Abstract:
In a trigger system ( 100 ) comprising a hammer ( 110 ) for firing a cartridge, a striker ( 120 ) adapted to accelerate the hammer ( 110 ), and a sear ( 130 ) for releasably locking the striker ( 120 ), which sear ( 130 ) can be unlocked by means of a release device ( 140 ) capable of being actuated by means of a trigger bar ( 160 ) that can be moved by a trigger ( 150 ), wherein a front surface ( 121 ) of the striker rests against an end face ( 111 ) of the hammer for the purpose of accelerating the hammer ( 110 ) to initiate firing, protection of the cocked hammer ( 110 ) from external mechanical influences is made possible by mounting the hammer ( 110 ), the striker ( 120 ), the release device ( 140 ), and also a main spring ( 170 ) adapted to accelerate the striker ( 120 ) for rotation about a common principal axis ( 180 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Priority is claimed of DE102010050904.3-15, filed Nov. 10, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as if set forth at length. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a trigger system comprising a hammer for firing a cartridge, a striker adapted to accelerate the hammer, and a sear for releasably locking the striker, which sear can be unlocked by means of a release device capable of being actuated by means of a trigger bar that can be moved by a trigger, wherein a front surface of a striker rests against an end face of the hammer for the purpose of accelerating the hammer for firing a shot. 
     Trigger systems of the above type are configured in the prior art as double-action systems, which are more elaborately designed than single-action systems in which a cocking operation is to be manually carried out prior for firing a shot. 
     The prior devices are usually configured for use in firearms equipped with flybolts as cartridge firing elements and they all exhibit the drawback that they are labor-intensive in production and are thus relatively expensively. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is thus an object of the invention to provide a cheap, non-precockable trigger system of robust, compact, and lightweight design and with the assistance of which a handgun equipped with a hammer as the cartridge firing element can be fabricated so as to satisfy increased safety requirements. 
     For a trigger system of the above type, this object is achieved, according to the invention, in that the hammer, the striker, the release device, and also a main spring for biasing the striker are mounted for rotation about a common principal axis. 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the subordinate claims. 
     In the case of the trigger system of the invention the following combination of features, to the effect that the hammer, the striker, the release device, and also a main spring for biasing the striker are mounted for rotation about a common principal axis, makes it possible to design the assembly such that not only a decocked hammer but also a cocked hammer can be disposed in a rest position covered by the handgun handle, in which position the hammer does not project beyond the handle and is thus safely protected from external mechanical influences. 
     According to a first preferred embodiment of the trigger system of the invention provision is made for an operational angle of from 0° to 40°, more particularly of approximately 20° to be formed between a front surface of the striker and an end face of the hammer in a rest position of the hammer prior to actuation of the trigger, with the result that a rear rear edge of the hammer in the rest position assumes an angular position in the range of from 0° (vertical) to ±10°. 
     Prior to firing, the entrainer of the trigger bar moves forward due to actuation of the trigger and thus allows the hammer to rotate under the action of a release spring so as to move from its rest position, in which the front surface of the striker is spaced from the end face of the hammer at an angle of from 0° to 40°, more particularly at 20°, to a firing position, in which the front surface of the striker assumes a position in the region of the end face of the hammer. 
     In an operation subsequent to cocking the main spring by means of the breech block moving the hammer rearwardly, the entrainer, due to the action of a trigger spring moving the trigger back to its rest position, rotates the hammer about the principal axis until a specified operational angle between the end face of the hammer and the front surface of the striker is formed. 
     According to another preferred embodiment of the trigger system of the invention provision is made for the trigger, when moved from a rest position to a release position, to cause a forward movement of the entrainer of the trigger bar from its position adjacent a lower operational edge of the release device and thus rotation of the release device in a clockwise direction, by which means a releaser protuberance formed on the trigger strikes upwardly against the sear and thus disengages a striker catch from a sear edge. 
     In an operation subsequent to unlocking the striker, the striker biased by the main spring accelerates rotation of the hammer by causing the front surface of the striker to press against the end face of the hammer to cause rotation of the hammer. 
     According to another preferred embodiment of the trigger system of the invention provision is made for the breech block to contain a trigger bar slide, which, when the breech block moves rearwardly as a result of firing a shot, cooperates with a cam formed on the trigger bar, in order to press the cam and thus the trigger bar downwardly and by this means to disengage the entrainer of the trigger bar from engagement with the operational edge of the release device. By this means complete unlocking of the entrainer of the trigger assembly is achieved such that, in particular, even an extensive forward movement of the hammer slide protuberance will not be obstructed by the entrainer. 
     In an operation subsequent to firing a cartridge, a projectile moves forward from the barrel of the handgun and the cartridge case disposed in the breech block and absorbing the impulse of the projectile executes a corresponding rearward movement, which accelerates the breech block rearwardly. 
     The hammer can be moved rearwardly by a breech block moving to the rear and can thus be rotated about the principal axis, the end face of the hammer being preferably pressed against the front surface of the striker and the striker likewise caused to rotate, as a result of which the main spring is cocked by the tensioning cam of the rotating striker. 
     During a rearward movement of the breech block, a trigger bar slide cooperates with a cam formed on the trigger bar to press the cam and thus the trigger bar downwardly and by this means to disengage the entrainer of the trigger bar from the operational edge of the release device, in order that the action of the release spring can initiate rearward rotation of the release device, by means of which the releaser protuberance can be returned to a rest position, in which the striker catch is locked in position by the sear edge. 
     The release spring is likewise mounted for rotation about the common principal axis and can be rotatively cocked and biases, with its first end, the stop member of the hammer in the direction of the entrainer of the trigger bar and, with another end, presses the trigger into a position in which the cocked striker can be blocked by means of the sear. 
     According to another preferred embodiment of the trigger system of the invention provision is made for a hammer slide protuberance disposed opposite an impact surface of the hammer to be capable of moving forward by a rearward movement of the hammer in order to press the adjacent entrainer and thus the trigger bar forward against the force of a trigger spring. 
     According to another important preferred embodiment of the trigger system of the invention provision is made to the effect that during a forward movement of the breech block caused by the action of a breach spring, the trigger bar slide causes, together with an entrainer spring, a rearward upward movement of the entrainer, wherein the entrainer as a result slides upwardly along the hammer slide protuberance whilst pressing against the hammer slide protuberance. 
     Preferably, the entrainer of the trigger bar presses, by the action the trigger spring, the hammer slide protuberance rearwardly, in order to urge the hammer to rotate forward toward its rest position. 
     The benefit of the trigger system of the invention is that the rest position of the rear edge of the hammer can be adjusted by adaptation of the length of the trigger bar and thus of the relative position of the entrainer with reference to the hammer slide protuberance and of the geometry of the hammer slide protuberance in the range of from 0° (vertical) to ±10°. 
     The sear used in connection with the trigger system of the invention is mounted for rotation about a sear axis parallel to the principal axis. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The trigger system of the invention is explained below with reference to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures of the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment of the trigger system of the invention in an oblique front view in a rest position of the hammer, 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the trigger system of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a rest position of the hammer, 
         FIG. 3  is another side view of the preferred embodiment the trigger system of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a rest position of the hammer, 
         FIG. 4  is an oblique front view of the preferred embodiment of the trigger system of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a cocked position of the hammer, 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the preferred embodiment the trigger system of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a cocked position of the hammer, 
         FIG. 6  is another side view of the preferred embodiment the trigger system of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a cocked position of the hammer, 
         FIG. 7  is an oblique front view of the preferred embodiment the trigger system of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a firing position of the hammer, 
         FIG. 8  is another side view of the preferred embodiment the trigger system of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a firing position of the hammer, 
         FIG. 9  is another side view of the preferred embodiment the trigger system of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  in a firing position of the hammer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The trigger system  100  of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 9  includes a hammer  110  for firing a cartridge, a striker  120  for accelerating the hammer  110 , and a sear  130  for releasably locking the striker  120 , which is releasable by means of a release device  140 . The release device  140  can be activated by means of a trigger bar  160  capable of being moved by means of a trigger  150  and a front surface  121  of the striker rests against an end face  111  of the hammer for the purpose of accelerating the hammer  110  in order to initiate firing. 
     The hammer  110 , the striker  120 , a main spring  170  biasing the striker  120 , and the trigger  140  are mounted for rotation about a common principal axis  180 , wherein, in a rest position of the hammer  110 , prior to actuation of the trigger  150 , an operational angle of 20 is formed between a front surface  121  of the striker and an end face  111  of the hammer with the effect that in the rest position, the hammer  110  shows an angle of inclination in the region of 0, i.e. with its rear edge  112  being vertical. 
     The sear  130  is mounted for rotation about a sear axis  133  that is parallel to the principal axis  180 . 
     Following cocking of the main spring  170  by means of the breech block to pull back the hammer  110 , the entrainer, due to the action of a trigger spring  151  adapted to return the trigger  150  to its rest position, rotates the hammer  110  about the principal axis  180  to such an extent that the specified operational angle between the end face  111  of the hammer and the front surface  121  of the striker is formed. 
     Below, the terms “forward” and “rearward” movement denote movement in the shooting direction and contrariwise respectively. 
     An “upward” movement denotes movement perpendicular to the shooting direction toward the breech block and a “downward” is a corresponding countermovement. 
     In a rest position of the trigger  150  a rotatively cockable trigger spring  151  causes a rearward movement of the trigger bar  160  and a forward movement of the trigger  150 . 
     Firing is initiated by a forward movement of the trigger bar  160 . 
     A linearly cockable entrainer spring  163  braced against the housing presses a biasing plate  164  (press plate) upwardly against the entrainer  161  on the trigger bar  160 , by which means the entrainer  161  and trigger bar  160  can be moved downwardly and are biased upwardly. 
     A rotatively cockable sear spring  132  is braced at one end in a bore of the housing and biases a sear projection  131  toward a striker catch  122 . 
     A rotatively cockable main spring  170  presses against a nose of a striker  120 , which has on the opposite side thereof a projection that rests against an accelerating surface of the hammer  110 . 
     In the rest position of the hammer, the main spring  170  is cocked and the sear spring  132  biases the sear edge  131  of the sear  130  toward a striker catch  122  of the striker  120 . 
     The striker catch  122  is locked to the sear edge  131  and the striker  120  is blocked against rotation. 
     Prior to firing a shot, the entrainer  161  of the trigger bar  160  moves forward due to actuation of the trigger  150  and thus allows the hammer  110  to rotate under the action of a release spring  151  so as to move from its rest position, in which the front surface  121  of the striker is spaced from the end face  111  of the hammer at an angle of from 10° to 40°, more particularly at 20 degree, to a firing position, in which the front surface  121  of the striker assumes a position in the region of the end face of the hammer  111 . 
     When a shot is fired, the entrainer  161  pertaining to the trigger bar  160  and resting against a lower operational edge  141  of the release device  140  moves forward and thus causes rotation of the release device  140  in a clockwise direction. 
     A releaser protuberance  142  formed on the release device  140  knocks upwardly against the sear  130  and thus unlatches the striker catch  122  from the sear edge  131 . 
     Subsequently, the striker  120  biased by the main spring  170  rotates to accelerate the hammer  110  by pressing a front surface  121  of the striker against an end face  111  of the hammer to cause the hammer  110  to rotate counterclockwise. 
     The rotary movement of the striker  120  continues until a tensioning cam  123  pertaining to the striker  120  bears against a stop member formed in the handle. 
     The hammer  110  is at this stage situated in a firing position. 
     When the breech block moves rearwardly, the trigger bar slide presses the cam and thus the trigger bar  160  downwardly. 
     During the process of cocking the hammer  110 , the entrainer  161  of the trigger bar  160  is prevented from engaging the operational edge of the release device  140  and is in this way decoupled from the trigger assembly. 
     The hammer  110  is subsequently forced back by the rearwardly moving breech block and thus caused to rotate in a clockwise direction, by which means the end face  111  of the hammer is pressed against the front surface  121  of the striker and the striker  120  is likewise caused to rotate in a clockwise direction. 
     Thus the main spring  170  is cocked by the tensioning cam  123  pertaining to the rotating striker  120 . 
     During a rearward movement of the breech block, a trigger bar slide cooperates with a cam formed on the trigger bar  160  to depress the cam and thus the trigger bar  160  and thus to disengage the entrainer  161  of the trigger bar  160  from the operational edge of the release device  140 . 
     By this means, the action of a release spring  190  initiates a rearward rotation of the release device  140  and the releaser protuberance  142  is returned to a rest position, in which locking of the striker catch  122  is effected by the sear edge  131 . 
     The release spring  190  is likewise mounted for rotation about the common principal axis  180  and can be rotatively cocked so that its first end biases the stop member of the hammer  110  in the direction of the entrainer  161  of the trigger bar  160  and, with its other end, presses the release device  140  into a position in which the cocked striker  120  can be blocked by means of the sear  130 . 
     Correspondingly, the sear edge  131  locks the striker catch  122  of the striker  120  during the rearward movement of the hammer  110 . 
     A hammer slide protuberance  114  opposite the impact surface  113  of the hammer  110  moves due to the rearward movement of the hammer  110  in an counterclockwise direction and urges the entrainer  161  and thus the trigger bar  160  to move forward against the force of the trigger spring  190 . 
     During a subsequent forward movement of the breech block, the trigger bar slide causes, in cooperation with an entrainer spring  163 , an upward rearward movement of the entrainer  161 , which consequently slides upwardly while pressing against the hammer slide protuberance  114  along the hammer slide protuberance  114  until the hammer  110  reaches its rest position of 0° inclination. 
     In the operation subsequent to the forward movement of the breech block, the entrainer of the trigger bar  161  presses, due to the action of the trigger spring  190 , the hammer slide protuberance  114  rearwardly, by which means the hammer  110  is caused, by rotation in the counterclockwise direction, to move forward in the direction of its rest position. 
     The rest position of the hammer  110  is basically adjustable within the range of from 0° to 10° by adaptation of the length of the trigger bar  160  and thus of the relative position of the entrainer  161  with reference to the hammer slide protuberance  114  and also by adaption of the geometry of the hammer slide protuberance  114 . 
     The exemplary embodiment of the invention that is explained above serves only the purpose of providing better comprehension of the teaching of the invention specified in the claims and is not, as such, restricted to the exemplary embodiment.