Figure 6-3.—Gun component locations.Barrels. The M61A1 automatic gun has six rifledbarrels. They are supported by the stub rotor attachedto the rotor body. The three rows of interrupted lockinglugs on the barrel engage similar interrupted lockinglugs in the rotor to secure the barrel. There are threeknurled bands near the center of the barrels. Thesebands give you a gripping surface for easy installationand removal of the barrels from the rotor.Recoil adapters. The recoil adapters are mountedon the bearing retainer and provide the front mountingfor the gun. There are alternate locations for the recoiladapters with respect to the gun’s axis. These locationsare possible because the bearing retainers can bemounted to the housing in increments of 60 degrees.The adapters reduce the amount of recoil andcounter-recoil forces transmitted to the supportingstructure when the weapon is fired.Firing contact assembly. The firing contactassembly is mounted to the housing so that the connectoris outside the housing, and the spring-loaded cam isinside the assembly. The contact assembly provides thenecessary path for the current to enter the housing andreach the breech-bolt assembly. This path goes throughthe connector to the conductor, to the insulated insert inthe contact cam assembly, and then to the breech-boltassembly.Clearing solenoid assembly. The clearingsolenoid assembly is mounted near the back of the gunhousing. It is linked to and controls the movement ofthe clearing sector assembly.Clearing sector assembly. The clearing sectorassembly is linked to and controlled by the clearingsolenoid assembly. When the solenoid is activated, thesector arm diverts the bolt assemblies into the clearingcam path.Guide bar. The guide bar is located on the gunhousing. It guides the rounds into and out of theextractor lip that is located on each of the six breech-boltassemblies.Breech-bolt assembly. The breech-bolt assemblypicks up a round as it enters the gun, transports it to thefiring chamber, locks it into the firing position, transmitsthe firing voltage to the primer of the round, and returnsthe empty case to the guide bar, where it is cammed outof the gun. An extractor lip on the front of each boltassembly engages the rim of a round throughout theseactions.There are six breech-bolt assemblies in the gun.Guide slots or grooves on the side of the bolt bodypermit it to slide on the rotor tracks. The bolt roller shaftdetermines the position of the bolt as it follows the maincam path or the clearing cam path in the housing.6-3
Integrated Publishing, Inc. - A (SDVOSB) Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business
