US630061A - Trigger mechanism for firearms. - Google Patents

Description

Patented-Aug. l, |899. A. E. LAnn. TRIGGER MECHANISM F03 FIREAHMS (Application tiled Apr. l. 1898.)

No Model.)

Ei nF...-

' barrels is accomplished by successive movev barrel at a time is prevented, and in the matinvention, the lock-plate, together with one viewtaken through 'the barrels'on line 2 2 "of the lock-plates with the lock or striking .mechanism thereon. section taken on line 4 4.- of Fig. 1.4 Fig. 5 is .anism opposite to that illustrated in said Fig.

UNITE STATES? infranti Fries.'

lALLAN E. LARI), OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

TRIGGER MECHANISM FOR FIREARlVIS.

v smimr'ztr'rc'ilv forming part of Letters Patentino. 630,061, dated August 1, 189e.

Application filed-April 1, 1898. Serial No. 676,091. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.;

Be it known that I, ALLAN E. LARD, of St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and. to the letters of reference marked thereon, 'which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tiring mechanism for firearms, and more particularly to tiring mechanisms of that class more commonly used in shot-guns having a plurality of barrels and in which a single trigger is employed and the firing ot the several xnentsnoiihesingle trigger...

The invention consists in an improved mechanism for discharging a plurality of barrels of a firearm, and particularly a shotgun, by means of a single trigger of animproved device, Whereby the `discharge of more than one ters hereinafter described, and pointed out 'in the appended claims.

The invention is herein shown in connec` tion with a shotgun provided with three shotbarrels and locks or firing mechanisms embracing three hammers, together with means for actuating the same by successive pulls upon the trigger. The invention may, however, be applied to firearms of other kinds and to those having two or more than three barrels.

In theaccompanying drawings, illustrating. my invention, Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a breech mechanism embodying my of the hammers auditsactuating-spring carried by saidplate, being removed, so as to show the main operative parts of the firing mechanism in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a sectional of Fig. l. Fig. 3 isa view in elevation of onel Fig. 4 is a detail plan a view similar 15o/Fig. l,showing the parts in changed position. Fig. 6 isa view similar to Fig. 1, showing that side of the firing mech- -controls the movement of the I'iril g-plate.

Fig. 1l is a detail view showing a second trigger which may be used for firing the third barrel independently of the others.

The firearm in the accompanying drawings is a shotgun of the kind known as breechloading,7 or one in which the barrels are pivotally connected with the breech-frame at a point forward ofthe rear ends of the barrels and where the rear ends of the barrels are Nthrown upwardlyaheve the Ybrechi`ramefcr the insertion ot 'the cartridges. The breech mechanism illustrated is, moreover, ot' that class known as hammerless, or one in which the retraction or cooking of the hammers is accomplished by the act of breaking the gun through suitable connections between a part attachedto the swinging barrels and the.said hammers.

-As shown inthe said drawings, A indicates the body or wooden portion of the gun-stock; B, the breeclrframe; C, the barrels, which are pivoted to the front end of the breechframe, and D the fore end,7 which is detachably connected with -the barrels beneath the same in the usual nia-nner. l

E indicates the top snap-lever, by which the locking-detent for holding the barrels in place is actuated.

F F indicate the lock-plates, upon which the locks or striking mechanisms belonging to the two main orupper barrels are mounted, and G is the trigger-plato, which carries the trigger and upon which in the particular instance illustrated the main parts of the mech anism embodying my invention are mounted.` Said trigger-plate is attached at its forward end to the breech-f rame B by means of a screw g and at its rear end is connected with the' -rearward extension or tang B' of the breechframe by means of bolts g' g2, whichalso serve to attach the stock to said frame.

The locks for the main or upper barrels are- Y mounted on the lock-plates F and are shown as consisting each of the usual hammer or IOO tumbler F', mainspring F2, scar F3, and searspring F4. A supporting-plate F5, attached to each lock-plate, forms a support for the inner end of the hammer-pivot. The lock for the lower or central barrel is mounted in the breech-frame B beneath the tang and consists 0f a hammer H, which is mountedon a pivotpin h, from which said hammer depends a mainspring H', which is attached to the nnder surface of the tang, a sear H2, and a scarspring H3, the said sear and scar-spring being mounted in a depending arm B2, forming part of the tang at the rear of the main part or body of the breech-frame B.

Means for setting or cooking the several hammers is provided as follows: I I are two cooking-levers which arel mounted in recesses in the breech-frame B, at either side of the same, inside of the forward ends of the lockplates F, said levers being mounted on pivotstuds t'. The forward ends of the said cocking-levers extend into recesses d, formed inv the met-al part D' of the fore end D. Said forward ends of the oockinglevers are so shaped and'arranged as to bear upon the upper walls of said :recesses d, whereby when the muzzles of the barrels are thrown downwardly said forward ends-ot' the cooking-levers will be depressed. At their rear ends the cooking-levers extend rearwardly to points adjacent to and engage forwardly-projecting lever-armsf of the hammers F', the cookinglevers acting on the under surface of the said arms, so as to lift or force the same upwardly, and thereby throw backwardly the hammers in the usual manner. For the purpose of 1retracting or cooking the central hammer H one of the cooking-levers is provided at its rear end with an offset extension l2, which extends at the inner side of and past the hammer F' and is adapted et its rear end for engagement with a'link l, which is pivoted at its upper end to the hammer and is adapted for engagement at its lower end with the` said extension l2 of the cooking-lever. For-the purpose of guiding the link 13 guide-pins 15' t' are located in position to engage opposite sides of said link, said guide-pins being attached, as herein shown, to the supportingplate F5 of the adjacent lock.

Now referring to the firing mechanism by which-the several sears F3, Fig-and lfliare actuated l'or releasing the hammers the saine is made as follows: J indicates the trigger,4 whlcli'gis mounted on a pivotj in the triggerplate l in the usual manner. Said trigger Yis extended upwardly Vin the lock-case in. the form oie' atrigger-arm J'. Kindicates a movable part or plate which is also pivoted to the trigger-plate and which is preferably mounted on the same pivot 7' by which the trigger is supported. Said plate constitutes a medium by which the ,motion-of the trigger is transmitted to theseveral sears, and prconvenience the same will be herein called the firing-plate. Said tiring-plate extends rearwardlyand ,upwardly from the pivot]` and is swung or moved by a suitable connection with the trigger in such manner that its rear endffrises audits upper part; moves forwardly. Actuating engagement of said plate with the rsears'F3 'F3 issecured by means of two laterally-projecting lugs l.: 7.3' on said plate K, which lugs are adaptedfor engagement with the inwardly-bent rear extremities j" of the said scars and are provided with adjustingscrews 7o* h5,- which come in direct contact with the sears. Similarly, actuating connec tion of the plate with the scar 112 is formed by means of a forward projection or stud 7c?, which is located in position for contact with the depending end of the said Sear H2. The screws k h5 on the lugs 7c r.' and the lug k2 are not arranged for simultaneous engagement with the'several sears, but are so constrncted as to come successively in contact with the same as the plate is swung or moved on its pivot by the action of the trigger, the intent being that the sears shall be'successively moved and the barrels successively fired by a progressive or step-by-step movement of the said firing-plate. The said dringplate is moved or swung on its pivot when the trigger is pulled bakwardly by means of a stop or shoulder on the firing-plate, which is located in position for engagement with a part of or upon the trigger, the stop or, projection herein shown having the formbi` a stop-pin 76B, which is located near the upper edge of the tiring-plate in position to engage the front edge of the trigger-arm J'. Said trigger-arm isnot always in cont-actwith the stud 7a3, but stands slightly at the rear thereof, so as to afford a small degree of independent -motion between the trigger and-the firingplate' when the trigger is drawn or pulled rearwardly, such independent motion giving the trigger a short preparatory movement before the firing-plate is engaged and moved thereby. forward. limit of its movement'byvmeans of a suitably-applied trigger-enviogheeih shown asy consisting of a leaf-'spring j?. which is attached to the triggeiwplaterin advance of the trigger and bears at its rear free end upwardly Against a forwardly-projecting army" on the triggtlarm J'. ing-plate is a movable detent L, adapted for. engagement with teethor shoulders m m',

which are located or' formed upon a statonv U15 Pl't-effothe breech trams s'herein shown, the 'detent L projects at the rear of the tiring-plate K, and the teeth m m are 1ocated onl a bar or bolt M, which is att-ached at' its lower. end tothe rearfpart of the trign ger-plate. The upper end of the bolt abuts lThe trigger is held normally at the Mounted on the fir- I the tang, thereby holding the trigger-plate and the tang always the same distance apart when the bolts g' g are tightened. The detent L is actuated from the trigger through the medium of a lever connection or equivav lent mechanism, as herein shown, giving to the detent a much greater amplitude of movement than that of the trigger itseli",and which is so arranged as to advance the said detent 4L into position for engagement with one of the teeth m during the preliminary movement fof the trigger J, which takes place before the stop-pin k3 on 'the firing-plate is engaged by the triggenarm and the tiring-plate is thereby bodily moved. In the particular construction-illustrated the detent L has the -form ot a sliding bar in the firing-plate, and motion is. transmitted thereto from the trigger-arm 1*. Jfby means of a lever N and a link N',by

said leverNis connected with the upof said lever N will produce a considerable extent of movementof the lower arm of said lever N and the detent which is attached thereto. In the firing mechanism from which the accompanying. drawings were made a back-y Ward movement of the trigger oi` about one thirty-second of an inch producesa movement in the said detent of about one-eighth of an inch. If desired; the movement of the trigger with respect to that of the detent may be l ,much less than that stated, and by properly proportioning tho parts practica-l results may be obtained by a movement of the trigger of 3S only one three-hundredths part of an inch. The said detent- L,'together with the teethm Am', constitute an escape or stop mechanism bywhich the movement of' the firing-plate is made intermittent instead of continuous and ict fyarrested after the release of each hammer,'

' slight forward movement of the trigger un- 4 .der the action of its spring owiugto the couby which the movement of the said plate is thereby preventing the tiring of more than one barrel at a time, the release of the said detent from the teeth engaged by it after each barrel has been red being permitted bya relaxation of the pressure upon and a Very ",nections described between the deten-t and trigger, by which an exceedingly slight movement iof the trigger produces a much greater movement of 'the detent. lhe said detentL is held normally at one limit of its movement f by a suitably-applied spring Ni, herein shown as having the form of a coiled spring, attached at one end to ythe firing-plate and at'its oppoi posite end to the lever N, below the pivot of the lat-ter, and tending to draw the detent L inwardly. inasmuch as the stud ks cannot come in contact with the trigger-arm except when the detent-lever N 'is thrown rearward against the action of said spring N2, the presence of said, spring N2 insures that the firingplate will be held in position with the stud 7c3 away from the trigger-arm and the datent re tracted during the upward movement-of lthe firing-plate, until the latter comes in' contact with one of the sears, at which time the resistance of the sear-sprin g will arrest the movement of the firing-plate until the detent has 7o been thrown rearwardly or into its holding position, after which the further movement of the firing-plate will @dect the release of the sear. Immediately after such release the detent will strike vthe tooth-m or m and prevent 7 5 further movement of the firing-plate until the trigger has been allowed to-move slightly for.- ward, when the rearward movement of the A trigger-arm with respect to the firing-plate under the action of said spring Ni'will pro- 8o duce backward movement' of the detent sufticient to clearthe tooth engaged by it and permit further forward movement of the ring-plateI under a subsequent',- pull upon the trigger. It the trigger be allowed to swing 85 fully forward after firing the first barrel, the tiring-plate (in the absence of the means hereinafter described to prevent backward movement of the firing-plate) will return to 4its original or lowermost position; but this will 9o not affect the action of the detent, because upon pulling the trigger asecond time the plate will be moved with the trigger-arm and without any rearward movement of the detent untitthe latter has passed the irst tooth m- 95 and the firing-plate hasA engaged the second Sear, when the resistance of the second sear, by arresting the movement of the plate, will prod uce through the yielding of the spring N2 relative movement of the triggorarm and firzoo ing-plate, with the result of throwing the` detent outward into position to engage the second tooth lm. Said spring N2 therefore, by holding the detent-lever N at the rearward limit of its movement, serves also to hold the ,105 firing-plate from rearward movement with respect to the trigger-arm during the movement of the iring-plate until the firing-plate comes in contactwith and is arrested by one of the sears, whereupon the pull on the trigger over.- 1 xo comes the force ot the spring N2, throws the detent outwardly into position to engage the. tooth, and then moves the soar until the lock controlled thereby has beenY released, after which the detent strikes the tooth m or m'- I i 5 and. holds the plate from further movement.v

inasmuch as the firing of .the several bar-' y rels is accomplished by a progressive move-` ment.' of the firing-plate, it is desirable that the said plate and trigger should be held from izo backward m nvement after each barrelis fired, and for this purpose I haye'provideda der. tent so arranged as toengage and holdjhe firing-plate after the ring of each barrel. Said detent is shown as having the form 'of a x2 5 stepped bar O, pivoted at its lowerend to the trigger-plate and-provided at it'supper-end with two shoulders, oo', said b'ar-A being located in suoli psitiori-.that the shoulders may f erigagethelower surfaceof the lug lo on one, ,1395

sideof the'ifiring-plate." The said detent isf; f

actuated by the spring O-, so arranged as to throwv its Supper. or free end ,tgwardthevsaid' or lovtermost position, the said detent, at a point below the lowermost step o', bears` against the lug 1c, and the said steps or notches are so disposed with respect to the 'teeth fm 'm' that when the firing-plate is swunlgr upwardly, so as to bring the detent against the rst tooth m, thelug will be engaged by the first step and when said detent is brought against the second tooth in' the lug will be engaged by the second step o. course be understood that the detent O is located in the position described and arranged to act upon the lug 7a merely as a matter of convenience and that a similarly-acting detent may be arranged in other positions to operate upon orin connection with the firingplate.

v The operation of the firing mechanism above described may be better understood from the following: When the parts are in their normal position, as seen in Fig. 1, the

Iof the parts shown in full lines in Fig. 5. A I

tooth fm.

lower end of the firing-plate will rest' against the trigger-plate, and the trigger will be held by the trigger-spring at the forward limit of its movement and with the trigger-arm J slightly at the rear of the stop-pin 7c3 on the firing-plate. At this time the scar belonging to the lock 'which yis to be first released will be in contact with the lug 7c. The pressure required to operate thedetent L against the action ot its holding-spring N2 being much less than the pressure required to move the searLthe first movement which takes place will be the throwing out of the said detent into positiony to engage the first or lowermost By the time the said `detent'has reached or made contact with said tooth, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. v5, the hammer of the lock rst to be actuated will have been released and Vthe stepped detent O will fall into position to hold the firing-plate from backward movement. This is the position release of the pressure upon the trigger' will result in'tlie retraction of the detent mainly through the action' of the trigger-actuating spring, which by throwing the trigger forwardv while the tiring-plate is held from back-` ward movement will move the trigger-arm backwardly with respect to the firing-plate, and thereby retract the detent. This movement of the detent will be aided ,by the detent-spring N2.A As soon as this slight forward movement ofY the-trigger takesplaee theldetent willbe free from the toot-h m, and the ring-plate will be free to rise when pressure is again applied thereto b the action of the trigger, as seen in said Fig. 5. As soon as pressure is again applied to the trigger the firing-plate will be advanced. until the lng lo thereon strikes the sear othe lock that is next to be fired, when the detent will be advanced into position to engage the second tooth m', as. shown in dotted lines in Fig.' 6. The partsa're so arranged that the firing-plate will move a. short distance after its release by the retraction of the detent be- It will ofV fore it strikes the next sear, this movement be carried past or above the tooth last engaged by it before it is advanced to engage' the next or succeeding tooth. Such movement of the firing-plate with the trigger betore the detent is advanced is insured by 'the detent-spring N2, which holds the ring-plate and trigger from relative movement and prevents advance of the detent until the plate strikes the sear of the lock which is next to be fired and through the resistance of the scar-spring is retarded until 'the trigger-arm vanced, after which the firing-plate moves with the trigger until the second lock has been tired, after which its motion is again arrested by the contact of the detent with the second tooth on'. By the time this second tooth has been struck by the detent the second lock Will'have been released,and the forward movement of the tiring-plate will be arrested by Contact of the detent with said second tooth. lhe stepped orholding detent will the same 'time engage the firing-plate, so as 'to prevent backward movement ot the saine, and upon release of the pressure upon` the trigger the detent will be retracted by the action oi the trigger-spring and detent-spring, and the parts will then be in readiness for the release ot' the third lock and the tiring of the third barrel. This is the position shown in full linesin Fig. 6. 'lhe scar H2 et the lock belonging to the 'third barrel will be actuated by ressure of the tiring-plate ther-een, seen inzig. 7, no special stop mechanism beine' rcquired in this instance, as the ii. have reached the upward limit of its nievement when the firing of the third barrel is accomplished. It is to be noted that when the iiringplate is in position for the actuation ot' el r one ot' the sears said plate rests against a backstop formed in the lirst instan-se by the trigger-plate itself and in the other by the stepped detent described nd tha hen the said firing-plate thus re ffm-.inst its back-stop the pressure ot the igge spring holds. the trigger-arm J'. a short distance away Afrom the stop-pin or stud 7a3. lt will also be noted that when the trigger is pulled in firing the second and moves the tiring-plate a the latter vstrikes the seat' of is next to be released, 'there the detent shall more 'past ti gaged by it before being The scar-spring is so innen. detent-spring N2 or the pr more the sear is so much gratte: than that required to nieve the detent that as the firing-pireL the senr the tr' the i plate, such movement et the said arm respect to the plate serving to move or. aetnate the detent'L, and thereby bring the same into position for engagement with one of tire being necessary in order that the detentshall ieg-plate i, iii

strikes the lug los and the detentiias been ad-V barrels it 5 other words, inasmuch as the tiring-plate is free to move except when restrained by the engagement of the detent L with Aone of the stop-teeth the detent-spring would hold the said detentfrom movement with respect to 1o the plate and said plate would move with'the trigger were it not for the engagement of the plate wit-h the sears and the fact that the scar-springs are much stronger than the said Y'detent-spring, so that as soon as one of the 1 5 lugs on the tiring-plate comes in contact with its corresponding sear movement ot' the firingplate is temporarily arrested until the trigger has been moved the short distance necessary for bringing the trigger-arm against the 2o stop-pin k3 and for throwing the stop-detent outwardly into position to engage one of the stop-teeth. After such preliminarymovement f the trigger and the actuation of the detent, however, the tiring-plate moves with z the trigger as the same is pulled backward, and thereby eects the lifting or actuation I of that one of the sears which is at the time engaged by or is in contact with the tiringplate. It will of course be understood that 3o the contact of the sear with the tiring-plate,

or, in other words, the resistance of the searspring to the movement of the plate, is necessary in order to hold the plate from movement while the detent is being actuatedLit sistance to the movement of the plate the -latter would be moved or shifted by the action of the trigger without any movement of the detent itself, the detent-spring tending 4o to hold the detent in its retracted position.

The scar-spring being very much stronger than the detent-spring, and as considerable pressure is required to draw the seat' out of engagement with the notch of the tumbler in u which it is held by the pressure of thelmainspring, much greater pressure' is required to move the searand release the hammer than is needed to move the detent, so that the pressure ot' the sear against the firing-plate will 5oalways hold said plate from movement until the holding-detent has been advanced againstthe action' of the detent-spring, after which ythe plate will be bodily moved and the scar thereby actuated torelease the hammer. It

will also be noted that the trigger-spring acts to retract the detent L and would, in connection withthe detent (l, be suliicient for this purpose it' t-he detent-spring were omitied,it beingtcbvionsthat the pressure ofthe triggero spring does not come directly7 upon the tiringplate, but is conveyed thereto through the medium of the trigger-arm, the lever N, and link N', so that when the firing-plate is resting against one ofthe back-stops, formed by the trigger-plate, or one 0i' the two shoulders onf the stepped detent O the trigger-arm will be pressed backwardly and the detent carried inwardly by the tri gger-spri n g,and such backward or rearward movement of the triggere arm with respect to the plate will be limited by the contact ot the said lever N on the detent with a surface or shoulder on the plate which forms a back-stop to limit the retraction et said detent. In the instance illustrated the said lever N strikes a pin la when the detent is at the li mit of its retracting movement, so that said pin forms such a back-stop.

It will be further observed that inasmuch as the trigger-spring and detent-spring actin the same direction upon the detent and both tend to Withdraw the detent from engagement with the teeth on the frame when the' firingplate is resting against its back-stop the said deten t-spring is not in all cases required, but may be dispensed with, provided the detent is so constructed that it will automatically rise above the tooth m o'r m' after its withdrawal therefrom in order that it may not again engage the same tooth in its subsequent ad- Vance.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a modification of the construction above described wherein a detent-spring N3 is used, which spring is applied between the firing-plate and lever N in such manner as to hold the lower or free end of said lever and the detent extended instead of retracted, and the detent is made vertically movable at its outer end and held at the upper limit of its movement by a lifting-spring l. When the said spring is thus appliedlrittends to hold the'detentL in its extended position, making itabsolutelyi'mp'ossible to tire more than one barrel at a time, and in such case said spring is preferably a Weak one and ot' very much less strength than the trigger-spring. 'I/he action of the mechanism in this latter instance is generally the same as that before described, the only dierence being that in the one before described the detent-spring tends to aid the trigger- ICO IIO

spring in retracting the detent, while in the modified construction the detent-spring acts agaigfstthe trigger-spring arid the former is mad spring will operate positively and certainly to withdraw the detent from engagement with that one of the teeth nt or m/ with which it may at the time 'be engaged. In the latter construction the detent lifting-spri g yields downwardly and permits a slight d pression of the detent'when the latter strikes the tooth m or m' in the upward movement of the firingplate, so that as soon as the detent is retracted by the action of the trigger-spring upon the release of the trigger said detent willbe lifted above the tooth andin its subsequent advance will pass over thesame. When the detentis made to yield or move in the manner shown in said Fig. l0, no actuating-spring for either advancing or retracting it is absolutely necessary, but the use of an advancing-spring is preferred for the reason that it holds the detent normally in a positive engaging position.

Instead of the stepped detent O, arranged relatively weak, so that the triggerto act upon the firing '[piate, a similarly-acting detent may be a'piplied to operate upon the trigger or trigger-arm, in which case both the trigger and the firing-plate will be held from backward movement after each sear has been actuated by the engagement of such detent with the trigger. When the detent is thus arranged, however, the presence of the detent-spring N2 becomes important, inasmuch as said spring by its tension on the 1ever N tends to keep said lever at the rearward limit of its movement and prevents the tiringplate from falling by gravity, so as to bring the stop-piu las against the trigger-arm, with the result of preventing the proper actuation of the detent by the trigger.

For the purpose of releasing the stepped detent-O from the firing-plate, and thus permitting the said plate and the triggcrjo return to their original or starting point preparatory to firing a new charge or set c charges, provision is made for automatically moving said detent each timeY the breech is opened for loading. trated for,'the purpose mentioned consists of a sliding trip-bar l), which rests above the `trigger-plate and is at its forward end attached to an arm c on the rod E', which is attached to and moved by the snap-lever E and through the medium of which is actuated the locking-bolt, by which the barrels are locked or held in operative position. The said trip-bar P is shown as provided at its rear end with an elevated arm p, adapted for contact with the forward surface ofthe detcnt O when said trip-rod is thrown baekwardly through the actuation of the snap-lever.

I have shown in the drawings a safety-catch consisting of a lever Q, pivoted to the tang B and adapted at its lower end for engagement with a stop-pin q on the rear part of the firing-plate, the upper end of said lever Q bcing engaged with a slide rl, mounted on the outer surface of the tang. When said slide is moved forward, so as to bring the lower end of the stop-lever above and to the rear of the stop-pin q, the tiring-plate will be free to move and the gun can be discharged. i A

'A firing mechanism embodying the principal features hereinbefore described may be constructed for a doublc-barreled gun lwithout the use of any detent such as has been desc-ribed for forming a back-stop for the firing-plate. Assuming the breech-frame to have but one stop-tooth fm, as will be the case in a double-barrele'l gun, and the holdingdetent to be omitted, it is obvious that after the first barrel has been fired and the movement of the dringt-plate arrested by the action of the detent upon the stop-tooth the firingplate will return. to its original position in contact with the trigger-plate. Upon a second actuation ofthe trigger no movement of the locking-detent will take place until the iringplate encou'nters and is arrested by the second Sear; but-as soon as said firing-plate (or the lug thereon) strikes said second scar The device herein illus' the second barrel will be red inthe same manner that the third barrel is fired in .the

,construction illustrated. The disadvantage arising? from the omission of the stepped detent or its equivalent is that considerable for ward movement of the triggerwill occur after' firing the rst barrel before the firing-plate comes in contact with the back-stopor trig ger-plate and acorresponding advance movement ci the tiring-plate before it comes in contact Y ii the second Sear; but at the same time the amount of such motion need not he vso great to be objectionable, for in quick action, where both barrels are fired in rapid succession, the trigger andY firing-plate need ,not be allowed to return to their original position after the firing of the first barrel; but if the trigger be quickly released and again pressed it will, upon relaxation of the pressure thereon, move forward under the action of the detent-spring,` N2 a short distance only to effect 'the retraction of the said detent and the passage of the same past the said .tooth for. the ringof the second barrel, and the latter may be fired by a second pull without moving the finger far enough or giving vsuceut space for the return of the trigger-'to its starting-point. In otherwords,if the firing-plate needs to travel one-eighth of an inch to fire the first barrel the trigger must travel baekward one-eighth of an inch (the distance from.

pivot of trigger and firing-plate to trigger and firing-lug being practically equal) before it would be in position to fire the second barrel, provided the iin ger were entirely removed from the trigger after tiring the first barrel; but, as before stated, iu rapid shooting it is not necessary to remove the finger from the trigger, and instead of allowing 'che trigger to travel forward one-eighth of au inch after firing the first barrel itis only necessaryto allow it to advance one three-hundredths of an inch before again pulling it for firing the second barrel.

in Fig. l] I have shown a construction in which a second trigger R is applied in position to actuate the scar belonging to the third barrel. Such second trigger is shown as pivoted on the pivot-pinj of the main trigger J and as extending rearwardly, so as to be out of the way of the said main trigger. t is also shown as provided with an arm, r, which extends upwardly to the safety stoplever Q in position to be engaged by said stop-lever when the latter lis thrown into its operative position, Said second trigger will not usually be needed, but may sometimes be found useful when it is desired to fire the third barrel without firingthe first and second ones, and especially whenthe third barrel is"choke bored to a greater extent than the other barrels for close shooting at long distances and it may be desired to use the said third barrel alone for that reason.

It has been proposed heretofore to employ as a means of iiring several barrels with one trigger a pivoted ratchet-plate, which acts llo struction has the disadvantage that a full ad-KVA vance movement of the trigger is required after each pull in order that the pawl which is moved by the trigger may engage a succeeding tooth on the ratchet-plate, and if the user shall fail to release the trigger in such manner as to permit such full forward movement thereof the ratchet-plate in the subsequent pull will not be moved by the subseqnentpul'ad the gun will fail to fire. One important advantage of my improved construction over the prior one referred to is that an almost imperceptible forward movement of the trigger is required after* each pull thereon to prepare the parts for the tiring of the next barrel, so that it requires only a rclaxation of pressure upon the trigger between each backward pull thereon to tire the several barrels in succession. Thus in the construction illustrated, in which the detent has a Amovement four times as great as that of the trigger, if the detent be arranged to overlap the teeth on the breech-frame to an extent ot one thirty-second of an inch it will be clearly seen that after firing one barrel the trigger need be relieved and allowed to move forward only about one one hundred and twenty eighth of an inch in order to withdraw it from engagement with the teeth', and after this slight forward movement of the trigger the la'tercan" be again instantly pulled to lire the next barrel. Moreover, if the parts are proportioned so that a movement of the trigger of one three-hundredth part of an inch only is required for releasing the detent the action of the device would be almost the same as though the trigger had no forward or release movement. When suchasmall extent of forward movement in the trigger is required for releasing the detent, it the pressure on the trigger be relaxed after firing it becomes impossible to throw ihe detent'into engagement with the same tooth twice in succession or in two successive pullsg upon the trigger, it being obvious that ,the slight movement referred to is so limited as tobe imper-Y ceptible, and the release of the detent is accomplished by merely relaxing the pressure upon the trigger. The construction described constitutes a very ,important improvement over the construction embracing a single trigger with a ratchet-plate hereinbefore referred to, for the reason that such construction will require at least one-eighth of an inch .backward movement of the trigger for firing each barrel and the same amount of forward or releasing movement before a succeeding barrel can be fired, `and in rapid firing the necessary extent of forward movement in the trigger may ofte'n fail to take place, in'which case the gun will not be discharged upon the pulling of the trigger.

I claim as m'y inventionv l 1. The combination with a pluralityoflocks Qrstriking mechanisms, ota tiring mechanism embraciuga single trigger-,a tiring-plate which moves with butl has a limited movement relatively to the trigger and which acts successively on the several locks and means acting to arrest. or interrupt the movement of the liring-plate and trigger after the actuation of one lock and operating through the relative movement ofthe trigger and tiring-plate to re-4 lease ,the said firing-plate preparatory tothe actuation of another lock.-

:2. The com bination with a pluralityof locks or striking mechanisms, of a single trigger, a Firing-plate which moves with, but has a limited movement relatively to, the trigger, and which acts successively on the several locks and a detent which controls the movement of the liring-plate, said detent being actua-ted by the trigger during its movementrelatively to the firing-plate and being connected with the said trigger byoperative connections giving a greater amplitude of movementin the said detent than in the trigger.

3. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a trigger, a firingplate which is operatedby the trigger and acts successivel yon the several locks to release the` same, said trigger havinga limited movement with respect to the iiring-plate and va detent which controls the movement of the firingplate, said detent being connected with the. trigger by connections affording movemen tof` the detent into position to release the tiringplatc and permit further movement thereot'` after a lock is actuated bythe firing-plate.

4:. 'lhecombination withapluralityotiocks or striking mechanisms, ot' a trigger, a liringplate which is operated bythe trigger and acts successively upon the locks to release the 'struck by a part attached tothe trigger during the rearward movement of the latter anda ICO detent which controls the movement of. the firing-plate and which is connected with the 4or striking mechanisms, of a trigger, a tiringplate constructed to act snccessivelyupnn theA said locks to release the saine said iringplate being actuated by the trigger, a detenjtmeeru vating to control the movement of the tiring plate and operative connections. between the said detent and the trigger emhracinga lever by which the detent is given a greater ampliftnde of movement than the trigger. v

b'. The combination with a piu 'calin-y clloe'ss or striking mechanisms, ot' a plate which is actuated by t o rig ively non the several locks to release ent which is-actuated by the -nrrols the advance movement of the tiring-pla`v and a second detent operating to hold said Vtiring-plate from rearward movement.

7. The com binatiou with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a trigger, a firingplate which is actuated by the trigger and acts successively upon the several. locks to release the s ne, a detent which is actuated by the trig and controls the advance movement of tue plate, connections between the detent and trigger giving a greater extent of movement in the detent than in the trigger, and afosecomfi' detent operating to hold said tiringfolate from rearward movement.

S. "l ne t mbination with a plurality oflocks or strilti r n'iechanisms, of a trigger, afiringplate wt ch is actuated bythe trigger' and acts successively upon the several locks to release the same, a detent which has operative connections with the trigger and controls the advance iovement of the plate and a: second detent fcratingto hold said firing-plate from rearvs movement and means for retracting sain ,second or holding deteut after the locks 'ha een released.

9. The con. nation withapluralityofloclis or striking n anisms, of a trigger, a firingplate which actuated by the trigger and acts succe y upon the several locks to release the i me, a detent whichfcontrols the advance movement of the plate, operative ,connections between the said detent and trigger, giving a greater extent of movement in the detect than in the trigger, a second de- `tent operating to hold said firing-plate from backward. movement and means for retract-I ing said second or holding detent after the locks have been released.

l0. A breech-loading firearm comprising a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, a trigger, a firing-plate which is actuated by the `trigger and acts successively on the locks to release the same, a detent which is operated by the trigger and controls the advance movement of the firing-plate, a spring-actuated detent which acts to hold the firing-plate from rearward movement and a trip mechanism for releasing said second detent, having operative connection with part which is moved during the performance of the acts required for loading the arm. y

l1, The combination with a plurality of locks provided 1with hammers, sears, and searsprings, of trigger, a firing-plate provided with lugs or contactfsurfaces located in position forsucccssive action upon the sevcrzjtly sears and a detent which is connected with the trigger and which arrests the movement of the tiring-plate after the same has encoun tered and moved each of the scars.'

l2. The combination with a plurality otl` locks or firing mechanisms, of a. trigger, a -ring-plate which is actuated by the trigger and is constructed to act successively upon the several locks to release thc same, a detent mounted on the tiring-plate and adapted for engagement with a holding tooth or teeth upon the breech-frame and operative connections between the said detent and the trigger.

l. The combination with a plurality of locks or tiring mechanisms,of a trigger,a firingplate which is actuated by the trigger and is constructed to act successively upon the several locks to release the same, a detent mounted on the tiring-plate and adapted for engagement with a holding tooth or teeth upon the breech-frame and operative connections between the said detent and the trigger producing a greater extent of movement in the detcnt than in the trigger.

li. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a trigger, a firing-plate which is actuated by the trigger and is constructed to act successively upon the several locks to release the same, said trigger having a limited movement with respcct to thc tiring-plate, a dctent mounted on the {iring-plateand constructed to engage a holding tooth or teeth upon the breech-frame and operative connections, between the said del'ent and the trigger, mounted on the said liring-plate and embracing a lever having arms of unequal length and giving a greater extent of movement inthe detent tha-nin the trigger. f

l5. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a trigger, a firing-plate which is actuated by the trigger and is constructed to act successively upon the several locks, said trigger being provided with a rigid trigger-arm and the firing-plate with a stop or shoulder which is vnormally free from contact with said trigger-arm, a detent mounted on thc firing-plate and adapted for engagement with a holding tooth or teeth upon the breech-frame and means for actuating said dctent embracing a lever pivoted upon the fi ring-plate and connected by a link with'the said trigger-arm, said lever being arraiiged to give to the deteut a movement greater than that of the trigger.

16. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a trigger, a

firing-plate which is actuated by the trigger and acts successively upon the several locks to release the same, said trigger having a limited movement with respect to the tiringplate, a fle-tent mounted on the firing-plate adapted for engagement with a tooth or teeth uponv the breech-frame to control the advance movement of the tiring-plate under the action of the trigger, operative connections between the said dctent and the trigger giving to the detent a motion greater than that of the trigger, and a second springactuated detent acting on the firing-plate to hold the same from rearward movement.

17. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a trigger, a

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firing-plate which is actuated by the trigger and acts successively on the several locks to release the same, said firing-plate being pivoted concentrically with the trigger and the trigger having a limited movement with respect to the said tiring-plate, a detent mounted on the tiring-plate and adapted for engagement with a tooth or teeth upon the breechframe and operative connections between the trigger and said detent operating to give a greater movement in the detent than in the trigger and comprising a trigger-arm, a lever pivoted upon the firing-plate and a link conneeting the lever with t-he trigger-arm;

18. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a trigger, a trigger-spring tending to hold said trigger at the forward limit of its movement, a Afiringplate provided with a contact-shoulder which stands normally free from the trigger but which is encountered bythe trigger after the same has been moved a short distance, and a detcnt which is operated by the trigger and operates to interrupt the advance movement of the firing-plate after the release of each hammer.

19. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a trigger, a

trigger-spring tending to hold said trigger atthe forward limit of its movement, a tiringplate provided with a contact-shoulder which stands normally free vfrom the trigger but which is encountered by the trigger after the same has been moved a short distance, a detent which interrupts the advance movement of the firing-plate after the release of each hammer, operative connections between said detent and the trigger aiording a greater extent of movement in the detent than in the trigger and a second spring-actuated detcnt acting to hold the iring-plate from rearward movement after the release of each lock.

20. A breech-loading firearm having three barrels and in which the barrels are hinged to the breech-frame said firearm being provided with a plurality ol" loe-ks or striking mechanisms each having a hammer, a mainspring for actuating the same and a Sear and in one of which the hammer is constructed to strike downwardly and forwardly7 of means for cocliing each of the hammers embracing two levers mounted on the breech-frame and engaged at their forward ends with a part which is attached to and moves with the barrels, one ot said levers being provi/lod i1 h a rearward extension for retracting the downwardly and forwardly striking hammer.

2l. A breech-loading iirearm having three barrels and in which the barrels are hinged to the breech-frame said firearm being provided with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms each having a hammer, a mainspring for actuating the same and a sear, and in one of which the hammer is constructed to strike downwardly and forwardly, of means for cooking each ot the hammers embracing two levers mounted on the breech-frame and engaged at their forward ends with a part which is attached to-and moves with the barrels, one of said levers being provided with a rearward extension for reti-acting the downwardly and forwardly striking hammer and the latter hannn'er being provided with a piv oted link, one end of which is located in position for engagement with the said rearward extension of the said cooking-lever.

22. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, a trigger, a iiring-plate which moves with the trigger but which has a limited movement relatively thereto and which acts successively on the several locks to release the same, a detent which is actuated by the trigger in its movement relatively to the firing-plate and operates to arrest the advance movement of the firing-plate after the release of each lock and a movable safety-stop adapted for engagement with the said firingplate to hold the same from backward movement.

23. The combination with a plurality of locks or striking mechanisms, of a trigger, a firing-plate which is moved by the trigger, and acts successively on the several locks, and a detcnt which controls the movement o1` the firing-plate, said detent being actuated by the trigger and being connected wit-l1 the same by operative connections giving a greater amplitude of movement in said do tent than in the trigger, and a second trigger' which acts upon one o1' said locks independently of the tiring-plaie 4and first-named trigger.

ln testimony that l claim thc foregoing as my invention l allx my signature, in presence of t\\'o'witncssos, this 17th lay of March, l l)A ISGS.

.'\ LLAN ll. LAR i l.

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