Self-Powered Impulse Averaging Recoil Operated Machine Gun With A Rotary Lock Bolt Driven By Bimodal Cams

Abstract

A weapon system comprising a receiver, a barrel, a bolt, a barrel extension, a bolt carriage, and a toggle assembly. The barrel may have a longitudinal axis. The bolt may be spaced a distance from a rearward end of the barrel along the longitudinal axis of the barrel. The barrel extension may be attached to the bolt and connecting the barrel with the bolt. The barrel extension and bolt may be adapted to move linearly with respect to the receiver in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel. The bolt carriage may be movable relative to the bolt between an ammunition loading position and a firing position. The toggle assembly may be adapted to drive the bolt carriage between the loading position and the firing position in response to movement of the barrel extension and bolt relative to the receiver.

1 . A weapon system comprising:
 a receiver;   a barrel having a longitudinal axis;   a bolt spaced a distance from a rearward end of the barrel along the longitudinal axis of the barrel;   a barrel extension attached to the bolt and connecting the barrel with the bolt, the barrel extension and bolt adapted to move linearly with respect to the receiver in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel;   a bolt carriage movable relative to the bolt between an ammunition loading position and a firing position; and   a toggle assembly adapted to drive the bolt carriage between the loading position and the firing position in response to movement of the barrel extension and bolt relative to the receiver.   
   
   
       2 . The weapon system of  claim 1 , wherein the bolt is spaced a fixed distance from a rearward end of the barrel. 
   
   
       3 . The weapon system of  claim 2 , wherein and the barrel is adapted to move relative to the receiver in conjunction with the bolt and barrel extension. 
   
   
       4 . The weapon system of  claim 1 , wherein the bolt assembly moves linearly relative to the bolt in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel. 
   
   
       5 . The weapon system of  claim 4 , wherein when the bolt assembly is in the firing position, the bolt assembly overrides the space between bolt and the rearward end of the barrel, capturing a round of ammunition in the space between the bolt and the rearward end of the barrel. 
   
   
       6 . The weapon system of  claim 4 , wherein when the bolt assembly is in the ammunition loading position, the bolt assembly overrides at least a portion of the bolt, opening the space between the bolt and the rearward end of the barrel. 
   
   
       7 . The weapon system of  claim 6  further comprising a load pawl and a load pawl cam surface that drives the load pawl through a range of movement in response to movement of the bolt and barrel extension. 
   
   
       8 . The weapon system of  claim 7  wherein the movement of the load pawl includes lifting a round of ammunition into the space between the bolt and the rearward end of the barrel as the bolt assembly moves from the ammunition loading position to the firing position. 
   
   
       9 . The weapon system of  claim 7  wherein the movement of the load pawl includes sweeping the opening between the bolt and the rearward end of the barrel to remove a spent ammunition cartridge as the bolt assembly moves from the firing position to the ammunition loading position. 
   
   
       10 . The weapon system of  claim 1 , wherein the toggle comprises a cam follower, and the firearm further comprises a cam surface for guiding movement of the cam follower. 
   
   
       11 . The weapon system of  claim 10 , wherein the cam surface is attached to an interior surface of the receiver. 
   
   
       12 . The weapon system of  claim 10 , wherein the cam surface is integrally formed with an interior surface of the receiver. 
   
   
       13 . The weapon system of  claim 1 , wherein the toggle comprises a forward toggle and a rearward toggle. 
   
   
       14 . A recoil operated firearm comprising:
 a barrel having a longitudinal bore axis;   a bolt being collinear with the bore axis;   a bolt assembly comprising a ammunition-holding cavity formed therethrough, the ammunition-holding cavity having a longitudinal axis collinear with the bore axis;   the bolt assembly being adapted for linear movement between a charged position and a firing position,   wherein the linear bolt assembly movement is relative to the barrel and collinear with the bore axis,   wherein, when in the bolt assembly charged position:   the bolt assembly is positioned rearward end of the barrel,   the forward end of the bolt assembly is spaced a distance away from the rearward end of the barrel, and   the bolt assembly overrides at least a portion of the bolt such that the bolt occupies at least a portion of the ammunition-holding cavity; and   wherein, when in the bolt assembly firing position:   a forward surface of the bolt assembly sealingly contacts a rearward surface of the barrel, and   a forward end of the bolt sealingly contacts a rearward end of the bolt assembly.   
   
   
       15 . The firearm of  claim 14  wherein, when in the bolt assembly charged position, a forward surface of the bolt is generally coplanar with a forward surface of the bolt assembly. 
   
   
       16 . The firearm of  claim 14  further comprising a barrel extension, wherein the barrel is removably attached to the barrel extension. 
   
   
       17 . The firearm of  claim 16  further comprising a receiver, wherein:
 the receiver at least partially houses the barrel extension, the barrel extension being adapted for linear movement relative to the receiver between a charged position and a firing position   
   
   
       18 . The firearm of  claim 17  wherein, the receiver further comprises one or more barrel extension rails to guide movement of the barrel extension relative the receiver. 
   
   
       19 . The firearm of  claim 17  further comprising a toggle assembly. 
   
   
       20 . The firearm of  claim 19  wherein, the toggle assembly comprises:
 a first toggle arm; and   a second toggle arm;   wherein the first toggle arm is pivotally connected to the bolt assembly, the second toggle arm is pivotally connected to the barrel extension; and the   first toggle arm is pivotally connected to the second toggle arm.