Ammunition loading and ejection arrangement

A device is disclosed for guiding rifle cartridge cases during the loading and ejecting processes, thereby facilitating the two processes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In weapons which load, then extract a cartridge or shell past projecting 
edges between a sliding breech block and a breech plate, there is 
potential for difficulty caused by misalignment of the pieces. For long 
cartridges, misalignment is not a problem since the guiding of a long 
cartridge case starts in the chamber during loading or in other words 
remains during ejection when the base of the cartridge has passed the edge 
between the breech block and plate, a feature which is not available when 
the cartridge is sufficiently short and the cartridge is out of the barrel 
before its base has passed that edge. 
In general, the sliding breech block will not be aligned with the breech 
plate to form a smooth bore half cylinder, and the breech block will take 
a different position with respect to the breech plate during loading and 
ejection since the breech block rebounds against the adjacent edge of the 
breech plate during ejection, while in loading the same edge of the breech 
plate overlaps the same edge of the elevated breech block. This means that 
each short cartridge must be loaded into the chamber by hand and that 
during ejection the cartridge strikes the projecting edge and either flies 
out of the chamber in an uncontrolled manner or is stuck. 
In the prior art, there is a loading aid that does not assist in the 
ejection cycle (DT-PS No. 1,068,589) in the form of a projecting member 
attached to the breech plate with an opening coaxial with the barrel. The 
effect of this member and of a hold-down clamp is that it is more 
difficult for the point of a relatively long cartridge to strike the rear 
edge of the loading chamber and that the entry speed of the cartridge is 
reduced. Also, because of the guiding, the force with which the cartridge 
is pushed into the barrel is reduced. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a device for facilitating loading and ejection of 
short cartridges using a deflecting blade fastened to the sliding breech 
block and extending over to the breech plate, which deflecting blade is 
slit to form several featherlike blades. A feature of the invention is 
that a guide plate is attached to the end of the breech block facing the 
barrel, which plate extends across the loading hollow and is spaced 
uniformly from the breech block so that it may be adjusted and fastened in 
a desired position for guiding cartridges. 
The guide plate is positioned by several spring loaded pins mounted in 
radial holes in the breech block, mating with corresponding position holes 
in the guide plate. 
The plate is released by depressing the pins down through small holes 
located coaxially with the positioning holes, and passing through the 
guide plate to permit access with a tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
In a weapon, the rear of barrel 1 lies next to chamber 2 for loading and 
ejecting cartridges. Sliding breech block 3 lies between barrel 1 and 
breech plate 4. Edge 3a of breech block 3 and edge 4a of breech plate 4 
are the edges to be bridged by the device. Edge 3a is shown in solid lines 
in FIG. 1 in the loading position and in broken lines in the position 
assumed during ejection, indicating the misalignment suffered with respect 
to edge 4a. This misalignment is covered by deflecting blade 6, which 
extends from the front of hollow 5 across breech block 3 and over onto 
breech plate 4. Deflecting blade 6, illustratively made from spring steel 
is divided by slits 7 into several flexible tongues or blades 8. The upper 
position of the deflecting blade 6 (illustrated in broken lines) 
represents the position in which the rear of the chamber 2 is fully 
closed. In the latter position the breech block 3 tightly seals the 
loading chamber 2. 
Guide plate 9, at the forward end of the device is spaced uniformly a 
predetermined distance from breech block 3, so that a pocket is created, 
into which deflecting blade 6 can be pushed. Guide plate 9 is fastened at 
both ends to breech block 3, as can be seen in FIG. 1 and is tapered to 
join smoothly with it. 
When deflecting blade 6 is located in its working position, locating pins 
11, as shown in FIG. 2, which are fixed in radial holes 12 mate with 
positioning holes 13 in deflecting blade 6, thereby holding it in a 
predetermined position. Illustratively, positioning holes 13 extend only 
partially through blade 6. To release blade 6, index pins 11 are depressed 
by means of a tool applied through holes 14, located above them, thereby 
disengaging pins 11 from holes 13 and permitting the easy release of blade 
6. 
Flexible tongues 8 have sufficient flexibility that they may take the 
loading position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 or the ejection position, 
shown in broken lines while still presenting a smooth guiding surface to 
permit the easy loading and unloading of cartridges. 
Although the invention is illustrated and described with reference to one 
preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be expressly understood that it is 
in no way limited to the disclosure of such a preferred embodiment, but is 
capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.