US3886844A - Small arm - Google Patents

Abstract

A barrel is fixed in a barrel-carrying member and provided on its outside peripheral surface with a piston and formed with transverse bore means, which communicate with the inside of the barrel and open on the outside peripheral surface thereof forwardly of said piston. An action slide comprises a cylinder, which is spaced around said barrel and defines therewith an annular chamber, which is sealed by said piston and is defined by flow-obstructing means spaced from said piston beyond said transverse bore means. The action slide is capable of a recoil movement relative to said barrel so as to decrease the size of said annular chamber. A counter-recoil spring cooperates with said action slide and tends to move said action slide opposite to the direction of said recoil movement.

Description

United States Patent Kepplinger et al. 1 1 June 3, 1975 SMALL ARM gvilshon ..I .1 8945199192 i -m" eta. [75] inventors: Hannes Kepplinger: Karl Wagner, at b )th )f Ste 'r. Austria L t Primary lzxummer-Stephen C. Bentley i 1 Assigneei steyr'naimler'puch Armrney, Agent. or Firml(urt Kelman Aktiengesellschaft, Vienna, Austria [22] Filed: Nov. 30, 1973 57 ABSTRACT pPl. O: 20,539 A barrel is fixed in a barrel'carrying member and provided on its outside peripheral surface with a piston [30] Foreign Application Priority Data and formed with transverse bore means, which com- D 6 [977 A Imam/77 municate with the inside of the barrel and open on the it 9071/7; outside peripheral surface thereof forwardly of said Ausm piston. An action slide comprises a cylinder. which is spaced around said barrel and defines therewith an an 2% 'i 89/191 gf i ig nular chamber, which is sealed by said piston and is i 193 180 defined by flow-obstructing means spaced from said L 1 le 0 earc 2 6 piston beyond said transverse bore means. The action slide is capable of a recoil movement relative to said s6 R f Ct d barrel so as to decrease the size of said annular cham- L l e erences le her. A counter-recoil spring cooperates with said ac- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion slide and tends to move said action slide opposite 1.834.021 12/1931 Destree 89/191 R t the direction of said recoil movement. 2.340.293 2/1944 Balleisen 89/193 3,018,694 1/1962 Browning 89/193 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SMALL ARM This invention relates to a small arm, particularly to a pistol, having a grip or the like, a barrel firmly inserted in the grip or the like, and an action slide, which has a forward portion surrounding the barrel and is adapted to be pushed back against a counterrecoil spring and cannot be locked to the barrel.

These small arms have the advantage of being particularly simple in construction because there is no locking mechanism between the barrel and the action slide. Besides, the fact that the barrel is rigidly inserted in the grip or the like increases the accuracy of the shooting because the barrel is rigidly connected to the grip or the like and there is no backlash which even though small would be essential in connection with a movable barrel. On the other hand, such arm can be used in practice only if the propelling force of the gases produced by the powder, the mass of the action slide, and the force of the counterrecoil spring are matched. In case ofa larger caliber or an increased propelling force of the gases produced by the powder, the mass of the action slide must be increased and, because the kinetic energy of the action slide increases as the square of velocity, the force of the counterrecoil spring must be considerably increased. Because there are limits to the overall weight and overall dimensions of the arm, the mass of the action slide can hardly be increased if the arm should remain handy. The increase of the force of the counterrecoil spring is closely limited because it must be possible to cock the arm by hand. For this reason, designs embodying a strict mass-controlled action slide have been used so far only with small-caliber arms.

So-called gas-operated firearms are known, in which the barrel has at least one transverse bore, which is connected by a passage to a piston. When the shot is fired, the action slide is locked to the barrel. After the shot, the gases from the powder flow to the piston and act on the piston to release the lock. Compared to the arm having a mass-controlled action slide, this design is complicated and involves a high structural expenditure.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate these disadvantages and to provide a small arm, particularly a pistol, which is of the kind described first hereinbefore and which is suitable also for relatively large calibers and high gas pressures without substantial increase in structural expenditure and without need for an excessively strong counterrecoil spring.

This object is accomplished according to the invention in that that portion of the action slide which surrounds the barrel serves as a barrel, which confines an annular chamber, which is sealed at the barrel, that the barrel forms a piston adjacent to the rear end of the cylinder and is formed with at least one transverse bore, which opens into the annular chamber. Because the ac tion slide recoils after the shot has been fired, the cylinder which surrounds the barrel and forms part of the action slide is moved relative to the barrel so that the annular chamber disposed forwardly of the piston is reduced in size. As soon as the bullet forced through the barrel when the shot has been fired has moved past the transverse bore or transverse bores, the expanding gases produced by the powder enter through the transverse bore or transverse bores the annular chamber, which during the recoil of the action slide has been decreased in size because the piston has remained in position. As a result, the rearward movement of the action slide is strongly braked, and the recoil spring need no longer take up the full kinetic energy of the action slide. For a larger caliber, it is no longer necessary to increase the mass of the action slide, and a relatively weak counterrecoil spring is sufficient, which can readily be cocked by hand.

According to a further feature of the invention, the cylinder which surrounds the barrel consists of a separate member, which is detachably locked to the remainder of the action slide by a bayonet lock and is adapted to be locked in locking position by the counterrecoil spring. This division affords advantages in manufacture and facilitates the cleaning of the cylinder which receives the powder gases. In a desirable manner, the counterrecoil spring is also utilized to hold the 7 cylinder member in its locked position.

To ensure a good sealing of the annular chamber at the rear even in the presence of incrustations due to powder residues on the inside surface of the cylinder, the piston formed on the barrel consists in accordance with the invention of two collars, and piston rings dis posed between the collars.

It has been found that cartridges of the same caliber but of different origin may differ in propelling charge and in weight. If the arm were designed only for cartridges of one kind, the firing of more or less powerful cartridges would result in an excessive reaction or even in trouble regarding the recoil of the action slide. According to the invention, the cylinder which surrounds the barrel carries for this reason adjacent to the muzzle a guide bushing which has been inserted from the forward end of the cylinder and seals the forward end of the annular chamber and can be selectively replaced by a guide bushing which defines at least one flow passage.

The arrangement of the bores, the size of the cylinder chamber and the dimensions of the counterrecoil spring are suitably selected with a view to the cartridges of the most powerful kind to be used. When it is desired to use less powerful cartridges, the braking action of the powder gases in the annular chamber may be so strong that the complete recoil movement of the action slide is no longer ensured in spite of the reduced reaction. A shorter recoil movement of the action slide will result in functional disturbances as regards the ejection of the case of the cartridge which has been fired and the feeding of the next cartridge. In this case, the bushing is replaced by the alternative one, which is provided according to the invention and has at least one flow passage, through which part of the powder gases produced by the powder and entering the annular chamber can escape so that the braking force is reduced to such an extent that the complete recoil movement of the action slide is ensured. It will be sufficient if the user of the pistol ascertains the ballistic data which appear on each cartridge package and if he selects that guide bushing which is proper in view of these data and inserts said guide bushing into the cylinder. The guide bushing ensures a good guidance of the cylinder on the barrel and constitutes an integral sealing member, which can easily be inserted and removed. Besides, the cylinder may be provided with a continuous bore so that it can be cleaned more easily.

lt will also be desirable to provide the barrel on its outside with recesses, which extend from the transverse bore or bores toward the muzzle and taper in this direction to ensure an improved deflection of the powder gases into the longitudinal direction of the barrel as they exit from the transverse bore.

An embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example on the accompanying drawing. in which FIGS. 1 and 2 are, respectively, a longitudinal sec tional view and a transverse sectional view taken on line lIII of FIG. 1 and showing a pistol.

FIG. 3 is a forward elevation showing an alternative guide bushing.

The barrel 1 of the pistol is immovably fixed in the grip 2, which is shown only in part. The action slide 3 is slidably guided on the grip 2 and consists of a socalled mass-controlled action slide, which is not locked to the barrel 1 even when the shot is fired. The body of the action slide 3 extends forwardly as far as to the muzzle and is locked there to a cylinder 5, which surrounds the barrel 1 so as to define therewith an annular chamber 4. The connection between the body of the action slide 3 and the cylinder 5 is established in the usual manner by a bayonet joint, of which only a locking boss 6 is shown (FIG. 1). The cylinder 5 is held in the locked position by a counterrecoil spring 7, which is associated with the action slide 3. The enlarged end portion 8 of the cylinder 4 is provided in its rear end face with a recess 9, and a locking member 10 is provided, which under the action of the counterrecoil spring snaps into the recess 9. To separate the cylinder 5 from the body of the action slide 3, it will be sufficient to force the locking member 10 back by hand against the force of the counterrecoil spring 7 until the locking member 10 leaves the recess 9. Thereafter it will be sufficient to rotate the cylinder 5 relative to the body 3 of the action slide. it will be understood that it is the main function of the counterrecoil spring 7 to return the action slide 3 to its closed position when it has recoiled as the shot was fired.

Adjacent to the rear end of the cylinder 5, the barrel 1 consists of a piston, which comprises two collars 11 and three piston rings 12 disposed between said collars. The barrel 1 is provided with four transverse bores 13, which open into the annular chamber 4, and is formed with recesses 14, which extend from respective transverse bores 13 toward the muzzle and taper in this direction.

Adjacent to the muzzle, a guide bushing 15 is provided, which has been screwed into the cylinder 5, more particularly into its end portion 8, from the forward end thereof and which seals the annular chamber 4 at its forward end. Two milled flats 16 are provided for engagement by a tool by which the guide bushing 15 can be screwed in and out more easily.

When the shot has been fired and the bullet has moved past the transverse bores 13, the gases produced by the powder enter the annular chamber 4 as the same is decreased in size because the cylinder 5 follows the recoil movement of the body of the action slide 3 whereas the piston formed by the collars 11 on the barre] 1 remains in position. As a result, the gases produced by the powders brake the recoil movement of the action slide until the bullet has left the barrel 1 and the gases produced by the powders can escape through the transverse bores 13 and the barrel bore.

When it is desired to fire less powerful cartridges, the guide bushing 15 is replaced by a guide bushing (FIG. 3), which has a bore that is enlarged at three points so that said bore and the outside peripheral surface of the barrel 1 define flow passages 17 for the gases produced by the powder. Alternatively, the flow passages may consist of fine bores in the end wall of the guide bushing 115. It will be essential that part of the gases produced by the powder can escape forwardly from the annular chamber 4 so that the braking force will be reduced where less powerful cartridges are fired and a complete recoil movement of the action slide member 3 will be ensured in such case too.

What is claimed is:

1. A small arm, which comprises a barrel-carrying member,

a barrel fixed in said barrel-carrying member and provided on its outside peripheral surface with a piston and formed with transverse bore means, which communicate with the inside of the barrel and open on the outside peripheral surface thereof before said piston, said outside peripheral surface being formed with recess means which extend and taper forwardly from said transverse bore means,

an action slide which comprises a cylinder, which is spaced around said barrel and defines therewith an annular chamber, which is sealed by said piston and defined by flow-obstructing means spaced from said piston beyond said transverse bore means, said action slide being capable of a recoil movement relative to said barrel so as to decrease the size of said annular chamber, and

a counterrecoil spring, which cooperates with said action slide and tends to move said action slide opposite to the direction of said recoil movement.

2. A small arm as set forth in claim 1, in which said transverse bore means consist of a plurality of transverse bores.

3. A small arm as set forth in claim 1, in which said action slide comprises a second member and bayonet joint means detachably locking said second member to said cylinder and said counterrecoil spring is arranged to hold said cylinder in position relative to said second member.

4. A small arm as set forth in claim 1, in which said piston consists of two axially spaced apart collars and of piston ring means disposed between said collars.

5. A small arm as set forth in claim 1, in which said barrel has a muzzle and said flow-obstructing means comprise a detachable guide bushing, which surrounds said barrel adjacent to said muzzle and has been inserted into said cylinder from its forward end and seals said annular chamber at its forward end.

6. A small arm as set forth in claim 1, in which said barrel has a muzzle and said flow-obstructing means comprise a detachable guide bushing, which surrounds said barrel adjacent to said muzzle and has been inserted into said cylinder from its forward end and defines at least one constricted flow passage with said barrel.

Claims (6)

1. A small arm, which comprises a barrel-carrying member, a barrel fixed in said barrel-carrying member and provided on its outside peripheral surface with a piston and formed with transverse bore means, which communicate with the inside of the barrel and open on the outside peripheral surface thereof before said piston, said outside peripheral surface being formed with recess means which extend and taper forwardly from said transverse bore means, an action slide which comprises a cylinder, which is spaced around said barrel and defines therewith an annular chamber, which is sealed by said piston and defined by flow-obstructing means spaced from said piston beyond said transverse bore means, said action slide being capable of a recoil movement relative to said barrel so as to decrease the size of said annular chamber, and a counterrecoil spring, which cooperates with said action slide and tends to move said action slide opposite to the direction of said recoil movement.

1. A small arm, which comprises a barrel-carrying member, a barrel fixed in said barrel-carrying member and provided on its outside peripheral surface with a piston and formed with transverse bore means, which communicate with the inside of the barrel and open on the outside peripheral surface thereof before said piston, said outside peripheral surface being formed with recess means which extend and taper forwardly from said transverse bore means, an action slide which comprises a cylinder, which is spaced around said barrel and defines therewith an annular chamber, which is sealed by said piston and defined by flow-obstructing means spaced from said piston beyond said transverse bore means, said action slide being capable of a recoil movement relative to said barrel so as to decrease the size of said annular chamber, and a counterrecoil spring, which cooperates with said action slide and tends to move said action slide opposite to the direction of said recoil movement.

2. A small arm as set forth in claim 1, in which said transverse bore means consist of a plurality of transverse bores.

3. A small arm as set forth in claim 1, in which said action slide comprises a second member and bayonet joint means detachably locking said second member to said cylinder and said counterrecoil spring is arranged to hold said cylinder in position relative to said second member.

4. A small arm as set forth in claim 1, in which said piston consists of two axially spaced apart collars and of piston ring means disposed between said collars.

5. A small arm as set forth in claim 1, in which said barrel has a muzzle and said flow-obstructing means comprise a detachable guide bushing, which surrounds said barrel adjacent to said muzzle and has been inserted into said cylinder from its forward end and seals said annular chamber at its forward end.

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