With Rotary Feeder Patents (Class 89/33.25)
  • Patent number: 11609055
    Abstract: A device for automatically discharging ammunition links obtained from a weapon configured to fire at a certain rate. The device includes a housing. The housing provides an inlet opening located in an upper position of the position for bulk insertion by gravity of the ammunition links obtained from the weapon after firing and an outlet opening for discharging the ammunition links toward an outside of the device at a given speed. The outlet opening is arranged laterally or offset relative to a vertical of the inlet opening. The device further includes a proximal ramp of the inlet opening connected to a proximal horizontal planar path of the outlet opening, two channeling rollers with parallel axes and inverse rotation relative to one another located at the proximal ramp, and two propulsion and guiding rollers located on either side of the proximal horizontal planar path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: JOHN COCKERILL DEFENSE SA
    Inventors: Anthony Colomine, Innokenty Gritskevitch
  • Patent number: 11105573
    Abstract: A device for deflecting links intended to equip a turret equipped with a weapon with a dual-feed for ammunition belts formed by links. This device is characterized in that it includes a deflector flap that is intended to be disposed between two orifices for ejecting links out of the turret, which flap is intended to be connected to the weapon by a fixing means including a ball joint connection disposed towards the front of the weapon, and a horizontal slide connection disposed towards the rear of the weapon. Also, a turret equipped with such a deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: NEXTER SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Steve Baert
  • Patent number: 10968998
    Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket adapter comprises a plurality of external spline teeth and a plurality of internal spline teeth. The plurality of external spline teeth is configured to engage with a bicycle rear sprocket assembly. The plurality of internal spline teeth is configured to engage with a bicycle hub assembly. At least two internal spline teeth of the plurality of internal spline teeth are circumferentially arranged at a first internal pitch angle with respect to a rotational center axis of the bicycle hub assembly. The first internal pitch angle ranges from 10 degrees to 20 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujita, Kazuki Koshiyama, Toshinari Oishi
  • Patent number: 10921074
    Abstract: A method of feeding rounds of linked, or un-linked, ammunition to a gun includes a motor-driven chain drive which rotates about a track. A rotatable feeder engages the ammunition to feed an ammunition round into a round extractor/retractor. A rotatable round positioner receives an ammunition round from the round extractor/retractor, and rotates it to a firing position. A main geneva wheel, mounted near the chain drive, is sequentially engaged by first and second drive rollers, secured to the chain drive, for being periodically rotated thereby. Drive pins of the main geneva wheel sequentially engage radial slots in a belt/round feed geneva wheel and a round positioning geneva wheel for timed rotation thereof to synchronize the operation of the round feeder and round positioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Daycraft Weapon Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Day
  • Patent number: 10852085
    Abstract: A compact 50 caliber machine gun system which utilizes an original Browning rear-stripping ammunition link design. The chain-driven machine gun system features a delinker assembly configured to receive a belt of linked cartridges, separate each of the cartridge from the belt rearwardly, and feed each of the cartridges for firing. The delinking function is separated from the motion of the bolt assembly so as to reduce the overall length of the gun system. The receiver has a receiver mounting length RML from the rear base of each incoming cartridge in a belt of connected links to the rear end of the receiver that is less than 15 inches. A shuttle feed system is incorporated into the basic chain gun style mechanism which had been limited to a sprocket feed on all previous designs. An electronic anti-hangfire system uses a single proximity switch and the already existing parts and motions of the gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Morency Cleary, James M Cleary
  • Patent number: 9683800
    Abstract: A semi-automatic rifle is configured to fire single rounds of ammunition via a magazine or a belt of ammunition. A receiver cover pivots open to receive the first round of a belt of ammunition or a magazine can be inserted in a magazine well. The rifle operates using a closed bolt firing cycle, with a sliding hammer that, on its return from recoil after firing a first round, is caught by a sear regardless of whether the trigger is still in the pulled position. The trigger must be fully released before a second round can be fired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: FN America, LLC
    Inventors: Rob Wayne Sewell, Jr., Edward Paul Schmitter, Trenton Allen Newsome, Daryl Matthew Atkins
  • Patent number: 9506705
    Abstract: A feeder delinker for a Gatling-type machine gun accepts an ammunition belt consisting of interconnecting rounds and clips. The feeder delinker contains a paddlewheel that separates the leading round from the leading clip by applying a side force directly to the round between the two C-shaped loops while the clip is restrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Inventor: Joseph H. Fleischli
  • Patent number: 8272308
    Abstract: A feed disengage mechanism for a weapon with a sprocket-type feed system may include a sprocket rotatably fixed to the receiver. A forward pawl may be selectably engageable with a forward end of the sprocket. The forward pawl may include a flange and be biased for engagement with the sprocket. An anti-backup pawl may be selectably engageable with a rear end of the sprocket. The anti-backup pawl may include a cam path and be biased for engagement with the sprocket. A feed cover may include a feed slide assembly that may be translatable in a slot in the feed cover. The feed slide assembly may include a front pin engageable with the flange of the forward pawl and a rear pin engageable with the cam path of the anti-backup pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Hansen Lukman, Adam M. Jacob, Curtis D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8037800
    Abstract: A detachable magazine for storing and delivering ammunition to a firearm having a magazine well. The magazine has a body with a column adapted for insertion into the magazine well. The column has a passage for transmitting ammunition to the firearm. The body includes a drum housing defining a substantially cylindrical chamber communicating with the column passage. A first sprocket element is rotatably received in the chamber and has a serrated periphery, with each serration adapted to receive an ammunition cartridge. A second sprocket element is rotatably received in the chamber, and is concentric with the first sprocket element, having a serrated periphery with each serration adapted to receive an ammunition cartridge. A spring element is connected to at least one of the sprocket elements, and operates to rotatably bias the sprocket elements to transmit cartridges from the drum chamber to the column passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Armatac Industries Incorporated
    Inventor: Michael Raymond Snow
  • Publication number: 20110120292
    Abstract: A gatling gun construct increases operational life and reduces jams by utilizing in a feeder/delinker a feeder sprocket that engages the neck and shoulder of each cartridge. The gun also facilitates access to a feeder/delinker by utilizing a single access door that includes a plunger that maintains a cartridge in place in the feeder/delinker while the access door is opened and closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Tracy W. Garwood
  • Patent number: 7568421
    Abstract: A cartridge feeding attachment for a firearm generally consisting of a housing attachable to the firearm having means for guiding a stack of cartridges into the cartridge chamber of the firearm along a first line of travel, a follower engageable with one of such cartridges and means disposed between the housing and the follower for biasing the follower along the first line of travel to feed a cartridge into the cartridge chamber; a sprocket supported on the housing having circumferentially spaced recesses each receiving a cartridge of a cartridge belt trained over the sprocket, and a rotational axis positioned so that upon rotational indexing thereof, a cartridge of the belt will be positioned along a second line of travel extending between the follower and a cartridge of the stack of cartridges; means displaceable along the second line of travel extending between the follower and a rearwardmost cartridge of the stack of cartridges; means displaceable along the second line of travel between a retracted positi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Rockland, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Cummings
  • 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: 6779430
    Abstract: External armament apparatus, including a machine gun, an associated ammunition box for supplying belted ammunition to the gun, a flare dispenser, a missile launcher or other external stores apparatus, and a forward looking infrared sensor (FLIR), is exteriorly supported on a landing gear sponson tow plate of a helicopter, adjacent a cabin area gunner's window. The external mounting of the gun and other armament apparatus frees up cabin space, permits the gunner's window to be closed with the gun in a ready position, and permits a 0.50 caliber machine gun to be used an alternative to either a 7.62 mm mini-gun or a single barrel 7.62 mm machine gun adjacent the gunner's window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventor: Paul H. Sanderson
  • 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: 6405629
    Abstract: An ammunition magazine for beltless fed ammunition is disclosed. The magazine includes at least one endlessly guided ammunition guide chain to transport ammunition, and a chain tightener to tighten the ammunition guide chain with a predetermined chain tension. The chain tightener carries out a clamping movement in the direction of tightening to increase the chain tension and carries out a clamping movement against the direction of tightening to reduce the chain tension. To prevent slack from developing, (for example, during acceleration of the ammunition guide chain), the chain tightener is provided with a brake to influence the spring constant of the chain tightener as a function of the direction of tightening and the speed of the clamping movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Heckler & Koch GmbH
    Inventors: Rudi Beckmann, Michael Schumacher
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6202534
    Abstract: A handling system for brass shell casings in an ammunition handling system. A shaft has a first sprocket and first hub and a non-circular gear mounted thereto, and because of the non-circular gear, rotates at a variable speed when driven by a power source. A second hub, coaxial with the shaft and rotatable independently of the shaft, has a second sprocket and a circular gear mounted thereto, and because of the circular gear, rotates at a selected speed when driven by the power source. The speed of the first sprocket varies between being equal to the speed of the second sprocket to being less than the speed of the second sprocket so that one end of a shell casing mounted on the two sprockets first lags behind the other end of the shell casing, then catches up to the other end of the shell casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: General Dynamics Armament Systems
    Inventors: David R. Baxter, Edward A. Prouix, Bernard A. Derry