US1431058A - Muzzle support for automatic guns - Google Patents

Description

C. SUTTER.

MUZZLE SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27. 1922.

Patentd Oc t.3,1922.-

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. SUTTER.

MUZZLE SUPPORT roe AUTOMATIC GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21' 1922-,

Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

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C.-SUTTER.

MUZZLE SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED r53. 21, 1922. 4

1,431,05 I Patented Oct. 3,1922.

5 SHEETS SHEET 3.

C SUTTER. I MUZZLE SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS. m'ucAilou mcu ms. 21, 1922. 1,431,058. Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

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I f/zaf'lar jail?! c. SUTTER.

MUZZLE SUPPORT FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

APPLICATIQN FILED FEB. 27. 1922. I 1,431,058. Patented Oct. 3; 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5,

Patented Oct. 3, 1922..

.QUJNETEEE stares CHARLES .SUTTER, OF SURESNES, FRANCE.

. nuzztn-surronrr ron AUTOMATIC eons.

Application filed F bruar 27; 1922. 7 Serial 110,533,516,

To all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHnnLEs SUTTER, aciez'n of the French Republic, residing at Suresnes, Seine, France,"have invented 'certain new. and useful Improvements in Muzzle. Supports for Automatic Guns; and 1' do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and ,eract. description oft-he invention, such as'will enable others skilled in the art to which it'appertains to make and use the same. i

My invention relates to improvements in muzzle supporting attachments for automatic guns. I y Such guns are moreor less heavy and while they be fired, when emergency requires, from the shoulder with the soldier standing erect, it is generally preferable, wheneyer practicable, to fire lying down, at 'which'time'not only is the greater-proportion' of the weight of the piece taken on the muzzle support, but the soldier mayaim better and more continuously, and he also presents a much smaller and less conspicuous target to the enemy.

Such supports have hitherto generally been provided with pointed legs which, when the ground is soi't'or muddy, tend to stick into the ground and disturb the line of sight, and also in a large measure prevent the gun from recoiling in the line of fire. My'present invention isfintende'd to pro- .vide a light and efficient supporting arrangementwhich may be quickly attached to or removed fromthe piece, and in whichthe supporting legs are provided with light rounded shoes having considerable bearing surface which will notonly support the piece on soft ground, but will also permit the recoil ot' the piecein the line oli'fir'e.

My v present invention is also especially intended to'cover certain features ShO\V11,b1lt not claimed, in my pending application entitled Improrements in automatic machine guns, filed .Marclij25, 1921, Ser. No, 455701,

andalso to cover certain improvements on the structure shown in the application aforesaid.

My ini'ention'will'be more fully underr stood after reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts'are indicated by similar reference symbols throughout the sereral views, and inwhich -Figure 1 shows ajsideelevation of the gun in use by the soldier, the latter being shown in the recumbent position, and being I indicated in 'dottedlines.

Figure2 is a front elevation of a larger scale of the supporting attachment shown in Fig. 1, the gun itsel'f'being shownin dotted lines. y i Figure 3 is a plan View of a portion of the gun barrel with thesupporting attachment in the'operative position, the parts being shown on a'somewhat smaller scale than in Fig. 2, but on a larger scale than in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3, but with the supporting legs and shoes swung up alongside the barrel and showing in dotted lines the position for transporting'same with 'thefigun. v

Figure'5 is a detail showing thefupper portion of the supporting attachment d e.- tached from the gun, the supporting legs being indicated in dotted lines, v Figure 6 a. View of the parts shown in Fig. 5 as seen from the left ofsaid figure, the gun barrel being indicated in dotted l s Q I 'Figure is asimilary'iew to Fig. 6,'but shows the right hand headpiece and corresponding leg removed, and s'alid figure shows the socketpiecein engagement with the trunnions. V

Figure S- shows asection along the line 8- 8 ofFigQ-G, and looking in the direction of the arrows, parts being shown in elevation.

Figure 9' shows a'section along the line 99 of Fig. 6, and looking in the direction of the arrows. i

Figure 10 is a detail showingthe trunnion band detached from the gun.

Figure ll'is an end View of the trunnion band'as seenfrorn the'left of Fig. 10.

Figure 12' is a side eleyation of the head piece for the left-hand leg. I

Figure 13 is aview of the piece shown in Fig. 12 as seen from the left of said figure. Figure lt is an end view of the socket piece which is pivoted to the head piece and engages the trunnion. Figure 15 shows a 'sectlon along the line '15 15ot Fi 14, and looking in. the direction of the arrows.

Figure 16 isa front elevation of a modified form of supporting attachment, the gun being indicated in dotted lines.

" Figure 17 is a iew of the device shown are partly cylindrical, as at, d, and termiin Fig. 16, as seen from the left of'said fig- I ure and Figure 18 shows a section along the line 18-18 ofFigure 17' and looking in the direction of the arrows.

A represents the gun provided with the usual barrel B, with any suitable removable front sight C. Mounted on this barrel, near the muzzle thereof, '-is a. trunnion band'D which :may be lockedin the desired position on the barrel by means of the pin E (see Fig. .3) mounted in thegrooves (Z' and en gaging in a similar groove in .the side of the barrel. -This trunnion band is provided with two oppositely disposed arms, which nate ininclined. locking lugs or toggles (P. The ends d of these toggles project beyond the Cylindrical surface at, of the trunnion member, and the distance between the parallel sides d of said toggles'is less than the diameter of the trunnions, as shown most clearly inFigs. 10 and 11 Thistrunnion band, it will be noted, is

detach'ably mounted onthe gun, and by re moving the .pin E the said trunnion band and the parts carried thereby may be removed'at a single operation. Such removal, however, would necessitate the removal of the front sight C. I

Revolubly mounted on thetrunnions cl aretwo connecting pieces F and F, which ieces, to which they I Thus the socket piece F, shown in Figs. 5, 6,

8, Hand 15,- is provided with the transverse bore f adapted to turn freely on the corresponding trunnion tZQ and this bore f is provided with wings f adapted to pass freely over the ends (Z of the toggle d so that the parts may be conveniently assembled. I This socket piece is provided with two lugs f between which the web h 'of the head piece H engages. These lugs f 'are erforated, as at 7, to receive the hinge bolt see Figs. 5 and 9. .The head piece H is provided with a downwardly projecting socket 72. adapted to receive the corresponding leg I, and is pro vided with perforations it" to receive fastening pins or bolts Jwhereby the leg issecured 'or fastened to the head piece.

Each head piece is provided with the web k adapted to pass between the corresponding lugs f of the adjoining socket piece, and this web is perforated, as at h to permit the passage therethrough of the pivot G. Below this perforation h is a rounded socket h to engage the ends of the lugs f of the socket piece F. The upper portion of I the head piece is provided with a flat abuttingsurface ill adapted to bear against the outer face of the corresponding socket piece when the parts-are assembled, and this portion of the head piece is also provided with a socket h into which the'toggle d of the trunnion projects. This toggle fits loosely in the socket h so as to permit the requisite change in elevation of thegun. lVhen thetrunnion band, the'two socket. pieces and thetwo head pieces. are in the assembled relation, the

parts are as shown inFigs. 5. to 9.

The legs I may be made of light material of suflicient strength, such as vanadium steel,

or aluminum steel alloy, and to one-of these.

legs,as I. the brace K is pivoted as at k, I

and the free end offthe brace is provided with a hookls" adapted to engage a pin L provided on'the other leg I A s'econd pin L is also provided on the leg I to engage the hook kwvhen the two legs are brought up alongside thebarrel, as will be hereinafter described. j

Each leg is provided with a shoe M connected to'the corresponding legby a socket piece'N or N. .These socket pieces N and N are rightsand lefts, but the shoes M are 7 substantially the same construction, and each shoe is preferably in the form of an arc'uate plate, as shown in Figs. 1, 2and 3; said plate having a substantially cylindrical lower'face m and a rib m, which rib serves not only'to engage in soft ground, but also. serves to stiffen the shoe and prevent'th'e same from bending or becoming injured in use. The

dinally, buttends to limit lateral vibration of the piece when being fired- Owing to the width of'the shoes,.the legs do not sink unequallyinto the ground, although the latter may be quite soft, as the usual pointed ends of such muzzle supports do; the stability therefore is much greater and traversing is very easy.

-. rib also ,pe'rmitsthe gunto recoil longitu- 1 It will'be noted that the shoes slip paral- 'lel to the vertical plane through the gun barrel, owing to the slipping of the shoes on the ground instead of vibrating during fire, as

with otherfmachine' guns@ The machine rifle' herein described recoils [parallel to the ground whenused with the muzzle rest, and

returns to the initial position withoutdisturbing the aim. Thus'easy holding, good stability on any ground and accuracyof fire are secured. I i I In assembling the parts shown in Figs. 1 to 15 inclusive, .the trunnion band D is slipped over the gun barrel B before the front'sight C is put on, and this trunnion band is held in place by the movable locking pin E, thenthe two socketpieces F and F are mounted on the corresponding trunnions, -which may be readily done by turning the socket pieces so that the wings f of the perbarrel.

foration 7 will register with the corresponding toggle 03 when the socket pieces may be slipped over. said toggles and then turned to the engaging position, as shown in Fig. 7.

Now the webs h of the corresponding legs are slipped into place between the lugs f of the corresponding socket pieces, and the bolts J are inserted. The result will be that the head pieces will be hingedly connected to the trunnions and yet will be free to rotate thereon through the inter-position of the socket piece.

pieces and the brace K is normally attached to one of the legs, and when the parts are all assembled the legs may be spread apart by the brace, as shown in Fig. 2, in which case the bearing faces 71.

of the head pieces H and H will bear against the corresponding faces of the socket pieces F and F, and the toggles will freely enter the sockets 72, in said head the trunnion band fast on the gun. If it is desired to remove the trunnion band, ush out the fastening bolt E, take off the ront sight C and Sllp the trunnion band clear of the barrel.

The trunnion band may be left permanently on the barrel" if desired, and the other parts separately stored away, or all of the parts may be carried with the piece if desired; and this is conveniently done by swinging up the two legs to the rear alongside of. the barrel to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, then passing the brace through the space between the barrel and the hand uard P to engage the hook is over the pin 1 of the opposite leg. The two legs with the shoes attached will then be held substantially parallel with the If desired to take off the shoes, this maybe doneby removing the fastening bolts 0 which connect the'legs to the corresponding socket pieces carried by the shoes and preventthe shoes from-being lost.

Each shoe should be preferably permanently attached to the legs, except when it is desired to remove same for purposes of repair or the like.

In the modification shown in Figs. 16 to 18, the trunnion band D is provided with two trunnions cl exteriorly screwthreaded to engage internal screw threads on the sleeves Q, which sleeves'have down- The legs andshoes are normally attached to the head wardly projecting lugsg between which the web it of the corresponding head pieces projects. These head pieces are made rights and lefts as shown at H and H and it will be sufiicient to describe one only. 6

Each head piece is provided with a socket to receive the corresponding tubular leg, and the leg is fastened to the corresponding head piece by means of one or more suitable bolts or pinsJ. l

. The web of the head piece is hinged to the corresponding"sleeve by means of the pins G and the top of each head piece is preferably provided with an engaging face h to engage a corresponding face on'the sleeve and to prevent the leg from becoming unduly spread apart, the construction being shown in Fig. 18.

- -The legs are further braced by means of the brace K, hinged to one leg as at and connected to the other leg by means. of a hook 70 engaging the pin L With this form of device the legs may be independently removed by simply unscrewing the corresponding sleeve with the leg attached from its trunnion band, and reapplied in the same way. i

Then carried with the gum-the legsmay be swung substantially parallel to the axis of the bore and fastened to the gun, as hereinafter described, or in any other convenient way.

In the construction shown in Figs. 16 to 18, I- have shown the trunnion band D as provided with the downwardly project ing portion D having the gas passage d connected to the gas passage Z) from the barrel, the gas being conveyed to the motor piston cylinder R in the usual way.

With this construction it is possible to combine the trunnion band with the band provided for the gas passages referred to, thus resulting in a simplification of.the parts.

It will be obvious that various modifications might be made in the herein described construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts which may be used without departingfrom the spirit of my invention; and I do not mean to limit the invention to such details except as particularly pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire'to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: I

1. A muzzle support for guns of the character described, comprisinga band secured to the barrel and provided withoppositely disposed trunnions, supporting legs hingedly connected to said trunnions, and curved shoes mounted on the free'ends of said legs,"substantia'lly as described. 2. A muzzle support for guns of the character described, comprising a band secured to the barrel and provided withoppositely disposed trunnions, supporting legs hingedly connected to said trunn1ons,a brace hinged to one leg, with means for detachably connecting said brace to the other leg, and curved shoes mounted on the free ends of said legs, substantially as described.

3. A muzzle support for guns of the character described, comprising a band secured to the barrel and provided with oppositely disposed trunnions, supporting legs hingedly connected to said trunnions, and shoes formed of arcuate metal bearing strips mounted on the free ends of said legs, substantially as described.

4. A muzzle support for guns of the character described, comprising a band secured to the barrel and provided with oppositely disposed trunnions, supporting legs hingedly connected to said trunnions, a brace hinged to one leg with means for detachably conmeeting said brace to the other leg,.and shoes formed of arcuate metal bearing strips mounted on the free ends of said legs, substantially asdescribed.

5. A muzzle support for guns of the character described, comprising a band secured to the barrel and provided with oppositely disposed trunnions, supporting legs hingedly connected to said trunnions, and shoes formed of arcuate metal bearing strips, each I provided with a circumferential rib on the outer face thereof, mounted on the free ends of said legs, substantially as described.

6. A muzzle support for guns of the character described, comprising a band secured to the barrel and provided with oppositely disposed trunnions, supporting legs hingedly connected to said trunnions, abrace'hinged to one leg with means for detachably con-- necting said brace to the other leg, and shoes formed'of arcuate metal bearing strips, each provided with a circumferential rib on the outer face thereof, mounted on the free ends of said legs,'substantially as described.

7. In a muzzle support for guns the combination with the gun barrel, of a trunnion band secured thereto and provided with rounded trunnions and diagonally-disposed toggles projecting beyond the ends of said trunnions, and of a greater maximum than said trunnions, a perforated socket piece, in the form of a collar, provided with a perforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation being provided with wings adapted to permit the passage therethrough of the corresponding toggle, and. a leg havin ahead piece hinged to said socket piece, substantially as described.

8. In a muzzle support for guns the combination with the gun barrel, of a'trunnion band secured thereto and provided with rounded trunnions and diagonally-disposed toggles projecting beyond the ends of said trunnions, and of a greater maximum diameter than said trunnions, a perforated socket piece, in the form of a collar,g.provided with a perforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation beingprovided scribed.

9. In a muzzle support for guns the, combination with the gun barrel, of a trunnion band secured thereto and provided with rounded'trunnions and diagonally-disposed toggles projecting beyond the. ends of said trunnions, and of a greater maximum diameter than said trunnions, aperforated socket piece, in the form-of a collar, provided with a perforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation being provided with wings adapted to permit the passage therethrough of the .corresponidng toggle, anda leg having ahead piece-hinged to said socket piece, with a shoe in the form of an arcuate plate provided with a longitudinal rib attached to the lower end of said leg, substantially as described.

10. In a muzzle support for guns the combination with the gun barrel, of a trunnion band secured thereto= and provided with rounded trunnions and diagonally-dis osed toggles projectin beyond the ends 0 said trunnions, and of a greater maximum diameter than said trunnions, a perforated socket piece, in the form of a collar, provided with a perforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation being provided with wings adapted to permit the passage therethrough of the corresponding toggle, and said socket piece being also provided with a downwardly projecting portion, and a leg having a head piece hinged to the downwardly projecting portion of said socket piece, with means for limiting the outward swing of said leg, with a'shoe in the form of an arcuate plate provided with a longitudinal rib attached to the lower end of said leg, substantially as described.

11. In a muzzle support for guns the combination with the gun barrel, of a trunnion band secured thereto and provided with rounded trunnions and diagonally-disposed togglesprojecting beyond the ends of said trunnions, and of a greater maximum diameter than saidtrunnions, a perforated socket piece, in the form of a collar, provided with a perforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation being provided with wings adapted to permit the passage therethrough of the corresponding toggle, and a leg having a head piece hinged to-the lower portion of said socket piece, said head piece having an upwardly extending bearing face adapted toengage the upper portion ofsaid socket piece, andto limit the outward swing of the lower end. of said'fleg,

I substantia'lly'as described. V

1 2. 'Ina muzzle support for guns the combination-withthe gun barrel, offla trunnion band secured thereto and provided with rounded trunriions and diagonally-disposed,

toggles'projecting beyond the ends ofsaid trunnions', and of a greater-maximum diam= eter than said .trunmons, a perforated socket piece, in the form of a collar, provided with a perforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation being provided with wings adapted to permit the passage therethrough of the corresponding toggle, and a leg hav ing a headpiece hinged to the lower portion offsaid socket piece, said head piece having an upwardly extending bearing face adapted to Iengjage th'e' upper portion of'said socket piece, a nd"to limit the-outward swing of the lower-end of said-leg, and the upwardly extending portionof-said' head piece being the corresponding socket provided with a recess to receive the projectingi end of the correspondingtoggle, substantially as described, p t '13. In a muzzle support for guns the combination with the gun barrel, of a trunnion band. secured theretofand provided with rounded trunnions and diagonally-disposed toggles,projecting beyond the endsof said trunnions,'and of agreater maximum diam eter than said trunnions, perforated socket pieces, each in the form of a collar, provided with a perforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation being provided with wings adapted topermit the passage therethrough of said toggles, and said socket pieces being also provided with downwardly projecting portions, and legs having head pieces hinged to the downwardly projecting portions of said socket pieces, said head pieces being each provided with an upwardly extending bearing face adapted to engage piece and to limit the outward swing of the lower end of the corresponding leg, substantially as described.

14. In a muzzle support for guns the combination with the gun barrel, of a trunnion and secured thereto and provided with rounded trunnions and diagonally-disposed toggles projecting beyond the ends of said trunnions, and of a greater maximum diameter than said trunnions, perforated socket pieces, each in the form of a collar, provided with a perforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation being provided with wings adapted to permit the passage therethrough of said toggles, and said socket pieces being also provided with downwardly projecting portions, and legs having head pieces hinged to the downwardly projectin portions of said socket pieces, said head pieces being each provided with an up- Wardly extending bearing face adapted to tially as described.

engage the corresponding socket piece'and to limit the outward swing of the lower end of the corresponding leg, with shoes in the form of arcuate plates provided with longitudinal ribs attached to the lower end of saidalegs, substantially as described.

- 15. In a muzzle support for guns the combination with the gun barrel, of a trunnion band secured thereto and provided with rounded trunnions and diagonally-disposed toggles projecting beyond the ends of said trunnions, and of a greater maximum diameter than said trunnions, perforated socket piecesyeach in the form of a collar, provided with a perforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation being-provided with wings'adapted to permit the passage therethrough 'of said toggles, and said socket pieces being-also pro ided with downwardly projecting portions, legs having head pieces hinged to the downwardly projecting por tions of said socket pieces, said head pieces being each provided with an upwardly eX- tendingbearing face adapted: to engage the corresponding socket piece and .to' limit the outward v corresponding leg, on'eof said legs being provided with a pair of projecting pins spaced apart, and a bracehinged to the op-' positeleg and having'a-hook near its free end adapted toeng'age'one or the other or said pins, as desired, substantially asde scribed. I

16. In a muzzle support for guns-the combination with the gun'barrel, ofa trunnion band secured thereto and provided with rounded trunnions and diagonally-disposed toggles projecting beyond the ends of said trunnions, and of a greater maximum diameter than said 'trunnions, perforated socket pieces, each in the form of a collar, provided with a perforation adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation being provided with wings adapted to permit the passage therethrough of said toggles, and said socket pieces being also provided with downwardly projecting portions, legs having head pieces hinged to the downwardly projecting portions of said socket pieces, said head pieces being each provided with an upwardly extending bearing face adapted to engage the corresponding socket piece and to limit the outward swing of the lower end of the corresponding leg, with shoes in the form of arcuate plates provided with longitudinal ribs attached to the lower end of said legs, one ofsaid legs being provided with a pair of projecting pins spaced apart, and a brace hinged to the opposite leg and having a hook near its free end adapted to engage one or the other of said pins, as desired, substan- 17. In a muzzle support for guns the coin. bination with the gun barrel, of a trunnion band secured thereto and provided with swing of the lower end of the trunnions,

, trunnlons, and

rounded trunnions and diagonally-disposed toggles projecting beyond the ends of said of a greater maximum disaid trunnions, perforatameter than ed socket pieces, each in the form of a:

collar, provided-with a perforation'adapted to fit said trunnions, said perforation. being provided with vwings adapted toipermit the passage therethrough of said toggles, and legs having head pieces hinged to said socket ieces, one of said legs being provided wit a pair of projecting pins spaced apart,

,eter than said trunnions, perforated socket pieces, eachin the form of a collar, provided with a perforation adapted to fit said i said perforation being provided with wings ing head p ieces hinged to said socket pieces, one of said legs being provided with a pair of projecting pins-spaced apart, and a brace :hinged to the opposite leg and having a hook adapted to permit the passage. therethrou h of said toggles, and legs hav near its free end adapted to engage one or the other of said pins, asdesired, with shoes in the form of arcuate plates provided with; longitudinal I of said legs, substantially as described;

19. A muzzle supportfor guns of the character described, comprising a band secured;

to thebarrel and provided with oppositely disposed trunnions, supporting legs hingedly:

and revolubly. connected to ,said trunnions, a brace hlnged to one leg and provided-with a hook near itsgfreeend, and pins secured to the other leg and spaced apartand adapt ed to engage said hook, respectively, when] the legs are, spaced apart and whenv swung alongside the barrel, substantially asdeQ scribed.

20. A muzzlesupport for guns of the char. acter described, comprising a to the barrel and provided with oppositely disposed trunnions, supporting legslhingedly.

ribs attached to the lower end a .50 band secured.

and revolubly connected to said trunnions,

a brace hinged to one .leg and provided with.

a hook near. its free jend, and pins secured;

to the other leg and spaced apart and adapted to engagesa'id hook,'respectively, when, the legsare spaced apart and when s'wung" alongside the barrel, with' 'shoes formed "of; arcuate metal bearing strips mo'unted] 1on1 the' free ends of said legs-substantially as n described. v v v I i CHARLES a;

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