Compact operating system for automatic rifles

• US 6,019,024 A
• Filed: 01/26/1998
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RMDI, LLC
• Original Assignee: Zdf Import/Export, Inc.
• Inventors: Nebeker, Darin G., Robinson, Alexander J.
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/013,101
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 89/1.42, 89/191.01, 89/191.02, 89/192, 89/193
• US Class Current: 89/1.42
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/72 Operating handles or levers; Mounting thereof in breech-blocks or bolts F41C7/02, F41C7/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 5/18 gas-operated

Abstract

An operating system for automatic rifles is described which permits a user to easily remove and replace the bolt and bolt carrier from the rifle, without requiring the user to employ special tools. This invention permits the user to reconfigure the rifle to fire a wide range of different calibers of cartridges, as well as to reconfigure the rifle to feed ammunition from either the top or the bottom of the firearm. This invention further improves the reliability and decreases the manufacturing cost of the operating system by reducing the number of required components. This invention also provides an ergonomic, left hand sided, non-reciprocating cocking handle. The cocking handle assembly is provided with a slot cover which keeps debris from entering the interior of the rifle.

Claims

1. An operating system for rifles comprising

(A) a bolt carrier adapted for receiving an operating rod and having an operating rod catch;

(B) said operating rod having a catch slot, to receive said operating rod catch, and a protrusion to engage a cocking device, and wherein said operating rod catch further comprises;

(i) a catch for fixing said received operating rod;

(ii) a button section for releasing said catch from said received operating rod; and

(iii) a spring element for holding said catch normally in contact with said received operating rod; and

(C) a receiver containing said cocking device.

2. An operating system for rifles, comprising:

(A) a bolt carrier adapted for receiving an operating rod and having an operating rod catch;

(B) said operating rod having a catch slot to receive said operating rod catch and a protrusion to engage a cocking device; and

(C) a receiver containing said cocking device, wherein said cocking device further comprises;

(i) a cocking handle;

(ii) a slide attached to said cocking handle;

(iii) a slide channel within which said slide moves;

(iv) a cocking piece fixed to said cocking handle, wherein said cocking piece has a recess for contacting said operating rod protrusion; and

(v) a detent pin connected to said slide to restrain the movement of said slide within said slide channel.

3. An operating system for rifles, comprising:

(A) a bolt carrier adapted for receiving an operating rod and having an operating rod catch;

(B) said operating rod having a catch slot to receive said operating rod catch and a protrusion to engage a cocking device; and

(C) a receiver containing said cocking device, wherein said receiver further comprises an upper receiver and a lower receiver, and wherein said upper receiver further comprises a top side, a bottom side, and a mount adapted for receiving said lower receiver on either said top side of said upper receiver or said bottom side of said upper receiver.

4. A process for the user assembly of an operating system for rifles, comprising:

(A) sliding a cocking handle assembly into the front of a rifle;

(B) inserting an operating rod into a receiver;

(C) rotating said operating rod to clear a cocking piece;

(D) aligning a cocking protrusion with a recess on said cocking piece;

(E) inserting a bolt carrier into said receiver;

(F) depressing a bolt carrier release button to permit said operating rod to contact an operating rod catch;

(G) pushing said bolt carrier forward until said operating rod contacts said bolt carrier; and

(H) releasing said bolt carrier release button to lock said operating rod to said bolt carrier.