Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle Ag

Rheinmetall Air Defence Ag

Hans Häfeli

Ernst Hurlemann

Michael Gerber

Klaus-Dieter Krause

An automatic clutch is integrated in a weapon system between an ammunition feed system and a cannon. A feeder feeds ammunition into the cannon. The clutch mechanism includes an actuator, a locking pin with an assisting spring or the like, and locking cams. The clutch mechanism allows the drum shaft of the cannon to be disengaged from the gear of the feeder between the cannon and the ammunition supply system and thus from the conveyance mechanism of the feeder.

Ammunition feed system with an automatic clutch

A gas removal apparatus for an automatic firing weapon controlled by gas pressure contains a gas removal channel structure extending from a gas removal location to a gas receiving location and exhibiting one or two gas deflection locations as well as a gas throughflow element, such as a gas nozzle or gas throttle. Both the gas deflection locations and the gas nozzle or gas throttle are in danger of being eroded by the throughflowing gas. Therefore, these elements are constructed such that the gas erosion is as small as possible. According to the invention, this is attained by guiding a gas removal channel section or portion of the gas removal channel structure through a shrunk-fitted ring which is shrunk fitted onto the weapon barrel to a gas rail, by inserting the gas nozzle or gas throttle in the shrunk-fitted ring between the shrunk-fitted ring and the gas rail and by positioning a gas deflection insert in the gas rail.

Growing community of inventors

Döttingen, Switzerland

Hans Häfeli