This invention relates to a firearm having a reduction in recoil and muzzle climb. In another embodiment the invention relates to a firearm having two slide mechanisms that recoil in substantially opposite directions.
Excessive recoil can cause discomfort and flinching upon subsequent shots. Additionally, the recoil can cause muzzle climb resulting in more difficult sight realignment. Conventional handguns utilize a one piece slide which travels rearward, sending the momentum of the recoil force rearward. This momentum is generated after firing of a round. The slide is carried rearward the full distance needed to extract and eject spent casings and to chamber a fresh round from the magazine. Thus all of the recoil generated by movement of the slide is transferred into the web of the users hand. This movement and weight transfer above and to the rear of the hand, combined with the effect of the projectile exiting the barrel at about the same time, causes the muzzle end of the firearm to rise dramatically. This is known as muzzle climb, and requires the user to readjust the firearm for subsequent shots.
Referring to
In addition to generating recoil the handgun muzzle also tends to climb after the firing of a projectile. The recoil generates some rotation around the contact point between the users hand and the grip. This action causes the muzzle to climb. As the slide moves backwards, the handgun rotates around the contact point and cause the muzzle to climb. If another projectile is fired without first correcting for this muzzle climb the second projectile would be fired above the first. This is especially problematic in semi-automatic or automatic handguns where accuracy can be greatly reduced in rapid fire situations. Furthermore, the more powerful the round the more pronounced the recoil and muzzle climb. Muzzle climb makes reacquiring the sights into the target more difficult.
Existing methods to reduce recoil and muzzle climb include barrel porting, muzzle brakes or compressors. All of which have failed to adequately reduce recoil and muzzle climb to acceptable levels.
Therefore, a handgun having reduced recoil is desired.
Further, a handgun having reduced muzzle climb is desired.
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a handgun having two slides. A rear slide that upon firing of a projectile moves backwards, and a front slide that upon firing of a projectile moves forwards.
More particularly, the invention includes a slide link that connects the front and rear slides. The slide link allows for a portion of the force applied to the rear slide to be transferred to the front slide thereby reducing recoil of the firearm.
The handgun allows for a shorter overall length due to the dual slide mechanism. Furthermore the reduced recoil reduces shooting fatigue during repeated use.
In another form, the invention includes a slot drive to allow portion of the force applied to the rear slide to be transferred to the front slide thereby reducing recoil of the firearm.
An advantage of the present invention is that the oppositely acting slides provide a significant reduction in recoil and muzzle climb.
The present invention is disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The examples set out herein illustrate several embodiments of the invention but should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring to
Referring now to
The recoil force of the rear slide is mitigate by the recoil of the front slide. The total recoil felt by the user is thus reduced when compared to a traditional firearm having only a rear slide. Because both the front and rear slides move, the recoil distance for the slide is reduced. With a single slide mechanism, that single slide must travel the full distance required for the casing to clear the chamber. With the dual slide system, the travel required for the rear slide is reduced as the front slide moves forward, thereby creating the same opening as a single slide mechanism with a reduced recoil distance. Furthermore, as the front slide travels forward, the added weight over the front end of the barrel reduces the effects of muzzle climb after a round is fired.
During recoil the slides compress the recoil spring 160. After reaching full recoil, the recoil spring 160 expands and begins the counter recoil process to return the slides to their original resting position as shown in
As the slides return to their resting position, the extractor 134 pulls the empty casing out of the chamber 142. The empty casing then strikes the ejector 102 which ejects the empty casing. While the extractor and ejector shown in this embodiment demonstrate an effective means for ejecting an empty casing, those skilled in the art will understand that any suitable substitute could be made to eject the empty casing. In one embodiment the ejector is a fixe ejector. In another embodiment the ejector is a retracting ejector.
In one embodiment, a magazine 110 is inserted into the magazine well 111 of the frame 101. A round from the magazine 110 is pushed into the chamber 142. Upon firing the round, the empty round casing is ejected and a fresh round is fed into the chamber from the magazine 110. The magazine 110 contains a magazine follower 112 and magazine spring 113. The magazine spring 113 is compressed when the magazine 110 is loaded. Upon the ejecting of a spent casing, the spring uncompresses and pushes the magazine follower 112, and each round in the magazine up towards the chamber 142. Upon the firing of the last round, the magazine follower 112 locks the slides in the open position. In one embodiment, the magazine follower 112 pushes up against the slide stop 107 to lock the front slide 120 and the rear slide 130 in the open position, indicating to the user that the last round in the magazine has been fired. In one embodiment the slide stop 107 is lever with a shaft, the shaft going through a hole in the frame above the trigger 105, and optionally through a hole in the slide arm mount 150. This shaft holds the frame 101 and the front slide 120 and rear slide 130 together.
The frame 101 is composed of steel, alloy or composite. Optionally, the frame 101 includes a safety 103 mounted to the safety hole 104 to prevent engagement of the trigger 105. For additional safety precautions the frame 101 also includes a trigger guard 109 to prevent accidental contact with the trigger 105. It is understood that distinct or additional safety mechanisms may be included without detracting from the invention. In one embodiment the frame is about 150 mm long, 80 mm high and 30-34 mm wide.
It is understood that the dimensions given herein this application are for demonstrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. The dimensions set forth relate to a .380 ACP, however such dimensions may be modified to optimize characteristics of the firearm or user preferences. The dimensions may be further modified to accommodate use with other caliber firearms.
In one embodiment, the top portion of the frame 101 includes frame rails 106 for attachment of the front slide 120 and the rear slide 130. The front slide rails 121 and the rear slide rails 131 are designed to mate with the frame rails 106 of the frame 101. This allows movement of the front slide 120 and rear slide 130. Optionally, the front slide 120 further includes front guide rails 129 for attachment to the upper guide rails 132 of the rear slide 130. This additional attachment provides more stable and reliable movement of the slides.
The front slide 120 is designed to travel forward along the frame rails 106 in the direction opposite the travel of the rear slide 130. Optionally, the front slide 120 includes a front recoil spring seat 123 and a front slide link insert 125 to attach slide arms 152. The front slide link insert 125 is designed to cradle the slide arms 152. The front slide 120 may be composed of steel, alloy or composite. In one embodiment the front slide includes a barrel that is integrated into the slide 120. In another embodiment, the barrel 140 is a removable barrel. In one embodiment the front slide is 100 mm long, 30 mm wide and 30 mm high.
The rear slide 130 is designed to travel rearward along the frame rails 106 in the direction opposite the travel of the front slide 120. Optionally, the rear slide includes a rear recoil spring seat 133 and a rear slide link insert 135 to attach slide arms 152. The rear slide link insert 135 being designed to cradle the slide arms 152. The rear slide 130 may be composed of steel, alloy or composite. The bottom edge of the rear slide 130 is machined to form the slide rails 131 which are designed to mate with the frame rails 106. In one embodiment the rear slide is 120 mm long, 30 mm wide and 30 mm high.
To optionally limit travel of the slides, limit studs are used to set a maximum. In one embodiment, the front slide 120 includes a guide rail stud 122. As the rear slide 130 moves reward and the front slide 120 moves forward the guide rail stud 122 limits the maximum travel by the slides by contacting the front wall 139 of the rear slide 130. It is understood by those skilled in the art that various mechanisms can be substituted for limit studs. Additionally, the limit stud my be located on the frame, the rear slide and/or the front slide to effectively limit travel of the slides.
In another embodiment, the recoil spring limits the maximum travel of the slides. Once the spring is fully compressed, the spring prevents further travel of the slides. In yet another embodiment the slide rails contain stops to limit the maximum travel of the slides.
The front slide 120 includes a barrel bore 124 to house the barrel 140. The barrel having a chamber 142 to house a round and a muzzle end 141. The barrel 140 is designed to house a live round, contain gas pressure upon ignition and impart a stabilizing spin on the projectile as it exits the muzzle end 141 of the barrel 140. The barrel 140 has a cylindrical bore throughout, sized to the appropriate caliber of the round. In one embodiment the barrel is a steel barrel. The size of the barrel will change depending on the caliber of the round to be fired. In one embodiment the barrel is between 85 and 100 mm long and about 14 mm in diameter.
Optionally to improve accuracy, a front sight 128 and a rear sight 138 are attached to the top surfaces of the front slide 120 and rear slide 130 respectively. The sights can be any design known to those skilled in the art. Additionally, the slide may include a mount for a scope or laser sight.
In one embodiment the barrel 140 is connected to the front slide 120 through the barrel bore 124 by inserting the barrel 140 into the front of the barrel bore 124. The barrel studs 143 on either side of the barrel 140 engage the barrel stud insert 127 of the front slide 120. Upon nearing full insertion, the barrel is rotated to allow the barrel studs 143 to engage the barrel stud insert 127 and lock the barrel in place. As the barrel 140 is rotated a spring loaded detent 126, so positioned in the bottom of the front slide 120, engages a corresponding notch 144 in the barrel 140. The spring loaded detent 126 locks the barrel 140 into the front slide 120 to prevent the barrel 140 from backing out. In one embodiment, the spring loaded detent is a plunger (not shown) that rides on a spring. The spring and plunger are located in a drilled hole in order to limit movement. The spring loaded detente can only be depressed in one direction, allowing a locking projection to pass by the detent. Once passed and the barrel is properly aligned, the detent extend locking the barrel in place. While a preferred embodiment for locking the barrel in place has been described, it is understood that additional methods for locking a barrel in place are known to those skilled in the art.
The front slide may optionally include a recoil chamber. In one embodiment, the recoil chamber includes a front recoil spring seat 123 to hold a recoil spring 160. When assembled, the recoil spring 160 provides resistance between the front slide 120 and the rear slide 130. As the slides travel away from one another, as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
The upper slide arm portion 156 is attached to the front slide link insert 125 on the front slide 120 and the lower slide arm portion 157 is attached to the rear slide link insert 135 on the lower slide 130. The slide arms may be attached to the slides by any suitable means, including but not limited to, pins, shafts and friction mounts. Referring to
In one embodiment the slide arms are attached to the slides by insertion into the slide link inserts at a 90 degree angle. Pushing the front slide forward allows interrupted guide rails on the outside of the front slide to drop through slots in the guide rails on the inside of the cradle arms to a lower track allowing the areas of overlap between the front and rear slides to interface smoothly during recoil. In one embodiment slide motion is restricted from overextension by the terminus of the guide rails at the front and rear in the event of slide arm failure.
Referring again to
The upper portion and lower portion of the slide arms can be configured with open slots at the ends, studs projecting outward, detents or holes to accept projections from the front or rear slide, or any other means to transfer momentum between the slides during the recoil process. In one embodiment the slide arms are 28 mm high and 5 mm wide. The slide arms should be constructed of a rugged material such as steel.
In one embodiment the handgun further includes a locking system to lock the slides together during cartridge ignition. For most low caliber rounds the force of the recoil spring is sufficient to seal the chamber during ignition. Furthermore, in some higher caliber rounds, the initial recoil force is sufficient to seal the chamber during ignition. However, for some rounds and designs a locking system is utilized to prevent gas leakage during ignition. Locking mechanisms are known to those skilled in the art of handguns having a slide mechanism.
While the slide transfer mechanism can be the slide arms as described above, it is understood that any suitable slide transfer mechanism can be used to transfer recoil energy from the rear slide to the front slide, thus allowing the two slides to move in opposing directions. Referring now to
Referring now to
In another embodiment the handgun includes a thumbscrew adjustable back strap near the rear portion of the grip to accommodate varying individual grips. The thumbscrew allows adjustment of the size of the handle. Users with smaller or larger hands will appreciate the adjustability and find the grip to be more comfortable in their hand when properly adjusted.
In use, a round is loaded into the chamber 142. Pulling the trigger 105 engages the firing pin 136 which fires the round. Upon firing, the expanding gases force the rear slide to move reward, in a direction opposite to the fired round, and at the same pull the lower slide arm portion 157 to the rear. The slide arms 152 rotate along the slide arm pin 154 causing the upper slide arm portion 156 to move forward and push the front slide 120 forward. The momentum of the front slide 120 counteracts a portion of the momentum of the rear slide 130, thereby reducing the recoil felt by the user and reducing muzzle climb. Additionally, as the recoil spring is compressed between the two slides, each slide receives the same counter recoil force from the spring. As the two slides return to rest, they close above the axis of the hand, not behind, thereby further reducing muzzle climb. Also as the two slides move in opposite directions, each slide must only travel half the distance that that of a traditional slide.
In one embodiment the weight of the front slide is equal to the weight of the rear slide. In another embodiment the weight of the front slide is within 10% of the weight of the rear slide. In yet another embodiment the weight of the front slide is within 2% of the weight of the rear slide
It is understood that the handgun as described can be converted from a right handed configuration to a left handed configuration by repositioning the extractor, ejector and magazine release accordingly. It is further understood that although a striker-type ignition system is shown. A system utilizing an external hammer is contemplated.
While the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/187,850, filed Jun. 17, 2009, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.
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3901125 | Raville | Aug 1975 | A |
4127056 | Kart | Nov 1978 | A |
4594935 | Smith | Jun 1986 | A |
5347912 | Gathoye | Sep 1994 | A |
5669169 | Schmitter et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
6286241 | Constant et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20110088304 A1 | Apr 2011 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61187850 | Jun 2009 | US |