Patent Grant
6976416
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to controlling the firing of a weapon, and, more particularly, to controlling the firing rate, number of times, and time period of a weapon.
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
Automatic weapons have a known tendency toward reduced control and accuracy when firing in fully automatic mode. This problem is primarily associated with automatic weapons with excessively high rates-of-fire. All weapons experience some degree of muzzle-rise due to recoil. When the rate of full-auto-fire exceeds a certain optimal rate for a particular weapon design, the muzzle no longer has sufficient time to return to the original point of aim between successive rounds, thus causing the weapon to progressively “climb” away from the original point of aim. This results in wasted ammunition and, more importantly, the possible unintentional hitting of objects other than the intended target. This control problem is compounded by the desire to reduce the size and weight of newly developed weapons. In particular, while a reduction in weight makes a weapon easier to transport, applicable to a larger user population, less weapon mass can also decrease stability and control during full-auto-fire. The laws of physics dictate that reducing the size, weight, and travel distance of a weapon's bolt or other working components, will also result in a faster action, with a corresponding increase in the rate-of-fire and therefore a detrimental increase in weapon “climb”.
A properly designed electronic rate-control-mechanism would allow a weapon designer to first determine and then employ the precise optimal rate-of-fire relative to that weapon's stability, control and hit-probability. This predetermined rate-of-fire would be totally independent of the physical size and mass of the weapons components, thus allowing for extremely small and lightweight weapon designs. An added advantage of such a rate control mechanism system would be the ability to precisely employ multiple rates-of-fire and multiple modes-of-fire in the same weapon to meet specific end-user requirements.
For an electronic rate-control mechanism to be acceptable to the military, there are at least three basic design requirements which must be addressed. First, the electronic rate-control mechanism must be independent, in that should any failure occur within the electronic rate-control device, the weapon must remain capable of discharging rounds of ammunition. Second, the rate-control mechanism must be capable of being retrofitted to an existing weapon, with an absolute minimum amount of alteration. The simpler and smaller the device in terms of components, the more practical and acceptable it will be to the military. Third, also related to simplicity, the mechanism must be cost effective, both in terms of materials and actual retrofitting. The rate-control-device to be described meets these important basic requirements. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,379,677, 5,485,776, 5,713,150, and 5,770,814 to Ealovega, et al, incorporated by reference herein, disclose various techniques for controlling the firing rate of an automatic weapon by controlling the movement of the bolt of the weapon.
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a firing mechanism including a hammer, an electrical solid-state full-auto-sear positioned to engage the hammer in a first electrical state and to disengage from the hammer in a second electrical state, and a controller connected to the electrical solid-state full-auto-sear for causing the electrical solid-state full-auto-sear to change from the first electrical state to the second electrical state.
The controller may include circuitry for causing the electrical solid-state full-auto-sear to change from the first electrical state to the second electrical state at a predetermined rate, a predetermined number of times, or for a predetermined period of time. The hammer may include a retractable hammer bent for engagement with the electrical sear, and the electrical sear may be a one piece member piezoelectric device. In the first electrical state the piezoelectric device may move the electrical full auto sear in a first direction to cause the front extension to engage the hammer, and in the second electrical state the piezoelectric device may move the electrical full auto sear to cause the front extension to disengage from the hammer.
In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method of firing a weapon including engaging a hammer with an electrical solid-state full-auto-sear in a first electrical state, disengaging the electrical solid-state full-auto-sear from the hammer in a second electrical state, and controlling a change from the first electrical state to the second electrical state to control the firing of the weapon. The method may further include causing the electrical solid-state full-auto-sear to change from the first electrical state to the second electrical state at a predetermined rate, a predetermined number of times, or for a predetermined period of time.
The first electrical state may induce a first rotational force on the electrical solid-state full-auto-sear causing the electrical solid-state full-auto-sear to engage the hammer, and the second electrical state may induce a second rotational force on the electrical solid-state full-auto-sear causing the electrical solid-state full-auto-sear to disengage from the hammer.
In still another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a weapon including a firing mechanism. The firing mechanism has a hammer, an electrical solid-state full-auto-sear positioned to engage the hammer in a first electrical state and to disengage from the hammer in a second electrical state, and a controller connected to the electrical solid-state full-auto-sear for causing the electrical sear to change from the first electrical state to the second electrical state. The controller is operable to cause the electrical solid-state full-auto-sear to change from the first electrical state to the second electrical state at a predetermined rate, a predetermined number of times, or for a predetermined period of time.
The foregoing aspects and other features of the present invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In the embodiment shown in
Referring also to
The bolt assembly 24, trigger 30 and disconnector 32 may be identical to the bolt assembly, trigger, and disconnector in an M16/M4 type of rifle. The firing mechanism 22 may also include a hammer 36 and a selector switch 38 which may be similar to the hammer and selector switch in an M16/M4 type of rifle. When the selector switch 38 is set to a semi-automatic firing setting (see
The trigger 30 is pivotally mounted within the lower receiver 28 by a transversely orientated pivot pin 40. The trigger 30 has an elongated upper portion, which includes a forward trigger sear 42 adapted to retain the hammer 36. Additionally mounted on the pivot pin 40 is the disconnector 32. The lower portion of the disconnector 32 is located within a groove 44 in the upper portion of the trigger 30. A compression spring 46 is interposed between the bottom of the groove 44 and the underside of the disconnector 32 in order to urge the rear of the disconnector in an upward direction about the pivot pin 40. The hammer 36 is provided with a first sear abutment 48, a second sear abutment 50, and a third sear abutment 52. The hammer 36 is pivotally mounted to the lower receiver 28 at the pivot pin 54.
The disconnector 32 includes a vertically extending portion, which includes a hook sear 56. The trigger 30, by virtue of its pivotal mounting on the pin 40, is adapted to pivot from a first position shown in
When the selector switch 38 is set to the semi-automatic position it also may cause the solid state full auto sear 34 to become inoperable, preventing the solid state full auto sear 34 from interacting with the hammer 36.
Upon rearward pivotable movement of the trigger 30 about its pivot pin 40, against the bias of the trigger spring 58, the trigger sear 42 moves down to thereby release the first sear abutment 48. The hammer 36 swings upwardly under the bias of a hammer spring 60 about its pivot pin 54. During upward swinging between its cocked position shown in
When the bolt assembly 24 recoils, the hammer 36 is urged by the bolt assembly 24 in a downward or counterclockwise direction. Assuming that the trigger 30 has been retained in its depressed position shown in
After the hammer 36 is caught on the hook sear 56 the user must release the trigger 30 in order to fire the firearm again. When the user releases the trigger 30, the trigger sear 42 moves into a path in front of the first sear abutment 48. The trigger 30 also presses upward on the disconnector 32 at the front of the disconnector to thereby pivot the disconnector in a counterclockwise direction.
As the disconnector 32 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction the hook sear 56 disengages from the second sear abutment 50, which releases the hammer 36 from the disconnector 32. The hammer 36 rotates upwards slightly but is held at its cocked position by engagement of the trigger sear 42 with the first sear abutment 48. The user can fire the weapon 10 again by actuating the trigger 30 again.
The trigger 30, disconnector 32, hammer 36, and selector switch 38 may be substantially identical and may function substantially identically to the equivalent components in an M16/M4 type firearm. The semi-automatic firing mechanism may be entirely mechanically controlled by the trigger 30, disconnector 32, springs 46 and 58, and proper location of the selector switch 38. Thus, a user need only pull the trigger 30, in the semi-automatic mode, to release the hammer 36 from its cocked position to a battery position. In an alternate embodiment, a mechanical burst control mechanism could be incorporated with the trigger 30, disconnector 32, and hammer 36 to allow for multiple limited bursts of fire when the trigger 30 is actuated.
As mentioned above, the firing mechanism 22 includes a solid-state full auto sear 34. The firing mechanism 22 may also include a battery 64 (
Referring also to
The solid state full auto sear 34 may generally comprise a piezoelectric material that assumes at least two different shapes corresponding to a charged or energized state and an uncharged or un-energized state, respectively. The shapes may include for example, a generally bowed shape and a generally flat shape. The solid state full auto sear 34 may be movably captured by slots 76 in the frame 68 which may still allow the solid state full auto sear 34 to change shape when charged. The solid state full auto sear 34 may be comprised of piezoelectric material for example, as described in Thunder® White Paper, (Face International Corporation, Feb. 21, 2001) and Application Notes, Thunder ®, (Face International Corporation, 2002) and designated as Model TH8-R.
The solid state full auto sear 34 is located so that in one state, charged or uncharged, it is not in a position to engage the third sear abutment 52 of hammer 36, and in the opposite state it is in a position to engage the third sear abutment 52 of hammer 36.
The solid-state full auto sear 34 is electrically connected to the battery 64 by means of the controller 66. The controller 66 may include a microprocessor. In an alternate embodiment, any suitable type of controller could be provided. Referring also to
The electrical system could also include a generator 100 for generating electricity, such as another piezoelectric member that is deformed by the bolt assembly to generate electricity. Generator 100 could also replace the battery 64. However, any suitable electrical system could be provided.
In one embodiment, the controller may also include an antenna or other device 900 for detecting an electromagnetic signal and a receiver 901 for receiving and conditioning the signal for use by controller 66. For example, controller 66 may receive radio or other types of signals and control weapon 10 in response to those signals.
Referring to
Referring to
In the embodiment shown, a first round has been mechanically fired, the bolt assembly 24 has cycled and the hammer 36 is still in its most rearward position of rotation, about to return to its battery position. The weapon's selector switch 38 is in a full-auto or burst fire position and the trigger 30 has been mechanically disengaged from the hammer 36, which in turn has struck the firing pin 61 and caused a first mechanical discharge of the weapon 10. The bolt assembly 24 has traveled to its most rearward position and returned to battery, having rotated the hammer 36 to its most rearward position in the process. Sometime between the release of the hammer 36 and its rotation to its most rearward position, the sensor 63 has been activated by a specific event such as movement of or contact with member 65, bolt assembly 24, trigger 30, or hammer 36.
Referring now to
Referring again to
In this example, the controller 66 may send a charge to the solid-state full auto sear 34 for a predetermined period of time measured from a specific event, before discontinuing the charge. It is this predetermined interval, which determines the cyclic rate of fire of the weapon 10 in full-auto or burst mode. This cyclic rate can be any rate at or below the natural, uncontrolled cyclic rate of the weapon 10. The released hammer 36 now causes a subsequent round to be fired, causing the bolt assembly 24 and the hammer 36 to once again cycle, with the hammer 36 once again being momentarily retained by the solid state full auto sear 34. This sequence of events may continue as long as the trigger 30 remains in a pulled or firing position or until all rounds in the magazine have been discharged or until the controller 66, causes the firing to cease after a set number of rounds.
Thus, the controller 66 may be capable of controlling the solid state full auto sear 34 such that the weapon 10 may fire at any desired rate up to the weapon's natural cyclic firing rate. The controller 66 may also be able to control the solid state full auto sear 34 such that a predetermined number of rounds may be fired per burst, from zero per burst to any number of rounds per burst. The controller 66 may further include a round counting capability for controlling the number of rounds per burst. For example, the controller 66 may operate the solid state full auto sear 34 to fire one, two, three, or any number of rounds per burst in combination at 100, 200, 300, 450, or any other number of rounds per second. In one embodiment, the controller may recognize the number of rounds fired by identifying the number of times any of the sensors have been activated.
Turning to
In this embodiment, the solid-state full-auto-sear 34 is positioned such that it engages and retains the hammer 510 in the uncharged condition, in contrast to the embodiment shown in
Referring to
It is this predetermined period of time during which the hammer 510 remains retained by the solid state full auto sear 34, which determines the cyclic rate of fire of the weapon in full-auto or burst mode. The released hammer 510 now causes a subsequent round to be fired, thereby causing the bolt assembly 24 and hammer 510 to cycle once again.
Referring to
This sequence of events will continue to repeat as long as the trigger 30 remains in a pulled or firing position, until all rounds in the magazine have been discharged, or until a predetermined number of rounds have been fired. Thus, a burst may be controlled such that any number of rounds may be fired per burst. For example, a burst may comprise firing zero, one, two, three, or any number of desired rounds, at any desired rate.
As mentioned above, the embodiments shown in
In one embodiment, the retractable hammer bent 520 and hammer bent return spring 530 may be retrofitted to a weapon, for example, a standard M4/M16 hammer part or any other weapon hammer.
This embodiment of the solid-state full auto sear 700 may include a piezoelectric device 710, a type of mechanical full auto sear 715, and a front extension 720. The piezoelectric device 710, mechanical full auto sear 715, and the front extension 720 may be attached together, for example by bonding, to form a single unit.
In this embodiment, the piezoelectric device 710 is a generally flat shaped member, which is bowed in its uncharged state and flat in a charged state, for example when a voltage is applied to it. In this embodiment, the piezoelectric device 710 is shown in an uncharged, bowed, hammer-retaining condition. In alternate embodiments, the piezoelectric device 710 may have any suitable shape.
In this view of the lower receiver 28 and trigger mechanism 26, a first round has been mechanically fired, the bolt assembly 24 has cycled and caused the hammer 36 to engage and be retained by the solid-state full auto sear. The selector switch 725 is in a full-auto or burst fire position, and the trigger 30 has been mechanically disengaged from the hammer 36, which in turn has struck the firing pin and caused a first mechanical discharge of the weapon 10. The bolt assembly 24 has traveled to its most rearward position and returned to battery, having rotated the hammer 36 to its most rearward position in the process, thus causing the hammer 36 to be retained by the solid state full auto sear 700.
Sometime between the initial mechanical release of the hammer 36 and its rotation to its most rearward, cocked position, one or more of the sensors 63, 96, 97 are activated by a specific event, for example, movement or contact by the bolt assembly 24, hammer 36, or trigger 30.
Turning now to
It is this predetermined period of time during which the hammer 36 remains retained by the solid state full auto sear 700 that determines the cyclic rate of fire of the weapon 10 in either full-auto mode or burst mode. The controller 66, in combination with the solid-state full auto sear 34, may operate at any firing rate up to the natural, uncontrolled cyclic rate of the weapon. The hammer 36, now released, causes a subsequent round to be fired, causing the bolt assembly 24 and hammer 36 to once again cycle and the aforementioned sensor to once again be activated.
Upon release of the hammer 36, the controller 66 discontinues the charge to the solid-state full-auto-sear 700, allowing it to return to its bowed, uncharged, hammer-retaining condition. The hammer 36 is once again retained by the solid-state full auto sear 700 as shown in
As shown in
Referring to
Turning now to
In essence, the electromechanical semi auto mode of fire is a burst-fire mode, in which the predetermined number of rounds to be fired is set to one. The first round may still be fired mechanically, while the subsequent semi-auto rounds are fired electro-mechanically utilizing the solid-state full-auto-sear 700.
In the embodiments shown in
With the implementation of the embodiments of the solid-state full auto sear 34, 700 described above, the selector switch may be selectable among several firing options and combinations of firing options. If the present invention is retrofitted to an existing weapon, some pre-existing firing options, for example Safe and Semi-Auto-Mechanical, may remain constant or unaffected. Some illustrative selector options and potential positions are depicted in
Additional options may include: position 4, BURST-A: for a two, three (or whatever number of rounds) burst of fire at a predetermined rate of fire at or below the natural rate of fire of the weapon; position 5, BURST-B: an alternative to BURST-A with possibly a different number of rounds and/or a different rate of fire; position 6, FULL-AUTO RATE-A: for full-auto fire at any rate at or below the natural rate of fire of the weapon; and, position 7, FULL-AUTO RATE-B: for an alternative rate of fire to FULL-AUTO RATE-A.
The present invention is advantageous in that an electrically controlled system allows rates of fire to be easily selected or adjusted. Unlike fully mechanical automatic firing mechanisms, with the present invention, the weapon 10 can provide any suitable rate of fire at or below the natural rate, such as 300, 400, 500, etc. rounds per minute. Such a controlled rate of fire may result in more efficient use of ammunition, and help to eliminate muzzle climb or wander. As mentioned above, the controller 66 could also be preprogrammed to fire only a burst, such as a one, two, or three round burst. The present invention, already incorporating electronic circuitry and sensors, can easily be made to include the registration of the number of rounds fired, which can more accurately signal scheduled maintenance procedures and parts replacement procedures, which are currently scheduled relative to the number of rounds fired. A further important advantage is that the designing of the size, weight and travel of the weapon components can now be accomplished without regard to the potential effect on the final rate-of-fire. Both the determination and the actual setting of the optimal rate-of-fire for a particular weapon design can now be treated as a totally independent and separate exercise.
Also, both the simplicity and extreme compactness of the present invention, make retrofitting such a device to an existing weapon design both practical and cost effective with an absolute minimum impact by way of alteration to the already tested and proven weapon design.
It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances, which fall within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/352,132, filed Jan. 23, 2002, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3045555 | Stoner | Jul 1962 | A |
| 3748960 | Mindel | Jul 1973 | A |
| 5083392 | Bookstaber | Jan 1992 | A |
| 5379677 | Ealovega et al. | Jan 1995 | A |
| 5485776 | Ealovega | Jan 1996 | A |
| 5570814 | Havlovitz | Nov 1996 | A |
| 5713150 | Ealovega | Feb 1998 | A |
| D400954 | Ealovega | Nov 1998 | S |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040020094 A1 | Feb 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60352132 | Jan 2002 | US |
