June 9, 1953 C. E. BALLEISEN 2,641,162 GUN BARREL COOLING MEANS ---. A

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1 June 9, 1953 C. E. BALLEISEN 2,641,162 Filed Feb. 4, Sheets-Sheet ---. A

2 June 9, 1953 C. E. BALESEN 2,641,162 Filed Feb. 4, Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5

3 June 9, 1953 C. E. BALLEISEN 2,641,162 Filed Feb. 4, Sheets-Sheet 3 Af SS NN SNSSS /32A 7'32N 3/ >N22 s' FiO N SN N O NNNN NS. FEC-11 SE-i Y ZzZl %N rvucinto Churles E. Pulleisell a 4.7%-4 i? ve1 glows

4 Patented June 9, ,641,162 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,641,162. The invention described herein may be manu factured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon. This invention relates to means for introduct ing fluid into the interior portions of the barrel of a firearm. An object of this invention is to provide means for injecting fluid into the barrel of an auto matic firearm immediately after each round of ammunition is fired. Another object of this invention is to provide a compact valve, especially adapted to be used with a firearm for introducing a predetermined amount of fluid into the barrel of an automatic firearm immediately after each round of ammu nition is fired. Another object of this invention is to provide means for injecting cooling fluid into the barrel of an automatic firearm in such a quantity that the cooling fuid which may be water, flashes into the gaseous state and maintains the barrel at a safe operating temperature. This invention has specific application to a barrel of.50 caliber but it is understood that this invention may be applied to barrels of greater and smaller caliber. Sufficient fluid, preferably water, is introduced in the gun barrel so as to maintain the final steady state temper ature of the gun barrel under continuous oper ation at approximately 300 F. when the gun is operated continuously; however, this tempera ture may be subject to variation and the only apparent limitation on that temperature appears to be based on the following considerations; that at the higher range the temperature should not be destructive to the barrel material and at the lower range the temperature should be high enough to vaporize the cooling fluid which is introduced. In the cooling of automatic guns by the par ticular means disclosed herein it is fundamental to realize that the valve for introducing the fluid into the gun barrel should be capable of being placed in those positions where the introduction of fluid will produce the greatest cooling effect. Since the time available for injection of the fluid into the barrel between rounds is approximately.02 second and since a few cubic centimeters of water must be introduced into the barrel of a.50 cal. gun in that short period of time, it foll lows that a quick responsive Valve is necessary and that it should be so positioned on the gun barrel that One or more conduits through the barrel wall will not seriously alter the mechanical strength of the barrel. Charles E. Balleisen, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of War Application February 4, 1942, Serial No. 429, Claims. (CI ) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), - sec. 266) O In general, there are four methods of oper ating an inlet valve for the injection of a cooling liquid into a barrel of an automatic-gun during the period of ammunition extracting and loading. These four methods may be classified as follows: 1. Recoil 2. High pressure 3. Low pressure (muzzle) gas 4. Bullet or muzzle blast The fourth method is generally dismissed as being inferior to the others. Means are dis closed herein for carrying out any one of the first three methods. The first three methods outlined above are beset with advantages and disadvantages. In general, the recoil method has the following ad vantages: (1) mechanical motion is directly available, (2) mechanism is simple, and (3) there is an inherent controlled time delay; the dis advantages are as follows: (1) the operating reserve of the gun is reduced, and (2) there is a danger of flooding the barrel before firing. In general, the second method incorporating high pressure gas has the following advantages: (1) the mechanism is simple, and (2) there is no appreciable energy extracted from the gun; the disadvantages are as follows: (1) mechanical motion must be produced, (2) a time delay must be provided, and (3) an adequate seal preventing the loss of gas must be provided. In general, the third method incorporating low pressure gas has the following advantages: (1) no appreciable energy is extracted from the gun, and (2) an inherent time delay is introduced; the disadvantage is as follows: (1) the mech anism is complicated. The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of a Brown ing automatic machine gun with a fluid valve and its actuating mechanism mounted thereon. The breech bolt E of the gun is in its furthermost rear position and correspondingly the fiuid valve allows passage of fluid; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the assembly shown in Fig. i; Fig. 3 is an end view of the fluid valve and its actuating mechanism taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; the pertinent portions of the fire arm are shown dotted; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially online 4-4 of Fig. 3; &

5 3 Fig. 5 is a side view of a portion of a gun barrel. With a fiuid waive housed therein; the valve is adapted to be actuated by pressure de veloped in the barrel bore synchronously with the rate of fire of, for example, a Browning Inachine gun; Fig. 6 is a section through the fluid Valve and barrel talken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; the valve is shown in its normal position or furthermost down position; 10 Fig. 7 is a section similar to the section of Fig. 6 but in this instance the cup shaped Valve member 3 has been displaced from its normal position up to its highest position due to an munition gas pressure on the botton of cup 5 Shaped member 3; - Fig. 8 is a section similar to the section of Fig. 6 but in this instance the cup shaped valve member 3 has receded from its highest position Of Fig. 7 to the position shown wherein cooling 20 fluid may flow from channel 8 or 9 into the barrel bore; Fig. 9 is a Section taken substantially through the bottom of the cup shaped member on line is 9-9 of Fig. 8: 25 Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section taken sub stantially through the center of the barrel and through the center of valve actuating mechanism Which is responsive to ammunition gas pressure is at the muzzle of the firearm. The mechanism in this instance is shown in its most forward position; Fig. 11 is a Section similar to the section of Fig. 10 but in this instance the valve mechanism is in its extreme rear position corresponding to Valve opening position; Fig. 12 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is an end View taken substantially on the direction of line 3-3 of Fig.11. Figures 1-4 relates to a valve operated in ac cordance with method listed above, i.e. by the motion of One of the gun parts which moves due to recoil forces imparted thereto. The particu lar mechanism shown in these figures has special application to a Browning machine gun of the type disclosed in the Browning Patents 1293,021 and 1,628,226 and is particularly designed to be installed on those guns. It is understood, how ever, that this particular type of valve operating mechanism may be applied to other guns hav ing parts Which move in recoil. The elements disclosed in Figures 1-4 are given the same ref erence numerals as those ascribed to correspond ing elements in the Browning Patent 1293,021 and reference is had to the disclosure in that patent; it is understood that the operation of the Browning machine gun as disclosed in that patent is well known since that particular gun has found universal use, especially in the United States. The parts added to the Browning na chine gun in order to carry out this aspect of my invention are given reference numerals greater than 100. A nozzle O with an integrally formed valve housing O2 is centrally and stationarily mount ed between the side plates a, a of the gun by means of Screws ) (Fig. 3) and arms if f such that the nozzle is in the vertical plane with the gun bore and directed so as to guide a jet of cooling fluid into the cartridge receiving cham ber barre B. The arms if f and Screws 0 are, of course, arranged so as to not interfere With the normal operation of the gun. The valve housing 02 is formed from a Solid 2,641, cylindrical block and has a hole 04 (Fig. 1) therethrough in line with the hole in nozzle 0. and the high pressure Supply conduit or passage 03, and also a hole 05 (Fig. 3) therethrough having its axis Substantially perpendicular to the axis of hole 04. Axially movable rod or closure member 06 with reduced section or portion 09 passes through hole 05 and is adapted to nor mally allow the flow of cooling fluid from con duit 03 to nozzle 0 due to the biasing action of spring O which is mounted between housing O2 and a fiange 08 on the end of rod 06; when the rod O6 is moved to the right (Fig. 3) by means to be discussed later, the reduced portion 09 of rod 05 is moved out of its normal aligned position with hole io4 and fluid is then prevent ed from passing from Supply conduit 03 to the nozzle O. Rod or closure member 06 is moved to the right (Fig. 3) due to movement of the breech bolt E because of the interconnecting members: cam member 5, lever f 16, pivot rod f7 and lever 8. Cam member if 5 projecting through slot 22 in one of the side plates a is adapted to contact the upper right hand corner of the breech bolt E. (Fig. 3) and to be moved to the right as the bolt moves to the breech closing position; this movement of can member 5 causes levers 6, 8, which are rigidly con nected to pivot rod 7, to rotate and to move the valve rod 06 to the right (Fig. 3). Shoulder 6s on arm 6 provides a stop for movement of can f 5 relative to plate a. When the cam 5 is in its furthermost right : position with reference to. Fig. 3 the flow of fluid to the barrel chamber B is prevented. The time during Which the fluid Valve is in Open position as related to the movement of the breech bolt E is indicated by the limits 20, f2 (Fig. 2); it is understood that fluid is allowed to be project ed into the barrel chamber when the forward edge of the breech bolt E is on or between the limits of 20, 2. Spring OT is placed under compression so that shoulder 6s on arm it 6 positively abuts against side plate a When the 45 bolt E is on or between the limits 20, 2. Arms 6, 8 are made sufficiently long to bring about the above described operation and also so that the pivot rod T is carried forward sufficiently to clear operating parts of the gun. A bearing block 30 for rod f is secured to the right side plate d of the gun by means similar to Screws 3. Collar 32 on rod abuts against the bearing block 30 so as to support Some of the Weight of the mechanism. 55 It is thus seen from FigS. 1 and 2 that cooling fluid is injected into the gun barre B So long as the breech bolt E is in open position and is retracted sufficiently to allow the tip 25 of an annunition round to clear the chamber of bar 60 rel B, i. e., the clearance between the round tip f 25 and chamber of barrel B is somewhat greater than the distance between limits 20, f2. A Valve adapted to be incorporated in a high pressure gas System described as method 2 is 65 shown in Figs The valve described in these figures has an inherent time delay therein and seals well against loss of gas from the barrel B. The valve proper does not project beyond the normal cylindrical confines of the barrel and the 70 working parts thereof are confined by the wedge shaped member 0, which fits into a, cooperat ing groove in the barrel B. The valve con sists essentially of a spring 12, a cup-shaned member or valve 3 having three ports (3a, 3b, 75 3c therein, and a ring or check 4 which is fric

6 2,641, tionally held by the surrounding interior cylin posite end of sleeve 40 against packing 4f so as drical wall 5 of the barrel B. Ring 4 may to prevent fluid leakage past the exterior cylin partake of an oversized split resilient ring such drical wall of the integrally formed shank or as a conventional automobile piston ring. Ring valve closure member 32f which abuts against f4 is moved by the cooperating shoulders 3e, 5 the free end of spring f on the cup-shaped member 3 as it moves up Nut 42 and packing 43 serve to prevent fluid and down in the barrel hollow portion or valve leakage out of the valve housing 30 at the place chamber 16 due to the gas pressure within the where piston rod 38 emerges from the valve housing bore 1 of barrel B or due to the action of com pression spring The piston chamber 44 for piston 38 is formed Cooling fluid, for instance water, under high in a substantially cylindrical block 50 which has pressure of approximately sixty pounds per a tapered portion 45 screwable on the end of square inch, is introduced into the barrel bore barrel 36, hole 46 in alignment with the barrel ft through barrel channels or pair of passages bore, and a tapped portion 47 in alignment with 18 and 9, channels. 3a, 3b, 3c and barrel 15 the piston chamber 44 for the reception of plug channel 20. Channels 3a, 3b, 3c have the 48. The cylindrical block 50 is screwable on bar common centrally disposed channel 3d in com rel 536 to such an extent that a clearance 5 is munication therewith. provided between the end of the barrel and the In the normal position, Fig. 6, the channels cylindrical block 50. Muzzle gases due to the f8, 9 are closed by frictionally held ring f 4 so burning of the ammunition in the gun flow that no cooling fluid flows into the barrel. When through the clearance 5 into the piston chamber a shell is fired a large pressure will be built up 44. A pin 52 which passes through cooperative in the barrel bore f causing the cup-shaped grooves in the barrel and cylindrical block 50 member 3 to move upward against the action maintains those two elements in fixed position. 25 The piston 38 may be provided with a ring or of spring 2 and causing shoulder 3 f to engage ring 4; further movement of member 3 will cause displacement of ring 4 and place shoulder 3f in a position where it seals barrel ports 8, 9. Thus, no fluid will flow into the barrel as the cup-shaped member 3 moves upward to its highest position shown in Fig. 7. As cup-shaped member 3 moves downward from its highest po sition due to loss of pressure caused by the emergence of the fired projectile from the barrel and due to the action of compression Spring 2, ring 4, which is frictionally held by barrel Wall 5, will remain stationary and cooling liquid will flow from barrel channels f8, f 9 to the barrel yore T (Fig. 8). Further downward movement of cup-shaped member 3 will cause shoulder 3e to engage ring 4 and bring it into the port clos ing position shown in Fig. 6. The elasticity of spring 2 and the amount of friction between ring 4 and barrel wall 5 will determine to a large extent the time delay involved before cool ing fluid may be injected into barrel bore 1. It is preferred to inject the cooling fluid into the barrel bore after the cartridge shell is ex tracted from the barrel bore and before a new cartridge is inserted into the bore; in that case the time for fluid flow is approximately.02 Sec ond. The appropriate time delay and time dur ing which cooling fluid flows may be subjected to wide variation by the particular design of the spring 122, cup-shaped member 3, and friction ally held ring 4. A mechanism adapted to be incorporated in a low pressure gas operated system, for instance, a mechanism operated by the muzzle gases of a gun, is shown in Figs In the above mentioned figures the flow of cool ing fluid follows the following path: from a source of pressure (not shown) of approxi mately 75 pounds per square inch through inlet or passage 30a in valve housing 39, valve cham ber 31, channels 32a, 32b, 32c in the movable por tion 32 of the gas operated valve, port 33 in the valve housing 30, and then through barrel open ing 34 into the bore 35 of the barrel 36. Movable portion 32 of the valve is normally biased in its closed position by means of com pression spring 37 and is moved to its open posi tion when muzzle gas pressure acts on piston. 38. Nut 39 serves to confine the biasing Spring 37 in the valve housing as well as to jam the op packing 53 so as to prevent loss of pressure past the outer wall of the piston. The integrally formed valve and spring hous ing 39 may be fastened to the barrel 36 by means of screws 54, by welding or other similar means. In all three arrangements disclosed herein a predetermined quantity of vaporizable fluid is injected into the gun barrel, the exact amount being determined by the applied fluid pressure, 5 size of orifices leading into the barrel and the time interval during which the particular valve is open. Since the last two mentioned factors are fixed to a certain degree the most convenient manner in which the exact amount of fluid may be injected in the gun barrel resides in control ling fluid pressure by means well understood. I claim: 1. A cooling arrangement for a gun having a barrel, means forming a fluid passage in the bar rel leading to the barrel bore, said barrel having a circular hollow portion therein in communica tion with the fluid passage, a spring biased mem ber in said hollow portion and responsive to bar rel gas pressure, a pair of spaced shoulders on the member, a ring frictionally engaging the walls defining the hollow portion and adapted to close said passage, said ring being disposed between said shoulders ; 2. The same as in claim 1 characterized in that the spring biased member is within the nor mal confines of the barrel, and a wedge having a tongue and groove connection with the barrel for maintaining said member in the barrel. 3. A cooling arrangement for a gun, said cool ing arrangement comprising a barrel formed with a passage therethrough communicating with the bore of said barrel for admitting fluid under pressure to said bore, a valve device slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within a valve chamber intercepting said passage, said valve device in said chamber constructed and ar ranged to be moved away from said bore by gas pressure within said bore while maintaining said passage intercepted, and a Spring within said barrel for moving said valve device toward the bore and into passage-opening position upon sub sidence of the gas pressure within said bore. 4. A cooling arrangement for a gun, said cool ing arrangement comprising a barrel formed with a passage therethrough communicating with the

7 7 bore for admitting fluid under pressure to said bore, said barrel having a valve chamber inter cepting said passage, a spring biased valve mem ber in said chamber having a fluid passage there through and operable by the barrel gas pressure, and a second member surrounding the first men tioned member and frictionally held between the said first member and the Wall of Said chamber and moved by said valve member toward the bore and into position opening said passage to flow of fluid to the bore of the barrel upon the Subsidence of the gas pressure in the bore. 5. In combination with the barrel of an auto matic rapid fire gun, said barrel having a bore, a chamber formed in the wall of said barrel, there being a first passage in said wall adapted to con nect said chamber with a source of pressure fluid, there also being a second passage in said barrel from said chamber to said bore, and valve means in said chamber normally intercepting commu nication between said passages and responsive to change in gas pressure in said bore transmitted through said second passage, to connect said first and Second passages after a cartridge has been fired and before the next cartridge has been in serted into said barrel. 6. In combination with a gun barrel having an axial bore, a valve chamber, and first and second passages leading respectively from a source of fluid pressure to said chamber and from said chamber to said bore, valve means adapted to be moved by gas pressure in said bore from a first to a second position, spring means urging said valve means into Said first position, and means coact ing with Said valve means to place said passages in communication on initial movement of said Valve means from Said Second to said first posi tion and then to cut off said communication. 7. In a cooling device for a gun barrel, said barrel having a valve chamber and first and sec ond passages leading, respectively, from a source of pressure fluid to said chamber and from said chamber to the bore of said barrel, a valve mov able in Said chamber from a first position to a second position, said valve having a port adapted to place said first and Second passages in com munication, said valve being adapted to be moved to said second position by gas pressure in said bore, Spring means urging said valve to said first position, and check means moved by and in re sponse to movement of said valve to cut off com munication between said passages except only while said valve is moving from said second to said first position. 8. In a cooling device for a gun barrel having a valve chamber and first and second passages leading respectively, from a source of pressure fluid to said chamber, and from said chamber to the bore of said barrel, a valve slidable in said chamber between first and second positions and having a port adapted to place said passages in communication, means urging said Valve into said first position, said valve being moved to said sec ond position by and in response to gas pressure in said bore, and a check slidably associated with said valve and coacting therewith and movable 2,641, thereby, to cut off said first passage from said port when said valve is moving from said first to said Second position, and to open said first pas sage to said port when said valve is moving from Said Second to Said first position. 9. In a system for the fluid cooling of a gun barrel, a cylindrical valve chamber associated With said barrel, there being a first passage adapted to connect said chamber with a source Of pressure fluid and a second passage connect ing said chamber with the bore of said barrel, a piston valve reciprocably fitting said chamber and having a ported circumferential channel adapted to connect said passages, said valve being movable by gas pressure in said bore from a first to a second position, Spring means urging said piston into said first position, and a check ring fitting said channel and frictionally engaging the Walls of Said chamber, said ring being reciproca ble on and moved by, said piston with lost mo tion and cutting off said first passage from said Second passage when said valve is moving to said Second position and clearing connection between Said passages when said piston is moving toward Said first position under the action of said spring leas. 10. In a liquid cooling system for a gun barrel having a cylindrical valve chamber formed in its Wall, a first passage extending from the wall of Said chamber substantially midway of its length and adapted to communicate with a source of cooling liquid under pressure, and a second pas Sage extending from one end of said chamber to the bore of Said barrel, said system compris ing, a piston valve reciprocably fitting said chann ber and having a circumferential channel in its periphery, ported for communication with said Second passage, Said piston valve being movable by gas pressure in said bore from a first posi tion in which said channel is in agreement with Said first passage, to a second position in which Said piston valve partly cuts off said first pas Sage, a ring fitting and having lost motion with in Said channel and frictionally engaging the wall of Said chamber, said ring and piston valve co acting to cut off said first passage when said Valve is in Said second position, and spring means urging Said valve to said first position where by on decrease in gas pressure in said bore, said Valve first Opens said first passage to communi cation with said Second passage and thereafter nowes Said ring to cut off said communication. CHARLES E. BALLEISEN. References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES EPATENTS Number Name Date 543,567 Browning July 30, ,050 Knapp et al Feb. 21, ,687 Edwards et al May 9, ,237 Smith Aug. 15, ,884 Won Augezd Sept. 19, ,101 - Wetzel Nov. 16, ,064,197 Dawson et al June 10, ,073,298 Smith Sept. 16, 1913