US65812A - wheeler hubbell - Google Patents

Description

W. WHEELER HUBBELL,` OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'Y TO HIMSELF AND JAMES H. ORN E, I 0F THE SAME PLACE. Lettera Patent No. 65,812, dated June 18, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN BEECH-LOADING fhlt-ARMS.`

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN;

`Bc it known that I, WILLIAM WHEELER HUBBELL, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a. full, clear, and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon. i

`'.Ihe nature of my invention consists in the construction and combination of breech-pieces and their appli` ances, operating together as hereinafter described, to load, enclose, re, and eject the cartridge-shell.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawing', lwhich forms a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of sucient of a. fire-arm to illustrate my improvements.v

Figures 2 and 3, the same with the breech-pieces and other appliances in different positions.

,e Figure 4, a plan view.

Figure 5, a sectional plan. Figure 6, a section of partiof the tire-arm, with the breech-piece removed. Figure 7, a view of ono side of the main breech-piece. Figure 8, a transverse section on the line 1-2, iig. 1. Figure 9, the same, on the line 3 4. Figure 10, the same on the line 5 6, fig. 1. Figure 11, the same on the line 7-8, fig. 3. Figure 12, a detached sectional vievr, showing the rear strikers and bevel faces. Figure 13, a sectional view of' a modification of the lire-arm. Figure 14, a. plan view of tig. 13. v Figure 15, a sectional view of another modification of the invention. Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout'the several views. It shouldV be stated in the outset that all the figures, excepting those marked 12 and 13, refer to my improvements as adapted to the alterations ot' any ordinary Springfield riie; the remaining figures illustrating my improvements as arranged in constructingvan cntirely-new-fire-arm.

On reference to figs. 1 to 12 inclusive, A represents the rear of the barrel of an ordinary Springfield rifle,- provided atthe end with the usual screw-plug a. In the top of this barrel, from the point a: to the pointy, Eg. 1, is!" cut an elongated opening, so as to form u recess for the breech-pieces and other appliances, described hereafter. The breech-piece consists of two sections, B and C', the former of which I shall term the hinged breech, und the latter the sliding breech. The breech-piece B ts in the recess formed in the barrel, and is hinged to the same by the pin b, the rounded rear c fitting snugly but so as to turn freely and bear firmly in a concave M' recess formed in the front end ofthe screw-plug a. l i

`The sliding-breech C has in fr'ont a circular projection, d, adapted to the rear of the bore of thc barrel, where the latftcr is enlargcdin diameter, and covers the head 8 of the cartridge H, and the rear face e of thc breech is hollowed and adapted to` the rounded front endf of the hinged breech B, as seen in iig. 1, the line of junction of the two breeches forming the segment of a circle drawn from the centre' ofthe pin b.

The front end of the lznecch` B has a. projection, g, which, when in the position shown in iig. 1, is nearly in contact with the top of the breech C', there being lips h, one on each side of the projection g, iig. 9, to be grasped'between the ng'r and thumb, when the said breech-piece B has to be elevated.

A longitudinal recess, h', is cut in the breech-piece B, and a coinciding recess, t', in the sliding-breech C' for the reception of the link D, which is jointed to the latter breech by s. pn,j, and the rear end of which has j a curved slot, k, for the reception of avpin, Z, on the breech B. This slot k, when the breeches and link are in the position shown in g. 2, forms the segment of a circle described from the centre of the pin b. It may be slotted horizontally instead of vertically, with the same e`ect.

On each side of the Sliding-breech C is a shoulder, m, gs. 9 and 11, bearing against the under edge of a y. la," l

rib, 1t", formed in the inside, and lon ycach side oik the recessie the barrel, seas to keep the said sliding-breech down to itsplace, and prevent itfrom Amoving in any other than'a longitudinal direction. These ribsw are towards the rear of tho'recess in the barrel, and are formed by the extension forward of two detachable cheek Ypieceslid E, vone secured to one sido, and the other to the opposite side of .the recess, and secured to the' same,

partly by the piu b, partly by confinement between the rounded end ofthe breech Band the recess, and partly by small set-screws q, g. 6. I

On withdrawing thepin b, and detaching the check-pieces, b oth breeches may be removed, :ne breech C being'rais'd vertically from the recess iu the barrel. In the inside of the barrelsv recess, and in one side of the same, is cut a longitudinal groove, 4, figs. 5 and 6', for thefreception and guidance of the retractingfbar G, which has'two projections, :5`nd 6, the formeriiitting into an elongated recess, 9, tig. 5, in one side of the breech C', and'the latter projecting into the bore of `the barrel, so that it maybe in front of the liange S of the metal 'caso cartridge II, In an opening, p, in thev bottom of the recess of the barrel, is hung -the arm F, which, when the breechvBis depressed, as shown in iig. 1, occupies'the position shown by dotted lines in that ligure, but when the breech B is elevated, andthe breech C consequently moved back, a. lip, 2, on the latter breech, comes in contact withfaprcjectiom 8, on the arm, and.' elevates the latter te thepesition shown in iig. 3. Its front end is wider than its projection 3 and the slot 3', so `asnctto catch in thelatter.

The breech B.is. a trifle narrower. than the middle part di' the'recess i n the bar-rel below the ribs n', exceptingaqone pointwherc Lthere are ribst, fig. 7, one oneach side. of the said breech, there beingon each side oi' the {harrclfs recess, betweefuthe front'. ends of t h e ribs n of Ythe cheek-pieces E-and the rear ends of lthe ribs n of thefbarrel,tig,6, spaces'iv, which receive the -ribs t, which,'wl1en-the breech is down, just touch the sides of the recess, and proven-t all-lateral Amovement c ifthejbreech.'` These, spaces w are vfor the purpose of admitting ythe angc-ofthc cartridge, reely t0 thcrcarf theel-iced 6 .of ',t-heretractingbar,si'hizh occupies a position under theazea'rend oithe; ribJiQfas in fig; 3,"to insure the flange oi' the shellrfalling in -behind this retraotingdiead 8; the rear-end-ft'lr barfliaving borne against the rear end of" the slot 4, the b'e'ech-piece'C leaving it in that position when ithaddrawu -the head 'orfan'ge ofthe shell just past the rear end otthe barrel rib n', and then the-breech Gl, tn'king u'p the arm F, causes it to cast the shell upwards out of the-recess of tlie'barrel, so that it mayfall outer be'oaught'between the fingers and picked out. A. spring `Bday-bear'underneath on the rear endfofthelfarm F andY set it down again. `IIhe ribs 'n' are only wide enough apart to allow the cylindrical bodyA Y of the shell and the bullet to passb'twccn them.A

'The detenute-is in the present instance situated in the centre of the'rear of the cartridge, and is struck by means of a'pi'nQI, passing obliduely'tliro'ugh the'breech C', its rear ond coinciding with the front end of a, pin, Il, passing ohliquel'yvthroughthe breech B, nnd c o in i ding third pin, 12, passing through the metal of .the rear of the barrel it'souter enualivays being in such a position as tolle-struck by the hammer of a lock situated-in thesaule position'as'thatofa ordinary Springfield ride. Whenthe shell is primed in the rim, the strikers I and I, lof course, are extended to the lower edge'oflthe flange to the .right of the lip 2, to impinge on the fulminate. v e n l In a recessonons'sideof the breech B'- isa spring-catch lever, K, having a projection, iig. 7, to Et into a notchin one side of thevrccgessr` of the'barrel, (shown in dotted lines in iig, 4,) so as to lock the breech B to the same-when depressed; :theoutcruendcf the catch-lever being turned upwards, so as to be Within reach of, and to-be compressed by, the fore-finger, when the front end of the breech B is seized between the finger and thumb prior to being elevated. The springmay lock forward into the breech C.

YFigs. 13 and'b represent a.fire-arm, made especially for my improvements. In this case'a recessed frame, is made for the reception ofl the two breeches'and their appliances, and. fcr connection to the stock of the Ere-arithe'rearof the-barrel-bein-g screwed into the front of the frame or else made solid together` in one picce,and the hanimcbeing so situate'd'cs tostrike asingle oblique pin, I, passing through the sliding breech Onlyfinbrdernte communicate with the detenute. In other respects the construction and arrangement and operation ofthe breaches and theirr appliances are similar to those described above.

Fig. l5`is Similar t'olg. 1, with thejoint c made flush on top. To make the top ofthisjoint of the breech B iiush with the to ofthe barrel, the centre ofthe shaft b is placed above the axis-of the bore, and the ourves fand e extended up correspondingly, detracting as much from .the b'asc of the curvef byincreasing the bevel,Y

shown on its lower edge, to make it clear the face e with the same extent of slot k. This does not'change the principle or aetion,-but enables the `joint to be made level with the barrel when the breech-pin misused.

There is a'slot cut from the rear of the slot 9 in the breech C. downward, of suilicient size to admit the projection 5 on the bar G, so as to insert it in place, or-drop the breech C down into the recess in putting the parts together, iig. 5. The breech-block C may have two heads d to fit into a double barrel, and the ribs -n n may be located at the base of the frame, and the bioecli-block B shutting iu the rear, secure it in like manner; using the Lafouchc ammunition for a double-barrel gun constructed on the same principle. The barrel A is banded round the charge, and the sights muy he hinged on the breech B, or on the band forward of thc breech.

supposing the several parts described -aiovc to be in the positions shown in figs. 1 and 2, that a cartridge has been recently discharged, and that it is necessary to reload the {ire-arm :und discharge another cartridgez'i- The operator seizes the endoi' the breech between his finger and thumb, compresses the springlatch so as In' unlock the said breech and elevates the latter. During this first movement of the breech B, its piu l traverses the segmental slotin the link D, and consequently lhe-sliding-brccch C remains undisturbed at the rear ofthe bore ofthe barrel until the pin Zrcaches thehpper end ofthe segmental slot, and the breech B haisl been elcviied to the position shown in fig. 2, when the breech C is unlocked or relieved ofthe resistance of the breech B, and is at liberty to b e moved rearwards. On the further elevation of the breech B, the breech C will, through the medium ofthe link D, be drawn back along the recess in which' it is guided in the manner described- After it has been drawn back a short distance lthe front end of its recess 9 will come in contact with the projection 5, iig. 5,- on the retracting-har G, which will Vconsequently be drawn back along its groove with the hrcechvC, drawing with it the empty cartridge-case.

As the breech Bfapproaehes the position shown in tig. 3, the bar will have drawn the flange of the shell clear ofthe rear end of the barrels rib n', and then the lip 2 on the breech C will come in contact with the projection 3 of the arm,F, willsuddenly elevate the arm F, and cause thel cnrtridge-case H to be projected by the said arm out of the recess, and fall or picked clear of the fire-arm. The operator now takes another cartridge, places it on -the arm F, in the position show n in iig. 3, depresses the cartridge, and with it the arm F, into the recess. This depression of the arm F imparts the first forward movement to the breech C', and the first downward movement to the breech B. The latter. is now depressed by hand and pushes forward the breech C', and which forces forward both the retractor andthe cartridge until the latter is forced into the, rear ef the bore. The breech C has now arrived at the limit oi'` its forward movement, and 'the breech B has reached ."thei'nclinedY position shown in iig. 2. l

During the further depression of the breech B, its pin l traverses the segmental slot 7c of the link I), the rounded endftrt` the breech moves in contact with the hollow rear face c of the breech C, until the latter is securely locked to its place by the depression of'the breech B to the position shown in iig. I, ready to receive the recoil strain ofthe discharge. The cartridge is then discharged by the release of the hammer, which, striking the pin P, causes the pin I to ignite the detonate at the rear of the cartridge.

Each of the pins I I I* is retained in its proper position, and permitted to have a limited movement by a transverse screw-pin, s, fig. 5, but no springs are necessary for restoring the severa-l pins to their proper'position aftersbeing struck by the hammer, for the following reason: The pin I2, which passes through the solid metal of the hre-arm, will, when struck by the hammer, penetrate a short distance in the Yopening of the breech B, which contains the pin I,as seen iig. 12. There is, however, a slightbevel, m, and counter-bevel 1a, at the entrance ofthe orifice in the breech B, so that when the lat-ter isiraised o'r lowered, the bevels acting on the pin I2 will restore the latter to the position it occupied prior to being struck with the hammer. The same arrangement is observed at the junction of the two breeches where the pins I and Il coincide with each other, the counter-bcvels here being in the breech C above the pin I; and as for the pin I, it is of necessity pushed back on forcing the breech C against the cartridge when reloading.

Until the several pins I I1 I2 properly coincide with each other they cannot serve as a medium f or communicating the blow ofthe hammer to the cartridge, vand as the pins cannot coincide with each other until the breech B is depressed and locked, and the breech C' secure in its place, it follows that a premature discharge of the cartridge cannot take place.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The breech B, with its rear face c, secured firmly in the concaved front of the ordinary screw-base a of the barrel by the fixed shaft or centre b, with this breech B operating thebree'ch C under the side ribs n', by means-of the `link D, and locking `by their facesf and e, and by the projection d into the bore oil the barrel, all within the recess, substantially as described.

2. The detachable cheek-pieces E E, arranged for the introduction of the breech C to and its withdrawal from the recess andthe rear of the barrel, substantially as described.

3. The single rctracting-bar G, moving in a groove, .4, in one of the two opposite sides of the recess, both in loading and extracting the cartridge-shell, by the projection 5 inthe slot 9, and intercepted at each end of the latter by the breech C', substantially as describednnd shown. l

4. The stationary rear striker I2, and the breech B, and its striker Il, operating together as. described, both with and without the front striker I, when Vthe ends of the striker and breech-pieces are bevelled, substantially as specified.

5. The ribs n", in combination with the rear space w, and with the retraetor G, to insure the insertion oi'` 6. The combination of the breech B, link D, breech C', retractor G, arm F, withjhc strikers, constructed and operating together successively in th`e recess, and with the barrel, to insert, fire, withdraw, and eject the primed ammunition or shell,las described. p

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' WM. WHEELER HUBBELL..

the flange of the shell in the rear of the retractor-head 6, as described.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. Fos'rEn, W. J. R. Dsmnr.

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