US3018694A - Recoil absorbing mechanism for firearms - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 30, 1962 v. A. BROWNING RECOIL ABSORBING MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Filed May 7, 1959 5 R Y Q\ m m W Q l E o N f/ mm w w N A a w W 4% o w/ m M A M L m absorbing mechanism of 3,018,694 RECGIL ABSORBING MECHANISM FOR FIREARMS Val A. Browning, Ogden, Utah, assignor to Browning Industries, Inc., Ogden, Utah, a corporation of Utah Filed May 7, 1959, Ser. No. 811,699 8 Claims. (Cl. 89-159) This invention relates to firearms and is concerned, more particularly, with a recoil absorbing mechanism for repeating firearms of the automatic or semi-automatic t e.

The invention is adapted for use with firearms of the type wherein the barrel or a portion of the barrel is mounted for reciprocation relative to a frame and will recoil relative to the frarne when the gun is fired, which recoil movement may be used to perform the automatic functioning of the piece, such as ejection of the expended round, cocking the firing mechanism and reloading the firing chamber.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a recoil relatively light Weight which will obviate the need for heavy springs, friction devices and the like, and which at the same time will function reliably and uniformly to decelerate and halt the rearward movement of the barrel member in such manner that violent or sudden impact or kick is greatly reduced. Included in this aim is the provision of a recoil mechanism of this type which can be made to operate in a so-called short-recoil system and wherein the mechanism requires no adjustment for use with varying loads.

Another aim is to provide such a recoil absorbing mechanism which is economical to manufacture and yet which is durable and rugged in operation, and which will not detract from the good balance or feel and appearance of the firearm.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view, partially in section, of a semi-automatic, recoil-operated firearm embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-secitonal view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the piston member; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the end portion of the magazine tube in which the piston member is slidably mounted.

Referring to the drawing, the invention has been shown as embodied in a firearm which is a semi-automatic shotgunof the type disclosed and claimed in my prior Patent No.2,499,090 issued February 28, 1950, to which reference may be had for additional details which are not specifically described here. The shotgun comprises a receiver or frame 2, a barrel 4 provided with a barrel extension 3 mounted for reciprocation in the receiver, and a breech block 5 for locking a cartridge in the firing chamber. Extending forwardly from the frame 2 beneath the barrel 4 is a magazine tube 8 fixed to the frame 2 and enclosed by the usual wooden forearm 6.

Forwardly of the receiver 2 and preferably at about midlength of the barrel 4 is a downwardly depending guide ring 10 on the barrel which encircles the magazine tube 8 and is slidable thereon. A light compression spring 12 encircling the magazine tube 8 is seated at one end in the forearm 6 and at its other end operates against guide ring 10, biasing it forwardly. A threaded cap 14 closes the outer end of the magazine tube 8.

A disc 16 is brazed or otherwise mounted in the magazine tube 8 rearwardly of the ring 10 to divide it into lifilfifigd Patented Jan. 30, 1962 a rearwardly disposed magazine section 18 with its magazine spring 20, and the air cylinder section 22. A reinforcing band 24 is desirably provided about the magazine tube 8 at the location of the disc 16 and a reinforcing metal liner 26 is shown between the tube 8 and forearm 6. A piston 28 is slidably carried in the air cylinder section 22 of the magazine tube 8, and is provided with a gas sealing element or piston ring 30 adjacent its rear face, such as an expanding steel ring. Carried in the forward face of the piston 28' is a buffer 32, conveniently of wood, which abuts the cap 14. The piston 28 is attached to the ring 10 for reciprocal movement with the ring and the barrel 4 by means of a pin 34 which is inserted through the transverse hole 33 in the piston and engages in holes 35 in the guide ring, the pin extending through the lateral slots 36 of the tube 8. The slots 36 are of a sufficient length to accommodate the reciprocal movement of the piston 28 with the barrel 4. However, the piston 28 is of greater length than the slots 36 so that the piston seals the air chamber from the atmosphere.

To conduct gases from the interior of the barrel 4 to the air cylinder 22 there is provided a port 38 bored upwardly through the guide ring 10 and an elongated slot 40 in the top of the tube 8. A gas passage through the piston 28 is comprised of an axial bore 42 extending from the rear face of the piston to an upwardly extending bore 44 which registers with the port 38. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the spring 12 biases the piston 28 and barrel 4 forwardly so that when the piece is in battery, the port 38 and bore 44 are forward of the slot 40 and thus are separated by the solid portion of the tube 8. However, When the piece is fired, the barrel 4 recoils rearwardly with simultaneous movement of the piston 28, so that the gas passages 38 and 4 1 are in registry with the slot 4% during a portion of the rearward movement. During the final stage of recoil when the barrel 4 and piston 28 have moved rearwardly to a position where the passages 38 and 44 are beyond the rear end of the slot 40, the communication between passages 38' and 44 is again closed by the solid portion of tube 8. In short, the tube 8 with its slot 40 functions as a valve controlling the flow of gases between passages 38 and 44.

The operation of the recoil absorbing mechanism of the present invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken with the following explanation. When a shot is fired, the projectile or shot charge is propelled forwardly and the barrel recoils rearwardly carrying with it the piston 28. 'At this stage,

the recoil is resisted principally by the very light return spring 12 so that very little force or kick is transferred to the frame or receiver 2. This initial recoil movement will be sufficient to move passages 38 and 44 into registry with the slot 40 so that after the projectile or shot charge passes the part of the barrel containing the port or passage 38, the gases of combustion under high pressure hehind the projectile or shot charge will bleed through the passages 38, 44 and 42 to the rear of the piston 28 and into the cylinder 22, thus rapidly increasing the fluid pressure behind the piston 28 and initiating a progressive slowing down of the recoil movement. With the passage 38 located approximately midlength of the barrel or at a somewhat lesser distance from the breech, the conditions of gas pressures and timing of the admission of gases to the cylinder 22 appear to be most favorable to produce the desired recoil absorbing action. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the distance of recoil of the barrel before the projectile or shot passes the port 38 will vary with the load but although the barrel 4 and accompanying piston 28 move rearwardly a greater distance as a result of a larger load, the gas pressure in the barrel behind the shot or projectile will be corresponding greater and thus gas under higher pressure will enter the cylinder 22 to automatically increase the recoil absorbing action and compensate for the greater recoil velocity. The slot 40 is made sufiiciently long so that communication between passages 38 and 44 is established when the projectile or shot passes the passage 38 regardless of variations in distance of recoil due to variations of load. By way of specific example, in the specific embodiment shown the recoil movement of the barrel may vary from approximately .2 to .7 inch in the time that the shot reaches the port 38 depending on the load, and thus a slot 40 having a length of approximately .9 inch will be adequate to cover the entire range.

As the barrel continues to recoil and after there has been a considerable build up of fluid pressure behind the piston 28, the passages 38 and 44 are carried beyond the end of the slot 40, thus closing the entrance to the cylinder 22. This occurs just shortly before the projectile or shot leaves the muzzle so that even though there is a subsequent rapid reduction in the gas pressure in the barrel, the high gas pressure in the cylinder 22 is maintained. Thus during the subsequent final recoil movement of the barrel which may be approximately 30% of the entire recoil movement, the further compression of the gas behind the piston 28 will gradually and smoothly bring the barrel to a halt and prevent any sudden engagement of the parts, such as the barrel striking the receiver. With the recoil absorbing mechanism of the present invention, the recoil can be progressively and smoothly brought to a halt in the gun illustrated in a distance of not more 2 inches.

After the recoil movement has been brought to a halt, the gas under compression behind the piston will expand and assist the return spring 12 to initiate return movement of the barrel to original position. As soon as the passages 38 and 44 again come into registry with the slot 40, however, the gas under pressure behind the piston will vent to atmosphere through the barrel, thus leaving the remaining return movement to the action of the relatively light spring 12. As a result the barrel is returned to battery with moderate velocity and decreased shock and jar on the mechanism.

It thus will be seen that there has been provided in accordance with the invention, a recoil absorbing mechanism for firearms which is of light weight and simple construction and yet effective for progressively halting recoil movement of the barrel member with minimum impact or kick without the use of heavy springs or friction devices. The mechanism is reliable and rugged in operation and may be used to provide a desired short recoil action and does not require adjustment for varying loads. The term barrel movable in recoil is used herein in a generic sense to include arrangements wherein the entire barrel moves in recoil or where only a part thereof such as the firing chamber portion only recoils when the piece is fired.

Although but one embodiment has been shown, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be applied to other automatic and semi-automatic Weapons, and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a repeating firearm, a frame, a barrel movable in recoil relative to the frame, and a recoil absorbing mechanism interconnecting the frame and barrel comprising a cylinder fixed to the frame and a piston slidable in said cylinder and fixedly connected to the barrel for reciprocal movement with the barrel, and means forming a gas passageway from an intermediate portion of the barrel to the cylinder and means on the cylinder for closing the passageway during final recoil movement of the barrel.

2. In a repeating firearm, recoil relative to the frame, nism comprising cylinder a frame, a barrel movable in and a recoil absorbing mechameans and piston means, one

of said means being parallel to and fixedly connected to the frame and the other of said means being parallel to and fixedly connected to the barrel for reciprocal movement with the barrel, and means forming a gas passageway from the cylinder to the barrel forwardly of the firing chamber of the barrel whereby combustion gases are interoduced to the cylinder after the firearm is fired, said passageway being interrupted by relative movement of the cylinder and piston prior to final recoil movement of the barrel and while the shot is still in the barrel.

3. In a repeating firearm, a frame, a barrel movable in recoil relative to the frame, and a recoil absorbing mechanism comprising cylinder means and piston means, one of said means being parallel to and fixedly connected to the frame, and the other of said means being parallel to and fixedly connected to the barrel for reciprocal movement with the barrel, and means on the barrel having a gas passageway extending from an intermediate portion of the barrel to the cylinder, said cylinder having an apertured wall for opening the passageway to permit combustion gases to enter the cylinder from the barrel during a portion of the recoil movement of the barrel after the firearm is fired and closing the passageway during the remainder of the recoil movement of the barrel.

4. In a repeating firearm, a frame, a barrel movable in recoil relative to the frame, and a recoil absorbing mechanism comprising a cylinder parallel to the barrel and fixed relative to the frame, a piston slidable in said cylinder and fixedly connected to the barrel for reciprocal movement with the barrel, and a depending memher on an intermediate portion of the barrel engaging the cylinder and having a passageway extending between the barrel and cylinder, said cylinder having means for closing the passageway during a pre-determined portion of the final recoil movement of the barrel, and a relatively light return spring for the piston and barrel.

5. In a repeating firearm, a frame, a barrel movable in recoil relative to the frame, and a recoil absorbing mechanism comprising a cylinder parallel to the barrel and fixed to the frame, a piston slidable in the cylinder and fixedly connected to the barrel for reciprocal movement therewith, and a guide member fixed to the barrel and slidable on the cylinder having a passageway extending from an intermediate portion of the barrel to the cylinder, said cylinder having an elongated slot registering with said passageway only during a portion of the recoil movement of the barrel.

6. In a repeating firearm, a frame, a barrel movable in recoil rearwardly of the frame, and means for braking recoil of the barrel comprising an air cylinder parallel to said barrel and fixed relative to the frame, a piston slidable in said cylinder and operatively connected to said barrel for reciprocal movement with the barrel, said cylinder having a slot aperture extending parallel to said barrel and adjacent thereto, and means forming a passageway from an intermediate portion of the barrel and having a discharge port positioned for registry with said slot aperture, said piston having a passage therethrough with one end at the rear face of the piston and with the other end of the passage positioned for registry with said slot aperture and in registry with said discharge port,

said port and passage being registrable with said slot during a part of the recoil movement of the barrel to permit passage of powder gases into the cylinder.

7. In a repeating firearm, a frame, a barrel movable in recoil rearwardly of the frame, and means for braking recoil of the barrel comprising a cylinder fixedly mounted on said frame parallel to said barrel, a guide ring fixed to the barrel and slidably mounted on said cylinder, a piston slidable in said cylinder, means connecting the piston to the guide ring of the'barrel to provide for simultaneous reciprocal movement of the piston and barrel, the wall of said cylinder having an elongated slot aperture parallel to the axis thereof, said guide ring having a passageway communicating with an intermediate portion of the barrel and having a gas discharge port positioned for registry with said slot aperture, said piston having a gas passage therein with one end of the passage opening at the rear face of the piston and with the other end of the passage in registry with said port and positioned for registry with said slot aperture, the port and said other end of the gas passage being in registry with the slot aperture during a portion of the rearward recoil of the barrel for passage of gases therethrough into the cylinder and being closed by the wall of the cylinder during final recoil movement of the barrel.

8. In a repeating firearm, a frame, a barrel movable in recoil rearwardly of the frame, an assembly for braking recoil of the barrel and returning the barrel to battery comprising a tube fixedly mounted on the frame and disposed below and parallel to the barrel, a downwardly depending guide ring on the barrel at about midlength thereof slidably engaged with the tube, a piston slidably mounted in said tube, means connecting the piston to the guide ring of the barrel for simultaneous reciprocal movement of the piston with the barrel, 2. fixed wall in said tube rearwardly of said piston defining an air cylinder in combination therewith, said guide ring having a gas port extending downwardly therethrough, said tube having an elongated slot in the upper portion thereof extending parallel to the barrel and positioned for registry with said gas port, said piston having a gas passageway with one end of the passageway opening into said cylinder at the rear face of the piston and with the other end of the passageway positioned for registry with the said slot and in registry with said gas port, and light compression spring means biasing the barrel and guide ring forwardly, the port and said other end of the passageway being in registry with said slot for a portion of the recoil movement of the barrel to conduct gases from the barrel tothe air cylinder and moving beyond the slot during final recoil movement of the barrel, the gases admitted to said cylinder being compressed by the rearward movement of the piston and thereby braking such movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 955,796 Haussner Apr. 19, 1910 2,372,542 Bloomquist Mar. 27, 1945 2,409,225 Schaich Oct. 15, 1946 2,800,059 Miller July 23, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 321,922 Switzerland July 15, 1957

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