GB2137325A - Recoil spring system for self-loading firearms - Google Patents

Abstract

A recoil spring system for a self-loading pistol type firearm having a reciprocating breach block slide comprises a pair of compression springs located in respective tunnels (B1, B2) in the side walls of the slide (B), each said spring abutting at its front end against the front inner wall (B9) of the slide and at its rear end against a stop (A2) on the frame (A), which stop on recoil of the slide passes through a slot at the rear of the slide connecting the tunnel to an external surface of the slide. The springs can be kept safely in the slide even after disassembly thereof from the fire arm. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Recoil spring system for self loading fire arms This invention relates to self loading fire arms ofthe pistol type in which a reciprocating breech block slide is employed, and which is provided with spring means for imparting a constant regular spring pressure in a forward direction upon the slide, this pressure serving to regulate the recoil ofthe slide on discharge of a cartridge in the barrel ofthe fire arm, and returning the slidetotheforward battery position, the slide performing all the usual functions related to a self loading fire arm on its forward motion.

The usual practice in self loading pistols isforthem to employ a spring or springs to exert forward pressure upon a slide, the spring or springs being placed around a suitable guide rod, or rods, or in a suitable recess or recesses and being compressed around or in these on recoil ofthe slide. The usual practice in self loading pistols isthat on disassembly ofthe pistol the recoil spring or springs become loose and detached from the other parts ofthe pistol.

The disadvantage of this practice in pistols is that upon disassembly, accommodation must be found for the spring or springs, and these are liable to be misplaced, damaged, or exposed to dirt.

Greater convenience is provided by certain pistols that retain the spring on the barrel, that being a guide, or retain the springs in tunnels or recesses and allow the userto remove them at the users discretion. These convenient systems are usually employed on low power pistols not using a locked breech system.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide for self loading pistols orfire arms recoil springs securely accommodated in the slide, and kept in the slide in a manner permitting easy and quick removal by the userwhen required.

It is another object ofthe invention to simplifythe manipulations involved in disassembling and assembling a self loading pistol or fire arm.

It is another object ofthe invention to provide a recoil spring system for a self loading pistol orfire arm that does not require tools to disassemble it.

It is another object of the invention to provide recoil springs that are retained in the pistol's slide at all times, and are only removablefrom theslideatthewill oftheuseraftertheremoval ofthebarrelfromthe pistol frame.

It is a further object ofthe invention to provide a recoil spring system for a self loading pistol or other fire arm that is of simple construction and cheap to manufacture.

According to the invention, there is provided a self loading fire arm ofthe pistol type, having a reciprocating breech block slide and spring means for exerting pressure in a forward direction on said slide to regulate the recoil of said slide on discharge of a cartridge in the barrel of said fire arm, said spring means comprising a pair of compression springs held in respective tunnels formed in the side walls of said slide and extending substantiallythefull length thereof, each said spring abutting at its forward end against the front wall ofsaid slide and at its rear end against respective stop on the frame of the fire arm, which on recoil of the slide passes through a slot at the rear of the slide connecting the tunnel to an exterior surface of the slide.

An embodiment ofthe invention is shown in the drawings and will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, a self loading semi automatic pistol provided with means constructed and arranged in accordance with this invention fora spring system to furnish a reactive force to enable the slide and related parts to perform a correct firing, extraction, ejection, and cartridge feeding cycle, showing the pistol with the slide in the forward battery position, recoil spring system fitted; Figure 2 is a perspective view ofthe front recoil spring guide and retainer, viewed from the left front; Figure 3 is a perspective view ofthe front recoil spring guide and retainer, viewed from the left rear; Figure 4 is a left elevation view of the rear recoil spring guide; Figure 5is a transverse vertical section of Figure 1 upon line 1;; Figure 6is a transverse vertical section of Figure 1 upon line2; Figure 7is a transverse vertical section of Figure 1 upon line3; Figure 8 is a transverse vertical section of Figure 1 upon line 4; Figure 9 is a perspective view of the slide, viewed from front lower left; Figure 10 is a perspective view ofthe frame, viewed from left above; and Figure ii is a longitudinal transverse section of the front slide along the axes ofthe recoil spring tunnels, showing removal or insertion offront and rear recoil spring guides with attached recoil springs.

In the self loading pistol represented in Figure 1,the slide B has two longitudinal parallel circular tunnels B1 and B2 which pass clearfrom the front ofthe slide to the position B3. Flat horizontal planes B4and B5 run parallel beneath each tunnel and two vertical slots B7 and B8 pass from the rear ofthe slide, each slot passing along the axis of a tunnel,the slotsterminat- ing atthe position B6 as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 9. The recoil spring P has at each end a coil of reduced diameter. Each spring holds at one end a recoil spring front guide 0 and at the opposite end a recoil spring rear guide R. Each guide has an annular groove, R1 and Q1,into which the reduced end coils of the recoil spring securelyfit.The complete spring unit of spring, front guide and rear guide is inserted into its respective tunnel, feeding the end R2 ofthe rear guide into cavity B1 5 inside each slide front wing and thus into the continuation of holes B1 and B2 atthe rear of each cavity. The rear spring guides are pushed rearwards in each spring tunnel B1 and B2 until each front spring guide enters the respective cavity, when the front Q2 of each front spring guide can be pushed into the cavity. When pushed into the cavity spring pressure will force each front spring guide forwards against the rear ofwall B9 and the forward section 03 of each spring guide can enterthe rear of hole B1 and B2 in each wall B9.The flange 04 on each front spring guide will preventthespring guidesfrom passing through the hole B1 or hole B2 in each wall B9. With the rear guides forced rearwards by recoil spring pressureagainstthetermination of each spring tunnel at point B3 in the slide the recoil spring units will be securely retained in their respective tunnels and thus in the slide.

The slide is mounted onto theframe Afrom the front, the frame guide ribs A9 engaging in the slide grooves B1 1. The slide is retracted to the rear, and the rear recoil spring guide will impinge upon the frame wingsA2, thereby starting to compress the recoil springs before the slide is in the front battery position as shown in Figure 1 .The space B12 shown in Figure 1 represents the amount of compression the recoil springs are subjected to when the slide is in the battery position. In the pistol represented, the slide is preventedfrom moving forward offtheframe bythe barrel C being held by a locking block seating against frame pin Al.The locking block having a wing passing transversely through a recess underthe barrel and engaging in recesses B13 ofthe slide. When the slide is retracted fullythe hold open catch X can be engaged in slide cut out B20 and the trigger guard D is depressed, pivoting the locking block around pin Al, and disengaging the locking block wing from the barrel allowing the barrel to be removed forward, the barrel ribs C5 running in slide longitudinal grooves B21. After barrel removal the hold open catch can be disengaged from the slide cutout and the slide can be removed forwards offtheframe guide ribs.

ltis possiblethata number of means could be used to secure the barrel and slide to the frame, but this would notaffectthe application of this invention.

The concave circular cavity Q5 in the front ofthe front spring guide is intended to help disassembly of the recoil spring units from the slide. An object such as the point of a ball point pen, the pointed end of a nail, the pointed bullet end of a rifle cartridge, or any other suitable shaped object, can be placed in the cavity Q5 and pressure exerted againstthetension ofthe respective spring.When the forward section Q3 ofthe respective spring guide is clear of hole B1 or B2 in walls B9 the front of Q2 ofthe spring guide can be pivoted inwards to clear the inward edge ofthe wall B9.The inherent flexibility of the recoil spring will allowthe pivoting of the front recoil spring guide and the removal ofthewhole recoil spring unitfromthe tunnel B1 or B2, whichever, the recoil spring flexing inwards in cavity B1 5 as it is withdrawn, as it would when being inserted, andtherewould be ample clearance to allow the rear recoil spring guideto clear the tunnel, and with the recoil spring attached, also with the spring flexed atthefront R3 ofthe rear guide, the rear guide can be removed inwards from cavity B15, as in Figure 11.

The application ofthe invention to other small arms differs in no essential respectfrom its application to pistols ofthetype hereinbefore described.

The terms "harizontal" and "vertical" as used herein referto the pistol or otherfire arm when held in fhe normal firing position.

Claims (5)

1. A self loading fire arm ofthe pistol type, having a reciprocating breech block slide and spring means for exerting pressure in a forward direction on said slide to regulate the recoil of said slide on discharge of a cartridge in the barrel of said fire arm, said spring means comprising a pair of compression springs held in respectivetunnelsformed in the side walls of said slide and extending substantially the full length thereof, each said spring abutting at its forward end againstthefrontwall of slide and at its rear end against a respective stop on the frame ofthe fire arm, which on recoil oftheslide passes through a slot at the rear ofthe slide connecting the tunnel to an exterior surface of the slide.

2. Afire arm as claimed in Claim 1, wherein both ends of each said spring are provided with respective guide members, each having a stem portion which penetrates into the end ofthe spring, an annular groove into which the end coil ofthe spring which is of reduced diameter is a spring fit, and a portion adapted to abut respectively againstthefrontwall of said slide and said stop.

3. Afire arm as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the abutting portion of said forward one of said guide members is provided with aflange part adapted to abut againstthe innerside ofthefrontwall of said slide, and a nose portion projecting through an aperture in said front wall ofthe slide, whereby said spring can be disengaged from abutmentagainstthe front wall ofthe slide for removal by pressure exerted on the projecting end of said nose part.

4. Afire arm as claimed in anyone of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each said tunnel is provided with an inwardly directed laterally-extending aperture at its forward end through which said spring can be introduced into or removed from said slide, after removal ofthe barrel and the slide from the fire arm.

5. A self loading fire arm of the pistol type substantially as herein before described with referpence to and as shown in the drawings.