US2261976A - Cartridge-controlling mechanism for repeating firearms - Google Patents

Description

s sheets-sheet 1 Y H. L. CROCKETT Filed July 4, 1939 CARTRIDGE-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR REPEATING FIREARMS @d wm Smm Nov. i11, 1941'.

m um mm. mm o m 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i@ www, `0 mi ...Hw

H. l.. cRocKE'rT Filed July 4, 1959 CARTRIDGE-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR REPEATING FI'REARMS Nov; 11, 1941.

N f E f E Nov. 11,'1941. H. L. cRocKETT 2,261,976 CARTRIDGE-CONTROLLING MECHANIsM FOR REPEATING FIREARMS Filed July 4, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 11, 1941 Y AgfUNVPEo STATES PATENT or CARTRmGE-CGNTROLLING MECHANISM FOR REPEATING FIREARMS Harry L..Crockett, New.H'aven, Conn., vassignor *n to WesternCartridge' Company, New Haven,v

Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application Ju1y`4, .1939. serial No. 282,818'

9 Cmms. j (C1. i2-17) y,The present invention relates to improvements inprepeating firearms and moreparticularly to mechanisms whereby the transfer of fresh-car tridges from the magazines ofrearms, is effected or controlled. l

vOneof the objects of the present invention is to provide a superior cartridge-controlling'mechanism for the purpose above referred to, which has capacity for reliable functioning without occasioning the jamming of the cartridges being fed or controlled. Y

Another object of the present inventionis to providel a superior cartridge-control mechanism for repeating-firearms in which is embodied char--y `acteristics ofvpositively preventing the undesir' able tilting of Vone cartridgeV by another as the same are fed from the magazine of therearm. A furthar object of the present invention is to provide asuperior `cartridge-control mechanism for repeating-firearms in Whichis embodied a positive cartridge-control*feature which, under one set of conditions, will impose positive re-v straint upona cartridge and which, when condi-v tions arealtered, will provide the minimum of resistance tov the further movement of the; cartridge in question. y

- `With the above and other objects in View, as will appear toA those skilled in theart from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are v"novel over the prior art and which are not claimed'n any separate application.` i

ln the accompanying drawings,.in whichV certairrmodes of carrying out the present' inventionareshown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a broken' view in sidev elevation of an upturn-and-pullback,bolt-action repeating firearm embodying one form of cartridge-control mechanism embodying the present invention;

t Fig.v 2.*is a broken'view thereof mainly in ver tical centralLlongitndinal vsection with portions' shown inl side elevation, the parts being shown inl tlie positions clue to them when the breech is in itsjbreech-c'losing position'and in readinessV for Fig. 3 is a similar View but with more of the parts shown inside elevation and illustrating the'parts in the positions which they assume when the yloreeclfi-loolt is fully retired;

v line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

"Fig, 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on vFig. Gris a view in side elevation of the unit V l shoulder 28 lwhich isr adapted a.rearwardly-facing'boeking-shoulder 29'V formed FlcEjff/j comprising the magazine-throat. and the Calf-:f tridge-detent,detached;' 'y y Fig. 7 -is-a'top or plan view thereof.; Fig. 8 isy a broken reverse plan view-gf the;Y forward portionof the breech-bolt; Y* d) Fig. 9 is a* perspective view of the cartridge-- detent, detached; and. Fig. 10 is a perspective View.A of the magazine+ throat,detached. I The repeating lfirearm herein chosen for illusjj tration and description isofL the so-called .up-. turnand-pullbacl f.bolt-action type and includes a tubular-receiver I 5 into thev forwardy end.y yor which is threaded the, rear end of abarrell having a cartridge-,chamber I 6a` therein.v The said receiver I5, and barrel I6y are thus organized' together and constitute what maybe termedafbarrel-unit, The said receiver. I5 is provided with an axial bolt-receivingv-.chamber 4I1( and is: cut away at its forward upper-portion to provide: f an ejection-opening I8. The saidfejection-opening I8 is in communicationlwith the bolt-receiv-r ing chamber I'I in thereCeiVerIS, asisalso -an L-shaped passage I9 in the Vrear portionvofthe said receiver, as-is. shown particularly well in! Fig. 1. p ,e The axial bolt-receiving chamber-.I1 in .the tubular-receiver` I5 receives areciprocating cylindricallyfcontourecl breech-bolt l20 having a laterv ally-offsetting operating-handle 2l, the-base of- Which latter is adapted :to ride 'in the L-shaped. passage I9 before referred to. Thebreechfbolt f 20 is formed with a longitudinal ming-plunger passage 22 which is -intersected at its forwardend by a relatively-small firing-point passage 23;l Reciprocatable in the passage 22 in the,.breech bolt 2.0 is a reciprocating*firing-plunger`24 hav.-` ing a, firing-point 25.movab1e.through the firing# point passage 2,3 inthe `said breech-bolt.

Fixed Within the hollow rear end ofthe breech.-l bolt 20 is an end-plug 26 against Whichvis seatedl the rear end of a helical'ring-.spring 21. y The forward end of the iiring-spring 21 just referredto bears againstthe rear end of the iiring-plunger- 24 .and exerts a constant effort to move theY said firing-plunger forwardly. H

The main portion ofthe firing-plunger.-24is=` substantially plate-like and is provided adjacent its rear end With a forwardly-facing. cockingf tofbe engaged by upon the susbstantially-horizontal sear arm 3-0 of a. sear-and-trigger unit generallydesignated bythe -reference character 3|. The said sear. and-trigger unit 3l includes also a substantiallvs vertical trigger-arm 32 terminating at its lower end in a curved finger-piece 33. Mounted against the under side of the Sear-arm 36 of the searand-trigger unit 3| is a safety-slide 34, which latter is not per se involved in the present invention and requires no detailed description other than to say that it is movable for locking and unlocking the firing mechanism of the firearm by a pivotal-lever 35 shown in Fig. 1.

The said sear-and-trigger unit 3| is mounted for pivotal movement upon a pivot-pin 36 carried by a wedge-shaped lug 31 ttingwi'th a drive-fit within a similarly-shaped transverse groove 38 formed in the under side of the receiver I adjacent the rear end thereof.

Extending beneath the barrel I6 vand beneath the forward portion of the receiver |5 is a magazine-tube 39 having a usual spring-pressed cartridge-follower 40 therein, which latter serves to press rearwardly upon such cartridges as may be located to its rear. Y v

Projecting forwardly into the open rear end of the magazine-tube 39 is the tubular-stem 4| of a Amagazine-throat generallydesignated by the reference character 42 and which may be conveniently formed of sheet metal. The forward end of the tubular-stem 4| of' the magazinethroat 42 is preferably formed, as shown, -with an annular forwardly-and-outwardly sloping bevel 43 serving to guide -cartridges from the magazine-tube 39 into the said tubular-stem, and thus rearwardly into the interior of the magazine-throat 42.

The Vmagazine-throat 42 is formed with a pair of laterally-spaced-apart upwardly-extending side- panels 44 and 45 which extend upwardly into the interior of the receiver |5 through a longitudinal passage 46` (Figs. 4 and 5) formed in the bottom wall of the said receiver adjacent the forward end thereof and substantially directly below the ejection-opening I8 therein. The panel 44 just referred to, is shorter in a direction from front to rear than is the complemental panel 45 to accommodate adjacent its forward edge a detent-shifting tongue 41 which is formed integral with the magazinethroat 42 and slopes upwardly and outwardly for the purpose of shifting a cartridge-detent in the manner as will hereinafter appear. The side panel 44 is formed in its lower portion with a -clearance-opening 48 which receives a detentnger, as will appear from the following.

Immediately to the rear of its upwardly-projecting side panels 44 and 45, the magazinethroat 42 has its respective opposite side walls curved inwardly to provide two opposed cartridgestop fingers 49 and 50. The last-mentioned cartridge-stop finger 5|] is cut away at its forward portion to provide thereon a forwardlyfacing cartridge-ejecting abutment 5|.

The forward portion of the magazine-throat 42 is supported by having its tubular-stem 4I extended within the rear end of the magazine-tube 39, as before described, and the rear end of the said magazine-throat is rigidly supported in the firearm structure by a transverse pin 52 extending through perforations in the respective cartridge-stop fingers 49 and 5|] thereof and into the adjacent portions of the receiver I5.

1n addition to the features above described, the magazine-'throat' 42 is formed with a pair of rearwardly-projecting laterally-spaced-apart arms 53-53 between which extends, with capacity for rocking movement,` a cartridge-carrier orl elevator generally designated by the reference character 54. The said cartridge-carrier is mounted for pivotal movement between the arms 53-53 by means of a transverse pin 55 extending therethrough and through the said arms 53-53. The respective opposite ends of the pivot-pin 55 project laterally beyond the said arms 53-53 to a degreek sufficient to provide support for the complemental helical coils or loops 56-5'6 of a cartridge-elevating spring generally designated by the reference character 5l. The said cartridge-elevating spring 51 is formed with a depending U-shaped arm 58 which joins the complemental coils or loops 56-56 and which engages with the rear face of the lower portion of'the cartridge-elevator 54 to yieldingly urge the same in a counter-clockwise direction around the pivot-pin 55. The said cartridge-elevating spring 51 is also formed with two rearwardlyextending arms 59-59 projecting respectively from the coils or loops 55-56 and engaged with the" under face of the safety-slide 34. As thus constructed' and arranged, the cartridge-elevating spring 51 exerts a constant but yielding elort to both lift the Sear-arm 30 of the Sear-andtrigger unit 3| and to turn the cartridge-elevator 54 in a counterclockwise direction for the purpose of sequentially elevating cartridges, all in a manner as will more fully hereinafter appear.

The upper rear portion of the cartridge-elevator 54 is provided with one or more lugs 60 adapted to be engaged for turning the said cartridge-elevator in a clockwise direction against the tension of the cartridge-elevating spring 51, by a forwardly-facing depressing-shoulder 6| formed on the breech-bolt 20 about midway the length thereof. If desired, though not essential, the breech-bolt 20 may also be provided with a rearwardly-facing abutment or shoulder 62 (Figs. 2 and 3) adapted to engage with the lug Si) on the cartridge-elevator 54 to assist the cartridgeelevating spring 51 in turning the said vcartridgeelevator in a counterclockwise direction.

The forward edge` of the main body of the cartridge-elevator 54 is curved concentrically with respect to the pivot-pin 55 and constitutes a releasable check or stop from the column of cartridges in the tubular magazine. The said cartridge-elevator 54 is formed with a longitudinal upwardly-opening pocket B3 receiving a tongue 64 hung upon a pivot-pin 65 carried by the said cartridge-elevator at a point remote from its own pivot-pin 55. The tongue 64 carried by the cartridge-elevator 54 is urged upwardly by a helical spring 66 bearing against the under side of the said tongue about midway the length thereof and seated in a spring-pocket 61 opening upwardly and intersecting the bottom wall of the larger pocket 63 in which the said tongue is located. To limit the upward swing of the rear end of the tongue '64 with respect to the cartridge-elevator 54 by which it is carried, a pin-like stop-abutment 68 is mounted in the said cartridge-elevator and extends across the upper rear portion of the pocket 63 therein.

For the purpose of checking the rearward movement of cartridges as the same emerge from the magazine-tube 39 when the forward upper corner of the cartridge-elevator 54 is substantially fully depressed, themagazine-throat 42 is formed in either or both of its side walls with an in-bent cartridge-stop abutment 69 which acts as a stop for the cartridges in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2.

Movably associated with the right side wall of the magazine-throat 42 with capacity for both plane perpendicular with respect to the axis ofy the said transverse pin, but may also swing slightly laterally thereon,l all for the purpose as will more fully hereinafter appear.l v

Formed integral withl'the lower edge of the cartridge-detent 19 and bent inwardly at a right angle thereto, is a cartridge-detent 'lingery 12 which extends throughthe clearance-opening 48 in the side panel 44 of the magazine-throat 42 in position to move both vertically and laterally therein and to be engaged by the successive -cartridges as the same move upwardly. The extreme' forward end-portionof the cartridgedetent 10 is inset to provide an operating-tongue 13 preferably having its lower portion 14 sloping-'downwardly and inwardly as shown.r The slope yof the lower portion 14 just referred to,

substantially corresponds to the slope of the inner face of the detent-shifting tongue 41 of the magazine-throat 42 so as to afford a smooth camming engagement therewith.

The upper edge 15 of the cartridge-detent 10 is positioned to be engaged by the under face of a., longitudinal lug 16 depending from the under side of the forward portion of the breech-bolt 20 for the purpose as will more clearly hereinafter appear.

For purposes of description, let it be assumed that the parts are in the positions in whichthey are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4'and that three cartridges 11, 18 and 19 are in the gun structure. The cartridge 11 is-in the cartridge-cham- `is now partly in the magazine-tube -39 and partly vin the magazine throat 42.

Now whenthefingerpiece 33 of the Sear-andtrigger unit 3l is pulled rearwardly, the carv, tridge 11 willl be fired, followingl which the next normal operation is for the operator of the rearm to retire the breech-bolt 29 into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3. In this man-r ner the now-fired cartridge 11 will have been extracted from the cartridge-chamber |6a and -ejected through the ejection-opening 18 of the receiver l5.

fAsthevbreech-bolt 20 moves rearwardly asy above described, the lug 16 thereof will ride off f from the upper edge 15 of the cartridge-detent 10 thus permitting the cartridge-elevator 54 acting through the cartridge 18 to force the said carytridge-detent to swing both outwardly and upwardly about the transverse pin 521m a, path determined by the coaction of the operating-tongue 13 in its engagement with the datent shifting tongue 41 of the magazine-throat 42. Theresistance needed to beovercome in order to retire Y 1 the cartridge-detent finger 12 of the cartridgedetent 10 out of the path of .movement of the car-Vv tridge 18 is only the negligible Weightof the said cartridge-detent 10, so that the cartridgeelevating spring 51 is enabled to elevate-the said cartridge 18 from the position in-which it is shown in Fig. 2- into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3, without appreciable resistance.

- It may be explained in this connection that as soon as the breech-bolt 20 is moved rearwardly, the depressing-shoulder 6| thereof will also be retired rearwardly thus relieving the cartridgeelevator 54 of restraint and permitting the cartridge-elevating spring 51 to assert itself.' (save in certain contingencies as will hereinafter appear) and swing the said cartridge-elevator 54 in a counterclockwise direction toefect the lifting or elevation of the cartridge 18 and theY retirement of the cartridge-detent 19 as above described.Y f f When the magazine-tube 39 is loaded to capacity it may be that the spring-pressed cartridge-follower 40 will press so firmly upon-the column of cartridges as to so firmly pinch the cartridge 18 betweenthe cartridge-stop abutment 69 and the cartridge 19 that, under some conditions, the cartridge-elevating springy 51 will not exert suiiicient force toV lift the cartridge 18 as above described. In this event, howeventhe rearward travel of the breech-bolt will bring the shoulder or abutment 62 at the rear endiof the lug 16, into engagement with the upwardlyprojecting portion of the cartridge-elevator`54 and thus provide sufficient force to swing the said cartridge-elevator in `a counterclockwise direc# tion and thus release the cartridge 18 from the will engage with the rim of the cartridge 1B which is nowv elevated as is shown in Fig. 3 and. shift the same forwardly out from beneathv the cartridge- stop fingers 49 and 50 of the magazine-throat 42 and will ultimately insert the said' cartridge in the cartridge chamber- I'Ga of the barrel I6. i

As the breech-,bolt is moved forwardly intoits breech-closing position as just above described,`

the lug 16 thereof will engage and override the upper edge 15 of the cartridge-detent 10 to force' the said cartridge-detent downwardly and inwardly in the event that gravity has not already accomplished its purpose. ment of the cartridge-detent 10 will be effected as the same is moved downwardly by the engagement of lthe sloping lower portion -14 withY the inclined detent-shifting tongue `41 of the magazine-throatY 42. breech-bolt is in its forward or breech-closing position, the lug 16 of the breech-bolt 29 will overlie the forward portion of the cartridge-detent 10 and thus positively hold the same against either outward or upward movement so thatfits cartridge-detent finger 12 will bein position` to` prevent the next lcartridge emergingV from the magazine-tube 39 from becoming undulytiltedory cocked-up.

The latter part of the movement of the breechbolt 26 into its breech-closing position will bring. its depressing-shoulder 6| into engagement with the upper rear portion of the cartridge-elevator 54 and will swing the said cartridge-elevator. in

a clockwise direction against the tension of the cartridge-elevating spring 51 so asf to restore the said cartridge-elevator to -theposition in The inward move- In anyv event, when thewhich it is shown in Fig. 2. As the upper forward corner of the cartridge-elevator 54 moves below the rim of the cartridge 19 the said cartridge will snap rearwardly under the force applied by the spring-pressed cartridge-follower 40, until its movementI is halted by the engagement of the rim of the said cartridge with the cartridge-stop abutment 69 of the magazine-throat 42. It is now that the cartridge-detent performs its function of preventing the cartridge 19 and those to follow in turn, from cooking-up or so tilting in the magazine-throat to such eX- tent as to endanger their proper feeding to the cartridge-chamber ISa of the barrel I6. When the time comes for elevating the cartridge 19 the retirement of the breech-bolt 20 will have also retired the lug 16 thereof` and thus released the cartridge-detent 'l0 which is now no longer required to perform any function until the nextsucceeding cycle of operation.

By providing the positively-actuated cartridgedetent 'I0 or its equivalent and permitting the same to have both vertical and lateral movement a very reliable, simple and effective structure is provided which insures the proper feeding of cartridges from a tubular-magazine to the cartridge-chamber of the firearm.

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. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearm including in combination: a barrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazine associated with the said barrel-unit and located below the cartridge-chamber therein; cartridgeelevating means operable to raise cartridges upwardly from the said tubular-magazine toward the cartridge-chamber in the said barrel-unit; a cartridge-detent also associated with the said barrel-unit and operatively mounted therein for movement alternately upwardly-and-outwardly and downwardly-and-inwardly with respect to the path of movement of cartridges as the same move from the said tubular-magazine to the cartridge-chamber of the said barrel-unit; and a breech-bolt reciprocating in a portion of the said barrel-unit and operable in the breech-closing movement thereof to cause the said cartridgedetent to be moved from its upwardly-and-outwardly-disposed position into its downwardlyand-inwardly-disposed position for restraining a cartridge against undue tilting as the same emerges from the said tubular-magazine.

2. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearm including in combination: a barrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazine associated with the said barrel-unit and located below the cartridge-chamber therein; cartridgeelevating means operable to raise cartridges upwardly from the said tubular-magazine toward the cartridge-chamber in the said barrel-unit; a cartridge-detent also associated with the said barrel-unit and operatively mounted therein for movement alternately upwardly-and-outwardly and downwardly-and-inwardly with respect to the path of movement of cartridges as the same move from the said tubular-magazine to the cartridgechamber of the said barrel-unit; cam-means inclined inwardly and downwardly for guiding the said cartridge-detent inwardly when the same is moved downwardly; and a breech-bolt reciprocating in a portion of the said barrel-unit and operable in the breech-closing movement thereof to cause the said cartridge-detent to be moved from its upwardly-and-outwardly-disposed position downwardly into engagement with the said inwardly-and-downwardly-inclined cam-means to be moved inwardly by the latter into position for restraining a cartridge against undue tilting as the same emerges from the said tubularmagazine.

3. A tubular-magazine repeating-rearm including in combination: a barrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazine associated with the said barrel-unit and located below the cartridge-chamber therein; cartridgeelevating means operable to raise cartridges upwardly from the said tubular-magazine toward the cartridge-chamber in the said barrel-unit; a cartridge-detent also associated with the said barrel-unit and loosely pivoted about a substantially-horizontal axis extending crosswise of the firearm to permit the Cartridge-detent to be alternately moved upwardly-and-outwardly and downwardly-and-inwardly with respect to the path of movement of cartridges as the same move from the said tubular-magazine to the cartridgechamber of the said barrel-unit; and a breechbolt reciprocating in a portion of the said barrelunit and operable in the breech-closing movement thereof to turn the said cartridge-detent about its pivot-point from its upwardly-and-outwardly-disposed position into its downwardlyand-inwardly-disposed position for restraining a cartridge against undue tilting as the same emerges from the said tubular-magazine.

4. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearm including in combination: a barrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazine associated with the said barrel-unit and located below the cartridge-chamber therein; cartridgeelevating means operable to raise cartridges upwardly from the said tubular-magazine toward the cartridge-chamber in the said barrel-unit; a cartridge-detent also associated with the said barrel-unit and loosely pivoted about a substantially-horizontal axis extending crosswise of the firearm to permit the cartridge-detent to be alternately moved upwardly-and-outwardly and downwardly-and-inwardly with respect to the path of movement of cartridges as the same move from the said tubular-magazine to the cartridgechamber of the said barrel-unit; cam-means extending inwardly and downwardly for guiding the said cartridge-detent inwardly when the same is moved downwardly; and a breech-bolt reciprocating in a portion of the said barrel-unit and operable in the breech-closing movement thereof to cause the said cartridge-detent to be moved from its upwardly-and-outwardly-disposed position downwardly into engagement with the said inwardly-and-downwardly-inclined cam-means to be moved inwardly by the latter into positionl for restraining a cartridge against undue tilting as the same emerges from the said tubularmagazine.

5. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearm including in combination: a barrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazine associated with the said barrel-unit and located below the cartridge-chamber therein; `a magazine-throat structure located to the rear of the said tubular-magazine and having an upwardlyrections to move its said cartridge-detent nger into and out lof the path, of cartridges as the same move from Vthe lower portion of the said magazine-throat structure to the cartridge-chamber of the said barrel-unit; and a breech-bolt reciprocating in a portion of the said barrel-unit and operable in the breech-closing movement thereof to cause the said cartridge-detent to be moved both inwardly and downwardly to bring its cartridge-detent iinger into position for restraining a cartridge against undue tilting in the said magazine-throat structure, when the said breech-bolt is moved into its breech-closing position, i

6. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearm including in combination: a barrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazine associated with the said barrel-unit and located below the cartridge-chamber therein; a magazine-throat structure located to the rear of the said tubular-magazine and having an upwardlyopening interior chamber receiving cartridges from the said tubular-magazine and also having a side wall thereof provided with a clearanceopening for receiving a cartridge-stop linger of a cartridge-detent; cartridge-elevating means operable in the said magazine-throat structure to raise cartridges upwardly from the said magazine-throat structure toward the cartridge-chamber in the said barrel-unit; a cartridge-detent located adjacent the side of the said magazinethroat; structure having the clearance-opening therein and having a cartridge-stop nger extending through the said clearance-opening, the said cartridge-detent being movable both vertically and laterally in respectively opposite directions t0 move its said cartridge-detent nger into and out of the path of cartridges as the same move from the lower portion of the said magazine-throat structure to the cartridgechamber of the said barrel-unit; cam-means inclinedvinwardly and downwardly for guiding the said cartridge-datent inwardlywhen the same is moved downwardly; and abreech-bolt reciprocating in a portion of the said barrel-unit and operable in the breech-closing movement thereof to cause the said cartridge-detent to be moved from its upwardly-and-outwardly-disposedposition downwardly for inward guidance by the said cam-means to move its cartridge-detent nger into/position for restraining a cartridge against undue tilting in the said magazinethroat structure. i 7. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearm inincluding in combination: a barrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazine associated with the said barrel-unit and located below the cartridge-chamber therein; a magazine-throat located to the rear of the said tubular-magazine and having an upwardly-opening interior chamber receiving cartridges from the said tubular-magazine and also having a side wall thereof provided with a clearance-opening for receiving a cartridge-stop linger of "a cartridge-detent; cartridge-elevating means operable in the said-'magazine-throat structure to raise cartridges upwardlyA from the `said magazine-throat toward the cartridge-chamber in the said barrel-unit; a cartridge-detent located adjacent the side of the said magazine-throat having the clearance-opening therein'and havinga cartridge-stop finger extending through the said clearance-opening, the said cartridge detent being movable both vertically and laterally in respectively Vopposite directions to move its said cartridge-detentnger into and out of the path of cartridges as the s amemove from vthelowerv portion of the said magazine-throat to the cartridge-ehamber of the said barrel-unit; a detentguiding tongue carried by the said magazinethroat and inclined inwardly and -downwardly for guiding the said cartridge-detent inwardly Y when the same is moved downwardly; and a breech-bolt reciprocating in a portion of the said barrel-unit and operable in the breech-closing movement thereof to cause the said cartridge- -detent to be moved downwardly against the detent-gui-ding tongue of the said magazine-throat for inward guidance thereby to move its cartridge-datent finger into position for restraining a cartridge against undue tilting in the said magazine-throat.

8. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearm including in combination: a barrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazine associated with the said barrel-unit and located below the cartridge-chamber therein; a rmagazine-throat located to the rear of the said tubular-magazine and having an upwardly-opening interior chamber receiving cartridges from the said tubular-magazine and also having a side wall thereof provided with a clearance-opening for receiving a cartridge-stop nger of a cartridge-detent; cartridge-elevating means operable in the said magazine-throat. structure to raise cartridges upwardly from the said maga- Zine-throat toward the cartridge-chamber in the said barrel-unit; a transverse coupling-pin coupling the said magazine-throat to the said barrel-unit; a cartridge-detent located adjacent the side of the said magazine-throat having the clearance-opening therein and having a cartridge-stop ringer extending through the said clearance-opening, the said cartridge-detent. being loosely pivoted upon the said transverse coupling-pin with capacity for swinging movement in both vertical and lateral directions to move its said cartridge-detent finger into and out of the path of cartridges as the same moves from the lower portion of the said magazine-throat to thev cartridge-chamber of the said barrel-unit; and a breech-bolt reciprocating in a portion ofthe said barrel-unit and operable in the breech-closing movement thereof to cause the sai-d cartridgedetent both inwardly and downwardly to move its cartridge-detent linger into position for restraining a cartridge against undue tilting in the said magazine-throat.

9. A tubular-magazine repeating-firearm including in combination: a barrel-unit having a cartridge-chamber therein; a tubular-magazine associated with the said barrel-unit and located below the cartridge-chamber therein; a maga- ,zine-throat located to the rear of the said tubular-magazine and having an upwardly-opening interior chamber receiving cart-ridges from the said tubular-magazine and also having a side wall thereof provided with a clearance-opening for receiving a cartridge-stop finger of a cartridge-detent; `cartridge-elevating means operable in the said magazine-throat structure to raise cartridges upwardly from the said magalzine-throat toward the cartridge-chamber in the said barrel-unit; a transverse coupling-pin coupling the said magazine-throat to the said barrelunit; a cartridge-detent located adjacent the side of the said magazine-throat having the clearance-opening therein and having a cartridgestop nger extending through the said clearanceopening, the said cartridge-detent being loosely pivoted upon the said transverse coupling-pin with capacity for swinging movement in both vertical and lateral directions to move its said cartridge-detent finger into and out of the'path of cartridges as the same move from the lower portion of the said magazine-throat to the cartridge-chamber of the said barrel-unit; and a detent-guiding tongue carried by the said magazine-throat and inclined inwardly and downwardly for guiding the said cartridge-detent inwardly when the same is moved downwardly; and a breech-bolt reciprocating in a portion of the said barrel-unit and operable in the breech-closing movement thereof to turn the said cartridgedetent `downwardly into engagement with the said detent-guiding tongue to be guided inwardly thereby and move its cartridge-detent finger into position for restraining a cartridge against undue tilting in the said magazine-throat.

HARRY L. CROCKETT.

Images