Pneumatic gun system and method
AssigneeThe Garrett Corporation
InventorGeorge W. Carrie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary pneumatic motor provides initial acceleration and starting of a rapid firing gatling-type gun, and also provides motive drive power for the gun in another embodiment. Upon reaching operating speed, a fluidic control system modulates application of a disc brake and/or meters fluid flow to the rotary motor to maintain a constant preselected firing rate. After completion of gun firing, the rotary motor briefly drives the gun to clear the chambers of ammunition.
Claims24
In combination with a gatling gun having a plurality of firing chambers, a substantially continuously rotating power drive shaft, intermittent motion means capable of being driven by said shaft for intermittently rotating said chambers sequentially into firing position, and drive means supplied with gas exhausted from said chambers and effective to drive said intermittent motion means after firing has been initiated;
- a starting system for effecting initial rotation and acceleration of said shaft and firing of said gun, comprising:
- a continuously rotatable pneumatic motor separate from said drive means and disposed in driving relationship with said shaft;
- a source of pressurized gas disposed remotely from said gun;
- conduit means communicating said source with said motor;
- and
- a solenoid operated flow shut-off valve disposed in said conduit means in a normally closed position blocking flow to said motor, said valve shiftable to an open position for permitting delivery of pressurized gas from said source to energize said motor and effect initial rotation and acceleration of said shaft and firing of said gun.
In combination with a gatling gun having a plurality of firing chambers, a substantially continuously rotating power drive shaft, intermittent motion means capable of being driven by said shaft for intermittently rotating said chambers sequentially into firing position, and drive means supplied with gas exhausted from said chambers and effective to drive said intermittent motion means after firing has been initiated;
- a starting system for effecting initial rotation and acceleration of said shaft and firing of said gun, comprising:
- a continuously rotatable pneumatic motor separate from said drive means and disposed in driving relationship with said shaft;
- a source of pressurized gas disposed remotely from said gun;
- conduit means communicating said source with said motor;
- control means operably associated with said conduit means for permitting delivery of pressurized gas from said source to energize said motor and effect initial rotation and acceleration of said shaft and firing of said gun;
- pneumatically operated regulating means operably associated with said shaft for controlling speed thereof subsequent to said starting thereof;
- and
- fluidic control means for sensing speed of said shaft and actuating said regulating means to maintain said shaft speed at a substantially constant preselected level.
In combination with a gatling gun having a plurality of firing chambers, a substantially continuously rotating power drive shaft, intermittent motion means capable of being driven by said shaft for intermittently rotating said chambers sequentially into firing position, and drive means supplied with gas exhausted from said chambers and effective to drive said intermittent motion means after firing has been initiated;
- a starting system for effecting initial rotation and acceleration of said shaft and firing of said gun, comprising:
- a continuously rotatable pneumatic motor separate from said drive means and disposed in driving relationship with said shaft, said motor comprising a pneumatically actuated gear motor having a pair of intermeshing gears of involute profile;
- a source of pressurized gas disposed remotely from said gun;
- control means operably associated with said conduit means for permitting delivery of pressurized gas from said source to energize said motor and effect initial rotation and acceleration of said shaft and firing of said gun,
- said control means including a solenoid operated flow shut-off valve disposed in said conduit means, said valve arranged in a normally closed position blocking flow to said gear motor, said valve shiftable to an open position for effecting said initial rotation upon energization of said solenoid thereof.
In combination with a gatling gun having a rotatable assembly of a plurality of firing chambers for receiving ammunition rounds, and a substantially continuously rotatable shaft disposed in power transmitting relationship with said assembly and rotatable in a first direction during gun firing;
- a pneumatic clearing system for selectively clearing said gun of ammunition rounds, comprising:
- a source of pressurized gas disposed remotely from said gun;
- continuously rotatable pneumatic motor means communicating with said source to receive pressurized gas therefrom, said motor means operably coupled with said shaft whereby said motor means produces at least a portion of the power for rotating said assembly;
- and
- directional fluid control valve means for selectively directing pressurized gas to said motor means to drive said shaft and assembly in a second, reverse direction to effect said clearing.
In combination with a gatling gun having a rotating firing assembly, a speed control system comprising:
- sensing means for sensing the speed of rotation of said assembly and for generating a fluidic signal indicative of said speed;
- regulating means operably coupled to said assembly to regulate said speed thereof;
- pneumatic actuator means for actuating said regulating means;
- reference means for selectively generating different fluidic reference signals indicative of different desired speeds of rotation of said assembly;
- first fluidic circuitry means for comparing said fluidic speed signal and said selected desired speed signal, and generating a fluidic output error signal indicative of the difference therebetween;
- and
- second fluidic circuitry means for generating a pneumatic pressure signal energizing said actuator means in relation to said error signal whereby said speed of the assembly is regulated to a value substantial equal to the selected desired speed of rotation.
In combination with a gatling gun having a plurality of firing chambers, a power input shaft, and means driven by said shaft for intermittently rotating said chambers sequentially into firing position, a pneumatic drive system comprising:
- a source of pressurized gas disposed remotely from said gun;
- continuously rotatable pneumatic motor means disposed in driving relationship with said shaft;
- conduit means communicating said source with said motor means;
- and
- control means operably associated with said conduit means for controlling flow of pressurized gas to said motor means to regulate gun operation,
- said control means operable to selectively direct pressurized gas to drive said motor means and said shaft in a first direction to effect gun firing operation, and selectively operable to drive said motor means and said shaft in a second opposite direction for clearing said firing chambers subsequent to completion of gun firing.
In combination with a gatling gun having a plurality of firing chambers, a power input shaft, and means driven by said shaft for intermittently rotating said chambers sequentially into firing position, a pneumatic drive system comprising:
- a source of pressurized gas disposed remotely from said gun;
- continuously rotatable pneumatic motor means disposed in driving relationship with said shaft;
- conduit means communicating said source with said motor means;
- and
- control means operably associated with said conduit means for controlling flow of pressurized gas to said motor means to regulate gun operation,
- said control means including pneumatically operated regulating means operably associated with said shaft for controlling speed thereof, and fluidic control means for sensing speed of said shaft and actuating said regulating means to maintain said shaft speed at a substantially constant preselected level.
In combination with a gatling gun having a plurality of firing chambers, a power input shaft, and means driven by said shaft for intermittently rotating said chambers sequentially into firing position, a pneumatic drive system comprising:
- a source of pressurized gas disposed remotely from said gun;
- continuously rotatable pneumatic motor means disposed in driving relationship with said shaft;
- conduit means communicating said source with said motor means;
- and
- control means operably associated with said conduit means for controlling flow of pressurized gas to said motor means to regulate gun operation,
- said motor means including first and second motors respectively coupled with said shaft to drive the latter in a first direction for gun firing and in a second reverse direction for clearing the gun subsequent to completion of firing.
In combination with a gatling type gun having a rotary assembly presenting a plurality of firing chambers and a transmission operably associated with said assembly for intermittently rotating the latter, said transmission having a substantially continuously rotating power input shaft;
- first and second rotary pneumatic motors separately disposed in power transmitting relationship with said shaft;
- a source of pressurized gas located remotely from said gun;
- conduit means communicating said source with said first and second motors;
- a directional flow control valve disposed in said conduit means and shiftable between a first position directing pressurized gas to drive said first motor and said assembly in a first direction to effect gun firing, and a second position directing pressurized gas to drive said second motor and thus drive said assembly in a second opposite direction to effect gun clearing;
- a first pneumatic actuator supplied with pressurized gas from said source for shifting said flow control valve;
- brake means operably associated with said drive shaft for regulating the speed of rotation thereof;
- a second pneumatic actuator supplied with pressurized gas from said source for adjusting said brake means to regulate said shaft speed;
- and
- fluidic control means operably associated with said source;
- said shaft and said second actuator for fluidically sensing shaft speed and controlling flow of pressurized gas to said second actuator to maintain said shaft speed at a substantially constant preselected level during gun firing.
A method of operating a rapid fire gatling type gun having a rotary assembly of firing chambers and a power input shaft, comprising the steps of:
- pneumatically starting and driving said assembly to effect gun firing by supplying pressurized gas to a first, continuously rotatable pneumatic motor coupled to said power input shaft, to rotate the latter in a first gun firing direction;
- generating a first fluidic signal indicative of actual speed of rotation of said shaft;
- generating a second fluidic reference signal indicative of a desired shaft speed;
- fluidically comparing the first and second signals and generating a fluidic error signal indicative of the difference therebetween;
- adjusting shaft speed in relation to said fluidic error signal to maintain said shaft speed at the selected, desired speed during gun firing;
- interrupting the supply of pressurized gas to said first motor to stop rotation of said assembly and gun firing;
- and
- clearing said gun of ammunition subsequent to completion of gun firing by directing pressurized gas to a second continuously rotatable pneumatic motor to drive said shaft and said assembly in a second opposite direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.