Patent Grant
7398614
1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates generally to cannons and firearms, more particularly to a method of firing projectiles there from, and an apparatus that realizes the method.
2. Background Art
Nearly all firearms used today are engineered according to the basic design solutions developed decades ago. Major small arms developers' product lines are based on such generic-design firearms manufactured only with some cosmetic modifications or minor structural changes most of which do not make any significant improvements to the firearm's core functional features. An example of such a generic design developed nearly a century ago is the Colt Model 1911 pistol, which has also been used as a template for a number of other commercial models. As a result, today's firearms have inherited such functional weaknesses as poor accuracy of shooting due to large projectile dispersion (often as a result of a trade-off for reliability), significant recoil, especially when used with high-energy ammunition, and complicated design.
Most presently used small arms feature a barrel with a cartridge chamber and a breech block, which closes or locks the chamber to prevent gas escape therefrom during firing. In designs with the barrel immovably affixed to the firearm's frame, a reaction force created due to propelling a projectile along the barrel bore acts backward upon the breech block and rotates the firearm around its center of mass. This produces a significant angle between the axis line of the barrel bore immediately prior to firing and at the moment the projectile leaves the muzzle, referred to as the angle of departure, which is a major contributing factor to projectile dispersion and hence inaccuracy of shooting.
In firearms with a movable barrel, the reaction force moves the breech block, interlocked with the barrel, backward during firing. This design introduces yet another factor contributing to large projectile dispersion—tolerance levels between the barrel and the frame. Since tolerances of moving parts are usually in an inverse relationship with product's reliability and its cost to manufacture, most modern firearms' reliability comes at the expense of their accuracy.
The concept of a movable chamber (also referred to as the floating chamber) introduced at the beginning of the 20th century suggested some usage of the reaction force, an example of which was disclosed by David Williams in U.S. Pat. No. 2,090,657 where a small-caliber ammunition's energy is distributed to propel a projectile and move a heavy breech block with a movable chamber. Although the movable-chamber concept suggested superior accuracy firearm designs due to the opportunity to controllably use the reaction force to move the chamber and keep the barrel undisturbed and stable during firing, such firearms showed little or no improvement in projectile dispersion. The problem of unsatisfactory dispersion stems from the following: Upon firing a cartridge, the reaction force moves the chamber with a cartridge case therein backward exposing the breech end of the barrel to the high-pressure gas from the deflagrating propellant. Since the gas-pressure force acting upon the breech end of the barrel is uncompensated, it displaces the barrel forward and around the firearm's center of mass producing a tangible angle of departure and resulting in projectile dispersion proportional to the ammunition energy, its caliber, friction of the projectile against the wall of the barrel bore, and the area of the breech end of the barrel. Prior art designs show no evidence of any successful solutions to this problem. Against the foregoing background, the present invention was developed.
The present invention provides an apparatus and a method of firing arms. This disclosure will often refer to “firearms”, but it is to be understood that the invention has utility in arms of all types, not just small arms to be carried on the person, but including armaments, cannon and other heavy arms. The term “firearm” is to be understood as an assembly that includes a barrel from which a projectile is propelled by means of gas pressure developed either through a deflagration of propellant or other means that make use of gas pressure differential to propel the projectile. Thus it is intended to include any type of arms to which the above definition is applicable.
The present invention addresses the problem of minimizing the angle of departure in firearms and offers solutions applicable to most small and large barreled arms. Most embodiments shown feature a barrel immovably fixed in the firearm's frame, a movable chamber or cartridge container, and a stand formed as a portion of the frame and having a pressure surface. Stabilization of the firearm during firing is achieved by making the net forces generated by gas pressure apply in opposite directions and be substantially equal in magnitude, thus minimizing any displacement of the firearm during firing and achieving very high accuracy of shooting.
The proposed firearm designs are simple, reliable, and inexpensive to manufacture. This invention also permits the usage of high power ammunition with the above mentioned advantageous features unaffected. This makes such firearms excellent weaponry for the armed forces, law enforcement, and other professional services. Some of the main objects and advantages of the present invention are minimal projectile dispersion independent of ammunition energy, excellent mass distribution, reparability and interchangeability of parts, and practical applicability to many types of barreled arms.
Other objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate several embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:
In this description, references are made to different states of a firearm. A firearm is said to be in battery position when it is loaded and ready for firing.
Unless stated otherwise, the direction of movements should be understood as follows: “forward” refers to substantially the same direction as the direction of projectile movement. Likewise, “backward” refers to a direction substantially opposite the direction of projectile movement. Similarly, relative position of parts is defined as follows: “front” generally means toward the muzzle of the firearm, and “back” means away from the muzzle of the firearm, where the term “muzzle” refers to the end of the barrel from which a bullet or projectile emerges in firing. The terms “axial” and “longitudinal” are used interchangeably.
In the preferred embodiment of this disclosure, the cartridge case 26 during firing is disposed at least partially within a hollow bore 46 of a movable cartridge container 26. During firing, the hollow bore 46 is secured against gas escape solely by the cartridge case 26, rather than a part of the firearm (i.e. breech block or equivalent) as typically encountered with prior art firearms. It is noted that the presently disclosed method of barrel stabilization by mutual cancellation of oppositely directed forces can as well be practiced with a breech block type apparatus, producing similar results. Followed below is a detailed description of the structure and operation of the invention.
Frame 10 is an element or a set of elements that is used to mount and support some or all parts of the firearm. Some elements or parts of the firearm may be made as integral parts of frame 10. “Inert mass” is a collective term. It consists of two or more parts, where at least two parts of the firearm comprising the inert mass preferably move in substantially opposite directions during firing. The term “during firing” refers to the time interval commencing with the moment the propellant is ignited, and ending at the moment the projectile has exited muzzle end 22. Likewise, the term “process of firing” refers to the processes that occur during firing.
The inert mass is defined as all parts that move during firing using the energy from the high-pressure gas. These parts do not necessarily have to be parts of the firearm only. Parts of the cartridge may also constitute parts of the inert mass. Different members of the inert mass may move in different directions and have any type of movement (e.g. straight-line movement, rotation, or other). In
Stand 30 is formed in frame 10 or immovably attached to it. Stand 30 has an opening or aperture 42 which generally serves as a guide for the reciprocating movement of cartridge container 16. Stand 30 also has stand recess 44, into which the back end of countermass main body 18 (i.e. the end closest to stand 30) is inserted, generally as a male-to-female type of connector. Countermass main body 18 is capable of reciprocating motion substantially along the barrel's longitudinal axis. The depth of the insertion of the back end of countermass main body 18 into stand recess 44 preferably, but not necessarily, equals or exceeds the range of movement of countermass main body 18.
Cartridge container 16 is disposed in aperture 42 for a reciprocating motion, as seen in
Countermass main body 18 is preferably (although not necessarily) disposed at least partially around barrel 12 for a reciprocating motion. When the firearm is in the battery position, the back end of countermass main body 18 is inserted into stand recess 44. During the firearm operation, countermass main body 18 is capable of moving forward, i.e. toward muzzle end 22, whereby the back end of countermass main body 18 shifts at least partially out of stand recess 44. Countermass main body 18 can move forward until it comes in contact with frame frontal wall 11, at which moment countermass main body 18 ceases its movement. Thus, the range of movement of countermass main body 18 is limited between the back position, where its back end is inserted into stand recess 44 (
The firearm apparatus features an expandable firing chamber defined at least in part by the following surfaces (some of these surfaces may become parts of the chamber at different times during firing): stand pressure surface 32, cartridge container working surface 36, the inner surface of cartridge case 26 (i.e. the inner side wall and the inner bottom portion opposite the open end of the cartridge case), countermass back surface 38, breech end surface 40, the back portion of projectile 28, preferably at least a portion of the wall of stand recess 44, preferably at least a portion of the wall of aperture 42, and the portion of the wall of barrel bore 34 between breech end 24 and the back portion of projectile 28 after projectile 28 has fully entered barrel bore 34. Many of the surfaces of the expandable chamber are evident by observing
Thus, the chamber is defined in part by the breech end surface 40, the working surface 36, and the stand pressure surface 32, so that during firing of the ammunition, gases expand in the firing chamber to move the projectile 28 forward to exit the muzzle end. Simultaneously, the cartridge case 26 and cartridge container 16 move axially together backward in the direction substantially opposite the direction the projectile moves, while gas pressure in the chamber applies oppositely directed net axial forces (that is, all longitudinal forces attributable to the expanding gas resolved into forward and backwardly directed vectors) upon the apparatus and the projectile. (In embodiments using a cartridge case, the net axial force backward acts upon the case as well.)
As suggested by the figures, including
If the ammunition used is of the type in which projectile 28 is attached to cartridge case 26 before firing as depicted in
An enlarged portion of a firearm apparatus similar to that shown in
During firing of the embodiment of
Since it is desirable to avoid any substantial firearm displacement during firing, oppositely directed forces from gas pressure acting upon parts immovable with respect to the frame should be equalized as much as possible. In this case, the forces acting upon breech end surface 40 should be made equal in magnitude to the oppositely directed forces acting upon stand pressure surface 32. Since gas pressure acting upon breech end surface 40 is higher than that acting upon stand pressure surface 32 at least during some period of time, the respective forces can be equalized by making the respective areas inversely proportional to the gas pressure values to which the areas are exposed. More specifically, for the design shown in
Side projection 48 (
Upon the ignition, rapidly deflagrating propellant produces a large amount of gas which, in turn, creates high pressure and causes projectile 28 to move. Projectile 28 detaches from cartridge case 26 and, if it is not already fully or partially inserted in barrel bore 34, enters barrel bore 34 via breech end 24. Rapidly expanding gas from the deflagrating propellant fills the expandable chamber defined above. The gas pressure that develops in the chamber causes projectile 28 to move along barrel bore 34 and at the same time acts upon countermass back surface 38 causing countermass main body 18 to move forward, and upon cartridge container working surface 36 causing cartridge container 16 to move backward.
The gas pressure also acts upon the inner surface of cartridge case 26 causing cartridge case 26 to expand. The wall of cartridge case 26 is firmly pressed against the wall of hollow bore 46. With the cartridge case thus firmly pressed against the wall of the hollow bore, there is a temporary frictional engagement between the cartridge case 26 and the cartridge container 16, for the duration, at least, of the cartridge's expansion. Additionally, the gas pressure acting upon cartridge container working surface 36 and the bottom of cartridge case 26 produces forces proportional to the areas of those respective surfaces. Consequently, cartridge container 16 and cartridge case 26 attain accelerations proportional to the forces acting thereupon and inversely proportional to their respective weights. In other words, cartridge container 16 and cartridge case 26 co-accelerate in the same direction and therefore tend to move at a slower rate relative to each other than with respect to frame 10. Thus, a combination of these physical phenomena—expansion of cartridge case 26 against the wall of hollow bore 46 and co-acceleration of cartridge container 16 and cartridge case 26—ensures that cartridge case 26 substantially seals hollow bore 46 during firing. The expression “cartridge case 26 substantially seals hollow bore 46” is to be understood as referring to the process in which cartridge case 26 secures hollow bore 46 against any substantial gas escape and retains this function throughout the duration of firing, without the necessity to use any additional parts, such as a breech block or an equivalent thereof typically used in prior art designs.
It is noted that cartridge case 26 may, but not necessarily, be arranged to move a predetermined distance backward in hollow bore 46 relative to cartridge container 16 during firing. This distance is arranged accordingly so that a substantial portion of cartridge case 26 remains in hollow bore 46. Cartridge case 26 exits completely out of hollow bore 46 after projectile 28 has exited muzzle end 22.
Thus, a number of parameters are taken into account to ensure that cartridge case 26 performs sealing of hollow bore 46 as defined above. The type of alloy from which cartridge case 26 is made, the thickness of its wall, the surface area of cartridge case 26, and the gas pressure developed through a deflagration of the cartridge propellant will in part determine the expansion of cartridge case 26 and the friction between its wall and hollow bore 46. Likewise, the calculated accelerations of cartridge container 16 and cartridge case 26 will in part depend on the gas pressure developed in the chamber, the surface areas of cartridge container working surface 36 and the bottom of cartridge case 26, and the weights of the moving parts. Thus, cartridge container 16 and cartridge case 26 move together in the direction substantially opposite the direction of the projectile movement during firing. For convenience of reference, we will refer to a part or a set of parts that move, using the energy from the high-pressure gas from propellant deflagration, in a direction substantially opposite the direction of projectile movement during firing an “active mass.” It is important to note that such parts do not have to be parts of the firearm. This applies, for example, to cartridge case 26, which does not constitute a part of the firearm, yet it forms a part of the active mass. Hence, in this embodiment the active mass includes cartridge container 16 and cartridge case 26.
As seen from the foregoing description, some elements of the firearm, which either form part of the firearm's frame 10 or are mounted immovably with respect to the frame, have surfaces that define portions of the expandable chamber. These surfaces are too, as expected, acted upon by the gas pressure developed in the chamber. The respective forces that result therefrom have magnitudes proportional to the area of the surface upon which the gas pressure acts and directions normal to the surface.
The forces that act upon parts of the firearm immovable with relation to the frame will tend to displace the firearm during firing unless these forces are cancelled out. There are two parts immovable in relation to frame 10, portions of which define portions of the expandable chamber. These parts are barrel 12 and stand 30, both having a number of surfaces of various configurations. Gas pressure in the chamber produces forces that act upon these surfaces. The forces can be represented by vectors with non-zero radial, longitudinal, or both—radial and longitudinal—components. From the cross section shown in
There are, however, some surfaces which will also have longitudinal force components. These surfaces include stand pressure surface 32 and breech end surface 40. The surface of stand pressure surface 32 and that of breech end surface 40 are used to appropriately distribute gas pressure forces acting axially in opposite directions. This force distribution should make all forces acting longitudinally in one direction substantially equal to all forces acting longitudinally in the opposite direction. This is achieved by making the surface area of stand pressure surface 32 proportional to the area of the normal projection of the surface of breech end surface 40 onto a plane perpendicular to the axis line of the barrel bore. The proportionality coefficient should be chosen accordingly so as to equalize the two oppositely directed net longitudinal forces. It is noted that there will typically be a number of other factors that may have an effect on the choice of a specific value of the proportionality coefficient, such as longitudinal force components acting upon the rear of projectile 28. These force components will normally have non-zero values due to the friction of projectile 28 against the wall of barrel bore 34. Other factors that may influence the choice of the proportionality coefficient include the clearances between moving parts in the expandable chamber, the difference in calibers of the barrel bore and projectile, the shape of the projectile, whether the projectile has a jacket and the material from which the jacket is made, whether the barrel bore has rifling, the depth and width of the rifling grooves, the temperature expansion coefficient of the material the barrel is made from, friction of moving parts against the surfaces they slide on, and the tension coefficient of springs used with moving parts. Therefore, a specific value of the proportionality coefficient should be chosen accordingly to ensure that the oppositely directed longitudinal force components will have substantially equal net magnitudes, resulting in their substantial mutual cancellation during firing. This ensures that the firearm does not undergo any substantial displacement while projectile 28 is moving in barrel bore 34.
Thus, it is seen that in order to achieve firearm stability during firing, the following considerations should be taken into account:
After projectile 28 has exited muzzle end 22, the moving parts of the firearm—cartridge container 16 with cartridge case 26 therein and countermass main body 18—come in contact with cartridge container stop 20 and frame frontal wall 11, respectively, and cease their movements. In this embodiment, it is preferable, although not necessary, to avoid any substantial firearm displacement after projectile 28 has left muzzle end 22. To minimize the firearm displacement due to the impacts of cartridge container 16 and countermass main body 18 against respective parts of the firearm, the following conditions preferably are met:
The preferred embodiment may also include the step of ejecting cartridge case 26 from hollow bore 46 of cartridge container 16 after projectile 28 has left barrel bore 34. After projectile 28 has exited muzzle end 22, gas pressure in the expandable chamber drops to equilibrium with the ambient gas pressure. The process of the pressure drop in the expandable chamber is a function of time: the gas pressure in the chamber reaches equilibrium with the ambient pressure at some time point when projectile 28 has traveled a certain distance from muzzle end 22. Because the chamber pressure remains high for some period of time after projectile 28 has left muzzle end 22, it is safe to extract cartridge case 26 from hollow bore 46 only when the chamber pressure has dropped to some predetermined level (premature cartridge case extraction may cause cartridge case 26 to expand, break open, or result in some other uncontrollable process). The specific value of this pressure level will depend on several factors, such as the type of ammunition used (its power, the material from which the cartridge case is made, etc.), as well as safety requirements accepted in the industry.
When the decreasing gas pressure in the chamber reaches the level safe for cartridge case extraction, the wall of cartridge case 26 is no longer pressed hard against the wall of hollow bore 46. When cartridge container 16 contacts cartridge container stop 20 and ceases its movement with respect to frame 10, cartridge case 26 keeps moving in the backward direction by inertia, and is ejected from the container 16. It is seen therefore, that when the container 16 is stopped by the container stop 20, said the cartridge case 26 is ejected from the container by inertia.
Then, when cartridge case 26 ejects completely out of hollow bore 46 (we refer to this as the extraction of the cartridge case), it hits side projection 48 on its way and is discarded (
A first special-case embodiment shown in
The firearm schematically shown in
A second special-case embodiment depicted in
In
Breech end surface 40 and annulus washer 323 as replaceable parts may be used to alter the surface areas of the respective parts immovable with respect to the frame and constituting portions of the expandable chamber. This may have several practical applications. For example, when ammunition having a different energy (i.e. one that develops gas pressure of a different magnitude in the expandable chamber) is to be used, the respective surface areas of the parts immovable with respect to the frame may need to be adjusted accordingly by using replaceable parts. It is also noted that these replaceable parts may have any type of kinematic connection (e.g. via a spring, cam, lever) with the part to which they transfer force or energy.
A third special-case implementation is shown in
This embodiment also features a specific placement of cartridge container 16 and barrel 12 with respect to each other when the firearm is in the battery position: cartridge container working surface 36 contacts breech end surface 40 forming no gap between the two surfaces prior to firing ammunition. Operationally, such arrangement of parts with no gap between the two surfaces results in the following. Upon ignition of the cartridge propellant, projectile 28, being acted upon by the developing gas pressure in cartridge case 26, starts moving and detaches from the mouth of cartridge case 26 (assuming projectile 28 was attached to cartridge case 26 before firing). Once projectile 28 has detached from cartridge case 26, it starts moving along barrel bore 34, and cartridge container 16 starts moving in a substantially opposite direction forming a gap between cartridge container working surface 36 and breech end surface 40 exposing more surfaces to the gas. Thus, it is seen that in this embodiment, the expandable chamber forms with some surfaces at the early stage of the process of firing, and some other surfaces add in thereafter. The rest of the firearm's operation is similar to the operation of the Preferred Embodiment described above.
The additional embodiment shown in
This embodiment is similar to the single-shot firearm apparatus described above. It also features some additional components necessary for automatic operation. Therefore, only the parts specific to this embodiment will be described here in full detail.
The automatic firearm apparatus features loader 50 urged toward cartridge container 16 by loader return spring 52. In its front position, loader 50 contacts cartridge container 16, or the rear of cartridge case 26, or both. In
The cartridge may be supplied from a feed system. For clarity purposes, no feed system from which cartridges can be loaded by loader 50 into hollow bore 46 of cartridge container 16 is shown in
An example of an ignition initiation mechanism is shown in
For the convenience of reference, we will collectively call all parts that move in a direction substantially opposite the direction of projectile movement during firing an active mass. It should be noted that a part is considered a part of the active mass even if only a portion of that part moves in a direction substantially opposite the direction of projectile movement during firing. An example of such a part of the active mass, at least a portion of which moves during firing, is loader return spring 52. Thus, the active mass in
Similarly, we will collectively call all parts that move in substantially the same direction as the direction of projectile movement during firing a countermass. The same principle of partially moving parts applies to the countermass. In other words, a part is considered a part of the countermass even if only a portion of that part moves in substantially the same direction as the direction of projectile movement during firing. An example of a part of the countermass at least a portion of which moves during firing is countermass return spring 54. Thus, the countermass in
It should also be noted that the propellant too, at least partially, moves during firing. When calculating the weight of the active mass and that of the countermass, one-half of the weight of the propellant is considered a part of the active mass, and the other half a part of the countermass.
Unlike in the single-shot design discussed in the Preferred Embodiment section above, countermass main body 18 in the automatic operation design consists of at least two separate members—first counteractor 181 and second counteractor 182—which are preferably disposed next to each other and capable of moving in a reciprocating fashion substantially along the axis line of barrel bore 34. In sum, in this embodiment the countermass 18 comprises the first counteractor 181 (having the countermass back surface 38 defining in part the firing chamber), and the second counteractor 182 located forward of, and separable from, the first counteractor. During firing of the ammunition, the countermass of the two counteractors 181, 182 moves in substantially the same direction as the projectile 28. The counteractors optionally are disposed coaxially around the barrel 12, but in all embodiments are disposed for reciprocating axial movement along the barrel.
When the firearm is in the battery position, the back end of first counteractor 181 (i.e. the end close to stand 30) is inserted into stand recess 44, generally as a male-to-female type of connector. The front end of first counteractor 181 preferably contacts the back end of second counteractor 182, so that the second counteractor is forward of and in contact with (but separable from) the first counteractor. During firearm operation, first counteractor 181 is capable of moving forward until it contacts first counteractor stop 56 and ceases its movement. First counteractor stop 56 is an element formed in frame 10 or immovably attached to frame 10 to limit the movement of first counteractor 181 in the forward direction. While moving forward, first counteractor 181 pushes and moves second counteractor 182 substantially in the same direction and against the urge of countermass return spring 54. Therefore, during firearm operation, second counteractor 182 receives momentum from first counteractor 181 and moves forward until it comes in contact with, and is stopped by, the frame frontal wall 11 and thereby ceases its movement. Thus, first counteractor 181 and second counteractor 182 move together in the forward direction until first counteractor 181 is stopped by first counteractor stop 56, after which second counteractor 182 continues moving until it is stopped by frame frontal wall 11.
The concept of the expandable chamber described above in the single-shot design is fully applicable to the automatic operation design. It can be well realized that in the two-member construction of countermass main body 18, a portion of first counteractor 181 constitutes a portion of the expandable chamber.
As previously stated, all parts that move during firing due to the energy of the high-pressure gas define the inert mass. Thus, the inert mass consists of the active mass and the countermass.
Side projection 48 serves the same function as in the Preferred Embodiment design, i.e. to change the direction of movement of cartridge case 26 when the latter exits hollow bore 46. Therefore, side projection 48 is located at a distance that allows cartridge case 26 to exit completely out of hollow bore 46 and become discarded from the firearm as shown in
This embodiment implements the process of automatic firing. It is, in general, similar to the single-shot design described in the Preferred Embodiment above, with the addition of operations of firearm reloading and after-firing stabilization. The operations of after-firing firearm stabilization are implemented in order to achieve minimal firearm displacement after the projectile has left the barrel bore, i.e. prior to the next discharge. Because of much similarity with operation of the single-shot embodiment discussed above, the description of the automatic operation will mainly be focused on those aspects that are either new or different from the operation of the single-shot embodiment.
Upon ignition, deflagrating propellant produces a large amount of gas. High gas pressure develops in the expandable chamber and acts upon the surfaces exposed to the gas in the chamber. The elements having these surfaces and movable with respect to the frame begin to move: projectile 28 is propelled along barrel bore 34, cartridge container 16 substantially sealed by cartridge case 26 in its hollow bore 46 moves in a direction substantially opposite the direction of projectile movement (i.e. backward), and first counteractor 181 moves in substantially the same direction as the direction of projectile movement (i.e. forward).
As seen in
The gas pressure in the expandable chamber also acts upon parts or elements immovable with respect to frame 10. Barrel 12 and stand 30 are such elements. The radial components of the forces acting upon the exposed surfaces of these elements cancel out and, therefore, do not tend to displace the firearm during firing. The longitudinal components of these forces, however, in general, tend to displace the firearm along its longitudinal axis line or around its center of mass if the center of mass of the firearm is not located on the firearm's longitudinal axis line. Therefore, it is important to make the oppositely directed net longitudinal force components equal in magnitude: they will substantially cancel out and bring the displacement of the firearm during firing to a minimum. This can be achieved by appropriately choosing the area of stand pressure surface 32 and that of the normal projection of breech end surface 40 onto a plane perpendicular to the axis line of barrel bore 34, as was explained in the operation section of the Preferred Embodiment.
Thus, the described design provides substantial cancellation of forces that reduces firearm displacement during firing to a technologically achievable minimum, resulting in a high accuracy of shooting. It is analogous to the technology of the single-shot operation discussed above.
To achieve accurate automatic firing, it is critical to keep the firearm as stable as possible not only while the projectile is moving in the barrel bore, but also after the projectile has exited the muzzle, so as to minimize the displacement of the firearm off the target prior to the next discharge.
As seen in
Having received momentum from cartridge container 16, loader 50 keeps moving in the backward direction against the urge of loader return spring 52 until it contacts the back wall of frame 10 delivering an impact to it. Similarly, second counteractor 182, having received momentum from first counteractor 181, keeps moving in the forward direction against the urge of countermass return spring 54 until it contacts frame frontal wall 11 delivering an impact to it in the direction opposite to that delivered to frame 10 by loader 50 and approximately at the same time when loader 50 hits the back wall of frame 10. We will refer to these two oppositely directed impacts delivered to frame 10 as the second pair of impacts.
The described two pairs of impacts delivered to frame 10 in substantially opposite directions compensate each other, so that the net force that acts upon frame 10 is minimal and so is displacement of the firearm after the discharge. In order for the two pairs of impacts to substantially cancel out each other, the following conditions for after-firing stabilization are to be met:
From these conditions, it follows that in order to minimize displacement of the firearm due to the impacts of the oppositely moving parts against frame 10 after the projectile has left barrel bore 34, the kinetic energy of cartridge container 16 with cartridge case 26 therein and that of first counteractor 181 should be substantially equal at least at the time when they contact cartridge container stop 20 and first counteractor stop 56, respectively. Similarly, the kinetic energy of loader 50 together with loader return spring 52 (including firing pin 60 in the realization in
In sum, the frontal wall 11 is on the frame axially between the muzzle end 22 and the breech end 24 of the barrel 12, and the first counteractor stop 56 is on the frame between the first counteractor 181 and the frontal wall 11. Consequently, after the projectile 28 exits the muzzle end 22, the first counteractor 181 contacts, and applies a first counteractor net impact force vector to, the counteractor stop 56 at substantially the same time the cartridge container 16 contacts, and applies a container net impact force vector to, the cartridge container stop 20. Likewise, after the projectile exits the muzzle end 22, the second counteractor 182 contacts, and applies a second counteractor net impact force vector to, the frontal wall 11 at substantially the same time the loader contacts and applies a loader net impact force vector to the back wall of the frame (
Again, the parameters of the moving parts that directly or indirectly affect the parts' kinetic energy, as well as the distance they move and the tension coefficients of the return springs, are chosen, applying known principles of physics, to satisfy the above conditions for after-firing stabilization. It is also preferable, although not necessary, that the center of mass of the “active mass” and that of the “countermass” be located on the axis line of barrel bore 34.
When cartridge container 16 hits cartridge container stop 20, loader 50 and cartridge case 26 keep moving in the backward direction by inertia. Loader 50 moves past side projection 48 until it hits the back wall of frame 10, while cartridge case 26 gets completely out of hollow bore 46 of cartridge container 16 and hits side projection 48. Upon impact with side projection 48, cartridge case 26 gets discarded from the firearm. Frame 10 may have an opening or window through which cartridge case 26 gets discarded. At this juncture, with the cartridge container 16 and the loader 50 axially separated, a second round of ammunition may be inserted (as from a conventional spring-driven magazine) into the apparatus between the loader 50 and the cartridge container 16; the loader is urged forward by the loader return spring 52 to push the new cartridge case toward the cartridge container 16, and the actions of the return springs 52, 54 return the apparatus to battery position. Thus, in automatic firing mode, the reciprocating loader 50 repeatedly is urged forward by the loader return spring 52 to push successive cartridge cases toward the cartridge container 16.
It is understood that cartridge case 26 gets out of hollow bore 46 no sooner than the gas pressure in the expandable chamber has reached a predetermined level safe for cartridge case extraction, as described in detail in the Preferred Embodiment section above. Continuing the discussion of the pressure drop in the expandable chamber started in the Preferred Embodiment section, it should be noted that this process can be expedited by making some structural modifications in the firearm. Such modifications may include making some additional gas escape vents in any part through which gas can flow from the expandable chamber preferably, but not necessarily, after projectile 28 has exited muzzle end 22. This will expedite the process of the pressure drop in the expandable chamber. Implementation of the expedited pressure drop may especially be important when designing a firearm with a high firing rate: the sooner the chamber pressure reaches a predetermined level safe for cartridge case extraction, the sooner the case extraction can be performed, and hence, the sooner the firearm can be reloaded with a new cartridge. It should also be noted that making one or more gas escape vents may create uncompensated radial force components, which may displace the firearm during firing. Some approaches to solving this problem may include the following. Vents can be made on opposite sides of the firearm so that the created radial force components will act in opposite directions and cancel out each other. Another approach may deal with an already existing uncompensated force acting in a radial direction. In this case, a vent or vents can be made in a side of the firearm where the produced radial force components will counterbalance the existing force.
From the foregoing description of operation, it can be realized that this design ensures firearm stability while the projectile is moving in the barrel bore, as well as after the projectile has left the barrel bore, thus providing very high accuracy of firing for the first and all subsequent shots in the automatic mode of firing.
Cartridge container 16 and countermass main body 18 have an L-shaped portion and an inverted L-shaped portion, respectively, facing each other as seen in the sectional view in
The alternative embodiments shown in
In
Countermass main body 18 and barrel 12 immovably mounted therein form a unit that is capable of reciprocating motion substantially along the axis line of the barrel bore. The movement range of the unit is limited in the back position by rest 62 and in the front position by the front wall of frame 10. This unit is urged toward rest 62 by countermass return spring 54. Cartridge container 16 is capable of reciprocating motion substantially along the axis line of the barrel bore. The movement range of cartridge container 16 is limited in the back position by cartridge container stop 20 and in the front position by rest 62. Cartridge container 16 may also have a return spring for bringing cartridge container 16 to the initial position after a firing cycle is complete.
It is noted that the expandable chamber in this embodiment comprises fewer surfaces than the expandable chambers in the preferred and additional embodiments. Specifically, the expandable chamber is defined here by the following surfaces: cartridge container working surface 36, breech end surface 40, the surface of the interior of the cartridge case positioned in hollow bore 46 (the cartridge case is not shown in
The alternative embodiments shown in
A cartridge or ammunition is loaded into hollow bore 46 of cartridge container 16. The cartridge may be fed from a feed system or any other supply means (in case of automatic firing, a loader similar to that described in the additional embodiment may be used). Once the cartridge is positioned in hollow bore 46, and the moving parts—barrel 12 with countermass main body 18 and cartridge container 16—are in the positions shown in
It is important to choose appropriately the moving parts' surface areas exposed to the gas, as well as the parts' weight and speed of movement, so that the moving parts do not transfer energy to frame 10 or any part immovable with respect to frame 10 before projectile leaves muzzle end 22 of barrel bore 34 (to simplify the discussion, we do not consider here energy transferred to frame 10 due to the tension coefficient of countermass return spring 54 and friction of the moving parts against surfaces of frame 10 or parts immovable with respect to frame 10). That is, countermass main body 18 with barrel 12 should reach the front wall of frame 10 and cartridge container 16 should reach cartridge container stop 20 no sooner than the projectile leaves muzzle end 22. After the projectile has left muzzle end 22, countermass main body 18 with barrel 12 ceases its movement by contacting the front wall of frame 10 and cartridge container 16 ceases its movement by contacting cartridge container stop 20. By this time, the gas pressure has dropped to a level safe for cartridge case extraction. The cartridge case is no longer firmly pressed against the inner wall of hollow bore 46. When cartridge container 16 contacts cartridge container stop 20, cartridge case keeps moving backward by inertia, thereby leaving hollow bore 46. This completes the firing cycle. If the firearm is to be used in automatic mode of firing, it should also remain as stable as possible after the projectile has left muzzle end 22. In order to achieve this, the conditions for after-firing stabilization stated above in the description of the additional embodiment have to be met.
The operability of the disclosed invention has been verified by building and testing a working model of a large-caliber pistol constructed according to the present invention. A series of tests was conducted using ammunition with energies ranging from 300 to 700 Joules. The results of the tests have successfully corroborated the key concepts disclosed in this application.
The preceding examples can be repeated with similar success by substituting the generically or specifically described reactants and/or operating conditions of this invention for those used in the preceding examples.
Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference.
This application claims the benefit of the filing of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/677,382, filed by these inventors on May 3, 2005, and the specification thereof is incorporated herein by reference. This application is related to pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/001,450, filed Nov. 30, 2004, the disclosure of which also is incorporated herein.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 797420 | Febiger | Aug 1905 | A |
| 1343444 | Formby | Jun 1920 | A |
| 1383966 | Oliver | Jul 1921 | A |
| 2027892 | Williams | Jan 1936 | A |
| 2090656 | Williams | Aug 1937 | A |
| 2090657 | Williams | Aug 1937 | A |
| 2336146 | Williams | Dec 1943 | A |
| 2356491 | Loomis | Aug 1944 | A |
| 2516926 | Simpson | Aug 1950 | A |
| 2847787 | Williams | Aug 1958 | A |
| 2920537 | Simmons | Jan 1960 | A |
| 3547001 | Stoner | Dec 1970 | A |
| 4541193 | Flippin | Sep 1985 | A |
| 5309815 | Moller et al. | May 1994 | A |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20060260461 A1 | Nov 2006 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60677382 | May 2005 | US |
