell time of the cavities at the firing position is provided. Shells are fed into the cavities and fired casings are pushed from the cavities when the cavities are out of alignment with the barrel. Firing pin camming means operate a rotor-mounted firing pin in a manner that shells are fired as soon as they are moved by the chamber into the firing position. Preferably first and second camming means are generally symmetrical so that the gun can be operated in either rotor rotational direction, with shells being fed forwardly for one rotational direction and rearwardly for the opposite rotational direction.

Shell feeder for an automatic gun

An automatic cannon, especially for cylindrical, telescoped shells, comprises a receiver in which is rotatably mounted an interconnected gun barrel and barrel extension or rotor. The rotor is connected to a power source, which may be an external source, for being driven at a relatively uniform rotational velocity for firing. A chamber having two laterally spaced apart, feed through, shell-holding cavities, is radially slidably mounted in a centrally located, transverse rotor aperture. Three cooperative camming means, responsive to rotor rotation, cause shell feeding, firing and ejection. Shell camming means simultaneously transport shells from an associated feeder into the chamber cavities and fired shell casings from the chamber cavities to a receiver ejection port. Chamber camming means cause the chamber to slide radially, while rotating, so that each of the shell holding cavities trace out a preferably cardioid-shaped path, the cavities being aligned with the barrel for shell firing at the cusp of the path so that a preselected firing dwell time of the cavities at the firing position is provided. Shells are fed into the cavities and fired casings are pushed from the cavities when the cavities are out of alignment with the barrel. Firing pin camming means operate a rotor-mounted firing pin in a manner that shells are fired as soon as they are moved by the chamber into the firing position. Preferably first and second camming means are generally symmetrical so that the gun can be operated in either rotor rotational direction, with shells being fed forwardly for one rotational direction and rearwardly for the opposite rotational direction.

Automatic cannon with carbioid-shaped shell chamber path

Enclosed is a self-powered telescoped ammunition revolver gun, including a frame which mounts a revolver cylinder having circumferentially spaced chambers and a cylindrical exterior surface on which is formed at least two U-shaped open cam channels, each having forward facing open entrance and exit ends spaced apart by the same angular distance as the chambers. First and second elongated drive cylinders extend forward from the frame on separate axes disposed outboard of the revolver cylinder and circumferentially spaced apart by their same angular distance as the chambers. Each drive cylinder mounts a spring loaded operating rod having a gas piston at its forward end and an exposed cam driver/follower proximate its rear end for successively engaging the U-shaped open cam channels to rotate the revolver cylinder and drive the gun as the rod reciprocates linearly in its drive cylinder. Gas channeling and diverting means is coupled between the gun barrel and the forward ends of the drive cylinders for tapping gas from the barrel bore and alternately directing the gas to the first and second drive cylinders responsive to the firing of successive rounds and to the rotary position of the revolver cylinder.

Telescoped ammunition revolver gun

A lightweight grenade launcher utilizing a rotary feed mechanism in conjunction with a toggle link bolt movement mechanism to incorporate the barrel, flash suppressor, bolt and toggle link mechanism as part of the gun's recoiling mass with the barrel moving during recoil and counter recoil through a center aperture in the rotary sprocket of the feed mechanism.

Lightweight grenade launcher

The safety of semi-automatic pistols and like firearms is improved by making them double action only combined with novel features that include use of roller bearings for support of trigger and sear assemblies, structuring them for constant pressure trigger pull, automatic blocking the firing pin from reaching the cartridge until the firearm is fully locked in the battery position and structuring operation of the sear so it can engage the firing pin only when the trigger pulls it rearward.

Rolling supports for trigger and firing pin assemblies in a firearm

Trigger assembly for a firearm

Firearm with movable barrel safety

An automatic gun comprises a barrel, a receiver connected to the barrel and a bolt and bolt carrier mounted in the receiver for recoil and counterrecoil movement between the barrel breech and a recoil position rearwardly of a shell pick up position and a casing ejection port. The bolt carrier has a cam track formed along it and the bolt has a pivotally mounted casing extractor and an ejection recess in an opposite region. The forward end of a cam follower is pivotally mounted to the receiver forwardly of the pick up position. The follower has a pair of belt feeding pawls mounted centrally, an inwardly-directed ejection tip at the rearward end and a cam track follower in engagement with the bolt carrier cam track. A belt feeding adaptor is detachably connected to the receiver above the cam follower for receiving an ammunition belt. In response to forward bolt carrier movement, the cam follower is pivoted outwardly, moving the feed pawls into engagement with a belted shell outboard of the pick up position. Corresponding forward bolt movement strips a shell from the pick up position and loads it into the breech. When the bolt carrier recoils after firing, the cam follower pivots inwardly and the feed pawls advance the belt one shell position. As the cam follower pivots inwardly, its ejection tip moves into the ejection recess in the bolt and causes ejection of a shell casing held to the bolt face by the extractor. An ammunition clip adapator is interchageable with the belt feeding adapter.

Convertible, belt/clip-fed automatic gun with positive shell casing

A self-powered, belt-fed automatic gun for firing cylindrical, telescoped ammunition is described. Mounted in receiver portions of the gun, to which a barrel is connected, are a shell chamber, a chamber carrier assembly, a shell rammer assembly and shell feeding and casing ejecting assembly. The shell rammer and chamber carrier assemblies are mounted in the receiver for axial reciprocating movement, the chamber being interconnected with the carrier assembly so that recoil movement of the carrier assembly moves the chamber laterally from a firing position to a loading position, counterrecoil movement of the carrier assembly causing the chamber to move back to the firing position. Responsive to chamber movement from the firing position to the loading position a shell is moved into a feed position rearwardly adjacent to the chamber. Searing means are provided for enabling the rammer assembly to move forwardly in counterrecoil in advance of the carrier assembly, the rammer assembly ramming a shell from the feed position into the chamber, and thereby ramming a fired shell casing from the chamber into a forwardly adjacent ejecting chamber, before the carrier assembly is released for counterrecoil movement. A firing pin mounted on the carrier assembly causes firing of a shell in the chamber when the carrier assembly reaches its battery position.

Gun for firing telescoped ammunition, plus searing means

A breech/receiver assembly for automatic cannon incorporates a rotating chamber and a recoil and counterrecoil buffer integrated within the breech. The breech, including the buffer means, recoils with the barrel and because the mass of the buffer is added to the breech and barrel, recoil forces transferred to trunions mounting the breech/receiver assembly are significantly reduced. The configuration of the breech/receiver assembly, including the rotating chamber and integrated recoil/counterrecoil buffer, enables a shorter receiver, thereby enabling a vehicle-mounted cannon utilizing the breech/receiver assembly of the present invention to elevate to high angles while still maintaining a relatively low gun silhouette.

Recoil and counterrecoil buffer for automatic cannon

Gun for firing telescoped ammunition

A lightweight ammunition belt link comprises first, second and third elongate, tubular shell holding rings sized to slidingly receive cylindrical, telescoped amunition. First and second webs interconnect the three shell-holding rings so that the first and second rings are axially spaced apart on a first longitudinal axis and the third ring is on a second longitudinal axis, which is laterally separated from the first axis by slightly over one shell diameter, the third ring is offset between the first and second rings which are spaced apart so that in forming the ammunition belt, the third ring of one link fits between, the first and second rings of a next link, and can be axially aligned therewith. A shell installed into the first and second ring of one link and the interposed third ring of an adjacent link connects the two links together and forms a pivot point enabling one link to hinge around the adjacent link for belt storage. The links include a detent which engages a shell groove to releasably retain the shells in the links. The links are preferably formed of a thermoplastic material such as LEXAN brand thermoplastic for light weight and high strength.

Lightweight belt link for telescoped ammunition and belt formed therefrom

A telescoped ammunition round utilizing nonstrategic materials is light-weight and enables the use of conventional particulate propellants as well as conventional components such as projectiles and primers if desired. Webs molded into the case interior facilitate molding of the case and provide for supporting the projectile therein before and during the loading of particulate propellant into the case. In addition, the webs are operative for decreasing the longitudinal resistance of the case thereby reducing inward movement of the primer when struck by a firing pin thereby reducing the possibility of misfire. The projectile is prevented from debulleting during handling and is provided with preselected shot-start characteristics by an opening formed through the cap and a plurality of holes formed in the cap to provide proper resiliency in the cap for holding the projectile before firing and retarding the projectile momentarily upon firing.

Growing community of inventors

Palm City, FL, United States of America

Eugene M Stoner