US2252754A - Gas-operated automatic firearm - Google Patents

Gas-operated automatic firearm Download PDF

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US2252754A
US2252754A US227713A US22771338A US2252754A US 2252754 A US2252754 A US 2252754A US 227713 A US227713 A US 227713A US 22771338 A US22771338 A US 22771338A US 2252754 A US2252754 A US 2252754A
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gas
tubular
piston
barrel
chamber
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US227713A
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Jonathan E Browning
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Western Cartridge Co
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Western Cartridge Co
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
    • F41A5/00—Mechanisms or systems operated by propellant charge energy for automatically opening the lock
    • F41A5/18—Mechanisms or systems operated by propellant charge energy for automatically opening the lock gas-operated
    • F41A5/20—Mechanisms or systems operated by propellant charge energy for automatically opening the lock gas-operated using a gas piston arranged concentrically around the barrel

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  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple, reliable and effective organization of parts in a gas-operated automatic rearm, whereby compactness and low cost of manufacture are achieved.
  • a further object is to provide a'superior gasoperated automatic firearm in which a piston is employed for operating the action of the firearm and in which the impulse imparted to the said piston by the burning or burnt gases is automatically diminished to a very marked degree as the piston approaches the limit of its travel under the impulse of the said gases.
  • FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 5 is a. similar view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the tubular-piston together with a portion of the actuating-rod connected thereto;
  • Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the cylinder detached.
  • Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the guard-tube detached.
  • a gas-operated automatic rifle has been chosen for illustration g vin the accompanying drawing and will be hereto provide a superior gas-operated automatic firef' arm wherein provision is made to enable the gases which actuate the piston to set up counter-recoil forces to measurably offset the recoil initiated by the discharge of a cartridge.
  • Fig. 1 is a broken view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical central-longitudinal section of one form which a gas-operated automatic firearm may assume in accordance with the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view on a larger scale ao Y inafter described in detail. .v
  • the automatic rifle illustrated in the accompanying drawing includes a barrel I0 having the usual axial bore II and rigidly 'attached at its rear end to a receiver I2.
  • a stock I3 preferably formed of wood or other heat-insulating and shock-absorbing material, Reciprocating in an oblique path with respect to the axis of the barrel I0 and yalong the side of the receiver I2, is an action-slide I4 having a rearwardly-extending spring-plunger I5 encircled by a helical breech-bolt-closing spring I6 acting to yieldingly urge the said action-slide I4 and connected parts forwardly.
  • the forward end of the action-slide I4 is pivotally connected by means lof a screw-stud I'I to the rear head I8 of an actuating-rod I9.
  • the said actuating-rod I9 reciprocates beneath the barrel IB and extends through a vclcarence-passage 20 formed in a barrel-lug 2I and through an adjacentlearancegroove 22 formed in the stocky I3.
  • the rear portion of the actuating-rod I 9 together with its rear head II8 and the forward portion of the action-slide I4 reciprocates in an upwardly-apening pocket 23 also formed in the stock I3 and communicating at its forward end by the clearance-groove 22 already referred to.
  • above referred to extends downwardly into a. socket 2ia. extending than Fig. 1 and partly in side elevation and v partly in vertical central-longitudinal section of the portion of the firearm immediately adjacent the piston'and cylinder thereof;
  • Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing the piston moved rearwardly under the force of gas pressure to effect the actuation of the firearm-action;
  • the rear end of the action-slide I4 ' has pivotally connected to it the lower end of a breechLbolt-operating link 26.
  • the said link 26 has itis upper end pivotally connected to the lower rear portion of a breechbolt 21 movable Within the 'receiver I2.
  • the said action-slide I4 and associated parts have pivotally connected to it by means of a stud 29, the relatively-short vertical arm 29 of an L-shaped link 30.
  • the said L-shaped link also includes a relatively-long substantially-horizontal arm 3i which is provided at itsrear end with an operatinghandle 32 and which reciprocates in a guide-way 33 formed inl the side wall of the receiver I2.
  • a trigger plate 34 Secured in any suitable manner to the under portion of the receiver I2 is a trigger plate 34 formed with a loop-like trigger guard 35 in which is located a.
  • trigger 36 controlling the ring of the automatic rifle in any suitable manner not herein requiring detailed description as for instance, is more fully set forth in my copending application Ser. No. 136,523 led April 13, 1937.
  • the forward end thereof is pivotally connected by means of a rivet 31 or the like to a bifurcated ear 38 projecting rearwardly from the lower portion of a tubular-piston 39.
  • the tubular-piston 39 just referred to, encircles the barrel III adjacent the forward end thereof.
  • the internal diameter of the tubular-piston 39 and the external diameter of the adjacent portion of the barrel I are so related as to provide for the smooth and relatively free sliding t required to permit the said tubular-piston to reciprocate freely on the said barrel.
  • the barrel I0 is provided with an externally-threaded portion 40 onto which is threaded the internally-threaded forward portion 4I of a cylinder 42.
  • the said cylinder 42 is provided with a. rearwardly-extending annular skirt 43 having an internal diameter proportioned to receive with a free sliding fit, the tubular-piston 39 before referred to.
  • the interior surface of the skirt 43 of the cylinder 42 is uniformly spaced outwardly from the periphery of the adjacent portion of the barrel I0 so as to provide a gas-chamber 44 of tubular form and in which the tubular-.piston 39 is normally located.
  • the outer rear portion of the skirt 43 of the cylinder 42 is cut away to provide an annular groove 45 in which fits the forward portion of a guard-tube 46 which is preferably formed of sheet metal and provided with a plurality of vent-openings 41.
  • the rear end of the guardtube 46 yis in seated engagement with the forward portion of the stock I3 as is shown in Fig. 1.
  • the said guard-tube 46 is provided in its lower portion with a depressed or outwardlypressed portion resulting in the formation of a trough 48 ,provided for the clearance of the forward portion of the actuating-rod I9 and the bifurcated ear 38 of the tubular-piston 39.
  • a gas-port 50 Leading radially outwardly from the bore II of the barrel IU to the periphery of the said barrel at apoint intersecting the forward end of the gas-chamber 44 and in registry with a notch 49 in the tubular-piston 39 is a gas-port 50
  • the effective cross-sectional area of the outer end of the gas-port 50 just referred to, may be varied as desired by threading the cylinder 42 rearwardly or forwardly to cover or uncover a greater or lesser extent of the said gals-port,
  • breechbolt 21 and its associated parts which are actuated or motivated by the action-slide I4 may be considered as constituting the so-called "action l breech-bolt-closing spring of the rearm the casing of the cartridge which of the firearm herein chosen for illustration. in accordance with well understood terminology in the art.
  • the cartridge in the cartridge-chamber of the firearm will be discharged with the result that the projectile will be propelled forwardly through the bore II of the barrel IU under the force of the burning powder charge.
  • the gasunder pressure back of the said projectile will escape radially outwardly through the said gas-port 5I) into the tubular gas-chamber 44.
  • tubular-piston 39 In its rearward movement the tubular-piston 39 will ride completely out of the gas-chamber 44 and out of engagement with the skirt 43 of the cylinder 42 with the result that there will be a sudden release of gas pressure from the said gas-chamber 44.
  • the breech-bolt 21 In a manner common in automatic firearms the breech-bolt 21, after having reached a limit of its rearward travel under the impulse imparted to it by the initial movement of the. tubular-piston 39, moves forwardly under the urge of the breech-bolt-closing spring I6 to effect the insertion of a fresh cartridgel into the cartridge chamber of the firearm, preparatory to the firing thereof.
  • a gas-operated automatic firearm including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubular-piston; operating-connections between the tubularpiston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubular-piston and having a gas-port leading laterally from its interior to its exterior; and a cylinder mounted upon the said barrel and having a cylindrical portion surrounding the said barrel in radially-spaced relationship thereto and pro- 'viding a tubular gas-chamber therebetween in communication with the said gas-port in the said barrel; the said operating-connections being operable to move the tubular-piston into the said tubular gas-chamber to,position the same therein; the said tubular-piston positioned in the gas-chamber being subject to the pressure of the gas to move outwardly with respect to the gaschamber, and the said tubular gas-chamber formed between the said cylinder and barrel being.
  • a gas-operated automatic flrearm including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubularpiston; operating-connections between the tubular-piston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubular-piston and having a gas-port leading laterally from its interior to its exterior; and a cylinder mounted upon the said barrel and having a cylindrical portion surrounding the said barrel in radially-spaced relationship thereto ⁇ and providing a rearwardly-opening tubular gas-chamber therebetween in communication with the said gas-port in the said barrel; the said operatingconnections being operable to move the tubularpiston into the said tubular gas-chamber to position the same therein; the said tubular-piston positioned in the ,gas-chamber being subject to the pressure of th'e gas to move outwardly with respect to the gas-chamber, and the said rearwardly-opening gas-chamber formed between the said cylinder and barrel being materially shorter in a direction ya
  • a gas-operated automatic firearm including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubularpiston; operating-connections between the tubular-piston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubular-piston; a cylinder mounted upon the said barrel and having a cylindrical portion surrounding the said barrel in radially-spaced relationship thereto and providing therebetween a rearwardly-opening tubular gas-chamber closed at the forward end thereof; gas-admitting means communicating with the forward portion of the said gas-chamber for supplying gas under pressure thereto from the interior of the said barrel; and a guard-tube surrounding the said barrel and extending rearwardly from the said cylinder thereof and providing a channel around the said barrel for the accommodation of the said tubularpiston ⁇ and having a cross-sectional area materially greater than the cross-sectional area of the said tubular-piston; the said tubular-piston being movable to pass from the said guard-tube into the said gas-chamber and into the said
  • gas-operated automatic firearm including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubular-piston; operatingconnections between the tubularpiston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubular-piston and having a gas-port leading l terally from its interior to its exterior; a cylin er mounted upon the said barrel and having a cylindrical portion surrounding the said barrel in radially-spaced relationship thereto and providing a tubular gas-chamber therebetween in cornmunication with ,thea/said gas-port in the said barrel; the said o/per/ l erable to move rthe tubular-piston into the said tubular gas-chamber to position the same therein; and a guard-tube surrounding thesaid barrel adjacent to said cylinder thereon and providing a channel around the said barrel for theaccommodation of the said tubular-piston and having a cross-sectional area materially greater than the cross-sectional" area of the said tubular
  • a gas-operated/automatic firearm including in combination: avfflrearm-action; a tubular-piston; operating-connections between the tubularting-connections being oppiston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the thank tubular-piston and having a gas-port leading laterally from its interior to its exterior; a cylin- Aviding a chamber around the said barrel for the accommodation of the said tubular-piston and having a cross-sectional area materially greater than the cross-sectional area of the said tubularpiston; the said tubular-piston positioned in the gas-chamber being subject to the pressure of the gas to move outwardly with respect to the gaschamber, and the said gas-chamber formed between the said cylinder and barrel being materially shorter in a direction along the axis of the said barrel than is the stroke of the said tubularpiston, whereby the said tubular-piston in its travel rearwardly moves out of the
  • a gas-operated automatic firearm including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubular-piston provided in one edge with a notch; operating-connections between the tubular-piston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubularpiston and having a gas-port leading laterally from its interior to its exterior; and a cylinder mounted upon the said barrel andhaving a cylindrical portion surrounding the said barrel in radially-spaced relationship thereto and providing a tubular gas-chamber therebetween; the said tubular-piston being movable to enter into the said gas-chamber and to be positioned therein with its said notch communicating with the Said gas-port; the said tubular-piston being subject to the pressure of gas admitted to the said gas-chamber, and the latter being materially shorter in the direction of the barrel than the stroke of the piston, whereby the piston may be moved out of the said gas-chamber and permit the escape of gas therefrom.
  • a gas-operated automatic firearm including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubular-piston provided in one edge with a notch; operatingconnections between the tubular-piston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubular-piston and having a gas-port leading laterally from its interior to its exterior; and a cylinder mountedl upon the said barrel and having a cylindrical portion extending along a relatively-short portion of and surrounding the said barrel in radially-spaced relationship thereto and providing a tubular gas-chamber therebetween having its forward portion communicating with the said gas-port; the said tubular-piston being movable to enter into the said gas-chamber and to be positioned in the forward portion thereof with its said notch communicating with the said gasport; the tubular-piston beingV subject to the pressure of gas admitted to the said gas-chamber, and the said relatively-short portion of the cylinder providing a tubular gas-'chamber which is .materially shorter in
  • a gas-operated automatic firearm including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubular-piston having a notch in its forward edge; operating-connections between the tubular-piston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubularpiston and having a gas-port leading laterally from its interior to its exterior; and a cylinder mounted upon the said barrel and having a cylindrical portion surrounding the said barrel in radially-spaced relationship thereto and providing therebetween a rearwardly-opening tubular gaschamber closed at the forward end thereof; the said tubular-piston being movable to enter into the said gas-chamber and to be positioned with the notch in the forward edge thereof communicating with the said gas-port; the said tubularpiston being subject to the pressure of gas admitted to said gas-chamber, and the latter being materially shorter in the axial direction of the barrel than is the stroke of the tubular-piston, whereby the tubular-piston may move out of said gas-chamber
  • a gas-operated automatic firearm including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubular-piston having a notch in its forward edge; operating-connections between the tubular-piston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubularpiston and having a gas-port leading laterally from its interior to its exterior; and a cylinder mounted'upon the said barrel and having a.

Description

' Aug. 19, 1941. J. E. BRowNlNG .y y GAS-OPERATED AUTOMATIC FIREAM Filed Aug. 31, 1958 QFWWAM@ a l u l Patented Aug. 19, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS-OPERATED AUTOMATIC FIREARM Jonathan E. Browning,l Ogden, Utah, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Western Cartridge Company, a corporation of Delaware Application August 31, 1938, Serial No. 227,713
9 Claims.
appreciably lessened in its effect upon the marks.
man.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple, reliable and effective organization of parts in a gas-operated automatic rearm, whereby compactness and low cost of manufacture are achieved.
A further object is to provide a'superior gasoperated automatic firearm in which a piston is employed for operating the action of the firearm and in which the impulse imparted to the said piston by the burning or burnt gases is automatically diminished to a very marked degree as the piston approaches the limit of its travel under the impulse of the said gases.
Still another object of the present invention is Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a. similar view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the tubular-piston together with a portion of the actuating-rod connected thereto;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the cylinder detached; and
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the guard-tube detached.
For the purpose of illustration, a gas-operated automatic rifle has been chosen for illustration g vin the accompanying drawing and will be hereto provide a superior gas-operated automatic firef' arm wherein provision is made to enable the gases which actuate the piston to set up counter-recoil forces to measurably offset the recoil initiated by the discharge of a cartridge.
With the above and other objects in View, as will appear to those skilled inthe art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art and which are not claimed in any separate application.
In the accompanying drawing, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:
Fig. 1 is a broken view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical central-longitudinal section of one form which a gas-operated automatic firearm may assume in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view on a larger scale ao Y inafter described in detail. .v
The automatic rifle illustrated in the accompanying drawing includes a barrel I0 having the usual axial bore II and rigidly 'attached at its rear end to a receiver I2.' Attached to the barrel I0 and the receiver I2 is a stock I3 preferably formed of wood or other heat-insulating and shock-absorbing material, Reciprocating in an oblique path with respect to the axis of the barrel I0 and yalong the side of the receiver I2, is an action-slide I4 having a rearwardly-extending spring-plunger I5 encircled by a helical breech-bolt-closing spring I6 acting to yieldingly urge the said action-slide I4 and connected parts forwardly. The forward end of the action-slide I4 is pivotally connected by means lof a screw-stud I'I to the rear head I8 of an actuating-rod I9. The said actuating-rod I9 reciprocates beneath the barrel IB and extends through a vclcarence-passage 20 formed in a barrel-lug 2I and through an adjacentlearancegroove 22 formed in the stocky I3. The rear portion of the actuating-rod I 9 together with its rear head II8 and the forward portion of the action-slide I4 reciprocates in an upwardly-apening pocket 23 also formed in the stock I3 and communicating at its forward end by the clearance-groove 22 already referred to.
The stock-attaching lug 2| above referred to extends downwardly into a. socket 2ia. extending than Fig. 1 and partly in side elevation and v partly in vertical central-longitudinal section of the portion of the firearm immediately adjacent the piston'and cylinder thereof;
Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing the piston moved rearwardly under the force of gas pressure to effect the actuation of the firearm-action;
downwardly from the bottom of the clearancegroove 22. Extending upwardly through an escutcheon 24 mounted in the under-face of the stock I3 is a screw 25 threaded into the lower portion of the stock-attaching lug 2|.
As will be seen by reference to Fig. 1 the rear end of the action-slide I4 'has pivotally connected to it the lower end of a breechLbolt-operating link 26. The said link 26 has itis upper end pivotally connected to the lower rear portion of a breechbolt 21 movable Within the 'receiver I2.
For the purpose of enabling the action-slide I4 and associated parts to be manually operated the said action-slide has pivotally connected to it by means of a stud 29, the relatively-short vertical arm 29 of an L-shaped link 30. The said L-shaped link also includes a relatively-long substantially-horizontal arm 3i which is provided at itsrear end with an operatinghandle 32 and which reciprocates in a guide-way 33 formed inl the side wall of the receiver I2.
Secured in any suitable manner to the under portion of the receiver I2 is a trigger plate 34 formed with a loop-like trigger guard 35 in which is located a. trigger 36 controlling the ring of the automatic rifle in any suitable manner not herein requiring detailed description as for instance, is more fully set forth in my copending application Ser. No. 136,523 led April 13, 1937.
Returning now to the actuating-rod I9 before* referred to, it will be noted that the forward end thereof is pivotally connected by means of a rivet 31 or the like to a bifurcated ear 38 projecting rearwardly from the lower portion of a tubular-piston 39. The tubular-piston 39 just referred to, encircles the barrel III adjacent the forward end thereof. The internal diameter of the tubular-piston 39 and the external diameter of the adjacent portion of the barrel I are so related as to provide for the smooth and relatively free sliding t required to permit the said tubular-piston to reciprocate freely on the said barrel.
Immediately forwardly of the foremost position of the piston 39, the barrel I0 is provided with an externally-threaded portion 40 onto which is threaded the internally-threaded forward portion 4I of a cylinder 42. The said cylinder 42 is provided with a. rearwardly-extending annular skirt 43 having an internal diameter proportioned to receive with a free sliding fit, the tubular-piston 39 before referred to. As thus constructed and arranged the interior surface of the skirt 43 of the cylinder 42 is uniformly spaced outwardly from the periphery of the adjacent portion of the barrel I0 so as to provide a gas-chamber 44 of tubular form and in which the tubular-.piston 39 is normally located.
The outer rear portion of the skirt 43 of the cylinder 42 is cut away to provide an annular groove 45 in which fits the forward portion of a guard-tube 46 which is preferably formed of sheet metal and provided with a plurality of vent-openings 41. The rear end of the guardtube 46 yis in seated engagement with the forward portion of the stock I3 as is shown in Fig. 1. The said guard-tube 46 is provided in its lower portion with a depressed or outwardlypressed portion resulting in the formation of a trough 48 ,provided for the clearance of the forward portion of the actuating-rod I9 and the bifurcated ear 38 of the tubular-piston 39.
Leading radially outwardly from the bore II of the barrel IU to the periphery of the said barrel at apoint intersecting the forward end of the gas-chamber 44 and in registry with a notch 49 in the tubular-piston 39 is a gas-port 50 The effective cross-sectional area of the outer end of the gas-port 50 just referred to, may be varied as desired by threading the cylinder 42 rearwardly or forwardly to cover or uncover a greater or lesser extent of the said gals-port,
y:(Forconvenience of description the breechbolt 21 and its associated parts which are actuated or motivated by the action-slide I4, may be considered as constituting the so-called "action l breech-bolt-closing spring of the rearm the casing of the cartridge which of the firearm herein chosen for illustration. in accordance with well understood terminology in the art.
In order that the operation of the automatic fire-arm above described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing may be understood, let it be assumed that the nre-arm is loaded preparatory to being red and that the tubular-piston 39 is in its forward position as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.
If now the trigger 36 is operated, the cartridge in the cartridge-chamber of the firearm will be discharged with the result that the projectile will be propelled forwardly through the bore II of the barrel IU under the force of the burning powder charge. As the projectile passes beyond the inner end of the gas-port 5U, the gasunder pressure back of the said projectile will escape radially outwardly through the said gas-port 5I) into the tubular gas-chamber 44. The entry of gas into the forward portion of the tubular gas-chamber 44 will result in the tubular-piston 39 being kicked" so to speak, rearwardly thus causing the actuating-rod I9, action-slide I4, breech-bolt 21 and associated parts to be moved rearwardly against the counter-urge of the I6. By this operation has just been fired will be ejected and the firing mechanism will be cocked preparatory tothe return movement of the breech-bolt 21, actionslide I4 and associated parts to their former positions in which they are illustrated Figs. 1 and 2.
In its rearward movement the tubular-piston 39 will ride completely out of the gas-chamber 44 and out of engagement with the skirt 43 of the cylinder 42 with the result that there will be a sudden release of gas pressure from the said gas-chamber 44. The gas escaping from the gas-chamber 44 when the tubular-piston 39 moves rearwardly as just described, will travel rearwardly in the space between the barrel I0 and the inner surface of the guard-tube 46 and thence outwardly through the vent openings 41 therein with the effect of producing a counterrecoil effect measurably offsetting or softening the total effect of the recoil occasioned by the initial ring of the rearm.
In addition the counter-recoil eiect above referred to the rearward movement of the tubularpiston 39 completely out of the gas-chamber 44 in the cylinder 42 will cause a marked diminution in the force applied to the said tubularpiston during the latter part of its rearward movement, thus enabling the said piston to slow down at a much greater rate than would be the case were the gas pressure applied to the front end of the piston to be permitted to continue the active propulsion of the said tubular-piston throughout the entire rearward travel thereof. The effect just described serves to provide maximum power to initiate the rearward travel of the breech-bolt 21 to effect the extraction of the cartridge case of the just-fired cartridge. After the initial impulse imparted to the breech-bolt 21 and associated parts. the rearward urge upon the tubular-piston 39 for a major portion of its rearward travel is so markedly lessened as to automatically avoid without the use of complex mechanisms, the injury to the firearm-action and associated parts incident to their stoppage at the limit of their rearward travel prior to their forward travel back into the position in which they are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 preparatory to another cycle of operation of the firearm.
In a manner common in automatic firearms the breech-bolt 21, after having reached a limit of its rearward travel under the impulse imparted to it by the initial movement of the. tubular-piston 39, moves forwardly under the urge of the breech-bolt-closing spring I6 to effect the insertion of a fresh cartridgel into the cartridge chamber of the firearm, preparatory to the firing thereof.
The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit andessential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in al1 respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes 'coming within the meaning and equivalency ,range of the appended claims are intended to beembraced therein.
I claim:
1. A gas-operated automatic firearm, including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubular-piston; operating-connections between the tubularpiston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubular-piston and having a gas-port leading laterally from its interior to its exterior; and a cylinder mounted upon the said barrel and having a cylindrical portion surrounding the said barrel in radially-spaced relationship thereto and pro- 'viding a tubular gas-chamber therebetween in communication with the said gas-port in the said barrel; the said operating-connections being operable to move the tubular-piston into the said tubular gas-chamber to,position the same therein; the said tubular-piston positioned in the gas-chamber being subject to the pressure of the gas to move outwardly with respect to the gaschamber, and the said tubular gas-chamber formed between the said cylinder and barrel being.y
materially shorter in a direction along the axis of the said barrel than is the stroke of the said tubular-piston, whereby the said tubular-piston in its travel moves out of the said gas-chamber and thereby permits the gas to freely escape from the said gas-chamber.
2. A gas-operated automatic flrearm, including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubularpiston; operating-connections between the tubular-piston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubular-piston and having a gas-port leading laterally from its interior to its exterior; and a cylinder mounted upon the said barrel and having a cylindrical portion surrounding the said barrel in radially-spaced relationship thereto `and providing a rearwardly-opening tubular gas-chamber therebetween in communication with the said gas-port in the said barrel; the said operatingconnections being operable to move the tubularpiston into the said tubular gas-chamber to position the same therein; the said tubular-piston positioned in the ,gas-chamber being subject to the pressure of th'e gas to move outwardly with respect to the gas-chamber, and the said rearwardly-opening gas-chamber formed between the said cylinder and barrel being materially shorter in a direction yalong the axis ofthe said barrel than is the stroke of the said tubular-piston,
whereby tlie said tubular-piston in its rearward y,
travel moves out of the said rearwardly-opening tubular gas-chamber and thereby permits the gas to freely escape from the said gas-chamber.
3. A gas-operated automatic firearm, including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubularpiston; operating-connections between the tubular-piston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubular-piston; a cylinder mounted upon the said barrel and having a cylindrical portion surrounding the said barrel in radially-spaced relationship thereto and providing therebetween a rearwardly-opening tubular gas-chamber closed at the forward end thereof; gas-admitting means communicating with the forward portion of the said gas-chamber for supplying gas under pressure thereto from the interior of the said barrel; and a guard-tube surrounding the said barrel and extending rearwardly from the said cylinder thereof and providing a channel around the said barrel for the accommodation of the said tubularpiston`and having a cross-sectional area materially greater than the cross-sectional area of the said tubular-piston; the said tubular-piston being movable to pass from the said guard-tube into the said gas-chamber and into the said Iorward portion thereof adjacent the said gas-admitting means, the said tubular-piston being subject to the gas admitted to the gas-chamber to move rearwardly from the forward portion thereof, and the said gas-chamber formed'between the said cylinder and barrel being materially shorter in a direction along the axis of the said barrel than is the stroke of the said tubularpiston, whereby the said tubular-piston in its travel rearwardly moves out of the said rearwardly-opening gas-chamber and into the said rearwardly-extending guard-tube and thereby permits the gas to freely escape from the said gas-chamber.
4. gas-operated automatic firearm, including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubular-piston; operatingconnections between the tubularpiston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubular-piston and having a gas-port leading l terally from its interior to its exterior; a cylin er mounted upon the said barrel and having a cylindrical portion surrounding the said barrel in radially-spaced relationship thereto and providing a tubular gas-chamber therebetween in cornmunication with ,thea/said gas-port in the said barrel; the said o/per/ l erable to move rthe tubular-piston into the said tubular gas-chamber to position the same therein; and a guard-tube surrounding thesaid barrel adjacent to said cylinder thereon and providing a channel around the said barrel for theaccommodation of the said tubular-piston and having a cross-sectional area materially greater than the cross-sectional" area of the said tubular-piston; the said tubular-piston positioned in the ,gaschamber being subjectlto the pressure of the gas to movef outwardly with respect to the gas-chamber, and the said gas-chamber formed between the said cylinder and barrel being materially shorter in a direction along the axis of the said barrel than is the stroke of the said tubularpiston, whereby the said tubular-piston in its travel moves out of the said gas-chamber and into the said guard-tube and thereby permits the gas to freely escape from the said gas-chamber.
5. A gas-operated/automatic firearm, including in combination: avfflrearm-action; a tubular-piston; operating-connections between the tubularting-connections being oppiston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the sont tubular-piston and having a gas-port leading laterally from its interior to its exterior; a cylin- Aviding a chamber around the said barrel for the accommodation of the said tubular-piston and having a cross-sectional area materially greater than the cross-sectional area of the said tubularpiston; the said tubular-piston positioned in the gas-chamber being subject to the pressure of the gas to move outwardly with respect to the gaschamber, and the said gas-chamber formed between the said cylinder and barrel being materially shorter in a direction along the axis of the said barrel than is the stroke of the said tubularpiston, whereby the said tubular-piston in its travel rearwardly moves out of the said rearwardly-opening gas-chamber and into the said rearwardly-extending guard-tube and thereby permits the gas to freely escape from the said gas-chamber.
6. A gas-operated automatic firearm, including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubular-piston provided in one edge with a notch; operating-connections between the tubular-piston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubularpiston and having a gas-port leading laterally from its interior to its exterior; and a cylinder mounted upon the said barrel andhaving a cylindrical portion surrounding the said barrel in radially-spaced relationship thereto and providing a tubular gas-chamber therebetween; the said tubular-piston being movable to enter into the said gas-chamber and to be positioned therein with its said notch communicating with the Said gas-port; the said tubular-piston being subject to the pressure of gas admitted to the said gas-chamber, and the latter being materially shorter in the direction of the barrel than the stroke of the piston, whereby the piston may be moved out of the said gas-chamber and permit the escape of gas therefrom.
7. A gas-operated automatic firearm, including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubular-piston provided in one edge with a notch; operatingconnections between the tubular-piston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubular-piston and having a gas-port leading laterally from its interior to its exterior; and a cylinder mountedl upon the said barrel and having a cylindrical portion extending along a relatively-short portion of and surrounding the said barrel in radially-spaced relationship thereto and providing a tubular gas-chamber therebetween having its forward portion communicating with the said gas-port; the said tubular-piston being movable to enter into the said gas-chamber and to be positioned in the forward portion thereof with its said notch communicating with the said gasport; the tubular-piston beingV subject to the pressure of gas admitted to the said gas-chamber, and the said relatively-short portion of the cylinder providing a tubular gas-'chamber which is .materially shorter in axial direction than is the stroke of the said tubular-piston, whereby the said tubular-piston in its travel moves out of the said gas-chamber and thereby permits the gas to freely escape from the said gas-chamber.
8. A gas-operated automatic firearm, including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubular-piston having a notch in its forward edge; operating-connections between the tubular-piston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubularpiston and having a gas-port leading laterally from its interior to its exterior; and a cylinder mounted upon the said barrel and having a cylindrical portion surrounding the said barrel in radially-spaced relationship thereto and providing therebetween a rearwardly-opening tubular gaschamber closed at the forward end thereof; the said tubular-piston being movable to enter into the said gas-chamber and to be positioned with the notch in the forward edge thereof communicating with the said gas-port; the said tubularpiston being subject to the pressure of gas admitted to said gas-chamber, and the latter being materially shorter in the axial direction of the barrel than is the stroke of the tubular-piston, whereby the tubular-piston may move out of said gas-chamber and permit the escape of gas therefrom.
9. A gas-operated automatic firearm, including in combination: a firearm-action; a tubular-piston having a notch in its forward edge; operating-connections between the tubular-piston and the said firearm-action; a barrel extending through the hollow interior of the said tubularpiston and having a gas-port leading laterally from its interior to its exterior; and a cylinder mounted'upon the said barrel and having a. cylindrical portion extending along a relatively-short portion of and surrounding the said barrel in radially-spaced relationship thereto and providing therebetween a rearwardly-opening tubular gas-chamber closed at the forward end thereof; the said tubular-piston being movable into the said gas-chamber to bring the notch in the forward edge of the tubular-piston into communication with the said gas-port; the said tubularpiston' being subject to the pressure of gas ad mitted to said gas-chamber and the said relatively-short portion of the cylinder providing a rearwardly-opening gas-chamber which is materially shorter in a direction along the axis of the said barrel than is the stroke of the said tubular-piston, whereby the said tubular-piston in its rearward travel moves out of the said rearwardlyopening tubular gas-chamber and thereby permits the gas to freely escape from the said gaschamber.
JONATHAN E. BROWNING.
US227713A 1938-08-31 1938-08-31 Gas-operated automatic firearm Expired - Lifetime US2252754A (en)

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Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2956481A (en) * 1954-11-02 1960-10-18 Aircraft Armaments Inc Dual rate machine gun with gas chamber encircling the barrel
US7886731B2 (en) 2002-03-06 2011-02-15 Kee Action Sports I Llc Compressed gas gun having reduced breakaway-friction and high pressure dynamic separable seal flow control device
US8191543B2 (en) 2002-03-06 2012-06-05 Kee Action Sports I Llc Compressed gas-powered projectile accelerator
US8413644B2 (en) 2002-03-06 2013-04-09 Kee Action Sports I Llc Compressed gas gun having reduced breakaway-friction and high pressure dynamic separable seal and flow control and valving device
US8640598B1 (en) * 2010-07-19 2014-02-04 Jason Stewart Jackson Sleeve piston for actuating a firearm bolt carrier
WO2016004294A1 (en) * 2014-07-02 2016-01-07 Beretta Usa Corp. Gas operating system for small arms with spring loaded gas valve
US9261314B1 (en) 2010-07-19 2016-02-16 Jason Stewart Jackson Sleeve piston for actuating a firearm bolt carrier
US10578381B2 (en) * 2018-01-22 2020-03-03 American Tactical, Inc. Upper receiver for modular shotgun
US11118852B2 (en) * 2019-10-04 2021-09-14 Glock Technology Gmbh Gas-powered firearm
US11125516B2 (en) * 2018-01-22 2021-09-21 American Tactical, Inc. Upper receiver for modular shotgun

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2956481A (en) * 1954-11-02 1960-10-18 Aircraft Armaments Inc Dual rate machine gun with gas chamber encircling the barrel
US10323901B2 (en) * 2002-03-06 2019-06-18 National Paintball Supply, Inc. Compressed gas gun
US9903683B2 (en) 2002-03-06 2018-02-27 Gi Sportz Direct Llc Compressed gas gun
US10914545B2 (en) * 2002-03-06 2021-02-09 Kore Outdoor (Us), Inc. Compressed gas gun
US8336532B2 (en) 2002-03-06 2012-12-25 Kee Action Sports I Llc Compressed gas-powered projectile accelerator
US8413644B2 (en) 2002-03-06 2013-04-09 Kee Action Sports I Llc Compressed gas gun having reduced breakaway-friction and high pressure dynamic separable seal and flow control and valving device
US20130092141A1 (en) * 2002-03-06 2013-04-18 Kee Action Sports I Llc Compressed gas-powered projectile accelerator
US7886731B2 (en) 2002-03-06 2011-02-15 Kee Action Sports I Llc Compressed gas gun having reduced breakaway-friction and high pressure dynamic separable seal flow control device
US8739770B2 (en) * 2002-03-06 2014-06-03 Kee Action Sports I Llc Compressed gas-powered projectile accelerator
US8272373B2 (en) 2002-03-06 2012-09-25 Kee Action Sports I Llc Compressed gas-powered projectile accelerator
US8191543B2 (en) 2002-03-06 2012-06-05 Kee Action Sports I Llc Compressed gas-powered projectile accelerator
US9476669B2 (en) 2002-03-06 2016-10-25 Gi Sportz Direct Llc Compressed gas gun
US8640598B1 (en) * 2010-07-19 2014-02-04 Jason Stewart Jackson Sleeve piston for actuating a firearm bolt carrier
US9261314B1 (en) 2010-07-19 2016-02-16 Jason Stewart Jackson Sleeve piston for actuating a firearm bolt carrier
US9500422B2 (en) 2014-07-02 2016-11-22 Beretta Usa Corp. Gas operating system for small arms with spring loaded gas valve
EP3164661A4 (en) * 2014-07-02 2018-01-24 Beretta USA Corp. Gas operating system for small arms with spring loaded gas valve
WO2016004294A1 (en) * 2014-07-02 2016-01-07 Beretta Usa Corp. Gas operating system for small arms with spring loaded gas valve
US11125516B2 (en) * 2018-01-22 2021-09-21 American Tactical, Inc. Upper receiver for modular shotgun
US10578381B2 (en) * 2018-01-22 2020-03-03 American Tactical, Inc. Upper receiver for modular shotgun
US11118852B2 (en) * 2019-10-04 2021-09-14 Glock Technology Gmbh Gas-powered firearm

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