Recoil control mechanism for a weapon

• US 20030056639A1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vader Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Vader Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Giza, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 6,761,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 89/1.701
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/54 Bolt locks of the unlocked type, i.e. being inertia operated
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 5/16 having a barrel moving forwardly after the firing of a shot
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 5/18 gas-operated
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/47 using forwardly-sliding barrels or barrel parts for loading

Abstract

A recoil control mechanism for a weapon which fires a projectile which is characterised by the generation of a forward counterforce to the rearward recoil simultaneously with absorption of rearward recoil force upon initiation of propoulsion of the projectile. The forward counterforce is generated by propelling a first mass forwardly upon firing the projectile and substantially simultaneously propelling a second mass rewardly for absorbing some of the recoil force. In one mechanism (10), the first mass may be the weapon'"'"'s barrel (12) and the second mass its breach block (14). Expaning gases (36) from detonation of propellant in cartridge (24) enter a reaction volume (28) between the barrel (12) and breech block (14). These gases drive barrel (12) forwardly against force transmission spring (16) to impose a forward counterforce on the weapon'"'"'s frame (18). Substantially simultaneously recoil from detonation of cartridge (22) together with the gasses (36) in reaction volume (28) drive breech block (14) rearwardly against force absorbing spring (20).

Claims

1. A recoil control mechanism for a weapon for firing a projectile in a forward direction, the mechanism including a first mass and a second mass which are driven in substantially opposite directions upon firing of the weapon, wherein the first mass is driven in the forward direction to counter a rearward recoil of the weapon and the second mass is driven in a rearward direction for absorbing some of the recoil force.

2. A recoil control mechanism as claimed in claim 1 including a frame, the first mass and the second mass being associated with the frame for the frame to guide their respective forwards and rearwards movement, and including a force absorbing means which is operative between the second mass and the frame and a force transferring means which is operative between the first mass and the frame.

3. A recoil control mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein the frame is attachable to the weapon for the mechanism to be operatively associated therewith for the first and second masses to be driven in said substantially opposite directions upon firing of the weapon.

4. A weapon for firing a projectile in a forward direction, the weapon including a recoil control mechanism as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3.

15. A weapon as claimed in claim 4 wherein the first mass and the second mass include opposite reaction surfaces and a gas which is tapped from a firing chamber of the weapon upon firing enters between the reaction surfaces to drive the first mass and the second mass apart.

21. A weapon as claimed in claim 4 wherein the first mass is associated with a barrel of the weapon such that the first mass and the barrel are driven forwardly, and the second mass is a breech block of the weapon.

22. A weapon as claimed in claim 21 wherein upon detonation of an explosive propellant for firing a projectile from the weapon, the barrel, first mass and breech block are initially driven forwardly and subsequently the barrel and breech block are driven rearwardly whilst the first mass continues forwardly.

23. A weapon as claimed in claim 21 wherein the barrel is biased rearwardly relative to a frame of the weapon towards a firing position, and the first mass is biased relative to the frame against an abutment on the barrel, and the breech block is biased forwardly relative to the frame towards the firing position, and wherein an interposed gas contact region is defined by facing surfaces between the abutment on the barrel and the first mass and which is in gas communication with a chamber provided by the barrel, wherein expanding gases from detonation of an explosive propellant within the chamber are operative to propel a projectile from the chamber through the barrel and thus to drive the barrel forwardly together with the first mass, the breech block being biased forwardly such that it simultaneously moves forwardly with the barrel until the expanding gases enter into the interposed gas contact region whereupon the breech block is driven rearwardly simultaneously with the first mass being driven forwardly, and wherein the movement of the barrel is reversed by the bias between it and the frame as the first mass continues forwardly.

5. A weapon for firing a projectile in a forward direction, the mechanism including a first mass and a second mass which are driven in substantially opposite directions upon firing of the weapon, wherein the first mass is driven in the forward direction to counter a rearward recoil of the weapon and the second mass is driven in a rearward direction for absorbing some of the recoil force, wherein the first mass is a barrel of the weapon and the second mass is a breech block of the weapon.

6. A weapon as claimed in claim 5 including means associated with the barrel and a frame of the weapon for transferring a forwards force to the frame from the forward motion of the barrel.

7. A weapon as claimed in claim 6 wherein the means for transferring a forwards force to the frame of the weapon from the forward motion of the barrel is a force transferring and force absorbing means, being one of a compression spring, a pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder mechanism, and an electromagnetic mechanism.

8. A weapon as claimed in claim 7 wherein the force transferring and force absorbing means is operative to return the barrel to its firing position.

9. A weapon as claimed in claim 5 wherein the barrel and the breech block are biased towards each other relative to a frame of the weapon.

10. A weapon as claimed in claim 9 wherein the barrel and the breech block are biased towards each other via a tension spring connected between the barrel and the breech block.

11. A weapon as claimed in claim 10 wherein the tension spring is operative to restrain the breech block in its firing position momentarily upon detonation of a propellant for firing a projectile, wherein the breech block provides a reaction surface for initiating forwards movement of the projectile.

12. A weapon as claimed in claim 11 wherein the tension spring is operative to return the breech block to its firing position after its rearward movement.

13. A weapon as claimed in claim 9 wherein the bias of the breech block and the barrel towards each other are provided by means acting independently between, respectively, the barrel and the frame of the weapon, and the breech block and the frame of the weapon.

14. A weapon as claimed in claim 13 wherein the means acting independently between, respectively, the barrel and the frame of the weapon, and the breech block and the frame of the weapon each comprise a helical compression spring.

16. A weapon as claimed in claim 5 wherein the barrel is associated with a chamber at a loading end of the barrel for receiving a cartridge containing a projectile and an explosive propellant, and the breech block and the barrel include an interposed gas contact region for receiving expanding gases from the chamber upon firing of the propellant for propelling the projectile through the barrel, which expanding gases blow the barrel forward and simultaneously blow the breech block backwards.

17. A weapon as claimed in claim 16 wherein the chamber is provided by the barrel.

18. A weapon as claimed in claim 16 wherein the chamber is provided by the breech block.

19. A weapon as claimed in claim 16 wherein the chamber is provided by the barrel and the breech block in combination.

20. A weapon as claimed in claim 16 wherein the chamber is a separate component and the interposed gas contact region is defined in part by two facing reaction surfaces, each of which is directly or indirectly associated with one of the barrel or the breech block.

24. A method of countering recoil of a weapon caused by the firing of a projectile, the method including providing a first mass to be driven forwardly in substantially the same direction as the projectile to counter a rearwards recoil force and providing a second mass to be driven rearwardly against a force absorbing means for substantially simultaneously absorbing some of the rearwards recoil force.