GB2319076A

GB2319076A - Improvements in firearms

Info

Publication number: GB2319076A
Application number: GB9623165A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Ernest Saxby
Original assignee: CONSTANTIA
Current assignee: CONSTANTIA
Priority date: 1996-11-06
Filing date: 1996-11-06
Publication date: 1998-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2016-11-06
Also published as: GB2319076B; GB9623165D0

Abstract

A device for insertion into the barrel of a self-loading training gun comprises a piston and cylinder unit 5, 7, 9. The cylinder 5 is adapted to be made fast in the barrel 3. The piston assembly 7, 9 is adapted to move axially relative to the barrel. The spindle 9 of the piston and cylinder unit has an inlet to receive gas discharged by a cartridge C and means 19 for sealing the inlet relative to the cartridge. Gas entering the inlet causes the spindle to extend from cylinder so as to press against the cartridge, so as to drive the slide rearwardly and recycle the gun. The gun may utilize a lever beam. The cartridge may be a gas cartridge or a blank cartridge for simulating the report of the gun.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN FIREARMS It is known to modify a firearm for training purposes by closing-off the barrel and fitting it with a unit to direct a beam of laser radiation at the target upon firing. Blank ammunition is also commonly used for training purposes and may be used in modified firearms of this type. Such blank ammunition may take the form of gas cartridges in which the discharge of compressed gas is used to produce a report. However, the type of gas cartridge normally used for training with revolvers and other non-self loading guns does not produce sufficient recoil to allow of its use with self-loading weapons. Although gas cartridges have been developed to produce sufficient recoil to recycle automatic firearms, these are not especially suitable for use with selfloading laser video firearms with a closed barrel.

Low energy pyrotechnic cartridges are also known for training purposes and may lead to the same difficulties when used with self-loading laser video firearms.

To overcome this problem it is proposed to provide the barrel of a self-loading firearm with a device into which gas discharged from a cartridge is used to apply pressure to the cartridge and thereby to the gun slide, so as to initiate recycling.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an axial section through a part of a selfloading gun fitted with the device proposed in accordance with the invention, a cartridge being shown in the breach, before firing.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 immediately after firing.

Referring to Figure 1, a self-loading gun modified for training purposes includes a breach 1 into which a gas cartridge C may be fed automatically by known mechanism, not shown. The barrel 3 of the gun is closed and provided at its forward end with a device, also not shown, for directing a beam of laser radiation at a target. Fitted into the barrel immediately forwards of the breach is a device for receiving gas under pressure from the cartridge C and applying force to the cartridge to drive it and the gun slide rearwardly, thereby to recycle the weapon and reload it. The device includes a cylinder 5 which is fitted into the barrel. A piston assembly includes a piston 7 which is reciprocal in the cylinder, and a hollow spindle 9 which extends from the piston and passes through a bore in a headpiece 11 surmounting the cylinder. The piston wall has a peripheral groove in which an elastomeric seal ring 21 is retained. The headpiece has a portion 13 which extends into the cylinder and limits travel of the piston. A compression spring 15 retained by the headpiece biases the piston into the retracted position shown in Figure 1. The spindle has a land 17 near its free end to engage the nose of the cartridge. A portion of the spindle projecting beyond the land is dimensioned to enter the cartridge mouth and be sealed to it by an elastomeric seal ring 19.

When the cartridge is fired, compressed gas is discharged from its mouth, flows through the bore within the spindle 9 and enters the chamber 23 behind the piston so as to drive the piston assembly to the rear as shown in Figure 2, carrying with it the cartridge and slide and causing recycling of the gun.

The device described above may also be used with low energy blank pyrotechnic cartridges which are incapable of causing a gun to recycle.

It will be appreciated that modifications may be made to the device described above. Thus, for example, the seal ring 19 may be dispensed with if use is made of purpose designed cartridges having their own sealing arrangement. The cylinder may be provided with a recess behind the piston or with a step to prevent its bottoming within the cylinder. Also, the arrangement may be reversed by arranging for the cylinder to slide within the barrel and providing it with an inlet nozzle for reception within the mouth of the cartridge. In this arrangement the piston is made fast with the barrel. Other arrangements, for example in the nature of bellows, may be used to perform the invention.

Claims

1. A method of recycling a self-loading training gun, in which gas discharged from a cartridge is used to cause the expansion of a device disposed forwardly of the cartridge, thereby to apply force to the cartridge and the slide of the gun.

2. A self-loading training gun, the barrel of which is provided with an expansible device, the device having an inlet to receive gas from a blank cartridge fired by the gun, the device being adapted to expand axially within the barrel under the pressure of gas fed to it, and to apply a rearward acting force to the cartridge.

3. A device for insertion into the barrel of a gun comprising a piston and cylinder unit, a first component of which is adapted to be made fast in the barrel and a second component of which is adapted to move axially relative to the barrel, the second component having an inlet to receive gas discharged by a cartridge, means being provided for sealing the inlet relative to the cartridge, whereby gas entering the inlet causes the second component to move relative to the first component in the sense of pressing against the cartridge.