Patent GB-1418845-A (GB)
Title: Recoil-less anti-tank weapon
IPC: F41A17/30
Filed: 1973-05-21
Abstract: 1418845 Recoil-less anti-tank weapon RHEINMETALL GmbH 21 May 1973 [20 May 1972] 24085/73 Heading F3C A recoil-less, rear loading anti-tank weapon has a barrel 28, Fig. 1, which is closed after loading by clamping an exhaust nozzle (or an auxiliary propellant charge) (not shown) to the rear of the barrel, a locking mechanism is provided for said nozzle (or charge) and can be released only when the firing mechanism of the weapon is inoperable, and firing of the weapon can be effected only when the locking mechanism is engaged with the nozzle. The locking mechanism comprises a locking rod 12 which is displaceable along the barrel 28 and has an end 19 engageable in a recess in the nozzle (or charge) to prevent rotation of the latter. A hand grip 2 is pivotally mounted at 3 to a trigger box 1, the angular movement of the hand grips being limited when a trigger guard 16 engages a stop face 20 on the trigger box 1. When the hand grip is positioned as shown in Fig. 2 a latch 4 thereon locks on to the trigger box 1. When the hand grip 2 is positioned as shown in Fig. 1 a forked member 21 urges against a collar 22 of a striker rod 5 to move the latter against the action of a spring 6. The striker rod 5 has a locking element 27 thereon which, having inclined faces 23, 26, is engageable with a pawl 7. The latter is pivotally mounted on a trigger lever 8, is urged by a spring 9, and applies a locking force to the face 23 of the element 27 or, if inadvertently disengaged, applies a locking force to the face 26. When the hand grip 2 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1 a lug 25 slides over an actuating face of a safety catch 13. A safety tab (not shown) of the safety catch 13 is located externally of the trigger box 1 and allows the weapon to be made ready for firing after cocking. In the safety position the catch 13 blocks the path of travel of a trigger lever 8 which is rotatable in a clockwise direction by a shank 15<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 2, of a trigger 15 to move the pawl 7 out of its locking position. The lever 8 is provided with a stop (not shown) for limiting the movement of the pawl 7 by the spring 9, Fig. 1. The catch 13 is displaced prior to the firing rod 5 sliding over the pawl 7. The hand grip 2 has a safety lever 14 which, when the hand grip is moved to the position shown in Fig. 2, engages the trigger lever 8 and prevents release of the striker rod 7 until the lever 14 is pressed into the hand grip 2 by the gunner against the force of a spring 17. The hand grip 2 is provided with a cam 24 which rotates a double-armed lever 10, Fig. 1, in the clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 2 in which it is retained by said cam 24. When the hand grip 2 moves to the position shown in Fig. 1 the lever 10 is urged by a spring 11 and releases the end 19 of the locking rod 12 from engagement with the recess of the nozzle (or charge) and the latter is then free to be rotated in the release direction. Re-engagement of the end 19 of the rod 12 with the recess in the nozzle allows the lever 10 to move and provide clearance for the cam 24 so that the hand-grip 2 can be positioned for firing as shown in Fig. 2.