US2776602A - Barrel positioning means for automatic pistol - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 8, 1957 F. E. sTuRTl-:VANT 2,776,602

ARREL POSITICNING MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC PISTOL Filed Sept. 25, 1955 Figi, za sz Z3 45 57 44 l 6 4 2 4 zo 59)?,2 @W5 l/,2 N i968 66 so, Q s+44e. 4o

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6c -IN1/Emule. FOSTER E. StumzvANr United States Patent O BARREL POSITIONING MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC PISTOL Foster E. Sturtevant, West Hartford, Conn., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Colts Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application September 25, 1953, Serial No. 382,295

9 Claims. (Cl. 89--196) The invention relates to an automatic pistol of the type comprising a frame having a grip portion, comprising a barrel connected with the frame, comprising a slide guided on the upper portion of the frame for recoil movement relatively to the said frame and relatively to the barrel, comprising a reaction spring for opposing recoil movement of the slide and for returning it to its forward position after recoil, and Comprising firing mechanism on the frame and slide.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a pistol of the type specified having improved means for the accurate positioning of the barrel with respect to the slide during functioning of the pistol. In attaining this object the reaction spring is utilized for maintaining the axis of the barrel at the front end thereof in xed relationship with the slide.

A further object of the invention is to provide certain parts which may be substituted in a previously or separate- 1y constructed pistol in order to attain the said principal object of the invention.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and from the following description.

In the drawing I have shown in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction shown, and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a combined side and longitudinal sectional view of an automatic pistol embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to the sectional portion of Fig. 1, but showing some of the parts in different relative positions.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front end view.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the connection member ina different position.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary partly schematic view similar to the right portion of Fig. 2 and showing the action of the connecting member.

As to many of its features, an automatic pistol embodying the invention may be of known construction. While the invention is not so limited, the loading and ring mechanism may be generally similar to those disclosed in the Tansley Patent No. 1,719,384 dated July 2, 1929.

In general the pistol comprises a frame 10 having a grip portion 12 and a forwardly extending upper portion 14. A slide 16 is guided on the upper part of the frame for rectilinear rearward and forward movement, tongue and groove formations 17, 17 being provided for this purpose. As hereinafter more fully explained, a main reaction spring 18 biases the slide 16 toward its forward 2,776,602 Patented Jan. 8, i957 position as shown in Fig. 1. A barrel 20 engages the slide 16 and is partly enclosed thereby, the barrel having the usual bore and having a cartridge chamber 21. The rear portion 22 of the slide 16 constitutes the breechblock, this breechblock portion 22 being behind the barrel and having a front face 23 engageable with the rear of the barrel when the slide 16 is in forward position. The breechblock also has a face 24 which is positioned to engage the rear face of the head of a cartridge in the chamber 21 of the barrel when the slide is in forward position.

Suitable front and rear sights 26 and 28 are provided on the slide 16. One of the sights is preferably vertically adjustable by any conventional or suitable means. The rear sight 28 is shown as being so adjustable.

The breechblock portion 22 of the slide carries a longitudinally movable firing pin 30 which is biased to its relatively rearward position by a spring 32. A pivoted spring-pressed hammer 34 is carried by the frame for engaging the firing pin 30 to eiect tiring, the hammer as shown in Fig. 1 being in its cocked position. The hammer 34 can be released by pressing a trigger 36, the hammer then moving so as to strike the tiring pin 30 and thus effect firing. The mechanism for the release of the hammer by means of the trigger may be similar to the mechanism for this purpose shown in the said Tansley patent. Upon tiring, the slide 16 moves rearwardly as the result of recoil and in opposition to the reaction spring 18 and in so moving it engages the hammer 34 to restore the hammer to its cocked position. Following recoil movement, the reaction spring 18 returns the slide to its forward position.

During the recoil movement of the slide the empty cartridge shell is extracted from the chamber in the barrel and is ejected through the ejection opening 37. The extracting and ejecting means are or may be conventional and are not shown.

The grip portion 12 of the frame is hollow and is adapted to receive a cartridge magazine 38, the upper portion of which is shown in Fig. 2. The magazine 38 serves in the conventional manner to successively supply cartridges to a position in which each cartridge is engaged by the face 24 of the breechblock 22 and is forced into the chamber 21 of the barrel when the slide and the breechblock are moved forwardly after recoil.

The pistol is preferably provided with a pivoted grip safety member 40 which is movable forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 by the hand of the user when the grip portion 12 of the frame and the trigger 36 are engaged to effect tiring. Firing can be effected only when the grip member 40 has been moved to its forward position.

The rear portion of the barrel engages the frame and the slide in such a manner that it is held with its axis in fixed relationship with the said frame and slide at the instant of tiring. The manner of engagement of the rear portion of the barrel with the frame and with the slide may be varied, but as shown an enlarged rearward portion 42 of the barrel closely and accurately tits a semicylindrical recess 44 in the slide 16, the said recess being open at the bottom. A horizontal downwardly facing surface 45 on the barrel near the rear thereof engages an upwardly facing surface on the frame, the two surfaces cooperating to hold the enlarged portion 42 of the barrel in engagement with the slide recess 44. Thus the rear portion of the barrel is held with its axis in xed relation to the slide, relative longitudinal rectilinear movement being nevertheless permitted. With the described construction the barrel is directly held by the slide and the frame, no links or other relatively movable parts being provided.

As shown, the barrel 20 has a lug 46 which extends downwardly through the open bottom of the slide recess 44, the said lug being at the front of the surface 45. The lug 46 has a transversely extending slot 48 and a pin 50 extends through the said slot and through holes in the sides of the frame 16, the pin being in a normally fixed position. The pin S is removable to permit disassembly of the pistol. The barrel is movable rearwardly and forwardly to a limited extent relatively to the frame and it is biased for forward movement by a spring 52 which is in a hole in the lug 46 and which abuts at its rear end against a vertical face 54 on the frame 10. Rearward movement of the barrel is limited by the engagement of the lug 46 with the frame face 54 as shown in Fig. 2. Forward movement of the barrel is limited by the engagement of the rear of the slot 48 with the pin 50 as shown in Fig. 1.

The rear portion of the reaction spring 18 is within a longitudinal recess 55 in the front portion 14 of the frame, the said recess being open at the top thereof. A guide pin 56 is positioned within the spring, this pin having a head 58 which abuts against a shoulder in the frame recess 55 so that rearward movement is prevented. The head 58 serves as an abutment for the rear end of the spring 18. The enlarged portion 42 of the barrel prevents upward movement of the said head 58 and of the rear end of the guide pin 56.

A forwardly biased pressure or abutment member 60 is provided which is longitudinally movable to a limited extent with respect to the slide. Preferably the front portion of the reaction spring 1S engages the said member 60 and serves as the means for biasing it. The abutment member is preferably a tube closed at the front, the front end of the spring being within the tube. When the pressure or abutment member is a tube as shown, it ts and is longitudinally movable within a longitudinal hole in a depending portion 62 of the slide 16. The front end portion of the pressure or abutment member has an upwardly facing cam surface which is inclined upwardly and rearwardly. When the pressure or abutment member is a tube, the said cam surface is a part of an annular conical surface 64 at the front of the tube.

A control member 66 is provided in association with the front portions of the slide and barrel and with the abutment member or tube 60. The said control member includes a sleeve 68 which surrounds the front portion of the barrel 20 and which is within a paitly cylindrical recess 69 in the front portion of the slide 16, the cylindrical portion of the said recess extending for more than l80 and the said aperture having an opening 70 at the bottom thereof as shown in Fig. 4. The control member 66 also includes a radially projecting lug 71 which is on the sleeve 68 and is entered in an arcuate groove 72 in one side of the slide recess 69. By reason of its entry in the groove 72 as shown in Fig. 4, the lug 71 prevents relative longitudinal movement between the control member and the slide. The control member 66 is provided with a downwardly facing cam surface which is positioned and shaped for engaging the said cam surface on the abutment member or tube 60. As shown, the said control member is provided near the front of the sleeve 68 with a flange 74 which projects radially in the downward direction. The said iiange has an arcuate partly conical cam surface 76 which engages and iits the conical cam surface 64 on the tube 60. By reason of the interengaged cam surfaces the control member 66 serves to connect the abutment member or tube 60 with the slide 16 so that the reaction spring 18 acts at all times to bias the slide forwardly. Forward movement of the slide is limited by the engagement of the breechblock face 23 with the barrel as shown in Fig. l, forward movement of the barrel being prevented by the pin 50.

In order to release the tube 60 the said tube is first moved rearwardly in opposition to the spring 18, and then the control member 66 is turned in the clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig, to the position shown in Fig. 6. When the control member 66 is moved to the Fig. 6 position, the lug 71 remains in the groove 72 and the control member is still connected with the slide 16. With the control member 66 turned as shown, the tube 60 and the spring 18 may be removed forwardly. After the tube 60 has been removed, the control member 66 may be turned in the counterclockwise direction to and beyond the Fig. 5 position so as to bring the lug 71 out of the groove 72 and into register with the slide opening 70. The control member may then be removed from the slide in the forward direction.

When the trigger 36 is pressed to release the hammer 34, the firing pin 30 engages the primer of the cartridge in the chamber 21 to effect firing. When firing occurs the slide 16 and the barrel 20 initially move rearwardly in unison as the result of recoil, the slide moving in opposition to the reaction spring 18 and the barrel moving in opposition to the spring 52. This movement in unison continues until movement of the barrel is stopped by the engagement of the barrel lug 46 with the face 54 on the frame. Thus the barrel and the bolt portion 22 of the slide are maintained in engagement for a brief instant after firing. Fig. 2 shows the parts in an intermediate position following firing, the barrel having been moved fully rearwardly and the slide having been moved rearwardly only to the same extent as the barrel. The design is such that the bullet leaves the barrel while the barrel and the slide remain in engagement.

By reason of the inertia of the slide the rearward movement thereof continues after barrel movement has been stopped. During the continued rearward movement of the slide the cartridge shell is extracted and ejected and the hammer is restored to its cocked position as previously described. The subsequent forward movement of the slide by the reaction spring moves a cartridge from the magazine into the barrel chamber 21 as also previously described.

The rear and front portions of the barrel must be accurately held in fixed positions with respect to the slide except as to relative longitudinal movement, particularly at the instant of firing. The rear portion of the barrel is so held by the engagement thereof with the partly cylindrical slide recess 44 and with the frame. The front portion of the barrel would be so held if there were exact accuracy of tit between the barrel and the interior of the sleeve 68 and between the exterior of the said sleeve and the slide recess 69. However, such exact accuracy of tit at the front is not always practicable, and in practice it may be desirable to intentionally provide small clearances between the barrel and the sleeve 66 and between the said sleeve and the slide recess 69. With a pistol embodying the invention the front portion of the barrel is accurately held notwithstanding such clearances.

The action of the control member and of the parts associated therewith will be more clearly understood by reference to Fig. 7 which is an enlarged partly schematic view similar to the front portion of Fig. 2. It has been assumed that the front portion of the barrel does not closely fit the interior of the sleeve 63 and that the exterior of the said sleeve does not closely tit the recess 69 in the slide. The clearances have been exaggerated for purposes of illustration.

The inclined cam surface 64 on the forwardly biased tube or abutment member 60 and the mating inclined cam surface 76 on the control member 66 constitute interengaging means not only for causing the control member to limit forward movement of the abutment member with respect to the slide but also for causing the said abutment member to bias the said control member upwardly at least at the front end thereof, By reason of the assumed clearances the control member 66 is slightly tilted in the counterclockwise direction about a transverse axis as shown in Fig. 7, the lug 71 serving as a pivot for the tilting movement. The sleeve 68 is forced into engagement with the slide at the point 78 and is forced into engagement with the barrel at the points 80 and 82. It will be apparent that, for the illustrated tilting action, the clearance between the sleeve and the slide recess must be at least as great as that between the barrel and the sleeve. With the control member 66 tilted as shown, the front portion of the barrel is accurately held in fixed position with respect to the slide except as to relative longitudinal movement. The rear portion of the barrel is held as before described and it is therefore apparent that the entire barrel is always accurately positioned with respect to the slide at the instant of firing, notwithstanding any looseness of tit at the front between the barrel and the sleeve and between the sleeve and the slide recess.

There may be small variations from the intended clearances with corresponding variations in the position of the front portion of the barrel. Any such variations can be compensated for by adjusting the rear sight 28 so that the line of sight is in proper relationship to the axis of the barrel when the barrel is held as shown in Fig. 7.

From the foregoing description and from the drawing it will be apparent that the control member 66 comprises a sleeve 68 surrounding the front portion of the barrel 20, comprises a radially projecting lug 71 on the sleeve 68 at one side thereof for entry into an arcuate groove 72 in the slide 16, and also comprises a radially extending ange 74 on the sleeve 68 at one end thereof and spaced in one direction from the lug 71, the said flange 74 being formed with a cam surface which conforms to the conical cam surface 64 on the tube 60. By reason of the described relationship of the parts, it will be evident that the cam surface 76 conforms to the surface of a cone having its axis parallel to the axis of the sleeve 68 and having its apex spaced from the plane at the said end of the sleeve in the same direction in which the ange 74 is spaced from the lug 71.

The abutment member or tube 60 and the control member 66 are adapted for use as substitute parts in a previously or separately constructed pistol generally similar to that shown and described but not initially incorporating the present invention.

The invention claimed is:

l. The combination in an automatic pistol, of a frame, a longitudinal breech slide guided for longitudinal movement along the frame, a longitudinal barrel, means for holding the rear portion of the barrel with its axis in rigid, fixed relation to the axis of the slide while permitting relative longitudinal rectilinear movements, a longitudinal reaction spring for opposing rearward recoil movement of the slide and for then returning the slide to its forward position, a forwardly biased pressure member located near the front of the slide and longitudinally movable to a limited extent with respect thereto, a control member connected for longitudinal movement in unison with the slide and for limited transverse movement relative thereto, the said control member comprising a sleeve slidably mounted upon t'ne front portion of the barrel and located within a recess in the front portion of the slide, and interengaging means on the forwardly biased pressure member and on the control member for causing the said pressure member to bias the said control member for transverse movement relative to the slide and barrel, so as to hold the front portion of the barrel in fixed axial relation with the slide while permitting relative longitudinal rectilinear movements of said slide and barrel.

2. An automatic pistol as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interengaging means comprise interengaging cam surfaces located respectively on the pressure member and on the control member, whereby the forwardly biased action of said pressure member causes a limited transverse movement of said control member with respect to said pressure member and said barrel.

3. The combination in `an automatic pistol, of a frame, a longitudinal breech slide guided for longitudinal movement along the frame, a longitudinal barrel, means for holding the rear portion of the barrel with its axis in rigid, fixed relation to the axis of the slide while permitting relative longitudinal rectilinear movements, a longitudinal reaction spring held at its rear in iixed relation to the frame, an abutment member near the front of the slide and longitudinally movable to a limited extent with respect thereto which member is forwardly biased by the reaction spring, a control member connected for longitudinal movement in unison with the slide and for limited transverse movement relative thereto, the said control member comprising a sleeve slidably mounted upon the front portion of the barrel and located within .a recess in the front portion of the slide, and interengaging means on the forwardly biased abutment member and on the control member for enabling the reaction spring to oppose rearward recoil movement of the slide and to then return the slide to its forward position and for also causing the said abutment member to bias the said control member for transverse movement relatively to the slide and barrel, so as to hold the front portion of the barrel in fixed axial relation with the slide while permitting relative longitudinal rectilinear movements of said slide and barrel.

4. The combination in an automatic pistol, of a frame, a longitudinal breech slide guided for longitudinal movement along the frame, a longitudinal barrel, means for holding the rear portion of the barrel with its axis in rigid, fixed relation to the axis of the slide while permitting relative longitudinal rectilinear movements, a. longitudinal reaction spring for opposing rearward recoil movement of the slide and for then returning the slide to its forward position, a forwardly biased pressure member located near the front of the slide and longitudinally movable to a limited extent with respect thereto, a control member connected for longitudinal movement in unison with the slide and comprising a sleeve slidably mounted upon the front portion of the barrel and located within a recess in the front portion of the slide, small clearances being provided between the front portion of the barrel and the sleeve and between the sleeve and the slide recess, and interengaging means on the forwardly biased pressure member and on the control member for causing the said pressure member to bias the said control member for tilting movement relative to the slide about a transverse axis so as to hold the front portion of the barrel in fixed relation with the slide while permitting relative longitudinal rectilinear movements.

5. The combination in an automatic pistol, of a frame, a longitudinal breech slide guided for longitudinal movement along the frame, a longitudinal barrel, means for holding the rear portion of the barrel with its axis in rigid, fixed relation to the axis of the slide while permitting relative longitudinal rectilinear movements, a longitudinal reaction spring held at its rear in fixed relation to the frame, an abutment member near the front of the slide and longitudinally movable to a limited extent with respect thereto which member is forwardly biased by the reaction spring, a control member connected for longitudinal movement in unison with the slide and comprising a sleeve slidably mounted upon the front portion of the barrel and located within a recess in the front portion of the slide, small clearances being provided between the front portion of the barrel and the sleeve and between the sleeve and the slide recess, and interengaging means on the forwardly biased abutment member and on the control member for enabling the reaction spring to oppose rearward recoil movement of the slide and to then return the slide to its forward position and for also causing the said abutment member to bias the said control member for tilting movement relative to the slide about a transverse axis so as to hold the front portion of the barrel in fixed relation with the slide while permitting relative longitudinal rectilinear movements.

6. The combination in an automatic pistol, of a frame, a longitudinal slide guided for longitudinal movement along the frame, a longitudinal barrel, means for holding the rear portion of the barrel with its axis in rigid, fixed relation to the axis of the Slide while permitting relative longitudinal rectilinear movements, a longitudinal reaction spring having its rear end held in fixed relation to the frame, an abutment member near the front of the slide and longitudinally movable to a limited extent with respect thereto, the said member being in engagement with the front end of the reaction spring so as to be biased for forward movement/and having an upwardly facing cam surface which is inclined upwardly and rearwardly, and a control member connected for longitudinal movement with the slide and also for limited transverse movement relative thereto which control member comprises a sleeve slidably mounted upon the front portion of the barrel and located within a recess in the front portion of the slide, the said control member also comprising a downwardly facing cam surface engaging the cam surface on the abutment member and similarly inclined, which cam surfaces on the abutment member and on the control member limit forward movement of the abutment member with respect to the slide so as to enable the reaction spring to forwardly bias the said slide and which cam surfaces also bias the said control member for limited transverse movement relative to the slide so that the sleeve of the said member holds the front portion of the barrel with its axis in fixed axial relation to the slide while permitting relative longitudinal rectilinear movements.

7. The combination in an automatic pistol, of a frame having a grip portion, a longitudinal slide guided for longitudinal movement along the frame, a longitudinal barrel, means for holding the rear portion of the barrel with its axis in rigid, fixed relation to the axis of the slide while permitting relative longitudinal rectilinear movements, a longitudinal reaction spring having its rear end held in fixed relation to the frame, an abutment tube near the front of the slide and below the barrel and longitudinally movable toa limited extent with respect to the said slide, the said tube being closed at its front and being in engagement with the front end of the reaction spring so as to be biased for forward movement and the said tube having a convex conical cam surface at the front, and a control member connected for longitudinal movement with the slide and also for limited transverse movement relative thereto, which control member comprises a sleeve slidably mounted upon the front portion of the barrel and located within a recess in the front portion of the slide, the said control member also comprising a downwardly extending flange on the sleeve having a downwardly facing conically shaped cam surface engaging and fitting the conical cam surface on the abutment tube, which cam surfaces on the abutment member and on the flange of the connection member limit forward movement of the abutment tube with respect to the slide, so as to enable the reaction spring to forwardly bias the said slide, and which cam surfaces also bias the control member for transverse movement relative to the slide so that the sleeve of the said member holds the front portion of the barrel with its axis in fixed relation to the slide while permitting relative longitudinal rectilinear movements.

8. A subassembly for use in an automatic pistol comprising, a barrel, a breech slide, an abutment tube closed at one end and having a convex conical cam surface at the said end which tube is adapted for receiving the end portion of a reaction spring, and a control member comprising a sleeve slidably mounted on said barrel, said sleeve havingan aperture for receiving the front portion of said barrel and comprising a radially projecting lug on the sleeve at one side thereof for entry into an arcuate groove in a recess in saidslide and also comprising a radially extending flange on the sleeve at one end thereof and spaced in one direction from the said lug, the said flange being formed with a cam surface which is shaped to fit the conical cam surface on the tube when the connection member is so positioned that the sleeve axis is parallel with the tube axis; said cam surfaces coacting so that a longitudinal movement of said tube causes a transverse movement of said control member with respect to said barrel and tube, whereby said control member holds the front portion of said barrel in fixed axial relation to said slide.

9. For use in an automatic pistol having a barrel and a breech slide, a connection member comprising a sleeve having an aperture for receiving the front portion of said barrel and comprising avradially projecting lug on the sleeve at one side thereof for entry into an arcuate groove in a recess in said slide; said member also comprising a radially extending flange on the sleeve at one end thereof and spaced in one direction form the said lug, the said flange being formed with a cam surface which conforms to the surface of a cone-shaped cam on said slide having its axis parallel to the axis of the sleeve and having its apex spaced in the said direction from the plane of the said end of the sleeve; said cam surfaces coacting so that a longitudinal movement of said slide causes a transverse movement of said connecting member with respect to said barrel and slide, whereby said control member holds the front portion of said barrel in fixed axial relation to said slide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,489,816 Reilly Nov. 29, 1949 2,627,686 Shockey Feb. l0, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 673,028 Great Britain May 28, 1952

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