US 174731
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
FREEMAN W. HOOD, OR NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOOD FIRE-ARMS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.
IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS.
Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,231 A, dated March 14, 1876; application filed February 21, 1876.
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, Freeman W. Hood, of Norwich, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Revolving Fire-Arm, of which the following is a specification:
In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a side view of my improvement in revolving fire-arms, with part cut out to show interior; and Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same on the line c c, Fig. 1.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
The object of my invention is to so improve revolving fire-arms that the common stop device, entering the notches of the revolving cylinder, may be dispensed with, and the locking action of the chamber accomplished in a very simple yet reliable and positive manner.
The invention, consists of the combination of the spring-pawl of the hammer, that engages the ratchet of the chamber, and revolves the same, with a pawl-locking recess, locked position in the ratchet when the hammer is cocked.
In the drawing, A represents the revolving cylinder or chamber, and B the hammer of a revolving fire-arm. The spring-acted pawl C is pivoted to the lower front part of the hammer, and operated by the cocking of the same, So as to engage the ratchet D of the cylinder A, and thereby revolve the same, in the usual manner. When the pawl is moved forward to engage the ratchet and revolve the cylinder, to bring one of the chambers in range with the barrel, the motion of the pawl is stopped or terminated by a slotted recess, a set-screw, or other equivalent device, a, of that part of the stock facing the cylinder. This recess locks securely and positively the pawl into the ratchet as long as the hammer remains in cocked position. The spring-pawl serves the double function of revolving the cylinder and also of locking the same rigidly at the exact point when the chamber is in line with the barrel, dispensing with the separate stop device and the notches or recesses of the cylinder hitherto used. The construction of a revolver is thereby simplified, and a neater appearance to the same imparted, while the cylinder may be readily revolved when the hammer is in dropped position, but is instantly and automatically locked when the hammer is placed into cocked position.
Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent—
As an improvement in revolving fire-arms, the combination of the pivoted spring-pawl of the hammer with the ratchet of the cylinder, and a pawl stopping or binding recess, or equivalent device, of the stock, to securely lock the pawl when the hammer is placed in Cocked position, substantially in the manner as set forth.
FREEMAN W. HOOD.
Witnesses:
Charles A, Converse,
E. A. Converse.