Pistol having a rigid barrel, in particular training weapon

A training pistol having a rigid barrel and operating with a conventional blowback system, including a frame, a slide and a barrel, including a slide stop device, a firing pin assembly and preferably including a slide lock which can be moved into a disassembly position in which it releases the movement of the slide toward the front. This release can only be achieved if there is no magazine in the magazine well of the frame and the slide is stopped. The barrel is fastened in the frame by a locking device that can be brought into a release position in which it releases the barrel. Additionally an unlocking gap is provided between the barrel and the slide, and when the gap is overcome, after the slide lock has moved into the disassembly position, an unlocking ramp provided on the slide forces the locking device into the release position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a pistol having a rigid barrel and operating with a conventional blowback system, in particular a training weapon which, in the context of this invention, is also synonymously called a practice weapon, practice pistol or training pistol.

BACKGROUND

A wide range of demands, some of which are contradictory, are placed on training weapons. Their appearance should therefore correspond as closely as possible to the real weapon in terms of shape and haptics in order to allow training that is as similar as possible to reality; however, the difference from the real weapon must be immediately recognizable under all circumstances in order to reliably avoid confusion. In terms of mass and location of the center of gravity, the weapon, equipped with practice ammunition, should be as similar as possible to the real weapon; however, this is impossible due to the differences in ammunition, and therefore compromises have to be made. Due to the relatively low energy when a practice shot is fired, it is also not possible to move a conventional blowback system, a tilting barrel locking system or a rotating barrel locking system, and therefore compromises have to be made in this respect, too. This leads to the problem that such compromises in the prior art can cause the training weapon to deviate from the real weapon that it is intended to represent; there may be significant differences from the real weapon in particular when disassembling (and, of course, also when assembling; reference will not be made specifically thereto in future, unless assembly itself is under discussion). Since disassembly of a firearm be practiced, this is a disadvantage that cannot be avoided in the prior art.

A rotating-barrel pistol is known, inter alia, which, with reference to EP3179193 B1, EP3367040 A1 and EP19174261.8 (not yet published), serves as an example of a “real” weapon and in which disassembly is carried out as follows: After the last shot has been fired or, alternatively, after the slide has been pulled back by hand, said slide remains close to its rearmost position, held by the slide holder or slide stop lever. The magazine must be removed at this time. At the rearmost end of the slide, a cover plate which is connected to the firing pin assembly or belongs thereto is then rotated and pulled backward out of the slide either in part or entirely, depending on the design of the pistol.

This relaxes the firing pin assembly. Only then can a slide lock be twisted into the disassembly position. The slide stop lever is then brought into the release position and the slide can be pulled forward with the barrel via the slide lock in the disassembly position; the pistol is disassembled. The actual function and the associated structure (such as rotating barrel, blowback system and/or form-locking system) are not significant for this weapon in connection with the production of a training pistol.

It is the aim and object of the invention to present an alternative disassembly concept for pistols having a rigid barrel and blowback system, in particular to produce a training weapon for the above-mentioned pistol having a rotating barrel, in which the disassembly process for the practice weapon corresponds as far as possible to that of the “real” weapon, without impairing the functionality as a training weapon when shooting.

SUMMARY

These aims are achieved by a pistol having the features specified in the characterizing part of claim1. In other words, the pistol according to the invention has a barrel that is fixed in the frame and a force-fit blowback system. The barrel is arranged in a locking block, which ensures the connection to the frame, and is thus fixed to the housing, i.e. is rigid relative to the frame.

In the case of a training pistol, it may be necessary to reduce the mass of the slide in order to be functional with a correspondingly reduced propellant gas energy. This can be achieved in particular by one or more plastics parts on or within the slide, in regions that are not mechanically stressed during firing.

In the case of the above-mentioned rotating-barrel pistol, the slide can be released by a slide lock by separating the trigger mechanism and the firing pin assembly, after which the slide, together with the rotating barrel, can be pulled forward. In order to align the disassembly process of a pistol having a rigid barrel or a training pistol with a weapon having a rotating barrel according to the mode of operation as in the preamble of claim1, the axial fixation of the fixed or rigid barrel during the forward movement of the slide in the course of disassembly must be removed. According to the invention, this can be carried out without conscious intervention by the operator, i.e. intuitively, by pushing forward, since an unlocking gap is provided between the barrel or cartridge chamber and the slide, and when an unlocking ramp provided on the slide, also called an unlocking cam, overcomes said unlocking gap, this unlocking can be achieved by automatic actuation of a locking device. In this way, a separately operated mechanical release device for the barrel and/or slide can be avoided, as a result of which the design can be very compact and have few components.

For the sake of improved representation, the plastics parts in the slide are hidden inFIGS.5-10andFIGS.13-19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a pistol1in a partially disassembled state in a kind of exploded view. A frame2, a barrel3, a slide4, a recoil spring assembly5, consisting of the actual spring and a carrier, and a firing pin assembly10, which comprises a firing pin11and a cover plate12, are shown. On the frame2, a slide lock7, a locking block8and frame rails9are particularly emphasized; the barrel3has a barrel base17for mounting in the frame2. A groove-shaped locking device seat19on the underside of the barrel base17can also be seen. Other components, specifically belonging to the trigger mechanism and its components, are shown by way of example, but without reference signs, since they are not essential for understanding the invention.

FIG.2is a plan view of the pistol in the assembled state, possibly ready to fire (when loaded). The following can be seen or are provided with reference signs: the frame2, the cover plate12, a slide lock7, the slide4and the barrel3. A clearance, also referred to as an unlocking gap, denoted by the reference sign18is clearly visible substantially in the direction of the barrel axis21between the rear front surface of the barrel3and the end face of the slide4. The function of this clearance18is explained below.

FIG.3is a section through the central plane (in the normal position, the vertical plane through the barrel axis21), corresponding to the line B-B ofFIG.4. The barrel3, which is held firmly in the locking block8and with respect to the frame2by means of a locking device14, is clearly visible. In this case, the locking device14engages in a locking device seat19, preferably a groove on the barrel base17that extends perpendicularly with respect to the barrel axis21. In the embodiment shown, the locking block8is fitted in the frame2, which functions as a receptacle for the barrel base17. The clearance18or disassembly gap can again be seen in the region of the reference line to reference number4. The cover plate12of the firing pin assembly10is shown in the rearmost region of the pistol.

As indicated inFIG.2orFIG.3, an unlocking gap18is provided, which has no disadvantageous effect during firing, since the bottom of a cartridge rests against the blowback system and the cartridge case seals the cartridge chamber in the barrel direction. This design of the unlocking gap18, the slide4and the locking device14can be determined relatively easily by a person having ordinary skill in the art with knowledge of the invention depending on a few parameters, such as caliber and the associated gas pressures. As a rule of thumb, clearance dimensions in the range of from 0.5 to approximately 4.0 mm, preferably 0.8 to approximately 3.5 mm, particularly preferably 1.0 to 3.0 mm, can be assumed.

FIG.5is a section through the pistol along the line A-A ofFIG.4andFIG.6and shown in the same state asFIG.3. It is essential that a ramp13, also referred to as a cam, is arranged at the front (local) end of the slide4in order to be able to interact with the rear end of the locking device14during an intended forward movement of the slide4. The design of this (almost) contact point is the only position between the slide4and the barrel3at which (almost) no clearance18is present; the reason for this is explained further below.

FIG.7is a section corresponding toFIG.5, but with the cover plate12pulled out, including the firing pin assembly10, and (not visible in the section) the slide lock7in the disassembly position. In this position, a slight forward movement to the extent of the unlocking gap18(seeFIG.2) is possible, for which reason the slide4inFIG.7is shown slightly pushed forward in relation to the closure position inFIG.5. As a result, the locking device14can be unlocked according to the invention. It can be seen clearly, in particular in the enlarged detail V (FIG.9), that the ramp13of the slide4presses the locking device14, in this case in the form of a locking platelet16for example, downward counter to the force of a spring, as a result of which in the region of the central plane, shown inFIGS.10and11, the locking device14comes out of the region of the locking device seat19or the groove of the barrel3, more precisely the barrel base17, and thus releases said barrel for further forward movement.

FIG.12shows an embodiment of a locking device14in a perspective view in the form of a U-shaped locking platelet having a purely schematic spring19which is inserted into a blind hole in the locking block8. Alternatively, a bow spring or the like, which is located e.g. in a groove in the locking block8, can be used. Due to the preferably symmetrical shape of the locking platelet16, the locking device14can be actuated on both sides and at the same time by ramps13provided on both sides of the slide4, which allows a highly symmetrical introduction of force.

FIGS.13-21show a variant in which the locking device14, shown in perspective inFIG.21, is designed in one piece as a spring body having an integrally formed counter ramp20and locking nose15. The locking nose15can also be interpreted as a catch or tongue which is provided for engaging in the locking device seat19of the barrel base17. The hole in the locking device14without a reference sign is used for fixing in the pistol, preferably on the frame2. A second counter ramp20can be formed symmetrically with respect to the central plane of the weapon in order to avoid transverse forces and moments about the vertical axis in cooperation with the ramp13of the slide. This locking device14does not require an extra spring; it is elastically deformed during the forward movement of the slide, together with the relatively large longitudinal extent and the narrow design between the fastening part and the locking nose15. Overcoming the unlocking gap18highlighted inFIG.13, as well as allowing the forward movement of the slide4with the barrel3, is therefore substantially analogous to the movement sequence as in the description ofFIGS.5-11, to which reference is made here.

The assembly situation and the deformation of the locking device14can be clearly seen fromFIGS.13-20, which correspond toFIGS.5-11; further explanation is not necessary.

It is easily conceivable that the locking device14may be slightly sloped in the contact region of the unlocking ramp(s)13in order to ensure a gentler introduction of force. In addition, it is particularly advantageous for these contact regions or counter ramps20to be formed on both sides of the central plane of the weapon and have the same angular position.

It has been shown that the production of the locking device14, i.e. the locking platelet16and/or the one-piece locking device14having the locking nose15, by means of punching and the subsequent bending process (or a combination of both) is particularly advantageous, since the strengths that can be achieved due to the bending process allow a small wall thickness of the locking device14.

In the description and the claims, the terms “front,” “back/behind,” “above,” “below” and so on are used in the generally accepted form and with reference to the object in its usual use position. This means that in a weapon the mouth of the barrel is “at the front,” that the slide is moved “backward” by the explosive gas, etc. For vehicles, “front” is the usual direction of travel. “Barrel direction” is the direction of the barrel axis; perpendicular thereto substantially means a direction rotated by 90° thereto.

It should also be noted that in the description and the claims, terms such as the “lower region” of a suspension, reactor, filter, structure, or device or, more generally, an object refer to the lower half and in particular the lower quarter of the overall height; “lowermost region” refers to the lowermost quarter and in particular an even smaller part, while “central region” refers to the central third of the overall height (width−length). All these terms have their generally accepted meaning, applied to the intended position of the object under consideration.

In the description and the claims, “substantially” means a deviation of up to 10% of the stated value, if physically possible, both downward and upward, otherwise only in the appropriate direction; in the case of degrees (angle and temperature), this means±10°.

All given quantities and percentages, in particular those relating to the limitation of the invention, insofar as they do not relate to specific examples, are understood to have a tolerance of ±10%, e.g. 11% means 9.9% to 12.1%. With terms such as “a solvent,” the word “a” is not to be considered to represent a singular numeral, but rather is to be considered an indefinite article or pronoun, unless the context indicates otherwise.

The terms “combination” and “combinations,” unless otherwise stated, mean all types of combinations, starting from two of the relevant components up to a plurality or all of such components; the term “containing” also means “consisting of.”

The features and variants stated in the individual embodiments and examples can easily be combined with those of the other examples and embodiments and in particular can be used for characterizing the invention in the claims without necessarily including the other details of the particular embodiment or of the particular example.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS