WO2007122626A2

WO2007122626A2 - Assault pistol rifle

Info

Publication number: WO2007122626A2
Application number: PCT/IL2007/000515
Authority: WO
Inventors: Efraim Yaari
Original assignee: Silver Shadow Advanced Security Systems Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-04-26
Filing date: 2007-04-26
Publication date: 2007-11-01
Also published as: WO2007122626A3; IL175232A0

Abstract

An assault pistol rifle (10) including a lower receiver (12), an upper receiver (11) having a bolt carrier assembly (21) slidably located therein, the upper receiver (11) being attached to the lower receiver (12), a charging handle (37) arranged for sliding in a handle housing (30) and operative to move the bolt carrier assembly (21), a recoil spring mounted (18) in the handle housing (30) and arranged to resiliently bias the bolt carrier assembly (21) forward, a barrel (13) having a cartridge chamber for receiving therein a cartridge (35), the barrel (13) being engaged in the upper receiver assembly (11) and arranged to receive the bolt carrier assembly (21) in temporary locking engagement therein, and a gas actuation system for communicating heated gas from a bore (13A) of the barrel to the bolt carrier assembly (21).

Description

ASSAULT PISTOL RIFLE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to firearms and particularly to an automatic/semi-automatic hand-held pistol based on the design of the military M 16 rifle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Ml 6 automatic rifle and the ARl 5 semi-automatic rifle have been the standard issue weapons of the U.S. military and civilian police departments for decades. The rifle design was originated by E. M. Stoner and developed by Fairchild Engine and Airplane Company in the 1950's. Modified versions of the M16 designated as the M16A1 and M16A2 are currently in use by armed forces in the U.S. and throughout the world. A civilian semi-automatic version of the Ml 6 designated as the ARl 5 is sold to civilians by Olympic Arms of Olympia, Wash. When used herein, the phrase "Ml 6" is intended to include all versions of the Ml 6 and ARl 5 previously and currently being produced.

One of the basic patents on gas-operated firearms is US Patent 2,951,424 issued to Stoner on Sep. 6, 1960, disclosing the M16 bolt and bolt carrier system and the gas operation thereof. Stoner describes a rifle utilizing a gas tube that extends from gas ports in the barrel, back into the receiver of the rifle and into a gas tube pocket or "key" attached to the bolt carrier. US Patent 3,236,155 to Sturtevant describes an auxiliary bolt closure mechanism for the Ml 6 rifle.

US Patent 5,448,940 to Schuetz et al. describes a modified Ml 6 pistol capable of firing rifle cartridges therein in automatic or semi-automatic mode. The pistol is based upon modified Ml 6 upper and lower assemblies, with a pistol barrel, an Ml 6 gas actuation system, and a spring-biased buffer system mounted on top of the Ml 6 upper receiver assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a novel assault pistol rifle, which is a modified Ml 6 pistol capable of firing rifle cartridges therein in automatic or semiautomatic mode, as is described more in detail hereinbelow. The weapon of the present invention may have a novel recoil spring and may also have a novel adjustable recoil gas system, as is described more in detail hereinbelow.

There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention an assault pistol rifle including a lower receiver, an upper receiver having a bolt carrier assembly slidably located therein, the upper receiver being attached to the lower receiver, a charging handle arranged for sliding in a handle housing and operative to move the bolt carrier assembly, a recoil spring mounted in the handle housing and arranged to resiliently bias the bolt carrier assembly forward, a barrel having a cartridge chamber for receiving therein a cartridge, the barrel being engaged in the upper receiver assembly and arranged to receive the bolt carrier assembly in temporary locking engagement therein, and a gas actuation system for communicating heated gas from a bore of the barrel to the bolt carrier assembly.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the barrel is in fluid communication via a gas port with a gas passage tube which is fluidly connected to a gas key, the gas key being attached to a bolt carrier assembly, wherein gases from firing of a cartridge pass from the barrel via the gas port into the gas passage tube and impact the gas key so as to force the bolt carrier assembly rearward and compress the recoil spring, wherein a compressive force stored in the recoil spring is capable of driving the bolt carrier assembly forward for reloading another cartridge into the cartridge chamber.

A portion of the charging handle may pass through the recoil spring. A portion of the recoil spring may be received in a bore formed in the gas key. The gas key may be formed with a mating port, which at a distal end thereof, fluidly communicates with the gas passage tube. The upper receiver assembly may be pivotally attached to the lower receiver assembly. The lower receiver may include a butt receiving member for fastening thereto a rifle butt.

In accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a gas adjustment assembly is also provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a simplified cross-sectional side view of an assault pistol rifle, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a simplified sectional side view of a gas key, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, which is to be attached to a bolt carrier of the assault pistol rifle of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a simplified cross-sectional side view illustration of a gas adjustment assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which illustrates an assault pistol rifle 10, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The pistol 10 may include an upper receiver 11 pivotally attached to a lower receiver 12 and having a barrel 13 engaged (e.g., threadedly engaged) in the upper receiver 11. A handguard 14 (which may be cylindrical) may engage (e.g., by threaded engagement) the forward end of the upper receiver 11 and may secure barrel 13 to the upper receiver by engaging an external shoulder formed on barrel 13. Barrel 13 may have a central rifled bore portion 13B passing from a cartridge chamber area 13C to the muzzle end of baπrel 13. A gas passage or port 13A communicates with rifled bore 13B. The gas port 13 A may fluidly communicate with a gas passage tube 78, as in a conventional Ml 6 rifle. However, unlike a conventional M 16 rifle, in an embodiment of the present invention, gas passage tube 78 is fluidly connected to a novel gas key 102.

Reference is now made additionally to Fig. 2, which illustrates gas key 102, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Gas key 102 may be attached to a bolt carrier 21 (Fig. 1), such as by means of two bolts 103 and 105 (Fig. 1) that pass through front and rear gas key screw holes 106 and 104 (Fig. 2). Bolt carrier 21 has located therein, in a partially rotatable and slidable relationship, a conventional M 16 bolt 20 having a conventional M 16 firing pin 22 slidably located therein. Gas key 102 may be formed with a mating port 80 (Fig. 2), which at a distal end 81 thereof fluidly communicates with gas passage tube 78 (Fig; 1). Mating port 80 may have an angled extension 82 (Fig. 2) that fluidly communicates with an annular chamber 84 (Fig. 1) defined by the bolt 20 and bolt carrier 21 as in a conventional M16 rifle. Gas key 102 may be formed with a proximal bore 86 (Fig. 2).

The upper receiver 11 may further include a charging lever or handle 37 that slides in a handle housing 30. Unlike a conventional Ml 6, a recoil spring 18 is located in handle housing 30, and charging handle 37 may pass through recoil spring 18. A portion of recoil spring 18 may be received in bore 86 of gas key 102. A distal end 54 of charging handle 37 may be arranged to engage a distal face of gas key 102 for pulling back gas key 102 and bolt carrier 21, as is mentioned hereinbelow. The handle housing 30 may be formed with an accessories rail 56, such as a Picatinny rail or Weaver rail, for example.

Lower receiver 12 ma be of a conventional Ml 6 design and may include, without limitation, a magazine well 24, magazine 25 with cartridges 26, trigger 27, hammer 28, disconnector 29, pistol grip 34 and pinned connections 38 and 39. As opposed to the open bore threaded end of a conventional Ml 6 lower receiver, in the present invention the rearward end of lower receiver 12 may comprise a bulkhead 36. Bulkhead 36 is shown as smooth and flat, but alternatively it may comprise lugs, rails, indents, pawls or other fastening means for fastening thereto a rifle butt (not shown).

Otherwise, all the remaining components located in the lower receiver 12, commonly referred to as the lower receiver assembly, are of the conventional Ml 6 construction. Likewise, the bolt 20 and firing pin 22 comprise a conventional bolt assembly of an Ml 6 rifle.

In typical operation, the pistol 10 may initially have the bolt/bolt carrier assembly 20, 21 resting in the forward position. A loaded magazine 25 containing live rounds of ammunition 26 is loaded upward into magazine housing 24 until the magazine engages a magazine catch as usual in a conventional Ml 6 rifle. The charging handle 37 is then pulled rearward to its rearmost travel point near the end of handle housing 30 which pulls with it the bolt/bolt carrier assembly 20, 21 to its rearmost position while simultaneously compressing recoil spring 18. When the bolt/bolt carrier assembly 20, 21 has reached its rearmost position, the operator of the weapon then releases the charging handle 37 and the force of compressed spring 18 slides the bolt/bolt carrier assembly 20, 21 forward, thereby stripping a live round 35 from magazine 25 and moving it into the chamber of barrel 13.

Utilizing conventional Ml 6 camming procedures, bolt 20 moves into locking engagement in the chamber by passing through the chamber locking lugs and then rotating behind, thereby providing full lock-up of the bolt in the chamber prior to firing of the cartridge. When the trigger 27 is pulled, hammer 28 is released and strikes firing pin 22 driving it into the primer of the cartridge 35 thereby firing the cartridge 35. The bullet from the cartridge 35 passes down the rifle bore 13B and exits the muzzle end of barrel 13. After the bullet passes by gas port 13 A, heated gases from firing of the cartridge pass up through gas port 13A into gas passage tube 78. The gas passes down gas passage tube 78 and impacts gas key 102 camming the bolt out of engagement with the locking lugs and driving bolt/bolt carrier assembly 20, 21 rearward in the housing until the compression of spring 18 slows and then stops rearward movement of the bolt/bolt carrier assembly. The compressive force stored in spring 18 then drives the bolt/bolt carrier assembly 20, 21 forward again, stripping another live round from the magazine and reloading the gun for firing. Just as ha a conventional Ml 6, the movement of bolt/bolt carrier 20, 21 rearward also serves to recock hammer 28 and trigger 27 by conventional means utilized in Ml 6 rifles. This is accomplished by rearward movement of the bolt carrier against the hammer which pushes the hammer back into a cocked position as the bolt carrier slides over the hammer in its rearward movement. Thus, the cycle of firing one round is completed and the weapon is now reloaded and recocked and ready for firing again.

Fig. 1 illustrates pistol 10 with gas passage tube 78 that is similar to the conventional gas passage tube of an M- 16. Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which illustrates a gas adjustment assembly 90, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, which may be used to adjust the gas pressure of the heated gases from the fired cartridge that return through gas port 13 A into the gas passage tube 78 to impact gas key 102.

The gas adjustment assembly 90 may include a valve 91 in fluid communication with gas port 13 A, which as described above, fluidly communicates with rifled bore 13B of barrel 13. Valve 91 may vary the cross-sectional flow area for the gases to pass from pas port 13 A and thus may regulate the gas pressure flowing therethrough. Valve 91 may have predefined, discreet positions that provide a plurality of different gas pressure settings (such as four shown, although the invention is not limited to this construction). Alternatively, valve 91 may have an infinite number of gas pressure settings. Valve 91 may direct the gas flow to a tube 92 which may fluidly communicate with gas key 102 via another tube 93 (or via tube 93 and appropriate fluid passages formed in handle housing 30 of Fig. 1).

In summary, the present invention discloses an Ml 6 pistol capable of firing the high pressure, high capacity rifle cartridges such as the 5.56 NATO round (.223 REM.). Although the present invention is disclosed in semi-automatic format, it is obvious that the present invention could also be utilized in a full automatic, submachine gun configuration by altering the conventional ARl 5 semi-automatic lower receiver assembly into the conventional Ml 6 full automatic receiver assembly by the use of the full-auto sear and the proper safety, disconnector, trigger and hammer assembly. Since, as previously mentioned, the lower receiver and the lower receiver assembly are conventional Ml 6 construction (except for the rear face of the receiver), one skilled in the art can easily modify the present invention to fire either semi-automatic (ARl 5) or fully automatic (Ml 6) with conventionally obtainable parts.

Although a specific preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in the detailed description above, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms of embodiments disclosed therein since they are to be recognized as illustrative rather than restrictive and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited. For example, whereas the present invention is described with reference to the 5.56 NATO caliber, it is clear that the invention could be used in other calibers as well, such as but not limited to, 6 mm, .222 Rem, .222 Rem Magnum, and many others, by modifications known to those skilled in the art, given the teachings of this disclosure.

Claims

C L A I M SWhat is claimed is:

1. An assault pistol rifle comprising: a lower receiver; an upper receiver having a bolt carrier assembly slidably located therein, said upper receiver being attached to said lower receiver; a charging handle arranged for sliding in a handle housing and operative to move said bolt carrier assembly; a recoil spring mounted in said handle housing and arranged to resiliently bias said bolt carrier assembly forward; a barrel having a cartridge chamber for receiving therein a cartridge, said barrel being engaged in said upper receiver assembly and arranged to receive said bolt carrier assembly in temporary locking engagement therein; and a gas actuation system for communicating heated gas from a bore of said barrel to said bolt carrier assembly.

2. The assault pistol rifle according to claim 1, wherein said barrel is in fluid communication via a gas port with a gas passage tube which is fluidly connected to a gas key, said gas key being attached to a bolt carrier assembly, wherein gases from firing of a cartridge pass from said barrel via said gas port into said gas passage tube and impact said gas key so as to force said bolt carrier assembly rearward and compress said recoil spring, wherein a compressive force stored in said recoil spring is capable of driving said bolt carrier assembly forward for reloading another cartridge into said cartridge chamber.

3. The assault pistol rifle according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said charging handle passes through said recoil spring.

4. The assault pistol rifle according to claim 2, wherein a portion of said recoil spring is received in a bore formed in said gas key.

5. The assault pistol rifle according to claim 2, wherein said gas key is formed with a mating port, which at a distal end thereof, fluidly communicates with said gas passage tube.

6. The assault pistol rifle according to claim 1, wherein said lower receiver comprises a butt receiving member for fastening thereto a rifle butt.

7. The assault pistol rifle according to claim 1, further comprising a gas adjustment assembly.

8. The assault pistol rifle according to claim 8, wherein said gas adjustment assembly comprises a valve in fluid communication with said bore of said barrel, said valve being adapted to vary a flow area for gases to pass therethrough.