GB264794A - Automatic gun - Google Patents

Abstract

264,794. Schneider et Cie. Jan. 22, 1926, [Convention date]. Ordnance breech mechanism. - The breech opening and closing mechanism, firing mechanism, cartridge feedmechanism and ejecting mechanism of a recoil-operated gun are actuated by the relative displacement of the barrel and a casing which for automatic actuation is fixed to the cradle and for firing the first shot is displaceable relatively to the cradle and barrel by hand mechanism. The movements of the breechblock and cartridge feedmechanism are produced by cams. As shown, the breechblock F is a vertically-sliding wedge having at the bottom a carriage bar F<1> on which are rollers f<1> engaging cams C<1> on the casing C. The breechblock is pressed upwards by recuperator springs f<2>, Fig. 1, arranged in vertical sleeves on the gun barrel A. When the barrel recoils relatively to the cradle B and casing C anchored thereto, the breech is opened by the rollers f<1> riding down the cams C<1>. For hand actuation, for firing the first shot, the casing C is moved forwards by a crank b<5>, Fig. 3, mounted on the cradle B and connected to the casing C by a rod E. The crank is actuated by a handle b<7> and gearing. The cartridges T are carried by a belt D, Fig. 7, having spring fingers which grip the cartridges in such a way that they can be removed from the belt by a downward push. The belt is guided by rollers c<2> - - c<4>, Fig. 2, on the inside of the casing engaging longitudinal channels d<1> - - d<3> in the belt. The belt is fed by a feed pawl H<1> on a transverse slide H which is operated by a horizontal cam in a slide G attached to the barrel. The pusher I for removing the cartridge from the belt is operated by a lever I<1>, I<2> actuated by a vertical cam g<2> in the slide G. The cartridges fall from the belt on to a scoop J. This scoop is pressed forwards by a spring recuperator K which is cocked during the recoil, a catch j on the scoop then engaging the casing C. The weight of the cartridge depresses the scoop, thereby releasing the catch, and the scoop is moved forwards by the spring recuperator and projects the cartridge at the barrel chamber. The firing mechanism comprises a spring-actuated striker P, lever o and sear N mounted in the breechblock and a spring locking and firing bolt M mounted in the cradle. When the breech closes, the spring bolt M enters an aperture # in the breech-block and automatically actuates the firing mechanism. The bolt M is withdrawn when the casing is moved forwards to fire the first shot by a bell-crank lever M', M<2>, Fig. 1, pivoted on the cradle and engaged by a spring pushpiece Q. The push-piece Q can be moved forwards, to put the spring bolt M out of action for shot-by-shot firing, by means of a handle R, Fig. 3, the handle R being moved back to fire the gun. A pivoted extractor S actuated by the breech-block at the end of its opening movement throws the case backwards against an eccentrically mounted spring buffer L which ejects it. The extractor acts as a detent to hold the breechblock in its lowered position and is moved forwards to release the breech-block when a cartridge is loaded into the chamber. A pivoted pawl w on the top of the block acts as a cartridge retainer.