US1499846A - Automatic machine gun - Google Patents

Description

July'1, 1924. 1,499,846 Q G. H. TANSLEY ET AL AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN Filed Sept. 24 1923 2 szmLs-srm; 1

Jul 'l 1924. 1,499,846

G. H. TANSLEY ET AL AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN Filed Spt. 24, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 4 ,gui

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* UNITED STATES 1,499,846 1 PATENT OFFICE. I

GEORGE H. TANSLEY AND CHRISTIAN PFEIFFER, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, AS-

SIGNORS TO COLTS PATENT FIRE ARMS IVIANUFACT'URING COMPANY, OFHABT-' 7 FORD, CONNECTICUT, COBPOB-ATIGN OFCONNEGTICUT.

'Arr'roMArIc MAGHINE Gun;

Application filed September '24, 1923. Serial No. 664,465.

erence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

' The invention relates generally to automatic machine guns of that class in which the heavy recoiling parts, such as the barrel and barrel extensiorn'are brought to rest gradually and without injurious shocks or. stresses, by some-form of butter located within the breech casing, such as a liquid lender or brake acting in the manner of a dash pot, for example, which buffer is made adjustable to vary its action under the various conditions of operation to which such guns are liable. r

The invention relates particularly. to such guns in which the adjustable buii'er rests against the rear wall of the breech casing, and in which said rear wall comprises a plate transversely removable from the easing to permitfwithdrawal and inspect-ion 1 of the mechanism within said casing. 3 It is an object of theinvention to provide easily accessible means, preferably carried by the rear plate, for adjustingthe butter located within the breech casing of the gun without opening said casing, together with means for indicating the amount of such adjustment'on theoutside ofthe casing. A further object of the invention is the provision of deviceswhereby,inthe removal of the rear plate, the adjusting and indicating means-carried by said rear plate is automatically disengaged from itsoperative relation with the buffer, thereby allowing ofa rapid and-easy removal of said rear plate and the parts carried'thereby from thecasing; it isa further object to provide means whereby the assemblyot the rear plate and the parts carried thereby on the casing is facilitated. These objects are attained by th nism illu'stratedin the accompanying drawings, in which: 7 r j r V Fig.1 is a rear end vieu ofa machine gun showing the invention applied thereto;

' mecha- Fig. 2:.isa lett-handjside view-oi the rear portion of the gun, partsbeing. shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a top view of said. rearjportion;

of the gun; 7 V

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the rear portion of the gun showing the lower portion in a central vertical longitudinal section, the adjusting and indicating means on the rear plate being shown in operative engagement with the buiier; V

Fig. 5 is a side view similar, to Fig.4,- but showing the latch forthe rear plate andlthe adjustlng and indicating means in their in operative position, preparatory to; the up ward removal of the rear plate;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal longitudnialsection through the rear portion of thegunncasing, and through a tubular member therein, with a portion of the: bufler tube'broken V away to show the groove in its rear; section being taken on the line.

wall, the, 66 of Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show thecombined indig eating finger. and adjusting arm, detached,

respectively in a left-hand side view, in a rear view and in a top view; and

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 show the rear plate latch, detached, respectively in aleft-hand 7 side view, in a front view and in atop view.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The breech casing of the gun to whicht-he invention is shown applied comprises-the side plates 1, 1, the top plate 2, the bottom plate 3 and the vertically removable rear plate 4, which is locked in its lower closed posit-ion by the latch 5 having a forward projection which engages under the bottom plate 3. V

The rear plate 4 has at its upper end a forward projection .whichfits in acorresponding recessin the top plate 2, see Fig. 3, and said rear plate is provided with ribs or projections 4 which fit corresponding vertical grooves in the side plates ot'the casing. Said rear plate is slid upwardly for dismounting and downwardly for mounting it, and is kept in its seat by the latch 5 piv oted on the transverse pin 13 in .the'rear plate and held in its locking position, with the forward projection thereon engaging projection .5 on said latch limits the lVithin the breech casing are mounted therecoiling parts of the mechanism (not shown), the recoil of which is cushioned by any suitable form of buffer or brake, such as the liquid buffer represented by the cyglindrical tube 8 resting against the rear plate 'ofth'e casingand rotatably mounted in the tubular member 9 fitting the lower rear port1on of said casing. 7 7

For ad usting said buffer, which may cornprise some form of dash pot device, such as is fully disclosedfor example in the application of J. M. Browning, Serial Number 654,955, filed July 31', 1923,) the rotatable tube 8 is provided with a transverse groove 8 its integral .rear wall; a corresponding rib lO 'on the forward end of a shaft 10 is adapted to extend into this groove. Said shaft -is mounted in the rear plate and pro-- jects outside said plate at itsrear end, where it is provided with a combined adjusting 1 arm and indicating finger 12, which is connected with said shaft by any suitable means, such as a transverse pm.

By this construction it will be obvious that the shaft 10 can be rotated manually; to

adjust the rotatable buifer'tube 8 by simply grasping the adjusting arm 12 and rotating it the required amount.

In orderto permit the upward removal of the-rear plate 5. it is necessary to withdraw the rib 10 on the shaft 10 fromthe groove 8 in the bulfertube 8; to allow such withdrawal, the shaft 10 is mounted in the rear plate so as to have endwise movement. The shaft is yieldingly held in its inner operative osition by a spring 11 coiled about it and earing at its forward end against a collar on the shaft, andat its rearend against a shoulder on the rear plate, see Figs. 4, and

V 6. By moving the. shaft rearwardly against '7 Byour inventi the tension of the spring 11 to the position shown in Fig. 5, the rear plate 4 can beupwardly withdrawn, assuming that the rear plate latch 5 has been disengaged from thebottom plate 3. q

p 7 I on, this rearward movement ofthe shaft is effected automatically in theact. of removing-the rear plate. A convenient manner of attaining this end is 5 to'provide co -operating devices on. said ad ustlng arml2tand the'rear plate latch ,5,

so. that, when the latch 5 is movedrearward to fregfthe forward projection thereon from thejbottom plate 3, the adjusting arm '12 andthe' connected shaftlO will be simul'- taneously moved. rearward, thereby with- Clrawing'the rib 10 -on the forward end of said shaft from gro'ove l in the buifer tube.

Such devices may comprise a cam surface 5 on the rear face of the latch 5, see Figs. 4 and 10, which surface is in position to engage the lower slightly rounded edge of a laterally widened sector-shaped forward portion of the arm 12, said-portionforming wings 12?. see Figs. 8 and 9, projecting at each side of the central knurled portion 12 of the arm, which is adapted to be grasped by the hand ofth'e operator. Said wings 12 project laterally a distance sufficient to insure that, in all operative positions of the adjusting arm 12, some partof the lower rounded edge of said sector-shaped portion will be located opposite said latch 5, where by the cam surface on the latch may engage said rounded edge of the arm 1:2 to camit back regardless of the position of adjust ment of the parts within their operative limits. i r

The means for indicating the amount of the adjustment of said buffer may comprise graduations and an index co-operatingwith said graduationsj in the form of our invention shown, an upward projecting finger 1S2 onthe arm IQ'SGI'VQS as an indicating finger and is preferably provided with an 7 index or notch 12 which co-operates with suitable opposed fixed graduations, see Fig. l, to indicate the amount'of the adjustment.

To remove the rear plate, the operator pulls rearwardly on the finger piece 5 of V the rib 10 on said shaft from the groove .8 7

in the buffer tube 8, then the'rear plate may be upwardly withdrawn from the casing.

To facilitate the re-assembly of the rear plate, suitable'provision is made to move the shaftlO rearward automatically during the downward sliding movement of the rear plate in mounting it; To this end, the up: per edge of the tubular member 9 is rounded over as shown at 9, so that,'when the rib 10 encounters said rounded edge the rib is cammed back and the downward movement of theplate l is continued, until the bevel on the iuider side of the forward projection 5 of the latch 5 engages the bottom plate '3 and automatically moves the latch "rear-V wardly by beveling the top of the. end of the plate 3 this action is facilitated; When the plateft and the latch reach the lowest position, the- 'forwardprojection 5 of the latch will reengage the bottom plate under the action of the spring 14, and at the same time the rib 10 of the shaft 10 will under the action of spring'll reenter the groove 8" said casing for rotating saidto ad Lemma in ,thebufiier tube,.-when the -rib and the groove coincide.v .If, howevery the shaft 10 or the tube 8, have been rotated relatively from the position they occupied before the removal-of the rearplate, thenthe rib 10 and the groove 8 may notextend length= wise in the same direction when the rear plate is reassembled; by simply rotating the shaft 10 until said rib and said groove again extend in thelsame direction, the rib will be automatically moved into said groove by the action ofthe spring 11. V

The adjusting andindicating mechanism mounted on the rear plate, is, for convenience ofmanufacture, carried by a separate piece i which is secured to the rear plate proper by suitable means, such as the screws 7, see Figs. 1 and 2, but it is obvious that this piece 4 might bean integral part oftherear plate i. 7 While we have herein described in detail aspecific embodiment of our invention, we do not wish to limit ourselvesto the particular construction or arrangement of parts shown and described, as'obvious modificationswilloccur to those skilledin the art.

"WhatweZclaim and desire 'to secure by Letters Patent is:

l A machine gun comprising a breech casmghaving a rearplate, a rotatably'adjustable 'member resting against said rear plate,- a shaft foradjusting said" member mounted in said rear plate and means for indicatin the amount of. the adjustment associate with said shaft; 1 1 a '2. Al machine gun comprising a breech casing having a rearcplate, a rotatably adjustablelbufier member resting against said rear plate and 'having a groove in its rear surface, ajshaft -mounted 1n said rear plate andhaving a rib on its forward end extended into' said; groove, and meansutside i shaft and thereby adjustingsaid member; v

A machine gun comprising a breech easing having a transversely removable rear plate, a' rotatablyadjustable bufi'er tube resting against said rear plate and having a} groove in its rearsurtace, a; rotary member having-a corresponding :rib at'itsiorward end for engagement into said groove, said rotary member being mounted in said rear plate, resilienti means for holding said member in its forward position with its rib engag ng said groove,-and-means outside said casing-whereby said member may be rotated j stjsaidbufi r tube and moved end wiseifagafins tthe tension oi said resilient means to withdrawsaid rib from said groove, thereby permitting removalof the V plate when desiredr 4. In amachine gun, the combination of a breech casing having a transverselyremovable rear plate, an adjustable member inside said casing, and means carried by said rear plate and normally: connected with said member for adjusting it, said means being constructed and arranged to be automatically disconnected from said adjustable member upon removal of said rear plate.

5. In a machine gun, the combination i a breech casing having a transversely removable rear plate, a rotatably adjustable member in said casing and having its rear end resting-against said rear plate, and means carried by said rear plate and normally connected with said member for adjusting it, said means being constructed and ar ranged to be automatically disconnected from saidadjustable member upon removal of said rear plate. a

' 6. In a machine gun, the combinationof a breech casing having a transversely removable rear plate, a rotatably adjustable bufler member in said casing and resting against said rear plate, means carried by said rear plate and normally operatively connected withsaid-member for adjusting it, a latch for locking said rear plate in assembled position, and devices whereby the movement of said latch to release the rear plate automatically disconnects said member and said means to permit with drawal of the rear plate from the casin T.- In a machine gun,the combination ofa breech casing having a transversely removable rear plate, a longitudinally'extending member adapted 'to be rotatably adjusted and resting against said rear plate, means carried by said rear plate and normally in operative engagement with said member for adjusting the same, and means for automatically breaking said operative engagement upon removal of the'rear platecomprising a device for locking said rear platein its assembled position. 7 is V 7 '8. In a machine gun, the combination oi abreech casing having a transversely removable rear plate, a rotatably adjustable member} in said casing and resting against said rear plate, said member. having a groove in its rear surface, a rotary deviee carried-by said rear plate and having a rib at its forward end entering said groove whereby rotation of said device causes corresponding rotation of said member, and means for automatically withdrawing said rib from said groove in the removal of said rear plate from the casing. a V

9; In a machine gun, the combination of a breech casing having atransversely remov-c V ,ing a rib 10. In a machine gun, the combination of a breech casing having a transversely removable rear plate, a latch pivotally'mounted in said rear plate for holding the same in its assembled position, a rotatably adjustable member in said casing and resting against said rear plate, said member having a groove in its rear surface, a rotary shaft carried by said rear plate and havmga corresponding projection at its forward end extending into said groove, said shaft having also an endwise movement, and means whereby the movement of the latch to 'release said rear plate automatically moves said shaft endwise to withdraw said projection from said groove, -thereby' faclhtat ing the removal of the rear plate.

11. In a machine gun, the combination of a breech casing having 'a'transversely removable rear plate, a latch carried by said rear plate for locking it in assembled position. a rotatably adjustable member in said casing and resting against said rear plate, a rotary shaft carried by said rear plate and operatively connected Wlth said ad ustable member, said shaft having also an endwise movement to break said connection, a sector shaped arm secured to said" shaft, said arm and said latch having co-operative cam surfaces,'whereby movement of the latch to release the rear plate automatically moves said shaft'endwise to break said connection for all operative positions of said arm.

12. In a machine gun, the combmation of a. breech casing having 'a transversely removable rear plate, a latch for locking said rear plate in assembled position, a rotatably adjustable member in said'casing and resting against said rear. plate, said member having a groove in its rear surface, a shaft carried by said rear plate'and havin its forward end entered into said groove whereby rotation of the shaft causes rotation of said member, said shaft also having endwise movement to withdraw said rib from said groove, an arm secured to said shaft carrying an arcuate cam surface, and a cam surface on said latch for co-operation with said arcuate cam surface in any operative'position of said arm, whereby 'movement of the latch to release said rear plate automatically moves said shaft endwise for withdrawing said rib from said groove. 13. Ina machine gun, the combination of a breech casing having a transverselyre i,

movable rear plate, a latch for'locking said rear plate in assembled position, a rotatably' r adjustable member in said casing and resting against said rear plate, combinedadjusb,

ing and indicating means operatively' con? nected with said memberland constructed and arranged to be automatically discon nected therefrom upon the movement of said latch to release said rear plate.

" 14. In a machine gun, the combination of combined adjusting and indicating arm secured to said shaft, and aconnection between said arm and said latch whereby the shaft is moved endwise to withdraw said rib from said groove when the latch is moved to release the rear plate. 7

15. In a machine gun, the combination'of a breech casing, having a transversely. re

movable rear plate, an adjustable member resting against said rear plate, means carried by said rear plate for'adjusting said member from'the outside of the casing, and

plate, said adjusting means isautomatica'lly moved to disengage it fromvsaid member,

and means permitting the automatic re-engagement of said parts upon'th'e re-assembly of said rear plate. 1 1 a 16. In a machine gun, thecombination of a breech casing having a"tra'nsv'ersely removable rear plate, an adjustable. member resting against said rear plate and having means whereby in the removal 'ofsaid rear a groove in its rear surface, a shaft carried by said'rear plate, said shaft being yield i 7 ingly held in a forward position with a rib thereon extending" into said groove, and

means whereby, upon the removal of the rear plate, said shaft is automatically moved endwise to withdraw said rib from" said groove, and means whereby said shaft'is automatically moved rearwardly to allow the full insertion of said rear plate in its seat in the casing and to'permit theauto- 'matic re-engagement of said rib and said a This specification signed and witnessed groove. I

of September, AID. 192? GEORGE H; TANSLEY." V CHRISTIAN PFEIFFERf In the presence of MOLLIE A. ONnnt, f J. C ALVIN BRIGHT;

this l lth day

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