US2803079A

US2803079A - Locking device for bolt action rifles

Info

Publication number: US2803079A
Application number: US532979A
Authority: US
Inventors: John T Heilman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-09-07
Filing date: 1955-09-07
Publication date: 1957-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1974-08-20

Description

Aug. 20, 1957 J. T. H ElLMAN LOCKING DEVICE FOR BOLT ACTION RIFLES Fi'led se t '7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 John I Hei/r nan INVENTOR.

. I I BY an! Aug. 20, 1957 r J. T. HEILMAN 2,803,079

1 LOCKING DEVICE FOR BOLT ACTION RIFLES Filed Sept. '7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 John 7'. Hei/man INVENTOR.

nited States Patent ()fifice 2,83fi79 Patented Aug. 20, 195 7 T his invention generally relates to improved and novel construction in rifles and similar firearms, and especially provides a locking device for more securely retaining rifle bolts for more effectively locking the bolt in positionl v j r In the construction of bolt action rifles and especially those of small caliber, the bolt head sometimes permits escape of gases due to compression of the elongated bolt since the bolt is normally locked at its rear end. Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invenfloats provide an improved and novel locking device for bolt action rifles wherein the bolt will be locked at a point adjacent its forward end, thereby retaining the bolt headlin a position more closely adjacent the breech of the" rifle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for a bolt action rifle including in its construction a non-rotatable bolt having a non-turning bolt head thereon together with a rotating sleeve sur rounding a major portion of the bolt and including a locking lug for engagement be hindja projecting lug on the bolt head for retaining the bolt head closely adjacent the breech of the rifle.

Other important objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, easeof operation, effectiveness for its particular purpose, and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the ac cor'n'panying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved locking device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the receiver utilized in the present invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the sleeve illustrating the construction of the locking lug and the handle thereon;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the locking bolt with the bolt head thereon together with the projecting lug on the bolt head;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the improved locking device of the present invention with the bolt head in locked position;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the construction of Figure 5 illustrating the relationship of the elements of the invention;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the locking device of the present invention illustrating the sleeve and bolt in retracted position;

Figure 8 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 88 of Figure 7 illustrating the relationship of the locking lug and slot in the bridge of the receiver; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view similar to Figure 8 of a modified form of the invention wherein the locking lug does not project beyond the confines of the receiver, thereby forming a sturdier device.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the locking device for bolt action rifles of the present invention which includes a generally elongated tubular cylindrical receiver 12 having a receiver ring 14 integrally formed at the forward end thereof and a receiver bridge 16 integrally formed at the rear thereof, all of which are of unitary construction and provided with a longitudinal passage 18 therethrough and an enlarged arcuate opening defined by lonf gitudinal edges 20 and arcuate end edges 22 which are substantially in the center of the receiver 12. The bridge 1 6 of the receiver 12 is provided with a longitudinal slot 24 in the upper portion thereof which communicates the enlarged opening with the rear end of the receiver 12. The receiver ring 14 is provided with a forwardly extending notch 26 having the outer edge thereof in alignment with one longitudinal edge 20' of the enlarged opening in the receiver 12 and the other edge spaced therefrom. Extending rcarwardly from the bridge 16 of the receiver 12 is a channel-shaped guide member 28. W

Slidably and rotatably mounted in the receiver 12 is an elongated cylindrical tubular sleeve 30 substantially equal in size to the size of the longitudinal bore 18 in the receiver 12. Adjacent the rear of the tubular sleeve 30 is a projecting rectangular boss 32 having a laterally projecting handle 34 thereon which is slightly angulated andrprovided with a knob 36 on the outer free end thereof for pivoting and sliding the tubular sleeve 30 in relation to the receiver 12. Projecting from the forward end of the tubular sleeve 36 is an elongated longitudinal locking lug 38 which extends from the'forward end of the sleeve 30 towards the rear thereof. The locking lug 38 is substantially the same width as the slot 24 in the bridge 16 of the receiver 12 for sliding movement there; in. Also, the length of the locking lug 38 is substantially equal to the length of the side edges 20 of the enlarged opening in the receiver 12 for arcuate movement therein, wherein the locking lug 38 may be aligned with the slot 24 for reciprocation of the sleeve 30, and after the sleeve 30 has been moved forwardly to its forward limit, the sleeve 36 may be pivoted by moving the handle 3% downwardly, thereby misaligning the locking lug 38 with the slot 24 for locking the sleeve 30 in its forwardrndst position. v."l'h'e distance between the boss 32 and the rear end of the lug 38' is' substantially equal to the length of the bridge portion 16, thereby permittingnib'vement of the handle 34 in pivotal relation to the rear end of the bridge portion 16 of the receiver 12. The sleeve 30 also is provided with a cylindrical longitudinal bore 40 extending completely therethrough, and the forward end of the sleeve 30 terminates rearwardly of the ring 14.

An elongated cylindrical bolt 4-2 is mounted within the longitudinal bore 40 of the sleeve 36D and includes a cylindrical bolt head 44 at its forward end wherein the bolt head 44 is provided with a projecting lug 46 thereon which is longitudinally elongated and is substantially equal in length to the bolt head 44. The bolt 42 is also provided with a small bore 48 for receiving the firing pin together with a small longitudinal bore 50 for receiving the extractor mechanism, the details of which are not shown.

Adjacent the rear of the bolt 42 is provided an arcuate groove 52 for receiving the inner end of a setscrew 54 threaded through the sleeve 30 and having the inner end thereof extending into the arcuate groove 52. As illustrated, firing mechanism 56 is provided at the rear of the bolt 42 within sleeve 30.

As illustrated in Figure 9, the receiver 12 completely encloses the sleeve 30 and the locking lug 38' thereon of the notch 26.

6 d together with the locking lug 44' positioned on the bolt 42'. y

In practical use of the locking device of the present invention, the device may be unlocked from the position illustrated'in Figure by grasping the handle 34 and pivoting it'upwardly so that the locking lug 38 will move arcuately from the position in alignment with the lug 46 into a position in alignment with the slot 24. Inasmuch as the lug 46 is disposed in the notch 26, the bolt 42 and the bolt head 44 will not rotate during this movement. .As soon as the locking lug 38 isin alignment with theslot 24, the sleeve 30 and the bolt 42 may be retracted to the position illustrated in Figure 7 for extracting thecartridge from the breech of the rifle. Inasmuch as there is no torque exerted upon the bolt 42 during retraction thereof, the bolt 42 will not rotate and the lug-46 will be retained against the edge of the enlarged opening which is in alignment with one edge After the bolt has been unlocked, the new cartridge may be locked in the breech by exerting forward'pressure on the handle 34 which will move the lug 46 into the notch 26 and move the locking lug 38 within the confines of the ends 22 of the enlarged opening in the receiver 12. This permits downward pivotal movement of the handle 34, thereby bringing the locking lug 38 into alignment and into engagement with the rear end of thelug 46, thereby securely locking the bolt head 44 in position. Inasmuch as the bolt head 44 is locked by,,the lug 46 adjacent the forward end thereof, the bolt head will be retained in position more effectively since the entire bolt 42 will not tend to compress when the cartridge is fired. The compression of the lug 46 and the locking lug 38 together with the associated sleeve forms a much more rigid locking device, thereby eliminating the tendency of the bolt to compress during firing of the rifle, thereby preventing escape of gases and resultant damage caused thereby.

The opening defined by

edges

20 and 22 in the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1-8 also occurs in the device of Figure 9. The longitudinal slot 24 and notch 26 of Figures 1-8 become grooves 43 and 45' in Figure 9.

The notch 26 assists in permitting ejection of cartridges inasmuch as a portion of the cartridge moves outwardly through the notch 26 due to the orientation of the extractor bore 50 in relation to the notch 26 when the bolt is retracted. The pin 54 received in the arcuate portion ofright angular slot 52 limitsthe movement of sleeve 30 whereby lug 38 will be automatically aligned with 0 slot 24 for longitudinal movement thereof.- The longitudinal portion of slot 52 permits disassembly of the sleeve 30 and bolt 42 when they are removed from the receiver, r

The foregoing'is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.- Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A locking device for bolt action rifles comprising a tubular receiver having a forward ring and a rear bridge, 7

said receiver having an enlarged peripheral cartridge passage opening between the ring and bridge, said bridge having a longitudinal slot extending therethrough, said ring having a forwardly extending notch therein with one edge of the notch forming a continuation of one edge of the opening, an elongated sleeve rotatably and slidably mounted in said receiver, a laterally projecting handle adjacent the rear of said sleeve, an elongated longitudinal locking lug on said sleeve for sliding movement in said slot in the bridge of the receiven'said locking lug being-substantially equal in length to the length of the opening for arcuate movement therein, a bolt mounted in said sleeve and having a head projecting forwardly therefrom, a projecting lug on said bolt head for sliding movement in said notch and opening, means interconnecting the bolt and sleeve but permitting relative rotation and preventing longitudinal movement therebetween, said interconnecting means including an inwardly extending screw on said sleeve, said bolt having an arcuate slot receiving said screw to allow pivotal movement of the sleeve for selectively aligning the locking lug with the projecting lug on the bolt head and with the slot in said bridge of said receiver to permit longitudinal movement of the sleeve and bolt, said notch being substantially equal in length to the lug on the bolt head, said lug on the bolt head being locked in said notch when the locking lug on said sleeve is rotated into alignment therewith thereby preventing longitudinal movement thereof, and said lug on said bolt head terminating at the forward end thereof whereby longitudinal movement of the bolt head is substantially eliminated when pressure is exerted on the bolt head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,294,454 Hammond Feb. 18, 1919 2,490,922 Rutherford et a1 Dec. 13, 1949 2,648,153 Dicke Aug. 11, 1953 2,649,800 Peters Aug. 25, 1953