US638677A - Magazine-gun. - Google Patents

Description

No 638,677. Patented Dec. 5, I899.

A. ALI-SON.

MAGAZINE GUN.

(Application filed May 23, 1898.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

PatentedDec. 5, I899. A. ALFSUN.

MAGAZINE GUN. (Application med-m 2a, 1898.)

4 Sheets$heet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 638,677. Patented Dec. 5, I899.

A. ALFSON.

MAGAZINE GUN.

(Application filed May 23 l89B mo Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

No. 638,677. Patented Dec. 5, I899.

ALFSQN;

MAGAZINE sun.

[Application filed may 23, 1898.)

4 She6t3 s 4.

NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ANDREYV ALFSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. F.

HEARNSHAVV, OF SAME PLACE.

MAGAZINE-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,677, dated December 5, 1899.

Application filed May 23, 1898. Serial No. 681,438. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW ALFSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magazine-Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in magazine or repeating guns and revolvers of the type commonly known as double-actingthat is, those in which at each complete stroke of the trigger or cycle ofoperation of the mechanism a cartridge is brought to position at the breech, is fired, and is removed from its position in the breech and replaced by a new loaded cartridge. There are numerous well-known examples in the art of arms of this class operating in the manner above broadly described, probably the bestknown example being the ordinary Smith & \Vesson or Colt double-acting revolvers.

In all guns or revolvers known to me in which the cycle of operation above described is caused solely by the operation of the trigger during each stroke thereof the capacity of the arm is exceedingly limited, seldom if ever exceeding seven successive shots and invariably using a revolving cylinder as the magazine for carrying the cartridges. In otherclasses of repeating firearms of the magazine-gun type two separate actions are invariably necessary so far as I am aware, one being the movement of a slide or lever to eject the discharged shell and replace it by a loaded shell and the other the mechanism for firing the shell or cartridge. This action, which is commonly called pumping, as is well known to the users of firearms, materially disturbs, if it does not destroy, the effectiveness of the aim and invariably results in such a change in the position of the gun as to prevent accurate rapid shooting.

The prime object of my invention is to avoid the objections to the limited capacity of the revolving-magazine firearm and also the objections to the pump gun type of magazine-gun by having the gun of greater capacity than any magazine-gun known to me and capable of a complete cycle of operation at each stroke of the trigger without any change whatever in the position and aim of the gun, except that which results from the recoil.

Another object is to utilize the stock of the gun as a magazine for receiving a cartridgebelt which shall be so connected with and related to the breech and lock mechanism of the gun as to carry off the exploded cartridge and bring into position a loaded cartridge during each cycle of operation of the gun under the influence of the trigger action.

Another object is to have the cartridgebelt of such character, disposition, and construction that while it moves in a horizontal plane and normally supports the cart-ridges in a position substantially at right angle to the barrel, stilleach cartridge-holder maybe raised at the proper time to position for engagement with the breech-block in line with the gun-barrel and will fall back witlrthe empty shell to its normal position when released by the breech-block to be carried back into the magazine.

These and other objects, which will appear farther on, are attained by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a magazine-gun embodying my invention with the side plate removed. Fig. 2 represents a sectional elevation of the same, the section through the lock and breech mechanism being taken on the central line. Figs. 3, i, 5, and 6 represent central vertical sections through the breech andlock mechanism, showing the parts in different positions. Fig. 7 represents a transverse vertical section through the stock of the gun and magazine,taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1, showing the lid of the magazine thrown back; and Fig. 9 is adetailed perspective View of the links of the cartridge-belt.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

I will first describe in detail the mechanism illustrated in the drawings as one embodiment of my invention, it being understood that my invention is equally applicable to rifles, revolvers, and shotguns of any caliber.

Referring now by letter to the accompanying drawings, A designates the hollow gunstock, B the barrel, O the breech-frame, I) the breech-block, E the hammer, and F the trigger, all of any suitable construction and dimensions according to the caliber of the gun and the choice of the manufacturer. The stock is provided with a hinged longitudinal cap G, covering the magazine-space,

' desired in the making up of a belt and of course, the number would vary with the caliber of the cartridges, each holder being designed to receive, hold, and carry a cartridge until it is exploded and ejected by the inversion of the gun, which act when the lid is thrown open ejects all of the exploded shells at the same time and permits the refilling of the holders.

The link chain works around two sprocketwheels K, located in the magazine at either end of the partition [1, the sprocket-wheels shown in the drawing being square in shape, although they may obviously be polygonal and as manysides as maybe desired. In the upper part of the breech-frame C, immediately back of the barrel, is formed a semicircular chamber M on an arc corresponding with the periphery of the cartridge-holding tube and of a length substantially corresponding with said tube. In the breech-block Dis formed the remaining half N of the chamber, so that when the breech-block is swung up to position against the upper part of the breech- .frame the two members together form a circular chamber for reception of the cartridgeholder when the cartridge is fired, as usual in guns having movable breech-blocks. The breech-block is pivoted at one end to the breech-frame, as at O, and is connected eccentrically or through a crank by a rod P with one arm of a lever Q of the first class, pivoted at q to the breech-frame or to the partition H, or to both. This lever Q, I will designate as a lock-lever, because it serves the further function of a lock forthe breech-block when the latter is swung up into operative position, sustaining the shell-holder in firing position, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the lever at such time receiving the shock from the breechblock in a line with its pivot. This lock-lever is connected by a link R with the upper end of the trigger F, which latter is pivoted at S to the breech-frame, or preferably to the partition II,and is provided with a rear wardlyextending arm T opposite its pivot for cocking the hammer. The hammer E is also pivoted to the breech-frame or to the partition H, adjacent to the trigger, so that the trigger-arm T, when the trigger is swung backward on its pivot, engages a spring-actuated trip U, pivoted to the hammer, causing the hammer to swing backward upon its pivotin the usual manner until by reason of the different arcs on which the trigger-arm and the trip are swinging the trigger-arm becomes disengaged from the trip, allowing the hammer to be forcibly thrown forward to its normal position under the influence of one arm of the mainspring V, the other arm of which engages the trigger and forcibly returns it to its normal position.

For the purpose of firing the cartridge I prefer to use an ordinary spring-retracted firing-pin W, arranged for either rim or central tire and located in the path of the hammer, so as to be struck thereby and forced against (so as to explode) the cartridge. The firing-pin and hammer may be of any usual or desired construction, and obviously the pin may be dispensed with and the hammer causedto directly strike the cartridge. For the purpose of feeding the cartridge-belt I may employ any suitable means, that shown in the drawings consisting of a spring-actuated pawl X, pivoted upon the upper end of a lever Y, the lower end of which lever is connected bya rod Z with the trigger F below the pivot thereof. This rod Z has a pin-and-slot connection a with the lever Y, providinglost motion, so that the backward movement of the trigger has no effect upon the lever until just before the end of the trigger stroke, when the position of the lever is shifted so that the pawl moves forward and engages the link of the cartridge-belt next in advance. Of course the first part of the returning or forward movement of the trigger also has no effect upon the belt until just prior to the end of the stroke, when the belt will be moved just the length of one link or a sufficient space to carry the exploded shell away from central or firing position and to bring the next loaded shell into place readyto be raised and fired.

As a safety device for throwing the entire mechanism out of operation so far as feeding the loaded cartridge is concerned, I propose to provide some suitable means for holding the pawl X in an elevated position out of engagement with the links of the belt. This may be accomplished by a spring-actuated pin b, adapted to be thrown into the path of the pawl which rides over it, so that no matter how many times the trigger is pulled no feeding action of the belt will take place, and as long as an empty cartridge-holder or an exploded shell is at center or firing position the gun cannot be fired; but as soon as the pin is withdrawn the pawl will resume its normal work.

As before described, the cartridge holders or tubes J are of such diameter that the cartridge snugly fits therein, with the head of the cartridge serving as a stop therefor and resting upon the upper edge of the holder. The holder, as before stated, is pivoted at its upper end to one of the links I of the belt, and

as the holder hangs freely from such pivot it l ward its full distance to engage the next link is free to be swung from a substantially vertical up to a horizontal position within the chamber M N, formed between the breechframe and breech-block. Of course only the holder at central or firing position at the forward end of the belt can be so swung, and hence the description of such operation refers only to this holder, as the rest are at such times out of possible firing position in the magazine.

To elevate the cartridge-holder into position in the firing-chamber, numerous devices may be employed; but I prefer to provide a pivoted finger c on the upper end of the locklever, which finger engages a notch d on the back of the cartridge-holder as the lock-lever is swung upon its pivot thereby forcing the cartridge-holder to swing upward on its pivot to a substantially horizontal position ready to be embraced between the breech-block and the breech-frame in the firing-chamber.

Having now described the general construction and operation of my gun, I will nowproceed to describe the cycle of operation thereof in action, reference being now had particularly to Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, showing the principal positions assumed by the mechanisms during a complete cycle of operation.

In Fig. 3 we find the parts in their normal position, with a cartridge-holder carrying a loaded cartridge hanging in central position ready to be thrown up into firing position. The first part of the backward movement of the trigger causes the parts to move to the position shown in Fig. l,in which the breechblock is slightly raised, the pusher-finger on the lock-block has come into engagement with the cartridge-holder, and the trigger-arm has engaged the trip upon the hammer. The feedpawl has not changed its position, because of the lost movement in the pin-and-slot connection between its-lever, and the trigger-rod Z and the cartridgebelt have remained at a standstill. The next position of the parts is shown in Fig. 5, where the trigger has moved about half-way back. In this position the pusherfinger has raised the shell-holder about half-way up and the breech-block has made about half of its movement, following in behind the shell-holder. The trigger has also moved abouthalf-way back, and the feedpawl has just commenced its forward movement to engage the next link of the belt. In Fig. 6 the parts are shown to have practically completed their movements, the trigger being almost all of the way back at the instant before firing. The breech-block has moved up to its final position, carrying with it the shellholder, which is now in the firing-chamber,and the lock-lever has moved under the breechblock, so as to sustain it against the shock of firing. The very slightest further movement of the trigger will now trip the hammer and cause the cartridge to be fired. It will also be noted that the feed-pawl has moved forof the belt.

hen the firing has taken place and the trigger starts to turn forward to its normal position, the first action will be to move the lock-lever out from under the breech-block, thereby permitting the latter to swing down away from the cartridge-holder, which latter of course follows the block down, swinging in the opposite direction until all of these parts resume their normal positions. (Illustrated in Fig. 3.) Just before the trigger completes its forward movement the feed-pawl is given sufficient action to move the cartridgebelt the length of one link, which causes the exploded shell, now in lowered position, to move away from central position and the next loaded shell to move up into central position ready for a repetition of the operation previously described upon another pulling of the trigger. This cycle of operation takes place at each complete stroke of the trigger and may be effected as rapidly as the operator is capable of manipulating the trigger or desires to fire the gun, and it may be repeated as often as the charge of the gun will permit.

It will be noted that the cartridge-shells are not ejected one by one after being fired, but are ejected all at the same time, as I have before described, by raising the lid to the magazine and inverting the gun, after which the belt may be recharged.

I have found by actual demonstration that the magazine in the stock of the gun may be of such capacity as to accommodate a cartridge-belt carrying fifty of the forty-fourcaliber cartridges, and of course this number would be greatly increased where the gun is built for smaller calibers, and even in revolvers, especially of the smaller calibers, there is ample space for many more cartridges than it is possible to carry in a cylinder of practical dimensions. The stock of the gun, to compensate for the weight of the cartridges and belt, is chambered to receive the same and besides may be constructed of light hollow metal, so that the completely-loaded weapon will not weigh any more than any magazinegun of like caliber.

Obviously the details of construction of a gun embodying my invention may be varied considerably, and many changes in form, relation, and cooperation of parts will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art to which my invention a ')pertains,but all such changes would fall within the purview of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a magazine-gun, the combination with a cartridge-belt comprising a series of cartridge-holders pivoted at their upper ends, of a breech-block pivoted forward of said belt, a lock-lever operating to swing said holder and block on their pivots and to lock said IIO block in firing position, a trigger connected with, and actuating, said lever and a springactuated hammer operated by the trigger,substantially as described.

2. In a magazine-gun, the combination with a cartridge-belt comprising a series of pivoted cartridge-holders, of a breech-block, a trigger and means actuated by said trigger for swi nging one of said holders on its pivot and moving the breech-block to firing position and firing the cartridge, a feed-pawl adapted to engage said belt, a lever carrying the same, a rod connecting said lever with the trigger and a pin-and-slot connection between said lever and rod, substantially as described.

3. In amagazine-gun, the combination with a cartridge-belt comprising a series of cartridge-holders pivoted at their upper ends, of a breech-block pivoted forward of said belt, a lock-lever operating to swing said holder and block on their pivots and to lock said block in firing position, a trigger connected with, and actuating said lever, a feed-pawl, a lever to which said pawl is pivoted, a rod connecting the opposite end of said lever with the trigger and a pin-and-slot connection between said lever and rod, substantially as described.

a. In a magazine-gun, the combination with a cartridgebelt comprising a series of cartridge-holders pivoted at their upper ends, of a breech-block pivoted forward of said belt, a lock-lever operating to swing said holder and block on their pivots and to lock said block in firing position, a trigger connected with, and actuating, said lever, a spring-actuated pivoted hammer, a spring-actuated trip on said hammer, an arm on the trigger adapted and arranged to engage said trip to operate the hammer, a feed-pawl, a lever to one end of which said pawl is pivoted, a rod connecting the said end of said lever with the trigger and a pin-and-slot connection between said lever and rod, substantially as described.

5. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a belt and pivoted cartridge-holders carried bysaid belt and swinging perpendicular to the plane of said belt, of a trigger, means operated by the trigger for feeding said belt and means also operated by said trigger for swinging said cartridge holders scria/im about their pivots on said belt to the firing position, substantially as described.

6. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a belt, and a plurality of cylindrical cartridge-holders each pivoted near one end to said belt and dependent therefrom, of a trigger, means operated by the said trigger for feeding said belt and means also operated by said trigger for swinging said cartridge-holders scriatfm about their pivots to the firing position, substantially as described.

7. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock and sprocket wheels or drums mounted in said stock, a belt traveling over said sprocket wheels or drums, and pivoted cartridge-holders carried by said belt and swinging perpendicular to the plane of said belt, of a trigger, means operated by the trigger for feeding said belt and means also operated by said trigger for swinging said cartridge-holders seriat'im about their pivots on said belt to the firing position, substantially as described.

8. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock and sprocket wheels or drums mounted in said stock, a belt traveling over said sprocket wheels or drums, and a plurality of cylindrical cartridge-holders each pivoted near one end to said belt and dependent therefrom, of a trigger, means operated by the said trigger for feeding said belt and means also operated by said trigger for swingin g said cartrid ge-holders serz'utim about their pivots to the firing position, substantially as described.

9. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock, a hinged cover therefor and sprocket wheels or drums mounted in said stock, a belt traveling over said sprocket wheels or drums, and pivoted cartridge-holders carried by said belt, the said hinged cover normally serving to keep the cartridges in said holders, of a trigger, means operated by the trigger for feeding said belt and means also operated by said triggerfor swinging said cartridge-holders scriatmt about their pivots on said belt to the firing position, substantially as described.

10. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock and a removable cover therefor, .of a belt traveling in said stock, and a plurality of hollow cylindrical cartridgeholders each pivoted near one end to said belt and dependent therefrom with their open tops in close proximity to said hinged cover, whereby the rims of said cartridges may be held in place until the cover is raised, and then all of the cartridges or empty cartridgecases may be dumped out, and the belt recharged, substantially as described.

11. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a breech-frame, a swinging breech-block mounted in said frame and combining with said frame when closed to form a cylindrical firing-chamber, a trigger, and mechanisms operated by the trigger for feeding the cartridge into said chamber for swinging the breech-block, and for firing said cartridge, substantially as described.

12. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock, a cartridge-belt mounted in said stock, pivoted cartridgeholders secured to said belt, a breech-frame, a breechblock mounted in said frame and combining with said frame when closed to form acylindrical firing-chamber, a trigger, and mechanisms operated by the said trigger for feeding the cartridge-holder into said chamber, and for swinging the breech-block to the closed position, substantially as described.

13. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock provided with a removable cover, a cartridge-belt mounted in said IIO said belt, the said hinged cover normally servin g to keep the cartridges in place in said holders, a breech-frame, a swinging breech-block mounted in said frame and combining with said frame when closed to form a cylindrical firing-chamber, a trigger, means operated by said trigger for feeding the cartridge-holder into said chamber, and means also operated by said trigger for swinging the breech-block to the closed position, substantially as described.

14. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock, a cartridge-belt mounted in said stock, and cartridge-holders secured to said belt, of a movable breech-block, a trigger, and mechanism successively operated by said trigger for swinging the cartridgeholderon its pivot, and for moving the breechblock to the firing position, substantially as described.

15. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a belt and pivoted cartridge-holders carried by said belt, of a feed-pawl for moving said belt, a lever for operating said pawl, a trigger and a slotted rod pivoted to said trigger and engaging said lever, substantially as described.

16. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a belt and pivoted cartridge-holders carried by said belt, of a feed-pawl for moving said belt, a lever for operating said pawl, a movable stop for throwing said pawl out of action, and a trigger and a slotted rod pivoted to said trigger and engaging said lever, substantially as described.

17. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a belt, and a plurality of cylindrical cartridge-holders each pivoted near one end to said belt and dependent therefrom, of a trigger, and means operated by the said trigger for feeding said belt, and a lifting-finger connected with and also operated by said trigger, for swinging said cartridge-holders seriatz'm about their pivots to the firing position, substantially as described.

18. Ina magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock and sprocket wheels or drums mounted in said stock, a belt traveling over said sprocket wheels or drums, and pivoted cartridge-holders carried by said belt, of a trigger, and means operated by the trigger for feeding said belt, and a lifting-finger connected with and also operated by said trigger for swinging said cartridge-holders sem'att'm about their pivots on said belt to the firing position, substantially as described.

19. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock and sprocket wheels or drums mounted in said stock, a belt traveling over said sprocket Wheels or drums, and a plurality of cylindrical cartridge-holders each pivoted near one end to said belt and dependent therefrom, of a trigger and means operated by the said trigger for feeding said belt, and a lever and lifting-finger connected with and also operated by said trigger for swingstock, pivoted cartridge-holders secured to {ingsaid cartridge-holdersseriattmabouttheir pivots to the firing position, substantially as described.

20. In amagazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock, a removable cover therefor and sprocket wheels mounted in said stock, a belt traveling over said sprocketwheels and pivoted cartridge-holders carried by said belt, the said removable cover normally keeping the cartridges in said holders of a trigger and means operated by the trigger for feeding said belt, and a lever andlifting-finger connected with and also operated by said trigger for swinging said cartridgeholders seridttm about their pivots on said belt to the firing position, substantially as described.

21. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock, a cartridge-belt mounted in said stock, pivoted cylindrical cartridgeholders secured to said belt, a breech-frame, a breech-block mounted in said frame and combining with said frame to form a cylindrical firing-chamber, a trigger, and a springpawl and a lifting-finger connected with and operated by the said trigger for feeding the cartridge-holder into said chamber, and means for swinging the breeclrblock to the closed position, substantially as described.

22. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock provided with a remov able cover, a cartridge-belt mounted in said stock, pivoted cylindrical cartridge-holders secured to said belt, a breech-frame, a swinging breech-block mounted'in said frame and combining with said frame to form a cylindrical firing-chamber, a trigger, and a feedpawl and a lifting-finger connected with and operated by said trigger for feeding the car-' tridge-holder into said chamber, a lockinglever and a connecting-link also operated by said trigger for swinging the breech-block to the closed position,substantially as described.

23. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a breech-frame having part of the firingchamber recessed therein, and a swinging breech-block also recessed to complete the firing-chamber when in the closed position, of a locking-lever for holding the breechblock in the closed position, a connectingrod from said lockinglever pivoted to said breech-block for swinging the latter about its pivot, a trigger, and connections between said trigger and said locking-lever for operating the latter by means of said trigger, substantially as described.

24. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a breech-frame having part of the firing-chamber recessed therein and a swinging breech-block also recessed to complete the firing-chamber when in the closed position and means for feeding the cartridge to said chamber, of a locking-lever for holding the breech-block in the closed position, a connecting-rod from said locking-lever pivoted to said breech-block for swinging the latter about its pivots, a lifting-finger carried by said locking-lever for pushing the cartridge into said firing-chamber, a trigger, and connections between said trigger and said locking-lever for operating the latter by means of said trigger, substantially as described.

25. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a breech-frame having part of the firing-chamber recessed therein, and a swinging breech-block also recessed to complete the firing-chamber when in the closed position, of a locking-lever for holding the breechblock in the closed position, aconnecting-rod from said locking-lever pivoted to said breechblock for swinging the latter about its pivot, a trigger, and connections between said trigger and said locking-lever for operating the latter by means of said trigger, and a springoperated hammer also operated by said trigger, substantially as described.

26. In a magazine-firearm, the combination with a hollow stock, and a cartridge-belt therein, of a breech-frame having part of the firing-chamber recessed therein, a swinging breech-block also recessed to complete the firing-chamber when in the closed position, and means for feeding the cartridge to said chamber, of a locking-lever for holding the breech-block in the closed position, a connecting-rod from said locking-lever pivoted to said breech-block for swinging the latter about its pivot, a lifting-finger carried by said locking-lever for pushing the cartridge into said firing-chamber, a trigger, a link between said trigger and said locking-lever, and a spring-operated hammer also operated by said trigger, substantially as described.

ANDREW ALFSON. Witnesses:

C. L. \VOOD, M. E. SHIELDS.

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