Category: Lockwork

British 2184

A.D. 1853.. № 2184.

Revolving Fire-arms.

LETTERS PATENT to Henry Needham, of Wardour Street, in the County of Middlesex, Gun Maker, for the Invention of “Improvements In Revolving Fire-Arms.”

Sealed the 20th March 1854, and dated the 20th September 1853.

PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Needham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th September 1853.

I, HENRY NEEDHAM, of Wardour Street, in the County of Middlesex, Gun Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “Improvements In Revolving Fire-Arms” to be as follows:—

In all revolving arms where the breech revolves it is the practice to cause the revolution by pulling the trigger, and the pull necessary has been so strong as to jolt the fire-arm, and cause unsteadiness of aim. To obviate this I make the tumbler in the lock with a notch or “bent,” and in the “lifter” which fits into a ratchet on the back of the breech I make another notch or “bent,” and I make the inner end of the trigger with two projections or noses. By these means very little power will be required to cause the barrels to revolve, and no unsteadiness of aim need result. Another advantage is also gained by this arrangement, as the barrels can be caused to revolve by pulling up the cock. In order to prevent the breech from “sticking” after several shots have been fired I place a tube on the under part of the barrel which fits into the centre of the breech, and round which it revolves.

SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed by the said Henry Needham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th March 1854.

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY NEEDHAM, of Wardour Street, in the County of Middlesex, Gun Maker, send greeting.

WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Needham, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Needham, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Needham, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for “Improvements In Revolving Fire-Arms,” upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Needham, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Needham, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:

In all revolving fire-arms where the breech revolves it is the practice to cause the revolution by pulling the trigger, and the pull necessary has been so strong as to jolt the fire- arm, and cause unsteadiness of aim. To obviate this I make the tumbler in the lock with a notch or “bent,” and in the lifter which fits into a ratchet on the back of the breech I make another notch or “ bent,” and I form the inner end of the trigger with two projections or noses. By these means very little power ill be required to cause the barrels to revolve, and no unsteadiness of aim need result. Another advantage is also gained by this arrangement, as the barrels are caused to revolve by pulling up the cock. In order to prevent the breech from “sticking” after several shots have been fired I place a tube on the under part of the barrel which fits into the centre of the breech, and round which it revolves. Figure 1, of the Drawings hereunto annexed represents a side view of a pistol thus constructed, with the stock in section, and the lock plate removed in order better to shew the different parts; Figure 2, is a longitudinal section of the same; and Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, detached views of the improved portions of the lock. A, A, is the barrel, which is secured to the stock B, by means of the top strap C, which has a circular projection or pin a, formed in a piece with it, and is passed in a corresponding circular hole drilled through the back end of the lock being prevented from withdrawal when in its place by a catch b, which is hinged to the lock, and brought down into a recess cut in the centre portion of the pin a. c, c, is a tube upon the under side of the barrel, which is passed over the end of the spindle D, and prevented also from coming off by another catch d, hinged to the tube c, and fitting into a notch in the spindle D. E, is the revolving breech, of the ordinary construction for revolving fire-arms, free to revolve round the spindle D, when acted upon by the point of the lifter F, which takes into the teeth of a circular rack upon the back end of the breech. The end of the tube c, is prolonged, and fits into a socket e, in the breech, whereby the flash and products arising from the discharge are prevented from corroding or collecting upon the spindle, which might otherwise cause the breech to stick, and thus interfere with its revolution. G, G, are the nipples. H, is the tumbler, separately represented in Figures 3, and 4, upon the axis of which the cock or hammer is secured. I, is the trigger, the inner end of which is formed with two noses or projections f, and g, the former f, fitting into the notch or bent h, in the back end of the lifter F, while the latter g, takes into the notch or “bent” i, in the end of the tumbler when the pistol is on full cock; but this action of the projection g, only takes place when the pistol is cocked by drawing up the hammer, in which position the lock is retained until the trigger is pulled. K, is a sliding piece or cylinder stop, which has formed upon its front end a projecting pin k, passed through a hole in the back end of the lock which is used as a stop to prevent the breech from revolving too far; the chambers in the breech are thus made successively to coincide with the bore of the barrel. This piece is caused to slide by means of the “ bent ” part of the tumbler coming in contact with the stop I, when cocking the pistol either by means of the trigger or by lifting the hammer, whereby the projecting pin k, is caused to protrude beyond the face of the “ back end ” of the lock. The protruding portion of the pin is drawn back to admit of the revolution of the breech by the projection g, of the trigger coming against the stop l, when the trigger is released from the finger and brought back to its proper position by the action of the spring m. Figure 6, represents a detached view of this sliding piece. K^1, is the main spring, and L, the trigger guard.

And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the forming the triggers of revolving fire-arms with two projections or noses, which act upon notches or “bents” in the tumbler, and the lifter in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described. I also claim the placing a tube upon the under side of the barrel, which is prolonged, and fits into a socket in the breech for the purpose of preventing the breech from sticking, all as herein-before described, and represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed.

In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Needham, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of March, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.

HENRY NEEDHAM. (L.S.)

British 125
A.D. 1852 N° 125.
Fire-arms.

LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hunt, of Leman Street, in the County of Middlesex, Gun Maker, for the Invention of “Improvements In Fire-Arms.”

Sealed the 12th January 1853, and dated the 1st October 1852.

PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hunt at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st October 1852.

I, THOMAS HUNT, of Leman Street, in the County of Middlesex, Gun Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “Improvements In Fire-Arms” to be as follows:—

This Invention consist, first, of so arranging the lock and parts of a fire-arm having several barrels (called revolvers) that the several charges may be ignited in succession by the same needle.

Secondly, my Invention consists of giving motion to a needle or instrument (used in a fire-arm to ignite the charge) by means of a spring, the end of which moves along an incline, and the needle or instrument is brought back by a stronger spring acting on the trigger, and this movement also moves a tube to and fro, & so prevents the escape of gas.

Thirdly, the Invention consists of applying a disc, which is caused to revolve (and with it the barrels) by pulling the trigger, and at the same time the trigger puts in motion a bolt which locks the disc, and retains the barrel just previous to discharging.

SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed by the said Thomas Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st April 1853.

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS HUNT, of Leman Street, in the County of Middlesex, Gun Maker, send greeting.

WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Hunt, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Hunt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Hunt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS,” upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Hunt, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Hunt, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):

This Invention consists, first, of so arranging the lock and parts of a fire-arm having several barrels (called revolvers) that the several charges may be ignited in succession by the same needle.

Secondly, my Invention consists of giving motion to a needle or instrument (used in a fire-arm to ignite the charge) by means of a spring, the end of which moves along an incline, and the needle or instrument is brought back by a stronger spring acting on the trigger, and this movement also moves a tube to and fro, and so prevents the escape of gas.

And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood, and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

Figure 1, is a longitudinal section; Figure 2, is a plan in section of some of the parts; Figure 3, is a transverse section, and the remaining views in the Drawings show the parts separately. a, is the trigger, which gives motion to a lever b, by the part a^1, coming against the roller c, moving on an axis fixed to the lever b. The upper end of the lever b, moves in the curved portion of the sliding bolt d, which actuates the needle e, and causes it to enter the breeches of the barrels-in succession. The lever b, when it comes against the fore end d^1, of he bolt d , moves it a short distance, by which the roller f^1, on the spring f, will come on to the incline d^2, at the back end of the sliding bolt d , and the pressure of the spring f, will, then force forward the bolt d, and cause the needle to ignite the properly prepared cartridge within the barrel, which is for the time being in position; before the trigger, however, sets the sliding bolt d, free, to be acted on by its spring f, as above explained, it causes the barrels to revolve, so as to bring up a charged one into position to have its charge ignited by the needle or other instrument e, penetrating or striking the percussion cap or the cartridge.

In place of using the spring f, to force forward the needle, a spiral spring may be used, as shewn at Figure 5, where the incline is dispensed with, and a spring x, is caused to retain the coiled spring till the barrels have been turned, as herein described, and then the movement of the trigger touches the sliding bolt, and overcomes the cocking spring x.

The rotating of the barrels is accomplished in the following manner: g, is a strong spring, which is connected to the lever b, by the link h, which spring has constantly a tendency to bring back the trigger, and also the lever b, and by the lever b, to bring back the sliding bolt d, and this spring g, will do so, notwithstanding the spring f, immediately the trigger is released after discharging a barre). The end of the spring y, is constantly in contact with the lever i, that lover being constantly borne up by a spring j, as shown; the other end of the lever is formed with a moveable end i^1, suitably formed for entering the notches, and of being pressed thereto by the spring i^2, as shown; hence when the back end of the lever i, is pressed down, the moveable end enters a notch in the plate k, on the rotating axis k^1 which passes thro’ the revolving chambers, the disc 1, being within the body or frame, & is unattached to the barrel, and will rotate a distance suitable for bringing up one that is charged. And in order to insure this being done correctly, the bolt I, is used, which is attached to the upper part of the trigger by a pin joint, and the bolt I, is constantly borne down by a spring in, as shown; hence when the trigger is pulled it will first cause the barrels to rotate, and they will next be locked correctly in position by the bolt l, when the spring f, will come into action and move the needle or instrument C, which is to ignite the charge. And immediately on releasing the trigger the spring g, will restore all parts into position, to admit of the trigger being again pulled to bring up and discharge another barrel.

Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not claim the parts separately, but only the manner of combining them.

In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Hunt, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this First day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.

THO. HUNT. (L.S)

Witness,

Fred^K Harris.

US 198228
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
DANIEL B. WESSON AND JAMES H. BULLARD, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASS.: SAID BULLARD ASSIGNOR TO SAID WESSON.
IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS.
Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,228, dated December 18, 1877; application filed August 3, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Daniel B. Wesson And James H. Bullard, both of Springfield, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Arms; and that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

One part of our invention relates particularly to revolving fire-arms, while the other part is equally well adapted to be used in revolving or other fire-arms of any and every description, the object of the invention being to cause the cylinder of a revolving fire-arm to be automatically stopped, and held or locked in a stationary position when the hammer is left in its normal position, while the cylinder is left free to revolve when the hammer is held in another position, and also to cause the hammer to rebound after having struck the firing pin or the shell, to explode the cartridge.

Our invention consists, first, of a cylinder stop, combined and arranged with the tumbler, and with the trigger provided with a cam, so that by the impingement of the cam against the tumbler at the desired point the movement of the cylinder-stop is so controlled as to be prevented from being disengaged from the cylinder, and the latter unlocked while the point of the trigger is in the half-cock notch; and it consists, also, of a stirrup suspended in the loop of the mainspring and pivoted to the rear side of the tumbler, and arranged to have a bearing against the tumbler in the same direction as the line of its movement, either above or below the pivot which secures the stirrup to the tumbler, whereby, when the hammer, in its forward movement, reaches the point to which it is to rebound, the stirrup be comes rigid with the hammer and tumbler, and moves with it, and causes the hammer to rebound, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

Figure I is a side view of a revolving fire-arm having our invention applied, with a portion of the same in longitudinal section, showing the details of the mechanism.

In the drawing, A represents the frame, H the barrel, and C the cylinder of a revolving fire-arm, with the recesses b made in the cylinder, in which the end of the stop enters, to lock the cylinder in a stationary position. B is the tumbler, pivoted in the frame, the up per part of which serves as the hammer, and is made in one solid piece with the tumbler; and the latter is provided with the shoulders or projections a and c, ordinarily called notches, against which the point of the trigger engages in the operation of discharging the arm. E is the trigger, pivoted, as usual, in the frame, in the forward part of which is a recess, e, to receive the rear end of the cylinder-stop F, also pivoted in the frame in front of the trigger, the forward end of the stop projecting upward, and arranged to enter the recesses b in the cylinder, The forward upper part of the trigger terminates in a point, n, which, when the hammer is pulled back, engages with the shoulder.c, but which, when the hammer stands at the position of rebound, engages with the shoulder a, as shown in the drawing. Upon the upper part of the trigger E is made a small projection or cam, h, which, when the hammer is down, as shown in the drawing, impinges against the extreme outer part of the projection or shoulder c. To the rear part of the tumbler B, at o, is pivoted the stirrup I, the upper end of which is hung in the loop at the forward end of the main spring D in the ordinary manner.

The rear edge of the tumbler, in front of the stirrup, is made of any desired form, whether curved or straight, but in such manner that when the hammer, in its forward movement, reaches the point to which it is to rebound, the rear edge of the tumbler, in front of the stirrup, will strike against the front edge of the stirrup at some point below the pivot o.

The operation of our invention is as follows: In its position of rebound the hammer stands with the point in of the trigger just behind the shoulder a, and nearly at its outer extremity, the protuberance or cam h on the upper part of the trigger bearing against the shoulder c, and preventing the point of the trigger from passing in the entire depth of the shoulder a. When in this position the rear end of the cylinder-stop F bears against the lower side of the recess e in the forward part of the trigger, and the forward end of the stop projects a little into one of the holes b in the cylinder, and prevents the latter from revolving, or holds it in a stationary position. If, however, the hammer be pulled back slightly, or the lower part of the tumbler B is rotated forward a little, so that the shoulder c will pass just in front of the cam h, to permit the point n of the trigger to pass back the entire depth of the shoulder a, the lower edge of the recess e in the trigger will bear up against the rear end of the stop F, and force its forward end down and entirely out of the recess b in the cylinder; and the latter may then be rotated freely.

As the hammer continues its backward movement, as in the act of cocking it, the point in of the trigger is carried forward and downward again, and the forward end of the stop is thereby permitted to enter one of the recesses b, and stop the motion of the cylinder; and the stop continues to be forced into this recess as long as the forward part of the trigger is thrown forward by this rotating movement of the tumbler; and when the point n of the trigger is engaged with the shoulder c of the tumbler, or is in the cock-notch, and the hammer is cocked, the cylinder remains locked, and is not permitted to revolve again until the hammer is let forward, or the tumbler is rotated backward again, so that the point in of the trigger can pass back the entire depth of the shoulder a.

When the hammer is cocked and the point n of the trigger is against the shoulder c or cock-notch of the tumbler, if the trigger is pulled, as in the act of discharging the arm, the hammer is quickly thrown forward by the force exerted upward upon the rear part of the tumbler B, by the mainspring D and stirrup I, and the hammer flies forward to explode the shell into a position with the shoulder a, just in rear of the extreme point in of the trigger, the said shoulder moving back a little past the point of the trigger.

After striking the shell the hammer instantly rebounds to a position with the shoulder a, just in front of the trigger-point in, this rebounding movement of the hammer being accomplished by the drawing back of the upper end of the stirrup (and of the hammer also, which is then rigid with the stirrup) by the main spring, so that, if the trigger be released from the finger-pressure, its point in will move in a little from the outer end of the shoulder (t, and With the calm h bearing against the shoulder c.

It will be seen from the above description that, if the trigger is pulled when the hammer is cocked, as the hammer flies forward, the stirrup I, as it moves upward, has also a rotary movement upon its pivot o in the tumbler; but when the hammer, in its forward movement, reaches the point to which it is to rebound, or to the position with the point n of the trigger, in the same plane with the shoulder a, the front edge of the stirrup comes into contact with, and bears against the rear edge of the tumbler, at a point below the pivot o, this bearing being in the same direction as the line of movement of the tumbler. The stirrup is thereby prevented from rotating upon its pivot o, and, during the remaining forward movement of the hammer, the stirrup be comes rigid with, and substantially a solid part of, the hammer, and moves with it, losing its own independent movement, and the upper end of the stirrup rides forward and upward a little out of the loop at the forward end of the mainspring, until the shell is struck and the cartridge exploded, when the elastic force of the mainspring draws the stirrup back again until its hook, at the upper end, has a firm bearing in the loop of the mainspring, the hammer being also drawn back, as before described.

As thus arranged the arm is absolutely free from all liability of accidental or premature discharge by careless handling, as it can, in no case, be discharged without pulling the trigger for that purpose when the hammer is cocked, and the cylinder cannot be rotated to bring a cartridge into line with the barrel Without pulling back the hammer for that particularly purpose.

It is evident that the stirrup may be pivoted at its lower end to the tumbler, and a shoulder made upon the latter, just behind the stirrup, and above its pivot o, against which the stirrup would come in contact, and have a bearing. The stirrup and tumbler would operate in precisely the same way, without any change of construction in the parts, the only change being a change of location of the pivot o, and point of contact of the edge of the stirrup with the edge of the tumbler.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new is—

1. In a revolving fire-arm, the trigger E, provided with the cam h, in combination with the tumbler B and the cylinder-stop F, whereby the latter is prevented from being disengaged from the cylinder, and the latter unlocked while the point of the trigger is in the safety or half-cock notch, substantially as described.

2. The stirrup I, suspended, at its upper end, in the loop of the mainspring, and pivoted to the rear side of the tumbler, and having a bearing against the said tumbler in the direction of the line of its movement, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

DANIEL B. WESSON.
JAMES H. BULLARD.

Witnesses:
T. A. Curtis,
C. E. Buckland.

US 190543
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
JOHN BROOKS AND THOMAS W. BEARCOCK, OF WYOMING; SAID BEARCOCK ASSIGNOR TO FRED. BALCOM, OF PITTSTON, PENNSYLVANIA.
IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS.
Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 190,543, dated May 8, 1877; application filed March 26, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, John Brooks and Thomas W. Bearcock, both of Wyoming, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Revolving Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which—

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a pistol having our improvement. Fig. 2 is a top plan, and Fig. 3 shows the sliding plate C detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to that mechanism by which the cylinder of revolving fire-arms is rotated; and it consists in the arrangement of a removable plate and spring for governing said mechanism, as hereinafter more fully shown and specified.

In the drawing, A is the pistol. B is the hammer, and D the trigger. The body or casting F of the pistol has upon the inside of the recess f, in which the hammer B is pivoted, a slot or recess, b, the sides of which may be dovetailed, as shown in the drawing.

The mechanism for rotating the cylinder of the pistol consists in a small latch or tongue, e, pivoted to the side of the hammer, and engaging, through a perforation in the casting F, with the notches i on the rear end of the cylinder. Thus, every time the hammer is raised preparatory to firing, the latch e is thrown into operation. In order to prevent the latch e from being retained in its elevated position by the notches i, a small spring, o, is employed. This is inserted into a slit or mortise, , of a plate, C, which is secured in the dovetailed recess b by means of a screw, s. The spring o thus works against the latch e, which is in this manner always kept in its proper position.

In revolving fire-arms, as now ordinarily constructed, the latch e, or its equivalent, is usually kept in position by a spring arranged permanently in a suitable place above it.

It is obvious that this spring can be made but very small and slender, and that after being used for a short time it becomes slack and inoperative. It is then necessary, in order to replace it, to take the weapon entirely apart, and even then it can with difficulty be placed in its proper position. By our invention it can, by simply removing the screws and sliding the plate C, which holds it, out, be removed and another inserted in a very short, time, and without the aid of a skilled workman.

Having thus described our invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States—

In a revolving fire-arm, having recess b, the removable slotted plate C, for holding spring o, substantially as and for the purpose herein before set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN BROOKS.
THOMAS W. BEARCOCK.

Witnesses:
Henry C. Webb,
S. P. Polem.

US 168562
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
WILLIAM. H. ELLIOT, OF NEW YORK, N.Y.
IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS.
Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,562, dated October 11, 1875; application filed September 9, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Wm. H. Elliot, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a Revolving Fire-Arm, of which the following is a specification:

My invention refers particularly to that kind of arms known as revolving pistols, though in some of its features it is applicable to arms of any kind; and its principal object is to enable me to make a very compact and convenient revolving pocket-pistol of a large bore. The nature of my invention consists in a novel arrangement, construction, and operation of the revolving devices of the locking-bolt and of the main spring, all of which is fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

Figure I is an elevation of my improved arm, showing portions of the frame removed, so as to expose the limb-work. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the rear end of the cylinder, and also a section of the locking-bolt. Fig. 3 is a plan of the locking-bolt. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the frame, with the barrel and cylinder removed. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the frame at dotted line x, looking toward the barrel. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the locking-bolt.

a is the frame; b, the barrel; c, the cylinder; d, the hammer; e, the revolving pawl and its pivot; g, the locking-bolt and its pivot; h, trigger on the same pivot with the locking-bolt; i, the beveled end of the locking-bolt; i’, the extended arms of the locking-bolt, which embrace the chambers of the cylinder; k, mainspring; k’, fixed seat of the same on the frame; k”, fixed bearing of the mainspring in the hammer; m, cut on the back of the breech- plate for the revolving pawl; n, breech-plate; n’, groove in the face of the same; o, revolving pins or ratchet; r, dowel-pins, which form a slip-joint between the barrel and frame at lines; u, base-pin; v, key which holds the slip-joint together; x, line of section.

It has long been a desideratum by inventors to provide means of revolving the cylinder of a fire-arm by sure and practical means without increasing its diameter for the purpose of making room for the revolving devices, all of which I have accomplished by the following means: I put in or form upon the rear end of the cylinder the pins or projections o. These project about three-thirty- seconds of an inch beyond the heads of the cartridges into the breech-plate. To provide room for these pins I form a groove in the breech-plate of just sufficient depth to receive them. These pins are put into the solid metal of the cylinder between the chambers and outside side of the point, where the heads of the cartridges come nearest together, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus I have a ratchet so far from the center of the cylinder that it requires the whole backward sweep of the hammer to effect the revolution of the cylinder from one chamber to another, and it is therefore proportionably strong to overcome friction.

To facilitate the operation of the revolving pawl upon the ratchet-pins, I make a vertical cut, m, in the back of the breech-plate about one-fourth of an inch wide and three-fourths long, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The bottom of this cut is parallel with the face of the breech-plate, which is so thin at this point that the ratchet-pins project through it, and are operated upon by the revolving pawl behind it, so that notwithstanding the pawl operates upon the ratchet directly over the cartridges it cannot come in contact with them. The groove n’ being only one-sixteenth of an The groove in being only one-sixteenth of an inch in width the heads of pistol-cartridges are not forced into it, nor even strained, by the force of the gas. The end of the revolving pawl is broad enough to fill the cut m, and makes a direct vertical movement, while each ratchet-pin, as it comes around, slides back and forth across the end of the pawl.

By this arrangement of the revolving devices I can use a cylinder of four large chambers so close together that the heads of the cartridges will touch the base-pin, and the partitions between the chambers will be as thin as they can safely be. Such a cylinder should be fluted its entire length, as seen in Fig. 2, so that when turned to and locked in a middle position, as it should be when prepared for the pocket, it will occupy the least possible amount of space. A cylinder of this kind, when locked in position for firing, has one chamber above and one below; and to avoid making a cut into the metal of the cylinder over the chambers for the point of the locking-bolt, I employ a locking-bolt with two points sufficiently extended to embrace one of the chambers, as shown at i’ in Figs. 1 and 4. These points may be formed so as to take a more positive hold on the cylinder by fitting them to shallow cuts at each side of the chambers. When the cylinder is in the central position they rest upon two chambers at once, as shown in Fig. 2, and they hold it stationary.

My improved locking-bolt is operated in the usual way by a cam on the side of the hammer.

In my improved arm I employ a mainspring of peculiar construction, it being in the form of the letter S, and fastened at one end to the frame by a screw, and at the other end having a fixed bearing in the hammer. This spring gives off its force in two directions. One direction is parallel with a line drawn from the seat of the spring on the frame to its bearing in the hammer, and it is caused by a tendency of the spring to straighten out between its two points of attachment. This I call the parallel force. The other direction is lateral, and almost at right angles to the first, and is the result of the arrangement of the spring upon its seat, which gives it a tendency to sweep backward. This I call the lateral force. These two forces produce a resultant which has all the advantages that can be obtained by the use of a stirrup with ordinary springs—viz, freedom from friction with a light bearing upon the full-cock notch and a heavy bearing upon the safety-notch. The parallel force alone would hold the hammer up at full cock, but would throw it down with some force from the safety-notch, while the lateral force would act with great power on the full-cock notch, but would bear lightly upon the safety-notch. By my peculiar construction and application of the mainspring I combine these forces so as to produce the desired result. By the parallel force the free end of the spring is firmly held in its bearing in whatever position the hammer may be. No particular proportion between the upper and lower curves of the spring is necessary. The upper curve may be a very small one, but it must be sufficient to hold properly in its bearing in the hammer.

Having described my invention, what I desire to have secured to me by Letters Patent of the United States is—

1. In combination with the ratchet-pins o, the groove n’, when arranged in the breech-plate directly behind the chambers of the cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The construction and operation of the ratchet-pins, breech-plate, and revolving pawl, whereby the revolving pawl operates upon the ratchet directly in the rear of the chambers, and behind the breech-plate, without coming in contact with the cartridges, substantially as specified.

3. The two extended points of the locking bolt, whereby that device embraces each one of the chambers as they come around to lock the cylinder, as herein set forth.

4. The S-shaped mainspring k, when immovably fixed upon its seat k’, and provided with a fixed partially-rotating bearing in the hammer, whereby it is made to give off a combined parallel and lateral force, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

WM. H. ELLIOT.

Witnesses:
D. Lewis,
Richard W. Jones.

US 193367
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
SULLIVAN FOREHAND AND HENRY C. WADSWORTH, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS,
IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS.
Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.193,867, dated July 24, 1877; application filed August 23, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Sullivan Forehand and Henry C. Wadsworth, both of the city and county of Worcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful.Improvements in Revolving Fire-Arms; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which—

Figure 1 represents a side view of our improved revolving fire-arm. Fig. 2 represents a side view of the rear portion of the arm, with the side plate removed to illustrate and represent the position of the hammer after the arm has been discharged, and the manner in which the cylinder is locked and held in the said discharged position by a locking projection and a projecting part of the trigger. Fig. 3 represents a similar side view, the working parts, however, being shown in different positions in full and dotted lines— full lines showing the arm at half-cock, and dotted lines at full-cock, while the cylinder is shown unlocked in full lines, and locked by back-spring locking-bolt in dotted lines. Fig. 4 represents, upon an enlarged scale, the trigger detached. Fig. 5 represents, also upon an enlarged scale, an edge view of the trigger, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 represents, also upon an enlarged scale, a section on line A B, Fig. 5, showing very clearly the position of the back spring locking-bolt.

To enable those skilled in the art to which our invention belongs to make and use the same, we will proceed to describe it more in detail.

In the drawings, the part marked A represents the frame of the arm; B, the barrel; C, the chamber or revolving cylinder; D, the trigger-guard; E, the trigger; F, the hammer; and G, side plate to arm, held in place in the usual manner.

As our present improvements have special reference to a novel and special mode of locking and unlocking the cylinder at certain times, as will be hereinafter more fully explained, and of holding the hammer in a safe position while the arm is being loaded, the description will be confined mainly to the devices by which said results are obtained, since the other parts of the arm may be made in the usual or in any desired manner.

In the operation of loading the arm, the hammer is first drawn back, so as to allow catch b to spring into the half-cock or safety notch a, which places the arm in the proper position to load or unload the chambers. After having loaded the chambers the hammer is drawn back to full-cock, either by pulling on the trigger E or by drawing back the hammer F by the hand.

. In discharging the arm, the safety-catch b is unlocked from the safety-notch a by the pin c in the trigger E, lifting the forward end of the safety-catch b. At the same time the back-spring locking-bolt d in the trigger E locks the cylinder while the chamber is in line of discharge, and the point e of the trigger E. escapes the fly f, and allows the hammer F to spring forward and discharge the cartridge. Then the trigger-spring g forces the trigger E forward, and the projecting point, h on the forward end of the trigger E locks into the forward end of the bolt-slot i in the cylinder C, which also prevents the cylinder C from revolving when the hammer rests upon the exploded shell, or as in position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The cylinder is rotated by the hand or pawl c’, held in place by the pawl-spring c”. Locking-bolt d is hinged at 2 in the trigger E.

The front end of the back-locking bolt d is forced up to lock the cylinder at the proper time, as above described, by means of a spiral spring, n, fitted in a hole in the trigger. The safety-catch b is also held up by a proper spring.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the value of our present improvements in revolving fire-arms, since by them the cylinder is securely locked by the trigger-bolt d when the arm is at full-cock, and at the discharge of the arm the projecting point h of the trigger again locking the cylinder, and when it is desired to load the arm the safety-catch b, holds the hammer securely in position.

Having described our improvements in revolving fire-arms, what we claim therein as new and of our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—

The combination, with the cylinder C and hammer F, of trigger E, provided with locking projection h, trigger-point e, locking-bolt d, spring n, safety-catch b, and fly f, constructed and relatively arranged for operation substantially as and for the purposes shown and described.

SULLIVAN FOREHAND.
HENRY C. WADSWORTH.

Witnesses:
J. Nichols,
E. E. Moore.

US 155095
155,095. REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS, William Mason, Hartford, Conn., assignor to Colt’s Patent Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company, same place. [Filed June 3, 1874.]

1. In a revolving fire- arm, the gate G, forming a part of the shield E, when closed, hung to the frame and combined with the cylinder. bolt d, to hold the gate in a closed position, substantially as specified.

2. The bolt d having the spring n and the trunnion f formed in one and the same piece.

3. In combination with the gate G, haying the grooved trunnion r thereon, the bolt d, the trunnion f of which extends into the groove s of the gate-trunnion, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The catch for the center-pin, consisting of the bolt T, arranged one side A the partition R, the beaded screw W send its spring upon the outer side connecting with the bolt T, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the cylinder-bolt, the trigger T’, and the single spring R, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In combination with the cylinder-pawl P, the spring S, arranged in the recess W of the frame, one end of the spring attached to the frame, the other end directly to the pawl, substantially as described.

US 143566
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
SULLIVAN FOREHAND AND HENRY C. WADSWORTH, OF WORCESTER, MASS.
IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS.
Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 43,566, dated October 14, 1873; application filed April 5, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Sullivan Forehand and Henry C. Wadsworth, both of the city and county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Revolving Fire-Arms; and We do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which—

Figure 1 represents a side view of a revolving fire-arm embracing our improvement, (the frame being shown broken away to exhibit the internal construction,) and Fig.2 represents a transverse section of the same at line AB, Fig. 1.

The nature of our invention consists, first, in the employment of a stop or friction device actuated by the lock mechanism, in combination with the cartridge-cylinder in revolving fire-arms, for the purpose of preventing the accidental rotation of said cylinder when the piece is at “half-cock,” or during operation of raising the hammer while slowly cocking the piece, as hereinafter explained; second, in the combination, with the cylinder and cylinder bolt, of a friction-pin or spring-stud for retaining the cylinder in position, as herein shown and described.

In certain classes of revolving fire-arms the construction and arrangement of the parts are such that during the action of the piece, either While the hammer stands at half-cock or while the hammer is being raised, there occurs an interval after the stop or cylinder bolt has been raised, and before the advancing mechanism engages the cylinder-ratchet, during which the cylinder is released and is free to revolve in either direction, and it has been ascertained in practice, especially with the large-calibered arms, that when a portion of the chambers of the cylinder is charged and the remainder empty or discharged the preponderance of the ball-cartridges over the empty shells or vacant chambers sometimes causes the cylinder to partially revolve or change its position while the piece is at half-cock, or in case the hammer is raised somewhat slowly, thus occasionally interfering with the perfect action of the cylinder, so that the mechanism fails to advance the proper chamber into position when the piece is full-cocked, thus frequently requiring a repetition of the movement, or a recocking of the piece, in order to bring the charged chamber into discharging position. To obviate this liability of failure, and to insure at all times the proper action or movement of the cylinder, we combine with the cylinder a stop or friction device attached to or retained in the frame, and actuated by the mechanism of the lock in such a manner as to operate upon the cylinder while the latter is freed by the cylinder-bolt, and to retain said cylinder in position until the advancing hand or lever is brought into action, at which time the friction or stop is relieved or ceases to act upon the cylinder.

In the drawings, A denotes the barrel; B, the cartridge-cylinder; C, the hammer; D, the trigger; E, the cylinder-bolt; F, the advancing hand or lever; G, the frame; and I, the friction-pin or stop device.

The friction-pin or stop device in this instance consists of a small stud or pin, I, arranged in and projecting through the frame G near the trigger D, as shown. Said pin I is actuated by the cylinder-bolt E and its spring a, it being pressed against the exterior surface of the cylinder B by the spring a as the cylinder-bolt E is actuated by the movement of the trigger dropping into the half-cock notch of the tumbler K when the hammer C is drawn back, the forward end of said cylinder-bolt E being by this action thrown outward to release it from the notch b on the cylinder, and the rear end thereof moved inward, causing the spring a to press on the head of the pin I and force its point against the cylinder B with pressure sufficient to hold or retain the cylinder in position and prevent its revolving from the preponderance of the cartridge-balls, or from other slight causes, but not with sufficient pressure and friction to cause undue strain upon any of the parts. When the hammer C is entirely down, or when it is at full-cock, the end of the cylinder-bolt enters one of the notches b at the front end of the cylinder; and at such time the pin I is relieved from its pressure against the surface of the cylinder. The pin or stop I is also moved from the cylinder to relieve the friction while the advancing hand or lever F is acting to revolve the cylinder forward, the outward movement of the pin I commencing as soon as the hand F engages with the ratchet of the cylinder and the latter starts forward, thus relieving the mechanism and permitting the easy movement of the cylinder by the hand or lever F.

Having described our improvement in revolving fire-arms, what we claim therein as new and of our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—

1. The combination, with the cartridge-cylinder in a revolving fire-arm, of a stop or friction device actuated by the lock mechanism for retaining the cylinder in proper position when the piece is at half-cock, or when the cylinder is released by the cylinder-bolt, and before the advancing-hand engages the cylinder-ratchet, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the cylinder B, cylinder-bolt E, and its spring a, of the friction pin or stud I, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

SULLIVAN FOREHAND.
HENRY C, WADSWORTH.

Witnesses:
Chas. H. Burleigh,
Geo. J. Mowry.

Sweden 1430
PATENT №1430
BESKRIFNING
OFFENTLIGGJORD AP
KONGL. PATENTBYRÅN.
T. F. TÖRNELL.
CARLSBORG.
Säkerlietsaftryckare vid revolvrar.
Patent i Sverige från den 15 mars 1888.

Vid den nu för svenska officerare föreskrifna revolverkonstruktionen kan kammarstycket mellan skottlossningarna fritt vridas i en rigtning, livilket förorsakar att kammarstycket oafsigtligt kan blifva stäldt i ott sådant läge, att man vid revolverns bruk, i stället för att afskjuta ett skott, endast låter hanen släpå en tom patronhylsa. Detta är, såsom lätt inses, en stor olägenhet, som vidlåder den ifrågavarande revolverkonstruktionen. En annan olägenhet är, att intet finnes, som hindrar hanen att genom någon beröring af densamma vridas upp, hvarigenom vådaskott möjligen kunna förorsakas.

Den å bifogade ritning uti tig. 3 såsom ett exempel på förändring af svenska officers-revolvern visade anordningen med uti tig. 4 och 5 visad aftryckare och uti fig. 6 i sektion visadt kammarstycke tjenar till att aflägsna de ofvannämda olägenheterna. För jemförelses skull visas uti fig. 1 och 2 den för svenska oftieerarne antagna revolvern med aftryckare, hvilken konstruktion, såsom af ritningen synes lätt kan förändras, så att man erhåller en revolver enligt denna uppfinning, hvilken således i första hand är direkt afsedd for den nämda revolverkonstruktionen, fastän den äfven kan användas å andra revolvrar.

Aftryckaren vid en revolver, inrättad enligt denna uppfinning, är gjord i två delar, en främre del A, den egentliga aftryckaren, och en bakre del B , se fig. 3, 4 och 5. Dessa båda delar äro rörliga kring en och samina tapp C, hvilket bäst utföres på det sätt, att den ena delen förses med ett spår och den andra med en deremot svarande del, som kan ingå i spåret, så att hålen för vridningstappen kunna komma i en rak linie. Mellan bada delarna anbringas en spiral- eller bladfjäder (på ritningen visas en bladfjäder D), som kan inrättas på många sätt, endast den uppfyller det ändamålet att alltid, när någon yttre kraft ej åverkar aftryckaren, hålla båda aftryckardelarna vridna sa långt från hvarandra, som konstruktionen för öfrigt tillåter, På den främre aftryckardelen finnes vid a ett utsprång eller tand, som, då aftryckaren är fri, befinner sig tryckt intill revolverns kammarstycke E, å hvilket finnas klackar F till lika stort antal, som kammarstycket rymmer skott. Dessa klackar äro så stälda, att alltid någon af dem, sedan ett skott blifvit affyradt, befinner sig intill utsprånget a på den främre aftryckardelen. Kammarstycket hindras således af tanden a att vridas ät ena hållet. Från vridning ät andra hållet hindras kammarstycket af den s. k. roteraren. Hanen kan ej heller spännas genom direkt grepp i den samme, förr än man med fingret drager den främre aftryckardelen något tillbaka, ty för att hanen skall kunna spännas på detta sätt, fordras att kainmarstycket skall vara fritt, så att roteraren kan vrida detsamma. Genom att något draga den främre aftryckardelen till baka kan hanen spännas genom direkt grepp i densamme och kammarstycket äfven vridas efter behag i en rigtning. Vid sjelfspänning handteras vapnet såsom vanligt.

Patentanspråk:

Vid revolvrar en anordning för att mellan skottlossningarna hindra revolverns kammarstycke från att vrida sig, bestående deruti, att revolverns aftryckare är delad i två kring en gemensam tapp rörliga delar, mellan hvilka finnes en tjäder, som sträfvar att trycka delarna ifrån hvarandra, och hvilka hafva anliggningsytor, hvarmed den främre delen kan gifva rörelse åt den andra delen, hvarjemte på revolverns kammarstycke finnas klackar, af hvilka någon, då den främre aftryckardelen är fri och således tryckt framåt af den mellan aftryckardelarna befintliga fjädern, efter skottlossningen kommer att befinna sig intill ett utsprång på samma aftryckardel, hvarigenom vridning af kammarstycket hindras.