US580926A

US580926A - Firearm

Info

Publication number: US580926A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 1914-04-20

Description

(No Model 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. M. BROWNING.

I FIREARM. No. 580,926.' Patented Apr. 20, 1897.

. (No Model.) 2 Shets-Sheet 2.

J. M. BROWNING.

FIREARM.

Patented Apr. 20

-Inveni50r:

- .flwa.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFIC ,JOI-IN M/BROXVNING, OF OGDEN, U AH.

FIREARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,926, dated April 20, 1897.

Application iiled'flctdber 31, 1896. Serial No. 610,659. (No model) To all whom it may c0ncern.-'

Be it known that I, J oBN M. BROWNING, residing at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates generally to the class I of automatic breech-loading firearms, and more especially. to firearms of this description in which the several operations, such as the opening of the breech after firing a shot, the ejection of the empty cartridge-shell,the cocking of the hammer, the presentat-ion'aud introduction of a fresh cartridge. into the pose of enabling my present invention to be understood. Such features as are common to the two constructions will be referred to herein so far as may be necessary to enable the present inv'entionto be,u nderstood, but the description which follows will relate particularly to the novel features of this case.

The'main object which I have had in view has been the-product-ion'of a firearm of theclass referred to which should be simple and inexpensive-in construction, not liable to get outof order, and reliable and safe in operas tion und er all conditions of use.

I have hereinafter shown and described my present improvement as adapted to a gas-op erated magazine-pistol, but I have chosen this particular kind of firearm merely as a convenient illustration of an embodiment of my invention and do not intend to restrict my invention to an application thereof to a mag" azine-pistol nor to any particular kind of firearm; nor do I intend to restrict the invention to the use of the several features of improvement together in a common structure.

In the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated an embodiment of my inven tion, Figure 1 is aright-hand side elevation of the pistol with thebreech closed and the hammer down. Figs. 2 and 3' are respectively front and rear end views of the same.

Fig.4 is a longitudinal section on a horizontal plane with the barrel shown partly in plan view. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on a vertical plane with someof the parts inside view. Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are detail views of parts to be referredito.

The pistol represented in the accompanying drawings comprises a frame a,a barrel b, fixed in the frame, and a'sliding breech block or bolt carrier 0.. The upper portion of the frame .a. forms the receiver andhas a seat A and suitable guides for the reciprocating breech block'orbolt carrier, and below'the' receiver is the grip or handle a, which is preferably made integralwith the frame,.but obviously may be formed separately and attached thereto in any suitable manner. Within the grip and extending through the same upward into the receiver is arranged a seat or chamber for the reception of the cartridge-magazine d. The latter is substan tiall y of ordinary form and construction, and may consist of a sheet-metal tube in which the cartridges arelaid one upon another, rests ing upon a spr'ing follower d, by ,which they are pushed forward into the receiver.

grip by a spring-actuated latch d Its upper end is open to permit the escape of the cartridges, the side walls at the rear of the opening being turned in to form ears (1?, Fig. 6,

which engage the rim or flange of the topmost cartridge to prevent the escape of the same The upper portion of the frame is provided,

interiorly with longitudinal ribs and grooves a a, Fig.3, to engage corresponding ribs and grooves c c of the breechblock or bolt carrier 0 or of that portion 0 of it which may be more properly designated as the breech bolt, the said breech-bolt or breech block-or bolt carrier being thereby held to the frame and guided thereon in its reciprocation. Onthe It is convenientlyretained in placewithin the too ' bolt.

"longitudinally from the breech-bolt forward top of the breech-bolt'c is a strong longitudinal rib o to which the portion 0 of the breech block or bolt carrier is secured firmly by means of screws eflwhich pass transversely through said portion 0 and the rib, the top of the rib being increased in width to make it T-sha ed and the slot in the slide 0 being correspondingly shaped to secure a stronger attachment, if desired. The part 0 slides upon the frame and extends forwardly,se that when the breech-bolt is in closed position the front end of'saidpart or slide 0 stands over the muzzle of the barrel. In order that the slide may be accurately guided in its movement, its forwardportioni's extended downward, preferably in the form of a sleeve 0 which embraces the forward portion of the barrel, an open space being left between the rear end of said sleeve 0 and the front ofthe frame a to allow for the longitudinal movement of the sleeve with the slide andbreech- The slide 0 is bored out or chambered to receive the reaction-spring e. This is a strong closely-coiled spiral spring, in the rear end of which a plug e is secured by being grooved spirally, as at' c Fig. 8, to permit the spring a to be threaded thereon. The plug is secured to the forward end of the rib c by means of a rearwardly-projecting tongue on the plug, which en'ters'into a correspond ing recess in the rib, and by a pin a which passes transversely through the slide 0 and the tongue of the plug a.

To the front end .of the barrel 1) is secured a collar b by means of a pin 1), and from the collar 1) an arm b projects upwardly into the line of' the reaction-spring e in the slide 0 A plug '6, Fig. '9, to which the forward end of the reaction-spring may be secured in the same manner in which the rear end-is secared to the plug e, is fixed to the arm I) by a screw 2 thereby maintaining the reactionspring 6 in a state of tension. breech-bolt is moved to the rear, either by hand or by the powder-gases, the breech is opened, the hammer l is cocked by contact with the rear end of the breech-bolt, and

through the described connection the reaction-spring e is farther-distended, so that on the release of the breech-bolt it returns the slide and the breech bolt to their forward position' and thereby closes the breech. The rear end of the sleeve 0 and the front of the frame a limit the rearward movement of the sliding breech block or bolt carrier, or slide and breech-bolt: and-in order to diminish the shock with which the sleeve strikes the f raine Iprov ide outhe barrel in front of the frame a washer b, of leather orothersu'rtable ma terial, as a cushion or buffer. The space between the sleevejand the frame when the former is in itsforward position is. covered by a shield or cover a, which is attaehed'xo the frame by screws 0" and extends, forward from the frame to the sleeve without-dutc fering with the movements .of the latter. As

and clearlyunderstood.

hen the described heretofore, cartridges are pressed upward from the holder or magazine d,but are held from escaping therefrom by the ears (Z Nevertheless the rim or flange of the topmost cartridge rises abore the holder as soon as the breech-bolt c has passed to the rear of theholder, so that in the forward or closinggmovement of the breech bloclg or bolt carrier the face of the breeclrbolt engages the topmost cartridge, the upper edge of which then lies in the pat-h of the breech-bolt andpushes it directly from the holderinto the chamber of the barrel. When the cartridge is exploded, the breech bolt is driven backward by the powder-gases, and in its movement it effects the extraction of the empty shell from the chamber of the barrel and its ejection from thereeeiver. For this purpose an extractor f, Fig. 4, ofusual construction and acted upon by a spring f, as usual, is arranged in the side of the breech-bolt c to engage the head or flange of the cartridge during the closing movement and to extract the shell from the chamber of the barrel during' the opening movement. As the shell is drawn rearwardly by the extractor which engages theflange on the right-hand side the left-hand edge ofthe flange strikes a projection g on the left-hand side of the receiver, so that the shell is snapped out or ejected through the opening a", formed in the righthand side of the frame a, for that purpose:

The loclcmeehanism 'is substantially the same as that described in. my said application, but wilibe briefly explained herein, so that the operation of the firearm may be fully The breech-bolt o is provided with the usual firing-pin I; and its retracting-spring k, Fig. 5, and the hammer Z is pivoted, as usual, inthe frame and is acted upon by the usual mairispring l, the shape and position of the hammer being such that, it-is-struck and brought to full-cook position by the breech-bolt c in the rearward or opening movement of the latter. The scar m is pivoted in the frame in front of the hammer and is normally acted upon by-th'espring in to cause it to engage the hammer and keep it cocked. The trigger it is pivoted, as usual, in the'frame in front of the grip, and its rearward movement is transmitted to the scar by a connecting-piece n, Figs- 5 and 7. front end of the latter is supported by the frame and carries a projecting lug n which rests against the trigger. piece n is divided into two arms, which pass The I The rear of this around the cartridge-holder without interfering with the same and in rear of it are united by a cross-bar 11 The rear-face of the crossbarn is beveled and the springn, bent ream wardly at its upper end, bears against the cross-bar n, tending to raise it into the .path of the sear m and to yicldinglyhold the con necti'ng-piece It and the trigger'n in their for-' ward positions. Upon the top of the cross-bar a is a lip or shoulder a, adapted to engage the extremity of the sear,-so that the rearward movement of the trig er may be communicated to the sear to cause it to release the hammer Z when the trigger is operated. In order to prevent the release of the hammer unless the breech is fully closed, a safetypiece 0 is arranged between thebreech-bolt c and the connecting-piece n. The'top of the safety-piece 0 is guided in a hole in the frame adjacent to the breech-bolt and projects into a recess 0 in the latter when the breech is fully closed. The lower portionof the safetypiece passes through a slot in in the sear m and is itself slotted, as at 0', to straddle the pin upon which the sear-is pivoted, so that the longitudinal movement of the safety-piece is limited by said pin. The length of the safetypiece 0 is such that when its upper end stands .in the recess 0 of the'breech-bolt its lower sear cannot be operated thereby and the sear is at all times, except when the breech is closed and the trigger is pressed, free to reengage the hammer. as soon as it is cocked, even though the trigger has not been released.

- The spring at is conveniently formed as the "middle leaf or member of a single spring-plate,

which is trifurcated and whose outer leaves or plate may also be secured to the latch d for the cartridge-holder and thereby operate the latter without'requiring an additional spring.

For the better lateral support of the breech bolt in its closed position a tongue 0. projects from the frame a above and in the rear of the barrel and enters a corresponding recesse in the face of the breech-bolt 0 when the latter is in its forward position. The tongue a also assists in the proper-introduction of each cartridge into the barrel, as it guides the bullet end of the cartridge.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the breech-bolt is not positively locked in the closed position, but is yieldingly held in such position by the reaction-spring e and by the pressure of the mainspring Z, exerted on the breech-bolt c' through .the hammer Z.

the barrel, which pressure forces the cartrid ge-shell and breech-bolt rearward. By my construction I am enabled to make the frame andthe barrel of such lightness that the great strength and weight, and as the inertia of these parts has to be overcomein opening I On firing, the breech-bolt yields to the pressure of-the powder-gases in the breech their weight serves as a safeguard by retarding the opening of the breech until the bullet has passed from the muzzle. The momentum of the heavy breech bolt and slide completes the rearward movement after the pressure in-the barrel has been relieved, insures the extraction andejection of the cartridge shell, and stores energy in the reactionspring for the closing movement without exposing this spring to the shock which would be occasioned if the breech block orbolt carrier was of lighter weight. The strength of the movable parts and the fact that the front of the frame serves as a stop to arrest their rearward movement insure the safety of the arm even if the reaction-spring should break. It will be observed also that the mainspring,

acting through the hammer, which is cockedby the rearward movement of the breech block or bolt carrier, cooperates to retard the rearward movement .of the breech block or bolt carrier, but leaves it free to be moved forward by the reaction-spring alone.

The operation of the improved firearm will be readily understood from the foregoing. A filled cartridge-holder is inserted in the grip and the breech-slide is drawn rearward once by hand. This opens the breech, cooks the hammer, presents a cartridge in front of the breech-bolt,'and distends the reaction-spring. When the breech-slide or breech block or bolt carrier is released, the reaction-spring returns it to the forward position and trans fers the topmost cartridge from the holder to the barrel. If now the trigger is pulled and a shot fired, the breech is automatically opened, the hammer is again cooked, the empty shell is extracted and ejected, and a new cartridge is presented, energy being at the same time stored in the reaction-spring to effect the forward movement of the breech block or bolt carrier. These operations are repeated so long as cartridges are supplied. The automatic opening and closing of the breech and cooking of the hammer-follow so rapidly upon the pulling of the trigger that several successive shots would be fired before the trigger could be released by the finger, but, as above explained, the first of the opening movement releases the sear from the trigger, leaving the sear free to rengage the hammer when it is again cooked and to retain it in its cocked position until the trigger is released and again pulled. This insures perfect control of the arm.

. It will-be understood that the features of improvement which I have described herein are not necessarily combined in the same structure with the other features of the'firearm which, for purposes of explanation, I have shown and described herein, norare they necessarily employed in a firearm of the particular character of that shown. Obviously also various changes in form and an rangement'of parts may be made within the scope of my invention.

a sliding breech-bolt, and a forward extenmen or arm attached to said breech-bolt andguided by the barrel and is limited rearwardly' i by contact ofthe rear end of said sleeve wit a. sliding breech-bolt, a forward extension or ingforward alongside the frame and barrel,

What I claim, aIldIdQSiI'Q to secure by Letters Patent, isw 1 1. 'In a firearm, the combination with a frame and a barrel carried by said frame, of

extending forward alongside the frame and barrel, said extension or arm having a sleeve surrounding the barrel, whereby the move- 'ment-of said extension and breech-bolt is the front of the frame.

2.'In a firearm, the combination with a frame and a. barrel carried by said frame, of

arm attached to said breech-bolt and extendsaid extension or arm having a sleeve surrounding the barrel, and a buffer or cushion interposed between the front of the. frame and the rearend of'said sleeve.

3. In a firearm, the combination with a frame and a barrel carried by said frame, of a sliding breech-bolt, a forward extension or arm attached to said breech-bolt and extending forward alongside theiframe andbarrel, said extension or arm having a sleeve surrounding the barrel,.and ashield aitaehedto the frame and covering the space between said sleeve and the front of the frame. 7 i

' 4. In a firearm, the combination with -a frame and a barrel. carried by said frame, 'of v a sliding breech-bolt, a forward extension or arm attached to said breebbolt andextending forward alongside the frame and the barrel, and bored out or chambered longitudi nally, and a reaction-spring.disposed-within said extension or arm and having its rear end r connected to said breech-bolt and its forwardend connected to the barrel near its muzzle.

5. In a firearm, the combination with, a frame having a grip or handle to receive a magazine, and a barrel, of a sliding breechbolt, a forward extension or arm attached to said breech-bolt and extending forward alongside the frame and barrel, said extension or arm having a' sleeve surrounding the barrel,

barrel, a reaction-spring disposed within said extension or arm and connected-at one end to said breech-bolt and at the other end to the barrel near its muzzle, and cartridge-explod- .ing, shell-extractingandshell-ejecting devices carried with saidbreech-bolt.

'Z. In a firearm, the combination with a frame, a barrel carried by said frame, and a sliding breech-bolt, of a spiral reaction-spring and a plug de'tachably secured to said frame ,or barrel and spirally grooved or threaded to engage said reaction spring. This specification signed and witnessed this ofOctober, A. D=--189Pr.'- JOHN M. BROWNING. In presence of- MATTHEW S. BROWNING,. M. J. HALL.

'a reaction-spring secured to-said breechrbolt