Drive and quick stop for a weapon with preferably linear breech or ammunition feed

A drive for a breech/breech carrier renders it axially adjustable relative to a weapon barrel. The drive includes a motor, two engaging cams mounted on a chain arranged below the breech and guided around two sprocket wheels. A slide is mounted in a guide at the bottom of the breech/breech carrier so as to move at a right angle to the direction of fire, with a groove extending over its entire width. The respective engaging cam entrains the breech in forward motion relative to the direction of fire, or in reverse motion, once the shot is fired, and transports the breech forwards, is displaced from the groove, and moves backwards without the breech, thereby allowing breech rest periods in a forward position. During firing, the slide moves, whereas it remains stationary when no shot is fired so no further engaging cam can entrain the breech backwards.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a drive provided with a quick stop device for a breech, or breech support, which can be moved in the axial direction with respect to a weapon barrel of a weapon, wherein the drive has a motor, or the like, and is provided with a chain that is driven by the motor and to which at least two driver studs are fitted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various drives, such as external drives or self-drives, for weapon systems are known from the prior art. Electrical drives are frequently provided as external drives for this purpose, and these then, for example, drive a chain. One known chain drive is used in the machine gun known by the name “Bushmaster,” or else chain gun. In this case, the times during which the breech has to be stationary for closing it, in order to fire the shot, and in order to open the breech and to place a cartridge in front of the breech, are implemented by a revolving chain that is driven by a motor (See, e.g., de.wikipedia.org/wiki/M242Bushmaster). In this case, the breech, together with the round or cartridge in front of it, is fed linearly to the cartridge chamber.

DE 10 2006 022 622 A1 describes a linear feed for the round into a weapon barrel or cartridge chamber, which feed has a control guide, which is used for function control, on the horizontal plane parallel to the movement of a breech, which has to be guided linearly, for the breech-loading weapon. This functionally interacts with a so-called “drive guide,” which is likewise located on the horizontal plane, for guiding a means connected to the breech. The drive guide is integrated in a movable slider, which is itself moved by a universally configurable drive. Furthermore, a locking guide is provided for locking the breech, and is preferably integrated in the movable slider together with the drive guide. A bolt on a locking ring, which is preferably arranged on the weapon side, can engage in this locking guide. This bolt then itself moves the locking ring. Within the control guide and the drive guide, which interact with one anther, a connecting rod or the like is positively guided by the guides, and by the slider along these guides. The breech is moved backward and forward by means of this connecting rod.

Building on this, DE 10 2007 048 468.4, which was not published prior to the earliest priority date for this application, considers in more detail a drive for the linear feed of the round into a weapon barrel, or cartridge chamber, by means of a chain. The chain itself is passed in a simple manner closely around two sprocket wheels. A chain link, or a stud on the chain, is integrated in a guide or groove that is located underneath the movable slider. This allows the chain to continue to run during the times in which the weapon is stationary, and which is defined by the function control. The chain itself can be driven by an electric motor.

Since, in the case of an external drive, the breech movements take place independently of the gas pressure in the weapon barrel, it is necessary to prevent the breech from being opened in the event of a misfire (i.e., the propellant charge in the cartridge does not burn away after the firing energy has been supplied) or a late fire (i.e., in this case, the propellant charge burns away with a considerable time delay). In general, the gas pressure or the weapon barrel itself is, for this purpose, detected as an indication of correct burn-away. If this information is lacking, a so-called “quick stop” must be initiated, and the opening of the breech must be prevented.

The mass forces during breaking of the external drive, in order to prevent opening of the breech, result in high loads in or on the elements of the drive train, particularly, at relatively high firing rates of the weapon.

DE 10 2007 048 470.6, which was also not published prior to the earliest priority date of this application, deals with the problem of a so-called quick stop in externally driven weapons. The quick stop is inserted all the time, and is Moved out again when a shot is fired correctly. However, in the event of a misfire, a means that is functionally connected to the weapon recoil runs onto the quick stop, the drive movement is stopped, and the breech is not unlocked, at least for a predeterminable time.

DE 30 21 200 C2, which also published as U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,709, discloses a protection system against late firing or subsequent firing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,709 is incorporated herein for all that it discloses. In addition to having a sensor for detection of recoil, the weapon disclosed by DE 30 21 200 C2 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,301,709 is equipped with a quick stop that can be moved to a position pushed in with respect to the chain part, in order to stop a normally continuously moving chain part, and, therefore, to stop the movement of the breech. A locking apparatus, which responds to the sensor, controls the movement of the stopping apparatus between the pushed-in position, in which the chain part is stopped, and an extended position, in which the movement of the chain part is otherwise not impeded. The protection system has two elements, which are connected to the chain part, namely, a main element and a safety element, as well as a trigger rod that is controlled by a solenoid, and a recoil push rod. The recoil push rod is used to release a recoil catch bolt when the shot is fired, and the trigger rod is used to move the safety element down when the weapon is locked and to release it when the round has been correctly fired. In order to subsequently stop the weapon, the trigger rod acts on the main element, since the solenoid is switched off. However, an electrically controlled solenoid, such as this one, is particularly undesirable in safety devices of this type because it is itself susceptible to defects. The possibility of the material of the rods fracturing furthermore means that the safety device is not functionally reliable. In addition, the design of the entire unit is very complex.

DE 32 18 550 C2 discloses a blocking device for a machine gun having an externally driven breech drive. In this case, energy, which results from the shot firing, is used for a shot monitoring device to interrupt the external power supply. When a shot is not fired and there is no return movement, this prevents a control stud of the device from being moved out of a pulled-back position to a driving position, while a switching lever is transported by an interrupter stud to a position in which the power supply is continuously restricted. The disadvantage of this solution is, likewise, the high level of design complexity, and the weight associated with this complexity.

The purpose of the present invention is to specify a drive for feeding the weapon breech to the cartridge chamber, in which the breech is automatically decoupled from the drive, particularly in the event of a misfire or a late fire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object is achieved by the features of a first embodiment of the invention, which pertains to a drive provided with a quick stop device for a breech (3), or breech support, which can be moved in the axial direction with respect to a weapon barrel (1), having a motor or the like, with a chain (6) that is driven by the motor and to which at least two driver studs (7) are fitted, wherein the drive has the following features: (a) at least two sprocket wheels (5) are preferably arranged underneath the breech, around which sprocket wheels the chain (6) with the driver studs (7) is passed, (b) a slide (8) is mounted in a guide at the bottom on the breech (3), or the breech support, such that it can move transversely with respect to the firing direction, and a groove (9) extends over the entire width of this slide, wherein the respective driver stud (7) moves the breech (3) via this groove (9), forward in the firing direction or backward after the shot, wherein the times in which the breech (3) is stationary in the front limit position are implemented in that the driver stud (7), which transports the breech (3) forward, is moved out of the groove (9) and is moved backward on the other weapon side without the breech (3), and when a shot has been fired, the slide (8) is moved to the other weapon side, while it remains in its position in which it has been moved away from the driver stud (7) when no shot has been fired, such that no further driver stud (7) can drive the breech (3) to the rear. Advantageous additional embodiments are summarized as follows.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, the first embodiment is modified so that one of the sprocket wheels (5) is driven by the motor (30), or the like, directly or indirectly, and drives the chain (6). In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, the first embodiment or the second embodiment is further modified so that the breech (3) is accelerated or braked by means of a sinusoidal function, which is predetermined by the radius of the sprocket wheels (5). In accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment are further modified so that a lever (10) moves the slide (8) to its left-hand position, and in the process stresses a compression spring (16).

In accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention, the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment, and the fourth embodiment, are further modified so that a recoil movement of the weapon barrel (1) is used, which acts on a barrel lock (2), which itself drives a pin (13), which is arranged such that it can be moved in the longitudinal direction together with a plunger (12), in a bearing block (11) that is fixed to the weapon housing (40). In accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention, the fifth embodiment is further modified so that a spring is included between a sleeve, in which the pin (13) is mounted, and the plunger (12). In accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention, the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment are further modified so that a linkage (15) is moved by the rear edge of the barrel lock (2) during weapon recoil, and rotates the lever (10), thus removing a lock from the slide (8), which holds the slide (8) in its right-hand or left-hand position, in its rest position, by means of a tab.

The invention is likewise based on the idea of integrating a chain as a drive. The rotary movement of the external drive, for example, an electric motor, is converted via the chain drive to a forward and backward movement of the breech. The chain has at least two driver studs. In order to allow the times for which the breech is stationary in the limit positions, the breech is disconnected from the driver studs, and, therefore, from the drive in its front and rear positions.

The sprocket wheels, which drive the chain themselves, have a radius that accelerates or brakes the breech on the basis of a sinusoidal function, which is produced in this way. The at least two driver studs on the chain engage in a slide with a groove under the breech, or the breech holder, in order to drive it. During the times when the breech is stationary, the driver studs each leave the groove. The slide itself is introduced into a guide under the breech and can be moved in this guide. It is preferable that the slide is only half as wide as the chain drive. In this case, the slide occupies only a part of the overall guide, and can, therefore, be moved to and fro in this guide transversely with respect to the firing direction. The slide is pressed by a spring, or the like, against the right-hand side, in the firing direction, of the breech or the breech holder, so that one driver stud on the chain engages in the groove in the slide on its forward path in the firing direction. As the chain drive continues to run, this driver stud on the chain moves back again on the left-hand side of the weapon system and, in the process, leaves the groove in the slide, as a result of which the breech remains in its foremost, locked position, independently of the drive. After a shot has been fired, the slide itself is moved from its right-hand position (seen in the firing direction) to its left-hand position within the guide. This is done using weapon recoil or, alternatively, gas pressure. This means that the weapon recoil, which follows the firing of the cartridge, moves the slide to the left-hand side of the breech or of the weapon system, where it is held by a lever etc. The second driver stud on the chain is now itself moved from the right-hand side into the groove in the slide, and drives the breech to its rear position. Here, the driver stud leaves the groove again, thus starting the rear waiting time of the breech. When the cartridge is placed in front of the breech by a feed, or the like, the slide is forced to the right-hand side again, under the breech, by releasing the (hold-down) lever from the spring. The next driver stud on the chain is now moved from the left-hand side into the groove in the slide, and drives the entire system forward again. If no shot is fired, the slide remains in its right-hand position, and the second or subsequent driver stud cannot unlock the breech, and move it back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows an illustration of a breech drive20provided with a chain6for an externally driven machine gun (partially illustrated), and associated with a weapon barrel1that is mounted in a barrel lock (in this case, a locking bush), in which a breech3is also locked in its front position. The breech3can be moved on breech guides4in and counter to the weapon barrel axis (i.e., back and forth along the axis defined by the breech guides4).FIG. 1shows the breech3in its front position andFIG. 5shows the breech3in its rear position.

As evident fromFIGS. 1,2,3and5, the breech interacts with the barrel lock2as follows. The breech3is provided with catch bumps so that when the breech3is driven into the barrel lock2, the locking bush of the barrel lock2is rotated so that bumps of the locking bush are disposed behind catch bumps of the breech3so that these respective parts catch one another, thereby creating an actuated connection. To unlock the socket of the locking bush of the barrel lock2from the breech3, the locking bush is either turned back to a release position or turned further until the release position is reached, which allows the socket to release the catch bumps of the breech3again so that the breech3can be driven out of the barrel lock2as shown inFIG. 5. In front of the breech3, in the firing direction, a cartridge (not shown) to be fired is disposed when the breech is in the rear position. The cartridge is smaller in cross section than the cross section of the breech3, and the cartridge is pushed centrically by a portion of the barrel lock2into the cartridge chamber of the weapon barrel1, which is securely closed by the breech3when the breech3is in the front position (FIG. 1).

Two sprocket wheels5and the chain6, provided with preferably two driver studs7, are preferably arranged underneath the breech guides4or the breech3(offset by 180° with respect to one another). A slide8is mounted in a guide located at the bottom on the breech3(or breech holder) such that the slide8can be moved transversely with respect to the firing direction of the weapon, and a groove9extends over the entire width of this slide8. Via this groove9, the respective driver stud7moves the breech3forward in the firing direction, or back in the opposite direction after the shot is fired.

One of the sprocket wheels5is driven by a motor30, or the like (directly or indirectly), and drives the chain6such that the chain6is moved forward on the right-hand side of the weapon, and back on the left-hand side, as viewed from the firing direction. Alternatively, the entire movement can also take place in the opposite direction to this described direction (i.e., the structure may be reversed so that the chain6is moved forward on the left-hand side of the weapon, and back on the right-hand side, as viewed from the firing direction).

In order to transport the breech3forward, the driver stud7located on the right-hand weapon side is threaded into the groove9of the slide8. This results in an interlocking connection, in the longitudinal direction of the weapon, between the drive20and the breech3, with the breech3being accelerated or braked via a sinusoidal function (i.e., in a sinusoidal manner), which is predetermined by the radius of the sprocket wheels5.

The times during which the breech3is stationary and located in the front limit position are implemented in that the driver stud7is moved out of the groove9and is moved backward on the left-hand side of the weapon without the breech3. That is, during the time when the breech3is the front, locked position, the driver stud7is not in the groove9, but is moved backwards and away from the breech9. When the breech3is in the front, locked position, a firing bolt (not illustrated in any more detail) is released in a known manner, by which means a cartridge located in the cartridge chamber (neither is illustrated in any more detail) is fired. The weapon recoil, which then occurs, is used to move the slide8to the left-hand side of the weapon (SeeFIG. 6). Alternatives for moving the slide8to the left-hand side of the weapon are possible within the scope of the invention, such as those alternatives that use the build-up of gas pressure on firing.

The elements10to15, which are required for operation of the drive, are shown by way of example inFIGS. 2 to 4, in particular, taking account of the possible use of gas pressure. A lever10moves the slide8to its left-hand position (FIG. 6), and, in the process, stresses a compression spring16, during the weapon recoil. The recoil movement is transmitted from the weapon barrel1to the barrel lock2, which drives a pin13. The pin13and a plunger12are arranged in a bearing block11, which is fixed to the weapon housing40, such that they can be moved in the longitudinal direction parallel to the firing direction of the weapon.FIG. 3shows a spring22between a sleeve24, in which the pin13is mounted, and the plunger12. The weapon recoil is, therefore, not converted in a rigidly coupled form to a rotary movement of the lever10, but instead is buffered via the spring22. This structure, therefore, ensures that the slide8is always moved completely onto the left-hand side, even when weapon recoils of different length occur.

During weapon recoil, a linkage15is moved by the rear edge of the barrel lock2and rotates the lever10, thus removing the lock from the slide8, which holds (locks) the slide8in its right-hand or left-hand position, by means of a tab50, when in its rest position. After the weapon barrel has recoiled (i.e., a shot is fired), the slide8is now located on the left-hand side of the weapon and is held in this position by the lever10, against the pressure from the spring16. The next driver stud7now runs from the right-hand side into the groove9, and drives the breech3to its rear position. In this rear position, the stud7leaves the groove9, as a result of which the breech3is once again detached from the chain6of drive20, and remains in its position.

After a new cartridge has been fed upstream of the breech3, an element of the feeder (not illustrated in any more detail), for example, actuates the lever14, as a result of which the locking of the slide8is canceled. Thus, the slide8is unlocked. The unlocked slide8is then moved by the spring16back to the right-hand side of the weapon (SeeFIGS. 1 and 4), as a result of which the next driver stud7drives the breech3forward again to the front position. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the quick stop mechanism is provided by the lever14, the slide8, and associated structures connected to the breech3.

However, if there is no weapon recoil, because no shot has been fired, the slide8remains in the front position on the right-hand side of the weapon, and the second or subsequent driver stud7cannot unlock the breech3and drive it back to the rear position.