A belt-fed Gatling-style gun is provided. In some embodiments, the belt-feed system allows a plurality of individually separable belt links to be connected in series to feed cartridges to a belt-fed rotary gun. Each individual belt link may be removably connected to a series of belt links to facilitate ease of loading and making belts of ammunition of any length.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to Gatling-style guns. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a Gatling-style gun that is belt-fed.

BACKGROUND

Rotary cannons, rotary autocannons, rotary guns, and Gatling-style guns, are a type of firearm with a rotating barrel assembly. The barrels fire as the barrel assembly rotates. In some cases, the barrels may be externally driven via an electric motor; some rotary guns are driven via recoil or gas impulse from spent ammunition; some guns are driven with a manual crank.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, this disclosure provides a belt-feed assembly for feeding cartridges into the chambers of a rotary gun. In some embodiments, this disclosure includes a belt-feed assembly, which could include a plurality of separable belt links. In some cases, each of the separable belt links includes a cartridge holder configured to hold a cartridge, a belt tooth configured to engage with the gun barrel system, and a feed channel configured to accept a feed ram. Depending on the circumstances, the plurality of separable belt links could be made from a belt material with one or more of plastics, natural rubbers, and/or synthetic rubbers.

In some embodiments, the feed ram may engage a cartridge in the cartridge holder, thereby forcing the cartridge into a gun barrel system. For example, the cartridge holder may have a variable size cartridge holder configured to accept a wide variety of different caliber munitions, including, but not limited to, 9 mm, 0.22, 0.223, 5.56 mm, and 7.62 mm.

In some cases, the separable belt links could have a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion may be configured such that the feed channel is formed between the first portion and the second portion of the separable belt links.

Embodiments are contemplated in which the separable belt links include a belt link connector. For example, the belt link connector of the separable belt links could have a hook portion and a rail portion. The hook portion of the separable belt links may be configured to engage with the rail portion of the separable belt links such that a continuous belt is formed by joining multiple separable belt links together. The belt tooth could be configured to engage with a belt tooth acceptor on the gun barrel system such that the belt tooth on the separable belt links is drawn into the gun barrel system sequentially.

Depending on the circumstances, the system might have a lock door. For example, the lock door could include a feed tray configured to accept the separable belt links.

According to another aspect, this disclosure provides a system for feeding cartridges to a rotary gun. In some embodiments, the system may have a delivery vehicle with a plurality of separable belt links. In some cases, each of the plurality of separable belt links has a cartridge holder configured to hold a cartridge. Each of the plurality of separable belt links may have a belt tooth configured to engage with the gun barrel system. Additionally, in some embodiments, each of the plurality of separable belt links includes a feed channel configured to accept a feed ram. During operation, the delivery vehicle could orient cartridges with respect to the gun barrel system, feed cartridges by being pulled through the gun barrel system via the belt tooth on each belt link, load a cartridge into the gun barrel system by injecting it in the gun barrel system via a feed ram, and eject from the gun barrel system.

According to a further aspect, this disclosure provides a method for belt-feeding a rotary gun. In some embodiments, the method includes orienting a cartridge within a reusable modular belt. The reusable modular belt is fed to a rotary gun via a series of belt teeth on the reusable modular belt. For example, the belt teeth on the reusable modular belt could be configured to slot into a gun barrel system such that they are pulled through the gun barrel system. The method may include the step of loading the cartridge into the gun barrel system via a feed ram. In some cases, the feed ram is configured to pass through a central channel in the reusable modular belt and disengage the cartridge from the reusable modular belt. The method may also include injecting the cartridge into the gun barrel system, and ejecting the reusable modular belt from the rotary gun.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principals of the invention. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is directed towards a belt-fed rotary gun. In some embodiments, this disclosure provides a technical advantage of having an adjustable length belt assembly. This allows the user to determine how many cartridges to feed the gun. For example, the belt assembly could be adjusted between X links and Y links to adjust the number of cartridges fed into the gun from X cartridges to Y cartridges, similar to how magazines have different capacities. Another technical advantage, in some embodiments, is the direct feed of the belt assembly into the gun's chambers; instead of the belt placing the cartridges into another feed mechanism that inserts the cartridge into the chamber, the belt assembly in some embodiments directly deposits cartridges into the chambers for firing. For example, each link in the belt assembly could drop a cartridge via gravity feed directly into respective chambers of the gun as the belt is fed through the gun.

Turning toFIG.1, an example embodiment of a rotary gun100is shown. As shown, the rotary gun100has a gun barrel system110, a belt-feed assembly120, a gun lock system130, and a gun drive system140.

In the embodiment shown, the gun barrel system110includes a plurality of barrels111arranged in a cyclic array. As the barrels111rotate, the rotary gun100fires providing saturational directional fire. As shown, the belt-feed assembly120is formed from a plurality of individual belt links121. The individual belt links121may be joined together to form a continuous belt with any number of individual belt links121. Each belt link121has a cartridge holder124built into the belt link121. The cartridge holder124is configured to accept and retain a cartridge122which the belt-feed assembly120cycles through the rotary gun100.

As shown, the gun lock system130has a lock door131and a gun firing assembly132. The lock door131covers the gun firing assembly132during operation and prevents dirt and grime from agglomerating in the gun lock system130. Additionally, the lock door131, in some embodiments, may be removable such that jams in the gun firing assembly132during operation may be cleared quickly. The belt-feed assembly120is cycled through the gun lock system130to load the rotary gun100during operation. The gun firing assembly132is the location where the cartridge122is disengaged from the cartridge holder124in the belt link121and deposited into a chamber135(FIG.10) of the gun lock system130. Each of the plurality of barrels111has a chamber135. In the embodiment shown, the gun lock system130also has a feed ram134which disengages the cartridge122from the belt link134and effectively loads the rotary gun100.

The gun drive system140drives the rotation of the barrels111during operation. In some embodiments, the gun drive system140includes a handle142and mounting holes143that allow the rotary gun100to be mounted and used by an operator. As shown, the gun drive system140also has a drive unit141. The drive unit141may be gas or recoil actuated, electrically actuated via a motor (not shown), or manually actuated via a crank handle (not shown).

Turning next toFIG.2, an example embodiment of a belt-feed assembly120is shown. As shown, the belt-feed assembly120includes a plurality of connected belt links121. In some embodiments, the connected belt links121further comprise a first portion121aand a second portion121b. The first portion121aand second portion121bare substantially parallel. Any number of individual belt links121may be connected together to form a belt-feed assembly120with a belt of any length. For example, individual belt links could have a cartridge holder124configured to accept a cartridge122of varying size. The cartridge holder124may be in the shape of a semicircular detent. Any number of different size cartridges may be used, including, but not limited to, 9 mm, 0.22, 0.223, 5.56 mm, and 7.62 mm.

In the embodiment shown, each belt link121includes at least one belt tooth127. The belt tooth127engages with the gun barrel system110. The belt tooth127of a first belt link121is spatially distanced from the belt tooth127of a second belt link121such that they match with a plurality of indents on the gun barrel system110. The gun barrel system110draws the belt links121through the rotary gun100during operation, effectively allowing for a continuous influx of cartridges122to the rotary gun100, which in turns provides for continuous saturational directional fire from the rotary gun100. As shown, the belt links121also have a feed channel125which allows for the feed ram134to disengage the cartridge122from the belt link121during operation. The feed channel125is formed between the first portion121aand second portion121bon the belt link121. In some embodiments, the belt link121also has a belt connector123which allows multiple belt links121to be joined together to form belts of varying lengths depending on the needs of the operator. The belt connector123further includes a belt hook126which is designed to slot on to a belt rail129on an adjoining belt link121in a rotatable manner. The belt rail129, in some embodiments, is substantially cylindrical. This linkage allows belts of varying lengths to be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled, and does not require any specialized tools.

Turning next toFIG.3, the linkage between two individual belt links121is shown. The belt hook126of the belt connector123is shown slotted over the belt rail129of the adjoining belt link121.FIG.4further shows a single belt link according to this embodiment in detail.

FIG.5shows the rotary gun100. The belt links121containing the cartridge122are in a first position where the cartridge121in the belt link121has not yet been disengaged from the belt link121via the feed ram134and inserted into the gun firing assembly132.

FIG.6shows the rotary gun100in a second position where the cartridge122has been disengaged from the belt link121by the feed ram134and inserted into the chamber135within the gun firing assembly132. In the second position, the barrel111of the gun barrel system110is in a position such that it is ready to be fired.

Turning next toFIG.7, a lock door131is shown. The lock door131covers the gun firing assembly132and each chamber135during operation of the rotary gun100. The lock door131covers the gun firing assembly132during operation and prevents dirt and grime from agglomerating in the gun lock system130. The lock door131, in some embodiments, is removable such that any jams during operation of the rotary gun100may be cleared quickly and efficiently on the field. The lock door131further comprises the feed ram134which disengages the cartridge from the belt link121and forces it into the gun lock system130. The lock door131is connected to the gun lock system130via a feed tray133. The feed tray133guides the belt links121and cartridges122into the gun firing assembly132in preparation for loading the rotary gun100.

FIGS.8-10are progressive views showing the belt-feed assembly120depositing a cartridge into a chamber via the gun firing assembly132according to an embodiment.FIG.8shows the loading process in a first position. The belt links121are fed into the gun lock system130via the feed tray133. The belt links121are joined together via the belt hook126and belt rail129forming a continuous belt which allows for consistent and continuous feed to the gun lock system130. In the first position, the cartridge122is still engaged to the belt link121via the cartridge holder124. The feed ram134has not disengaged the cartridge122and deposited it into the gun firing assembly132and chamber135in the first position. The belt tooth127is engaged to the gun barrel system110via a belt tooth acceptor128. The belt tooth acceptor128pulls the belt links121via the belt tooth127located on each belt link121into the gun barrel system110and gun lock system130. The continuous feed of cartridges via the belt links121and this mechanism allow for continuous saturational directional fire of the rotary gun100during operation.

FIG.9shows the loading process in a second position. The belt link121, via the belt tooth127being pulled forward into the gun lock system130by the belt tooth acceptor128on the gun barrel system, has advanced forward into the gun firing assembly132. The cartridge122contained in the cartridge holder124has engaged the feed ram134. The feed ram134has begun to disengage the cartridge122from the cartridge holder124on the belt link121. The cartridge122has started to be forced into the chamber135in the gun firing mechanism132in the first position. The belt-feed assembly120is pulled into the gun lock system130by the belt tooth127engaging with the belt tooth acceptor128.

FIG.10shows the loading process in a third position. In the third position, the feed ram134has disengaged the cartridge122from the cartridge holder124on the belt link121. The cartridge122has been injected into the gun lock system130via the gun firing assembly132and chamber135within the respective barrel111being loaded. The lock door covers the gun lock system130during operation. Once the cartridge122has been fully disengaged from the belt link121and injected into the gun lock system130, the barrel111rotates to the firing position and the cartridge122is fired. The barrel111continues rotating and ejects the cartridge122after firing as well as ejects the belt link121after the cartridge122has been disengaged from the belt link121. The belt link121after being ejected from the rotary gun100can be reused. This simplified loading system for injecting cartridges122into the gun lock system130reduces the amount of maintenance needed because there are fewer moving parts in the gun lock system130and belt-feed assembly120than in the prior art. It is advantageous to have easier serviceability with fewer parts to ensure the rotary gun100can be easily maintained and serviced in the field.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, exact materials or embodiments shown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art. While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.