US3352206A

US3352206A - Gun charger device

Info

Publication number: US3352206A
Application number: US549424A
Authority: US
Inventors: Iii Walter S Draper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-05-10
Filing date: 1966-05-10
Publication date: 1967-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1984-11-14

Description

Nov. 14, 1967 w. s. DRAPER m GUN CHARGER DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 10, 1966 INVENTOR -DTU JET E.

5 ATTORNEY WEEHET 5 B! m MM. 8 W

rmmnmmlmm Nov. 14, 1967 w. s. DRAPER m 3,352,206

GUN CHARGER DEVI CE Filed May 10, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Egg.

INVENTOR Waller SJJIEPETHI AITORNE Nov. 14, 1967 w. s. DRAPER m 3,352,205

GUN CHARGER DEVICE Filed. May 10, 1966 3 SheetsSheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,352,206 GUN CHARGER DEVICE Walter S. Draper Ill, Palmer, Mass, assignor t0 the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed May 10, 1966, Ser. No. 549,424 Claims. (Cl. 891) This invention relates to a machine gun of the XM140 type, such as described in application 470,942, filed July 9, 1965, now Patent No. 3,318,191, in which the recoiling mass of the weapon is seared each firing cycle to a nonrecoiling mount against the force of loaded buffer springs with means provided for releasing the recoiling mass at the appropriate time before the chambered cartridge is fired so that the force of the buffer springs can be applied against the recoil force produced by the firing of the cartridge to reduce the amount of the recoil force transferred to the mount trunnions.

Sometimes, due to misfires or other mishaps in the firing cycle of the weapon, the recoiling mass will end up in its forward position on the mount so that the weapon is inoperative until the recoiling mass is retracted to its seared position and the buffer springs are fully loaded. It is therefore the object of this invention to provide for such a weapon a charger device for retracting the recoiling mass against the force of the buffer springs to its seared position with the charger device being of rugged construction, as some 1000 p.s.i. is required to charge the weapon, and being quickly disengageable from the recoiling mass after being seared to permit quick resumption of firing.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a fragment of a machine gun of XM140 type with the recoiling mass thereof shown in its forward position respective to the mount;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the actuating block on the charger device elevated for engagement with the charging lug on the recoiling mass;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the actuating block partially depressed after the recoiling mass has been retracted past the searing position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the actuating block in its disengaged position and the switch freed for return to its normal position; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the actuating block positioned adjacent its full forward position during the forward stroke of the actuator piston.

Shown in the figures is a machine gun 12 having a nonrecoiling mount 14 and a recoiling mass 16, including a receiver 18, which is mounted on the mount for longitudinal reciprocation between a forward position and a rearward seared position. A pair of conventional energy storing buffers (not shown) are operationally disposed between receiver 18 and mount 14 for biasing recoiling mass 16 forwardly thereon. The buffers are loaded by recoiling mass 16 when actuated to its seared position and the recoiling mass is releasably held in the seared position against the pressure of the buffers by a pair of sears 22, one of which is shown in FIG. 1.

During normal operation of machine gun 12, recoil- 3,352,206 Patented Nov. '14, 1967 ing mass 16 is driven back to its seared position each firing cycle by the recoil force produced by cartridge discharge. In order to reduce the recoil force transmitted from recoiling mass 16 to mount 14, sears 22 are arranged to release the recoiling mass before cartridge discharge so that the force of the buffers is applied against the recoil force for reduction thereof. However, if machine gun 12 does not fire after the release of recoiling mass 16 the recoiling mass ends up in its forward position as there is no recoil force to drive it to its seared position.

To overcome this problem a charger device 24 is provided as auxiliary means for actuating recoiling mass 16 to its seared position. Charger device 24 includes an electrically energized actuator 26 having a cylinder 28 and a piston 30 which is displaceable by an integral electric motor means between an extended and a retracted position respective to the cylinder with conventional switch means provided for automatically retracting the piston, after reaching its extended position, when the actuator continues to be energized.

Cylinder 28 is pivotally mounted at the closed end thereof to mount 14 by means of a pin 31 so as to extend rearwardly therefrom and to be pivotal in a vertical plane respective to the mount. Fixed to the free end of piston 30 is an actuating block 32 which cooperates with a control device 34 for engaging the block to a charging lug 36 on receiver 18 during displacement of piston 30 to its extended position, as hereinafter described, and thereby move recoiling mass 16 to its seared position.

Control unit 34 includes a supporting member 37 which is of U configuration in cross-section and which is provided with a longitudinally disposed channel 38 adapted to slidingly receive block 32. Channel 38 is open at the top to permit vertical displacement of block 32 to where it is contactable with charging lug 36 for transferring the rearward displacement of the block to recoiling mass 16.

Formed in the inside of each of the sides of supporting member 37 is a recess 40 of essentially trapezoidal configuration with a base 42 and a top side 44 arranged parallel thereto. A rear groove 46 extends rearwardly from each of recesses 40 in longitudinal alignment with base 42 thereof and a front groove 48 extends longitudinally forward from each of the recesses in alignment with the base. Extending from opposite sides of actuating block 32 is a pair of cylindrical followers 50 which are slidingly received by front grooves 48, as shown in FIG. 2, when actuating block 32 is in its retracted position and by rear grooves 46 when the actuating block is in its extended position.

Mounted in each of the recesses 40 is a switch 52 having an integral axle 54 disposed between the front and rear ends thereof. Switches 52 are rotatingly mounted in supporting member 37 for cooperation with followers 50 to displace actuating block 32, as hereinafter described, between an upper engaging position and a depressed disengaged position relative to charging lug 36. A springbiased plunger 56 acts against the rear end of each of the switches 52 to bias the switches to normal positions wherein the bottom front corners thereof contact bases 42 and the top rear corners contact top sides 44, as shown in one side of contact device 34 in FIGS. 3 and 4.

When charger device 24 is energized and piston 30 is driven rearwardly, followers 50 leave front grooves 48 and enter recesses 40 to contact front surfaces 58 of switches 52. Front surfaces 58 incline upwardly and rearwardly respective to the direction of travel of piston 30 and consequently when actuating block 32 moves rearwardly it is also directed upwardly to its engaging position in front of charging lug 36. Front surfaces 58 are so related to axles 54 that the rearward pressure of followers 50 against the front surfaces tend to force the front ends of switches 52 downwardly to assure that the switches are held in their normal positions.

Upper surfaces of switches 52, noted at 60, are spaced sufiiciently from top sides 44 of recesses 40 for passage of followers 50 therealong as actuating block 32 continues its rearward displacement by piston 30, to drive recoiling mass 16 to its seared position. Upper surfaces 60 are each divided into a front section 62, which is arranged to be parallel to top side 44 of the respective recess 40 when the respective switch 52 is in its normal position, and a rear section 64. Rear sections 64 are arranged to be parallel to the related top sides 44 when switches 52 are in their displaced positions. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 4, rear sections 64 incline upwardly and rearwardly from front sections 62 when switches 52 are in their normal positions to provide a camming surface through which, when followers 50 come into contact therewith, the switche are rotated to their displaced positions against the biase of plungers 56.

When followers 50 come into contact with rear sides 66 of recesses 40, recoiling mass 16 is located at an overtravel position slightly rearwardly of its seared position to assure engagement of sears 22 therewith. Rear sides 66 incline downwardly and rearwardly from top sides 44 so that when followers 50 are in contact with such rear sides the rearward force of piston 30 drives actuating block 32 downwardly to its disengaged position, freeing recoiling mass 16 which, when freed, moves slightly forward into engagement by sears 22. Rear grooves 46 permit overtravel of actuating block 32.

When followers 50 come into contact with bases 42, a cam cut 68 on the rear end of each of the switches 52 provides a clearance for displacement thereof to their normal positions by plungers 56, as shown in one side of supporting member 37 in FIG. 6. Cam cuts 68 also assure the displacement of switches 52 to their normal positions as the contact of followers 50 with the cam cuts during the forward stroke of piston 30 to its retracted position cams upwardly the rear ends of the switches. Cam cuts 68 also serve to guide followers 50 between bottom sides 70 of :switches 52 and bases 42 which are arranged to prevent displacement of actuating block 32 from its disengaged position during retraction of piston 30.

From the foregoing it is clearly apparent that there is provided herein for machine guns of the XM140 type a charging device which is rugged in construction and which is quickly disengaged from the recoiling mass and positioned clear thereof so that firing may be quickly resumed .after charging.

variations may be devised within the spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended to include such variations.

I claim:

1. In combination with a machine gun having a mount and a recoiling mass biased from a rearward seared position therein to a forward position, a charger device for displacing the recoiling mass on the mount to the seared position, said charger device including an actuator mounted on the mount, a piston of said actuator displaceable in forward and rearward strokes in the direction of movement oft he recoiling mass on the mount, an actuating block fixed on said piston for displacement therewith in forward and rearward strokes, a supporting member mounted on the mount and adapted to slidingly receive said actuating block, switch means mounted in said supporting member for cooperation therewith to elevate said actuating block towards said recoiling mass to an engaging position at the beginning of the rearward stroke of said piston, maintain said actuating block in the engaging position during a period of travel thereof equal to the distance of displacement of said recoiling mass from the forward to the seared position thereof, and depress the actuating block away from the recoiling mass to a disengaged position at the end of the rearward stroke, and a charging lug on the recoiling mass disposed for engagement by said actuating block when in the engaging position to transfer displacement of said piston in the rearward stroke thereof to said recoiling mass for actuation thereof to the seared position, and wherein said actuating block is disposed free of said charging lug when in the disengaged position.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said supporting member is of U configuration in cross-section and is provided with a channel for slidingly receiving said actuating block for displacement in the forward and rearward strokes thereof and for displacement between the engaging and disengaged positions and also with a recess in the inside of each of the sides thereof, wherein said switch means includes a pair of switches respectively mounted in each of said recesses for rotational displacement on integral axle means. and whereas said actuating block is provided with a pair of followers respectively contactable with one of said switches to assist in controlling the course of said actuating block during the forward and rearward strokes thereof.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said recesses are each provided with a top side slidingly contactable by the respective one of said followers when said actuating block is in the engaging position and said top side having a length at least equal to the distance of displacement of said recoiling mass from the forward to the seared position thereof, and each of said recesses also having a base disposed parallel to said top side thereof and for sliding contact by the respective one of said followers when said actuating block is in the disengaged position, wherein said switches are respectively restrained for limited rotational displacement bet-ween a normal and a displaced position by alternate contact of front and rear ends thereof respectively with said top side and said base of the corresponding one of said recesses, and each of said switches includes a front surface so angularly disposed respective to the rearward directional movement of said actuating block that contact of said followers with said front surfaces during rearward stroke of said actuating block cams said actuating block to the engaging position and said followers into contact with the related ones of said top sides, and said front surfaces being 30 related to the respective ones of said axle means that contact of said followers with said front surfaces during rearward stroke of said actuating block presses said switches to the normal positions thereof.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said switches is provided with an upper surface having a front section disposed forwardly of the respective one of said axle means and a rear section disposed rearwardly thereof, said front sections being disposed parallel to the respective ones of said top sides when said switches are in the normal positions thereof and spaced sufi'iciently from said top side to permit rearward passage of said followers therealong and maintain said actuating block in the engaging position, and said rear sections being angularly disposed respective to said front sections so as to be contactable by the respective ones of said followers during continued rearward stroke of said actuating block past contact with said front section to rotate said switches to their displaced positions, and said rear sections also being arranged so as to be positioned parallel to the related ones of said top sides and spaced therefrom sufiiciently to permit passage of said followers therealong and maintain said actuating block in the engaging position when said followers are in the displaced positions.

switches are respectively provided with a bottom side arranged in cooperation with the respective ones of said bases to maintain said actuating block in the disengaged position during forward stroke thereof.

No references cited BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A MACHINE GUN HAVING A MOUNT AND A RECOILING MASS BIASED FROM A REARWARD SEARED POSITION THEREIN TO A FORWARD POSITION, A CHARGER DEVICE FOR DISPLACING THE RECOILING MASS ON THE MOUNT TO THE SEARED POSITION, SAID CHARGER DEVICE INCLUDING AN ACTUATOR MOUNTED ON THE MOUNT, A PISTON OF SAID ACTUATOR DISPLACEABLE IN FORWARD AND REARWARD STROKES IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE RECOILING MASS ON THE MOUNT, AN ACTUATING BLOCK FIXED ON SAID PISTON FOR DISPLACEMENT THEREWITH IN FORWARD AND REARWARD STROKES, A SUPPORTING MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE MOUNT AND ADAPTED TO SLIDINGLY RECEIVE SAID ACTUATING BLOCK, SWITCH MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR COOPERATING THEREWITH TO ELEVATE SAID ACTUATION BLOCK TOWARDS SAID RECOILING MASS TO AN ENGAGING POSITION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REARWARD STROKE OF SAID PISTON, MAINTAIN SAID ACTUATING BLOCK IN THE ENGAGING POSITION DURING A PERIOD OF TRAVEL THEREOF EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE OF DISPLACEMENT OF SAID RECOILING MASS FROM THE FORWARD TO THE SEARED POSITION THEREOF, AND DEPRESS THE ACTUATING BLOCK AWAY FROM THE RECOILING MASS TO A DISENGAGED POSITION AT THE END OF THE REARWARD STROKE, AND A CHARGING LUG ON THE RECOILING MASS DISPOSED FOR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID ACTUATING BLOCK WHEN IN THE ENGAGING POSITION TO TRANSFER DISPLACEMENT OF SAID PISTON IN THE REARWARD STOKE THEREOF TO SAID RECOILING MASS FOR ACTUATING THEREOF TO THE SEARED POSITION, AND WHEREIN SAID ACTUATING BLOCK IS DISPOSED FREE OF SAID CHARGING LUG WHEN IN THE DISENGAGED POSITION.