GB1590096A

GB1590096A - Gun

Info

Publication number: GB1590096A
Application number: GB4548577A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Verney Carron SA
Current assignee: Verney Carron SA
Priority date: 1975-09-26
Filing date: 1977-11-01
Publication date: 1981-05-28
Also published as: FR2370254A2; FR2370254B2; BE858591R; DE2748390A1

Description

(54) GUN (71) We, VERNEY-CARRON S.A., a French Body Corporate, of 17 cours Fauriel, 42100 Saint Etienne, Loire, France, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to guns, for example guns of the kind having a barrel assembly pivotable, adjacent to a breech portion thereof, relative to a stock assembly.

The provision of sporting guns of the aforesaid kind with juxtaposed barrels is known.

The present invention relates to modifications of and/or improvements in the invention of our Patent No. 1 556 732.

It has been found that a gun embodying the invention of our above-mentioned patent may possibly, in some circumstances, suffer from certain disadvantages in operation, adjustment and assembly.

Reference should be made to our above-mentioned patent.

When a juxtaposed-barrel sporting gun embodying the invention of our aforesaid patent has been opened, and when it is being closed, it might just be possible if the user actuates the triggers, for each cocking cam to push a striker backwards, which striker is initially in its forward positon, and then, when the said cam pivots downwards, the striker, which has not been cocked by the retracted sear, could suddenly move forwards again under the thrust of its loading spring. Thus, if a cartridge has been engaged in the barrel, a shot may be inadvertently fired.

Further, it has been found that in such a gun absolute alignment of the head of the fore-end, or breech-end, with the action of the gun may be inhibited.

It has also been found that the assembly may be complicated due to the fact that the freely rotatably mounted cams can encounter the ends of the ejection rods in the assembly of the firearm.

According to the present invention there is provided a gun of the kind having a barrel assembly pivotable. adjacent a breech end thereof, relative to a stock assembly, about a break axis of the gun, from a firing disposition to an open disposition for cartridge extraction and reloading, the barrel assembly including first and second juxtaposed cams mounted so as to be pivotable about a common camming axis which is parallel to but spaced from the said break axis, the first cam being arranged for co-operating with a longitudinally movable member of a firing mechanism, forming part of the said stock assembly, for bringing about cocking of the firing mechansim, when the barrel assembly is pivoted from the said open disposition to the said firing disposition, and the second cam being formed and arranged for cooperating with the said longitudinally movable member, for bringing about rearward displacement of a cartridge at the breech end of the barrel assembly, when the barrel assembly is pivoted from the said firing disposition to the said open disposition, and the barrel assembly further including a head portion that is recessed longitudinally of the gun, the recess being open towards the stock assembly and having at its closed end a concave rounded face which fits and bears on a forward convex rounded face of a support member on a rearward nose portion of which the said juxtaposed cams are mounted and that is pivotable, relative to other parts of the barrel assembly, about the said break axis, the support member being accommodated in the said recess with a clearance such as to permit selective adjustment of the angular position of the common camming axis about the said break axis, wherein the said head portion comprises a selectively rotatable finger disposed longitudinally of the gun and having an eccentric tip which projects rearwardly beyond the said concave rounded face and engages in a hole in the said forward convex rounded face of the support member, whereby rotation of the finger, and consequent eccentric oscillation of its tip causes pivoting of the support member about the break axis, thereby providing for the said selective adjustment.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the following features may be facilitated: -simplicity of adjustment of a firearm, -simplicity of assembly of a firearm, -making an unloaded firearm safe without damage to the striker pins, and -reliability and safety of the weapon.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a sporting gun embodying the present invention, in the closed and firing position, Figure 2 is a partially exploded perspective view, drawn to a large scale, of part of the gun of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a view from above, drawn to a large scale, of parts of the gun of Figure 1, portions of the gun obscuring the view of the illustrated parts being omitted from the Figure, Figure 4 is a view of parts of the barrel assembly of the gun of Figure 1 seen from below, portions of the gun obscuring the view of the illustrated parts being omitted from the Figure, Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, drawn to a large scale, for illustrating more particularly parts of the gun of Figure 1 in a first condition, Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5, illustrating parts of the gun in a second condition, and Figures 7 to 11 are views of purely diagrammatical character which illustrate the various operational positions of parts of the gun of Figure 1.

The provision of sporting guns of the kind with juxtaposed barrels, in which guns cocking and cartridge ejecting mechanisms are operated when the weapon is opened is well known. Such cocking and ejecting mechanisms have, however, usually required independent devices driving a plurality of parts and return means which are of complicated and costly construction.

A construction for sporting guns with juxtaposed barrels, in which the outer shrouding of the gun is provided with two lateral hooks co-operating at two points with the break axis of the action of the gun in order to ensure a perfect seating and a good resistance to the forces set up when cartridges in the gun are fired is also known.

The illustrated gun, embodying the present invention, having juxtaposed barrels, is such that cocking and ejection is effected by cams, and comprises a percussion mechanism utilising the space present between two hooks of the gun, and having two sets of movable strikers each having a roller for guiding it in a horizontal translational movement in the action of the gun, and in its forward part another roller and a finger or arm acting respectively on a cocking cam and on an ejection cam which are lodged in a fitted-on head which pivots about the axis of the action with the barrels, the said fitted-on head being formed in a rear portion thereof with a rounded transverse groove which bears against the fore-end of the action.

It will be seen from Figure 1 that the gun (which has two side-by-side barrels) comprises an acition 37, a barrel 38, an outer shrouding 39 and a fore-end 40. A fitted-on head 41 of the fore-end is formed at the rear thereof with a rounded transverse groove 41l which bears against a forward part 37' of the action 37.

A cylindrical finger 42, lodged axially and longitudinally in the fitted-on head 41 has at its rear end (from the point of view of the gun as a whole) an eccentric conical tip 42l which projects from the groove 41'. The said tip 421 is engaged, in the fitting of the fore-end 40, in a hole 432 extending axially and longitudinally in a support member 43 of the gun, which support member is so mounted as to be selectively rotatable on a pivot pin 44 of the action.

Rotation of the said finger 42 permits, by means of its tip 42', exct alignment of the fitted-on head 41 of the fore-end with the action 37.

On the other hand, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 (which Figures show the fitted-on head of the fore-end of the gun and illustrate particularly the engagement of the eccentric tip of the finger 42 in the monoblock, integrally formed, support member 43), the eccentric tip 42l of finger 42 permits, on rotation of the finger through 1800 (between the positions shown in Figures 5 and 6), the angular displacement of the support member 43, which renders possible a circular variation of the positioning of pivot pin 45 of ejection cams 46, for the purpose of retarding or advancing ejection operations.

The finger 42 has a groove 422 (Figure 6), in which there bears the end of a pressure screw 47 which holds fast the finger 42 in a selected position.

The support member 43 is made in a single piece and is rounded at its forward end to corrcspond to the groove 41 in the fitted-on head 41.

The rear of the support member 43 forms two forks whose bases are stepped with different slopes to form abutments and bearing members for the ejection and cocking cams 46 and 48 respectively.

A pair of juxtaposed cams 46 and 48 is engaged in each symmetrical fork and pivoted about the pin 45. The respective pairs of cams act for the respective barrels.

As illustrated in Figure 2 (which shows the support member 43 together with ejection and cocking cams 46 and 48, partly exploded to illustrate the detailed arrangement of parts), each ejection cam 46 has concentrically with its pivotal axis a recess 461 to receive a coil spring 49 working in torsion,the bent-over ends of which are respectively engaged in a hole 462 in the recess 461 and in a hole 48' in the adjacent cocking cam 48.

The spring 49 returns and urges the cams into a retracted position. The active portion of the cocking cam 48 which cooperates with a roller 50 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 7 to 11) of a striker 51, as illustrated in Figure 1, is downwardly directed and applied against the base of the action, while the active portion of the ejection cam 46 which cooperates with an end of an ejection rod 52 (see Figs. 1, 6 and 7) is applied against the base of the relevant fork of the support member 43.

This particular arrangement facilitates the assembly of the gun in such manner that cams do not bear on the ends of ejection rods 52.

Further, each cocking cam 48 receives on its external face (the face away from the adjacent ejection cam) a pawl 53 which is so mounted as to be freely rotatable on the said cam 48. The pawl 53 has a pin 531 which is either fitted to it or directly formed on it, and which is engaged in a hole 482 in the cam 48. A recess 483 is formed concentrically with the hole 482 to receive a coil spring 54 working in torsion and effecting the continuous return or urging of a concave forward face of the pawl 53 towards and on to the rounded rear end of an external wing 43' of the respective fork of the support member 43 (see Figure 3). Bent-over ends of the spring 54 are respectively engaged in a hole 484 in the recess 483 and in a hole 532 in the pawl 53. Figure 3 shows the action of the gun comprising cocking members and cams, and illustrates the assembly shown in Figure 2.In Figure 3 the strikers are shown in the cocked position.

The operation of the pawl will be more readily understood by reference to Figures 7 to 11. Figures 7 to 1 f illustrate diagrammatically the positions of the cocking cam 48 and the pawl 53 in relation to the striker 51 in the course of opening, and thereafter closing of the gun. The ejection cam is not illustrated.

As is shown in Figure 7, when the gun is closed and the striker is uncocked, the cam 48 is retracted in the downward direction (see Figs. 1 and 2) and the pawl 53 bears by its concave forward face on the rounded end 43' of the fork, so as not to interfere with the striker 51 during firing (see Fig. 3).

On opening of the gun (Figure 8), the cocking cam 48 pushes the roller 50 of the striker 51, while the rectilinear upper face of the pawl 53 bears on external wing 511 of the fork (see Figs. 1 and 3) formed at the end of the said striker and then the pawl 53 pivots about its pin 531 until it leaves the wing 511. The pawl 53 is then automatically returned by its spring 54 against the wing 421 of the fork of the support member 43.

On completion of opening of the gun, as shown in Figure 9, when the active end of the cam 48 passes over the axis of the roller 50, the cam 48 pivots upwards under the thrust of the striker, which strikes. by means of projecting inner wing 5l2 of the fork, against the ejection cam (not shown in Figure 9, but see Fig. 3).

If pressure is inadvertently applied to the trigger in the closing of the gun, the cam 48 forces back the striker 51 until its active end passes over the axis of the roller 50. Figure 10 shows a position through which the various members pass during closing. At this instant, when the gun is closed, the striker 51, which has not been retained by the sear retracted by pressure on the trigger, is pushed forwards by its spring. It is then that the pawl 53 becomes operative, its forward face being contact with the wing or rounded end 43' of the fork. The inclined forward end 513 of the wing 511 of the striker abuts the rectilinear rear face 533 of the pawl. This configuration is shown in Figure 11.

The striker is thus stopped in its travel, so that the striker pin 514 (Figure 1) does not project beyond the forward face of the cartridge chamber and undesirably strike the cartridge or enter its recess.

This arrangement is particularly useful when the user desires to lay down his unloaded gun or uncock his gun without damaging the striker pin. The pawl also affords additional safety when the gun is loaded and a pressure is involuntarily exerted on the trigger in the closing of the gun.

It will be seen that it is sufficient to reopen the gun and then to reclose it in order to bring about its reloading or recocking.

Figure 4 illustrates another feature of the gun, which provides a blade which causes the ejection rods to project when the barrel assembly is demounted. A blade 55 (seen also in Fig. 1) is slidably mounted in respective grooves in the outer shrouding 39 of the gun. The forward end of the blade 55 is squared and is formed with a hole 552 (shown in Figures 5 and 6) for the engagement of a rod 57 fast with a slider 58 (see also Fig. 1) of the barrel assembly. A coil spring guided on the rod 57 rearwardly displaces the blade 55, which pushes the ends of the ejection rods 52 (see Fig. 1) for the purpose of causing them to project when the barrel is demounted.

The mounting of the barrel on the action is thus facilitated, since the ejection rods are pushed backwards and are not likely in any case to abut the ends of the cams 46.

In the asembly of the gun and notably on closure, the ejection rods and consequently the blade 55 are pushed forwards. At the end of the forward travel of the blade 55, a finger 60 (see Figs. 1, 5 and 6) fast with the fore-end engages in a hole 5 (see Figs. 5 and 6) in the squared forward end of the said blade.

The said blade 55 is thus neutralised and no longer acts on the ejection rods on opening or closing of the gun.

Conversely, when it is desired to disassemble the firearm, simple retraction of the fore-end 40 results in release of the blade 55, which bears on the end of the ejection rods.

Preferably a U-shaped member 61 (Figure 4) is mounted below the outer shrouding 39 and forms a rear abutment for the ends if the ejection rods when the said rods project from the outer shrouding.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A gun of the kind having a barrel assembly pivotable, adjacent a breach end thereof, relative to a stock assembly, about a break axis of the gun, from a firing disposition to an open disposition for cartridge extraction and reloading, the barrel assembly including first and second juxtaposed cams mounted so as to be pivotable about a common camming axis which is parallel to but spaced from the said break axis, the first cam being arranged for co-operating with a longitudinally movable member of a firing mechanism, forming part of the said stock assembly, for bringing about cocking of the firing mechanism, when the barrel assembly is pivoted from the said open disposition to the said firing disposition, and the second cam being formed and arranged for cooperating with the said longitudinally movable member, for bringing about rearward displacement of a cartridge at the breech end of the barrel assembly, when the barrel assembly is pivoted from the said firing disposition to the said open disposition, and the barrel assembly further including a head portion that is recessed longitudinally of the gun, the recess being open towards the stock assembly and having at its closed end a concave rounded face which fits and bears on a forward convex rounded face of a support member on a rearward nose portion of which the said juxtaposed cams are mounted and that is pivotable, relative to other parts of the barrel assembly, about the said break axis, the support member being accommodated in the said recess with a clearance such as to permit selective adjustment of the angular position of the common camming axis about the said break axis, wherein the said head portion comprises a selectively rotatable finger disposed longitudinally of the gun and having an eccentric tip which projects rearwardly beyond the said concave rounded face and engages in a hole in the said forward convex rounded face of the support member, whereby rotation of the finger, and consequent eccentric oscillation of its tip causes pivoting of the support member about the break axis, thereby providing for the said selective adjustment.

2. A gun as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said rearward nose portion of the support member is forked to provide two arms between which the first and second cams are so mounted, the said common camming axis extending transversely of the said two arms, there being fast resilient means whereby the first and second cams are urged into dispositions in which they do not co-operate with the said longitudinally movable member when the gun is cocked, in the firing disposition.

3. A gun as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first cam has mounted thereon, on a face thereof opposite to that face thereof which is juxtaposed with the second cam, a pawl arranged for co-operating with the said longitudinally movable member of the firing mechanism in such a manner that if a trigger of the gun is pulled whilst the gun is opened then thereafter, during closure of the gun, when the barrel assembly is pivoted from the said open disposition to the said firing disposition, the pawl engages the said longitudinally movable member of the firing mechanism and terminates forward movement thereof, thereby preventing a firing pin of the gun, mounted so as to move in concert with the longitudinally movable member of the firing mechanism, moving forwardly to a position in which it would fire a cartridge in the gun upon said closure of the gun.

4. A gun as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said firing mechanism extends between fastening hooks of the barrel assembly that engage with the stock assembly when the barrel assembly is in the said firing position.

5. A gun as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said longitudinally movable member, which extends within a bore formed in a part of the stock assembly, is provided in the vicinity of a forward end thereof with a first roller, cooperating with the first cam, and a second, guiding, roller, to allow the said movable member free movement with the said bore.

6. A gun as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a forward end portion of the said longitudinally movable member forms a projecting arm for cooperating with the sec

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. barrel is demounted. The mounting of the barrel on the action is thus facilitated, since the ejection rods are pushed backwards and are not likely in any case to abut the ends of the cams 46. In the asembly of the gun and notably on closure, the ejection rods and consequently the blade 55 are pushed forwards. At the end of the forward travel of the blade 55, a finger 60 (see Figs. 1, 5 and 6) fast with the fore-end engages in a hole 5 (see Figs. 5 and 6) in the squared forward end of the said blade. The said blade 55 is thus neutralised and no longer acts on the ejection rods on opening or closing of the gun. Conversely, when it is desired to disassemble the firearm, simple retraction of the fore-end 40 results in release of the blade 55, which bears on the end of the ejection rods. Preferably a U-shaped member 61 (Figure 4) is mounted below the outer shrouding 39 and forms a rear abutment for the ends if the ejection rods when the said rods project from the outer shrouding. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A gun of the kind having a barrel assembly pivotable, adjacent a breach end thereof, relative to a stock assembly, about a break axis of the gun, from a firing disposition to an open disposition for cartridge extraction and reloading, the barrel assembly including first and second juxtaposed cams mounted so as to be pivotable about a common camming axis which is parallel to but spaced from the said break axis, the first cam being arranged for co-operating with a longitudinally movable member of a firing mechanism, forming part of the said stock assembly, for bringing about cocking of the firing mechanism, when the barrel assembly is pivoted from the said open disposition to the said firing disposition, and the second cam being formed and arranged for cooperating with the said longitudinally movable member, for bringing about rearward displacement of a cartridge at the breech end of the barrel assembly, when the barrel assembly is pivoted from the said firing disposition to the said open disposition, and the barrel assembly further including a head portion that is recessed longitudinally of the gun, the recess being open towards the stock assembly and having at its closed end a concave rounded face which fits and bears on a forward convex rounded face of a support member on a rearward nose portion of which the said juxtaposed cams are mounted and that is pivotable, relative to other parts of the barrel assembly, about the said break axis, the support member being accommodated in the said recess with a clearance such as to permit selective adjustment of the angular position of the common camming axis about the said break axis, wherein the said head portion comprises a selectively rotatable finger disposed longitudinally of the gun and having an eccentric tip which projects rearwardly beyond the said concave rounded face and engages in a hole in the said forward convex rounded face of the support member, whereby rotation of the finger, and consequent eccentric oscillation of its tip causes pivoting of the support member about the break axis, thereby providing for the said selective adjustment.

ond cam.

7. A gun as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said support member is made in one piece.

8. A gun as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a screw for securing the said finger in a selected position.

9. A gun as claimed in at least claim 2, wherein the said first resilient means com rises a torsion spring which engages the first and second cams and is accomodated in a recess formed in at least one of the cams, concentrically with the said camming axis.

10. A gun as claimed in at least claim 3, wherein the said pawl is pivotally mounted on the first cam towards the camming surface thereof that cooperates with said longitudinally movable member, second resilient means urges a face of the pawl into contact with an adjacent one of the said arms of the support member, a rectilinear face of the pawl forms an abutment for terminating forward movement of the said longitudinally movable member as the gun is closed, and the pawl is so mounted as to be freely rotated by, and thereby disengaged from, the said longitudinal movable member, as the gun is opened uncocked.

11. A gun as claimed in claim 10, wherein the said second resilient means comprises a torsion spring disposed concentrically about the pivoting axis of the pawl and housed in a recess formed in the first cam.

12. A gun as claimed in at least claims 5, 6 and 10, wherein the forward end of the said longitudinally movable member is forked to provide two arms between which the said first roller is mounted, one of which arms co-operates with the said second cam and the other of which arms has an inclined forward face which is substantially aligned with the said first roller and cooperates with the said rectilinear face of the pawl.

13. A gun as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a further longitu'ndinally movable member is mounted slidably beneath a barrel of the gun and has a rearward end which engages a forward end of an ejector rod of the gun, which rod is engaged by the said second cam to cause such rearward displacement of a cartridge at the breech end of the barrel assembly, by means of rearward displacement of the rod until its rearward end projects beyond the breech opening of the barrel assembly. there being third resilient means arranged to act upon said further longitudinally movable member so as to urge it rearwardly, whereby, when the barrel assembly is demounted from the stock assembly. the said rearward end of the ejector rod projects beyond the said breech end, thereby to facilitate remounting of the barrel assembly, and so that thereafter, upon closure of the gun, the said further longitudinally movable member is urged forwardly by forward movement of the ejector rod, there being locking means provided on the barrel assembly to lock the said further longitudinally movable member in a forward disposition such that it no longer acts upon the ejector rod.

14. A gun as claimed in claim 13, wherein said further longitudinally movable member comprises a blade which is guided in grooves formed in a shrouding of the gun, the said locking means comprises a finger which engages an aperture in the blade, the forward end of the blade is squared and formed with another aperture in which engages a rod secured to a slider of the barrel, and the said third resilient means comprises a coil spring constrained on the said rod.

15. A gun as claimed in claim 13 or 14, comprising a substantially U-shaped member which is secured under a shrouding of the gun and forms an abutment for the forward end of the said ejector rod when the rearward end thereof projects beyond the breech opening of the barrel assembly.

16. A gun as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said firing mechanism is for use with a first barrel of the said barrel assembly, which assembly includes a second barrel extending alongside the said first barrel, and the said stock assembly includes a second such firing mechanism, for use with the second barrel, the barrel assembly further including third and fourth juxtaposed cams, mounted so as to be pivotable about a second such common camming axis, for cooperating respectively with the longitudinally movable member of the second firing mechanism in like manner as the first and second cams co-operate with the longitudinally movable member of claim 1.

17. A gun substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.