Breech locking system for self loading firearms

• US 4,915,011 A
• Filed: 09/07/1988
• Issued: 04/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Victory Arms Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Victory Arms Company Limited
• Inventors: Smith, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kyle, Deborah L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US07/241,501
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 89/196, 89/176, 89/163, 89/168, 89/190
• US Class Current: 89/176
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/42 Safeties for locking the breech-block or bolt in a safety position F41A17/32, F41A17/36, F41A17/40 take precedence ; anti-rebound arrangements F41A3/70
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/38 having rocking locking elements, e.g. pivoting levers or vanes
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 5/02 recoil-operated

Abstract

A self loading firearm of the locked breech, short recoil pistol type has a barrel and a breech block slide provided with a separate locking block accommodated between the underside of the barrel and the upper surface of a movable trigger guard. The locking block is provided with means for positively locking the barrel to the slide during the high pressure period of the firing cycle of the firearm and means for enabling release of the slide from the barrel during the remainder of the firing cycle. Means described for permitting release of the locking block comprise a rotary catch which is rotatable between a position to hold the locking block in its barrel retaining position and a position in which the locking block is able to release the barrel. The rotary catch is movable axially between a position in which it is rotatable and a position in which it is non-rotatable, the locking block normally being held in its non-rotatable position by the hold open means and being released from that position when the hold open means is in its operative position to hold the slide fully retracted from its forward firing position.

Claims

1. A self loading firearm of the locked breech, short recoil pistol type having a frame, a barrel having an underside, a breech block slide and hold open means operative to hold the slide in a fully retracted position relative to the frame, said firearm being provided with a locking block accommodated in part beneath the underside of the said barrel, said locking block being provided with means for positively locking the barrel to the slide during the high pressure period of the firing cycle of the firearm and means for enabling release of the slide from the barrel during the remainder of the firing cycle, means being provided for permitting release of the locking block only when the breech block slide is held to the fully retracted position by said hold open means to disengage the barrel to permit the barrel to be removed from the firearm without need for further disassembly of the firearm without need for further disassembly of the firearm, said means for permitting release of the locking block comprising a rotary catch which is rotatable between a position to hold the locking block in its barrel retaining position and a position in which the locking block is able to release the barrel, said catch being axially moveable between a position in which it is non-rotatable to a position in which it is rotatable to its position in which it permits the locking block to release the barrel.

2. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein the hold open means is operable to hold the rotary catch against axial movement except when the hold open means is operative to hold the slide in its fully retracted position.

3. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein an axially parallel recoil spring is mounted below the barrel.

4. A self loading firearm of the locked breech, short recoil pistol type having a frame, a barrel having an underside and a breech block slide movable relative to said frame between a forward battery position and a rearward fully retracted position, said firearm also comprising a locking block located at least in part beneath the underside of said barrel and movable between a raised barrel retaining position and a lowered barrel release position, a rotary catch having an upper surface, said rotary catch being axially movable between a retracted and a projecting position and being, when in said projecting position, rotatable between a position in which said upper surface holds the locking block in its barrel retaining position and a position in which said upper surface permits the locking block to be lowered to release the barrel, and slide hold open means operative to hold the slide in said fully retracted position relative to the frame, said slide open means holding the rotary catch against axial movement from said retracted position except when the slide hold open means is fully operative, it being necessary axially to move the rotary catch between said retracted position in which it is non rotatable to said projecting position in which it is rotatable to permit the locking block to release the barrel.

5. A firearm according to claim 4, including cam means on the frame operative to cam the locking block downwardly from engagement with the slide during initial rearward movement of the slide from said forward battery position.

6. A firearm according to claim 5, wherein the locking block is forwardly movable relative to the frame during final movement of the slide to the forward battery position and the frame comprises a cam surface engageable with the locking block to cam it upwardly to engage the slide during final movement of the slide to the forward battery position.

7. A self loading firearm of the locked breech, short recoil pistol type having a frame, a barrel having an underside and a breech block slide movable relative to said frame between a forward battery position and a rearward fully retracted position, said firearm also comprising a locking block located at least in part beneath the underside of said barrel and movable between a raised barrel retaining position and lowered barrel release position, a rotary catch having an upper surface, said rotary catch being axially movable between a retracted and a projecting position and being, when in said projecting position, rotatable between a position in which said upper surface holds the locking block in its barrel retaining position and a position in which said upper surface permits the locking block to be lowered to release the barrel, and a helical coil compression recoil spring mounted below and axially parallel with the barrel and partially encompassed by said rotary catch and said locking block.

8. A firearm according to claim 7, wherein the barrel has a recessed lug provided thereon and said locking block comprises a forward radiused nose received in the recess in the lug on the barrel, the locking block having at its rear end two downwardly extending lugs for engagement with the upper surface of the rotary catch, said lugs extending downwardly on opposite sides of the recoil spring.