US3391602A - Frequency responsive lubrication system - Google Patents

Frequency responsive lubrication system Download PDF

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Publication number
US3391602A
US3391602A US652308A US65230867A US3391602A US 3391602 A US3391602 A US 3391602A US 652308 A US652308 A US 652308A US 65230867 A US65230867 A US 65230867A US 3391602 A US3391602 A US 3391602A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
gun
piston
weapon
lubricant
mass
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
US652308A
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English (en)
Inventor
Brooks George Dewey
Farrington Dale Andrew
Foley John Emmet
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.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
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 General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to US652308A priority Critical patent/US3391602A/en
Priority to NL6804682A priority patent/NL6804682A/xx
Priority to DE19681703137 priority patent/DE1703137B2/de
Priority to SE04731/68A priority patent/SE329794B/xx
Priority to BE713425D priority patent/BE713425A/xx
Priority to CH532868A priority patent/CH471362A/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3391602A publication Critical patent/US3391602A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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
    • F41A29/00—Cleaning or lubricating arrangements
    • F41A29/04—Lubricating, oiling or greasing means, e.g. operating during use
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16N—LUBRICATING
    • F16N13/00—Lubricating-pumps
    • F16N13/02—Lubricating-pumps with reciprocating piston
    • F16N13/06—Actuation of lubricating-pumps
    • F16N13/18—Actuation of lubricating-pumps relative movement of pump parts being produced by inertia of one of the parts or of a driving member

Definitions

  • the device comprises a lubricant reservoir, pick-up and delivery lines, and a piston operable against a spring force, in a pump chamber connecting the lines, by a weight or mass attached to the piston rod.
  • the reservoir is mounted on the gum and the weight-rod-piston selected to act as a vibrating massspring system at gun operating frequencies.
  • Such a device would be more reliable in concept than the typical recoil-operated cam and lever arrangement. Means are needed, however, to adapt this for use with a modern, high rate of fire weapon operating on the Gatling-gun principle.
  • a modern, high rate of fire weapon operating on the Gatling-gun principle is described in detail in the patent to Otto 2,849,921. Due to its extremely high rate of fire the modern day Gatling-gun, as shown in Ottos patent, establishes what may be termed an operating frequency of vibration as the six (or more) gun bolts reciprocate in the rotor tracks which are revolving about the gun axis. We have taken advantage of this phenomenon to provide an improved and simplified means of internally lubricating such a weapon.
  • a general object of our invention is to provide an improved lubricating device for a high rate of fire automatic weapon.
  • a more specific object of our invention is to provide, in combination, a high rate of fire automatic weapon of the Gatling-gun type and a lubricating device actuated in response to the rapid vibrating motion of the internal gun mechanism.
  • the invention comprises a lubricator having a housing or reservoir casing adapted to contain lubricant, an inner support member, pick-up and delivery lines for oil contained within the housing, a pump chamber in flow relationship with the lines, a piston within the chamber having an elongated actuator rod, and a mass or weight retained on the rod at the opposite end of the piston externally of the reservoir.
  • the lubricator is utilized with a high rate of fire automatic weapon operating on the Gatling-gun principle and having a plu- 3,391,602 Patented July 9, 1968 "ice
  • FIG. 1 is an external view of a rapid-fire weapon of the Gatling-gun type with lubricator mounted thereon, illustrating the overall gun and the external lubricator configuration and delivery line location;
  • FIG. 2 is an end view of the gun and lubricator assembly of FIG. 1, illustrating the lubricant feed line to the FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the lubricator;
  • FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating the output flow of lubricant during a typical gun burst period.
  • the automatic weapon comprises a plurality of barrels 10 mounted on a rotor body 12 rotatably supported in a gun housing indicated generally at 14.
  • the gun is adapted to be supported by means (not shown) carried on a vehicle which may be an aircraft, tank, personnel carrier, or the like, depending on the tactical mission for which the weapon is designed.
  • the rotor 15 revolves about the gun axis when driven by suitable external or internal power means (not shown).
  • the gun has a plurality of bolts, one of which is partially shown at 16. The bolts ride in tracks or ways 18 machined in the rotor body periphery.
  • FIG. 3 for a description of the lubricator in detail, it will be seen to include an outer casing or housing 32 which forms a reservoir for the lubricant (oil or grease), indicated generally at 34.
  • the outer casing is sealed, at 36, to a mounting flange 38 adapted to be suitably fastened at 39 to a gun housing flange, indicated at 1411.
  • the frame 42 supports an intake lube line 44 having a downwardly opening pick-up orifice 44a, an internal delivery line 46 connected to an exit fitting 48 fastened in an opening 49 in flange 38, and a pump assembly indicated generally at 50.
  • the pump assembly is a hollow body having an upright (in the diawing) intake portion 52, a piston chamber portion 54 extending perpendicular to the intake portion 52 and in flow communication therewith, and an exit or delivery portion 56.
  • the pump intake section 52 is connected through fitting 52a to intake line 44, while the pump exit section 56 is connected through a fitting 56a to the internal delivery line 46.
  • Fittings 52a and 56a are threaded or otherwise securely fastened intermediate lines 44 and 46, respectively, and the pump assembly and effectively support the pump assembly on frame 42 by projecting through holes in the supporting frame, as is indicated at 58 and 60 on the frame.
  • other means of supporting the lines and the pump assembly will occur to those skilled in the art, and the configuration shown is for purpose of illustration only.
  • the intake passage 60 contains a one-way flow restrictor, in this case a typical ball-check valve arrangement indicated generally at 62.
  • Lubricant flow passes through orifice 62a, therefore, in one direction only, i.e., downward (in the drawing) and into the piston chamber interior 54a.
  • a hollow piston sleeve 64 connected to one end at 65 to a piston or actuator rod 66 is operable against a spring 68 contained by the sleeve 64 and bottoming on the pump chamber far wall, at 69.
  • the rod 66 projects through an opening in the end of wall of the chamher, at 70, the pump wall being held in location against the frame 42 by suitable means such as a threaded bushing 72.
  • a threaded bushing 72 At the opposite end of the housing 32 from flange 38 is an enlarged pad 74 projecting inwardly of the reservoir.
  • Pad 74 has a central opening 76 into which is fitted cylindrical bearing means 78.
  • the bearing means supports rod 66 which extends through the pad opening and a smaller aligned opening at 80 in the casing wall.
  • a suitable sealing member 82 closes opening 76 to lubricant How.
  • the other end of the actuator rod 66 projects substantially beyond the reservoir, being received in a cover portion 84 of the lubricator housing.
  • the cover encloses a mass or actuator weight 86 securely fastened by suitable means, such as nut 89 to the end of the rod.
  • the exit or delivery portion 56 also includes a one-way ball check type valve assembly, indicated generally at 90, for purposes now to be described.
  • the gun shown has C a normal maximum firing rate of approximately 6000 s.p.m.
  • a typical driving frequency for a gun of a given weight was therefore found to be about 100 c.p.s. at an acceleration rate on the order of 70 Gs.
  • the lubricator 30 was therefore designed to take advantage of this phenomenon, as stated above, by providing that the pump assembly piston, piston rod, and weight 86, together with spring 68, function as a vibrating mass-spring system. This is in contrast to the conventional inertia system which would utilize a full displacement of the piston which would occur at the beginning of weapon operation and at shut-off, in a weapon of the type shown in the aforementioned Otto patent.
  • a gun lubricating system wherein a continuous and sustained supply of lubricant is provided as the gun operates.
  • valve 62 opens and the chamber 54a fills.
  • valve 62 closes and valve 90 opens to deliver lubricant.
  • Orifices 62a and 90a can be adjusted to regulate this as can the mass-weight 86-be also conveniently adjusted to give a maximum level of continuous and regular displacement of the pump piston at a particular driving frequency using the relationship:
  • X maximum piston rod displacement
  • F force, tag, 70 G acceleration level acting on the mass
  • K the spring gradient (e.g., spring 68)
  • u a magnification factor which is a function of the ratio of the vibration (driving) frequency (V to the natural frequency of the mass-spring system (W and the damping ratio (P), or
  • the maximum piston displacement for a weight of 0.6 pound was found to be .06 inch, where the gun vibration or driving frequency was c.p.s. at the 70 G acceleration level or 0.25 inch, as seen in the graph of FIG. 4.
  • the magnification factor (a) is limited in effect for damping ratios on the order of 1 or greater.
  • damping ratios are selected to be 1 or greater and, further, the damping ratio will increase with increased viscous damping, i.e., lower lubricant temperatures.
  • lubricant is delivered to the gun bolt tracks on a sustained basis, rather than periodically at starting and stopping of the weapon operation.
  • Such weapons can have a vibratory range of approximately 20-200 c.p.s., in which case the piston mass or weight could vary from .0 to 2.0 pounds.
  • the spring gradient, of the mass-spring system could range from 1 pound/ inch to 50 pounds/ inches.
  • Frequency responsive lubricator apparatus for a high rate of fire automatic weapon having a plurality of barrels radially grouped for rotation about a common axis and a plurality of bolt assemblies longitudinally movable parallel to said axis and rotatable with said barrel group, said Weapon having a vibration-generated operating frequency, said lubricator apparatus comprising:
  • a lubricant reservoir adapted to be aflixed to the automatic weapon
  • conduits in flow communication with said reservoir for pick-up and delivery, respectively, of lubricant to said weapon;
  • said pump means including a massspring mechanism operable in response to the vibration-generated operating frequency to cause said pump means to provide a continuous, regular amount of lubricant to said weapon during its operating period.
  • said pump means includes an intake section connected to the pick-up conduit, a first check valve inv said intake section, a delivery section connected to the delivery conduit, 21 second check valve in said delivery section, and a piston chamber intermediate said intake and said delivery sections
  • said mass-spring mechanism includes a hollow piston member reciprocally movable in said chamber, a spring partially enclosed by said piston and bottoming on a chamber well, an elongated actuator rod attached at one end to the piston and projecting axially therefrom externally of said reservoir, and a mass of predetermined weight affixed to the other end of said actuator rod.
  • an automatic weapon said weapon having a rotor, a housing supporting said rotor for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a plurality of barrels mounted on said rotor in a radial grouping about said axis, a plurality of bolt assemblies reciprocally movable in axial tracks on the periphery of said rotor, and means to power said rotor during weapon operation to discharge cartridges alternately and sequentially through said barrels, said weapon operation generating a vibratory frequency dependent on the speed of rotation of said rotor; and lubricator apparatus afiixed to said weapon housing,
  • a delivery conduit operatively connecting said reservoir to the rotor tracks
  • said pump means interconnecting said conduits within said reservoir, said pump means including a lubricant chamber, a first check valve on the intake side of the chamber, and a second check valve on the delivery side of the chamber, and
  • a mechanism operable to cause sequential opening and closing of said first valve for charging said chamber with lubricant and sequential closing and opening of said second valve for discharging said chamber said mechanisrn comprising a hollow piston slidingly received in said chamber, an axially-extending actuator rod attached at one end to said piston, said rod projecting outwardly of said reservoir through an end wall of said chamber, a spring partially enclosed by said piston and bottoming on a wall of said chamber opposite said end Wall, and 'a weight affixed to the other end of said actuator rod,
  • said piston, said rod and said weight together with said spring comprising a mass-spring system responsive to the operating vibratory frequency of said weapon to cause lubricant to be pumped thereto.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Lubricants (AREA)
  • Lubrication Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
  • Vibration Prevention Devices (AREA)
US652308A 1967-07-10 1967-07-10 Frequency responsive lubrication system Expired - Lifetime US3391602A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US652308A US3391602A (en) 1967-07-10 1967-07-10 Frequency responsive lubrication system
NL6804682A NL6804682A (en:Method) 1967-07-10 1968-04-03
DE19681703137 DE1703137B2 (de) 1967-07-10 1968-04-06 Schwingungsbetaetigte schmiervorrichtung fuer eine automatische schnellfeuerwaffe
SE04731/68A SE329794B (en:Method) 1967-07-10 1968-04-08
BE713425D BE713425A (en:Method) 1967-07-10 1968-04-09
CH532868A CH471362A (de) 1967-07-10 1968-04-09 Frequenzerregter Schmierapparat

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US652308A US3391602A (en) 1967-07-10 1967-07-10 Frequency responsive lubrication system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3391602A true US3391602A (en) 1968-07-09

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ID=24616365

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US652308A Expired - Lifetime US3391602A (en) 1967-07-10 1967-07-10 Frequency responsive lubrication system

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3391602A (en:Method)
BE (1) BE713425A (en:Method)
CH (1) CH471362A (en:Method)
DE (1) DE1703137B2 (en:Method)
NL (1) NL6804682A (en:Method)
SE (1) SE329794B (en:Method)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4397214A (en) * 1980-09-02 1983-08-09 Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle Ag Apparatus for lubricating the locking bolts of a breechblock of an automatic firing weapon
US6591732B2 (en) * 1999-07-14 2003-07-15 Oerlikon Conatraves Ag Method and device for cooling gun barrels of firearms
US6631787B2 (en) * 1999-12-27 2003-10-14 Lincoln Industrial Corporation Lubrication system

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1351017A (en) * 1918-11-07 1920-08-31 Charles C Blackmore Automatic gun
US2849921A (en) * 1954-04-02 1958-09-02 Company The Schenectady Trust Gatling gun

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1351017A (en) * 1918-11-07 1920-08-31 Charles C Blackmore Automatic gun
US2849921A (en) * 1954-04-02 1958-09-02 Company The Schenectady Trust Gatling gun

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4397214A (en) * 1980-09-02 1983-08-09 Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle Ag Apparatus for lubricating the locking bolts of a breechblock of an automatic firing weapon
US6591732B2 (en) * 1999-07-14 2003-07-15 Oerlikon Conatraves Ag Method and device for cooling gun barrels of firearms
US6631787B2 (en) * 1999-12-27 2003-10-14 Lincoln Industrial Corporation Lubrication system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL6804682A (en:Method) 1969-01-14
DE1703137A1 (de) 1971-12-09
DE1703137B2 (de) 1977-02-17
CH471362A (de) 1969-04-15
BE713425A (en:Method) 1968-08-16
SE329794B (en:Method) 1970-10-19

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