US3136084A - Gas cutting prevention in revolver firearms - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1964 D. w. CHARRON GAS CUTTING PREVENTION IN REVOLVER FIREARMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1962 Dwayne? Cfiarram A RNEY June 1964 D. w. CHARRON GAS CUTTING PREVENTION IN REVOLVER FIREARMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1962 INVENTOR ORNEY United States atent 3,136,084 GAS CUTTING PREVENTION IN REVULVER FIREARMS Dwayne W. Charron, Chicopee, Mass, assignor to Smith This invention relates to firearms, and more particularly to firearms of the revolver type. The invention increases the strength, endurance, and working life of the firearm.

In revolver firearms, the cylinder has formed therein a plurality of chambers for receiving cartridges. The cylinder rotates in the frame to successively present the chambers to the barrel. Such revolvers have generally been constructed with a clearance space or gap between the rear end of the barrel and the cylinder. After a shot is fired, and the explosion of the propellant material in the cartridge has moved the bullet out of the chamber into the barrel, the expanding gases escape through this gap. When cartridges are used having large quantities of powder, the propellant gases, by their heat and velocity,

tend to erode those portions of the frame which they contact. This erosion of the frame causes a weakening of the frame which can result in the breaking or failure of the frame, rendering the firearm useless and perhaps injuring the shooter or operator.

The present invention resides in the concept of providing a hard, erosion-resistant portion in the frame adjacent to the gap between the barrel and cylinder. This erosion-resistant portion can be an insert that is made substantially harder than the remainder of the frame. Thereby, the hardened portion resists the abrasion of the propellant gases. Also, the working life and safety of the firearm are increased. Further, the remainder of the frame can be made less brittle than the harder portion so as to reduce the danger of the frame being broken on dropping.

For a better understanding of the invention and its other objects, advantages, and details, reference is now made to the presently preferred embodiment of the invention which is shown, for purposes of illustration only, in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a revolver having an abrasion-resistant insert in the top strap according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially broken-away view of the cylinder and a portion of the barrel and frame of the revolver shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary section, similar to the upper portion of FIGURE 2, and showing the firearm just after a shot has been fired and the bullet is being propelled through the barrel and propellant gases are escaping through the gap between the barrel and cylinder;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the upper portion of FIGURE 3, showing the paths of the escaping gases;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective looking up at the top strap and forward portion of the frame of a conventional revolver; I

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing a groove milled out of the top strap after the first step of the process of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a view like FIGURE 6 after a welding rod of heat-hardenable alloy has been welded in place in the groove in the top strap;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view along line 9-9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 8 after the welded insert has been machined to form a flush surface for the top strap; and

FIGURE 11 is a section along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10.

Briefly stated, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a groove is formed in the top strap that extends over the cylinder and bridges the gap between the cylinder and the barrel. The groove is formed at the gap. A heat-treatable alloy, capable of achieving great hardness, is Welded into the groove to form an insert. The entire firearm is then heat-treated, as by austempering, in order to increase the hardness of the frame and increase the hardness of the insert to a value substantially greater than that of the frame. Thereby, sulficient hardness is provided, in the insert, at the position where necessary. In the remainder of the frame, such hardness would be unnecessary and undesirable in that it would also be accompanied by brittleness which would make the frame too readily breakable on dropping or other impact.

In FIGURE 1 there is illustrated a revolver including the conventional frame 20, grip member 21, trigger 22., and hammer 23. The frame and other parts can be formed of various materials such as steel, aluminum, and others suitable for the purpose intended. Cylinder 24 is rotatably mounted in the frame 20 and has a plurality of spaced chambers 25 formed therein.

A barrel 26 has its rear portion 28 threadedly received in an opening in the yoke 30 of the frame 20. A gap or clearance space 32 is formed between the rear surface 34 of the barrel 26 and the front surface 36 of the cylinder 24.

As seen in FIGURE 2, each chamber 25 has an enlarged rear end for receiving a cartridge 38 having a large quantity of propellant powder therein.

The frame 20 includes a top strap 40 extending rearwardly from the yoke 30 to the back portion 42 and bridging the gap 32.

The frame 20 can be formed of a steel known as Society of Automotive Engineers designation number 1035 containing 0.32 to 0.38 percent by weight carbon; 0.60 to V 0.90 percent by weight manganese; a maximum percent Element: Percent by weight Carbon 0.85 Chromium 4.15 Manganese 0.30 Vanadium 1.95 Molybdenum 5.0 Silicon 0.3 Tungsten 6.4

The insert 46 is provided in the top strap and the frame 20 is then heat treated so as to bring the hardness of the frame to a hardness of about Rockwell C hardness number 20 and the insert 46 to a hardness of about Rockwell C number 61 to 63.

The measurement of the hardness by the Rockwell test is described in American Society of Testing Materials designation B 18-42. According to the Rockwell C test, a. standard diamond point is pressed into the material under a load of ten kilograms. The load is thereafter increased to kilograms and the increased penetration Patented June 9, 1964.

for the increase in load'is measured in terms of the Rockwell C hardness number. This hardness number indicates the materials capacity for resisting abrasion and cutting. 1 t

' A process of the invention wherein, the insert 46 is formed in the top strap 49 is shown in FIGURES to .10. In FIGURE 5, there is illustrated a portion of a conventional revolver frame having a threaded opening 515 for receiving the rearend of the barrel 26, and including the top strap 40. As viewed in FIGURE 6, the top strap is milled out to form a transverse groove 52 at a position adjacent the gap 32 between the barrel and cylinder in the assembled revolver. Thereafter, a weld rod, having the composition previously described for insert 46, is welded into the groove 52. During the weld ing, the rod achieves a temperature of about 2430 degrees Fahrenheit. The rod forms a rough'insert'54 seen in FIGURES ,8 and '9. This heating and cooling 'of'the rod, occurring during welding, produces some increase in the hardness of the rough insert.j 7

Next, the frame can be heat-treated by austempering wherein the temperature of the'frame is raised to about 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, heat-soaked at this temperature and then quenched in oil. After these steps, the insert 54 has achieved a hardness of about Rockwell C hardness number 62 and the remainder of the frame has achieved a hardness of about Rockwell C number 20.

- 3. In a revolver firearm having a frame, a barrel, a 7

cylinder rotatably mounted in said" frame, said cylinder having a plurality of chambers formed therein for receiving cartridges, the rotation of said cylinder bringing said chambers successively into alignment with said barrel, the forward end of said cylinder being spaced from i the rear end of said barrel by a gap through which propellant gases from said cartridgespass, said frame having a top strap bridging a part of said gap between said barrel and said cylinder; the improvement which comprises said 7 top strap having a portion at said gap that is substantially harder/than the remainder of the frame for resisting erosion by said propellant gases, said gap being open for the passage of said gases outwardly through said gap to the space around said barrel and cylinder'so 1 that a portion of said gases contacts said harder bridging 7 top strap portion;

Next, the rough insert 54' has its extending portion machined off to form the flush surface 58 of insert 46 shown in FIGURESIO and 11. I

The harder top strap portion can also be produced by localized heat treating of atleast a portion of an integral top strap at the gap 32.

Thus, the invention provides a process of making a revolver having a portion, at the gap between'the cylinder and barrel, that is resistant to cutting by the gasses pro.-

duced by each shot.

-While presently preferred'embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that the inventionfcan be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: a

a l. In a revolver firearm having a frame, a barrel, a' cylinder rotatably mounted in said frame, said cylinderhaving a plurality of chambers formed therein for receiving cartridges,'the rotation of said cylinder bringing said chambers successively into alignment with 'said barrel, the forward end of said cylinder being spaced from'the rear end of said'barrel by a gap through which propellant gases from saidfcartridges pass; the impro'vernent which comprises said framehaving a portion bridging a'part of said gap between said barrel and said 'cylinderfsaid bridging portion being subst'antiallyharderthan the remainder of the frame for resisting erosion by saidpropellant gases, said gap being open for the passage of said gases outwardly through said gap to the space aroundjsaid barrel and cylinder so that a portion of said gases contacts said harder bridging frame portion;

2. Ina revolver -firearm having a frame, a barrel, :a cylinder rotatably mounted in said' frame, said cylinder having a plurality of chambers formed therein for receiving cartridges, the rotation of said cylinderbringingsaid chambers successively into alignment with'said barrel, the forward end of said cylinder. being spaced from the rear end of said barrel by a gap through which propellant gases from ,saidcartridges pass; the improvement which; comprises said frame having a portion bridging a part of said gap between said barrel and said-cylinder, said '7 rear endof said barrel by a'gap through which propellant gases from said cartridges passpfsaidframe including a Element 4. In a revolver firearm having aframe, a barrel, a

cylinder rotatably mountedin saidframe,.said cylinder having a plurality of chambers formed therein for receivj ing cartridges, the rotation of said cylinderbringing said chambersrsuccessively into alignment with said barrel, the

7 forward endof said cylinder being spaced from the rear 'end'of said barrel by a gap through which propellant gases from said, cartridges pass, said frame including "a top strap extendingracross a part of said gap -between said barrel and said cylinder; the improvement which comprises said frame being formed of a steel of 'about'Rock-t well (I hardness number 20, said top strap having an inl serttherein, at said gap, formedrof'a steel having a hardness of about Rockwell C number 62', said insert resist v ing erosion by'said' propellant gases, said gap being open for the passa'geof said gases outwardly through said gap tothespace around said barrel and cylinder so'that' a 7 portion 'of said gasescontacts said harder insert.

5. In'a revolver fireariniihavi'ng a frame, a barr'elja cylinder rotatably mounted-in said frame, said' cylinder having a pluralityiof chambers formed therein for receiva .ing cartridges, the rotation of said cylin der bringing said,

chamberssuccessively into alignment with said barrel, the forward endiof said cylinder being spaced from the top' strap extending across a part of said gap between said barrel and said cylinder; the improvement which com-. prises said framebeing formedof SAE. steel 'designation i No. 11035 and having athardness of about Rockwell C" hardness number 20,.said top; strap havingian' insert thereiron andfincluding the following components:

: in, at said gap, formed'of a steel composed principally of is Percent by-weight, Carbon Chromium ness number 62, said insert resisting erosion by'said pro pellant gases; said gap being openfor the. passage ofsaid bridging portion being formed of substantially harder f 1 material than the'remainderofthe frame for resisting erosion 'by said propellant gases, said gap being openlfortion of said gases portion.

the passage of said gases outwardlythroug'h s aid gap to T the space around said barrel and cylinder so thata'porcontacts said harder bridging-frame 1 gases foutwardly through said gap to thespace around said" barrel and cylinder'so that a portion of gases contacts said harder-insert; l

j :6. In aprocess for makingarevolvervfirearm, theisteps;fl forming agroovef intthatportiomof the revolver'which bridges a part ofthe gap between the" barrel and ,the

cylinder and is". contacted by part of the" gases passing through said gap, to ithe iatmosphere'j surrounding ithe' re volver; filling, the .groove' with a, 'materi'althat' can be heat-treated'to a hardness substantially fgreatertharifthe frame; and,"'heat-treating the material to makesaid insertf substantiallyh arder .thansaid frame whereby vsaid harder? said insert having a hardness of, about ,Rockwellhard a '1 material resistserosion by said propellant gases which contact it.

7. In a process for making a revolver firearm, the steps: forming a groove in the top strap of the frame, said top strap bridging a part of the gap between the barrel and the cylinder and contacted by a part of the gases passing through said gap to the atmosphere surrounding the revolver; welding a rod into said groove to form an'insert, said rod being formed of steel that is heat-treatable to a hardness substantially greater than the frame, said rod steel being composed principally of iron and including the following elements in about the following amounts:

raising the temperature of the frame and insert to about 6 1800 degrees Fahrenheit; heat-soaking the frame and insert at said temperature; and, quenching the frame and insert to make the insert substantially harder than said frame; whereby said harder insert resists erosion by said propellant gases which contact it.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,346,188 Fahrenwall July 13, 1920 1,346,189 Fahrenwald July 13, 1920 1,961,520 Malcolm June 5, 1934 1,982,421 Emmons Nov. 27, 1934 2,090,656 Williams Aug. 24, 1937 2,104,319 Dicke Jan. 4, 1938 2,324,775 Hentschel July 20, 1943 2,342,703 Simpson Feb. 29, 1944 2,499,944 Brace et a1. Mar. 7, 1950 2,847,786 Hartley et a1. Aug. 19, 1958 2,863,248 Koucky et a1. Dec. 9, 1958 2,889,654 La Fever June 9, 1959 2,977,666 Brace et a1. Apr. 4, 1961 2,981,023 Sergay Apr. 25, 1961

Claims (1)

1. IN A REVOLVER FIREARM HAVING A FRAME, A BARREL, A CYLINDER ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME, SAID CYLINDER HAVING A PLURALITY OF CHAMBERS FORMED THEREIN FOR RECEIVING CARTRIDGES, THE ROTATION OF SAID CYLINDER BRINGING SAID CHAMBERS SUCCESSIVELY INTO ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BARREL, THE FORWARD END OF SAID CYLINDER BEING SPACED FROM THE REAR END OF SAID BARREL BY A GAP THROUGH WHICH PROPELLANT GASES FROM SAID CARTRIDGES PASS; THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES SAID FRAME HAVING A PORTION BRIDGING A PART OF SAID GAP BETWEEN SAID BARREL AND SAID CYLINDER, SAID BRIDGING PORTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY HARDER THAN THE REMAINDER OF THE FRAME FOR RESISTING EROSION BY SAID PROPELLANT GASES, SAID GAP BEING OPEN FOR THE PASSAGE OF SAID GASES OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID GAP TO THE SPACE AROUND SAID BARREL AND CYLINDER SO THAT A PORTION OF SAID GASES CONTACTS SAID HARDER BRIDGING FRAME PORTION.

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