U.S. patent number 3,738,042 [Application Number 05/174,849] was granted by the patent office on 1973-06-12 for safety device for revolvers.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sturm, Ruger & Co.. Invention is credited to Lawrence L. Larson, William B. Ruger.
United States Patent |
3,738,042 |
Ruger , et al. |
June 12, 1973 |
SAFETY DEVICE FOR REVOLVERS
Abstract
A single action revolver having a rebound hammer, trigger,
cylinder, cylinder pawl, cylinder latch and cylinder loading gate
is provided with mutually cooperating hammer safety, loading gate
safety and manual safety means for preventing premature ignition of
a cartridge in the cylinder. The rebound hammer is provided with a
safety notch that engages the sear leg of the trigger when the
hammer is in its rebound position. The loading gate is mounted for
rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
cylinder, the loading gate having a cam surface that moves the
cylinder latch out of engagement with the cylinder and a trigger
safety element that prevents significant movement of the trigger
and hammer when the hammer is in its rebound position and when the
loading gate is rotated to its open position. The manual safety
means is mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the cylinder, the safety means having a hammer
safety element that prevents forward movement of the hammer and a
pawl safety element that prevents upward movement of the pawl when
the hammer is in its rebound position and the safety means is
rotated to its safe position.
Inventors: |
Ruger; William B. (Southport,
CT), Larson; Lawrence L. (Bethany, CT) |
Assignee: |
Sturm, Ruger & Co.
(Southport, CT)
|
Family
ID: |
22637780 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/174,849 |
Filed: |
August 25, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/66 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C
3/14 (20130101); F41A 17/74 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F41A
17/00 (20060101); F41A 17/74 (20060101); F41C
3/00 (20060101); F41C 3/14 (20060101); F41c
017/04 (); F41c 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;42/66,67,65,59,7F |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
338,381 |
|
Jun 1959 |
|
CH |
|
1,147,871 |
|
Apr 1963 |
|
DT |
|
Primary Examiner: Borchelt; Benjamin A.
Assistant Examiner: Jordan; C. T.
Claims
We claim:
1. In a revolver having a frame, a cylinder rotatably mounted in
the frame, said cylinder being formed with a plurality of
cartridge-receiving chambers, a hammer pivotally mounted on the
frame, a trigger having a sear releasably engaging the hammer, a
pawl for rotating the cylinder when the hammer is being cocked, a
pivoted cylinder latch releasably engaging the cylinder to prevent
rotation thereof, a movable loading gate disposed immediately
behind one of the chambers of the cylinder to permit loading and
unloading of said chamber when said gate is in its open position,
and hammer safety means comprising a safety notch formed in the
hammer adapted to engage the sear of the trigger when the uncocked
hammer is positioned a predetermined distance rearwardly of its
cartridge ignition position, the improvement in safety means for
preventing ignition of a cartridge contained in the uppermost
chamber of the cylinder which comprises:
loading gate safety means comprising a trigger safety element of
the loading gate adapted to engage and prevent significant movement
of the trigger and hammer when the uncocked hammer is positioned
said predetermined distance rearwardly of its cartridge ignition
position and when the loading gate is in its open position; and
manual safety means rotatably mounted on the frame, said manual
safety means having a hammer safety element and a pawl safety
element, said hammer safety element engaging the hammer to prevent
forward movement of the hammer and said pawl safety element
engaging the pawl to prevent upward movement of the pawl when the
uncocked hammer is positioned said determined distance rearwardly
of its cartridge ignition position and when the manual safety means
is rotated to its safe position.
2. The revolver according to claim 1 in which the hammer is a
rebound hammer having a hammer spring and rebound hammer spring
strut that normally maintain the uncocked hammer in its rebound
position an appreciable predetermined distance rearwardly of its
cartridge ignition position, said safety notch engaging the sear of
the trigger when the hammer is in its rebound position.
3. The revolver according to claim 2 in which the trigger safety
element of the loading gate engages the trigger when the hammer is
in its rebound position and when the loading gate is in its open
position.
4. The revolver according to claim 2 in which the loading gate is
pivotally mounted on the frame for rotation about an axis of
rotation disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
cylinder, the loading gate having a hub portion concentric with the
axis of rotation of the loading gate, said hub portion having a cam
surface which contacts the pivoted cylinder latch and a trigger
safety element adapted to engage the trigger when the hammer is in
its rebound position, said cam surface moving the cylinder latch
out of engagement with the cylinder and said trigger safety element
preventing significant movement of the trigger and hammer when the
loading gate is rotated to its open position.
5. The revolver according to claim 2 in which the hammer safety
element of the manual safety means engages the hammer when the
hammer is in its rebound position and when the manual safety means
is rotated to its safe position.
6. The revolver according to claim 1 in which the loading gate is
pivotally mounted on the frame for rotation about an axis of
rotation disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
cylinder, the loading gate having a hub portion concentric with the
axis of rotation of the loading gate, said hub portion having a cam
surface which contacts the pivoted cylinder latch and a trigger
safety element adapted to engage the trigger, said cam surface
moving the cylinder latch out of engagement with the cylinder and
said trigger safety element preventing significant movement of the
trigger and hammer when the uncocked hammer is positioned said
predetermined distance rearwardly of its cartridge ignition
position and when the loading gate is rotated about its axis of
rotation to its open position.
7. The revolver according to claim 6 in which the cam surface has a
recessed portion and a protrudent portion, and in which the pivoted
cylinder latch has a cam follower portion that is received in said
recessed portion when the loading gate is closed and is depressed
by said protrudent portion when the loading gate is open.
8. In a revolver having a frame, a cylinder rotatably mounted in
the frame, said cylinder being formed with a plurality of
cartridge-receiving chambers, a hammer pivotally mounted on the
frame, a trigger having a sear releasably engaging the hammer, a
pawl for rotating the cylinder when the hammer is being cocked, a
pivoted cylinder latch releasably engaging the cylinder to prevent
rotation thereof, a movable loading gate disposed immediately
behind one of the chambers of the cylinder to permit loading and
unloading of said chamber when said gate is in its open position,
and hammer safety means comprising a safety notch formed in the
hammer adapted to engage the sear of the trigger when the uncocked
hammer is positioned a predetermined distance rearwardly of its
cartridge ignition position, the improvement in safety means for
preventing ignition of a cartridge contained in the uppermost
chamber of the cylinder which comprises:
manual safety means rotatably mounted on the frame, said manual
safety means having a hammer safety element and a pawl safety
element, said hammer safety element engaging the hammer to prevent
forward movement of the hammer and said pawl safety element
engaging the pawl to prevent upward movement of the pawl when the
uncocked hammer is positioned said determined distance rearwardly
of its cartridge ignition position and when the manual safety means
is rotated to its safe position.
9. The revolver according to claim 8 in which the manual safety
means is mounted on the frame for rotation about an axis disposed
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder.
10. The revolver according to claim 8 in which the hammer is a
rebound hammer having a hammer spring and rebound hammer spring
strut that normally maintains the uncocked hammer in its rebound
position an appreciable predetermined distance rearwardly of its
cartridge ignition position, said safety notch engaging the sear of
the trigger when the hammer is in its rebound position.
11. The revolver according to claim 10 in which the hammer safety
element of the manual safety means engages the hammer when the
hammer is in its rebound position and when the manual safety means
is rotated to its safe position.
12. The revolver according to claim 11 in which the manual safety
means is mounted on the frame for rotation about an axis disposed
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder.
13. In a revolver having a frame, a cylinder rotatably mounted in
the frame, said cylinder being formed with a plurality of
cartridge-receiving chambers, a hammer pivotally mounted on the
frame, a trigger having a sear releasably engaging the hammer, a
pawl for rotating the cylinder when the hammer is being cocked, a
pivoted cylinder latch releasably engaging the cylinder to prevent
rotation thereof, a movable loading gate disposed immediately
behind one of the chambers of the cylinder to permit loading and
unloading of said chamber when said gate is in its open position,
and hammer safety means comprising a safety notch formed in the
hammer adapted to engage the sear of the trigger when the uncocked
hammer is positioned a predetermined distance rearwardly of its
cartridge ignition position, the improvement in safety means for
preventing ignition of a cartridge contained in the uppermost
chamber of the cylinder which comprises:
loading gate safety means comprising a trigger safety element of
the loading gate adapted to engage and prevent significant movement
of the trigger and hammer when the uncocked hammer is positioned
said predetermined distance rearwardly of its cartridge ignition
position and when the loading gate is in its open position.
14. The revolver according to claim 13 in which the loading gate is
pivotally mounted on the frame for rotation about an axis of
rotation disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
cylinder, the loading gate having a hub portion concentric with the
axis of rotation of the loading gate, said hub portion having a cam
surface which contacts the pivoted cylinder latch and a trigger
safety element adapted to engage the trigger, said cam surface
moving the cylinder latch out of engagement with the cylinder and
said trigger safety element preventing significant movement of the
trigger and hammer when the uncocked hammer is positioned said
predetermined distance rearwardly of its cartridge ignition
position and when the loading gate is rotated about its axis of
rotation to its open position.
15. The revolver according to claim 14 in which the cam surface has
a recessed portion and a protrudent portion, and in which the
pivoted cylinder latch has a cam follower portion that is received
in said recessed portion when the loading gate is closed and is
depressed by said protrudent portion when the loading gate is
open.
16. The revolver according to claim 13 in which the hammer is a
rebound hammer having a hammer spring and rebound hammer spring
strut that normally maintain the uncocked hammer in its rebound
position an appreciable predetermined distance rearwardly of its
cartridge ignition position, said safety notch engaging the sear of
the trigger when the hammer is in its rebound position.
17. The revolver according to claim 16 in which the trigger safety
element of the loading gate engages the trigger when the hammer is
in its rebound position and when the loading gate is in its open
position.
18. The revolver according to claim 16 in which the loading gate is
pivotally mounted on the frame for rotation about an axis of
rotation disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
cylinder, the loading gate having a hub portion concentric with the
axis of rotation of the loading gate, said hub portion having a cam
surface which contacts the pivoted cylinder latch and a trigger
safety element adapted to engage the trigger when the hammer is in
its rebound position, said cam surface moving the cylinder latch
out of engagement with the cylinder and said trigger safety element
preventing significant movement of the trigger and hammer when the
loading gate is rotated to its open position.
19. The revolver according to claim 18 in which the cam surface has
a recessed portion and a protrudent portion, and in which the
pivoted cylinder latch has a cam follower portion that is received
in said recessed portion when the loading gate is closed and is
depressed by said protrudent portion when the loading gate is open.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to revolvers, and more particularly to
mutually cooperating safety devices for single action
revolvers.
2. Prior Art
Single action revolvers are cocked by rotating the hammer
rearwardly until the sear notch of the hammer engages the sear of
the trigger. When the trigger is pulled, the sear is disengaged and
the hammer springs forward to ignite the cartridge in the uppermost
chamber of the cylinder of the revolver. The hammer is usually
provided with a safety notch that engages the sear when the hammer
is rotated a small distance rearwardly from its cartridge ignition
position, and with a loading notch that engages the sear when the
hammer rotated about half way to its fully cocked position. The
engagement of the sear of the trigger with the safety notch and
with the loading notch of the hammer is intended to prevent the
hammer from springing forward to its cartridge ignition position,
and both the safety notch and the loading notch are usually
provided with depending lips or surfaces which are intended to
prevent disengagement of the sear even when the trigger is pulled.
However, the safety notch and the loading notch of the hammer have
always been a source of possible trouble and danger due to failure
or breakage of the engaged metal parts if the hammer is stuck (for
example, if the revolver is dropped) or if the trigger is pulled so
forceably as to disengage the sear from the safety or loading
notch. The dangers inherent in any such accidental discharge are
enhanced when the revolver is being loaded or unloaded, and
particularly when the loading gate of a revolver so equipped is
open for this purpose.
Most single action revolvers have cylinders that are rotatably
mounted on more or less fixed longitudinal shafts that are secured
to the revolver frame, the cylinder being loaded and unloaded by
means of a movable loading gate mounted on the frame immediately
behind one of the chambers of the cylinder. When the loading gate
is open, the cylinder is rotated by hand to bring each chamber into
alignment with an opening in the revolver frame which is normally
covered by the gate, for loading and unloading purposes. However,
free rotation of the cylinder is normally prevented by a cylinder
latch that releasably engages one of the latch notches formed in
the cylinder, and in order to rotate the cylinder the cylinder
latch must be withdrawn from engagement with the notches of the
cylinder. Various mechanisms have heretofore been employed to
disengage the cylinder latch from the cylinder to permit rotation
of the cylinder for loading and unloading thereof. In most
commercially available single action revolvers the hammer, trigger
and cylinder latch co-act to disengage the cylinder latch when the
hammer is moved to its loading position. In another commercially
available revolver the loading gate pivots on a shaft that is
mounted transversely on the frame, the loading gate acting through
an intermediate part to disengage the cylinder latch when the
loading gate is swung rearwardly to its open position. In all
cases, however, the impingement of the hammer against the uppermost
cartridge in the cylinder is prevented only by the engagement of
the trigger sear in the loading notch of the hammer, and thus is
subject to the dangers of accidental discharge previously
discussed.
In order to minimize the likelihood of accidental discharge of the
uppermost cartridge in the cylinder, it has heretofore been
proposed that the hammer be of the so-called "rebound" type. The
trigger spring of a rebound hammer is connected to the hammer by
means of a rebound strut which bears against the hammer at two
spaced bearing points -- namely, a main bearing point and a rebound
bearing point. When the hammer is cocked and then fired the force
of the hammer spring is directed against the main bearing point of
the hammer which drives the hammer forceably forward against the
uppermost cartridge in the cylinder. At this point the force of the
hammer spring is directed against the rebound bearing point of the
hammer which causes the hammer to rebound or move rearwardly a
small distance until the pressure of the hammer spring against the
main bearing point and the rebound bearing point is equalized.
Although relatively safe in normal use, rebound hammer revolvers
are nonetheless liable to be accidentally discharged if the hammer
is forceably struck.
After an intensive investigation of the problems involved in the
safety of single action revolvers, and in particular the safety of
these revolvers during loading and unloading and when in their
nominally "safe" position, we have developed mutually cooperating
hammer safety, loading gate safety and manual safety means for
preventing premature ignition of a cartridge in a chamber of a
single action revolver, and especially in revolvers having rebound
hammers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The improved safety and loading means of the invention is
applicable to single action revolvers of essentially convention
design having a frame, a cylinder rotatably mounted in the frame, a
hammer pivotally mounted on the frame, a trigger having a sear
releasably engaging the hammer, a pawl for rotating the cylinder
when the hammer is being cocked, a pivoted cylinder latch
releasably engaging the cylinder to prevent rotation thereof, a
movable loading gate disposed immediately behind one of the
chambers of the cylinder to permit loading and unloading of said
chamber when said gate is in its open position, and hammer safety
means comprising a safety notch formed in the hammer adapted to
engage the sear of the trigger when the uncocked hammer is
positioned a predetermined distance rearwardly of its cartridge
ignition position. Pursuant to the invention, loading gate safety
means having a trigger safety element are provided, the trigger
safety element engaging the trigger and preventing significant
movement of the trigger and hammer when the uncocked hammer is
positioned the aforementioned predetermined distance rearwardly of
its cartridge ignition position and when the loading gate is in its
open position. In addition, manual safety means having a hammer
safety element and a pawl safety element are provided, the hammer
safety element engaging the hammer to prevent forward movement of
the hammer and the pawl safety element engaging the pawl to prevent
upward movement of the pawl when the uncocked hammer is positioned
the aforementioned predetermined distance rearwardly of its
cartridge ignition position and when the safety means is rotated to
its safe position.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the loading gate is
pivotally mounted on the frame for rotation about an axis of
rotation disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
cylinder. The loading gate has a hub portion concentric with the
axis of rotation of the loading gate, said hub portion having a cam
surface which contacts the pivoted cylinder latch and a trigger
safety element adapted to engage the trigger. The cam surface moves
the cylinder latch out of engagement with the cylinder and the
trigger safety element prevents significant movement of the trigger
and hammer when the uncocked hammer is positioned the aforesaid
predetermined distance rearwardly of its cartridge ignition
position and when the loading gate is rotated about its axis of
rotation to its open position. In this embodiment the cam surface
has a recessed portion and a protrudent portion, and the pivoted
cylinder latch has a cam follower portion that is received in the
recess portion of the cam surface when the loading gate is closed
and is depressed by the protrudent portion of the cam surface when
the loading gate is open.
The manual safety means comprises a transverse shaft that is
rotatably mounted on the frame with the axis of the shaft disposed
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The
transverse shaft is provided with a hammer recess portion which is
adapted to receive the hammer and with a pawl recess portion that
is adapted to receive the pawl when the safety means is rotated to
its "fire" position. The non-recessed portions of the shaft
comprise the aforementioned hammer safety element and the pawl
safety element which block forward movement of the hammer and
upward movement of the pawl when the safety means is rotated to its
safe position. When the revolver is fitted with a rebound hammer
and the hammer is in its rebound position, the safety notch of the
hammer engages the sear of the trigger, the trigger safety element
of the loading gate engages the trigger when the loading gate is in
its open position, and the hammer safety element of the manual
safety means engages the hammer when the safety means is rotated to
its safe position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The improvement in safety mechanisms for revolvers of the invention
will be better understood from the following description thereof in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the right hand
side of a single action revolver embodying the safety mechanisms of
the invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 1 showing
the hammer in the process of being cocked;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2
showing the hammer in its fully cocked position;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 4--4 $ of FIG. 1 showing the
loading gate closed;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing the loading
gate open;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 6--6 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the loading gate;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the relationship of the
loading gate, cylinder latch and trigger;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the left hand
side of the revolver of FIG. 1 showing the manual safety means;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view along line 10--10 of FIG. 9 showing the
relative positions of the hammer, pawl and safety means when the
latter is in its safe position;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view along line 11--11 of FIG. 10 showing
the relationship of the pawl and the safety means when in its safe
position;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view along line 12--12 of FIG. 10 showing
the relationship of the hammer and the safety means when in its
safe position; and
FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 11 showing the
relationship of the pawl and safety means when the latter is in its
fire position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The improved safety mechanism of the invention is particularly
suitable for use in conjunction with single action revolvers of the
rebound hammer type such as that shown in the drawings, although
the safety mechanism may be incorporated in other types of single
action revolvers as well. The revolver shown in the drawings
comprises, in its major components, a frame 1, a barrel 2, a
cylinder 3 rotatably mounted in the frame, a hammer 4 pivotally
mounted on the frame, a trigger 5 also pivotally mounted on the
frame, a pawl 6 for rotating the cylinder when the hammer is being
cocked, and a pivoted cylinder latch 7 releasably engaging the
cylinder to prevent rotation thereof when the revolver is fired.
The cylinder 3 is formed with a plurality (usually six) of
cartridge-receiving chambers 3a and is rotatably mounted on a
longitudinal shaft 8 which, in turn, is mounted on the frame. A
pivoted loading gate 9 (shown best in FIGS. 4-8) is mounted on the
right hand side of the frame 1 immediately behind one of the
chambers 3a of the cylinder 3 to permit loading and unloading of
the cylinder when the gate 9 has moved to its open position.
As noted, the hammer 4, which is pivotally mounted on the frame 1
by means of the pivot pin 10, is advantageously of the rebound
type. The hammer spring (not shown) in the handle portion 11 of the
frame 1 is connected to the hammer by means of a hammer strut 12.
The hammer strut has two spaced bearing members, the main bearing
member 13 and the rebound bearing member 14, which are received in
the main bearing point 15 and the rebound bearing point 16,
respectively, of the hammer when the hammer is in its rebound
position shown in FIG. 1. When in this position the hammer spring
bears with equivalent force against the main bearing point 15 and
the rebound bearing point 16 of the hammer 4 to maintain the hammer
in its rebound position.
The hammer 4 is provided with a safety notch 17, a trigger cam
surface 18 and a sear notch 19. The safety notch 17 is engaged by
the sear 20 at the upper end of the extension 21 of the trigger 5
when the hammer is in its rebound position as shown in FIG. 1. The
trigger cam surface 18 contacts and rotates the trigger extension
21 slightly clockwise when the hammer is being cocked as shown in
FIG. 2. The sear notch 19 is engaged by the sear 20 when the hammer
is rotated to its fully cocked position as shown in FIG. 3. The
cylinder pawl 6 is pivotally mounted on the hammer 4 by means of
the pin 22. The pawl 6 moves upwardly and engages the ratchet teeth
23 of the cylinder 3, thereby causing the cylinder to rotate, when
the hammer is being cocked as shown in FIG. 2. The revolver is
fired by pulling the trigger 5 which moves the sear 20 forwardly
out of engagement with the sear notch 19, thereby allowing the
hammer 4 to spring forwardly against the spring-loaded firing pin
24 which, in turn, ignites the cartridge (not shown) in the
uppermost chamber 3a of the cylinder 3. At this point, the pressure
of the hammer spring bears only against the rebound bearing point
16 of the hammer 4 which causes the hammer to spring rearwardly a
short distance to its rebound position shown in FIG. 1.
The trigger 5 is pivotally mounted on the frame 1 by means of the
trigger pin 25, the trigger being urged to rotate counter clockwise
on the pin 25 by means of the trigger spring and trigger spring
plunger 27. As noted, the trigger is provided with an extension 21
at the upper end of which is located the sear 20. The trigger 5
also provided with a spring-loaded cylinder latch release plunger
28 which is adapted to contact and depress the toe portion 29 of
the pivoted cylinder latch 7, and thereby withdraw the cylinder
latch from engagement with the notch 30 of the cylinder 3, when the
hammer is being cocked as shown in FIG. 2. When the hammer
approaches its fully cocked position the trigger is rotated
clockwise a sufficient distance to allow the cylinder latch release
plunger 28 to slip past the end of the toe portion 29 of the latch
7, thereby allowing the latch portion 31 of the latch 7 to
re-engage one of the notches 30 of the cylinder 3, and when the
hammer reaches its fully cocked position the trigger spring causes
the trigger to rotate slightly counter clockwise so that the sear
20 engages the sear notch 19 of the hammer as shown in FIG. 3.
The cylinder latch 7 is pivotally mounted on the frame 1 by means
of the pivot pin 32, the latch 7 being urged upwardly into contact
with the cylinder 3 by the spring-loaded latch plunger 33. The
latch portion 31 of the cylinder latch 7 normally engages one of
the notches 30 formed in the cylinder 3 to prevent rotation of the
cylinder when the hammer is in its safe or rebound position as
shown in FIG. 1, and it also engages one of the notches 30 to
prevent rotation of the cylinder when the hammer is in its fully
cocked position as shown in FIG. 3. As noted, the cylinder latch 7
is withdrawn from engagement with the notches 30 when the revolver
is being cocked in order to allow the pawl 6 to rotate the cylinder
3. In addition, the latch 7 is withdrawn from engagement with the
notches 30 when the loading gate 9 is open in order to allow
rotation of the cylinder when the cylinder is being loaded and
unloaded.
As shown in FIGS. 4 through 8, the loading gate 9 is pivotally
mounted on the frame 1 by means of the loading gate pivot member 35
the axis of which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
cylinder 3. When the loading gate 9 is in its closed position as
shown in FIG. 4, the upper portion of the gate is disposed in the
opening 36 formed in the frame 1 directly in back of one of the
chambers (not shown) of the cylinder 3, thereby preventing the
removal or escape therefrom of a cartridge received in this
chamber. When the loading gate 9 is swung sideways about the
longitudinal axis of the pivot member 35 as shown in FIG. 5, the
rearward end of the chamber formerly blocked by the upper portion
of the gate 9 is now exposed, thereby permitting loading and
unloading of this chamber of the cylinder 3. Rotation of the
cylinder 3 to bring each of the other chambers of the cylinder into
alignment with the opening 36 permits loading and unloading of each
chamber in turn.
As previously noted, the loading gate 9 cooperates directly with
the cylinder latch 7 to withdraw the latch portion 31 of the latch
7 from engagement with the notches 30 of the cylinder 3 when the
loading gate is rotated sideways to its open position. The loading
gate 9 is provided with a hub portion 37 that is concentric with
the picot member 35 of the gate, the hub portion 37 being formed
with a serpentine cylinder latch cam surface having a recessed
portion 39 and a protrudent portion 40. The cylinder latch 7
comprises a bifurcated structure having a latch arm the latch
portion 31 of which engages the notches 30 of the cylinder 3 and a
cam follower arm the cam follower portion 43 of which cooperates
with the cam surface of the loading gate 9 to disengage the latch 7
when the loading gate is open. When the loading gate 9 is closed as
shown in FIG. 4 the cam follower portion 43 of the cylinder latch 7
is received in the recessed portion 39 of the cam surface of the
loading gate, thereby permitting the latch portion 31 of the latch
7 to engage one of the notches 30 of the cylinder 3 as also shown
in FIG. 4. When the loading gate 9 is rotated to its open position
as shown in FIG. 5 the protrudent portion 40 of the cam surface of
the gate 9 contacts and depresses the cam follower portion 43 of
the cylinder latch 7, thereby withdrawing the latch portion 31 from
engagement with the notch 30 of the cylinder 3 as also shown in
FIG. 5.
In accordance with the invention, the loading gate 9 is provided
with safety means which cooperates with the trigger 5 to permit the
loading gate to be opened only when the hammer 4 is in its safe or
rebound position and to prevent the hammer from being cocked when
the loading gate is in its open position. As shown best in FIGS. 6
and 7, the hub portion 37 of the loading gate is formed with a
trigger-receiving recess 45 and with a trigger safety element 46.
The trigger-receiving recess 45 is adapted to receive the upper end
of the trigger extension 21 when the loading gate is closed as
shown in FIG. 4, and the safety element 46 is adapted to block
forward movement of the trigger extension 21 when the loading gate
is open as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. When the hammer 4 is being
cocked the trigger cam surface 18 contacts and rotates the trigger
extension 21 forwardly into the trigger-receiving recess 45 formed
in the loading gage 9. As a result, the loading gate cannot be
rotated to its open position when the hammer 4 and the trigger 5
are in their cocked positions. When the hammer 4 and trigger 5 are
returned to their safe positions as shown in FIG. 1 the trigger
extension 21 is withdrawn from the trigger-receiving recess 45 of
the loading gate, thereby permitting the loading gate to be opened.
When the loading gate 9 is in its open position as shown in FIGS. 5
and 6 the trigger safety element 46 prevents forward movement of
the extension 21 of the trigger 5. As a result, the hammer 4 cannot
be cocked when the loading gate is open because rotation of the
hammer is blocked by contact of the trigger cam surface 18 against
the immovable trigger extension 21.
As shown best in FIGS. 9 through 13, the revolver of the invention
is provided with manual safety means 48 which prevents the hammer
from being cocked and fired when in its safe position (shown in
FIGS. 9 through 12, and which permits the hammer to be cocked and
fired when in its fire position (shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 and
13). The manual safety means 48 comprises a transverse shaft 49
that is rotatably mounted in bore 50 formed in the frame 1, the
axis of the shaft 49 being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
of the cylinder 3. The safety means is adapted to be rotated about
90.degree. from its safe position (shown in FIG. 9) to its fire
position, the spring-loaded detent 51 holding the safety means in
its safe or fire position, as the case may be, in the manner known
in the art. The shaft 49 is formed with a hammer-receiving recess
54 and with a pawl-receiving recess 55, the non-recessed portions
of the shaft comprising the hammer safety element 56 and the pawl
safety element 57, respectively, of the safety means 48.
When the safety means 48 is rotated to its fire position, the
hammer-receiving recess 54 is disposed in front of the hammer 4 as
shown in FIG. 1, thereby allowing the hammer 4 to strike the firing
pin 24 when the revolver is fired. At the same time, the
pawl-receiving recess 55 is positioned above the pawl 6, thereby
permitting the pawl to move upwardly to rotate the cylinder 3 when
the hammer is being cocked as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 13. When the
safety means 48 is rotated to its safe position, the hammer safety
element 56 is disposed directly in front of the hammer 4 as shown
in FIGS. 10 and 12, thereby blocking forward movement of the hammer
against the firing pin 24. At the same time, the pawl safety
element 57 is positioned directly above the pawl 6 as shown in FIG.
11, thereby blocking upward movement of the pawl which, in turn,
prevents cocking of the hammer 4. Conversely, when the hammer 4 is
cocked and the pawl 6 is in its upward position as shown in FIGS. 3
and 13, the safety means 48 cannot be rotated to the safe position
because it is now blocked by the pawl. Thus, it will be seen that
it is a characteristic of the safety means 48 that, when in its
safe position, it locks the hammer 4 in the rebound position only,
unlike the usual safety which locks the hammer of a conventional
firearm only when the hammer of the firearm is in its cocked
position.
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