Low-mass-trigger controlled release of projectiles having variable energies and numbers in a centrifugal propulsion weapon, and methods of weapon use

Abstract

A weapon 1 peripherally discharging projectiles 2 a - 2 n , normally ball bearings, at sustained high rates under centrifugal force preferably has two opposed members 11 each rotating within a housing, or guide track, 10 . Each rotating member 11 preferably has at least two channels, or track, 16 with a radial component within which projectiles 2 a - 2 n received near the center of rotation progress radially outwards until first escaping at 19 , and then being ejected at X, under centrifugal force at the periphery of the at least one rotating member 11 . A projectile release mechanism controls the timing, locations, and numbers of projectiles released per rotation of the at least one rotating member. This mechanism uses (1) opposed connected elongate members 13 , substantially positioned along a radius line and within the at least one member 11 with its distal end protruding within the at least one channel 16 and with a proximal end cam follower 13 contacting the interior circumference 181 of (2) a ring cam 18 , non-rotating to the housing 10 and movable between positions both coaxial, and displaced, to the rotational axis of the at least one rotating member 11 . The elongate members 13 move (1) radially outward under centrifugal force of the rotation of the at least one rotating member 11 until its distal end protrudes within the at least one channel 16 , therein obstructing passage of projectiles 2 a - 2 n along the channel 16 and any ejection of these projectiles 2 a - 2 n from the periphery of the at least one rotating member 11 , until (2) the cam follower 14 of the elongate arm 13 contacts during rotation the cam 181 surface of the ring cam 18 , pulling the elongate member 13 against centrifugal force radially inwards until its distal end ceases to protrude within the channel 16 , losing passage of projectiles 2 a -2 n along the channel 16 for subsequent escape at 19 and for ejection at X.

1 . In a weapon for peripherally discharging projectiles under centrifugal force having
 a housing, or surround track,   at least one member rotating within the housing, and   at least one channel with a radial component within the at least one rotating member within which channel projectiles received near the center of rotation progress radially outwards until, escaping under centrifugal force at the periphery of the at least one rotating member, the projectiles are guided by the housing, or surround track, until finally being ejected from the weapon,   
     an improved projectile release mechanism for controlling passage of projectiles along a channel, and thus an escape of one or more projectiles from the at least one rotating member, and thus the ejection of the one or more projectiles from the weapon, the projectile release mechanism comprising:
 one or more spring-loaded lever release mechanisms, each located in a cavity separate from the projectiles channel but each proximate to an outer end of an associated projectiles channel, each lever release mechanism having a catch resting against an associated sear of a selector mechanism so that, when triggered by movement of the selector mechanism and its sear, a spring-loaded arm does move within an associated channel sufficiently so as to controllably gate a passage of projectiles along this associated channel, and a progression towards the escape of the one or more projectiles from the at least one rotating member, and thus also a progression towards the ejection of the one or more projectiles from the weapon; 
 a selector mechanism, positioned substantially concentric but slightly eccentric to the at least one rotating member and having one or more arms terminating in a sear that is within the cavity of, and that engages a spring-loaded lever release, or an associated spring-loaded lever release mechanism, the selector mechanism also having one or more cam followers engaging the inner circumference of a ring cam so that the slight eccentricity of the selector mechanism does cause with rotation of the ring cam that first one, and then a next, of the spring-loaded lever release mechanisms will be triggered, making that a succession or projectiles are gated from each channel, and from all channels, of the rotating member, and of the weapon; and 
 a ring cam, stationary to the housing and with its center eccentrically displaced from a rotational axis of the at least one rotating member, having an interior circumferential cam surface that, when engaged and contacted during rotation by the cam followers of the selector member, the selector member will be caused to move in position so as to cause that first one, and then a next, of the spring-loaded lever release mechanisms will be triggered, making that a succession or projectiles are gated from each channel, and from all channels, of the rotating member, and of the weapon; 
 wherein the movement of the slightly eccentric selector mechanism is but slight, and substantially balanced about the axis of rotation of the at least one rotating member, making both that (1) the coaction of the selector mechanism and the one or more spring-loaded release mechanisms can be very fast, and very many projectiles can be gated in their channels and ejected from the weapon per unit time, and (2) the weapon is substantially devoid of vibration during this gating and this ejection. 
 
   
   
       2 . The weapon in accordance with  claim 1   wherein the cam surface of the ring cam acts on the cam followers of the selector mechanism to gate via the spring-loaded lever release mechanism (1) the passage of exactly one projectile within a channel of the at least one rotating member, (2) the escape of this one projectile from the rotating member, and (3) the ejection of this one projectile from the weapon, per each rotation of the rotating member.   
   
   
       3 . The weapon in accordance with  claim 2   wherein a projectile escaping the at least one rotating member by action of the spring-loaded lever release mechanism contacts the housing, of guide track, while also contacting and abutting a next projectile within the channel, making that each spring-loaded release mechanism may cycle to its closed position obstructing progression of projectiles within the channel without obstructing or frictional contact with any projectiles   
   
   
       4 . The weapon in accordance with  claim 1   wherein the cam surface of the ring cam acts on the one or more cam followers of the selector mechanism so as to gate via the spring-loaded lever release mechanism (1) the passage of a plurality of projectiles within the channel of the at least one rotating member, (2) the escape of this plurality of projectiles from the rotating member, and (3) the ejection of this plurality of projectiles from the weapon, per each rotation of the rotating member.   
   
   
       5 . The weapon in accordance with  claim 1   wherein the at least one rotating member, the release mechanism with its cam followers, and the ring cam, are all substantially in the same plane.   
   
   
       6 . The weapon according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 an electric motor rotating the at least one rotating member   
   
   
       7 . The weapon according to  claim 6  further comprising:
 a control for the motor.   
   
   
       9 . A method of gating a passage of projectiles within a channel within a rotating member of a weapon ejecting the projectiles by centrifugal force, the gating method directed to controlling the ejecting of the projectiles, the method comprising:
 substantially balancing a projectile trigger release mechanism in all its parts about an axis of rotation of the rotating member so that, during movement of parts of the projectile trigger release mechanism between (1) a first position obstructing any passage of projectiles within a projectile channel under centrifugal force, and any subsequent ejection of projectiles so passed, and (2) a second position no longer obstructing the channel of the rotating member, permitting projectiles to pass along the channel under centrifugal force and to subsequently be ejected from and by the weapon, minimum unbalanced inertial forces are experienced by heavier parts, and the gating action can correspondingly be very rapid, and the projectile ejection very fast.   
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein projectile gating, and ejection, in excess of one projectile per second is enabled. 
   
   
       11 . A method of gating a passage of projectiles within a channel within a rotating member of a weapon ejecting the projectiles by centrifugal force, the gating method directed to controlling the ejecting of the projectiles, the method comprising:
 substantially balancing a projectile trigger release mechanism in all its parts about an axis of rotation of the rotating member so that, during movement of parts of the projectile trigger release mechanism between (1) a first position obstructing any passage of projectiles within a projectile channel under centrifugal force, and any subsequent ejection of projectiles so passed, and (2) a second position no longer obstructing the channel of the rotating member, permitting projectiles to pass along the channel under centrifugal force and to subsequently be ejected from and by the weapon, minimum unbalanced inertial forces are experienced by heavier parts, and the vibration of the weapon is correspondingly low.