Electrically-fired and magnetically actuated firearm

• US 5,074,189 A
• Filed: 12/22/1989
• Issued: 12/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Legend Ammunition Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Legend Ammunition Incorporated
• Inventors: Kurtz, Earl F.
• Primary Examiner(s): BENTLEY, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US07/456,988
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 42/10, 42/11, 42/50, 42/84, 89/28.05, 89/135, 89/161, 89/177, 89/178
• US Class Current: 89/135
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/61 Inductive generators F41A19/63 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/64 for automatic or burst-firing mode
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 5/20 using a gas piston arranged concentrically around the barrel
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/65 Box magazines having a cartridge follower

Abstract

An electrically-fired cartridgeless ammunition projectile firearm system, which can operate with or without batteries, and which system has only one moving part is provided. The firearm system uses magnets to generate the charges which are required to detonate the projectiles, uses opposing magnets to eliminate the need for the inclusion of recoil springs after firing, and also uses magnets to dampen the recoil of the firearm. Additionally, it provides a firearm system, which, when loaded with a magazine and ready to fire, operates with no external openings with the exception of the muzzle and cooling slots surrounding the firing chamber, so that it can operate under almost any physical or climatic conditions. It is also designed to utilize a forward motion of its barrel on firing, which reduces the amount of recoil felt by the user. The several factors which reduce recoil, improves accuracy. It is simple in construction, design and operation, thereby providing a great reduction in production costs and in training requirements, even for operators having no firearm experience.

Claims

1. A firearm comprising:

(a) a tubular barrel having an inside, an outside, a bore end, a middle and a rear end, said middle having a plurality of slots;

(b) at least one port, said at least one port being located integral to said tubular barrel whereby expanding gases resulting from the firing of projectile propellant pass through said at least one port and force said tubular barrel to move forward;

(c) a firing chamber, said firing chamber being stationary and enclosed, whereby said firing chamber can be loaded automatically;

(d) a means for attaching said firing chamber to said rear end of said tubular barrel, said attachment means being capable of allowing said firing chamber and said barrel to separate from each other and reattach upon recoil of the firearm;

(e) a plurality of field coils located within said firing chamber;

(f) a magazine having an inside and an outside, said magazine connected to said tubular barrel and said firing chamber.

(g) a plurality of magazine magnets, said magazine magnets being securably located within said magazine whereby said magazine magnets supply the necessary force to feed projectiles into the breech of the firearm;

(h) a trigger assembly having a trigger switch, a safety switch, a control unit and a capacitor, said trigger assembly being securely attached to said firing chamber;

(i) a means for electrically igniting the projectile propellant, said igniting means creating an electrical energy to ignite a projectile propellant through the use of a combustible priming wafer, said electrical energy being released from said capacitor upon the pulling of said trigger switch causing the closing of a circuit.

2. The firearm as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said igniting means comprises a plurality of magnets releasably attached to said barrel whereby said magnets are allowed to move along said barrel in close proximity to said field coils.

3. The firearm as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises a plurality of magnets, whereby said magnets resist separation of said tubular barrel and said firing chamber until the resulting gas expansion of a conventionally fired projectile enters said ports after the passage of the projectile through said tubular barrel.

4. The firearm as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said firing chamber is enclosed within a chrome plating.

5. The firearm as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said firing chamber comprises an electrode, said electrode being encased by a ceramic insulation.

6. The firearm as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said inside of said magazine is comprised of high density nylon.

7. The firearm as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said outside of said magazine is comprised of high impact plastic.

8. The firearm as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said computer chip of said trigger assembly comprises a safe mode whereby the firearm will not function, a semi mode whereby the weapon shall fire one shot per pull of trigger, a three mode whereby the weapon shall fire three shots fully automatically in a burst per each pull of the trigger, and a full mode whereby the weapon shall fire fully automatically during the time that the trigger is held back or until the magazine is emptied.

9. The firearm as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said inside of said inside of said tubular barrel comprises a plurality of guide rails.

10. The firearm as disclosed in claim 9 wherein said guide rails are comprised of high density nylon.

11. The firearm as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said magazine is adapted to hold approximately 200 rounds of projectile ammunition.

12. The firearm as disclosed in claim 11 wherein said magazine is detachably connected to the firearm.