US2110317A - Safety device for firearms - Google Patents

Description

March 8, 1938.

E. ALTENBURGER 2,110,317

SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREARMS Filed Aug. 2o, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 1 SIMM March 8, 1938. -E. ALTENBURGER SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREAMS Filed Aug. 20, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 8, 1938. E. ALTENBURGER SAFETYDEVICE FOR FIREARMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed'Aug. 20, 1935 March 8, 1938. E. ALTI-:NBURGr-:R 2,110,317

SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREARMS Filed Aug. 20, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ry Z Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE SAFETY DEVICE Fort FIREARMS l Ernst Altenburger, Oberndorf-on-,the-Neokar, Germany, assignor to MauserWerke A.G., Oberndorifon-the-Neckar,V Germany, a jointstock company of Germany Application August 20, 19,35, Serial No. 37,093

Germany August 20, 1934 12 claims. (o1. L12- 70) 'Ip-his invention relates to a safety device for the lowered hammer against cooking, but does re arms, and more particularly to a locking bolt not lock the cocked hammer against lowering. for the firing pin of a pistol, a safety device, esperi'he cocked hammer must be lowered from the cially for pistols having a hammer and a trigger, trigger after the'locking bolt of the pistol has and to means connected to the hammer for prebeen operated, i. e., the hammer is lowered by an 5 venting the access of dust and dirt to the interior extra manipulation, and the operator is not of the pistol. startled.

Safety devices for the firing pin are old in Another feature of the invention is thatalockwhich the pin is shifted axially for moving it beingV pawl is pivoted on the hammer and cooperyond reach of the hammer, or a check is provided ates with a spring catch. This catch is controlled 10 for intercepting the hammer before it strikes the by the safety device so as to allow the cocked firing pin. hammer to be lowered, and, in turn, controls the These old devices are departed from according locking pawlY to which it presents an abutment. to the invention, by separating the paths of the Preferably, v'the safety Ydevice is a rotary bolt firing pin and the member which strikes or rewhich when the arm is placed at safety, moves l5 leases the pin, i. e., by not only moving the pin the firing pin beyond the reach of the hammer. beyond reach of the member, but also beyond the Further features and details of the invention direction the member moves in. This is effected appear from the following specication and by moving the axis of the pin out of the position drawings showing a safety device by way of exit occupies when the pistol is set at firing. By ample.`A 20 these means, when the pistol, or arm, is at safe- According to another feature of the invention, ty, the firing pin and the member are so far apart the hammer, during its striking movement for that unintentional nring by shoeksor thelike, is nring a cartridge, not only Closes the cas-ing of absolutely prevented. the pistol for a certain distance, as in old struc- Other features of the invention will appear tures, but the hammer iS equipped With an @X- 25 from the following specication, the drawings and tension Opposite its Striking face. and a cooking the claims. t lug on the extension. The extension occupies an The second safety device comprises means for opening in the casing which completely encloseslowering the hammer, and for arresting the hamthe hammer, and the opening is closed by the exmer when the arm is at safety. tension in the cocked anduncocked positions of 30 Safety devices are old in which the hammer the hammer. By means of suitable bridges `at the can be lowered while the arm is at safety, but in Casing, the Opening for `the movement of the such devices the hammer can not be arrested. hammer Which Was .exposed heretofore, iS 110W On the other hand, a safety device for pistols has closed against dust and sand.

already been proposed in which the hammer is According to another feature 0f the invention, 35 t lowered upon operation of the safety bolt for the the eXtonSoIl 0f the hammer iS Dart 0f o Circle ring pin, but again the hammer is not arrested about the pvot 0f the hammer, and moves in a in its lowered position. The last-mentioned degroot/'o adjacent the opening, So that only the vice is unsatisfactory because the setting at safe- Cooking 111g Projects from the Casing.

40 ty, on the one hand, and the automatic lowering ln automatic Pistols fork which the improve- 40 of the hammer (which is under tension and mont iS -Drrlollaly designed, the .opening for strikes a check placed before the firing pin, or a the hammer ,extension iS bordered at one .end by similar part) on the other hand, are two operaa bridge at the breech, and at the other end by a tions which are normally supposed to exclude one bridge atv the stock. The bridge at the breech is another. The impression that the arm will be at the outer side of the arc-shaped hammer ex- 45 fired, is invariably connected with the striking tension, and the bridge at the stock is at .the of the hammer but if the hammer is lowered and inner side of the extension. The two bridges and strikes while the pistol is at safety, this may the arc-shaped extension make up a perfectly cause the operator to start. Lastly, a pistol tight closure of `the casing in all positions of the equipped with such a safety device cannot be hammer. 50

carried in the pocket when cocked. Other details and Vfeatures of the invention will The pistol according to the invention is disappear from the following specification, the drawtnguished from the known art by a locking pawl ings, and the claims. which is under the control of the safety bolt of The drawings illustrate, by way of example, a

the pistol and, when the pistol is at safety, locks pistol equipped'with a hammer and a trigger. 55,

Figs. 1-5 show the safety vdevice for the ring pin, Figs, 6-8 show the device for lowering and arresting the hammer, and Fig. 9 shows the hammer protected against dust.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section showing the pistol at safety,

Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the breech moving into firing position, and the spring catch disengaged from the hammer.

Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the lowering of the hammer while the pistol is at safety.

Figs. 4 and 5, respectively, illustrate the rotary safety bolt, and the spring catch of which Figs. 4a, 4b and 4c are sections taken on lines E-F, A-B and C--D respectively of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5a is a section taken on line V-V of Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a pistol whose hammer and spring catch are in uncooked position.

Fig. 7 is a similar section showing the pistol at safety, and the hammer and the spring catch in the position in which the spring catch is thrown out and the hammer is operated by the trigger.

Fig. 8 is a section of the casing, viewed from the front end of the pistol and showing the position of the locking pawl with respect tothe hammer and the casing.

Fig. 9 shows the pistol with the specially designed hammer in longitudinal section.

The safety device for the firing pin is designed as follows:

Two shoulders I and 2 for supporting the firing pin 3 on the rotary safety bolt 4 (Figs. 1 and 2. and section A-B in Fig. 4b) rock the striking pin 3 beyond reach of the hammer or striking member 5 when the safety bolt has been turned through 90. At the same time, a flange 6 on the firing pin is moved into a corresponding notch 'I in the bore of the breech, for holding the firing pin against movement.

When the locking bolt is at safety, the hammer 5 cannot be cocked by pressing the trigger, or by handling the hammer, since the front arm 8 of the spring catch 9 is engaged and arrested by the safety bolt.

VVithout eXtra provision at the safety device of the pistol, it could not be loaded when at safety. However, the hammer which was locked by the spring catch, is released by retracting the breech for a short distance to move the safety bolt clear of the arm 8.

The hammer which has now become free again, is arrested after the breech has been fully retracted into cooking position, until the safety bolt 4 on the breech which now returns into ring position, engages the end of the rear arm Ill of the spring catch 9 thereby moving the spring catch 9 clear for the length :r of its abutment, and the hammer, under the pressure of its spring, fully throws out the spring catch 9 through an inclined face Il connected to its tooth. The hammer follows the breech, but there is no danger in this movement, and finally it is locked, as described by the arm 8 of the spring catch engaging the safety bolt 4.

When the safety device is unbolted, the arms 8 and I of the spring catch 9 move freely through recesses in the rotary locking bolt 4. (Fig. 4c

Means are provided for uncocking the cocked hammer `while the pistol is at safety. Such means are very simple and do not involve extra members between the safety bolt and the spring catch. Just before the movement into safety position has been completed, and the firing pin has been moved out 'o'f the way of lthe hammer, a cam I2 (Figs. 3 and 4) at the bolt 4 strikes a lug I3 of the spring catch and thereby breaks the locking engagement of the catch 9 and the cocked hammer 5, so that now the hammer can return into its uncooked position without risk.

'I'he pistol illustrated in Figs. 6-8 is designed as follows:

The hammer is mounted to pivot in the stock I5 of the pistol on a bolt I4. It cooperates with a spring catch I'I fulcrumed at I6. The spring catch has an abutment I8 which is engaged by a tooth I9 on the hammer 5 when the hammer is moved into cooking position by hand or by the returning breech. A spring 20 tends to hold the spring catch II engaged with the hammer. An arm 2I on the spring catch Il cooperates with the rotary safety bolt 4 for the firing pin 3, and, when the ring pin is at safety, the arm 2| is engaged by the bolt 4 and limits the oscillation of the spring catch I1 (Fig. '7) while when the firing pin 3 is unbolted, the arm 2I freely enters a notch 22 in the safety bolt (Fig. 6).

A pawl 23 is fulcrumed on one side of the hammer 5 at 24. A pin 25 at the free end of the pawl engages in a hole 26 of the hammer whose inside diameter is larger than the outside diameter of the pin 25, and the oscillation of the pawl 23 is limited by the hole 25. The pawl 23 is inserted together with the hammer and is held in position by the wall at one side of the casing I5 (Fig. 8). The pawl 23 has a lug 21 which cooperates with a second abutment 28 at the lower side of the spring catch I l, as will now be described:

(a) Pistol set at firing Obviously, when the pistol is set at firing, the pawl 23 at the hammer must be inactive. Therefore, when the hammer 5 is cocked by hand, or by the trigger, the pawl 2k3 is turned about its pivot 24 toward the outerV side (anti-clockwise) by the spring catch I1 whose second abutment 28 is engaged by the pawl, until the pin 25 bears against one side of the hole 26. When the hammer is moved further toward its cooking position, the pawl 23 turns the springV catch I'I clockwise about its pivot I5. Finally, after its pivot 24 has been sufiiciently displaced with respect to the position of the point where the pawl 23 engages the spring catch, the pawl moves back for some distance into the hammer so that it clears the spring catch I TI. The hammer which is cocked by hand or by the trigger when the pistol is set at firing, is free to move into firing position. The pawl 23 moves back into the hammer as far as the hole 26 allows the pin 25 to move. The spring catch I 'I is also moved beyond the path of the pawl 23 for some distance, and its arm 2l partly enters the notch 22 in the safety bolt 4.

(b) Setting at safety with hammer in cocked position An important feature of the invention is the idea that the hammer must not be influenced by the operation of the safety device, in the present instance, the rotary safety bolt 4, in such manner that it is automatically lowered when the safety device is operated; on the contrary: The hammer is lowered from its cocked position only by operating the trigger, for the reasons stated above, while the pistol is at safety. The cocked pistol must be in such condition that it can be carried while at safety.

To this end, the spring catch I'I has a certain play for which it can be cscillated when the safety bolt is in its active position. This play is just such that the spring catch can be moved to become disengaged from the hammer, by the trigger, and the lug 21 of the pawl 23 which moves inwardly as far as possible, clears the spring catch. As the firing pin 3 has been moved beyond the path of the hammer by the rotary safety bolt 4, the hammer, if it strikes, cannot fire a cartridge.

(c) Arrestz'ng the uncooked hammer when pistol is at safety Another object of thev invention is to provide a safety device by which the uncooked hammer is arrested upon operation of the safety device. The uncooked hammer is arrested with the pistol at safety by, on the one hand, positioning the point of attack of the second abutment 28 of the spring catch l1 with respect to the pivot 24 of the pawl 23, so that the spring catch I1 turnsI the pawl 23 in outward direction and anti-clockwise when it is attempted to cock the hammer, and, on the other hand, by the spring catch I1 engaging the perimeter of the rotary bolt 4 with its arm 2l after having been rocked for a short distance by the hammer. The spring catch is now arrested by the safety bolt and thereby becomes an abutment for the pawl 23 on the hammer, preventing any further movement of the hammer in cooking direction.

If it is attempted to pull the trigger when the hammer is uncooked, it will be found that the trigger does not move since the hammer has been arrested. 'Ihe operator immediately notices that the pistol has been set at safety. The pistol can only be cocked and red after having been set` at i'lrng. Unintentional or unvoluntary manipulations which may cause errors and accidents, are practically eliminated by the described mechanism.

The design of the hammer according to Fig. 9 is as follows:

The hammer has an arcuate extension 29, with a cooking lug 30 at its free end. Sealing bridges 3l and 32 are arranged, respectively, at the breech and at the stock. The uncooked position of the hammer is shown in full, and its cocked position is shown in dotted lines.

In both positions of the hammer 5, the mechanism is effectively sealed against sand and dust by the bridges 3l and 32 engaging the outer and the inner side, respectively, of the arcuate hammer extension 29. The hammer extension also closes completely the opening provided for the movement of the hammer, without interfering with its cooking and uncocking by the lug 30 projecting from the pistol.

I claim:

1. A safety device for i'lre arms comprising a striking member, a firing pin adapted to be moved beyond reach of the striking member by displacement relative to its axis, and means surrounding the ring pin and having a recess therein which is engaged by a part of the firing pin in its displaced position to hold the firing pin against axial movement.

2. A safety device according to claim l, in which a safety bolt is provided which is rotatably mounted and engages the rear end of the firing pin and by its rotation is adapted to move the ring pin.

3. A safety device for re arms comprising a striking member having a tooth thereon, a firing pin, a safety bolt rotatably mounted and engaging the rear end of the firing pin and by its rotation is adapted to displace the rear end of the firing pin relative to its axis beyond reach of the striking member, and a spring catch having a front arm for cooperation with the safety bolt when the bolt is at safety and having a tooth thereon to contact with the tooth on the striking member to prevent movement of the striking member.

4. A safety device according to claim 3, in which the spring catch also has a rear arm adapted to be depressed and rocked with the catch until the tooth disengages, said rear arm being operated by the safety bolt a short time after a breech of the firearm has started returning from its fully retracted position sothat the striking member can follow the advancing breech.

5. A safety device according to claim 3, in which the striking member is provided with an inclined face in cooperation with the tooth, and in which the spring catch is provided with an abutment the edge of which being placed adjacent the inclined face after the spring catch has been locked by the safety bolt moving forward with the breech, the inclinedface being so positioned with respect to the edge of the abutment that the striking member under pressure of its spring effects the complete disengagement of the tooth from the abutment.

6. A safety device according to claim 1, in which an arm is provided adjacent a spring catch, and a looking bolt having a cam is provided for direct transmission an action causing cooking of the spring catch and uncocking the striking member from the bolt in its safety position to` the firing position.

7. A pistol comprising a striking member, a trigger, a safety member, a pawl between the safety member and the striking member and controlled by the safety member, and means whereby the pawl exclusively locks. against cooking of the striking member when the pistol is set for safety and unlocked against uncocking the striking member.

8. A pistol according to claim 7, in which a spring catch is provided whereby the pawl is controlled from the safety member by the spring catch which is influenced to permit uncocking of the cocked striking member when the safety member is at safety and the spring catch being a controlling member and an abutment for the pawl.

9. A pistol comprising a striking member, a trigger, a safety member, a pawl between the safety member and the striking member and controlled by the safety member, said pawl having means for exclusively locking against cooking of the striking member when the pistol is set for safety and unlocked against uncocking the striking member, a spring catch whereby the pawl is controlled from the safety member by the spring catch which is influenced to permit uncocking of the cocked striking member when the safety member is at safety and the spring catch being a controlling member and an abutment for the pawl, and two checks between which the pawl is free to pivot on the striking member.

10. A pistol comprising a striking member provided with an extension and a lug on the extension on that part of the striking member which is opposite to the striking face, a trigger, a safety member, and a pawl between the safety member and the striking member and controlled by the safety member, said pawl exclusively locking against cooking of the striking member when the pistol is. set for safety and unlocked against uncocking the striking member.

11. A pistol comprising a striking member provided With an extension and a lug on the extension on that part of the striking member which is opposite to the striking face, said extension being arcuate in shape and the lug projecting from a casing of the pistol, a trigger, a safety member, and a paWl between the safety member and the striking member and controlled by the safety member, said pawl exclusively locking against cooking of the striking member when the pistol is set for safety and unlocked against unoocking the striking member.

12. A pistol comprising a striking member provided with an extension and alug on the extension on that part of the striking member which is opposite to the striking face, a safety member, a pawl between the safety member and the striking member and controlled by the safety member, said paWl exclusively locking against cooking of the striking member when the pistol is set for safety and unlocked against uncocking the striking member, and a pair of bridge members on a casing for the pistol to seal the casing around and in the path of movement of said extension.

ERNST ALTENBURGER.

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