Self-actuating firearm

• US 6,619,592 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Issued: 09/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Benelli Armi SpA
• Original Assignee: Benelli Armi SpA
• Inventors: Boccarossa, Maurizio, Scaramucci, Sergio, Vignaroli, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): Eldred, J. Woodrow
• Application Number:
  US09/995,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20020073832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 891/910.1, 891/92, 891/93, 42/14, 42/16, 42/395
• US Class Current: 89/191.01
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 5/18 gas-operated

Abstract

A self-actuating firearm comprising a frame, a breechblock, a barrel provided with a bore, a cylinder which is associated with the barrel and forms an internal chamber which is connected to the bore of the barrel, by means of a gas tap, and a piston which is at least partially accommodated in the chamber and can be actuated by the gases that arrive from the bore upon firing. The piston floats with respect to the cylinder and the frame and comprises a portion which is external to the cylinder and is adapted to act with an impulsive action on the breechblock in order to recock the firearm upon firing.

Claims

1. A self-actuating firearm comprising:

a frame;

a breechblock;

a barrel provided with a bore;

a cylinder associated with said barrel and forming an internal chamber which is connected to the bore of the barrel by means of a gas tap; and

a piston which is at least partially accommodated in said chamber and can be actuated by gases that arrive from said bore upon firing of the firearm,

said piston floating with respect to said cylinder and said frame and being integral with a recocking element which is external to said cylinder and is adapted to act with an impulsive action on said breechblock In order to recock the firearm upon firing,

a seal means being provided between said piston and an Inner surface of said cylinder in order to improve the sliding of said piston inside said cylinder, said seal means comprising external seal rings and internal seal rings, wherein said external seal rings provide a seal on the cylinder surface while having a play with respect to the piston, said internal seal rings providing a seal with respect to an outer piston surface while having a play with respect to the cylinder, in order to simplify the production of said seal means and in order to provide a self centering assembly of respective parts of the firearm.

2. The self-actuating firearm according to claim 1, further comprising a floating means which floats with respect to said frame and is arranged between said recocking element and said breechblock;

said floating means comprising two pins, each of said pins comprising a stem slidably inserted in a respective guide formed in said frame, a free end of the stem being adapted to make contact with a surface of the breechblock.

3. The self-actuating firearm according to claim 2, further comprising a post rigidly coupled to said frame and extending along an entire length of said cylinder inside said chamber, said piston being slidingly mounted on said post, a seal being provided between said post and an inner surface of said cylinder, said chamber being formed by the inner surface of said cylinder and by an outer surface of said post.

4. The self-actuating firearm according to claim 3 wherein an axial passage is formed in said post and is open outward at a front end of said post, said axial passage being alternately connected to said chamber in order to vent excess gases that are generated by firing and fed to said chamber.

5. The self-actuating firearm according to claim 4 wherein said post has a wider base at a rear end, said post being coaxial with the chamber, said post comprising a cylindrical block at an end opposite the piston, said cylindrical block protruding at least partially from a front end of the cylinder;

said axial passage of said post being open at a front part of the block and being provided, at a rear end, with a radial passage formed in the wider base of said post.

6. The self-actuating firearm according to claim 5 wherein said piston has a first inner diameter sized so that said is in slidable hermetic engagement with respect to the wider base of the post, said piston having a second inner diameter larger than said first inner diameter so that, in a stroke limit position, the radial passage in the wider base of said post communicates with the internal chamber of the cylinder.

7. The self-actuating firearm according to claim 3 wherein said floating means takes the form of two pins, said recocking element comprising a flat member disposed externally to the cylinder, said flat member including two protrusions adapted to act on said pins.

8. The self-actuating firearm according to claim 7, further comprising a plate closing the frame of the firearm at a front side thereof, said plate being formed with slots from which said pins protrude, said plate also including a central slot traversed by the base of said post, said slots allowing a disassembly of the plate wherein the plate is lifted and slid off the pins and the post, said plate being also provided with interlocking means for removably locking the plate to the frame.

9. The self-actuating firearm according to claim 8, further comprising a pivoting magazine coupled with said frame by means of a hinge assembly, said plate being adapted to retain said hinge assembly of said magazine.

10. The self-actuating firearm according to claim 3 wherein said post comprises a cylindrical block at an end opposite said piston, said cylindrical block protruding at least partially from a front end of the cylinder and extending into a front cylinder or cap.

11. The self-actuating firearm according to claim 10 wherein an axial passage extends longitudinally in said post and is open at a front part of said cylindrical block, said axial passage being provided on an opposite side with a radial passage which connects the axial passage with said chamber.

12. The self-actuating firearm according to claim 11 wherein said post has a front passage connected with said radial passage and connecting said chamber with the outside through a safety valve.

13. The self-actuating firearm according to claim 12 wherein said safety valve comprises a conical pin and a bias spring, both arranged in a discharge chamber which is substantially inside said front cylinder or cap.

14. The self-actuating firearm according to claim 13 wherein said discharge chamber extends inside a fastening cap, screwed on said front cylinder or cap, with the interposition of a contrast spring which is substantially arranged inside a front portion of said discharge chamber, said discharge chamber being open to the outside through a radial vent formed in said fastening cap.

15. The self-actuating firearm according to claim 3, further comprising a plate adapted to guide said post through a front hole in said frame, a snap ring being provided for mounting said plate.

16. A self-actuating firearm comprising:

a frame;

a breechblock;

a barrel provided with a bore;

a cylinder associated with said barrel and forming an internal chamber which is connected to the bore of the barrel by means of a gas tap;

a piston which is at least partially accommodated in said chamber and can be actuated by gases that arrive from said bore upon firing of the firearm; and

a pair of floating pins each comprising a stem slidably inserted in a respective guide formed in said frame, a free end of the stem being adapted to make contact with a surface of the breechblock,

said piston floating with respect to said cylinder and said frame and being integral with a recocking element which is external to said cylinder and is adapted to act with an impulsive action on said pins In order to recock the firearm upon firing, said pins being located between said recocking element and said breechblock.

17. A self-actuating firearm comprising:

a frame;

a breechblock;

a barrel provided with a bore;

a cylinder associated with said barrel and forming an internal chamber which is connected to the bore of the barrel by means of a gas tap;

a piston which is at least partially accommodated in said chamber and can be actuated by gases that arrive from said bore upon firing of the firearm;

a post rigidly coupled to said frame and extending along an entire length of said cylinder inside said chamber, said piston being slidingly mounted on said post, said post comprising a cylindrical block at an end opposite said piston, said cylindrical block protruding at least partially from a front end of the cylinder and extending into a front cylinder or cap; and

a safety valve arranged in a discharge chamber which is substantially inside said front cylinder or cap, said discharge chamber extends inside a fastening cap, screwed on said front cylinder or cap, with the interposition of a contrast spring which is substantially arranged inside a front portion of said discharge chamber.

18. The firearm according to claim 17 wherein said discharge chamber is open to the outside through a radial vent formed in said fastening cap.

19. The firearm according to claim 17 wherein a seal is provided between said post and an inner surface of said cylinder, said chamber being formed by the inner surface of said cylinder and by an outer surface of said post.

20. The firearm according to claim 17 wherein an axial passage extends longitudinally in said post and is open at a front part of said cylindrical block, said axial passage being provided on an opposite end with a radial passage which connects the axial passage with said chamber.