EP0910782B1 - Barrel positioning mechanism for automatic firearms - Google Patents
Barrel positioning mechanism for automatic firearms Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0910782B1 EP0910782B1 EP97906063A EP97906063A EP0910782B1 EP 0910782 B1 EP0910782 B1 EP 0910782B1 EP 97906063 A EP97906063 A EP 97906063A EP 97906063 A EP97906063 A EP 97906063A EP 0910782 B1 EP0910782 B1 EP 0910782B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- barrel
- positioning bar
- slide
- frame
- positioning
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
- F41A33/00—Adaptations for training; Gun simulators
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
- F41A5/00—Mechanisms or systems operated by propellant charge energy for automatically opening the lock
- F41A5/32—Energy accumulator systems, i.e. systems for opening the breech-block by energy accumulated during barrel or gas piston recoil
- F41A5/34—Energy accumulator systems, i.e. systems for opening the breech-block by energy accumulated during barrel or gas piston recoil with spring accumulators
Definitions
- This invention relates to the field of firearms and provisions for modifying semi-automatic firearms for training purposes.
- it relates to the positioning of barrels to ensure reliable chambering in blow-back firearms that have been modified to fire low-energy ammunition.
- An advantage of the low-energy training ammunition is that it has a shorter range and lower penetration capacity than standard ammunition. This permits use of smaller, less secure firing ranges as training facilities. If standard ammunition were accidentally employed in these facilities, unexpected dangers would arise from the increased striking power and range of standard ammunition.
- the weapon modifications required to permit cycling while firing low-energy training ammunition generally include replacing or modifying the barrel and sometimes replacing or adding one or two other components, depending on the weapon involved. These modifications also serve to increase safety.
- the caliber of the substitute barrel may be made smaller than the diameter of the projectiles of standard 9 mm ammunition. Then, if an attempt is made to chamber a standard round in such a training-adapted firearm, the barrel will not normally admit entry of the standard projectile. This ensures that such modified weapons cannot fire standard, live ammunition.
- the low-energy cartridge represented by United States Patent No 5,359,937 in combination with a substitute training barrel, allows normal recoil and cartridge case ejection through a blow-back action.
- a locking mechanism couples the slide and barrel together for the first portion of the recoil, and then releases the slide. Upon the unlocking of the barrel from the slide, the slide continues its rearward travel while the barrel stops in the proper position to receive the next round from the magazine to be chambered.
- a training barrel of the type addressed by the invention is similar in most aspects to the standard barrel for a particular breech-locked pistol but is modified, in part, by removing the locking mechanism that holds the barrel and slide together for the first portion of the recoil cycle.
- This invention is directed to an automatic pistol adapted to fire low-energy training ammunition by the substitution of a training barrel that omits the breech-lock feature normally present. It provides a system for the positioning of the barrel for reloading by adding a spring-loaded device to the bottom of the training barrel which, upon firing, positively moves the barrel rearward to its required position for receiving the next cartridge from the magazine in a manner which is completely independent from the motion of the slide. Without this barrel positioning mechanism, the barrel would be too far forward from the top of the magazine and the incoming cartridge would not necessarily enter the chamber cleanly, hence provoking a weapon jam whenever such misalignment should occur.
- a firearm is provided with a slide and a barrel which at no time are locked together during the firing cycle.
- the barrel is provided with a spring-loaded positioning bar which serves as a barrel positioning device.
- This positioning bar with its associated spring is mounted on the barrel, allowing free longitudinal movement between the bar and the barrel.
- some barrel designs include protrusions in the form of spaced lugs on the barrel, and the positioning bar and spring may be carried by two of the barrel lugs.
- the positioning bar abuts at its forward end the barrel locking pin or some other suitable anchor point in the frame of the weapon.
- the barrel positioning spring is at maximum compression because the slide has pushed the barrel to its farthest forward position during chambering of the low-energy cartridge to be fired.
- the slide recoils without pulling the barrel back with it. Even though there is nothing obstructing rearward movement of the barrel, because the two pieces (slide and barrel) are not locked together, the barrel would normally not move rearwardly without the barrel positioning mechanism of the invention being present. Rearward motion of the barrel is effected by the barrel positioning mechanism as it bears on the barrel locking pin, its spring force being expressed in the rearward direction.
- One way of attaching the barrel positioning mechanism to the barrel is by providing a seating pin at the forward face of the rear lug of the barrel and seating one end of the barrel positioning spring over the seating pin. The other end of the positioning spring is attached to the positioning bar.
- a groove in the adjacent, forward barrel lug receives and embraces the positioning bar.
- the forward barrel lug will move longitudinally over the positioning bar, which is held in the groove by a lateral pin which passes through an elongated slot in the bar and is fixed to the forward lug.
- the travel of the barrel is delimited by this pin- and-slot arrangement in the positioning bar, which ensures, through the length of the slot and the location of the lateral pin relative to the back face of the barrel, that the barrel is in the correct position to receive the next round to be chambered when the slide returns to close the breech.
- the subject training barrel after being properly positioned rearwardly by the barrel positioning device, does not need to be continually held in place during the entire chambering of the next cartridge to be fired.
- the barrel may commence to move forward as soon as the tip of the projectile begins to enter the chamber. This forward movement may occur because the spring in the barrel positioning device is extended after pushing the barrel rearward and presents no appreciable resistance to forward barrel movement under the influence of the returning slide. This is in contrast to the prior art design of Anthony, which describes a much stronger detent mechanism to hold the barrel in place "until a cartridge has been successfully chambered".
- the barrel positioning spring must be of sufficient length and strength that it will be held in compression by the force of the spring or springs driving the slide, when the barrel is in its forward position prior to firing.
- the mechanical characteristics of the barrel positioning spring in compression must be such that this spring will be capable of readily lengthening from its compressed state to move the barrel positively back to the required position for receiving the next round, as determined by the pin and slot arrangement after the slide recoils.
- the barrel positioning spring remains only partially expanded after rearward movement of the barrel ceases so that the barrel will not move forward again until the slide of the weapon commences to chamber the next cartridge.
- the strength of the spring in the barrel positioning device is much less than the strength of the spring or springs associated with the slide so that the motion of the slide will not be impeded as it returns to close the breech and push the barrel forward in preparation for firing of the next cartridge. In doing so, this action of the slide recompresses the barrel positioning spring, readying it for the next cycle.
- Figure 1 is a partially cutaway, cross-sectional side-view of a prior art pistol ready to fire standard 9mm ammunition (only the barrel, slide, locking mechanism, part of the frame and part of the magazine are shown).
- Figure 2 is the same side-view cross-section of the same pistol as in Figure 1 except that it now contains a training barrel, complete with the barrel positioning mechanism, and is ready to fire low-energy ammunition as represented by United States Patent No 5,359,937.
- the spring in the barrel positioning device is at maximum compression.
- Figure 3 is a partial cross-section through a barrel lug and the pistol frame of the pistol of Figure 2.
- Figure 4 shows the pistol of Figure 2 after firing with the slide in its most rearward position, ready to be moved forward by the slide recoil spring or springs (not shown).
- the spent case from the cartridge of Figure 2 after firing has been ejected from the weapon and the next cartridge from the magazine is in position to be chambered by the returning slide.
- FIG 1 a prior art 9 mm pistol is shown having a barrel 1 with lugs 5, 5A, slide 2, a normal barrel-slide locking mechanism 3 with piston 7, frame 6 with barrel locking pin 4 and magazine 9, and standard 9 mm service ammunition 8.
- this pistol is converted to fire low-energy ammunition as represented by United States Patent No 5,359,937, barrel 1 is replaced by training barrel 10, as shown in Figure 2.
- Training barrel 10 differs from prior art barrel 1 in that the barrel-slide locking mechanism 3 with piston 7 is replaced by barrel positioning mechanism 11 consisting of barrel positioning bar 11A with slot 11E, spring 11B, spring seating pin 11C, and transverse pin 11D.
- barrel positioning bar 11A is rectangular, it could also be circular or some other shape.
- the rearward end of spring 11B is mounted on seating pin 11C, which is attached to lug 5A, pointing forwardly.
- the other, forward end of positioning spring 11B is attached to positioning bar 11A, around which groove 13 in lug 5 is free to move longitudinally and parallel to the barrel.
- the forward end of positioning bar 11A abuts against barrel locking pin 4 on the frame 6, thereby immobilizing positioning bar 11A with respect to the frame 6 during the firing cycle. This forward end may be curved to mate intimately with the surface of the barrel locking pin 4.
- Positioning bar 11A is held in groove 13 by transverse pin 11D in slot 11E.
- Pin 11D is anchored in lug 5, hence both move with the same motion as the training barrel 10.
- the location of pin 11D and the length and location of slot 11E are such that the stroke of pin 11D is sufficient to allow movement of training barrel 10 rearward, after firing of the weapon, to its proper position for chambering of the next cartridge to be fired.
- positioning spring 11B Rearward movement of training barrel 10 from its forward position at the moment of firing is effected by positioning spring 11B, which is in compression at the time of firing. Since positioning bar 11A does not move because it is abutted against barrel locking pin 4, positioning spring 11B is constrained to expand rearward only. As soon as the slide 2 begins to move rearward, thereby leaving training barrel 10 unfettered and presenting no impediment to barrel motion because the two components are not locked together, the rearward-directed force provided by compressed positioning spring 11B pushes training barrel 10 rearwardly until brought to a stop at the desired position by transverse pin 11D arriving at the rearward end of slot 11.
- the functioning of the subject barrel positioning device has been tested many hundreds of times in Walther P-5 pistols with complete success and reliability.
- the barrel positioning device of the invention is particularly suited for training barrels for such 9 mm automatic pistols as the Walther P-5, Walther P-38, Beretta 92 and Beretta 96, but may also be applicable to other automatic firearms that fire low-energy ammunition as represented by United States Patent N° 5,359,937 or other type of low-energy ammunition, including blanks.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
Description
Claims (9)
- A training barrel (10) for an automatic fire arm comprising:(1) a barrel (10) with a central axis;(2) a first, seating protrusion (5A) extending from the barrel (10) to provide a seat for a positioning spring (11B);(3) a second, grooved, guide protrusion (5) extending from the barrel (10) to support and guide a barrel positioning bar (11A);(4) a barrel positioning bar (11A) mounted within and aligned with the groove (13) in the guide protrusion (5) so that such protrusion (5) may slide over the barrel positioning bar (11A) and permit the barrel (10) to move rearwardly with respect to the positioning bar (11A);
characterised by:(5) a barrel positioning spring (11B) seated at its rearward end on the seating protrusion (5A) and connected at its forward end to the barrel positioning bar (11A) to thrust the seating protrusion (5A) away from the positioning bar (11A);
and(6) a travel limiting means (11D) to limit the travel of the guide protrusion (5) with respect to the positioning bar (11A), - A training barrel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the travel limiting means comprises a longitudinal slot (11E) formed in the positioning bar (11A) and pierced by a transverse pin (11D) fixed at its ends to the second guide protrusion (5).
- A training barrel as claimed in claim 1 or Claim 2 in combination with a weapon having a slide (2) that is free to move rearwardly with respect to the barrel (10) and the barrel is free within the weapon to move rearwardly upon firing.
- A firearm comprising:(1) a frame (6);(2) a barrel (10) with a central axis mounted on the frame (6) so that the barrel (10) may be slidingly displaced with respect to the frame (6) in the direction of the central axis;(3) a slide (2) mounted on the frame (6) free for sliding displacement, independent of the barrel (10), in the direction of the central axis from a battery position when the slide (2) bears against the barrel (10);(4) resilient means urging the slide forwardly, towards the battery position;
characterised by(5) resilient means positioned between the frame (6) and the barrel (10) to urge the barrel rearwardly when the slide (2) is displaced rearwardly from the battery position. - A firearm as claimed in claim 4 further comprising travel limiting means (11D) to limit the rearward travel of the barrel (10) with respect to the frame (6).
- A firearm as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a barrel positioning spring (11B) and barrel positioning bar (11A) coupled to the barrel (10), the positioning spring (11B) being seated at its rearward end on the barrel (10) and bearing at its forward end on the rearward end of the positioning bar (11A), the forward end of the positioning bar (11A) being in contact with the weapon frame (6) whereby the barrel (10) is biased for rearward displacement with respect to the frame (6).
- A firearm as claimed in claim 6 further comprising travel limiting means to limit the displacement of the barrel (10) with respect to the frame (6), such travel limiting means comprising a slot (11E) formed in the barrel positioning bar (11A) and a transverse pin (11D) passing therethrough, the transverse pin (11D) being fixed with respect to the barrel (10).
- A firearm as claimed in any of Claims 4 to 7, comprising a chamber within said barrel and a cartridge positioned within said chamber whereby, on firing, the cartridge will cause the slide to move rearwardly in a blow-back action.
- A firearm as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said cartridge is a low-energy training cartridge adapted to fire a low mass projectile.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PT97906063T PT910782E (en) | 1997-03-14 | 1997-03-14 | CANO POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FIREARMS |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/CA1997/000174 WO1998041809A1 (en) | 1997-03-14 | 1997-03-14 | Barrel positioning mechanism for automatic firearms |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0910782A1 EP0910782A1 (en) | 1999-04-28 |
EP0910782B1 true EP0910782B1 (en) | 2002-08-07 |
Family
ID=4173203
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP97906063A Expired - Lifetime EP0910782B1 (en) | 1997-03-14 | 1997-03-14 | Barrel positioning mechanism for automatic firearms |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0910782B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69714592T2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1998041809A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7225741B2 (en) | 2004-01-22 | 2007-06-05 | Pdt Tech, Llc | Reduced energy training cartridge for self-loading firearms |
US7278358B2 (en) | 2004-01-22 | 2007-10-09 | Pdt Tech, Llc. | Non-lethal marking bullet for related training cartridges |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4907489A (en) * | 1988-08-31 | 1990-03-13 | The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy | Blank fire configuration for automatic pistol |
DE4109777A1 (en) * | 1991-03-25 | 1992-10-01 | Heckler & Koch Gmbh | DEVICE FOR STOREY ACCELERATION OF OBJECTS, IN PARTICULAR LOCKED SELF-LOADING FIREARMS |
US5433134A (en) * | 1993-10-05 | 1995-07-18 | Leiter; Edward J. | Blank firing conversions for semiautomatic pistols |
DE4341131C1 (en) * | 1993-12-02 | 1995-02-02 | Heckler & Koch Gmbh | Firearm with recoil absorption, in particular a hand gun |
-
1997
- 1997-03-14 WO PCT/CA1997/000174 patent/WO1998041809A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1997-03-14 EP EP97906063A patent/EP0910782B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1997-03-14 DE DE69714592T patent/DE69714592T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69714592T2 (en) | 2003-10-09 |
EP0910782A1 (en) | 1999-04-28 |
DE69714592D1 (en) | 2002-09-12 |
WO1998041809A1 (en) | 1998-09-24 |
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