EP1144935B1 - Modular housing for a semiautomatic rifle or a machine gun - Google Patents

Abstract

A lightweight weapon housing system is disclosed for a self-loading firearm. The weapon housing includes an outer and an inner housing. A wall structure in the weapon housing reinforces the magazine chamber and transmits the transverse forces arising in the magazine into an inner housing, which suffers any resulting deformation and which can be exchanged in a simple manner should deformation result.

Description

The invention is concerned with a weapon housing system for a self-loading rifle or a submachine gun.

Terms such as "front" used in these documents "back", "top", "vertical" or the like always go from a weapon in normal attack; so a weapon position, in which the soul axis (Central axis of the barrel) runs horizontally and the Shot direction "forward" points.

For a long time, the component with self-loading rifles that movable shutter, a forged or block made from solid. It was expensive to cut worked and formed the load-bearing part. On the outside of this block were many functional elements of the Gun attached. It didn't start until the late 1930s to stamp weapon casings out of sheet metal. This tin case could be manufactured much faster and cheaper and to a certain extent surrounded most of the functional elements like an outer skeleton. The functional elements were therefore in the Arranged inside the housing and therefore from damage and pollution protected. However, tin cases have often an undesirably high weight, especially with Weapons with large dimensions, and especially when certain zones need to be reinforced, which is usually by welding reinforcements.

That is why weapon casings have recently been exhibited Plastic. Are in their main stress zones however, additional metal reinforcements are regularly inserted, which in turn drastically increase their weight. at Utility weapons, such as for military or police use, however, the lowest possible weight is always sought.

One of the main stresses on the weapon housing is the support of the locking spring of the breech. Fortunately, the closing spring forces act in the longitudinal direction of the housing and are safely transmitted by the housing walls adjacent to the closing spring. A possible deformation, which is triggered by the magazine, is more dangerous for the stability of the housing: the magazine forms a long lever arm protruding from the housing and is guided in the magazine shaft. The latter is formed in the housing and, in the simplest case, only an opening which corresponds to the cross section of the magazine.
This cross section must of course be adapted to the length of the cartridges provided. Ie the longer the cartridges are, the longer the cross section must be; however, the easier it is to twist the housing, since the opening of the magazine shaft interrupts its closed box cross-section. In order to stiffen this opening, one surrounds it in practice with walls which delimit the magazine shaft.

However, this measure has not always been sufficient proven: namely when the magazine out of the housing stands out, and possibly over a considerable Length, then a transverse load on the free magazine end cause the magazine very high forces exercises on the magazine shaft; for example if the weapon from a height, such as from the bed of one Truck falls on the floor and unhappy with it the magazine comes up. An unreinforced, especially one thin-walled housing can then be bent or even tear.

For a large-caliber self-loading rifle for firing Garnet ammunition with a caliber of about 20 mm are - because of the large cartridges to be used - on the one hand all parts unusually large and therefore heavy; on the other hand the weight allowed for a shooter not be exceeded. This problem will exacerbated when the large-caliber rifle an attachment like a rapid-fire rifle system. The plastic case Such a large-caliber rifle must therefore be as thin as possible for weight reasons and may contain as few metal reinforcements as possible.

It would now be conceivable in the area of the magazine shaft Increase wall thickness and there from a metal reinforcement quite apart. However, such a measure would be one of the Casting technology problematic. In addition, the transition would be an area from the increased to the normal wall thickness special load, which is a predetermined breaking point forms.

In practice, the walls of the magazine shaft have been tried to extend towards the free magazine end, on the one hand to increase the leverage effect of the magazine reduce and on the other hand the housing opening for receiving of the magazine. With modern rapid-fire guns in conventional design (magazine in front of the Grip) or in "Bullpup" design (magazine behind the handle) there is a housing recess for the trigger mechanism in the immediate vicinity of the magazine shaft. The recess weakens the magazine shaft section in addition, so that the extension of the magazine shaft only the strength problem outlined above does not remedy the problem sufficiently.

The object of the invention is in view of these problems to create a housing for weapons, which without any significant increase in weight due to the magazine withstands the loads introduced.

This problem is solved by the subject of the claim 1, so through a weapon housing system for one Self-loading rifle or a submachine gun with one Gun case made of metal and / or plastic, the least has a wall surrounding a magazine shaft, and with an at least partially within the Wall arranged additional inner housing, in which formed at least part of the magazine shaft is.

The weapon housing system according to the invention therefore exists essentially of at least two in a special way quasi "nested" casings, a weapon casing and an inner housing that can be used in it.

The weapon case is known per se. It is made of metal and / or plastic and has at least one Wall surrounding the magazine shaft.

The inner case is like a box open at the top and bottom trained, the inside of the magazine shaft or forms part of the same. This box sits in the Gun case and takes primarily all loads or at least most of it on. It is possible this inner case box at such points on the gun case to attach, which has already been reinforced elsewhere or are stiffened. So it’s not necessary own reinforcements and stiffeners for the magazine shaft provided.

This box, i.e. the inner housing is preferably made of the weapon housing can be removed again. Should be too big Load applied to the magazine and in the box have been initiated, then at most this Damage, but not the gun case. The box can then exchanged easily and at low cost become.

The solution according to the invention also makes the casting easier of a gun case made of plastic, as it is a continuous same housing wall thickness allowed.

A self-loading rifle is already known (US 4,654,993), are provided in the outer shells, so that some parts, such as the trigger device, a double housing exhibit. This rifle doesn't have a magazine slot, but complementary rails on the back of the magazine or on a steel bracket. The problem, which is remedied by the invention not in the known rifle.

Findings from the construction of traditional repeaters or Single-loading rifles (US 4,385,464) with wooden stock cannot be used to solve the task, because there is no housing in the sense of the invention.

It is possible for the inner casing to be like a reinforcing layer from the inside close to the wall of the gun case is applied. However, a distance between is preferred the side walls of the gun case and the Inner housing formed only at the attachment points between inner case and weapon case wall is canceled (claim 2).

The wall of the inner casing that delimits the magazine slot and the adjacent one, spaced apart lateral wall of the gun housing together form each a box girder. This is despite its low weight considerably more rigid than the inner housing wall and weapon housing wall would be if they are directly adjacent to each other would. Now there are internal cavities, can get into the moisture. But this is harmless if the parts (surrounding the internal cavities) are corrosion-resistant are made of plastic.

The inner case could be glued into the gun case or be welded in. However, preference is given to the Inside of the weapon housing (on the side walls) and to each other on the outside of the inner case complementary webs and grooves formed in Run in the longitudinal direction, so that the inner housing is preferred from behind through the main opening of the weapon case can be inserted and removed again (Claim 3).

The webs or grooves extending in the longitudinal direction extend preferred over the entire length of the entire Component. They transmit lateral bending forces that Grip at the free end of the magazine, over the entire length the bridge / groove connection on the weapon housing. Prefers are the ridges as strips and / or the grooves in protruding Last trained. Reinforce these strips the inner case and the gun case. For transmission the web / groove connections are so of tensile forces undercut that they have shear forces in both directions can transmit.

The load on the weapon housing is therefore not undefined over a larger area, but strictly defined on the strip-shaped web / groove connections mentioned. These can be arranged in places that are the most suitable for carrying a load.

So far between the walls of the gun case and the Inner housing the distance already mentioned is present, the web / groove connections form the narrow sides of the sun formed box girders within the weapon housing system.

The simple insertion of the inner housing into rail-like Formations on the inside of the weapon housing walls initially enables problem-free exchange of the inner housing. If you take additional precautions that the inner case when removing the closure must necessarily be removed, there is another Security aspect, such as when the disassembly of the Weapon in use is necessary. With a conventional rifle the shooter is sometimes led to do his full To place the magazine in the weapon case of the disassembled weapon, so it doesn't get dirty or get lost. It there is therefore a risk of unwanted charging of the Weapon. In the rifle according to the invention, this is a danger excluded because a magazine with the weapon disassembled cannot be caught in the gun housing. Only the inner housing can form the magazine shaft, that is ensure that the magazine is held in the weapon.

The front side walls (in the case of a weapon) are preferred Bullpup construction) or the rear side walls (at a weapon in conventional construction) of the inner casing extended and form the housing for the trigger device (Claim 4).

To reduce the risk of contamination of the fume cupboard, it is common for the individual axes (or the like) the fume cupboard not in the outer walls of the handle, but in its own trigger device housing, which is inserted into the handle is.

According to the invention, the inner housing is now extended, so that the protruding side walls of this inner housing form the side walls of the fume cupboard housing. The parts of the trigger device, which are between the above Side walls are built in, thus form an additional Bracing of the inner housing. In addition, assembly of the fume cupboard is greatly facilitated, because it happens outside the gun case. The axes do not need to be backed up as this is the Housing wall takes over.

Is the inner case from behind in the gun case insertable, the extraction device can also be installed (and expanded), as long as they do not have one deduction shown below. This is to be attached Handle or, if applicable, in the to be attached Additional device included.

The trigger device has a transverse locking shaft on that with an outside handle is provided, then these or the handle can be added later be used; after the inner case is inserted and the recesses in the side walls of the inner housing on the recesses in the Gun housing walls are aligned. The safety shaft thus provides the reliable fit of the inner housing sure because of its walls and walls of the gun case.

In addition, a front stop can be provided, against which the inner housing rests and the mass forces (with the mouth falling downwards Weapon) from the inner casing.

To form a similar rear stop, at least the side walls of the inner housing to the rear extended. There they sit against the end cap of the Gun housing system (for rifles in bullpup design) or against the butt stock (with conventional rifles) on (claim 5).

The inner housing can also be the end flap or form the buttstock.

The rear walls projecting to the rear are preferred trough-like connected at their lower edge, and sit - as explained above - in power transmission Bridge / groove connections with the weapon housing. This will result in considerable stiffening on the one hand the weapon housing system and on the other hand particularly of the magazine shaft.

All of the designs of the inner housing described above can be made of sheet metal or sheet-reinforced plastic getting produced. It is also possible to use fiber reinforced or prepreg-reinforced plastic. Prefers however, unreinforced plastic is used (Claim 6).

The inner housing made of unreinforced plastic sits in a weapon case, at least in the area of the magazine slot also consists of unreinforced plastic. If a magazine is inserted, that too Has a plastic housing made of unreinforced plastic, then practically three are sitting here when the gun is fired Plastic box profiles in each other, which the recoil and easily absorb the other burdens can. The plastic is elastic within limits deformable, so that when the force is applied, surfaces that unloaded maybe just lying together along humps, be pressed in flat mutual engagement, so that harmful concentrations of force are avoided.

Fig. 1 ein längsgeschnittenes erfindungsgemäßes Waffengehäuse-System im Schrägbild und in Explosionsdarstellung mit einem Magazin, einem Innengehäuse, einer Abschlußkappe und einer Bodenplatte;

Fig. 2 eine gegenüber Fig. 1 vergrößerte Seitenansicht des hinteren Teils des Gehäuse-Systems; und

Fig. 3 den Schnitt durch das Gehäuse-System der Fig. 2 längs Linie III-III.

An embodiment of the invention is explained with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing. In this shows:

Figure 1 is a longitudinally sectioned weapon housing system according to the invention in an oblique view and in an exploded view with a magazine, an inner housing, an end cap and a base plate.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged side view of the rear part of the housing system compared to FIG. 1; and

Fig. 3 shows the section through the housing system of Fig. 2 along line III-III.

All figures show the same weapon case system. Same Reference symbols denote the same throughout Elements.

The weapon housing system 10 shown in FIG. 1 is used for a self-loading rifle of the so-called bullpup design. With this type of construction, the one behind the rear is usually missing End of the weapon housing 1 usual (fixed or retractable or otherwise shortenable) buttstock, so that the Gun housing 1 at the rear directly with the butt plate or bottom plate 41 ends. The magazine 45 then sits around a little more than a lock length in front of the bottom plate 41. The handle or the like (not shown) is seated in front of magazine 45.

The weapon housing 1 has a protruding forward Barrel jacket 9 on and - in its imaginary extension to the rear - guide strips arranged on its inner wall 5 for guiding the closure (not shown). On the side next to the movement path of the closure is a Ejection window 3 to see that from a dust cover is lockable. As a rule, such a rifle points two opposite ejection windows 3. The opposite Ejection window is shown in Fig. 2. The Ejection window 3 are at a normal stop the cheek of the shooter. Therefore, to avoid Injuries for each shooter be assured that only the ejection window 3 facing away from him is activated can be. The normal or right-handed shooter supports this Rifle on the right shoulder and put his right one Cheek against the left side wall of the gun case 1. With him, therefore, only the one visible in FIG. 1 is allowed Ejection window 3 are activated; in left-handed shooters however, only the left ejection window visible in FIG. 2 Third

The formation of two opposite ejection windows 3 leads to a structural weakening of the weapon case 1, which can be highly stressed at this point: under the magazine 45 is attached to the ejection windows 3. Considerable lateral forces can occur in the latter the weapon housing 1 are initiated, such as when the weapon accidentally falls to the ground from a height. These transverse forces can the weapon housing 1 in the Eject the ejected 3 weakened area in a damaging manner. The invention works successfully against this damage opposite.

The weapon housing 1 also has above the barrel jacket 9 a forward-facing outlet opening 7 for one with the closure firmly connected and movable with this Charging lever device.

The rear of the weapon housing 1 is open. In this Opening sits an end cap 39, which is below is described in more detail. The bottom plate 41 is after covered at the rear or outside by the end cap 39, which forms the shoulder rest and at least on its edge one, preferably two, belt straps 43 is / are formed. Loads introduced into the strap bracket 43 are thus received by the resilient end cap 39 and by an appropriate attachment over the circumference evenly introduced into the gun housing 1. at Damage only needs to be replaced the end cap 39 not the whole weapon case system.

Below the closure guide strips 5 and parallel to these are on the inside of the two side walls of the Gun housing 1 each have an upper retaining bar 11 and a lower retaining strip 13 is formed. These ledges jump inwards, serve as a guide and holder of an inner housing 21 to be explained and care for bracing the weapon housing 1.

At the bottom, the box-shaped weapon case has 1 a magazine opening 15 that extends from a vertical front and two vertical side walls 17 limited becomes. The lateral boundary walls 17 are from formed the side walls of the gun housing 1. Before and one each penetrates through the front boundary wall 17 Hole 19 each side wall of the gun housing 1. Both holes 19 are aligned and serve that Passage of a fastening pin or an operating element, preferably a magazine holder or one Chamber Fang-operating device.

The inner housing 21 is from the rear into the weapon housing 1 inserted and has an upper one on each side Counter holding strip 33 and a lower counter holding strip parallel to it 35 on. Their cross sections are complementary to those of the strips 11 and 13 so designed that the strips 11, 13 and their associated counter strips 33, 35 reach behind each other; in such a way that the inner housing 21 is set at its altitude - see the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3.

Each side wall of the inner housing thus forms together with the associated side wall 17 of the weapon housing 1 a hollow box girder, so an extremely flexible and torsion-resistant training (Fig. 3).

The actual magazine shaft 23 is in the inner housing 21 trained and by a vertical front wall 27 and a vertical rear wall 25 limited. With built-in Inner housing 21, the front wall 27 is flat on the front boundary wall 17 of the weapon housing 1. Two holes 19a in the side walls of the inner housing 21 are aligned with the bores 19 of the weapon housing 1 and serve the passage of an operating element for the lock and the determination of the Inner housing 21 in the weapon housing 1. Further holes 47 in a side wall 17 of the weapon housing 1 and with these aligned bores 47a in the corresponding Side wall of the inner housing 21 serve to accommodate Pins or rivets and fix the inner housing 21 in the weapon case 1. The power transmission between Inner housing 21 and weapon housing 1 follows at the front through the system already mentioned between the front Transverse wall 17 and front transverse wall 27 and to the rear by supporting the inner housing 21 on the base plate 41st

The side walls of the inner housing 21 are forward and rear around front and rear extension walls 29 and 31 extended.

The front extension walls 29 have (in addition to the above Holes 19a) still further holes, which serve to accommodate the trigger device. One the bottom edges of the two front extension walls 29 connecting Bottom stiffens the inner housing 21.

Stiffen the fume cupboard elements (not shown) also from the front extension walls 29 and the bottom formed box quite considerably - and thus also the front transverse wall 27 of the inner housing 21. The trigger device is operated by a Handle or an attachment ago by means of longitudinally movable Pens or fingers. The attachment is under the barrel jacket 9 attached. The trigger device points thus no downward protruding element such as one Deduction on.

The two rear extension walls 31 of the inner housing 21 are supported on the base plate 41. How from Fig. 1 can be seen, the groove / web connections that of the complementary last pairs 11, 33 and 13, 35 are formed, considerably longer than the magazine 45 - in Seen longitudinal direction of the weapon. This measure leads to an effective stiffening of the side walls 17 the entire rear section of the weapon housing 1.

When lateral forces are introduced from magazine 45 into the inner housing 21 and from this into the weapon housing 1 critical loads not reached.

The base plate 41 is inserted into the weapon housing from the rear 1 inserted until it is on the rear foreheads the guide 5 and the strips 11, 13 are seated. It's about her a solid longitudinal web 51 is formed, which (also from rearward) in the form of a longitudinal groove Upper edges 37 of the rear extension walls 31 can be inserted is. The front end of the longitudinal web 51 engages in the installed state, the rear transverse wall 25 of the Inner housing 21 and is from behind against the magazine lips on. As a result, the longitudinal web 51 can absorb forces, which the magazine 45 exercises to the rear.

The top of the longitudinal web 51 is a guide for the Cartridge protector (slide) trained. The top edges the side walls of the magazine shaft 23 are up a little elongated and curved outwards so that it in addition on the associated side wall of the weapon housing 1 support.

The interaction of weapon housing 1 and inner housing 21 thus forms a particularly stiff and resistant Magazine well. Any transverse forces are applied first Line into (the actual magazine shaft 23 forming) inner housing 21 initiated and by this gently forwarded to the weapon housing 1. there stiff strips intended for force application at the same time the weapon housing 1 and also form the crossbars of box girders, to which the side walls are trained.

Virtually every element of the weapon housing system according to the invention takes over several functions, so with few, thin-walled, largely or completely unreinforced Plastic components are surprisingly stable, however yet lightweight housing is created.

The housing system shown is not only made of plastic, but can also be made from sheet metal after minor modification. Due to its light weight and its high stability it can then be used for a rifle that fires high-performance cartridges, such as a sniper rifle for .50 Browning and large cartridge Shot distances.

Claims (6)

1. Weapon housing system (10) for a self-loading gun or a machine pistol with

   a) a weapon housing (1) made from metal and/or plastic, which has at least one wall (17) surrounding a magazine well (23), and

   b) an additional inner housing (21), which is arranged at least partially within the wall (17) and in which at least part of the magazine well (23) is formed.
2. Weapon housing system (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the inner housing (21) is arranged with a clearance relative to the lateral walls (17) of the weapon housing (1).
3. Weapon housing system (10) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that mutually complementary guide webs and guide grooves (11, 13, 33, 35), by means of whose engagement the inner housing (21) can be mounted in a fixed location and in a force-transmitting manner in the weapon housing (1), are formed in the weapon housing (1) and in the inner housing (21).
4. Weapon housing system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lateral walls of the inner housing (21) are extended forwards (front extension walls 29) and form a housing for a trigger device.
5. Weapon housing system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lateral walls of the inner housing (21) are extended rearwards (rear extension walls 31) and are supported on a formation (end plate 41 or directly on closing flap 39) of the weapon housing system (10).
6. Weapon housing system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner housing (21) is composed at least partially and preferably completely of plastic.

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