US 150120
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
BENJAMIN H. WILLIAMS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.
IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVNG FREARMS.
Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 150,120, dated April 21, 1874; application filed March 19, 1874,
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, Benjamin H. Williams, of the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented an Improved Cartridge-Extractor for Revolving Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.
Previous to my invention numerous devices have been suggested and employed for the purpose of effecting by mechanism the extraction of the empty cartridges in that kind of fire-arms adapted to the use of metallic cartridges, and among such devices have been many designs for use in repeating arms, or that kind of arms in which a many-chambered revolving cylinder is employed in connection with a single barrel in front of, and some suitable recoil shield or plate in rear of, said cylinder. In all cartridge-extractors, however, adapted for use in the last-mentioned kind of fire-arms, which have been suggested or employed previous to my invention, Some sort of spring device has entered into the construction, and the means employed to effect the extraction of the empty shell have been more or less complicated, and liable to derangement and to get out of order.
My invention has for its main objects to provide a means for extracting readily the empty shells in that kind of repeating arms in which the revolving cylinder is adapted to be removed from or moved longitudinally on the base-pin, which means shall be exceedingly economic and simple of construction or manufacture, durable, and not liable to any derangement, and perfectly positive and efficient in its operation; and, to these main ends and objects, my invention consists in so forming the rear portion of the cylinder with an annular groove or recess concentric with the series of chambers, and so forming or providing the front of the recoil-shield (or the face of the lock-frame) with a projecting collar adapted to fit into said groove, and having a channel in its periphery for the accommodation of the flanges of the cartridges, that, when in adjustment for firing, the flanges of the cartridges shall, at certain points, project beyond the shoulder formed on said collar by said channel, and that, when the cylinder shall be pulled off or moved longitudinally upon the base-pin, the said collar shall, by reason of said projection past its shoulder (and into its channel) of the flanges of the cartridges, effect the retention toward itself of the said flanges, and consequently the extraction from the chambers of the cylinder of the cartridge-shells, all as will be hereinafter more fully explained.
To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to more fully describe the construction and operation of my improved cartridge-extractor, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in which—
Figure 1 is a partial side view or elevation of a repeating pistol embracing my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of the same, and Fig. 3 is a back view of the cylinder detached.
At Fig. I have illustrated the parts as they would appear while the cylinder was being drawn off of the base-pin and the cartridge-shells being extracted.
In the several figures the same part will be found designated by the same letter of reference.
A is the many-chambered revolving cylinder; B, the base-pin or spindle on which the cylinder rotates, and C the recoil-shield or rear portion of the frame D of the pistol. This portion C is formed or provided ate with a projecting collar or short tube, in the outer circumference or periphery of which is turned out an annular groove or channel, as shown, close to the forward face of the shield-plate C, and So as to form a shoulder, past which project (toward the base-pin B, as illustrated) the flanges of the cartridge cases or shells f. In the rear end of the cylinder A is cut or turned out an annular recess or groove, b, (see Fig. 3.) which, it will be observed, is concentric with the central hole of said cylinder and with its series of cartridge-chambers, and into this recess b fits the collar e of the recoil-shield piece C, in the manner clearly shown at Fig. 2. From this construction and combination of parts it follows that when the cylinder A is in place, and its chamber filled or loaded with cartridges f, the flanges of the latter will, at a point nearest the base-pin or center of rotation of said cylinder, project inwardly past or in rear of the collar e of the plate C, and into the channel or groove formed in collar e. This groove being a very little wider than the flanges of the cartridges f are thick, the part of said flanges which project into said channel can move round freely therein without hindrance or friction whenever the cylinder A is rotated on the base-pin B; but whenever the cylinder is pulled off of the base-pin or moved longitudinally thereon, as illustrated at Fig. 1, the said projecting portions of the flanges of the cartridges will hang in said channel or catch, and hold on against the shoulder or rear edge of the collar e, and be detained rearward while the cylinder is being moved forward, and thus the cartridge-shells f will be effectually extracted or withdrawn from the chambers of the cylinder A whenever the latter is moved longitudinally forward on the base-pin B.
It will be seen that, as the collar e corresponds in external size and shape to the groove b and takes bearings upon both the larger and smaller circumferences of said groove, the walls of the chambers of the cylinder are not practically weakened by the presence of the said groove b, said groove being always blocked up With the collar e at the time when the chambers are being discharged of their contents. It will also be seen that, since the collar e, by which the extraction of the empty shells is effected whenever the cylinder is moved forward on the base-pin, is a solid fixture, and is larger in external diameter than the circle in which lie the innermost points of the series of cartridge-flanges, its efficiency as an extractor is infallible, because none of the flanges of the cartridges can possibly ride over, or fail to be caught upon, the shoulder or catching portion of said collar.
Where any sort of spring device or yielding catch-surface is employed this unfailing efficiency of action is not secured, since, by the failure to go home perfectly to its proper seat or location in the recess of the cylinder, or by the riding over it of the flanges of the cartridges, such yielding catch-surface, finger, or other extracting device is liable to fail in its intended office or action.
In carrying out my invention, the gist of which lies in the idea of a projecting collar or fixture adapted to enter a groove formed in the rear end of the cylinder, and having a channel in which project the flanges of the cartridges, it is, of course, immaterial what size or diameter be adopted for said collar and groove, and whether the collar e be made, as shown, with a channel in its periphery, to accommodate the portions of the flanges nearest to the base-pin, or be made to surround the flanges of the cartridges, and with a channel in its internal surface, to accommodate those portions of the flanges most distant from the axis of motion of the cylinder.
I have represented the collar e as being formed on or out of the stock of the plate C; but this detail of construction or manufacture may, of course, be varied like others, and, if deemed expedient, said collar may be made of a separate piece and permanently secured in place by attachment either to said plate C or to the base-pin of the pistol.
Having so fully described my invention that any one skilled can make and use it, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is—
The combination, with a removable cylinder having a suitable recess or groove for its reception, of a fixed collar or ring like extractor, the whole arranged to operate substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of March, 1874.
B. H. WILLIAMS. [L.S]
In presence of—
A. Ascher,
Jacob Felibel.