GB560383A - Improvements in locking devices applicable to machine gun mountings - Google Patents

Abstract

560,383. Fastenings ; machine gun mountings. DARBY, D. Sept. 28, 1942, No. 13589. [Class 44] [Also in Group XXI] A fastening device particularly applicable to machine gun mountings and of the type in which a fixed jaw co-operates with a pivoted jaw to grip a part (such as the pin or trunnion 9 carried by the gun), the pivoted jaw being retained in fastening position by a sliding wedge or abutment, is provided with a handle-operated pivoted releasing device which withdraws the wedge and may also act on the pin 9 to eject it smartly when the wedge has been withdrawn. As shown, fixed jaws 3 are formed on spaced side-pieces 2 upstanding from a base I and the pivoted jaw 4 is, in known manner, in the form of a bell-crank lever having one arm 6 extending towards the fixed jaws so that insertion of pin 9 rocks the jaw to bring its other arm 5 into engagement with the pin. A sliding wedge or abutment 7 loaded by spring 8 engages under jaw 4 as shown to retain it in fastening position. Release is effected by a cam 13 on shaft 12 rotatable by handle 11. Interposed between cam 13 and pin 9 is an arm 10 pivoted on wedge 7 with its upper end bearing against pin 9 as shown. When cam 13 is rotated clockwise, Fig. 1, it urges arm 10 to the right. During the first part of the movement pin 9 remains immovable and acts as a fulcrum for arm 10, the pivoted lower end of which moves to the right and withdraws wedge 7 from engagement with arm 4 at the same time compressing spring 8. When the wedge is withdrawn leaving jaw 4 free to move arm 10 serves to eject pin 9 with smart action, rocking jaw 4 clockwise. As shown, base 1 is slidable along a support 15 against the action of a recoil spring 16. In a modification, the arm 10 is omitted and the sliding wedge is replaced by a pivoted two-arm lever, one arm of which-acts as a pawl or detent engaging a shoulder on jaw 4 to retain it in fastening position, the other end bearing against a spring plunger mounted on arm 6. The detent arm is acted on by a handle-operated pivoted cam which moves the detent clear of the shoulder and at the same time causes the other arm to compress the plunger spring so that, when the detent is clear, the spring rocks arm 4 clockwise, arm 6 directly ejecting pin 9.