EP0203034A2 - Shot-number limiters for automatic firearms - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a control device for controlling the firing modes of portable, automatic weapons, the components of which are mounted on a support box that is insertable into and removable from, as a unit, the tripping box of the weapon. In the tripping box there is enclosed the tripping mechanism for firing the weapon either singly or in an uncontrolled rapid mode. Between the tripping mechanism and the control for the fire mode, there is interposed a safety shaft which functions also as selector for the desired fire mode, so that by selecting the proper mode, it is possible to have a single shots mode, an uncontrolled rapid fire mode or a controlled rapid fire mode.

Description

The invention relates to a device for controlling the shooting in bursts, the constituent parts of which are mounted in a support for insertion and extraction in block in the trigger box containing the trigger mechanism of the weapon intended for shooting. shot and burst fire not controlled.

In the field of portable automatic weapons, such as pistols and machine-guns, there are already known triggers consenting either to a semi-automatic fire, that is to say suddenly, by releasing the trigger after each shot, or an automatic or burst fire, obtained by keeping the trigger continuously depressed. In the latter case, the weapon can automatically and continuously repeat the arming, loading and firing operating cycle until the cartridges available in the tank are exhausted or even as long as the trigger is pressed.

In accordance, portable automatic weapons generally include trigger mechanisms comprising at least one dog or swinging mass, a trigger and a trigger pawl, which are inter active, for shot firing, a burst lever cooperating with the hammer on one side and with the breech of the weapon on the other side for continuously triggered trigger fire, and a fire selector for define the two operating conditions of the device. However, these mechanisms do not allow an effective and adequate control of the shooting in bursts, since it is enough to hold down the trigger for minimum fractions of time in addition to the necessary to obtain an entirely different number of shots, perhaps far beyond the intention of the one who uses the weapon. This is why portable automatic weapons must be provided with means of control and limitation of burst fire for a more appropriate, versatile and safe use of the self-contained weapons.

Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a fire control device for automatic weapons which, in addition to agreeing to fire shot by burst and continuous bursts, also consents shooting in controlled bursts, that is to say -to say the firing in sequence of a preset and limited number of shots as long as the trigger is pressed.

Another object of the invention is to propose a device for controlling the shooting in bursts present on a support to be inserted in a block and in a removable manner. in the trigger box of the weapon, to obtain automatic weapons either with or without control of bursts without the need to modify their parts or constituent parts.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a device for controlling the fire in bursts according to at least claim 1) _' to be inserted into and extracted from the trigger box of portable automatic weapons, this device comprising a dog, a trigger and an interactive trigger ratchet for shot firing, a burst lever cooperating with the hammer and the breech of the weapon for firing by bursts and a safety rod also acting as a selector to define the conditions for shot firing burst and burst or burst controlled fire.

• la Figure 1 montre une partie du fusil avec mécanisme de déclenchement en condition de sécurité, la culasse étant déplacée en avant en position de fermeture;
• les Figures 2 et 3 montrent des détails de l'ensemble dont à la Figure 1 et en particulier l'action des queus de la détente sur les cliquets de commande et d'arrêt respectivement de l'encliquetage contrecoups du dispositif qui contrôle les rafales;
• la Figure 4 montre une vue en plan obtenue selon les flêches IV-IV en Figure 2;
• la Figure 5 montre une vue analogue à celle de la Figure ₂, mais avec dispositif de déclenchement en première première phase de la condition de tir coup à coup;
• la Figure 6 montre un détail de l'ensemble dont à la-Figure 5 pendant la deuxième phase et les successives de tir coup à coup;
• la Figure 7 montre le mécanisme prêt à commencer le tir par rafales continues;
• la Figure 8 montre le décrochage du chien pendant les rafales continues;
• la Figure 9 montre une vue analogue à celle en Figure 5, mais avec mécanisme prêt à tirer le premier coup du tire par rafales contrôlées;
• la Figure 10 montre le mécanisme prêt à compter les coups tirés par rafales contrôlées;
• la Figure 11 montre le mécanisme en condition finale, ou bien d'arrêt, du tir par rafales contrôlé;
• la Figure12 montre une vue perspective du chien tel quel;
• la Figure 13 montre une vue perspective de la détente avec cliquet de déclenchement;
• la Figure 14 montre une vue perspective du levier de rafale seulement;
• le Figures 15 et 15a montre une vue perspective et une vue d'avant respectivement de l'encliquetage compte coups pour la rafale contrôlée; et
• la Figure 16 montre une vue perspective de la tige de sécurité ayant la fonction d'un sélecteur de tir.

The details of the subject of the invention are contained in the description below with reference to the attached drawing, which is only indicative and not limiting and in which:

• Figure 1 shows a part of the rifle with triggering mechanism in safety condition, the breech being moved forward in the closed position;
• Figures 2 and 3 show details of the assembly including in Figure 1 and in particular the action of the trigger pins on the control pawls and respectively stopping the snap backlash of the device which controls the bursts;
• Figure 4 shows a plan view obtained according to arrows IV-IV in Figure 2;
• Figure 5 shows a view similar to that of Figure ₂ , but with the triggering device in the first first phase of the condition of shot firing;
• Figure 6 shows a detail of the assembly including in Figure 5 during the second phase and successive firing blow;
• Figure 7 shows the mechanism ready to start firing in continuous bursts;
• Figure 8 shows the dog's stall during continuous bursts;
• Figure 9 shows a view similar to that in Figure 5, but with a mechanism ready to fire the first shot of the fire in controlled bursts;
• Figure 10 shows the mechanism ready to count shots fired by controlled bursts;
• FIG. 11 shows the mechanism in final condition, or else stop, of the controlled burst fire;
• Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the dog as is;
• Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the trigger with trigger pawl;
• Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the burst lever only;
• Figures 15 and 15a shows a perspective view and a front view respectively of the snap counting for the controlled burst; and
• Figure 16 shows a perspective view of the safety rod having the function of a fire selector.

In the drawing, the reference number 1) indicates the triggering box of an automatic rifle and the number 2) the breech carriage of the weapon comprising a striker 3), the breech carriage being movable, in a known manner, d 'a rear opening position to a front closing position.

In the trigger box 1) we have: a trigger mechanism 4) intended to command the shot shot by shot or by uncontrolled bursts; a device 5) which controls the firing in bursts and a safety rod 6) also acting as a selector pu shot, interposed between and cooperating with the trigger mechanism 4) and with the control device 5) for the choice of the conditions of single shot or burst or controlled burst, as will be explained later.

The trigger mechanism 4) comprises a hammer or beating mass 7), a trigger 8), a trigger pawl 9) and a burst lever 10). The dog or swinging mass 7) pivoting on 7 ') is moved to the cocking position by the cylinder head carriage 2) and brought to the striker actuation position 3) by means of a pre-stressed spring 11) mounted on a spring-carrying rod 12) extending backwards. The dog 7) also has a lower step 13) cooperating alternately with the trigger 8) or with the gust lever 10) and a rear hooking tooth 14) intended to cooperate with a triggering pawl 9).

The trigger 8) is mounted in the box 1) by means of the pivot 8 ') and it has a front extension 15) which engages with the step 13) of the dog 7) in the safety position, at the beginning and at the end of the three firing conditions, and a pair of parallel ques 16), 16 ') extending back below the safety rod 6) (see also Figures 4 and 13).

The trigger pawl 9) is mounted and pivoted on the same pivot 8 ') as the trigger 8) and pre-. in turn feels a front arm 17) which can rest on the front extension 15) of the trigger 8), a rear arm 18) extending between the two rods 16), 16 ') of the trigger 8), this arm ending with a nose 19) turned upwards, and an upper arm with a beak 20) intended to engage the hooking tooth ₁₄ ) of the dog 7) to stop it in the cocking position. Between the body of the trigger 8) and the trigger pawl 9) there is a spring 21 ') whose action tends to keep the trigger pawl 9) normally in the dog's hanging position while the trigger is under the action of the spring reminder 21).

Also the burst lever 10) turns on the pin 8 ') of the trigger 8) and has a first arm 22) turned towards the lower step 13) of the dog 7) and intended to engage it, and a second arm 23) turned upward and cooperating, at least during the firing in bursts, with an advance cam 2 ') provided on the carriage-breech 2), the action of which will be explained next. The burst lever 10) is biased by a spring 24) acting in opposition to the action that the cam 2 ') exerts on the lever itself in order to normally move its first arm 22) in the position of interception of the lower step 13) of the dog 7).

All the parts constituting the burst control device 5) are pre-assembled in a support 25) for their insertion in block in the trigger box 1) in correlation with the trigger mechanism 4). This support 25) comprises a wing 25 ') with a hole for the introduction and the guiding of the spring-carrying rod 12) coordinated with the hammer ₇ ) and it is stopped in the triggering box 1) by means of a pin 26) and of the safety rod 6) of the mechanism.

In more detail, the control device 5) comprises a snap counter 27), a controlled burst lever 28) controlled by the dog 7) by means of the spring-carrying rod 12), a control pawl 29) connected to the lever 28) mentioned above for actuating the snap 27), a counter-pawl 30) for stopping the snap 27), and a lever 31) for excluding the. controlled burst lever 28) when the weapon is used for shot firing or in uncontrolled bursts.

The hit counter 27) is pendulum-mounted on a pivot 27 ') and has a part 32) facing downwards and provided with two teeth 33) -34) separated by a radiated surface spacing 35) intended to cooperate with the terminal nose 19) of the rear arm 18) of the trigger pawl 9). The two teeth 33) -34) result respectively in correspondence with the control pawl 29) and the stop pawl 30) and include two, three or more teeth in operation. the number of shots to be discharged in a controlled sequence.

In addition, the snap 27) is provided with an arm 36) extending above the safety rod 6) and cooperating with it, this arm being biased by a spring 37) tending to move it normally towards the safety rod 6) and hence to maintain the part with the teeth 33) -34) turned back, that is to say in opposition to the action of the control pawl 29).

The controlled burst lever 28) is mounted on a pivot 28 ') and it has, on one side of this pivot, an upper arm 38) placed in line with the spring-carrying rod 12) and an intermediate nose 39) for engage the exclusion lever 31) and, on the opposite side, a part 40) on which is mounted, at 29 '), the pawl 29) which controls the snap 27). By cons, the stop pawl 30) is mounted in the support 25) by means of a pivot 30 ') as shown in detail in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing.

On the other hand, the controlled burst lever 28) is biased by a spring 41) capable of normally holding the upper arm 38) of the lever moved towards the spring-carrying rod 12), in opposition to the action of the lever. exclusion 31) on the intermediate nose 39). Indeed, the exclusion lever 31) is mounted in an axis with the snap 27) and has an arm 42) cooperating with the selection rod 6) and an arm 42 ') which engages the nose 39) to move and maintain the controlled burst lever 28) in the inoperative position when the weapon is used for shot firing or in uncontrolled bursts.

Note that the command pawl 29) and the stop ratchet 30) are biased by the springs 41) and respectively 44) tending to keep them in contact with the teeth 33) -34) of the snap-action ratchet 27), each having a lateral plane 45) and 46) respectively. On these planes 45) -46) engage the queus 16) -16 ') of the trigger 8) when the weapon is in safety position or at the end, as we will see, of the shooting by controlled bursts, when it the pawls of the teeth 33) -34) must be moved away from the snap-fitting 27) for zeroing.

Finally, the safety rod 6) has cam parts 47) -48) -49) -50) (see Figure 16) intended to cooperate, in turn, with one of the lines 16) -16 ') of the trigger 8), with the rear arm 18) of the triggering pawl 9), with the exclusion lever 31) and with the arm 36) of the snap-action ratchet 27) for securing or choosing a firing conditions indicated on a disc secured to the end of the safety rod and fitted with an operating lever _P.

Figure 1 shows the entire mechanism in safety condition, the breech cart being closed and the dog armed. In this condition the trigger is in the rest position and its front extension 15) engages the lower step 13) of the dog 7) by blocking it, while the burst lever 10) is held in a position not influent by the cam 2 ') of the cylinder head carriage 2). The safety rod 6) is turned in such a way that its cams 47) e 48) engage and block the tail 16 ') of the trigger 8) and the rear arm 18) of the trigger pawl 9). In this position the trigger 8) cannot be actuated and the pawl 9) is kept in an inoperative position, since its beak 20) cannot catch the rear tooth 14) of the dog 7).

On the other hand, the cam portion of the safety rod engages with the exclusion lever 31) to move and maintain the controlled burst lever 28) inoperative position, while the cam portion 50) engages the arm 36) of the hit counter 27) to block it. In addition, the shanks 16) -16 ') of the trigger 8) press on the pawl 29) and on the counter-pawl 30) by moving them away from the snap counter 27) and keeping them going in an inoperative position (see also Figures 2 and 3).

From this safety position, you must turn the safety rod and selection 6) to arrange the weapon for firing shot by shot or by controlled or continuous bursts, that is to say not controlled.

For firing blow by blow - (see Figures 5 and 6) you must turn the selection rod 6) so as to allow movement of the trigger 8) and the pawl 9). The controlled burst lever 28) is still held in the inoperative position by the exclusion lever 31), still engaged by the corresponding cam part 49), while the snap count 27), as a result of this rotation of the selection rod 6) and the spring stress 37) moves away from the rear nose 19) of the trigger pawl 9) and in any case outside the action zone of the pawls 29) -30) which, n 'being no more stopped by the lines 16) -16') of the trigger move in the direction of the snap counter 27).

Consequently, the trigger 8) can be pressed and actuated in the direction of the arrow F (see Figures 5 e 6) to release the dog 7) from the stop operated by the front extension 15) from the trigger for the discharge the first time - lines in lines in Figure 5 -. Now, as soon as the dog 7) moves into the cocking position following the retraction of the breech carriage 2), it is hooked and stopped by the beak 20) of the trigger pawl 9) which engages with the rear tooth 14 ) of the dog 7) (see Figure 6), even if the trigger 8) is still pressed. Therefore, to unload the next shot, release the trigger and then actuate it again to move it, with the trigger pawl 9), so as to unhook the dog. burst 10) remains inactive and the spring holder rod 12) of the hammer 7) exerts no action on the lever of the controlled bursts 28).

For the automatic firing of shots in uncontrolled bursts, the selection rod 6) is rotated so as to allow the maneuver of the trigger 8) and still block in the inoperative position, as during the shot firing, the burst lever controlled 28) by means of the exclusion lever 31) - c. Figures 7 and 8 -. The snap counter 27), thanks to the corresponding cam part 49) of the selection rod 6), is positioned so that it can intercept, with its radiated part 35), the nose 19) of the rear arm of the trigger pawl 9) and thus limit its movement, and this to prevent the upper beak 20) of the trigger pawl 9) from catching the rear tooth 14) of the dog 7) as long as the weapon is in the condition of firing by gusts.

In this condition, illustrated by FIG. 7, by pressing the trigger 8) according to the arrow F ', the dog is pulled out 7) for the discharge of the first shot as in the case of the shot shot. By continuing to press the trigger 8) automatic fire is obtained in bursts with a plurality of shots, at the limit until the ammunition available in the magazine of the weapon is exhausted.

In fact, after each stroke the breech carriage 2) moves back and places the dog 7) in the rearming position where it is stopped by the first arm 22) of the burst lever 10) engaged with the lower step 13) of the dog (v Figure 8), while the trigger pawl 9) remains inactive. Such stopping of the dog 7) is however simply temporary in that, with the return to the closed position of the carriage-breech 2), its tooth 2 ') acts on the second arm 23) of the lever 10) by moving it in the direction of arrow G (see Figure 8), to automatically unhook the hammer for the percussion of the striker and the automatic discharge of another blow. In practice, the burst lever 10) hooks and unhooks the dog 7) in synchronism with the opening and closing movement of the breech-carriage 2).

In this case also the movements of the spring-carrying rod with the hammer 7) has no influence on the controlled burst lever 28), which is kept in the inactive position by the exclusion lever 31).

Finally, for shooting in controlled bursts the selection rod 6) is rotated and positioned as shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11. Now we can press and therefore activate the trigger 8), while the trigger pawl 9) is temporarily blocked by hit counter 27). Indeed, thanks to the ac tion of the cam 50) on its arm 36), this snap 27) is placed in the position which allows it to cooperate with the control pawl 29) and with the stop pawl 30) and at the same time intercept, by means of its radiated part 35), the terminal nose 19) of the triggering pawl 9) in order to prevent the dog from catching on 7) by the beak 20) as in the case of shooting by bursts and as 'there is the condition of controlled burst fire. On the other hand, the cam part 49) of the selection rod 6) is arranged so as to allow a displacement of the exclusion lever 31) in the inactive position and hence releasing the controlled burst lever 28), which can interact with the spring-loaded rod 12) of the hammer 7) and order the pawl 29) for actuating the snap-action snap 27).

In particular, Figure 9 shows the condition of discharge of the first shot by controlled bursts, in which, by pressing the trigger (arrow F ") we determine the stall of the dog 7) as in the case of the discharge of the first single shot.

With the movement of the hammer 7) towards the striker 3) the spring-carrying rod 12) moves forward and consents a conformal displacement of the lever of controlled bursts 28) and therefore a displacement behind or empty of the control pawl 29) . The latter will then leave wager with the first tooth of the teeth 33) corresponding to the snap counter 27), as shown in Figure 10.

Afterwards, following the firing, the breech carriage 2) moves back and moves the dog 7) to the rearming position, or it is temporarily stopped by the first arm 22) of the burst lever 10). Such movement of the dog 7) comprises a rearward movement of the spring-carrying rod 12) which angularly displaces the lever in controlled bursts 28) on its pivot 28 ') in the opposite direction to the previous one.

Consequently, there is a positive displacement, forward, of the control pawl 29) determining the advance of a step of the snap counting snap 27) for the counting of the first shot discharged. In parallel, the counter-pawl 30) engages with the first tooth of the toothing 34) corresponding to the snap-action snap 27).

The successive return of the breech carriage 2) in the closed position, the trigger 8) being always pressed, determines, by means of its tooth 2 ′), the displacement of the burst lever 10) for the automatic release of the dog 7), as during uncontrolled burst fire, for the discharge of another blow. After that the sequence described above of the movements of the dog 7), of the spring-carrying rod 12), of the lever of repetition is repeated. controlled blades 28) and of the control pawl 29) for advancing another step of the hit counter snap 27), while the counter pawl 30) cooperating with the toothing 34) prevents displacement of the snap 27) by means of spring 37) during the passive stroke of the control pawl.

The sequence is repeated until the snap counter 27) has moved for a number of steps corresponding to the teeth of the toothing 33) for the consecutive and automatic discharge of a corresponding number of strokes.

In the case illustrated the snap count 27) having three counting teeth 33) it consents the firing of three consecutive shots.

With the discharge of the last controlled burst blow (see Figure 11) the snap counter 27) moves into a position in which its radiated part 35) has moved away from the terminal nose 19) of the trigger pawl 9 ). The latter not being more limited in its movements is carried in a position of interception and stop of the rear tooth 14) of the dog 7) by means of the beak 20). Consequently, when the dog 7) goes to the rearming position after the discharge of the last blow, it is stopped by the spout 20) of the trigger pawl 9), as shown in FIG. 11. In this condition the mechanic nism is blocked automatically by interrupting continuous burst firing, also when the trigger is still depressed.

To resume the firing cycle in controlled bursts, release the trigger 8) so that it can return to the rest position. Then, the front extension 15) of the trigger 8) will engage with the lower step 13) of the dog 7) to stop the latter in the cocking position, immediately before the trigger pawl 9), which moves with the trigger 8) by pressing the arm 17) on the extension 15), releases the dog from the stop operated by the spout 20).

At the same time, the shanks 16) -16 ') of the trigger 8) rest on the control pawl 29) and on the counter-pawl 30) to lower them and release the respective teeth from the ratchet ratchet 27). The latter, biased by the spring 37) returns to the initial position or "zero position" in which (see Figure 9) its arm 36) is supported on the selection rod 6), its teeth 33) -34) are all moved behind the pawl 29) and the pawl 30), and its part 35) intercepts the terminal nose 19) of the trigger pawl 9) to limit the movement of the latter and prevent the action of stopping its beak 20) on the dog's tooth 14).

At this point it is possible to repeat the firing cycle in controlled bursts or alternatively, by moving the selection rod as necessary 6), prepare the mechanism for securing the weapon or for establishing the conditions of the firing shot uncontrolled blast or burst fire as described above.

Claims (8)

1.) Device for controlling the firing by rales for automatic weapons comprising a bolt carriage (2) with striker and displaceable between an open position and a closed position, and a triggering box (1) comprising a triggering mechanism (4) composed by at least one hammer or swinging mass (7), a trigger (8) and a triggering pawl (9) interactive between them for the shot firing, a burst lever (10) cooperating with the hammer (7) on the one hand and with the breech-cart (2) on the other hand for shooting not controlled in bursts, as long as the trigger is constantly depressed, and a safety rod also having the function of, fire selector (6) to define the conditions for firing one shot at a time or in bursts, the hammer (7) being movable in the rearming position following the opening of the carriage-breech (2) and in the position of percussion on the striker by means of a spring (11) mounted on an alternately displaceable spring-carrying rod (12) e according to the movements of the dog (7), characterized by a snap counter (27) having at least one toothing (33) for counting the strokes discharged in automatic succession, by a pivoting lever of controlled bursts (28) controlled by the dog ( ₇ ) by means of the alternately displaceable spring-carrying rod (12), by a control pawl (29) connected to the controlled burst lever (28) and positively displaceable to engage with the toothing (33) of the hit counter latching (27) to advance it one step following the rearming of the dog after the discharge of each controlled burst fire and passively following the dog's stall (7), by a counter-pawl (30) stopping the latching (27) during the passive stroke of the control pawl (29), and by an exclusion lever (31) which engages with a cam part (49) of the safety rod acting as a fire selector (6) to move the controlled burst lever (28) from an active position to an inactive position when the weapon is in the safety position or in the conditions for shot firing or by uncontrolled bursts. 2.) Device according to claim 1), the snap counter (27) has a second toothing (34) cooperating with the stop pawl. 3.) Device according to claim 1), whose snap counter (27) has a radiated part (35) engaging the trigger pawl (9-19) to limit movement and prevent its interaction with the dog (7) during burst shooting not controlled and in controlled bursts. 4.) Device according to claims 1) and 3), whose snap counter (27) has an arm (36) cooperating with a cam portion (50) of the safety rod acting as a fire selector (6 ) for positioning the hit counter snap (27) in a position of, non-interception of the trigger pawl (9-19) during the shot firing in an intercept position and stop of the aforementioned trigger pawl during fire by uncontrolled bursts and by controlled bursts. 5.) Device according to claim 1), the trigger (8) has a front extension (15) engaging with a front arm (17) of the trigger pawl for a consistent movement of the trigger and the pawl during the release of the dog (7) when it is hooked by the aforementioned pawl, and two rear shanks (16-16 ') supported on the control pawl (29) and on the counter pawl (30) to move them away from the counting snap blows (27) when the detant (8) is in the rest position and for zeroing the snap counting snap (27) at the end of the fire in controlled bursts. 6.) Device according to claim 1), the exclusion lever (31) is mounted anaxially with the snap counter (27) is present an arm (32) in contact with the corresponding cam part (49) of the safety rod acting as a fire selector (6) and an arm turned towards and cooperating with a nose (39) of the controlled burst lever (31) to block the latter in a position remote from the spring-loaded rod (12) of the hammer (7) when the weapon is in the safety position and during the shot firing or by uncontrolled bursts. 7.) Device according to the preceding claims including the snap counter (27), the lever of controlled bursts (28), the control pawl (29), the stop pawl (30) and the lever d 'exclusion (31) are mounted in a box support (25) for their introduction and extraction in block in the trigger box (1), this support (25) having a wing (25') with a guide hole and sliding for the spring support rod (12), the safety rod also acting as a fire selector (6) being mounted transversely in the triggering box and on the above-mentioned support (25) to be placed between the tails (16-16 ' ) of the detant (8) and the trigger pawl (9) on one side and between the arm (36) of the blow counter latching (27) and the arm (32) of the exclusion lever (3 ₁ ) on the other side. 8.) Device in accordance with the pre-claims cedents, whose control pawl (29) of the snap-action snap (27) is pivoting on the controlled burst lever (28), while the stop-pawl (30) is pivoting in the support to box (25).

Images