Minigun with improved barrel clamp

An impeller for use with an improved barrel clamp assembly that holds barrels of a multi-barrel, rotating firearm in a circumferential spaced relationship and generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of rotation, the impeller comprising:

• a peripheral rim configured for attaching the impeller to a tubular member of a barrel clamp;
• a base plate that projects inwardly from the peripheral rim and that defines one or more openings configured to receive barrels installed within the barrel clamp assembly so that each of the barrels will extend longitudinally through the impeller body;
• and
• a plurality of impeller blades disposed near and spaced about the peripheral rim;
• wherein the impeller blades are configured so that when the impeller is rotated with the barrels about the longitudinal axis, the impeller blades will move air over the barrels.

A multi-barrel, rotating firearm comprising:

• a rotatable tube having a peripheral wall defining an interior space aligned along a longitudinal axis of rotation, wherein the peripheral wall has a plurality of openings to the interior space;
• a plurality of gun barrels mounted within the tube interior space in a circumferential spaced relationship and parallel to the rotational axis so that the gun barrels will rotate when the tube rotates, wherein at least a portion of the length of each of the barrels is disposed within the tube interior space;
• and
• an impeller comprising a plurality of impeller blades disposed near and spaced about the periphery of the interior space and directed inwardly;
• wherein the impeller blades are positioned in relation to the peripheral wall openings so that, when the tube and gun barrels rotate about the longitudinal axis, the impeller blades will move air through the peripheral wall openings to cool the barrels.