llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

USOO5117735A

United States Patent 119]

Flashkes
[54] MACHINE GLTX~ WITH BELT AND
MAGAZlXE FEED

[11] Patent Number:

5,117,735
Jun. 2, 1992

[45]

Date of Patent:
9/1973
9/1978

3.756.119
4.112.817

Curtis et a]. . .................... .. 89/3301

Bourlet ............................... .. 89/332

[75] Inventor:

Adi Flashkes, Ramat~Hasharon.

15m

FOREIGNPATENT DOCUMENTS
1220710 5/1960 France ................................ .. 89/197

[73] Asslgnee: 5h? State of llsrflelrMiniitrg of .

kgniztcfHasggzrnl 12:22] n usmes
[21] Appl. No: 596,331
[22] Filed
'

Primary Examiner_Sephen Johnson

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hell'gott 8t Karas
[57] ABSTRACT
A dual feed light machine gun comprises a barrel, a
receiver, a cartridge belt feed mechanism assembly

Oct 12 1990
' '

[30]
q

Foreign Application PfiOrit) Data

Israel ...................................... .. 92040

provided on top of the receiver, a magazine socket

Positioned 3* the bottom Side 011116 receiver and @559"

OCI. 1a. 1989 [1L]

tially opposite the cartridge belt feed mechanism assem

l'sl
1 1

""""""""""""" " FMASg/

' """""""""""

g2;
sg/lsg

bly. The machine gun includes a slide assemblyhaving

a slide which is essentially formed of an elongated,

[58] Field of Search

89760] n '14 33.,

horizontal, rectangular frame with an integral bolt

housing at the top near the rear end thereof and a gas

156]

89/33.], 191.01, 185, 197,195,196, 188 References Cited U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
1,377,629 5/1921 3.060.810 10/1962 3.198.076 8/1965 3.386.336 6/1968
Rosebush ............................ .. 89/196 '

piston attached at its front end. The bolt housing houses a bolt which has a head portion with upper and lower

projections adapted, respectively, to drive a cartridge

from either a belt or a magazine into the breech of the gun.

89/196
.. 89/3301

Roy .................................... .. 89/332

5 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets

/ /////

5e, w
Q1
>0

US. Patent

June 2, 1992

Sheet 1 of 9

5,117,735

US. Patent

June 2, 1992

Sheet 2 0f 9

5,117,735

' US. Patent

June 2, 1992

Sheet 3 0f 9

5,117,735

US. Patent

June 2, 1992

Sheet 4 0f 9

5,117,735

US. Patent

June 2, 1992

Sheet 5 of 9

5,117,735

36

f 46
34
33

32/
54

56

Fig.5

US. Patent

June 2, 1992

Sheet 7 of 9

5,117,735

53:
I <
@ ,/-73
O

@li
74

Fig.7

U.S. Patent

June 2, 1992

Sheet 8 of 9

5,117,735

"W

fag

US. Patent

June 2, 1992

Sheet 9 of 9

5,117,735

72

7|

9-9 s
0

IO

5,117,735

MACHINE GUN WITH BELT AND MAGAZINE FEED

integral bolt housing at the top near the rear end thereof and a gas piston attached at its front end; and said bolt having a head portion with upper and lower

projections adapted, respectively. to drive a cartridge

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally concerns light ma
from a belt or from a magazine into the breech.

The magazine socket is advantageously ?tted with

cover flaps which seal the opening thereof when it does not hold a magazine. Preferably the cover flaps are of the kind that fold inwardly when inserting a magazine.
One or more of the cover ?aps may also serve as a

chine guns and particularly dual feed light machine

guns that can be fed by either of a cartridge belt and a
magazine, to be referred to hereinafter as a dual feed

light machine gun.

GLOSSARY The meaning of some of the terms that will be used in the following description and claims are as follows: Bodythe major part of the gun between the butt and the barrel. The body comprises, inter alia. a re
ceiver and a belt feed mechanism assembly.

magazine catch and/or support.

The bolt is preferably of a kind wherein its head

portion comprises projections adapted for engagement

with latches at a'barrel extension for locking the bolt during ?ring. In accordance with this preferred em bodiment. the bolt is reciprocal within said integral bolt

housing between depressed and emerged positions and

comprises a bolt guide which is accommodated within a

Receiverthe central part ofthe body which houses tortuous inner guiding groove of the housing, whereby the slide. 20 during its reciprocations the bolt is caused to turn about its axis to lock and unlock. While the bolt is reciprocal, Belt feed mechanism assembly an assembly with respect to the slide the ?ring pin is stationary with mounted on top of the receiver, by means of which a respect thereto. When the bolt is fully depressed, the tip cartridge belt is fed into the machine gun. ofthe ?ring pin emerges from the front face ofthe bolts Slidea member reciprocating inside the receiver. head portion. which is biased forward by a recoil spring and is driven For better understanding a speci?c embodiment of backwards by the gas pressure, developing during ?ring
which acts on a piston associated therewith or manually

the invention will now be described with reference to

by a cocking lever. The slide houses the bolt and the

the annexed drawings, it being understood that the

invention is not limited thereto.

?ring pin.
Bolt-a part of the slide which, during the slides 30 forward movement. pushes a cartridge into the breech and locks it there. The bolt houses the ?ring pin and has
attached thereto an extractor which is adapted to ex

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The speci?c embodiment of the invention to be de

scribed herein is depicted in the annexed drawings in

which: FIG. 1 is a side view ofa dual feed light machine gun in accordance with the invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slide assembly of the machine gun of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 shows the slide assembly of FIG. 2 in an ex

tract an empty cartridge from the barrel after ?ring.

Open Type Bolt-a bolt in which the ?ring pin auto

matically emerges from the front face ofthe bolt during
the forward movement of the slide. Barrel Extension-a member either integral with or in close proximity to the barrel's rear in which the bolt

35

is locked during ?ring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

ploded view;
FIG. 4 shows the slide assembly of FIG. 2 when

viewed from above;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section along lines VV of

The light machine gun is an important infantry ?re

arm. There is a growing demand and tendency to make 45 FIG. 6 shows a cross-section along lines VI-VI in ?rearms versatile, i.e. design them for more then one FIG. 1, when belt feeding the machine gun; purpose and accordingly it has already been suggested FIG. 7 shows a cross-section similar to that of FIG. 6, to make dual feed light machine guns that can be fed drawn to a smaller scale, when belt feeding the machine alternatively by either of a cartridge belt and a maga gun froma belt pouch; zine. FIG. 8 shows the same cross-section, when magazine 50

FIG. 4;

A light machine gun with such a dual feed is de scribed in IL 51910 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No.

feeding the machine; and

FIG. 9 is a side view, partially in cross-section, show ing the magazine socket with an inserted cartridge mag
azine.

4,112,817. According to that disclosure, the magazine, when used, is inserted essentially from the side, which is
a considerable drawback since it renders the light ma 55

chine gun very inconvenient for carrying and storming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is provided a dual feed light machine gun comprising a barrel with breech, a receiver, a cartridge belt feed mechanism assembly on top of the receiver, a magazine socket and a slide assembly having an open type bolt: the magazine socket being at the bottom side of the

DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT The dual feed light machine gun shown in FIG. 1 comprises a foldable stock 1, a body 2 and a barrel assembly 3. Body 2 comprises a receiver 4, a rear grip assembly 5, housing a trigger 6 and a trigger mechanism (not shown), a ?re selector 7 and a magazine release lever 8. In front of the magazine release lever 8 is provider a

magazine socket 9, the opening of which is ?tted with

65 cover ?aps 10 and 10' (cover ?ap 10' is not shown in

receiver essentially opposite the cartridge belt feed mechanism assembly; the slide assembly comprising slide being essentially
in the form of a rectangular, elongated frame with an

FIG. 1) and a further cover ?ap 10, which are shut

when socket 9 does not accommodate magazine. Maga

zine socket 9 is located at the bottom side of receiver 4

5,117,735
3 .

and opposite a belt feed mechanism assembly 12

mounted on the top side at about the central part

thereof. Belt feed mechanism assembly 12 comprises a

belt feed tray 10 and a receiver cover 14 which latter is

shoulder 56 with sears in the trigger assembly (not shown and all known per se). Head portion 37 of bolt 36 has an upper projection 57, . a left projection 58. a lower projection 59 and a right

locked in the closed state shown in FIG. 1 during ?ring. but may be released to open by push knob 15.
The receiver is ?tted near its fore end with a hand

projection 60 (FIG. 2). These projections are adapted to

cooperate with latches of a barrel extension (not
shown), so as to lock the bolt at the rear end of the

guard 11 and there is also provided a foldable bipod 17 A carrying handle 18 forms part of the barrel assembly 3 and serves both for carrying the gun and for removing the barrel when it has to be replaced. Slide assembly 31 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, comprises a slide 32 having the form of a rectangular frame and
having on its top near the rear end an integral bolt

barrel during ?ring.

In addition to their locking function, in accordance with the invention the upper projection 57 and the
lower projection 59 serve during a forward movement of the bolt for driving a cartridge into the rear end of the barrel, from a cartridge belt when the machine gun
is belt fed or from a magazine when the machine gun is magazine fed, respectively. In either case a bullet is

housing 33 adapted to house a ?ring pin 34, a spring 35 and a bolt 36. Bolt 36 comprises a head portion 37 ?tted
with, i.a., an extractor 38 with associated extractor

spring 39, both of which are housed inside a cavity 40

driven into the barrel by the advancing bolt head 36 of bolt 36. projections 57; 58. 59 and 60 enter the barrel extension until the bolt head 37 hits the rear end of the

and secured in place by means of pins 41 and 42. Firing pin 34 and the associated spring 35 are accommodated
within an axial bore 43 of bolt 36. The entire bolt assembly is housed within a chamber 44 in the bolt housing 33. Bolt 36 may be inserted into and withdrawn from chamber 44 in the orientation

barrel whereby the advancement of the bolt is abruptly

arrested. The slide, however continues to advance whereby bolt guide 45 is forced to follow the tortuous groove which it engages and consequently the bolt turns about 45 clockwise. As a result the projections 57, 58, 59 and 60 of the bolt head 37 engage the latches in the barrel extension whereby the bolt is locked in the

shown in FIG. 3 in which bolt guide 45 is pointing barrel extension. Simultaneously, the tip of ?ring pin 34 sideways. Once within chamber or axial bore 43, bolt 36 emerges from bolt head 37 hitting the bullets primer. is rotated by about 90 to the orientation shown in After ?ring of a bullet, pressurized gas expands from FIGS. 2 and 4, in which bolt guide 45 is pointing up the barrel into the gas cylinder whereby force develops wards and is accommodated within tortuous guiding 30 on the gas piston 52 which pushes the entire slide assem groove 46 in the upper wall of chamber 44. Bolt 36 bly backwards. This backwards movement causes bolt reciprocates within chamber 43 during which it is 36 to turn back by about 45 whereby it is unlocked and - guided by bolt guide 45 to turn about its axis. Thus, may be withdrawn from the barrel extension. when the bolt is fully emerging. as shown in FIG. 2, In accordance with the present invention, the gun bolt guide 45 points upwards and when it 'is depressed, may be fed with cartridges either from a belt as shown as shown in FIG. 4, bolt guide points about 45 clock in FIGS. 6 and 7 or from a magazine as shown in FIGS. wise. Bolt 36 is guarded against accidental release by a 8 and 9. Parts which may be identi?ed in these ?gures bolt catch 47 which is housed inside groove 48 and are the receiver cover 14, feeding tray 13, receiver 4 secured in its place by means of pin 49. Bolt 36 is biased which houses the slide assembly 31 bolt 36 recoil spring forward to the position shown in FIG. 2 by spring 35. assembly 55 and magazine socket cover ?aps 10, 10' and As distinct from the reciprocating bolt 36, ?ring pin 11. Further identi?able is feeding lever 61 which is 34 is stationary with respect to the slide and is secured pivotally linked to the housing by pivot 62 and further by means ofa pin 50in a position in which its rear block linked at its to'p by means of pivot 63 to a pair of feeding 51 abuts the rear wall of chamber 44. pawls 64, (only one of which is shown) which are biased A gas piston 52 is attached to the front end ofthe slide 45 upwards by means of a helical spring (not shown). and is secured in place by means of pin 53. When the A pair of cartridge pawls 65 and a pair of belt retain slide is in its fully advanced position, piston 52 is accom ing pawls 66 (only one of each pair is shown) are linked modated in a gas cylinder of the barrel assembly (not to the receiver cover 14 by pivots 67 and 68, respec
shown), as known per se.

tively.

On its left, slide 32 has an elongated groove 54, which 50 The lower part of the feeding lever 61 engages guid may be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, adapted for engage ing groove 54 of slide 32 and when the slide recipro ment by the lower part of a cartridges feeding lever 61 cates, the upper part of the lever swings back and forth (see FIGS. 6 and 8). Groove 54 extends only on the and causes feeding pawl 64 to reciprocate laterally

latter portion of the slides length and due to this change thereby advancing the cartridge belt successively to the in geometry, along the length of slide 32, lever 61 is 55 center of the feeding tray. Once a cartridge is at the caused to swing back and forth during the slides axial center of the feeding tray 13 it is pushed by projection reciprocations inside the receiver 4. As will be further 57 of bolt head 37 into the barrel. explained below, these swinging movements of actuate During operation, cartridge pawls 65, each of which feeding pawls, by which the cartridge belt is succes is biased downwards by a spring (not shown) push a

sively advanced into the receiver during ?ring.

In operation, which is essentially known per se, slide assembly 31 reciprocates inside the receiver. It is biased forward by means of a recoil spring assembly 55 and is driven backwards by means of either automatically by the gas pressure developing in said gas tube and acting 65
on piston 52 or by means of a manually operated cock

centered cartridge 39 downwards and belt retaining

pawls 36, which are equally biased downwards by a spring (also not shown), retain the belt so that it does not slide back during the back swing of feed lever 61.
The framelike structure of slide 31 and the fact that the bolt 36 is housed at 'the top of the slide, enables the insertion from below of a magazine 70 of the type used in the sub machine guns such as the GALIL (trade name) as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. When magazine 70 is

ing lever (not shown). When cocked, the slide is re tained in a retracted position by the engagement of

5,117,735
5 .

6
elongated frame having an axis of elongation thereof extending in the direction of movement of the slide, said frame including a bolt housing
formed at the top near a rear end of said frame

in socket 9 socket cover flaps 10 and 10 are now in~

wardly folded and aid in holding the magazine in place.

It may be seen in FIG. that the bullets are now driven

into the barrel by projection 59.

As shown in FIG. 9. magazine socket cover ?ap 11 serves also as a magazine catch by engagement with upper projection 71 at the fore wall of the magazine.

integrally therewith for receiving said bolt, and a

gas piston attached at a front end of said frame;

The aft wall of the magazine has another projection 72 which is engaged by release lever 8 which, when

said bolt including a head portion having upper and lower projections adapted. respectively to drive a
cartridge from a belt or from a magazine into the breech. 2. A dual feed light machine gun according to claim

pressed, releases the magazine.

stationary ?ring base.

As shown in FIG. 7, the magazine socket is suitable also for the attachment of a belt pouch comprising a I, further comprising cover flaps, said magazine socket magazine dummy 74. Such a pouch stores much more being ftted with said cover flaps. cartridges than a magazine and is useful for use, particu 3. A dual feed light machine gun according to claim larly during storming but also when using the gun as a 15 2, wherein at lest one of said cover flaps serves as a
It should be clear to the ma of the art that the above

magazine catch.
4. A dual feed light machine gun according to claim
2, wherein at least one of said cover flaps serves as a

described embodiment is an example only, and various modi?cations thereof all being within the scope of the
invention as defined in the claims are possible. I claim: 1. A dual feed light machine gun comprising a barrel with a breech. a receiver, a cartridge belt feed mecha

magazine support.
5. A dual feed light machine gun according to claim 1, wherein said bolt is reciprocal within said bolt hous

ing between depressed and emerged positions and in

cludes a bolt guide which is accommodated within a nism positioned on top of the receiver, a magazine socket. and a slide assembly having an open type bolt, 25 tortuous inner guiding groove formed in said bolt hous ing whereby, during reciprocations ofthe bolt the latter the magazine socket being positioned at the bottom is caused to turn about an axis thereof to lock in and side of the receiver essentially opposite the car unlock from said bolt housing. said head portion of the tridge belt feed mechanism;

the slide assembly being positioned in said receiver nd comprising a slide arranged for reciprocating
movement inside said receiver. said slide being
formed as a substantially horizontal. rectangular,

bolt including projections adapted for engagement with

30 latches at a barrel extension for locking the bolt during

firing.
it i t it

50

55

65

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
PATENTNO. DATED : ; 5,117,735 June 2, 1992
ADI FLASHKES INVENTOFHS) :

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby
corrected as shown below:

On the Title 'page, change the Assignee to read as follows:

-- [73] Assignee: Israel Military Industries, Ltd.
Ramat-Hasharon 4700, Israel -

Signed and Sealed this

Seventeenth Day of August, 1993

Anesr:
Arresting O?icer

w W
BRUCE LEI-{MAN

Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks