Dual Adjusting override precision switch activator

The invention described herein was made in the performance of official duties by an employee of the Department of the Navy and may be manufactured, used, licensed by or for the Government for any governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates generally to firearm technology and, more particularly, to an assembly for controlling the triggering action of a firearm, such as rocket launchers.

Triggering mechanisms for firearms, such as a rocket launcher, are well known, and need to provide precision activation, while at the same time provide repeatable and reliable operation. One of the parameters of a triggering mechanism that needs to be taken into account is the amount of travel that the trigger encounters during its usage in activating the firearm. For firearms, such as a rocket launcher, it is desirable that the amount of travel be limited to 0.4 or less inches of linear travel.

Triggering mechanisms for firearms, such as a rocket launcher, typically activate a depressible switch, which, in turn, activates the associated elements for the initiation and, then, completion of the firing of the rocket from the associated launcher. A triggering mechanism that experiences overshoot, may damage the depressible switch which, in turn, may negate the operational readiness of the associated firearm. It is desired that means be provided for a triggering mechanism that prevents the damage commonly caused by overshoot of the trigger mechanism.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide for a triggering mechanism in which the movement of the trigger is limited to 0.4″ of linear travel and is adjustable to within an accuracy of about 0.01″.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means that prevents any damage to a depressible switch that may occur from the over-travelling of an associated trigger switch.

In accordance with these and other objects, the invention provides an assembly interconnected to a trigger mechanism of a firearm that controls the triggering action thereof. The assembly comprises a housing, a sliding actuator, first and second yielding means, a rod, a block mated to the housing, and a depressible switch. The sliding actuator has an interior and is lodged in the housing and has first and second ends with an extension extending outward from the first end. The first yielding means has a first predetermined stiffness and is lodged in the housing and located around the first end of the sliding actuator. The second yielding means has a second predetermined stiffness which is less than the first stiffness and is lodged in the housing and located around the second end of the sliding actuator. The rod has at least first and second sections having respective diameters to pass through the interior of the siding actuator and to come in contact with the first yielding means. The block is located adjacent the extension of the sliding actuator, whereas the depressible switch is located on the block and in alignment with the extension of the sliding actuator.

The foregoing objects and advantages of the present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description and reference to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overall view of the trigger mechanism of the present invention shown mounted on a typical rocket launcher assembly.

FIG. 2 illustrates the assembly of the present invention for a trigger mechanism and is partially cut-away so as to more clearly show the arrangement of the associated elements thereof.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the same reference number indicates the same element throughout, there is shown in FIG. 1 an overall view of a typical launcher/spotter rifle assembly designated generally by the reference number 10 . The rocket launcher/spotter rifle assembly 10 has a handle 12 that is used to operate a trigger 14 whose triggering action is controlled by the assembly 100 (shown in phantom) of the present invention which may be further described with reference to FIG. 2 .

The assembly 100 comprises a housing 102 and a switch activator 104 . The switch activator 104 is lodged in the housing 102 and has first and second ends 106 and 108 with an extension 110 extending outward from the first end 108 . The switch activator 104 also has an interior 112 that completely extends therethrough.

The assembly 100 further comprises first and second yielding means 114 and 116 respectively located adjacent the first end 106 and the second end 108 . The first yielding means 114 has a first predetermined stiffness and the second yielding means 116 has a second predetermined stiffness which is less than the first stiffness. The spring constant for yielding means 116 may be approximately 15 lb/in. The spring constant of yielding means 114 may be approximately 100 lb/in.

The assembly 100 further comprises a rod 118 having at least first and second sections 120 and 122 with the first section 120 having a diameter that allows it to pass through the interior 112 of the sliding actuator 104 . The second section 122 has a leading edge 122 A that comes into contact with the first yielding means 114 . The second section 122 of rod 118 enters and snugly occupies an opening 124 of the housing 102 .

The assembly 100 further comprises a block 126 mated to the housing 102 by appropriate means. Screws 128 and 130 hold switch 132 to block 126 . Block 126 is mated to housing 102 by the geometry of the block and housing (ie: keys and keyways cut into parts) and screw 140 . The block 126 has attached thereto by appropriate means (not shown) a depressible switch assembly 132 which may have an arm 134 that is located in alignment with the extension 110 of the sliding actuator 104 .

The block 126 is preferably slidably adjusted by adjustment means 136 shown in the upper portion of block 126 as viewed in FIG. 2 . The adjustment means 136 comprises a threaded opening 138 of the block 126 and a screw 140 having a head 142 and threads 140 A which are complementary to the internal threads on the opening 138 of the block 126 . The head 142 preferably has a groove 144 into which is lodged a spring pin 146 .

The housing 102 has a hollow comprising a sequentially arranged first, second and third compartments that respectively provide for the lodging therein of the first yielding means 114 , first and second ends 106 and 108 of the switch actuator 104 as well as the extension 110 of the slidable actuator 104 , and the second yielding means 116 . The third compartment that lodges the second yielding means 118 further comprises an opening in the third compartment and which is dimensioned to accept a set screw 148 which, in turn, is dimensioned to pass through the predetermined opening of the second yielding means 116 . The set screw 148 is adjustable by an opening (not shown) in the block 102 so as to come into contact with the second end 108 of the switch actuator 104 . The set screw serves as a stop for the sliding actuator 104 . The set screw 148 comes into contact with the second end 108 of the sliding actuator 104 .

The first and second yielding means 114 and 116 are dimensioned so as to respectively operate within the first and second compartments of the housing 102 . The first yielding means 114 has a predetermined opening that is sufficient to accept the first section 120 of the rod 118 , whereas the second yielding means 116 has a second predetermined opening that is sufficient to accept the set screw 148 .

The switch actuator 104 is dimensioned so that its first and second ends 106 and 108 completely occupy the second compartment of housing 102 . The interior 112 of the sliding actuator 104 has a linear length which is sufficient to accept the complete length of the section 120 of the rod 118 when the first yielding means 114 is in its completely compressed state.

The rod 118 is selected so that its first section 120 has a diameter which is dimensioned so as to pass through the predetermined opening of the first yielding means 114 . The second section 122 of rod 118 is dimensioned, in particular, to have a leading edge 122 A that engages the first yielding means 114 . The rod 118 preferably has a third section 150 that has a diameter similar to that of the first section 120 and has a length sufficient to interconnect to a cam which is tied to the launcher trigger mechanism 14 of FIG. 1 .

Operation of the Switch Assembly

With reference to FIG. 2, in operation, the rod 118 is pushed in the direction 152 by way of the cam movement of the launcher trigger 14 . The movement of the rod 118 in direction 152 causes the leading edge 122 A to intercept the first yielding means 114 which, in turn, pushes against the first end 106 of the sliding activator 104 causing the first end 106 and the second end 108 to move in a direction 154 , while also causing the extension 110 to move in a direction 156 shown in FIG. 2 .

The switch activator 104 and the rod 118 move in unision due to the high stiffness of the first yielding means 114 which serves as an override spring. The switch activator 104 , in particular, its extension 110 intercepts the arm 134 of the switch assembly 132 which, in turn, causes the triggering action of the switch assembly 132 . After such triggering action, the second end 108 of the switch activator 104 intercepts the set screw 148 which prevents the switch activator 104 , in particular, its outward extension from crushing the switch 132 . The rod 118 however, is allowed to continue moving through the interior 112 of the switch activator 104 and it compresses the second yielding means 114 . Screw 148 prevents end 108 from compressing 116 , but only after switch has been activated. When the launcher trigger 14 is released, the switch activator 104 , the first yielding means 114 serving as an override spring, and the switch rod 118 are returned to their original home positions by the resiliency of the second yielding means 116 serving as a recoil spring.

The switch assembly 132 can be adjusted to trigger within a range of about 0.4″ within an accuracy of about 0.01 inches of horizontal travel by means of the adjustment screw 140 and the set screw 148 . The adjustment screw 140 preferably fits through a hole 158 in the block 126 and is threaded into the opening 138 of the block 126 . The pin 146 captures the adjustment screw 142 while allowing the adjustment screw 142 to turn about its axis which, in turn, allows the switch assembly 132 carried by the block 126 to be moved back and forth until the switch assembly 132 is properly adjusted in position relative to extension 110 and within a range of 0.012-0.04 for the separation between the switch activator 104 and the arm 134 of the switch assembly 132 . The set screw 148 is adjusted such that the switch tab 104 moves only enough to trigger the switch assembly 132 .

It should now be appreciated that the practice of the present invention provides for a switch assembly that allows for an adjustable linear travel of its associated trigger mechanism of about 0.41″ and such adjustment is within an accuracy of about 0.01 inches. Further, it should be appreciated that the practice of the present invention prevents any damage to the switch assembly of the launcher mechanism from any over-travel of the trigger mechanism.

Although the invention has been described relative to a specific embodiments thereof, there are numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.