Gas operated rotary barrel action and pistol
AssigneeSmith & Wesson Corp.
InventorBrett Curry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An action for a firearm uses a rotating barrel on which are mounted lugs and a cam follower. The barrel is positioned coaxially within a tube fixed to the frame of the firearm. A cam, engaged by the cam follower, is also fixed to the frame. A gas space is defined between the tube and the barrel by a thrust surface on the barrel and a reaction surface on the tube. A gas port connects the gas space with the barrel's bore. A slide overlies the tube and defines longitudinally oriented grooves which receive the lugs when the barrel is rotated by interaction between the cam and the cam follower to align the lugs and the grooves. Motion of the barrel is arrested by interaction between the cam and cam follower, and motion of the slide relative to the barrel is permitted when the lugs align and engage the grooves.
Claims17
A pistol, said pistol comprising:
- a frame;
- a cam fixedly mounted on said frame;
- a slide movably mounted on said frame, said slide defining a first groove extending lengthwise therealong;
- a tube fixedly mounted on said frame between said slide and said frame;
- a barrel positioned within said tube, said barrel having a longitudinal axis and defining a bore coaxial therewith;
- a cam follower mounted on said barrel, said cam follower being engageable with said cam for rotating said barrel about said longitudinal axis;
- a first lug mounted on said barrel and projecting outwardly therefrom, said first lug being engageable with said first groove upon rotation of said barrel about said longitudinal axis;
- a thrust surface projecting outwardly from said barrel toward said tube, said thrust surface facing a reaction surface projecting from said tube toward said barrel, a gas space being defined between said thrust surface and said reaction surface;
- a port in said barrel extending between said bore and said gas space.
A gas operated action for a firearm, said action comprising:
- a tube;
- a cam fixedly mounted relatively to said tube;
- a barrel positioned within said tube, said tube surrounding said barrel, said tube located between said barrel and a slide, said barrel having a longitudinal axis and defining a bore coaxial therewith, said barrel being movable relatively to said tube;
- a cam follower mounted on said barrel, said cam follower being engageable with said cam for rotating said barrel about said longitudinal axis relatively to said tube;
- a thrust surface projecting outwardly from said barrel toward said tube, said thrust surface facing a reaction surface projecting from said tube toward said barrel, a gas space being defined between said thrust surface and said reaction surface;
- a port in said barrel extending between said bore and said gas space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.