US37551A - Improvement in revolving fire-arms - Google Patents

Description

F; P. SLOGUM.

Revolver.

Patented Jan. 2T; 1863.

Illu.

' @ma ai N PEIERS, PHQTmLITMcGRAPNER, wAsmNGTuN. D C.

UNITED STATES FRANK P. SLOOUM, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOB TO SAMUEL W.

PATENT OFFICE.

SLOOUM, OF SAMEA PLAGE.V

IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVINGA FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,551, dated January 27, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that `I, FRANK P. SLOCUM, of the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Revolving Fire- Arms; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure lis a central longitudinal vertical section of a pistol constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is afront view ofthe cylinder. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 4 is a front view of the ring which encircles the cylinder to keep the chambers closed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several gures.

This invention has for its object to provide for the loading of revolving fire-arms with tlanged metallic cartridges without having the chambers extend right through the cylinder to the rear thereof; and to this end it consists, first, in constructing the several chambers with longitudinal divisions and with a portion of each movable, like a lid, to admit the cartridges sidewise; secondly, in the use, in combination with the soconstructed cylinder, of a ring encircling the saidcylinder and capable of sliding on and o' the movable orlid-like portions of the several chambers for the purposes of sccuring them in a closed position when loaded, and of permitting them to be opened for loading and for the removal of the discharged cartrid gecases; thirdly, in the construction ofthe cylinder-frame with one or more internal shoulders to serve as stops to the aforesaid ring.

To enableothers skilled in the manufacture and use of tire-arms to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The cylinder is composed of two principal pieces, A and B, and thelids aa of the several chambers b b. The chambers are bored'right through the portion A, whichV is of sufficient length, and the piece B, consisting of a stout disk, is secured close to the rear of A, to which it forms a breech, closing the chambers at the rear. The front portion of each chamber has its whole circumference formed of the piece A 5 but the greater portion of its length is formed half in the piece A and half composed of its lid b, which is of semi-cylindrical form and fitted into the piece A and close up to the piece B, the chamber being thus divided longitudi- Eally in a plane passing through the axis ofits ore. by a hinge-joint, c, to the portion A of the cy linder to permit them to open, as shown in red outline in Fig. 3, for the insertion ofthe cartridges sidewise into the chambers.

O is the ring which encircles the cylinder for the purpose of securing the several lids b b i`n a closed condition, having its interior of a form shown in Fig. 4, to iit snugly round the chambered portion ofthe cylinder, 'and to the exterior of the lids b b, and being of a width corresponding with, or not greater than, the length ofthe portion ofthe cylinder in front of the lids, the exterior of which 'is made to conform to that of the exterior of the lids, so that the ring may slide freely upon it, as well as upon the lids,in adirection lengthwise of the cylinder. By sliding this ring from the lids onto the portion of the cylinder in front of them the lids, being made of proper form to be caught by the thumb or tnger, are allowed to be opened in the manner indicated by red outline to permit the insertion of cartridges into the chambers or the withdrawal of the discharged cartridge-cases therefrom. When new cartridges have been inserted into the chambers the lids are closed and the ring slid back over them to secure theln.

The cylinder is represented as having the axis-pin F secured tirmlyin it, being constructed with pivots or journals d e at is front and rear ends to'lit into suitable bearings provided for their reception in the front and rear ofthe frame D E. This mode of applying the axispin enables it to serve the purpose of securing the two pieces A and B of the cylinder firmly together, for which purpose it is made with a male screw-thread upon its front part'to screw into a female screw-thread provided in the piece A, and with a square head, j', close toits rear journal for the reception of a wrench to screw it up tightly against the rear of the piece B, through which it is inserted into A. The two pieces A and B may, however, be secured The lids b b are each hinged on one sidetogether by two or more screws independent ot' the axis-pin. `lt is only7 for convenience ot' construction that the cylinder is composed of separate pieces, A and B, as the breech part might be made of the same piece with the chambered portion. The hammer strikes the cartridges in the several chambers through openings t' in the breech ot' the cylinder.

the interior of the lower portion ashoulder, 7c,

to setve as stopsto the ring C when the latter has arrived at about the middle ot' the length of the lids of the chambers in sliding back over them, that being the best position forsecuring the said lidsl- One of these stops may be sut'- icient.

The construction of the cylinder with lids opening to-admit sidewise metallic cartridges carrying their own priming, and with a closed breech, allows the whole ot' that portion ofthe rear end of the cylinder outside of the revolving ratchet l to be made to presenta Hush-face and to fit closelyagainst the recoil-shield on,

Instead ot arranging the lids or movable` portions ofthe chambers to work on hingejoints, they may be arranged Vto open with a sliding movement parallel with the axis ofthe cylinder.

The dog by which the rotation of the cylinder is stopped, and by which the cylinder is locked with the several chambers in line with the bore of the barrel, may be applied to act in notches provided in the ring U, and be so made to secure oraid in securing the said ring in position to secure the lids a, a.

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

l. The cylinder constructed with lids b b to its several chambers, opening in such manner as to permit the cartridges to be introduced and the discharged cartridge-cases to be taken out sidewise, and with a closed or solid breech, substantially asherein specified.

2. The ring C, applied in combination with the cylinder and the lids a a of the chambers, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

3. The combination, with the ring C, of one or more stops, j k, in theframe, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

l FRANK P. SLOGUMJ` Witnesses: 4

DANL. ROBERTSON, M. S. PAR'LRIDGE.

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