Ammunition Belt Capture and Release Mechanism and Method for an Imitation Machine Gun

Abstract

A simulated ammunition belt is captured in and released from a feedway of an imitation machine gun by selectively extending and retracting a retaining projection into the space between adjacent simulated rounds of the ammunition belt. The retaining projection is operably connected to a cover of the gun housing and is concealed within the housing when the cover is closed.

Claims

1. An ammunition belt capture and release mechanism for an imitation machine gun which has a housing defining a feedway into which a simulated ammunition belt is loaded when using the gun, the simulated ammunition belt having a plurality of simulated ammunition rounds located in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship, the housing of the gun including a cover which is movable to an open position to permit access to the feedway for loading the simulated ammunition belt and which is movable to a closed position to confine simulated ammunition rounds of the simulated ammunition belt in the feedway, the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism comprising: a retaining projection which is operatively connected to the cover to move selectively into an extended position and into a retracted position when the cover is in the closed position, the extended position locating the retaining projection in a space between two adjacent simulated rounds within the feedway to retain the simulated ammunition belt in the feedway, the retracted position withdrawing the retaining projection from the space between the two adjacent simulated rounds to release the simulated ammunition belt from within the feedway; and wherein: the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism is attached to the cover at a position to move the retaining projection into adjacency with the two simulated rounds of the simulated ammunition belt loaded into the feedway when the cover is in the closed position; and the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism is substantially concealed within the housing of the gun when the cover is in the closed position.

2. An ammunition belt capture and release mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a solenoid operatively connected to move the retaining projection from end to at least one of the extended and retracted positions.

3. An ammunition belt capture and release mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a biasing member operatively connected to bias the retaining projection into the extended position.

4. An ammunition belt capture and release mechanism as defined in claim 3, further comprising: a solenoid operatively connected to move the retaining projection from the extended position to the retracted position.

5. An ammunition belt capture and release mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising: an elongated holding pawl having first and second opposite ends, the first end is pivotally connected to pivot the holding pawl at a stationary position, the second end moves in an arc about the first end when the holding pawl pivots; and wherein: the retaining projection extends from the holding pawl.

6. An ammunition belt capture and release mechanism as defined in claim 5, wherein: the retaining projection extends from the holding pawl at a position between the first and second ends.

7. An ammunition belt capture and release mechanism as defined in claim 5, further comprising: a movably positioned ramp having an inclined surface; and wherein: the ramp moves relative to the second end of the holding pawl; and the inclined surface of the ramp operatively interacts with the second end of the holding pawl during movement of the ramp to pivot the holding pawl about the first end and move the retaining projection between the extended and retracted positions.

8. An ammunition belt capture and release mechanism as defined in claim 7, wherein: the ramp includes a flat surface extending from the inclined surface; the top surface operatively interacting with the second end of the holding pawl to maintain the retaining projection in the extended position upon movement of the ramp into a first position; and the inclined surface operatively interacting with the second end of the holding pawl to move the retaining projection to the retracted position upon movement of the ramp to a second position displaced from the first position.

9. An ammunition belt capture and release mechanism as defined in claim 8, further comprising: a linkage arm operatively connected to the ramp for moving the ramp into and between the first and second positions.

10. An ammunition belt capture and release mechanism as defined in claim 9, further comprising: a biasing member operatively connected to the linkage arm to bias the linkage arm for moving the ramp into the first position; and a motive power source operatively connected to interact with the linkage arm to move the ramp from the first position to the second position.

11. An ammunition belt capture and release mechanism as defined in claim 8, further comprising: first and second elongated linkage arms, each of the first and second linkage arms each having first and second opposite ends, the first end of the first linkage arm is connected to pivot about a stationary position, the second end of the first linkage arm and the first end of the second linkage arm are pivotally connected together to pivot the first and second linkage arms relative to one another, the second end of the second linkage arm is pivotally and operatively connected to the ramp, and wherein: relative pivoting movement of the first and second linkage arms into a substantially aligned position locates the ramp in the first position; and relative pivoting movement of the first and second linkage arms into an angularly articulated position locates the ramp in the second position.

12. An ammunition belt capture and release mechanism as defined in claim 11, further comprising: a biasing member operatively connected to one of the first and second linkage arms to bias the linkage arms into the substantially aligned position; and a motive power source operatively connected to interact with at least one of the first and second linkage arms to move the linkage arms into the angularly articulated position.

13. An ammunition belt capture and release mechanism as defined in claim 12, wherein: the ramp constitutes a first ramp; and further comprising: a second ramp having an inclined surface and a flat surface which are of substantially the same configuration as the inclined surface and the flat surface of the first ramp; an actuation plate to which the first and second ramps are connected for operative interaction with the second end of the holding pawl, the actuation plate is operatively retained for movement toward and away from the first end of the holding pawl; a cam pin having opposite ends which extend transversely from opposite sides of the second end of the holding pawl; and wherein: the opposite ends of the cam pin simultaneously contact the flat and inclined surfaces of the first and second ramps; and the second end of the second leakage arm is pivotally connected to the actuation plate to move the actuation plate and the connected ramps into the first and second positions upon pivoting movement of the first and second linkage arms into the substantially aligned and angularly articulated positions, respectively.

14. A method of selectively capturing a simulated ammunition belt loaded in a feedway of a housing of an imitation machine gun and selectively releasing the simulated ammunition belt from the feedway during use of the gun, the simulated ammunition belt having simulated ammunition rounds retained in a parallel and spaced apart relationship in the belt, the gun including a cover which is movable to an open position to permit access into the feedway for loading the simulated ammunition belt into the feedway and which is moveable to a closed position when the gun is used; the method comprising: operatively attaching a retaining projection to the cover in a position to be substantially concealed within the housing of the gun when the cover is in the closed position; selectively extending the retaining projection into a space between two adjacent simulated rounds of the simulated ammunition belt in the feedway to capture the simulated ammunition belt within the feedway when the cover is in the closed position; and selectively retracting the retaining projection from the space between the two adjacent rounds of the simulated ammunition belt in the feedway to release the simulated ammunition belt from within the feedway when the cover is in the closed position.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising: extending the retaining projection from a holding pawl; operatively pivotally connecting the holding pawl to the cover; and pivoting the holding pawl to extend and retract the retaining projection.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising: camming the holding pawl to pivot the holding pawl to extend and retract the retaining projection.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the holding pawl is elongated and has first and second opposite ends, and the method further comprises: pivotally connecting the first end of the holding pawl at a stationary position relative to the cover; and camming the second end of the holding pawl to pivot the holding pawl about the first end and extend and retract the retaining projection.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising: operatively attaching a movably positioned ramp to the cover; moving the ramp relative to the cover, the ramp including an inclined surface and a flat surface extending from the inclined surface in a direction generally parallel to the movement of the ramp; and camming the second end of the holding pawl by interacting the flat surface with the second end of the holding pawl to selectively extend the retaining projection into the space between the two adjacent simulated rounds and by interacting the inclined surface with the second end of the holding pawl to selectively retract the retaining projection from the space between the two adjacent simulated rounds.

19. A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising: maintaining the retaining projection in the extended position by contacting the second end of the holding pawl with the flat surface of the ramp.

20. A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising: pivotally connecting a first end of a first linkage arm stationarily relative to the cover; pivotally connecting together a second end of the first linkage arm and a first end of the second linkage arm; pivotally connecting a second end of the second linkage arm to the ramp; pivoting the first and second linkage arms into a substantially aligned position to interact the flat surface of the ramp with the second end of the holding pawl to extend the retaining projection; and pivoting the first and second linkage arms into an angularly articulated position to interact the inclined surface of the ramp with the second end of the holding pawl to retract the retaining projection.

21. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising: interacting a motive power source with at least one of the first and second linkage arms to move the linkage arms from the substantially aligned position to the angularly articulated position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 is a generalized perspective view of an exemplary imitation machine gun which incorporates an ammunition belt capture and release mechanism, and which exemplifies a method of selectively capturing and releasing a simulated ammunition belt in an imitation machine gun, according to the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of the imitation machine gun shown in FIG. 1, illustrating a simulated ammunition belt loaded into a feedway of the imitation machine gun with the ammunition belt extending from an ammunition box.

[0028] FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view of the imitation machine gun shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating an open cover of the imitation machine gun, the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism of the present invention attached to the cover, a feed tray of the imitation machine gun and a leading end portion of a simulated ammunition belt to be loaded into the imitation machine gun.

[0029] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of three rounds of ammunition and connecting links which hold the ammunition rounds in the simulated ammunition belt shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a vertical section view of the ammunition box shown in FIG. 2, illustrating the simulated ammunition belt and a spring which biases the ammunition belt toward a retracted position within the ammunition box.

[0031] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism shown in FIG. 3, with a cover plate shown broken away and with the mechanism shown as viewed from behind an open cover of the housing of the machine gun.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line A-A in FIG. 2, showing the position of a holding pawl of the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism shown in FIG. 6 when capturing and holding the simulated ammunition belt.

[0033] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of components of the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism shown in FIG. 6, with the holding pawl positioned to capture and hold the simulated ammunition belt as shown in FIG. 7.

[0034] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism shown in FIG. 6, with components shown in the position illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0035] FIG. 10 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane of line A-A of FIG. 2 and related to FIG. 7, showing the position of the holding pawl of the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism shown in FIG. 6 when releasing the simulated ammunition belt.

[0036] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of components of the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism shown in FIG. 6, with the holding pawl positioned to release the simulated ammunition belt as shown in FIG. 10.

[0037] FIG. 12 is a plan view of the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism shown in FIG. 6, with the holding pawl shown in the position illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0038] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a sequence of actions performed by a user and by the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism shown in FIGS. 3 and 6-12, when using the imitation machine gun shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] An imitation machine gun 20 which is used in simulated weapons training activities is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The machine gun 20 duplicates the look and feel and the mechanical features of an actual machine gun which it imitates. To use the imitation machine gun 20 by firing it in a stimulative manner, the operator must load a simulated ammunition belt 22 into an ammunition belt feedway 24 of a housing 26 of the gun 20. The ammunition belt 22 is withdrawn from an ammunition box 28 which is placed on a support tray 30. The support tray 30 extends transversely from the housing 26 of the gun 20 at a position below the feedway 24. The ammunition box 28 includes an upper door 32, which when opened, permits the ammunition belt 22 to be withdrawn from the interior of the box 28 and extended into the feedway 24.

[0040] After all of the predetermined number of rounds of the ammunition belt 22 have been fired stimulatively, an ammunition belt capture and release mechanism 34 (FIGS. 3 and 6-12) releases the simulated ammunition belt 22 from within the feedway 24, and the simulated ammunition belt 22 is retracted into the ammunition box 28 by a spring 36 (FIG. 5) located within the ammunition box 28. With the simulated ammunition belt 22 released and removed from the feedway 24, the feedway is unoccupied just as when all of the actual rounds of an actual ammunition belt have been consumed by firing an actual machine gun.

[0041] To continue firing the imitation machine gun 20, the operator must load the simulated ammunition belt 22, either from the same ammunition box 28 or from a replacement ammunition box 28. Loading the simulated ammunition belt is accomplished by the actions understood from FIGS. 2 and 3. The used ammunition box 28 is removed from the support tray 30, and a new ammunition box 28 is placed on the support tray 30. An upper cover 38 of the housing 30 is pivoted open to provide upper access into the feedway 24. A feed tray 40 of the gun 20 defines the bottom of the feedway 24 and supports the ammunition belt 22 when located in the feedway 24. The feed tray 40 pivots slightly upward when the upper cover 38 of the housing 30 is pivoted open. The upper door 32 of the new ammunition box 28 is opened, and the leading end portion of the ammunition belt 22 is removed from the interior of the ammunition box. The first few rounds 42 of the leading end of the ammunition belt 22 are placed on the feed tray 40. A locator ridge 44 (FIG. 3) extends upward from the feed tray 40 to locate the proper position of the first round 42 of the ammunition belt 22 when placed on the feed tray 40. The cover 38 is then closed (FIGS. 1 and 2), as is the upper door 32 of the ammunition box 28.

[0042] The ammunition belt capture and release mechanism 34 is connected to the inside of the cover 38 of the machine gun housing 26 (FIG. 3). The belt capture and release mechanism 34 is in close adjacency with the upper surfaces of the first few rounds 42 of the ammunition belt 22 when the cover 38 is closed (FIGS. 7 and 10). The feed tray 40 contacts the bottom surfaces of the rounds 42 in the feedway 24 (FIGS. 7 and 10). A retaining projection 46 of a holding pawl 48 of the belt capture and release mechanism 34 extends into the space between the first and second leading rounds 42 of the simulated ammunition belt (FIG. 7). The retaining projection 46 prevents movement of the first two rounds of the ammunition belt 22 out of the feedway 24 and thereby holds the belt 22 in the feedway 24. The retaining projection 46 resists the retraction force from the spring 36 (FIG. 5) and prevents the spring 36 from pulling the ammunition belt 22 out of the feedway 24 back into the ammunition box 28.

[0043] After all of the predetermined number of ammunition rounds of the simulated ammunition belt 22 have been fired stimulatively, the holding pawl 48 of the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism 34 is pivoted upward to remove the retaining projection 46 from the space between the leading two ammunition rounds in the belt 22 (FIG. 10). With the belt 22 no longer restrained by the retaining projection 46, the spring 36 (FIG. 5) withdraws the belt 22 back into the interior of the ammunition box 28. Under these conditions, the feedway 24 is unoccupied and the user must load another simulated ammunition belt 22 to continue using the gun 20.

[0044] The simulated ammunition belt 22 is formed of simulated rounds 42 which are held together in the belt 22 by belt connection links 50, as shown in FIG. 4. The simulated rounds 42 are the same size as actual ammunition rounds, and the connection links 50 are the same configuration as the connection links used to construct an actual ammunition belt from actual ammunition rounds. Each connection link 50 includes a large center portion 52 which has a circular curvature that extends slightly more than 180° around a casing 56 of one simulated ammunition round 42. Each connection link also includes two relatively narrow end portions 54 that are each positioned slightly to the outside of the center portion 52. Each of the end portions 54 also has a circular curvature which extends slightly more than 180° around the casing 56 of an adjacent simulated round 42. The space between the two end portions 54 accommodates the center portion 52 of an adjacent connection link 50.

[0045] The center portion 52 of one connection link 50 clips around a casing 56 of one ammunition round 42, and the two end portions 54 of the same connection link 50 clip around the casing 56 of an adjacent ammunition round 42 in the belt 22. The center portion 52 of another adjacent connection link 50 clips to that same adjacent ammunition round 22, between the two end portions 54 of the one connection clip. This arrangement continues with the center portion 52 of one connection link and the end portions 54 of another adjacent connection link clipped around the casing 56 of each ammunition round 42. In this manner, each connection link 50 connects two adjacent ammunition rounds 42.

[0046] A curvature of more than 180° curvature of both the center and end portions 52 and 54 of each connection link 50 around each casing 56 of the ammunition rounds 42 is sufficient to hold each round in place in the belt 22. Because the connection links 50 pivot around the casings 56 to which they are connected, the ammunition belt 22 will bend. Bending in this manner allows an actual ammunition belt to be folded in a serpentine manner within an actual ammunition box 28, thereby consuming essentially all of the interior of the box 28. The bending capability allows the actual ammunition belt to occur from the ammunition box 28 into the feedway 24 and two straighten as it passes through the feedway of the actual machine gun.

[0047] The ammunition box 28 used with the imitation machine gun 20 is the actual size of an actual ammunition box used with an actual machine gun. However, the simulated ammunition belt 22 is only of a limited length necessary to extend from the ammunition box 28 into the belt feedway 24. The details of the simulated ammunition belt 22 and the characteristics of the ammunition box 28 used with the belt 22 are described in connection with FIG. 5. The number of simulated rounds 42 in the simulated ammunition belt 22 is considerably less than the number of actual rounds in an actual ammunition belt. For example, the simulated ammunition belt has about 15 to 20 simulated rounds 42 connected by the connection links 50 (FIG. 4). The trailing end simulated round 42 in the belt 22 is connected to the spring 36.

[0048] A curved wall 62 is attached within the interior of the ammunition box 28. The curved wall 62 extends between opposite side walls of the box 28. The spring 36 is a conventional constant force spring, formed by helically coiling spring material. The spring 36 is attached at one end to a post 64 which extends transversely across the interior of the box 28 at the opposite end of the box from the curved wall 62. The coils of the spring 36 are helically concentric with one another and surround the post 64. The other end of the spring 36 is connected to the connection link 50 clipped to the last round 42 in the simulated ammunition belt 22. When the simulated ammunition belt 22 is contained entirely within the ammunition box 28, as shown in FIG. 5, the spring 36 pulls the ammunition rounds 42 into contact with the curved wall 62. When the leading rounds 42 of the simulated ammunition belt 22 are withdrawn from the ammunition box 28, the spring 36 is extended as a result of pulling the leading end of the belt 22 from the box 28 and extending the belt into the feedway 24 of the gun 20 (FIG. 2). In this circumstance the spring 36 extends partially along the curved wall 62 as the leading part of the leading part of the belt 22 extends from the box 28. When the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism 34 releases the ammunition belt (FIGS. 10-12), force from the extended spring 36 pulls the simulated rounds 42 of the belt 22 into the interior of the ammunition box 28.

[0049] More details of the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism 34 are understood by reference to FIGS. 6-12. The mechanism 34 is housed within a case 70. The case 70 is connected to the inner surface of the cover 38 of the housing 26 (FIG. 3). A cover plate 72 (FIGS. 3, 6, 7 and 10) encloses the components of the mechanism 34 within the case, but the cover plate 72 is shown broken away in FIG. 6 to illustrate the internal components of the mechanism 34. The retaining projection 46 and the adjacent portions of the holding pawl 48 extend through a slot 71 in the cover plate 72 (FIG. 3).

[0050] One pivotal end 73 of the holding pawl 48 is pivotally connected to the case 70 by a pivot pin 74. The retaining projection 46 extends outward near the other movable end 75 of the holding pawl 48. The holding pawl is preferably constructed of semi-rigid material such as 30% glass filled polyether imide. This type of material permits enough flexure to allow the ammunition belt to release if the ammunition belt is pulled on in an unexpected aggressive manner, or if the retaining projection 46 of the holding pawl 48 is inappropriately forced down on the middle of a simulated ammunition round 42. The flexure of the holding pawl ensures that the internal components of the capture and release mechanism 34 are not broken in either that these types of adverse events occur.

[0051] A cam pin 76 extends transversely out of the movable end 75 of the holding pawl 48. The cam pin 76 contacts and moves along two ramps 78 located on opposite sides of the free end of the holding pawl 48. The ramps 78 are connected to and extend from an actuation plate 80. The actuation plate 80 is confined by a guide 82 to move within the case 70 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the holding pawl 48 toward and away from the pivotal end 73 of the holding pawl 48.

[0052] The actuation plate 80 and its attached ramps 78 move as a result of the relative pivoting movement of a pair of linkage arms 90 and 92. One end of the linkage arm 90 is pivotally connected at a stationary position to the case 70. The other end of the linkage arm 90 and one end of the linkage arm 92 are connected together at 88. The other end of the linkage arm 92 is pivotally connected to the actuation plate 80.

[0053] When the linkage arms 90 and 92 are pivoted into substantial linear alignment with one another (FIGS. 8 and 9), the actuation plate 80 is extended a maximum distance from the pivot pin 74 at the pivotal end 73 of the holding pawl 48. Movement of the actuation plate 80 to this position causes the cam pin 76 to ride upward on inclined surfaces 93 of the ramps 78 in a cam-like manner to reach a position on flat surfaces 94 of ramps 78. The flat surfaces 94 are extend generally parallel to the direction of movement of the actuation plate 80 and the ramps 78. With the cam pin 76 on the flat surfaces 94 the retaining projection 46 is extended to the maximum distance and projects between the two simulated rounds 42 in the simulated ammunition belt 22 to thereby hold the belt 22 in the feedway 24 (FIG. 7).

[0054] When linkage arms 90 and 92 are angularly articulated with respect to one another (FIGS. 6, 11 and 12), the actuation plate 80 is moved toward the pivot pin 74 at the pivotal end 73 of the holding pawl 48. Movement of the actuation plate 80 to this position causes the cam pin 76 to move off of the flat surfaces 94 and down along the inclined surfaces 93 of the ramps 78 to reach a position adjacent to the actuation plate 80. With the cam pin 76 adjacent to the actuation plate 80, the retaining projection 46 is withdrawn from between the two simulated rounds 42 in the simulated ammunition belt 22, thereby releasing the belt 22 from the feedway 24 (FIG. 10) and allowing the spring 36 to retract the belt 22 into the ammunition box 28 (FIG. 4).

[0055] The linkage arms 90 and 92 are normally pivoted into substantial linear alignment with one another (FIGS. 8 and 9) as a result of torsional bias applied by a torsion spring 83. The torsion spring 83 is mounted with its winding coils 85 surrounding a shoulder bolt that pivotally connects the end of the linkage arm 90 to the case 70. One arm 87 of the torsion spring 83 extends from the winding coils 85 and connects to a hole in the linkage arm 90. Another arm 89 extends from the winding coils 85 and contacts the case 70 at its interior sidewall. Torsion force resulting from the rotating the winding coils 85 biases the linkage arm 90 into the normal position in which it is substantially linearly aligned with the other linkage arm 92, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0056] In the normal position of the linkage arms 90 and 92, the bias force from the torsion spring 83 positions the flat surface 94 of each ramp 78 in contact with the cam pin 76 at the movable end 75 of the holding pawl 48. The cam pin 76 rests on the flat surfaces 94 of the ramps 78, causing the vibration from the recoil impacts to have no significant detrimental effect in changing the support for the movable end 75 of the holding pawl 48. The torsional force from the torsion spring 83 maintains the linkage arms 90 and 92 in the substantially aligned orientation, even in response to the vibration from the recoil impacts. Vibration from the recoil impacts is transferred from the flat surfaces 94 of the ramps 78 to the cam pin 76. The perpendicular force on the flat surfaces 94 has no effect in moving the actuation plate 80. Consequently, the actuation plate 80 remains in place under the operative bias force from the torsion spring 83, and the retaining projection 46 remains firmly extended between the two rounds of the simulated ammunition belt 22, without risk of premature release of the simulated ammunition belt 22 due to vibration from the recoil impacts.

[0057] Any forces that attempt to move the retaining projection 46 out of contact with the simulated rounds of the ammunition belt (FIG. 7) are forces that would pivot the holding pawl 48 into the case 70. These forces are effectively resisted by the cam pin 76 resting on the flat surfaces 94 of the ramps 78. The aligned linkage arms 92 and 94 are capable of resisting substantial force applied on the ramps 72 which might tend to move the actuating plate 80 and release the ammunition belt 22 prematurely. In essence, the combination of the cam pin 76 resting on the flat surfaces 94 of the ramps 78 and the resistance to movement of the actuation plate 80 by the linearly oriented linkage arms 90 and 92, makes it almost impossible for external forces to cause the simulated ammunition belt to be released prematurely before the predetermined number of simulated rounds of the belt have been fired simulatively.

[0058] A solenoid 84 is energized to release the simulated ammunition belt 22. The solenoid 84 includes an armature 86 which extends when the solenoid 84 is energized. The extension of the armature 86 contacts one or both of the linkage arms 90 and 92 near their connection 88. The extension of the armature 86 overcomes the torsional force from the torsion spring 83 and angularly articulates the linkage arms 90 and 92 with respect to one another (FIGS. 6, 11 and 12). The angularly articulated linkage arms 90 and 92 move the actuation plate 80 toward the pivot pin 74, and the cam pin 76 moves off of the flat surfaces 94 and down along the inclined surfaces 93 of the ramps 78. The holding pawl 48 pivots and the retaining projection 46 is withdrawn from between the two simulated rounds 42 in the simulated ammunition belt 22 (FIG. 10), thereby releasing the belt 22 in the feedway 24. Because of the mechanical advantages of the two articulated linkage arms 90 and 92 and the camming effect of the cam pin 76 moving down the inclined surfaces 93 of the ramps 78, the pivoting movement of the holding pawl 48 promotes the quick and reliable release of the simulated ammunition belt 22.

[0059] Only a momentary energization of the solenoid 84 is necessary to release the simulated ammunition belt. The force from the armature 86 articulates the linkage arms 90 and 92 sufficiently to develop enough force for moving the flat surfaces 94 of the ramps 78 away from the cam pin 76. Any force on the retaining projection 46 of the holding pawl 48 assists in moving the activation plate 80 by urging the cam pin 76 downward along the inclined surfaces 93 of the ramps 78, thereby further facilitating movement of the actuating plate. Consequently, a relatively small solenoid 84 is effectively employed in the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism 34 to develop sufficient force to reliably hold the ammunition belt until it is intended to be released. The small size of the solenoid 84 allows it to be integrated within the capture and release mechanism 34 located at the interior of the cover 38 of the imitation machine gun (FIG. 3).

[0060] The above described substantial alignment of the linkage arms 90 and 92 includes an orientation where the linkage arms are positioned slightly over-center in the normal position established by the torsion spring 83. The over-center position occurs when the point of connection at 88 of the ends of the linkage arms 90 and 92 is transversely offset toward the armature 86 of the solenoid 84 relative to a linear reference between the pivot points where the linkage arm 90 is pivotally connected at a stationary position to the case 70 and where the linkage arm 92 is pivotally connected to the actuation plate 80. The preferred amount of over-center offset is relatively small, for example approximately 3° of angular orientation of each linkage arm 90 and 92 relative to the linear reference. However, that over-center offset causes force transferred from the spring 36 in the ammunition box 28 (FIG. 5) through the simulated rounds 42 of the ammunition belt 22 to the retaining projection 46 of the holding pawl 48 (FIG. 7) to hold the holding pawl 48 in position with the retaining projection 46 locked in position to retain the ammunition belt in the feedway. The relatively slight 3° over-center orientation of the linkage arms 90 and 92 in the normal position also provides a mechanical advantage of approximately 25 to 1 as a force multiplier for the solenoid 84 when extending the armature 86 to pivotally each arms 90 and 92 and thereby release the ammunition belt.

[0061] The reliable holding capability of the capture and release mechanism 34 is important in the imitation machine gun 20 because a recoil simulation device 96, shown in FIG. 2, simulates firing each ammunition round by shaking or reciprocating the imitation machine gun 20 in a forward and backward motion. The recoil simulation device 96 generates substantial impacts that shake the imitation machine gun 20 to simulate firing each round 42 from the belt 22. The substantial nature of these recoil impacts have the tendency to shake the ammunition belt enough to cause a premature release in the prior art devices, as described above. Unlike the typical prior art mechanism, the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism 34 has the capability of withstanding such forces. Locating the belt capture and release mechanism 34 within the feedway 24 by attaching the mechanism 34 to the cover 38 (FIG. 3), constrains the simulated ammunition belt to prevent it from vibrating out of contact with the retaining projection 46 of the holding pawl 48. The feed tray 40 and the cover plate 72 of the belt capture and release mechanism 34 (FIGS. 3 and 7) confine the rounds 42 of the simulated ammunition belt 22 in the feedway 24 and prevent them from vibrating away from the retaining projection 46 of the holding pawl 48 (FIG. 7).

[0062] To accommodate recoil simulation, the machine gun 20 is supported by a split cradle assembly 98 which mounts the gun 20 to a support pedestal 100, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The support pedestal 100 is attached to a floor or other support structure which emulates the actual environment in which the actual machine gun will be used, for example an opening in the side of a helicopter fuselage. The split cradle assembly 98 is formed by an upper movable cradle piece 102 and a separate lower stationary cradle piece 104. The gun 20 is rigidly attached to the movable piece 102, and the stationary piece 104 is rigidly attached to the pedestal 100. The recoil simulation device 96 is operatively connected to create relative movement between the movable and stationary pieces 102 and 104, thereby simulating the recoil impact associated with firing an actual machine gun. An example of a recoil simulation device 96 is described in the first above-referenced US patent application. An actual machine gun is supported by a integral cradle assembly formed as a single unitary piece.

[0063] Each individual recoil impact from of the recoil simulation device 38 is sensed and counted to determine the number of simulated rounds fired from the simulated ammunition belt. Once the number of simulated rounds fired equals the number of rounds in an actual ammunition belt, the solenoid 84 is energized and the retaining projection 46 withdraws from the space between the ammunition rounds of the ammunition belt (FIG. 10), thereby releasing the ammunition belt. The same or another simulated ammunition belt must thereafter be loaded to continue use of the imitation machine gun 20. A sensor 106, shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12 is located within the belt capture and release mechanism 34 to sense the position of a simulated round 42 once the ammunition belt 22 has been properly loaded. The signal from the sensor 106 enables the operation of the gun 20.

[0064] A sequence 110 of events which summarize the previously described use and functionality of the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism 34 in the imitation machine gun 20 is shown in FIG. 13. The sequence 110 begins when the cover 38 of the housing 26 of the machine gun 20 is opened (FIG. 3), as shown at 112. At 114, the torsional spring 83 has moved the linkage arms 90 and 92 into the aligned relationship (FIGS. 8 and 9) and the flat surfaces 94 of the ramps 78 have moved under the cam pin 76, thereby extending the retaining projection 46 of the holding pawl 48 (FIG. 7). Next, at 116, the simulated ammunition belt 22 is loaded into the feed tray 40. The cover 38 is then closed at 118, causing the retaining projection 46 of the holding pawl 48 to extend into the space between the two leading rounds 42 of the simulated ammunition belt 22, thereby retaining the ammunition belt 22 in the feedway 24 (FIG. 7). The sensor 106 (FIGS. 6, 8 and 11) senses the position of the leading round 42, to establish that the simulated ammunition belt has been correctly loaded. The signal from the sensor 106 resets a counter to zero at 119. The counter counts the number of rounds which are fired simulatively from the loaded ammunition belt. The signal from the sensor 106 also enables the gun 20 for firing.

[0065] Pulling the trigger at 120 activates the recoil simulator device 96 (FIG. 2) to generate a recoil impact from the gun 20 for each simulated round of ammunition fired while the trigger is depressed, as shown at 122. The number of simulated rounds fired from the ammunition belt is counted at 124, by counting the number of recoil impacts generated by the recoil simulator device 96. Each simulated round fired increments the counter which was reset at 119. Because the number of simulated rounds of the ammunition belt is known, the count of fired ammunition rounds at 124 is compared to the number of known rounds in the ammunition belt at 126. So long as the number of counted ammunition rounds at 124 is less than the predetermined number of rounds of the ammunition belt, the process reverts to 120, where continued depression of the trigger results in firing more simulated rounds at 122 and in incrementing the counter at 124.

[0066] Whenever the number of counted rounds at 124 equals the predetermined number of rounds of an actual ammunition belt, as determined at 126, the simulated ammunition belt 22 is released by energizing the solenoid 84 of the ammunition belt capture and release mechanism 34, as shown at 128. The operator is thereafter required to load a new simulated ammunition belt, or reload the just released ammunition belt, to enable further use of the gun 20, as shown by the process 110 reverting back to the action at 112. The same process 110 thereafter continues with the newly loaded simulated ammunition belt. Although not shown in FIG. 13, the release of the simulated ammunition belt 128 is accompanied almost simultaneously by releasing the bolt of the imitation machine gun to allow the bolt to move forward from the force of the compressed bolt actuating spring, thereby requiring the bolt to be charged before firing simulated rounds from a newly-loaded to simulated ammunition belt.

[0067] The ammunition belt capture and release mechanism 34 is capable of long-term, intensive, reliable use without premature or unexpected failure, thereby facilitating effective training with the imitation machine gun. The ammunition belt capture and release mechanism 34 overcomes the unreliable operation of the prior art device, avoids the premature release of the ammunition belt prior to firing the anticipated number of simulated rounds from the simulated ammunition belt, and avoids a loss of coordination among the control systems in the training simulator resulting from a premature and erratic release of the ammunition belt during training. As a consequence, the training with the imitation machine gun is more effective and realistic, and the individuals trained are more capable of properly operating the actual machine gun in actual circumstances.

[0068] The ammunition belt capture and release mechanism 34 is concealed and functional within the imitation machine gun 20 in a way which does not create significant differences in functionality, performance, and the look and feel of the imitation machine gun compared to the actual machine gun. No external or additional parts appear on the imitation machine gun to otherwise create differences between the use of the imitation machine gun and the use of the actual machine gun. The imitation machine gun creates substantially the same experience as using the actual machine gun. Other advantages and improvements will become apparent upon gaining a full appreciation of the present invention.

[0069] The detail of the above description constitutes a description of a preferred example of implementing the invention, and the detail of this description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention except to the extent explicitly incorporated in the following claims. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.