GB217569A - Improvements in automatic guns - Google Patents

Abstract

217,569. Schneider et Cie. June 14, 1923, [Convention date]. Machine guns; ordnance breech mechanism.- A quick-firing automatic gun of the kind' which is fitted with a recoil-brake C, recuperator E, and ramming breech-block F has a control member I which is reciprocated longitudinally on the gun cradle A under the action of the moving barrel B and breech-block, and serves to actuate (1) a rocking ejector J, Fig. 14, for the empty cartridge case, (2) a locking carrier N for moving the cartridges L from a feed strip K, into line with the ramming breech-block, and (3) a bolt P which releases the recuperator O that moves the breech-block forward, rams the charge, and closes the breech. The gun shown is of the lcng recoil type in which the barrel B, breechblock carrier H, and control member I recoil together to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. During the return of the. barrel, the breech-block is arrested by the engagement of the bolt P in a recess a<1> so that the cartridge case is extracted and the breech opened against the action of the recuperator O. The returning barrel engages a projection i<1> on the control member I to slide, it forward and permit a camgroove, I<4> thereon to actuate the cartridge-case ejector J, a second cam-groove I<5> serving to actuate the cartridge carrier N. Continued movement of the control member I causes a projection I<6> to depress the bolt P to release the breech-block, the movement of which, after the barrel comes to rest, returns the control member to its forward position. The ejector arms J and the cartridge carrier arms N are, as shown in Fig. 14, independently mounted on a longitudinal shaft j and are actuated in proper sequence by the cam grooves I<4>, I<5>. The arms J are rocked by a pin J<1> engaging the groove I<4> and the arms N are rocked by a pin N<1> engaging the groove I<5>. Both pins slide freely in the straight groove I', I<2>, I<3> during rearward movement of the control member and are deflected into the grooves I<4>, P on the return. The cartridges are carried in a feed strip K, Fig. 9, fed into the .gun by star wheels M engaging holes in the strip. The wheels M are mounted on a shaft m and are rotated by a shaped member J<3> moving with the arms J and engaging spring pins M', M<2> on a disc M<3> keyed to the shaft m. The breech-screw is rotated for locking and unlocking by a quick-pitched screw F<1> engaging a nut on the breech-screw cairrier H, the final forward movement of which relatively to the breech block actuates the firing pin. When firing single shots, a lever R, Fig. 9, is turned to engage and stop the control member short of the firing position. For hand-loading, the control member is moved by a pinion gear S.