Ammunition Delinker for a Firearm

Abstract

A delinker ( 150 ) for a firearm may feature a modular delinker shaft ( 152 ) such that individual components may be replaced when they fail, rather than replacing a whole shaft. Push rods ( 164 ) may be keyed to guides ( 162 ) to counter centrifugal, inertial, force. Lock rods ( 170 ) may be used to accomplish the keyed interaction. Firing bolts may also utilize the keyed construction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A delinking apparatus for linked ammunition, the apparatus comprising:
 a delinker shaft having a feed spindle on one end and a feed sprocket proximate a middle of the delinker shaft;   a guide sleeve on an end of the delinker shaft opposite the feed spindle, the guide sleeve being removable from the delinker shaft and further comprising a plurality of guide troughs;   a drive gear residing on the guide sleeve;   a plurality of push rods, one residing in each guide trough and interfacing with the guide sleeve in a manner to allow longitudinal motion along an axis of the delinker shaft such that each push rod may extend through the drive gear.   
     
     
         2 . The delinking apparatus of  claim 1 , the push rods being keyed against centrifugal forces within the guide troughs. 
     
     
         3 . The delinking apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of guide rods, at least one for each push rod, the guide rods and push rods interacting to cam the push rods within the guide troughs. 
     
     
         4 . The delinking apparatus of  claim 3 , the plurality of guide rods numbering two for each push rod and each guide rod is mounted upon a side of one push rod, interfacing with said side of each one push rod and a wall of one guide trough. 
     
     
         5 . The delinking apparatus of  claim 2 , each push rod having a trapezoidal shape, with a longer side closer to the axis of the delinker shaft and the guide troughs having a corresponding shape being wider at a point closest to the axis of the delinker shaft than at the circumference of the guide sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . A delinking apparatus for linked ammunition, the apparatus comprising:
 a delinker shaft having a feed spindle on one end and a feed sprocket proximate a middle of the delinker shaft;   a guide sleeve on an end of the delinker shaft opposite the feed spindle, the guide sleeve further comprising a plurality of guide troughs;   a drive gear residing on the guide sleeve;   a plurality of push rods, one residing in each guide trough and interfacing with the guide sleeve in a manner to allow longitudinal motion along an axis of the delinker shaft such that each push rod may extend through the drive gear the push rods being keyed against centrifugal forces within the guide troughs   
     
     
         7 . The delinking apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of guide rods, at least one for each push rod, the guide rods and push rods interacting to cam the push rods within the guide troughs. 
     
     
         8 . The delinking apparatus of  claim 7 , the plurality of guide rods numbering two for each push rod and each guide rod is mounted upon a side of one push rod, interfacing with said side of each one push rod and a wall of one guide trough. 
     
     
         9 . The delinking apparatus of  claim 6 , each push rod having a trapezoidal shape, with a longer side closer to the axis of the delinker shaft and the guide troughs having a corresponding shape being wider at a point closest to the axis of the delinker shaft than at the circumference of the guide sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . A push rod in a rotary firearm, said rotary firearm comprising a rotating shaft defining an axis of rotation with a plurality of guide troughs and residing within a casing having a helical cam track on its interior surface; the push rod comprising:
 an elongate body which fits within one of the plurality of guide troughs, being keyed against centrifugal forces within the one of the plurality of guide troughs; and   a cam head at a far end of the elongate body, said head interacting with the helical cam track.   
     
     
         11 . The push rod of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one guide rod, the at least one guide rod and the push rod interacting to cam the push rod within the guide trough. 
     
     
         12 . The push rod of  claim 11 , the at least one guide rod numbering two, with each guide rod mounted upon a side of one push rod, interfacing with said side of the push rod and a wall of one guide trough. 
     
     
         13 . The push rod of  claim 10  having a trapezoidal shape, with a longer side closer to the axis of rotation and the guide troughs having a corresponding shape being wider at a point closest to the axis of rotation than at the circumference of the rotating shaft.