GB2028983A - Weapon with retractible barrel - Google Patents

Abstract

A weapon for firing explosive missiles comprises a frame 4 and a recoiling mass formed by a barrel-tube 1, a breech block 5 and a cradle 3. The barrel is connected to the cradle for the purpose of opening it with a pivoting movement. A hydro- mechanical recoil brake 10, 6, 66, 9, 70, absorbs the recoil when the shot is discharged and returns the recoiling mass to the forward position. A percussion mechanism 44, 45 is housed in the breech block and controlled by a push rod 48 which is actuated by a pull off mechanism 49, 58 housed in a handle 61. The recoiling mass can be returned in the recoil position by a latch to reduce the length of the weapon for carrying purposes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Weapons This invention relates to weapons for individual use.

This distribution envisaged for this individual weapon is a few per company. When the infantryman is deprived of support from heavy weapons, the present weapon enables him to destroy enemy shelters in the field forming a serious and dangerous obstacle to his advance, e.g. nests of machine guns, in a very short time and over long distances, by flat, accurate firing of expiosive missiles onto their gun ports.

At present time the infantryman cannot carry out this task when equipped: neither with a rifle, because of the lack of power when firing with bullets where the result is uncertain, or the lack of precision and short range or rifle grenades used in flat firing; - or with a rocket launcher, which is essentially an anti-tank weapon and because of its space requirement, the relative weight of the ammunition and the tell-tale signature.

Avoiding all the above-mentioned disadvantges of conventional weapons, this weapon, which can be fired from the shoulder, also combines the following advantages: (a) a simple, strong, light construction (b) ease in handling (c) ease of use, owing to a weak recoil effect, the rapid opening of the barrel and the rapid ejection and reloading of the cartridge case (d) the high power and increased accuracy in firing expiosive missiles in cartridges with a high initial speed (e) safety in use (f) a considerable amount of ammunition can be transported by the gunner.

This individual weapon is distinguished in that it comprises a rifled barre! mounted for rocking movement on a cradle, fixed to a breech, sliding in a frame; that it further comprises a hydromechanical recoil brake with partial recovery of energy, with a moving part mounted directly on the cradle; and that the barrel and cradle can be retracted into an inoperative, transporting position in order to reduce the space requirement of the weapon.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated diagrammatically and by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the weapon in the active firing position, Figure 2 is a sectioned side view in the inactive transporting position, Fiyure 3 is a longitudinal section through the weapon with the barrel in the open, loading, position, Figures 4a and 4b are two parts of a longitudinal section through the weapon on a larger scale, with the barrel in the firing position, Figure 5 to 8 and 10 to 12 are cross-sections through the weapon, taken along the line V-V to VIll-VIll and X-X to Xll-Xll respectively in Figures 4a and 4b, Figure 9 is a partial longitudinal section taken along the line IX-IX in Figure 8, Figure 1 3 is a partial cross-section taken along the line Xlll-Xlll in Figure 1 and, Figure 14 to 1 6 are partial longitudinal sections illustrating the percussion and discharge control mechanism.

The weapon illustrated comprises aframe structure 4 with a supporting cradle sliding in it.

Together with the barrel and the body of the brake the cradle forms the whole of the recoiling mass.

The lower part of the frame is provided with a firing handle 61 and a folding stand 75.

To increase firing precision, the frame has a butt where the mean point of the zone bearing on the user's shoulder is located substantially on the line of thrust due to the recoil effect; this lessens the lifting couple of the weapon when the shot is discharged.

Because of this arrangement the sighting telescope is off-set to improve aiming conditions, thus avoiding the disadvantage of the firer having to incline his head to the side.

The barrel tube is fixed by a pivot joint 2 to the cradle sliding inside the frame structure. The cradle and breech block assembly form a single component which also includes the means for fixing the recoil brake.

The joint enables the barrel to be opened vertically by pivoting it through an angle for the purpose of loading it and subsequently ejecting the case.

The breech block assembly contains the percussion mechanism.

The cradle slides on machine guides inside the body of the frame. The length of the straight slide is the same as the braking length, i.e. 250mm. An additional 30mm is provided to give a safety margin.

This travel also corresponds to the distance the barrel is telescoped to transport the weapon.

The energy resulting from recoil is absorbed by a hydraulic brake and a recuperator spring, the function of which is to bring the barrel back into action.

The rod of a brake piston is fixed to the body of the frame. Thus the brake cylinder is movable relative to its piston. The entire braking arrangement is completely protected by the frame.

The barrel tube 1 has a muzzle brake 11 (Fig. 3) with a lateral anti-dust action, which also reduces the flash. Roughly midway along its length and approximately at right angles to its point of equilibrium, the barrel 1 is connected to the cradle 3 by a joint 2 (Fig. 4a).

An ejecting block 12 (Fig. 4b), located under the cartridge chamber of the barrel tube 1, supports the ejector 1 3 proper and its control mechanism.

The ejector 13 operates when the barrel tube 1 is fully opened: at that moment a retaining catch 14 meets a movable abutment 1 5 adjoining the cradle 3 and releases the ejector 1 3. This is pushed by a spring 1 6 and ejects the case. The spring 16 exerts its thrust by way of a piston 1 7 and spindle 18.

The ejector 13 is recocked at the closing of the barrel tube 1 by a lock 22, which acts as a cam, and is held there by the catch 14, the catch being reengaged in retaining notches 1 9 machined in lateral guides of the ejector 1 3.

The ejector block 1 2 further comprises an abutment seating 20 for the bolt 7.

The cradle 3 and breech 5, which are machined in one block, and the means for fastening the brake all form one component. This is generally made of a light alloy such as "Duralumin" (Registered Trade Mark).

The cradle supports and guides the whole of the recoiling mass by means of sliding grooves 21.

These are machined at each side and along the whole length of the recoiling mass, and male guide means 8 of the frame 4 slide in them.

The breech block 5 is machined to contain the bolting and percussion mechanisms. It comprises a steel lock 22 which is fixed to the block by a dove tail arrangement 23.

The lock tacts as an abutment for the base of the cartridge case and a seating for the striker and enable the upper part of the weapon, above the spindle of the barrel tube, to be made heavy enough to improve the balance of the weapon for the purpose of accurate firing.

The barrel is provided with a bolt 7, which is of the rocking type. The bolt is connected to the spindle 24 and pushed into the blocking position by a small rod 25 with a ball joint, at spring 26 bearing on the block 5.

Since the internal section of the frame 4 is entirely used by the translatory movements of the recoiling mass, the mechanical connection acting on the firing control remains enclosed laterally in the frame, representing the non-recoiling mass.

Unboiting is controlled (at the right-hand side as seen by the firer) by means of a lug 27 (Fig 8) connected to the bolt 7 and passing into a cavity 28, which allows sufficient clearance to release the bolt.

Through the cavity 38 and lug 27 has access to a groove 29 machined parallel with the guide 8 at the right-hand side of the cradle 3. An abutment 30 (Fig. S),fixed on the outside of the frame 4, slides in this groove in its movement relative to the recoiling mass.

Like a catch, the abutment 30 moves only in one direction when interacting with the lug 27. It acts as a fixed abutment at the end of the counterrecoil stroke of the recoiling mass; when its bearing surfaces meet the lug 27 they force the bolt 7 to make the angular displacement necessary for rebolting. During this angular displacement the lug 27 is raised and passes above the abutment 30, which is crosses to reenter its groove 29.

In the unbolted position a clearance of a fraction of a millimetre between the two edges 32 and 33 of its seating is sufficient to release the barrel.

When the barrel is lowered it is rebolted automatically.

At the beginning of the recoil stroke the abutment 30 acts as a movable abutment to give free passage to the lug 27 within the groove 29, without affecting the locked position of the bolt 7.

For this purpose the front end of the lug 27 acts on a slope 34 of the abutment 30 and pushes the abutment back in the horizontal plane.

The barrel may be unbolted manually in two ways: neither by pushing the barrel slightly back until the lug 27 passes the abutment 30 and allowing the barrel to return; unlocking then takes place on the return stroke; - or by using a manual control, moving a pull knob 35 which slides an abutment 36 along the groove 29; in its interaction with the lug 27 it plays a part equivalent to that of the abutment 30 during the run up.

The whole of this control means is returned to the neutral position by a spring biassed piston 38.

A thin sheet of metal 39 held by a pin closes the cavity provided for the passage of the lever 35 during its displacement.

Percussion is obtained by the striker 41 (Fig.

4b), which is recocked by a nose 42 of the bolt 7 during its dual retracting movements, which takes place during the opening and closing movements of the barrel tube.

In the course of this movement the nose 42 pushes a heel 43 of the striker for rotation about its spindle 44 to an angle which enable a catch 45 to engage a notch 46 by means of its pin-like spring; this angle corresponds to that of the strike impulse.

The striker 41 is driven by a small rod under the influence of a spring 47.

The setting in motion of the stiker is controlled from outside the recoiling mass, from the lefthand side as seen by the firer. A sliding pushrod 48 transmits the action of a trigger lever 49 to the catch 45 by way of an abutment 50.

When the push rod 48, moved by the trigger lever 49 (Fig. 16), raises the abutment 50, the catch 45 releases the striker 41.

When the shot has been discharged a face 51 lowers the pushrod 48 in-its recoiling movement.

The pushrod 48 is kept in the lowered position throughout the whole recoil movement by means of the upper horizontal surface of one of the grooves 21.

Lowering of the pushrod 48 causes lowering of the trigger lever 49 by means of a roller 52 (through compression of an action spring 53). The trigger lever 49, connected at 54 is arrested in this lowered position by a roller 55 of the handle guard 56 and by a pull-off notch 57. The notch 57 will ultimately release the trigger lever 49 when the pull-off 58 is acted on to fire a shot. With an arresting strut 59 freed, the spring 53 raises the pushrod 48. This brings about percussion through releasing the notch 46 from the striker 41 by raising the catch 45.

This arrangement prevents any kick on to the finger of the marksman when the shot is discharged and before the pull-off is released.

The rollers 55 of the guard for the handle, engaging a slope 77 on the trigger lever 49, can alone cause the trigger to be lowered during the movement returning it to the safe position.

The mechanism is contained in a casing 60 integral with a handle 61. The integral unit can be removed completely by turning the two bolts 62 fixing it to the frame 4 through 1800.

This mechanism is fitted with two safety devices, a safety device 63 to put the weapon out of action and a safety device 55/56 which operates when the weapon is in action. The function of the latter is to prevent the shot from being discharged unexpectedly as a result of anything catching when the bolt has been released. The safety device 55/56 is raised, naturally, when the marksman grips the handie, as a result of the movement of the lever 61 into the back of the handle; this results in withdrawal of the rollers 55 which prevent the trigger 49 from releasing the striker 41.

In a preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 15, the trigger 58 is immobiiised in its inactive position by an operating safety device formed by the lever 56. The lever 56 is biassed by a spring 80 and actuates a bolt 81 engaging the internal surface of the casing 60 and the lower surface of a pull-off 82. The lower surface of the pull-off has a step 83 , so that when the bolt 81 is in the advanced position the pull-off can pivot about a spindle 84 by the action of the trigger 58.

The pull-off has a catch 85 which pivots about a spindle 86 and is biassed by a spring 87, the spring keeping it in abutment with the pin 88. The catch has a surface 89 interacting with the end of one arm of a return means 90, the other arm of the return means is at 900 to the first arm and has a hook 91 interacting with the pushrod 48. In this embodiment the pushrod 48 is urged upwardly by a spring (not shown).

The recoil brake is of the hydraulic type with partial recovery of energy, obtained by compression of a partially precompressed spring 9 (Fig. 4b), the function of which is to give a correct end of stroke when the barrel tube recoils, whatever the inclination of the weapon.

The body 6 of the brake forms part of the recoiling mass, to which it is joined by fixed means 64 and 65 provided on the movable cradle 3. Its rod 10, with a piston 66 screwed on to it, is stationary relative to the frame and is held in that position by an end closure 67.

On displacement of the cylindrical body 6 of the brake, which can move relative to the rod, the oil contained in the body passes from one side of the stationary piston 66 to the other in the opposite direction to the displacement of the body.

In one of the constructions illustrated, the oil passed through a clearance between the piston 66 and the body 6. Linear reduction in the clearance results in gradual braking when the body 6 is displaced relative to the piston 66.

This effect reduces the reaction tending to raise the weapon before the missile has emerged from the barrel tube.

To prevent it from buckling, the spring is guided partly by the rod 10 and partly by a sheath 70.

The recoiling mass, when in the transporting position, is held by buttressing catch 71 (Fig. 13) which engages automatically in a cavity at the back of the breech block, when the recoiling mass moves beyond the range of the recoil stroke. It can be disconnected by pushing in the catch 71.

A buffer 72 (Fig. 1 4) protects the piston 66 by preventing it from butting against the bottom of the jack when a stroke is carried out manually to shorten the weapon to the transporting position or to absorb the movement beyond the recoil stroke range in the case of a hitch.

A sighting telescope 73 of magnification x 2 is provided. It is removable and can be dismounted at the left-hand side of the weapon. It is fixed to the weapon by means of a dove tail member 74, which locks the telescope in position and allows it to be unlocked for removai from the weapon.

The attachment of a movable reticule enable the telescope to be adjusted with the utmost precision.

The stand 75 is used in the vertical position to fire a shot with the weapon resting on the ground.

It is locked in that position by a bolt 76.

In a forward horizontal position the stand provides a guard for the barrel, preventing rubbing against or catching the muzzle brake during its recoil, in cases where a shot is fired while the weapon is held against any support.

For transporting purposes the stand can be folded back below the stock of the barrel and held in that position by the bolt 76.

Thus it will be appreciated that the weapon is very simple in operation and gives the gunner every safeguard.

When a shot has just been discharged, the barrel, cradle and brake body recoil together, being guided in the frame and compressing the recoil spring. The brake means is arranged so that energy is absorbed gradually when the shot is discharged, this limiting reaction on the weapon before the missile has completely emerged from the barrel tube.

When the recoil stoke is over, the spring returns the recoil mass to the front.

Just before run up is completed, an abutment provided on the frame initiates the process of unlocking an automatic opening of the barrel.

The case is ejected when the angular opening of the barrel tube is completed.

When fresh ammunition has been placed manually in the chamber of the barrel tube, the tube is closed by lowering it on to its cradle and automatically locked.

The movement of the bolt during this operation caused the percussion mechanism to be recocked.

Displacement of the pull-off causes the trigger to be raised and free to catch from the nose containiny the percussion hammer. The striker is thrown on to the cap of the cartridge

Claims (8)

1. A weapon for firing explosive missiles, comprising a rifled barrel pivotally mounted on a cradle, fixed to a breech block sliding in a frame, a hydro-mechanical recoil brake with a body mounted directly on the cradle, and wherein the barrel and cradle can be retracted into an inoperative, transporting position in order to reduce the space requirement or the weapon.

2. A weapon according to claim 1, wherein the whole recoiling mass formed by the barrel, cradle, the breech block and a cylinder of the recoil brake, is mounted for sliding movement within the frame by means of guides housed in longitudinal grooves formed in internal lateral surfaces of the frame.

3. A weapon according to claim 2, wherein the whole percussion mechanism is mounted in the breech block.

4. A weapon according to claim 3, wherein the release of a percussion stiker is controller by a push rod within the frame and outside the path of the recoiling mass, and is operated by a pull-off mechanism controlled by a trigger housed in a firing handle.

5. A weapon according to claim 4, wherein the recoil brake comprises a piston integral with a rod fixed rigidly to the front of the frame and extending through a chamber integral with the recoiling mass, the rod extending beyond the chamber towards the rear of the frame into a sheath fixed rigidly to the rear of the frame, and wherein a spring surround the rod and extends into the sheath, the spring bearing against an external rear surface of the chamber and against an internal rear surface of the frame.

6. A weapon according to any of the preceding claims, wherein automatic means are provided for locking the barrel in its active firing position.

7. A weapon according to any of the preceding claims, wherein re-cocking, and locking of the barrel, are obtained automatically by rotating the barrel about its pivot into the firing position.

8. A weapon for fixed ammunition missiles constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.