Belt-Fed Rotary Gun

Abstract

A belt-fed Gatling-style gun is provided. In some embodiments, the belt-feed system allows a plurality of individually separable belt links to be connected in series to feed cartridges to a belt-fed rotary gun. Each individual belt link may be removably connected to a series of belt links to facilitate ease of loading and making belts of ammunition of any length.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A belt feed assembly for a rotary gun to feed ammunition through the rotary gun, the belt feed assembly comprising:
 a first belt link comprising a first elongated side and a second elongated side, wherein the first elongated side of the first belt link is substantially parallel to the second elongated side of the first belt link, wherein the first elongated side of the first belt link further comprises a first detent configured to secure a first cartridge, wherein the second elongated side of the first belt link further comprises a second detent configured to secure the first cartridge, wherein the first elongated side of the first belt link is connected to the second elongated side of the first belt link with a cross member extending therebetween, wherein the first belt link further comprises a hook opposite the cross member; and   a second belt link comprising a first elongated side and a second elongated side, wherein the first elongated side of the second belt link is substantially parallel to the second elongated side of the second belt link, wherein the first elongated side of the second belt link further comprises a first detent configured to secure a second cartridge, wherein the second elongated side of the second belt link further comprises a second detent configured to secure the second cartridge, wherein the first elongated side of the second belt link is connected to the second elongated side of the second belt link with a cross member extending therebetween, wherein the second belt link further comprises a hook opposite the cross member, wherein the hook on the second belt link is configured to be attached to the cross member of the first belt link.   
     
     
         2 . The belt feed assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first belt link and second belt link further comprise a plurality of belt teeth. 
     
     
         3 . The belt feed assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of belt teeth of the first belt link and the second belt link are spatially arranged to engage with a plurality of indents in a barrel system of the rotary gun. 
     
     
         4 . The belt feed assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first detent and second detent of the first belt link further comprise variable size detents configured to accept a variety of different munitions. 
     
     
         5 . The belt feed assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first detent and second detent of the second belt link further comprise variable size detents configured to accept a variety of different munitions. 
     
     
         6 . The belt feed assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first belt link and second belt link are formed, at least in part, from one or more of: plastics, natural rubbers, and/or synthetic rubbers. 
     
     
         7 . The belt feed assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated side and the second elongated side are configured to flex along an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first elongated side and the second elongated side. 
     
     
         8 . The belt feed assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated side and the second elongated side of the first belt link are configured to form a feed channel between the first elongated side and the second elongated side of the first belt link. 
     
     
         9 . The belt feed assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated side and the second elongated side of the second belt link are configured to form a feed channel between the first elongated side and the second elongated side of the second belt link. 
     
     
         10 . The belt feed assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first detect and/or the second detent of the first belt link have a semicircular shape. 
     
     
         11 . The belt feed assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cross member of the first belt link to be substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         12 . A belt link of a belt link assembly for use with a rotary gun to feed ammunition through the rotary gun, wherein belt link comprises:
 an elongated body;   a detent defined in the elongated body that is configured to secure a cartridge;   a cross member extending transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongated body;   a hook extending from the elongated body, wherein the hook is dimensioned to latch with a cross member of another belt link in the belt link assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The belt link of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one tooth configured to engage with the rotary gun. 
     
     
         14 . The belt link of  claim 12 , wherein the detent is configured to accept a plurality of different sized munitions. 
     
     
         15 . The belt link of  claim 12 , wherein the elongated body is formed from one or more of: plastics, natural rubbers, and/or synthetic rubbers. 
     
     
         16 . The belt link of  claim 13 , wherein the elongated body is configured to flex along an axis transverse to its longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 . A belt feed assembly for a rotary gun to feed ammunition through the rotary gun, the belt feed assembly comprising:
 a first belt link comprising an elongated body with at least one detent to detachably secure a first cartridge, wherein the first belt link further comprises a hook extending from the elongated body of the first belt link; and   a second belt link comprising an elongated body with at least one detent to detachably secure a second cartridge, wherein the second belt link further comprises a hook extending from the elongated body of the second belt link, wherein the second belt link further comprises a hook extending from the elongated body of the second belt link, wherein the hook on the second belt link is configured to latch with the elongated body of the first belt link.   
     
     
         18 . The belt feed assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one detent of the first belt link is configured to accept multiple sizes of munitions. 
     
     
         19 . The belt feed assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first belt link and second belt link are formed, at least in part, from one or more of: plastics, natural rubbers, and/or synthetic rubbers. 
     
     
         20 . The belt feed assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the elongated body of the first belt link is configured to flex along an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the elongated body.