US3230828A - Belt feed mechanisms for automatic firearms - Google Patents

Belt feed mechanisms for automatic firearms Download PDF

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Publication number
US3230828A
US3230828A US332827A US33282763A US3230828A US 3230828 A US3230828 A US 3230828A US 332827 A US332827 A US 332827A US 33282763 A US33282763 A US 33282763A US 3230828 A US3230828 A US 3230828A
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United States
Prior art keywords
rotor
firearm
belt
belt feed
feed mechanism
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Expired - Lifetime
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US332827A
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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.)
Bervets Aero Mecaniques S A
BERVETS AERO-MECANIQUES SA
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Bervets Aero Mecaniques S A
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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
    • F41A9/30—Sprocket-type belt transporters
    • 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
    • F41A9/31—Sprocket-type belt transporters with cartridge stripping means
    • 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
    • F41A9/49—Internally-powered drives, i.e. operated by propellant charge energy, e.g. couplings, clutches, energy accumulators
    • 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
    • F41A9/50—External power or control systems
    • F41A9/51—Boosters, i.e. externally-powered motors

Definitions

  • BELT FEED MEcHANIsMs Foa AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed Dec. 25 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 25, 1966 B.
  • the present invention relates to belt feed mechanisms for automatic firearms of the type including a toothed rotor, the term belt feed mechanism being meant to include any mechanism capable of conveying the cartridges toward the firearm and of feeding them successively thereto during firing.
  • belt feed mechanism being meant to include any mechanism capable of conveying the cartridges toward the firearm and of feeding them successively thereto during firing.
  • 'Ihe invention is more especially but not exclusively concerned with firearms the breechblock of which is released through means responsive to an effect other than the recoil of the firearm .for instance through a gas tap.
  • the chief object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of this type which is better adapted to meet the requirements of practice than those known up to now.
  • the invention relates, in a general manner, to a mech anism of the kind in question actuated by a power device supplying a power impulse every time a shot is fired, for instance actuated by the firearm itself during at least a portion (hereinafter called active portion) of every recoil thereof with respect to its support and to the feed belt guiding device rigid with said support, the belt being, of course, moved by the rotor a distance equal to a complete pitch every time a shot is fired, such a mechanism including, between said power device and said rotor, a transmission system including a first rotary element rotated by every recoil of the firearm through an angle equal to, or just a little greater than, 21r/n and a second rotary element consisting of a toothed rotor having n teeth and coaxial with the first rotary element, between which elements there is provided an angular play corresponding to a portion of a complete pitch of the second element, this play tending to be maintained by a prestressed torsional
  • said resilient system is constituted by two torsion bars housed coaxially one inside the other the whole of these two bars being itself housed coaxially in the rotor shaft, these two bars being rigidly connected together at one end, where they are freely journalled in the corresponding end of the rotor shaft, said bars being secured, at the other end, respectively to said first and second elements.
  • FIG. l is a general elevational view of a firearm provided with a belt feed mechanism according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows, on an enlarged scale, said belt feed mechanism, in longitudinal section along parallel hori zontal planes and in particular along IIa-Ila and IIb- IIb of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional View on the line III-III of FIG. 2;
  • FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show this belt feed mechanism in section on the line IV-IV of FIG. 2, but at three different times of its operation, respectively;
  • FIG. 7 is an elevational view in the direction of the arrows VII- VII of FIG. 2 with portions in section;
  • FIG. 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 2, this section being shown rotated through 9i);
  • FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view on the line IX-IX of FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 10 is a sectional view on the line X--X of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 11 is a sectional view on the line XI-XI of FIG. 10;
  • FIG. l2 is an explanatory diagram relative to the device for stopping firing at the end of a belt.
  • the automatic firearm essentially comprises a barrel 1 rigid, at the rear thereof, with a breech case 2 in which reciprocates a breechblock 3 urged forwardly by a recuperator spring 4 and controlled, concerning its release, by a gas tap system 5;
  • a resilient system 7 being interposed to absorb the recoil of the firearm with respect to its support and to return it forwardly;
  • That a plate 8 rigid with support 6 is provided to receive the belt feed mechanism 9 which will be hereinafter described, said plate 8 being for instance linked to support 6 through an arm 10 and sliding relatively to the upper edge of the breech case during the reciprocating movements of the firearm; and
  • That plate 8 is provided with means for securing the belt feed mechanism thereto in a detachable fashion, such means being for instance constituted, at the front, by a tenon-and-mortise connection 11 and, at the rear, by a retractable locking finger 12.
  • the belt feed mechanism is operated by the displacement of the firearm proper during at least a portion of its recoil with respect to support 6i, this displacement being imparted to the belt through a transmission system which will now be described.
  • This transmission system includes a -first rotary element 13 rotated, every time a shot is fired, under the effect of recoil of the firearm, through an angle equal to or higher than Zar/n, and a second rotary element consisting of a toothed rotor 14 having n teeth and coaxial with said first rotary element, this rotor being intended to drive the cartridge belt with a step by step i motion to feed the firearm, every angular displacement of the rotor being equal to 21r/n, i.e. the pitch
  • An angular play X corresponding to a portion of a complete pitch of the rotor is provided between elements 13 and 14.
  • said resilient system consists of two torsion bars, one of which (inner bar 15) is housed coaxially inside the other (outer tubular bar 16), these bars being rigidly connected together on one side, through their respective ends located on this side, the whole being disposed coaxially inside the rotor shaft.
  • the active end of one of the torsion bars, 15 inthe embodiment shown, is angularly fixed, through splines,
  • a pawl and ratchet device fv 1,9 such that piece 17 cannot rotate in a direction opposed to the normal direction of rotation of the rotor (direction ,1,- inawhich said rotonmustrotate to convey the cartridges to the firearm).
  • the tubular wall of torsion bar 1 6 is advantageously provided with a plurality of ,holes 21 which,.in the casefof a bar having an internal diameter averaging 8 mm., an external diameter averaging12 .mnLfand a usefullength averaging 200 mrn., may ,Lbeeither circular, with av diameterl averaging 4 mm., or feofnelongated shape having forinstance a width of 3 mm. Y.and a.length ofl l mm.,.said holes being disposed in rows lofafoursee FlG; 3) .thefdistance between two consecutive rods, in the direction of the. bar, being of the order lof 8mm.
  • fSuchanfouterfbar' .16 will be advantageously combined Awithaninner bar 15 having a diameter of the order of 6mm.
  • the firearm barrel 1 carries,-pivotally mounted there- Von (FIG. 9) aiinger-the rear end 24 of which acts as a cam extending between a roller journalledfabout an axis xed'with'respect to-thefeed mechanism casing and a movable roller- 26 slidablevertically with respect to e said casing.
  • Von Von
  • the whole of movable roller 26, push-piece 31, lever 27, 28 and toothed sector 29 which meshes with pinion 13 is disposed in a separate casing 34 located at the front of the feed mechanism frame.
  • Driving piece 17 of tubular shape, is joui-nailed in the front and rear walls, respectively 35 and 36, of this casiV ing. It includes an extension, located on the inside of the feed mechanism casing and forming a sleeve Which surrounds the hollow shaft 38 of the rotor, with the LTDerposition of dogs .39 constituting the front and rear abutments which determineth'e above mentioned play X.
  • Said sleeve 37 also carries the teeth 40 of pawl and ratchet device 19, the pawl 41 of which is pivoted about an axis fixed to the frame.
  • pinion 13 As for pinion 13, it is freely rotatable about driving piece 17. It carries ratchet teeth 42 cooperating with corresponding teeth 43 carried by aiiange 44 rigid with driving piece 17 andtherefore with sleeve 37. Said pinion 13 is slidableaxially on driving piece ⁇ 17 .and it ispushed l back by a springl 45 whichtends to apply against each other the two sets of teeth 42 and 43 which cooperate to sgether to constitute theunidirectional clutch devicef.
  • the relative position of theactive portion 47 of said arm with respect tothe Vxed frame of the mechanism being such that, when arm 48 is allowed to pivot, firing is stopped while there remains in the Said arm 48 isdisposed at. therear of the mechanism frame and is pivotable about an axis 49 (FIG. 10).
  • this arm is retracted between .the parallel wallsr 50 of an annular groove 51 provided in apiece coaxial with the hollow shaft38 of the rotor.
  • the active portion 47 of said arm has the ⁇ shape of a circular ⁇ arc concentric with rotor 14, which arc, when seen according to FIG. 10, wherearrn 48 is shown in solid lines as engagedin groove 51, coincides substantially with the corresponding portion of the surface 59 enveloping the rear portion of the cartridges driven by rotor 14.
  • Such a feed mechanism requires for its operation only sixty percent of the energy collected from the recoil of the rearm: which was to be used for actuating the feed mechanism described in the above mentioned prior patent.
  • the feed mechanism according to the present invention is simpler, cheaper, lighter and more resistant than that of the prior feed mechanism described in the prior patent.
  • a belt feed mechanism for said firearm which comprises, in combination, la cartridge belt constituted by a plurality of cartridges and links for interconnecting them, means for guiding said cartridge belt with respect to said support, a frame rigid with said guiding means, a rotary element and a rotary piece both journalled with respect to said frame about an axis parallel to the line of tiring of said firearm, unidirectional clutch means between said support and said rotary piece adapted to permit rotation of said rotary piece in only one direction of rotation, means operative by the longitudinal recoil and counter-reco
  • this arm being adapted to pivot, after the 4passage opposite it, of the last cartridge of the belt that is being fired, into the position where it causes said releasable means to stop said breechblock in the rear position thereof, the relative position of said arm with respect to said fixed support being such that, when said arm is left free to leave said retracted position thereof, firing is stopped while there is still in the feed mechanism a number of cartridges at least equal to two.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Automotive Seat Belt Assembly (AREA)
  • Structure Of Belt Conveyors (AREA)
  • Belt Conveyors (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)
US332827A 1962-12-21 1963-12-23 Belt feed mechanisms for automatic firearms Expired - Lifetime US3230828A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
LU42912 1962-12-21

Publications (1)

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US3230828A true US3230828A (en) 1966-01-25

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US332827A Expired - Lifetime US3230828A (en) 1962-12-21 1963-12-23 Belt feed mechanisms for automatic firearms

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US (1) US3230828A (en(2012))
BE (1) BE641132A (en(2012))
CH (1) CH403569A (en(2012))
DE (1) DE1294270B (en(2012))
ES (1) ES294714A1 (en(2012))
FR (1) FR1383285A (en(2012))
GB (1) GB995215A (en(2012))
LU (1) LU42912A1 (en(2012))
NL (1) NL302196A (en(2012))

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3417657A (en) * 1966-07-01 1968-12-24 Brevets Aero Mecaniques Toothed rotor mechanisms for automatic guns fed from two cartridge belts
US3735667A (en) * 1970-05-06 1973-05-29 Messrs Mauser Werke Ag Cartridge feeder device for automatic firearms with a drive mechanism independent of the breechblock
US3890881A (en) * 1972-08-31 1975-06-24 Oerlikon Buehrle Ag Automatic firing weapon
US4397216A (en) * 1981-02-02 1983-08-09 General Electric Company Feeder mechanism
US8607683B1 (en) * 2012-03-06 2013-12-17 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Active ammunition magazine
US11365944B2 (en) * 2017-09-11 2022-06-21 Fn Herstal S.A. Machine gun

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU2729337C1 (ru) * 2020-02-18 2020-08-06 Акционерное общество "Конструкторское бюро приборостроения им. академика А.Г. Шипунова" Система подачи патронов в автоматическое оружие

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2481726A (en) * 1944-10-11 1949-09-13 Bristol Acroplane Company Ltd Ammunition-belt feed mechanism for automatic firearms
US2644365A (en) * 1949-11-18 1953-07-07 Brev Aero Mecaniques S A Soc Feed mechanism for automatic firearms cartridge belt feed type
US2756637A (en) * 1951-02-17 1956-07-31 Brev Aero Mecaniques S A Soc Cartridge magazines for automatic firearms
US2924150A (en) * 1954-05-25 1960-02-09 Brevets Aero Mecaniques Indirect cartridge feed mechanisms of the rotor type for sliding breech automatic guns

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE631146C (de) * 1934-07-12 1936-06-12 Karl Hasselkuss Abfederung fuer Kraftfahrzeuge
DE704639C (de) * 1935-05-02 1941-04-03 Mauser Werke Akt Ges Verschlussstuecksperre fuer halb- oder vollselbsttaetige Feuerwaffen
US2820401A (en) * 1954-05-17 1958-01-21 Frank A Pachmayr Machine gun anti-jamming device
DE1039374B (de) * 1954-07-02 1958-09-18 Daimler Benz Ag Drehstabfederung, insbesondere fuer Kraftfahrzeuge

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2481726A (en) * 1944-10-11 1949-09-13 Bristol Acroplane Company Ltd Ammunition-belt feed mechanism for automatic firearms
US2644365A (en) * 1949-11-18 1953-07-07 Brev Aero Mecaniques S A Soc Feed mechanism for automatic firearms cartridge belt feed type
US2821888A (en) * 1949-11-18 1958-02-04 Maillard Bernard Belt feed mechanisms for automatic firearms
US2756637A (en) * 1951-02-17 1956-07-31 Brev Aero Mecaniques S A Soc Cartridge magazines for automatic firearms
US2924150A (en) * 1954-05-25 1960-02-09 Brevets Aero Mecaniques Indirect cartridge feed mechanisms of the rotor type for sliding breech automatic guns

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3417657A (en) * 1966-07-01 1968-12-24 Brevets Aero Mecaniques Toothed rotor mechanisms for automatic guns fed from two cartridge belts
US3735667A (en) * 1970-05-06 1973-05-29 Messrs Mauser Werke Ag Cartridge feeder device for automatic firearms with a drive mechanism independent of the breechblock
US3890881A (en) * 1972-08-31 1975-06-24 Oerlikon Buehrle Ag Automatic firing weapon
US4397216A (en) * 1981-02-02 1983-08-09 General Electric Company Feeder mechanism
US8607683B1 (en) * 2012-03-06 2013-12-17 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Active ammunition magazine
US11365944B2 (en) * 2017-09-11 2022-06-21 Fn Herstal S.A. Machine gun

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Publication number Publication date
CH403569A (fr) 1965-11-30
DE1294270B (de) 1969-04-30
LU42912A1 (en(2012)) 1964-06-21
ES294714A1 (es) 1964-04-01
NL302196A (en(2012))
BE641132A (en(2012)) 1964-04-01
GB995215A (en) 1965-06-16
FR1383285A (fr) 1964-12-24

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