J, T, THOMPSON,

AUTOMATIC GUN,
APPLICATION FEED DEC, 2, 1920,
1,425,810. Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

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 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
JOHN TALIAFERRO THOMPSON, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND
MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AUTO-ORDNANCE CORPORATION, of NEw York, N.Y., A.
CORPORATION OF NEW YORK,
AUTOMATIC GUN,
1425,810. Specification of Letters Patent. Eatented Aug. 15, 1922.
Application filed December 2, 1920. serial No. 427,893.
To all thom, it may concern:
Be it known that I, JoHN TALIAFERRO 4 Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line
THOMPSON, citizen of the United States of In the Fig.
4 of 1 relating to the same detail.
receiver 1 is mounted for recipro 55
America, and resident of Newport, in the cation, a breech closure or bolt 2 and a re
county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, coil spring 3 for urging the closure into
have invented new and useful Improve its forward position. Made integral with
ments in Automatic Guns,
lowing is a specification. of which the fol the closure is an extension 4 with opening
5 extending
This invention relates to a breech closure a shaft 6. At through it for the passage of 60
10 mechanism for an automatic gun and in one end of the shaft 6 is a
block 7 of cylindrical
particular to that type which provides a of the block are journals shape, and on either side
restraining means or a lock for the closure in bearings 10 and 11 which8 are and 9, seated
formed as
when in position closing the firing cham part of their receiver. The other end 12
ber and releasing the closure for the oper of the shaft is journaled in a bearing
15 ation of the gun mechanism. 13,
threaded in the receit '. To take
The principal objects of this invention are end thrust on the shaft, collars 14 and 15 up the
the securing of extremely rapid fire com are provided, the latter being removable to
bined with a smoothness of action by the permit assemblage. Ball bearing between 70
provision of means, whereby the restrain these collars
20 ing means operates in synchronism with the and and their seats in bearings 9
10 minimize friction.
closure, continuous with the closure move
ment, and in a path continuing in the same 16 Inandthe17opening(Figs.
5 are secured two sleeves
1 and 3) through which
sence into and out of restraining position. the shaft passes. On one end of the sleeves 75
These and other objects will appear from are ratchet teeth 18 which
25 the following description: cooperate with
ratchet teeth 19 similarly placed on the end
To attain these objects the structure, of sleeves 20 and 21 in axial alignment with
chosen for their embodiment and herein the
after described, has a positive means where jecting sleeves 16 and 17. An inwardly pro
by the reciprocatory motion of the breech cam 22 on the sleeve 20 fits in a 80
30 closure is converted in a motion of a re helical groove 23 on the shaft, and a similar
cam 24 on the sleeve 21 fits in a like helical
straining means transverse of the closure groove 25, but of opposite pitch, in the shaft
and continuing in the same sense for both 6. Duplicates of these cams and grooves,
directions of movement of the closure. More diametrically opposite, are also provided. A 85
specifically, the means selected includes
35 rotating shaft fixedly connected to a rotat
a compression spring 26 holds the ratchet
teeth in yielding connection.
ing block in which the restraining means is The block rotates in a cylindrical seat
mounted and two cams and cam grooves 30 formed in the receiver. In the block
connecting the shaft and closure, one cam are provided slots 27 (Fig. 2) which as 90
operating on the forward movement and the
40 other on the rearward movement of the clo shown, are three in number, and in the slots
sure to rotate the shaft in one direction for
are slidably fitted lugs 28. Compression
both movements of the closure. springs 29 tend to force these lugs out
For illustration a specific embodiment is wardly from the block. In the closure 2
set forth in the following description and is formed a slot 31 with which the lugs are 95
45 in the accompanying drawings in which :- adapted to cooperate. This slot 31 has a
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a gun cam face 32 and the lugs have a similar
receiver showing the parts in an assembled cam face 33. These cam faces may have
relation. an inclination which embodies the principle
Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line described in the Blish Patent 1,131,319, 00
50 2-2 of Fig. 1. March 9, 1915 for depressing the lug into
its slot when the pressure in the closure is
Fig. 3 is a detail showing the closure and reduced to a desired amount as set forth
shaft connection, in that patent. The pitch of the helical
 1425,810

grooves in the shaft is such that the shaft olution to align a second lug with the glo
rotates a distance sufficient to move a lug sure. In continuous firing where the motion
from its initial into operative position dur of the closure is practically continuous the
ing the reciprocation of the bolt. Conse block carrying the lugs rotates in one direc
tion. This continuous rotation, in conjunc 70
quently, as there are three lugs, the pitch tion with the movement of the closure and
selected is that which moves a lug one-sixth
of a revolution during a single movement in synchronism with it, gives a Smoothness
of the closure. . of action and permits a rapidity of fire not
As shown in Fig. 2, the lugs 28 are sub heretofore attained, without loss in accu 75
10 stantially twice as wide as the closure 2. racy.
- The receiver is formed with guides 33 and In a copending application Serial No.
shoulders 34 forming a space into which the 427,892 filed on even date here with, I have
lug is adapted to fit. The area of contact of illustrated another species of the invention
the shoulders 34 and the lug 28 is sub here presented. Trigger and magazine
15 stantially the same as that of the closure mechanism for use with the structure of 80
and the lug. In each lug cam face is formed this application are shown in copending ap
a slot 41 which permits the lug to move past plication Serial No. 427,891 filed on even
the end of a firing pin 40 lying in a bore 42 date herewith which discloses and claims the
of the closure. The inclination of this slot generic invention.
20 gives the pin a blow in the forward direc I claim: 85
tion as the lug moves upwardly. 1. A gun comprising a breech closure
On the extension 4 are provided notches movable into and out of firing position,
35 for co-operation with a sear 36 for hold means separate from the closure for re
ling the closure in its rearward position, straining the closure in firing position, and
25 The sear and its operation forms no part of mechanism positively connecting said means 90
the present invention and its disclosure is with said closure and actuated kinemati
therefore omitted. cally by said closure to move said means into
For assembling purposes, the receiver is and out of restraining position synchronous
made in two parts 37 and 38 separable along ly with the movement of the closure.
30 the line of 39 as shown. The upper halves 2. A gun comprising a reciprocatable 95
- of the bearings 10 and 11 are integral with breech closure, rotary means for restraining
the part 37 while the lower halves are said closure in firing position, and mecha
integral with the part 38. The closure 2 nism actuated by the closure for positively
and the shaft 6 and associated parts are rotating said restraining means in one con
35 placed in the part 37, the closure being in tinuous path into and out of restraining LOO
retracted position. The closure is then position in synchronism with the closure.
moved forward and the spring 3 inserted. 3. A gun comprising a breech closure
The lower part 38 of the receiver with the movable into and out of firing position,
trigger mechanism is then put in place and means separate from the closure for re
40 secured. . straining the closure in firing position, and 05
In operation, the closure 2, being in re mechanism positively connecti said
tracted position, is released from the sear. means with said closure to move said means,
The closure moves forward rotating the in the same sense, into and out of restraining
shaft 6 one-sixth of a revolution, so that a position synchronously with the movement
45 lug 28 rotates into alignment with the ver of the closure. 10
tical plane of the closure as the slot 31 comes 4. A gun comprising a reciprocatable
into position for the lug to be sprung into breech closure, rotary means for restraining
it by its spring 29. The sliding movement said closure in firing position, and mecha
of the lug at the same time operates the nism actuated by the closure for positively
50 firing pin and the recoil due to the firing rotating said closure, in the same angular 115 -
causes the cam face on the closure to press direction, into and out of restraining posi
on that on the lug. If the Blish angle is tion in synchronism with the closure.
used, a depression of the lug occurs when 5. A gun comprising a breech closure
the recoil pressure has been reduced to a movable into and out of firing position,
55
definite amount. The depression of the luor means movable into and out of position to 20
into its slot out of the path of the closure restrain said closure in firing position, and
permits the closure to continue its rearward mechanism kinematically connecting said
movement, and this rearward movement means with said closure so that the restrain
60
causes a rotation of the lug through another ing means moves at a rate bearing the same
sixth of a revolution into contact with tha. proportion to the rate of movement of the 25
walls of the seat 30. This movement of the closure at every instant. m
lug is in the same angular direction as its 6. A gun comprising a breech closure re
previous entry. The next forward move ciprocatable into and out of firing position,
ment of the closure repeats this action turn means for restraining said closure in firing
65 ing the lugs through another sixth of a rev position, said means having a rotatable por
 1,425,810 S3

tion, and mechanism kinematically connect 11. A gun comprising a reciprocable

ing said means with said closure so that said breech closure, means rotatable in one direc 50
portion rotates at a rate bearing a con tion for restraining said closure in firing
stant proportion to the rate of movement of position, and mechanism actuated by the
the closure. closure for positively rotating said restrain
7. A gun comprising a breech closure ing means into and out of restraining posi
movable into and out of firing position, tion in synchronism with the closure. 55
means movable in the same sense into and 12. An operating means for a restraining
out of position to restrain said closure in means for a breech closure slidable in a re
firing position, and mechanism kinemati ceiver of a gun, consisting of a shaft ro
cally connecting said means with said closure tatably mounted in said receiver and as
so that the restraining means moves at a sociated with the restraining means, a mem 60
rate bearing the same proportion to the rate ber carried by the closure, a ratchet con
of movement of the closure at every instant. nection between said member and closure,
5 8. A gun comprising a breech closure re and means for rotating the shaft by the
ciprocatable into and out of firing position, member, said means including a cam and
means for restraining said closure in firing groove, whereby said restraining means is 65
position, said means having a rotatable por moved substantially throughout the period
tion rotatable in the same sense into and out of movement of the closure.
20 of restraining position, and mechanism 13. An operating means for a restrain
kinematically connecting said means with ing means for a breech closure slidable in a 70
said closure so that said portion rotates at receiver of a gun, consisting of a shaft ro
a rate bearing a constant proportion to the tatably mounted in said receiver and as
rate of movement of the closure. Sociated with the restraining means, a
25 - 9. A gun having a breech closure movable plurality of members carried by the closure,
into and out of firing position, and means for ratchet connections between said members
restraining the closure in firing position, and the closure, and means for operating the 75
said means comprising a carrier movable shaft by the members, said means including
adjacent the path of the breech closure and cams and grooves.
30 at an angle thereto, and a spring-pressed 14. An operating means for a restraining
lug movably mounted on the carrier to move means for a breech closure reciprocable in
behind an abutment on the breech closure a receiver of a gun, consisting of two mem 80
in a certain position of the carrier. bers carried by the closure and rotatable
10. A gun having a breech closure mov therein, ratchet connections between said
35 able into and out of firing position, and members and the closure, the ratchet con
means for restraining the closure in firing nection for one member being opposite in
position, said means comprising a carrier engagement to that of the other member for 85
movable adjacent the path of the breech locking said members alternately to the
closure, and a spring-pressed lug movably closure upon each reverse movement of the
40 mounted on the carrier to move behind an closure, a shaft rotatably mounted in said
abutment on the breech closure in a certain receiver and associated with said members
position of the carrier, said lug having a and the restraining means, said shaft and 90
closure-engaging surface inclined to the members having cooperating cams and
path of the breech closure at such angle grooves to rotate said shaft by the member
45 that the lug is automatically forced out of locked to the closure.
the path of the closure by the breech pres Signed by me at New Canaan, Connecti
sure acting through the closure after the cut, this 30th dayJOHN
of November 1920.
TALIAFERRO THOMPSON.
breech pressure has decreased to a safe value.