Patents Assigned to Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
  • Patent number: 4711596
    Abstract: When installing security devices for securing releasable connections against unintentional release, the danger exists that during the assembly or erection of a machine, the installation of such security devices may be forgotten without such being noticed. To prevent this from happening, the invention contemplates using a securing or security element which, for instance, in the case of a rotary connection between a bolt member in a housing, is displaceably guided in a groove or groove structure of such housing. This securing or security element engages or latches, under the action of the force of a spring, in a groove or groove structure of the bolt member after the bolt member has been inserted into the housing, and in this way there is automatically secured the desired connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventor: Werner Bruderer
  • Patent number: 4709875
    Abstract: The apparatus for guiding a missile generates an electromagnetic guide beam such as a CO.sub.2 -laser guide beam including spatial coding. For spatially encoding the guide beam there is employed a modulator as well as a scanning device which are intercoupled by means of a computer. The guide beam is moved in steps or increments by the scanning device in order to scan individual field sectors of a scanning field. Following each individual step, a code is transferred to or associated with a scanned field sector of the scanning field by the guide beam such that for each field sector of the scanning field a code is generated which indicates the actual position of the missile, and a code which indicates the desired position of the missile. Consequently, a number of missiles can be guided simultaneously in different field sectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventors: Gregor Cremosnik, Joachim Timper, Johann Holzberger
  • Patent number: 4690029
    Abstract: Up to now exceedingly precise manufacturing tolerances had to be observed in securing or mounting a flare composition or incandescent charge sleeve in a blind borehole in the tail portion of a projectile body to ensure reliable sealing against propellant gases. To prevent this disadvantage a bolt member or plug is inserted into the blind borehole of the projectile body until the face or end surface of this bolt member or plug abuts the bottom region or portion of the blind borehole. The bolt member or plug and the projectile body are rotated relative to one another. Due to friction between the end surface of the bolt member or plug and the bottom portion of the blind borehole sufficient heat is generated at the front end of the bolt member or plug such that material of this front end of the bolt member or plug flows into an annular groove of the blind borehole to form a flange member. This flange member securely anchors the bolt member or plug in the blind borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventors: Harald Katzmann, Werner Senn, David Ammann
  • Patent number: 4688438
    Abstract: Switch or control cables for switching-over or changing-over deflectors are known and have the disadvantage that they can only be operated from one predetermined location. In accordance with the invention, the switch or control cable is subdivided into two switch or control cable sections which are interconnected by a coupling. The switch or control cable which is tensioned by a spring can now be selectively released from a holding device for switching-over or changing-over the deflector and displaced by the spring or by disengaging the coupling, in which case only one of the two switch or control cable sections is displaced by the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventors: Erwin Bohler, Werner Bruderer
  • Patent number: 4688467
    Abstract: The cartridges are delivered laterally adjacent to the weapon barrel by a cartridge feed mechanism and must be deflected or depressed upon insertion of the cartridges into a cartridge chamber of the weapon barrel by the breechblock. At high cadences there is the risk that the cartridges slide off from the breechblock and impinge with their tips against the weapon barrel and then cannot be inserted. The inventive apparatus is intended to avoid this risk. A pivotable supporting and deflecting pawl having a pivot axis parallel to the weapon axis ensures reliable insertion of the cartridges into the weapon barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventor: Werner Stauffacher
  • Patent number: 4677914
    Abstract: A safety device for a fuze of a spinning projectile comprises a spin acceleration safety element and a firing forward acceleration safety element. The firing forward acceleration safety element contains a ball displaceable by the action of the firing forward acceleration. The spin acceleration safety element employs an escapement or delay mechanism including an asymmetrically structured balance wheel whose center of gravity is radially displaced from its pivot axis such that the escapement or delay mechanism can begin to operate and time out only after the spin acceleration has ceased to be effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventor: Robert Apotheloz
  • Patent number: 4676136
    Abstract: An apparatus for recoilless firing of projectiles from a launching tube comprises within the launching tube a forward brake ring, a forward sabot, a propellant charge with an ignition element or screw, a rear sabot, a counter-mass, and a rear brake ring, arranged within the launching tube in the sequence listed. Upon ignition of the propellant charge, high acceleration forces are created by the ensuing high peak pressures, which consequently requires a robust construction. In order to avoid this drawback, according to the invention the aforementioned disadvantage can be eliminated by using a propellant charge comprising a first cylindrical propellant charge body and a second annular propellant charge body which surrounds this first cylindrical propellant charge body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventor: Arthur Kalin
  • Patent number: 4677376
    Abstract: The apparatus for measuring the muzzle velocity V.sub.0 of a projectile fired from a weapon enables eliminating the effects of interfering magnetic fields, particularly that of the terrestrial magnetic field. For this purpose the apparatus comprises a shielding arrangement for shielding or screening interfering magnetic fields. Such measuring apparatus contains two induction coils and a support for the attachment thereof which is made of a material of low magnetic permeability. For shielding or screening the interfering magnetic fields there is used a shielding arrangement made of a material of high magnetic permeability. The apparatus is simultaneously constructed as a muzzle brake and is suitable for measuring the muzzle velocity of sabot projectiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventors: Godwin Ettel, Heinz Maeder, Robert Ramseyer
  • Patent number: 4676017
    Abstract: Before the empty cartridge case is ejected it is extracted from the cartridge chamber of the weapon barrel by an extractor and subsequently tilted by an ejector. During this operation large forces are exerted on the pivotably mounted extractor. It has been found that when high cadence firing takes place the spring forces are too small to hold the extractor reliably. Therefore, the extractor is secured by a support lever or by a locking pawl against inadvertent pivoting during the removal of the cartridge case. Preferably a support lever or support slide is arranged in the breechblock to prevent premature tilting of the cartridge case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventors: Ernst Hurlemann, Werner Bosshard, Werner Stauffacher
  • Patent number: 4674393
    Abstract: A marine firing or weapon system containing a plurality of weapon barrels serves for combating rapidly flying targets in zenith and in azimuth or horizontal and possesses an inclined azimuth alignment axis. The ammunition infeed is accomplished from a number of stationary ammunition magazines arranged about a bent substantially vertical column. The ammunition magazines are located below the multi-barrel weapon system. Since the belted ammunition, due to the inclined azimuth axis, is guided along the aforementioned bent vertical column, which has a vertical extending portion at its lower section, a lengthwise compensation of the ammunition belts is needed during the rotation of the weapon system about the alignment azimuth axis. An elastic or flexible ammunition belt channel leads from each ammunition magazine to its related weapon barrel. These weapon barrels are cooled. Owing to the inclined azimuth alignment axis the minimum elevation or weapon depression is limited by an adjustable stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Schaulin, Robert Gantin, Yasar Kanat
  • Patent number: 4672850
    Abstract: For evaluating running quality of gears, a vibration measuring apparatus with a vibration pickup or sensor is provided at least at a headstock for holding a gear wheel a bevel gear or pinion. The signal pickup or reception of the vibration pickup or sensor is processed by suitable evaluation devices. A measuring ring is provided at the headstock in order to detect the maximum vibration components independently of the design of the gear set. The measuring ring carries the vibration pickup and is rotatably mounted on an associated spindle and can be rotated and positionally fixed relative to the headstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventor: Erhard Konersmann
  • Patent number: 4672316
    Abstract: In order to be able to carry out accurate measurements with a V.sub.0 -measurement device, it is important that the desired distance between the two measurement coils of the measurement device be accurately maintained. It has been found that it does not suffice to accurately measure the distance between the end faces of the two measurement coils, since the magnetic field foci of individual measurement coils do not always have the same spacing from the end surfaces. The distance between the magnetic field foci of both measuring coils is measured and is employed for determining the muzzle or initial velocity V.sub.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventor: Godwin Ettel
  • Patent number: 4664569
    Abstract: In order to increase the working range of existing designs of gear cutting machines upon which gear teeth based upon an extended epicycloid are cut according to the continuous gear-cutting process, the workpiece and cutter spindles of a gear cutting machine are driven in identical directions of rotation by a reversing drive train. A reversible auxiliary drive is connected to an end of a primary drive train remote from a main drive for maintaining the primary drive train interconnecting the workpiece and cutter spindles under constant load, i.e. for suppressing backlash in the primary drive train. This permits the practical fabrication of gears (i.e. the practical cutting of gear teeth) based upon a hypocycloid instead of an epicycloid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventor: Erich Kotthaus
  • Patent number: 4660457
    Abstract: A plurality of, such as six weapon barrels are rotatively mounted about a central axis or shaft of a multi-barrel weapon, for example, a Gatling gun. In order to achieve a good target grouping the weapon barrels should be focused and twisted or curved. The weapon barrels are held in the desired position by a support apparatus. This support apparatus comprises a first adjustment element for the radial displacement of the weapon barrels with respect to the central axis or shaft of the weapon and a second adjustment element for the tangential displacement of the weapon barrels with respect to the central axis or shaft of the weapon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventors: Ludwig Buhler, Bohler Erwin, Werner Bruderer
  • Patent number: 4656922
    Abstract: In the case of delayed firing of a cartridge or a so-called hang-fire condition in an externally powered firing weapon there must be prevented that further cartridges are fed into the firing weapon. In a known safety or monitoring apparatus of this type a deflector must be pivoted such that the infed cartridges, instead of arriving at the firing weapon, arrive at an ejection channel. The change-over of this deflector requires high acceleration forces because a great mass must be pivoted through a large pivot angle in a short period of time. In accordance with the invention the deflector comprises two segment members which are displaceable in the direction of the cartridge axes, one of which segment members selectively protrudes into the travel path of the cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventors: Erwin Bohler, Beat Iten, Werner Bruderer
  • Patent number: 4655118
    Abstract: It has been shown that at high firing rates or cadences, especially in externally powered firing weapons like Gatling guns, the rebound of the breechblock head during its locking at the rear end of the weapon barrel can have damaging effects. At its rear end the weapon barrel possesses an internal circumferential groove following, in a forward direction of the weapon barrel, an annular flange provided with teeth forming an inner gear toothing. The breechblock head possesses teeth forming an outer gear toothing. In the locked position of the breechblock head the teeth of its outer gear toothing are located in the aforementioned internal circumferential groove and bear upon the teeth forming the inner gear toothing of the annular flange. The damaging effects due to the rebound of the breechblock head can be alleviated or completely avoided by widening the circumferential groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventors: Werner Bruderer, Erwin Bohler
  • Patent number: 4627770
    Abstract: To provide better possibilities for shaping or forming the tooth bearing pattern or localized tooth contact the cutting edges, i.e. the outer and the inner cutting edges, of the cutters are inserted into the face cutter head such that an end of the cutting edge which faces the base of the tooth leads the other end of the same cutting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventor: Erich Kotthaus
  • Patent number: 4611525
    Abstract: It is necessary to provide a cadence regulator in a gas-pressure operated firing weapon, since a hot firing weapon would otherwise exhibit a cadence unacceptably greater than that of a cold firing weapon. The cadence regulator comprises two concentric tubes interconnected at one end and serving for actuating a temperature-dependent throttling member which regulates the gas-pressure by altering a throttling cross-section of a gas passage. Either only the inner tube is heated, causing it to expand more than the outer tube and to reduce the throttling cross-section, or both tubes are heated and the outer tube has a greater coefficient of expansion such that it expands more than the inner tube and increases the throttling cross-section. In the first case, the supply of gas to a gas piston is throttled and thereby diminished in pressure and in the second case, a discharge opening to the atmosphere is increased, also effectively diminishing the pressure of the supply of gas to the gas piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventors: Werner Bosshard, Willi Schroder
  • Patent number: 4611956
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing bevel and hypoid gear pairs according to an imaginary mating gear cutting process. The tooth spaces are cut by means of a face-mill cutter head rotating about an axis of rotation. In order to overcome heretofore prevailing limitations on the gear diameter, cone angle and shaft angle of gear pairs, either the gear or the cutter head performs an arcuate generating movement about a generating axis in order to produce one of the gears, whereby a machining axis is adjusted relative to the generating axis in accordance with the position of the axes of both gears of the gear pair. In one advantageous embodiment, the same machining axis adjustment is also employed for fabricating the mating, non-generated gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventor: Erich Kotthaus
  • Patent number: 4610191
    Abstract: The ammunition container is subdivided by partition walls into individual compartments. Such containers must be structured in such a manner that a cartridge belt can be easily laterally withdrawn from the container at the top thereof. For this purpose there are provided partition walls which are formed by a stationary rigid partition wall portion and a pivotable spring-type or resilient partition wall portion. The two partition wall portions are interconnected by a resilient member, such as a spring plate or leaf. Furthermore, the distance between the spring plates or leaves and the base member or floor of the container continually increases from one partition wall to the next-following partition wall in the direction towards the discharge or outlet opening of the ammunition container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventors: Samuel Schmid, Hans-Peter Novet