Abstract: An automatic cannon for a monergole liquid propellant which is designed as a continuously firing drum-type weapon whereby the supply of projectiles, the loading and the dosaging process take place in parallel. The weapon housing of the automatic cannon includes a drum which has a plurality of drum chambers and is disposed in a drum housing so that the drum chambers can be successively rotated into a firing position aligned with the gun barrel. Each drum chamber accommodates a respective projectile chamber and a respective differential piston arrangement for the liquid propellant. The drum is driven in a hybrid manner by a longitudinally displaceable slide, which in turn is driven in one direction by the firing gases supplied through a gas conduction arrangement and in the other direction by a linear electric motor.

Abstract: A tubular automatic weapon includes a barrel having a rear terminal portion defining a chamber, and a breech block having a breech block axis and being arranged for movement in axial alignment with the barrel. The breech has a block housing, a rotary head; an iron core secured within the head; a permanent magnet situated within the head and being movable relative to the iron core in inductive relationship therewith; an energy accumulator for storing the kinetic energy derived from the motion of the housing towards a rearward position; and a coupling arrangement for connecting the energy accumulator with the permanent magnet to cause the permanent magnet to be propelled forwardly relative to the iron core by the energy released by the energy accumulator, thereby generating a magnetic field for inducing an igniting current in a cartridge situated in the chamber.

Abstract: An externally driven automatic weapon in which the breechblock and the function of supplying cartridges into the cartridge chamber are effected or controlled by means of a rotatably mounted control cylinder which is provided with a camming path on its circumference and which is driven by an external drive arrangement including a motor and gears for connecting the output of the motor to the control cylinder. The motor and the gears for the control cylinder are disposed within the control cylinder, with the motor being connected to a first nonrotatable stub shaft on which one end of the control cylinder is rotatably supported and with a gear housing or gear block for the gears being connected either to the control cylinder or to a further nonrotatable stub shaft on which the other end of the control cylinder is rotatably mounted. Alternatively, the control cylinder itself may be configured as part of an electric motor which serves as the primary drive, e.g., in the form of a barrel-type engine.

Abstract: A cartridge feeder for a gun having two alternately fired barrels has respective adjacent loading positions. The feeder comprises a guide defining a path having an upstream end and a downstream end, the latter being at one of the positions and the other position being between the downstream and the upstream end. Cartridges are movable in a row along the path and are laterally displaceable out of the path at the positions, so they can be chambered directly from this path. A sprocket at an upstream end of the path is rotated while in engagement with a sequence of cartridges to advance same into the upstream end and thereby push the cartridges along the path into the positions. The feeder can be formed in part by an endless flexible conveyor having a stretch extending along the path opposite the barrels and formed with a succession of cartridge-engaging holders.

Abstract: A weapons system for single-barrel automatic cannons uses PRUNIT rounds consisting of a projectile and a casingless solid body of propellant affixed to the projectile. A respective arming set is provided for at least some of said weapons to form central units therewith. Each arming set comprises means defining first and second energy-flow paths with respective shafts adapted to transmit torque from input ends to output ends of the path. Both of the shafts are connected to a wedge-type breech block for shifting same between open and closed positions. One of the shafts is connected to a loader and the other to a belt feeder for the PRUNITs.

Abstract: An improved ammunition belt for automatic barrel weapons such as machine cannons. The ammunition belt is composed of a plurality of belt members each of which is adapted to accommodate and resiliently hold an ammunition unit in operative position therein. The belt members include pin-like projections which are adapted to interact with the gear-teeth or the like of an ammunition unit thereon and includes a pair of straps connected to the belt member by means of a first pivotal connection. The members for detachably holding the ammunition units as well as the first pivotal connection have the pin-like projections which are adapted to interact with the belt feed mechanism. The straps have arcuate slits spaced from the axis of the first pivotal connection. Pin-like projections secured to the projections of the belt members extend through the arcuate slits to form second pivotal connections.

Abstract: A method for controlling the rate of firing from a machine gun having means for imparting energy to an ammunition feed system, a rigidly locking breech block and a firing device, and having a recoil and counter-recoil device which is movably coupled by means of a differential recoil system to the gun mount wherein the control order necessary for detonation is derived from the simultaneous transmittal of a signal from a predetermined position of the breech block and a predetermined position of the recoil counter-recoil device during its oscillating movement. Means are provided for adjusting the delay of the counter-recoil movement of the recoil counter-recoil device by limiting the travel of a control piston within the recoil counter-recoil device.

Abstract: Sealing system for a sliding wedge type breech block of a barrel weapon, particularly one which employs cartridge free ammunition. An actuating member having a rear end adapted to be driven is disposed in the breech block, and an axially movable pressure bolt having an impacting surface is engaged and driven by the actuating member. A sealing means including a sealing member is provided between the actuating member and the breech block for separating the pressure bolt area from the actuating member. The sealing member is generally of disc shape, having a circular cylinder flange attached to its rim and a central support hub with an end surface functioning as a stop for the impacting surface of the pressure bolt. The circular cylindrical flange of the sealing member is disposed against the inside of a circular cylindrical recess in the forward end of the breech block, and the disc has an outer annular end surface for pressing against a transverse sealing surface at the rear end of the barrel.

Abstract: An improved floating machine cannon of the type utilizing the counter-recoil method of firing is disclosed wherein two normally open switches are used to detect when the breech block locks in place and when the recoil damper reaches the optimum point in its forward movement to commence the second and subsequent detonations. Detonation for the second and subsequent firing cycles can only occur at such time when both switches are closed.