US1286884A - Machine-gun. - Google Patents

Description

.A. B. REVELLI.

MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.8.19I5. 1,286,884. Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

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A. B. HEVELLI.

MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATIQN FILED nzcda. 1915..

1,286,884. Patented Dec. 3,1918.

HTS-SHEET 2.

A. B. REVELLI.

MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.8. 1915.

1,286,884. Patented Dec. 3,1918.

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AIBIEL BETEL REVELLI, OF TURIN, ITALY, ASSIGNOR TO OFFICINE DI VILLAIR PEROSA, 0F VILLAR, PEROSA, PINEBOLO, ITALY.

MACHINE-GUN.

mcaee Specification of Letters Patent.

, Patented Dec. 3,1918.

Application filed December 8, 1915. Serial No. 65,815.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABIEL BETEL REVELLI, major in the Italian Army, subject of the King of Italy, residing at Hotel Moderne, 39 Via XX Settembre, Turin, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machine-Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machine uns provided with one, or more than one arrel, the said gun being of a lighter weight and having a greater rapidity of firing than those known heretofore.

In automatic firearms, hitherto known mechanical closing means (consisting of a bolt, spherical joint or the like) are used in order that at the moment of firing the breech block should be rigidly connected with the barrel. In small arms such as the Browning pistol or the like, there is only a spring which conjointly with the mass of the breech bolt afi'ords an adequate closure for small charges. In the present system, which may be called an intermediate one, very considerable charges of powder may be used without having recourse to mechanical elements which always present a certain complication and are subject to fracture.

I will describe with reference to the accompanying drawings a construction in accordance with this invention but I do not limit myself to the precise construction described and illustrated.

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a vertical section and a plan of a construction in accordance with this invention.

Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sections taken on lines AA and B-Brespectively 'of-Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the gun. Fig. 6 shows a detail 'of the breech-block. Figs. 7 and 8 are a front elevation and a side elevation, respectively of one of the cartridge magazines.

Fig. 9 shows a detail of the elevator.

, Fig. 10 is a fragmental elevation showing theparts in aposition of recoil;

Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the parts at the commencement of the breech closing operation;

Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the parts in elevation when the breech is completely closed, and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the breech block.

The machine gun which consists of two distinct but identical breech and firing mechanisms, is provided with barrels 1 connected by a cross-bar 2 having two handles 3, "and is mounted on a standard 4 with a Cardan joint, havin two fixing handles 5 and 6 (Fig. 5) the ormer of which serves for the training movement and the other one for the elevating movement.

Each of these breech and firing mechamsms comprises a hollow cylindrical breech caslng 7 provlded with a lower lug 8 and screwed to the corresponding rifled barrel 1. In the said breech casing there slides longitudinally with a small rotary movement, a block 9 provided with a projection 10 (here inafter called a shoe) carrying a handle 11. The front and rear faces of the shoe 10 are each formed with a ri ht handed helical surface. The shoe 10 sli es in a slot 12 formed in the breech casing, and rectilinear for the major portion of its length but helicoidal at its forward end 13 wherein the said shoe is guided by its two helical faces.

The breech block 9 is hollow and in its interior there slides a cylindrical percussion pin, or striker 14 provided with a projection 15 which guides it in the rectangular portion of the slot 12. The front face of the tooth 15 is formed with a left-handed helical surface 15 bearin on the helical face 15 of the breech-block Figs. 10 to 13) in order to insure that the striker may pass beyond the head of the said block when the latter is rotated into its closed position.

The percussion pin or striker it is hollow and contains in its interior a coiled sprin 16 controlling it. This spring is mounts on the guide-rod 17 of the closure-plug 18 screwed into the breech-casing.

Around the forward end of the breech casing, a sleeve 19 is rotatably mounted, provided with projections for maneuverin puroses, serving to fix the magazines 20 uring ring; spring controlled stops (not illustrated forthe sake of simplicity) maintaining the said sleeve in both positions.

The breech is provided with a stationary, or fixed, ejector 21 adapted to engage a corresponding slot 22 formed in the breech block; the latter is provided with a levered extractor 23 pivoted at 25 and actuated by a spring 2 1.

The two mechanisms which as hereinbefore stated, are similar, or in duplicate are connected at the forward end by means of a bent cross-member carrying the foresight 27 and at the rear by the cross-bar or butt-end 2 carrying the annular backsight 27 with a graduated opening for the .difierent distances of fining. The cross-member 2 is formed at its forward end with two cylindrical cavities into which the two breeches penetrate and which are maintained therein by means of the pins 28. Below the member 2 two triggers 29 are mounted (one on the right and the other on the left) each having an- L-shape, the upper arm thereof being terminated by a release button 30 while the horizontal arm is terminated by a hook 31 which through an opening 32 formed in the breech casing, engages into the notch 33 ofthe breech block when the latteris forced into its rear position; the spring 34 maintains the said lever in this position until it is released by exerting a pressure on the corresponding button 30.

The cross-member 2 is provided with a safety lever having spring-stops, formed by a controlling handle 35 and two lateral l'ocking arms 36, which, according to the position of the handle 35, engage underneaththe but-- ranged in double rows; it consists of a rectangular casing with rounded-0d edges and terminated 'at the bottom by two lips 39" curved in such a manner as to retain the cartridges 40. In this tube there slides a follower 41 9) having parallel divisions staggered relatively to eachother, which follower is forced toward the bottom by a suitable coiled spring.

The gun operates in the nerr- By means of the handle 11, the breech block 9 is drawn backward until it autofollowing manmeshes matically enga s the hook 31 and subsequently the sa ety lever 35-36 is brought into the locking position; the cartridge magazine is then placed on the breech casing and secured thereto by means of'the sleeve 19; the gun is trained; the lever 35-36 is then rotated into its releasing position and the button .30 depressed for firing. The breech block 9 and the striker 1 1 then advance simultaneously under the action of the spring 16 and the breech block pushes a cartridge into the loading chamber of the barrel. At the end of its rectilinear travel,

the breech block is forced to turn to the right under the action of the helical part 13 of the slot formed in the breech casing; while at the same time the striker 14 also advances with respect to the breech block 9 owing to the sliding of the helical surface 15 ofits tooth 15 on the corresponding helical face of the notch formed in the breech block, and the shot is fired. The gases of the explosive charge expel the projectile in a forward direction while they tend to push back the breech block. The latter offers a resistance for a moment (in view of the inertia of its mass and the resistance ofiered by the helical notch 13 formed in the casing) and. subsequently recoils completely, withdrawing the empty cartridge with the hook of the extractor 23 until the said cartridge strikes the ejector 21 and is thereby ejected. If the firing button 30 is held in a depressed posi-. tion, the same series of 'movements takes place continually with great rapidity until the cartridge magazine is exhausted, the breech block always closin simultaneously with the advancement of I e striker. The rear shoulder of the helical notch 13 acts as a stop during firing and as a friction-brake to reduce the speed during the first stage of the recoil.

Considerationof Figs. 10, 11 and 12 shows that relatively to the casing 7 which may be regarded as fixed, the combinedsystem of the breech block 9 and the firing pin 14, has only a single degree of freedom, so that any displacement of one of these two elements, the breech block 9 and the firing pin 14, definitely constrains the movement of the other.

The pitch angle of. engagement between the helical abutment 13 and the shoe 10 should be a. little steeper than the angle of repose. It is evident that if the pitch is very slight so that this engaging surface is nearly perpendicular to theaxis, the friction will be so great that an axial thrust will not displace the shoe 10 from the abutment 13. On the other hand, if this pitch is very steep, the abutment 13will ofl'er almost no resistance to hold the breech block against the recoil'of vthe cartridge. The angle of repose is the criticafipitch at which an axial thrust on the breech block will barely sufiice to displace the shoe 10 from the abutment 13. As already stated, the pitch should be a little steeper than this angle.

It is obvious that this firearm may be constructed with a greater number of barrels than two, without however, departing from the rinciple underlyingthe invention.

Finally, it will be noted that instead of the support 4 the gun with one or more barrels may be mounted after the manner of a rifle in order that it may be fired from the V shoulder.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A machine gun of the class described, comprising a casing, provided with a longitudinal slot terminating in a helical notch at one end, a reciprocatory breech block within said casing, a helical notch at one end of said breech block, means on said breech block to engage the longitudinal slot and helical notch of the casing, the pitch of said helical notch of the casing being steeper than the angle of repose of said means therein, a plunger within said breech block, means on said plunger to engage the helical notch of the breech block, and means to reciprocate the breech block and the plunger relative to the casing.

2. A machine gun of the class described, comprising a casing provided with a longitudinal slot terminating in a helical notch,

.a reciprocatory b-reechblock within said casing, a shoe mounted on said breech block to engage the longitudinal slot and' the helical notch of the casing, the pitch of said helical notch of the casing being steeper than the angle of repose of said s hoe therein, said shoe having two of its faces shaped to conform with the contour of the opposing edges of the helical notch of the casing, a helical notch in the rear end of the breech block, a plunger within said breech block, a lug mounted on said plunger to engage the helical notch of the breech block, said lug having its engaging face shaped to conform to the helical edge of'the notch of the breech block, and means to reciprocate said plunger and said breech block within the casing.

3. In a machine gun of the class in which the recoil of the cartridge acts directly to open the breech, oblique locking means for the breech block between the same and the casin means to advance the firing pin relative y to the breech block simultaneously with'the closing and locking movement of the latter and to continue the locking movement of the breech block in substantial degree during the entire advance movement of the firing pin.

4. In a machine gun of the class in which the recoil of the cartridge acts directly to open the breech, oblique locking means for the breech block between the same and the casing, means to advance the firing pin relatively to the breech block simultaneously with the rotary locking movement of the latter and to continue the locking movement of the breech block in substantial degree during theentire advance movement of the firing pin.

5. A machine gun of the class in which the recoil of the cartridge acts directly to open the breech, comprising a casing, a breech block within said casing adapted to abut against the cartridge, a plunger within said breech block, a firing pin mounted on said plunger, means to advance the plunger and the firing pin for firing, meanson said plunger to engage the breech block and advance the same, oblique means steeper than the angle of repose to lock the breech block when in the firing position and to break the initial recoil of the breech block following the discharge of the gun. g

6. A machine gun of the class described, comprising a casing, a breech block, within said casing, an aperture in said breech block to coincide with an aperture in the casing when said breech block is in its recoiled position, a closure plug in the end of said casing, a cap inclosing the end of the casing and the closure plug, a bell crank lever pivoted on said cap, one arm of said bell crank lever protruding into the aperture in the casing, and engaging the breech block by means of its aperture when said breech block is in its recoiled position, the other end of the bell crank lever terminating adjacent the end of the cap inclosing the casing, and means interposed between the cap and one lever arm to retain the other lever arm in constant engagement with the aperture of the casing. I

7. A machine gun of the class described,

comprising a casing, a closure plug in one end of said casing, a cap inclosing said plug and enveloping the end of said casing, a guide pin mounted onsaid closure plug, a helical spring loosely mounted on said guide pin, a breech block within the casing, a plunger within said breech block, a firing pin mounted on said plunger, said plunger rotary closing movement of the breech block in substantial degree as long as the advance of the firing pin relative thereto continues.

9. In a machine gun of the class in which the recoil of the cartridge acts directly to open the breech, a casing, a breech block, a percussion pin, a spring acting between said casing and block and pin, and means to constrain the block and the pin to move relatively to one another but to reciprocate simultaneously in the casing and to reverse their reciprocatory movement simultaneously.

10; In a machine gun of the class in which the recoil of the cartridge acts directly to open the breech, a casing, a breech block adapted to abut against the cartridge, a percussion pin, a spring acting between said casing and block and pin, and means to constrain the block and the pin to reciprocate simultaneously in the casing and to increase the longitudinal movement of the pin relatively to the block. at the breech closing end of their travel.

11. In a machine gun of the class in which the recoil of the cartridge acts directly to open the breech, a casing, a breechblock adapted to abut against the cartridge, a percussion pin, a spring acting between said casing and block and pin, an inclined abutment carried by the casing, a shoe carried 'bythe block to engage the abutment, and means constraining said block and pin simultaneously to engage the shoe with the abutment and to advance the percussion pin relatively to the block.

, 12. In a machine gun of the class in which the recoil of the cartridge acts directly to open the breech, a casing, a breech block, a percussion pin, a spring acting between said casing and block and pin, means connecting the block and pin so they have a definite relative position for each position of 'theblock in the casing, an inclined abutment carried by the casing, a shoe carried by the block to engage the abutment, and means constraining said block and pin simultaneously to move the block helically to engage the shoe with the abutment and to advance the percussion pin relatively to the block.

casing and block and pin, means to constrain the block and 'pin to reciprocate as a unit when the block is withdrawn from its breech closing position, an abutment carried by the casing, and means constraining said block and pin to engage the block with the abut ment at the breech closing end of its travel and simultaneously to advance the pin relatively to the bloc 14:. In a machine gun of the class in which the recoil of the cartridge acts directly to open the breech, a casing, a breech block adapted to abut against the cartridge, a percussion pin, a spring acting between said casing and block and pin, and means constraining said block and pin to advance the block by helical movement to breech closing and locking position, and simultaneously to advance the pin relatively to the block.

15. In a machine gun, a casing, a breech block, a percussion pin, said block and pin engaging one another along a helical surface,

a spring acting between the casing and said I block and pin, means to prevent rotative movement of bothblock and pin when away block, a percussion pin, a spring acting between the casing and said block and pin,

means to prevent rotative movement of the block and pin when away from breech closing position, means disposed on the casing and block permitting helical movement of the block at breech closing position, and means disposed on the block and pin permittingrelative helical movement between them at an opposite inclination atbreech closing position, said means preventing other than helical movement between the block and pin.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

ABIEL BETEL REVELLI. Witnesses a Y C. S. TEYLES,

SIG. Fnnnnooro JACOBACCI.

said helical surface,

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