Patent GB-570044-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to mechanism for recocking or recharging machine guns
IPC: F41A7/04
Filed: 1943-04-10
Abstract: 570,044. Automatic guns. SPECIALTIES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. April 10, 1943, No. 5783. Convention date, April 10, 1942. [Class 92 (ii)] Relates to devices for automatically recocking the breech-mechanism of an automatic gun when jamming occurs, of the kind in which means are provided for retarding the forward stroke of the breech-mechanism after it has been recocked. According to the invention, means mounted independently of the recocking device are provided for conditioning the retarding means associated with the breechmechanism. In the construction shown, the recocking mechanism 12 is attached to the breech casing 10 of the gun and is supplied with fluid, such as air or gas, under pressure bv a tube 17 connected to a container 16. The fluid passes through a valve 18, into a valve chamber 32, and thence through port 34, tube 29 and port 27 to the forward end of a cylinder 20 where it serves to impart a rearward movement to a spring-controlled ram adapted to contact and move a stud or bolt 14 connected to the breech-mechanism. The chamber 32 houses a valve member 37 which in one position is pressed against a valve seat 31 to prevent fluid from entering the valve chamber, and in a second position closes an exhaust port 35. A pivoted lever 45 formed with a nose 47 engages with a stem 41 which normally presses against the member 37 to urge it against the valve seat 31. The lever is normally held in this valve-closing position by a spring-controlled pivoted lever 50, a roller 52 on which engages with a surface 54 on the lever. In operation, when jamming occurs, a plunger 56 on a solenoid 57 is lifted and engages with and lifts the lever 45, thus swinging the roller 52 clear of the ,surface 54 and permitting the roller under the action of its spring to enter a notch 55 where it serves to lock the lever in its raised position. Fluid is now free to enter the cylinder 20 and the ram therein moves rearwardly carrying with it the stud 14. When the ram is thus moved, a track 74 formed on it engages and lifts a roller 72 on a pivoted lever 66, thus moving the latter in an anti-clockwise direction against the action of its spring 75 and serving to tension a spring 64 connected to the lever and to a bar 62. The bar is prevented from moving to the left under the action of the spring, however, by a roller 87 fitted to a spring-controlled lever 82 pivoted at 86. This lever is connected by a link 90 to a pivoted latch 81 and is fitted with a spring 97 attached to a pivoted member 96. When the ram approaches its rearmost position it moves the member 96 against the action of its spring 99, and the lever 82 and hence latch 81 are pulled downwardly by spring 97. The latch engages and holds the stud 14 while the lever is moved clear of the bar 62 which then moves to the left under the action of spring 64. During this movement a pin 61 on bar 62 engages a finger 60 on lever 45 and thus moves the latter to urge valve member 37 against its seat 31, and away from the exhaust port. The ram is thus freed to move forwardly under the action of its spring ; and when it reaches its forward position the track 74 moves clear of the roller 72, and the lever 66 by means of a pin 69 and under the action of spring 75 moves the bar 62 to the right. This movement releases the lever 82, which has been held depressed by bar 62, and the lever and latch move under the action of spring 99 to free the bolt 14. Specifications 556,520 and 565,808 are referred to.