GB461365A - Automatic firearms - Google Patents

Abstract

461,365. Automatic guns. BIRKIGT, M. Nov. 4, 1935, No. 30431. Convention date, Sept. 16. [Class 92 (ii)] Relates to automatic guns of the kind in which the striker post 7, Fig. 3, is movable relatively to the breech block 6 to release a looking latch 13, Fig. 1, pivoted to the block which engages a notch 15 in the gun casing, the latch serving also by engagement with a recess 19 in the post to lock the parts 6, 7 together throughout the opening and closing movements of the block and until the latch re-engages the notch 15 when the post is released for firing. According to the invention, the abutment surfaces between the recess 19 and the latch are at right angles to the latch so that during closing there is no lateral force tending to press the latch against the guide surface 24, and, further, the latch has a surface 20 engaging at the end of the closing movement a fixed incline 21 on the casing to start the movement of the latch into the notch 15. In the form shown, a gas-operated piston acts through rods s to move the post 7 rearwards relatively to the breech block the latch 13 being released from the notch 15 by the engagement of inclines 17, 16. The portion 14 of the latch is then moved into the recess 19 to lock the parts 6, 7 together whilst the breech block is moved rearwards by the gas pressure on the cartridge case. On the return movement, the post 7, pressed forward by the return spring 5, engages the latch by perpendicular surfaces y, and, when the breech block reaches the closed position, the locking rotation of the latch started by the surfaces 20, 21 is completed by an incline 23 on the post.