Ammunition drum and firearm

Details Ammunition drum and firearm Ammunition drum and firearm

2002-10-28

2004-03-16

Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3641)

Ordnance

Cartridge feeding

Drum magazine

C089S001816

Reexamination Certificate

active

06705196

ABSTRACT:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
Applicant hereby claims foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Swiss Application No. 2001 2096/01 filed Nov. 15, 2001, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
The invention relates to an ammunition drum for a firearm, having at least two projectile channels arranged around a longitudinal drum axis. The invention further relates to a firearm, having at least one barrel and at least one ammunition drum.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ammunition drums of this type are used for feeding projectiles to the barrel of a firearm. They have several projectile channels, which are arranged at even mutual angular distances around the longitudinal axis of the drum. Generally, but not absolutely, the longitudinal drum axis, the longitudinal channel axes and the core axis of the barrel are aligned in parallel. The ammunition drum can be rotated in steps around the longitudinal drum axis; in the course of its rotation it makes stops for a limited pause at defined angular positions between successive steps. In this way the projectile channels come into different positions in turns, in particular into a receiving position, in which they take up a projectile, and into a feed position, in which they deliver the projectile. In this case the projectile channel is located at the inlet side in front of the barrel, i.e. the projectile channel and the barrel are arranged coaxially in respect to each other. Depending on the firearm with which they are used, the ammunition drums can comprise different numbers of projectile channels, and the number of the steps and pauses are different. In theory, the feeding of ammunition to a barrel is possible by means of an ammunition drum with only a single projectile channel which, in the course of a full rotation of the ammunition drum, is only brought into two positions. However, generally ammunition drums have several, often three to six, projectile channels. The number of the projectile channels corresponds to the number of positions of the ammunition drum in which their step-by-step rotation is interrupted by a pause.
Ammunition drums of the customary type are very well suited for feeding comparatively small-caliber ammunition to comparatively light guns. However, in connection with the use of ammunition drums for heavier guns numerous problems arise in feeding ammunition, both during the employment of the firearm, as well as in the manufacture and mounting of the ammunition drum.
When used in firearms, it is necessary to accelerate and decelerate the mass during each step in the course of the rotation of the ammunition drum. This mass is composed of the mass of the projectiles to be conveyed and of the mass of the ammunition drum itself. Both the mass of the projectiles and the mass of the drum increase with increasing caliber of the projectiles. Although the mass to be moved can be kept relatively low, even with comparatively large calibers, if ammunition drums with few projectiles are used, it is difficult in this case to achieve the high rate of fire considered necessary for modern guns.
When employing the weapons, essentially two disadvantages arise because of large masses to be moved. For one, the position of the gun and therefore the direction of the barrel can be changed on account of reactive forces exerted on the gun during each acceleration and deceleration of the ammunition drum; this has the result that the dispersion pattern changes, or the weapons effect is reduced. Furthermore, the large forces cause great wear on the moved parts, which has a negative effect on the firearm and results in a reduction of its service life.
But the manufacture of ammunition drums having a large mass also has disadvantages. For one, the weight of the ammunition drum becomes so great that it can no longer be moved and mounted without aids. Furthermore, it is necessary to use materials which are highly wear-resistant, since this material must be selected with an eye to the greatest possibly arising wear, although this wear occurs on only a few locations. Highly wear-resistant materials are in general specifically heavy and in any event comparatively expensive, not only in obtaining them, but in most cases also in processing them, since they are not easily workable; in this connection it is particularly disadvantageous that errors in processing occurring during the end phase of manufacturing cause the entire ammunition drum to become waste, so that it is necessary to accept a comparatively large loss of material and processing time.
To reduce the mentioned disadvantages, an attempt was made to reduce the mass of the ammunition drums by suitable shaping, in that cutouts were made in the areas which are not, or only slightly stressed. However, in this case the same amount of initial material is required, and processing is not simpler, but more elaborate. Moreover, there are limits to the application of cutouts, since the shape, and in particular the wall thickness of the remaining mass, must be such that it is still possible to work in cooling conduits for a coolant. It is alternatively possible to provide an exclusive cooling by means of the ambient air, but for this a shape with cooling ribs is required, which again makes processing more elaborate.
In summary it can be stated that no ammunition drums are known which would be suitable for feeding large-caliber projectiles to barrels.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to
produce an ammunition drum of the type mentioned at the outset, by means of which the disadvantages of the prior art are avoided in its use, as well as in its manufacture, and
to propose a firearm with an ammunition drum also suitable for large-caliber projectiles.
The novel ammunition drum is built in a modular fashion and therefore differs from conventional ammunition drums in that it is produced from at least two, but generally three or more drum segments. The mass of the individual drum elements is reduced by this, so that their handling is made easier. A processing error in an end phase has no grave consequences, since only the affected drum segment needs to be replaced, and not the entire ammunition drum. In case of an inspection of the firearm it is moreover possible to only replace damaged drum segments, so that the total service life of the ammunition drum is increased.
To make the precise fitting of adjoining drum segments easier, it is advantageous to provide the touching separating faces of these drum segments with complementary fitting elements.
The ammunition drum can be designed in such a way that the drum segments are longitudinal segments, wherein the separation between adjoining drum segments essentially extends in the direction of the longitudinal drum axis. With a configuration of this type it is possible to embody the drum segments sector-like and preferably uniform. In general, each drum segment contains a projectile channel, but it is also possible to arrange several projectile channels in each longitudinal segment, or to arrange a spacing element without a projectile channel between two longitudinal segments with projectile channels. One projectile channel can also be bordered partially by one and partially by a second, adjoining longitudinal element. The projectile channels can have an insert in the form of a highly heat-resistant and low-abrasion insert; this allows the manufacture of the portions of the longitudinal segment surrounding the insert from a material which can be stressed less and is comparatively cost-effective.
An ammunition drum, whose drum segments are transverse segments, has proven itself to be particularly advantageous, wherein the separation between adjoining transverse segments essentially extends transversely in respect to the longitudinal drum axis.
In this case the ammunition drum is generally designed in such a way that it has a center segment consisting mainly of projectile channels. The center segment can be a single element and comprise the totality of the projectile channels, or it can consist of several,

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