U.S. patent application number 10/796266 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-27 for loading device for a semi-automatic rifle.
Invention is credited to Pescini, Giuseppe.
Application Number | 20050016374 10/796266 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32843903 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050016374 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pescini, Giuseppe |
January 27, 2005 |
Loading device for a semi-automatic rifle
Abstract
A loading device for a semi-automatic rifle, in which said rifle
comprises a barrel (2) in which a cartridge (3) may be inserted,
operable by a loading and firing mechanism (4). The device
comprises a piston (12), slidable over a gas cylinder (11) of said
rifle, which operates said loading and firing mechanism (4), and is
actuated by a recovered portion of the gases generated by the
combustion of the charge contained in the cartridge.
Inventors: |
Pescini, Giuseppe; (Rovato,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James V. Costigan, Esq.
Hedman & Costigan, P.C.
1185 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2003
New York
NY
10036-2646
US
|
Family ID: |
32843903 |
Appl. No.: |
10/796266 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
89/191.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 5/26 20130101; F41A
5/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
089/191.01 |
International
Class: |
F41A 001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 11, 2003 |
IT |
MI2003A 000458 |
Claims
1. Loading device for a semi-automatic rifle, said rifle comprising
a barrel (2) in which a cartridge (3) may be inserted, operable by
a loading and firing mechanism (4), said device comprising a piston
(12), slidable over a gas cylinder (11) of said rifle, which
operates said loading and firing mechanism (4), and is actuated by
a recovered portion of the gases generated by the combustion of the
charge contained in the cartridge, characterised in that it
comprises a compressible and deformable toroidal, elastomeric body
(20) capable of transmitting to said piston (12) the thrust
generated by said recovered portion of gas in a thrust chamber
(S).
2. Device according to claim 1, in which said toroidal, elastomeric
body (20) encloses a sleeve (10) integral with said piston
(12).
3. Device according to claim 2, in which said sleeve is slidable
over said gas cylinder (11).
4. Device according to claim 2, in which said toroidal, elastomeric
body (20) and said sleeve are inserted in a cylindrical body (8)
joined at one of its ends to a support (9), connected to said
barrel (2).
5. Device according to claim 4, in which said support (9) comprises
a channelling (7) which directs the gas recovered from the barrel
toward the thrust chamber (S).
6. Device according to claim 1, in which said sleeve comprises an
annular portion (101) at one of its ends which is associated to
piston (12), and at the opposite end a control ring (17).
7. Device according to claim 6, in which said toroidal, elastomeric
body is inserted between said annular portion and said control ring
and is maintained in contact with the sleeve by way of an elastic
ring (18).
8. Device according to claim 7, in which said thrust chamber (S) is
delimited by the control ring (17) by the outer surface of the gas
cylinder (11) and by the walls of the support (9).
9. Device according to claim 8, in which said control ring (17)
determines the thrust surface for the gases which come from the
channelling (7) contained in said thrust chamber.
10. Device according to claim 9, in which said piston (12) is
maintained in contact with said sleeve (10) by way of an annular
spring (15), enclosing said gas cylinder (11), and blocked at one
of its ends by a shoulder (16) of said rifle butt (14).
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a loading device for
semi-automatic rifles. In particular, the present invention relates
to a self-compensating loading device for semi-automatic rifles
operated by a part of the gases created by the gunpowder
combustion. There are known systems for the arming of
semi-automatic rifles in which a portion of the gases created by
the gunpowder combustion is drawn from the chamber in the rifle
barrel. This gas portion is recovered and sent to a loading device
that converts, through a piston and a cylinder, the gas pressure to
kinetic energy, i.e. in a movement of the piston itself.
[0002] This movement of the piston is used for operating the arming
mechanism of the rifle itself.
[0003] The Applicant has observed that depending on the type of
cartridge, in particular the type of charge contained by the
cartridge, the quantity of the gas given off by the combustion
varies. Therefore, the gas pressure generated by the combustion
caused by a light charge cartridge is lower than that generated by
the combustion caused by a heavy charge cartridge. As a result, the
thrust induced on the piston by the gas under pressure varies
according to the type of cartridge fired, and in the case of
combustion caused by a heavy charge cartridge there may be too much
thrust with respect to the actual rearming requirement, and such
thrust may cause excessive stress on the arming mechanism elements
of the rifle. Moreover, in the case of combustion caused by a light
charge cartridge, the thrust caused by the gas under pressure may
be insufficient for the correct functioning of the arming
mechanism. Generally, the system is not very flexible and hardly
functional when using cartridges at the upper or lower limit of the
charge range.
[0004] In order to overcome such a drawback, the known technique
proposes the use of a higher-than-necessary recovered gas quantity
to operate the arming mechanism with light charge cartridges, while
the presence of valves to make excess gas flow out of the piston is
expected whenever heavy charge cartridges are used.
[0005] The Applicant has observed that the valve-based,
gas-quantity regulation systems require frequent cleaning since
gases created by the combustion have passed through them, as have
hence their residual products in order to function
sufficiently.
[0006] Moreover, also known are valve-less regulation systems
achieved without valves but provided with springs placed under the
piston thrust surface, which with its compression absorbs part of
the excess thrust energy.
[0007] The Applicant has also observed that the energy absorbed by
the spring is subsequently returned, however, in the direction
opposite to that of absorption and therefore on the arming
mechanisms, still causing considerable and uncomfortable stresses
and hence the sensation of recoil on the rifle is not attenuated in
an effective manner.
[0008] Moreover, absorption or regulation systems are known which
are made with a "double-face" piston which, in a first condition
optimises the piston for weak charges and in a second condition
optimises the piston for strong or heavy charges.
[0009] The system as conceived is not optimised for the numerous
types of commercially-available cartridges and is also problematic,
in that the selection of the two conditions occurs manually by
operating the suitable selection means, in particular if it is
desired to fire mixed rounds of diverse cartridges.
[0010] The Applicant has affronted the problem of making a simple
and efficient device for the arming of semi-automatic rifles,
actuated by a portion of the gas given off by the combustion caused
by the cartridge shot. Moreover, the Applicant has addressed the
problem of making the device efficient for each type of cartridge
fired, from cartridges containing weak charges to those with strong
charges.
[0011] The Applicant has produced a self-compensating loading
device for semi-automatic rifles, in which the generated thrust
from the recovered gases from the combustion caused by the
cartridge fired, is rendered of a sufficient quantity for the
correct rifle rearming, by way of an toroidal, elastomeric body
adapted to absorb the excess thrust when strong or heavy charge
cartridges are fired and not to interfere when weak or light charge
cartridges are fired.
[0012] One aspect of the present invention regards a loading device
for a semi-automatic rifle, in which said rifle comprises a barrel
in which a cartridge may be inserted, operable by a loading and
firing mechanism; said device comprises a piston, slidable over a
gas cylinder of said rifle which operates said loading and firing
mechanism and is actuated by a recovered portion of the gases
generated by the combustion of the charge contained in the
cartridge, characterised in that it comprises a compressible and
deformable toroidal, elastomeric body capable of transmitting to
said piston the thrust generated by said recovered gas portion in a
thrust chamber.
[0013] Further objects and advantages of the present invention
shall be clear from the following description and from the attached
drawings, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1a depicts a side and partial section view of a
semi-automatic rifle's central area with the loading device
highlighted according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 1b is an enlargement of a portion of the rifle of FIG.
1a, which comprises part of the loading device;
[0016] FIG. 2 depicts the same rifle of FIG. 1 after a shot, with
the path of the gases originating from the combustion highlighted
in particular;
[0017] FIG. 3a depicts the rifle portion of FIG. 1b after a shot
from a weak cartridge;
[0018] FIG. 3b depicts the rifle portion of FIG. 1b after a shot
from a strong cartridge.
[0019] With reference to the cited figures, a semi-automatic rifle,
of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises a barrel 2 in which a
cartridge 3 is inserted, operated by a loading and firing mechanism
4.
[0020] The firing mechanism is actuated in a per se known manner by
a trigger 5 to which a firing pin 6 is associated.
[0021] According to the present invention the rifle also comprises
a loading or arming device for said loading and firing mechanism 4,
which determines a weapon reloading each time a cartridge is fired,
in order to obtain a repeating rifle.
[0022] Said loading device is of the gas recovery type: gases are
drawn away from the rifle barrel 2 once a cartridge has been fired
by way of a hole made on said barrel connected to a channelling
7.
[0023] Said loading device comprises a cylindrical body 8, joined
at one of its ends to a support 9 and connected to said barrel 2,
inside of which lies said channelling 7. Inside of the cylindrical
body a sleeve 10 is inserted, slidable over a gas cylinder 11
attached to the rifle's butt 14.
[0024] At the sleeve 10 end facing the firing mechanism 4 there is
an annular portion 101, which is associated to a piston 12, the
which is connected to the firing mechanism 4.
[0025] The opposite end of said sleeve is associated with a control
ring 17 maintained in contact with the sleeve through an elastic
ring 18, which determines the thrust surface for the gases coming
from the channelling 7.
[0026] Between the sleeve 10 and the cylinder 8, according to the
present invention, the arming device comprises a toroidal,
elastomeric body 20 which is attached between the control ring 17
and the annular portion 101 and encloses said sleeve. The piston 12
is slidable over said gas cylinder 11 and is maintained in contact
with said sleeve 10 by way of an annular spring 15, enclosing said
gas cylinder, and blocked at one of its ends by a shoulder 16 of
said rifle butt 14. In such a manner the sleeve 10 transmits the
movement to the piston 12.
[0027] The loading device according to the present invention
operates as follows.
[0028] While the weapon is locked, the spring 15 maintains the
piston 12 in "stand-by" position; in such configuration with the
cartridge 3 inserted in the barrel 2 the weapon is ready to
fire.
[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates the rifle after a shot has been fired,
with the gas G generated by the combustion of the charge contained
in the cartridge highlighted in particular. A portion of said gas,
as is more clearly indicated in the following figures, is
introduced into the channelling 7 in a thrust chamber S, delimited
by the control ring 17 by the outer surface of the gas cylinder 11
and by the walls of the support 9.
[0030] The gas under pressure pushes on the control ring 17, which
transmits the pressure to the toroidal, elastomeric body 20, which
in turn pushes the sleeve 10 and as a result causes the piston 12
to move. The piston movement activates the loading and firing
mechanism 4, which causes the rearming of the rifle.
[0031] FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate how the loading device operates
with a light cartridge (FIG. 3a) and a heavy cartridge (FIG. 3b),
respectively.
[0032] In particular, a light cartridge causes, in the thrust
chamber S, the down flow of a gas quantity so to compress the
toroidal, elastomeric body without substantially deforming it, in
accordance with its deformation characteristics. Therefore, the
sleeve 10 is put into motion with the force sufficient to activate
the loading and firing mechanism 4 by way of the piston 12. Thus
for a light cartridge substantially all of the force of the gas
under pressure is transmitted to the piston 12.
[0033] A heavy cartridge causes, in the thrust chamber S, a down
flow of a higher quantity of gas with respect to that generated by
a light cartridge and therefore a potentially greater thrust on the
piston 12.
[0034] Subjected to a greater thrust, the toroidal, elastomeric
body tends to compress itself, deforming its diameter as
illustrated in FIG. 3b.
[0035] The compression of the toroidal body absorbs part of the gas
energy, the deformation of its diameter causing friction against
the inner wall of the cylinder 8. Such friction further diminishes
the effect of the thrust on the sleeve 10 and on the piston 12, in
such a way that the piston itself is provided with the necessary
thrust to properly activate the loading and firing mechanism,
analogous to that which occurs for a light cartridge.
[0036] The material used to make the toroidal body is chosen so
that it has suitable shape, hardness, and elasticity to obtain a
proper effect of thrust absorption from a minimum thrust for light
charges to a maximum thrust for heavy charges.
[0037] The device of the present invention allows the achievement
of considerable efficiency in the operation of semi-automatic
rifles for a remarkable range of different cartridges, in fact it
reduces the velocity gap of the kinematisms between light and heavy
charges, reduces the violent impacts caused by cartridges with
heavy charge and, not insignificantly, reduces the uncomfortable
physical sensation of the recoil on the user.
[0038] Moreover, the various parts of the loading device do not
require frequent maintenance.
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