US2756638A - Automatic firearms fed with cartridges by means of flexible belts, especially for use on aircraft - Google Patents

Automatic firearms fed with cartridges by means of flexible belts, especially for use on aircraft Download PDF

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Publication number
US2756638A
US2756638A US297058A US29705852A US2756638A US 2756638 A US2756638 A US 2756638A US 297058 A US297058 A US 297058A US 29705852 A US29705852 A US 29705852A US 2756638 A US2756638 A US 2756638A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
belt
cartridges
passage
firearm
feed mechanism
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US297058A
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English (en)
Inventor
Maillard Bernard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Brev Aero Mecaniques S A Soc
Society "brevets Aero-Mecaniques " S A
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Brev Aero Mecaniques S A Soc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Brev Aero Mecaniques S A Soc filed Critical Brev Aero Mecaniques S A Soc
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Publication of US2756638A publication Critical patent/US2756638A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
    • F41A9/00—Feeding or loading of ammunition; Magazines; Guiding means for the extracting of cartridges
    • F41A9/29—Feeding of belted ammunition
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
    • F41A9/00—Feeding or loading of ammunition; Magazines; Guiding means for the extracting of cartridges
    • F41A9/29—Feeding of belted ammunition
    • F41A9/30—Sprocket-type belt transporters

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to automatic firearms fed with cartridges assembled to form flexible belts actuated by a feed mechanism working in synchronism with the arm.
  • the expression automatic firearm will be used to designate not only the arm proper but also the feed mechanism for actuating the cartridge belt.
  • the chief object of my invention is to provide a firearm of this kind which is better adapted to meet the requirements of practice than those used up to the present time and in particular which can work at higher rates of firing.
  • My invention is concerned with automatic firearms including, for the feed of the cartridge belt, two elements, to wit a belt feed mechanism imparting a jerky movement to the end of the belt close to the breech mechanism and auxiliary driving means, located upstream of the first mentioned one, tending to give the belt a more regular feed displacement, advantageously at constant speed.
  • My invention is characterized in that there is further provided, for guiding the cartridge belt between the auxiliary driving means and the belt feed mechanism, a rigid passage, preferably rectilinear and in line with the inlet passage of the firearm proper, the section of this passage being of a height sufiicient to enable the belt to fold in zigzag fashion in said passage, the cartridges assuming a staggered disposition therein.
  • Fig. 1 is an end view, partly in section on the line II of Fig. 2, of an automatic firearm according to my invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 4 is a side view corresponding to Fig. 3.
  • My invention is concerned with firearms to which the cartridges C are supplied in the form of flexible belts formed for instance by links M assembled together by the cartridges which constitute hinge pins for these links.
  • the firearm proper A may be of any suitable construction, for instance of the open breech type, this arm being preferably mounted slidable in a cradle B (rigid with the aircraft structure), with the interposition of an elastic returnsystem (not visible in the drawing).
  • the system for supplying cartridges successively to the firearm proper includes, in the conventional manner, a belt feed mechanism P exerting a discontinuous pulling action on the end of said belt close to arm A, this belt feed mechanism being advantageously mounted rigid on cradle B.
  • belt feed mechanism P may be of any type whatever suitable for feeding cartridges to arm A, for instance of the sliding piece type or of the rotor type, and that it may receive the energy necessary for actuating the cartridge belt either from a source ex- ,ternal to the firearm or from a moving part of said firearm, this energy being for instance supplied by a portion of the kinetic energy of arm A during its recoil stroke with respect to cradle B.
  • the discontinuous pulling action exerted on the cartridge belt by belt feed mechanism P produces positive and negative accelerations of said belt which are the more important as the caliber of the cartridges is greater and the firing rate higher.
  • the auxiliary belt driving means working at constant speed, has been connected to the belt feed mechanism through a conduit of variable length formed by a telescopic assembly of elements, the perturbing Waves being then limited to the portion of the cartridge belt that is circulating through this conduit, the variations of length of which allow for a gradual damping of said waves.
  • rigid conduit 1 is advantageously joined to said auxiliary driving means outlet and belt feed mechanism inlet through oblique wall elements 1a.
  • the system is preferably arranged in such manner that the maximum increase of length of the zigzag folded portion of the belt (which increase is due to a flattening of this zigzag portion) is at least equal to the length of the sudden displacement imparted to the first cartridge of the belt to engage it into the firearm proper, every time a shot is to be fired.
  • rigid passage 1 is so arranged, account being taken of the diameter of the cartridges and of the interval between them, that, the cartridge located at the inlet of said passage being supposed to be stationary, it is possible to give the cartridge located at the outlet end of said passage a displacement of the above mentioned length.
  • these top and bottom walls are provided with projections b extending parallel to the axes of the cartridges and intended to facilitate the correct staggered arrangement of said cartridges. It can be seen that the projections restrict the distance between the top and bottom walls of the passage so as to prevent the displacement of the cartridges from the normal order or sequential arrangement thereof. That is to say, the distance between the top and bottom walls of the passage is such that one cartridge cannot pass another cartridge.
  • the auxiliary belt driving means are operated by the energy supplied by the recoil of thefirearm proper A with respect to its cradle B.
  • the rigid passage or conduit 1 is carried by the belt feed mechanism P and the actuating elements of the auxiliary belt driving means are constituted by a pair of sprocket wheels 2 keyed on a shaft 3 journalled in two side plates in line with the side walls of passage 1, upstream of said side walls.
  • Side plates 1b carry grooves 4a and 4b respectively, for the guiding of the cartridges (these grooves cooperating respectively with the rear end of the cartridge case and the point of the shells).
  • a drum 5 journalled on shaft 3 contains a spiral spring 6 the inner end of which is secured to said shaft 3 and the outer end of which is secured to said drum.
  • a ratchet wheel 7 rigid with said drum cooperates with a holding pawl 8 arranged in such manner that drum 5 can rotate only in the direction corresponding to the displacement, through driving wheels 2, of the cartridge belt toward passage 1.
  • Ratchet wheel 7 is driven in this direction (indicated by an arrow F) by an oscillating lever 9 pivoting about the axis of shaft 3 and carrying a ratchet arm 10 elastically held in active position by a spring 11, said ratchet arm 10 being arranged to work in the same direction as holding pawl 8, that is to say so as to drive ratchet wheel 7 and drum 5 in the direction of arrow F.
  • Oscillating lever 9 is actuated by a connecting rod 12 one end of which is pivotally connected to said oscillating lever, for instance about the axis 13 of ratchet arm 10 and the other end of which is pivotally connected to one arm of a lever 14 pivoted at 15 to the frame which carries rigid conduit 1.
  • the other arm of lever 14 is held by a spring 16 in contact with a control cam 17 rigid with the firearm proper A.
  • An automatic firearm of the kind in which the cartridges are assembled in the form of a flexible belt which comprises, in combination, a belt feed mechanism for imparting, every time a shot is fired, a jerky movement toward the firearm to the end of the belt close to said firearm, auxiliary belt driving means for imparting a more regular movement in the same direction and at the same rate to a portion of the belt located at a distance from said end thereof, and a rigid passage between said driving means and said mechanism, and the distance between the top and bottom walls of the passage being greater than the thickness of the belt and being restricted so as to prevent the displacement of the cartridges from the sequential arrangement thereof whereby said belt can be packed in zigzag fashion in said passage so that the cartridges are in staggered arrangement therein, the height and length of said rigid passage being such that the difference between the length of belt folded in zigzag fashion in said passage and the length of said passage is at least equal to the length of the sudden displacement imparted by the belt feed mechanism to the first cartridge of the belt to engage it into the firearm proper every time
  • top and bottom walls of the rigid passage are provided with projections in the form of cylindrical sectors having their generatrices parallel to the axes of the cartridges, to facilitate the positioning of the cartridges in staggered arrangement in said rigid passage.
  • An automatic firearm according to claim 1 further including convergent parts to connect the rigid passage to the belt feed mechanism and to the auxiliary belt driving means, said auxiliary belt driving means and belt feed mechanism being arranged to guide the belt in the form of a substantially flat band.
  • An automatic firearm according to claim 1 including a cradle, a firearm proper adapted to recoil with respect to said cradle, and means operative by the kinetic energy. of the firearm during its recoil movement for actuating said auxiliary belt driving means.
  • An automatic firearm of the kind in which the cartridges are assembled in the form of a flexible belt which comprises, in combination, a belt feed mechanism for imparting, every time a shot is fired, a jerky movement toward the firearm to the end of the belt close to said firearm, auxiliary belt driving means for imparting a more regular movement in the same direction and at the same rate to a portion of the belt located at a distance from said end thereof, and a rigid passage between said driving means and said mechanism, the distance between the top and bottom walls of the passage being greater than the thickness of the belt and being restricted so as to prevent the displacement of the cartridges from the sequential arrangement thereof and over most of its length smaller than twice the thickness of said belt whereby said belt can be packed in zigzag fashion in said pas sage so that the cartridges are in staggered arrangement therein, the auxiliary driving means including a shaft parallel to the line of fire of said firearm, two sprocket wheels adapted to engage the cartridges of the belt, keyed on said shaft, a drum journalled on one of the ends

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Hydraulic Turbines (AREA)
  • Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)
  • Structure Of Belt Conveyors (AREA)
US297058A 1951-07-10 1952-07-03 Automatic firearms fed with cartridges by means of flexible belts, especially for use on aircraft Expired - Lifetime US2756638A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
LU304062X 1951-07-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2756638A true US2756638A (en) 1956-07-31

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ID=19732518

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US297058A Expired - Lifetime US2756638A (en) 1951-07-10 1952-07-03 Automatic firearms fed with cartridges by means of flexible belts, especially for use on aircraft

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US2756638A (pl)
BE (1) BE511915A (pl)
CH (1) CH304062A (pl)
DE (1) DE1014887B (pl)
FR (1) FR1063272A (pl)
GB (1) GB703049A (pl)
LU (1) LU30869A1 (pl)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3427923A (en) * 1967-02-08 1969-02-18 Emerson Electric Co Storage of linked ammunition for cartridge feed systems
US3974738A (en) * 1974-08-09 1976-08-17 Emerson Electric Co. Rotary differential ammunition reservoir
US5094142A (en) * 1990-10-02 1992-03-10 General Electric Company Handling system for merging ammunition rounds from multiple ammunition bays to feed a rapid-fire gun
US5932831A (en) * 1996-08-02 1999-08-03 Finmeccanica S.P.A. Device for feeding ammunition into an airbornee weapon and aircraft equipped with such a device

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3015130A1 (de) * 1980-04-19 1981-10-22 Rheinmetall GmbH, 4000 Düsseldorf Gurtzufuehrer einer automatischen gasdrucklader-rohrwaffe, insbes. einer maschinenkanone
CN110081775B (zh) * 2019-06-17 2024-01-05 李昌华 一种半自动气枪的自动供弹装置及半自动气枪

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2379451A (en) * 1942-04-27 1945-07-03 Richard N Nelson Cartridge power feed mechanism
US2383830A (en) * 1941-06-10 1945-08-28 Bell Aircraft Corp Aerial cannon ammunition feed assist accessory mechanism
US2405207A (en) * 1942-07-29 1946-08-06 Samuel G Green Gun feed mechanism
US2415413A (en) * 1942-02-26 1947-02-11 Wilfrid M Burgess Cartridge feeding mechanism
GB607840A (en) * 1946-02-12 1948-09-06 Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to means for feeding ammunition to automatic fire arms
US2479633A (en) * 1944-07-03 1949-08-23 United Shoe Machinery Corp Guide means for flexible ammunition belts

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB603773A (en) * 1935-04-03 1937-01-04 Archibald Frazer Nash Improvements in and relating to cartridge belt feed mechanism for machine guns
GB609053A (en) * 1945-09-29 1948-09-24 Brev Aerq Mecaniques S A Improvements in or relating to cartridge magazines for automatic firearms

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2383830A (en) * 1941-06-10 1945-08-28 Bell Aircraft Corp Aerial cannon ammunition feed assist accessory mechanism
US2415413A (en) * 1942-02-26 1947-02-11 Wilfrid M Burgess Cartridge feeding mechanism
US2379451A (en) * 1942-04-27 1945-07-03 Richard N Nelson Cartridge power feed mechanism
US2405207A (en) * 1942-07-29 1946-08-06 Samuel G Green Gun feed mechanism
US2479633A (en) * 1944-07-03 1949-08-23 United Shoe Machinery Corp Guide means for flexible ammunition belts
GB607840A (en) * 1946-02-12 1948-09-06 Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to means for feeding ammunition to automatic fire arms

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3427923A (en) * 1967-02-08 1969-02-18 Emerson Electric Co Storage of linked ammunition for cartridge feed systems
US3974738A (en) * 1974-08-09 1976-08-17 Emerson Electric Co. Rotary differential ammunition reservoir
US5094142A (en) * 1990-10-02 1992-03-10 General Electric Company Handling system for merging ammunition rounds from multiple ammunition bays to feed a rapid-fire gun
US5932831A (en) * 1996-08-02 1999-08-03 Finmeccanica S.P.A. Device for feeding ammunition into an airbornee weapon and aircraft equipped with such a device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1063272A (fr) 1954-04-30
LU30869A1 (pl)
GB703049A (en) 1954-01-27
CH304062A (fr) 1954-12-31
DE1014887B (de) 1957-08-29
BE511915A (pl)

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