GB463691A - Improvements in and relating to ammunition magazines for small arms, light automatic guns, or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

463,691. Cartridge magazines for automatic guns. BLACKER, L. V. S. Oct. 2,1935, No.27172. [Class 92 (ii)] An ammunition magazine for automatic guns comprises a cylindrical or conical container having a plurality of cartridge-carrying rotors therein or a plurality of containers each containing one or more rotors, means being provided to'operate the rotors in sequence so as to carry the cartridges bodily out of the container and eject them in sequence through an outlet in the container wall. In the construction shown in Fig. 1, the rotors b, c, in the container a are each provided with projections e between which the cartridges d are carried. The outer rotor b has axially arranged hollow end pieces b<1> which are journalled in the end walls of the casing and which fit around the ends of a shaft c<1> to which the inner rotor is secured. A spring f connected to the shaft c<1> and to the outer rotor, and a spring g connected to an end b<1> of the outer rotor and the casing, control the movements of the rotor and are stressed by the rotation of winged grips f<1>, f<2> on the rotor shafts when the magazine is being loaded. Pawls engaging ratchet teeth f<3>, f4, normally prevent rotation of the rotors. When the magazine is attached to the gun the pawl of the inner rotor is released bv a member which engages with a fixed portion of the gun, and the inner rotor turns to discharge its cartridges through a slot in the outer rotor and a guideway on the casing. A cam on the inner rotor releases the pawl on the outer rotor when the inner rotor is fully discharged. As shown, the magazine may comprise a second container similar to the container a, the inner rotor thereof being released by a cam device on the rotor b when the latter has discharged its cartridges. Alternatively, the two outer rotors may be arranged to operate successively after the successive operations of the inner rotors. In a modification, Figs. 2 and 5, a single spring g<1> connected to the inner rotor is employed to drive the rotors in each casing. In operation, the cartridges d<1>, d<2>, serve to couple the two rotors and the outer rotor first discharges its cartridges through the guide h until a stud s thereon engages with the end of a slot in a lip h<1> formed on the casing. The inner rotor, rotating alone, is then discharged, the last few cartridges being ejected by a spring follower l, which then closes the opening in the container. At this stage, the rotors of the second container are released by a detent n which disconnects a pawl n<1> from a ratchet n<2> on the shaft of the second container, the detent being actuated by a pin m<2> carried by a gear wheel m<1> meshing with a pinion m which is carried by the shaft of the first container, The last few cartridges of the second container are pushed through the guide h by a spring l<1>. Instead of springs, the rotors may be actuated by electric, hydraulic or pneumatic means, or by the movement of components of the gun.