Machine gun trigger with select fire

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12442608-B2
Application number	US-202318315726-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2023
Priority date	May 16, 2022
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A trigger assembly includes a selector operable between a safe position, a semiautomatic fire position, and an automatic fire position. In one example, the assembly includes a trigger rotatable between a resting position and a pulled position, a disconnector pivotable between a first position where it is in the path of the operational rod, and a second position where it is out of the path of the operational rod. A sear is pivotable between an engaged position and a disengaged position and is biased to the engaged position where it is positioned in the path of the operational rod. A sear link is pivotably connected to the trigger, such that pulling the trigger moves the sear link into contact with the sear to pivot the sear towards the disengaged position. The sear link is spaced from the sear when the trigger is in the resting position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A trigger assembly for a firearm having an operational rod configured to reciprocate longitudinally along a bore axis of the firearm, the trigger assembly comprising:
a trigger rotatable between a resting position and a pulled position;
a disconnector pivotable between a first position in which a part of the disconnector is in a path of the operational rod and a second position in which the part of the disconnector is out of the path of the operational rod;
a sear pivotable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the sear biased toward the engaged position, wherein in the engaged position a part of the sear is positioned to engage the operational rod;
a sear link pivotably connected to the trigger, wherein pulling the trigger moves the sear link into contact with the sear to pivot the sear towards the disengaged position, and wherein the sear link is spaced from the sear when the trigger is in the resting position; and
a selector operable between a safe position, a fully automatic fire position, and a semiautomatic fire position.

2. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a trigger blocking component movable between a trigger blocking position and a trigger non-blocking position in response to operating the selector, wherein when the selector is in the safe position the trigger blocking component is in the trigger blocking position.

3. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the selector is operable to pivot the disconnector.

4. The trigger assembly of claim 3 , wherein when the selector is in the fully automatic fire position, the disconnector is in the second position in which the part of the disconnector is out of the path of the operational rod.

5. The trigger assembly of claim 4 , wherein when the selector is in the semiautomatic fire position, the disconnector is biased toward the first position in which the part of the disconnector is in the path of the operational rod.

6. The trigger assembly of claim 5 , wherein moving the selector from the fully automatic fire position to the semiautomatic fire position pivots the disconnector from the second position to the first position.

7. The trigger assembly of claim 6 , wherein when the selector is in the semiautomatic fire position, the disconnector causes the sear link to disconnect from sear when the trigger is moved to the pulled position.

8. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the trigger and the sear link move together as one when the trigger moves from the resting position to the pulled position.

9. The trigger assembly of claim 8 , wherein the disconnector reduces a range of pivot movement of the sear link when the selector is in the fully automatic fire position, thereby maintaining contact between the sear link and the sear while the trigger is in the pulled position.

10. The trigger assembly of claim 9 , wherein the sear link includes a roller positioned to engage the sear.

11. The trigger assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a disconnector catch pivotable between a first position and a second position, wherein when the selector is in the semiautomatic fire position the disconnector catch engages the disconnector, thereby preventing the sear link from reconnecting with the sear when the trigger is in the pulled position, and when the operational rod is on top of the sear and the disconnector during its rearward motion.

12. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the operational rod can be moved from a forward position to a cocked position when the selector is in the safe position.

13. The trigger assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a sear block pivotably mounted to the sear, the sear block pivotable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position, wherein in the blocking position the sear block prevents the sear from moving to the disengaged position.

14. The trigger assembly of claim 13 , wherein the trigger includes a trigger body including a trigger axis of rotation, a trigger blade extending rearwardly from the trigger body, and a forward arm extending forward from the trigger body, wherein when moving the trigger from the resting position to the pulled position causes the forward arm to contact the sear block and pivot the sear block to the non-blocking position.

15. The trigger assembly of claim 14 , wherein a gap exists between the forward arm of the trigger and the sear block when the trigger is in the resting position.

16. The trigger assembly of claim 12 , further comprising:
a trigger housing containing components of the trigger assembly; and
a sear block pivotably mounted to the trigger housing, the sear block pivotable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position, wherein in the blocking position the sear block prevents the sear from moving to the disengaged position.

17. The trigger assembly of claim 16 , wherein the trigger includes a trigger body including a trigger axis of rotation, a trigger blade extending rearwardly from the trigger body, and a forward arm extending forward from the trigger body, wherein when moving the trigger from the resting position to the pulled position causes the forward arm to contact the sear block and pivot the sear block to the non-blocking position.

18. The trigger assembly of claim 17 , wherein a gap exists between the forward arm of the trigger and the sear block when the trigger is in the resting position.

19. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a sear block pivotable between a blocking position and a non-blocking position, wherein:
in the blocking position a part of the sear block is in a path of the operational rod;
in the non-blocking position, the part of the sear block is out of the path of the operational rod; and
pulling the trigger to the pulled position pivots the sear block to the non-blocking position and pivots the sear to the disengaged position.

20. The trigger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the selector is operably connected to a gear assembly such that rotating the selector rotates gears of the gear assembly.

21. The trigger assembly of claim 20 , wherein the gear assembly comprises a first gear concentric with an axis of rotation of the selector, a second gear operably connected to the first gear, and a third gear operably connected to the second gear such that rotating the first gear in a first rotational direction rotates the third gear in the first rotational direction and rotates the second gear in an opposite second rotational direction.

22. The trigger assembly of claim 21 , further comprising a trigger block attached to the second gear, wherein the trigger block rotates with the second gear.

23. The trigger assembly of claim 21 , further comprising a cam attached to the third gear, the cam having a portion of greater diameter and a portion of lesser diameter, wherein the cam rotates with the third gear to change a position of the disconnector.

24. A machine gun comprising the trigger assembly of claim 1 .

Assignees

• Sig Sauer Inc

Inventors

• Kras Krzysztof J
• Barnhart Brian J
• Thomele Adrian

Classifications

• F41A19/32

  for catching the percussion or firing pin after each shot, i.e. in single-shot or semi-automatic firing mode · CPC title

• F41A19/33

  Arrangements for the selection of automatic or semi-automatic fire · CPC title

• F41A17/56

  Sear safeties, i.e. means for rendering ineffective an intermediate lever transmitting trigger movement to firing pin, hammer, bolt or sear (F41A17/02 - F41A17/40 take precedence) · CPC title

• F41A17/46

  Trigger safeties, i.e. means for preventing trigger movement (F41A17/02 - F41A17/40 take precedence) · CPC title

• F41A19/12

  Sears; Sear mountings · CPC title