US1454039A - Automatic firearm - Google Patents

Description

May 8, 923.

A. L. CHEVALLIYER AUTOMTIC FIREARM 5 Sheet's-Sheet 1 Filed rDec:4 12, 1916 A. L. CHEVALLIER AUTOMATIC FIREARM May 8, 1923.

Filed Dec. l2. 1916 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Il.. D

May 8, M923.

A. L. CHEVALLIER AUT OMAT I C FI REARM 1916 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec, l2

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A. L. CHEVALLIER AUT OMAT I C F I REARM 1916 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. l2

Nw rwu Patented May 8, 1923. i

ARNOLD LOUIS CHEVALLIER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

AUTOMATIC FIREAIRM.

Application filed December 12, 19.16. Serial No. 136,531.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS F THE ACT 0F MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. L., 1313.)

To all whom z't may concern.:

Be it known that I, ARNOLD LOUIS CHEVALLIER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 6 Knaresborough Place,

Cromwell Road, London, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Firearms (for which I have filed applications in Great Britain, Apr. 20, 1915, and Nov. 19` 1915), of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to, improvements in automatic small arms of the 'type which comprises' an inertia weight Within which are an unlocking spring and a firing spring l5 so arran ed that during the rearward movement o the barrel on recoil these two springs are compressed and the subsequent expansion of the unlocking spring causes first a rotation of the bolt to unlock and then the rearward movement of the bolt, weight and bolt carrier, while the expansion of the firing spring is prevented by a sear engaging a bent on the firing pin, the forward movement of the weight and bolt being ei"-V fected by a closing spring or springs.

The object of the present invention is to render the automatic action more certain and to effect various other improvements in the weapon.

kThe invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Figuresl and 1a of which vare a. longitudinal section of a weapon Iliade in accordance therewith; Figure 1b is a side view of the bolt; Figures 2 and 3 '35 are tranverse sections on lines 2-2 and 3 3 respectively; Figure 4 shows a detail; Figures 5, 5a and 5" are a right hand elevation parts being in section and Figures '6, 6*l and 6J ay plan of a weapon similar in its action to that shown in Figures 1 and l but fitted with a jacket to prevent overheating. Figure 7 is a rear view of the weight and Figure "8 a transverse section through the muzzle and jacket. Figures 9 and 9a are a left hand elevation of the shoe and weight; Figures .10 and 10a are a plan of the shoe; Figure 11 is a front view of the weight and Figures 12 and 13 are sections on lines 12-12 and 13-13o Figures 9 and 1() respectively. Figure 14 is a longitudinal :section and Figure 15 a plan of the racewa-y. Figure 16 is a longitudinal section of. the raceway showing the closing spring. Figure 17 is aside elevation ot the raceway and weight. Figure 18 is a section through the 55 boss on line 18-18 of Figure 14. Figure 19 is a "section on the line 19-19 of Figure 17. F igures 20, 21, 22 and 23 are sections on the lines en -ao. zi-Q1, ca 22, 23e-23,

of Figure 14, and Figure is a section on the line 24-24 of Figure Figures 25 and 26 are a left hand elevation. and a front view of the bolt carrier.

1 is the shoe, 2 the barrel, 3 the boss, 4 the raceway and 5 the weight.

The barrel is supported by two rings 'or tubes 6, 7, of which 6 is split and isy carried by a block 8 which fits into the front of the shoe, being secured by a screw 9. Into the bloc-k 8 screws a rod 10 which car- 7" ries at its rear end a strap 11 embracing and clamping the ring 6. The rings 6, 7, are kept at thfe correct distance apart by a sleeve l2 surrounding the rod 10. The ring 7` which carries the foresight 13, is sur- 75 -rounded and strengthened by a strap 14 into which the enlar ed front end of the rod 10 fits and whic is prolonged rear- Ward to form the bayonet attachment.

The barrel is screwed with a leftwhanded 80 thread (so that the action of the bullet on the riiing may tend to screw the barrel tighter) into the boss 3 which is formed in one with the racewa-y 4. On the underside of the latter is a feather 15 in the shape of an inverted T. This is of such a length that in assembling it can enter the opening 16 in the lshoe through which the cartridges rise from the magazine 17. The feather engages grooves 18 cutl in the shoe. The boss also has upon it ylateral ribs 19 which engage grooves 20 near the front of the shoe.

On the underside of the boss is alug 21 which enters through a slot 22 (see Figure 95 10a) a cylindrical space 23 in the shoe Vand 26 which can be moved transversely through grooves in the boss and shoe. This plunger has in it a groove 27 so that when itis ink the position shown in Figure 2, the boss can recoil, but when it is pushed transversely into its other position in which it will be held by a spring 28 engaging a nick, movement between the recoiling and non-recoiling parts is prevented and the weapon is no onger capable of automatic action.

In the space 23 and in front of the lug 21 is a cushioning spring 29 adapted to prevent the recoiling part from hammering against the non-recoiling part when itk is returned by the run-out spring. 30 is a piston mounted on a rod k31 and interposed between the lug and the spring 29.

32 is the bolt carried by the tubular bolt carrier 33 which surro-unds the two springs 34, 35. The action of the weight, the bolt, the bolt carrier and the springs s very similar to that of the corresponding parts as described in British specification No. 16175 of 1912 exceptthat the helical lugs and grooves are situated between the bolt and the bolt carrier. Normally the weight is locked to the non-recoiling part i. e. the shoe, by a lever 40 mount/ed on the right of the weapon on a horizontal pivot 41 and having a lug 42 engaging a. shoulder 43 on the weight.

On recoil a stud 44 on the boss comes against an incline 45 onl the lever and turns it down withdrawing the lug 42 from behind the shoulder 43 so that the weight is freed. 46 is a spring which presses the lever upward into its operative position and the movement of the lever is limited by a stud 47. In order that it may be possible readily to release the weight when desired, the lever is prolonged upwards and carries a thumbpiece 48. On firing theretore the weight remainsstatonary and the barrel, bolt carrier and bolt recoil relatively tothe weight, compressing the springs 34 and 35; the spring 35 is. as will be descr'bed later, prevented from expanding, but when 44 comes against incline 45, the weight is freed from the shoe and the spring 34 expands driving the weight rearward frelatively to the bolt carrier. This is the only function of the spring 34. The weight and carrier then recoil together and move rearward away from the barrel and boss which are now checked by the run-out sprng: the the helical-lugs 321 (see Figure 1b) and grooves now rotate the bolt for one sixteenth part of a revolution to unlock and 4for' carrier 33 and the bolt does not start recoiling away from the bossk until the carrier has moved away from it about half an inch. It then moves rearward with the carrier and is prevented from turning by the engagement of a tooth 36 formed upon it with a groove 37 in the ra'ceway. At the end of the forward movement of the bolt this toothleaves the end of the groove and the bolt is turned to lock by the momentum of the weight and carrier.

The movement of the bolt carrier relative to the weght is limited by a stud 3S screwed'into the weight and entering a slot in the bolt carrier. y It will be seen that the entire movement of the barrel 4and raceway relatively to the shoe iscgreater than the movement of the barrel. bolt carrier and bolt relative to the weight before the unlocking but is less thank twice that movement. Rotation of the carrier within the weight is prevented by a guide rod 39 which projects rearward from the front of the carrier and enters a longitudinal hole bored in the weight.

The closing spring 49 is contained in a tubular cas'ng 50 as shown in Figures 15 and 16. In front of the spring is a plug 51 having on it a tooth 52 which extends out through a slot 53 in the casing 50 and engages an arm 54 on the bolt carrien The closing spring is preferably made in two kparts with aL double thimble 55 between them.

Or `I may connect the carrier to `the closing spring as shown in Figures 17, 19, 25 and 26 by a lever 56 pivoted on a long`tudinal pivot 57 in ,the carrier and having an arm 58 passing through a slot in the raceway and engaging an annular groove 59 in a plug 60 at the front of the spring. The lever is normally kept in engagement by a spring'61 against which it can be turned by hand when it is desired to disconnect the carrier from the spring. The operation is as follows s-On discharge the weight being locked to the shoe by parts 42 and 43 the barrel and raceway recoil against spring 24 until stopped by pin 25. During this part of the recoil spring 34 is compressed by the bolt carrier and spring 35 is compressed by the firing pin; stud 44 then comes against part 45 of lever 40 which frees weight 5. Spring 34 is therefore free to expand, driving weight 5 and carrier 33 rearwardly slightly relative to bolt and barrel. The bolt is therefore turned owing to the engagement of its helical lugs 321 with the corresponding grooves in the interior is therefore unlocked from the boss 3.v The weight, its springs, the bolt carrier and bolt are therefore free to move rearward, which they do, compressing spring 49. As this spring expands again it moves the bolt carrier, bolt and weight forward again and the carrier thrusts llU realices the bolt inte the barrel and loclrs it, und rhe piece is ready lo lire.

ln Figure 6 is shown e supplementary hurler 62 and run-out spring 63 lying in e hole in ehe raceway and bearing againsiJ a stop pillar 6l which carries the backsight.

'lhe rearward movement of the weight is normally limited by a peil of shops y65 carried by e spring blade 66. These stops lie in ihe path of shoulders 67 on the side walls of the weight. Should it be desired *to withdrew the weightI beyond its normal rearmost position, +che blade can be benl; down by pressing on ihe stops with the ngers.

' 'lhe ,motion of the weightl in front of its normal posifon is prevented by a sind 68 on the shoe (see Figures 9 and l0.)

ylhe operating lever 69 surrounds the rear parl; of the weight and has upon il toes 70 adapted io engage slots 7l at the rear of ihe raceway lo retain the anti-recoiling part, when lhe lever is turned into the correct position, au, the rear of the hand iravel and to engage slots 7 2 in the middle of the racewey when ihe lever is iurned right over ihe dotted position of Figure e. l ln thls posirion the weapon is safe as *che cam suriece of che lever 69 then lies in lhe path of the tail 73 ci 1the firing pin 74 and prevents ii moving `forward lo lire.

The pinl 74 passes through the boli and JLhrough 4he rear parl of the weight and iis rear end is flat et the sides (see Figure 3) io prevent il from turning on its axis'. A bent is formed in it by removing a portion or it and; ai: this bent it is surrounded by e ring 75 pressed downwards by a spring 76 in ihe lop oi ithe weight. When the pin 7l moves lo die rear ai: the commencement oi recoil, that is, before bhe weigh"J parishes in ihe recoil, 'ehe ring 75 drops vinto the posiiion in which it is shown in Figures l and 3 and prevents the iring spring from expanding, thai is, keeps the weapon cocked.

77 is the trigger pivored on -a rensverse axis '78 and having a forwardly projecting erin 7S, Jehe iront or which carries a pivoied nose 80 pressed against la stop 8l by a spring 82. This nose normally rests against :i shoulder 83 ai, the rear of a lever 8e pivoted on a ransverse stud 85; ehe front of this lever lies beiween the jaws of a piece 86 nomally held down by a spring 87. Beiween ihe piece 86 and the ring 75 is plunger 88. llhen the trigger is pulled the nose 80 rocks the lever 84 which raises the plunger 88 and this lifts the ring 75, thus allowing Jche pin 7l lo ily forward and lire. The nose 80 slips oil 'the end of the lever 8l which is restored to the position shown by the spring 87. When the trigger is released' it is refrurned to the position shown by the irigger spring 89 and the nose turns on its pivot ageinsi its spring 82 so that it can rise into the position of engagement.

In order to prevenl the magazine spring 90 from raising the nexh` cartridge too quiclrl e. rib el is provided on. the under side o the bolt carrier 33 which holds down the earridge while the bolt carrier is mov? ing rearward. en this movement is complete, the cartridge rises slighily und is then held down by a, plate or frame 92 (see Fig. ures 22 and 24) working in a slot in the righi: or the raceway. This fre is held by e spring 93 in the position shown so thet il; prevenls `the cartridge rising until the latter is pushed forwerd and upward-by the bolt with force sudicienil to press the piel/e inward against the spring and the cartridge then entiers rhe chamber.

ln some cases ll provide the barrel willi n cooling jacket 94 es shown in Figures '5, d and 8. ln this case the barrel is not supported by ehe rings 6, 7 and siraps ll end 14, but the jacket is carried by a ring 95 which can turn on e horizonial pivot 96 ai the iront or' the shoe. rl`he muzzle is secured v to the front of the jacket by a oep 97 having inwardly projecting ribs 98 which pass through slots in the irona oi the jechet and embrace the muzzle which is :made octegonfal.7 99 is a shield which springs over ehe rear `of the jacket and encloses the hess and front of the sides oi the weigh-.iJ so ther, there is no danger of the thumb or linger being caught between the moving paris.

l. ln en automatic lire arm, the combinetion of a shoe, a magazine and irigger mech anism both fast with the shoe, a barrel, e raceway secured to the barrel, the barrel and raceway being capable of recoiling upon .the shoe, a weight capable of sliding on the raceway, means for normally locking the weight to ihe shoe and a boli carrier and. bolt within 'the weighs.

2. ln an automatic lire erin, fthe combinerion oi? a shoe, a magazine and irigger mech anism both fast with the shoe, a barrel, e racewey secured to the barrel, the barrel and ee l iin

raceway being capable of recoiling upon the shoe, e. weighs capable of sliding on elle raceway, means for normally locking the weight lo the shoe, end a bolt carrier end boltwithin the weight. he distance hrough which the barrel and rnceway can move relatively to the shoe bearing to he disence through which the barrehboll carrier and bolt can inove relatively lo ihe weighh a ratio that does not exceed 2:1 end is noi; less than unii'v.

ln an euomatic dre arm, combination of a shoe. n magazine and rigger mechanism hoih 'fast wih he shoe, a barrel, a

raceway secured lo the harrel, lthe barrel and racewny being capable of iecoiling upon the shoe. e weight capable ci sliding on he raceway. ineens for normally locking `the weight .fthe shoe, s bolt carrier and holt tion of a shoe, a magazine and trigger mechanism both fast with the shoe, a raceway free to recoil upon the shoe, a barrel secured to the raceway, a weight capable of rearward movement upon the raceway, means for norlU mally locking the weight to the shoe, means whereby the recoil. of thev barrel and raceway relative to the shoe releases the weight from the shoe, a bolt, means for locking the bolt to the barrel, a bolt carrier disposed l5 within the weight and having within it helical grooves engaging helical lugs on the bolt and a spring between the bolt carrier and the weight.

' 5. In an automatic fire arm, the combination of a shoe, a magazine and trigger mechanism both tast with the shoe, a raceway free to recoil upon the shoe, a barrel secured to the raceway, a weight capable of rearward movement upon the raceway, means for normally locking the weight to the shoe, means whereby the recoil of the barrel and raceway relative to the shoe releases the ,weight from the shoe, a bolt, means for locking the bolt to the barrel, a bolt carrier disposed within 3" the weight and having within it helical grooves engaging helical lugs on the bolt, a spring between the bolt carrier and the weight, and a firing pin within the bolt and a' firing spring between the firing pin and.,l the weight.

6. In an automatic fire arm, the combination of a shoe, a magazine and trigger mechanism both fast with the shoe, a barrel, a raceway secured to the barrel, the barrel and 4o raceway being capable of recoiling upon the shoe, a weight capable of sliding on the raceway, means for normally locking the weight to the shoe, a bolt carrier and bolt within the weight, a lug on the raceway projecting v4.3 into a space formed in the shoe and a runout spring contained in the space and bearing against the lug.

l. In an automatic fire arm, the combination of a shoe, a magazine and trigger mechanism both fast with the shoe, a barrel, a

raceway secured to the barrel, the barrel and raceway being capable of recoiling upon the shoe, a weight capable of sliding on' the raceway, means for normally locking the weight to the shoe, a bolt carrier and bolt within the weight and means for preventing movement of the raceway and barrel relative 'to the shoe.

8. In an automatic firearm, the combinaun tion of a shoe, a magazine and trigger mechanism both fast with the shoe, a barrel, a raceway secured to the barrel, the barrel and raceway being capable of recoiling upon the shoe, a weight capable of sliding on the race- 55 way, means for normally locking the weight magos@ to the shoe, a bolt carrier and bolt within the weight, a lug on the raceway projecting into a space l:formed in the shoe, a run-out spring contained in the space and bearing against the lug and means for preventing movement o the raceway and barrel relative to the s oe.

9. In an automatic re arm, the combination of a shoe, a magazine and trigger meehanism both fast with the shoe, a raceway, a barrel secured to the raceway, a feather on the underside of the raceway adapted to be mserted through the magazine opening in the shoe and to enter a roove therein, a weight capable of rear warg movement along the raceway and means for normally locking the weight to the shoe.

10. In an automatic fire arm, the combination of a shoe, a magazine and trigger mechanism both fast with the shoe, a rin supported at the front of the shoe, a ro proj ecting forward from the ring, a second ring carried by the front end of the rod, a raceway adapted to slide upon the shoe, a barrel secured to the raceway and adapted to be supported by and to slide in the two rings, a weight capable of rearward movement on the raceway and means for normally locking the weight to the shoe.

11. In an automatic fire arm, the combination of a shoe, a magazine and trigger mechanism both fast with the shoe, a ring suported at the front of the shoe, a rod projecting forward from the ring, a second ring carried by the ro'nt end ofthe rod, a raceway adapted to slide ipon the shoe, a barrel secured to the raceway and adapted to be supported by and to slide in the two rings, a ug protruding from the raceway into a cylindrical space formed in the shoe, a runout spring located in said space and bearing against the lug, a weight capable of rearward movement on the raceway and means flclxr normally locking the vwreight to be s oe.

12. In an automatic fire arm, the combination of a shoe, a magazine and trigger mechanism both fast wlth the shoe, a raceway free to recoil upon the shoe,`a barrel secured to the raceway, a weight capable of rearward movement along the raceway, a horizontal transverse pivot Fcarried b the shoe, a lever mounted on the pivotan engaging the weight and' means adapted on recoil to turn the lever out of engagement with the Weight. 13. In an automatic fire arm, the combination of a shoe, a magazine and trigger mechanism both fastv with the shoe, a raceway free to recoil upon the shoe, a barrel secured to the raceway, a weight capable of rearward movement along the raceway, means for normally lockingthe weight to the shoe and a shield adapted to cover the rear of the barrel and the front of the weight.

ini

14. In an automatic fire arm, the combinaa firing pin and spring carried by the weight, tion of a shoe, a magazine and trigger mecha sear ring adapted to engage a groove in the anism both fast with the shoe, a raceway pin and a plunger adapted to be actuated by 10- free to recoil upon the shoe, a barrel secured the trigger mechanism and to lift the ring 5 to the raceway, a Weight capable of rearout of the groove.

ward movement along the raceway, means for normally locking the weight to the shoe,t ARNOLD LOUIS CHEVALLIER.

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