US2370896A

US2370896A - Machine gun mount

Info

Publication number: US2370896A
Application number: US359312A
Authority: US
Inventors: John S Weaver
Original assignee: Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp
Current assignee: Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp
Priority date: 1940-10-02
Filing date: 1940-10-02
Publication date: 1945-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 1962-03-06

Description

March 6, 1945. WEAVER 2,370,896

MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Oct. 2, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l zzkerzZZr Q5727? S. VVeauer March 6, 1945. WEAVER MACHINE GUN MOUNT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Whoa/2207 Lbfirga naaefl w Filed Oct. 2, 1940 March 6, 1945.

J; s. WEAVER 2,370,896

MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Oct. 2, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 6, 1945' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE GUN MOUNT John S. 'Weavcr; Downey, Calif., assignor, by mesne'assignmcnts, to Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application October 2, 1940, Serial No. 359,312

14 Claims.

The present invention, relates generally to mounts for machine guns; More particularly the invention relates to that type of machine gun mount which is associated with, and forms a part of, the gunners cockpit of a military or naval airplane and comprises a curved or arcuate track for supporting the-machine gun so that it is bodily movable into different angular positions for firing purposes. Y

t It has heretofore been common practice in connection with a mount of this type to support the arcuate track byway of a plurality of lateror impractical to employ a track of light weight because the weight and vibration of-the gun, especially when the gun is fired While-in a position.-

between the brackets, tend so to distort or defiect the track that the gunner cannot fire accurately. A heavy track is manifestly'objectionable because it afiects the speed and maneuverability of the airplane. z

The primary object of this invention is to provide a machine gun mount in which'the support for the arcuate track supports and engages the track throughout substantially its entire periphery and makes it possible to employ a track of light weight while at the same time maintaining accuracy of machine gun fire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine gun mount of the type under consideration which is generally of new and improved construction and not only hascertain'inherent advantages over previously designed mounts of the same general character butalso is durable and effectively and efiiciently fulfills its intended purpose.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present machine gun mount will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in theseveral novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. v

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification 'or disclosure and in which like letters and numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentaryvertical longitudinal I sectional view of an airplane having applied to 55 the gunners cockpit thereof a machine gun mount embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating in detail the arrangement and design of the main supporting plate and the auxiliary parts for supporting the arcuate track of the mount throughout substantially the entire periphery thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of the improved mount Figure 4 is .an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and illustrating the manner in which the ends of the track are secured to the longerons at the sides of the gunners cockpit;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective of the mount; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3. Q The mount which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred form orembodiment of the invention. It is illustrated in connection with an airplane A and serves as the medium for supporting a machine gun G so that it may be swung from side to side by the gunner in connection with firing thereof. The airplane A is of standard or conventional design and comprises a fuselage at having in the aft portion thereof a gunners cockpit a As shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings the cockpit a is provided with a seat a for the gunner. This seat is suitably supported so that the gunner may rotate or turn it into different positions in connection with firing of the gun G. The fuselage a of the airplane A embodies a pair of laterally spaced longerons a and these extend across the side portions of the gunners cockpit 'a and are cross connected at their rear ends by a tubular cross member a. The machine gun G is adapted to be aimed and fired by the gunner while the latter is on the seat a in the gunners cockpit and is pivotally connected at the bottom thereof to a C-shaped bracket 9 so that it may be tilted up and down. The bracket g is carried by the improved mount as hereinafter described and embodies a plurality of upper and lower front wheels g and a plurality of upper and lower rear wheels 9 These wheels are substantially horizontally positioned and are carried by the bracketg so that they are free to rotate. The longerons a and the cross member a constitute a frame structure which forms a part of the mount and serves as a supporting medium for the latter. The mount for the machine gun G comprises I a. semicircular track I and a plate 8 for supporting the track. The track I is located in the upper frontfaces of the upper and lower heads 10 and I i of the track and the rear wheels 9 fit against and ride on the rear faces of the twosheads.

The wheels so connect the bracket to the. track that the bracket together with the machine gun.

G is free to swing around theftrack-throughou't .v

substantially the entire length of the track. The

bracket embodies a handle controlled locking device 9 whereby it may be locked at any point or position on the track I. The track is preferably-forwardly and downwardly inclined at a small acute anglewith respect to the horizontal. The bracket 9 and the track I so support the machine gun that thelatter may beswungbodily to eitherside 'of the .gunnerfs cockpit vfor firing purposes, and theipivotabetween the machine gun and the bracket a ipermits ithe gun to-be-tilted vertically ashereinbeforeipointed out.

The plate 8 together with an arcuate channel member 12 servesuto hold the track] in fixed relation with the fuselage: of the airplane. It is in uthe form of aone piece metal stamping and consistseof a pair of side pieces-J3 anda back piece [4. The bottom marginal portions of the sideiipieces are straight and rest \upon the 10n-- gerons a of the fuselage, as shown in Figure 5.

-They' are U-shaped in horizontal sectionand are releasably secured in fixed relation with-the longerons by. way of c-shaped clamps I 5 which "extend around- -the 'longerons and are anchored to thelside pieces'by bolts [6. The lowermarginal portion of the back piece-M of the=plate B is also straight and it rests upon -the cross member (1* :of the fuselageand is releasably secured to such member-by-smeans of c-shaped clamps H. Thelatter extend around the cross member a and are connected to the back piece ll -by way of bolts 1 8. The front ends of the side pieces i3 of the plate B term inate rear wards of the ends of the ---track -1.

The-upperportion of theplate 8 is shaped -to form an-arcuate band-like *piece I9 andthis is disposed rearwards of thetrack I. The plate u is reinforced against bending or ,flexure by -way of upwardly extending outstruok ribs 20.

The latter-are spaced equidistantly apart and extend from the band-like piece I9 to the 'bottom edge of the plate 8.

The arcuate channel member [2 extends between and serves to connect together the bandlike piece [9 of theplate 8 andtheweb 9 of the trackl. It is formed of suitable metal-stockand consists of an upstanding intermediate web 2| and vertically spaced substantially horizontally extendingsidelegs 22. *Theintermediate web 2| of the member l2 fits against the rear face of the web 9 of the track land is rigidly connected tothe track by way of bolts 23. The latter extend through aligned holesin the webs! and ll. The

side legs "22 of the member 12 extend rearwards andare provided with out-turned flanges 24. The latter, as shownin Figure 5, fit against the band-like piece IS of the plate I and aresecured to said plate by wayofrivets li jThe bolts 23 ,80 support t the-track throughout theuentire length The upper and lower marginal portions of the web 2| engage the heads l0 and II of the track with the result that the track is so interlocked with the member l2 that it is supported throughout substantially the entire outer periphery thereof. The ends of the member I2 project beyond the ends of the band-like piece IQ of the plate 8 but terminate however slightly rearwards of theend extremities otthetraclo 1.. The end portions of the side legs fl ot the channel member 12 are reinforced by short channel pieces 26.

The latter fit between the end portions of the :side ilegsi 22 of the member I2 and embody inwardly extending,side legs 21 which fit within "andiarelriveted tothe ends of the side legs 22.

TIIeJfianEBS HTdLthe member 12 terminate at the ends 'of"the"band-like piece IQ of the plate '8 withtharesrilt that the ends of the side legs 22 are flangeless. Such ends are cut so that the outer edges thereof are straight and extend parallel; "to therlongerons :a. 1 The ends of the track-1 are ifixcdly i or emidly connected to r said ilongeronscby 3a pair; orupstanding brackets 28.

Theseebraoketsiare bolted-:tmthe longerons a and "are also zboltedrtoathe Meb l of theutrack.) The upper ends. of ithe;bracketsuprojecteabove the i upper :iside lies: of ethexchanneltmember i I 2 and serve i asnstops :iior llmitingmtravel uof the; gun bracket 9 around the track. Theubraekets an, the rchannelimember Al and :thel plate :8 serve to thereof. qxBy reasom of :zthe *tactuthat thetrack is supportedfihrwghmlhllts antire length it is possible 5 :to make ithextracknexceptionally light 'and "there is :no ilikelihood iofithe track bending orxiistorting under the :weight andivibrationnof the-gun G and interferingnwith raccurate' marksmanship Qnthe' partofLtheEgunner.

Theiherein describedmachine gun mount'may :be "manufactured at a i low' am'd reasonable cost and "is exceptionally J light .while i at the same time it .is rigid and durabie. -Due to the shape and design-of the pllite 8- it serves as 1 a protective shield and -aflords lthe gunner a certain amount of the design o't lithe track and the manner *in -which the track issupported: the -gun= G is rigidly "held' in *plaoe when it is locked-in place at any predetermined point on the track.

'I'hednventiodds not to be understood *as restricted to the details set torth since these "may outtheentirelength of the intermediate web 2|.

be modified within'the scope "of the appended claims without departingfromthe spirit" and scopepr the invention.

Having --thus Hes bribed the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by'LettersPatthereof attached to said, IrameLstructure, band provided at its upper portion with fixed means engaging and-*seburedtothewebof the track and interlocked with the track heads throughout substantially; the "entire "length of the track. 2. A machine*gunnnountcomprising atrame structure, anarcuate track 'of I-beam cross section and comparatively light metallic stock,

adapted'to support the gun for movement therearound disposed abovethe frame structure and consisting of'upper and lower heads and a web between the heads, and an upstanding substana fixed part curved conformably to the track engaging and secured to the outer periphery of the web of the track and interlocked with the track heads throughout substantially the-entire ..length of the track, and servingto reenforce and impart rigidity to said track.

3. A machine gun mount comprising a frame structure, an arcuate track disposed above the frame structure and adapted to support the gun' portion, and an arcuate channel member fixed to aid arcuate upper portion of the plate and having the web thereof engaging and secured to the track throughout substantially the entire length thereof. 7

5. A machine gun mount comprising a frame structure, an arcuate track of I-beam cross section disposed above, the frame structure and adapted to support the gun for movement therearound, a substantially rigid plate attached to, and extending upwardly from, the frame structure and having an arcuate upper portion extending around, and spaced outwardly from, the track, and an arcuate channel member fixed to said arcuate upper portion of the plate and having the web thereof engaging and secured to the web of the track.

6. A machine gun mount comprising a frame structure, an arcuate track disposed above the frame structure and adapted to support the gun for movement therearound, a substantially rigid plate attached to, and extending upwardly from, the frame tructure and having an arcuate upper portion of less length than the track extending around, and spacedoutwardly from, the central portion of said track, an arcuate channel member fixed to said arcuate upper portion of the plate and having the web thereof engaging and secured to the track throughout substantially the entire length thereof, and its ends projecting beyond said arcuate upper portion, and reinforcing elements disposed in, and secured to, said ends of the arcuate channel member.

7. A machine gun mount comprising a frame structure, an arcuate track disposed above the frame structure and adapted to support'the gun for movement therearound, a substantially rigid plate attached to, and extending upwardly from, the frame structure and having an arcuate, upper portion of less strength than the track extending around, and spaced upwardly from, the centralportion of said track, an arcuate channel member fixed to said arcuate upper portion of thelplate and having the webthereof engaging andsecured to the track throughout substantially the entire length thereof, and its ends projecting beyond said arcuate upper portion, and short channel shaped elements fitting within and secured tosaid ends of the channel member.

8. A machine gun mount comprising a frame structure, an arcuate track disposed above the frame structure and adapted to support the gun for movement therearound, a substantially rigid plate attached to, and extending upwardly from, the frame structure and haying an arcuate upper portion extending around that portion of the track which is between the latters ends, an arcuate channel member fixed to said arcuate upper portion of the plate, and having the web thereof engagingvand secured to the track and its ends terminating short of the ends of the track, and brackets extending between, and secured to, the frame structure and the ends of the track. I

9. A machine gun mount comprising a frame structure, a substantially semi-circular track of I-beam cross section for supporting the gun for movement therearound disposed above the frame structure and consisting of upper and lower heads and a Web between the heads, a substantially rigid plate attached to, and extending upwardly from, the frame structure and having an arcuate upper portion extending around that portion of the track which is between the latters ends, an arcuate channel member fixed to said arcuate upper portion of the plate and having the web thereof engaging and secured to the Web of the track and interlocked with the track heads throughout substantially the entire length of the track and its ends terminating short of the track ends, and brackets connected to, and extending between, the frame structure and said track ends.

10. In combination with an airplane having a gunners cockpit together with longerons at the sides of the cockpit and a cross member between the longerons, a machine gun mount comprising an arcuate track at the top of the cockpit, and an upstanding substantially rigid plate arranged and designed to form a protective shield for the gunner, having the lower margin thereof U-shaped in horizontal section and attached to the longerons and cross member, and provided at its upper portion with an arcuate part curved conformably to the track and. engaging and secured to the latter throughout sub stantially the entire length thereof.

11. In combination with an airplane having a gunners cockpit together with longerons at the sides of the cockpit and a cross member between the longerons, a machine gun mount comprising an arcuate track of comparatively light weight at the top of the cockpit, and an upstanding substantially rigid and imperforate plate arranged and designed to form a protective shield for the gunner, having the lower mar gin thereof U-shaped in horizontal section and attached to the longerons and cross member, and provided at its upper portion with a fixed arcuate part curved conformably to the track and engaging and secured to the latter throughout substantially the entire length thereof and serving to strengthen and impart rigidity to said track.

12. In combination with an airplane having