USRE3653E - Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms - Google Patents

Description

VITTUM a. STEVENS. Breech Loading` Fire Arm.

No. 3,653. Ressued Sept. 28, 1869.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. i Y

ALFRED B. ELY, OF NEVTON, ASSIGNEE OF FRANCIS J. VITTUM AND EDGAR M. STEVENS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT iN BREEGH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part ol' Letters Patent No. 33,560, dated October 2Q, 1861 Reissue No. 3,653, dated September 28, 1869.

T0 all wil/0m it maycorwern.:

Be it known that FEANoIs J. VTTTUM and EDGAR M. STEVENS, of Boston, in the State` .zontal section of the same; Fig. 5, aview ofthe double-chambered sliding charge-holder, the

axis of the cylinders horizontal; Fig. 6, averi tical section of a single-chambered chargeholder, the axis of the cylinder perpendicular; Fig. 7, a horizontal section ofthe last named, Fig. 8, a View of the crank for operating breecl1-piece- These improvements are of such a nature that, while with ordinary caps and powder in common form a less quantity of powder may be used, the whole of the powder may be essentially consumed in the charge-chamber, the cap or priming may be placed inside the charge-holder, the cap or priming may be eX- ploded by an ordinary hammer, the explosive noise may be diminished, the projectile force may be increased, the cap or priming. and charge may be protected from dalnpness or Wet, the recoil may be lessened, and a movable breech-piece with two chambers may be adapted to one barrel. The receptacle or case for holding the powder and ball is constructedin such manner that the receptacle for the powder is enlarged below or behind the seat of the ball, while the priming` is also introduced into the receptacle for the powder.

In the drawings, A Bis the barrel and breech,

` a being the bore, and C a cavity or chamber in rear for receiving` the movable receptacle for containing the charge E. This cavity is closed by hinged doors or lids D, hinged at b, and fastened, when shut, by spring-catches c, having springs at e.

.d is a small iiat spring to throw open the doors when released from their catches.

E in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and isa double-chambered charge-holder, and in Figs. 6 and 7 a c Q single charge-holder, L being the powder-receptacle,and Z that ofthe ball,which last is essentially ofthe bore of the barrel of the gun.

F H Gg is a crank for operating the sliding charge-holder E, F-being a button on the under side of the gun, to be turned with the `1ngears. G is an arm of the crank within the cavity C, having a projecting pin, g, which takes into they slot h of the sliding chargeholder. Around the crankshaft H, which is smaller than the button and arm, is a spiral spring for the purpose of pressing the pin g into the slot h. j' is an indexfinger attached to F, and taking into the holes xx'x. When f is at w,neither of the barrels or chambers oi' the charge-holder is in line with the bore of the barrel. When it is at x,one of them is in line, and when at x the other. Then the charge-holders are to be taken out ofthe cavity,

the crank must be placed with f at x, and then pulled down so as to bring the pin below the cavity la, a space being cut for the purpose. The charge-holders may have a rack, and be operated by a pinion, or be operated directly by means of a lever'.

' J j is a double-headed spring-rod or firingpin, having one head, J, on the under side of the gun, and anotheigj, in the cavity G,while the `smaller intermediate shank, fm, is surrounded with a spiral spring, pressing it downward.

K is a cap-pin with its cap i, having a head on the under side, and'passing up into the charge-chamber at k, and striking on an anvil at y. The hammer striking upon J ,the cap 0r priming i is exploded at y. The firing-rod may be made to strike directly on the cap or priming by a little change.

In charging L the cap-pin is capped and in serted and the powder introduced through Z, and then the ball inserted into Z. A single charge-holder may be inserted directly into the breech of the gun.

In order to accomplish the principal benefln cial results of this invention, the receptacle for the powder is made considerably larger than the receptacle for the ball or the bore of the barrel. A flat cylinder of a thickness equal to the boreof the barrel has been used,and the diameter twice that of the barrel, and-ithas been ral in advance of the ball.

used perpendicular to the top, as in Fig. 6, or to the sides, as in Fig. 3; but the form of the powder-receptacle is immaterial, if it be only materially larger than the bore of the gun-bar In charging the powder-holder it is not usually filled with powder, but only two-thirds or three-fourths fullsay to the dotted line n. It" filled, it is preferred that the powder should lie loosely in it, that there may be air in and with it. With this kind of chargeholder it has been found that a small charge of powder will develop avery large projectile force. By placing the cap or priming in front, the powder is more thoroughly con- I sumed, while by the position of explosionof the cap the ball being started from its inertia, the whole explosive force of powder is essentially expanded in the direct forward expulsion of the balLthe noise is less,and the recoil is modied. Thiskind of powder-receptacle operates advantageously on the movement of the ball by the action ofthe powder at the center and from the sides of the axis of the holder. For large guns it is thought this kind of charge holder or chamber may prove very valuable. By means of`the double sliding charge-holder all the essential benefits of a double-barreled gun are obtained, and powder and priming are protected from the weather.

Is is known that charge-chambers have been made in guns a little larger than the bore of barrel; but that has been the case mainly in rilied arms, and then the enlargement is such only as would ordinarily be obtained by cutting away the lands and leaving the lbore the size of the depths of the grooves, and this has been for the purpose of introducing a ball or cartridge case with this slight additional size, so that the ballmay be forced forward and fill the grooves and prevent windage, or so that the cartridge may be of the full size ofthe bore without its case or envelope; but it is not known that any powder or charge-holders have been Vthe barrel. It is not desired to be limited to the exact forms described, but claim any analogous or equivalent devices for producing like results by substantially similar means.

.What is claimed is- 1. The charge holder materially larger than the bore of the barrel, substantially as described.

2. The devices for exploding the charge, constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as described.

3. The devices for moving and locking the movable chambers, constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as described.

ALFRED B. ELY.'

Yitnesses:

WV. M. PARKER, W. J. JoHNsoN.

before made materially larger than the bore of

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