Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle Ag

Hans Brieger

Werner Bruderer

Ernst Hurlemann

In weapons in the nature of a Gatling gun the danger exists with an ignition delay or hangfire that the cartridge still is ignited after the positively reciprocated breechblock has been unlocked. However, cartridge ignition is undesired after unlocking of the breechblock. Therefore, an apparatus is present with the invention preventing unlocking of the breechblock in case of an ignition delay. Such safety apparatus may respond to (a) the gas pressure, (b) the weapon recoil, (c) the forward advance of the weapon or (d) to an expansion or bulge formed in a cartridge case, and acts to separate a breechblock head from a breechblock carrier, the breechblock head remaining in its locked position. The apparatus comprises either an inertia mass displaced relative to the breechblock due to the recoil action or a cam plate mounted at the weapon cradle and responding to the forward advance of the weapon, or a feeler pin responsive to an expansion or bulge formed in the cartridge case. The apparatus may cause a deflection of a cam follower roll from a first control cam into a second control cam, whereby the breechblock remains in its locked position.

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Zurich, Switzerland

Hans Brieger