US2469333A - Machine gun mount - Google Patents

Description

May 3 1949 s. T. FARRELL. ET Al. 2,469,333

- MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Aug. 12,' 1943 I a sheets-sheet 1 May 3, 1949-. f s. T. FARRELLI'ET AL 2,469,333

I MCHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Aug. 12, 1943 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 3, 1949 s. T. FARRELL ET AL 21,469,333

MACHINE GUN MOUNT May 3, 1949. s. T. FARRLI. ET AL v 2,469,333

MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Aug- 12. A1945 s sheets-sheet 4 May 3, 1949.

S. T. FARRELL ET AL MACHINE. GUN MOUNT 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 12, 1943 May 3, 1949.

lS. T. FARRELL ET AL l MACHINE GUN MOUNT 8 Sheets-SheetI 6 Filed Aug, 12, 1943 May 3, 1949 s. r'. FARRELL ET AL 2,469,333

MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Aug. 12, 1943 8 yShee'bS-Sheet. '7

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219 Wfw 'May 3, 1949. s. T. FARRELL ET AL MACHINE GUN MOUNT 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 F'ile Aug. 12, .194s

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Patented May 3, 1949 MACHINE GUN MOUNT Sydney T. Farrell and Frederick L. Farrell, Belmont, Mass.

Application August 12, 1943, Serial No. 498,300

(Cl. Sil-37) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to machine gun mounts,

and is directed primarily to the object of devising a support or mount for a machine gun which will relieve the gunner from much of the shock and strain imposed by the rapid recoil of the gun, and which also will reduce the wear and tear on parts of the gun mount itself occasioned by such recoil.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a gun mount constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end View of the mount shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical, sectional views taken, respectively, on the line 3-3, Fig. 1, and the line 4-4, Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 7 and 8 are horizontal, sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 1-1 and 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 9 and 10 are plan and side views, respectively, of a slightly different form of gun holder;

Fig. l1 is an end view of the holder shown in Figs. 9 and 10 with some parts in section;

Fig. 12 is a sectional View on the line |2--I2, Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a sectional View of a portion of the bearing for the left-hand end of the inner core section 4 showing additional shock absorbing members which may be used, if desired, and which usually will be found preferable;

Fig. 14 is a vertical, sectional view on the line Ill-I4, Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of parts of the construction shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15a is a cross sectional view further illustrating the structure shown in Figs. 13, 14, and 15;

Fig. 16 is a plan View of an arrangement which may be substituted for that shown in Fig. l1 to cushion or substantially isolate the intermediate gear through which the elevation of the gun is adjusted;

Fig. 17 is a front elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a vertical, sectional view on the line I8-I8, Fig. 17; and

Fig. 19 is a partial sectional View at right angles to Fig. 18.

Referring iirst to Figs. 1 to 4, the construction there shown comprises twov right and left vgun clamping members 2-2 between which the machine gun shown in dotted lines at G in Fig. l may be clamped, it being understood that the na,- ture of the parts that engage and grip the gun may be mcdied in accordance with the design of the particular gun used. These parts 2-2 are integral with two outer cylindrical sleeve members 3-3, which are duplicates, the two being located at the right and left-hand sides, respectively, of the mount. Each encircles an inner core section 4 of irregular and partly scalloped contour, as best shown in Fig. 4, the external shape of the core member being complemental to, but smaller than, the bore of the outer member, so that a space of uniform thickness is provided between these parts to receive a continuous layer of rubber, or other cushioning material, 5. The core sections 4-4 of the two sleeve members 3-3 are integral with and are connected by an intermediate section 4', Fig. 3, of reduced diameter, and by two collar sections 4" at opposite ends of said reduced section. The shock absorbing material 5, if made of rubber, should be sufliciently porous, or have perforations in it, which will give it the desired cushioning effect. The outer surface of this material may be coated with graphite, or some other dry lubricant compatible with the nature of rubber, so that the 'outer sleeve members 3-3 can have a substantial degree of adjusting movement lengthwise of the core. The parts 2--2 integral with these sleeve-like members are connected by a bolt 6, Fig. 3, having right and left screw sections threaded into holes 'l-lFig. 4, in said clampingmembers, so that by turning these screws the clamping members may be moved toward and from each other to grip or release the gun.

The peripheral sections of the sleeve members 3-3 above described are located in cylindrical apertures formed tc receive them in opposite side pieces or pillow blocks 8 8, best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and they have su'icient clearance to permit the adjustment of them toward and from each other, as above described. They are supported between sets of ball bearings Ill-III located at opposite ends of the sleeve members themselves. The inner core member 4 has a reduced section or stub shaft B formed integral with, and projecting from, opposite ends of it, and these two stub shafts are supported in bearings formed in the pillow blocks or trunnions 8 8. One of these stub shafts is clearly shown in this relationship in Fig. 3. In order to adjust the gun for elevation, the reduced section 4' of the core member is toothed, `as, shown at A,

3 Figs. 2 and 3, to mesh with a pinion I2 which is driven by another pinion I3 fast on a shaft I4 that is supported in suitable bearings in the pillow blocks 3 8, and has a hand wheel l5 secured to its outer end. Consequently, by revolving this hand wheel, the elevation of the gun can be changed, as desired. It may be locked in any adjusted position by means of a brake I6, Fig. 5, arranged to be operated by another hand wheel I1, as will be obvious from an inspection of that figure. During the rotary adjustment of the core member 4, the clamp members 2 2 are given lat` eral support by small rolls I8 I8, Figs. 2 and 4, which they carry and which run in arcuate grooves 28, Figs. l and 2, these grooves being formed in the inner or adjacent surfaces of the two pillow block members 8 8.

When the gun is not in use, or is to be shipped, it is desirable to lock the inner member 4 of the supporting bearing roll rigidly against rotative movement relatively to the pillow blocks, and for this purpose holes are provided in the latter, and in the end portion of a reduced journal section B, Fig. 3, of the core member, to receive a U-shaped locking key 2|. The same construction is provided at both endsof` the member 4.

The entire assembly above described is mounted on a supporting casingor base comprising a body 22 rising from a bed plate 22' and also including ribs or legs 23Y extending laterally from said body section. This support of the upper assembly on said base is accomplished by providing the twopillow block members 8 8 with bearing pieces 24 24, each integral with its respective pillow block member. Thetwo sections 24 24 are `connected at the front side of the mount by a strap |24, Fig. 6, where an opening or clearance Pis provided to permit greater freedom of adjustment of the gun barrel. These sections 24-24` are also connected internally at the back of the mount by a joint 24', Fig. 7, so that together they form a. nearly continuous annular bearing member. The joint is like that shown at Bl in Fig. 6 connecting the parts 8 8. This section composed of the parts 24 is supported in sockets, complemental in vertical cross-sectional form to the member itself, andformed inthe head pieces 23 which are bolted to the tops of the respective flanges or legsV 23, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In assembling1 these parts the i respective head pieces are inserted one at a time through the space P into operative relationship to the bearing pieces 24 and' then moved around into the correct relationship to their respective legs 23 where they are bolted or riveted in place.

As will be evident fromv an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3, much weight is borne by a vertical shaft 21, Figs. 2 and 3, which is rotatably supported in a wellor socket formed for it in the base 22, the lower endof the shaft resting on a step bearing 26, Fig. 2.

The upper assembly is guided radially, partly by the shaft 21 but chiey by two sets of roller bearings 25 and 28, Fig. 3, the lower set being installed in an annular recess provided to receive it in the base 22 and cooperating with the inner bearing surfaces of the member 24, while the other is set into a similar recess in the base and cooperates with inner and'outer races 38 and 3l, the former being secured to the base and the latter to the pillow blocks 8 8.

Training adjustment of the gun mount may be made simply by swinging the'gun itself, but the parts may be locked against rotative movement in a horizontal plane by means of a stationary circular rack 32 secured to the base and set into the recess above referred to in the part 22, as shown in Fig. 3. This rack meshes with a pinion 33 fast on the shaft 34 with which a brake 35 cooperates, as shown in Fig. 5, the brake being set or released by operation of the hand wheel 36. There is suiicient clearance or play in this mechanism to enable the operator to revolve the gun and the support towhich it is rigidly secured with that degree of freedom necessary for easy operation.

An important feature of this invention resides in the means for supporting the guns and those parts rigid therewith, in a yielding manner so as to reduce the transmission Iof the shock of recoil to the operator and to cushion that shock itself. Certain means for accomplishing this object, so far as those parts supporting the gun for elevation adjustment, have been above described. Additional means, roughly similar to that just referred to, are provided to take care of lateral and torsional shock around a vertical axis.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 8, it will be observed that the shaft 21 has a cavity in its upper end just below the cover plate 31, Fig. 3. This cavity is of generally circular form but has four lugs F, Fig. 8, integral with the shaft and extending inwardly towardfthe axis of the shaft. Also, this shaft has an extension 38, Fig. 8, projecting upwardly into the center of the cavity. The cap 31 has four lugs 4U, Fig. 8,` extending downwardly therefrom into the spaces between thelugs F, and the space between the lugs and the extension 38 is approximately filled with a disk 4I of cushion ing material which may be like that indicated at 5 in Fig. 3. The arms of thisv disk may be made of any suitable shape and that shape necessarily will depend somewhat on the composition of the cushioning material. If made of soft rubber of the nature used in automobile tires, then they preferably are rather oval-shaped in crosssection, approximately as indicated by the cushioning member shownl in'Fig. 15. Inr any event, these cushioningl elements isolate from each other the two metal members which they separate while still providing the mechanical relationship between them necessary to transmit the desired motion from one to the other.

As shown in Fig. 3, the upper end or head 21 of the shaft 21 is given an externally and circumferentially stepped formation fitting freely in a socket provided to receive it in the upper end ofthe base 22. Extending upwardly from opposite sides of' this head portion of the shaft 21, are two arms 42- 42geach of which forms the lower section of a yoke that closely encircles one of the bearing sleeves 3. Two end sections 42 and 42 of one yoke lare indicated in dotted lines at opposite sides of the device as viewed in Fig. 1. These yoke ends meet toform the joints 43 43. They are bolted together at the joints so that they can be separated forconvenience in disassembling the parts, and they serve to transmit torque to the 'parts 21' and2'1. Their use is optional. Projecting almost radiallytoward the axis of the shaft or post 21 arevfour arms44, Fig. '7, two of which are integral with one of the pillow blocks 8 and the other two being integral with the other block. Their ends rest on top of the cover 31, asshown in Fig. '7, directly over the lugs 48 provided in that cover, and they are secured to it by screws. The weight of these partsis transmitted through these members to the cover and thence through the cushioning material 4I to the vertical shaft 21. Thus .the lateral or torsional vibration for shock created in the gun and transmitted 'thereby to the parts to which it is rigidly secured, Aare cushioned in their transmission to the stationary support and the post 21, thus easing the strain both on the gun, the mount, and the gunner.

In Figs. 9, and l1 a modification is shown of those parts directly connected with a gun to support it and also lof some of those members which cooperate with these parts. In these figures parts corresponding to those in the earlier ligures are indicated by the same, but primed, reference characters.

The pillow blocks 88' are made somewhat vdilerent in shape from those shown in Figs. 1

and 2, but the same mechanism for training the gun and adjusting the elevation are employed, ex-

cept for the changes hereinafter noted. In this construction the gun is clamped to a long lever lor bar 45 which is connected with the sleeve 'That is, the core had radial iins or projections;

the inner surface of the sleeve 46 is of complemental shape; and the space between these members is iilled with cushioning material 48. The core only is secured to the supporting arms 50-50, the outer sleeve or tube 46 not being directly connected with these arms.

A similar construction is used at the opposite side of the assembly, consisting of a tube 5| rigid with the bar 45 and a core separated by cushioning material and secured at its ends to arms 52--52 similar to the arms 50. Both sets of these arms are secured rigidly to guide pieces 53-53, curved about the axis around which the gun is adjusted, these guides being approximately I-shaped in cross-section, shown'in Fig. 11, and passing through grooves of corresponding shape in the lower portions of the pillow blocks 8', thus acting as outriggers to afford lateral support for the gun, additional to that aorded by the bearing pieces 3 and their supporting parts v 4 and 5.

When this mount is used to support a gun having a high degree of recoil as, for example, the fty caliber machine gun, then it will probably be found desirable to isolate the parts to which the gun is directly secured, both axially of the core 4, as well as radially of it, so that a cushioning or shock absorbing effect will be provided in all three directions or planes, thus easing the strain on the operator. A construction suitable for so cushioning the left-hand end of the core 4 is illustrated in Figs. 13, 14 and l5, 15a, the parts there shown being indicated by the same numerals used to designate them in Figs. 3 and 4, but the numerals Ibeing double-primed, except the part corresponding to that shown in the earlier iigures at 4 which, where shown in these later iigures, is designated at 4a. Here the same radial cushioning means designated at 5" is provided as in Figs. 3 and 4 and, in addition, two

more cushioning members are installed. The

liirst, indicated at 54 in Fig. 13, consists of a rubber disk preferablyl either corrugated or per- "forated, or both, so as to increase its shock absorbing capacity, this member being inserted between the inner race for the ball bearing and a spider-like member 55 which forms one element of another cushioning device better shown in Figs. 14 and 15. The part 55 has three axially extending arms a. projecting toward the right and overlapped with reference to, but spaced apart from, similar arms b integral with another disk-like member 56 essentially like the part 55. These arms are so dimensioned as to receive between them the resilient arms c of a second cushioning member 51 which spaces the two members 55 and 56 continuously from each other, both in axial and circumferential directions. The two members 55 and 56 are mounted on the extension B of the core 4a, the former being keyed to this member while the latter is held against rotation relatively to the part 3" by means of a pin- 56. The cushion members 5, 56 and 51 thus function advantageously in conjunction with one another and in cooperating relation with respect t'o the cushion 4|', as may be more readily observed vfrom an inspection of Fig. 15a.. As shown in the latter gure, the core 4a, is, as before, isolated from sleeve 3 by the cushion member 5". The reduced end B of core 4a, however, although lying in contact with the cushion member 51, occurs in slightly spacedapart relation t'o the cushion element 56 as indicated by the -clearance 51a. A second clearance 51h is provided between the sleeve 3 and im'- mediately adjacent surfaces of the arms 42a. Extensions 44 of arms 42a, are bolted to plate 31 and plate 31 as before is spaced slightly above the metal parts between and close to the cushion members 4| by a clearance 51c. Disposed transversely through one side of the shaft extension 21h and the arms 42a is shaft I4', which it will be lobserved is arranged in spaced relation to the members 21h by clearance 21e.

The multiple cushioning eiect of these elements may be more fully understood from a consideration of specic shock forces applied thereto. Thus in the case of side sway or horizontally acting forces, the sleeve 3 may slide laterally along cushion 5", and the shock is absorbed by the portions C of cushion 51. When exposed to a vertical shock or kick up however, sleeve 3 bears downwardly upon cushion 5" and compresses the latter element against the core member 4a. As the shock develops in intensity, the cushion 5" is compressed to its limit and simultaneously the cushion 51 takes up a part of the shock as provided for by the clearance 51a. At this point the sleeve 3 closes the clearance 51h and begins to bear against the cradle portions of the arms 42a, thus taking up the more extended part of the shock force. This force is transmitted through the extensions 44 to the plate 31 and finally absorbed by the cushion members 4| as provided for by the clearances 51e and 21e.

From this arrangement it will be apparent that cushion 4| supplements cushions 5 and 51,

assuming and cushioning the heavier part of the shock load after its initial force has been absorbed by cushions 5 and 51. A simil-ar transmission of force takes place with reference to recoil shock. h1 the case of torsional or twisting shocks, the cushion element 4I cooperates with with both cushion 5" and 51 in a somewhat diierent although supplementary manner. Torsional shock causes sleeve 3' to compress cushion 5" against core 4a to the limit of its elasticity, after vwhich arms V42a through extensions 44 transmit the torsion force to the cover 31. This member in turn bears against the cushion 4l in a twisting movement; consequently lll is compressed against the rigidly held lugs 38 and F (Fig. 8). From the foregoing it will be seen that while the uppermost cushions such as 5" and 51 have their special functions, cushion 4l supplements both of them and provides a secondary shockabsorbing action to forces in all directions.

The construction above described is duplicated at the opposite end of the core 4a. In some cases either one only of these cushioning members may be found necessary, while in other cases it will be found preferable to use both. Each serves to absorb shock transmitted axially of the core lla, and the cushioningr member 51 also absorbs torsional shock or vibration exerted around the axis of said core member.

A similar expedient may also be found desirable in the modification illustrated in Figs. 9, and l1 to isolate the intermediate pinion I2' from the parts which support it. This pinion is mounted on a shaft Gil which is not supported directly in the parts 42h-A2, as in the construction illustrated in Fig. 3, but is made consider ably shorter than is the shaft of the latter construction, and is mounted, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, in bearing members 6 l-l. These members form the terminals of two brackets 62-62, each including an upright post d rising from, and preferably made integral with, the plate 31 supported as shown at 31 in Figs. 3 and 7. Two right-angle sections, each integral with a post d, Fig. 17, extend from the upper ends thereof, respectively, in opposite directions, rst toward opposite ends of the mount, as also shown in said figure, and then toward the front and back of the mount, respectively.

Each end of the shaft 6B is supported in one of the members El but it is mounted as illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19 in a cushioning device very similar to that shown in Figs. 14 and 15. That is, it comprises a disk-like member 63 pinned to the shaft and having a Series of lugs or fingers e integr-al therewith and extending axially therefrom. Secured on the shaft ,60 is another member 6G similar to the part 63 and having ngers f extending' in the opposite direction to the fingers e and located between them. The two sets of fingers and the two disk-like members are spaced apart by an intermediate cushioning member 65 having parts g located between each of the opposing pairs of fingers and holding them yieldingly spaced circumferentially. This member additionally spaces the bodies of the disks 63 and 6ft axially from each other.

The same construction is used at both ends of the shaft 'E63 and it thus absorbs shock transmitted through the pinion and shaft.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the invention provides a construction in which the training and elevational adjustments of the gun cannot only be made quickly and with a minimum of eort, but in which, also, the transmission of shock to the gunner, and to the parts which he is holding, is so minimised as to greatly reduce the strain on him.

A further important advantage of the mounts provided by this invention lies in the `ease and speed with which the gun can be mounted or dismounted. As above pointed out in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, the gun is clamped and released simply by the manipulation of the single bolt E, Fig. 2. In that form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, the gun is secured in place by inserting two bolts, one at the front of the mount where it locks the gun in the socket B8, Fig. 9, and the other securing it to the bottom plate connection 6l. This ease of mounting and dismounting is of great advantage on board ship, or wherever a fixed mount is used, because if a machine gun should jam or become over-heated, it is simply necessary to replace it with another of the same type. This can be done with a minimum loss of time in the constructions provided by this invention.

Having thus described out invention, what we desire to claim as new is:

1. In a gun mount, the combination `of a gun holder, supporting means for said holder including a base, spaced-apart upright side pieces located on the base, two sleeves slidably received in the side pieces, a core member extending between the two sleeve members, and presenting a scalloped peripheral surface lying in close proximity to a complementary scalloped surface formed on the inner periphery of the sleeve members, scalloped cushion members interposed between the said core member and adjacent complementary sleeve surfaces, said core being formed with reduced extremities which project into the side pieces, cushion elements for resiliently supporting said extremities in the side pieces, gear mechanism operatively connected to the core for adjusting the position of the gun mount, a pair of supporting arms arranged at the under sides of the sleeve members, said arms having secured at their lower sides a plate member, a shaft located centrally of the base member, the said shaft presenting at its upper extremity a cushion member extending into contact with the said plate and cooperating with the arms and plate to provide a shock-absorbing means which supplements the shock-absorbing action of the first two noted cushion elements.

2. In a gun mount, the combination of a gun holder, supporting means for said holder including a base, spaced-apart upright 'side pieces located on the base, two sleeves slidably received in the side pieces, a core member extending between the two sleeves and having reduced end portions which extend into and are supported by the side pieces, a pair of supporting arms arranged at the under sides of the sleeve members, gear mechanism transversely located through the supporting arms for adjusting the position of the gun holder, a pair of cushion elements interposed between the reduced end portions of the core end and adjacent surfaces of respective side pieces, a second pair of cushion elements located between the core member and respective adjacent sleeve surfaces, a third cushion element arranged in the path of downward movement of the supporting arms when the said rst and second cushion elements are compressed by a shock, thereby to `provide a secondary shock absorber.

3. In a gun mount, the combination of a gun holder, supporting means for said holder, including a base, spaced-apart upright side pieces located in the base, two sleeves `slidably received in the side pieces, a core member extending between the two sleeves and having reduced end portions which project into the side pieces, cushion elements interposed between the sleeves and adjacent core surfaces to absorb a shock applied to the sleeve from the holder, a second pair of cushion elements surrounding the reduced end portions of the core and adapted to progressively absorb .a shock force transmitted fromthe sleeve to the core, a central upright shaft mounted in the base, apair of supporting arms extending between? Kthe shaft and sleeve members, gear mechanism located between the supporting arms for controlling the position of the gun holder, a plate member secured to the arms immediately above the said shaft, a cushion element mounted between the shaft and plate in a. position so chosen that it functions as a supplementary shock absorber of forces transmitted from the core and sleeves to the plate.

SYDNEY T. FARRELL.

FREDERICK L. FARREIL REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Meigs et al Jan. 23, 1906 Yoran Oct. 6, 1914 Yost July 11, 1916 Kingston et a1 Aug. 28, 1934 Riesing Jan. 19, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1903 Switzerland May 16, 1941 France Aug. 7, 1939

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