US1845242A

US1845242A - Bolt operating mechanism for machine guns

Info

Publication number: US1845242A
Application number: US507614A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard C Coupland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-01-09
Filing date: 1931-01-09
Publication date: 1932-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 1949-02-16

Description

Feb. 16, 1932. R. c. CO'UPLAND BOLT OPERATING MECHANISM FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed Jan. 9, 1931 mmvrm R. I: Emu land Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITE STATES?- BICHABD C.

COUPLAND,-OE THE UNITED STATES ARMY, NORFOLK, VIRGINIA Application filed January 9,

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACTOR MARCH 3,

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to abolt operating mechanism for machine guns.

Machine guns are provided with a bolt handle to permit manual retraction of the bolt in order to reproduce the action of the gun mechanism during firing for the purpose of initially loading the gun and correcting stoppages. When a-vgun is mounted, as in aircraft, so that the bolt handle is inaccessible to the gunner, an operating mechanism is provided.

The operating mechanism of the present invention is of the type consisting of a slide retracted by means of a flexible cable and having an individual return spring. It is arranged to insure a smooth and positive functioning, to distribute the shock of arresting the slide, and to facilitate initial retraction of the slide when the gun barrel is locked to the bolt.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides inthe novel :11- rangement and combinationof parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine gun equipped with the improved bolt operating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in longitudinal section and partly in side elevation of the bolt operating mechanism;

Fig. 3, 4 and 5 are detail sectional the respective lines of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 isa view in side elevation and partly in section showing a modified form of operating mechanism. 4

In Fig. 1 the side plate 6 of a machine gun is formed with a longitudinally extending views on The rear 1981. Serial No. 507,614.

1883, AS AMENDED APRIL 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) slot 7 in which the operating handle 8 of the breech bolt reciprocates during actuation of the gun. Secured to the side plate at either end of the slot are front and rear brackets -9 and 10 for supportinga tube 11 parallel to and directly below the slot 7.

The front bracket 9 (see Fig. 3) is formed with a' plurality of lugs 12 receivable in correspondingly shaped recesses 13 in the side plate 6. A screw 14 passing through the bracket and also through the tube is threaded into the side plate.

The rear bracket 10 consistsof a block 15 having a chambered portion for housing a pair of spaced rollers 16-16. A cover plate 17 closing the chambered portion and receiving one end of the roller trunnions 16a is secured to the block by means of screws 18. The block is secured to the side plate 6 through screws 19 and a rib 20 on the inside of the block abuts against the rear edge of the side plate and serves to hold the block steady.

tudinally extending bore, the forward portion of which isenlargedto receive the rear end of the tube 11 and the rear portion receiving a hollow plug 21 attached to a handle 22. A lever 23 constituting a grip member for the handle is pivotally carried by the handle and has a limited movement with respect thereto by virtue of a pin and slot connection respectively indicated at 24 and 25.

Mounted on the tube 11 is a tubular slide 26 having a hook 27 engaging the forward side of the bolt handle 8. A plug 28 within the tube 11 is connected to the slide by a web 28a projecting through a slot 29 in the upper surface. of the tube. A spring 30 confined between the plug 28 and the block 15 serves to normally maintain the slide at the forward end of the tube. The slide is retracted by means of a flexible cable 31 secured to the plug 28 and to the lever 23 and adapted to be trained over one or the other of the rollers 16. The upper and lower portions of the rear end of the block are provided with notches 32 behindwhich a bead 33 on the cable may be engaged. This is for the purpose of retaining the bolt in the retracted position.

bracket is pro vided with a longi- The operation of retracting the bolt consists merely in grasping the lever and pulling to the rear. The preliminary movement of the lever relative to the handle covers the initial retraction of the bolt and its separation from the gun barrel. When the handle is released the spring 30 restores the slide to its forward position so that no additional burden is placed on the return spring of the bolt. The slide is arrested when it strikes the front bracket and when the handle strikes the rear bracket.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the lever 23 is omitted and the cable 31a is directly attached to the handle 22a which is formed to be readily gripped. The tube 11 is attached to the block 15a by meansof a hollow plug 34.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for manually operating the bolt of a machine gun including a front and rear bracket securable to the gun, a tube carried by'the brackets, a slide carried by the tube and engageable with the bolt of the gun, a spring for normally holding the slide at the forward end of the tube, a flexible cable attached to the slide, spaced rollers positioned in the rear bracket to guide the cable, a handle having a rigid guide insertable in the rear bracket, and a lever having a limit ed movement relative to the handle and attached to the cable.

2. Mechanism for manually operating the bolt-of a machine gun including a support securable to the gun, a slide carried b the support and engageable with the bolt of the gun, a flexible cable attached to the slide, rollers for guiding the cable, a handle having a rigid guide insertable between the rollers, and a lever having a limited movement relative to the handle and attached to. the cable.

. 3.- Mechanism for manually operating the bolt of a machine gun including a support securable to the gun, a slide carried by the support and engageable with the bolt of the gun, a flexible cable attached to the slide, rollers for guiding the cable, a handle having a' rigid guide insertablein the support and a lever having a limited movement relative to the handle and attached to the cable. 7

4. Mechanism for'manually operating the bolt of a machine gun including a support securable to the gun, a slide carried by the support and engageable with the bolt of the gun, a flexiblecable attached to the slide,

a handle having a rigid guide insertable in andmeans for the support, and a lever having a limited movement relative to the handle and attached to the cable.

5. In a gun, an axially movable breech bolt retracting the bolt includjn a handle having 'an initial lever action an a subsequent axial movement.

RICHARD C. COUILAND.