Patent Publication Number: US-9897403-B2

Title: Recoil attenuating mechanism for a firearm

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to firearms, especially to guns, and more particularly to a system for attenuating recoil, reducing muzzle climb, and increasing accuracy during and after firing (shooting) a bullet. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The Browning tilting barrel recoil mechanism was invented by J. M. Browning and patented on Apr. 29, 1897, U.S. Pat. No. 580,924 entitled Firearm. Since that time this system has become the most wildly used recoil system in automatic pistols. With various modifications, it is currently used by most of the major pistol makers such as in the Colt 1911, F N browning High Power, Smith and Wesson pistols, Glock, Heckler &amp; Koch, Ruger, C. Z., Tanfoglio and many others. It is a state-of-the-art mechanism (cf.  FIGS. 3 a -3 c   ), which works by a slide moving backwards and/or recoiling on an axis  32  above the axis  33  of the center of mass  31  of the pistol (see  FIG. 3 a   ) while at the same time the barrel tilts upward from the muzzle end, and down and backwards on the chamber/breach face end. Furthermore, the gases created during the combustion action of the powder in the barrel will move the muzzle part of the gun in the direction of least resistance, which usually means that it causes a pronounced muzzle climb during the recoil action of the pistol after a shot is fired (cf.  FIGS. 3 b  and 3 c   ), especially where the pistol is chambered with a modern high energy caliber. This renders the pistol less controllable and less accurate than desired. Controllability and accuracy are traits which are highly desirable in firearms with shorts barrels such as pistols. In addition, due to the generally preferable relatively small size of automatic pistols, a significant increase in mass to counter the recoil action is generally not easily attainable and is undesirable. 
     The Browning tilting barrel recoil mechanism is a well-known mechanism in the state of the art literature, see for instance: A History of Handguns, by Frederick Wilkinson, The Crowood Press UK (15 Feb. 2011); The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Pistols, Revolvers and Submachineguns, by Will Fowler, Anthony North, Charles Stronge, J G Press (1 Aug. 2010); and The Complete Encyclopedia of Pistols and Revolver, by A. E. Haraink, Book Sales/Chartweil Books (3 Jan. 2013). 
     Many developments and design modifications have been attempted over the years to reduce or compensate for this muzzle climb action of the Browning system. Examples include, but are not limited to: adding Muzzle breaks and ported barrels that redirect the Gases upwards from the muzzle; adding static weight modules to the front part of the frame, or to the muzzle of the barrel; providing compensating bushings at the muzzle that control the free movements of the barrel; and pedals/thumb rests that shooters would use to press the Pistol downwards while firing to limit the climb. Different kinds of shock absorber systems that use springs or hydraulic cylinders have also been attempted in addition to many buffering systems that use rubber or plastic buffers in an attempt to attenuate recoil. These systems work in varying degrees of efficiency, but each has its major drawbacks. One example of such a system is the muzzle break: while well designed muzzle brake systems can effectively limit muzzle Climb, they render the pistol very loud, with a significant flash in front of the front sight, not to mention a significant added weight and bulk on the front top end of the pistol. This makes the pistol cumbersome to use, and basically limits the use of this system to organized sporting competitions. 
     Other designers have attempted to eliminate the problem by using completely different recoil mechanisms, for instance rotating barrels as opposed to tilting barrels, such as those on the Walther P38 or the Beretta 92, using gas recoil systems such as on the Desert Eagle, or gas-delayed blowback systems such as on the H&amp;K P7, with stationary barrels. However, the vast majority of automatic pistols today still use the Browning system due to its simplicity of manufacture and maintenance, and the ability to interchange the major parts of the pistol such as the barrel and slide with very little complications. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject of the present invention is a recoil attenuating mechanism that is an improvement on the well-known and widely used Browning tilting barrel system which is used mostly in semi-automatic pistols. The recoil attenuation is achieved by redirecting and manipulating the forces of the recoil of the slide of the pistol to a different axis than what is the norm on a regular Browning action, and thus reducing muzzle climb substantially in addition to attenuating recoil. The results are improved accuracy, recovery time, and controllability. The present invention is aimed at overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art described above. 
     Using the traditional Browning tilting barrel system as a starting point, the present invention substantially and significantly modifies the recoil handling mechanism. More specifically, in a recoil attenuating system according to the present invention, the axis of the recoiling mass is lowered below the center of the mass of the firearm. This may also involve extending and lowering the point at which the barrel connects to the lower position of the spring rod and the recoil spring assembly mechanism. This modification may be combined with the addition of a mobile weight attachment that is able to move with the action of said recoil spring assembly mechanism. This action greatly enhances the compensation effect of the redirection of the recoil forces by acting as a reverse cantilever. 
     By arranging the axis of the recoiling mass below the axis of the center of the mass of the pistol, this results in a lower muzzle climb during and after firing, and attenuated recoil due to a more uniform distribution of the recoil forces, which are now directed also below the center of the mass of the pistol and to lower part of the frame. This is opposed to the prior art, where the main forces of the recoil are concentrated and directed to the upper part of the slide and thus in pushing the muzzle upwards and backwards. This new action that is now redirected on the part of the pistol that is located at and below the center of the mass axis creates a backward and downward action force that will limit muzzle climb and redistribute the recoil forces to lower parts of the pistol frame. 
     Moreover, another aspect of the invention relates to a method for recoil attenuation, which comprises redirecting and manipulating the forces of the recoil of the slide of the pistol to a different axis than what is the norm on a regular Browning action, and thus reducing muzzle climb substantially in addition to attenuating recoil. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following, the present invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a firearm with the center of mass according to the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the firearm with the center of mass according to the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3 a -3 c    are side views to illustrate firing recoil forces and reaction with the prior art firearm of  FIG. 1  in a sequence of positions, namely,  FIG. 3 a    in a static position,  FIG. 3 b    in a first firing position, and  FIG. 3 c    in a second firing position; and 
         FIGS. 4 a -4 c    are side views to illustrate firing recoil forces and reaction of the firearm of the present invention ( FIG. 2 ), in a like sequence of positions, namely,  FIG. 4 a    in a static position,  FIG. 4 b    in a first firing position, and  FIG. 4 c    in a second firing position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 2 and 4   a - 4   c  illustrate a firearm of the Browning type according to the present invention according to an exemplary and non-restrictive embodiment, as compared to corresponding drawings of a firearm of the prior art depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 3   a - 3   c . It will be evident to the person skilled in the art to freely combine several or all of the different aspects of the embodiment discussed here and/or described in the claims as will be deemed suitable for a specific implementation of the invention. Throughout this disclosure, terms like “advantageous”, “exemplary” or “preferable” indicate elements or qualities which are particularly suitable (but not essential) to the invention or an embodiment thereof and which may be modified wherever deemed suitable by the skilled person, except where expressly required. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a pistol  200  according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in a perspective view. The center of the mass of the pistol  200  is denoted by a dot  201 . The pistol  200  comprises a frame  211 , a barrel  208  with barrel axis  204 , and a slide  209 . The barrel axis  204  is preferably located in the upper part of the pistol  200 , at a height  207  above the axis  203  running parallel through the center of mass (“center of mass axis”, CMX). The slide  209  comprises a heavy back part  210 , which preferably is located above the CMX  203 , and the recoil attenuating system  205 . The back part  210  generally has a heavier weight than the front part of the slide  209 , which comprises the recoil attenuating system  205 . The recoil attenuating system  205  is located below the center of mass  201 . More precisely, the axis  202  (“recoil axis”) of the recoil attenuating system  205  is located below the parallel CMX  203  spaced at a distance  206  (which has a negative value if measured in a coordinate system relative to the center of mass  201 ). 
       FIG. 1  shows a pistol  100  according to the prior art, comprising a frame  111 , a barrel  108  with barrel axis  104 , as well as a slide  109  having a heavy back part  110 . In the prior-art pistol  100  the center of mass  101  is usually below the recoil axis  102  of the recoil assembly system  105 . Thus, the height  106  of the recoil axis  102 , when measured relative to the center of the mass axis  103 , has a positive value, and falls within the height  107  of the barrel axis  104  of the barrel  108 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 a   , by virtue of the present invention the axis  202  of the recoiling mass (“recoil axis”) is below the axis  203  of the center of the mass  201  of the pistol. This results in a lower muzzle climb during and after firing, and attenuated recoil due to a more uniform distribution of the recoil forces which are now being directed also to the lower part of the frame and below the center of the mass axis  203 , and this creates mostly backward and downward action forces as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 b  and 4 c   . In contrast, as shown in  FIG. 3 a   , in the prior art the axis  102  of the recoiling mass is usually above the axis  103  of the center of the mass  101 , and is mostly directed to the upper part of the slide and backwards and upwards, which causes considerable muzzle climb upon firing the pistol, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 b  and 3 c   . In  FIGS. 3 a -3 c    and  FIGS. 4 a -4 c   , dark arrows denote directions of forces, while dashed arrows indicate the centers of mass movement direction. 
     In some embodiments according to the present invention, an extra weight  212  is added to the lower front lowest part of the slide  209  (see  FIG. 2 ), preferably in a way that it is part of the front part of the spring rod assembly mechanism of the pistol. This extra weight  212  located at or below the axis  202  of the recoil attenuating system  205  counteracts the muzzle climb action by acting as a reverse cantilever to the heavy back part  210  of the slide  209 . Thus, the extra weight  212  further decreases muzzle climb (cf.  FIGS. 4 b -4 c   ) and redirects the recoil forces backwards and downwards instead of backwards and upwards as compared to a firearm made in accordance with the prior art (cf.  FIGS. 3 b -3 c   ).