US20110083351A1 - Firearm indexing mechanism - Google Patents
Firearm indexing mechanism Download PDFInfo
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- US20110083351A1 US20110083351A1 US12/578,551 US57855109A US2011083351A1 US 20110083351 A1 US20110083351 A1 US 20110083351A1 US 57855109 A US57855109 A US 57855109A US 2011083351 A1 US2011083351 A1 US 2011083351A1
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- cylinder
- revolver
- hammer
- frame
- pawl
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41C—SMALLARMS, e.g. PISTOLS, RIFLES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- F41C3/00—Pistols, e.g. revolvers
- F41C3/14—Revolvers
Definitions
- the present invention relates to firearms, and more particularly to an indexing mechanism for firearms.
- a single action revolver usually includes a hammer actuated by the user to produce rotation of a cylinder containing cartridges discharged by the revolver.
- firing is caused by a subsequent and distinct movement of the index finger of the hand that pulls the trigger after the hammer has been actuated into a full cock position.
- Single action revolvers typically have a revolving cylinder that holds a number of cartridges to be discharged by the firearm during use. Such cylinders allow for easy loading, firing, and unloading of the revolver and give the user the ability to fire multiple rounds before having to reload the cylinder.
- the capacity of the revolving cylinder dictates the available rounds for firing by the user before reloading and a typical revolver has a revolving cylinder with six chambers, each chamber adapted to hold a single cartridge. A cylinder having more than six chambers would allow the revolver to hold additional cartridges and thereby allow a user to discharge more cartridges before having to reload the cylinder.
- the cylinder had substantially the same diameter as a standard six-chamber cylinder, it could be used with a frame of a standard sized revolver. However, if the cylinder with additional chambers were oversized, a larger frame might be required.
- a revolver including a frame; a hammer rotatably coupled to the frame; a trigger mounted on the frame and movably coupled to the hammer; a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame and having twelve chambers, each of the twelve chambers adapted to receive a cartridge, wherein the cylinder is rotatable into twelve discrete firing positions; and a pawl connected to the hammer for moving the cylinder between the discrete firing positions.
- the pawl has a single finger adapted to contact the cylinder and the cylinder is configured to rotate about 30 degrees between discrete firing positions. More specifically, in one embodiment, rotation of the hammer from a safety position in which the trigger tang is in the second notch to a full cock position in which the trigger sear engages the hammer sear causes the cylinder to rotate 30 degrees. Further, each of the twelve chambers may be adapted to receive a .22 caliber cartridge. Additionally, a ratchet may be attached to the cylinder to engage the pawl, and the ratchet may comprise twelve teeth.
- a revolver including a frame; a hammer rotatably coupled to the frame; a trigger mounted on the frame and movably coupled to the hammer; a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame and having a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers adapted to receive a cartridge, wherein the cylinder is rotatable into discrete firing positions; and a pawl connected to the hammer for rotating the cylinder thirty degrees between the discrete firing positions.
- the pawl has a single finger adapted to contact the cylinder and is adapted to contact the cylinder at only a single point.
- a revolver including a frame; a hammer rotatably coupled to the frame; a trigger mounted on the frame and movably coupled to the hammer; a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame and having more than six chambers, each of the more than six chambers adapted to receive a cartridge, wherein the cylinder is rotatable into a plurality of discrete firing positions; and a pawl connected to the hammer for moving the cylinder between the discrete firing positions, wherein the pawl has a single finger adapted to contact the cylinder.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a revolver having a cylinder according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a left side partial sectional view of the revolver of FIG. 1 with the hammer in an at rest position.
- FIG. 3 is a right side partial sectional view of the revolver of FIG. 1 with the hammer in the at rest position.
- FIGS. 4 , 5 and 6 are left side, rear and right side partial views, respectively, of an indexing mechanism of the revolver of FIG. 1 with the hammer in an at rest position.
- FIGS. 7 , 8 , and 9 are left side, rear and right side partial views, respectively, of an indexing mechanism of the revolver of FIG. 1 with the hammer in the safety position.
- FIGS. 10 , 11 and 12 are left side, rear and right side partial views, respectively, of an indexing mechanism of the revolver of FIG. 1 with the hammer in a loading position.
- FIGS. 13 , 14 and 15 are left side, rear and right side partial views, respectively, of an indexing mechanism of the revolver of FIG. 1 with the hammer in an intermediate position.
- FIGS. 16 , 17 and 18 are left side, rear and right side partial views, respectively, of an indexing mechanism of the revolver of FIG. 1 with the hammer in a full cock position.
- embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing a single action revolver having an indexing and firing mechanism including a rotatable cylinder that can accommodate more than six cartridges within the cylinder and having a diameter with substantially the same diameter as a standard six-cartridge cylinder. Therefore, the indexing and firing mechanism is configured to be incorporated into a frame designed for a standard six-cartridge single action revolver. Additionally, the firing action, i.e., pulling back the hammer into a full cock position and then pulling the trigger to discharge a cartridge from the cylinder, is substantially similar to a standard single action revolver. In one embodiment, the cylinder is configured to hold twelve cartridges and can be housed within the frame of a standard six-cylinder revolver such as the COLT® .45 revolver.
- a single action revolver 10 includes a frame 12 and a cylinder 14 rotatably mounted within the frame by a cylinder pin removably attached to the frame.
- the cylinder 14 includes a plurality of cartridge chambers 16 , in this case, twelve, and a ratchet 18 secured to the rear face of the cylinder for rotating the cylinder between the discrete firing positions thereof.
- the ratchet has twelve teeth in a configuration to allow the cylinder to rotate thirty degrees in accordance with operation of the indexing mechanism, as described in more detail below.
- a recess 20 is defined on the right side of the frame 12 so that each of the cartridge chambers 16 can be aligned with the recess to permit the loading of unused cartridges and the ejection of spent cartridges.
- a gate 22 is configured to be lodged within the recess 20 and is pivoted on the frame 12 such that it can be moved between the open position, as shown in FIG. 1 , to permit the successive insertion of cartridges into the cartridge chambers 16 as the cylinder is turned, and the closed position to prevent the cartridges from becoming dislodged from the cylinder during operation of the revolver.
- the revolver 10 may also include an ejector rod mounted along a barrel for ejecting spent cartridges from the cartridge chambers 16 .
- the cartridge chambers 16 are dimensioned to hold .22 caliber cartridges. However, it will be appreciated that the cartridge chambers could be dimensioned to hold other caliber cartridges as well.
- a hammer 24 is pivotally attached to the frame 12 by a screw 36 ( FIG. 2 ) and is biased toward the fired position by a leaf spring 26 mounted in the grip 28 of the frame. As will be described in more detail below with respect to operation of the indexing mechanism, the hammer 24 is configured to be rotated in a cycle from a safety position to a loading position and then to a full cock position via an intermediate or bolt drop and lockup position.
- a firing pin 29 is carried by the face of the hammer 24 such that the firing pin may pass through an aperture 30 in the frame to strike a cartridge in a respective cartridge chamber 16 in the cylinder 14 aligned with the aperture in the firing position. As will be appreciated, if the cartridge chamber 16 is misaligned with respect to the aperture 30 , the cartridge may be improperly discharged or not discharged at all.
- a drive pawl or hand 32 is configured to engage the teeth 19 of the ratchet 18 to rotate the cylinder 14 .
- the pawl 32 is spring urged against the ratchet 18 by a leaf spring 33 and is connected at its lower end to the base of the hammer 24 by a boss or integral stud which is inserted into the side of the hammer.
- the pawl 32 unlike a conventional two-step pawl, has only a single “finger” 68 extending integrally from a lower portion of the pawl.
- the finger 68 is oriented and dimensioned to engage a single tooth 19 of the ratchet 18 for rotating the ratchet, and thereby the cylinder, between discrete firing positions, as described in more detail below.
- the pawl 32 also has a recess 70 for containing a bent lower extremity of the leaf spring 33 .
- the base of the hammer 24 is further configured to interact with a trigger 38 which may be actuated by a user to discharge a cartridge from the chamber 16 .
- the base of the hammer 24 includes a first notch 40 defined by a lip 42 , and a hammer sear 44 .
- the first notch 40 serves as a loading notch to maintain the hammer 24 in a loading position in which the cylinder 14 is unlocked so that it may be freely rotated during the insertion of cartridges into the chambers 16 .
- the base of the hammer 24 further includes a second notch 46 similar to the first notch 40 and located above the first notch closer to the firing pin 29 , as shown in FIG. 2 .
- the second notch 46 functions to ensure that the hammer 24 will not return to the fired position should it be released before a trigger tang 48 is positioned under the loading notch, as described below. It will be appreciated that although a hammer 24 having a particular configuration is described with respect to the present embodiment, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to hammers having this particular configuration, but rather may be used with hammers having a variety of configurations.
- the trigger 38 is pivotally mounted on a trigger screw 52 secured to the frame 12 and extending transversely thereto.
- the trigger tang 48 terminates in a trigger sear 50 , wherein the trigger tang is configured to be received in the second notch 46 to hold the hammer in the safety position and in the first notch 40 to hold the hammer in the loading position, and the trigger sear 50 is configured to be received in the hammer sear 44 to retain the hammer in the full cock position.
- a sloping surface 54 on the trigger 38 is contacted by a first leg of a bifurcated leaf spring 56 to bias trigger rotation in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 2 until a force to overcome the bias is applied by a user.
- a cylinder lock 58 is pivotally attached to the frame 12 for engaging the cylinder 14 to prevent rotation of the cylinder when the hammer is in certain positions (i.e., any position other than the loading position). More specifically, a second leg of the bifurcated leaf spring 56 biases the cylinder lock 58 about a mounting pin 60 such that a projection 62 on the cylinder lock is urged into one of a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking notches 64 on a periphery of the cylinder 14 . In one embodiment, the cylinder 14 has twelve notches 64 , one notch corresponding to each of the twelve cartridge chambers 16 . A tail 66 of the cylinder lock 58 is contacted by a protrusion 68 on the hammer 24 for moving the cylinder lock between a locking and an unlocking position with respect to the cylinder 14 .
- operation of the indexing mechanism results in rotation of the cylinder between discrete firing positions, i.e., the cylinder is rotated from an orientation wherein a first cartridge chamber 16 is aligned with the aperture 30 to an orientation wherein a second cartridge chamber adjacent the first cartridge chamber is aligned with the aperture.
- operation of the indexing mechanism for embodiments of the present invention has a similar “feel” to operation of an indexing mechanism of a traditional six-shot single action revolver even though the operation of the mechanism is different from the traditional six-shot single action revolver.
- a reference ratchet tooth 19 will be described with respect to an imaginary horizon line extending through a center of the cylinder 14 to indicate the amount of rotation of the cylinder 14 during operation of the indexing mechanism.
- the cylinder will rotate thirty degrees from an orientation in which a first chamber is aligned with the aperture 30 in a firing position, to an orientation in which a successive chamber adjacent the first chamber is aligned with the aperture.
- the indexing mechanism is shown in the at rest position in which the trigger tang 48 rests against a side surface of the lower portion of the hammer 24 and the firing pin 29 may be proximate or within the aperture 30 .
- the reference ratchet tooth 19 extends along an axis at about negative 10 degrees from the horizon extending through a center of the ratchet 18 and the cylinder lock 58 engages a notch 64 of the cylinder to prevent rotation of the cylinder.
- the hammer 24 is rotated such that trigger tang 48 is engaged with the second notch 46 in the safety position.
- the reference ratchet tooth 19 extends along an axis at about negative 10 degrees from the horizon extending through a center of the ratchet 18 , as shown in FIG. 8 .
- the cylinder lock 58 continues to engage the notch 64 of the cylinder 14 in this position.
- the hammer 24 can be rotated rearwardly away from the cylinder to the loading position, as shown in FIGS. 10-12 , wherein the trigger tang 48 is inserted into and maintained within the first notch 40 .
- the movement of the hammer causes the pawl 32 to engage the reference ratchet tooth 19 and rotate the cylinder about 15 degrees in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 11 .
- the cylinder lock 58 is disengaged from the cylinder 14 so that the cylinder is freely rotatable, allowing a user to insert cartridges into each of the cartridge chambers 16 .
- the cylinder 14 is freely rotatable in the loading position, it will be understood that when the finger 68 of the pawl 32 is engaged with the reference ratchet tooth 19 in the loading position, the reference ratchet tooth extends along an axis of about five degrees from the horizon.
- the hammer 24 can be rotated from the loading position to an intermediate or bolt drop and lockup position to attain the full thirty degree rotation to align the successive cartridge chamber 16 with the aperture 30 .
- the hammer 24 is moved further rearwardly such that the pawl rotates the cylinder 14 an additional ten degrees from its orientation on the loading position in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 14 .
- the cylinder 14 can be rotated between discrete firing positions with the pawl 32 contacting only a single tooth 19 of the ratchet 18 .
- the hammer 24 causes the cylinder lock 58 to rotate back into engagement with a respective locking notch 64 on the cylinder 14 to prevent further rotation of the cylinder.
- the trigger tang 48 is between the first notch 40 and the trigger sear 50 , and therefore, the hammer is not able to necessarily be maintained in the intermediate position by the trigger 38 .
- the intermediate position is described as the point when the cylinder has been rotated thirty degrees from the safety position by the pawl 32 such that a successive cartridge chamber 16 is aligned with the aperture 30 , wherein the pawl 32 is still in contact with the tooth 19 of the ratchet 18 , and wherein the cylinder lock 58 is engaged with a locking notch 64 .
- the hammer 24 can be further rotated from the intermediate position to the full cock position in which the trigger sear 50 engages the hammer sear 44 and in which the revolver 10 is ready to be fired.
- the pawl 32 disengages from the ratchet 18 entirely, although the pawl continues to move upward (with respect to FIGS. 16-19 ) as the hammer rotates. Accordingly, the hammer can be rotated all the way to the full cock position, yet the pawl 32 only rotates the cylinder thirty degrees rather than sixty degrees required for a six-shot cylinder.
- the user may disengage the trigger sear 50 from the hammer sear 44 and slowly rotate the hammer 24 back toward the cylinder 14 until the trigger tang 48 is inserted into the first notch 40 .
Abstract
A revolver includes a frame; a hammer rotatably coupled to the frame; a trigger mounted on the frame and movably coupled to the hammer; a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame and having more than six chambers, each of the chambers adapted to receive a cartridge, wherein the cylinder is rotatable into discrete firing positions; and a pawl connected to the hammer for moving the cylinder between the discrete firing positions.
Description
- The present invention relates to firearms, and more particularly to an indexing mechanism for firearms.
- A single action revolver usually includes a hammer actuated by the user to produce rotation of a cylinder containing cartridges discharged by the revolver. In such a revolver, firing is caused by a subsequent and distinct movement of the index finger of the hand that pulls the trigger after the hammer has been actuated into a full cock position.
- Single action revolvers typically have a revolving cylinder that holds a number of cartridges to be discharged by the firearm during use. Such cylinders allow for easy loading, firing, and unloading of the revolver and give the user the ability to fire multiple rounds before having to reload the cylinder. The capacity of the revolving cylinder dictates the available rounds for firing by the user before reloading and a typical revolver has a revolving cylinder with six chambers, each chamber adapted to hold a single cartridge. A cylinder having more than six chambers would allow the revolver to hold additional cartridges and thereby allow a user to discharge more cartridges before having to reload the cylinder. In addition to being able to hold additional cartridges, if the cylinder had substantially the same diameter as a standard six-chamber cylinder, it could be used with a frame of a standard sized revolver. However, if the cylinder with additional chambers were oversized, a larger frame might be required.
- According to aspects of the present invention, a revolver is provided including a frame; a hammer rotatably coupled to the frame; a trigger mounted on the frame and movably coupled to the hammer; a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame and having twelve chambers, each of the twelve chambers adapted to receive a cartridge, wherein the cylinder is rotatable into twelve discrete firing positions; and a pawl connected to the hammer for moving the cylinder between the discrete firing positions.
- In one embodiment, the pawl has a single finger adapted to contact the cylinder and the cylinder is configured to rotate about 30 degrees between discrete firing positions. More specifically, in one embodiment, rotation of the hammer from a safety position in which the trigger tang is in the second notch to a full cock position in which the trigger sear engages the hammer sear causes the cylinder to rotate 30 degrees. Further, each of the twelve chambers may be adapted to receive a .22 caliber cartridge. Additionally, a ratchet may be attached to the cylinder to engage the pawl, and the ratchet may comprise twelve teeth.
- In another embodiment, a revolver is provided including a frame; a hammer rotatably coupled to the frame; a trigger mounted on the frame and movably coupled to the hammer; a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame and having a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers adapted to receive a cartridge, wherein the cylinder is rotatable into discrete firing positions; and a pawl connected to the hammer for rotating the cylinder thirty degrees between the discrete firing positions.
- In one embodiment, the pawl has a single finger adapted to contact the cylinder and is adapted to contact the cylinder at only a single point.
- In yet another embodiment, a revolver is provided including a frame; a hammer rotatably coupled to the frame; a trigger mounted on the frame and movably coupled to the hammer; a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame and having more than six chambers, each of the more than six chambers adapted to receive a cartridge, wherein the cylinder is rotatable into a plurality of discrete firing positions; and a pawl connected to the hammer for moving the cylinder between the discrete firing positions, wherein the pawl has a single finger adapted to contact the cylinder.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a revolver having a cylinder according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a left side partial sectional view of the revolver ofFIG. 1 with the hammer in an at rest position. -
FIG. 3 is a right side partial sectional view of the revolver ofFIG. 1 with the hammer in the at rest position. -
FIGS. 4 , 5 and 6 are left side, rear and right side partial views, respectively, of an indexing mechanism of the revolver ofFIG. 1 with the hammer in an at rest position. -
FIGS. 7 , 8, and 9 are left side, rear and right side partial views, respectively, of an indexing mechanism of the revolver ofFIG. 1 with the hammer in the safety position. -
FIGS. 10 , 11 and 12 are left side, rear and right side partial views, respectively, of an indexing mechanism of the revolver ofFIG. 1 with the hammer in a loading position. -
FIGS. 13 , 14 and 15 are left side, rear and right side partial views, respectively, of an indexing mechanism of the revolver ofFIG. 1 with the hammer in an intermediate position. -
FIGS. 16 , 17 and 18 are left side, rear and right side partial views, respectively, of an indexing mechanism of the revolver ofFIG. 1 with the hammer in a full cock position. - In general, embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing a single action revolver having an indexing and firing mechanism including a rotatable cylinder that can accommodate more than six cartridges within the cylinder and having a diameter with substantially the same diameter as a standard six-cartridge cylinder. Therefore, the indexing and firing mechanism is configured to be incorporated into a frame designed for a standard six-cartridge single action revolver. Additionally, the firing action, i.e., pulling back the hammer into a full cock position and then pulling the trigger to discharge a cartridge from the cylinder, is substantially similar to a standard single action revolver. In one embodiment, the cylinder is configured to hold twelve cartridges and can be housed within the frame of a standard six-cylinder revolver such as the COLT® .45 revolver.
- With reference to
FIG. 1 , asingle action revolver 10 includes aframe 12 and acylinder 14 rotatably mounted within the frame by a cylinder pin removably attached to the frame. Thecylinder 14 includes a plurality ofcartridge chambers 16, in this case, twelve, and aratchet 18 secured to the rear face of the cylinder for rotating the cylinder between the discrete firing positions thereof. In one embodiment, the ratchet has twelve teeth in a configuration to allow the cylinder to rotate thirty degrees in accordance with operation of the indexing mechanism, as described in more detail below. - A
recess 20 is defined on the right side of theframe 12 so that each of thecartridge chambers 16 can be aligned with the recess to permit the loading of unused cartridges and the ejection of spent cartridges. Agate 22 is configured to be lodged within therecess 20 and is pivoted on theframe 12 such that it can be moved between the open position, as shown inFIG. 1 , to permit the successive insertion of cartridges into thecartridge chambers 16 as the cylinder is turned, and the closed position to prevent the cartridges from becoming dislodged from the cylinder during operation of the revolver. Therevolver 10 may also include an ejector rod mounted along a barrel for ejecting spent cartridges from thecartridge chambers 16. In one embodiment, thecartridge chambers 16 are dimensioned to hold .22 caliber cartridges. However, it will be appreciated that the cartridge chambers could be dimensioned to hold other caliber cartridges as well. - A
hammer 24 is pivotally attached to theframe 12 by a screw 36 (FIG. 2 ) and is biased toward the fired position by aleaf spring 26 mounted in thegrip 28 of the frame. As will be described in more detail below with respect to operation of the indexing mechanism, thehammer 24 is configured to be rotated in a cycle from a safety position to a loading position and then to a full cock position via an intermediate or bolt drop and lockup position. Afiring pin 29 is carried by the face of thehammer 24 such that the firing pin may pass through anaperture 30 in the frame to strike a cartridge in arespective cartridge chamber 16 in thecylinder 14 aligned with the aperture in the firing position. As will be appreciated, if thecartridge chamber 16 is misaligned with respect to theaperture 30, the cartridge may be improperly discharged or not discharged at all. - With reference now to
FIGS. 2 and 3 , a drive pawl orhand 32 is configured to engage theteeth 19 of theratchet 18 to rotate thecylinder 14. Thepawl 32 is spring urged against theratchet 18 by a leaf spring 33 and is connected at its lower end to the base of thehammer 24 by a boss or integral stud which is inserted into the side of the hammer. Thepawl 32, unlike a conventional two-step pawl, has only a single “finger” 68 extending integrally from a lower portion of the pawl. Thefinger 68 is oriented and dimensioned to engage asingle tooth 19 of theratchet 18 for rotating the ratchet, and thereby the cylinder, between discrete firing positions, as described in more detail below. Thepawl 32 also has arecess 70 for containing a bent lower extremity of the leaf spring 33. - The base of the
hammer 24 is further configured to interact with atrigger 38 which may be actuated by a user to discharge a cartridge from thechamber 16. In one embodiment, the base of thehammer 24 includes afirst notch 40 defined by alip 42, and ahammer sear 44. Thefirst notch 40 serves as a loading notch to maintain thehammer 24 in a loading position in which thecylinder 14 is unlocked so that it may be freely rotated during the insertion of cartridges into thechambers 16. - The base of the
hammer 24 further includes asecond notch 46 similar to thefirst notch 40 and located above the first notch closer to thefiring pin 29, as shown inFIG. 2 . Thesecond notch 46 functions to ensure that thehammer 24 will not return to the fired position should it be released before atrigger tang 48 is positioned under the loading notch, as described below. It will be appreciated that although ahammer 24 having a particular configuration is described with respect to the present embodiment, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to hammers having this particular configuration, but rather may be used with hammers having a variety of configurations. - The
trigger 38 is pivotally mounted on atrigger screw 52 secured to theframe 12 and extending transversely thereto. Thetrigger tang 48 terminates in atrigger sear 50, wherein the trigger tang is configured to be received in thesecond notch 46 to hold the hammer in the safety position and in thefirst notch 40 to hold the hammer in the loading position, and thetrigger sear 50 is configured to be received in thehammer sear 44 to retain the hammer in the full cock position. A slopingsurface 54 on thetrigger 38 is contacted by a first leg of a bifurcatedleaf spring 56 to bias trigger rotation in a clockwise direction as shown inFIG. 2 until a force to overcome the bias is applied by a user. - A
cylinder lock 58 is pivotally attached to theframe 12 for engaging thecylinder 14 to prevent rotation of the cylinder when the hammer is in certain positions (i.e., any position other than the loading position). More specifically, a second leg of the bifurcatedleaf spring 56 biases thecylinder lock 58 about amounting pin 60 such that aprojection 62 on the cylinder lock is urged into one of a plurality of circumferentially spacedlocking notches 64 on a periphery of thecylinder 14. In one embodiment, thecylinder 14 has twelvenotches 64, one notch corresponding to each of the twelvecartridge chambers 16. Atail 66 of thecylinder lock 58 is contacted by aprotrusion 68 on thehammer 24 for moving the cylinder lock between a locking and an unlocking position with respect to thecylinder 14. - Operation of the indexing mechanism will now be described with respect to
FIGS. 4-18 . The operation of the indexing mechanism results in rotation of the cylinder between discrete firing positions, i.e., the cylinder is rotated from an orientation wherein afirst cartridge chamber 16 is aligned with theaperture 30 to an orientation wherein a second cartridge chamber adjacent the first cartridge chamber is aligned with the aperture. As described in more detail below, operation of the indexing mechanism for embodiments of the present invention has a similar “feel” to operation of an indexing mechanism of a traditional six-shot single action revolver even though the operation of the mechanism is different from the traditional six-shot single action revolver. With reference to these figures, the angular movement of areference ratchet tooth 19 will be described with respect to an imaginary horizon line extending through a center of thecylinder 14 to indicate the amount of rotation of thecylinder 14 during operation of the indexing mechanism. As will be appreciated, for acylinder 14 having twelvecartridge chambers 16, the cylinder will rotate thirty degrees from an orientation in which a first chamber is aligned with theaperture 30 in a firing position, to an orientation in which a successive chamber adjacent the first chamber is aligned with the aperture. - With reference now to
FIGS. 4-6 , the indexing mechanism is shown in the at rest position in which thetrigger tang 48 rests against a side surface of the lower portion of thehammer 24 and thefiring pin 29 may be proximate or within theaperture 30. In this position, with particular reference toFIG. 5 , thereference ratchet tooth 19 extends along an axis at about negative 10 degrees from the horizon extending through a center of theratchet 18 and thecylinder lock 58 engages anotch 64 of the cylinder to prevent rotation of the cylinder. - As shown in
FIGS. 7-9 , thehammer 24 is rotated such thattrigger tang 48 is engaged with thesecond notch 46 in the safety position. As in the at rest position, thereference ratchet tooth 19 extends along an axis at about negative 10 degrees from the horizon extending through a center of theratchet 18, as shown inFIG. 8 . Additionally, thecylinder lock 58 continues to engage thenotch 64 of thecylinder 14 in this position. - From the safety position, the
hammer 24 can be rotated rearwardly away from the cylinder to the loading position, as shown inFIGS. 10-12 , wherein thetrigger tang 48 is inserted into and maintained within thefirst notch 40. When thehammer 24 is moved from the safety position to the loading position, the movement of the hammer causes thepawl 32 to engage thereference ratchet tooth 19 and rotate the cylinder about 15 degrees in the clockwise direction as shown inFIG. 11 . In the loading position, thecylinder lock 58 is disengaged from thecylinder 14 so that the cylinder is freely rotatable, allowing a user to insert cartridges into each of thecartridge chambers 16. Although thecylinder 14 is freely rotatable in the loading position, it will be understood that when thefinger 68 of thepawl 32 is engaged with thereference ratchet tooth 19 in the loading position, the reference ratchet tooth extends along an axis of about five degrees from the horizon. - With reference now to
FIGS. 13-15 , thehammer 24 can be rotated from the loading position to an intermediate or bolt drop and lockup position to attain the full thirty degree rotation to align thesuccessive cartridge chamber 16 with theaperture 30. As shown in the figures, with the end of thepawl 32 still engaging thereference ratchet tooth 19, thehammer 24 is moved further rearwardly such that the pawl rotates thecylinder 14 an additional ten degrees from its orientation on the loading position in the clockwise direction as shown inFIG. 14 . As such, thecylinder 14 can be rotated between discrete firing positions with thepawl 32 contacting only asingle tooth 19 of theratchet 18. Additionally, rotation of thehammer 24 causes thecylinder lock 58 to rotate back into engagement with arespective locking notch 64 on thecylinder 14 to prevent further rotation of the cylinder. As will be appreciated, in the intermediate position thetrigger tang 48 is between thefirst notch 40 and the trigger sear 50, and therefore, the hammer is not able to necessarily be maintained in the intermediate position by thetrigger 38. However, the intermediate position is described as the point when the cylinder has been rotated thirty degrees from the safety position by thepawl 32 such that asuccessive cartridge chamber 16 is aligned with theaperture 30, wherein thepawl 32 is still in contact with thetooth 19 of theratchet 18, and wherein thecylinder lock 58 is engaged with a lockingnotch 64. - With reference now to
FIGS. 16-19 , thehammer 24 can be further rotated from the intermediate position to the full cock position in which the trigger sear 50 engages the hammer sear 44 and in which therevolver 10 is ready to be fired. As the hammer is moved from the intermediate position to the full cock position, thepawl 32 disengages from theratchet 18 entirely, although the pawl continues to move upward (with respect toFIGS. 16-19 ) as the hammer rotates. Accordingly, the hammer can be rotated all the way to the full cock position, yet thepawl 32 only rotates the cylinder thirty degrees rather than sixty degrees required for a six-shot cylinder. - If a user of the revolver does not want to fire the revolver after the
hammer 24 is rotated into the full cock position, the user may disengage the trigger sear 50 from the hammer sear 44 and slowly rotate thehammer 24 back toward thecylinder 14 until thetrigger tang 48 is inserted into thefirst notch 40. - Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention.
Claims (19)
1. A revolver comprising:
a frame;
a hammer rotatably coupled to the frame;
a trigger mounted on the frame and movably coupled to the hammer;
a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame and having twelve chambers, each of the twelve chambers adapted to receive a cartridge, wherein the cylinder is rotatable into twelve discrete firing positions; and
a pawl connected to the hammer for moving the cylinder between the discrete firing positions.
2. The revolver of claim 1 , wherein the pawl has a single finger adapted to contact the cylinder.
3. The revolver of claim 1 , wherein each of the twelve chambers is adapted to receive a .22 caliber cartridge.
4. The revolver of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder is configured to rotate about 30 degrees between discrete firing positions.
5. The revolver of claim 1 , further comprising a ratchet on the cylinder, wherein the pawl engages the ratchet to rotate the cylinder.
6. The revolver of claim 1 , wherein the ratchet comprises twelve teeth.
7. The revolver of claim 1 , wherein the hammer has a first notch and a second notch adapted to receive a trigger tang integral with the trigger, and a hammer sear adapted to receive a trigger sear integral with the trigger tang.
8. The revolver of claim of claim 7 , wherein rotation of the hammer from a safety position in which the trigger tang is in the second notch to a full cock position in which the trigger sear engages the hammer sear causes the cylinder to rotate 30 degrees.
9. The revolver of claim of 1, further comprising a cylinder lock pivotally mounted to the frame and adapted to engage the cylinder to prevent rotation of the cylinder.
10. The revolver of claim 9 , wherein the cylinder has twelve notches and wherein the cylinder lock is adapted to engage one of the twelve notches in each discrete firing position.
11. A revolver comprising:
a frame;
a hammer rotatably coupled to the frame;
a trigger mounted on the frame and movably coupled to the hammer;
a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame and having a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers adapted to receive a cartridge, wherein the cylinder is rotatable into discrete firing positions; and
a pawl connected to the hammer for rotating the cylinder thirty degrees between the discrete firing positions.
12. The revolver of claim 11 , wherein the pawl has a single finger adapted to contact the cylinder.
13. The revolver of claim 11 , wherein the pawl is adapted to contact the cylinder at only a single point during rotation of the cylinder.
14. The revolver of claim 11 , further comprising a ratchet on the cylinder, wherein the pawl engages the ratchet to rotate the cylinder.
15. The revolver of claim 14 , wherein the ratchet comprises a plurality of teeth and wherein the pawl is adapted to engage only a single tooth of the plurality of teeth to rotate the cylinder between discrete firing positions.
16. The revolver of claim 11 , wherein the frame has an aperture and wherein one of the plurality of chambers is aligned with the aperture in the discrete firing position.
17. The revolver of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of chambers is adapted to receive a .22 caliber cartridge.
18. A revolver comprising:
a frame;
a hammer rotatably coupled to the frame;
a trigger mounted on the frame and movably coupled to the hammer;
a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame and having more than six chambers, each of the more than six chambers adapted to receive a cartridge, wherein the cylinder is rotatable into a plurality of discrete firing positions; and
a pawl connected to the hammer for moving the cylinder between the plurality of discrete firing positions, wherein the pawl has a single finger adapted to contact the cylinder.
19. The revolver of claim 18 , wherein the pawl is adapted to contact the cylinder at only a single point during rotation of the cylinder.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/578,551 US20110083351A1 (en) | 2009-10-13 | 2009-10-13 | Firearm indexing mechanism |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/578,551 US20110083351A1 (en) | 2009-10-13 | 2009-10-13 | Firearm indexing mechanism |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20110083351A1 true US20110083351A1 (en) | 2011-04-14 |
Family
ID=43853693
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/578,551 Abandoned US20110083351A1 (en) | 2009-10-13 | 2009-10-13 | Firearm indexing mechanism |
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US (1) | US20110083351A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
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---|---|---|---|---|
US20100170129A1 (en) * | 2008-12-31 | 2010-07-08 | Smith & Wesson Corp. | Firearm having nonmetallic components |
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US8549782B2 (en) * | 2008-12-31 | 2013-10-08 | Smith & Wesson Corp. | Firearm having an indexing mechanism |
US8789303B2 (en) | 2008-12-31 | 2014-07-29 | Smith & Wesson Corp. | Firing pin blocking safety |
US20140331536A1 (en) * | 2008-12-31 | 2014-11-13 | Smith & Wesson Corp. | Yoke And Cylinder Retaining Mechanism |
US9488432B2 (en) * | 2008-12-31 | 2016-11-08 | Smith & Wesson Corp. | Yoke and cylinder retaining mechanism |
US9777982B2 (en) | 2008-12-31 | 2017-10-03 | Smith & Wesson Corp. | Shrouded barrel and sight for revolver |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: UNITED STATES FIRE ARMS MFG. CO., INC., CONNECTICU Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:DONNELLY, DOUGLAS F.;REEL/FRAME:023736/0524 Effective date: 20091230 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |