GB892831A - Rapid fire gun - Google Patents

Abstract

892,831. Automatic guns. MARQUARDT, F. R. March 18, 1954, No. 7983/54. Class 92. In a rapid fire gun having two barrels, the revolving breech and cartridge belt feed are operated by the recoil. The rounds are inserted into the breech and the cartridge cases ejected by gas pressure. The firing chambers are cooled by carbon dioxide gas. Firing, which is effected electrically, has a rate which is determined either by the rate of mechanical cycling of the gun or by an adjustable timer. To charge or load the gun initially, the mechanism is given a displacement equivalent to that produced by a single round by a plunger and cylinder system supplied from a compressed gas tank, the pressure in which is maintained by the explosion gas from the barrels. As shown, Fig. 3, the frame 42, barrels 40, 41 and breech 55 move to the right upon firing. Shaft 62 is fixed relatively to 42 and hence the arm 61 is rotated anticlockwise so that its upper end moves to the left and by means of link 60 and cam 56 causes rotation of the breech 50 about the gun axis. Simultaneously, the ammunition feed sprocket 82 is rotated and as shown, Fig. 6, each round is ejected from tube 83 by an explosion initiated by the electrically fired primer 85. The round is propelled into the firing chamber 53 of breech 50 which is then rotated into the firing position, in line with a barrel. In this position, the cartridge is fired by an electrical contact device (not shown) and the subsequent recoil and movement of 42 repeats the cycle. The rotary energy of the breech is transmitted back to the breech by means of link 60 and cam 56 to give it a forward motion which tends to absorb the recoil energy of the next round fired. To charge the gun, high pressure gas from tank 128 is admitted to chamber 140 by control valve 133 and forces 42 to slide to the right with an impulse equivalent to that of a single round. Tank 128 is initially charged to the required pressure and is maintained at that pressure, by the explosion gases of the rounds fired, by means of valves 128b. The ejection of cartridge cases is effected by high pressure gas from tank 128 which passes into the front end of the firming chambers through tubes 156. The latter are mounted on the frame 42 and when the reciprocation of the latter brings the openings 155 and 170 into registry the cartridge cases 157 are forced back into the carrying tube 83.