Electronic Fire Control for Gas-Operated Weapon Rate Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gas-operated firearms with electrical initiation face issues of varying rate of fire due to gas erosion, leading to increased mechanical stresses and ammunition shocks, which can cause jamming and unraveling, and existing control methods do not effectively reduce these stresses.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an electronic fire control system with programmable logic that introduces a decreasing time delay between successive firing commands, allowing for controlled firing rates and reducing ammunition strip shocks by gradually increasing the firing rate to the nominal rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If gas-operated weapons use calibrated vents for ammunition loading and advance mechanism, then the weapon achieves robust design and lower cost, but the rate of fire changes over time due to gas erosion of the vents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical rate-of-fire control (based on gas pressure through calibrated vents) with an electronic control system. Sensors detect arming conditions (ammunition presence, breech closure) and an electronic firing unit sends precisely timed firing pulses, substituting mechanical gas-pressure-based timing with electronic control to maintain consistent rate of fire despite vent erosion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from gas pressure (which varies with vent erosion) to electronic timing parameters. The electronic firing unit uses programmable time delays and firing intervals that can be precisely controlled and adjusted, independent of the mechanical wear of the gas vents, thereby maintaining parameter consistency
2Device complexity
If the rate of fire is determined by the caliber of the vents, then the weapon achieves simple mechanical control, but violent shocks occur at the start of firing which can cause unraveling of ammunition strips
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic control system performs preliminary actions by pre-detecting arming conditions (ammunition in chamber, breech closed) and pre-calculating the optimal firing timing. The electronic firing unit plans and executes a sequence of firing commands with programmed delays, avoiding sudden violent shocks by gradually establishing the firing rhythm rather than immediately achieving maximum rate of fire
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control through the electronic firing unit, which can adjust firing intervals and delays in real-time based on detected conditions. The system transitions smoothly from initial firing with longer delays to steady-state firing with optimal intervals, dynamically adapting to maintain consistent rates and reduce shocks compared to fixed mechanical vent-based control
3Productivity
If the weapon fires at nominal rate of fire from the first ammunition, then the weapon achieves maximum productivity, but mechanical stresses increase leading to shocks and unlinking of ammunition
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic firing unit implements periodic action with programmed time delays between successive firing commands. The system uses a sequence of periodic firing intervals that can be adjusted to build up to the nominal rate of fire gradually, rather than immediately firing at maximum rate, thereby reducing mechanical stresses on the ammunition transport belts while maintaining overall productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from sensors that detect arming conditions (ammunition presence, breech closure) to regulate the electronic firing sequence. The electronic firing unit adjusts firing timing based on this feedback, ensuring that each firing command is executed at the optimal moment to maintain consistent rates and reduce harmful mechanical stresses, achieving both productivity and reliability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures reliable operation by maintaining a controlled maximum rate of fire despite wear, reducing mechanical stresses and ammunition shocks, thereby minimizing firing incidents and maintaining consistent performance.
Implementation Method 1
the electronic box incorporates delay means making it possible to give an electronic delay between two successive firing commands
Implementation Method 2
the ammunition loading and advance mechanism is actuated by the energy resulting from the pressure of the firing gases
Implementation Method 3
This gas pressure is sampled in a known manner using calibrated vents arranged in the chamber of the weapon
Implementation Method 4
method making it possible to limit the shocks received by the ammunition strips
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling the firing of a gas-operated firearm (1) with electrical ignition of ammunition, in which the firing of the ammunition is controlled by applying an electronic delay between two successive firing commands. The invention also relates to a device enabling such firing control. This device comprises an electronic firing control unit (6) connected to a firing contact (10), the electronic unit incorporating timing means (12) for providing such an electronic delay.