Hughes Helicopters, Inc.

Hughes Helicopter, Inc.

John H Sallach

Luis A Bohorquez

Michael M Cleary

Robert B Pounds

Charles C Ash

Dale E Schmaenan

Don E Van Osten

A clutch assembly includes axially aligned shafts, one driving and one driven, the driving shaft including a plurality of slots and the other a plurality of apertures aligned with the slots. Elongated roller bearings are positioned in the slots and apertures to lock the shafts together, a resilient member being used to urge the bearings radially inwardly. In the event that one of the shafts slows substantially relative to the other, the bearings move radially outwardly to declutch the shafts.

Compact clutch mechanism

A hangfire protection system for an externally powered gun includes a recoil sensing mechanism cooperating with a sear latching mechanism such that in the event of a hangfire, a sear engages a safety link on the chain drive assembly to keep the bolt locked. If the round fires, gun function continues; if the round does not fire there is a delay of a sufficient time to assure that the round is a dud, and it is ejected. The details of the mechanical hangfire protection system are described.

Mechanical anti-hangfire system

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

John H Sallach