US2652821A - Fluid pressure operated gun - Google Patents

Description

Sept- 22, 1953 E. R. FITCH FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED GUN Original Filed Dec. 28, 1944 aWMMUVAIIVi-J.

INVENTR.

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A 7`TRNEYS Patented Sept. 22,` 1953 FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED GUN Ellery R. Fitch, Elyria, Ohio, assigner to Bendix- Westinghouse Automotive Air Brake Company, Elyria, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original application December 28, 1944, Serial No. 570,189, now Patent No. 2,566,181, dated August 28,1951. Divided and this application November 20, 1950, Serial No. 196,596

Claims. (Cl. 124-13) 'This invention relates to guns, and more particularly to guns of the type wherein compressed air and other compressed gases are utilized as the propelling force for the projectile of the gun.

It has previously been proposed to utilize compressed air inV guns for the above purpose, but many of these guns have required an unnecessary amount of manual effort for compressing the gas, and it is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide means for supplying compressed gas for the operation of the gun so designed as to limit or entirely eliminate this manual effort on the part of the operator.

It has also been proposed to provide a storage reservoir for compressed gas on guns, but in many cases these reservoirs have either been unnecessarily large or of insufficient capacity, and it is a further object of the invention to provide means for storing compressed gas in a gun of the above type, so constituted as to provide a supply of compressed gas sufiicient to operate the gun over a long period of time, and at the same time to appreciably reduce the size of the comn Y pressed gas reservoir required for this purpose.

Yet anotherl object of the invention is to provide, in connection with a gun ofthe above type having a storage reservoir charged with gas under pres-sure, manually operated means controlled by the operator for increasing the pressure of the gas supplied from the reservoir to the firing chamber.

'Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a gun of the above type, means for permitting manual compression of air in the projectile chamber in the event of depletion of the compressed gas in the supply reservoir.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and eicient meansrfor controlling the flow of gas from the reservoir to the Vfiring chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for preventing or minimizing leakage of compressed gas from the fluid pressure system of the gun.

AA still further object of the invention is to provide simple and eiiicient means for feeding vprojectiles from a magazinev to the barrel of the gun.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a gun of the above type, so constructed as.

to insure improved accuracy in the firing of the gun by the operator.

These and other novel features and objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the v accompanying drawing,- ,wheren one form of the present invention is illustratedA It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is utilized for purposes of illustration only, and is not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawing, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of a gun constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and

Fig. 2 is a view of the gun taken from the right end of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to Fig. l, the gun is provided with a body portion 4 which may be made of metal or other suitable substance, the body being provided with a handle 5 and a barrel 6 extending longitudinally of the body and arranged in relation to the body and handle as shown. The left portion of the body is provided with a reservoir I closed at its lower end by means of a threaded plug 8 and connected at its upper end by means of a conduit .9 to the left end of a cylinder II)r formed in the body. A piston I I, having a packing cup I2 of rubber or other suitable material, is slidably mounted inthe cylinder I0, the piston being provided with an operating rod I3 attached thereto and adapted to slide through a bore I4 in the body, and a sealing element I5 being mounted in the bore which acts to prevent leakage to atmosphere from the left end of the cylinder. The left end of the stem I 3 is provided with a head portion I6, and the piston and stem are normally maintained in the position shown by a spring Il interposed between the right surface of the head I 6 and the body.

The handle portion of the body is provided with a bore I8 aligned with the barrel 6 and of substantially the same diameter, this bore being normally closed by means of a plunger I9 provided at its right end with a T-shaped head 20 having i an arm 2l adapted in the position shown to engage a notch 22 formed in the handle in order to prevent movement of the plunger to the right. A projectile magazine or bore 23 is formed in the handle as shown, the lower end of the bore being provided with a threaded plug 24, and the upper end of the bore intersecting the bore I8. When the plug 24 is removed, a plurality of suitable projectiles 25 may be inserted in the magazine 23, the projectiles being forced upward in the magazine by means of a spring 26 interposed between the upper end of plug 24 and the lower surface of a washer 21 slidably mounted in the bore of the magazine. A firing chamber 28 is formed in the body at the right end of the barrel, and in order to prevent leakage `from the firing chamber to atmosphere between the bore I8 and the surface of the plunger I9, a seal 29 is mounted in a groove 5 39 and is slidably engaged by the outer surface of the plunger. When it is desired to insert a projectile in the right end of the gun barrel, the 'i' handle 2e is turned in a clockwise direction as, shown in Fig. 2, the plunger is withdrawn to the right sufficiently to permita projectile to enter the bore l at the left of the plunger, and the plunger is then returned to the position shown, a projection 3l formed on the left end of the plunger serving to move a projectile to the positien shown at 32. The gun is now loaded, and it is only necessary to supply uid pressure in the firing chamber in order to re the projectile from the gun.

A valve seat 33 is formed at the upper end of the iring chamber 28, and a valve 34 having a piston portion 34-a is slidably mounted in a bore 35 forme-d in the body above and aligned with the ring chamber 28, this valve being norm mally maintained in closed position by means of a spring 36 interposed between the upper surface of the valve and a lower surface of a plug 3l threadedly received by the body and serving to close the upper end of the bore 35. An inlet chamber 38 formed in the lower end of the bore below the valve is connected with a firing reservoir 39 formed in the handle by means of a passage 40, and is connected at its upper end to a portion of the bore above the valve by means of a passage 4l having a re- 35 stricted portion 42. The portion of the bore above the valve forms a control chamber 42-a which is also connected with the cylinder i9 through a passage 43, a valve chamber 44, a passage 45 provided with a choke l5-a, a check valve chamber 46, and a port 4l, the latter port being normally closed by means of a check valve 4S urged against the right end of the port by means of a spring 49 mounted in the chamber 4G as Shown, the left end of the port 41 being connected with the cylinder l0. In view of the arrangement of the cup washer l2 on the piston Il, it will be understood that fluid pressure will be free to pass from the reservoir 1 to the reservoir 39 through the passage 9, by the piston cup i2 in the cylinder I0, port 41, check valve 43, valve chamber 45, passage 45, chamber 44, passage 43, bore 35, passage 4l, chamber 35, and passage 49, the result being that the small ring reservoir 39 is normally maintained at substan tially the same pressure as the supply reservoir '1, the only pressure difference being that due to the restriction imposed by the piston cup I2 and the check valve 48.

A trigger 50 is pivotally mounted on the body by means of a pivot pin l, the upper portion of the trigger at the right 'of the pivot pin 5l being adapted to engage the lower end of a valve stem 52 slidably mounted in a bore 53 formed in the body, an exhaust valve head 54 carried by the upper end of the stem being nor mally maintained in a position to close the upper end of the bore by means of a spring 55 interposed between the upper end of the valve head and the lower surface of a plug 55 thread- 70 edly received by the body. The stem of the valve is provided with nutes 51 which serve, when the valve is moved to open position, to permit the iiow of uid pressure from the valve chamber 44 to atmosphere through an atmospheric port 53.

Thus on movement of the trigger in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot pin, the valve 54 is moved to open position in order to allow iiuid pressure to exhaust from the valve chamber 44. When this action occurs, a sudden reduction of pressure occurs in the conduit 43 and in the bore 35 above the valve 34, and the pressure in the chamber 38 immediately forces the valve upward against the action of the spring 36 to permit communication between the nring reservoir 39 and the iiring chamber 28 in order to discharge the projectile from the gun barrel. At the same time the piston 'portion 34-a of the valve closes the ends of passages 43 and 4|. As soon as the projectile leaves the gun barrel, the pressure drops rapidly in the chamber 38, and the valve is again moved to closed position by the action of the spring 33 as well as by the action of the fluid pressure supplied from the reservoir 1 through the passage previously described. Means are provided for automatically returning the trigger to the position shown after the gun is red in order to permit closing of valve 54, such means including a port 59 connected at its lower end with the gun barrel and at its upper end with an enlarged bore 60 adapted to slidably receive a plunger 5|, the lower end of the plunger thus being subjected to the pressure in the gun barrel when the projectile passes to the left of the port 59, and the upper end of the plunger being in engagement with a portion of the trigger at the left side of the pivot pin 5l. A suitable seal 62 is provided for the purpose of preventing leakage past the plunger. Since a relatively high pressure is utilized for the operation of the gun, the force exerted by the plunger is suicient to return the trigger to the position shown regardless of the force exerted thereon by the operator, and when this occurs, the valve 54 is again returned to closed position by the action of the spring 55. As soon as the valve 54 closes, the pressure again increases in the conduit 43, and the reservoir 39 is again brought to the same pressure as the reservoir l. Thus the action of the valve 34 is controlled by a sudden change in the pressure differential acting on the valveA which is produced by the operation of the valve 54, and no mechanical connection is required between the trigger and the valve 34. Due to the rapid action of the gun, the amount of fluid pressure exhausted through the port 58 on operation of the trigger is infinitesimal, and a very sensitive control of the ring valve 34 is obtained.

With regard to the means utilized for charging the supply reservoir 1, it has been found that solid carbon dioxide or Dry Ice, when confined in a reservoir, reaches a state of equilibrium at a relatively high pressure, and that thereafter the carbon dioxide tends to change from the solid to the gaseous state to maintain the state of equilibrium whenever gas is removed from the reservoir. It is therefore contemplated that in charging the gun, the plug 8 may be removedv and a suitable amount of solid carbon dioxide inserted in the reservoir 1 to substantially ll the space therein. The plug 8 is then replaced in order to seal the lower end of the reservoir, and the gun is then charged with an adequate supply of gas sufiicient to insure repeated ring over a considerable period of time. v

During normal operation of the gun, sufficient pressure will be maintained in the reservoir, duev to the change of the carbon dioxide from its solidied to its gaseous state, to insure'anadequate muzzle'velocity of the projectile. In thel event it is desired to supply a higher pressure to the firing reservoir 39 in order to increase the muzzle velocity, the piston llmay be operatedto increase the pressure of the gas in the cylinder Ill, and to this end an operating handle 63 is pivotally mounted on they body of the gun by means of a suitable pivot pinrGd, a lever arm E35 above the pivot pin being adapted to engage the head I6 of the piston rod I3. Thus during this type of operation, the operator may operate the piston for any desired number of strokes to furvther compress the gas in the cylinder. i0, and to deliver it to the reservoir 39 through the check valve 48 land the channels heretofore described, it being understood that during thistype of operation the flexible sealing cup l2 on the piston acts as the inlet valve of the pump. :In this manner, gas at a higher pressure can be supplied to the reservoir 39 if desired with a relatively small amount of effort .on the part of the operator, and muzzle velocities may be obtained if desired which are far in excess of those obtainable in many of the guns of this general type heretofore in common use.

It is also contemplated that it may be desirF able to operate the gun in the event of failure of the supply of gaseous carbon dioxide, and this may be readily accomplished by removing the plug 8 from the lower end of the reservoir 1, whereupon the piston Il and the cylinder l will act solely as a compressed air pump receiving air from atmosphere through the reservoir 'l and the passage 9 and compressing this air in the firing reservoir 39, the pressure obtained inthe rng reservoir being in accordance with the number of strokes given to the pump operating lever 53,

As shown inthe, drawing. therbarrel of the sun isI preferably soarranged as to lie between the nrst two iingers of the operators hand during operation of the gun, this resulting in anatural pointing Of the gurl by the operator which is of material assistance in insuring extreme accuracy in firing the gun. While the recoil of guns of this type is relatively small, this positioning of the barrel is such in relation tov the position of the hand of the operator as to substantially minimize the effect of the recoil force on the aiming of the gun, another factor which contributes to extreme accuracy. i

There has thus been provided by the present invention a fluid pressure operated gun of the repeater type adapted to be operated either by a stored supply of compressed gas o r by compressed air1` and so constituted as to be capable of carrying a charge of compressed gas sufficient to insure repeated ring over a considerable yperiod of time, together With a construction which tends to insure extreme accuracy in such firing. In the event of failure of the supply of stored gas under pressure, means have also been provided for permitting recharging of the gun with compressed air by the operation of a simple pump in the conventional manner, and means have also been provided for permitting the operator to increase the pressure of fluid supplied to the ring chamber in excess of that obtaining in the supply reservoir. A trigger control mechanism for supplying fluid pressure to the firing chamber of the gun has also been provided which is relatively simple and extremely efficient in operation, and which permits a trigger pull of any desired value, the force required to operate the 6 'trigger being adjusted when the gun is designed llay-varying the leverage actingon the stern of `the trigger-valve '54 and by varying the area of the valve itself. Simple and emcient means have also been provided for `transferring projectiles from the magazine to the firing chamber of the gun, and for effectively sealing the firing chamber against leakage while the gun is being fired.

'While the invention `has been illustrated and described herein with considerable particularity, it is to be clearly understood that the same is not limited tothe forms shown, but may receive a variety of mechanical expressions, as Will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Refer- Aence will, therefore, be had to the appended 'claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

This application is a division of the application of Ellery R. Fitch, kSerial Number 570,189, 'newA Patent No. 2,566,181, led December 28, ltlii, for Fluid Pressure vOperated Gun.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. In a fluid pressure operated gun having a casing provided with a barrel adapted to receive a projectile at one end thereof, a reservoir for compressed fluid in the casing, a firing chamber adjacent said one end of said barrel and communicating therewith, means including an operator-controlled valve for supplying a charge of compressed fluid `from the reservoir to the ring chamber to re the projectile, and means for supplying projectiles to the barrel including a magazine in the casing adapted to be charged with a plurality of projectiles, a bore in the casing having connection with the magazine and connected at one end with the ring chamber and barrel, means for biasing the projectiles in the magazine. toward said bore, and means for transferring projectiles from the magazine to the barrel and for normally preventing leakage of fluid from the ring chamber through said bore including a solid plunger slidably mounted in said bore. slidable in one direction to open the connection between the bore and magazine to permit the transfer of a projectile from the maga- Zine to the bore by the action of the biasing means and slidable in the opposite direction to close the connection between the bore and magazine and engage and to move the projectile to said one end, of said barrel adjacent the firing chamber, and sealing means carried by the casing around said bore and engageable by said plunger on sliding movement in said opposite direction for preventing leakage of fluid pressure from the firing chamber through the bore. 2*. In a fluid pressure operated gun having a casing provided with a barrel adapted to receive a projectile at one end thereof, a reservoir for compressed fluid in the casing, a ring chamber adjacent said one end of said barrel and communicating therewith, means including an operator-controlled valve for supplying a charge of compressed uid from the reservoir to the firing chamber to re the projectile, and means for supplying projectiles to the barrel including a magazine in the casing adapted to be charged with a plurality of projectiles, a bore in the casing having connection with the magazine and connected at one end with the firing chamber and barrel, means for biasing the projectiles in the magazine toward said bore, means for transferring projectiles from the magazine to the barrel and for normally preventing leakage of fluid from the firing chamber through said bore including a solid plunger slidably mounted in said bore slidable in one direction to open the connection between the bore and magazine to permit the transfer of a projectile from the magazine to the bore under the action of the biasing means and slidable in the opposite direction to close the connection between the bore and magazine and engage and to move said projectile to said one end of said barrel adjacent said firing chamber, sealing means carried by the casing around the bore and engageable by said plunger on sliding movement in said opposite direction for preventing leakage of uid pressure from the firing chamber through the bore, and means for locking the plunger when moved in said opposite direction.

3. In a uid pressure operated gun having a body provided with a barrel for receiving a projectile adjacent one end thereof, a reservoir of compressed uid carried by the body, a firing chamber communicating with said barrel, means including a Valve for connecting said reservoir and iiring chamber to charge the latter with compressed fluid to re the projectile, and means for supplying projectiles to the barrel comprising a magazine containing a plurality of projectiles, said magazine communicating with the barrel and the firing chamber, a spring in the magazine for constantly urging said projectiles toward the barrel, a solid plunger slidable in said body to one position to open communication between the barrel and the magazine and to another position to close communication between the barrel and the magazine, and sealing means associated with said plunger and body for preventing leakage of fluid pressure from the firing chamber past said plunger.

4. In a uid pressure operated gun having a body provided with a barrel for receiving a projectile adjacent one end thereof, a reservoir of compressed fluid carried by the body, a iiring chamber communicating with said barrel, means including a valve for connecting said reservoir and firing chamber to charge the latter with compressed fluid to fire the projectile, and means for supplying projectiles to the barrel comprising a magazine containing a plurality of projectiles, said magazine communicating with the barrel and the firing chamber, a spring in the magazine for constantly urging said projectiles toward the barrel, said body having a bore connecting said firing chamber and magazine and connected with the atmosphere, a solid plunger positioned in said bore to close the atmospheric connection and slidable in said bore in one direction to open communication between the barrel and the magazine to allow a projectile to move into the bore under the action of said spring, and slidable in the other direction to close communication between the firing chamber and the magazine, said plunger having one end engaged with said projectile when moved in said other direction to move the projectile into said barrel in advance of said firing chamber, and sealing means carried by the body around said bore and engaged by said plunger for preventing leakage of fluid pressure from the firing chamber through the bore when the plunger is moved in said other direction.

5. In a uid pressure operated gun having a body provided with a barrel adapted to receive a projectile at one end thereof, a reservoir for compressed fluid carried by the body, a ring chamber adjacent said one end of said barrel, means including an operator-controlled valve for supplying a charge of compressed fluid from the reservoir to the ring chamber to re the projectile, and means for supplying projectiles to the barrel including a magazine in the body adapted to be charged with a plurality of projectiles, a bore in the body having a connection With the magazine and connected at one end with the firing chamber, said bore being aligned with said barrel and having a connection with the atmosphere, means for biasing the projectiles -in the magazine toward said bore, means for transferring projectiles from the magazine to the barrel and for normally preventing leakage of fluid from the firing chamber through the bore including a solid plunger positioned in said bore to close the atmospheric connection and being slidable in said bore in one direction to open the connection with the bore and magazine to permit the transfer of a projectile from the magazine to the bore under the action of biasing means and slidable in the other direction to close the connection between the bore and magazine said plunger having one end engaged with said projectile when moved in said other direction to move said projectile to said one end of said barrel through said ring chamber, sealing means carried by said body around said bore and engageable by said plunger on movement in said other direction for preventing leakage of fluid pressure from the firing chamber through the bore, and means for locking the plunger when moved in said other direction.

ELLERY R. FITCH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,512,993 McLean Oct. 28, 1924 1,862,697 Mihalyi June 14, 1932 2,495,829 Vincent Jan. 31, 1950 2,528,462 Wells Oct. 31, 1950

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