US 4,587,879 AGranted

Weapon cartridge feeder apparatus and method

AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army

InventorGiulio V. Savioli

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Abstract

In a weapon system including a gun barrel and a bolt carrier, a cartridge eder system comprises sprockets for stripping cartridges individually from a cartridge belt, and moving the cartridges in an upward direction against guide ramps for positioning the cartridge on a pedestal support having a profile for holding the cartridge in vertical angular alignment between the chamber of the barrel and a bolt lug of the bolt of the bolt carrier, thereby permitting larger cartridges to be fed to the barrel in the space between the open bolt and the chamber, which space can accommodate only smaller caliber cartridges in the horizontal distance therebetween, whereby as the bolt moves the cartridge into the chamber, the angular positioning of the cartridge is changed via the profile of the pedestal support, permitting safe entry of the cartridge into the chamber.

Claims28

Dependent claims

In a weapons system including a gun barrel having a breech provided with a chamber for receiving cartridges and a bolt carrier means for pushing a cartridge into said chamber,

the improvement comprising:
cartridge feeder means positioned between said bolt carrier means and said chamber for feeding said cartridges into said chamber from an initial horizontal to an angular position,
said feeder means provided with a pedestal having a top surface for supporting cartridges positioned between said bolt and said chamber,
said pedestal having a profile along the top surface thereof provided with a first to a fourth consecutive surface wherein said first section is rearwardmost relative to said second through fourth sections,
said first section being substantially flat or horizontal, said second section being ramp-like and positively sloped toward said chamber, said second section terminating in a downward directed step to said third section, the latter being substantially flat and centrally located, said fourth section having an upwardly tapering convex-like top profile which terminates near the lower edge of the chamber of said barrel,
whereby said feeder means for feeding within a space, allocated for cartridges of one caliber, cartridges having calibers relatively larger than said one caliber,
said feeder means directly positioning said larger caliber cartridge from a horizontal to an angular position between said bolt carrier and said chamber during each rearward movement of said bolt carrier means.
said feeder means automatically changing the angle of said cartridge relative said chamber as said bolt carrier means operates with forward movement to push said cartridge into said chamber ensuring safe entry of said larger caliber cartridge into said chamber preventing the tip of said cartridge from contacting wall portions of said chamber.

5 more elements

An automatic weapon system comprising:

a gun barrel having a breech or chamber for receiving a cartridge;
receiver means for providing the primary support frame for said weapon, said receiver means including at least first through third elongated tubular members mounted in substantially parallel relationship and a triangular pattern between inside faces of a forwardmost end cap and a rearwardmost back plate, said end cap including means for mounting said gun barrel near its breech end between said first through third tubes, said gun barrel extending from an outside face of said end cap, said first tubular member being uppermost relative to said second and third tubular members, the latter two being coplanar at substantially the same height;
elongated force-transmitting means including operating rods longitudinally movable within each of said second and third tubular members;
gas cylinder means connected between said gun barrel and said force transmitting means in each of said second and third tubular members, for applying forces generated by gases developed within said gun barrel during firing of said weapon to said force-transmitting means:
bolt carrier means slideably mounted upon said first tubular member for moving a cartridge into the breech of said barrel for firing said cartridge, said force- transmitting means being responsive to the gases generated by said firing for applying a recoil force to said bolt carrier means for moving the latter rearward;
and
cartridge feeder means for feeding within a space allocated for cartridges of one caliber, cartridges having calibers relatively larger than said one caliber, said feeder means being mounted upon said second and third tubes, and being responsive to recoil movement of said bolt carrier means for directly positioning said larger caliber cartridges from a horizontal to an angular position between a bolt lug face of said bolt carrier means and the breech or chamber of said gun barrel, said cartridge feeder means being further operative with said bolt carrier means, whereby after the recoil cycle the latter moves forward for pushing said cartridge into said chamber of said barrel preparatory to firing said cartridge.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.