Segmented Drum Control Cam for Compact Ammunition Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drum weapon control systems face challenges in efficiently rotating the drum and feeding ammunition into the weapon barrel, often resulting in a larger drum length and potential inefficiencies in ammunition feeding.
Innovation Solution
The drum control system divides the switching or control curve into at least two curves, allowing for a minimized drum length equal to the maximum cartridge length, with a switch slide and interacting cams guided within these curves, enabling efficient rotation and ammunition feeding by utilizing a movable rear cam and a connecting rod system that interacts with a slide and feed slide to manage the drum's angular movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a single switching cam is used on the drum periphery, then the drum can be rotated to feed ammunition, but the drum length becomes larger than necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The switching cam is divided into two separate cams: a first switching cam and a second switching cam. The first switching cam has a control curve that extends over less than 330 degrees of the drum circumference, while the second switching cam has a control curve that extends over less than 330 degrees. This segmentation allows each cam to have a shorter arc length, thereby reducing the overall drum length required while maintaining the ammunition feeding function.
2Length of moving object
If the drum length is reduced to maximum cartridge length, then the weapon becomes more compact, but the ammunition feeding mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The switching mechanism is segmented into two independent switching cams, each with its own control curve. The first switching cam controls the initial phase of ammunition feeding, while the second switching cam controls the subsequent phase. This segmentation allows the drum length to be reduced to the maximum cartridge length while distributing the control complexity across two simpler cam profiles rather than one complex cam.
Solution Approach 2:
The second switching cam is designed with a movable base that can be adjusted radially with respect to the drum rotation axis. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the control curves of the two switching cams to be optimized independently, enabling compact drum design while maintaining effective ammunition feeding control through adjustable cam geometry.
3Reliability
If the switching cam control curve extends over nearly the full drum circumference, then the drum can be fully controlled, but the drum length increases beyond cartridge length
Solution Approach 1:
The drum control function is segmented between two switching cams, each with control curves extending over less than 330 degrees of the drum circumference. The first switching cam handles a portion of the control sequence, and the second switching cam handles the remaining portion. This segmentation ensures complete drum control coverage while keeping each individual cam's arc length short, thereby maintaining compact drum length.
Solution Approach 2:
The control function is extended from a single circular path to a two-cam system where the second cam can be radially adjusted. This dimensional adjustment capability allows the control curves to be positioned and sized optimally, providing full drum control coverage without requiring either cam to span the entire circumference, thus keeping drum length compact.
Data Source
AI summary
A drum circuit is proposed for supplying ammunition (21) to a weapon barrel (2) via a drum (3) which is held in circumferentially on the drum (3) in the form of a guide curve (20) and is rotated via a switching slide (7) with studs (8). The guide curve (20) is distinguished in that it is in the form of subdivided guide curves (20.1, 20.2) wherein the switching slide (7) has a corresponding number of studs (8, 9) which interact functionally with in each case one of the guide curves (20.1, 20.2).