US2711042A

US2711042A - Single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns

Info

Publication number: US2711042A
Application number: US319902A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernest P Simmons
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-11-12
Filing date: 1952-11-12
Publication date: 1955-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 1972-06-21

Description

June 21, 1955 E. P. SIMMONS 2,711,042

SINGLE TRIGGER MECHANISM FOR DOUBLE BARREL GUNS Filed Nov. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Shem 1 IN! 'EN TOR.

fmg/wmu Affm/vayx June 21, 1955 E. P. SIMMONS 2,711,042

SINGLE TRIGGER MECHANISM FOR DOUBLE BARREL GUNS Filed Nov. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INYENTOR. I fr/rwf AD J/mmm:

Affaxwaya.

nited States Pate 2,711,042 SINGLE TRIGGER MECHANISM FOR DQUBLE BARREL GUNS Ernest P. Simmons, Kansas City, Kans. Application November 12, 1%2, Serial No. 319,902

4 Claims. (Cl. 42-42) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in firearms, and relates particularly to the firing mechanism of double-barrel guns whereby the barrels may be fired in sequence by successive pulls of a single trigger.

In firearms of this type there are necessarily two hammers, and two sears for holding the hammers in their cocked positions. The sear tripping connector which is disposed between the sears and the single trigger must of course first engage only one of the sears, and after the hammer associated with that sear has been released, must be automatically shifted into operative engagement with the other sear, so that the next pull of the trigger will release the second hammer and fire the second barrel. Various arrangements have been proposed for accomplishing this shifting of the connector for engagement with the second sear, but all of these arrangements within my knowledge rely in one way or another on the recoil of the gun after the first barrel is fired, or the rebound of the gun after said recoil, as by mounting a weight movably in the mechanism which, by its inertia, will perform the shifting of the connector during recoil or rebound of the gun. mal conditions, are subject to certain disadvantages. For example, they are effective only on guns of sufiiciently large bore to provide sufficient recoil or rebound force to operate the connector shifting mechanism positively. They are generally unsatisfactory on small caliber weapons. Also, in the event that the round of ammunition in the first barrel to be fired is a dud, or fires only imperfectly, the connector shifting mechanism will of course not be operated, and the shooter loses the second shot. This is naturally a serious disadvantage under many circumstances.

The main objects of this invention are therefore the provision, in a firearm firing mechanism of the character described, of a connector shifting mechanism which is operated by positive mechanical means actuated directly from the trigger, that is in no way dependent on the recoil of the gun and not affected by the size of the ammunition or variations in recoil due to irregularities in the loading of the ammunition, and which will function whether the ammunition in the first barrel fires or not.

Another object is the provision of a connector shifting device of the character described which may be applied to present guns of the recoilor rebound-operated type, and which when so applied does not require any additional moving parts, and which may be used either as a supplement to or independently of the recoilor reboundoperated mechanisms of said present guns.

A further object is the provision of a connector shifting mechanism of the class described having a selector feature by means of which either barrel of a double-barrel gun may be fired first.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, and dependability and positive operation under any and all conditions.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects ing a firing mechanism embodying the present invention,

with both hammers cocked and with the connector positioned in operative relationship to one of the sears.

These arrangements, while satisfactory under noriii) Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are enlarged fragmentary views similar to Fig. 1, respectively showing sequentially the relative positions of the parts at the instant of release of the first hammer, at the instant of release of the first sear from the connector, after the first sear has moved out of the path of the connector but before the trigger has been released, and after the trigger has been released and the connector has moved into operative relation to the second sear.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken on line VIVI of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line Vll-VIl of Fig. l, with parts omitted.

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged fragmentary sections taken respectively on lines VIII-VIII and IXlX of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the connector and inertia block.

Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are fragmentary sections taken respectively on lines XI-XI, XII-XII, and XIII-XIII of Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary front elevation of a connector of modified form.

Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of the connector as shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on line XVIXVI of Fig. 15.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to the frame portion of a gun, only a part thereof being shown as it may be of any suitable construction. The forward end thereof is to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, and the rearward end to the right. Said frame includes a body portion 4, a rearwardly extending upper tang piece 6, a rearwardly extending lower tang piece 8 spaced below said upper tang piece, and a rear tang piece 10 extending between and fixed to the rearward end portions of said upper and lower tang pieces.

The firing mechanism is contained principally in the open space bounded by body 4 and

tang pieces

6, 8, and 10. It includes a lefthammer 12 and a right hammer 14 mounted side-by-side transversely of the frame for independent pivotal movement on a common pivot 16. Each has a forward striking surface 18 which is adapted as the hammer swings forwardly to contact and operate respectively firing

pins

20 and 22 carried in body 4 of the frame, in the usual manner. The gun shown is of the over-and-under type, but it will be apparent that the invention could be applied as well to guns wherein the barrels are disposed side-by-side. Each hammer is constantly urged pivotally forwardly by a helical spring 24 mounted on a guide rod 26, the forward end of which bears against the rearward side of the associated hammer and the rearward end of which is carried slidably in rear tang piece 10. Said spring bears at its rearward end against said rear tang piece, and at its forward end against a flange 28 formed on said guide rod. Each hammer is provided at its outer end with a scar notch 30.

A left sear 32 and a right sear 34 are disposed side by side transversely of the frame, being carried for inde pendent pivotal movement by a common transverse pivot 36 in upper tang piece 6. Each sear is provided with a hammer-cooperating tooth 38 adapted to be seated in the sear notch of the corresponding hammer, and a rearwardly extending tailpiece 4i adapted to cooperate with the sear tripping connector as hereinafter described. Each sear is urged constantly toward the hammer engaging position by a spring 42 seated in tang piece 6 and engaging the sear rearwardly of pivot 36, whereby the sear is urged downwardly and forwardly. The forward movement of each sear is limited by a toe 44 formed integrally therewith and adapted to engage tang piece 6 as hereinafter described. The gun is cocked by pivoting the hammers rearwardly by any suitable means, not shown, until the sear notches thereof are engaged by the teeth 38 of the scars.

Associated with the scars is a connector 46, the upper end portion of which is disposed immediately to the rear of tailpieces 40 of the scars. On its forward face said connector is provided with a forward upwardly facing shoulder 48 and a pair of upwardly facing side shoulders 5'0 and 52. Said side shoulders are disposed respectively at transversely opposite sides of shoulder 43, and spaced rearwardly therefrom. Said connector is provided with a forward face 54 rising directly from the rearward edge of shoulder 48 and coincident with the forward edges of shoulders and 52.

Lower tang piece 8 is longitudinally slotted intermediate its ends to receive a trigger 56, said trigger being pivotally mounted therein at 58 and extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom. The body portion of said trigger is provided with a substantially horizontal longitudinal bore in which a plunger 60 is mounted for longitudinal sliding and oscillatory rotary movement. A compression spring 62 is mounted in said bore between the forward end of the plunger and the closed forward end of the bore, whereby said plunger is urged rearwardly. Said bore is slotted along its upper edge, the trigger having side walls 64 rising therefrom, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and the rearward end portion of plunger 60 has a bifurcation 66 formed therein. The lower end of connector 46 extends into said bifurcation, and is secured in said plunger by means of a pivot pin 68 which is transverse to the axis of the plunger. The connector is thus mounted for universal pivotal movement in the trigger, whereby shoulder 48 of said connector may be moved transversely to a position beneath the tailpiece of either sear. A pin 70 extends transversely between and is rigidly fixed in side walls 64 of the trigger, and the rearward edge of the connector is urged rearwardly thereagainst by spring 62. Said pin acts as a fulcrum, whereby the upper end portion of the connector is urged forwardly against the tailpieces 40 of the sears.

An inertia block 72 is mounted on the rearward face of connector 4 at the upper end thereof. It may be secured to the connector by any suitable means, the drawing showing a pair of laterally extending ribs 74 formed on the connector above the level of

shoulders

48, 50 and 52, and a similar pair of ribs 76 formed on the connector below said shoulders, said pairs of ribs engaging respectively in undercut grooves 78 and 80 formed in the forward face of the block, as best shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 13. The upper edge of said block, which is approximately parallel to and spaced below upper tang piece 6, has a slot 82 formed longitudinally therein, the block forming a shoulder 84 therein at the rearward end of said slot. Said slot is enlarged within the body of the block by a bore 86 extending parallel to and communicating with the slot.

The connector 46 is shiftable transversely and longitudinally of the frame by a selector mechanism best shown in Figs. 1, 8, and 9. A longitudinally extending slot 88 is formed through tang piece 6 above and to the rear of inertia block 72. Disposed within said slot for sliding movement forwardly and rearwardly is a substantially rectilinear block 90. A selector plate 92 is disposed against the outer surface of tang piece 6, and has a pair of spaced apart

fingers

94 and 96 rigidly fixed thereto and depending therefrom into slot 88. Said fingers are disposed respectively in front of and behind block 90, and are in frictional engagement therewith. Finger 94 extends below tang piece 6, and enters slot 82 of inertia block 72. Slot 88 is provided at its forward end with an inwardly projecting tongue 98, forming a notch 100 at the left side thereof and a notch 102 at the right side thereof. Plate 92 is provided on its upper surface with a thumb piece 104 by means of which the selector may be manipulated. Said selector is held in position by a leaf spring 105 bearing against the lower surface of tang piece 6 and having an aperture M38 formed therein through which selector arm 94 extends. A notch in the forward edge of said arm engages the spring adjacent said aperture. At its rearward end spring 106 forms a detent H2 adapted, as the selector is moved forwardly and rearwardly relative to the frame, to engage releasably in either a forward notch 114- or a rearward notch 116, said notches being formed in the lower face of tang piece 6.

When the selector is positioned as shown, with finger 94 thereof in notch 100 and detent 112 in forward notch 114, finger 94 positions the connector transversely of the frame so that connector shoulder 48 is disposed behind left sear 32, and the connector is urged forwardly by trigger spring as to position said shoulder beneath the tailpiece of said left sear. When the selector is moved rearward to engage detent 112 in notch 116, finger 94 thereof engages shoulder 84 of inertia block slot 82 and moves the connector rearwardly to a position entirely clear from the scars. This is the safety position. The selector plate may then be moved to the right until finger 94 is behind tang notch 102, then moved forwardly to move said finger into said notch. Connector shoulder 48 will then be disposed in operative position beneath the tailpiece of right sear 34.

The structure so far described is old, being well known in the art. My invention consists of the addition to each sear of a downwardly extending rod 118 fixed at its upper end in said sear and spaced normally forwardly of connector 46. At their lower ends, rods 11% are bent inwardly to form

arms

120 and 122 respectively, said arms being adapted to engage and operate the connector as hereinafter described. The inner ends of said arms are disposed symmetrically at opposite sides of the longitudinal vertical midplane of the frame, as also are the hammers and sears. Trigger plunger 60 is also disposed in this plane.

The operation of the firing mechanism is substantially as follows. Assuming that the gun is cocked and the selector positioned as shown in the drawings, connector shoulder 48 is disposed beneath the tailpiece 40 of left sear 32, and the connector is urged forwardly against said tailpiece by trigger spring 62. Face 54 of the connector engages the tailpiece of scar 32, preventing connector side shoulder 52 from passing beneath the tailpiece of right sear 34. It will be noted that the transverse width of connector shoulder 48 is less than the spacing between the tailpieces, so that said shoulder 48 can in no event engage both sears simultaneously, and that the width of connector face 54 is greater than the spacing between the tailpieces, so that said face can in no event pass between the tailpieces, which would perunit side shoulders 54) and 52 to engage the scars simultaneously. This prevents accidental simultaneous dis charge of both barrels.

As the user pulls the trigger for the first shot, the trigger elevates connector 46, forcing shoulder 48 upwardly against the tailpiece of sear 32, pivoting said sear upwardly and elevating tooth 38 thereof out of engagement with sear notch 30, thus releasing left hammer 12 and firing one barrel of the gun. Fig. 2 shows the position of the parts at the instant of release of hammer 12. During this releasing motion of sear 32, the connector-operating arm 120 of rod 118 affixed to said sear moves rearwardly and engages the forward edge of the shank portion of the connector. It will be noted in Fig. 6 that said connector shank is disposed directly behind arm 120 and in the path thereof. After said arm contacts the connector it is evident that additional motion of the trigger will act through the connector to sear 32, and thence through arm 120 of said sear to force the connector rearwardly, eventually forcing connector shoulder 43 out of engagement with the tailpiece of sear 32. Arm 120 thus acts as a cam, and may be so described. Fig. 3

shows the position of the parts at the instant of the release of sear 32 from the connector. It is of course evident that the parts must be so proportioned that sear 32 will be moved out of engagement with hammer 12, thus releasing hammer 12, before arm 120 forces connector shoulder 48 out of engagement with the sear. Thus the release of the sear from the connector is accomplished by a very slight additional trigger movement after the actual release of hammer 12. This additional trigger movement occurs naturally and automatically as the user pulls the trigger.

After hammer 12 is released, sear 32 is pivoted downwardly and forwardly by its associated spring 42 to the forward position shown in Fig. 4, said movement being limited by the engagement of sear toe 44 with upper tang piece 6, and connector 46 is pivoted forwardly by spring 62 until it contacts the tailpiece of right sear 34, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be noted, however, that since the user has not normally released the trigger at this time, connector 46 is elevated, due to the upward pivotal motion of the trigger. Therefore connector side shoulder 52 is above the level of the tailpiece of right sear 34, and cannot pass thereunder. Instead, said tailpiece strikes the forward face of the connector just below said shoulder. trigger, the connector is lowered, then urged forwardly by spring 62, to position shoulder 52 thereof beneath sear 34, as shown in Fig. 5.

On the next successive pull of the trigger, therefore,

the connector will operate sear 34 to release right hammer 14 and fire the second barrel of the gun. During this second pull of the trigger, connector-operating arm 122 of scar 34 will not engage or operate the connector, the connector not being disposed in the path thereof, and sear 34 may therefore remain engaged on shoulder 52 of the connector after the second barrel has been fired. This is not considered detrimental or disadvantageous in any way, since both barrels have been fired at this time. If the selector is moved rearwardly, to the right, then forwardly, as previously described, connector shoulder 48 will be disposed beneath the tailpiece of sear 34, and the shank of the connector will be disposed immediately behind connector-operating arm 122 of sear 34. When the parts are so set, and the hammers cooked, the firing operation is substantially the same as previously described except that sear 34 and right hammer 14 are actuated on the first trigger pull by connector shoulder 48, and sear 32 and left hammer 12 are actuated on the second trigger pull by connector shoulder 50.

Inertia block 72 is used in many presently existing guns, and has approximately the same function as sear arms or

cams

120 and 122. That is, after the first barrel of the gun is fired, and after the subsequent recoil of the gun, the gun rebounds forwardly, whereupon inertia will cause block 72 to move rearwardly with respect to the sears, thereby disengaging it from the sear related with the barrel just fired, and permitting said sear to be pivoted forwardly. As has been pointed out, the inertia block operation is unsatisfactory in small bore guns, as the rebound force is not sutficient to provide positive operation, or Where the ammunition in the first barrel to be fired is a dud, or fires imperfectly. It is evident that the addition of arms or

cams

120 and 122 may be accomplished without removing the block or otherwise altering the mechanism. It is also evident, however, that the addition of the arms provide a more satisfactory positive mechanical action than the inertia operation, and that the inertia block may thus be dispensed with if desired.

Figs. 14, 15, and 16 show a connector 46 modified to eliminate the inertia block. It is provided with a front shoulder 48, side shoulders 50' and 52', and face 54' in the same manner as connector 46, but in place of inertia block 72 is provided with a light-weight arm 124 attached to the upper end thereof and extending rear- When the user releases the wardly therefrom. Said arm has a longitudinal slot 32' formed therein and a shoulder 84 at the rearward end of said slot, said slot being engageable by selector arm 94 in the same manner said arm engages slot 82 of inertia block 72. The operation of connector 46 is substantially identical with that of connector 46.

While I have shown and described specific embodi ments of my invention, it is apparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a frame, a pair of hammers pivoted in said frame, means urging said hammers toward a firing position, a pair of sears pivoted in transversely side-byside relation in said frame and operable respectively to engage and hold said hammers in a cocked position, a trigger pivoted in said frame, an elongated connector pivoted in said trigger and movable longitudinally by said trigger, said connector extending rearwardly of said sears and transversely to the axis thereof, said connector having a forward transverse shoulder and a rearward transverse shoulder spaced laterally from said forward shoulder, means urging said connector forwardly whereby said forward shoulder operatively engages one of said sears, said engagement normally holding the rearward shoulder out of engagement with the other of said sears, and a cam member fixed to the sear engaged by said forward shoulder and operable, as said last named sear is pivoted by said connector, to engage and pivot said forward connector shoulder out of engagement with said sear, said disengagement occurring after the hammer engaged by said last named sear is released.

2. In combination, a frame, a pair of hammers pivoted in said frame, means urging said hammers toward a firing position, a pair of sears pivoted in transversely side-byside relation in said frame and operable respectively to engage and hold said hammers a cocked position, a trigger pivoted in said frame, an elongated connector pivoted in said trigger and movable longitudinally by said trigger, said connector extending rearwardly of said scars and transversely to the axes thereof, said connector having a forward transverse shoulder and a rearward transverse shoulder spaced laterally from said forward shoulder, means urging said sears to a position out of the path of said connector, said sears normally being held in the path of said connector by their engagement with said hammers, means urging said connector forwardly whereby said forward shoulder operatively engages one of said sears, said engagement normally holding the rearward shoulder out of engagement with the other of said sears, and a cam member fixed to the sear engaged by said forward shoulder and operable, as said last named sear is pivoted by said connector, to engage said connector and pivot said forward connector shoulder out of engagement with said sear, said disengagement occurring after the hammer engaged by said last named sear is released.

3. In combination, a frame, a pair of hammers pivoted in said frame, means urging said hammers toward a firing position, a pair of sears pivoted in transversely side-byside relation in said frame and operable respectively to engage and hold said hammers in a cocked position, a trigger pivoted in said frame, an elongated connector pivoted in said trigger and movable longitudinally by said trigger, said connector extending rearwardly of said sears and transversely to the axes thereof, said connector having a forward transverse shoulder and a rearward transverse shoulder spaced laterally from said forward shoulder, said connector having an upward extending face rising at the rearward edge of said forward shoulder and forwardly of said rearward shoulder, means urging said sears to a position out of the path of said connector, said sears normally being held in the path of said connector by their engagement with said hammers, means urging said of engagement with said sear, said disengagement occurring after the hammer engaged by said last named sear is released.

4. In combination, a frame, a pair of hammers pivoted in said frame, means urging said hammers toward a firing position, a pair of sears pivoted in transversely side-byside relation in said frame and operable respectively to engage and hold said hammers in a cocked position, a trigger pivoted in said frame, an elongated connector pivoted in said trigger and movable longitudinally by said trigger, said connector extending rearwardly of said scars and transversely to the axes thereof, said connector having a forward transverse shoulder and a pair of transverse shoulders disposed respectively at laterally opposite sides of said forward shoulder and spaced rearwardly therefrom,

selector means for shifting said connector transversely whereby said forward shoulder may be disposed imme- 8. diately behind either of said sears, whereupon one of said rearward shoulders is disposed immediately behind. the other of said sears, means urging said sears to a position out of the path of said connector, said sears normally being held in the path of said connector by their engagement with said hammers, means urging said connector forwardly whereby the forward shoulder thereof engages one of said sears, said engagement normally holding the rearward connector shoulder out of engagement with the other of said scars, and a pair of cam members fixed respectively to said sears, said connector being adapted by its transverse movement to be selectively positioned in operative relation behind the cam of the sear engaged by the forward connector shoulder, the cam of said last mentioned sear being operable, as said last mentioned sear is pivoted by said forward connector shoulder, to engage said connector and cam said forward connector shoulder out of engagement with said last mentioned sear, said disengagement occurring after the hammer associated with said last mentioned sear has been released.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS