US2241825A

US2241825A - Firearm construction

Info

Publication number: US2241825A
Application number: US207901A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lovell H Page
Original assignee: Western Cartridge Co
Current assignee: Western Cartridge Co
Priority date: 1938-05-14
Filing date: 1938-05-14
Publication date: 1941-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 1958-05-13

Description

L. H. PAGE FIREARM CONSTRUCTION Filed May 14, 193B May 13, 1941.

ll. l L I l l I I l l I I l I l l l I I ll Patented May 13, 1941 FIREARIW CONSTRUCTION Application May 14, 1938, Serial No. 207,901

Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in firearm constructions and more particularly to means for securing the barrel-units and stockunits of firearms together.

One of the main difficulties which confront both the manufacturers and users of high-grade rifles, shotguns and other firearms, is to eliminate or minimize the effects upon the barrelunits of the warp-age of the stock-units occasioned by changes in moisture-content and the like, as the result of over-seasoning or alternate dry and damp conditions. The stocks of firearms which are commonly made of wood or other warpable material, are apt to impose strains upon the barrel-unit of firearms which even if of slight degree, may materially affect the shooting accuracy of the firearm.

Furthermore, the initial assembly of a barrelunit and a stock-unit is very apt to impose strains upon the barrel-unit which can under usual conditions be eliminated or minimized only by shimming or other meticulous hand work in shaving or sanding away portions of the contiguous surfaces of the stock-unit.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a superior firearm construction wherein simple, reliable and effective means is provided for adjustably securing the barrel-unit and stock-unit together.

A further object of the present invention is to provide superior means for adjustably securing together the barrel-units and stock-units of firewhich will be sufficiently resistant to shock and vibration as not to become loosen d or upset by the repeated discharge of the firearm.

Anoth r object of the present invention is to provide superior means for adjustably securing the barrel-units and stock-units of firearms together without in itself however imposing undue deflecting strains upon the said barrel-units.

With the above and other objects in View, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said dis-closure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawing, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical central-longitudinal section of a firearm embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a similar View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one of the escutcheon-nuts detached; and

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of one of the adjustable thrust-sleeves detached.

The particular firearm herein chosen for the illustration of the present invention includes a barrel-unit generally designated by the reference character H] and including a barrel proper H and receiver l2 rigidly secured together. The said receiver I2 mounts a firing mechanism, etc., of any approved form which as shown includes a breech-bolt l3, a bolt-handle M, a magazinesupport it and a trigger it. The receiver IE, together with the parts organized therewith, is sometimes referred to as the action since it contains or has attached to it the main portion of the movable features of the firearm mechanism.

Extending mainly beneath the barrel-unit It! is a stock-unit I! having a buttstock-portion Ila and an integral forestock-portion [lb and composed of any suitable material, preferably of wood, suchfor instance as walnut. Mounted upon the under-side of the said stock-unit is a trigger-plate I8 which at its rear portion is bent outwardly to form a guard-loop or trigger-guard 19 which serves to minimize the danger of the accidental operation of the trigger it in the usual manner of firearms. Close to its rear end and immediately forwardly of the tri ger-guard I9 respectively, the trigger-plate has extending through it attaching-screws 2i] and 2| respectively which extend up into the stock-unit ll through a supplemental-plate 22 extending over the gap between the front and rear walls of the said trigger-guard 9. The said supplementalplate 22 is as shown formed with a slot 23 through which the trigger It may be projected into the trigger-guard l9 and through which the said trigger may be withdrawn when the barrel-unit Ill and the butt-unit ll are detached one from the other.

The upper face of the forestock-portion ill) of the stock-unit ll substantially throughout its length is cut away to form an upwardly-opening longitudinal groove 2 of subtsantially-semicircular form in cross-section and which is interrupted or intersected at various points by supplemental cuts, such for instance as a vertical pasage 25 designed for the clearance of the trigger I 5 and its support 26 depending from the receiver l2. The longitudinal groove 24 above referred to is also intersected by a vertical passage 21 which accommodates the magazine-holder l5 and a box-magazine 29 installed therein. Immediately beneath the magazine-holder l5 the trigger-plate I8 is formed with an aperture 29 through which the said magazine 28 may be introduced into and removed from the magazineholder |5.

Immediately forwardly of the forward end of the receiver I2 the forestock-portion |1b of the butt-unit H is formed with an upwardly-opening recess 30 intersecting the groove 24 and providing by means of its rear wall an abutment 3| against which rests the depending arm 32 of an L-shaped stabilizing-plate 33. At its extreme forward end the longitudinal groove 24 in the upper face of the stock-unit I1 is preferably made shallower than its remaining rearward portion in order to provide a seat 34 against which the adjacent portion of the barrel should lightly rest.

Immediately to the rear of its forward end to which the barrel II is rigidly secured, the receiver I2 is provided with a vertical threaded bore 35. Registering with the upper end of the bore 35 is a downwardly-opening recess Ha, concavely-formed in the lower portion of the barrel The threaded upper end of the shank 36 of a draft-screw or draft-member generally designated by the reference character 31 extends through the said bore 35 and is received in the said recess Ha. The said draft-screw 31 is provided with a head 38 having a conicallycontoured upper face 39 seated in a similarlycontoured seat 40 formed in the forward end of the trigger-plate l8.

The threaded shank 36 of the draft-screw 31 extends freely vertically through a tubular escutcheon-nut 4| and an adjustable thrust-sleeve or thrust-member 42, all arranged coaxially in a bore 44 extending vertically in the forestockportion |1b as is shown particularly well in Fig. 3.

The escutcheon-nut 4| is formed at its upper end with a peripherally-serrated annular flange 43 seated in a recess 44a opening-upwardly from the bore 44 in the forestock-portion |1b so as to non-rotatably couple the said escutcheon-nut to the latter. tersects at its upper end a longitudinal groove 45 leading downwardly from the semicircular groove 24 and extending longitudinally between the clearance-passage 21 and the recess 30 in the said forestock-portion |1b for the accommodation of the stabilizing-plate 33.

The escutcheon-nut 4| is provided throughout the entire length of its interior with threads 46 engaged by threads 41 formed upon the exterior of the thrust-sleeve 42 so that the said thrust-sleeve may be vertically adjusted in the said escutcheon-nut by means of a screw driver or other suitable tool which may be engaged with diametrically-opposite notches 48-48 formed in the lower end of the said thrustsleeve. The upper end portion of the adjustable thrust-sleeve 42 is free of threads and is of slightly-less diameter than the threads 51 to provide a neck-portion 49 which projects upwardly through a perforation 50 formed in the stabilizing-plate 33 with respect to which the said thrust-sleeve is freely'rotatable and axially movable. The upper portion of the neck-portion 49 of the thrust-sleeve 42 projects into a downwardly-opening pocket 5| formed The said recess 44a in- 1 in the under-face of the forward portion of the receiver l2 in axial alignment with the threaded bore 35 therein. The upper end of the neckportion 49 of the thrust-sleeve 42 has considerable clearance with respect to the adjacent side-wall of the pocket 5| and seats at its extreme end against the horizontal surface of the said pocket 5| so as to support the said receiver l2 for the purpose as will more fully hereinafter appear.

Extending vertically between the rear portion of the receiver l2 and the stock-unit I1 is a second draft-screw or draft-member generally designated by the reference character 52 having a head 53 and a shank 54 which latter is externally threaded at its lower end. The head 53 of the draft-screw 52 has a conically-contoured portion 55 which seats against a similarly-shaped seat 56 at the bottom of a vertical counterbore 51 formed in the bottom-wall 58 of the rear-portion of the receiver l2 and in which the said head 53 is located.

The draft-screw 52 extends downwardly through an externally-threaded thrust-sleeve or thrust-member 59 and through an internallythreaded tubular escutcheon-nut 60 in which the said thrust-sleeve 59 is threaded. For the purpose of adjusting the said thrust-sleeve 59, the same is provided at its upper end at diametrically-opposite points, with notches 6|-5| which may be engaged by a screw driver or other suitable tool. The escutcheon-nut 60, like the escutcheon-nut 4| before described, is provided with a peripherally-serrated annular flange 62 which is forced into a counterbore 63 in the upper surface of the stock-unit l1, so as to be nonrotatably coupled therewith.

The main portion of the escutcheon-nut 60 extends downwardly through a vertical passage 64 in the adjacent portion of the stock-unit H. The draft-screw 52 extends downwardly through the said thrust-sleeve 59 and escutcheon-nut 69 and thence into threaded engagement with an internally-threaded escutcheon-nut 65. The said escutcheon-nut 65 is mounted in a counterbored lower portion of the vertical passage 64 and has a peripherally-serrated head 66 which grips the adjacent portion of the stock-unit so as to be non-rotatably anchored thereto and which is seated against a downwardly-facing shoulder or seat 51 in the said passage 64.

As the parts are thus constructed and arranged, the two spaced-apart adjustable thrustsleeves 42 and 59 hold the rear-portion of the barrel-unit l9 against downward displacement while the respective draft-screws 31 and 52 counter the said adjusting-sleeves and hold the rear-portion of the barrel-unit against upward displacement.

In other words, the thrust-sleeves 42 and 59 will force and hold apart the two units l9 and i1 while the draft-screws 31 and 52 will draw together and hold the two said units.

The two thrust-sleeves 42 and 59 may first be set so that the forward portion of the barrel II will but lightly rest upon the seat 34 at the forward end of the forestock-portion |1b, whereupon when the respective draft-screws 31 and 52 may be tightened, the barrel-unit will be firmly locked in position.

For effecting proper lateral setting of the barrel-unit it with respect to the stock-unit l1, the barrel-unit may be pivoted about the axis of the draft-screw 52 in order to laterally align the barrel II and the forward portion of the receiver 12 in the upwardly-facing longitudinal groove 24 in the stock-unit H.

It will be noted that the longitudinal groove 24 in the upper face of the stock-unit I1 is greater in radius than the radius of the adjacent portion of the barrel-unit i0, so that clearance is provided for both vertical and lateral movement of one unit with respect to the other prior to being firmly interlocked together.

Preferably and as shown, the seat 34 at the forward end of the forestock-portion Nb of the stock-unit I! is so dimensioned that it normally provides lateral clearance on each of the respective opposite sides of the adjacent portion of the barrel II.

By arranging the thrust-sleeves 42 and 59 or their equivalents coaxially with respect to their complemental draft-screws 37 and 52 or their equivalents, no distorting stresses are applied to the barrel-unit H3 or the stock-unit H, which might be the case were the draft-members and thrust-members referred to not coaxially arranged.

Whenever the user of the firearm observes any cramping of the barrel-unit, due to warpage of the stock-unit H as a result of its exposure to moisture or other factors tending to warp the said stock-unit, such user may readily correct such stresses by readjusting ei her or both of the thrust-sleeves 42 or 59 after having first loosened the respective draft-screws 31 and 52.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that by means of the present invention, the initial accurate mounting of the barrel-unit of a firearm with respect to its stock-unit may be conveniently effected and further that in the event the setting initially given should change, due to factors outside of the control of the manufacturer, the user may readily reset the two main units 18 and I! of the firearm with respect to each other when conditions make such readjustment necessary or desirable.

It will also be observed that when the barrelunit is initially mounted with respect to the stock-unit, or when it is reset with respect thereto, the said units are securely interlocked without strain by substantially-coordinated counteracting forces exerted thereon by the coacting thrust-sleeves and draft-screws.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. In a firearm structure, the combination with the barrel-unit and stock-unit thereof: of adjustable attaching-means for securing the two said units together in such manner as to minimize the deflecting action of the said stock-unit upon the said barrel-unit; the said adjustable attaching-means including an axially-adjustable tubular thrust-member threaded to one of the said units for axial movement with respect thereto and constructed and arranged to hold the two said units apart in various positions of relative adjustment; and an axially-adjustable draftmember extending between the two said units through the said tubular axially-adjustable thrust-member and drawing the two said units together.

2. In a firearm structure, the combination with the barrel-unit and stock-unit thereof: of ad-= necting the two said units and drawing the said barrel-unit toward the said stock-unit and against the said tubular thrust-member.

3. In a firearm structure, the combination with 1 the barrel-unit and stock-unit thereof: of adjustable attaching-means for securing the two said units together in such manner as to minimize the deflecting action of the said stock-unit upon the said barrel-unit; the said adjustable attaching-means including an internallythreaded tubular escutcheon-nut mounted in the said stock-unit; an externally-threaded tubular thrust-sleeve threaded into the internallythreaded escutcheon-nut and engaging with the said barrel-unit to hold the same in spaced relationship with respect to the adjacent portion of the said stock-unit; and an axially-adjustable draft-member extending through both the said tubular escutcheon-nut and the said tubular thrust-sleeve and seating the said barrel-unit against one end of the said tubular thrust-sleeve.

4. In a firearm structure, the combination with a barrel-unit provided with a threaded bore for the reception of a draft-member; of a stockunit; an escutcheon-nut mounted in the said stock-unit; and adjustable attaching-means for securing the two said units together in such manner as to minimize the deflecting action of the said stock-unit upon the said barrel-unit and including a tubular externally-threaded thrust-sleeve threaded into the said escutcheonnut in the said stock-unit and engaging with an adjacent portion of the said barrel-unit to hold the same in spaced relationship with respect to the said stock-unit, and a draft-screw extending axially through the said tubular thrust-sleeve and having a threaded portion entering the threaded bore in the said barrel-unit and acting to oppose the thrust of the said thrust-member and draw the said units together.

5. In a firearm structure, the combination with a barrel-unit having a draft-screw-receiving passage therein; a stock-unit having two threaded sockets mounted therein; adjustable attaching-means for securing the two said units together in such manner as to minimize the deflecting action of the said stock-unit upon the said barrel-unit and including an externallythreaded tubular thrust-sleeve threaded into one of the two threaded passages in the said stock-unit and engaging with the said barrelunit to hold the same in spaced relationship with respect to the said stock-unit, and a draft-screw extending through the passage in the said barrelunitand through the said tubular thrust-sleeve and into threaded engagement with the remaining one of the two said threaded bores in the said stock-unit.

LOVELL H. PAGE.

axially-adjustable l