Apr 22, 2025

US12281867 - Clutch assembly for a rotary machine gun

A clutch assembly for a rotary machine gun includes a drive sleeve mountable to the gun, a clutch gear slidably and rotatably mounted on the sleeve, a clutch housing on the sleeve, a shifter in the housing, and a solenoid assembly secured to the housing. The clutch gear is configured to engage and rotate with the sleeve. A plunger on the sleeve urges the clutch gear away from engagement with the sleeve. The shifter is configured to push the clutch gear into engagement with the sleeve when actuated. The solenoid assembly includes a solenoid housing, a plunger configured to actuate the shifter, a plunger rod, a biasing member, and a lever on the plunger rod. The lever is manually pivotable to move the clutch gear to a neutral position wherein the gear is rotatable about the sleeve in either of two opposing directions until the solenoid assembly is electrically actuated.

Assignee: CHD Holdings, LLC
Inventors: Kristopher Lee Paulson, Matthew Steinhauser
Filing date: 2023-12-29

firearmmachine gunclutch assembly

The patent describes a clutch assembly designed for rotary machine guns, featuring a drive sleeve, a clutch gear, and a solenoid assembly that enables selective engagement and disengagement of the clutch gear. This assembly allows for manual and electrically actuated control, facilitating rotation in either direction while maintaining a neutral position when not engaged.

Claim 1

A clutch assembly for a rotary machine gun, comprising: a drive sleeve configured to be mounted to a rotor of the rotary machine gun, the drive sleeve having a forward end and a plurality of crowns at the forward end; a clutch gear slidably mounted on the drive sleeve; and at least one plunger assembly on the drive sleeve configured to urge the clutch gear rearwardly along the drive sleeve away from the plurality of crowns. a drive sleeve configured to be mounted to a rotor of the rotary machine gun, the drive sleeve having a forward end and a plurality of crowns at the forward end; a clutch gear slidably mounted on the drive sleeve; and at least one plunger assembly on the drive sleeve configured to urge the clutch gear rearwardly along the drive sleeve away from the plurality of crowns.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12281867

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12281867