AU2022201499A1 - Self-opening repeating action shotgun - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a latching system for a self-opening repeating action shotgun. The latching system prevents the shotgun from firing without manual operation of the latch, by preventing a cartridge holder and a hammer from re-positioning semi-automatically after each shot. 1/4 10 16 ~ 7/ 4; tcs§~zt14 11 15 12 13 Figure - lIa 16 18 17 _Fiur -izlb

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

Invention title:

"SELF-OPENING REPEATING ACTION SHOTGUN"

Applicant:

SULUN ARMS PTY LTD

Associated provisional applications:

The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:

"SELF-OPENING REPEATING ACTION SHOTGUN"

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a self-opening repeating action shotgun.

Background to the Invention

[0002] Semi-automatic shotguns were widely available in Australia prior to 1996. Such are armed by horizontal retraction of a cocking handle. The mechanism is pulled back with the cocking handle by hand, in order to arm the shotgun before its first shot. Following a shot, the mechanism returns to its original (cocked) position without the need for user intervention; that is, the shotgun is automatically armed. In this type of shotgun, some of the gunpowder gas formed in the barrel during firing is discharged from the barrel gas holes and filled into the gas chamber. This compressed gas is used to drive a piston. Cartridge feeding is performed by means of the principle that the mechanism throws the empty cartridge and drives the full cartridge from the magazine into the barrel chamber.

[0003] Semi-automatic shotguns allow a user to fire as many cartridges as are held in a magazine without pausing in between shots. This is not only dangerous and potentially wasteful in hunting environments, it is also not permitted under current Federal regulations.

[0004] The present invention seeks to provide a single-shot self-opening repeating action shotgun. The invention was created in light of the above background.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a self-opening repeating action shotgun including a linearly moveable breech assembly, a hammer assembly operated by a trigger, a reloading assembly including a ramp, and a latch, the latch being pivotable about a pivot axis between an engaged position and a release position, the pivot axis being located forward of the hammer assembly, whereby when the latch is in its engaged position it prevents forward movement of the breech assembly, and when the latch is in its release position it permits forward movement of the breech assembly and reloading of the shotgun via the reloading assembly, the latch being biased towards its engaged position, and whereby when the latch is in its release position it prevents operation the hammer assembly, and when the latch is in its engaged position it permits operation of the hammer assembly.

[0006] It will be appreciated that the latch must be moved from the engaged position to the release position to allow forward movement of the breech assembly and loading of the shotgun, and the latch must be moved from the release position to the engaged position to allow firing of the shotgun by means of the trigger.

[0007] It will be further appreciated that the latch forces what would otherwise be a semi-automatic weapon to require manual intervention between each shot; that is, to be a self-opening repeating action shotgun.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments are possible, and consequently the particularity of the following discussion is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings:

[0009] Figure 1a is a first perspective of a shotgun mechanism in accordance with the present invention;

[0010] Figure lb is a second perspective of a shotgun mechanism in accordance with the present invention;

[0011] Figure 2a is a perspective of a latch handle from within the shotgun mechanism of Figure 1;

[0012] Figure 2b is perspectives of a loading ramp from within the mechanism of Figure 1;

[0013] Figure 2c is a perspective of a latching member from within the mechanism of Figure 1;

[0014] Figure 2d is a perspective of a limiting pin from within the mechanism of Figure 1;

[0015] Figure 2e is a perspective of a trigger from within the mechanism of Figure 1;

[0016] Figure 2f is a perspective of a hammer from within the mechanism of Figure 1;

[0017] Figure 3a is an internal view of a portion of a shotgun having a mechanism such as shown in Figure 1; and

[0018] Figure 3b is an external view of the shotgun of Figure 3a.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0019] The perspective views of the locking system that allows a single shot after the shotgun is installed, and that prevents the re-installation of the mechanism after the shot, in the shotgun with horizontal cartridge holder 20 that is the subject of the invention are given in Figures 1a and 1b. All parts that form the designed latching system 10 are positioned on the railing 11 that is connected to the rifle case from the bottom portion. In the shotgun 30, which is the subject of the invention, there is a trigger 12.

[0020] Figure 2e shows a detailed view of the trigger 12. In said trigger 12, there is a trigger pin 12.1 which is positioned perpendicular to its body. There is a hammer bearing 12.2 in which an outer end of a hammer 18 is positioned.

[0021] Figure 2f shows a detailed view of the hammer 18. There is a lug slot 18.1 formed on the body of the hammer 18 to enable the user to control its movement. There is a mounting slot 18.2 which is pinned to the railing 11 by means of a pivot pin 15. The hammer 18 is spring loaded (by a spring not shown) such that activation of the trigger 12 released an outer end of the hammer 18 from the hammer bearing 12.2, causing rotation of the hammer 18 about the mounting slot 18.2 through about 900. This results in the hammer 18 striking the cartridge holder 20 to cause firing of the shotgun 30.

[0022] The latching system 10 includes a latch arm 13 which is associated with a limiting member 16.

[0023] A detailed view of the latch arm 13, which is the main element of the designed latching system 10, is given in Figure-2a. The latch arm 13 includes an activating portion 13.1 at an outer end thereof arranged to be pressed by a user. Pressing of the activating portion 13.1 causes rotating of the latch arm about a pivot axis. The pivot axis is located within the railing 11, forward of the hammer 18.

[0024] Near the pivot axis the latch arm 13 includes a ramp tab 13.3, oriented away from the hammer 18. Opposite the ramp tab 13.3 is a hammer lug 13.2, arranged to engage with the lug slot 18.1 of the hammer 18. A spring 13.4 is positioned between the railing 11 such that it returns to the latch arm 13 to its original position after pressing of the activating 13.1 by a user, and a spring housing 13.5 is formed in order to position said spring 13.4 on the latch arm 13.

[0025] Figure 2b shows the detailed view of the ramp 14 used for loading of the shotgun. A latch housing 14.6 is formed on a rear side of said ramp 14 in order to engage with the ramp tab 13.3. The ramp 14 is centred with respect to the hammer 18, with the ramp 14 having an aperture 14.5 arranged to locate on the pivot pin 15, outside the hammer 18. The limiting member 16 is mounted to the ramp 14 by means of a pin, preferably via a mounting slot 14.1 that is circularly formed.

[0026] In Figure 2c, there is a detailed view of the limiting member 16. The limiting member 16 is connected to the ramp 14 in a centred manner by means of a pin passed through a centering cavity 16.1. A stopping body 16.2 is formed at the opposite end of the limiting member 16 to said centering cavity 16.1. The limiting member 16 includes a pin housing to which a limiting pin 17 is connected.

[0027] Figure 2d shows a detailed view of the limiting pin 17. The limiting pin 17 has a pin body 17.1, a pin spring 17.2 attached to said pin body 17.1 along its body, and a support element 17.3 that keeps the movement of the lower end within a certain limit by contacting the railing 11.

[0028] The limiting pin 17 extends between the trigger 12 and the limiting member 16.

[0029] Without the latching system 10 of the present invention, the shotgun would operate as follows:

[0030] Once a cartridge is loaded in the cartridge holder 20, and the cartridge holder 20 positioned in its forward position, depressing of the trigger 12 causes release of the hammer 18, which strikes the cartridge causing firing. The 'recoil' from the firing causes the cartridge holder 20 to move rearwardly ( in the direction marked 'x'on Figure 3a). The cartridge holder 20 acts against the limiting member 16,forcing the limiting member 16 to move against the limiting pin 17 and causing rotation of the ramp 14 about the pivot pin 15.

[0031] The ramp 14 is connected to a magazine, which is biased so as to urge a new cartridge into the ramp and then into the cartridge holder 20. The 'shot' cartridge has been ejected from the side using exhaust gases as a propellant.

[0032] The action is spring loaded so as to return the cartridge holder 20 to its forward position. The spring 17.2 of the limiting pin 17 urges the limiting member 16 back to its initial position. The shotgun is now ready to refire.

[0033] With the latching mechanism 10 of the present invention there are significant changes to this action.

[0034] When the cartridge holder 20 moves rearwardly in the 'x' direction, the stopping body 16.2 of the limiting member 16 drops into a position whereby it abuts the cartridge holder 20, and prevents forward movement of the cartridge holder 20.

[0035] At the same time, the ramp tab 13.3 prevents rotation of the ramp 14 about pivot pin 15.

[0036] This represents an engaged position of the latching mechanism 10.

[0037] When the activating portion 13.1 of the latch arm 13 is depressed, the latch arm pivots to release the limiting member 16 and the ramp 14, allowing the cartridge 20 to return to its forward position. This represents a release position of the latch arm 13.

[0038] The hammer lug 13.2 engages with the lug slot 18.1 in this position, to prevent rotation of the hammer 18 and firing of the shotgun 30. To allow for firing to occur, the latch arm 13 must be returned to its engaged position. This can be done by release of activating portion 13.1, with the spring 13.4 biased to return the latch arm 13 to the engaged position.

[0039] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (1)

1. Claims 1. A self-opening repeating action shotgun including a linearly moveable breech assembly, a hammer assembly operated by a trigger, a reloading assembly including a ramp, and a latch, the latch being pivotable about a pivot axis between an engaged position and a release position, the pivot axis being located forward of the hammer assembly, whereby when the latch is in its engaged position it prevents forward movement of the breech assembly, and when the latch is in its release position it permits forward movement of the breech assembly and reloading of the shotgun via the reloading assembly, the latch being biased towards its engaged position, and whereby when the latch is in its release position it prevents operation the hammer assembly, and when the latch is in its engaged position it permits operation of the hammer assembly.

   SULUNARMSPTYLTD By its Patent Attorneys ARMOUR IP

   P2475AU00