EP0098463A1 - Portable launching tube having recoil brake means - Google Patents

Abstract

This launching tube comprises a stand (1), a barrel tube (9) fixed to a block (8) equipped with a cartridge chamber (65) sliding in the stand (1), a recoil brake (6, 7) absorbing the recoil energy of the barrel (9) and block (8) and causing the barrel and block to return to battery, a mechanism for locking ammunition (43) in the cartridge chamber (65) and release and percussion mechanisms. The percussion mechanism (34, 38, 39) is mounted on the block (8) and, during the recoil of the barrel tube (9) and block (8), separates from the release mechanism (20, 28) carried by the stand (1). The cartridge chamber (65) is open rearwards, the case of the ammunition (43) alone effecting its closure. The locking mechanism comprises two ammunition (43) locking pawls pivoted on the block (8) and maintained elastically in the locked position. It comprises a device for the automatic opening of these pawls during the recoil and return to battery of the barrel tube (9) and block (8). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to an individual shoulder weapon comprising a reversing brake. Capable of assuming multiple roles, it is able to increase the autonomy of the infantry, filling a gap in its equipment.

The design allows for a simple weapon that is safe to operate and easy to service. Its effectiveness provides significant fire support to the infantryman.

This very handy weapon because of its small size, its lightness and the good position of its center of gravity, is able to launch in tight shot at high initial speeds and with precision explosive projectiles of different types.

The unusual performance of this weapon can be compared to a real pocket cannon.

The constructive arrangements which reconcile mechanical simplicity, robustness and short length also make it possible to obtain an advantageous proportion of the collating mass, compared to the fixed mass. Its long-stroke recoil brake, which absorbs most of the recoil energy, considerably reduces the reaction effect on the shooter's shoulder, which can therefore support it normally.

The low operating pressures ensure precious firing discretion for the user who can remain fused in infantry units during engagements.

The relative lightness of the ammunition, in comparison with its caliber and the initial speed of the shell, allows the servant to have the many shots he is able to transport.

The characteristics of the weapon allow it to missions very diverse from each other. Its rifled barrel allows it to precisely reach punctual targets at unusual ranges in the firing range, being explosive shells for the infantry.

We can point out the effective intervention of the weapon against various objectives. So the weapon can be used during the progression of the infantry to execute embrasure shots intended to destroy machine-gun nests, shots to neutralize anti-tank weapons even protected by shields which were posted by the enemy in folds of ground & i _i n, or, while the infantry is waiting on its positions, instant fire against enemy helicopters flying at low altitude, as well as attacks on vehicles carrying enemy, as pa _the example of ATVs. Against these targets, the shooting of conventional rifles has no effect.

Not requiring any particular preparation, the weapon has the faculty to intervene without delay. This speed of implementation, like the reloading facilities and the great maneuverability, contribute to obtaining a good yield. This type of weapon, which was intended to be distributed to the infantry at the rate of a few copies per company, strengthens its firepower and its means of action without reducing its mobility.

The reversible brake shoulder gun according to the invention comprises a frame, a barrel tube integral with a block having a cartridge chamber sliding in the frame and a recoil brake capable of partially absorbing the recoil energy of the tube -canon and the aforementioned block and cause the resetting of the barrel tube and the block. According to the invention, the cartridge chamber is open towards the rear so that it is the cartridge case which alone ensures the closure of the cartridge chamber without requiring a cylinder head. The sleeve is held in position by a mechanism for locking the ammunition which is mounted on the aforementioned block secured to the barrel-tube. In this way, the locking mechanism can be actuated during the movement of the barrel-tube and of the aforementioned block, by contact with means integral with the frame.

The ammunition locking mechanism preferably comprises at least one locking pawl pivoted on the aforementioned block and resiliently held normally in the locked position. In practice, we see that it is preferred rable to provide two locking pawls arranged symmetrically, which are similar to pivoting jaws, retaining the casing laterally and rear on two sectors, when the ammunition was introduced into the thunder of the weapon.

This original device replacing the cylinder head is preferably used in combination with a socket whose base thickness is reinforced so as to resist the thrust forces in the absence of any cylinder head. Since the weapon operates under low pressures, this reinforcement of the base of the casing is not very substantial and does not weigh it down much.

The pivoting movement of each of the locking pawls is preferably obtained by means of a first cam integral with each locking pawl and capable of cooperating, during the recoil stroke and during the resetting of the barrel tube and of the aforementioned block with a second cam secured to a flap pivotally mounted on the frame and subjected to an elastic return tending to move it in the direction of the aforementioned block.

The first and second cams preferably have a parallelogram shape, two faces of which are inclined so as to define wedge-shaped ends. These Extremists _- moth-eaten facilitate pivoting each flap at the back and the pivoting of each locking pawl when handing in battery. In another embodiment, the shape and arrangement of the cams can be different so that the pivoting of each locking pawl causing the release of the cartridge case takes place on the contrary during the recoil movement.

The percussion mechanism is advantageously mounted on the aforementioned block secured to the barrel tube and it therefore separates from the trigger mechanism carried by the frame during the retraction of the barrel tube and the aforementioned block. The hammer of the percussion mechanism is preferably mounted on the aforementioned block so as to come into contact, during the recoil stroke, with a stop secured to the frame which thus causes its rearming. When the tube-barrel and the aforementioned block are in battery, a movable stop controlled by the trigger mechanism is in contact with an oscillating pawl of the percussion mechanism which locks the dog in the armed position.

An elastically mounted ejector device, for example subjected to the action of a spring, is further provided for ejecting the sleeve.

Under these conditions, the device without breech of the shoulder gun of the invention which was designed to block the socket, allows the latter to benefit from an automatic ejection while having the merit of allowing further simplification of different mechanical organs. and to provide remarkable ease and speed of loading the ammunition.

The shoulder cannon with recoil brake according to the invention constitutes an individual one-shot weapon provided with an automatic ejector of the casing but with manual loading. The type of ammunition used is sealed. Its projectile is of a significant caliber compared to the lightness of the weapon and the relatively high initial speed.

The present invention therefore makes it possible to produce a handy, robust individual weapon, of simple manufacture, of easy use and which does not present any particular technical difficulty.

• Les fig. 1 à 3 en sont des vues de côté, respectivement par dessus et par l'arrière;
• la fig. 4 illustre à plus grande échelle et en coupe une partie de l'arme à feu montrant le mécanisme de détente;
• la fig. 5 illustre à plus grande échelle et en coupe la partie arrière de l'arme à feu;
• la fi^g. 6 est une vue de l'arrière de l'arme, certaines parties étant vues en coupe;
• la fig. 7 est une coupe partielle suivant la ligne X-X de la fig. 5;
• la fig. 8 est une vue en plan, partiellement en coupe de la partie arrière de l'arme à feu en position de tir;
• la fig. 9 est une vue schématique de la partie arrière de l'arme pendant le recul du canon;
• la fig.10 est une vue schématique de l'arrière de l'arme, le canon revenant en batterie après le départ d'un coup;
• la fig. 11 est une vue de côté de la partie arrière de l'arme.

The accompanying drawing illustrates schematically and by way of nonlimiting example an embodiment of the shoulder gun according to the present invention.

• Figs. 1 to 3 are side views, respectively from above and from the rear;
• fig. 4 illustrates on a larger scale and in section a part of the firearm showing the trigger mechanism;
• fig. 5 illustrates on a larger scale and in section the rear part of the firearm;
• the fi ^g . 6 is a view of the rear of the weapon, certain parts being seen in section;
• fig. 7 is a partial section along the line XX of FIG. 5;
• fig. 8 is a plan view, partially in section, of the rear part of the firearm in the firing position;
• fig. 9 is a schematic view of the rear part of the weapon during the retreat of the barrel;
• Fig.10 is a schematic view of the rear of the weapon, the barrel returning in battery after the start of a shot;
• fig. 11 is a side view of the rear part of the weapon.

The firearm shown comprises a tubular frame 1, open at its two ends, having at its front end a muzzle brake 2. This muzzle brake 2 is either machined in the frame, or attached to it.

On the lower part of this frame 1 are fixed a handle 3, a shoulder pad 4 and a handle 5 enclosing a part of the detent mechanism and incidentally a folding grip handle 71.

The upper part of this frame 1 carries the fixed assembly 6 of a recoil brake, the movable part 7 of which is rigidly fixed to a block 8 enclosing the cartridge chamber screwed onto the rear end of a rifled barrel tube 9 slidably mounted inside the tubular frame 1. The fixed assembly 6 of the recoil brake is fitted into two collars 69 of the frame 1 of the weapon. A front cap 6a, and a rear socket 6b, both screwed onto the body 6 of the brake make the latter integral with the frame 1. Thus, the recoil brake is removably mounted on the frame.

In the firing position, the barrel tube 9 is entirely housed in the frame 1 which effectively guarantees it against impact and which simultaneously constitutes thermal protection for the user.

The block 8 includes a rear extension 10 containing the percussion mechanism which moves with the barrel tube during the retreat after the start of the shot.

The handle 5 has on its rear face a security keeper 12 pivoted at 13 on the frame 1 and provided with a spout 14 cooperating with a part 15 of the expansion mechanism.

The front edge of the handle supports a trigger 16 pivoted on the handle at 17 and acting on an arm of a V-shaped lever 18 articulated by its center 19 on the frame. The other arm of this lever 18 acts on a transmission rod _. 20 bearing the part 15.

A manual locking is provided consisting of a semicircular milled axis 21 pivoted in the housing of the handle and actuated by a safety lever 22. When this safety is locked, as illustrated in FIG. 4, any rotation of the lever 18 is prohibited.

So that the transmission rod 20 can slide backwards under the action of a rotation of the lever 18, caused by the trigger 16, the safety device 21 must be removed and the keeper 12 must also be pressed, this which causes the spout 14 which forms part thereof to be erased, and thus frees the part 15 integral with the transmission rod.

The handle 5, trigger 16, the lever 18, _'as well as the keeper 12 constitute an assembly removably mounted and retained on the frame 1 by means of two semicircular milled axes 23, the heads of which have slots screws accessible from outside the frame 1.

The shoulder plate 4 is also removably fixed using two semi-circular milled axes with slotted heads 24, 25 on the frame 1.

The transmission rod 20 slides in bearings 26, 27 integral with the frame 1 and its rear end, emerging from the frame 1 is constituted by a stop 28. This rod 20 and this stop 28 are subjected to an elastic return action, here a spring 29 stretched between the stop 28 and the frame 1, intended to hold this rod 20 against the lever 18. This stop comprises a transverse bore 28a passing through.

A cover 30 fixed to the frame 1 by screws 31, 32 hides the rod.

A damper 11, fixed on the frame 1, serves as support and protection, when the weapon is placed vertically on the ground.

The percussion mechanism comprises an oscillating pawl 34 pivoted on the extension 10 of the block 8 and subjected to the action a return spring 35. In the armed position, illustrated in FIG. 5, the pawl 34 is held in abutment against a pin 36 secured to the extension 10 and its end 37, having a beak, is engaged under the end 38 of the dog 39, pivoted on the extension 10 at 40, and the maintains in this armed position against the action of at least one spring 41. The percussion head 39a of the dog 39 comes, by pivoting under the action of the spring 41, when its end 38 is released from the pawl 37, strike directly the primer 42 of a munition 43 introduced into the cartridge chamber 65, the rear end of larger diameter receives the rear edge of a socket 43a of an ammunition. An ejector 50 subjected to the action of an ejection spring 51 comprises an ejection finger 52 housed in a countersink on the rear face of the block 8 which cooperates with part of the periphery of the sleeve 43a. This ejector 50 is provided with a manual ejection ring 53. The stroke of the ejector 50 is limited by a stop 60 fixed in the block 8 and the end of which is engaged in a longitudinal groove 61 of the ejector 50 (fig. 9).

The ammunition housed in the cartridge chamber of block 8 is normally maintained in the start position of the blow by two locking pawls 55 pivoted on block 8, the rear part of which has nozzles 56 coming into contact with the rear edge of the casing 43a. Each locking pawl 55 is articulated on two sockets 54 driven into the block 8 and is subjected to the action of a spring plunger 57 tending to keep it in the locked position. The upper front end 58 of the locking pawls 55 constitutes a manual unlocking member. Two stops 67 limit the travel of the locking pawls 55 before loading the ammunition.

The weapon is equipped with an automatic opening device of the locking pawls 55, which opening takes place during the return in battery of the barrel after the departure of the shot. This automatic opening device comprises a cam 59, integral with the lower arm of each locking pawl 55, having the shape of a parallelogram. During the recoil of the barrel tube 9 and of the block 8, each cam 59 cooperates with a corresponding cam 62, also of parallelepipedal shape, carried by flaps 63 pivoting around axes 64, parallel to the axis of the barrel tube 9, mounted on the frame 1 and subjected, s _- to the action of a spring 66 tending to maintain them in the vertical position illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8. Each cli _- quet lock 55 also comprises a lower front end 45 cooperating with a latch 46 subject to the action of a return spring 47. These bolts 46 slide in transverse passages of the block 8 and are coaxial at the passage 28a of the stop 28.

According to a variant not illustrated, the pawls can be secured to one another, for example by means of a gear, so that the movement of one simultaneously causes the same movement of the other.

The external diameter of these latches 46 is slightly less than the internal diameter of the passage 28a.

In the locked position (fig. 8) of the locking pawls 55, the latches 46 are located outside the passage 28a of the stopper 28. On the other hand, as soon as one of the locking pawls 55 is angularly moved in the direction of arrow f, the corresponding latch 46 enters the passage 28a of the stop 28 preventing any movement of the transmission rod 20 and the stop 28, and thus preventing the operation of the trigger.

The functioning of the shoulder gun described is as follows:

• a) le tireur libère la sécurité 21 en faisant pivoter le levier de sécurité 22 de 180°.
• b) Le tireur épaule l'arme, vise le but à l'aide du viseur 70, prend la poignée en main, ce qui déplace la gâche 12 et libère la tige de transmission 20.
• c) Le tireur appuie sur la détente 16 provoquant le déplacement vers l'arrière de l'arme de la tige de transmission 20 et de sa butée 28 contre l'action du ressort 29. Ce faisant, le cliquet 34 est déplacé angulairement jusqu'à ce que son,eytrémité 37 libère le chien 39.
• d) Le chien, sous l'action de son ressort 41 pivote et vient frapper par sa tête 39a l'amorce 42 de la douille 43a provoquant le départ du coup.
• e) L'ensemble constitué par le bloc 8 et le tube-canon 9 recule sous l'effet du départ du coup, le tube-canon coulissant dans le bâti 1. Le frein de recul 6, 7 absorbe une partie de l'énergie de recul.
• f) Pendant la course de recul du tube-canon 9 et du bloc 8, la came 59 des cliquets de verrouillage 55, coopère avec la came 62 des volets 63, déplaçant ces volets 63 vers l'extérieur contre l'action de leur ressort de rappel respectif 66 (fig. 11). Durant cette course de recul également, le chien 39 est réarmé automatiquement par le fait que son extrémité 38.entre en contact avec la butée fixe 68 solidaire du bâti 1 par la vis 33, ce qui le ramène à sa position armée et l'y maintient à nouveau par le cliquet oscillant 34 (fig. 5).
• g) En fin de course de recul, les cames 59 échappent aux cames 62 des volets 63 et ceux-ci reviennent en position verticale sous l'action de leur ressort de rappel 66.
• h) Le frein de recul 67, équipé d'une action élastique de remise en batterie, provoque le déplacement du tube-canon 9 et du bloc 8 en sens inverse pour sa remise en batterie.
• i) Pendant la course de remise en batterie (fig. 10), les cames 59 des cliquets de verrouillage 55 coopèrent avec les cames 62 des volets 63 provoquant le pivotement des cliquets de verrouillage 55 contre l'action des poussoirs 57, ce qui libère la douille 43a.
• j) Une fois libérée, la douille 43a est éjectée par l'éjecteur 50 sous l'action de son ressort 51.
• k) Le tireur ayant relâché la détente 16 et la gâche 12, la tige de transmission 20 est ramenée et verrouillée dans sa position initiale illustrée à la fig. 4 sous l'action du ressort de rappel 29.
• 1) En fin de course de remise en batterie, le tube-canon 9 et le bloc 8 sont à nouveau en position avancée, le cliquet oscillant 34 revient en contact avec la butée 28 de la tige de transmission, mais n'est pas déplacé par celle-ci. Les cliquets de verrouillage 55 reviennent dans leur position de verrouillage sous l'action des poussoirs 57.
• m) Le tireur ou son servant peut alors ouvrir manuellement les cliquets 55 et introduire une nouvelle munition dans la chambre à cartouche 65, puis il relâche les leviers 58 des cliquets de verrouillage 55, ce qui provoque automatiquement le verrouillage de la munition dans la chambre à cartouche 65.

The weapon being in the state illustrated in figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 and assuming that an ammunition 43 is introduced into the barrel-tube, that is to say that the socket 43a of this ammunition is located in the cartridge chamber 65 and as its projectile extends into the barrel tube 9, the following operations are carried out:

• a) the shooter releases the safety 21 by rotating the safety lever 22 by 180 °.
• b) The shooter supports the weapon, aims at the goal using the sight 70, takes the handle in hand, which moves the keeper 12 and releases the transmission rod 20.
• c) The shooter presses the trigger 16 causing the rearward movement of the weapon of the transmission rod 20 and of its stop 28 against the action of the spring 29. In doing so, the pawl 34 is angularly moved up to that its end 37 releases the dog 39.
• d) The dog, under the action of its spring 41 pivots and strikes with its head 39a the primer 42 of the socket 43a causing the start of the blow.
• e) The assembly constituted by the block 8 and the barrel tube 9 moves back under the effect of the start of the blow, the barrel tube sliding in the frame 1. The recoil brake 6, 7 absorbs part of the energy step back.
• f) During the recoil stroke of the barrel tube 9 and of the block 8, the cam 59 of the locking pawls 55 cooperates with the cam 62 of the flaps 63, displacing these flaps 63 outwards against the action of their spring respective recall 66 (fig. 11). During this reversing stroke also, the dog 39 is automatically rearmed by the fact that its end 38. comes into contact with the fixed stop 68 secured to the frame 1 by the screw 33, which brings it back to its armed position and there held again by the oscillating pawl 34 (fig. 5).
• g) At the end of the recoil stroke, the cams 59 escape the cams 62 of the flaps 63 and these return to a vertical position under the action of their return spring 66.
• h) The recoil brake 67, equipped with an elastic resetting action, causes the barrel tube 9 and the block 8 to move in the opposite direction for resetting it.
• i) During the battery reset stroke (fig. 10), the cams 59 of the locking pawls 55 cooperate with the cams 62 of the flaps 63 causing the locking pawls 55 to pivot against the action of the pushers 57, which releases the socket 43a.
• j) Once released, the sleeve 43a is ejected by the ejector 50 under the action of its spring 51.
• k) The shooter having released the trigger 16 and the keeper 12, the transmission rod 20 is brought back and locked in its initial position illustrated in FIG. 4 under the action of the return spring 29.
• 1) At the end of the battery reset stroke, the barrel tube 9 and the block 8 are again in the advanced position, the oscillating pawl 34 comes back into contact with the stop 28 of the transmission rod, but is not moved by it. The locking pawls 55 return to their locking position under the action of the pushers 57.
• m) The shooter or his servant can then manually open the pawls 55 and introduce new ammunition into the cartridge chamber 65, then he releases the levers 58 of the locking pawls 55, which automatically causes the ammunition to be locked in the chamber cartridge 65.

The weapon described is simple and robust in design and easy to handle.

The reversing brake can be of the conventional type, for example of the oleopneumatic type with hollow rod. It includes an energy recovery device allowing automatic return to the battery.

Alternatively, the locking pawls could be connected to each other by a synchronization mechanism to ensure simultaneous and symmetrical movement of the two pawls relative to the frame.

In another variant, the shape of the cams 59 and 62 can be different, so that the opening of the two locking pawls takes place during the back-up stroke instead of taking place during the re-battery run.

Claims (15)

1. Shoulder barrel with reversing brake comprising a frame (1), a barrel-tube (9) integral with a block (8) having a cartridge chamber (65) sliding in the frame (1), a reversing brake . (6,7) capable of partially absorbing the recoil energy of the barrel tube (9) and of the block (8) and of causing the barrel tube (9) and of the block (8) to be re-energized, characterized by the fact that the cartridge chamber (65) is open towards the rear, the socket (43a) of the ammunition (43) ensuring only the closure of said chamber, a mechanism for locking the ammunition being mounted on the block (8) so as to be actuated during the movement of the barrel tube (9) and the block (8), by contact with means integral with the frame (1). 2. Shoulder cannon according to claim 1, characterized in that the ammunition locking mechanism comprises at least one locking pawl (55) pivoted _SUL the block (8) and held resiliently normally in the locked position. 3. Shoulder cannon according to claim 2, characterized in that the ammunition locking mechanism comprises two locking pawls (55) pivoted on the block (8) and held resiliently normally in the locked position. 4. Shoulder-mounted barrel according to claims 2 or 3, characterized in that each locking pawl (55) comprises a first cam (59) which can cooperate, during the recoil stroke and during the resetting of the barrel tube (9) and the block (8), with a second cam (62) integral with a flap (63) pivotally mounted on the frame (1) and subjected to an elastic return tending to move it in the direction of the block (8) . 5. Shoulder barrel according to claim 4, characterized in that the first and second cams (59, 62) have a shape of parallelogram whose two faces are inclined so as to define wedge ends to facilitate the pivoting of each flap ( 63) during recoil and pivoting of each locking pawl (55) during resetting. 6. Shoulder cannon according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the percussion mechanism is mounted on the block (8) and separates from the trigger mechanism carried by the frame (1) during the retraction of the tube- canon (9) and du_bloc (8). 7. Shoulder cannon according to claim 6, characterized in that the hammer (39) of the percussion mechanism comes into contact, during the recoil stroke, with a stop (68) integral with the frame (1), thereby causing its rearmament. 8. Shoulder barrel according to claims 6 or 7, characterized in that when the barrel tube (9) and the block (8) are in battery, a movable stop (28) controlled by the trigger mechanism is in contact with an oscillating pawl (34) of the percussion mechanism, locking the hammer (39) in the armed position. 9. Shoulder cannon according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an ejector (50) subjected to the action of a spring (51). 10. Shoulder gun according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the block (8) is screwed onto the rear end of the barrel tube (9); by the fact that this block (8) carries the ejection mechanism (50) of the sleeve (43), the percussion mechanism (39), the articulated locking pawls (55) and their automatic opening device and by the fact that this block (8) is fixed to the rear part of a movable rod of the reversing brake (6, 7). 11. Shoulder gun according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that each locking pawl (55) comprises a front lever (58) upper constituting a manual opening member of the ammunition locking mechanism ( 43). 12. Shoulder barrel according to claim 11, characterized in that each locking pawl (55) further comprises a lower front lever (45) cooperating with a spring plunger (46) sliding in the block (8). 13. Shoulder cannon according to claim 12, characterized in that the pushers (46) are coaxial with a passage (28a) transverse of the movable stop (28) of the expansion mechanism and of a diameter smaller than this passage. 14. Shoulder barrel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the barrel tube (9) is housed internally inside the frame (1). 15. Shoulder gun according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a muzzle brake (2) is mounted or machined on the front part of the frame (1).

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