Safing selector

A top cover assembly for a machine gun having a main housing, a rotor assembly supported by the main housing and adapted for being rotated, a plurality of bolt assemblies attached to the rotor assembly, and a helical track extending longitudinally within the main housing for driving the bolt assemblies in forward and rearward directions in response to rotation of the rotor assembly, the top cover assembly comprising:

• a top cover door attached to a portion of the main housing and having a forward end that defines a front track section and a rear track section;
• a selector switch for selecting between:
• (i) a safe position wherein each of the plurality of bolt assemblies is directed into the rear track section and not into the front track section;
• and (ii) a fire position wherein each of the plurality of bolt assemblies is directed into the front track section;
• and
• a solenoid configured to actuate movement of the selector switch between the safe position and the fire position in response to an electrical control signal;
• wherein the rear track section is configured to prevent a bolt assembly from moving into position for firing as the rotor assembly rotates;
• and
• wherein the front track section is configured to force a bolt assembly to move into position for firing as the rotor assembly rotates.

A machine gun comprising:

• a main housing;
• a rotor assembly supported by the main housing and adapted for being rotated;
• a plurality of bolt assemblies coupled to the rotor assembly;
• a helical track extending longitudinally within the main housing for driving the bolt assemblies in forward and rearward directions in response to rotation of the rotor assembly;
• and
• a top cover assembly comprising
• a top cover door coupled to a portion of the main housing and defining a transverse front track section and a transverse rear track section;
• and
• a selector switch for selecting between:
• (i) a safe position wherein, as the rotor assembly rotates, each of the plurality of bolt assemblies is sequentially directed from the helical track into the rear track section and not into the front track section;
• and (ii) a fire position wherein, as the rotor assembly rotates, each of the plurality of bolt assemblies is sequentially directed from the helical track into the front track section;
• wherein the rear track section is configured to prevent a bolt assembly from moving into a position for firing as the rotor assembly rotates;
• and
• wherein the front track section is configured to force a bolt assembly to move into a position for firing as the rotor assembly rotates.