US1119756A - Magazine for rapid-fire arms. - Google Patents

Description

G. P. HOWE.

MAGAZINE FOR RAPID FIRE ARMS. APPLICATION FILED 213.11, 1914.

1,1 19,756. A Patented Dec. 1,1914.

4 SHEETBSHBBT l.

,l/II/Ill,

G. P. HOWE.

MAGAZINE FOR RAPID FIRE ARMS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.11. 1914.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. P. HOWE.

MAGAZINE FOR RAPID FIRE ARMS.

APPLICATION FILBDFBB.11,1914.

1 119 755, Patented De0.1,1914.

4 SHEETBSHEET 3.

G. P. HOWE.

MAGAZINE FOR RAPID FIRE ARMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.11.1914.

1,1 19,756. Patented Dec.1,1914.

4 SHBETS-SHEET 4.

v.1 f ,4 ZZCK. 726.

, HOWE, a citizen of the United States, and

GEORGE PLUMMER HOWE, OF BOSTbN, MASSACHUSETTS.

MAGAZINE FOR RAPID-FIRE ARMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Application filed February.1 1, 1914. Serial No. 818,126.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE ,PLuMMna resident of Boston, in the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Magazines for Rapid-Fire Arms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction and operation of rapid fire arms and is adaptable either to the full automatic or the semi-automatic types of such arms.

The object of my invention is'to provide means for re-loading the magaines of firearms of thegeneral type designated, with certainty and rapidity.

For the purposes of illustrating my invention and improvements, I take as an example of the type of firearm above designated, the. well known Colt automatic pistol. In

i this firearm the cartridges which constitute the ammunition are arranged side by side in a nearly vertical column in the magazine, the line of feed from the magazine. being transverse to the axes of the individual cartridges and the magazine being located in the handle or grip of the pistol.

In the drawings hereto annexed which illustrate ,my inventions and improvements,Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of a Colt automatic pistol comprising my improvements, the magazine being shown as closed; Fig. 2 1s a similar view showing the magazine open; Fig. 3 is a cross section taken at the line 33 of Fig.2; Fig. 4 shows a plurality of cartridges held as a unit in the ammunition clip which is a feature of my improvements; Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken through the magazine showing the magazine only partly filled with cartridges, which are disengaged from the ammunition clip; Fig. 6 is a section taken alcng the line 66 of Fig. 5, showing the ammunition cli'pis rear elevation; Fig. 7 is a section through the magazine cover taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a section of the magazine clip taken on the line 88 of Fig. 10 looking against the arrow points; Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the ammunition clip with the members thereof interlocked and in cartridge holding position; Fig. 10 is an elevation of the car.- tridges and the ammunition clip, the latter being shown with its members expanded and disengaged from the cartridges; Fig. 11 is a broken sectional view of portions of the Colt automatic pistol showing a modified or alternative form inwhich my inventions and improvements may be embodied; Fig. 12 isasection taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11 and showing the magazine case nearly but not quite inserted into the chamber therefor; Fig. 13 is a side elevation, partly bro-ken away, of the magazine case; 1g. 14 1s a front view of the ammunition clip with its members-in cartridge embracing position; Fig. 15 is a similar view of the ammunition clip' with its members in cartridge releasingposition;Fig. 16 shows the cartridges assembled in the clip; Fig. 17 is a cross section of the clip shown in Fig. 14 with a cartridge exhibited in elevation; Fig. 18 is another cross section ofthe ammunitlon clip, this section being taken through one of the cam slots therein; Fig. 19 is a side view, partly in broken section, of a portion of a Colt automatic pistol comprising another alternative form of my inventions and improvements; Fig. 20 is a vertical section through the' magazine case shown in Fig. 19; Fig. 21 is a rear elevation of the same magazine case; Fig. 22 is a cross section of the same magazine case taken at the line 22-22 of Fig. 19; Fig. 23 shows a plurality of cartridgesheld by an. ammunition clip of peculiar construction; Fig. 24; is a plan View of a portion of said ammunition clip; and Fig. 25 shows a magazine case in cross section and the ammunitionclip and cartridges in end view, the latter in the act (if-insertion into the magazine ease.

Referrin to Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive, which illustrate t at form of my inventions and improvements which I regard as preferable, the grip Gr constitutes the magazine (no separable magazine case such as is involved in the structures illustrated in Figs. 11 to 25, inclusive, being included in this preferred formv of my improvements). The magazine consisting thus of the grip G which is suitably chambered for the purpose, is provided with a lateral opening at G which opening issubstantially as large in'longitudinal dimensicn (-i. e. along the line of feed of the magazine) as the ammunition space of the magazine. This lateral opening in the magazine is covered by a slidable cover C of which the'plate S is slidably fitted into the magazine opening Gt The plate S is channeled obliquely to receive the latch L (Figs. 1, 2 and 7) which when the cover C is closed engages with a notch Nand when the, cover is open, with the notch N, both these notches being formed in a side of the magazine opening G The latch L is impelled'towarcl notch-engaging position by the spring L and may be withdrawn from notch-engaging position by means of the knurled boss L which, projecting into a recess C in the cover C, may conveniently be operated by the thumb or finger.

In the ammunition chamber of the magazine there is provided the usual ammunition feeding spring D with its follower" F. The

follower F (see Fig. 5) is providedwith a side plate F from which a spur F is laterally and outwardly'bent so as to engage with the projections on the inside of the plate SQ \Vhen, therefore, the cover C (the latch L being first withdrawn for the purpose) is slid downward from'the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shownin Fig. 2, the projection S engages the spur F and compresses the spring D, opening the magazine and preparing the space above the follower F for the insertion of ammunition.

-While it would be possibleto insert loose cartridges into the magazine through the lateral opening provided by withdrawal of the cover (J, I consider it preferable to prepar'e the ammunition so that several car tridgesusually a full magazine charge-- may be inserted as a unit into the magazine through the lateral opening. For this pun; pose l'have contrived an ammunition clip,

which serves to hold a plurality of car'- tridges'assembled as a unit and ready forinsertion into the'magazme and which also" cooperates with the magazine mechanism and becomes a functional factor related to the magazine mechanism after the clip and the plates A and A cartridges'embraced therebyhave been introduced into the magazine.

A simple and I believefthe' best form of ammunition clip is shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. Referring to Fig. 9, which shows the ammunition clip on a large scale,v the clip comprises two members, namely, the

These plates are each turned up at an edge to form the cartridgeengaging lips A A., respectively. The plate Av has inclined cam slots A? cut in it and the plate A is provided with spurs A 'Which extend through the cam slots A" and are bent around the plate A so that the two plates A and Aare secured together. Inasseinbling the cartridges B in the clip, the two plates are slid longitudinally on each other to the position shown in Fig. 10. In this i position the cooperation of the cam slots A and spurs A cause the two plate members A and A to spread apart so that the cartridges B can be inserted between the flanges or lips A and A of the plates A and A plates A and A are then slid back into the relation shown in Fig. ,9, this movement drawing the hps A and A into engagement The 1 with the usual channels atthe basesfo f the cartridge shells. Then the corners A and p Q A of the plates A and A, respectively, are

7 slightly bentup so as to prevent the cartridges B from slipping out lengthwise. It will be observed that there is a shoulder. A"

upon plate A and a similar shoulder A upon plate A these for a purpose presently to be described. 7

The magazine being opened (Figi2)fla clip filled with cartridges as above described is inserted as a unit into the lateralr'openin i of the magazine and thereupon the late L is withdrawn from engagement with notchN and the islidable cover C moved upward to 'close' the openingfG- This of projection S upon the spur F, the latter being on thefollower F so that the spring" D exerts pressure uponthe lowermost ear- 'tridge in the magazine. Thisoressure apend of the plied at first upon the forwar movement of the cover C'releasesthe hold cartridge tends to tilt the lowermost car.-

jtridge and the 'others'in turn toward the position shown in Fig. 5, but until thecartridges arereleased fromthe-embraceof the ammunition clip, this tilting movement cannot be completed.

To release the cartridge fromthe embrace:

of the ammunition clip, the two plate mem bers A' and A must be slid lengthwise on one another 50 that the cam slots AAco-z operating with the spurs A will compelv the two plates'A and A" to spread a art-and" thus to disengage the cartridges rom'the' lips A and A. At 'one side'ofthe magazine in the'upper part thereof (see Fig 6) there is provided a shoulder G and; on the slide there is provided the projection S.- As the'closing movement of the cover C is being completed the projection S engages with the shoulder A upon plate. A while the similar shoulder A upon plate A strikes against the shoulder or abutment G". Then the final closing movement of the cover C. obliges the plate A to slide upward to the position shown in F ig 6 while plate A is restrained bythe abutment G; the two plates A and A are thusslid longitudinally relatively to one another and are atthe-sa'melf tnne spread apart through the cooperation of the cam slots A and the spurs A". The a cartridges are'thereby released from the 'emi A brace ofthe ammunition clip which thereafter plays no part inthe operationof-Ithe firearm \Vhn cartridges,

releases the ammunition clip which readily the magazineha's been emptied of d and it is desired to insert a fresh charge, the cover 0 1s again opened. Thisfalls out or may be shaken. out tomake place" for a--fresh clip with the cartridges assem-" bled in it.

Figs. 11 to 18, inclusive, illustrate an alternative'form in which my improvements may be embodied, and one in which the inner sheet metal magazine case to be found in the Colt automatic pistol as at present manufactured, is retained. This form of my invention, therefore, is adapted to incorporation into the structure of automatic pistols as now manufactured and may possess special practical value for that reason, although as I have already intimated I regard the.

structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to inclusive as a better concrete example of my improvements. Referring to Fig. 11, M represents the sheet metal magazine case which is housed within the pistol grip G. This magazine case is provided with notches at M and M which engage with the toe H of the spring catch H.- The magazine case M is also slotted at M this slot providing a way for the movement of the spur F, formed at the lower edge of the side wall F on the follower F and projecting outward through the slot M At the bottom of the slot M there is a lateral notch M to engage the spur F when the follower F is drawn down to compress the magazine spring D. One side, to wit, the rear, of the magazine case M is cut away, forming a lateral opening at the rear of the magazine case whichis substantially of the same longitudinal dimensions as the ammunition space of the magazine. The metal wall near the base of the case M is notched or stepped as seen in Fig. '12, and the metal at one side is turned in to form a stiffshoulder at M (Fig. 13). At the upper end of the case the lateral opening is bounded by a strip of metal M which constitutes a bridge from one. side to the other of the magazine case M.

To prepare the magazine case M for reloading,the spring catch H is sprung outward, disengaging the toe H from the notch M and the magazine is then slid down out of the grip G in the usual way, the spring clip H moving inward when the notch M arrives at a position opposite the toe H. The magazine case M is then swung forward on the toe H as a pivot, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11, to expose the lateral opening at the rear thereof to its full extent.

The ammunition unit consisting of a group of cartridges B is held in a clip of practically the same construction as the clip already described in connection with Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive, so that a further description of all the details of this ammunition clip is unnecessary.

\Vhen the magazine case M is protruded to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11, the follower F is moved downward by means of the spur F and the spur F insorted in the notch M so that the spring I) is held compressed between the follower and the base plate. of the magazine case M. Then when the ammunition unit consisting 'of cartridges B held in the ammunition clip is inserted as a unit in the magazine case M through the rear opening thereof, the lowermost cartridge in the clip be'ars on the follower F and tips it downward and forward, releasing the spur F from the notch M. Then the magazine case M is turned rearwardly and reinsertedjnto the chamber in the grip G. At the close of this movement of reinsertion of the magazine case M, the stud E (Figs. 11' and 12) which projects into the space within the pistol grip and is carried on the end of the spring E, standsin the path of the shoulder A? on the clip plate A and .arrests the plate A while the ledge M (Fig. 13)- bearing on the corner A of plate A continues to force plate A upward. By this means the plates A and A are slid with relation to each other and spread apart by the intersection of the camslots A and spurs A, releasing the cartridges from the embrace of the lips A and A. In the discharge of the firearm the cartridges are fed upward in the usual manner. When the magazine is emptied the magazine case M is again extrudedfrom the clip G and the ammunition clip remaining therein either falls out or may be easilyremoved to make way for the insertion of a new ammunition unit.

The upper side of the stud E is beveled, and the top edge of the magazine-case M is inclined at M (Fig. 12) so that the stud 112 yields to allow the magazine case M to pass it in either direction.

In the examples of my improvements hereinabove described the ammunition clip enters the magazine, remains there, and oooperates functionally with the magazine F igs. 19 to 25, inclusive, the ammunition clip cooperates with the magazine case to deliver the cartridges to the case and is thereupon withdrawn before reinsertion of the:

magazine ease into thegrip G, leaving the cartridges engaged with the magazine case without the clip. Referring to Figs. 19 to 25, it will be seen that the arm is of the same general character as that illustrated in Figs. 11 to 18 inclusive, in that the magazine involves the use of a sheet metal case M, which in so far as concerns its mode of extrusion and replacement in the magazine space within the grip G, is constructed in much the same manner as the magazine case shown in Fig. 11, and therefore need not be described in full detail. In this instance, however, the opening at the rear of the case M is formed so that the sides of the magazine case are inturned so as to form cartridge gripping lips M and M, and notches erture smaller in longitudinal dimension than the entire ammunition space in the magazine. In degree, the modes of operation and the convenience in loading will differ in such case from the mode of operation and attendant conveniences peculiar to vthe arrangement specifically shown in the is introduced as a unit, said clip comprising a pair of interlocked members, and means operated by the closure of the magazine to disengage the cartridges from the clip members.

2. In a firearm of the type designated, the combination of a magazine provided with a lateral opening of substantially the same longitudinal dimension as the ammunition space of the magazine, means to expose said lateral opening for the introduction of ammunition, a clip to hold a plurality of cartridges,'whereby a plurality of cartridges is introduced as a unit, said clip comprising a pair of cartridge-embracing plates, one provided with inclined cam slots, the other with spurs engaging-said cam slots, and means operated by the closure of the magazine to slide the said plates on each other and spread them, thereby to release the. can, tridges from the embrace of said plates.

3. In a firearm of the type designated, the combination of a magazine provided with a lateral opening, a movable cover for said opening, an ammunition feeding spring in the magazine, and means actuated by the movable cover to compress the spring as the cover is moved to expose the said magazine opening.

4. In a firearm of the type designated, the combination of a magazine provided with a lateral opening of substantially the same longitudinal dimension as the ammunition space of the magazine, a slidably mounted cover for said opening, an ammunition feeding spring in the magazine, and means actuated by the sliding cover to engage and compress the spring as the cover is moved to expose the said magazine opening.

5. In a firearm of the type designated, combination of a magazine provided with a lateral opening of substantially the same longitudinal dimension as the ammunition space of the magazine, a movable cover for said opening, a clip to hold a plurality of cartridges for simultaneous introduction of longitudinal dimension as the ammunition I lateral openin said cartridges as a unit into the opening in. the magazine, said clip comprising a pair of interlocked members, and means actuated by the magazine cover to disengage the cartridges from said clip members on closure of the cover.

6. a firearm of the type designated, the combination of a magazine provided with a lateral opening of substantially the same space of the magazine, a movable'cover for said opening, a clipto hold a plurality of cartridges for simultaneous introduction of said cartridges as a unit into the opening in the magazine, said clip comprising a pair of cartridge-embracin plates, one provided with inclined cams ots, the other with spurs engaging said cam slots, and means, actuated by the magazine cover to engage and slide the said plates on each other and spread them, thereby to release the cartridges from the embrace of said plates.

' 7. In a firearm of the type designated, the combination of a ma azine with a lateral opening of substantially the same longitudinal dimension as the ammunition space of the magazine, a slidably mounted cover for said opening, an ammunition feeding spring in the magazine, means carried by theslid ing cover to engage and compress the spring asthe cover is moved to expose the said magazine opening, and a clip to hold a plurality of cartridges, said clip and cartridges introduceable as a unit into the said magazine opening.

8. In a firearm of the type designated, the combination of a magazine provided with a lateralopening of substantially the same'longitudinal dimension as the ammunition space of the magazine, a slidably mounted cover for said opening, an ammunition ,feeding spring in the magazine, means carried by the sliding cover to engage and compress the spring as the cover is moved to expose the said magazine opening, a clip to hold a plurality of cartridges, said clip and cartridges introduceable as aunit into the said magazine opening, "the clip comprising a pair of interlocked memclip members on closure of the cover.

9. In a firearm of the type designated, the

combination of a magazine provided with a longitudinal dimension as the ammunition space of the magazine, a slidably mounted cover for said opening, an ammunition feeding spring in the magazine, means carried by the sliding cover to engage and compress the spring as the cover is moved to expose the said magazine opening, a clip to hold a plurality of cartridges for simultaneous introduction of said cartridges as a unit into the opening in the magazine, said clip com:

of substantially the same 12 prising a "pair of cartridge embracing' plates, one provided with inclined cam slots,

the other with spurs engaging said cam slots, and meansactuated' by the magazine cover to engage and slide the said plates on each other and spread them on closure of the'cover, thereby to release the cartridges from the embrace of said plates.

10. In a firearm of'the type designated,

the combination of a magazine provided with aqlateraluopening of substantially the same longitudinal dimension as the ammunition. space of the magazine, a slidably 'mounted cover for said open ng, an ammu-' 1n the magazine,

nition feeding sp-rin means carried by the sliding cover to engage and compress thetospringgas the cover is,

' moved to expose the said magazine opening,

a clip to hold a plurality of cartridges, said clip and cartridges introduceable as a unit into said ma azine opening, and a catch car magazine cover. to holdthe ried' by sai same in place. a v a 11. In a firearm of thtype'designated,

the combination. of a magazine rovided with a lateral" opening of substantlally the same longitudinal dimension asf'the ammunition space of. the magazine,'-a slidably mounted cover for said opening,an ammu-- v nition feedin sprin means carried y the s iding cover to engage and compress the spring as the cover is moved to expose the said magazine opening, a clip to hold a plurality of cartridges, said clip and cartridges introduceable as a unit into the said magazine opening, the clip to hold the same. in place.

in the magazine, gned by. me at Brenton, Massachusetts,

comprising a pair of interlocked members, a: means actuated by the ma azine cover to disengage I the cartridges rom said cli members on closure of the cover, andja catc with a] lateral opening: of substantially the same longitudinal dimension as the .-ammu-- Y nition space; of the magazine, a slidably mounted cover for said opening, an.ammunition,feedin spring in the magazine,

meansfcarried1 y the sliding cover to engage and compress the spring as the cover is' 'moved to expose the said ma acli ,to hold a plurality of cartridges for simu taneous introduction of said cartridges as" a unit into the opening in the magazine, said clip comprising a pair of cartridgeembracing plates, one provided with inclined cam slots, the other withspurswengaging said camslots, means actuated bv the magazin e cover-- to en age and slide thesaid plates-on each ot er' and spread them on closure of thecover, thereby to release the cartridges from the embrace ofsaid plates, and a catch carried by said azi'n'e opening,

40 carried by said magazine cover to hold the same in place. i

12. In a: firearm of the type designated, the combination of a magazine provided '7

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