Slide action rifle with a bolt carrier locking mechanism external to the receiver
11112199 · 2021-09-07
Inventors
Cpc classification
F41A3/26
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F41A3/38
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F41A5/30
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F41A3/72
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F41A5/18
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F41C7/02
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F41A19/47
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F41A3/38
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F41C7/02
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F41A3/72
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F41A5/18
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F41A3/26
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
A slide action conversion assembly for converting a gas operated rifle into a manually operated slide action rifle. The conversion assembly replaces the gas operating system of the rifle with a linkage assembly attached to the original bolt carrier at a rearward end and to a sliding handguard grounded to a replacement stationary handguard at forward end. The linkage reciprocates within one degree of freedom along a path parallel to the barrel in order to manually cycle the converted firearm. The conversion assembly further incorporates a sliding handguard locking mechanism to prevent manual cycling when the firearm is in battery.
Claims
1. A slide action conversion assembly for converting a gas operated rifle to a manually operated firearm comprising: a tube support adapter plate (10) comprising a central barrel bore (10B), a rod bore (10C) and a plurality of rear pins (10A) configured to be received by semi-circular cuts of a barrel nut of the rifle; a U-shaped hand guard support structure (17) secured to a forward face of the tube support adapter plate (10); a tube supporting lug (11) received by the rod bore (10C), the tube supporting lug (11) comprising one or more annular insertion cuts (11A) and a rod bore guide (11B); a structural supporting guide tube (70) comprising a fore end (70B) and a rear end (70C), the rear end (70C) received by an outer surface of the tube supporting lug (11), the guide tube (70) further comprising a slot cut (70A) extending from the fore end (70B) longitudinally along the guide tube and terminating at an intermediate portion thereof, the rear end (70C) comprising one or more locking protrusions (70D) each received by a respective annular insertion cut (11A) of the tube supporting lug (11); a rod actuator (80) comprising a fore end (80A), a rear end (80B) and one or more cylindrical rings (80C) arranged on intermediate portions thereof, the rod actuator further comprising a transverse through hole (80D) positioned adjacent the fore end (80A), the rod actuator (80) slidably received within the guide tube (70); a rod driver (31) comprising a clamp bore (31E), a lateral exterior projection (31A) and a transverse hole (31F), the clamp bore (31E) receiving the fore end (80A) of the rod actuator (80) such that transverse hole (31F) and through hole (80D) are aligned, the rod driver (31) further comprising a clamp screw (31D) received by the transverse hole (31F) and the aligned through hole (80D) for securing the rod driver (31) to the rod actuator (80), the lateral exterior projection (31A) projecting outwardly through the slot cutout (70A) in an assembled configuration; a support block (65) comprising a barrel bore clamp (65A) and a tube support undercut (65C), the barrel bore clamp (65A) configured to securely affix to an exterior surface of a barrel of the firearm, the tube support undercut (65C) receiving the fore end (70B) of the structural support tube (70); a stationary hand guard (94) comprising a rear connecting surface (94C) receiving the hand guard support structure (17), a front connecting surface receiving the support block (65), two channels (94A) oriented longitudinally on opposing exterior surfaces thereof and a through cut window (94B) positioned on a side thereof; an external sliding handguard (95) configured to slide on the outer surface of the stationary hand guard (94), the sliding handguard (95) comprising a pair of laterally oriented guides (95A) each received by a corresponding channel (94A) of the stationary hand guard (94), the external sliding handguard (95) further comprising a through cut window (95B) on a same side as the through cut window (94B) of the stationary hand guard (94) so as to be in alignment when the sliding handguard (95) is positioned in a forward position on the stationary handguard (94); a locking lever arm (96) comprising a lug (96F) on one end, a release push button (96E) at an opposing end, and a pivot pin hole (96A) positioned at an intermediate portion thereof, the locking lever arm (96) pivotally secured to the external sliding handguard by a pivot pin (96C) extending through the pivot pin hole (96A), the lug (96F) inwardly biased by a lever arm spring (96D) and configured to extend through both through cut windows (95A and 95B) when in alignment thereby placing the sliding handguard (95) in a locked configuration; the lateral exterior projection (31A) of the rod driver (31) further comprising an upper bore (31B) and the locking lever arm (96) further comprising a lower bore (96B) for receiving a connector post (97) configured to secure the locking lever arm (96) to the rod driver (31); and a bolt carrier gas key replacement (13A) comprising a blind hole (13F) at a forward end thereof, the blind hole (13F) fixedly receiving the rear end (80B) of the rod actuator (80) in a manner that prevents decoupling during manual operation of a converted firearm.
Description
FIGURES DESCRIPTION
(1) As an example of the multiple rifles which can accept the parts array pertinent to the present application, all parts described in the following Figures Description, pertain to an AR-15 standard rifle platform.
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(21) All parts shown conform a rigid set of parts, like a Solid Subassembly; with Zero degrees of motion relative to each other. All behaving like a solid unit wherein all parts move linearly in the same direction, at the same speed. The only part that has any motion relative to the rest of parts of the assembly is the Locking Lever (96) which is allowed to rotate few degrees relative to the pivot pin (96 C).
(22) The entire subassembly shown in this drawing is also referred as the “Sliding Action Subassembly Train” or “Train of Action” in this application. Notice that all the parts constituting the modification array of parts move and are placed externally to the receiver and do not alter the existing firing mechanism of the existing firearm, nor they move surrounding the barrel or internally to any hand guard.
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(31) The (31 A) lateral exterior projection plate moves linearly sliding along the slot cut (70A) of the structural supporting guide tube (70) preventing any rotation of the subassembly. The (31 A) lateral exterior projection plate is placed in a horizontal plane when completely assembled.
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(33) The Screw (31D) has as well as Conical Sector Shoulder (31 K) to contact a (31E) Conical Bed of the Rod (80) and press the opposite side Rod (80) against the internal wall of the Bore (31S), clamping very firmly and exerting a high pressure completely securing the fixation the Rod 80 and the Driver (31), and additionally the pinning clamp and pin device to positively affix the rod bar to the rod diver
(34) The Driver (31) has a lateral Exterior Projection Post connector Support Plate (31A) to provide exterior connection to the subassembly shown in
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OBJECTIVES OR GOALS
(37) The Main Objective is to Create an External to the Receiver Locking Action Mechanism.
(38) A list of innovative conceptions follows, wherein the order in which they are presented does not signify the importance relative to the other objectives or goals. However they are needed to be concurrent and interactive to support the above mentioned primary objective.
(39) In the past it was frequently observed that the element connecting the movable forend Slider with the bolt carrier, often bent while pulling back strongly to eject an expanded or partially locked shell. Sometimes the connecting rod broke or drastically bent in the form of sudden Buckling.
(40) One Fulfilled Goal is to Avoid Buckling and Bending.
(41) Buckling is a form of failure when the beam or column is subjected to an axial load which exceeds its tensile strength parallel to its long axis.
(42) Buckling and bending may be present in the failure of a bar when loaded axially like a column, such as the case of the push-pull rod part number (80). In all previous Slide Action used in the past, especially when the ratio bar diameter/bar length is very small, sometimes the bars or plates presented Buckling.
(43) Buckling is characterized by a sudden sideways failure of a structural member subjected to high compressive stress. As an applied load is increased on a member, such as a column, it will ultimately become large enough to cause the member to become unstable and is said to have buckled.
(44) So, in order to prevent this happening while needing to use a relatively small diameter push pull bar (80), it is necessary to create a preventive array of parts as shown in
(45) Inside the tube (70) the pull-push bar (80) slides linearly altogether with the protective rings (80 C) attached. The rings (80C), attached to the push pull bar (80) displace linearly close to the bore diameter of the Structural Tube (70) at with a small clearance, so that the slightest bending of the push pull bar (80) will force the external side of the ring to touch the internal bore of the strong structural tube, thus preventing the subsequent bending and buckling while the small diameter bar (80) is axially overloaded. Alternatively, the cylindrical rings (80C) may be fitted to contact tightly the inner bore of the Structural supporting tube guide (70), and said rings leaving a small gap between it and the push-pull rod actuator (80) to allow the free sliding motion, bur close enough to correct any further bending and buckling.
(46) An array of parts to reinforce the strength of the push pull bar (80) function without significantly increasing either the size of the subassembly or its weight.
(47) Another fulfilled Goal is to create an structural supporting guide tube (70) having a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of the barrel but not in contact with said barrel as show in Figures.
(48) Another fulfilled Goal is to create a multifunctional Driver part that will completely affix to the push-pull bar (80), being easily removable and locked from the exterior of the Tube (70) and having a projected plate to the exterior to receive Force and motion originated from the external force of the shooter's hand. Such multi-functional part is the Rod Driver (31). As described in all the related figures.
(49) Another fulfilled Goal is to provide a Structural stationary guiding handguard (94), being a strong beam member totally constrained in motion relative to the receiver and the barrel (14), having the shape of an open concave polygon line, as described as example, in the
(50) Another fulfilled goal is to provide a set of supports for the stationary handguard (94), and to the structural guide tube (70) in a manner in which they affix to OEM existing shapes and dimensions of the receiver and the barrel without machining alterations.
(51) Another fulfilled goal is to provide a mobile forend slider (95), having a shape capable of sliding linearly backwards and forwards in the exterior of the structural handguard (94), and to securely accommodate, integrally, inside one of the exterior stamped rails (95 A), an external pivoting locker lever (96), to execute a lock-un lock function.
(52) Another fulfilled goal is to provide an exterior connection between the pivoting locker lever (96) member, and the laterally projected plate (31A) of the driver (31), by means of introducing a Connector post (97) through the hole (31 B) of (31A) plate and securing the post in Threaded hole (96 B) of pivoting locking lever (96).
(53) This connection unites the linear action of the rod driver (31) and all parts subsequently attached with the locking lever, configuration a set of pieces which behave as a solid subassembly as well depicted in
(54) With all the above exposed, it is evident that an innovative advantageous array of parts is making it possible to be used to transforming a Gas operated rifle design, like an AR-15, as an example, into an slide action manually actuated rifle.
(55) Officially it is the same rifle, as none of the firing mechanisms or the lower receiver has been altered, conserving the original self-disconnecting feature. However the semi automatic gas actuated feature is being suppressed, transforming the category to a NON-automatic, manually operated rifle, which in all lawfulness it is not subject of the banning applied by some stated to the semi-automatic rifles.
(56) Another Fulfilled Goal is to Create Three Different Sub-Assemblies:
(57) The Internal Sliding Action Subassembly, as depicted in
(58) The External Sliding Action Subassembly, as depicted in
(59) The Complete Sliding Action Train, which is the union of the latter two Subassemblies as depicted in
(60) Completion of the Primary Objective or Goal.
(61) Another fulfilled goal is to create An External To the Receiver Locking Action which occurs by the concurrence of all the herein described elements in this application and in the drawings. All previous patented pump action mechanism arrays have the locking action parts and motion housed inside the firearm receivers, normally close to the trigger and is disposed in a manner where the exterior lever to unlock the pump action is performed by the same hand which controls the trigger (the controlling hand).
(62) In opposition the past seen customary mode, this application organizes the array of mechanisms in a manner in which the locking action of the linkage takes place exteriorly to the receiver, and more precisely in a mobile slidable array of mechanisms located in handguards and actuated by the supporting hand of the shooter. The locking lever arm (96) is mobile as well and the locking release takes place upon the action of a finger of the supporting hand of the shooter. Even the locking lever (96) actuator is in the very exterior of the hand guard.
(63) All the drawings provided are in concordance with the goals exposed.
(64) All the individual parts that constitute the Internal Sliding Action Subassembly are joint together in a manner that every single part has zero degrees of freedom relative to the joining part; and that the Complete Slide Action Train can be considered as a solid part moving along parallel axes to the axis of the barrel (14 A).
(65) This array makes possible that the input force exerted over the sliding forend (95) by the shooters hand is transmitted to all the attached members of the kinematic chain, and to the Front face (13 C) of the bolt to Open and close the breech of the barrel. All of the above without interfering or modifying the OEM existing firing mechanisms housed in the lower receiver.
(66) Operation
(67) The actual locking action takes place due to the simultaneous intrusion of the Lock Action Intrusive Lug Projection (96F) of the sprigged biased Lock Action Lever Arm (96) into Both of the Through Cut Grounded Window (94B) of the Frontal Main Structural Grounded Stationary Handguard (94), and into the Through Cut Mobile Window (95 B) of External Sliding Handguard or Mobile Forend (95). The coincident position of both windows takes place only when the External Sliding Handguard or Mobile Forend (95) is in the most forward position and the breech is in battery. At that point, the rearwards motion of (95) is impossible due to the interference of Lock Action Intrusive Lug Projection (96F) into both windows making impossible the rearwards motion of the mobile Forend (95) until the Lug Projection (96F) moves out of the way by pressing the External Lock Action Release Bush Button (96E).
(68) OPERATION of the rifle which has been adapted to eliminate the semi-automatic action, and adapted to operate with an external to the receiver slide action mechanism.
(69) As a method of operation the following series should be followed of steps should be followed.
(70) Proceed in the following manner:
(71) 1_Install the parts described in the following manner.
(72) 2_As an example, on a regular AR 15, remove the take down pins, and substitute the complete Regular Upper Receiver by an upper receiver which has been adapted to operate with the External To The Receiver Slide Action Mechanism, as described in the sections above.
3_Install a magazine loaded with live cartridges.
4_In a proper location for firing, turn the Safe selector to Fire position.
5_Depress the External Lock Action Release Push Button (96E) with the thumb finger of the supporting hand to free the locking mechanism action by removing the interfering Lock Action Intrusive Lug Projection (96F) from the, at this instance aligning, through cut Grounded windows (94B) and through cut Mobile window (95B), while maintaining the External Lock Action Release Push Button (96E) depressed.
6_Pull the External Sliding Handguard (95) all the way back; you may remove the thumb finger from the release button, and move forward, the External Sliding Handguard (95). This action will take a five round from the magazine and slide it into the barrel chamber (14C). The Lock Action Intrusive Lug Projection (96F) will penetrate automatically into the now aligned through cut window (94B) and through cut Mobile window (95B) which locks the entire linkage of linked parts including the bolt in the locked position in battery.
7_If wanting to fire, pull the trigger and proceed to cycle by continuing to numeral 5_. This will eject the empty case when pulling back the External Sliding Handguard (95), and continue in sequence repetition.
7A—If wanting to clear the barrel, rotate the safe selector to Safe, remove the loaded magazine, This action will eject the live round in the chamber.
(73) Thus proceeding, a modified regular AR 15 rifle can only fired in a Slide Action Mode.
Uniqueness of this Invention
(74) Buckling occur when a beam is subjected to axial compression. Failure is cause due to lateral deflection. So lateral deflection must be prevented early when staring.
(75) Preventing bending and buckling of the push-pull bar (80) during rearwards action of the slide action is a major distinctive objective of the present application. A slender bar (80) is desirable in order to make the mechanisms suitable to be installed for retrofitting in certain types of firearms like for example AR-15, M-4, M-10, HK, 416, SIG 716, sig 516 and others, which have as OEM a gas impingement tube of small diameter and long length, and where in the orifice to allow such tube to pass into the OEM upper receiver is, accordingly, of small diameter too.
(76) The boundary conditions, surrounding the slender bar, have a considerable effect on the critical load of slender columns. Consequently, providing structural support by an exterior structural guiding tube to the boundaries of the sliding reciprocating tube; and increasing the second moment of area of the cross section of the slender bar 80 by placing separately the of Cylindrical Rings 80C serves the prevention of buckling.
(77) One way in which the present invention prevents buckling is by making the bar 80 to displace along an External Structural Supporting Guide Tube (70), and by the placing a number of Cylindrical Rings (80C) attachable either to the bar 80 in its exterior, or to the tube in its interior, in such a manner in which the rings (80C) are disposed to contact either the interior of the of the structural tube, in one case, or the bar in the other case, to offer supportive sliding alignment to the slender bar 80 in the event of the slightest bending from the axial displacing axis thus, maintaining alignment within tight tolerance and preventing bucking or harmonic vibrations of the bar 80.
ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS
(78) Rifles utilizing the present invention do not require the use of a main recovery spring that impulses the Bolt carrier (13) forward, and thus the space which holds the spring can be removed. This enables the substitution of regular stocks, and replacing it with Folding Stocks, reflecting in shorter overall length of the firearm enhancing the portability. Several firearms like AK 47, AR-15, M4, AR 10, H&K 416, SIG 516, AK74, SKS, Dragonov, Velmet, Galil might be subject of installation by making the proper supporting fixtures and shapes to install the required parts. Shotguns like the well-known Saiga having detachable magazines for feeding and rotary bolts are disposed to being adapted to this invention.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE
(79) Accordingly, the reader will see that firearms described in one out of the several possible embodiments, will be improved in numerous ways in terms of ergonomy, comfort, recoil control, ease of manufacture, ease to serve, size of the weapon, weight of the weapon, stability, appearance, cost, concealability, and safety due to the simplified technology herein described.
(80) Another important consideration in the present times (2017) is the fact that the adaptation of this set of parts to an upper receiver of a firearm will eliminate the gas operation and thus turning off the semi-automatic feature of the gun and changing the category of the rifle in which it is installed.
(81) This novel device enables the easy factory conversion of new rifles to be marketed and sold as manually operated, instead of semi-automatic category.
(82) Big areas of the world like Australia, New Zealand, and Europe do not allow the production, possession, and imports of semi-automatic rifles, and this new firearm category version fits all the requirements to be allowed for production, possession and import.
(83) The prevalence of semi-automatic rifles in the market demand, and fabrication has left aside the superb opportunity of utilizing well proven existing rifle platforms. Several are a root for developing a future new version of OEM rifle Slide Action category by the addition of some novel mechanisms to bring to life slide action manually operating versions of rifles having detachable upper receivers holding a barrel, and lower receivers housing a firing mechanism comprising an automatic disengaging feature within.
(84) The Government is now days changing the regulations for the exports procedures of firearms in an effort to increase the sales of that sector of the economy. The entity in charge of the simplified process will be the Secretary of Commerce having the objective of importantly increasing the Country participation in the firearms global Marker. The invention herein presented opens a great opportunity for the export of Modern Slide Action rifles utilizing the described technology.