US2635377A - Cartridge case ejector for reciprocating breech block type of guns - Google Patents

Cartridge case ejector for reciprocating breech block type of guns Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2635377A
US2635377A US114573A US11457349A US2635377A US 2635377 A US2635377 A US 2635377A US 114573 A US114573 A US 114573A US 11457349 A US11457349 A US 11457349A US 2635377 A US2635377 A US 2635377A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
ejector
breech block
cartridge case
breech
guns
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US114573A
Inventor
Higson Alice Matilda
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Vinters Armstrongs Ltd
Original Assignee
Vickers Armstrongs Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US707394A external-priority patent/US2509640A/en
Application filed by Vickers Armstrongs Ltd filed Critical Vickers Armstrongs Ltd
Priority to US114573A priority Critical patent/US2635377A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2635377A publication Critical patent/US2635377A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41WEAPONS
    • F41AFUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
    • F41A9/00Feeding or loading of ammunition; Magazines; Guiding means for the extracting of cartridges
    • F41A9/38Loading arrangements, i.e. for bringing the ammunition into the firing position
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41WEAPONS
    • F41AFUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
    • F41A15/00Cartridge extractors, i.e. devices for pulling cartridges or cartridge cases at least partially out of the cartridge chamber; Cartridge ejectors, i.e. devices for throwing the extracted cartridges or cartridge cases free of the gun
    • F41A15/12Cartridge extractors, i.e. devices for pulling cartridges or cartridge cases at least partially out of the cartridge chamber; Cartridge ejectors, i.e. devices for throwing the extracted cartridges or cartridge cases free of the gun for bolt-action guns

Definitions

  • This invention relates to cartridge feeding and ejecting mechanism for machine guns of the type in which the breech block is reciprocated along the axis of the barrel and accommodates a relatively displaceable firing pin, for example, a machine gun of the type generally known as the Vickers type in which the firing pin is operated during the locking action of a side lever actuating the reciprocating breech lock, an example of this type of machine gun being shown in United States Patent No. 2,013,312.
  • the object of the invention is to generally simplify and improve the feeding and ejecting mechanism and also to make sure that no empty cartridge case is left in the breech or on the breech block when the whole of the source of supply of the cartridges has been consumed.
  • the breech block carries a relatively perpendicular guide with means adapted to receive the live rounds in succession from the supply source or magazine, this guide carrying a relatively reciprocating carrier member formed with an abutment adapted to engage the rim of each round so as to force the round into alignment with the firing pin, the carrier member being caused to negotiate an island type of cam for receiving its reciprocation during reciprocation of the breech block, the live round acted on by this abutment ejecting the empty cartridge case from the guide, and the invention is characterised in that the carrier member slidably supports a slide carrying a spring loaded ejector urged by its spring against the base of each live round taken from the magazine or ammunition supplying means of the gun so as to be ineffective upon the rounds until following the firing of the last available rounds and thereupon being urged by its spring into an operative position as an extension of the said abutment so that instead of a live round engaging and ejecting the empty cartridge case from the guide the said
  • Figure 1 is a broken sectional side elevation of a Vickers machine gun breech mechanism in the firing position and embodying the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation showing the breech mechanism with the breech block in fully recoiled position and with a round positioned ready for ramming into the breech,
  • Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the breech in the firing position and firing the last round
  • Figure 4 is a sectional elevation showing the cartridge case of the last round being ejected.
  • the breech actuating and firing pin mechanism is shown by way of example as corresponding to that described in the co-pending Application Serial No. 707,394, now United States Patent No. 2,509,640, in which the firing pin 5 reciprocates within a cylindrical bore 5 of a breech block I having an abutment 2 co-operating with a scar 3, the breech block being reciprocated in known manner by a side lever H] which as in co-pending Application Serial No. 707,394, now United States Patent No. 2,509,640, has an abutment I2 co-operating with an abutment l on the firing pin to automatically effect a striker action as the breech is closed.
  • the present invention is more concerned with the means for transporting the cartridges from the feed box E8 to the breech and extracting and discharging the spent cartridge cases, the mechanism for this purpose being applied to the known form of upstanding guide I! in which the cartridge indicated at C is held by its rim in known manner between the flanges Ila of the guide.
  • the round is urged along the flanges ila simultaneously by the downward movement of a transporter member IS in channel It in the guide ll, the transporter member having a lower front corner piece Iia which engages the rims of the rounds, thus ultimately bringing the appropriate live round into engagement with a spring loaded detent 4 (see Figure 2) in order that the cartridge may be located correctly at the front end of the breech block and supported in coaxial alignment with the barrel.
  • the reciprocating movement of the transporter member vertically relatively to the axis of travel of the breech block is controlled by an island type cam, i. e. spaced and opposed inclined cam surfaces l9, I9, 20 and 20, on a side plate 2
  • an island type cam i. e. spaced and opposed inclined cam surfaces l9, I9, 20 and 20, on a side plate 2
  • a spring loaded ejector 23 pivoted on a pin 24 to a slide 25 slidably supported by thetransporter member for slight vertical reciprocation relatively to the transporter member 15, this ejector operating to eject thecase of the last cartridge from the lower end of the flanges Ila when all of the ammunition has been consumed, and for this purpose the lower extremity of the ejector which, at the appropriate time engages belt when as shown in Figure 3, the ejector is urged slightly forward by its spring 26 and with the slide 25 is carried down with the carrier to its lowermost position as shown in Figure 4 to eject the cartridge case 01? the last fired cartridge over and beyond the aforesaid spring loaded detent 4.
  • the front edge of the slide is formed with a recess 21 dimensioned to receive readily the ejector 23, the ejector comprising a finger pivoted to the slide and spring loaded forwardly as aforesaid by the coiled compression spring 26, the arrangement being such that the lower part of this ejector is prevented from moving forwardly under the influence of such spring by reason of its engagement with the base of the" appropriate cartridge C in the feed box, but following the removal of the last round in the feed box the ejector 23 is free to move forwardly on its pivot so that its lower end bears against the uppermost point of the base of the cartridge case and pushes such case downwardly beyond the spring loaded detent.
  • V tridge case is to be ejected the ejector 23 is prevented from being pressed forwardly by its spring 26 when the cartridge is positioned (as in Figure 2) in the loading position, by the lower edge of this ejector abutting against a step 28 on the front end of the breech block, thus causing the ejector to be pushed upwards relatively to the carrier so that the lower part of the ejector lies behind the round engaging corner piece I500 of the transporter member.
  • ma FVickers type machine gun the combination of a breechand barrel, a reciprocating breech block, a side lever actuatingthe breech block, a firing pin in the breech block operated from the side lever, a cartridge supply compartment above the breech, a cartridge guide carried by and upstanding from the breech block, a cartridge transporter reciprocating vertically along said guide, means imparting vertical reciprocation to the transporter during reciprocation of the breech block, a cartridge rim engaging part with said transporter which engages and extracts the rounds in succession from said compartment and pushes each extracted round down the said guide on to the breech block and presses the extracted live round against the empty cartridge case carried by the breech block to eject the empty cartridge case, an ejector member connected to the transporter member and having in advance of the rim engaging part of the said transporter member its own distinctive cartridge rim engaging part extending therefrom to engage and eject the empty cartridge case from the breech block when the supply of ammunition is exhausted,
  • a machine gun according to claim 1 wherein the breech block is formed at its leading end with a spring loaded plunger having its leading end located so as to serve as an abutment for positioning the rounds in operative alignment with the firing pin, said plunger being pressed into the breech block under the influence of the downward pressure of the empty cartridge case alignment with the breech by the transporter Excepting when the last car'- member to cause a displacement of the ejector to an idle position abutting against the rear of the round engaging part of the transporter during return of the transporter from the breech.
  • a machine gun according to claim 3 wherein the ejector is pivoted to a slide slidable within the transporter member and a spring between said slide and the ejector urges the ejector to the operative position to engage the rim of the very last empty cartridge case.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)
  • Mechanical Pencils And Projecting And Retracting Systems Therefor, And Multi-System Writing Instruments (AREA)

Description

Aprll 21, 1953 HIGSON 2,635,377
CARTRIDGE CASE EJECTOR FOR RECIPROCATING BREECH BLOCK TYPE OF GUNS Original Filed Nov. 2, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l PERCY REUBEN mesa/yam, BYAL/CE HAT/LDA mesa/v, EXECUTE/X HIGSON 2,635,377
5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN 0 mm v 5 M T mm m HL v m A wmm wv HEW A W/ N p 5v m. fi
ApriT 21, 1953 CARTRIDGE CASE EJECTOR FOR RECIPROCATING BREECI-I BLOCK TYPE OF GUNS Original Filed Nov. 2, 1946 Q um Aprll 21, 1953 P. R. HIGSON CARTRIDGE CASE EJECTOR FOR RECIPROCATING BREECH BLOCK TYPE OF GUNS Original Filed Nov. 2, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J l ///////////y////'//////// PERCY IPEl/BfN H/GSGM DECEASED, B Y AL/CENAWLDA b76301! XECUT/P/C BY 7414M fwfl v5,
AGENTS Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARTRIDGE CASE EJECTO-R FOR RECIPRO- CATING BREECH BLOCK TYPE OF GUNS company Original application November 2, 1946, Serial No.
707,394. Divided and this application September 8, 1949, Serial No. 114,573. In Great Britain October 29, 1945 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires October 29, 1965 4 Claims.
This invention relates to cartridge feeding and ejecting mechanism for machine guns of the type in which the breech block is reciprocated along the axis of the barrel and accommodates a relatively displaceable firing pin, for example, a machine gun of the type generally known as the Vickers type in which the firing pin is operated during the locking action of a side lever actuating the reciprocating breech lock, an example of this type of machine gun being shown in United States Patent No. 2,013,312. The object of the invention is to generally simplify and improve the feeding and ejecting mechanism and also to make sure that no empty cartridge case is left in the breech or on the breech block when the whole of the source of supply of the cartridges has been consumed.
In machine guns of the aforesaid type the breech block carries a relatively perpendicular guide with means adapted to receive the live rounds in succession from the supply source or magazine, this guide carrying a relatively reciprocating carrier member formed with an abutment adapted to engage the rim of each round so as to force the round into alignment with the firing pin, the carrier member being caused to negotiate an island type of cam for receiving its reciprocation during reciprocation of the breech block, the live round acted on by this abutment ejecting the empty cartridge case from the guide, and the invention is characterised in that the carrier member slidably supports a slide carrying a spring loaded ejector urged by its spring against the base of each live round taken from the magazine or ammunition supplying means of the gun so as to be ineffective upon the rounds until following the firing of the last available rounds and thereupon being urged by its spring into an operative position as an extension of the said abutment so that instead of a live round engaging and ejecting the empty cartridge case from the guide the said ejector member engages and ejects the cartridge case.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, drawings are appended hereto illustrating an embodiment thereof, and wherein,
Figure 1 is a broken sectional side elevation of a Vickers machine gun breech mechanism in the firing position and embodying the present invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation showing the breech mechanism with the breech block in fully recoiled position and with a round positioned ready for ramming into the breech,
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the breech in the firing position and firing the last round, and
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation showing the cartridge case of the last round being ejected.
Referring to the drawings the breech actuating and firing pin mechanism is shown by way of example as corresponding to that described in the co-pending Application Serial No. 707,394, now United States Patent No. 2,509,640, in which the firing pin 5 reciprocates within a cylindrical bore 5 of a breech block I having an abutment 2 co-operating with a scar 3, the breech block being reciprocated in known manner by a side lever H] which as in co-pending Application Serial No. 707,394, now United States Patent No. 2,509,640, has an abutment I2 co-operating with an abutment l on the firing pin to automatically effect a striker action as the breech is closed. However, the present invention is more concerned with the means for transporting the cartridges from the feed box E8 to the breech and extracting and discharging the spent cartridge cases, the mechanism for this purpose being applied to the known form of upstanding guide I! in which the cartridge indicated at C is held by its rim in known manner between the flanges Ila of the guide. Following the withdrawal of a live round from the box I8 the round is urged along the flanges ila simultaneously by the downward movement of a transporter member IS in channel It in the guide ll, the transporter member having a lower front corner piece Iia which engages the rims of the rounds, thus ultimately bringing the appropriate live round into engagement with a spring loaded detent 4 (see Figure 2) in order that the cartridge may be located correctly at the front end of the breech block and supported in coaxial alignment with the barrel.
The reciprocating movement of the transporter member vertically relatively to the axis of travel of the breech block is controlled by an island type cam, i. e. spaced and opposed inclined cam surfaces l9, I9, 20 and 20, on a side plate 2| and top cover 22 respectively. That is to say the downward movement of the transporter member i5 is effected during the rearward travel of the horns l5 along the rear or descending part IQ of the upper cam surface, and also during the forward movement of the horns l5 along the forwardly descending part 20' of the lower cam surface, the return or upward movement being derived from the cam or ramp surfaces 20.
When a round has been fired its case is withdrawn as the breech block is retracted, by reason of the interengagement of the cartridge case rim and the flanges Ha and in due course is ejected by the succeeding round forcing the empty cartridge case downwards over the detent 4.
Assembled to the said transporter member 15 is a spring loaded ejector 23 pivoted on a pin 24 to a slide 25 slidably supported by thetransporter member for slight vertical reciprocation relatively to the transporter member 15, this ejector operating to eject thecase of the last cartridge from the lower end of the flanges Ila when all of the ammunition has been consumed, and for this purpose the lower extremity of the ejector which, at the appropriate time engages belt when as shown in Figure 3, the ejector is urged slightly forward by its spring 26 and with the slide 25 is carried down with the carrier to its lowermost position as shown in Figure 4 to eject the cartridge case 01? the last fired cartridge over and beyond the aforesaid spring loaded detent 4. For this latter operation the front edge of the slide is formed with a recess 21 dimensioned to receive readily the ejector 23, the ejector comprising a finger pivoted to the slide and spring loaded forwardly as aforesaid by the coiled compression spring 26, the arrangement being such that the lower part of this ejector is prevented from moving forwardly under the influence of such spring by reason of its engagement with the base of the" appropriate cartridge C in the feed box, but following the removal of the last round in the feed box the ejector 23 is free to move forwardly on its pivot so that its lower end bears against the uppermost point of the base of the cartridge case and pushes such case downwardly beyond the spring loaded detent. V tridge case is to be ejected the ejector 23 is prevented from being pressed forwardly by its spring 26 when the cartridge is positioned (as in Figure 2) in the loading position, by the lower edge of this ejector abutting against a step 28 on the front end of the breech block, thus causing the ejector to be pushed upwards relatively to the carrier so that the lower part of the ejector lies behind the round engaging corner piece I500 of the transporter member. The extractor is formed with a recess or step 23a adapted to slip overthe corner piece I=a when the extractor comes opposite the emptyfeed box l8 (see Figure 3) so that it cannot now be moved upwardly relatively ,to the slide and forms a positive abutment to engage and eject the last cartridge case as in Figure 4.
.I claim:
, 1. ma FVickers type machine gun, the combination of a breechand barrel, a reciprocating breech block, a side lever actuatingthe breech block, a firing pin in the breech block operated from the side lever, a cartridge supply compartment above the breech, a cartridge guide carried by and upstanding from the breech block, a cartridge transporter reciprocating vertically along said guide, means imparting vertical reciprocation to the transporter during reciprocation of the breech block, a cartridge rim engaging part with said transporter which engages and extracts the rounds in succession from said compartment and pushes each extracted round down the said guide on to the breech block and presses the extracted live round against the empty cartridge case carried by the breech block to eject the empty cartridge case, an ejector member connected to the transporter member and having in advance of the rim engaging part of the said transporter member its own distinctive cartridge rim engaging part extending therefrom to engage and eject the empty cartridge case from the breech block when the supply of ammunition is exhausted, means yieldingly opposing rearward displacement of the ejector member so that the ejector member is held in an inoperative position in rear of the cartridge engaging part of the transporter member by the base of the live round engaged by the transporter member, said means urging the ejector member into an operative position with its cartridge rim engaging part located in advance of the like part of the transporter member to act as a substitute for a live round to engage and eject the empty cartridge case from the gun.
2; A machine gun according to claim 1 wherein the breech block is formed at its leading end with a spring loaded plunger having its leading end located so as to serve as an abutment for positioning the rounds in operative alignment with the firing pin, said plunger being pressed into the breech block under the influence of the downward pressure of the empty cartridge case alignment with the breech by the transporter Excepting when the last car'- member to cause a displacement of the ejector to an idle position abutting against the rear of the round engaging part of the transporter during return of the transporter from the breech.
4. A machine gun according to claim 3 wherein the ejector is pivoted to a slide slidable within the transporter member and a spring between said slide and the ejector urges the ejector to the operative position to engage the rim of the very last empty cartridge case.
ALICE MATILDA HIGSON. Executrz'r of the estate of Percy Reuben Higson,
deceased.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,040,692 Kjellman Oct. 8, 1912 1,146,536 Swebilius et al. July 13, 1915 1,451,443 Fowler Apr. 10, 1923 1,809,222 Soncini June 9, 1931 1,994,564 Burton et a1. Mar. 19, 1935 2,013,312 Larsson et al. Sept. 3, 1935 2,093,705 Browning Sept. 21, 1937 2,500,139 Swebilius Mar. '7, 1950
US114573A 1946-11-02 1949-09-08 Cartridge case ejector for reciprocating breech block type of guns Expired - Lifetime US2635377A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US114573A US2635377A (en) 1946-11-02 1949-09-08 Cartridge case ejector for reciprocating breech block type of guns

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US707394A US2509640A (en) 1945-10-29 1946-11-02 Machine gunlock
US114573A US2635377A (en) 1946-11-02 1949-09-08 Cartridge case ejector for reciprocating breech block type of guns

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2635377A true US2635377A (en) 1953-04-21

Family

ID=26812346

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US114573A Expired - Lifetime US2635377A (en) 1946-11-02 1949-09-08 Cartridge case ejector for reciprocating breech block type of guns

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US2635377A (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2953066A (en) * 1959-10-06 1960-09-20 Richard H Colby Firearm breech mechanism with a laterally operated breech block
US3563132A (en) * 1968-09-19 1971-02-16 Us Navy Grenade launcher
US3791256A (en) * 1969-09-12 1974-02-12 Colt Ind Operating Corp Machine gun
US5024016A (en) * 1987-12-01 1991-06-18 Victory Arms Co., Limited Self-loading pistols
US5691497A (en) * 1993-10-08 1997-11-25 Heckler & Koch Self-loading grenade launcher

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1040692A (en) * 1908-10-09 1912-10-08 Nya Aktiebolaget Stockholms Vapenfabrik Automatic firearm
US1146536A (en) * 1915-02-24 1915-07-13 Marlin Firearms Co Repeating firearm.
US1451443A (en) * 1918-12-04 1923-04-10 Fowler Elbert Machine gun
US1809222A (en) * 1927-03-05 1931-06-09 Costruzioni Meccaniche Breda E Automatic firearm having alpha recoiling barrel and an amplifying push lever
US1994564A (en) * 1933-01-13 1935-03-19 Winchester Repeating Arms Co Firearm
US2013312A (en) * 1933-02-06 1935-09-03 Vickers Armstrongs Ltd Machine gun
US2093705A (en) * 1934-02-19 1937-09-21 J M & M S Browning Company Automatic firearm
US2500139A (en) * 1946-09-11 1950-03-07 Carl G Swebilius Ejector detent

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1040692A (en) * 1908-10-09 1912-10-08 Nya Aktiebolaget Stockholms Vapenfabrik Automatic firearm
US1146536A (en) * 1915-02-24 1915-07-13 Marlin Firearms Co Repeating firearm.
US1451443A (en) * 1918-12-04 1923-04-10 Fowler Elbert Machine gun
US1809222A (en) * 1927-03-05 1931-06-09 Costruzioni Meccaniche Breda E Automatic firearm having alpha recoiling barrel and an amplifying push lever
US1994564A (en) * 1933-01-13 1935-03-19 Winchester Repeating Arms Co Firearm
US2013312A (en) * 1933-02-06 1935-09-03 Vickers Armstrongs Ltd Machine gun
US2093705A (en) * 1934-02-19 1937-09-21 J M & M S Browning Company Automatic firearm
US2500139A (en) * 1946-09-11 1950-03-07 Carl G Swebilius Ejector detent

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2953066A (en) * 1959-10-06 1960-09-20 Richard H Colby Firearm breech mechanism with a laterally operated breech block
US3563132A (en) * 1968-09-19 1971-02-16 Us Navy Grenade launcher
US3791256A (en) * 1969-09-12 1974-02-12 Colt Ind Operating Corp Machine gun
US5024016A (en) * 1987-12-01 1991-06-18 Victory Arms Co., Limited Self-loading pistols
US5691497A (en) * 1993-10-08 1997-11-25 Heckler & Koch Self-loading grenade launcher

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3688640A (en) Repeating firearm with bolt-open latch
US2635377A (en) Cartridge case ejector for reciprocating breech block type of guns
US2382926A (en) Magazine for automatic firearms
US3411405A (en) Gun head space takeup elements
US1898670A (en) Manually-operated bolt-action firearm
US4438678A (en) Bolt stop and cartridge ejector for auto-loading rifle
US2325395A (en) Firearm bolt stop
US1110837A (en) Take-down repeating firearm.
US2113202A (en) Automatic gun
US2979992A (en) Reversible feeding mechanism
GB572547A (en) Automatic gun
US2369244A (en) Firearm
US2821886A (en) Feeding mechanism for automatic firearm
US2027893A (en) Belt feeding means for guns
US2509640A (en) Machine gunlock
US2710477A (en) Unitary rammer-ejector for firearms
US2626475A (en) Cartridge carrier for repeating shotguns
US2322490A (en) Trigger safety for automatic firearms
US1869911A (en) Firearm
US2013312A (en) Machine gun
US2098264A (en) Cartridge stop for machine guns
US2988963A (en) Automatic feed mechanisms
GB1073613A (en) Round feeding mechanism of an automatic gun
US2032376A (en) Gun
US3311021A (en) Feed mechanism