Closed breech gun utilizing a hollow bolt and a firing pin as a gas cylinder and a piston, respectively

Aug. 1, 1967 G. r. kruzell 3,333,508

CLOSED BREECH GUN UTILIZING A HOLLOW BOLT AND A FIRING

PIN AS A GAS CYLINDER AND A PISTON. RESPECTIVELY

Filed Jan. 30, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

Filed Jan. 30, 1967

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Aug. 1,1967 g. r.kruzell 3,333,508

CLOSED BREECH GUN UTILIZING A HOLLOW BOLT AND A FIRING

AND A PISTON, RESPECTIVELY

Sheets-Sheet c

FIN AS A GAS CYLINDER Filed Jan. 30, 1967

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United States Patent Office 3,333,508 _____________________ Patented Aug. 1, 1967

333 508

CLOSED BREECH GUN UTILIZING A HOLLOW BOLT AND A FIRING PIN AS A GAS CYLINDER AND A PISTON, RESPECTIVELY

George R. Kruzell, 301 Hotchkiss, Bay City, Mich. 48706

Filed Jan. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 612,376

Claims. (Cl. 89—179)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The gun here disclosed utilizes the hollow bolt and ¹⁰firing pin as a gas cylinder and piston for automatic cocking and loading.

With the bolt locked, recoil movement of the firing pin responsive, to gas pressure in the firing chamber initiates retraction of the hammer, and a linkage between the hammer and bolt lock disengages the latter to permit recoil of the bolt by residual gas pressure in the firing chamber, and its subsequent spring return, for automatic loading and firing.

The firing pin spring is compressed by abutment between the firing pin and hammer near the end of the bolt recoil movement, and its subsequent expansion insures closing of the bolt well in advance of the hammer movement to permit operative positioning of the bolt lock « between them. ⁰

If the bolt is not fully closed, this prevents operative positioning of the lock which, in turn, intercepts the hammer to prevent firing.

thereafter to utilize a portion of its inertia during continued retraction for actuating a linkage through which hammer retraction movement is imparted to the bolt lock to retract the lock and thus to permit subsequent retraction of the bolt itself by the action of residual gas pressure within the barrel.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, engagement between the firing pin and the hammer is utilized for cushioning and arresting the recoil movement of the bolt as well as for projecting the bolt toward closing position sufficient in advance of the hammer as to permit operative positioning of the bolt lock rearwardly of the bolt without interference from the hammer.

The invention further contemplates as an optional feature the provision of a novel extractor mechanism particularly adapted for use with ammunition of the type in which the case is consumable, to facilitate removal of faulty rounds of ammunition.

In this application, I have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of my invention, together with one specific modification, and have used rather precise language to describe the invention and its several components.

It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is capable of various further modifications; and accordingly, the drawings and description herein are not to be construed as limitative in nature, but merely as exemplary.

Description of drawings

Brief summary of the invention

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application, Ser. No. 495,964, filed Oct. 14, 1965, which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of my prior application, Ser. No. 382,864, filed July 15, 1964, now U.S. Patent No. 3,225,657.

The invention relates to improvements in a closed breech gun of the type generally disclosed in my prior application, Ser. No. 495,964, filed Oct. 14, 1965. In the disclosure of such application, as in the present invention,. the firing pin is carried for operative movement within and through a bolt which is mounted in the receiver for operative movement in alignment with the barrel, and a bolt lock is automatically spring projected across the path of the bolt each time the latter is closed, the gas pressure from the firing chamber being admitted to a cylinder within the bolt to react against the firing pin so as to urge same through a limited retraction movement toward a fully retracted and sealed position.

In accordance with such prior application, movement of the bolt lock to its operative position is relied upon for actuating the firing pin. For retracting the bolt lock to permit recoil movement of the bolt after each firing, there is provided externally of the barrel a piston and cylinder unit suitably linked to the bolt lock and actuated by gas through a bleed passage communicating with the barrel medially of its length.

In the present invention, such an external unit is eliminated, while the firing pin and the firing pin striker or hammer are associated with each other and with the other parts to assume this function.

In accordance with a further important feature, the bolt lock, when operatively positioned, is interposed between the hammer and the firing pin to prevent firing of the gun except when the bolt is fully closed and the lock is fully projected.

A further important feature consists in utilizing recoil action of the firing pin under gas pressure for imparting retraction movement to the hammer with sufficient momentum to withdraw the latter from the bolt lock and

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary sectional view in a vertical longitudinal plane through a closed breech gun incorporating the invention, with the gun loaded and cocked for ³⁵ firing;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but with the bolt and firing pin in their retracted positions immediately after firing a round of ammunition;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the struc⁴⁰ ture shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a section on line 4—4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a section on line 5—5 of FIGURE 3.

In the form herein specifically disclosed, the gun of ⁴⁵ the invention is capable of automatic firing, and is especially adapted for use with ammunition of the consumable casing type.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, the gun of the invention includes a barrel 19 of generally ^ϋυ conventional structure formed with a bore 11 therethrough which is formed at its rear end to define a firing chamber 12 and which terminates rearwardly in a breech opening. Preferably, the breech opening is defined by a conical annular sealing surface 13. By suitable coupling ⁰ means, such as the threaded coupling 14 shown in the drawing, the barrel is affixed to the forward end of the generally tubular receiver 15. The boltwell 16 defined within the interior of the receiver, is elongated and aligned with the barrel to receive and guide the bolt 17 itself for movement between a rearwardly retracted open position and a forwardly projected closed position. The bolt 17 is suitably adapted at its forward end for sealing engagement with the breech opening, preferably being provided with an external conical surface 18 for sealing ^b5 engagement with the interior conical surface 13 which defines the breech opening.

A generally conventional magazine 20 has its delivery end communicating with the interior of the receiver to _7Q deliver a fresh round of ammunition 21 thereinto in advance of the bolt each time the latter is fully retracted, whereby the return and closing movement of the bolt will

3,333,508 feed the round into the firing chamber in a generally conventional manner.

The magazine may be of a generally conventional type in which the several rounds of ammunition rest upon and are propelled outwardly by a follower plate 22 under 5 the action of a compression spring 23.

The firing pin 25 is housed within the generally tubular bolt 17 for a limited degree of actuating movement so that the striker 26 may be projected forwardly by its associated hammer 27 to operatively engage and detonate ₁₀the primer of a round of ammunition 21 in the firing chamber. The gas pressure from the firing chamber 12 is then utilized to retract the firing pin to a sealed position within the bore of the hollow bolt.

In addition to its usual function of detonating the rounds of ammunition, the firing pin 25 in the instant invention performs the highly important function of functioning as a plunger, actuated by gas pressure from the barrel and firing chamber, to thrust against the hammer 27 and to commence the latter on its return or retraction movement with sufficient force and momentum that the latter will be fully retracted even though disengaged from the firing pin after but a short length of travel of the two together.

The bolt lock 28 is guided in a transversely disposed 25 portion 29 of the receiver 15 for movement to and from a predetermined locking position across the path of retraction of the bolt, and resilient means such as the spring 30 is employed for moving it toward its operative locking position. It is to be noted, of course, that the bolt 30 lock 28 is so positioned that it is capable of movement to its locking position rearwardly of the bolt only when the bolt is fully closed.

As thus far generally described, the parts and their mode of cooperation correspond with the disclosure of 35 my earlier application, Ser. No. 495,964.

Referring in somewhat more detail to the various parts, the hammer 27 comprises a generally piston-like mass 31 having substantial inertia which is guided in the receiver for operative movement independently of the bolt ⁴⁰and in alignment with the barrel from a retracted position on the remote side of the bolt lock from the barrel. The hammer may be retained in its retracted position by a conventional sear 32 under control of a trigger, which, though not illustrated, may be arranged in the same manner disclosed in my prior application, Ser. No. 495,964.

In order that it might actuate the firing pin without having its movement arrested by the intervening bolt lock, the hammer is formed with a probe or extension 31' projecting toward and in alignment with the firing pin 25, and the bolt block 28 in turn is formed with an opening or aperture 28' which is positioned for free passage of the hammer extension 31' only in the operative locking position of the bolt lock. If, for any reason, the bolt lock 28 is not fully projected to its operative position, the mis-alignment of the bolt lock opening with the hammer extension will cause the bolt lock to intercept and arrest the movement of the hammer and to bar same from contact with the firing pin.

As in the parent application earlier referred to, the firing pin 25 is provided with a piston 33 which is disposed in the gas cylinder 34 adjacent the forward end of the bolt for snug sliding movement within limits relative to the bolt. The striker 26 of the firing pin is carried by and projects forwardly from the piston, being slidably disposed through an opening 35 in a bearing plug 36 which is threaded or otherwise secured at the forward end of the cylinder. The gas pressure arising from the firing of each round of ammunition is communicated to the cylinder in advance of the piston to react against the forward face thereof. To this end, in the instant embodiment, the striker 26 has sufficient clearance with the opening 35 through the plug to permit such communication, and/or the plug is provided with a gas port such as 37.

Forward movement of the firing pin 26 when struck by the hammer is limited by engagement between the firing pin piston 33 and the threaded plug 36. Retraction movement of the firing pin within the bolt is limited by engagement of the piston 33 with a stop 38 within the cylinder, such stop preferably being in the form of a generally conical sealing surface which is adapted for sealing engagement with a similar conical surface 39 around the rear end portion of the piston. With this arrangement, it is possible to prevent any leakage of actuating gas beyond the piston.

For transmitting the retraction or recoil movement of the firing pin 25 to the hammer 31, as well as for receiving the impact of the hammer, the firing pin terminates rearwardly in an anvil 40 which is slidably disposed in the rearward bore portion of the bolt and is connected to the piston by means of the rigid rod 41. A spring 42, which is coiled about the rod, is compressed between the anvil and an annular spring seat 43 to exert a resilient rearward thrust upon the firing pin tending to maintain it in its inoperative or retracted position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rear end of the bolt 17 and the forward face of the bolt lock 28 are formed with similarly upwardly and rearwardly inclined but opposed cam faces 44 and 45 arranged for wedging engagement with each other incident to upward projection of the bolt lock to its operative position. This arrangement, which is generally similar to that employed in my prior application, Ser. No. 495,964, and in my Patent No. 3,225,657, utilizes the projecting force of the bolt lock to effect the full closing of the bolt in the event same is not completely closed prior to engagement by the bolt lock. But if the bolt 17 is not fully closed, then the engagement of the cam faces 44 and 45 of the bolt lock and bolt will prevent full or complete projection of the bolt lock to its operative position. In such event, the opening 28' through the bolt lock will be misaligned with the hammer extension 31' to prevent actuation thereby of the firing pin 25.

It will have been perceived from the foregoing that, before the retraction of the bolt 17 can commence after each firing, the hammer 27 and more particularly its extension 31' must be fully withdrawn and disengaged from the bolt lock 28, following which the bolt lock itself must be withdrawn against the action of its spring to an inoperative position out of the path of retraction of the bolt.

The necessary withdrawal and/or retraction of the hammer 27 is produced by the impact thereagainst of the rearwardly moving firing pin 17 as earlier men50 tioned. The hammer 27, in turn, by virtue of the momentum imparted thereto by the firing pin, stores sufficient energy both to return it fully to its retracted position after disengagement from the firing pin and also to actuate a linkage subsequent to its disengagement ⁵⁵ from the bolt lock for retracting the latter.

A linkage appropriate for that purpose may assume any of various forms as will be readily apparent.

In the particular embodiment here illustrated and as best shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, the linkage com6° prises rigid arms 46 affixed to the hammer portion 31 by pins 46a which project outwardly from the hammer through slots 49' in the receiver. The arms 46 project forwardly from the hammer for movement on opposite sides of the bolt lock 28, through passages (FIG65 URE 4) provided between the receiver 15 and the cover plates 47 on opposite sides of the receiver.

Carried by each arm 46 adjacent its free end is a generally triangular cam 48 which is pivotally connected γθ thereto at 49 for swinging, in a vertical plane, within predetermined limits, governed by an engagement of its respective edges 48α and 48Z&gt; with a stop pin 50, also carried by the arm.

Preferably the pivot pins 49 project inwardly for guid75 ing reception in slot 49' through the receiver walls to

3,333,508 the hammer toward the firing pin 25, and the weapon thus cannot fire.

At this time, the hammer 27 will have: been cocked and retained in position by its sear 32. Upon disengaging the sear 32 from the hammer, by suitable actuation of a trigger or other mechanism, the hammer is immediately projected forwardly by its spring 29; and, assuming that the lock 28 has been fully projected to its operative position, will move freely through the apertured bolt lock to impact against the rear end of the firing pin, and thus to project the firing pin forwardly so that its striker will engage and ignite the primer of the round of ammunition.

On firing of the round ammunition, the missile portion 21' thereof will be forced forwardly through the barrel by the resulting gas pressure. The remainder of the ammunition will be instantly consumed by the ignition of the propellant charge, since the cartridge casing is of the combustible or consumable type. The gas pressure from the explosion is, therefore, free to enter the forward end of the gas cylinder 34 through the clearance between the firing pin striker and its opening 35, or through other suitable ports 37, to then react against the piston portion 33 of the firing pin.

Thus, with the bolt 17 still locked in its closed position, the gas pressure from the barrel will impel the firing pin 25 rearwardly within the locked bolt 17 for a limited distance, until relative movement of the firing pin and bolt is arrested by engagement of the firing pin with the sealing surface 38 within the bolt. As earlier noted, the interengaged stop surfaces 38, 39 of the bolt and the firing pin establish a seal to prevent leakage of the gas between them, and to cause the entire gas pressure thereafter to react against the bolt.

At this time, the gas pressure will be substantially at a maximum; but throughout the maximum pressure phase, the hammer extension 31' will be disposed through the apertured lock 28 to positively prevent displacement or retraction of the lock and/or the bolt.

The rapid, though limited, degree of firing pin retraction mass and momentum of the hammer 27 are such that it will complete its full retraction stroke after movement of the firing pin has been arrested. After a sufficient degree of such retraction movement of the hammer to fully reaperture, the hammer 27 is coupled to the bolt lock through the lock retracting mechanism 46-52 which utilizes a portion of the continuing hammer movement for retracting the bolt lock 28.

In the form· of lock retracting mechanism herein specifically illustrated, the swingable cam plates will have been swung rearwardly and upwardly by contact with the follower pins 51, so as to pass freely thereover during the forward stroke of the hammer.

On the ensuing rearward or recoil stroke of the hammer, the cams 48 will be locked by the stops 50 against forward swinging or yielding, so that their cam edges 48c will impact sharply against the follower pins 51 of the ^Ιθ0Λ ,²? ^to,^{retract the} latter only after the hammer opening 28'.

The timing of the foregoing movements is such that the bolt 17 will be unlocked after the pressure of the ignited gas has passed its maximum, but while sufficient to react against and retract the bolt, so that the ensuing retraction and return of the bolt will effect an automatic reloading of an additional round of ammunition from the magazine 20 into the firing chamber 12 in well known

As the hammer nears the completion of its retraction stroke, it passes over and temporarily depresses the sear 32, through engagement with the cam edge 32' of the sear, providing the weapon is being operated as a semi-autoprevent vertical deflection of such pins 49 on the free ends of their supporting arms, incident to the vertical forces imparted thereon incident to the camming function hereinafter described.

For cooperation with the cams 48, the bolt lock 28 has affixed thereto follower pins 51 which project from opposite sides thereof, for movement with the bolt lock through vertical slots 52 in the opposite sides of the receiver, in position for engagement by the depending portions of the cams 48, incident to operative movement of the hammer 27.

Thus, when the hammer is projected forwardly, with the parts positioned as in FIGURE 3, the arms 46 will be projected forwardly on opposite sides of the bolt lock 28 to substantially the broken line position shown fragmentarily near the right-hand end of FIGURE 1. In so doing, the forward vertical edge 48« of each cam will strike its associated follower pin 51, and will thereby be rocked rearwardly about its pivot 49 to ride forwardly over the pin 51.

· Upon abrupt termination of its forward movement by impact of the forward extension or hammer striker 31' with the firing pin, and on its ensuing rearward return movement, the depending pendulum-like portion of each cam, below its. pivot 49, will be swung downwardly by 25 its inertia to its operative position (limited by engagement of its edge 48b with the stop 50) in which its diagonal cam edge will strike sharply against the follower pin of the bolt lock, to impart a rapid retraction movement to the lock.

Obviously, the vertical extent of the cams 48 need not coincide fully with the retroactive movement of the bolt lock, since the rapidity of the movement initially imparted to the bolt lock will be such that the retraction thereof may be completed by the momentum ini- 35 tially imparted to the lock, even though the camming action is discontinued before the lock is fully retracted.

An extractor for removal of unfired ammunition from the firing chamber is provided by an undercut recess in 1’......- ‘ ______________ ___ wardly-presented face 55 of the recess functions in the manner of hooks to engage behind the rear end rim of the cartridge casing. It will be understood that the cartridge casing, in such event, will be of a somewhat resilient plas- ______ _xuc uammer lu iuiiv reconsumable. material, in which the rear end rim is 45 tract or withdraw its projection 31' from the bolt lock adapted to be cammed inwardly or radially compressed ' -- — 'by the forwardly-diverging surface at the mouth of the bolt to then expand after moving past the rear faces.

Operation

In the.operation of the invention, when a round 21 of ammunition is loaded into the firing chamber 12 and the various parts are in readiness for firing, they will be positioned as illustrated in FIGURE 1. Thus, the bolt 17 is locked in its forwardly-projected operative position by the 55 bolt lock 28 which has been projected by its spring 30 across the path of retraction of the bolt 17. Incident to the operative projection of the bolt lock, its inclined cam f_xC^e,45^Wblh^aveeng^agedthe cooperating cam face 44 of --------- — . mut, umy auei me nammer the bolt and urged the bolt forward to a fully-seated posi- 60 striker 31' has been fully withdrawn from the bolt lock tion in which its sealing surface 18 fully engages the conical, sealing surface 13 to seal the breech opening defined by the latter.

The .round of ammunition will have been rijoved into ._o...... _{lla ulaAWlluu}, _{oul wuue sumcie}m the firing, chamber 12 m advance of the bolt. 17; and where 65 residual gas pressure still remains in the firing chamber the bolt is provided with an extractor 55, same will have *----- - ’ .. ...... . - . ® grippingly engaged the rim. of the round of ammunition, as shown.

If the bolt should’not have fully closed, the interengagement between the bolt 17 and bolt lock 28 will have 70 manner, prevented the latter from being fully projected to its operative position.. If, for this or any other reason, the lock is not fully, projected, the opening through the bolt lock will be misaligned with the path of movement of the hammer extension, so that the lock will interrupt the movement of 75 matic or as a single-shot weapon. The sear, in such event, the forward end of the bolt in which the overhanging rear- 40 within the locked boitT^d to tteha^e™

3,333,508 ⁷ will be then automatically spring projected in front of the hammer to retain the latter in its cocked and retracted position against the force of its spring until the sear is again released. If the sear is retained in its retracted or inoperative position, the firing will then occur automatically.

Throughout the retraction movement of the bolt 17, a portion of same will extend across the path of projection of the bolt lock 28 to retain the latter retracted until the bolt is again closed.

As the bolt is retracted rearwardly beyond the mouth of the magazine 20, a fresh charge of ammunition is delivered into the receiver 15 in front of the bolt 17 to be urged forwardly by the bolt and into the firing chamber upon subsequent closing of the bolt.

Where the firearm is to be fired automatically, the extent of the bolt retraction movement is such as the movement nears completion, the firing pin will re-engage the hammer 27, through its extension 31', the hammer at this time being substantially at the end of its retraction stroke, and any continued retraction movement of the bolt thereafter will compress and store energy in the firing pin spring 42. Such stored energy in the firing pin spring will supplement that of the bolt return spring 19 and will result in projecting the bolt forwardly on its return or closing stroke, sufficiently in advance of the hammer, that the bolt will reach its fully closed position, and the bolt lock 28 will have been automatically projected into operative position rearwardly thereof, before the hammer has advanced sufficiently on its return stroke that its extension 31' might interfere with operation of the lock 28. In other words, such cooperation serves to effect a sufficient delay of the return movement of the hammer relative to that of the bolt to allow ample time for actuation of the bolt lock.

While such timing is essential to the operation of the gun as a fully automatic firearm, it is of course not essential to operation of the gun as a single shot or semi-automatic firearm.