U.S. patent number 3,906,652 [Application Number 05/443,068] was granted by the patent office on 1975-09-23 for cartridge feed magazine assembly with self-contained follower spring.
Invention is credited to Edgar L. Evans.
United States Patent |
3,906,652 |
Evans |
September 23, 1975 |
Cartridge feed magazine assembly with self-contained follower
spring
Abstract
The rapid reloading of a semi-automatic or automatic firearm of
the type wherein the cartridges are fed thereto from a box-type
magazine is accomplished by providing the firearm with an adapter
similar at the upper end thereof to a conventional magazine but
terminating in an open bottom adapted for the upward insertion of
the customary sealed container in which the cartridges are
initially packaged for shipment to the user. A guide plate fixed
within the adapter depends therefrom to terminate in a pivotal
lifter which is releasably retained in vertical alignment with the
guide plate by a coiled negator type spring housed in a compartment
projecting from the exterior sidewall of the adapter. However, when
the lifter is manually pivoted out of such alignment, the spring
then acts thereon to urge the lifter upwardly within a suitable
track in the guide plate and into contact with the underside of a
follower in the cartridge container for successively feeding the
double column of cartridges therein into the firearm. A pawl and
ratchet arrangement is associated with the coiling movement of the
spring to permit the tension thereon to be released and to
thereafter be restored to the desired operating level immediately
prior to operation of the firearm.
Inventors: |
Evans; Edgar L. (St. Paul,
MN) |
Family
ID: |
23759301 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/443,068 |
Filed: |
February 15, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/50; 42/88 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A
9/66 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F41A
9/66 (20060101); F41A 9/00 (20060101); F41C
025/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;42/50 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Feinberg; Samuel
Assistant Examiner: Jordan; C. T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gibson; Robert P.
Government Interests
The invention described herein may be manufactured, used and
licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without
the payment to me of any royalty thereon.
Claims
I claim:
1. A cartridge feed arrangement for successively advancing each of
a plurality of cartridges packaged in an original shipping
container directly into a small arms weapon into position to be
subsequently chambered therein, comprising,
an adapter open at both ends thereof and releasably secured within
the weapon to depend therefrom for the upward insertion therein of
the shipping container loaded with cartridges,
a guide plate fixed at the upper end thereof to an interior
sidewall of said adapter to extend downwardly in spaced parallel
relation thereto for vertical passage through the inserted
cartridge container,
a follower slidably disposed in the container for supporting the
cartridges thereon,
a cartridge lifter releasably secured to the depending end of said
guide plate for pivotal movement into and out of lifting engagement
with said follower, and
a negator spring extending from said adapter into fixed attachment
with said cartridge lifter for normally biasing said lifter into
vertical engagement with the depending end of said guide plate
until said lifter is manually pivoted inwardly toward the depending
open end of said adapter whereupon the bias of said spring is
shifted to actuate said lifter upwardly in said guide plate for
imparting corresponding feeding movement to said follower and the
cartridges supported thereon.
2. The cartridge feed arrangement of claim 1 wherein said negator
spring comprises,
a coiled end secured to the exterior of said adapter,
a first portion extending from said coiled end into said adapter
and upwardly along the exterior of the container, and
a second portion extending downwardly through the interior of the
container and along said guide plate into fixed attachment with
said cartridge lifter.
3. The cartridge feed arrangement of claim 1 including,
means for adjusting the tension of said negator spring to a level
at least equal to the weight of the container and a full load of
cartridges therein, and
means for optionally releasing the tension of said spring during
those periods in which the weapon need not be maintained in a
ready-to-use status.
4. The cartridge feed arrangement of claim 1 wherein the lower end
of said guide plate is provided with a V-shaped rib and wherein
said cartridge lifter is provided with a corresponding V-shaped
groove for mating engagement with said guide plate rib in response
to the vertical bias of said negator spring.
5. The cartridge feed arrangement of claim 1 wherein said guide
plate includes a central opening therethrough defining a pair of
vertical dove-tailed channels spaced to slidably receive the
opposite ends of said cartridge lifter during the upward movement
imparted thereto by said negator spring.
6. The cartridge feed arrangement of claim 1 including,
a pair of spaced feed lips at the upper end of said adapter for
halting the upward movement imparted to the cartridges, and
stop surfaces at the upper end of the container for halting the
upward movement of said cartridge follower in the absence of any
cartridges thereon.
7. In an arrangement for serially feeding a staggered double column
of cartridges into a small arms weapon directly from a rectangular
container in which the cartriges are originally packaged for
shipment, the combination of,
an adapter open at both ends thereof and releasably secured within
the weapon to depend therefrom for the upward insertion of a
preloaded cartridge container,
a guide plate having an outwardly turned upper end fixed to the
interior sidewall of said adapter and a rectangular body extending
downwardly from said outwardly turned upper end in spaced parallel
relation to the interior sidewall of said adapter to terminate
therebelow in a V-shaped rib, said plate also having a rectangular
slot centrally therethrough defining a pair of oppositely spaced
vertical channels,
a follower slidably disposed in the container for supporting the
cartridges thereon,
a cartridge lifter having a V-shaped groove along one edge thereof
for releasable mating engagement with said rib on said guide plate
when said cartridge lifter is in vertical alignment therewith,
and
a negator spring having one end thereof secured to the exterior of
said adapter for passage into the interior thereof upwardly over
the top of one sidewall of the cartridge container and downwardly
along said central slot in said guide plate into fixed attachment
with said cartridge lifter whereby the bias of said spring normally
retains said lifter in releasable vertical engagement with said
guide plate until said lifter is manually pivoted inwardly toward
the depending open end of said adapter whereupon the bias of said
spring is shifted to continue the pivotal movement of said lifter
out of engagement with said guide plate rib and into sliding
engagement with said vertical channels in said guide plate to
impart upward feeding movement to said follower and the cartridges
thereon.
8. The cartridge feeding arrangement of claim 7 wherein said
vertical channels in said guide plate are formed with an outer
rectangular surface and an adjacent inwardly sloped surface
cooperating to provide a dovetail configuration, and wherein said
cartridge lifter comprises,
a triangular body of isosceles configuration,
a guide portion extending centrally and outwardly from the base
side of said body to terminate in a right-angle projection of
rectangular cross-section,
a first pair of bevel surfaces on said guide portion at the
opposite upper corners thereof remote from said right-angle
projection, said bevel surfaces oriented for slidable mating
contact with said inwardly sloped surfaces of said dovetail
channels in said guide plate when said cartridge lifter is in
vertical engagement therewith, and
a second pair of bevel surfaces on the opposite vertical sides of
said guide portion oriented for respective slidable mating contact
with said inwardly sloped surfaces of said dovetail channels in
said guide plate when said cartridge lifter is provided at right
angles thereto into lifting engagement with said follower.
9. The cartridge feeding arrangement of claim 8 wherein one
sidewall of said adapter is centrally bulged outwardly from the
point of entry of said spring to provide clearance for the portion
thereof extending upwardly adjacent the exterior sidewall of the
cartridge container, said guide plate includes a fixed rod above
said rectangular slot therein for supporting said spring to permit
the downward passage thereof along said slot, and said cartridge
lifter is provided with a transverse opening through said guide
portion thereof for passage of the downwardly extending portion of
said spring into fixed engagement with the outwardly facing
sidewall of said triangular body.
10. The cartridge feeding arrangement of claim 7 wherein the end of
said negator spring secured to the exterior of said adapter is
arranged to wind into a plurality of nested coils as the cartridge
lifter rides upwardly in said vertical channels in said guide
plate, and wherein said adapter is provided with an outwardly
extending compartment for housing said coiled end of said spring,
said compartment including a pawl and ratchet combination for
retaining said spring at a predetermined tension.
11. The cartridge feeding arrangement of claim 7 wherein the
opposite sidewalls of said cartridge lifter are convergingly
tapered and wherein one of the sloped wall surfaces of said
V-shaped groove is horizontally slabbed to form a locating surface
for contacting the inwardly facing side of said guide plate during
the pivotal movement imparted to said cartridge lifter to thereby
position the upper tapered sidewall thereof in flush contact with
the underside of said follower.
12. The cartridge feeding arrangement of claim 7 wherein said
vertical channels in said guide plate are formed by rectangular
surfaces intersecting at right angles, said surface parallel to the
sidewalls of said guide plate terminating in a rectangular pocket
at the lower end thereof, and wherein said cartridge lifter
comprises a triangular body of isosceles configuration having a
guide portion projecting outwardly and centrally from the base side
thereof to terminate in a cylindrical configuration adapted to be
partially received in said pockets when said cartridge lifter is in
vertical engagement with said V-shaped rib on said guide plate,
each of said pockets having an arcuate upper wall for guiding said
cylindrical configuration into said vertical channels in said guide
plate during the pivotal movement imparted to said cartridge
lifter.
13. The cartridge feeding arrangement of claim 7 wherein the
cartridge container comprises,
a rectangular box having a removable cover,
a slidable insert disposed between one interior sidewall of said
box and the cartridges adjacent thereto in position to be replaced
by said guide plate in said adapter during the upward insertion of
said box therein, and
a pair of overlapping triangular sections disposed at the bottom of
said box to define an open passage for said cartridge lifter during
the upward movement imparted thereto by said negator spring.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the loading of ammunition into small arms
sporting or military weapons and is more particularly directed to
means for reloading the weapon directly from the sealed containers
in which the individual rounds are originally packaged for shipment
to the user.
In small arms weapons adapted for repetitive fire, the cartridges
therefor are generally contained in a box-type magazine which is
releasably retained in the underside of the weapon and is provided
with a spring-biased follower for successively feeding each
cartridge into firing position. When the magazine is emptied, it is
removed from the weapon and preferably replaced by one with a full
complement of cartridges. However, inasmuch as the quantity of
fully loaded magazines which can be conveniently carried by any one
individual is limited, continued operation of the weapon eventually
requires reloading of the empty magazines. This has been
accomplished, heretofore, by manually removing the required number
of cartridges from the disposable container or box in which such
cartridges are normally packaged for shipment to the user and then
individually transferring each cartridge into the magazine against
the bias of the follower spring therein. Obviously, this is a
relatively slow and cumbersome procedure which detracts from the
rapid and sustained firing so often required in particular military
situations.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a cartridge
feeding arrangement for a small arms weapon capable of sustained
fire which can be simply and rapidly reloaded directly from the
disposable containers in which the cartridges are originally
packaged for shipment from the point of manufacture.
A further object of the present invention lies in the provision of
a cartridge feeding arrangement, as aforesaid, which permits a
desirable increase in the quantity of the cartridges which can be
carried on the person of the user of the weapon.
Another object of this invention is to provide a cartridge feeding
arrangement, as aforesaid, wherein prepackaged cartridge containers
can be rapidly inserted into an adapter depending from the weapon
to permit successive advancement of the cartridges into firing
position in substantially the same manner as in a conventional
box-type magazine.
Another object of this invention is to provide a cartridge feeding
arrangement, as aforesaid, wherein the follower spring which
advances each cartridge into the chambering position thereof is
adapted to be maintained in a relatively untensioned state during
the periods in which the weapon is not in use.
An additional object of the present invention lies in the provision
of a cartridge feeding arrangement, as aforesaid, wherein the
withdrawal of the empty cartridge container from the adapter serves
to return the follower spring to the compressed state required to
lift a full load of cartridges.
It has been found that the foregoing objects can be readily and
economically accomplished by a cartridge feeding arrangement
wherein the disposable container in which the cartridges are
originally loaded at the point of manufacture is inserted upwardly
into an adapter open at both ends thereof and provided with
substantially the same configuration at the upper end thereof as a
conventional box magazine of the type wherein a double column of
staggered cartridges is serially advanced to permit a reciprocal
bolt to successively chamber each cartridge into the firearm
barrel. A substantially rectangular guide plate is secured within
the interior of the adapter in spaced relation to the sidewall
thereof to form a passage for a negator type of follower spring
terminating in a coiled end which is housed in a separate
compartment projecting outwardly from the exterior surface of the
same sidewall at a convenient location above the lower end thereof.
The guide plate extends downwardly below the open bottom of the
adapter for pivotal engagement by a separate cartridge lifter to
which the opposite end of the negator spring is fastened. When the
lifter is in vertical alignment with the guide plate, the follower
spring provides a releasable locking engagement therebetween. The
guide plate is vertically channeled for slidably engaging the
lifter following the termination of the locking engagement
therebetween. Also included in the compartment which houses the
coiled end of the follower spring is a suitable pawl and ratchet
arrangement which permits restoration of the follower spring to a
desired operating tension level whenever active use of the weapon
is contemplated.
Thus, as the container, from which the top has been removed to
expose the uppermost cartridges therein, is inserted upwardly into
the open bottom of the adapter, the depending guide plate will
eject and replace the separator originally disposed between the
cartridges and the adjacent sidewall of the cartridge container.
The lifter can then be manually pivoted to a horizontal position
out of locking engagement with the guide plate for upward bias by
the follower spring into lifting engagement with the follower in
the bottom of the cartridge container whereby the cartridges are
successively fed into the weapon in the manner well known in the
art. Once all the cartridges have been fired, the empty container
can be readily withdrawn from the adapter by a simple downward pull
thereon which will not only restore the original tension to the
follower spring but also pivot the lifter back into releasable
locking engagement with the guide plate ready for the insertion of
another cartridge container into the adapter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cartridge feeding arrangement
partially broken away to show the lower end of the guide-plate and
the cartridge lifter holding a fully loaded cartridge container in
feeding position;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cartridge lifter shown
separately of the guide plate;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a fragmentary portion of
the lower end of the guide plate showing the configuration of one
of the dovetail channels therein;
FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the adapter with a fully loaded
cartridge container inserted therein and partially broken away to
show the guide plate with the cartridge lifter releasably locked
thereto immediately prior to lifting engagement with the cartridge
follower;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4 showing
the path taken by the negator type follower spring from the coiled
end thereof to the end in engagement with the cartridge lifter;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 in FIG. 4 but with
the cartridge lifter (indicated by the dotted line) pivoted into
lifting contact with the cartridge follower;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 in FIG. 4 showing
the pawl and ratchet arrangement for maintaining the follower
spring at a desired tension;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the
guide plate to show the cartridge lifter in position to impart
upward feeding movement to the cartridge follower;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the upper end
of the adapter to show the means for halting the upward travel of
the cartridge follower;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view taken along line 10--10 in FIG. 4
showing the manner in which the follower spring is supported in the
upper end of the guide plate;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11--11 in FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the cartridge container with a
portion of the upper forward corner broken away to show the
follower stops and a portion of the lower forward corner similarly
broken to show the removable spacer therein;
FIG. 13 is an enlarged transverse section through the cartridge
container showing the configuration of the bottom end thereof with
the follower removed;
FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the cartridge
lifter disposed in vertical engagement with the bottom edge of the
guide plate;
FIG. 15 is a view similar to that of FIG. 14 but showing an
alternate configuration for the mating portions of the guide plate
and cartridge lifter; and
FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of a fragmentary portion of
the guide plate utilized with the alternate cartridge lifter
construction of FIG. 15.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in the drawings, the cartridge feeding arrangement of the
present invention utilizes a hollow substantially rectangular
adapter 12 structurally equivalent to the upper end of the
conventional box magazine of the type which is releasably latched
in a suitable opening in the bottom of a firearm receiver to depend
downwardly therefrom. Although the right and left sidewalls 14 and
16 of adapter 12 (as viewed from the rear of the weapon) are
provided with the customary feed lips which serve to halt the
upward feeding movement of a double column of cartridges 20, the
right feed lip 18 originates at a point inwardly of sidewall 14, as
best shown in FIG. 5, and cooperates with the left feed lip 19 to
position the feed opening therebetween in offset relation to the
central location customarily found in conventional box-type
magazines. However, such offset location of the feed opening, for a
purpose to be hereinafter shown, does not interfere with the normal
vertical feeding movement of cartridges 20 or the subsequent
horizontal guidance imparted thereto during the insertion thereof
in the firing chamber of the weapon. Although cartridges 20 are
here shown with the projectiles 22 retained in cylindrical cases 24
of consumable material, it should be understood that the cartridge
feeding arrangement described herein is equally applicable to
cartridges with forwardly tapered metallic cases. The front end
wall 26 of adapter 12 is arcuately recessed as indicated at 28 to
permit each cartridge 20 to be forced out from beneath feed lips 18
and 19 by a conventional firearm bolt (not shown). The bottom of
adapter 12 is fully open and is preferably flared outwardly on all
four sides as best shown at 30 in FIG. 1.
A substantially rectangular guide plate 32 terminating at the upper
end thereof in a right angle portion 34 is suitably fixed to the
interior surface of adapter sidewall 14, as by welding or the like,
to extend downwardly below the flared end 30 of adapter 12 in
parallel spaced relation thereto, as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 10.
Plate 32 is divided into a pair of identical panels 36 by a central
rectangular slot 40 disposed slightly above the bottom edge of
plate 32 and extending upwardly into right angle portion 34 to
terminate in a vertical extension of lesser width, as indicated at
42 in FIG. 11. As best shown in FIG. 3, the cross-section of the
oppositely facing edges of panels 36 includes an outer rectangular
surface 44 and an adjacent inwardly sloped surface 46 which combine
to provide a vertical dove-tailed channel 48 for a purpose to be
shown.
Projecting outwardly from the exterior of sidewall 14 is a
rectangular compartment 50 for housing the coiled end 52 of a
negator spring 54 in the form of a resilient steel tape. The coiled
end of spring 54 is suitably fastened to a shaft 56 rotatably
supported by a pair of spaced retainers 58 (FIG. 6) fixedly mounted
within opposite ends of compartment 50. Shaft 56 extends completely
through compartment 50 to terminate at the forward end thereof in
an enlarged head 60 which is slotted, as indicated at 62, to
receive the tip of a screwdriver or other mating implement capable
of imparting rotation to shaft 56. The opposite end of shaft 56
carries a ratchet wheel 64 located within compartment 50 adjacent
the end wall thereof for engagement by a pawl 66 pivoted on a pin
67 fixed in the compartment end wall and provided with a release
finger 68 projecting outwardly of compartment 50. The sidewall of
compartment 50 and the adjacent sidewall 14 of adapter 12 are both
suitably apertured, as shown at 70 in FIG. 5, for the passage
therethrough of spring 54. In addition, while sidewall 14 of
adapter 12 may be recessed along the interior surface thereof, it
is preferably bulged outwardly, as indicated at 72, to provide
suitable clearance for the upward passage of spring 54 into
supporting contact with a rod 74 fixedly mounted in the right-angle
portion 34 of guide plate 32. The ends of rod 74 are preferably
press-fitted into corresponding U-shaped openings 76 formed into
the outer face of portion 34 on each side of slot extension 42
slightly below the upper terminus thereof, as best shown in FIG.
11. Thus, spring 54 is free to pass upwardly and over rod 74 so as
to continue downwardly between panels 36 for exit from the bottom
of rectangular slot 40 into fixed engagement with a cartridge
lifter 78 disposed in pivotal engagement with the bottom edge of
guide plate 32.
Cartridge lifter 78 is formed with a generally triangular body 80
of isosceles configuration with the base side thereof substantially
equivalent in length to the bottom edge of guide plate 32. The
sidewalls of lifter 78 are convergingly tapered to terminate in a
rounded end as best indicated at 81 in FIG. 14. A substantially
V-shaped groove 82 is provided along the base edge of cartridge
lifter body 80 for mating engagement with a correspondingly shaped
rib 84 extending along the bottom edge of plate 32. As shown at 86,
groove 82 is reduced in height along the edge thereof coextensive
with the inwardly facing side of guide plate 32 to form a locating
surface for a purpose to be hereinafter shown. A guide portion 88
of lesser length and cross-sectional thickness than the grooved end
of body 80 extends centrally outwardly therefrom to terminate in a
right-angle projection 90 of rectangular cross-section as best
shown in FIG. 2. Guide portion 88 is also provided with a
rectangular access slot 92 therethrough parallel to groove 82 for
passage of spring 54. The outwardly facing tapered sidewall of
cartridge lifter body 80 is centrally slabbed to form a rectangular
surface 94 to which the end of spring 54 is fastened by suitable
screws or rivets 96. The bottom of access slot 92 is preferably
sloped, as indicated at 97 in FIG. 2, to minimize the extent to
which spring 54 must be bent to provide substantially flush contact
with surface 94. On the side of guide portion 88 opposite surface
94, the opposed corners thereof are convergingly beveled, as best
shown at 98, to mate with surfaces 46 of dovetail channels 48 in
plate 32 when cartridge lifter 78 is in vertical alignment
therewith. The vertical sides of guide portion 88 are also beveled,
as indicated at 100, to mate with surfaces 46 of dovetail channels
48 when cartridge lifter 78 has been pivoted to a position at right
angles to the vertical axis of plate 32.
The container in which cartridges 20 are packaged at the point of
manufacture is a generally rectangular box 102, with front and rear
end walls, identified as 103 and 104, respectively, and right and
left sidewalls identified as 105 and 106, respectively, and is
preferably fabricated of suitably weatherproofed corrugated
cardboard. A perforated tear line 108 extends around all four walls
of box 102 and is covered by an adherent sealing tape 110 to which
is fastened one end of a tear string 112, the other end of which
is, in turn, suitably fastened within the interior of box 102. One
end of tape 110 is provided with a tab 114 which, when pulled, will
cause string 112 to cut through tear lines 108 thereby permitting
the top of box 102 to be readily removed for exposing the uppermost
cartridges 20 therein. As an alternative, box 102 can be fabricated
from a molded plastic and provided with a snap-on plastic top. The
bottom of box 102 is formed by overlapping triangular sections 116
which, as best shown in FIG. 13, provide an open area 118 of
isosceles triangular configuration with the base side thereof
coextensive with right side wall 105 of box 102. A cartridge
follower 120 with a substantially rectangular bottom end is
slidably disposed for vertical movement in box 102 and is provided
with an arcuate double-sloped upper surface 122 arranged to support
two juxtaposed columns of cartridges 20 in vertically staggered
relationship. Follower 120 is normally supported by overlapping
sections 116 to serve as a closure for the open triangular area 118
at the bottom of box 102. Ledges 126 are provided on the front and
rear of follower 120 and a similar ledge 128 is formed on the left
side thereof as shown in FIG. 8. A reinforcing strip 130 is
suitably fixed to the interior surface of box 102 along the upper
portion of end walls 103 and 104 and along left side wall 106 to
provide stop surfaces respectively engageable with ledges 126 and
128 of follower 120 for halting the upward travel thereof in
cartridge box 102 following the feeding of the last cartridge 20
therefrom. A removable spacer 132 of hard corrugated cardboard or
any suitable plastic material similar in size to the interior
surface of sidewall 105 of cartridge box 102 is disposed between
such wall and cartridges 20.
Accordingly, when a cartridge box 102, from which the top has been
removed to expose the cartridges 20 therein, is inserted into the
open bottom of adapter 12 to bring the upper end of spacer 132 in
contact with end 81 of cartridge lifter 78 and then forced
upwardly, spacer 132 will be pushed out through open area 118 of
box 102 and be replaced by guide plate 32. Once the underside of
cartridge box 102 has moved beyond the bottom of central slot 40 in
guide plate 32, cartridge lifter 78 can be manually pushed inwardly
beneath cartridge box 102 to bring the end of follower spring 54
out of vertical alignment with guide plate 32, whereupon the bias
of such spring is applied to lifter 78 to continue the pivotal
movement imparted thereto until, as best shown in FIG. 8, the
tapered sidewall thereof is horizontally disposed in contact with
the underside of the portion of cartridge follower 120 exposed by
open area 118 in the bottom of cartridge box 102. As cartridge
lifter 78 is pivoted out of contact with rib 84 on guide plate 32,
the clearance provided by the reduced height of locating surface 86
permits the adjacent higher slope of V-shaped groove 82 to move
past the vertex edge of rib 84. Thereafter, as cartridge lifter 78
continues to pivot in response to the tension of spring 54, beveled
corners 98 move out of contact with the sloped surfaces 46 in
dovetail channels 48 thereby bringing the rectangular ends of
projection 90 into sliding contact with surfaces 44 while
simultaneously bringing beveled surfaces 100 on the opposite sides
of guide portion 88 into slidable contact with sloped surfaces 46.
The pivotal movement of lifter 78 is halted as locating surface 86
contacts the inner face of panel 36 and brings the opposite
extremity of groove 82 into simultaneous contact with the same face
of panel 36, as best shown in FIG. 8. Thus, cartridge lifter 78 is
oriented so that the tapered sidewall thereof will be in flush
contact with the underside of follower 120. Once the pivotal
movement of cartridge lifter 78 is completed, the bias of spring 54
forces such lifter to ride upwardly in dovetail channels 48 until
the uppermost cartridge 20 in box 102 contacts feed lip 18 in
adapter 12. Thereafter, as each cartridge 20 is fed into the firing
chamber of the weapon, lifter 78 responds to the bias of spring 54
to automatically bring each uppermost cartridge 20 in box 102 into
contact with either feed lip 18 or 19. When the last cartridge 20
has been fed out of cartridge box 102, further upward movement of
follower 120 is prevented as ledges 126 and 128 come into contact
with the undersides of reinforcing strip 130.
Withdrawal of the empty cartridge box 102 from adapter 12 is
accomplished simply by a downward pull thereon which causes
follower 120 to impart corresponding movement to cartridge lifter
78. As lifter 78 slides along dovetail channels 48, the end of
spring 54 fastened thereto is pulled downwardly to unwind the
portion thereof which had been previously coiled within compartment
50. When right-angle projection 90 on guide portion 88 of cartridge
lifter 78 contacts the bottom wall of rectangular slot 40 in guide
plate 32, the continued downward pull on follower 120 pivots lifter
78 so that bevel surfaces 100 move out of contact with dovetail
channels 48 and bevel surfaces 98 are, in turn, brought into
contact therewith. During this pivotal movement of cartridge
lifter, V-shaped groove 82 thereon reengages with the
correspondingly shaped rib 84 on guide plate 32 to again releasably
lock lifter 78 into position to serve as a vertical extension
thereof for contact with the spacer 132 in the next cartridge box
102 to be inserted upwardly into adapter 12.
When the ready-to-fire status of the weapon is no longer required,
the tension of the follower spring 54 can be almost completely
released by pivoting release finger 68 to disengage pawl 66 from
the teeth on ratchet wheel 64. Such inactivation of the follower
spring 54 has an extremely beneficial effect on the endurance life
thereof. Restoration of spring 54 to the former tensioned status
thereof can be readily accomplished by rotating shaft 56 by a
screwdriver or any other implement which can be inserted into
slotted end 62 therein.
In the event a more simplified transition between the vertical and
horizontal positions of cartridge lifter 78 is desired, this may be
accomplished by replacing the right-angle projection 90 at the
upper end of the guide portion 88 with a centrally disposed
cylindrical configuration as shown at 134 in FIG. 15. In addition,
channels 48 are replaced by guide tracks 135 formed by planar
surfaces 136 and 137 intersecting at right angles. The lower end of
surface 137 is formed with a vertical pocket 138 to accommodate
cylindrical end 134 of cartridge lifter 78 which functions in
exactly the same manner as described in connection with the
configuration shown in FIG. 14. The upper end of pocket 138 is
arcuately contoured as indicated at 139 to guide the cylindrical
configuration into contact with surface 137 of guide track 135.
Thus, there is here provided a cartridge feeding arrangement which
eliminates the need for carrying the relatively heavy box-type
magazines customarily utilized in current semi-automatic and
automatic small arms weapons. Instead, the weapon can be reloaded
directly from the boxes which serve as the shipping container for
the cartridges, thereby eliminating the former relatively slow and
clumsy process of unloading a cartridge box and individually
transferring each cartridge therein to the empty magazine.
Furthermore, the worthwhile benefits of the present invention can
be obtained without any modification to existing weapons.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is
illustrative only. Various changes may be made within the scope of
the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
* * * * *