Belt Feed Patents (Class 89/33.14)
  • Patent number: 11976897
    Abstract: A projectile lift for vertically moving ammunition elements between two storage levels of a magazine comprising a receiving tray for receiving an ammunition body and a retaining device for retaining the ammunition body, wherein the retaining device can vertically lift the ammunition elements away from the receiving tray. The disclosure also relates to a magazine including a projectile lift and a method for vertically moving ammunition elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: KRAUSS-MAFFEI WEGMANN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jens Grünewald, Eric Prummenbaum
  • Patent number: 11619463
    Abstract: A plug for insertion into a blast-tube exit cavity of a gun-blast diffuser comprises a plug front surface, a plug rear surface, a plug side surface that extends between the plug front surface and the plug rear surface, a body, comprising a polyurethane foam, and a substrate, coupled to the body and comprising a conductive nonwoven fabric, impregnated with a polyurethane matrix. The plug front surface of the plug is formed by the substrate. The plug rear surface of the plug is formed by the body. The plug side surface of the plug is formed by the substrate and the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Garrett B. Peters, Lucian Woods, Robert R. Johnson, Daniel E. Pulcher, Anthony C. Roberts
  • Patent number: 11536523
    Abstract: A feed tray assembly for a belt-fed weapon includes a bottom tray portion configured for mounting at a top of the weapon. The feed tray assembly further includes a feed tray cover mounted to the bottom tray portion and configured for lateral sliding opening and closing movement, such as on laterally extending pins riding in corresponding channels of the bottom tray portion. The feed tray cover has (1) a closed position in which it covers the bottom tray portion to retain the belt of ammunition during operation, and (2) an open position laterally displaced from the closed position to enable insertion of the belt of ammunition. Due to this lateral sliding movement of the feed tray cover, a sighting optic may be mounted on the weapon with a forward portion directly above the feed tray assembly without any undesired mechanical interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Michael Ayotte, Andrew Joseph Bosley, Ed Charles Volz, Leonard Terrence Katilas
  • Patent number: 11112195
    Abstract: An ammunition box that is intended to equip a magazine of a gun turret. The box is substantially parallelepipedic and comprises a pivoting handle formed by two arms that are articulated on the side walls and are connected by a grip allowing the extraction and transportation of the box. The handle comprises a protuberance disposed in the vicinity of at least one of the articulated arms and in the vicinity of its pivot pin on the walls, which protuberance is intended to engage with at least one guide groove provided on the magazine of the turret. A further aim of the invention is a magazine capable of receiving such a box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: NEXTER SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Maxime Carre, Steve Baert, Alexis Conte, Rémi Raymond
  • Patent number: 11047642
    Abstract: Trigger armor systems and grip armor systems are provided. The trigger armor system may include an integral finger rest, grip, and knuckle guard. The grip armor system may include an integral angle grip and well grip. Trigger and grip armor systems including an integral trigger armor system and grip armor system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventor: Andy L. Schrock
  • Patent number: 11002501
    Abstract: An ammunition retaining feed tray for a firearm including a feed tray with a distal and a proximal end, a cartridge stop for alignment of an ammunition belt, at least one pawl opening, and a pawl assembly engagement; a pawl assembly connected to the pawl assembly engagement of the feed tray with the pawl assembly including at least one pawl operable to move within the at least one pawl opening of the feed tray and for engaging an ammunition belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: WHG PROPERTIES, LLC
    Inventor: Ronnie Barrett
  • Patent number: 10663241
    Abstract: A cannon turret including a gun mount supporting a cradle that accommodates a weapon and includes trunnions pivotally mounted in sockets of the gun mount; the turret comprises an ammunition feeding device which includes at least one ammunition magazine located laterally on the cradle, below one of the sockets, and which further includes at least one feeding canal for conducting the ammunition from the magazine to the weapon. The disclosed turret is characterized in that the magazine includes at least one external canister which is secured to the gun mount and inside which at least one ammunition container can be accommodated; the canister has a rear end with an opening, and a closed front end; locking means are provided for blocking the container in relation to the canister. Also, a container that is to be accommodated in a canister of the type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: NEXTER SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Steve Baert, Virginie Laurent
  • Patent number: 10533825
    Abstract: Trigger armor systems and grip armor systems are provided. The trigger armor system may include an integral finger rest, grip, and knuckle guard. The grip armor system may include an integral angle grip and well grip. Trigger and grip armor systems including an integral trigger armor system and grip armor system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Inventor: Andy L. Schrock
  • Patent number: 9766025
    Abstract: A rifle has a receiver. The receiver has a recess with a rectilinear major section and a trapezoidal minor section. The minor section extends upwardly from the major section. The receiver has a chamber above the recess. A rectilinear container has a lid with an upwardly extending projection. The lid is removably received in the minor section of the recess. A plurality of bullets are removably positioned in the container. The bullets extend upwardly through a passageway in the lid and into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Inventor: Terry L. Rood
  • Patent number: 9644916
    Abstract: A modular weapon station includes a rotatable frame adapted to be mounted on a platform and is configured to have a removable cradle with a weapon mounted thereon. The rotatable frame may also include a removable ammunition feed chute, an optical sighting unit, and azimuth and elevation drives. The modular weapon station may also include a rotatable drum and ammunition loading assembly coupled with the rotatable frame assembly. The rotatable drum and ammunition loading assembly may be located in an under armor position such that an operator may replenish ammunition from an under armor position and not be subjected to hostile fire while replenishing ammunition. Belted ammunition rounds may travel along an ammunition feed path stemming from the loading assembly within the rotatable drum to a selected weapon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Merrill Aviation, Inc.
    Inventor: James C. Hobson
  • Patent number: 9285175
    Abstract: An ammunition magazine contains an ammunition belt of linked ammunition cartridges to be fed into a machine gun, the magazine including a front opening, enabling a leading end of the ammunition belt to be accessible for feeding the machine gun and for linking with a trailing end of another ammunition belt, and a rear opening, enabling a trailing end of the ammunition belt to be accessible for linking with a leading end of another ammunition belt. An arrangement of consecutive and adjacent ammunition magazines allows movement of an ammunition belt from the distal magazine into the proximal magazine towards the machine gun during operation, enabling continuous feeding of ammunition belts into the machine gun. An ammunition loading system for conveying ammunition between a magazine platform and a hull region, including a lifting mechanism to lift an ammunition magazine into the magazine platform from the hull region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Elbit Systems, LTD.
    Inventors: Adolf Schvartz, Avner Koren, Shlomo Alkaher
  • Patent number: 8869672
    Abstract: A feed assembly of an assault rifle for feeding rounds of ammunition to a firing chamber includes an ammunition feed that is cooperable with the firing chamber. The ammunition feed simultaneously receives a magazine biased to deliver rounds of ammunition to the firing chamber and a belt feed system for feeding belted rounds of ammunition to the firing chamber. A selector is interconnected to a pawl and a magazine cover. The selector simultaneously actuates the pawl and the magazine cover alternately opening and closing the pawl and the magazine cover for selectively feeding rounds of ammunition from the belt feed system or the magazine into the firing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventor: Kevin T. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140311325
    Abstract: An ammunition magazine contains an ammunition belt of linked ammunition cartridges to be fed into a machine gun, the magazine including a front opening, enabling a leading end of the ammunition belt to be accessible for feeding the machine gun and for linking with a trailing end of another ammunition belt, and a rear opening, enabling a trailing end of the ammunition belt to be accessible for linking with a leading end of another ammunition belt. An arrangement of consecutive and adjacent ammunition magazines allows movement of an ammunition belt from the distal magazine into the proximal magazine towards the machine gun during operation, enabling continuous feeding of ammunition belts into the machine gun. An ammunition loading system for conveying ammunition between a magazine platform and a hull region, including a lifting mechanism to lift an ammunition magazine into the magazine platform from the hull region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Adolf Schvartz, Avner Koren, Shlomo Alkaher
  • Patent number: 8863633
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a passive locking device for preventing an ammunition belt from sliding across the top of an internal wall of an ammunition magazine used in conjunction with a belt feed weapon. In one embodiment the passive locking device is movable between a locked position in which a locking end is in close proximity to the top of the internal wall, and an unlocked position in which the locking end is spaced apart from the top of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Dillon Aero Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Christian Gotie
  • Patent number: 8850945
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for positioning multiple, filled ammunition canisters near the receiver of a machine gun such that when the ammunition belt in the first canister is exhausted, the gunner merely removes the first canister from the device and a new, full canister containing a new ammunition belt slides into place by means of gravity. The present invention enables the gunner to more rapidly reload the machine gun, thus improving firing rate and gunner safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventor: John Tatum
  • Publication number: 20140260931
    Abstract: An ammunition feed guide assembly for a connected band of ammunition cartridges includes a bracket with upstanding side plates each defining an ammunition discharge channel. The channel has a bottom wall, a pair of side walls spaced apart a distance greater than the length of a cartridge and may include at least one tension tab to resist movement of the ammunition band. An ammunition chute is connected to a discharge chute and comprises a plurality of hollow feed links connected for limited pivotal movement to guide the band of ammunition cartridges to the feed mechanism of an associated weapon. In one form, the chute includes a link at its free end to connect to a discharge chute of another feed guide assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Christopher A.J. Iannello, Craig E. Eernst, JR., Martin J. Nilsen
  • Patent number: 8807008
    Abstract: An example of a polymer-based machine gun link can include a first side having a finger to hold a cartridge and a second side, opposite the first side, having at least two fingers to hold a second cartridge. A stem can join the first side and the second side the two fingers are smaller than the finger and spaced along the stem so that the finger fits between the two fingers. All of the finger, the two fingers, and the stem are made from polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: PCP Tactical, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Padgett, Robert Lanse Padgett
  • Patent number: 8763511
    Abstract: An ammunition magazine (20) contains an ammunition belt (34) of linked ammunition cartridges (36) to be fed into a machine gun (12), the magazine (20) including a front opening (26?), enabling a leading end of the ammunition belt (34) to be accessible for feeding the machine gun (12) and for linking with a trailing end of another ammunition belt (34), and a rear opening (26?), enabling a trailing end of the ammunition belt (34) to be accessible for linking with a leading end of another ammunition belt (34). An arrangement of consecutive and adjacent ammunition magazines (20) allows movement of an ammunition belt (34) from the distal magazine (20b) into the proximal magazine (20a) towards the machine gun (12) during operation, enabling continuous feeding of ammunition belts (34) into the machine gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Adolf Schvartz, Avner Koren, Shlomo Alkaher
  • Patent number: 8752466
    Abstract: A modular articulated guide assembly comprises a series of guide lugs disposed transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of flexure of the chute. The guide lugs have generally U-shaped bodies with laterally spaced side walls joined by bottom walls to define guide channels. Centerline tabs project forwardly from the bottom walls, with each centerline tab being slidably received in a central recess in the bottom wall of an adjacent guide lug. The centerline tabs are in an abutting relationship when the guide assembly is retracted on its axis of flexure, and are adapted to slide in their respective central recesses and to move apart when the guide assembly is extended along or flexed from its axis of flexure. The guide lugs are interlocked in a manner permitting their limited movement to accommodate extension and flexture of the guide assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Here Be Dragons LLC
    Inventors: Frank A. Howell, Justin A. Kiger
  • Patent number: 8573109
    Abstract: An armament system for aircraft includes an ammunition system and a mount system for a machine gun. The ammunition system includes an ammunition canister and feed system, the canister having a pair of brackets releasably coupled to a pair of receivers supported by a vertical mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: James Buechler, Michael Holzmeyer
  • Patent number: 8479631
    Abstract: An explosion-driven setting tool includes a setting mechanism (12) driven by a propellant (23), an ignition unit (18) for igniting the propellant (23), a receptacle (15) for receiving a propellant holder (20), a data communication interface (31) for receiving and transmitting data of the propellant holder (20), and a data processing unit (30) for receiving data transmitted by the data communication interface (31) and connected with a display (50) for displaying the propellant supply level (27) of the propellant (23) in the propellant holder having a housing (21) with an interior space (22) for receiving the propellant (23), and a data storage identification unit (40) in which the propellant supply level (27) is stored for being read-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Ehmig, Tilo Dittrich
  • Patent number: 8397617
    Abstract: An ammunition feed adapter and method of use is provided that converts a semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm from a magazine-fed firearm into a belt-fed firearm enabling the firearm to be used as a sustainable source of firepower. Modification of a soldier's standard issue automatic or semi-automatic rifle into a belt-fed firearm increases the options for strategic maneuvering of a combat unit on the field of battle by overcoming the limitations of traditional sources of sustained firepower, such as a Squad Automatic Firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventors: Darrell E. Shirts, Darren Saunders
  • Publication number: 20130047828
    Abstract: A feed assembly of an assault rifle for feeding rounds of ammunition to a firing chamber includes an ammunition feed that is cooperable with the firing chamber. The ammunition feed simultaneously receives a magazine biased to deliver rounds of ammunition to the firing chamber and a belt feed system for feeding belted rounds of ammunition to the firing chamber. A selector is interconnected to a pawl and a magazine cover. The selector simultaneously actuates the pawl and the magazine cover alternately opening and closing the pawl and the magazine cover for selectively feeding rounds of ammunition from the belt feed system or the magazine into the firing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Kevin T. Smith
  • Patent number: 8381630
    Abstract: A wing for an aircraft having at least one weapon, and a feed duct for feeding the weapon with ammunition supplied in the form of a belt; the wing has a compartment for housing a portion of the belt and connectable to a loading opening of the feed duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Agusta S.p.A.
    Inventors: Santino Pancotti, Dante Ballerio
  • Patent number: 8356539
    Abstract: An ammunition feed chute has a plurality of feed chute links releasably connected together. The feed chute links have interior surfaces that define a guide path for belted ammunition. Each of the feed chute links has a transitional surface attached to one of the feed chute link's interior surfaces, the transitional surfaces each extending from the interior surface to which it is attached to a location where it overlaps the adjacent feed chute link's transitional surface. A tongue extending from one of the feed chute links may be received by a slot in an adjacent feed chute link to releasably connect the feed chute links together. The ligaments may each receive the top insert and the rivet of one of the feed chute links within their closed slots and removably receive the top insert, AN washer, and rivet of an adjacent feed chute link within their open slots to releasably connect the feed chute links together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventor: Xavier G. Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20120318128
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a passive locking device for preventing an ammunition belt from sliding across the top of an internal wall of an ammunition magazine used in conjunction with a belt feed weapon. In one embodiment the passive locking device is movable between a locked position in which a locking end is in close proximity to the top of the internal wall, and an unlocked position in which the locking end is spaced apart from the top of the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: DILLON AERO INC.
    Inventor: Robert Christian Gotie
  • Patent number: 8291807
    Abstract: Devices, apparatus, systems and methods of mounting ammunition holders for side loading machine guns and weapons that downwardly eject spent cartridges. The ammunition holders include adjustable hinges attached side plates that both moves the center of gravity of the left side supported ammunition holder to move in a right direction underneath the machine gun until the ammunition holder is balanced relative to the machine gun. The side plate further deflects the spent cartridges from being directly ejected downward from the machine gun and instead deflect the spent cartridges to one side of the machine gun away from both the machine gun and an operator of the gun. The ammunition containers can be ammunition belt boxes. The ammunition containers can be ammunition pouch bags. Frames can allow for bags to be inserted therein and be pre-shaped to form a deflection surface by a built on side wall which functions as a deflection plate to deflect spent cartridges and shells sideways away from the gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventor: Joseph R. Moody
  • Publication number: 20120204710
    Abstract: An ammunition feed adapter and method of use is provided that converts a semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm from a magazine-fed firearm into a belt-fed firearm enabling the firearm to be used as a sustainable source of firepower. Modification of a soldier's standard issue automatic or semi-automatic rifle into a belt-fed firearm increases the options for strategic maneuvering of a combat unit on the field of battle by overcoming the limitations of traditional sources of sustained firepower, such as a Squad Automatic Firearm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Darrell E. Shirts, Darren Sunders
  • Publication number: 20120137863
    Abstract: An armament system for aircraft includes an ammunition system and a mount system for a machine gun. The ammunition system includes an ammunition canister and feed system, the canister having a pair of brackets releasably coupled to a pair of receivers supported by a vertical mounting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: James Buechler, Michael Holzmeyer
  • Patent number: 8151683
    Abstract: A link chute ejection adapter for conveying spent links of an ammunition belt from the receiver chamber of a machine gun to a link chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Glen Dick, James Buechler, Michael Holzmeyer
  • Patent number: 8151684
    Abstract: An armament system for aircraft includes an ammunition system and a mount system for a machine gun. The ammunition system includes an ammunition canister and feed system, the canister having a pair of brackets releasably coupled to a pair of receivers supported by a vertical mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: James Buechler, Michael Holzmeyer
  • Patent number: 8136440
    Abstract: An ammunition feed adapter and method of use is provided that converts a semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm from a magazine-fed firearm into a belt-fed firearm enabling the firearm to be used as a sustainable source of firepower. Modification of a soldier's standard issue automatic or semi-automatic rifle into a belt-fed firearm increases the options for strategic maneuvering of a combat unit on the field of battle by overcoming the limitations of traditional sources of sustained firepower, such as a Squad Automatic Firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventors: Darrell E. Shirts, Darren Sunders
  • Patent number: 8082834
    Abstract: An ammunition magazine box is provided for receiving a vertically serpentined length of belted ammunition for selective outfeed from the box to a machine gun. A specially designed support bracket structure, representatively of a length adjustable construction, is provided and suitably secured within the interior of the magazine box. At least a portion of the belted ammunition loops rest on a top side surface of the installed support bracket structure. The top support bracket structure side surface is (1) laterally sloped, in a direction transverse to the lengths of the belt loops, to inhibit a tilting-created intermeshing of vertically adjacent projectile ends of the ammunition rounds which could cause a feed jam, and/or (2) longitudinally sloped, in a direction parallel to the lengths of the belt loops, to desirably lessen the ammunition outfeed force that must be exerted by the machine gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Contract Fabrication and Design, LLC
    Inventors: William F. Gordon, Michael F. Ingersoll, David C. Ussery, Caleb J. Rankin, Nathan P. Whitworth, James A. Hardin
  • Patent number: 8037801
    Abstract: A link separation device for an ammunition belt, said belt exiting a weapon after firing via an opening and in which an assembly of links (M1, M2) are mounted able to pivot angularly with respect to one another, each of said links incorporating two lateral stirrups and one median stirrup, said median stirrup of a first link (M1) of said links being able to pivot in grooves in said lateral stirrups of a second link (M2) of said links, a relative pivoting position of said first link (M1) with respect to said second link (M2) following said first link (M1) enabling said first link (M1) to be unhooked, said links additionally being positioned with respect to said device in a position such that the pivoting ensuring the unlocking and the unhooking of said first link (M1) can be made naturally by the action of gravity exerted on said first link (M1), wherein said device incorporates means to ensure said first link (M1) rocks over as well as means to guide and means to support said second link (M2) following as said
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Nexter Systems
    Inventors: Pierre Coiffet, Jean-Louis Sennegon
  • Patent number: 7934443
    Abstract: A magazine configured for use with a 22 caliber conversion kit and/or a non-converted 22 caliber firearm includes an elongate, hollow, rectangular housing for receiving an ammunition belt on a splined belt pulley. A slide of the firearm applies an impact force to a strike wheel to pivot a cam against a spring-loaded rack. The rack moves downward and causes a rack gear to rotate a drive gear freely in the slip direction of a unidirectional bearing. When the impact force is removed, the spring-loaded rack returns upward under the biasing force of the spring causing the rack gear to rotate the drive gear on the unidirectional bearing in the drive direction. The drive gear turns a drive axle, which turns the splined belt pulley to advance the ammunition belt sufficiently to position the next round of ammunition for entry into the firing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventor: Keith A. Bennett
  • Patent number: 7918153
    Abstract: An ammunition magazine box is provided for receiving a vertically serpentined length of belted ammunition for selective outfeed from the box to a machine gun. A specially designed support bracket structure, representatively of a length adjustable construction, is provided and suitably secured within the interior of the magazine box. At least a portion of the belted ammunition loops rest on a top side surface of the installed support bracket structure. The top support bracket structure side surface is (1) laterally sloped, in a direction transverse to the lengths of the belt loops, to inhibit a tilting-created intermeshing of vertically adjacent projectile ends of the ammunition rounds which could cause a feed jam, and/or (2) longitudinally sloped, in a direction parallel to the lengths of the belt loops, to desirably lessen the ammunition outfeed force that must be exerted by the machine gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Contract Fabrication and Design, LLC
    Inventors: William F. Gordon, Michael F. Ingersoll, David C. Ussery, Caleb J. Rankin, Nathan P. Whitworth, James A. Hardin
  • Patent number: 7913610
    Abstract: An ammunition retainer apparatus for restraining a continuous belt of linked ammunition cartridges loaded into bays of an ammunition box or magazine from flowing over a divider wall from a first bay to a second bay adjacent to the first bay. The ammunition retainer apparatus comprises an elongated body having on a first side, a first pair of tabs rigidly attached to the body and protruding from the body in a first direction, and on a second side, a second pair of tabs rigidly attached to the body and protruding from the body in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace
    Inventors: Vidar Ulveraker, Nils Lokken, Benny A. Stenmo
  • Patent number: 7908957
    Abstract: A synchronized ammunition container apparatus and system is provided with a weapon, rotating automatic arm, ammunition container, and rotatable turret base that allows an anti-aircraft weapon, to traverse, depress and elevate in order to engage a rapid, head-on, fly-over target. The synchronized ammunition container apparatus synchronizes the movement and position of the rotating automatic single arm, ammunition container and rotatable turret base to insure that the ammunition belt will not twist, tangle or break when the weapon follows a rapid, head-on, fly-over target. The synchronized ammunition container system and apparatus gives the user increased flexibility for multiple deployment locations and engaging multiple targets from different directions. Other embodiments include a synchronized anti-aircraft ammunition container and combining the apparatus and anti-aircraft weapon into an integrated anti-aircraft defense system with the synchronized ammunition container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Fee Chan Leung
  • Patent number: 7597039
    Abstract: A belt bag for use with a firearm related methods are disclosed. An example belt bag includes a first bag component made of a rigid material and a second bag component. The first bag component and the second bag component are releasably coupled and may pivot with respect to one another between an open, reloading position and a closed position. In addition, an opening of the belt bag is coupled to the firearm adjacent to a belt intake opening of the firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Heckler & Koch, GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Stussak, Thomas Kopf
  • Publication number: 20090120271
    Abstract: In order avoid ammunition feed from within a protective cell of a turret (1) or an ammunition magazine, a type of ammunition supply system (6) is disposed around the entire or partial circumference of the turret (1). The ammunition supply system (6) has at least one ammunition channel (10, 11) filled with ammunition (5), whereby a drive (13) is incorporated for the transport of the ammunition (5), if the weapon (3) is not designed to pull the ammunition (5) by itself. In this case, an endless chain (12) works together with the drive (13), wherein the endless chain is movable in two axes. This endless chain enables transport of the ammunition (5) around the radii (R) of the turret (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Diller, Jochen Kraus, Hans Saule
  • Patent number: 7500421
    Abstract: A magazine for an automatic shell-firing weapon mounted on a gun carriage, wherein the magazine is adapted to contain a belt and comprises two closed magazine portions interconnected by a closed transfer channel. The two magazine portions are disposed on opposite sides of the weapon. In a fully loaded state of the magazine, a front section of the belt is disposed in a first magazine portion disposed on a belt supply side of the weapon. The upper part of the first magazine portion has a removal opening that faces the weapon. A rear section of the belt is disposed in a second magazine portion on the opposite side of the weapon. A middle section of the belt is guided through the transfer channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Becker
  • Patent number: 7428795
    Abstract: A firearm comprises an upper receiver body and a lower receiver assembly. The upper receiver body is configured for receiving belt-fed ammunition and the lower receiver assembly is attached to the upper receiver body. The lower receiver assembly includes a receiver body having an accessory mounting structure, a trigger group mounting structure, one of an integrally-formed, non-detachable butt-stock mounting structure and an integrally-formed, non-detachable butt-stock, and one of a hand grip mounting structure and an integrally-formed, non-detachable hand grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Inventor: Geoffrey A. Herring
  • Publication number: 20080083322
    Abstract: A magazine for an automatic shell-firing weapon mounted on a gun carriage, wherein the magazine is adapted to contain a belt and comprises two closed magazine portions interconnected by a closed transfer channel. The two magazine portions are disposed on opposite sides of the weapon. In a fully loaded state of the magazine, a front section of the belt is disposed in a first magazine portion disposed on a belt supply side of the weapon. The upper part of the first magazine portion has a removal opening that faces the weapon. A rear section of the belt is disposed in a second magazine portion on the opposite side of the weapon. A middle section of the belt is guided through the transfer channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: KRAUSS-MAFFEI WEGMANN GMBH & CO., KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Becker
  • Patent number: 7040213
    Abstract: A firearm receiver system including a receiver body, an ammunition belt feeding assembly and a bolt carrier. The receiver body includes a first face and a second face approximately opposite the first face. The receiver body is configured for having means for triggering engaged therewith at the first face and for receiving belt-fed ammunition through the second face. The ammunition belt feeding assembly is mounted at least partially on the receiver body and the ammunition belt feeding assembly is configured for supplying the belt-fed ammunition to the receiver body through the second face. The bolt carrier is movably mounted on the receiver body between the first and second faces of the receiver body and the bolt carrier is configured for being actuated by gas-energized piston-driven means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Inventor: Geoffrey A. Herring
  • Patent number: 6715396
    Abstract: A cartridge feed tray for belt ammunition is modified to receive shorter ammunition and exclude ammunition of standard length by inclusion of an insert positioned along the forward containment wall of the tray. The insert carries a feed lip that fits through a loading port orifice in the feed tray to direct shorter ammunition downwardly as it is being advanced towards the weapon breach for loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: SNC Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Sylvain Dionne
  • Patent number: 6681677
    Abstract: A method of reconfiguring a firearm receiver system comprises the operations of providing a substantially as-manufactured OEM lower receiver assembly capable of having an ammunition magazine attached thereto for communicating ammunition to an OEM upper receiver assembly capable of having ammunition communicated thereto exclusively from the OEM lower receiver assembly; mounting a supplemental upper receiver assembly capable of having belt-fed ammunition communicated thereto on the OEM lower receiver assembly; mounting an ammunition belt feeding assembly on the supplemental upper receiver assembly; attaching a piston tube assembly to the supplemental upper receiver assembly; coupling a tappet assembly to the piston tube assembly; engaging the tappet assembly with a bolt carrier of the supplemental upper receiver assembly; and attaching an adjustable pressure regulator to the piston tube assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Geoffrey A. Herring
  • Patent number: 6634274
    Abstract: A firearm receiver system includes an upper receiver assembly capable of receiving magazine-fed ammunition and belt-fed ammunition. A lower receiver is attached to the upper receiver assembly. The lower receiver assembly is capable of having an ammunition magazine attached thereto for communicating ammunition from the ammunition magazine to the upper receiver assembly. An ammunition belt feeding assembly is attached to the upper receiver assemble for communicating ammunition from an ammunition belt to the upper receiver assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Inventor: Geoffrey Andrew Herring
  • Patent number: 6606933
    Abstract: Turret (12) fitted with automatic canon and intended for a combat unit, said turret (12) comprising a turret housing (14) which is intended to be mounted on the outside of the combat unit and can rotate about a substantially vertical axis, and in which turret housing (14) there is a weapon holder (16) for pivotably supporting a canon about a horizontal axis, which canon has a barrel (20) projecting from the turret housing (14) and a rear part (22) with associated loading mechanism (24) situated inside the housing (14). At least one ammunition magazine (26, 28) is arranged to the side of the rear part (22) of the canon and has an outlet (29, 31) for the ammunition belt situated in such a way that the latter can be conveyed from a rear part of the magazine and guided forwards along an underside (33) of the magazine and thereafter curved through ca. 90° about an axis substantially at right angles to the plane of the belt for feeding the projectiles to the loading mechanism (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Alvis Hagglunds Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Alfons Falk
  • Patent number: 6439098
    Abstract: An ammunition box is disclosed. The ammunition box is an open top, narrow width, box-like structure having a bottom, two opposing side walls, a front wall and a rear wall opposing the front wall. The ammunition box further has a vertical divider extending the length and height thereof and bisecting the width of the box thereby dividing the interior thereof into two equal width cavities. Each cavity is adapted to receive the width of an ammunition belt. The box further has a baffle extending the width of each cavity approximately bisecting the length thereof, thereby defining two interior cavities having about half the total length of the cavity. The height of the baffle being less than or equal to the height of the box less the length of the interior cavity. The front wall has an angled divider extending upwardly and inwardly therefrom. The angled divider is divided at the divider wall into two portions of differing lengths with each portion having an upper divider extending upwardly from the top thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventor: Michael J. Dillon
  • Patent number: 6389948
    Abstract: An ammunition feed device is disclosed for feeding beltless fed ammunition to a self-loading weapon. The disclosed device includes an endlessly guided ammunition feed chain to feed ammunition into the weapon. It also includes at least two deflection units to guide the ammunition feed chain. Additionally, the disclosed device includes a drive for intermittently driving one of the deflection units in order to intermittently feed ammunition to the weapon in the ammunition feed direction. To reduce the acceleration forces applied by the drive of the ammunition feed chain without changing the operating speeds of the ammunition feed chain, the undriven deflection unit is connected to a blocking device that substantially blocks movement of the deflection unit opposite the ammunition feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Heckler & Koch GmbH
    Inventor: Rudi Beckmann