Patent Application
20060117941
This invention responds to the relatively new requirement as a result of terrorism to provide a defense posture for a merchant ship while it is in port or transiting close to shore.
Except in certain areas of the world, merchant ships until recently have not been threatened. Now, designated units of the United States Coast Guard, Marines, Navy or Army may be assigned to defend the ship. They currently use various automatic weapons employed by the military (M240, M249, M60, M2, etc.) that customarily are used on land or on combatant vessels that have permanent provision for the weapons utilization. Merchant ships may require the installation of the gun mounts for only the period of time that they are in a threat area perhaps only a couple of days.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,398, issued to Pickett, describes a “Gun Rest” that is not designed to be affixed to any structure. It is a “monopod having a base cylinder and a plurality of nesting, tapered interior tubes or cylinders, each having a successively smaller diameter and arranged in concentric, normally retracted, telescoping configuration inside the base cylinder. A mount plate is provided with a pivot clamp at one end for pivotal cooperation with the base cylinder. It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention does not use an arm but is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and a mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,032, issued to Carrel and Puhak, describes a “Zero force insertion socket for gun mounts”. “The socket includes a central bore extending through the body and a plurality of electrically conductive, deformable pin holders seated in apertures surrounding the central bore and extending into the body where the holders have an inside diameter greater than a diameter of a pin of a gun mount assembly . . . ”. “The apparatus also includes a plurality of electrical contacts in electrical communication with the holders and having an exposed end for receiving electric.” It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention does not use electricity but is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,179, issued to Sanderson, describes a “Rotatable pintle arm assembly for supporting a machine gun” and comprises an arm for supporting a machinegun that is placed on one end into a vertical pivot journal. It is made up of a number of roller type anti-friction bearings, bushings, detent ring, and other parts requiring extensive machining. The machinegun must be mounted in a separate assembly that in turn fits on the arm. It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention does not use an arm but is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and a mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,922, issued to Fog and Nielsen, describes a “Gunmount for machine guns or weapons of a similar kind, which mount comprises two mutually hinged swivel arms in staggered position the one at a higher level than the other, one of said arms at it's free end being pivotally embedded around a vertical pivot journal (pivot bearing) . . . while the other, which is appropriately formed as a vertically adjustable parallelogram connection, has fittings at it's face end for pivotal fastening of a fork for swivel action of a weapon”. It also uses cables, springs, sprockets, and pins to facilitate a position detent system. It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention does not use arms but is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and a mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,448, issued to Kaustrader, describes an “Automatic gun mounting system” that is primarily designed to “quiet or dampen” recoil. It is comprised of a number of parts some. of which are rubberized. It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention is of a completely different configuration, is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and a mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,703, issued to Fog and Nielsen, describes a “Gun mount for a machine gun . . . with means for continuously variable adjustment of the elevation of the upper swivel arm”. This assembly is composed of a radius arm to which an articulated elevation arm is attached by means of a vertical trunnion. The weapon is rigidly bolted to and becomes a part of this assembly. It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention is of completely different design, does not use any arms but is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and a mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,428, issued to Maples and Becker, describes a “Swing arm (gun) mount” assembly comprised of a radius arm hinged in the center so as to permit the gun to be put in any position in the horizontal plane from the affixing point (the center of the radius arm) out to the full extension of the arms. The weapon is bolted to and becomes a part of this complete assembly. It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention is of a completely different design, does not use any arms but is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and a mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,066, issued to Canterbury, describes an “Adustable rifle rest”. It comprises a “cylindrical standard implantable into the ground, a freely rotatable front rifle support mounted on the upper end of the standard, a sleeve snugly but rotatably and slidingly engaging the standard, a member having a horizontal portion with one end thereof fixed to the sleeve and the other end terminating in an upwardly extending portion, and a fixed rifle support mounted on the upper end of the vertical portion of the member. It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention does not use any arms or “members” but is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and a mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is affixed to a structure that provides stability. It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.
Prior systems do not include a gun mount application that addresses the above. Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide a weapons mounting structure and system which as a temporary part of the ship's structure are able to be installed, removed, or relocated quickly and easily and can provide a wide field of fire from a rigid mount that increases the aiming accuracy of the supported gun during firing, will accommodate the various weapons that might be utilized, facilitate rapid change out or relocation of these weapons employed on board as the tactical situation warrants.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sturdy, inexpensive, removable gun mount system for the conventionally unarmed merchant ship such that it can be used with the majority of automatic weapons that a force protection, security, or ship defense unit usually a military contingent assigned to the vessel for a definite period of time might be equipped with. The threat would be from on shore, from small fast boats, possibly light aircraft, or a combination thereof.
The versatility of the gun mount system is derived from a novel application of a simple cylindrical swivel plug of standard dimensions which fits into cylindrical socket of mating standard dimensions.
The cylindrical swivel plug has a pronounced bevel on one end to facilitate quick, easy insertion into the cylindrical socket. There is a rim on the other end of the plug which provides the vertical (axial) bearing surface between the plug and the top end of the cylindrical socket. This bearing also takes the weight of the weapon. The inner periphery of the socket and the outer cylindrical surface of the plug form a journal bearing which allows the plug and the weapon to rotate in the horizontal plane. A stem piece of solid round stock extends from the top center of the swivel plug. On the end of this stem is the yoke or trunnion which by means of a pin provides the method of attaching the swivel plug to the particular firearm (eg: M240, M249, M60, M2) and also a means to elevate or depress the weapon including but not limited to a mount for a railing, a mount for a bulwark, a tripod, and angle iron, and sockets of varying lengths. (The center of the beveled end of the plug is bored out to save weight).
The invention consists of a tube and plug adapter. The tube is of cylindrical shape with a screw bolt or spring mechanism to secure the plug which is inserted into it. The plug consists of a smaller cylindrical form with an adapter in the shape of a u-bracket or another cylindrical means which functions to secure the weapon to the plug. The plug is then inserted into the tube which is then mounted to various extension mechanism identified above.
The cylindrical swivel plug socket in turn installed on the railing bracket, a flange, etc. accommodates any firearm fitted with the standard swivel plug.
The railing mount comprises a piece of angle iron with a cylindrical swivel plug socket welded to the upper inside. There is a “U” bolt located on the upper end of the bracket on the vertical centerline just below the level of the bottom of the socket. Further down on the centerline are drilled two holes to accommodate ½ inch″-13, grade 8 hex head cap screws which are used to secure the adjustable sliding saddle plate for the lower railing “V” block and “U” bolt. The “U” bolts quickly and easily permit the railing bracket to be installed, removed, or relocated.
The “bulwark” (vertical steel plate railing with a horizontal top plate cap) consists of the standard cylindrical socket welded to a rectangular flange plate having mounting holes drilled in each corner. In turn, this flange is mounted on the horizontal plate that caps a solid vertical plate railing (bulwark).
The military tripod as provided by the U.S. Government is too short for the barrels of any of the automatic weapons to depress past the horizontal because of the height of the conventional commercial merchant marine pipe and stanchion railing. The standard swivel plug is then utilized with a flanged extension piece made of large diameter pipe which is bushed and bored at the top for the standard swivel plug socket. This particular socket is part of an ammunition can holder and rotates within the extension piece bore. In this case, the standard swivel plug and socket are usually pinned and rotate in the horizontal plane as a unit so that the ammunition can follows the rotation of the weapon at right angles at all times so as to facilitate smooth trouble free feeding of ammunition to the weapon.
Due to immediate service requirements and the resulting shortened fabrication time, the design of the railing mount bracket was manufactured as one piece without the slider plate which permits adjustment for railings with different dimensions. Also as a result of immediate service requirement and the resulting shortened fabrication time, the design of detent assembly that retains the swivel plug in the socket was changed to a simple strip of spring steel bent at the top into two loop. The loop configuration provides the strip of spring steel to cam laterally out of the way when the bevel of the swivel plug pushes down on it permitting the swivel plug to enter the socket quickly and easily. The rounded surface of the bottom loop acts as a bearing surface to keep the swivel plug from dislodging as a result of recoil vibration. It also precludes any sharp corners or edges that would cause a hang up when removing the swivel plug from the socket.
An add on “after market” fore grip for the M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) was fabricated by taking the yoke (as used on the standard swivel plug for the M249) and using a solid pin through the axis of a piece of pipe the sides of which have been collapsed to an elliptical cross-section and then welding the pieces together for strength. The elliptical cross section of the collapsed pipe is then covered by a molded two part epoxy to make a hand grip.
As seen in
When the Plug 10 is seated in the Socket 20 with the Detent Retainer Assembly 36, the Annular Groove 14 in the Plug 10 causes the Detent Spring 32 to move the end of the Detent Stem 30 opposite the Knob 34 into the Annular Groove 14 in the Plug 10 thus preventing the Plug from being dislodged as a result of the recoil of the firearm. When the Plug 10 is seated in the Socket 20 with the Spring Retainer Assembly, the Upper Spring 50 of the Spring Retainer moves back into it's original position overhanging the top surface of the Plug 10 thus preventing the Plug from being dislodged.
The gun mount can be installed to the side of a masonry wall, vertical plate bulwark using the One-Piece Bracket 46 (without “U” bolts or “V” saddle plates) or to a railing (using “U” bolts and “V” saddle plates). The One-Piece Bracket 46 comprises a pice of angle iron of appropriate length, notched on the upper end, having drilled holes to accommodate fastening bolts. The lower end of the web perpendicular to web with the drilled holes is trimmed at an angle to reduce weight and eliminate a snagging hazard.
The Socket 20 welded to a drilled 19 Base Plate 23 comprises a gun mount which can be installed on the top of a ship's bulwark (
The standard U.S. government tripod is too short for a firearm's barrel to clear commercial ship railings. In order to use the gunmount with the tripod, an extension piece (
Because a heavy firearm such as a 0.50 Caliber machinegun is customarily mounted on the tripod and uses larger, heavier ammunition, an ammunition box holder is desirable.
Servicemen using the Plug 10 and Socket 20 Gun Mount System began using the Plug 10 as a foregrip on the Squad Automatic Weapon M249 in particular. However, the diameter of the Plug 10 was bulky and awkward to handle.
