US 4,784,036 AGranted

Automatic cannon and fire control mechanism

AssigneeSteyr-Daimler-Puch AG

InventorKarl Brichta

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Abstract

A fire control mechanism (4) for an automatic cannon comprises a trigger control member (6), which engages the trigger (3) of the cannon structure (2) and is operable by an actuator (5) to move from an inoperative position against a restoring force to an operative position for operating the trigger. To ensure that the cannon has a capability not only for sustained fire but also for a reliable firing of single shots operative connection between the actuactor (5) and the trigger control member (6) is provided by a clutch (16). An end stop (16) is provided, which is selectively movable to and from an inoperative position and only in said operative position is arranged to disengage said clutch when the actuator has performed the movement which is required to move the trigger control member from its inoperative position to its operative position.

Claims8

Dependent claims

In an automatic cannon comprising

a cradle,
a cannon structure, which is reciprocably mounted on said cradle and comprises a trigger, which is opeable to fire said cannon,
a fire control mechanism, which is mounted on said cradle and comprises a trigger control member, which is movable between an inoperative position and an operative position and in said operative position is arranged to operate said trigger, an actuator, which is operable to move a predetermined distance in a predetermined direction for moving said trigger control member from said inoperative position to said operative position and is operable to move in excess of said predetermined distance, and
restoring means for restoring said trigger control member to said inoperative position,
the improvement residing in that
a clutch is provided for operatively connecting said actuator to said trigger control member,
clutch-disengaging means are connected to said actuator and operable to disengage said clutch, and
an end stop is mounted on said cradle and selectively movable between a first position and a second position and only in said second position is arranged to operate said clutch-disengaging means to disengage said clutch as said actuator moves in excess of said predetermined distance.

5 more elements

In a fire control mechanism for an automatic cannon comprising a cradle and a cannon structure, which is reciprocably mounted on said cradle and comprises a trigger, which is operable to fire said cannon, said fire control mechanism being adapted to be mounted on said cradle and comprising a trigger control member, which is movable between an inoperative position and an operative position and in said operative position is arranged to operate said trigger, an actuator, which is operable to move a predetermined distance in a predetermined direction for moving said trigger control member from said inoperative position to said operative position and is operable to move in excess of said predetermined distance,

the improvement residing in that
a clutch is provided for operatively connecting said actuator to said trigger control member,
clutch-disengaging means are connected to said actuator and operable to disengage said clutch, and
an end stop is mounted on said cradle and selectively movable between a first position and a second position and only in said second position is arranged to operate said clutch-disengaging means to disengage said clutch as said actuator moves in excess of said predetermined distance.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.