Gau-21 trigger

Abstract

A mechanism configured to be coupled to a gun to electronically fire the gun, such as a GAU-21 machine gun, from a location remote from the gun. The mechanism includes a lifter configured to be inserted into a rear portion of the gun proximate the gun's bolt latch bar. A lever is coupled to the lifter and is configured to lift the lifter and the bolt latch bar as the gun reciprocates during firing. An electronic actuator, such as a solenoid, is configured to drive the lever to responsively lift the lifter bar, wherein the mechanism is configured to reciprocate with the gun as it is firing.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A mechanism configured to be coupled to a gun having a bolt and a bolt latch bar, comprising:
 a lifter configured to be inserted into a rear portion of the gun proximate the bolt latch bar;   a lever coupled to the lifter and configured to lift the lifter and the bolt latch bar as the gun reciprocates during firing; and   an electronic actuator configured to drive the lever to responsively lift the lifter bar and the bolt latch bar, wherein the mechanism is configured to reciprocate with the gun as it is firing.   
     
     
         2 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 1  wherein the mechanism comprises a body having a slot, wherein the mechanism comprises a member configured to slide in the slot when the lifter is lifted. 
     
     
         3 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 2  wherein the member is configured to lift in the slot when the lifter is lifted. 
     
     
         4 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 3  wherein the member and the gun latch bar are configured to move parallel to each other as the lifter is lifted. 
     
     
         5 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 1  wherein the lifter further comprises a bell crank configured to create a mechanical advantage on the lifter. 
     
     
         6 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 5  further comprising a clevis coupled to the bell crank, wherein the clevis is directly coupled to the electronic actuator and is configured to retract when the electronic actuator retracts. 
     
     
         7 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 5  wherein the electronic actuator is a solenoid. 
     
     
         8 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 7  further comprising a solenoid spring configured to return the lever to a resting position when the gun is not firing, wherein the solenoid spring is also configured to allow the solenoid to pull against the solenoid spring to actuate the lever and lift the bolt latch bar. 
     
     
         9 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a bolt latch pawl pinned to the lifter and spring loaded by a torsion spring in a forward direction, the bolt latch pawl having a bottom flap, and 
 a limit of travel pawl coupled to the bolt latch pawl. 
 
     
     
         10 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 9  wherein the lifter is configured to move upward such that the bolt latch pawl moves upwardly with it, pushing the limit of travel pawl out of the way and lifting the gun's bolt latch bar. 
     
     
         11 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 10  wherein when the electronic actuator is released, the bolt latch pawl is intermittently caught on a top surface of the limit of travel pawl. 
     
     
         12 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 11  wherein when the bolt travels rearward it is configured to hit the bottom flap of the bolt latch pawl and knock it off the limit of travel pawl. 
     
     
         13 . A mechanism configured to be coupled to a GAU-21 gun having a bolt and a bolt latch bar, comprising:
 a body;   a lifter coupled to the body and configured to be inserted into a rear portion of the GAU-21 gun proximate the bolt latch bar;   a lever coupled to the body and the lifter, the lever configured to lift the lifter and the bolt latch bar as the gun reciprocates during firing;   an electronic actuator configured to drive the lever to responsively lift the lifter bar and the bolt latch bar, wherein the mechanism is configured to reciprocate with the GAU-21 gun as it is firing.   
     
     
         14 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 13  wherein the body has a slot, and further comprises a member configured to slide in the slot when the lifter is lifted. 
     
     
         15 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 14  wherein the member is configured to lift in the slot when the lifter is lifted. 
     
     
         16 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 15  wherein the member and the gun latch bar are configured to move parallel to each other as the lifter is lifted. 
     
     
         17 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 16  wherein the lifter further comprises a bell crank configured to create a mechanical advantage on the lifter. 
     
     
         18 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 17  further comprising a clevis coupled to the bell crank, wherein the clevis is directly coupled to the electronic actuator and configured to retract when the electronic actuator retracts. 
     
     
         19 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 18  wherein the electronic actuator is a solenoid. 
     
     
         20 . The mechanism as specified in  claim 19  further comprising a solenoid spring configured to return the lever to a resting position when the gun is not firing, wherein the solenoid spring is also configured to allow the solenoid to pull against the solenoid spring to actuate the lever and lift the bolt latch bar.