Machine gun trigger with select fire

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.

1 . A trigger assembly for a firearm, comprising:
 a trigger having a resting position and a pulled position;   a disconnector movable between a first position in which a part of the disconnector is in a path of an operational component of the firearm and a second position in which the part of the disconnector is out of the path of the operational component of the firearm;   a sear movable 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 component of the firearm;   a link connected to the trigger, wherein moving the trigger to the pulled position moves the link into contact with the sear to move the sear towards the disengaged 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 , wherein the link is spaced from the sear when the trigger is in the resting position. 
     
     
         3 . The trigger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the selector is operable to move 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. 
     
     
         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. 
     
     
         6 . The trigger assembly of  claim 5 , wherein moving the selector from the fully automatic fire position to the semiautomatic fire position moves 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 link to disconnect from the sear when the trigger is moved to the pulled position. 
     
     
         8 . The trigger assembly of  claim 3 , 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.   
     
     
         9 . The trigger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger and the link move together as one when the trigger moves from the resting position to the pulled position. 
     
     
         10 . The trigger assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the disconnector reduces a range of movement of the link when the selector is in the fully automatic fire position, thereby maintaining contact between the link and the sear while the trigger is in the pulled position. 
     
     
         11 . The trigger assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the link includes a roller positioned to contact the sear. 
     
     
         12 . The trigger assembly of  claim 10 , 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 link from reconnecting with the sear when the trigger is in the pulled position and during rearward motion of the operational component. 
     
     
         13 . The trigger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the operational component can be moved from a forward position to a cocked position when the selector is in the safe position. 
     
     
         14 . The trigger assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a sear block mounted to the sear and movable 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. 
     
     
         15 . The trigger assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the trigger includes a trigger body, a trigger blade extending rearwardly from the trigger body, and a forward arm extending forward from the trigger body, and wherein moving the trigger from the resting position to the pulled position causes the forward arm to contact the sear block and move the sear block to the non-blocking position. 
     
     
         16 . The trigger assembly of  claim 15 , wherein a gap exists between the forward arm of the trigger and the sear block when the trigger is in the resting position. 
     
     
         17 . The trigger assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a sear block movable 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 component;   in the non-blocking position, the part of the sear block is out of the path of the operational component; and   moving the trigger to the pulled position moves the sear block to the non-blocking position and moves the sear to the disengaged position.   
     
     
         18 . The trigger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the selector is operably connected to a gear assembly such that moving the selector rotates gears of the gear assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The trigger assembly of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the selector is rotatable about an axis of rotation;   the gear assembly comprises a first gear concentric with the axis of rotation of the selector;   a second gear is 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.   
     
     
         20 . The trigger assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising a trigger block attached to the second gear, wherein the trigger block rotates with the second gear. 
     
     
         21 . The trigger assembly of  claim 19 , 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. 
     
     
         22 . A firearm comprising the trigger assembly of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 . A trigger assembly for a firearm, comprising:
 a trigger having a resting position and a pulled position;   a disconnector movable between a first position in which a part of the disconnector is in a path of an operational component of the firearm and a second position in which the part of the disconnector is out of the path of the operational component of the firearm;   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 component of the firearm;   a link connected to the trigger, wherein moving the trigger to the pulled position moves the link into contact with the sear to pivot the sear towards the disengaged position; and   a selector operable between a safe position, a fully automatic fire position, and a semiautomatic fire position.   
     
     
         24 . The trigger assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the link is spaced from the sear when the trigger is in the resting position. 
     
     
         25 . The trigger assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the selector is operable to move the disconnector. 
     
     
         26 . A firearm comprising the trigger assembly of  claim 23 .