US2071020A - Pneumatic recocking device for machine guns - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16, 1937. L. A. BOUSSEL PNEUMATIC RECOCKING DEVICE FOR MACHINE GUNSv Filed May 10, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 16,1937. L. A. BOUSSEL 2,071,020

PNEUMATIC RECOCKING DEVICE FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed May 10, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 8v a fin 1H Nb. N 3? v w: a? m? w v y L v 2:: ,J nnv m 4; y w Q? 58 l 1 M a? V II AT \mvv m E M25 a. 9? s? m? 0? Feb. 16, 1937. A. BOUSSEL 2,071,020

PNEUMATIC RECOGKING DEVICE FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed May 10, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 \9- ///////////////////////////llll/////// //////////l/ In T T g g: Y n 8 I l 1 Q I l l l Q l v I I frwenlzr 1 211086221 4 .5mm; a22%; +111 mg 1 a" Patented F eb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PNEUMATIC RECOCKING DEVICE FOR MACHINE GUNS Application May 10, 1935, Serial No. 20,841

In France April 5,

19 Claims.

The present invention concerns a pneumatic recocking device for recocking machine guns.

A device according to the invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying draw- 5 ings, in which:

Fig. l is a transverse-section of an aeroplane wing in which is mounted a machine gun arranged according to the invention and shown in elevation.

10 Figs. 2-8 show the recocking device according to the invention on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plane of the rear (righthand) part;

Fig. 2a is a sectional plane. of the front (left- 15 hand) part;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse-section on the line III-III of Fig. 2a;

Fig. 4 is a partial transverse-section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2a;

. Figs. 5 and 5a are elevations, partly in section,

corresponding with Figs. 2 and 2a, respectively;

Fig. 6 is a partial front view (as seen from the left on Fig. 50;);

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section 25 of an auxiliary locking device and Fig. 8 is a sectional plan of a part of an emergency recocking device.

The recocking device shown in Figs. 1-8 includes, on the one hand, supports for fixing same 30 on an aeroplane and, on the other hand, fastening means enabling a machine gun to be readily and detachably mounted thereon and adapted to hold said machine gun in a position such that it can be actuated thereby and by a mechanism 5 for actuating the trigger.

In the example illustrated, it has been assumed (Fig. 1) that the machine gun M is lodged upside down in a wing A of an aeroplane having two wing spars L L In this case, the supports n of the recocking device are fixed on said wing spars. The recocking device comprises a long frame C the rear portion of which is fixed on a rod I06 connected at its rear end to a rear support plate IOI, while the front portion of said ,5 frame is fixed on a tube I61 connected at its front end to a front support plate I10, said plates IM and I10 being secured to the wing spars L and 1., respectively.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 5, the rear end of the rod I06 forms a ball I06 which engages a socket secured to a sliding plate I 02 and is held in said socket by a sleeve I screwed thereon. Said plate can slide vertically on the support plate I0| secured to the rear wing spar. The position of 5 said slide plate can be adjusted by a vertical elevating screw I03 screwed in an ear I03? on said plate and held from moving axially by cars I03 on the support plate IN. The front end of the rod I06 (Fig. 2a) forms an abutment I06 for the rear end of the machine gun.

Referring to Figs. 2a, 5a and 6, the front end of the tube I6! is engaged in an eye "58 in a sliding bracket I68 which is mounted on a horizontal traversing screw I69. The latter is screwed in a sleeve l68= on said bracket and is rotatably held by ears I on the support plate I10 secured to the front wing spar. Secured to or solid with said bracket and sleeve is a ring I68" in which the barrel of the machine gun is engaged.

Referring to Figs. 2a and 3, a collar I04 is fixed to the frame of the recocking device, by an angle piece I04, for holding the breech part of the machine gun. Said collar has a fixed member I04 and straps I04 and I04 hinged thereto. A lever I04 is pivotally connected to the strap I04 and on said lever is hinged an adjustable hook I00 which hooks onto the strap I04 Said hook can be adjusted beforehand, in order that the machine gun may be clamped in the desired manner. The strap I04 carries furthermore a lock I04 for holding the lever I04 in the closed position. Said collar is used as follows: the hook I04 is hooked to the strap I04 the lever I04 is turned down close to the strap I04 for tightening the collar on the machine gun and the lock I04 is turned through 90 for locking said lever in this position.

In this manner, the machine gun can be mounted onto and dismounted from the recocking device by hand, very readily. Its position relatively to the axis of the aeroplane can be adjusted by the elevating and traversing screws I03 and I69, respectively.

.Referring again to Fig. 1, the driving member R of the recocking device R is adapted to engage the recocking knob B of the machine gun when said knob is in the'front or uncooked position and to drive it to the rear position, shown in Fig. l, for recocking the gun. A firing relay T is also secured on the frame C with its driving member T engaging the trigger D. These engagements require no handling.

The frame of the recocking device is formed of two longitudinal angle members II 0 and III forming a slide for the moveable members of said device and secured together by rear and front end cross pieces H2 and I4! respectively. The moveable members comprise a sliding member II'I having a finger H1 and a flap II! and i urged forwards by a spring II5 compressed between said flap and the rear end piece I I2. Said finger forms the driving member diagrammatically shown in R in Fig. 1 and is adapted to drive rearwards the knob B, which is shown in its forward position in Fig. 5a.

Said moveable members further comprise a moveable cylinder I28, adapted to slide on a fixed piston I45, which is fixed in the front strut I41 by means of a screw thread and gasket I46. Pivoted on apin I22 carried in the head I 26 of said cylinder I28 is an arm II9 having a nose 9 adapted to engage a projection II1 on the sliding member H1 and to drive the latter rear- ,wards. The frame members IIO and III provide guideways, as III III in III. The ends of the pin I22 slide in the guideways III The arm I I9 has; near its nose II9 projections I urged laterally outwards by a spring I2I (Fig. 4) and adapted to run rearwards in the guideways III and forwards in the guideways III said arm then being rocked clockwise from the position in Fig. 2a. To this end, said guideways communicate with each other by oblique slopes III at the rear end and III at the front end, said slopes causing said projections to be depressed and to spring out as soon as they are in the other guideways. A return spring I55 is connected between a pin I56 in the arm H9 and another pin I54 secured to the front strut I41 to bring again said arm and the cylinder I28 into their position of rest, shown in Fig. 2a, when they have recoiled for recocking the gun. A leaf spring I12 is interposed between the arm H9 and the head I26 and tends to rock said arm anti-clockwise in Fig. 211. Another leaf spring I13 is provided on the rear strut II2, which spring is engaged by said arm at the end of a recoil stroke of same and causes it to rock clockwise (see Fig. 2).

The cylinder I28 provides in its head I26 a seat for an exhaust valve I24. Secured to said valve is a cup I23 which serves as a rest for the spring I25 of said valve and as a stop for a set screw II8 carried on the arm II9. When said arm returns forward with its projections I20 in the guideways III and thus rocks clockwise about the pin I22, said screw is adapted to depress said valve for exhausting the cylinder I28 to the atmosphere.

The fixed piston is hollow and thus has an inner chamber. Adapted to be slightly displaced in said chamber is a unit comprising a piston I36 with a cup leather I38 and a piston rod I35. Said rod carries at its other end an operating valve I35 bearing on a seat I33 in the end of the fixed piston I45 in front of the head I26 to close orifices I35 through which the chamber in said piston can communicate with the chamber in the cylinder I28. A spring I44 is provided between the inner piston I36 and the front strut I41 to press said piston into the fixed outer piston I45 and to close said operating valve. The inner piston I36 is also hollow and forms an outwardly open inlet chamber I45 so as to accommodate an inlet valve I40 having a spring I4I.

Compressed air can be introduced into the inlet chamber I45 by a duct I41 in the front strut I41 and through the inlet valve I40 acting -as a check valve, into the fixed piston I45, where o it is stored untfl a recocking operation is required. Alternatively, said duct can be connected to the atmosphere which causes the inner piston I36 to be displaced forwards by the pressure in the fixed piston I45 and thus to open the opcrating valve I85 whereupon compressed air enters the cylinder I28 and causes same to recoil for recocking the machine gun.

Connection of said duct to compressed air or to the atmosphere is controlled, in the'embodiment shown, by a delay mechanism. Said mechanism comprises a cylinder I51 located in the right hand part of the slide IIOIII and in which a piston valve is adapted to reciprocate, said valve having two spaced packing rings I60, I60 carried on the front end of a rod I60 The cylinder I51 has ports I51 communicating with the duct "1?, other ports I51 communicating with a hollow plug I6I screwed in the strut I41 and to which the compressed air feed pipe I6I is connected, and a slot I51 opening to the atmosphere. that the rear packing ring I60 connects the ports I51 either with the slot I51 or with the ports I51 and thus connects the duct I41 either to the atmosphere or to the compressed air respectively, according to the valve being in its Said ports and slot are so located forward or its rear position (which latter is.

shown in Figs. 2a and 511) respectively, while the front packing ring I60 forms a closure for the space which is fed through the ports I51 in any position of the valve. The arrangement is further such that said rear packing ring has to travel a distance forwards from its rear position to close the ports I51 and thus to cut oil? the admission of compressed air to the duct I41 and has further to travel to the foremost position to pass said ports to connect them to the atmosphere.

A coiled spring I59 located in the rear end of the cylinder I51 between a screwed cap I58 and a flange I60 on the rod I60 urges the valve I Ii0IIi0 to the front position. A similar cap I58 screwed on the front end of the cylinder I51 has an opening I58 with a fiap I58 adapted to entrap air before the front packing ring I60 and to form, together with said ring, an air brake or damper for the forward stroke of the piston valve.

Arranged to reciprocate on the side of the slide III adjacent to the path of the recocking knob B is a rod I64 having a nose I64 at its rear end and a fork I62 at its front end. The nose I64 is adapted to be engaged by said knob near the end of its recoil stroke and to be driven back a distance equal to the desired stroke of the piston valve. The fork I62 protrudes in the cylinder I51 through the slot I51 and engages the flange I60 to drive back the piston valve against the spring I59 as the knob drives the nose I64 It will-be understood that by the arrangement described, the piston valve I60--Iii0 is positively driven to its rearmost position by each recoil of the-recocking knob and is slowly returned forwards by the spring I59 with the damper I60 I58 so that when the gun is firing, said valve reciprocates between its rearmost position and a position a little before said rearmost position, the duct I41 remaining connected to the compressed air, and when the gun stops firing with the repetition mechanism released or uncooked and the recocking knob resting in its front position, said valve is allowed to return to its front position to finally connect said duct to the atmosphere, thereby to cause the piston I36 to open the valve I35 and thus to make the recocking cylinder I28 effect a recocking stroke. Y

However, a misfire can occur shortly after another, so that at this time the hollow piston I45 is not sumciently filled with compressed air to enable the gun to be recocked; moreover, such a misfire can occur while the cylinder I28 stfll effects its return stroke with the projections I 20 on the rocking arm II9 engaged in the outer groove II I of the slide I IIII,-and the nose 9 of said cam disengaged from the sliding member II1. In such cases, the recocking would be missed and even no longer possible with the arrangement described, since compressed air would be no longer supplied to said hollow piston. In order to obviate such failures, locking devices are provided which prevent the piston valve I 60-l 60 from returning forwards until the desirable pressure in the hollow piston is reached and until the cylinder I20 has returned to its position of rest. Said devices comprise pawls or catches I53--I53 (Figs. 2a, a and 3) and 200 (Fig. '7) yieldingly engaged in the valve cylinder I51 and cooperating with a collar I60 'on the rod I60 the arrangement, which includes suitable bevels on said pawls and collar, being such that the slide valve IIi0IIi0 can move back but cannot return forwards to open ports I51 to the atmosphere until both of said pawls are retracted from the cylinder 'I 51.

The pawl I53 is carried on a pivoting pin I52 (Figs. 2a. and 3) with a spring I52 (Fig. 3), urging it into the valve cylinder. Secured to the same pin is a lever I49 which extends to the side of the recocking cylinder I28 and ends in a nose I49 adapted to be pushed forwards by the ring I34 on the front end of cylinder I28 when the latter is in the forward position, so that the pawl I53 is then, and only then, retracted from the valve cylinder. The pawl 200 (Fig. 7) is formed by a bell crank lever 20'I actuated by the rod 202 of a bellows piston 203 arranged in a cylinder 203 which cylinder is connected to the duct I41 The pressure acts on said bellows piston in the direction of the arrow I, to retract the pawl 200, and a spring 204 acts in the opposite direction, so that the pawl is only retracted when the pressure in the duct I41 and therefore in the hollow piston I45 has reached the desired value.

The operation of the recocking mechanism is effected in the following manner: when the machine gun is cocked or is recoiling normally during firing, the recocking knob displaces the rod I54 of the delay mechanism in the direction of F; the fork I62 displaces the piston valve I60 so that the compressed air entering the valve cylinder I51 through the channels of the plug IIiI is introduced into the duct I41 and penetrates into the inlet chamber I45 of the fixed piston I45.

The air introduced into said chamber I45 raises the inlet valve I40 and fills the piston I45 until after a misfire and, by the operation of the delay mechanism I51, I50 etc., the inlet chamber I45 is placed in communication with the atmosphere through the ports I51 and the window I51 At the instant when the chamber I45 is placed in communication with the outer air. the displaceable unit, that is to say, the piston I35, is displaced in the direction of f in the inner chamber of the fixed piston I45, compressing the spring I44, thereby moving the valve I35 away from its seat and permitting the charge of compressed air contained in {the hollow piston I45 to expand violently in the displaceable cylinder I28, by passing through theorifices I35 and consequently to cause the displacement in the direction of f of the displaceable cylinder I28 and of the members attached thereto.

In particular, the displaceable cylinder I28 drives the arm II 9 in the direction of I the nose IIi'I of the arm, which abuts against the sliding member II1, carries same with it, which in turn pushes with its finger II1 the recocking knob B of the machine gun.

In this movement in the direction of F, the projections I 20 of the arm II9 slide first in the inner guideways III but at the end of this stroke, they are depressed by the slopes III pass into the outer guideways III and spring out therein, the arm II9 being rocked owing to said slopes and to the spring I13 on the rear strut II2. Such rocking of said arm disengages its nose II9 from the projection II1 on the sliding member II1, which then quickly returns forwards due to the spring II5. Said spring I13 damps the end of the recoil stroke of the cylinder I28 and accelerates its return movement. At the same instant, as said arm is rocked, the set screw H8 is brought into engagement with the cup I23, and the valve I24 is lifted from its seat for exhausting the cylinder I28.

The return spring I55, which is tensioned in the travel in the direction of f brings back the arm IIS and the displaceable cylinder I in the opposite direction to i into their initial position; during this return, the projections I20 slide in the outer guideway III, whereas the pivot I22 of the cam slides in the inner guideway II I so that the set screw II8 remains in engagement with the cup I23, the valve I24 consequently remaining constantly open.

At the end of the travel in the opposite direction to f the projections I20 of the arm 9 pass from the outer guideway I I I into the inner guideway III by the slope III and under the action of the spring I12 which rocks the arm H9 in the opposite direction to f; in this position the nose 9 of the arm II9 again engages the projection II1 of the slide II1, whereas the exhaust valve I24, which is released from the action of the set screw II8, returns to its seat and closes the displaceable cylinder I28.

The machine gun being recocked, resumes firing if it had been accidentally stopped, if not, it sufiices to operate the trigger D to start firing again.

The trigger can be operated by a pneumatic or other relay I 0| (Fig. 3) diagrammatically shown in T, T in Fig. 1, and with which this invention is not concerned. I

The arrangement illustrated for the remote control of a machine gun also includes an emergency device for recocking the machine gun in case of failure of the pneumatic device. For this purpose, the tube II4, on which the turned-back flap II1 of a sliding member II 1 is loosely engaged, is connected to the end of a flexible cable I I8 passing over transmission pulleys I01 I01 and is adapted to slide in a tube II3 which is secured, at its rear end, in the rear strut II2.

Referring to Fig. 8, the free end of the cable I I6 carries a handle II6 serving to actuate the cable H6 and to displace the sliding member in the direction of 1. When the handle H6 is pulled, the cable I I6, the sliding member II1 and the recocking knob of the machine gun are operated. A safety device against an accidental operation of the trigger is combined with the cable IIG; said device comprises a nipple II6 secured to said cable IIB; said nipple IIG slides within a sleeve 6 and engages spring-pressed pawls H6 6 which hold the cable and the members it controls in a safety position. The pawls I H5, H6 can be disengaged from the nipple B by means of a ring H6 sliding on the sleeve 6 said ring having springs 8'' which cause the pawls H6 H6 to swing about their pins thereby disengaging the nipple for the pneumatic operation to start again.

I claim:

1. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a, fixed hollow piston in said cylinder, adaptedto contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid, means for controlling said operating valve, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to a supporting structure.

2. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a fixed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid, a control piston adapted to actuate said operating valve, a chamber cooperating with said control piston, means for varying the pressure in said chamber to operate said control piston, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to a supporting structure.

8. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a fixed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid, a

control piston adapted to actuate said operat ing valve, a chamber cooperating with said control piston, a distributor adapted to connect said chamber to the fluid pressure and to the atmosphere to operate said control piston, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to a supporting structure.

"4,, Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slidein said frame, a fixed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston, opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, an inlet chamber, an inlet valve between same and said hollow piston, a distributor adapted to connect said chamber to the fluid pressure and to the atmosphere, a control piston cooperating with said chamber and adapted to open said operating valve upon said chamber being connected to the atmosphere, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to a supporting structure.

5. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a fixed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, a control piston forming a floating bottom for said hollow piston, said operating valve being located in the face of said hollow piston opposite to its bottom and being rigidly connected to said control piston, so as to be opened when said control piston moves away from said hollow piston face, an inlet chamber before said control piston, an inlet valve located in said control piston to let the fluid pressure pass from said inlet chamber into said hollow piston, a distributor adapted to connect said inlet chamber to the fluid pressure and to the atmosphere, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to asupporting structure.

6. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a flxed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid, a control piston adapted to actuate said operating valve, a chamber cooperating with said control piston, a distributor having a movable member and adapted to connect said chamber to the fluid pressure and to the atmosphere according to the position of said member, in order to operate said control piston, said movable member being adapted to be engaged and driven by the machine gun recocking bolt when the latter recoils to a set position in which it causes said distributor to operate said control piston to close said operating valve, yielding means for urging said member to a position of rest in which it causes said distributor to operate said control piston for opening said operating valve, means for delaying the movement of said member towards the position of rest whereby said member is slowly returned to this position when said recocking bolt rests in its forward position, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to a supporting device.

'7. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a fixed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid; a control piston adapted to actuate said operating valve, a chamber cooperating with said control piston, a slide valve adapted to connect said chamber to the fluid pressure and to the atmosphere to operate said control piston, so as to open said operating valve when said slide valve is in its rest position, a spring adapted to urge said slide valve towards its rest position, said slide valve being pushed to its set up position by the recoils of the machine gun recocking bolt, an air damper 'to delay the return of said valve to its rest position, means for returning said cylinder towards sa d hollow piston after a recoil stroke, means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to a supporting structure.

8. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, .comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a fixed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain anoperative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid, means for controlling said operating valve, locking means adapted to prevent said operating valve from being opened unless said cylinder is in its rest position, means for returning said cylinder 'towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke; means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the, machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to a supporting structure.

9. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a fixed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid, means for controlling said operating valve, pneumatic locking means adapted to prevent said operating valve from being opened until the fluid in said hollow piston has reached a suitable pressure,

means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the ma- ,chine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and

means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to a supporting device.

10. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a .flxed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid, means for controlling said operating valve, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, an outlet valve in said cylinder, means for controlling said outlet valve so as to retain it open during the return stroke of the cylinder, means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to a supporting structure.

11. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a fixed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid, means for controlling said operating valve, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, a sliding member in said frame, a driving connection between said cylinder and said sliding member and such that said cylinder drives said sliding member during its recoil stroke and that an escapement occurs at the end of said stroke, a spring .to rapidly return said sliding member to its rest position after such escapement has occurred, means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said sliding member through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to a supporting structure.

12. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a flxed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid, means for controlling said operating valve, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, an outlet valve in said cylinder, a sliding member in said frame, a rocking arm on said cylinder, a finger on said arm adapted to open said outlet valve when said arm is in an outlet position, a cam on said arm adapted to engage said sliding member to drive same through the recoil of said cylinder when said arm is in a driving position, guide means in said frame to retain said arm in driving and outlet positions during the recoil and the return strokes of the cylinder, respectively, and to rock same at the ends of such strokes, means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said sliding member through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to a supporting structure.

13. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a fixed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid, means for controlling said operating valve, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, means for connecting said frame to said gun'so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, a manually actuated mechanical transmission the end part of which is carried on said frame and is also adapted to recock the machine gun, and means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to a supporting structure.

14. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a fixed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid, means for controlling said operating valve, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, a sliding member in said frame, a driving connection between said cylinder and said sliding member and such that said cylinder drives said sliding member during its recoil stroke and that an escapement occurs at the end of said stroke, a spring to rapidly return said sliding member to its rest position after such escapement has occurred, means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said sliding member through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, a rod adapted to slide in said frame and to push said sliding member in the recoil direction to recock the machine gun, a manually actuated mechanical transmission the end part of which is formed by said rod, and means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to a supporting structure.

15. Pneumatic device for recockingwa machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a fixed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid, means for controlling said operating valve, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, means for removably connecting said gun to said frame so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and means for securing said frame to a supporting structure.

16. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a fixed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid, means for controlling said operating valve, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, a ring carried by said frame and adapted to engage the gun barrel, a manually operated securing collar also carried by said frame and adapted to engage the gun breech,

said ring and collar being arranged so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and means for securing said frame to a supporting structure.

17. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a fixed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid, means for controlling said operating valve, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to a supporting structure, the last said means being adjustable for elevation and for direction.

18. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a fixed hollow piston in said cylinder, adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, means for feeding said hollow piston with compressed fluid, means for controlling said operating valve, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, and means for securing said frame to a supporting structure at the front end and at the rear end of said frame, the last said means being adjustable for elevation at one of said ends and for direction at the other.

19. Pneumatic device for recocking a machine gun, comprising a frame, a cylinder adapted to slide in said frame, a fixed hollow piston in said cylinder. adapted to contain an operative charge of compressed fluid, an operating valve in said hollow piston opening into said cylinder and adapted when closed to prevent said charge from passing into the cylinder, a recoil stroke, means for feeding said hollow piston with fluid pressure, means for controlling said operating valve, means for returning said cylinder towards said hollow piston after a recoil stroke, means for connecting said frame to said gun so that said cylinder through its recoil stroke drives the machine gun recocking bolt to recock same, means for securing the machine gun with the recocking device to a supporting structure and the trigger-operating parts of a remote firing control carried on said frame and freely engaging the trigger of the machine gun.

LUCIEN ALBERT BOUSSEL.

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