US45202A - Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms - Google Patents

Description

BERGEN Si WILLIAMSON. Breech-.loadng Fire-erm. No. 45,202. Patented Nov. 22, 1864.

N'PETERS. PHOTO LTHOGRAPH WASHINGTON D C WTNEssEs,

breech-block. E to a peculiarly-constructed hammer-tumbler,

UNITED STATES` PATENT. OFFICE..

ALEXR. J. BERGEN AND DAVID VILLIAMSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE MOORES PATENT FIRE-ARMS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT iN BREECH-LOAYDING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. lf?, dated November 22, 1864. I

-housing for the hammer-tumbler open to show the interior parts. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan at the line x Fig. l. Fig. 3 isV a section of the pin that is struck by the hammer to explode the cartridge. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the breech-housing, and Fig. 5 is a plan of the inner side of the lever-guard at the moving end.

Similar marks of reference denote the same parts.

The present invention is an improvement upon that for which Letters Patent were granted to Daniel Moore December 3, 1861; and our saidinvention consists in a means for retracting the metallic cartridge-case, and by the same device sustaining and guiding the Ve also employ a stop applied to limit the descent as well as the ascent of the hammer, so that the spring cannot be injured by cooking too far, nor the gun injured by the descent of the hammer when the breech is open; and we allowT both the tumbler and stop to be introduced and correctly placed through an opening at the side of the stock,

that is provided with a movable plug or block.

In the drawing, a is the barrel; b,:itl1e metallic casting or forging forming the housing of the breech-blocks, and made with the straps l l to connect the same with the stock c.

d is the forward breechblock,moving in line with the barrel,and e ,is the rear breech-block, moving up behind the same to sustain the explosion, or drawn down to allowl the blocks d to be drawn back to open the breech. These blocks are acted upon by the lever-guard f upon the fulcrum-pin 2 in the same manner as set forth in the aforesaid patent, and therefore do not require any further description.'

The housing b, as before mentioned, is made in one piece for obtaining the requisite strength, and the mortise in said housing is made with grooves 3 3 on the faces of such mortise, but otherwise may be finished as a square smooth opening. In the lower front portion of the mortise ribs 4 4 are introduced, forming shoulders, and leaving -an opening only wide enough freely t) pass the end of the lever j, that operates upon the front sliding breech-block, d, and the edges of the shoulders 4 4 are on line with the bore of the barrel, so as to receive the cartridge when dropped into the mortise and guide the same when pressed into the barrel by the breech-block. The ribs forming these shoulders 4 4 may be made as a fork from a plate secured at the front end of the mortise by the screw l5, and at the rear ends the ribs 4 4 may be sustained by pieces extending down to the screw 2. This mode of fitting in the ribs 4 4 separately gives facility in finishing up the mortise; but the same might be formed solid with the housing. If the breech-block d were formed with solid projections taking the grooves 3 3, the same could not be introduced in the solid housing. Ve therefore groove the sides of the breech-block and introduce keys or slides 5 5,that are secured in place after being introduced while the block is in position by screws entering the breech-block, said screws being introduced through holes provided for that purpose in the sides of the housing, as at 6 6. We construct these keys or slides 5 5 in the manner represented in Fig. 2, so as to perform the double function of slides'for the breechblock and of spring-catches 7 7 for the withdrawal of the metallic cartridgecase. The ends of these catches enter recesses at the rear end of the barrel when the breech-block is up to its place, and as said block is drawn back they seize on the flange of the metallic case on' opposite sides and withdraw the same from the barrel, and said case is then free to fall out by turning the gun over sidewise.

From the peculiar construction of the slides 5 5 the necessary length of spring is obtained for the catches 7 7, and at the same time the strength and efficiency of the slide is not impaired.

In the rear portion of the part b, between the straps l l, a cavity is formed for the hammer-tumbler; but in order to introduce such tumbler and aXis when formed in one piece, it is necessary to make an opening in the side of b, opposite to the hammer, suflciently large for introducing such tumbler, and then a cap or block, g, is inserted, containing a cavity for receiving the end of the tumbler-axis h, and this block g is to be retained in place by a screw inserted at any convenient place. The same is shown at 8. The tumbler t' receives a bridle to the mainspring k, as usual, and said mainspring is returned to form the triggerspring 7c', and Z is the trigger, as usual. The hammer-axis 7L receives the hammer m by a square and binding screw, as usual. The hammer-tumbler t' has a notch, in which is introducedthe stud 9, that is screwed into the interior `part of b, and is located so that the tumbler i lwill come in contact with said stud when the hammer has been full-cocked, thereby Ap'reventing'further strain, and if the ha1nmer isdischarged when the breech-block is slid back said stop prevents the end of the hammer coming down on the housing.

The pin `memployed for exploding-the cartridge by striking on the ange of the metallic case, is constructed, as seenin Fig. 3, with afcollar, 10, against which the helical spring o acts -to-keep said pin projected toward the hammer, and a feather, 'as at 11, in a groove formed in the inside of the cavity containing the parts, serves to guide said pin and `retain it in position, so that its diagonal end shall strike 'properly against the edge of the metallic fiange-case to explode the fulminate. A`

can then slide forward without touching the under side of the hammer-head, and if said hammer is first half-cocked by hand the thimble p does not come in contact with the hammer-head until the breech-block is drawnback.

In order to hold the lever f to the stock when the parts are in position for ring, we provide a catch, q, on the lower strap 1, taking a sliding latch, r, fitted into the moving end of the lever f, with a thumb or nger piece, o", within the bow of the lever forming the triggerguard. This sliding latch 1" is entered endwise into undercut or V grooves in the surface of the lever f, so that it is free to slide, and a spring is introduced in a recess formed in the lever under the slide, (see dotted lines,) that acts against the end of a screw, 14, 'that projects through the slide-latch e' into the recess taking said spring, and also preventing the slide-latch from slipping out of its place. By this construction the lever can be instantly unlatched by applying the iinger or thumb to the part 1", and the lever cannot become unlatched by the ordinary handling.

Vhat we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The springcatches 7 77 in combination with the sliding breech-block d and grooved housing l), substantially as specifled, whereby the said `springs both guide the breech-block and draw out the cartridge-case, as set forth.

2. The shoulders 4 4 within the housing'b, extending ybelow the sliding breech-block d, from the rear end of the barrel to the forward end of the verticallysliding block e, for the purposes and asset forth.

3. Forming the tumbler of the ham mer-with a notch taking against the stop-pin 9 at zthe eXtreme movement of the hammer in bothdirections, as set forth, in combination with the removable block g, whereby opportunity is afforded for the introduction of both the tumbler and stop-pin, as set forth.

Dated July 19, 1864.

A. J. BERGEN. D. VILLIAMSON.

Vitnesses:

LEMUEL W. SERRELL, Trios. GEO. HAROLD.

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