Jul 14, 2026

US12680774 - Safing sector and method of use

A safing sector for a minigun including a housing with an opening adjacent to barrels of the minigun comprising a safing sector cover; one or more retaining pin assemblies configured to retain the cover to the housing over the opening; a safing sector slide member; a safing sector slide control mechanism including a locking arm configured to impart forward and rearward sliding movement of the safing sector slide member relative to the safing sector cover between at least a fire position and a safe position, and a locking mechanism pivotally coupled to the locking arm and including a shelf stop to engage a locking shelf of the safing sector cover to lock the locking arm and the safing sector slide member in the fire position.

Assignee: TMP WEAPONS, LLC
Inventors: Joshua Phillip Alexander, Stephen Mckinnley Estep
Filing date: 2023-12-06

minigunsafingfirearmmechanism

The patent describes a safing sector for a minigun that includes a cover, retaining pin assemblies, and a slide member that can move between fire and safe positions, allowing for safe operation without damaging bolt assemblies. The design features a locking mechanism that secures the slide member in the fire position, enabling electrical rotation of the barrels without firing.

Claim 1

1 . A safing sector for a minigun including a housing with an opening adjacent to barrels of the minigun, comprising: a safing sector cover configured to cover the opening of the housing of the minigun; one or more retaining pin assemblies configured to retain the cover to the housing of the minigun; a safing sector slide member configured to slide forward and rearward relative to the safing sector cover and including a concave locking shelf; a safing sector slide control mechanism configured to impart the forward and rearward sliding movement of the safing sector slide member relative to the safing sector cover between at least a fire position and a safe position, where the barrels of the minigun may be rotated electrically without firing and without bolt assemblies becoming damaged, the safing sector slide control mechanism includes a locking arm configured to impart forward and rearward sliding movement of the safing sector slide member relative to the safing sector cover, and a locking mechanism pivotally coupled to the locking arm and including a distal end terminating in a convex locking mechanism shelf stop to push on and engage the concave locking shelf of the safing sector slide member to lock the locking arm and the safing sector slide member in the fire position. a safing sector cover configured to cover the opening of the housing of the minigun; one or more retaining pin assemblies configured to retain the cover to the housing of the minigun; a safing sector slide member configured to slide forward and rearward relative to the safing sector cover and including a concave locking shelf; a safing sector slide control mechanism configured to impart the forward and rearward sliding movement of the safing sector slide member relative to the safing sector cover between at least a fire position and a safe position, where the barrels of the minigun may be rotated electrically without firing and without bolt assemblies becoming damaged, the safing sector slide control mechanism includes a locking arm configured to impart forward and rearward sliding movement of the safing sector slide member relative to the safing sector cover, and a locking mechanism pivotally coupled to the locking arm and including a distal end terminating in a convex locking mechanism shelf stop to push on and engage the concave locking shelf of the safing sector slide member to lock the locking arm and the safing sector slide member in the fire position.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12680774

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12680774