EP2538164B1

EP2538164B1 - Sports or defence rifle with container pipe for cartridges

Info

Publication number: EP2538164B1
Application number: EP11189657.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dario Plebani; Ivano Contin; Fausto Caravaggi
Original assignee: Fabbrica dArmi Pietro Beretta SpA
Current assignee: Beretta SpA
Priority date: 2011-06-23
Filing date: 2011-11-18
Publication date: 2015-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2031-11-18
Also published as: ITBS20110094A1; EP2538164A1; RU2577492C2; RU2011147210A; US20120325079A1

Description

The present invention relates to a semiautomatic sports or defence rifle fitted with a container pipe for the cartridges. In particular, the present invention relates to a rifle fitted with a container pipe passing through the gas intake of the operating system.
As is known, the container pipe of a rifle is used to house the cartridges to be fired, in a variable number depending on the type of weapon and, often, depending on specific national legislation.
When the container pipe is destined to contain a limited number of cartridges, it extends from the breech to the gas intake of the rifle, without traversing it.
When however the container pipe is destined to contain a higher number of cartridges, it extends from the breech beyond the gas intake, traversing it. In such case, a "through" container pipe is usually spoken of.
In such latter case, the container pipe is often engageable with an extension pipe, to further increase the load capacity of the pipe.
The front mouth of the container pipe, through which the cartridges are inserted, is engageable with a cap, which has the dual function of ensuring that the cartridges do not come out of the container pipe and of blocking the gas intake, so as to constrain the barrel to the breech. An example of prior art solution is disclosed in document US 3883976A .
The caps of the prior art present several disadvantages.
For example, most caps are screwable to the container pipe and therefore need quite lengthy intervention by the user. Moreover, the user cannot check if the cap has been screwed too much or too little.
The purpose of the present invention is to make a cap for the container pipe of a rifle which is fast to use.
Such purpose is achieved by the cap of the rifle according to claim 1.
The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be evident from the description given below, made by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

figure 1 shows a group of a rifle according to the present invention, in separate parts;
figures 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d show a container cap of a cap group according to the present invention;
figures 3a, 3b, and 3c show a closure latch of the cap group according to the present invention;
figures 4a to 4d show an assembly sequence of the cap group to the rifle;
figures 5a to 5e show a sequence of reciprocal engagement of the container cap and the closure latch.

According to the invention, a rifle comprises a butt and a breech 1, connectable rearward of the butt and containing a triggering system operable by means of a trigger.
The breech 1 is provided at the front with an upper barrel hole 2 and a lower pipe hole 4, generally superposed.
The rifle further comprises a barrel 6, extending along a barrel axis X, from a proximal end, insertable in the barrel hole 2 of the breech 1, and an opposite distal end for the exit of the bullet.
The proximal end of the barrel 6 is engaged in a freely axial translatable manner with the breech 1.
The rifle further comprises a container pipe 8, extending along a pipe axis Y, parallel to the barrel axis X, between a proximal end, engageable with the pipe hole 4 of the breech 1 and an opposite distal end.
Preferably, the container pipe 8 is constrained to the breech with a bidirectional constraint in translation along the pipe axis Y, for example by screwing. To such purpose, the proximal end of the container pipe 8 has a threaded portion 10a.
Preferably, moreover, the distal end of the container pipe 8 is fitted with a further threaded portion 10b for the screwing of an extension pipe (not shown).
In other words, the distal end of the container pipe is engageable with said extension pipe, to increase the load capacity of the pipe.
The rifle further comprises a gas intake 12, projecting downwards from the barrel 6, consisting of a connection 14 connected to the barrel 6 and a tubular sleeve 16, extending along the pipe axis Y.
The container pipe 8 extends along the pipe axis Y so as to axially traverse the sleeve 16 of the gas intake 12, projecting from the opposite side with its distal end.
In addition, the rifle comprises a stock 20 suitable for covering the container pipe 8 and the gas intake 12, for example suitable for being axially inserted on these, from the distal end of the container pipe towards the breech, parallel to the barrel 6.
Preferably, the stock 20 is made from plastic material or wood, is characterised by a transversal U-shaped cross-section and has internal grooves or prominences which form sliding tracks for the sliding insertion onto the gas intake and on the container pipe.
Moreover, the rifle 1 comprises a cap group 30 suitable for plugging the container pipe and for blocking the barrel. The cap group 30 comprises a container cap 32, engageable in a removable manner with the mouth of the container pipe, and a manually removable closure latch 34.
The container cap 32 comprises an insert 36, preferably having an outward cylindrical shape, suitable for being inserted in the mouth of the container pipe 8.
The insert 36 comprises a tubular wall 38 which extends from a bottom end to a head end which, the container cap being inserted in the container pipe 8, faces outwards.
The tubular wall 38 has at least one groove 40 from the free rim 42 of the head end inwards, thereby forming at least one respective cam profile 44a having an abutment rim 44b on the free rim 42 of the tubular wall 38.
Preferably, the cam profile 44a comprises, starting from the free rim 42, an axial section 46, a sloping section 48 and a housing seat 50, downstream of the sloping section, at least partially recessed in relation to the terminal apex of the sloping section.
The housing seat 50 is suitable for stably receiving the engagement element 70, in that said engagement element is prevented from spontaneously escaping from said housing seat. Despite which the housing seat 50 is suitable for a manually reversible reception of the engagement element which, by forced rotation of the closure latch, may come out of said seat.
Moreover, the container cap 32 comprises releasable attachment means suitable for connecting the container cap 32 to the container pipe in a manually releasable manner.
For example, said releasable attachment means comprise a plurality of pliant pegs 52, for example sprung, inserted in the tubular wall 38 at the bottom end.
For example, there are four of said pliant pegs 52, angularly equidistant from each other.
Said pliant pegs can be snap-inserted in respective cap holes 54 provided at the distal end of the container pipe 8.
The closure latch 34 comprises a main body 60, comprising a base 61, an outer tubular wall 62 projecting from the bottom 61, having a main axis (Z) and suitable for being gripped by a user, and an inner attachment 64.
Moreover, the closure latch 34 comprises a tubular tang 66, provided with a pair of diametrically aligned through holes 68, near the free rim.
The tang 66 is connected to the attachment 64 of the main body 60, for example is co-moulded with it.
Moreover, the closure latch 34 comprises an engagement element 70, integral with the main body 60, such as a pin 70 suitable for being inserted through the through holes 68 of the tang 66, positioning itself diametrically to said tang.
Preferably, the closure latch 34 comprises an elastic spacer 72, inserted in the tang 66, abutting against the pin 70, making it possible to position the pin 70 centrally in relation to the axis of the closure latch 34 and keep a belt holder 73 in place.
Moreover, the closure latch 34 comprises a spring 80 housed in the main body 60, preferably inserted on its attachment 64, abutting against the bottom 61 of the main body 60.
In addition, the closure latch 34 comprises a socket 90 engageable in a slideable manner with the main body 60 in an axial direction, suitable for influencing the spring 80 in compression.
In particular, the socket 90 comprises an annular socket wall 91, coaxial with the outer annular wall 62 of the main body 60. The pin 70 is positioned inside the wall 91.
Preferably, the socket 90 comprises an annular prominence 92, projecting radially inwardly from the socket wall 91 so as to position itself in abutment against the cam profile 44a and correspondingly influence the spring 80 in compression.
For the assembly of the rifle, the container pipe 8 is connected to the breech, for example by screwing it to the pipe hole 4 (figure 4a).
The container cap 32 is introduced into the mouth of the container pipe and constrained to it, by means of said attachment means. For example, the pliant pegs 52 yield by interference with the wall of the container pipe and then snap into the cap holes 54 of the container pipe, when aligned with these.
As a result, the cam profile 44a is joined to the container pipe 8.
In one embodiment variation of the rifle (not shown), the cam profile is screwable to the container pipe.
In a further embodiment variation of the rifle (not shown), the cam profile is integral with the container pipe, that is to say constitutes the end portion of it.
After the barrel 6 has been inserted in the respective barrel hole 2, the stock 20 is mounted, for example by axial sliding on the gas intake 12 and on the container pipe 8 (figure 4b).
The closure latch 34 is then inserted on the mouth of the container pipe, in such a way that the pin 70 is introduced in the groove 40 of the insert 36 (figure 4c).
The closure latch 34 is rotated until engagement with the container cap 32 (figure 4d) is complete. The closure latch, consequently blocks the stock 20 in position, in such a way that it cannot be extracted and, at the same time, blocks the gas intake and therefore the barrel, which becomes integral with the breech.
In other words, the closure latch forms a unilateral arrest to the sliding of the gas intake on the container pipe and a stop to the dismantling of the stock.
The closure latch 34 being inserted on the mouth of the container pipe 8, so that the pin 70 enters the groove 40, the abutment rim 44b of the cam profile 44a engages the socket 90, so as to push it in opposition to the action of the spring 80 (figures 5a and 5b).
In particular, the abutment rim 44b acts on the annular prominence 92 of the socket 90.
By rotating the closure latch 34, the sloping section 48 of the cam profile 44a pushes the pin 70 towards the inside of the pipe cap 32, while the abutment rim 44b progressively pushes the socket towards the inside of the main body, overcoming the resistance of the spring 80 (figures 5c and 5d).
At the end of the stroke of the pin 70 on the sloping section 48, corresponding to an approximate ¼ turn of the closure latch 34, the pin 70 snaps into the housing seat 50, in an irreversible manner (figure 5e).
When the pin 70 is at the apex of the sloping section 46, the spring 80 is in a condition of maximum compression.
Since the housing seat is at least partially recessed in relation to the apex of the sloping section 48, when the pin 70 snaps into the housing seat 50, the spring 80 relaxes partially compared to the condition of maximum compression.
By turning the closure latch 34 in the opposite direction to that of engagement, the pin 70 comes out of the housing seat 50, going back over the sloping section 48 and coming out of the groove 40, disengaging the closure latch 34 from the pipe cap.
Innovatively, the cap group according to the present invention permits very fast and efficient closing of the container pipe.
Advantageously, moreover, the cap group according to the present invention ensures very reliable blocking of the barrel to the breech.
According to a further advantageous aspect, the cap group according to the present invention enables the user to verify correct assembly, in that the snapping of the pin into the housing seat of the cam profile is noticed by the user.
According to a further advantageous aspect, the cap group according to the present invention is very reliable, inasmuch as structurally robust.
Advantageously, moreover, the yielding of the closure latch makes it possible to absorb the manufacturing and assembly tolerances of the barrel and gas intake, in any case ensuring optimal blocking.
It is clear that a person skilled in the art may make modifications to the rifle and cap group described above so as to satisfy contingent requirements while remaining within the sphere of protection of the following claims.

Claims

Cap group (30) for a container pipe (8) of a rifle, comprising:
- a manually removable closure latch (34), comprising:
a) a main body (60) comprising a bottom (61) and an annular wall (62) suitable for being gripped by a user, having a main axis (Z);

b) an engagement element (70), joined to the main body (60);

c) a spring (80) housed in the main body (60) abutting against the bottom (61); and

d) a socket (90) engaged in a slidable manner in axial direction with the main body (60), suitable for engaging the spring (80) in compression;

- a container cap (32) engageable in a removable manner with the mouth of the container pipe, comprising a cam profile (44a), said cam profile (44a) suitable for being engaged by the engagement element (70) and for putting the spring (80) in compression, further comprising a housing seat (50) for the stable and manually reversible reception of the engagement element (70).
Cap group according to claim 1, wherein the cam profile (44a) comprises a sloping section (48), said housing seat (50) being placed downstream of the sloping section (48).
Cap group according to claim 2, wherein the housing seat (50) is at least partially recessed in relation to the apex of the sloping section (48).
Cap group according to any of the previous claims, wherein the socket (90) comprises an annular socket wall (91) and an annular prominence (92) projecting radially inwardly from the socket wall (91), suitable for abutting against the cam profile (44a) and for correspondingly influencing the spring (80) in compression.
Cap group according to any of the previous claims, wherein the engagement element (70) is a pin positioned in a diametrical position and attached to the main body (60).
Cap group according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the container cap (32) comprises an insert (36) suitable for being inserted in the mouth, comprising a tubular wall (38) in which said cam profile (44a) is realised.
Cap group according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the cap group (32) comprises pliant pegs (52) for releasable attachment with the container pipe.
Rifle comprising:
- a breech (1) provided with a barrel hole (2) and a pipe hole (4);

- a barrel (6) engageable with the barrel hole (2) of the breech (1);

- a container pipe (8) connectable to the pipe hole (4) of the breech;

- a cap group (30) associable with the container pipe (8) according to any of the previous claims.
Rifle according to claim 8 , wherein the container pipe (8) is suitable for being screwed to the breech.
Rifle according to claim 8 or 9, comprising a gas intake (12) connected to the barrel.
Rifle according to claim 10, wherein the container pipe (8) passes through the gas intake (12).
Rifle according to claim 11, wherein the closure latch forms a unilateral arrest to the sliding of the gas intake (12) on the container pipe.
Rifle according to any of the claims from 10 to 12, comprising a stock (20) to cover the gas intake and the container pipe.
Rifle according to claim 13, wherein the stock is suitable for being inserted on the container pipe (8) and on the gas intake (12).
Rifle according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the closure latch (34) forms a stop to dismantling of the stock.