Patent GB-565808-A (GB)
Title: Mechanism for recocking and recharging guns
IPC: F41A7/04
Filed: 1942-09-21
Abstract: 565,808. Automatic guns. SPECIALTIES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. Sept. 21, 1942, No. 13287. Convention date, Nov. 14, 1941. [Class 92 (ii)] Mechanism for re-cocking a gun is controlled by a solenoid which becomes operative to actuate such mechanism only when a current pulse of a predetermined minimum time flows therethrough, the solenoid being successively energized a plurality of times for intervals less than the predetermined minimum, when the gun is in normal operation, and the control of the current through the solenoid being effected by current controlling means actuated by a member movable with the breech mechanism. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a bolt or stud 14, connected to the reciprocating firing mechanism, projects through a slot 15 of the housing 11 of the gun 10 and into the path of a hydraulically-operated ram mounted in a cylinder 20. Fluid is supplied to the cylinder by a tube 17 leading from a container 16, control being effected by a valve 40 in a casing 35. The valve is normally held in a closed position by an arm 44 of a slidable rod 45, the latter being guided in one of two tubes 27 and having its other end engaging a pivoted rod 46 carrying a latch 69. A tubular collar 50 is pivotally mounted on the lever 46 and serves as a guide for a bar 52 which is normally held in the position shown, against the action of a spring 57, by a pivoted catch 61 extending from a solenoid 65. The bar 52 has two collars 54, 56, and is surrounded by a spring 55 which bears against the collar 56 and the collar 50, thus urging the lever 46 and hence the rod 45 to a position in which the valve 40 is held closed. When the solenoid is energized upon the stopping or slowing down of the breech bolt, the bar 52 is freed and moves to the right under the action of spring 51, the spring 55 expands, and collar 54 engages the lever 46 and moves it to the right, this movement being assisted by spring 66 connected to arm 44. The lever 46 is held in this position by the engagement of its latch 69 with a fixed projection 70. Valve 40 now opens under the pressure of the fluid and moves the ram which in turn moves the stud 14. The ram is guided by the tubes 27 and as it approaches its rearmost position an arm 31 carried by it engages the collar 56, thus compressing spring 55 and causing the bar 52 to be re-engaged by the catch 61. Subsequently, a further arm 32 on the ram engages and releases the latch 69, thereby freeing the arm 46 which is returned to the position shown by spring 55 and closes the valve 40. The ram is returned to the position shown by springs 34, the fluid in the ram cylinder 20 passing around the back of the valve through exhaust ports 39. The ram is only brought into use when the firing mechanism is jammed or slows down, and under normal conditions the stud 14 is reciprocating at high speed when the gun is firing. The stud carries a brush or wiper 80 secured to a frame 79 sliding on the tubes 27, and brush 80 is adapted to engage a series of alternately arranged conducting members 76 and non-conducting members 77 in a frame 75. Members 76 are in circuit with a solenoid and the latter is therefore energized only intermittently at high frequency under normal conditions, and is of such type that such interrupted current does not cause it to function. When, however, the brush 80 stops or slows down, the solenoid is actuated and closes a circuit containing the solenoid 65 which thereupon causes the ram to come into operation. The circuit diagram for producing this effect is shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, current is fed to the circuit by a wire 92 leading to a main switch 86, and is returned through various " earth " connections 114, 117, 121, 131, 132 and 141. Switch 86 has three positions, the off position shown, a safety position in which it engages the contacts 104 and 105, and a firing position where it engages the contacts 106 and 107. When the switch is in the off position, the closing of two further switches 87 and 89 produces no result. In the safety position, the depression of switch 87 energizes the solenoid 65 to enable the ram to cock the firing mechanism and heats a resistance 90 associated with the fluid container 16, Fig. 1. When the switch is in the firing position, the depression of the switch 89 energizes the solenoid 100 of the firing mechanism of the gun and firing continues while the switch is depressed. During this time, the brush 80 passes rapidly over the spaced contacts 76, and the rapidly interrupted current passing through the solenoid 95 produces no effect on the switch 139 associated therewith. When, however, the firing mechanism becomes jammed or slows down, switch 139 is actuated and current flows through a further solenoid 96, thereby actuating a switch 125. The movement of the switch cuts off the supply of current to the firing pin solenoid 100 and supplies current to the solenoid 65, thus bringing the ramming device into operation to actuate the stud 14. The ram during its stroke lifts a switch 97 to connect it with the earth 141, and as the resistances 94A, 94D shown are respectively equal to the resistances 94B, 94C, the current through solenoid 95 ceases, and all the parts return to the position shown. Specification 556,520 is referred to.