US2801575A - Drum cooling device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 6, 1957 o. P. GROVER 2,301,575

DRUM COOLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 29, 1956 Big-1Q I 3-4 INVENTOR. k 32 Dunuldfl Braver United States Patent Ofifice 2,801,575 Patented Aug. 6, 1957 DRUM COOLING DEVICE Donald P. Grover, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application August 29, 1956, Serial No. 606,938

3 Claims. (Cl. 89-14) My invention relates to automatic guns provided with rotatable drums with cartridge chambers, and more particularly to a device for cooling the drums.

The continuous rate of operation of revolver-type guns is limited by the rate of dissipation of heat from the drum, and it is an object of my invention to provide the gun with a cooling system to aid in such dissipation.

Another object of my invention is to provide the gun with a series of passages to guide the flow of coolant therethrough.

Other aims and objects of my invention will appear from the following explanation.

In carrying out my invention, the drum of an automatic gun having a recoil unit for supporting the drum, is provided with headers consisting of axial holes intermediate the chambers and rows of radial holes in the forward portion of the drum connected to the headers. The radial holes and the headers are respectively connected through forward and rearward cavities between the drum and the shaft thereof and axial hollows in the shaft to inlet and outlet apertures in the recoil unit for flow of coolant through the gun.

For a more complete understanding, reference is directed to the following description and the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial elevational sectionalized view of a revolver-type automatic gun incorporating my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view along line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Accordingly, a gun 12 is provided with a recoil unit 14 including a drum 16 secured to a shaft 17, and provided with chambers 18 for cartridges 20. Shaft 17 is journaled in recoil unit 14 for rotation of the chambers to stations corresponding thereto including a firing station nearest the recoil unit for discharge of the cartridges.

An actuator 21 is disposed for reciprocation to successively rotate the chambers to the firing station responsive to the discharge.

Drum 16 includes cylindrical headers 22 in the outer portion of the drum intermediate chambers 18. Radial conduits 24 and radial bores 26 communicate with headers 22 for circulation of coolant in the drum to remove heat therefrom. Inlet and outlet channels for the coolant include cavities 28 and 29 disposed between drum 16 and shaft 17 and respectively communicating between conduits 24, bore 26 and forward, rearward axial ducts 30 and 31 in shaft 17. The channels also include inlet and outlet apertures 34 and 36 of recoil unit 14, respectively communicating with ducts 30 and 31 for forward and rearward passage of the coolant through gun 12.

Conduits 24 are concentrated in the forward portion of the drum since this portion attains the highest temperature due to contact with the discharge gases.

O-rings 32 are provided for liquid sealing.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is evident that many variations may be devised Within the spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended to include such variations.

I claim:

1. An automatic gun comprising a recoil unit, a shaft journaled therein, a drum secured thereto and provided with chambers for cartridges and an actuator disposed for reciprocation therein to rotate said chambers to stations corresponding thereto including a firing station for discharge of the cartridges therein responsive thereto, said drum including cylindrical headers intermediate said chambers and conduits and bores radially disposed and connected to said headers for circulation of coolant to remove heat from said drum, said shaft and said recoil unit including inlet and outlet passages for conducting the coolant to and from said drum.

2. An automatic gun as described in claim 1 with said shaft and said recoil unit respectively provided with pairs of ducts and apertures for respective series communication with said conduits and said bores to form said inlet and outlet passages.

3. An automatic weapon as described in claim 2 with said drum and said shaft disposed with cavities therebetween in respective communication between said ducts, and said chambers and bores.

No references cited.

Images