Remote gun charger with manual charging release functionality

A remote gun charger including a charger member configured to selective couple to, and disengage from, a gun having a charger handle configured to charge the gun. The charger includes a catch configured to be positioned by the charger member to selectively position the charger handle and charge the gun. The catch has a first position configured to selectively engage the charger handle, and a second position configured to disengage from the charger handle and allow the gun to be fired.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The M240 gun is a gas-operated, mechanical weapon. It was designed to be operated by a human holding the weapon, pulling the trigger, and cocking the weapon.

It would be advantageous to place the weapon in a non-manned turret, and remotely operate the gun. It is important that the remote gun charger be able to reliably retract and release the gun cocking stud, and ensure that the remote gun charger cocking mechanism never impedes motion of the gun or the gun charging mechanism. It is important that the remote gun charger be able to cock the gun initially, quickly recock the gun in order to clear a jam, and safe the gun by pulling the cocking stud to the rear and holding it in place thus preventing the gun from firing.

SUMMARY

An electro-mechanical remote gun charger. A remote gun charger mechanism can be manually retracted and locked out of the way of a gun cocking stud (manual override) allowing the gun to fire, and be cocked by a human I the event of a loss of electric power situation. In addition, an auto reset feature is provided such that regardless of operator ignorance, the mechanism will auto reset, meaning the catch will stay forward of the gun cocking stud. In one embodiment, the remote gun charger is configured to operate a M240 gun.

The remote gun charger includes a charger member configured to selective couple to, and disengage from, a gun having a charger handle configured to charge the gun. The charger member includes a catch configured to be positioned by the charger member to selectively position the charger handle and charge the gun. The catch has a first position configured to selectively engage the charger handle, and a second position configured to disengage from the charger handle and allow the gun to be fired.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, there is shown a weapon comprising a conventional gun10, and an electro-mechanical remote charging mechanism20configured to charge the gun10.

The charging mechanism20is remote from the gun10, and is selectively attachable to the gun and also removable therefrom. The gun10may comprise an M240 gun for example, but other types of guns configured to be charged are also suitable for use with the charging mechanism20according to this disclosure. The charging mechanism20has a spring loaded catch22configured to selectively engage and longitudinally position a charging handle stud30of the gun10to charge the gun.FIG. 2illustrates the catch22engaging the charging handle stud30in the forward position, and configured to pull the charging handle stud30aft.

The charging mechanism20is seen to include a positioning mechanism24, such as a charging motor, coupled to and turning a screw26extending parallel to the gun10. The positioning mechanism24may be a mechanical, electrical or pneumatic system. The screw26is coupled to a longitudinally movable member28by a pair of fasteners27coupled between the screw26and member28such that the member28remains upright. Member28has an L-shaped slot29extending in an upper surface of the member28. The slot29is configured to allow a handle42to be manually positioned therein to selectively extend and retract the catch22, to in turn engage and disengage the charging handle stud30. A longitudinally extending cover32comprising a pair of rubber seals encloses the screw26in the charging mechanism20, and the seals define a slot34extending the length of the cover32.

FIG. 3shows the charging mechanism20with the cover32removed. The slot34allows the fasteners27to extend between the seals and be driven by screw26along the length of the charging mechanism20. The charging motor causes rotation of the screw26to in turn move the charging catch mechanism including catch22, member28, and handle42to pull the charging handle stud30aft. Charging mechanism20can be selectively secured to the gun10, and selectively removed therefrom as well.

FIG. 4shows the catch22pulling the charging handle stud30aft to charge the gun10. The charging motor rotates the screw26and thus retracts the fasteners27, member28and catch22, thereby retracting the charging handle stud30.

FIG. 5shows the catch22with the charging handle stud30reaching the aft most position. At this point, the gun10is charged.

FIG. 6shows the positioning mechanism24moving the catch22forward, along with the charging handle stud30, to allow the weapon10to fire. The charging handle stud30is biased forward such that it follows the catch22as it retracts. The positioning mechanism24automatically moves the catch22forward after charging the gun as shown inFIG. 6.

As shown inFIGS. 7-11, the catch22can be disengaged from the charging handle stud30by using handle42to retract catch22into member28, such as to allow independent motion of the charging mechanism20and the charging handle stud30, and also in the situation where there is a loss of electric power for the charging mechanism24. The catch22can be disengaged without removing the charging mechanism20from the gun10. After manually reengaging the catch22using handle42, the catch22of charging mechanism20automatically resets regardless of the relative position of the charging handle stud30and catch22.

As shown inFIG. 7, the catch22is manually disengaged from the charging handle stud30using handle42to retract the catch22into member28. A spring loaded lever44is connected between handle42and catch22as shown. A spring46is configured to urge the lever44and catch22toward gun10, yet allows the lever44and catch22to be manually retracted and locked in the retracted position in the L-shaped slot29using handle42. The gun10can now be charged manually when the catch22is retracted, free of interference from the charging mechanism20and the catch22.

FIG. 8shows that the catch22can be re-engaged at any position along the gun10and along the path of the charging handle stud30using handle42, including when catch22is positioned away from charging handle stud30. The catch22is shown re-engaged aft of the charging handle stud30inFIG. 8.

FIG. 9shows the catch22traveling forward to find and engage the charging handle stud30.

FIG. 10shows the spring loaded catch22recessing into member28as an angled side48of the tip of catch22engages and slides past charging handle stud30, such that spring46compresses. After the catch22slides past the charging handle stud30, the spring46extends the catch22behind the charging handle stud30to capture the charging handle stud30, in the same way a door latch captures a strike plate.

FIG. 11shows the charging mechanism20including catch22now ready to again remotely charge the gun10.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited solely by the appended claims.