US3859891A

US3859891A - Rotor feed for an automatic firearm supplied by a single link hook and eye chain belt

Info

Publication number: US3859891A
Application number: US405256A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernard Pierre
Original assignee: Etat Francais
Current assignee: Etat Francais
Priority date: 1972-10-13
Filing date: 1973-10-11
Publication date: 1975-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-01-14
Also published as: FR2203497A5; ES419612A1; GB1440685A; IL43423A0; IL43423A; DE2350916A1; CH579253A5

Abstract

The cartridge extraction post comprises a central star wheel rotor keyed on a longitudinal shaft whose axis is situated in the vertical plane of symmetry of the assembly of the feed at a level such that the star wheels project into the central upper zone of a transverse passage, formed of two opposite passages. The linkfreed cartridges are removed by a pusher operating longitudinally passing through an opening formed in a central zone of the floor of the transverse passage. A fixed support cam in the central zone of the extraction station at the level passed by the back of the links is positioned over at least the fraction of the transverse passage in which the extraction of the cartridges occurs when the cartridge belt passes in the direction F2 reverse to the conventional direction F1 for which the hooks of the links are directed forwardly. The feed lends itself to routeing of the cartridge belt, either in the conventional direction F1 (hooks of the links directed forwardly) for which there is no risk of breakage of the belt by unhooking in the extraction phase, or in the reverse direction F2 (eyes of the links directed forwardly) the cam then resisting lifting and unhooking of the link in the extraction phase under the effect of the upward reaction then exerted on this link which continues to travel in the direction F2 under the action of the rotor thereby correctly driving the following link and the remainder of the belt.

Description

United States Patent. [191 Pierre [54] ROTOR FEED FOR AN AUTOMATIC FIREARM SUPPLIED BY A SINGLE LINK HOOK AND EYE CHAIN BELT [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Etat Francais, Paris, France [22] Filed: Oct. 11, 1973 [21 Appl. No.: 405,256,

Bernard Pierre, Lyon, France [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary ExaminerStephen C. Bentley Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Larson, Taylor & Hinds [57] ABSTRACT The cartridge extraction post comprises a central star [451 Jan, 14, 1975 wheel rotor keyedon a longitudinal shaft whose axis is situated in the vertical plane of symmetry of the assembly of the feed at a level such that the star wheels project into the central upper zone of a transverse passage, formed of two opposite passages. The link-freed cartridges are removed by a pusher operating longitudinally passing through an opening formed in a central zone of the floor of the transverse passage. A fixed support cam in the central zone of the extraction station at the level passed by the back of the links is positioned over at least the fraction of the transverse passage in which the extraction of the cartridges occurs when the cartridge belt passes in the direction F reverse to the conventional direction F for which the hooks of the links are directed forwardly. The feed lends itself to routeing of the cartridge belt, either in the conventional direction F (hooks of the links directed forwardly) for which there is no risk of breakage of the belt by unhooking in the extraction phase, or in the reverse direction F (eyes of the links directed forwardly) the cam then resisting lifting and unhooking of the link in the extraction phase under the effect of the upward reaction then exerted on this link which continues to travel in the direction F 2 under the action of the rotor thereby correctly driving the following link and the remainder of the belt.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures sum 1 or 5 PATENTEB JAN 1 4|H75 PATENTEI] JAN] 4 I975 SHEEI 2 BF 3 PATENTEDJAN14|975 $859,891

SHEET 3 BF 3 ROTOR FEED FOR AN AUTOMATIC FIREARM SUPPLIED BY A SINGLE LINK HOOK AND EYE CHAIN BELT The invention relates to'a rotor feed (that is to say star-wheel) intended for supplying an automatic firearm with cartridges assembled in a belt by means of single links each gripping a single cartridge and comprising, for their junction with the links involving two neighbouring cartridges situated on both sides of the cartridge concerned, on one side, a hook, and, on the other side, an eye, the hook of the link of the cartridge concerned being engaged in the eye of the link of one of the abovesaid neighbouring cartridges, whilst the eye of said cartridge connected is in engagement with the hook of the other neighbouring cartridge.

And it relates more particularly, but not exclusively,

to the case where the feed concerned is intended for supplying an automatic firearm of small or medium calibre, for example with a calibre of to 50 mm, which is the case, especially, of certain known automatic guns of 30 mm (French cannon MUHLOUSE, English cannon ADEN) whose feed can be effected by means of cartridges in belts bringing into play single book and eye links of the above-specified type.

It should be recalled, at this point, that any rotor feed of this type comprises an extraction post into which the cartridge belt passes under the effect of a central starwheel rotor and where each cartridge, gripped elastically by a hook and eye link, is extracted from said link by longitudinal displacement then to be routed to a waiting position or towards its position of insertion in the firearm (either directly, or more frequently through a transporter mechanism, for example with a drum), the link freed from its cartridge, but still in engagement with the star-wheel rotor, being propelled towards an injection passage.

It will be understood, under these conditions, that it is essential for correct operation of such a feed, that the link occurring in the extraction phase should not be able, by a lifting motion (possibly accompanied by a tilting movement around its axis), to be unhooked from the link of the neighbouring cartridge still linked upstream. In fact, such an unhooking would cause a break in the belt and the interruption of its passage into the extraction post, that is to say, finally, a stoppage in firmg.

It seems important, on this subject, to specify the manner in which the continuity of the belt is obtained on assembly, taking into account the type of links used, namely hook and eye links.

To this end, reference will be made to the first two figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents, in perspective and in the course of preparation, a section of a hook and eye link cartridge belt with lefbhand travel intended for use in a rotor feed according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a transverse section, seen from the rear, of the extraction post of a conventional rotor feed capable of routeing correctly a cartridge belt of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, with the reservation that the routeing of said belt is effected in a well determined direction, namely that for which the hooks of its links are directly forwardly (that is to say in they direction of routeing of the belt),

and FIG. is a transverse section, made under the same conditions as that of FIG. 2, of the extraction post of a rotor feed according to the invention, which has, with respect to the conventional rotor feed illustrated in FIG. 2, the considerable advantage of being able to route a cartridge belt ofa predetermined type (hook to the left or hook to the right) as well in one direction as in the other.

The section of the ammunition belt illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises two identical successive links M, and M each of these links comprising a body 1 adapted to grip a corresponding cartridge C or C over a little more than said body being provided, in its central region, with a hook 2 situated to the right and an eye 3 situated to the left, this hook and this eye extending re spectively on both sides of the body of the link 1.

With such a type of link with hook to the right and eye to the left, the assembly of the belt is effected in the following manner starting from the first link M in which the cartridge C is engaged: there is coupled, to this link M the empty link M by engagement of its book 2 in the eye 3 of said link 1, after which there is engaged, in the link M thus coupled to link M the cartridge C (shown in mixed line) whose presence, at the level of the hook of this link M locks the eye 3 of the link M, engaged in said hook, the distance between the nose of this hook and the body of cartridge C being too slight to permit the passage of the abovesaid eye; after which there is coupled to the link M provided with its cartridge C by the same process, a new empty link M (not shown in FIG. 1, but visible in FIG. 2) which is then provided with a new cartridge C and so on until the desired length of belt is obtained.

It is seen that, with such a cartridge belt, there is no risk of producing, on handling prior to firing, of breakage of the belt by unhooking twoneighbouring links, given that each articulated assemblly formed by engagement of one hook of one link in the eye of the neighbouring link is an assembly locked by the presence of the cartridge gripped by the link bearing the abovesaid hook, such an assembly behaving like a true hinge.

On the other hand, when such a belt occurs engaged in the extraction post of a rotor feed, the safety of the continuity of the belt is no longer fully ensured then, since before firing, given that the same role of this extraction post is to extract from each link the cartridge, which up to this stage would lock the articulation of the link concerned on the following link. The risks of unhooking of the link in the extraction phase are all the greater as the said link occurs then in the central zone of the extraction post (zone presenting a disengagement for the movements of the star-wheel rotor) and as this link tends, by reaction, to be lifted, with possibly and to a certain extent, a tilting movement around its axis.

To avoid such a tendency on lifting causing unhooking of the link in the extraction phase, with respect to the preceding link, it was necessary, hitherto, to make the cartridge belt travel in the extraction post along a well-determined direction, namely that for which the hooks of the links are directed forwardly, that is to say in the direction of advance.

There is shown in FIG. 2, in transverse section seen from the rear, the extraction post of a conventional feed with a central rotor 4 (comprising star wheels 4a keyed on a motor shaft 4b) into which a cartridge belt formed of links M M M etc. with hooks 2 and eyes 3 circulates in the direction, shown by the arrow F for which the hooks 2 are directed forwardly, which condition was imperative for the following reason: with such a direction of travel, the reaction R tending to link the link M, from the beginning of the extraction phase flattens the eyelet 3 of said link against the hump h of hook 2 of the following link M and it does not risk the production of unhooking from link M with respect to this following link M since the cartridge C resists any separation of these links M, and M the link M hence continues to drive the following link M as well as the rest of the belt, and firing can continue normally; on the other hand, if the cartridge belt travels in reverse direction from that shown by the arrow F the link M would already be freed from its cartridge, the link M would be at the end of the extraction phase, the link M (drawn by the link M would be provided with a cartridge, and the reaction of lifting R exerted on the link M duringthe whole extraction phase would have the effect of disengaging the hook 2 from said link M out of the eye3 of the link M due to the fact of the transverse displacement of disengagement undergone at this stage by thecartridge C gripped by the abovesaid link M which cartridge up to this point locked by its presence the articulation of the links M and M this unhooking of the link M with respect to the link M in the case of the travel of the belt in reverse direction from the direction prescribed by F would hence have caused a break in the belt at the level of the junction of the leading link M and of the following link M and consequently, an interruption of firing since the link M would not still be in engagement with the star wheels 4a of the rotor.

In other words, such a conventional star-wheel feed, supplied by a hook and eye link cartridge belt, would only be suit-able for one pre-determined direction of feed (with hooks directed forwardly) which, in the case of the cartridge belt illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 (the latter FIG. being a transverse sectional view from the rear), corresponds to left hand feed.

For such a conventional rotor feed, the cartridge belt enters the extraction post through a passage 5a which plays only the role of insertion passage and the empty links emerge through an opposite passage 6a which plays only the role of ejection passage and which is provided with a guide 7 for the empty links, the cartridges extracted longitudinally from their link in line with the rotor 4 being removed, by a pusher passing through an opening 8, towards a transporter device (not shown) which routes them towards a waiting position preceding their position of insertion in the cartridge chamber of the firearm.

Now, general considerations frequently require at the present time for reasons of management of stock and supplies, especially to avoid having to prepare, store and distribute, two different types of hook and eye link belts for a given firearm, that an automatic firearm be provided with a feed through which a hook and eye link belt of a predetermined type (hook to the left or hook to the right) can be routed both in one direction and in the other, which would not be the case, as has just been seen, for conventional central rotor feeds.

In other words, the problem has be posed of being able to supply the firearm indifferently from the right or from the left with a hook and eye link belt of a predetermined type.

.It is a particular object of the invention to resolve this problem, that is to say to provide a central rotor feed capable of routing correctly (without risk of breakage of the belt) in one direction or the other of a cartridge belt of a predetermined type formed by means of single hook and eye links, such a feed having therefore to lend itself both to supply from the left and to supply from the right of a predetermined automatic firearm.

The rotor feed according to the invention comprises an extraction post (shown in FIG. 3 in transverse section seen from the rear) comprising a central rotor 4 with a star wheels 4a keyed on a longitudinal shaft 4b, for example channelled, of which the axis is situatedin the vertical plane of symmetry of the assembly of the feed at a level such that the star wheels 4a project into the central upper zone of a transverse passage, formed from two opposite passages 5 and 6, capable of receiving a guide for empty link 7 and into which can pass a cartridge belt formed by means of links M M M etc., with hooks 2 and eyes 3, the removal of the unlinked cartridges being effected longitudinally by reacwhich the extraction of the cartridges occurs when the cartridge belt passes in the direction F contrary to the conventional direction F for which the hooks 2 of the link are directed forwardly, due to which the feed concerned lends itself to routing the cartridge belt, either in the conventional direction F (hooks 2 of they links directed forwardly) for which there is no risk of breakage of the belt by unhooking in the extraction phase, or

in the reverse direction F (eyes 3 of the links directed towardly as shown in FIG. 3), the cam 10 then resisting lifting and unhooking of the link in the extraction phase M under the effect of the upward reaction then exerted on this link M which continues to travel in the direction F under the effect of the rotor 4 thereby driving the following link M correctly and the rest of the belt.

Such a feed lends itself therefore well to supply from the right or to supply from the left for a cartridge belt of a predetermined type with hook and eye links.

When the feed is effected in the conventional direction F (hooks 2 forwardly), the guide 7' is mounted in the passage 6, the passage 5 plays the role of insertion passage, the passage 6 that of removal passage, and the cam 10 does not come into play but does not impede in any way the travel of the belt.

Conversely, and as shown in FIG. 3, when the feed is operated in the direction F (eyes forwardly) prohibited for prior conventional feeds, the guide 7 is mounted in the passage 5, the passage 6 plays the role' of insertion passage, the passage 5 plays the role of re moval passage, the cam 10 resists actively any lifting of the link M involving the cartridge C in the extraction phase and, in consequence, any unhooking of said link M, with respect to the link M of the following cartridge C Thus, in one case and the other, the continuity of the cartridge belt is well assured and it suffices to provide a single type of belt which wou'ld be suitable for the two directions of feed, which of course simplifies logistic problems of storage and supply.

Preferably, the support cam operates between the central zone of the extraction post and the passage 6 playing the role of insertion passage when the cartridge belt travels in the direction F forwhich the eyes 3 of its links are directed forwardly.

The support cam 10 can then advantageously be mounted freely in rotation on the shaft 4b of rotor 4, preferably between two star wheels 4a, and be keyed angularly by cooperation of a channel E with a boss B of corresponding shape belonging to the fixed casing of the feed. 1

Given that the opposite passages 5 and 6 can indifferently play the role of insertion passage and of removal passage, it will be advantageous to provide, respectively in the floors 9 of the abovesaid opposite passages 5 and 6, two fixing posts each adapted to receive the removable guide 7 for the empty links; this guide 7, being positioned, before firing, in that of the abovesaid passages which have to play the role of removal passage for the firing envisaged.

2. Feed according to claim 1, wherein said support cam is mounted between two star wheels.

3. Feed according to claim 1, comprising, respectively, in the floors of said opposite channels two fixing posts each adapted to receive a removable guide forthe empty links, this guide being positioned, before firing, in that of said channels which has to play the role of evacuation channel for the shot concerned.

4. Feed according to claim 2, comprising, respectively, inthe floors of said opposite channels two fixing posts each adaptedto receive a removable guide for the empty links, this guide being positioned, before firing, in that of said channels which has to play the role of evacuation channel for the shot concerned.

5. Feed, for the supply of an automatic firearm by a cartridge belt with single hook and eye links, of which the extractionpost comprises a central star wheel rotor keyed on a longitudinal shaft whose axis is situated in a the vertical plane of symmetry of the assembly of the ifices 11 for the passage of bolts 12 adapted to fix a base 7a fast to the guide 7.

As is self-evident and as emerges already from the foregoing, the invention is in no way limited to those of its types of application and embodiments which have been more especially envisaged; it encompasses, on the contrary, all modifications.

I claim:

1. Feed, for the supply of an automatic firearm by a cartridge belt with single hook and eye links, of which the extraction post comprises a central star wheel rotor keyed on a longitudinal shaft whose axis is situatedin the vertical plane of symmetry of the assembly of the feed at a level such that the star wheels project into the central upper zone of a transverse passage, formed of two opposite passages, into which a belt of cartridges formed by means of hook and eye links passes, the removal of the link-freed cartridges operating longitudinally by the action of a pusher passing through an opening formed in a central zone of the floor of the abovesaid transverse passage, which is situated between the above-said opposite channels, said feed comprising a fixed support cam situated in the central zone of the extraction station at the level passed by the back of the links, said cam existing, in the transverse sense, over at least the fraction of the transverse passage in which the extraction of the cartridges occurs when the cartridge belt passes in the direction F reverse to the conventional direction F, for which the hooks of the links are directed forwardly, so that the feed lends itself to routeing of the cartridge belt, either in the conventional direction F, (hooks of the links directed forwardly) for which there is no risk of breakage of the belt by unhooking in the extraction phase, or in the reverse direction F (eyes of the links directed forwardly) the cam then resisting lifting and unhooking of the link in the extraction phase under the effect of the upward reaction then exerted on this link which continues to travel in the direction F under the action of the rotor thereby correctly driving the, following link and the remainder of the belt, said support cam being mounted free in rotation on the shaft of the rotor, and being keyed angularly by cooperation of a channel with a boss of the corresponding shape belonging to the fixed casing of the feed.

feed at a level such that the star wheels project into the central upper zone of a transverse passage, formed of two opposite passages, into which. a belt of cartridges formed by means of hook and eye links passes, the removal of the'link-freed cartridges operating longitudinally by the action of a pusher passing through an opening formed in a central zone of the floor of the abovesaid transverse passage, which is situated between the above-said channels, said feed comprising a fixed support cam situated in the central zone of the extraction station at the level passed by the back of the links, said cam existing, in the transverse sense, over'at least the fraction of the transverse passage in which the extraction of the cartridges occurs when the cartridge belt passes in the direction F reverse to the conventional direction F, for which the hooks of the links are directed forwardly, so that the feed lends itself to routeing of the cartridge belt, either in the conventional direction F, (hooks of the links directed forwardly) for which there is no risk of breakage of the belt by unhooking in the extraction phase, or in the reverse direction F (eyes of the links directed forwardly) the cam then resisting lifting and unhooking of the link in the extraction phase under the effect of the upward reaction then exerted on this link which continues to travel in the direction F under the action of the rotor thereby correctly driving the following link and the remainder of the belt, said feed further comprising, respectively, in the floors of said opposite channels, two fixing posts each adapted to receive a removable guide for the empty links, this guide being positioned, before firing, in that of said channels which has to play the role of evacuation channel for the shot concerned.

6. Feed according to claim 5, wherein said fixing posts comprise orifices for the passage of bolts adapted to fix a base fast to the guide.

7. Feed, for the supply of an automatic firearm by a cartridge belt with single hook and eye links, of which the extraction post comprises a central star wheel rotor keyed on a longitudinal shaft whose axis is situated in the vertical plane of symmetry of the assembly of the feed at a level such that the star wheels project into the central upper zone of a transverse passage, formed of two opposite passages, into which a belt of cartridges formed by means of hook and eye links passes, the removal of the link-freed cartridges operating longitudinally by the action of a pusher passing through an opening formed in a central zone of the floor of the abovesaid transverse passage, which is situated between the above-said channels, said feed comprising a fixed support cam situated in the central zone of the extraction station at the level passed by the back of the links, said cam existing, in the transverse sense, over at least the fraction of the transverse passage in which the extraction of the cartridges occurs when the cartridge belt passes in the direction F reverse to the conventional direction F, for which the hooks of the links are directed forwardly, so that the feed lends itself to routeing of the cartridge belt, either in the conventional direction F (hooks of the links directed forwardly) for which there is no risk of breakage of the belt by un- V hooking in the extraction phase, or in the reverse direction F (eyes of the links directed forwardly) the cam then resisting lifting and unhooking of the link in the extraction phase under the effect of the upward reaction then exerted on this link which continues to travel in the direction F under the action of the rotor thereby correctly driving the following link and the remainder of the belt, said support cam existing between the central zone of the extraction post and the channel playing the role of insertion channel when the cartridge belt travels in the direction (F for which the eyes of its links are directed forwardly, and wherein the support cam is mounted free in rotation on the shaft of the rotor, and is keyed angularly by cooperation of a channel with a boss of the corresponding shape belonging to the fixed casing of the feed.

8. Feed, for the supply of an automatic firearm by a cartridge belt with single hook and eye links, of which the extraction post comprises a central star wheel rotor keyed on a longitudinal shaft whose axis is situated in the vertical plane of symmetry of the assembly of the feed at a level such that the star wheels project into the central upper zone of a transverse passage, formed of two opposite passages, into which a belt of cartridges formed by means of hook and eye links passes, the removal of the link-freed cartridges operating longitudinally by the action of a pusher passing through an opening formed in a central zone of the floor of theabovesaid transverse passage, which is situated between the above-said opposite channels, said feed comprising a fixed support cam situated in the central zone of the extraction station at the level passed by the back of the links, said cam existing, in the transverse sense, over at least the fraction of the transverse passage in which the extraction of the cartridges occurs when the cartridge beltpasses in, the direction F flreverse to the conventional direction F, for which the hooks of the links are directed forwardly, so that the feed lends itself to routeing of the cartridge belt, either in the conventional direction F, (hooks of the links directed forwardly) for which there is no risk of breakage of the belt by unhooking in the extraction phase, or in the reverse direction F (eyes of the links directed forwardly) the cam then resisting lifting and unhooking of the link in the extraction phase under the effect of the upward reaction then exerted on this link which continues to travel in the direction F under the action of the rotor thereby correctly driving the following link and the remainder of the belt, said support cam exists between the central zone of the extraction post and the channel playing the role of insertion channel when the cartridge belt travels in the direction (F for which the eyes of its links are directed forwardly, and further comprising, respectively, in the floors of said opposite channels, two fixing posts each adapted to receive a removable guide for the empty links, this guide being positioned, before tiring, in that of said channels which has to play the role of evacuation channel for the shot concerned.

Claims

1. Feed, for the supply of an automatic firearm by a cartridge belt with single hook and eye links, of which the extraction post comprises a central star wheel rotor keyed on a longitudinal shaft whose axis is situated in the vertical plane of symmetry of the assembly of the feed at a level such that the star wheels project into the central upper zone of a transverse passage, formed of two opposite passages, into which a belt of cartridges formed by means of hook and eye links passes, the removal of the link-freed cartridges operating longitudinally by the action of a pusher passing through an opening formed in a central zone of the floor of the above-said transverse passage, which is situated between the above-said opposite channels, said feed comprising a fixed support cam situated in the central zone of the extraction station at the level passed by the back of the links, said cam existing, in the transverse sense, over at least the fraction of the transverse passage in which the extraction of the cartridges occurs when the cartridge belt passes in the direction F2 reverse to the conventional direction F1 for which the hooks of the links are directed forwardly, so that the feed lends itself to routeing of the cartridge belt, either in the conventional direction F1 (hooks of the links directed forwardly) for which there is no risk of breakage of the belt by unhooking in the extraction phase, or in the reverse direction F2 (eyes of the links directed forwardly) the cam then resisting lifting and unhooking of the link in the extraction phase under the effect of the upward reaction then exerted on this link which continues to travel in the direction F2 under the action of the rotor thereby correctly driving the following link and the remainder of the belt, said support cam being mounted free in rotation on the shaft of the rotor, and being keyed angularly by cooperation of a channel with a boss of the corresponding shape belonging to the fixed casing Of the feed.

3. Feed according to claim 1, comprising, respectively, in the floors of said opposite channels two fixing posts each adapted to receive a removable guide for the empty links, this guide being positioned, before firing, in that of said channels which has to play the role of evacuation channel for the shot concerned.

4. Feed according to claim 2, comprising, respectively, in the floors of said opposite channels two fixing posts each adapted to receive a removable guide for the empty links, this guide being positioned, before firing, in that of said channels which has to play the role of evacuation channel for the shot concerned.

5. Feed, for the supply of an automatic firearm by a cartridge belt with single hook and eye links, of which the extraction post comprises a central star wheel rotor keyed on a longitudinal shaft whose axis is situated in the vertical plane of symmetry of the assembly of the feed at a level such that the star wheels project into the central upper zone of a transverse passage, formed of two opposite passages, into which a belt of cartridges formed by means of hook and eye links passes, the removal of the link-freed cartridges operating longitudinally by the action of a pusher passing through an opening formed in a central zone of the floor of the above-said transverse passage, which is situated between the above-said channels, said feed comprising a fixed support cam situated in the central zone of the extraction station at the level passed by the back of the links, said cam existing, in the transverse sense, over at least the fraction of the transverse passage in which the extraction of the cartridges occurs when the cartridge belt passes in the direction F2 reverse to the conventional direction F1 for which the hooks of the links are directed forwardly, so that the feed lends itself to routeing of the cartridge belt, either in the conventional direction F1 (hooks of the links directed forwardly) for which there is no risk of breakage of the belt by unhooking in the extraction phase, or in the reverse direction F2 (eyes of the links directed forwardly) the cam then resisting lifting and unhooking of the link in the extraction phase under the effect of the upward reaction then exerted on this link which continues to travel in the direction F2 under the action of the rotor thereby correctly driving the following link and the remainder of the belt, said feed further comprising, respectively, in the floors of said opposite channels, two fixing posts each adapted to receive a removable guide for the empty links, this guide being positioned, before firing, in that of said channels which has to play the role of evacuation channel for the shot concerned.

7. Feed, for the supply of an automatic firearm by a cartridge belt with single hook and eye links, of which the extraction post comprises a central star wheel rotor keyed on a longitudinal shaft whose axis is situated in the vertical plane of symmetry of the assembly of the feed at a level such that the star wheels project into the central upper zone of a transverse passage, formed of two opposite passages, into which a belt of cartridges formed by means of hook and eye links passes, the removal of the link-freed cartridges operating longitudinally by the action of a pusher passing through an opening formed in a central zone of the floor of the above-said transverse passage, which is situated between the above-said channels, said feed comprising a fixed support cam situated in the central zone of the extraction station at the level passed by the back of the links, said cam existing, in the transverse sense, over at least the fraction of the transverse passage in which the extraction of the cartridges occurs when the cartridge belt passes in the direction F2 reverse to the conventional direction F1 for which the hooks of the links are directed forwardly, so that the feed lends itself to routeing of the cartridge belt, either in the conventional direction F1 (hooks of the links directed forwardly) for which there is no risk of breakage of the belt by unhooking in the extraction phase, or in the reverse direction F2 (eyes of the links directed forwardly) the cam then resisting lifting and unhooking of the link in the extraction phase under the effect of the upward reaction then exerted on this link which continues to travel in the direction F2 under the action of the rotor thereby correctly driving the following link and the remainder of the belt, said support cam existing between the central zone of the extraction post and the channel playing the role of insertion channel when the cartridge belt travels in the direction (F2) for which the eyes of its links are directed forwardly, and wherein the support cam is mounted free in rotation on the shaft of the rotor, and is keyed angularly by cooperation of a channel with a boss of the corresponding shape belonging to the fixed casing of the feed.

8. Feed, for the supply of an automatic firearm by a cartridge belt with single hook and eye links, of which the extraction post comprises a central star wheel rotor keyed on a longitudinal shaft whose axis is situated in the vertical plane of symmetry of the assembly of the feed at a level such that the star wheels project into the central upper zone of a transverse passage, formed of two opposite passages, into which a belt of cartridges formed by means of hook and eye links passes, the removal of the link-freed cartridges operating longitudinally by the action of a pusher passing through an opening formed in a central zone of the floor of the above-said transverse passage, which is situated between the above-said opposite channels, said feed comprising a fixed support cam situated in the central zone of the extraction station at the level passed by the back of the links, said cam existing, in the transverse sense, over at least the fraction of the transverse passage in which the extraction of the cartridges occurs when the cartridge belt passes in the direction F2 reverse to the conventional direction F1 for which the hooks of the links are directed forwardly, so that the feed lends itself to routeing of the cartridge belt, either in the conventional direction F1 (hooks of the links directed forwardly) for which there is no risk of breakage of the belt by unhooking in the extraction phase, or in the reverse direction F2 (eyes of the links directed forwardly) the cam then resisting lifting and unhooking of the link in the extraction phase under the effect of the upward reaction then exerted on this link which continues to travel in the direction F2 under the action of the rotor thereby correctly driving the following link and the remainder of the belt, said support cam exists between the central zone of the extraction post and the channel playing the role of insertion channel when the cartridge belt travels in the direction (F2) for which the eyes of its links are directed forwardly, and further comprising, respectively, in the floors of said opposite channels, two fixing posts each adapted to receive a removable guide for the empty links, this guide being positioned, before firing, in that of said channels which has to play the role of evacuation channel for the shot concerned.