US2759398A

US2759398A - Dual control firing mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2759398A
Application number: US305314A
Authority: US
Inventors: Benditt Albert; Musser C Walton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-08-19
Filing date: 1952-08-19
Publication date: 1956-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 1973-08-21

Description

1956 A. BENDITT EIAL 2,759,398

DUAL CONTROL FIRING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fill . INVENTORS Fl. 2 o WALTON MUSSER Y ALBERT 'BENDIT'E' M v44 1. 3M

ATTORNEYS:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. BENDITT ETAL DUAL CONTROL FIRING MECHANISM Aug. 21, 1956 Filed Aug. 19, 1952 INVENTORS C WALTON MUSSER ALBERT BENDITT FIG. 6

ATTORNEYS:

nited States Patent Albert Benditt and C Walton Musser, Philadelphia, Pa.,

assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application August 19, 1952, Serial No. 305,314

9 Claims. (Cl. 89-27) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to guns having a percussion-type firing mechanism, and more particularly to a dual control arrangement whereby the firing mechanism may be operated from either a proximate or a remote position with respect to the gun on which it is mounted.

Heretofore, it has been a matter of common practice to provide a gun having a percussion-type firing mechanism with a mechanical control for operating the firing mechanism which is a part of the breech mechanism. The arrangement of parts is such that the breech bar and one of the handles used to operate the breech for reloading purposes also carries the sear and trigger parts used to release the firing mechanism. Thus, a single person can operate the gun both for reloading and for firing from a position in proximity to the gun. However, with the current development of weapons, it becomes desirable under certain conditions to fire weapons of the type mentioned above from a remote position as well as from a proximate position. With this arrangement in mind, the matter of safety becomes a primary factor. If a dual control mechanism is provided for firing the gun, consideration must be given to preventing accidental firing of the mechanism as well as to preventing premature firing through operation of either control prior to the gun being fully loaded and ready to fire.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide an improved mechanism for firing a percussiontype gun.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dual control apparatus whereby a gun may be fired from either a remote or a proximate position with respect to the gun.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dual control firing mechanism with safety controls to guard against accidental firing.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a dual control firing mechanism with safety controls effective to avert premature firing by the use of either control prior to the gun being fully loaded and ready to fire.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide both proximate and remote controls for a percussion-type firing mechanism which are independently operable.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, for a percussion-type firing mechanism a combination proximate and remote control apparatus which is simple in construction, highly efiicient in use and which is readily adaptable to guns of present design.

In accordance with the present invention, separate proximate and remote controls are provided for operating a scar connected between each of the controls and the percussion hammer of the firing mechanism. The arrangement of parts is such that the sear may be withdrawn from the hammer to fire the gun by either the proximate control or the remote control independently of each other.

2,759,398 Patented Aug. 21, 1956 The novel features characteristic of the present invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following detailed description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, rear view of a gun provided with a control apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, side view, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2 of Figl and with portions of the remote control housing broken away to show construction details, the remote control apparatus being shown in a cocked position ready to fire;

Fig. 2A is a view of a. portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 but with the remote control apparatus shown in a fired position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the remote control apparatus, taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is asectional view ofa portion of the remote control apparatus, taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the dual control apparatus, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, the parts being shown in a cocked position ready to fire;

Fig. 5A is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the remote. control apparatus disposed in an intermediate position preparatory to firing;

Fig. 5B. is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the parts after the gun has been fired by using the remote control apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the resetting guide member, taken along the line 66 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a central sectional view of the breech bar handle showing parts of the proximity control apparatus.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout, the present invention is shown applied to the rear portion of a weapon or gun 1 comprising a gun chamber 3 secured to and extending rearwardly from the gun barrel (not shown) and a breech mechanism 5 carried by the chamber.

The gun chamber 3 is cylindrical in shape and has portions 7 of its internal surface threaded to engage complementary threaded members or portions 8 provided on the breech mechanism 5 for the purpose of locking the breech within the rear portion of the chamber, in a manner and for reasons well known in theart.

The breech mechanism 5 comprises a breech block 9 rotatably carried by a cylindrical block 11, a breech bar 13 and operating handle 14 and a percussion-type firing mechanism 15. The cylindrical block 11 is supported by a hinge arm 17 which is pivotally attached to the bottom of the chamber 3 or otherwise arranged so that the breech block 9 can be moved into and out of the chamber when in an unlocked position. The breech bar 13 is attached to the breech block 9 and arranged so that it is disposed in a horizontal position normally when the breech block is locked within the chamber. The mechanism is also arranged in such a manner that rotation of the bar 13 and the handle 14 together with the breech block 9, in a clockwise direction as seen from the rear of the gun, will unlock the breech block. In the unlocked position, the breech can then be moved rearwardly and outwardly from the chamber for loading the gun.

The percussion-type firing mechanism 15 comprises a firing pin 19, a percussion hammer 21 attached to the firing pin, a firing spring 23 and a scar 25. The firing pin, hammer and spring are mounted within a centrallydisposed portion 27 of the breech bar 13 which is arranged to provide a cylindrical housing therefor. The

housing 27 is disposed along the gun bore axis when the breech mechanism 5 is located in a closed position. The parts are arranged in such a manner that, when the breech bar 13 is rotated clockwise to open the breech, apparatus (not shown) associated therewith will automatically draw the firing pin and hammer rearwardly and compress the spring into a biased position. In such a position, the firing mechanism is said to be cocked.

The scar 25 is provided as a means for holding and locking the firing pin 19 and hammer 21 in a cocked position until the gun is ready to be fired. The sear comprises an elongated bar which is slidably mounted in a groove or slot 29 provided in the breech bar 13 between the rear wall 31 of the bar and a front cover plate 33.

can be moved into and out of a recess 37 provided in a side of the hammer (see Fig. 5). The firing spring 23 is located in back of the hammer so that when the hammer drawal of the sear from the hammer, the spring will forcibly move the hammer forwardly thereby to fire the gun.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the trigger or control apparatus for operating the firing mechanism comprises a dual control arrangement whereby the gun can be fired either from a proximate position or from a remote position.

In the particular embodiment shown, the proximate control 39 for firing the gun comprises a trigger apparatus of a kind similar to the arrangement more particularly shown and described in the patent to W. I. Kroeger et al., 2,537,063. However, it may be of any other suitable kind which will effect longitudinal movement of the sear 25. The proximity control 39 includes a trigger or plunger-like member 41 arranged for slidable, longitudinal movement within the breech operating handle 14. The forward end 43 of the plunger-like member 41 is of reduced diameter to provide a button which extends through an opening 45 provided in the free end of the handle (see Fig. 7). A trigger spring 47 is disposed within the handle 14 and in back of the trigger member 41 in such a manner as to normally bias the trigger 41 forwardly, that is, outwardly toward the free end of the handle. A sear link 49 is provided for connecting the trigger 41 with the sear 25. The sear link, like the sear, is disposed within the groove 29 of the breech bar 13 and is arranged as a longitudinal extension of the sear. The outer end portion 51 of the sear link remote from the sear is disposed at an angle with respect to the remainder of the sear link. This outer end portion 51 is slidably arranged within a slot or opening 53 provided in the trigger end remote from the trigger button 43. The angular relationship of the trigger slot 53, and the sear link end 51, is such that, upon pressing the button 43 inwardly of the handle, it will effect longitudinal movement of the sear link in a direction radially outwardly with respect to the gun. The trigger spring 47, will, upon release of the button 43, urge the trigger in a forward direction and, at the same time, move the sear link in a direction radially inwardly thereby to return the proximate control 39 to its normal rest position.

Interengagement of the sear link 49 and the sear 25 'is accomplished by

portions

55, 57 of their respective adjacent ends being overlapped. Both the sear link and sear are of stepped construction longitudinally, particularly in the vicinity of their overlapped portions. As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the sear link inner end portion 55 is offset forwardly with respect to the gun and the sear outer end portion 57 is offset rearwardly. The stepped construction of the sear 25 provides a recess is withdrawn to a cocked position where it is held by the sear, the spring will be compressed. Upon with i the rear wall 31 and the cover plate 33.

59 adjacent to and inwardly of its offset portion which is complementary to the sear link inner end portion 55 so that the inner end portion may be disposed within this recess. The stepped construction of the sear link 49 provides a recess 61 adjacent to and outwardly of its offset end portion 55 but this recess is of a length greater than the length of the sear outer end portion 57. With this arrangement, the proximity control may be said to operate as a longitudinal extension of the sear.

In order to hold the sear and sear link 49 in engagement with each other, a leaf spring 62 is disposed in the breech bar groove 29. The leaf spring is located rearwardly of and in contact with the sear link inner end portion and a portion 63 of the sear 25 intermediate the ends thereof. The leaf spring is biased between the rear wall 31 of the breech bar and the portions of the sear link and sear with which it is in contact. The biased condition of the leaf spring is such that it urges the sear and sear link in a forwardly direction, that is, toward the breech bar cover plate 33. In this forwardly biased position, the sear link inner end portion 55 is maintained in the sear recess 59 so that the sear link and sear are held in a normal locked position. In other words, the locked position of the scar and sear link is such that these members then operate as an integral member in the same manner that the sear operates in the aforementioned patent.

For the purpose of facilitating unlocking the sear lmk 49 from the sear 25 thereby to condition the apparatus for operation by the remote control means, the sear link and the sear are arranged for limited movement withm the breech bar groove against the biased condition of the leaf spring. This is accomplished by making the scar and sear link of a thickness throughout the greater portion of their lengths less than the depth of the breech bar groove 29, that is, the depth of such groove as measured between In addition thereto, the

portions

64, 65 of the sear and sear link located adjacent to opposite ends of the breech bar groove are of a thickness substantially equal to the depth of the groove in order to provide a bearing .at those points to facilitate movement longitudinally within the groove and also to permit pivotal movement about those points in a manner such that the overlapped portions of the members may be moved both forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the gun. The relatively long length from the pivot points of the members to their overlapped ends is such that a limited amount of clearance between their remotely disposed ends and the parts of the apparatus they are associated with permits the members to be moved an amount necessary to withdraw the sear link inner curl portion 55 from the sear recess 59. Rearward movement unlocks the two members so that the sear is free for movement independently of the sear link. The length of the sear receiving recess 61 in the sear link and a second sear recess 66 provided inwardly of and next to the sear link receiving recess 59 are arranged so that the sear can override the sear link when in the unlocked position thereof.

The remote control 67 for firing the gun, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprises a cam operative trigger mechanism attached to the outer surface of the gun chamber 3 and located forwardly of and opposite the breech bar 13 when the latter is disposed in a horizontal position, that is, in a closed, locked position of the breech 5. The remote control mechanism 67 includes a rotatable cam member 6), carried by a shaft 71 and a flexible cable or rod assembly 73 attached to the cam member.

The cam member 69 comprises a main body portion 74 and a cam lever or arm 75 attached as a tangential extension thereof. The main body portion 74- is provided with an axial bore through which the shaft 71 extends. The main body portion 74 is slidably mounted for movement axially on the shaft 71 as well as for rotation about the shaft. In other words, the main body portion is freely greases movable on the shaft. The cam member 69 and shaft 71 are mounted with the shaft axis, disposed normal to the gun axis, that is, in a radial direction outwardly from the gun and in a position parallel to the sear when the breech block 9 is locked within the gun chamber 3. Opposite ends of the shaft are journaled in opposite sides of a housing 77 provided for the remote control apparatus, the housing being attached to the gun chamber 3 by any suitable means such as bolts 79.

The main body portion 74 of the cam member is generally cylindrical in shape and is provided with twoparailel, oppositely disposed cam surfaces 81, 83 (see Fig.3), a beveled surface 85 (see Fig. 2A), and a reset projection 87 (see Fig. 2). The cam surfaces are machined or otherwise provided by portions of the cylindrical surface being cutaway along the outer and inner peripheral edges of the main body portion. For purposes of identification, the cam surfaces are designated outer 81 and inner 83 earn surfaces. The beveled surface 85 is provided by cutting away a portion of the cylindrical surface along the outer peripheral edge of the main body portion but spaced circumferentially from the outer cam surface. The reset projection 87 is provided by that portion of the main body which forms a wall between the outer cam surface 81 and the beveled surface 85.

The function of the outer and inner cam surfaces is to eifect movement of the cam member axially along the shaft 71. This is accomplished by inwardly offsetting a portion 89 of the inner side of the remote control housing 77 and mounting a pin 91 on the opposite outer :side of the housing so that it extends inwardly therefrom. The parts are arranged so that the outer cam surface 81 s engaged with the pin 91 and the inner cam surface 83 is engaged with the extension 89. The cam surfaces are arranged in a manner such that, upon rotation of the cam member in a clockwise sense, as viewed from a position looking toward the cam member from the side of the gun on which it is mounted, the inner cam surface 83 engages the extension 89 and causes the cam member to move on the shaft away from the gun. On the other hand, opposite rotational movement of the cam member, that is, in a counterclockwise sense, causes the outer cam surface 81 to engage the pin 91 thereby moving the cam member on the shaft toward the gun.

The purpose of the beveled surface 85 is to effect longitudinal movement of the sear outwardly from the gun thereby to release the firing mechanism. The beveled surface 35 is arranged to face rearwardly toward the sear outer end 57. A lateral shoulder or extension 93, also referred to herein as the firing extension, is provided on the sear outer end portion 57 so that it projects forwardly to engage with the cam member bevel surface 85. The inner edge 95 of the lateral shoulder is beveled complementary to the cam member beveled surface 85, and at such an angle that, in response to the rotation of the cam member, a primary force is created in a direction radially outwardly from the gun, that is, parallel to the sear, thereby attempting to effect movement of the sear in that same direction. In response to this force, a secondary force is created in a direction normal to the inclined plane of the

beveled surfaces

85, 95. The resultant of these two forces creates a third force in a direction normal to the primary force thereby to cause the sear and, sear link to pivot at their extremities against the leaf spring and become disconnected. In other ;,w ords, by rotation of the cam member in the aforesaid clockwise sense, the sear and sear link are first disconnected from their normal locked engagement and the sear is then moved in az-direction to release the firing mechanism.

The cam lever or arm 75 is attached to the main body portion 74 for the purpose of rotating the main body portion of the shaft 71. Remote control operation of the cam member 69 is accomplished through a cable assembly 73 comprising a flexible cable 97 slidably mounted in a semitlexible cable conduit or housing 99. Oneerid of the cable 97 is attached to the free end of the-cant lever 75 by any suitable means either permanently or with a quick disconnect coupling arrangement. The cable is arranged in any convenient manner whichwill effect rotation of the cam member 69. As shown in Figs. 2 and 2A, the cam lever 75 extends downwardly and the cable 97 extends forwardly therefrom. Any suitable means may be provided at the opposite end (not shown) of the cable 97 for effecting operation of the remote control mechanism 67.

Resetting of the remote control mechanism 67 may be accomplished by a spring arrangement (not shown) provided as part of the operators control for moving the cable 97. However, a more positive resetting arrangement is provided by the reset projection 87 on the main body portion 74 of the rotatable cam 69. As shown in Fig. 2A of the drawing, the remote control 67 has been operated to fire the gun. In this position, the rotatable cam 69 has been limited in its clockwise movement by the reset projection 87 being'brought into engagement with the top surface 101 of the sear lateral shoulder 93. If the rotatable cam has not yet been reset by other means, when the breech bar 13 is raised to unlock the breech 5 the lateral shoulder 93 will automatically bear against the reset projection and rotate the cam counterclockwise. With this arrangement, the remote control is automatically reset.

Since the sear is independently movable with respect to the trigger mechanism of either control, it is necessary to provide for resetting the sear, thereby to recock the firing mechanism. In order to accomplish this, opera tion of the breech handle to open the breech is utilized to reset the sear. The housing 77 containing the remote control rotating cam 69 is provided with an extended portion 103 of arcuate shape, in the longitudinal dimension, so that it conveniently fits the external surface of the gun chamber 3 at the breech end. The side 105 of the extended portion facing rearwardly of the gun is provided with two parallel

arcuate grooves

107, 109 separated by a partition or raised portion 111 (see Fig. 6). For purposes of identification, the grooves are designated as outer 107 and inner 109 reset grooves. One end of each groove opens into that portion of the housing containing the cam member 69. The opposite end of the outer groove 107 is directed inwardly so that it opens into the inner groove 109 and provides a cam surface 113. Another lateral projection 115, also referred to herein as the reset extension, is provided on the sear 25. The sear reset extension 115 is disposed inwardly from the firing extension 93 but facing in the same direction, that is, forwardly. The reset extension 115 is arranged to fit within the

arcuate grooves

107, 109 and to be freely slidable therein.

The sear resetting arrangement operates regardless of which control is used and is as follows: when the firing mechanism 15 is retained by the sear 25 in a cocked position ready for firing and the breech bar 13 is located in a horizontal position with the breech 5 locked in the chamber 3, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the sear reset extension 115 is disposed in an innermost position and aligned with the inner reset groove 109. This position of the rest extension is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Upon firing the gun, the sear is moved outwardly and the reset extension is likewise moved to an outermost position aligned with the outer reset groove 107. This latter position of the reset extension is shown in Fig. 5B of drawings. In the process of reloading and recocking the gun, the breech bar 13 is rotated clockwise to unlock the breech thereby to remove the expended round. At the same time, the breech bar is rotated clockwise, while the reset extension follows the outer reset groove 107. Upon engaging the outer groove cam surface 113, the reset extension is guided radially inwardly into the inner groove 109 and, at the same time, moves the sear radially inwardly. Simultaneous with inward movement of the sear, the hammer is drawn back to a cocked position and the inner end 35 of the sear is disposed within the hammer recess 37 to lock the hammer in its cocked ready-to-fire position. Upon counterclockwise rotation of the breech bar, the reset extension follows the inner groove until the breech bar is again in a horizontal locked position ready for firing. During the latter movement the partition 111 dividing the reset grooves serves to prevent the sear from accidentally becoming withdrawn from the hammer as well as to protect the mechanism against premature firing by an operator using the proximate control. On the other hand, it will be observed that the apparatus is rendered safe against premature firing by an operator using the remote control since the remote control cam member is not operatively connected with the sear extension 115 during resetting of the firing mechanism.

If, however, the sear should be withdrawn accidentally or otherwise while the breech block is removed from the gun chamber, another safety feature makes it impossible to close the breech until the sear has been reset. This safety feature is embodied in the outer portion 117 of the reset groove housing adjacent to the reset groove cam surface 113. Before the breech block 9 can be moved into the gun chamber 3 preparatory to locking the breech within the chamber, the breech bar 13 and block 9 must be located in a fully rotated clockwise position. In the upwardly raised position of the breech bar, if the sear has been moved to a fired position with the sear reset extension 115 disposed in an outermost position, the reset extension will engage the housing outer portion 117 thereby interfering with the breech block being moved completely into the gun chamber. Obviously, before the breech can be closed and locked within the gun chamber, the sear must be reset so that the reset extension will clear the housing portion 117 and be disposed within the upper end portion of the inner groove 109. This safety feature assures that the sear must be so located as to retain the hammer in the firing or cocked position before the gun can be closed, thereby effectively preventing the likelihood of a hair trigger or partially engaged sear condition.

In addition to the safety feature provided by the partition 111 between the

reset grooves

107, 109 for protecting against premature firing by the sear during recocking of the firing mechanism, a further safety device is provided for protecting the apparatus against accidental or premature firing after the firing mechanism is cocked and prior to intention to fire the gun. This further safety device is intended to prevent withdrawal of the sear until intentionally done so by means of either

control

39, 67. This safety feature is provided by the shoulder 119 disposed between that portion of the sear defining the sear link receiving recess 59 and that portion of the sear adjacent to the recess 66 into which the inner end of the sear link is movable during operation by the remote control. In other words, while the parts are disposed in a normal locked position, as seen in Fig. of the drawings, the biased condition of the sear link and sear keeps these parts locked together. Since the recess 59 is only large enough to receive the sear link end portion 55, the shoulder 117 prevents longitudinal movement of the sear as long as neither control is operated. Thus, the sear is prevented from accidental withdrawal from the hammer. On the other hand, a further safety feature provided for the proximate control is afforded by the use of such a control as described in the aforementioned patent. This latter safety feature is more particularly described in the patent and is represented by an arrangement which requires rotation of the handle in the order to unlock the trigger button for operation.

If, however, the remote control should be operated for I any reason while the breech is in an open unlocked position, it will be observed that the breech cannot be closed until the remote control is released and the cam member returned to its innermost position. This is so because the sear lateral extension 93 will engage the cam member,

in such a manner as to prevent the breech block 9 from being rotated to a normal locked position within the breech. Until the breech block is returned to this normal locked position, the remote control cannot engage the sear to fire the gun and the sear lateral extension 93 will not be clear of the partition 11 to allow firing by the proximate control.

From the foregoing description it will become apparent that the present invention provides a dual control for operating the firing mechanism of a gun. The arrangement is such that the gun may be fired from either a proximate or a remote position. While both the proximate and remote controls are arranged for independent operation the safety features provided are such as to prevent accidental firing during reloading of the firearm and resetting of the firing mechanism as well as to prevent premature firing of the gun by operating either control prior to the gun being conditioned for firing.

Although there has been described and shown but a single embodiment of the present invention, it will become obvious to persons skilled in the art that various modifications and changes are possible within the spirit of the invention. For example the flexible cable for operating the rotating cam member of the remote control apparatus may comprise a rod or other operating member. In addition thereto, the cable or rod need not be disposed for movement in directions substantially parallel to the gun bore axis as shown but may be disposed in other suitable positions. Therefore, it is desired that the above description and attached drawings be considered merely as illustrative and not as limiting the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for a percussion-type firing mechanism including a sear connected with said firing mechanism for effecting operation thereof, the combination of proximate control means and remote control means connected with said sear for independently effecting operation thereof, said proximate control means including trigger means and a sear link disposed between said trigger means and said sear, means biasing said sear link into locking engagement normally with said sear, and means connected with said sear for disengaging said sear link from locked engagement with said sear in response to operation of said remote control means.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said disengaging means comprises a first laterally extending shoulder on said sear, a rotatable member having a cam surface connected with said remote control means and engaged with said first shoulder said member being disposed to effect movement of said sear in a direction both to disengage said sear from said firing mechanism and simultaneously therewith to disengage said sear link from said sear in response to operation of said remote control means.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the axis of rotation of said rotatable member is disposed substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said sear.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said mechanism includes means operatively connected with said sear for re-engaging said sear with said firing mechanism.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said reengaging means includes a second laterally extending shoulder on said sear, and means disposed for engagement with said second shoulder for effecting movement of said sear.

6. In a gun having a barrel and a chamber associated therewith, a breech block carried by said gun disposed for movement into and out of the rear portion of said chamber and a percussion-type firing mechanism carried by said breech block, an apparatus for firing said firing mechanism comprising proximate control means, remote control means, said proximate control means including a trigger and a scar link connected therewith, a sear conmeeting said sear link and said remote control means with said firing mechanism, means biasing said sear link into locking engagement normally with said sear, and means carried by said sear for disengaging said sear link from locked engagement therewith in response to operation of said remote control means.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said apparatus includes resetting means carried by said gun barrel, said resetting means being disposed for engagement with said sear to effect movement of said sear into engagement with said firing mechanism.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said breech block is disposed for movement between a locked position and an unlocked position within said chamber, said resetting means being disposed for engagement with said sear thereby to move said sear into engagement with said firing mechanism, said resetting means being responsive only upon moving said breech block from its said locked position to its said unlocked position.

10 9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said resetting means includes means for maintaining said sear in engagement with said firing mechanism while said breech block is disposed in its unlocked postion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS