US802033A - Automatic firearm. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED OCT. 17, 1905.

C. FREEMAN, AUTOMATIC PIREARM.

YAPPLIGATION FILED AUGl 15, 1904` No. 802,033.' PATBNTBD OCT. '17, 1905,. G. FREEMAN. AUTOMATIC PIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15, 1904.

rnn staatssraannr ermee;

.CHARLES FREEMAmor Los mientas., CALIFORNIA. AUToinA'i-lo Fiaeamu.

No. soeces.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 17, 1905.

Appiimimtid'tugust15.1904. strain. 220,740.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that "l, CHARLES FRnEtmN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the countyof Los Angeles and State ofalifornia, have invented a new and useful Automatic Firearm, of which' the foll wing` is a specification.

-Thlsinvention embodies a new principle in automatlc firearms which consists in employing a barrel and allowing a de`vice`such, ,for l instance, as the breech-.blockwa short back- I ward primary movement upon thedischarge Y. of the arm, this movement being stopped4 by The great bulk of suitable lo'cking means. the backward thrust from the explosion in the barrel is solidly opposed by this locking device and' the breech-block. Meanwhile a momentum-block, which. while the parts' are .in their closed and locked position is in intiu .mate contact with the breech-block, (which, in fact, itl holds in its forward position through pressure exerted by a reaction-spring) receives an impulse from the short primary the momentum teLtbus imparted to the momentum-block being `and operate the arm. The

. ablelocking tion of the backward -block forward to close sicient to reciprocate it along the frame, unlock the breech-block, pull it backward from the breech, compress a reaction-spring, pressure of the reaction-spring. then reverses the movement of the momentum-block, which then operates to close the breech and leave the arm in its normal closed position. As carried out by theform of mechanism shown herein the barrel remains stationary. The initial `force derived from the discharge of the cartridge gives a slight rearward movement tothe breechblock, which movement is checked bya suitdevice engaging both breechblockand frame. Amomentum-blockmounted in contactwith the breech-block receives the momentum of the breech-block and the rnomentumof the breech-block is .transferred to the momentum-block, so that the lattercontinues backward after the breech-block is in` terrupteda and this continued .retraction of the momentum-block unlocks the breech-block from the frame and pulls the breech-block back with the momentum-block, thereby opening the breech and removing the empty shell. Part of the energy of the reaction-block has in the meantime been expended in compressing the recoil-spring, which at the terminamovement of the momentum-block reacts-forcing the momentumthe breech and to opcrate the locking device and restore the parts to original position. y

' Among Ithe .advantages ot' the principle here employed are these: It is possible'to use a Acartridge of any desired size in a barrel of any length and weight, the barrel being immovable and the backwardv thrust of the cartridge being solidly opposed by the lock after justsuliicient back-ward movement has been allowed to give momentum to the momentum-- block, which operatcsthe parts. The backward movement is very slight, and the more pow` ert'ul the cartridge employed the shorter will this movement be required. The barrel being immovable, no return-spring is required, therefore no brake to retard its movement and no largeabutment to stop its backward and forward movement. As only sufii-cient of the force 'ot' the explosion is employed to operate the parts, the breech is opened and the cartridge ejected without undue force.

The main object of the invention is to cariv out the foregoing principle with a simple and' effective mechanism;` but I do not contine'myself to the exact mechanism here employed, but claim all that may` justly scope otmy invention.

Another object of the invention is to providea novel trigger mechanism for use in automatic firearms. l

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the followingdescription.

'lh'e accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, and referring thereto Figure 1 is 'a vertical longitudinal section through the breech of the firearm, illustrating the principle as applied to a riiie. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the momentum-block, part ot' its stem belng broken away. Fig. 3

` is a sectional view taken on line X3 X3, Fig.

1. Fig. lisasectional View taken on line-X* X4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective View ot' the breech-block and locking-pin, showing the two parts in the relative positions which they comewithin the IOO occupy immediately preceding the discharge -abutments 111 and 15.

into operative contact with the locking-dog. l'

Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the breecnblock in a similar position to the preceding and the recoil-block having. moved back sulieiently tounlock the lockingalog from engagement with the frame. Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the breech-block, locking dog, and momentum -block at the extremeA rearward position which they have after the discharge. y

1 designates the frame, to which the barrel 2 is rigidly attached. The lower front part of the frame l is provided with a way 3, while a tube et is joined to the frame 1 adjacent the way 3, being incased in a wooden fore-arm below the barrel. The main portion of the Jframe 1 is chambered to provide a way for the reciprocating rnoveinentoic the parts therein, and the lower partof the frame 1 is chambered to receive a magazine 6, which may be of the common box-magazine type, as shown.

7 designates in general a momentum-block which comprises a forked member 8. haring a sten19, the forked portion being slidably mounted within the way 3 and the stein 9'lying within the tube 4. A breech-block 1() is slidably mounted upon the momentum-block, the momentum-block being chambered to reu ceive the same and having a plate 11,A L-shaped in cross-section. (See Figs. 2 and 4.)

The plate 11 is provided with an angular Slot l2, and the momentum-block has an offset portion 13, forming oppositely-disposed .A spring-stop 16 is provided within the tube l1, and the stem 9 has a head 17, while the coil compressionspring 18 is interposed between the head 1T and the stop 16 and serves to normally hold the mornentumblock in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 9. 1

The breech-block 1.0 is slidably mounted within the plate 11 of the momentum-block, the breech-block being recessed to form shoulders 1,9 and 20, which are adapted to respectively engage with abutments 15 and. la to limit the sliding movement in either direction ot the breech-block relatively to the inomen tum-block. The breech-block is provided at one end with a slotted lug 21 and at the 'other end with a slotted lug 22. A lockingdog 2.3 is provided with a iiat shank 24, which is mounted within the slotted lugs 21 and 22 and which has an elongated slot 25, which receives a pin 2 6 in the slotted lug 21. A short pin 27 projects up from, the shank 24: and lies within the angular slot 12 of the momentum block.

The shank 24 at its forward end is also provided with av cartridge-extraoting hoolrQS. The breech-block 10 is bored centrally to reeeive'v the iiring-pin 29, andv the locking-dog 23 is provided with a slot 3() to receive the firing-pin. yIn the operation of the mechanism the locking-dog 23 has a lateral movehainmer in position to catch the hammer as ment relatively to the breech-block,` and for scenes that reason the slot 30 is made eloi'igated. as shown, so that thejiring-pin will not impede its'lateral movement.

40 designates the hammer. which is pivoted at L11 and operated by the usual spring and has a single cocking-notch 43. Pivot/cd to the trarne just below the hammer is an auxiliary 'scar L1 and a vregular sear L15. Both sears 'are adapted to consecutively engage the cockingnotcb L13., the detent of the auX- yiliary sear stft being longer from its v.Fulcrum than the detent oi Jthe senr 45. i and 8.)

The rear end o1 `the auxiliary scar 4A is provided with a te 4:6, and while both sears norr50 mally lic substantially in the same horizontal' plane the toe @t6 of the auxiliary scar efr pro jects below the plane.

L17 designates the trigger` which is provided with an auxiliary pivoted linger #i8 and with a rigid regular finger 49. The piroted auxil. iary linger 4:8 is longer than the finger e9, and when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. Z the auxiliary linger 11S lies directly under the toe 4.15 of the auxiiiary scar 14, while the finger 9 lies under but slightly below the sear 45. An inclined abutment 50 projects from the frame 1 adjacent to theend of the pivoted linger 1148. A spring 51 serves to normally hold the pivoted linger t'under the toe 16. v

In operation when the hammer has been moved backv into the position shown in Figs'. 1 and l the auxiliary sear '4.4i engages the cocking-notch 43 and retains the liarnnieif'flf. in position. Upon pulling the trigger 47 as?? the iinger 118 rises it presses upon the toe 46 and tilts the sear 4A, which releases the hanv mer vwhich moves slightly forward and is caught by the soar 15 after a slightmoyement. Continued pulling on the'trigger., how ever, will quickly bring the jfinger 49 into engagement with the scar 45, so that the latter is tilted and the hammer thereby released,K and in the i'neantime as thelinger #18 moves up it is shunted from the toe 16 by the inclined abutment 50i so that `the sear It willimmediately spring back to position, with its detent riding against the rounded hub of the (See Figs. "l

IoA

II soon as the cocking-noteh again arrives in place, upon the next backward movement of the hammer.A As soon as the trigger 17 is ref' leased it returns to its normal position.4 the finger/18 riding down the side of the toe 46, under which it is snapped by the spring'l upon the completion of the return movement' of the trigger. Thus the lianiinerisal-Ways caught by the auxiliary sear Ailk-when thrownback. lReferring to Fig. 1, a cart'ridgeis 4shown in place ready to be discharged andthe hammer is cocked.4 y p Fig. 9 sl'iows the bieecli-bloek, nioin'entumblock, and lockingdog in the positions they II pfff) IO the-rim ofthe cartridge. By pulling the trigi ger the hammer is released, 'and it strikes the have corresponding to the viewin Fig. 1. In this position the locking-dog is in engagement with a locking-notch in the frame, and the breech-block is shown slightly ahead of the locking-dog, leaving a narrow space 36, the abutment 15 lying close against the shoulder 19, with the cartridge abutting against the end of the breech-block, as shown, the cartridgeextracting hookbeing out of engagement with tiring-pin, which explodes the cartridge. The recoil drives the'breech-block backward, closing the space 36, where it is interrupted by its coming into contact with 'the locking dog. The parts now have the position shown in Fig. I Upto this time the locking-dog is still in engagement with the frame, and thus the backward movement of the breech-block is positively arrested; but the momentu m-block under the impulse derived from the initial recoi-l of the breech-block. continues on backward, and as the angular slot l2 moves' along the pin 27 it rocks the locking-dog upon the pin 26 and disengages the locking-dog from the frame, whereupon the breech-block and locking-dog are both bodily moved backward by the momentum-block to the end of its rear stroke. The hook 28 on the locking-dog, which catches over the riml of the cartridge-shell, carries the `shell back also with the parts, and dur-ing this backward movement the rim of the .shell strikes an ejector not shown) and is ejected in the Well-known manner. Assoon as the parts -xreachthis position, as shown in Fig. 12, the vcartridge is ejected through the side of Nthe frame through the action of a cartridge-stop,

(not shown,) and afresh cartridge from themagazine springs into place. During the rearward movement of the momentum-blockl the spring 18 is compressed, and at the termi'- nation 'of the rear movement it reacts and drives the momentum-block forward, carrying with -it the breech-block and locking-pin andthe fresh cartridge.` 1t will be observed thatV the breech-block and locking-dog do not lag behind this forward movement of the momentum-block, as lost motion is obviated, for the reason that the slot 12 cannot slide along the pin 27, as the pin 27 is held from lateral movement by reason of the locking-dogbearing against the inside face of the frame; but as soon as the locking-dog is sufliciently moved forward until its side comes opposite the locking-notch 35 the front end of the shoulder 32 strikes the frame,y which arrests the forward movement of the lockingdog, and the continued forward movement ofthe momentumblock and breech-block throws the locking-dog into the locking-notch 35 by reason of the inclined slot 12 slidingover the pin QT, and after the locking-dog is seated in the locking-notch the momentum-block and breech-block havea further slight movement forward, which' brings the breech-block out of contact with the shoulder of the locking-dog, thus providing for the slight backward thrust which transmits the recoil energy to the momentum-block,

which operates the arm.

y What I claim is 1. In an automatic firearm, a frame, a barrel mounted on said trame, a breech-block mounted in the frame, a momentum-block mountedl in the frame, the breech-block having a short primary movement imparted by an explosion in the barrel and a subsequent longer movement derived from the momentum-block, a recoil-springand means forsto p ping the breech-..

block after the short primary movement, energy derived from the recoil being imparted to ,the momentum-block to again actuate the breech-block, 'compress the recoil-spring and.

operate the arm.

In an automatic firearm, a frame, a barrel rigidly mounted on said frame, a breech-block mounted in the-frame, a 'momentum-block mounted in the frame, the breech-block bavinga short primary movement imparted by an explosion in the barrel and a subsequent` longer movement derived from the momentuxii-block, a recoil-spring. and means for stopping the breech-block afterthe short primary movement, energy derived from the discharge being imparted through the-short primary movement of the breech-block to the momentum-block to release the breech-block and again actuate the breech-block, compress the 'recoil-spring, and-operate the arm.

3. In an automatic firearm a frame, a barrel rigidly7 mounted in said frame, a breech-block slidably mounted in the frame, a momentumblock slidably mounted inthe frame and in operative contact with the breech-block, a recoil-spring,and meansfor stopping the breech'- block after ashortprimary movement imparted by an explosion in the barrel and imparting energy to the momentum block through the short primary .movement of the breech-block to release the breech-block and retract it along the frame, compress therecoil-spring and operate the arm.

IIO

4. In an automatic firearm, a' frame, a barrel fixed insaid frame, a breech-block having an' interrupted movement slidably mounted in said frame, a momentum-block mounted in contact with the breech-block and holding the 4breech-block in forward position when said parts are in closed position and receivinga recoil momentum from the breech-block upon the discharge of the arm, a spring in operative contact with the momentum-block, a locking-dog in operative 'Contact withV the breech-block and frame when saidv parts are in locked position and allowinga slight backward movement of the breech-block, said momentum-block being provided with means to operate the locking-dog in to and out of locked position upon its backward and forward movements and to reciprocate the breech-block on the frame.

5. In alirearm, aframm abreec-h-bloek slidably mounted in said frame, a locking-dog 'pivoted to said breech-block, and having at its,` forward end a cartri(ige-extracting hook., and means for reciprocating the breech-block and causing the hook to engage the cartridge and extractv the-same. y

6. In an automatic firearm, aframe,abreeehbioek sll'dably moun ted 1n eald frame, a hammer havinga cooking-notch -i'iivotally mounted 1n said frame, two sears of unequal lengthv -forwardly pivotally mounted in said frame so as to engage Separately the notch on the f hammer,v a trigger pivoted to said frame and havingl an extension formed thereon in the path of the shortest sear, and a member pivoteel thereon 'and yieldingly held in thepath of the longer Sear, an inclined abutment-on vthe frame to throw. the movable member on the trigger outof engagement with the longer Sear, and' means for cooking' the hammer and allowing the sears to consecutively engage the notch in the hammer upon the trigger being pulled.

7. In an automatic firearm', a frame, a barrel mounted in said frame, a breech-block mounted in said frame, a momentum-block mounted in said frame in operative Contact witlisa'id. breech-block, the breeeli-bloehy having a short primary movement imparted by an explosion inthe barrel and a longer secondary move- 4block mounted in said frame and receiving 4suteoaoae ieient energy from the short primary movement of the breech-block to unlock the breech-- bloeln impart to it the longer seeondary movement thus opening the breech of the arm and yoperating the other parts of the mechanism.

9. In an aulomatictirearm, aframeabarrel mounted on the frame, a breech-block mounted in the frame, means for stopping the breechblock after it has been moved back a delinite distance by an explosion, and adeviee coperating with the breech-block and receiving movement therefrom to release the breechblock and carry it farther backward and operate the arm.

10. In an automatic firearm, a frame, a barrel mounted on the frame, a breech-block mounted in the frame and movablebaekivard by successive steps, the movementi of the' breech-block through the first step being accomplished bythe explosion, and means de riving energy from the breech-block during its first step for moving backward and for pulling the breech-block therewith through its next step.

11. In an automaticiirearm, a frame, a barrel mountedjon th'e frame, a 'breech-block mounted 1n the frame' and movable through consecutive steps` means normally locked for vstopping the breech-block at the end of its tiret step which is caused by the explosion, and a device deriving energy from the breechblocl; as 1t moves through the sald iirst step for unlocking said means, thereby releasing eaid-breech-bloek, and for moving the breechblock through its said second step and operating the arm.

'In testimony whereof I have hereunto set day of August, 1904:.

CHARLES In presence of` GEORGE T. HACKLEY, ARTHUR P.V KNGHT.'

FREEMAN.

'my hand, at Los Angeles, California, this 4th

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