US1025132A - Automatic gun or rifle. - Google Patents

Description

W. M. DOUGLAS.

AUTOMATIC GUN QR RIFLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEfzo 191 Patented May 7, 1912.

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W. M. DOUGLAS. AUTOMATIC GUN OR RIFLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE so, 1911.

Patented May 7, 1912.

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APPLIUATION FILED JUNE ao, 1911.

Patented May 7, 1912.

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Patented May E912.

W. M. DOUGLAS. AUTOMATIC GUN OR RFLE. APPLICATION FILED JUNEso, 1911,

WILLIAM M. DOUGLAS, F GALVESTON, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC GUN OB RIFLE.

`Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1912.

Application filed June 30, 1911. Serial No. 636,248.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. DOUGLAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galveston. in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in IAutomatic Guns or Rides, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to tire arms and has particular reference to an automatic g'un or rifle.

An important object- 'of this invention is to provide a magazine gun or rifle, which is automatically operated to eject the tired cartridges and reloaded, by utilizing a portion of the pressure from the exploding shell or cartridge.

A further object of this invention is to provide a gun or rifle of the above 4mentioned character, which is quick in action, easy and automatic in operation, and not liable to derangements.

Gther objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course' of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specii'ication and in which like numerals are employed to designate like` parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view 'taken through the magazine and associated members, Fig. 2 is a plan view of that portion of the gun or rifle shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a side view of the outer end of the barrel of the gun or rifie, shown partly in section, together with associated members shown in section. Fig. f1 is a side view of the gas-plunger, Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the air compressing cylinder, F ig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the breech-bolt and associated members, Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the stock of the gun or riie, showing the hammer, magazine and associated members, Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 8, Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the rear portion of the stolpk and showing the breechbolt operating cy inder and associated members, Fig. 11 is atransverse sectional view taken on line 11H11. of Fig. 2, Fig. 12 is an end View of the breech-bolt, removed, and, Fig. 13 is a detail showin the ejector, In the drawings wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, the

'numeral 1 designates the barrel of the gun or rie, which is disposed upon a forearm 2 of the usual stock. The barrel 1 is attached tothe fore arm by bands 3 and 4, shown in Figs. 3 and 6. At the outer end the barrel 1 carries a vsight 5 and a sword-bayonet 6 is secured to the outer end of the barrel 1 vin the usual manner. nally through the forearm 2 is a gas-pipe or cylinder 7, having communication with the barrel 1 through a port 8, which is disposed near and spaced from the outer end of the barrel. A sleeve 9 connects the gas pipe 7 and the barrel 1, the port 8 .passing through a portion of this sleeve. the gas-pipe 7 is internally screw-threaded for receiving an externally screw-threaded plug 10, which is locked against rotation by a cap 11 having screw-threaded engagement therewith and with an extension formed Vupon the outer end of the gas-pipe 7. Disposed within theforward portion of the gas-pipe 7 is a gas- plunger 1,2 adapted to reciprocate therein and provided upon its periphery with annular grooves for receiving packing rings 13. The gas-plunger 12 has one end formed closed and is provided with an aXialopening 14 which extends through the opposite end of the plunger. The gas-pipe 7 extends rearwardly through the forearm 2 and terminates nearthe rear band 4, as shown in Fig. 6. The rear end Extending longitudi- The outer end ofI of the gas-pipe iits within or telescopes an air compressing cylinder 15, within which 1s mounted to reciprocate an air compressing piston 16, having annular grooves,-

formed upon its periphery for receiving packing rings 17. A cylinder 18 is interposed between the gas-pipe 7 and the air compressing piston 16 and is rigidly held against movement. The cylinder 18 is provided centrally thereof with an opening for receiving areciprocatory rigid rod 19, having its rear end attached'to the air compressing piston 16 and its forward end attached to the gas-piston 12. A compressible coil spring 20 surrounds the rod 19 and is confined between the gas-piston 12 and the stationary cylinder 18. At the rear end of the air compressing cylinder 15 is a reducing pipe or conduit .21, having connection with two branch pipes or conduits los 22 and 23. The pipe 22 continues longitudinally of the forearm and leads 'into the forward end of a breech holtcylinder 24, as more clear y shown in Figs. 10 and 2. The branch pipe 23 extends transversely ofthe toi-carin 2 and leads into a compressed air Vpipe 25, which is disposed upon the right Mside ot the barrel 1, see Figs. 6 and 2. Connected with the rear end of the compressed air pipe 25 is an upstanding nozzle 26, as more Aclearly shown in Fig. 9. Disposed within the breech-bolt cylinder 2st is a piston 27, slidably mounted therein and carrying a curved arm 2S, which operates within an elongated slot 29. The rearward morement ot' the piston 27 is opposed by a. compressible coil spring 30 disposed within the breech-bolt cylinder 24 and held therein by a plug or cap 31 which closes the rear end of the cylinder 29. The plug or cap 29 has screw-threaded engagement with the cylinder 24 and is clamped or locked against accidental rotation by a locking ring 32, having screw-threaded engagement with the cylinder 24, -as shown in Fig. 10.

The numeral 33 designates a maga-zine for holding a plurality of shells or cartridges S4 in superposed horizontal positions. A spring placed in the bottom of the magazine serves to .more the cartridges upwardly, when the gun or ritie is being reloaded. Disposed above the magazine 33 is a sliding breech-bolt 36, disposed within a track or housing comprising side walls 3T. The upper side of this housing is normally closed by a slide cover 38. The arm 2S operates within a longitudinal opening 29 and is rigidly attached Ito the breech-bolt 36. This breech-bolt is preferably formed square in cross-section and is provided with. a cylindrical axial opening formed' thereinv tor receiving a locking-cylinder Ll0. This lool:- ing-cylinder is capable of turning within the breech-bolt 36 but cannot have any perceptible longitudinal movementtherein. As shown in Fig. 7,A the locking cylinder Ll() is provided with a longitudinal opening 4:1 for receiving a tiring pin 42 extending into 'a larger longitudinal opening 48 Jformed through the locking cylinder. Mounted to reciprocate within the opening 43 is a plunger 44 attached to the tiring pin l2 and carrying a stop 45, disposed for movement. within a slot 46. Surrounding a portion of the tiring pin 42 is a compressible coil spring 46 confined between the end wall of the opening Li3 and one end of the plunger 44. The locking cylinder' 40 is provided at one end with an enlarged cylindrical head Lil", carrying inteirupted screw-threads 48 upon its periphery, adapted for detachable engagement with corresponding screw-threads 49 formed on the wall olf the bore ot' the barrel 1 and at the rear end of the barrel. as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2. The

Ilbreech-bolt has an extractor 50 rigidly attached. to the forward end thereof, .which is Lacasse adapted to engage the flange 51 of a cartridge 52. The bore of the barrel lis counter-bored slightly7 as shown at 53 to receive the cartridge.

The breech-bolt 3B is provided near its forward end. and upon its upper tace with a transverse opening 54, for receiving a downwardly curved handle-bar 55 which is rigidly connected with the locking cylinder l0. This handle-bar 55 is adapted to travel vwithin a longitudinal slot 56 when movedY vertically out of an enlargement 57, which is disposed at. the forward end of the slot 56. The curved' handle-bar when the breech-bolt 36 is in its most 'forward position, is disposed directly above the com! pressed air nozzle 2G. A leaf-spring 5S is attached to the breech-bolt and permanent-ly engages Ythe handle-bar 55 to swing the same downwardly. The housing is provided near its upper edee with a discharge opening 59 and upon its opposite wail with a pivoted ejector G0, which is automatically moved by a spring 6l. y

Disposed to the rear of the magazine is ,a hammer 62 pivoted as shown at 63 in the small of the'stoclr and adapted to'strike the plunger 411. This hammer'is operated by a main spring 64 and is normally held against movement by a trigger 65, pivoted shown at 65 and engaged by a' triggerspring G7. A pivoted cap G8 is adapted to be swung between the plunger 4:4 and the hammer G3, to avoid accidents.

The numeral 69 designates a triggerguard andthe numeral 70 designates a rear sight', which may be of any well known or preferred type.

In the operation of my 0am or rifle, assuming that the same is loaded and that the different parts occupy the position shown in Fig. l, the operator cocks thehammen 62 and swings cap 68 from betwee, fthe hammer and the plunger 44. lVhe?;.the trigger is pulled the hammer strikes the plunger 44 and the cartridge 52.is.tred. Then the bullet of the cartridge passs 'port 8 and before itleaves the barrel 1, the gases under high pressure from the explosion pass through said port 8 intok the gas .cylinder 7. The gas-piston 12 is now moved .rearwardly carrying with it the rod 19,

which moves the air compressing plunger 1G rearwardly. By forming the gas-piston 12 with the axial opening ll:` the gases pass into such axial opening and expand the cylinder 12 whereby it always fits very snugly within the cylinder 7 and hence the gas can not pass the same. The air is now compressed within the cylinder 15 and part of this compressed air travels through the pipe 22 and the other part through pipe 23 and into pipe 25. The compressedair is now discharged from the nozzle 26 and by impinging against the handle-bar 55 elevates the same out of the enlar ement 57 of the slot 56. This movement of the handle-bar turns the locking-cylinder 40, whereby its screwthreaded head 47 disengages screw-threads 49. As soon as the locking-cylinder 40 is thus released, the compressed air acting upon the piston 27 will move the same to the rear, whereby the breech-bolt 36 is also moved to the rear.l The breech-bolt by means of the extractor 50 carries the lired cartridge 52 to the rear and positions the same opposite. the discharge opening 59, at which time the automatic ejector 60 operates to throwthe fired cartridge 52 out of the magazine through the opening 59. In its rearward movement the breech-bolt 36 cocks the hammer 62. As'soon as the fired cartridge 52 is discharged from the magav zine, spring 35 will elevate the cartridcres to position the uppermost one forwar ly of and in alinement with the breech-bolt 36. lVhen the breech-bolt is moved forwardly and returned to the position shown in Fig. l, itforces the uppermost cartridge 34 into the counter-bore 53 and hence the gun is reloaded. This forward movement of the breech-bolt 36 is permitted by the decrease in pressure in the cylinder 24, which takes place after the bullet has left the barrel 1, when the spring 30 forces the piston 27 forwardly, which through the medium of the arm 28 returns the breech-bolt- 36 to its most forward position. As soon as the breech-bolt 36 is thus returned to its forward position, the handle-bar `55 will be disposed in alinement with the enlargement 57, at which time the spring 58 will automatically swing the vhandle-bar downwardly, whereby the locking cylinder 40 is turned and its screw-threads 48 brought into holding engagement with the screw-threads 49. When the operator again pulls thertrigger the above described operation is repeated.

I have found that particularly good results can be obtained by employing cartridges having bullets provided with axial openings formed therein, in order that the gases from the explosion may enter the bullet and expand the same in the same manner as described in connection with my gaspiston,12. This will slightly retard the movement of the bullet in the barrel 1 and hence increase the pressure in the barrel and the supply of such pressure through-the port 8. I do not wish to restrict myself to the employment of lsuch cartridges as my gun operates satisfactorily with the ordinary cartridge having a solid bullet. t l

I wish it understood that the form of my invention herewith shown' and described is,

sorted to without ,departing from the spirit" of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. i

Having thus described my invention, I claimtl. In a lirearm of the character described, a. barrel, a magazine for holding a plurality of cartridges to be fed intothe barrel, a breech-bolt, an element to lock the breech-bolt in its closed position, compressed air operated means to actuate the element to release the breech-bolt, compressed air operated means to move the breechbolt after it is unlocked, air compressing mechanism to supply compressed air tothe firstland second named compressed air operated means, a gas-cylinder having communication with the barrel and receiving gas therefrom on discharge, a gas-piston oper-A ating in the gas-cylinder and actuatinglsaid air compressing mechanism, means to re- ,turn the breech-bolt to its closedi position,

means to ret-urn said element to its normalv gas therefrom on discharge, a piston operating within the gas-cylinder, an air compressing cylirder, a plunger operating within said air compressing cylinder, means connect-ing the piston and plunger, a breechbolt carrying an extractor and coperating with the barrel, an element for locking-the breech-bolt in its clos-ed position, mechanism actuated by compressed air from the air compressing cylinder for operating said element, and means actuated by such compressed air for moving the breech-bolt after the same is unlocked.

.3. In a fire arm of the character described, a barrel, a gas cylinder having communication with the barrel and receiving gas therefrom on discharge, a piston operating within the gas-cylinder, air compressing mechanism operated by said piston, a breech-bolt, an arm connected with the breech-bolt and carrying a piston, acylinder within which the last named piston operates, means of communication between said air compressing mechanism and th last named'cyl'inder,'a spring disposed Within said last named cylinderto oppose the movement of the piston carried by the arm,

an element to lock the breech-bolt in its mechanism to said means and Second named to return the piston to its normal position,

scribed, a barrel, e breech-holt carrying en extractor and cooperating therewith, a' loching element to hold thebrcech-bolt,against movement and carrying a handle bar, a nozzle disposed near the handle bur, andg e locking cylinder mounted within' the breech-bolt, an element to turn the locking cylinder, means to move the element, mech- :mism to move the breech-bolt after the sameA is unlocked, and conduits for supplying compressed air from said air compressing mechanism.

5. In a fire arm of the character described, a barrel, a gas-cylinder having communication therewith and receiving gas therefrom on discharge, a piston operating within the gas-cylinder, an air compressing cylinder, a plunger operating therein, a rod connecting the piston and plunger, a spring a breech-bolt, an arm connected with the breech-boltand carrying. a piston, a cylinder Within which the arm piston operates, e spring to return the arm piston to its normal position, means of communication between the air compressing cylinder and the last named cylinder, a locking element for normolly holding the breech-bolt in its closed position, a nozzle for conducting air to move the locking element, and means of communication between the nozzle and said air compressing cylinder.

6. In a lire arm of the character desuresnes means to supply compressed I air tothe nozzle. Y,

7. In e lire arm of the character described, a barrel, a breech-bolt carrying an extractor and coperating therewith, a locking element to hold the breech-bolt against 40 movement and carrying a handle bar, a nozzle disposed near the handle bar, means for moving the breech-bolt including a. cylinder and piston operating` therein, and

means for supplying the compressed air to the nozzle and said cylinder. A

8. In al fire arm of the character de? scribed, a barrel, u reciprocatory breech-bolt disposed near the loading end of the barrel and provided with an extractor, an element to normally lock the breech-bolt in its closed position, Ymeans to operate the element to release the breech-bolt, air compressing mechanism operated upon the discharge of the firearm, means of communication bctween the rst named means and said 1nech\ anism, means including a piston to move the breech-bolt after 1t is released and operated by the an' compressing mechanism, and

vmeans for firing the cartridge including an 0 element disposed to he automatically.cocked by the movement of the breech-bolt.

In testimony Whereol` I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM M. DOUGLA? llritnesses J. FRAGUI, S. E. Downes.

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