US2952088A - Automatic reloading mechanism for rifles with sliding bolt action - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 13, 1960 2,952,088

J. T. lVY AUTOMATIC RELOADING MECHANISM FOR RIFLES WITH SLIDING BOLT ACTION Filed Aug. 12, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JESS/E 7. luv

2,952,088 0R RIFLES ON Sept. 13, 1960 J. T. IVY

AUTOMATIC RELOADING MECHANISM F WITH SLIDING BOLT ACTI 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 12, 1958 INVENTOR. Jfsslf T /w '47'7'0ENEYJ IE3 I \T t? IVY Sept. 13, 1960 ING MECHANISM FOR RIFLES WITH sunms BOLT ACTION AUTOMATIC RELOAD Filed Aug. 12, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

JESS/E 7'. lvv

INVEN Tole o mw AUTOMATIC RELOADING MECHANISM FOR RIFLES WITH SLIDING BOLT ACTION Jessie T. Ivy, 523 Henderson St., Seattle, Wash.

Filed Aug. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 754,636

3 Claims. (Cl. 42-16) This invention relates to repeating rifles of those kinds having a sliding bolt action. More particularly, the invention relates to improved mechanisms or means that is operable to eflect the automatic reloading of such a rifle incident to the firing therein of each cartridge.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide mechanisms that are applicable to rifles of the above character whereby recoil forces may be employed in a practical and satisfactory manner to unlock the bolt and retract it to extract and eject the fired cartridge, then will operate to close the bolt, and, in doing this, to reload the rifle, and finally will lock the bolt to retain the cartridge in the barrel for firing.

More specifically stated, it is the principal object of this invention to provide simplified and practical mechanisms that may be readily incorporated with the mechanisms of the usual sliding bolt action rifle whereby recoil forces as applied to a yieldable shoulder pad mounted on the end of the gun stock, for relatively short movement, will operate through a movement increasing mechanism to effect the necessary travel of the bolt for a reloading operation, the mechanism providing also for the rotative movements of the bolt that are required for unlocking and also for locking it after a reloading operation.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide mechanisms of the above stated character which include a recoil actuated means for unlocking the bolt for actuation under force of the exploding charge to extract and discharge the shell of the fired cartridge and wherein the bolt is powered for the reloading and locking operation by spring means that is placed under compression by the opening operation of the bolt.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention reside in the details of construction and combination of parts employed in the various mechanisms and in their mode of operation, as will be hereinafter fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a view in which a recoil operated reloading mechanism, embodied by the present invention, is shown as applied to a rifle with sliding bolt action; the rifle being shown only in outline and the parts of the reloading mechanism and bolt being shown in the relationship they assume upon loading and preparatory to firing the rifle.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the rifle and reloading mechanism as seen from the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the reloading mechanism, applied to the rifle as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken substantially on line 44 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of parts of the reloading mechanism for the actuation of the bolt.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the stock and receiver I Patented Sept. 13, 1960 portion of a repeating rifle that is equipped with a recoil operated mechanism of an alternative form utilizing a chain connection between the movement multiplying gearing and the bolt.

Fig. 6a is an enlarged sectional detail of the connection between bolt and chain.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the gun stock showing the operating connection between recoil pad and rifle bolt.

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail showing rack bar and pinion mechanism that may be employed in the bolt operating mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a detail of one form of bolt actuating chain.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of a part of a rifle equipped with another modification of a recoil operated bolt releasing or unlocking means.

Fig. 11 is a bolt' unlocking means which is gas controlled.

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail of the gas cylinder of the device of Fig. 11.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

That form of the present invention which will be described first pertains to rifles of the sliding bolt action types in which the sliding bolt is equipped with a laterally directed hand lever whereby it can be unlocked, retracted for extraction of the shell or casing of a fired cartridge, then returned to closed position for loading a cartridge into the breech end of the barrel and then rotated to its locked position. Firing is then effected, in the usual manner, by pull on a trigger. Such rifles also are equipped to receive a cartridge clip from which a cartridge will be automatically fed into the receiver chamber with each reloading operation, for advancement by the bolt into the barrel for firing.

In Figs. 1 to 5, I have shown a mechanism embodied by this invention that will be operated by recoil forces to automatically effect a reloading operation. The rifle is of conventional form employing a sliding bolt. In these views the rifle barrel is designated by reference numeral 10, and it is secured at its breech end in a frame 11 to which the gun stock '12 is attached. The stock comprises the usual shoulder engaging base portion 12a and an elongated forward end portion 12b in which the barrel is cradled. Also, the stock is herein shown as being equipped with a pistol grip 12g which is fixed thereto just back of the trigger guard 13. The trigger is designated at 14.

The rifle also is equipped with a bolt 15 that is reciprocally contained in the frame and which bolt is equipped with an operating lever 16, fixed to its rearward end and extending laterally from the frame. The rifle frame also is equipped, in the usual way, with a chamber designed to receive a cartridge holding clip from which a cartridge will be automatically delivered into the receiver chamber upon retraction of the bolt, for advancement into the barrel by the breech closing action of the bolt, as is well understood. The rifle which has been disclosed in Figs. 1, l2 and 3, is substantially like that shown and described in my US. Patent No. 2,807,113.

The present reloading mechanism as seen in Fig. l, is employed for the actuation of the bolt 15 through a connection which is made with the outer end of the operating lever 16. It comprises a shoulder pad 23 adapted to be rested against the rifle users shoulder for firing. The pad is mounted by a horizontal stem 25 that is reciprocally fitted in a socket 27 that is bored in the rear end of stock 12. Fixed to and extending inwardly from the stem 25 is a rod Q8, this being contained in a bore or passageway that leads forwardly in the stock to a position beyond the frame, and at its forward end it is reciprocally contained in a guide housing 30 which is enclosed within the forward portion of the stock; this guide housing being securely and rigidly fixed to the breech end portion of the barrel by a vertical screw bolt 31 as shown in Fig. 4. The rod 28 has a portion thereof laterally offset to pass the frame, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 3.

Also, it is shown in Fig. 1 that a coiled spring 32 is confined under compression in the socket 27 to bear against the stem 25 to urge the shoulder pad 23 away from the end of the stock.

Mounted in the housing 30 are two coaxial gears 33 and 34; these gears being fixed together and are mounted to rotate on the vertical bolt 31. For a purpose presently explained, the gear 33 is substantially greater in diameter than gear 34.

The forward end portion of the rod 28, as well shown in Fig. 3 is formed as a rack 35, the teeth of which are retained by housing 30 in driving mesh with the gear 34, thus when the rod is actuated forwardly relative to the housing, the gear 34 will be rotated in one direction, and when the rod is retracted, the gear will be rotated in the opposite direction. When the gear 34 is thus rotated, it causes the larger gear wheel 33 to rotate in unison therewith.

The operating connection here provided between the rod 28 and the bolt actuating lever 16 is as shown in Fig. 3. In this view it is observed that a rack bar 36 is mounted in operative mesh with larger gear wheel 33; this rack bar being reciprocally mounted at one end in and movable through housing 30, in operative mesh with gear 33. It is held in parallel relationship to rack bar 35. At its forward end, the rack bar 36 is connected to the rear end of a rod or link 38 which, at its forward end, mounts a laterally directed lever arm 37 which has a universal joint connection 39 at its outer end with the outer end portion of the bolt actuating lever 16.

The rack bar 36, as reciprocally movable in the guide housing 30 which is fixed to the barrel, has no rotative movement. The connection between the rearward end of the rack bar 36 and forward end of link or rod 38 is as shown best in Fig. 5. In this view, it will be observed that the rack bar terminates at its rearward end in a laterally ofifset cylindrical portion 36x in which a piston-like forward end portion 38x of rod 38 is reciprocally and rotatably fitted. The piston-like portion 38x is formed with a spiral slot 42 in which a stud 43 that is fixed in the wall of part 36x extends. The extent of travel of the stud along the part 38x is limited by the ends of the slot.

The rod 38 is supported near its rear end for reciprocal and rotative movement in a bearing 45 that is fixed to the frame 11. The lever arm 37 is so connected to the rod 38 and to the bolt operating lever 16 that, with the turning of the rod 38 in opposite directions it will operate to swing the lever 16 as required for unlocking and locking the bolt.

It will be further explained that the operating connections here provided between parts 16, 37 and 38 are in accordance with the connections between corresponding parts shown in my previously mentioned U.S. Patent No. 2,807,113.

It Will here be understood that with the rifle loaded and the bolt locked, the reloading mechanism above described will be in the relative positions shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. When the rifle is fired, the recoil forces effect a relative forward movement of shoulder pad 23 and rod 28. The rack bar 35 at the forward end of rod 28 thus causes rotation of gear 34 and also gear 33. Gear 33 moves the rack bar 36 rearwardly, and with its initial travel, the stud 43 carried in the cylindrical portion 36x moves along the spiral slot 42 of part 38x and rotates rod 38 causing it, through lever arm 37, to swing lever arm 16 upwardly to unlock the bolt. Then the continued rearward movement of the rack 36 after stud 43 has engaged the end of the slot, moves rod 38 rearwardly and thus shifts the unlocked bolt to its fully retracted position. Incident to the opening of the bolt, the case of the fired cartridge is extracted and ejected in the usual way. When the recoil forces are expended, the coiled spring 32 returns the shoulder pad 23 to its original spacing from the end of the stock, and the rack 35 acts through the gears 33 and 34, and parts 36, 38, 37 and 16, to close the bolt. With the final rearward travel of the rack 36, the pin and slot connection between parts 36x and 38x rotates the rod 38 and effects the locking of the bolt.

Insofar as the opening and means for etfecting the operations of the bolt are concerned, the connections between bolt lever 16 and between bolt and receiver guideway is the same as explained in the patent pre viously mentioned and it is not believed necessary to describe these parts more in detail. p

In the recoil actuated reloading mechanisms of Figs. 6, 6a and 7, a travel multiplying gearing is included in the connection between shoulder pad 23 and bolt 15x, but in this instance the gearing is enclosed in a chamber formed in and opening to the rear end portion 12a of the gun stock and closed at its rear end by a cover plate 51. The shoulder pad 23 is fixed rigidly to the rear end of a push rod 52 that is adjustably threaded into a bushing 53 that is slidably fitted in a tube 54 that is fixed to the face plate 51 that closes the rear end of chamber 12a. At its inner end, the rod 52 is formed with a rack 55 which is disposed in operative mesh with a relatively small gear wheel 56 fixed coaxially to a substantially larger sprocket wheel 57; both gear 56 and wheel 57 are revolubly mounted on a supporting stud or spindle 58 that is fixed in the stock chamber 50.

The rifle bolt, as designated in Figs. 6 and 7 by numeral 15x, is of conventional design or type in that it is rotatably contained in and also adapted for longitudinal travel between closed and open position in a bore 59 in the receiver. Its functional operations for unlocking, extracting, reloading and locking are substantially like those of the bolt of the rifle of Fig, 1, and are effected by recoil forces, through a connection which comprises a length of sprocket chain 60 that is fixed at one end to the periphery of sprocket 57, as at 62 in Fig. 6. This chain slides freely in guides 63 that lead from the forward end of chamber 50 into the rear end of bore 59 where it connects, as at 64 with a stem 65 on the rear end of a cylindrical sleeve 65, that is applied to a coaxial, diametrically reduced rear end portion 15r of bolt 15x for rotary and longitudinal movement thereon. The sleeve 65 is formed lengthwise and interiorly thereof with a spiral slot 66. A stud 67 is fixed in the part 15r and extends into this slot. When the bolt is closed and locked, the sleeve 65 is disposed closely against the rear end of the bolt as shown in Fig. 6a. When recoil takes place incident to firing, the shoulder pad 23 and rod 52 move forwardly relative to the rifle, thus causing the rack 55 to rotate gear 56 and sprocket wheel 57 and cause the sprocket chain 60 to be wound onto the sprocket 57 and thus pull the sleeve 65 rearwardly. The bolt, being locked, cannot move rearwardly, and since the sleeve cannot rotate by reason of its connection with the chain, its rearward travel causes the stud 67, in following alongthe spiral slot 66, to rotate and unlock the bolt. Then, when the stud 67 engages the forward end of the slot, the bolt will be pulled rearwardly by the chain thus to extract the fired shell and discharge it from the receiver in the usual manner.

When the recoil forces have been expended, a coiled spring 70 that is confined under compression in tube 54, acts against the bushing 53 to return the shoulder pad 23 to its normal spacing from the rear end of the stock, as shown in Fig. 6 and in doing this the gear 56 and Sprocket 57 are rotated in such direction as to cause the chain to be pushed forwardly in its guides 63 and the bolt 15x to be returned to its locked position. During its forward advancement, the bolt is retained against rotation by reason of a keyed connection, as shown in 69 in Fig. 6a, with the wall of the bore in which it slides, but upon reaching its closed position the key is freled from the key slot for rotation and locking of the ho t.

Then the sleeve 65 moves forwardly on the shank 15r and in doing this the stud 67 travels rearwardly in the slot 66 and causes that rotative movement of the bolt that is required for locking it. Extraction of the fired cartridge and reloading is effected by devices associated With the bolt in the usual manner and therefore it is not thought necessary to describe them in detail.

In Figure 9, I have shown an alternative form or means of connection between the rifle bolt and a travel increasing gear or sprocket. In this, a push-pull rod 70 replaces a part of the chain 60 that is contained in a straight portion of the guide tube 63, and that portion of the chain 60 that was contained in the curved portion of the guide tube is here replaced by a succession of ball engaged bearings 71 mounted on a cable 72 that is attached at its opposite ends by fittings as shown at 7373 to the rod 70 and to the sleeve 65.

In Fig. 8, I have shown a travel increasing connection similar to that of Fig. 6 except that in this disclosure a gear wheel 75 is used in lieu of sprocket wheel 57 and the shoulder pad actuated rack bar 55a that is here shown, is supported to travel in mesh with the underside of gear 56 and a similar rack bar 77 is mounted in operative mesh with the top side of the larger gear 75. The operating connection between the rack bar 77 and rifle bolt, not shown, may be made like that shown in Fig. 9 and above described, or in any other suitable manner.

In the showing of Fig. 8, it will be observed that the rack bars 55a and 77 are held in mesh with the gear wheels by rollers as at 78.

In each of the various mechanisms, the reloading operation is initiated by recoil forces, and in each instance the relative movement between shoulder pad 23 and gun stock 12 as eflected by recoil forces imparts the bolt unlocking and shell extracting operations, while the reloading and locking is effected by spring action.

Also in each instance, the relatively short recoil movement of the shoulder pad 23 is multiplied by gearing contained in the stock chamber.

The recoil operated reloading mechanisms disclosed in Figs. and 11 apply to rifles wherein the bolt, upon being unlocked, is driven rearward for shell extraction by the firing of the shell, that is, by the pressure of gas confined in the barrel back of the bullet, and is then returned for reloading and locking by spring means acting thereagainst.

In the rifle of Fig. 10, a bolt d is contained reciprocally, and for that slight rotative movement required to unlock and lock it, in a receiver 311. It is equipped at one side with a stud 81 that extends to one side of the receiver through a slot 82 formed therein and at its outer end this stud is equipped with a roller 83. When the bolt is locked, the roller will be located in the full line position in which it is shown in Fig. 10. To unlock the bolt, the roller is pushed upwardly, as to the position in which it is shown in dotted lines.

To accomplish this bolt unlocking operation by. recoil forces, I provide the shoulder pad 23d, as in the rifle of Fig. 1. It is supported by parallel rods 84 and 85 that are slidably mounted in a plate 86 that closes the rear end of the stock chamber 124. Mounted in the chamber by a pivot stud 87 that passes through its medial portion, is a vertical lever 88, to the lower end of which the inner end of rod 85 is connected by a pin and slot connection as at 89. Contained in the stock, and leading forwardly from the chamber 12d and outwardly to one side of the stock, is a tubular guide 90, in the rear end portion of which the forward end of a rod 91 is contained. The rod is mounted for reciprocal movement in a support 92 and has a pin and slot connection at 93, with the upper end portion of lever 88.

The tube contains a flexible connector 95 like that of Fig. 9 which, at its forward end, is attached, as at 96, to the rear end of a rod 98 that extends along the outside of rifle and which, at its forward end, is pivotally fixed to the downwardly extending arm of a bell crank lever 99, that is attached by a pivot stud 100 to the rifle frame. A horizontal arm of the bell crank lever has a cam surface along its top edge that engages the underside of the roller 83. Therefore, with the recoil of the rifle, the rod 91 is pulled rearwardly by the mechanism shown. This causes the bell crank 99 to actuate roller 83 upwardly thus to unlock'the bolt for its rearward movement and shell extraction incident to firing a cartridge in the rifle. Then with the expending of the recoil forces, the bolt is returned by spring action and locked in closed position. The recoil pad 23 and parts connected therewith are returned to normal position by a coiled spring 102 that acts against the rod guide 92 and a pin 103 applied through the rod 91 as shown.

The device shown in Fig. 11, likewise, operates in a manner similar to that of Fig. 10, to unlock the bolt. In this mechanism the bolt is released by means of a bell crank lever 99 arranged to act upwardly against roller 83. However, the actuation of the bell crank lever is effected through a rod 105 that extends along the rifle barrel and is pivotally connected at its rear end to the bell crank, as at 196, and at its forward end is attached to the piston 197 of a gas cylinder 108 that is fixed to the rifle barrel and which has a gas port 110 opening into the bore 111 of the barrel.

When a cartridge is fired, the gas pressure back of the bullet acts through port 110 against the piston to drive it forwardly and it acts, through rod 105, to actuate bell crank 99 to release the bolt for rearward actuation under the gas pressure in the rifle bore acting against it. A spring 112 confined under pressure in the cylinder 108 acts against the piston 107 to return the parts to normal position.

The bolt in the rifle of Fig. 11 is returned for reloading and locking by spring means not herein shown.

It is further to be understood that the connections 100 and 106 as applied to the bell crank 99 might be reversed and the bell crank then actuated by a pushing action of rods 98 and 105. Also, the mechanisms as shown in Figs. 10 and 12 might be reversed to cause a pushing action on rods 98 and 105 instead of a pulling action.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a rifle of the character described having a sliding bolt; a shoulder pad yieldingly supported from the end of the gun stock, said stock having a chamber formed therein, a pinion gear rotatably mounted in said chamber, a sprocket wheel of substantially greater diameter than said known gear fixed concentrically thereto and rotatable in unison therewith, a push rod extended rearwardly from said chamber and mounting said shoulder pad thereon at its outer end, a coiled spring acting against said push rod to normally retain the pad spaced from the end of the gun stock, said rod having geared connection at its forward end with said pinion gear whereby inward movement of the rod, under the effect of recoil upon firing, causes said pinion gear to be rotated and said sprocket wheel to be rotated in unison therewith, and a chain belt connected at oneend to the sprocket wheel for winding thereon incident to its turning as induced by inward movement of said push rod, and connected at its other end to said bolt for moving it to open position.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said 7 8 bolt also has limited rotation in opposite directions for fixed in the stock guides the sprocket chain in its endwise locking and unlocking it, and said sprocket chain is 0011- travel and retains it against rotation. nected to said bolt by a means whereby initial bolt opening pull causes the bolt to be rotated to unlock it -for References Cited in the file f this patent movement and whereby final closing push causes it to 5 be rotated for locking. UNITED STATES PATENTS 3. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein means 2, 07,113 Ivy Sept. 24, 1957

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