US 4,841,835 A · Safety apparatus for an externally powered firing weapon

Abstract

In an externally powered firing weapon the danger exists with an ignition delay or hangfire condition that the cartridge still is ignited after the positively reciprocated breechblock has been unlocked from the weapon barrel. The safety apparatus in accordance with the invention prevents, in case of an ignition delay, firing of the cartridge after unlocking of the positively reciprocated breechblock. Heretofore known safety devices of this type are complicated and a substantially simple design is strived for. The safety apparatus in accordance with the invention automatically decouples the breechblock carrier from the breechblock head when the breechblock head is locked in the weapon barrel. The device responding to an ignition delay prevents unlocking of the breechblock head from the weapon barrel and coupling of the breechblock carrier with the breechblock head. The breechblock head locked by means of a rotary lock to the weapon barrel and the breechblock carrier are preferably coupled together by means of a rotary coupling.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A safety apparatus for an externally powered firing weapon including a weapon barrel and into which cartridges are insertable which may be subject to ignition delay, said safety apparatus comprising:

a breechblock positively reciprocating between a forwardmost position and a rearmost position;
means for locking said breechblock to said weapon barrel in said forwardmost position;
said breechblock comprising a breechblock carrier and a breechblock head which are operatively coupled to each other;
means for decoupling said breechblock carrier from said breechblock head in said forwardmost position in which said breechblock head is locked to said weapon barrel in response to an ignition delay of a cartridge located in the breechblock;
said decoupling means automatically decoupling said breechblock carrier from said breechblock head when said breechblock head locks to said weapon barrel;
and
said decoupling means responding to said ignition delay including means for preventing the unlocking of said breechblock head from the weapon barrel and the coupling of said breechblock carrier with said breechblock head.

4 more elements

A safety apparatus for an externally powered weapon including a weapon barrel and into which cartridges are insertable which may be subject to ignition delay, said safety apparatus comprising:

a breechblock positively reciprocating between a forwardmost position and a rearmost position;
means for locking said breechblock to said weapon barrel in said forwardmost position;
said breechblock comprising a breechblock carrier and a breechblock head which are operatively coupled to each other;
means for decoupling said breechblock carrier from said breechblock head in said forward most position in which said breechblock head is locked to said weapon barrel in response to an ignition delay of a cartridge located in the breechblock;
said means for locking the breechblock to the weapon barrel comprising rotary locking means for locking said breechblock head to said weapon barrel;
and
said means for decoupling said breechblock carrier from said breechblock head including rotary coupling means for coupling said breechblock head to said breechblock carrier.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Safety apparatus for an externally powered firing weapon

Life of this patent

Safety apparatus for an externally powered firing weapon

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11