Patent ID: 6176169
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: B64D,F41A,F41G

Abstract:
A machine gun comprising:a body;a barrel carried by said body and extending forwardly and rearwardly along a firing axis;an operating structure carried by said body for driven movement relative thereto cyclically in forward and rearward directions;a feed structure operative to position successive cartridges for retrieval and chambering in said barrel for firing therein; andan ammunition handling system for delivering cartridges from said feed structure to said barrel for firing therein, and then extracting and ejecting the spent casings of the fired cartridges, said ammunition handling system including:a bolt member carried by said operating structure rearwardly of said feed structure for cyclical forward and rearward movement with said operating structure toward and away from said feed structure, said bolt member having first and second extractor structures thereon for releasably receiving and retaining rear cartridge casing rim portions,a bolt face member carried by said bolt member for movement relative thereto in first and second opposite directions transverse to said forward and rearward directions, said bolt face member having an ejector structure thereon for releasably circumscribing a rear cartridge casing end portion, andcooperating structures on said bolt face member and said body for moving said bolt face member in said first direction relative to said bolt member in response to movement of said bolt member toward said feed structure, and for moving said bolt face member in said second direction relative to said bolt member in response to movement of said bolt member away from said feed structure.