US2490787A

US2490787A - Inertia buffer

Info

Publication number: US2490787A
Application number: US709709A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul H Dixon
Original assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Current assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Priority date: 1946-11-14
Filing date: 1946-11-14
Publication date: 1949-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 1966-12-13

Description

Dec. 13, 1949 P, H, DIXON 2,490,787

INERTIA BUFFER Filed Nov. 14, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [nveuforw Paul .D/xon Dec. 13, 1949 H, WON 2,490,787

INERTIA BUFFER Filed Nov. 14, 1946 Y 2 SheetS- SheetQZ Patented Dec. 13, 1949 TES 7 9 Claims.

This invention relates "to" 'energydissipating -bi-1fiers for reducing-thespeed of heavy, fast mov- -ing- '-ebjects and-is illustfatedas embodied in an *automatiw-B'Fmmrcan-nonsuclr as is fully disclosedin an applicatiorrserial- No. 721,058 filed -'Jannary-9'; l94"7 in my name.

=In =order"toincrease the cyclic-rate of 37 mm.

*cannoIr foFexa-hiple, for use" in airplanes, it-is necessary 'to"increasefthe speed, in recoil and -co-unter=recoil, ofthe bolt' assembly ofsu'ch "cannon-to a-pbint which *rn'akes'it necessary-to 'check the speedofsaid assembly near the" end of its'moveinentincounter-recoil in order'to insure against breakage ofparts and to insure the proper-locking' pfthe' bolt'assembly in battery position.

W ith -the foregoing consideration in view" itis anobj ect *ofthe' pre'sentdnventiorrto provide" a --bi-iffer; two of'which may be advantageously used for 'q uickly and-'efifeetively reducing the speed of the 'bolt'asseinblyof theabove-mehtioned cannon duri-n'g'r-itswrlovenient ln counter rec'oil.

In' the il-lustrative" construction," 'each of 'the 'biifiers"is -operatiVelyconnectedthrough a'latch -toafi'sliden -whichdorms part of the" bolt assemdcly, near the forward endbf the counter-recoil movement of" said slider;- thelatch being "disconneetedfromtheslider-before"said sliderreaches its battery position; "the arrangement "being 'such that-when the slider is disconnected it "still has sufficient 'spe'ed' to cause a bolt formingpart' "of said assembly to' bemoved' to"its"locked position.

The -var-ious features oi the invention as defin ed in' *theaccompanying claims will be understoodandappreciated from-the following detailed description" read in' 'connection with 'the accompanyingdrawings' -in' which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective-view showing one "of a pair'pf-bufiers incorporated '"in' the gun in"sa'id application Se'riaFNor "721,058;

Fig. 2- isa sidewiew; partly"broken 'away and partly in sectionjiilustratin'gthe'bufier of Fig: 1 atthetime' it 'is first engaged by a slide of" a bolt 'assembly'of thegun; V

Fig? 3- is' a viewsimilar to' Fig? 2 'but showing the lcufier after "it' ha'sbeenrelased by "the slider but i's' held in its forwaidpdsition by'said "slider;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view showing 'in" perspective the" various parts of the miller;

*Fig. 5 is a: section 'online V-'-V of Fig. 3;

Figs: 6 -7' and" 8 are-views on" line VI -VI ofFig. 5 showing therelationof 'acage'andinertia block *ofthe buffer'duringdifferentstages of the checking-action of said bufi'er, "and "FigrQ is 'a'view on line Vl vTof Fig. 5 showing 2 opposing-portionsof a slightly modified cage "and 1 inertia block.

"'Each' of the illustrative buffers 'of the'gg-un above referred to'comprisesa cage or slide" 5 which is provided with inturned" flanges 32 (Figs.

1, 4, 5 and 6), 33 (Figs. 4 and 6) fitting in

channel guides

34, 35 respectively-"formed '-in"a"rai13B secured by a bolttfl' to a" barrel extension 42 "(Figs- 1, 2- and 3) of the'guma'lug '44;'which"is 10 formed integral with" therail' and'engages'in a longitudinal guideway 48', (Figs. 1, 3;4 and 5) of the cage, cooperating with thechannels 34;"35 in. guiding said cage. in a'rectilinear' longitudinal path extending lengthwise of the gun or parallel l5 to'the path of movementin' recoil and counter- "rec'oil of a slider '52 '.(Fig.'1)"forming'part of a bolt'assemblyf53: of'the'gun. :Formed integral withtthe-rail 36"isa lug 46"(Figs'.1 2; 3, 4 and '6) the purpose of which will, appear later.

Arranged atopposite'sides of achamber, which is formed ,by the. rail 36 and a channel or recess 54. of the cage 30", are rows of series of V-shaped teeth 56,. 56a (Figs; 6t and '7) constituting racks 58, 58a which face each other and extend lengthwise; of the path of movement of'the cage, front "and'rear

operatingfaces

60, 62;'60a, 62a of "the teeth"56';"56a respectively being idisposed at to saidpathand the teeth of the rack'at one "side ofthe channel being offset longitudinally'by one-half a toothifrom the teeth of the rackfiat "the other'side of the. channel. Mounted for transverse or lateral. movement in the channel 54 'of the cage 3ll"with"its rear. and forward endsin sliding engagement (with faces 64 (Figs. 4," 6,17, 8 and 9), 66. (Figs. 2,: 4. and'6) of the lugs, 46' respectively, is an'inertia block 68 havinglat its upper and flower faces .'.rows or series'of 'V-"shapedteeth1ll (Figs. 6 and '7), 10a, which are similar to the teeth of the'racks 58, 58a of the cage30 and form racks 12, 12a (Figs; 4," 6 and'l) which face away from each other and wearranged'in oppc'sedland inter-engaging relation with the racks 58; 58a of the cage. The inertia block' sa may be defined .as movable in a path transverse lld'th pathiotmovement of the slide '30.

It will be noted. that the teeth 10;"10a. of the inertia" block"68" are in transverse alinement .or register, the distance" 14 (Figs. 6 and 7) between the ends'of the opposite oralined teeth of .said block being; slightly less than'the transverse. distance 16 between Opposite portions-of the .teeth 5615611 'ofthe' racks 58; 58a on any straight line normaltothe. path. of movementof the ..cage,.lit

" being apparentth'atsince the teeth'56j'56a of said racks are offset lengthwise by one-half a tooth the zig-zag channel 54 is of uniform width. With the above construction clearances Tl (Figs. 6 and '7) are formed between opposing racks 58, 12 and 58a, 12a.

As will be explained later, as the cage is moved forward, that is, in the direction indicated by arrow 18, at a high rate of speed in response to counter-recoil action of the slider 52, the operating or leading faces 6!] of the teeth 56 of the rack 58 are slammed, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 6, against the rear faces 8!] (Figs. 6 and 7) of the teeth ll! of rack 12 of the inertia block 68, with the result that said block is moved transversely, that is, in the direction indicated by arrow 8!, causing the faces 82a. of the teeth 18a to collide with rear faces 62a of the teeth a as illustrated in Fig. 7, the leading faces 68a of the teeth 55a of the rack 58a. thereafter engaging the faces 80a. of the teeth 10a of the block 68 and thus causing faces 82 of the teeth "Ill of the block to move transversely in an opposite direction against the rear faces 62 of the teeth 56 of the rack 58, the oncoming leading faces 65 of the teeth 56 then striking the rear faces 80 of the teeth 10 of the rack 58 to repeat the abovedescribed cycle of operation.

The channel 54, which extends lengthwise of the path of longitudinal movement of the cage or slide 30, may be described as having serrated edges or opposite sides bounded by teeth ar- .ranged in series or the form of racks extending lengthwise of said path. Moreover, it will be understood that since the teeth 56, 550., 80, 10a may deviate from the form shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8 and have their ends and roots rounded off, for example as illustrated in Fig. 9, the edges of the channel 54 may be defined as sinuous or undulatory. In fact, sharp teeth of the buffer will become somewhat rounded after being used for a short time.

The inertia block 68 which is confined in the channel 54 of the cage 30 has its teeth 78, 75a arranged in series extending lengthwise of the path of movement of the cage, as above explained, the teeth 10 at one side of the block being positioned in transverse alinement or register with the teeth Illa at the other side of the block. Since the ends of the teeth or serrations of the block 58 may be initially rounded somewhat as illustrated in Fig. 9, or may become rounded in use, the block 88 may also be defined as having undulatory or sinuous edges and as being alternately wide and narrow, and wide portions of the block or the distance 14 between the points or outer ends of the teeth 10, "Illa of the block -58 being slightly less than the width 16 of having longitudinally arranged serrations, rows of teeth 56, 560. or sinuous edges which are in inter-engaging relation with longitudinally arranged serrations, rows of teeth 10, 10a or sinuous edges of the block 68, the serrations, teeth or sinuous edges of one of said members overlapping transversely the opposing teeth, serra- MMWWMMW 4 tions or sinuous edges of the other member. The

teeth

56, 56a of the serrated or toothed edges of the cage 30 or the projecting portions of the opposite sinuous edges of the cage may be described as being off-set one-half a tooth or half a projecting portion longitudinally from one another and as facing inwardly, that is toward one another, the teeth 10, 15a of the serrated or toothed edges or the projecting portions of the sinuous edges of the block 68 being described as being in transverse alinement with each other and as facing outwardly, that is away from each other.

The cage 30 has pivotally connected to it by a pin 86 (Figs. 1 to 4-) a latch 88 having a face 98 (Figs. 2 and 3) which, when the buffer is in a retracted position with the latch in coupling position in engagement with a stop 92 (Fig. 1) rests on top of a lug 94 of the rail 36. The cage 30 is held in its retracted position by a spring 96 encircling a rod 98 which slides through bores 35 (Fig. 3) in depending lugs I82, I04 of the cage, has a shoulder I06 (Figs. 3 and 4) engaged by one end of the spring and is in engagement with the barrel extension 42, the other end of the spring engaging the lug ")2 of the cage.

As the slider 52, actuated by a reaction unit (not shown), moves in counter-recoil at a high speed, an abutment I08 formed integral with the slider engages a shoulder H0 of the latch 88, the face of which at that time is sustained by the lug 9d of the rail 36, causing the cage 30 to be moved forward until said face has been moved to its position shown in Fig. 3, thereby permitting the latch to swing downward and the shoulder H0, which is arranged higher than the pin 86, to be lowered below the abutment I08. As the abutment I08 leaves the shoulder H0 it slides over an upper face of the latch 88 and in its battery position is still in contact with said face causing a face I 12 (Fig. 2) of the latch to be held in contact with a bevel face I [4 (Figs. 2 and 3) of the lug 94, for the purpose of retaining the cage 30 in its forward position until such time as the abutment I08 of the slide 52 has moved rearward in recoil away from the latch, the spring 98 thereafter operating to move the cage upon the rail 36 back to its rearward position in which the latch 88 is in engagement with the stop 92.

In the illustrative embodiment the inertia block 68 has twelve teeth at each of its upper and its lower edges, the teeth at each edge being constructed and arranged to engage opposing teeth of the cage. By providing a plurality of colliding surfaces the impact load is well distributed thus insuring that the various parts stand up effectively under considerable use.

By causing a plurality of collisions between the teeth of the cage 30 and the teeth of the inertia block 68 a large amount of energy is quickly and effectively dissipated, resulting in the intermittent slowing down of the cage by the block. It will be apparent that the intermittent slowing down of the cage 30 results in a series of collisions between the latch 30 and the abutment I 08 of the slider 52 and this, together with various friction losses between the parts, adds materially to the dissipation of the energy of the counterrecoiling slider.

The rateof dissipation of energy will vary approximately in accordance with the square of the velocity of the moving parts, the restitution factor of steel being such that the velocity of the slider is materially checked afterthe teeth of the cage 30 have moved past a few teeth of the inertia block 68. As the high velocity is materially re- .i-theslide. of; a- -highly. desirable residual speed nece ,essary tocause said slide to lock-abolt associated +with ..it .in-.-bat tery .position. ,.--In.order, however, "to insure thatstheresshall'not.be. any drag whatsoevenoniltheislider i5 2\-,after. its speedshas been reduced; to a .valuesuflicientlyglowt to 2 effect the.

, .proper.-l ocking of thelboltsassembly parts,.the .\latch;'88,is cammed down out otdrivingrelation swithithe. abutmentfllfldofethe slider 52-at a pre- .,determined time dependingupon the position-of ....the lug ,Although. .thebuffer .has' been illustrated with ,referencel tosthe .aboveementioned gun :it will be ,Lunder'stood; that. suchrabuffer-may be efiectively itsedlwhereveriit .is-Qdesiredsuddenly to reduce ...the speed of fast'movingv parts.

Having .lthus ldescribed. my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is:

1. 'In a bufier, two members, one movable in a predeterminedc'path and-:the; other movable in a path transverse to said path, means for constraining -sa'id members for movement in said paths, each of said members having twoseries-of serrations which:extend generally lengthwise of said predetermined path and are positioned in .opposed relation to the serrations, respectively, of :the otheritmember;'the' serrations of one ofthe members overlappingthe-serrations of the other of saidrmembers lengthwise-of said transverse pathiand being' so-constructed'and arranged that 'imovment 0f said'one memberfin said; predetermined -'path--will"cause movement of the other member in said transverse path.

2. In a butler, a slide movable in a fixed path, said slide having a channel which extends generally lengthwise of said path and which is of uniform width and has sinuous edges, an inertia block which is arranged in said channel and is constrained for movement in a path disposed at a substantial angle to said path, and means for constraining said slide and block for movement in said paths, said block having sinuous edges and. being alternately wider and narrower in width, the wider portions of the block being slightly less than the width of the channel.

3. In a buffer, a slide which is movable in a predetermined path and has a pair of spaced racks extending lengthwise of said path and facing toward each other, teeth of one of said racks being offset lengthwise of said path from the teeth of the other, an inertia block which is movable in a path disposed transversely of said predetermined path and which is arranged in the slide and has a pair of racks facing away irom each other, teeth of the racks of said block being positioned adjacent to the teeth of the racks of the slide and being in alinement lengthwise of said predetermined path, means for constraining said slide and block for movement in said paths, and means for causing the slide to be moved in said predetermined path at a high rate of speed, said racks of the slide and the block being so constructed and arranged that the racks of the inertia block are moved into colliding relation with opposed racks of the slide in response to movement of the slide in said predetermined path.

4. In a bufier, a slide which is movable in a predetermined path and has spaced racks extending lengthwise of said path and facing toward Teach Y other, teeth ofone of said racks being staggered lengthwise ofvsaid path*with relation to the teeth of: the other rack; an inertia block movable in a -path=extending transversely of said predetermined path and having racks facing away from each'other,zteethiof the'racks of the block beingzsimilar to-the 'teethof the racks =-of the slide and being arranged in alinement lengthwise of said predetermined-path, and' means for constraining said-=slide and block "for movement in said'paths, said-slide" having formed between .its racks aclear space whichextends lengthwise ..of said predetermined path and-which isslightly wider than the distance between the roots of opposing teeth of the-inertia block plus the height of one of the teeth of said block. 50in a -buifer,a .-slide, an inertia block, means forconstraining the slide and the block for move- -ment in paths disposed at right angles to each other, said block andsaid slide having pairs'of opposed interenga'ging racks, teeth of which are similar, the teeth of each of the racks of the slide 'being'arranged inz a series extending lengthwise oi the patriot movement of the slide andbeing offset lengthwisemfsaid path from the teethoi the-other rack, the teeth of the racks of the block .being arranged in two series disposed lengthwise oi the path of movement- 0f the slide, the teeth .of-bne of. the racks of saidfblo'ck being'arranged in. alinement lengthwiseofthe,path of movement ofthe slide with-the teeth of the other rack of said block, the distance between the ends of the alined teeth of the block beingslightly less than the distancebetween-Opposite; portions of the racks of: the slide.

-6.'.'I'n a buffer, a guide, a cage movable in a predetermined path on the guide, said cage having a recess provided with opposite sides which extend generally lengthwise of said path and are serrated, the serrations at one side of said recess being offset lengthwise of said path from the serrations at the other side of the recess, and an inertia block which is positioned in the recess and has serrated opposite sides, serrations at opposite sides of the block being arranged in substantial alinement lengthwise of said path and being constructed and arranged to interengage the serrations at opposite sides of said recess, the construction and arrangement being such that movement of the cage in said path effects movement of the block transversely of said path, whereby the block is moved into colliding engagement with the cage to check movement of said cage and to absorb energy to slow down movement of said cage.

7. In a bulTer, a cage movable in a predetermined path and having spaced rows of teeth which are parallel to each other and to said path and which face each other, the teeth of one row being similar to the teeth of the other row and being oiTset lengthwise of said path a half a tooth with relation to opposing teeth of the other row, an inertia block which is movable in a path transverse to said predetermined path and which has parallel rows of teeth which face away from each other and are similar to the teeth of the cage and which are arranged in alinement with each other, the distance between opposing points on the opposite teeth of the cage being slightly greater than the distance between the ends of opposing teeth of the block, a latch connected to the cage, means for holding the latch in a coupling position, and a heavy high speed member, the speed of which is to be reduced, constructed and arranged to engage said latch in its coupling position to move the cage in said predetermined. path, thereby causing the block to move transversely by hammering action of the teeth of the cage against the teethcn the block, with the result that movement of the cage is resisted and energy is dissipated by the interaction between the various parts to reduce the speed of said high speed member.

8. In a bufier, a slide constrained for movement in a rectilinear path, an inertia block constrained for movement in a path disposed transversely of said rectilinear path, means for constraining the slide and the block for movement in their respective paths, said slide and said block each having a pair of racks extendinggenerally lengthwise of said rectilinear path, the racks on the slide being arranged in opposed relation to the racks of the block, the teeth of one of the racks of the slide being offset lengthwise of said rectilinear path from the teeth of the other rack of the slide and the teeth of the racks of the block being in transverse alinement with each other, opposed teeth of the slide and the block being constructed and arranged to interengage as the slide is moved in said rectilinear path, a heavy high speed member, and means for operatively connecting the slide to said member to eiTect movement of the slide in said rectilinear path and movement of the block in said transverse path to cause collisions between teeth of the slide and the block and accordingly dissipation of energy to check movement of the slide acted upon by said member in said rectilinear path.

9. In a buffer, a slide constrained for movement in a rectilinear path, means for imparting energy to be dissipated to the slide, said slide being provided'with a channel opposite sides of which are formed by racks extending generally lengthwise of said path, teeth of one of said racks being ofiset lengthwise of said path with relation to teeth of the other of said racks, an inertia block which is arranged in said channel and is constrained for movement in a transverse path at right angles to said rectilinear path, means for constraining said slide and said block for movement in their respective paths, said block having opposite sides which are in opposed relation to the racks respectively of the slide and which are formed-by racks teeth of which are similar to each other and to the teeth of the racks of the slide, said block being movablein said transverse path in response to movement of the slide in said longitudinal path to cause the teeth at opposite sides of the blockto collide with teeth of the racks at opposite sides of the channel intermittently to check movement of the slide and to cause energy imparted to the slide to be dissipated.

PAUL H. DIXON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 847,858 Ware Mar. 19, 1907 1,438,016 Bourke Dec. 5, 1922 1,579,234 Newman Apr. 6, 1926 1,875,704 Cheatham Sept. 6, 1932 1,972,971 Barenyi Sept. 11, 1934 2,022,999 Barrows Dec, 3, 1935