U.S. patent application number 09/815677 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-26 for cam operated, single shot, falling block firing mechanism for a rifle.
Invention is credited to Alford, Maxine, Kepner, James Weaver, Kepner, James William, Kezer, Sharon.
Application Number | 20020133997 09/815677 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25218488 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020133997 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kepner, James Weaver ; et
al. |
September 26, 2002 |
Cam operated, single shot, falling block firing mechanism for a
rifle
Abstract
A single shot rifle having a cam operated, falling breechblock
firing mechanism. The firing mechanism includes a breechblock
vertically movable within a housing member, and a laterally movable
hammer operable to strike a cartridge. The firing mechanism further
includes a pivotal breechblock link, connected to a manually
operable lever, to effect vertical movement of the breechblock.
Additionally, the lever is pivotal about a rotary cam member
featuring three cam riding surfaces to operate an ejector mechanism
for extracting spent casings from a breech, and to allow manual
insertion of a fresh cartridge into the breech.
Inventors: |
Kepner, James Weaver;
(Lawrenceville, GA) ; Kepner, James William;
(Lawrenceville, GA) ; Alford, Maxine; (Olive
Branch, MI) ; Kezer, Sharon; (Delta Junction,
AK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BERNSTEIN & ASSOCIATES, P.C.
Suite 495
Embassy Row 400
6600 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, N.E.
Atlanta
GA
30328-1649
US
|
Family ID: |
25218488 |
Appl. No.: |
09/815677 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 3/10 20130101; F41A
15/10 20130101; F41C 7/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/23 |
International
Class: |
F41A 003/00; F41C
007/00 |
Claims
Claimed is:
1. A single shot rifle with a cam operated, falling breechblock
firing mechanism, said rifle comprising: a. a breechblock housing
situated between a stock member and a projectile directing barrel,
where said barrel terminates in a breech to receive a projectile,
said breech opening into said housing; and, b. a firing mechanism
comprising a breechblock vertically movable within said housing
from an upper firing position to a lower position to allow for the
extraction of a spent projectile from said breech, and insertion of
a fresh projectile; and, a laterally movable hammer operable to
strike said projectile in said upper firing position; said firing
mechanism further including: i. a manually operable lever, pivotal
about a rotary cam member, connected to a pivotal breechblock link
to effect vertical movement of said breechblock between said upper
and lower positions; ii. said rotary cam member including a first
cam surface of a first uniform radius, a second cam surface having
a second uniform radius greater than said first uniform radius, and
a third cam surface of varying radius; and, iii. a spent projectile
ejector mechanism operable with the respective said cam surfaces to
effect ejection of said spent projectile.
2. The single shot rifle of claim 1, wherein said ejector mechanism
includes a pivotal blank extractor arm operable in a retracted
position on said first cam surface, and an extended position on
said third cam surface.
3. The single shot rifle of claim 2, including an ejector plunger
mechanism containing a spring biased plunger arm cooperating with
said extractor arm to pivot said extractor arm from said retracted
position to said extended position, where said ejector plunger
mechanism is operable on said first and second cam surfaces.
4. The single shot rifle of claim 1, wherein said pivotal
breechblock link is retracted in said upper firing position, and
pivoted in supporting contact with said breechblock in said lower
position.
5. The single shot rifle of claim 1, wherein said breechblock
includes a pivotal member mounting a sear for securing said hammer
against premature release, and a trigger activated trigger arm for
moving said pivotal member to thereby release said sear from
contact with said hammer.
6. The single shot rifle according to claim 5, wherein said trigger
arm is pivotal from a position in contact with said pivotal member
to a retracted position free from said movable breechblock.
7. The single shot rifle of claim 6, wherein said manually operable
lever mounts a spring arm acting against said trigger arm in said
contact position.
8. The single shot rifle of claim 1, wherein said breechblock link
is pivotally mounted to said breechblock, and includes an elongated
slot for receiving a pin, where said pin is mounted to said
manually operable lever.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is directed to the field of firing mechanisms
for single shot rifles, more particularly to a cam operated,
falling block firing mechanism incorporating a pivoted breechblock
link.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a unique firing mechanism
for a firearm, such as a rifle, that incorporates a pivoted
breechblock link. By way of brief background, the breech of a rifle
is the rearpart of the bore of the firearm, more particularly the
opening that permits insertion of the bullet or cartridge. Further,
the breechblock is the movable piece of metal for closing the
breech of the firearm.
[0003] With this brief understanding, it is recognized that there
are a variety of breechblock rifles known in the prior art, which
rifles are characterized by their different kinds of action. The
specific type of action is determined by the type of movement
imparted to the breechblock as the breechblock moves into and out
of engagement with the cartridge chamber of the receiver. Known
systems for such action include the swinging block action, the
rolling block action and the falling block action. The firing
mechanism of this invention falls within the latter category,
namely a falling block action.
[0004] High powered hunting and target rifles have become more and
more popular in recent times and, in such weapons, the accuracy of
the weapon is of prime importance. In order to achieve high
accuracy, it is desirable to use high powered cartridges. It is
further desirable that the breechblock lock as tightly as possible
against the end of the barrel to prevent the escape of propellant
gases. As such, most if not all of the force of the expending
propellant gases is used to force the shell from the barrel of the
firearm. In order to accomplish these purposes, innovators in the
field have devised firearms wherein the barrel is affixed to the
frame of the firearm, while the breechblock is movable to expose
the rear of the barrel so that a shell may be inserted therein. In
such firearms, it is necessary that the falling breechblock lock
tightly against the cartridge in the barrel. When the breechblock
locks tightly against the barrel, such a firearm is extremely
accurate in operation with the use of ordinary, as well as high
powered cartridges and such a firearm is, therefore, highly
suitable for hunting or target practice.
[0005] Heretofore, such falling breechblock firearms had a number
of disadvantages which prevented their general acceptance and
manufacture. One such disadvantage resided in the fact that the
falling breechblock portion of the weapon comprised many high
tolerance parts and was difficult, as well as expensive, to
manufacture and assemble. Further, as a result of the large number
of parts and the type of action used to move the breechblock, the
movement of the block generated an excessive amount of friction. As
a result, an excessive amount of force was needed to move the
breechblock. The large amount of friction generated would also
cause the weapon to jam, and tend to prematurely wear out the
moving parts, necessitating frequent repair and adding to the
overall disadvantages associated with such firearms.
[0006] Another disadvantage of such prior art weapons is that the
firing pin retracts very slowly during the initial lowering of the
breechblock, resulting in the protruding portion of the firing pin
remaining in contact with the end of the cartridge during the
lowering, and, thus, scraping across the base of the cartridge.
After the weapon has been in operation for some time this condition
becomes worse due to the wearing of the parts. This condition not
only damages the pin, decreasing its efficiency and necessitating
its frequent replacement, but also, necessitates the application of
great force to lower the breechblock.
[0007] Some early versions of firearms using a firing mechanism
with the falling block action may be found in the following U.S.
Patents:
[0008] a) U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,827, to Gentry, relates to a single
shot, falling block rifle having a one-piece stock, and includes a
cam-operated ejector mechanism. The rifle includes a barrel having
opposing ends with a receiver mounted on one end of the barrel. The
receiver has a rearward face which includes an arch-shaped opening.
A breechblock of lesser width than the receiver slides upwardly and
downwardly within the arch-shaped opening allowing the size and
weight of the action to be reduced. The action also includes a
positive sear lock safety and a spring loaded striker which is
manually cocked by means of the cooperative action of an operating
lever, connecting link and cocking lever. Additionally, there is
provided a lever arm that is connected to a cam-operated
breechblock link for lowering the breechblock to eject a spent
cartridge and insert a fresh cartridge.
[0009] b) U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,001, to Compton, teaches a firing and
cocking mechanism for a breech loading firearm that includes a
lever arm connected to a slotted breechblock link for lowering the
breechblock to eject a spent cartridge and insert a fresh
cartridge. The mechanism utilizes a substantially massive pin block
disposed in a horizontal track between two counter biasing springs,
the main spring and the counter spring. A firing pin extends from
the chamber end of the pin block. When the cocked pin block is
released, the main spring drives it toward the chamber and the
momentum of the moving pin block carries the extended firing into
contact with the primer of the cartridge despite the resistance of
the counter spring. Lowering the breechblock allows a spring loaded
ejector plate to spring backward and pull the spent cartridge
casing from the chamber. In addition, the ejector plate strikes a
projection of the pin block and drives the pin block back to the
cocked position. An extension of a lever which operates the action
returns the ejector plate to the chamber so that the breechblock is
able to rise unobstructed. Lost motion pivots connecting this lever
to the breechblock provide the timing whereby one return stroke of
the lever sequentially seats the ejector and raises the
breechblock.
[0010] c) U.S. Pat. No. 3,830,000, to Browning, is directed to a
lever-action firearm having a breechblock which is activated to
open or close the firing chamber by working a lever. When closing
the chamber, the breechblock motion concurrently energizes a
spring-loaded ejector mechanism. When opening the chamber, an
extractor member provides an autonomous partial extraction of a
cartridge from the firing chamber and, thereafter, releases the
ejector mechanism. Thereupon, the ejector mechanism drives the
extractor to completely expel the cartridge from the firing
chamber. The cartridge is impelled over both the breechblock and
the hammer and, thereafter, is deflected by a selectively
positionable member located towards the rear of the receiver.
[0011] d) U.S. Pat. No. 3,621,596, to Colliander et al., relates to
a firearm having a falling breechblock adjacent a barrel, mounted
in a stationary position on the frame of the firearm. The
breechblock is slidably mounted, such that it is displaced by the
movement of a crank lever connected to a disc rotatably mounted on
bearings located in the side walls of the breechblock. A
spring-biased pin member is slidably mounted in the breechblock and
is cocked by abutment means located on the crank lever upon the pin
member when the breechblock is lowered below the barrel. Extracting
means are also provided for partially extracting a cartridge from
the barrel upon movement of the crank lever to an open
position.
[0012] While the above prior art offer different approaches to a
single shot rifle firing mechanism incorporating a falling block
action, none present such a mechanism using a cam-operated ejector
action with a simplified block and hammer action in the manner of
this invention. The unique way the present invention brings
together these features will become more apparent in the
description which follows, particularly when the description is
read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] This invention relates to unique firing mechanism for a
single shot rifle, more precisely to a cam operated, falling block
firing mechanism. The rifle comprises a housing containing the
firing mechanism, where the housing is intermediate a conventional
stock and the breech of the rifle bore opening to the firing
mechanism. The firing mechanism incorporates a falling block
action, as known in the art, but modified by a cam operated ejector
mechanism. The firing mechanism further comprises a pivotal, hand
operable lever to shift the breechblock to allow ejection of a
spent cartridge and the insertion of a fresh cartridge. That is,
the breechblock link is pivoted to engage and force the hammer back
into a cocked position and force the breechblock down to allow for
the cartridge ejection and insertion. The hammer is secured in
place by the sear catch surfaces, where, as known in the art, the
sear is a pivoted piece that holds the hammer at full or half cock
in the firing mechanism. Simultaneously, as the lever arm is
pivoted downwardly, the cam engages an extractor spring mechanism
which engages an extractor arm, which in turn engages and ejects
the spent cartridge casing. When the lever is pivoted back to the
firing position, the link engages and forces the breechblock to the
firing position. Finally, pulling the trigger releases the hammer
to fire the rifle. The operation may then be repeated to allow for
the firing of another round.
[0014] Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an
effective, yet simplified firing mechanism for a single shot
rifle.
[0015] Another object hereof is the provision of an improved cam
operated, falling block action system for the firing mechanism of a
rifle.
[0016] A further object of the invention is an improved block and
hammer action for a falling block action, single shot rifle.
[0017] These and other objects of the invention will become clearer
in the specification which follows, particularly by those skilled
in the art, when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like
reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout
the figures of which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a single shot rifle,
showing portions of the barrel and stock, incorporating the falling
breechblock, firing mechanism according to this invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial sectional view of the firing
mechanism of FIG. 1, showing the rifle in the firing position.
[0021] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial sectional view, similar to
FIG. 2, showing the lever arm pivoted downwardly, forcing the
breechblock down to allow ejection of a spent cartridge and the
insertion of a fresh cartridge.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] The present invention is directed to an improved firing
mechanism for a single shot rifle that incorporates a rotating cam
operated cartridge ejector action with a simplified block and
hammer action. The improved firing mechanism will now be described
with regard to the accompanying Figures, where like reference
numerals represent like components or features throughout the
various views.
[0023] Turning now to the three Figures, FIG. 1 broadly illustrates
a single shot rifle 10 incorporating the improved firing mechanism
12 of this invention. The firing mechanism 12 is positioned within
a housing 14 joined to and extending between a stock 16, as
conventionally known in the art, and a barrel 18 featuring a
projectile bore 20 terminating in a breech 22 for receiving and
positioning a cartridge "C", where an exemplary cartridge is shown
in said breech 22 in FIG. 3.
[0024] Mounted for vertical movement within said housing 14 is a
falling breechblock 24, movable from a first or projectile firing
position to a second or lower position which opens the breech 22
for ejection of a spent casing and insertion of a fresh cartridge
"C", note FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. The falling breechblock
further includes a housing portion 26 mounting a laterally movable
hammer 28, with a forward firing pin 30 positioned for sliding
engagement with slot 32, thence into contact with the cartridge
"C". The movable hammer 28 is set in motion by the release of the
energy stored in compression plunger spring 34, as more clearly
described later. To ensure premature firing of the rifle, a pivotal
member with a sear 36 is provided, where the sear 36 holds the
hammer 28 at full or half cock until released by activation of the
trigger mechanism 38.
[0025] The trigger mechanism 38 includes a pivotal finger trigger
40, pivotal about pin 42, a forward end 44 biased by spring 46 to
return the trigger 40 to its prefiring position, and a rear end 48
pivotally mounting a rod or trigger arm 50 within a relief 52 for
limited movement therewithin. The distal end of trigger arm 50
includes a slot 54 for engaging the sear pivot member 56, where the
forward end of the pivot member 56 mounts the sear 36, as noted
above, see FIG. 2. Biasing the pivot member is spring 57. The
trigger arm 50 is biased into contact with said pivot member 56 by
tension spring 58. As the finger trigger 40 is squeezed to fire the
rifle, the pivotal finger trigger 40 is pivoted causing the trigger
arm 50 to move upward and pivoting the sear 36 to free its release
from the hammer 28 and plunging same into the cartridge "C".
Finally, as known in the art, a safety lock 60, mounted in the
stock 16, is included to ensure against a premature firing of the
loaded rifle.
[0026] To eject a spent casing and insert a fresh cartridge, a cam
operated ejector mechanism 64 is provided. The ejector mechanism 64
comprises a manually pivotal lever 66, pivotal about pin 68, where
the pivot head 70 has a predetermined diameter, and includes plural
camming surfaces. A first said camming surface 72 is an arcuate
member that extends the predetermined diameter, whereas, the second
said camming surface 74 reveals a reduced diametrical portion. The
manually pivotal lever 66 further includes a pivotal arm 76,
pivotal about pin 68 at a first end 78, having a second end 80 from
which is suspended a trigger guard 82, as known in the art.
Intermediate the respective ends is an upward extension 84 mounting
a lateral pin 86. Further, the second end 80 includes an upstanding
spring member 58, noted above, that keeps tension on the trigger
arm 50 when the rifle is in the firing position, see FIG. 2.
[0027] A second element of the ejector mechanism 64, for operative
movement along lateral pin 86, is an elongated breechblock link 88.
The breechblock link is characterized by a first end 90, pivotal
about pin 91 fixed to the lower end 93 of housing portion 26, and
vertically movable therewith, for pivoting into holding contact
with the hammer 28, and a second end 92 that features an elongated
slot 94 along which lateral pin 86 slides during rotation of the
lever 66.
[0028] As known in the art, a cartridge is characterized by a
casing that features a rear annular flange, which allows contact
with and ejection of the spent casing from the breech. With that
having been noted, the ejector mechanism 64 further includes a
pivotal, blank extractor arm 96 that features a tapered first end
98 and a second extractor end 100. The extractor end 100 includes a
contact corner 102 that underrides the casing flange to push the
spent casing out of the breech 22. The extractor arm 96, at an
intermediate point along its front face 104, includes a shoulder or
stop 106, as later described. The first end 98, during initial
movement of the ejector mechanism, rides along the predetermined
diametrical surface of pivot head 70, then contacts and rides along
camming surface 74. This action releases the extractor arm 96 for
pivoting. Further, a pivotal, spring biased ejector arm 108, which
includes a body portion 110 for receiving a spring biased plunger
112 in compression and a lateral arm 114 having a cam riding end
116, is positioned in close proximity to said extractor arm 98 and
pivot head 70. Simultaneously with the rotation of pivot head 70,
contact of the tapered first end 98 initially with the
predetermined diametrical portion and camming surface 74, the cam
riding end 116 of the spring biased ejector arm 108 is released
from camming surface 72 to allow the ejector arm 108 to pivot, with
the plunger 112 pushing into shoulder 106 and further pivoting the
extractor arm 96, whereby to eject a spent casing in the manner
known in the art. At the same time with the pivoting of the lever
66, the breechblock 24 is caused to "fall" or slide downwardly to
said lower position to thus expose the breech 22 for extraction of
the spent cartridge and insertion of a fresh cartridge as discussed
above compare FIGS. 2 and 3 which show, respectively, the firing
mode and spent cartridge extraction mode for the rifle hereof.
[0029] It is recognized that variations, changes and modifications
may be made to the cam operated firing mechanism for the single
shot rifle of this invention, particularly by those skilled in the
art, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
Accordingly, no limitation is intended to be imposed on the
invention except as set forth in the accompanying claims. All
patents, publications or other documents referred to are
incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.
* * * * *