Patent GB-429765-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to automatic repeating firearms
IPC: F41A19/33
Filed: 1933-12-06
Abstract: 429,765. Automatic guns. DELACRE, H., 61, Rue du Chateau, Boulogne-sur-Seine, France. Dec. 6, 1933, No. 34325. Convention date, Nov. 15. [A Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, June 7, 1934.] [Class 119] Relates to automatic guns of the long-recoil type in which the breech block 3, Fig. 3, at the end of recoil is disconnected from a stop 10 on the barrel extension 2 by release of a catch 8 and retained in the rear position by a catch 67 tripped by an incline 70<a> on the barrel when the latter returns to forwardposition. According to the invention, the catch 67 forms part of a spring-controlled pawl 66 pivoted on the stock beneath the barrel and in front of the magazine 71, the catch engaging a notch 68 in a rod 62 extending forwardly from the breech block and carrying an abutment 63 for the breech-closing spring 65. The cartridges are retained in the magazine during the recoil of barrel and breech block by a projection 70 on the barrel and a forward extension 7<b> on the breech block. When the breech block moves forwards, the top cartridge in the magazine is engaged by the extension 7b and moved up the incline 72 into the gun chamber, the incline being cut away to admit the extension. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 also describes : (1) an adjustable air or liquid dash-pot x, Fig. 3, for slowing down the rate of fire ; (2) with reference to Fig. 16 (Cancelled), the firing mechanism which controls a pivoted hammer 6b for striking the firing pin 4<a>. The mechanism includes a trigger 73 for firing single shots bearing against a trigger 74 for continuous fire. The hammer is cocked by the recoil of the breech block and is retained by a spring-controlled sear 83. For continuous fire, the sear is rotated on a floating pivot 80 by a notched part 23<a> of a lever 23 turning on a floating pivot 86 connected to the trigger 74 by a rod 76. The lever 23 is controlled by a spring 87 and bears against the recoiling breech mechanism so that, each time the breech closes, the spring 87 moves the lever in clockwise direction to release the sear. When the breech block is in the rear position, the hammer is cocked and the lever 23 is moved in anti-clockwise direction to permit the sear to engage the hammer. When a single shot only is required, the trigger 73 is pulled and moves the trigger 74 to fire the shot, a second release of the sear being prevented by a stop 92 until the trigger 73 is released and pulled again ; and (3) with reference to Fig. 2 (Cancelled), a modification of the long-recoil breech action in which a cartridge is taken during recoil from a magazine 29 beneath the barrel and transferred to a swinging cartridge carrier 12. The carrier is pressed upwardly by a spring 15 when the barrel has returned and in its raised position releases a catch 18 retaining the projection 11 on the breech bolt 3. The pivoted catch 8 retaining the barrel in rear position is released on striking a fixed abutment 32 at the end of recoil and the striker 6 is cocked into engagement with a tumbler 22 when the breech block returns. The trigger 20 actuates the tumbler through a link 24 and lever 23 one end of which is notched to engage the tumbler the other end having an incline 40 engaging the catch 8. The arrangement is such that the notch can only engage the tumbler when the catch 8 has locked the breech. Fig. 9 (Cancelled) shows a floating lever 43 combined with this arrangement of firing mechanism and controlled by a cut-away stop 51 adjustable to " automatic fire," " single-shots," or " safe." For automatic fire, the lever 43 is operated by the catch 8 to release the tumbler 22 each time the breech is locked. For " single shots," the stop 51 is adjusted to rock the lever 43 out of engagement with the tumbler, and for " safe." The stop is adjusted to bear against and lock the tumbler. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.