WO2008014984A1

WO2008014984A1 - Gas removal arrangement and barrel, and/or weapon with a gas removal arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2008014984A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/006780
Authority: WO
Inventors: Norbert Fluhr; Wolfgang Bantle
Original assignee: Heckler & Koch Gmbh
Priority date: 2006-08-03
Filing date: 2007-07-31
Publication date: 2008-02-07
Also published as: KR20090043503A; EP2047204A1; DE102006056130A1; US20090229454A1; CA2659573A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gas removal arrangement (3) for a barrel (1), with the gas removal arrangement comprising a gas cylinder (12) which is connected for communication purposes via a connecting channel (8, 10, 10a; 10b) to the barrel bore (4). In this case, an inlet piece (30) is provided which matches the effective flow cross section (10a; 10b) and thus the operating pressure in the gas cylinder (12) to a specific weapon configuration. The invention also relates to a barrel assembly and to a weapon having a gas removal arrangement (3) such as this.

Description

Gas take-off assembly and barrel or weapon with a Gasabnahme- arrangement

The invention relates to a gas take-off assembly for a barrel of a gas-pressure self-loading weapon (e.g., a machine gun) having a gas cylinder in communication with the barrel bore. Such a gas take-off device is known for example from DE 196 15 181.

The term "barrel" below denotes both a gun barrel with moves and fields as well as a smooth gun barrel. Directional indications such as top, bottom, front, back, right and left are given for an attacking weapon from the point of view of the shooter.

In so-called gas pressure boosters in which the loading mechanism is driven by the ammunition gas pressure, a gas piston is arranged in a gas cylinder. The gas cylinder is largely closed at one end, so that between the gas piston end face and the end wall of the gas cylinder, a pressure chamber is formed which communicates with the interior of the barrel. When firing the ammunition gases enter this pressure chamber as soon as the projectile has passed the junction between the gas chamber and barrel bore. The incoming gases build up a working pressure in the pressure chamber, which acts on the end face of the working piston.

The resulting force acts on the power piston on a drive linkage, which is part of the loading mechanism in the weapon, and the cartridge supply and removal, the closure movement, and possibly the tensioning of the trigger mechanism causes. With fully automatic weapons, this mechanism is driven, so long the trigger is held in the pulled position.

The detonation energy released during the firing is thus diverted partially for the weapon drive.

Usually, the flow cross-sections, the design of the gas piston and the pressure chamber are tuned to a particular weapon that a desired firing frequency, the so-called. Cadence is set, and a mechanical overload of the drive mechanism is prevented. For this purpose, in addition to the radial connection to the barrel, the pressure chamber at the front end with an axial gas outlet opening for pressure adjustment and - vote. Thus, the gas entering the gas cylinder from the barrel partly exits the gas cylinder or the pressure chamber into the environment, so that a lower pressure acts in the pressure chamber compared to the barrel. Such an embodiment is also known from DE 196 15 181.

There are also mechanisms in which the amount of gas exiting radially from the barrel enters the end of the chamber axially into the pressure chamber (see, for example, DE 648 391). The incoming gas quantity can be metered via an adjusting screw. Here is the

Venting of the gas cylinder, however, characterized in that the

Piston completely leaves the cylinder, thus allowing the gas outlet.

Changes to the weapon or the ammunition also change the gas pressure conditions in the barrel bore or in the gas cylinder. If, for example, a normally equipped weapon - with a muzzle brake - alternatively provided with a muffler, so increases the gas pressure in the barrel bore and thus also in the gas cylinder or in the pressure chamber. As a result, the working piston is accelerated more. This results in that also the loading or repeating process is accelerated in an automatic weapon. The same effect occurs when a different type of ammunition is used (higher propellant charge, higher projectile mass). The so accelerated charging also increases the cadence. This is accompanied by an increased consumption of ammunition and the mechanical stress on the weapons components is increasing rapidly. The unnecessarily increased consumption of ammunition can be a logistical problem in the military use of such weapons, as more ammunition must be carried and provided at the site of the weapon, without the effect of the weapon is correspondingly improved. The higher weapon load leads to increased wear and shorter maintenance and repair intervals.

A continuous adjustment of the flow and pressure conditions on the gas take-off device to stabilize the cadence is difficult and not practical under conditions of use.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved gas take-off device which at least partially eliminates the problems described above.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of claim 1. The invention is characterized in that the effective flow cross-section is tuned to a weapons configuration via a separate insert.

Weapon configuration in this context means a certain equipment of a weapon or the use of a specific ammunition with a weapon. By using an insert in the connecting channel between the barrel bore and the gas cylinder, a suitable flow cross-section can be realized in a simple manner via a suitably designed insert. Thus, different inserts with corresponding flow cross sections, which were determined for certain weapon configurations can be exchanged without further adjustments of the weapon. In the development according to claim 2 is such

Insert piece adjustable or removable designed to be used in the gas take-off arrangement. The provision of the insert in the Gasabnähmeanordnung is advantageous in so far as here the corresponding additional design and processing for the use of such an insert constructive and manufacturing technology is easy to implement.

According to claim 3, an insert may have a plurality of different through holes, which then define the desired flow cross section corresponding to a specific operating position of the insert. In this way, it is possible to "switch" back and forth between several operating modes. The adjustment is carried out according to claim 4 by rotating or moving the insert in the gas removal arrangement.

The latchable design according to claim 5 facilitates the repeatable setting of corresponding operating positions.

Claim 6 relates to a development in which a specially trained indentation has effective surfaces which cooperate with a securing element, so that over the active surfaces of at least one of the features Stellanschlag, latching surface, built-in fuse is realized. Stellanschlag means in this context that the adjustment of the insert is prevented beyond certain limits; Detent surfaces define the corresponding operating positions in the gas take-off arrangement; Installation safety means that an unwanted removal is prevented by a corresponding locking effect between the fuse element and the indentation. The indentation itself can be produced by correspondingly suitable machining methods (for example, turning, milling, grinding, precision casting, injection molding, etc.). According to claim 7, an indicator element is provided on the insert over which the operating position the insert becomes visible or palpable. Such a

Indicator function is particularly important in weapons, as the shooter can thus determine either "at a glance" or "with a handle" the appropriate operating position.

The development according to claim 8 facilitates the operation of the insert, wherein a hexagon socket profile with common tools or a slot with readily available tools (for example, coin) can be actuated.

Claims 9 and 10 relate to a barrel assembly with a gas take-off assembly according to the invention or a weapon with such a barrel assembly.

The invention will be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the drawings. Showing:

1 shows a longitudinal section through the mouth region of a barrel with a gas removal device according to the invention,

2 is an enlarged view of the gas take-off region of FIG. 1,

3 is a side view (from the right) of the GasabnähmeOrdnung invention,

4 shows a side view (from the left) of the gas removal order according to the invention,

5 shows a cross section through the gas removal order according to the invention in the region of the gas channel,

Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal section (sectional plane A-A in

Fig. 5) showing the latching / securing mechanism and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an insert for a gas removal arrangement according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows the mouth region of a weapon with the barrel 1, at the front end of a muzzle fire brake 2 is arranged. Behind the muzzle fire brake a gas pickup 3 is fixed to the barrel, which is coupled via an unillustrated linkage with the shutter mechanism, also not shown.

When the ammunition is fired, the ignited propellant catapults the projectile from the cartridge case through the barrel bore 4, which runs concentrically to the so-called core axis 6, forward out of the barrel mouth through the orifice fire brake 2 in the direction of the target. As soon as the projectile has passed the region of the gas take-off 3, a part of the propellant gas enters a tapping bore 8, which runs radially in the barrel 1 transversely to the bore 4, and is introduced via a coaxially adjoining gas channel 10 in the gas take-off 3 out of the gas cylinder 12 formed pressure chamber 14.

This area is shown enlarged in FIG. In the gas cylinder 12, a gas piston 16, which bears with a corresponding fit on the cylindrical inner wall of the gas cylinder 12 slidably. The fit between the outer surface of the gas piston 16 and the cylindrical inner wall of the gas cylinder 12 is selected so that the gas piston 16 is arranged displaceably in the gas cylinder 12, but largely gas-tight. The surfaces sliding along each other are mechanically processed accordingly (turning, milling, grinding, honing) and treated surfaces (hardened, chrome-plated, coated, etc.) to increase the durability. It can also be provided piston rings. The propellant gas entering the pressure chamber 14 builds between the end face of the gas piston 16 and the end face of the gas cylinder 12 and the pressure chamber 14 to a working pressure, the gas piston 16 and thus the throttle linkage moves backwards, wherein the throttle linkage transmits the pressure pulse to the weapon drive which drives the shutter and loading mechanism (both not shown).

The gas take-off 3 and the gas cylinder 12 formed integrally thereon are connected to the barrel 1 via a collar 18. The sleeve 18 can be shrunk with appropriate fit on a corresponding outer shell portion of the barrel 1. The axial position on the barrel 1 is defined by a shoulder 20 against which the collar 18 rests with its rear end face 21. About a pinning 22, the cuff 18 and thus the gas take-off 3 are additionally fixed axially and in the circumferential direction to the barrel 1. The pinning 22 is realized for example via conical or dowel pins which pull the collar 18 in the region of the gas channel 10 down - transverse to the axis of the soul 6 - on the outside of the barrel 1, so that the outer mouth of the tapping channel 8 tightly into the mouth of the Gas channel 10 passes. This seal prevents gas losses between barrel 1 and cuff 18.

In the illustrated embodiment, the gas piston 16 is provided at its front end with an auxiliary piston 16a, which partially immersed in the vent hole 24 in the illustrated in Fig. 2 starting position of the gas piston 16. Through the vent hole 24, a part of the propellant gas passes forward through the outlet nozzle 26, when the gas piston 16 has moved under the action of the propellant gas a piece to the rear, so that the auxiliary piston 16 a, the vent hole 24 releases. As a result, the pressure in the pressure chamber 14 is reduced and reduces the gas effect on the gas piston 16 and thus on the adjoining rear linkage. Thus, a "softer" pressure curve on the gas piston 16 is realized. So are the forces on the subsequent linkage and the reload / shutter mechanism reduced.

In the gas channel 10 itself, an insert 30 is provided, which is inserted into a transverse to the gas channel 10 and the axis of the soul 6 extending through hole 32 (see also Fig. 5). The insert 30 has in the illustrated embodiment, two at an angle of about 90 ° crossing and interpenetrating holes 10a and 10b, which have different diameters.

In the position shown in Fig. 2, the bore 10a connects the running side end with the gas cylinder end of the gas channel 10. By turning the insert 30 by 90 °, this can be adjusted so that the bore 10b connects the two ends of the gas channel 10 with each other. Depending on the selected connection bore 10a or 10b, the flow cross-section between the tapping bore 8 and the gas cylinder 12 and thus also the gas quantity flowing over it thus changes. Between insert 30 and through hole 32, a fit is provided so that the non-active hole 10 a or 10 b, which is not aligned with the gas channel, is sealed by the inner wall or through hole 32.

This adjustment possibility to adjust the flow cross-section between the tap hole 8 and gas cylinder 12 and pressure chamber 14 in a fixed predefined manner, allows to set the weapon to different modes to obtain the optimal cadence (protection frequency) in both modes.

For example, the use of a muffler (not shown) instead of the muzzle fire brake 2 when firing the same ammunition increases the gas pressure in the bore 4. This increased pressure would increase with unchanged gas channel cross section 10; 10a or 10b cause that would build up in the pressure chamber 14, a higher gas pressure, the in turn would lead to a higher acceleration of the gas piston 16. This in turn would increase the weft cadence and thus cause a higher load or stress on the shutter and reload mechanism. In the worst case, it may even lead to the ejection mechanism is no longer reliable and the period for tracking a new cartridge from the magazine is too short, so that it can be reliably introduced from the closure assembly in the cartridge chamber.

In order to keep the pressure build-up in the pressure chamber 14 constant even at a higher gas pressure in the bore 4, the insert 30 can now be adjusted so that a bore 10a or 10b connects the tapping bore 8 with the pressure chamber 14 with a narrower cross-section. The corresponding bore 10a or 10b thus throttles the overflowing gas so that the pressure builds up more slowly and thus the cadence remains constant.

in the illustrated embodiment, for NATO caliber 7.62 ammunition, a bore diameter of 1.7 mm bores 10a and 10b, respectively, is provided for use with a fire brake and a bore diameter of 1.2 mm for use with silencers. For other common calibres used in assault rifles, the diameters may be generally between 0.5 and 2 mm. For other weapons and calibers, however, the corresponding diameter must be adjusted and can also be in other areas.

To secure the insert 30 in the through hole 32 in the gas take-off 3, a combined adjusting and locking mechanism is provided, the function of the sectional representation in Fig. 6 and Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 7 can be removed.

Fig. 7 shows an enlarged perspective view of the insert 30. At one end, the insert a Actuator 34, with a laterally projecting

Actuating and display wing 36 is provided.

An internal hexagonal profile 38 and an actuating slot 40 are introduced in the end face of the adjusting head 34 (FIG. 3). Both are for inserting corresponding tools or auxiliaries (e.g., a coin) to rotate the insert 30 in the through-bore 32 and thereby adjust the desired connection bore 10a or 10b.

In the cylindrical shaft region 42, the two openings of the bores 10a and 10b can be seen in FIG. At the end of the shank region 42, a recess 44 is provided, into which a securing element 46 can engage (FIG. 6).

In cooperation with the securing element 46, the indentation 44 causes the following: The front end 52 of the securing element 46 engages in the indentation 44 in a spring-loaded manner. The corresponding spring force is biased via a compression spring 48, which is arranged together with the securing element 46 in a guide channel 49, via a locking pin 50.

The two radial edges 54 and 56 of the indentation 44 (see Fig. 7), in which the end 52 engages, put the axial

Position of the insert in the through hole 32 fixed and prevent accidental removal. The two

Radial flanks 54 and 56 are connected to each other by fillets 58 and 60. The indentation 44 and the bores 10a and 10b are matched in their arrangement to one another such that the fillets 58 and 60 each have a

Form stop in the circumferential direction, which together with the

Set end 52 of the final rotational positions of the insert 30 by the holes 10 a, 10 b are aligned with the gas duct 10 respectively.

Finally, the indentation 44 has two latching surfaces 62 and 64 which are connected to the end face 66 at the end 52 of Fuse element 46 cooperate. When twisting the

Insert 30 moves the two locking surfaces 62 and 64 separating edge 63 on the end face 66 and thereby pushes the securing element 46 against the spring force. If a certain rotational position is exceeded, the end surface 66 pushes against the edge 63 under the action of the spring 48 and further rotates the insert 30 into its end position, in which the corresponding bore 10a or 10b is arranged in alignment with the gas channel 10.

To remove the insert 30, the securing element 46 is provided with an actuating pin 68, which is accessible from outside via a groove 70 (FIG. 4). Over the actuating pin 68, the securing element 46 can be pushed out of engagement with the indentation 44, so that the insert 30 can be pushed out of the through hole 32. A shoulder 72 on the securing element 46 and a corresponding step 73 in the guide channel 49 prevent the securing element 46 from completely slipping into the through hole 32 when the actuating pin is released - with the insert piece 30 removed.

In the embodiment described above, an insert 30 is provided with two through holes 10a, 10b. In other embodiments, however, a plurality of crosswise disposed through holes may be provided, so that more than two different bore settings can be made. There are also embodiments in which a corresponding insert 30 has only a single bore and the gas metering can be made via a corresponding replacement of such inserts.

In yet another embodiment, the passage bores can also be arranged next to one another, ie in different axial positions on the shaft region 42. These holes can then by appropriate insertion or removal of the insert 30 with the gas channel 10 for Escapes are brought. The insert 30 is then as

Slider trained. Such a mechanism is to be provided with a corresponding locking device.

Further embodiments and variations of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

claims

1. Gasabnähmeanordnung (3) for a run (1) with a via a connecting channel (8, 10, 10 a, 10 b) with the barrel bore (4) communicating gas cylinder (12), wherein the effective flow cross-section (10 a, 10 b ) is tunable to a weapon configuration via an insert (30).

2. Gasabnähmeanordnung (3) according to claim 1, wherein the insert (30) adjustable and / or removable in the gas removal assembly (3) is designed to be used.

3. Gas Abnahmeanordnung (3) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insert piece (30) has a plurality of different through holes (10a, 10b) which define the flow cross-section corresponding to a certain operating position of the insert (30).

4. Gasabnahmeanordnung (3) according to claim 3, wherein the operating position by rotation and / or displacement of the insert (30) in the Gasabnähmeanordnung (3).

5. gas removal arrangement (3) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the insert piece (30) is formed latched in the corresponding operating positions.

6. Gasabnahmeanordnung (3) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a guide / securing element (46) is provided which engages in a spring-loaded in the insert (30) formed indentation (44), wherein at the indentation (44) at least one the following active surfaces is formed: Stellanschlag (58,60), locking surface (62, 64), built-in fuse (54, 56), which cooperates with the securing element (46).

7. Gas Abnahmeanordnung (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert piece (30) an indicator element (36) is provided, which indicates the operating position of the insert (30) optically and / or haptically.

8. Gas take-off assembly (3), wherein the insert

(30) has at least one interface for attaching an actuating tool, wherein the interface is preferably formed as a hexagon socket (38) and / or slot (40).

9. barrel assembly with a Gasabnähmeanordnung (3) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. weapon with a barrel assembly according to claim 9.