US269546A

US269546A - t starr

Info

Publication number: US269546A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1882-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 1899-12-26

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. T. STARR. BRBEOH LOADING FIRE ARM.

No. 269,546. Patented Dec. 26, 1882.

(N0 Model.)

8 Sheets-Sheet. 2. E. T. STARR. BRBEGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

Patented Dec. 26, 1882.

(No Model.)

3 SheetsSheet 3. E. T. STARR.

BREEGH LOADING FIRE ARM.

UNITED STATES EBEN T. STARR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,546, dated December 26, 1882,

Application filed March 1, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EBEN T. STARR, of the city and county of New York, in the State of Xew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Fire- Arms, of which the following is a specificallOll.

My invention relates particularly to that class of breech-loading fire-arms in which the breech-block, which contains the hammer and other lock mechanism, is pivoted within the breech-receiver, so that it may be swung backward and downward to open the breech, and in which the necessary movements of the breechblock and the cartridge-shell extractor are eft'ected by a pivoted or swinging lever; but certain features of the invention are applicable to other breech-loading fire-arms.

An important object of my invention is to simplify the breech mechanism of such firearms, and to enable the parts thereof to be made of such shape and strength that the firearm may be cheaply manufactured, and will be very durable and not likely to get out of order.

To these ends my invention consists in the combination, in a breech-loading firearm, with a breech-block pivoted to swing backward and downward and containing the lock mechanism, a lever for operating the breeclnblock, pivoted on the same center therewith, and a breech-receiver, the said breech-block and breech-receiver having between them a bore or socket, formed partly in the rear wall of each, of a locking bolt or key which is connected with said lever so as to be operated thereby, and which fits said bore or socket, and thereby holds the breech-block against movement either in a backward or lateral direction. The portion of the bore or socket which is in the breech-receiver forms an inclined bearing for the locking bolt or key which receives the force ot' the recoil. 1n the above-described combination I preferably make the locking bolt or key of circular form, and the bore or socket in the breech-block wherein it tits and the inclincd bearing on the breech-receiver are of corresponding shape, and Iform the said bolt or key with a shoulder near its upper end, and the hole in the breech-block witha corresponding shoulder, whereby lprovidc for first moviug the bolt or key independently of the breech-block to withdraw it from between the latter and the bearing on the lneech-recciver, and for drawing down the breech-block by the continued movement of the bolt, by reason of the shoulder on the bolt acting upon the shoulder on the breech-block.

The invention also consists in the combination, with the breech-block and breech-receiver above described, ot' a locking key or bolt having a notch in its rear side and an operatinglever having a forwardly-projecting hook engaging with said notch, whereby I provide a simple and strong direct connection between the bolt or key and its operating-lever.

The invention also consists in the combination, with the pivoted or swinging hammer ot' a-fire-arm, of a spiral inainspring and an extensible core or guide therefor, fitting between the swinging hammer and a tixcd abutment for the spring, and composed of two parts adapted to slide one within the other.

The invention also consists in the combination, with the breech-block and the hammer having a recess in its back, of a spiral mainspring and an extensible core thcretor,Qneend of which is pivoted to the breeclrblock to form an abutment, and the other end of which is rounded to fit in the recess in the hammer, and which is composed of two parts adapted to slide one within the other.

The invention also consists in the combination, with the above-described breech-receiver, breech-block, lever, and locking bolt or key, of ahannnerhavinga projection upon itstumbler, which is brought against the lever in cocking the hammer and prevents the lever from being swung downward to withdraw the locking bolt or key while the hammer is at full-cock.

The invention also consists in the combina tion, with the barrel and breech-block, of a shell-extractor adapted to slide backward and forward below the barrel, having an upward projection at its rear end for engaging with a shell, and bifurcated or forked at its front end, a lever for operating the breech-block, provided with a horn which tits in the fork of said extractor, and serves to move the extractor rearward to extract a shell, while it is moved forward by the breech-block in closing the breech, anda spring, one end of which enters the fork in said extract r and bears upon said horn.

In the accompa ying drawings. Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of the breech portion of a fire-arm embodying my invention, showing the breech closed. Fig. 2 represents a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 represents a view similar to Fig. 1 with the breech open. Fig. 4 represents a view similar to Fig. 1 with the hammer cocked. Fig. 5 represents a transverse section on the dotted line 00 m, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 represents a corresponding section on the dotted line 3 3 Fig. 1. Fig. 7 represents an inverted plan view of the shell-extractor. Fig. 8 represents a perspective view thereof, and Fig. 9 represents a plan view of the extractor, the end portion of the lever which engages therewith, and. the spring for acting upon the said lever.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates the barrel of the fire-arm, and B designates the mortised breech-receiver.

G designates the breech-block, which tits in the breech-receiver and is fulcrumed upon a pin or pivot, to. on which it may be swung downward and backward to open the breech. The breech-block is mortised, so as to receive within it the several parts of the lock mechanism, and its rear wall or end is shaped correspondingly to the rearwall, B,of the breech-receiver, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

-D designatesaleverfor operating the breechblock, and the form of which is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3, and'et. This lever tits between the side walls or cheeks of the breech-block O, and is tulcrumed on the same pin or pivot, a between said side walls or cheeks, but so that it and the breech-block may swing thereon independently of each other.

In the rear part of the breech-block U is a locking bolt or key, E, here represented as of cylindric form and fitting in a bore or socket, E, in the breech-block, which is formed partly in the rear wall of the breech-block and partly in the breech-receiver. The upper end portion of this bolt or key is larger in diameter than the portion below it, so as to form a shoulder, c, and the upper portion of the hole E is counterbored, so as to form a shoulder, 0, against which the shoulder on the boltimpinges when the bolt is drawn down.

In the rear side of the bolt or key E, near its lower end, is a notch, d, and upon the lever D is a strong forwardly-projecting hook, d, which enters the notch d, and by this means 1 form a simple and very strong direct connection between the bolt or key and the lever D.

From Fig. lit will be clearly seen that when the breech of the fire-arm is closed there is a considerable distance between the shoulder c on the pin or bolt and the shoulder c on the breech-block G, and consequently when the bolt or key is depressed its first movement is independent of the breech block until. the

shoulder c strikes the shoulder c, whereupon the continued movement of the lever D and bolt or key may draw down the breech-block to open the-breech.

The enlarged upper end of the bolt or key E fits directly between the breech-block and the rear wall, B, of the breech-receiver, and the portion of the bore or socket E which is in the receiver forms a bearing, 0 which is inclined upward and backward from the portion below it. This inclined bearing is nearly or cxactlyat right angles to the direction in which the force of the recoil acts when the fire-arm is discharged, and consequently the said hearing forms a solid abutment, which receives the force of the recoil and prevents the breechblock from movement away from the breech. The locking bolt or key is entirely within the side walls of the breech-block, and one advantage of making the said bolt or key of cylindrical form is that the hole in the breech-block and the inclined seat or bearing 0 may be readily formed by drilling, whereby cheapness of construction is secured.

It will be'seen that, inasmuch as the bore F/ is torined partly in the breech-block and partly in the ln-eech-receiver, the locking bolt or key holds the breech-block not only against backward movement, butagainst lateral movement; and hence the mortise in the breech-receiver which receives the breech-block may be made wide enough so that dirt will not be retained between the sides of the breech-block and breech-receiver, and so cause the breech-block to jam.

F designates the swinging hammer, which is pivoted by a pin, 0, in the breech-block O, and G designates the mainspring thereof, which is of spiral form. The mainspring G is arranged upon an extensible core, which is composed of a tubular portion,f, which has formed upon it a shoulder, f, for one end of the spring to bear against, and apin,f fitting and adapted to slide within the tubular portion, and having an eye. f against which the other end or" said spring bears. The eyef fits between the side walls of the breechblock U, as shown in Fig. 6, and is secured by a pin, g, which is inserted through it and the breech-block and forms a fixed abutment for the spring to work against. The end of the tubular portionfof the core is rounded or convex at the end, and fits into a concave recess,f in the back of the hammer F, as shown clearly in Fig. 6, and it will be readily seen that the extensible core forms a guide for the mai uspring G and accommodates itself to the extension and contraction thereof. When the hammer is cocked the mainspring is brought nearly into line with the hammerpivot and the pin g; but as the hammer falls the end of the core which acts thereon rises more and more above the center of the ha mmer-pivot, and consequently the power of the spring constantly increases as the hammer falls and reaches its maximum when the hammer strikes the cartridge.

too

.turn or oscillate thereon in the swinging movements of the hammer.

F designates the tumbler of the hammer F, in which are the usual half-cocking notch, 71, and cocking-notch i,- and H Hdesignatethetrigger and sear, which are formed in a sin le piece, i'ulcrumed on a. pin,j, which secureit in the breech-block G, and acted on by the usual trigger-spring, H which has a bearing on the eye f of the mainspring core and guide, as clearly shown. Onthehammer-tulnblerF,forwardot' the half-cock notch h, is a projection, in, which when the hammer is at full-cock, as shown in Fig. 4, is in contact or almost in contact with the forward end of the lever D, above its fulcrum-pin ct, and the levercannot then be swung down because of the forward end thereof striking against the said projection k, and consequenty the locking bolt or key E cannot be drawn down away from the inclined nearing a so long as the hammer is cocked. In the front of the hammer F, and consequently above its pivot e, is a notch, 1., and adjacent thereto is a born or projection, m, on the lever D. \Vhe'n the lever I) is swung down after firing, its first movement causes the horn m to move back the hammer until the born at engages with the notch I, which is sufficient to bring the halfcocking notch IL forward ofthe point of the sear H, and consequently it will be seen that the lever D cannot draw down the locking bolt or key E sufficiently to remove it from the inclined bearing 0 until the hammer is moved sufliciently to carry the half-cocking notch it beyond or forward of the point of the sear H. When the lever D is swung up to close the breech the born at acts in the reverse direction on the hammer, and, taking into the notch I, it tendstodrawthehammerforward,and through the hammer raises the breech-block. The lever and breech-block are thereby caused to maintain the same relative positions which they bear to each other when the breech is open, as seen in Fig. 3, during the whole closing movement of the breechblock, and not until the breech-block is fully raised and in proper position to close the breech does the lever commence to move up relatively to and into the breech-block to move the locking bolt or key up intoits locking position between the breechblock and the inclined bearing 0 This movement of the breech-block and lever together until the breech-block is fully raised is very advantageous, because thereby the locking bolt or key is prevented from bearing and rubbing on the rear wall, B, of the breech-receiver B, as it would it the locking bolt or key were moved relatively to the breech-block during the first return movement ot the lever instead of by the final movement thereof.

In lieu of being shouldered,the key or bolt E may be straightthroughout, orit may be tapered upward more or less throughout the whole or a part of its length, and the bore E be made straight or with a corresponding taper, so that the bolt or key, when pushed up, will wedge itself between the breech-block and the recoilbearing 0.

I designates the shell'extractor, which is fitted and adapted to slide in grooves or ways n in the side walls of the breech-receiver below the barrel A, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. The extractor has at its rear end an upwardly-extending portion which is about equal in width to the diameter of the cartridge-chamber, and is adapted to bear upon nearly halt'thc circumference of the tiange of the shell, thereby giving it a very broad and strong hold thereon. The extractor I is bifurcated or forked at its forward end, as shown clearly in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, and the lever D is provided with a projection or born, 0, which fits between the arms of the ex tractor, within the fork, and acts upon the rear wall or end of the fork to draw the extractor backward and eject the shell. The lever only acts to draw the extractor backward, and the latter is pushed forward in front of the flange of a cartridge by the breech-block U in its closing movement.

J designatesthc spring which holds thelcver D against dropping down when the breech is closed. Itis attached to the under side of the barrel A atp, and its rear end or tip is received in the fork or bifurcation of the extractor I and rests upon the projection or horn 0 on the hammer. The essential advantage of making the extractor forked at the front end is that the end of the spring J may then project into the fork and bear directly upon the horn 0, which it could not do it the extractor were not forked, and the fore-stock can be made less in depth than would be necessary it the spring worked down into it.

By my invention 1 provide a breech-loading fire-arm which may be cheaply constructed and comprises but few parts, and in which the parts are of such strength and so connected that a very durable weapon is produced, which will not be likely to get out of order, and in which the liability of accidents is obviated.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a breech-loading fire-arm, the combina tion, with a breech-block pivoted to swingbackward and downward and containing the lock mechanism, a lever for operating said breechblock, pivoted on the same center therewith, aml a breech-receiver, the said breech-block and breech-receiver having between them a bore or socket, formed partly in thelrear wall of each, of a locking bolt or key which is connected with said lever so as to be operated thereby, and which fits said bore or socket, and thereby holds said breech block both against backward and lateral movement, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the breech-block U,

IIO

Its

containing the lock mechanism, and the re- I mer and a breech-block wherein the same is ceiver B, having between them the bore or socket E, for med partly in each, and the former having" the shoulder c, the lever D, fulcrumed on the same center as said breech-block, and the locking bolt or key E, connected with said lever and provided with the shoulder c, and fitting said bore-socket, whereby the breechblock is held against both backward and lateral movement, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the pivoted breechblock and the breech-receiver, having between them the bore or socket, formed partly in the iear walls of each, of the locking bolt or key titling said bore or socket, so as to hold the b1 eech-block against both backward and lateral movement, and having the notch in its rear side, and the lever fulcrumed on the same center with the breech-block, and provided with the forwardly-projecting hook which en- 'ters said notch and forms a direct connection between said locking bolt or key and said le ver, substantially as described.

4. In a breech-loathing tire-arm, the combination, with the swinging breech-block containing the lock mechanism, of a spiral mainspring fitting between the hammer and a fixed alutment in the breech-block, and an extensible core and guide for the spring, composed of two parts fitting one within the other, sub stantially as described.

In a fire-arm, the combination, with a hammer having a cavity or recess,f in its back, of a spiral mainspring and an extensible core therefor, the end of which is rounded so as to fit said cavity or recess, and which is composed of two parts adapted to slide one within theother, substantially as described.

6. In a fire-arm, the combination, with a hampivoted, ot' a spiral mainspring, an extensible core and guide therefor, composed of two parts adapted to slide one within the other, and one of which is provided with an eye fitting snugly between the walls of the breech-block, and a pin inserted through said eye, and upon which the spring is suspended and oscillates, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the breech-block C, the hammer F, having the cavity or recessf, the extensib e core, composed of the tubular partf, havingarounded end and the shoulder f, and the pinf provided with the eyef and the pin g, substantially as described. I

8. The combination, with a pivoted breechblock and a breech-receiver having in their adjacent rear walls a hole or socket, a locking bolt or key therein, and a lever for operating said breech-block and bolt or key, of a hammer havinga projection upon its tumbler, which is brought against the lever in cocking the hammer, and prevents the lever from being swung downward to withdraw the locking bolt or key While the hammer is at full-cock, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the barrel Aand breech-block U, of the extractor I, bifurcated or forked at its front end, the lever 1), provided with a horn, 0, working in the fork or bifurcation of said extractor, and the spring J, the end of which enters said fork or bifurcation and bears upon said horn, substantially as described.

EBEN T. STARR.

\Vitnesses U. P. WHITNEY, HENRY '1. BROWN.