GB731442A - Improvements in loading devices for automatic firearms - Google Patents

Abstract

731,442. Automatic firearms. VERWALTUNGSGES. DER WERKZEUGMASCHINENFABRIK OERLIKON. Aug. 15, 1952 [Dec. 21, 1951], No. 20561/52. Class 92(2). The actuating device, such as the gas piston 6, of an automatic firearm is driven rearwards either by gases issuing at 31 from the gun barrel 3 or by gases generated in a chamber 18 by an auxiliary cartridge 14, there being two connections one from each source of gas to the actuating device and there being means to prevent the shell-propelling gases going over into the chamber 18. The firearm is of the kind having a rotary drum fitted with a number of cartridge chambers. In Fig. 2 the gas piston 6 in a cylinder 7 is normally actuated by gases from the gun barrel 3 and serves to rotate a cylinder fitted with a number of cartridge chambers and to feed a new cartridge into one of the empty chambers. In front of the cylinder 7 and rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 12 projecting from the gun casing 1 is an annular casing 13 provided with a number of bores 13a for receiving cartridges 14. These cartridges can be brought successively into line witha bore 18 in the casing 1 and when fired, by electric means, drive to the rear a piston 20 whose rear end bears against a projection 21 on the piston 6. Piston 6 is thus driven to the rear to effect the cocking of the firearm and is subsequently returned by a spring, the pressure gases in the meantime having been exhausted through a port 22. The conductor 27 of the firing circuit is located in a cap 23 which fits, by a bayonet joint 25, on the shaft 12 and is secured against rotation by a lever 26. The casing 13 may be rotated, as in the case of the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by the reciprocation of a slide 37 carrying a pawl 39 adapted to engage teeth 30 on the casing, a further pawl 41 serving to prevent rotation in the opposite direction. In this modification the gases produced by a cartridge 14 drive to the rear a spring-controlled slide 34 thus (a) breaking a connection 31, 34a, 31a, between the barrel 3 and gas cylinder 7, and (b) establishing a connection 34b, 31a, between the cartridge and cylinder 7. In another modification the charge carrier 13 is flat and slidable. Specifications 689,155 and 697,934 are referred to.