Revolver

A revolver that has firing means arranged so as to substantially raise the resting point of the middle finger of the hand on the handle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention to a pistol with drum rotation also commonly known as a “revolver”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A single action revolver is known, in which the hammer, normally actuated by the thumb of the hand, also produces the rotation of the drum. In such a revolver, firing is caused by a subsequent and distinct movement of the index finger of the hand that presses the trigger. Such a type of revolver is recommended for target shooting.

A double-action revolver is also known in which firing is produced by simply pulling the trigger. Such a type of revolver, on the other hand, is much more highly recommended for firing many shots in quick succession even without much precision.

In known revolvers, the recoil force that is generated at the moment of firing produces a moment of rotation on the hand that is substantially proportional to the distance between the axis of the barrel and the median axis of the forearm. The greater such a distance, the greater the tendency of the pistol to recoil or rotate. Therefore at each shot the firearm tends to push down into the hand and tends to rotate between thumb and index finger forcing the firer to take aim once again.

Moreover, in known revolvers, in normal holding of the firearm, the barrel points downwards and can only be taken into horizontal alignment with a considered twist of the wrist upwards. This substantially complicates instinctive shooting.

In order to reduce the recoil of the firearm it has been proposed t bring the barrel into alignment with the lower firing chamber of the drum. However, this has also brought about the lowering both of the hammer and of the relative actuation mechanism and consequently of the point at which the hand rests, which has partially made the advantage achieved futile.

A further drawback of known revolvers is linked to the weight of the firearm.

To reduce the weight of the firearm it has notoriously been attempted to make the fore-end from a light and easily workable material like an aluminum-based alloy, but one is yet to find a light and easily workable material that can at the same time offer high mechanical strength.

With current materials, after a certain number of shots, there is a deformation of the upper transom of the window of the drum that makes the firearm unusable.

The use of titanium and its alloys has been proposed, which is suitable in terms of mechanical strength and lightness but not highly recommended due to cost and workability.

Another drawback of known revolvers is linked to their bulk, for which reason they are generally longer than semi-automatic pistols with the same barrel length.

To compact the firearm a division of the trigger has been proposed by operatively connecting an inner trigger or distributor to the outer trigger, suitable for locking, unlocking and rotating the drum, arming and unhooking the hammer. In this case the outer trigger is suitable just for transmitting the movement of the finger to the distributor through a connecting rod between the two parts.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a revolver that allows the aforementioned technical drawbacks of the prior art to be eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a revolver capable of reducing to the minimum the tendency of the firearm to recoil and push down into the hand of the firer at each shot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a firearm that, once instinctively held, arranges the barrel in alignment with the axis of the forearm so as to allow precise instinctive firing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a revolver that is-light and at the same time that is able to offer high mechanical strength so as to always ensure optimal performance through time, even using powerful cartridges.

Last but not least, it is an object of the present invention to provide an extremely compact revolver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These objects of the present invention are accomplished by making a revolver has firing means arranged so as to substantially raise the resting point of the middle finger of the hand on the handle.

The firing means can have a first hinging point to the fore-end of the firearm, which rotatably carries a trigger of the firearm, an anchor for locking and unlocking the drum, and a spring suitable for keeping the anchor in position locking the drum.

The firing means can have a second hinging point to the fore-end of the firearm, which rotatably carries an inner distributor of the movement of the trigger suitable for arming the hammer, and a counter-hammer suitable for locking the armed hammer. The distributor can have a first portion suitable for commanding the arming of the hammer, a second portion that can respectively engage with and disengage from said anchor to respectively lock and unlock the drum, and a third portion in which a hinging point is formed that rotatably carries a foot kept engaged against the toothing of the drum for the actuation thereof. The distributor fixedly carries a dragging member suitable for pulling the counter-hammer into rotation at the end part of the stroke of said trigger to unlock said hammer and cause firing.

The hinging point of the hammer can be arranged to be substantially vertically aligned with the point in which the hammer strikes the cartridge capsule. This hinging point of the hammer can be arranged between the hinging point of the rotation foot of the drum and the hinging point of the distributor.

The firing means can have a hinging point to the fore-end of the firearm which rotatably carries an arming element of the hammer in the operation of the single action firearm, or pseudo-hammer, a torsion spring and an element that commands the disengagement of the drum. A connecting rod directly or indirectly associated with said hammer to actuate and is articulated from the pseudo-hammer.

The torsion spring can have a first stem associated with the connecting rod for pulling the pseudo-hammer back into the rest position after it has carried out the arming. of the hammer.

The pseudo-hammer can be arranged in a rear high part of the handle above the hilt and can project outside of the fore-end to be able to be pulled by the thumb of the hand.

The revolver can have a system for locking the withdrawal of the drum when it is removed from the relative window for loading new cartridges or for expelling fired cartridge cases having engagement members between the drum and the extraction arm of the drum from the relative window.

This anti-withdrawal system can comprise a nose projecting from the base of the drum facing the barrel, the nose carrying a recess with circular section that rotatably couples with a matching profile of a portion of the head of a cylinder removably housed in the extraction arm of the drum.

Reinforcement means can be provided for the side of the window of the drum that faces the base of the cartridge cases, the reinforcement means comprising a removable plate made from material with high mechanical strength.

The hinging point of the distributor also rotatably carries a repositioning member or intermediary, suitable for taking the firing means back into the initial configuration taken up by it before the trigger was pulled, the intermediary indirectly transmitting the movement to the distributor acting against an appendix of the rotation foot of the drum so as to constantly ensure a contact pressure of the rotation foot of the drum against the toothing of the drum.

To make the hammer safe, the peripheral edge of the third portion of the distributor is able to intercept a pin mounted in relief on the hammer so that when the distributor returns, before the end stop of the trigger, the intercepted pin causing the hammer to pull back and consequently the firing pin to move away from the cartridge capsule.

The firing means can have a hinging point to the fore-end of the firearm, which supports a spring that continuously acts on an abutment of said intermediary to return the firing means back into the rest configuration.

The connecting rod has a detectable interference member at one end, during the pulling back of said pseudo-hammer starting from a rest position, against the application point of the rotation spring on the hammer to carry out the arming of the hammer. The torsion spring can have a second stem associated with a locker equipped with a cylindrical extension suitable for holding the drum in the closed position. The locker can hold an appendix of said disengagement element of the drum so that the manual rotation of said disengagement element of the drum allows the drum to be freed.

In another feature, a hinging point to the fore-end of the firearm carries a spring having a first stem suitable for actuating the firing means through a first lever so as to take said firing means back into the rest configuration taken up before the trigger was pulled, and a second stem suitable for actuating the hammer through a second lever having a common rotation pin with said first lever. The first lever transmits the movement to an appendix of the foot so as to constantly ensure a contact pressure of the foot against the toothing of the drum.

The control element for the disengagement of the drum can be associated with a cylindrical pin suitable for holding the drum in the closed position. The cylindrical pin can have a circumferential groove where a ball actuated by a spring to hold the drum snaps in.

The revolver can also have a further sealing system that opposes the slipping out of the drum, consisting of a ball that, pushed by a spring, is arranged in an imprint of the drum extraction arm.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

Equivalent parts in the figures have been indicated with the same reference numerals.

The drawing shows a revolver1.

The revolver1comprises a frame having a fore-end2in which a window3is formed for housing the drum4,.a barrel5that extends from the fore-end2, a handle6with hilt7, and an outer trigger8operatively connected to a hammer9inside the fore-end2and able to be made to strike on the base of the cartridge case to cause firing.

The revolver1, as illustrated, has. the lower firing chamber of the drum4aligned with the axis of the barrel5.

Advantageously, the drum4is hexagonal-shaped that reduces the thickness of the firearm without penalizing its is robustness, whereas the distance between the front face11of the drum4and the handle6is reduced to a few millimeters to reduce the length of the firearm. Since the bulk of the handle that has been brought closer would prevent the loading and removal of the cartridges it has had to be ensured that when coming out the drum moves further away from the fore-end making a new system necessary to avoid it withdrawing when it is removed from the relative window3for loading new cartridges or for expelling fired cartridge cases. Such an anti-withdrawal system of the drum has engagement members12and13between the drum4and the arm14for removing the drum from the relative window3, said removal arm14rotatably carrying, as known, at one of its ends, the drum4and at its other end being hinged with a pin15to the fore-end2.

In particular, from the rear base16of the drum4, in other words from the base of the drum4facing the barrel5, projects a nose17that carries a recess18with a circular profile that rotatably couples with a matching profile of a portion19of the head20of a cylinder21removably housed in the drum extractor14. For example, the cylinder21is held in the extractor14through a screw22screwed into the cylinder21itself. Of course, the removal of the drum4for cleaning or inspection is made possible by simply unscrewing the screw22is from the cylinder21.

Advantageously, moreover, it is possible to introduce removable reinforcing means of the side of the window3of the drum4that faces the base of the cartridge cases to allow the fore-end5of the firearm to still be made from extremely light material, for example aluminum alloy.

Such reinforcement means comprise a plate23made from a material with high mechanical strength, for example steel, which can be inserted in dove-tail fashion at the side of the window3of the drum4the faces the base of the cartridge cases and held here by suitable fastening pins (not shown).

Such a reinforcement plate23has the double advantage of opposing the pressure exerted by the base of the cartridge case at the time of firing with a non-deformable obstacle, thus distributing the pressure over a very large surface of the fore-end2, and of allowing operations to be carried out on it in a very simple way, such as the discharge for the return of the drum4, the hole of the firing pin24and the cut for the rotation foot25of the drum4which would otherwise be carried out in a much more complex manner on the fore-end2. Preferably, the operation of the revolver is of the mixed action type, in other words it can operate either with single or double action.

The correct operation of the firearm both in double action and in single action is ensured by guaranteeing a certain striking speed of the hammer9upon striking, depending upon the distance between the hinging26of the hammer9and the striking point or upon the size of the angular stroke of the hammer9from the armed position to the striking position.

To do this an inner distributor27of the movement of the outer trigger8, suitable for arming the hammer9, and a distinct element, hereafter known as counter-hammer28, suitable for blocking the armed hammer, are provided, rotatably supported at a common hinging point to the fore-end2of the firearm.

By removing the function of blocking the armed hammer from the distributor27and if necessary providing a blocking element28distinct from the distributor27but hinged at the same point, it is possible to reduce the difference in angular stroke of the hammer9between the operation of the firearm with single action and double action to just 3 degrees.

In double-action operation of the revolver the hammer9is armed and released for shooting with a single movement of the outer trigger8that actuates the distributor27both to arm and to release the hammer9, whereas in single-action operation of the revolver the hammer9is armed with a first movement through an outer hammer, hereafter also known as pseudo-hammer29, whereas the release of the inner hammer9for firing takes place with a second movement of the outer trigger8.

The firing means are contained in the space between the back30of the handle, the front face11of the drum4and the trigger guard31, with the exception of the pseudo-hammer29, as we shall see, which partially projects outside the upper part of the hilt7of the handle6.

In particular, such firing means have a plurality of hinging points to the for-end2of the firearm as described hereafter.

A first hinging point32to the fore-end2of the firearm rotatably carries the trigger8and the anchor33for locking and unlocking the drum4, as well as the spring34that continuously presses the anchor33on the drum4in the position locking the drum4.

At the first hinging point32there is a small clearance in the direction parallel to the axis of the drum suitable for allowing the locking and unlocking, respectively, between the anchor33and the distributor27.

A second hinging point35to the fore-end2of the firearm rotatably carries the distributor27and the counter-hammer28.

The counter-hammer28is movable from the locked position to the unlocked position against the action of a spring39that continuously pulls it back to the locked position. The transmission of movement from the trigger8to the distributor27is ensured by a connecting rod40.

The distributor27has a first portion41suitable for controlling the arming of the hammer9. Such a first portion41of the distributor27acts only indirectly on the hammer9, actually being taken into direct contact with a mobile bill42in turn hinged on the hammer9.

The distributor27also has a section portion43that can engage with and, respectively, disengage from the anchor33for respectively locking and unlocking the drum4. The distributor27also has a third portion44in which a hinging point45is formed that rotatably carries the foot25kept engaged against the toothing46of the drum4for the actuation thereof.

Finally, the distributor27fixedly carries a dragging member47suitable for pulling the counter-hammer28into rotation at the end part of the stroke of the trigger8to unlock the hammer9and cause firing. we shall now refer, in particular, to the embodiment of FIGS.FIGS. 1-7.

The second hinging point35to the fore-end of the firearm also rotatably carries a repositioning member, here forth known as intermediary36, suitable for taking the firing means back into the rest configuration taken up before the trigger was pulled.

A third hinging point49to the fore-end2of the firearm supports the spring48that continuously acts on an abutment50of the intermediary36to take the firing means back into the rest configuration taken up before the trigger8was pulled.

The intermediary36does not transmit the movement directly to the distributor27but to an appendix of the foot25hinged to the distributor27so as to constantly ensure a contact pressure cf the foot25against the toothing46of the drum4.

A fourth hinging point26to the fore-end2of the firearm, as stated, rotatably carries the hammer9.

A fifth hinging point52to the fore-end2of the firearm supports a spring53acting at a point of application on the hammer9to actuate its rotation.

A sixth hinging point54to the fore-end2of the firearm defines a pin for intercepting the spring53that actuates the rotation of the hammer9.

There is a further interaction between the distributor27and the hammer9to make it safe. The peripheral edge of the appendix44of the distributor.27that carries the foot25, indeed, is able to intercept a pin55mounted in relief on the hammer9.

When the distributor27returns, before the end stop of the trigger8, the pin55is intercepted causing the hammer9to pull back and consequently the firing pin24to move away from the cartridge capsule. In this slight pulling back of the hammer9the rotation spring23of the hammer9is not compressed since it is intercepted by the relative intercept pin54. This means that the last part of the stroke of the hammer9is carried out by inertia.

A seventh hinging point56to the fore-end2of the firearm supports the pseudo-hammer29, a double effect torsion spring57and an element58that commands the disengagement of the drum4.

The pseudo-hammer29is arranged in the rear high part of the handle6above the hilt7and projects outside of the fore-end2to be able to be actuated by the thumb of the hand.

An end of a connecting rod59is hinged on the pseudo-hammer29, with its opposite shaped end slidably bound to the pin54itself for intercepting the spring53of the hammer9.

The connecting rod59has a detectable interference member60at one end, during the pulling back of the pseudo-hammer29starting from its rest position, with the same point61of application of the rotation spring53on the hammer9to carry out the arming of the hammer9.

The connecting rod59simply rests on the hammer9so that the torsion spring57, which has a first stem62associated at63with the connecting rod59, can take the pseudo-hammer29back into the rest position after the arming of the hammer9.

The same torsion spring57has a second stem66associated with a locker67equipped with a cylindrical extension68suitable for holding the drum4in the closed position.

The locker67holds an appendix69of the disengagement element58of the drum4that is simply rotated manually to free the drum4.

InFIGS. 8 and 9, a third hinging point100to the fore-end of the firearm carries a spring101suitable on one side for indirectly actuating the firing means, through a first lever, so as to take them back into the rest configuration taken up before the trigger was pulled, and on the other side. for indirectly actuating the hammer9, through a second lever104.

The fore-end of the firearm has a fourth hinging point is105that rotatably carries both the first lever103and the second lever104.

In particular, the first lever103has an arm commanded by a first stem106of the spring101and a control arm that transmits the movement to an appendix51of the foot25so as to constantly ensure a contact pressure of the foot25against the toothing46of the drum4.

The transmission of the movement to the appendix51is ensured by a dragging member107engaged in a fixing seat108formed from the appendix51.

The second lever104, on the other hand, has an arm commanded by the second stem109of the spring101and a control arm that transmits the movement to the hammer9.

The transmission of the movement to the hammer9is ensured by a dragging member110engaged in an open slot111of the hammer9.

A fifth hinging point26to the fore-end2of the firearm, as stated, rotatably carries the hammer9.

With respect to the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-7, in the embodiment ofFIGS. 8 and 9the thrusting point of the hammer9is raised. This means a bi rise of the resting point of the middle finger, indicated by arrow “F”, and this is very useful for a better grip of the firearm.

Moreover, by making both of the stems of the spring101work, it is possible to improve striking since the effort needed to cause it is reduced.

The fore-end2of the firearm has a member112for intercepting the second stem109of the spring101.

A sixth hinging point114to the fore-end2of the firearm supports the pseudo-hammer29, a torsion spring113and an element116that commands the disengagement of the drum4.

Also in this case the pseudo-hammer29is arranged in the rear high part of the handle6above the hilt7and projects outside of the fore-end2to be able to be actuated by the thumb of the hand.

On the pseudo-hammer29there is a rotation pin120to which an end of a connecting rod117between the pseudo-hammer29and the second lever104is hinged.

The connecting rod117is slidably associated with a guide pin118integral with the fore-end2and has the other end engaged in a recess138of the second lever104.

The pseudo-hammer29actuates the connecting rod117, which through the second lever104transmits the movement to the hammer9arming it.

The connecting rod117engages by simply resting in the recess138so that the torsion spring115, which has a stem119acting against the rotation pin120, can take the pseudo-hammer29back into the rest position during the arming of the hammer9.

The control element116acts on a cylindrical pin121suitable for holding the drum4in the closed position.

The cylindrical pin121has a circumferential groove122where a ball123actuated by a spring124snaps in.

The engagement of the drum4therefore occurs when, by means of the manual actuation of the control element116, the ball123is introduced into the groove122, and, vice-versa, the disengagement of the drum4occurs when, again by means of the manual actuation of the control element116, the ball123is removed from the groove122.

With respect to the embodiment o 1-7, in the embodiment ofFIGS. 8 and 9there is a further sealing system that opposes the slipping out of the drum4, consisting of a ball125that, pushed by a spring126, is arranged in an imprint127of the removal arm14of the drum.

Moreover, in the embodiment ofFIGS. 8 and 9there is a recess128in the drum housing window for conveying the firing gases suitable for conveying them laterally to avoid dirtying the hand.

In the present invention, the containment of the overall length of the firearm has been solved in an extremely through the second lever104transmits the movement to the hammer9arming it.

The connecting rod117engages by simply resting in the recess138so that the torsion spring115, which has a stem119acting against the rotation pin120, can take the pseudo-hammer29back into the rest position during the arming of the hammer9. The control element116acts on a cylindrical pin121suitable for holding the drum4in the closed position. The cylindrical pin121has a circumferential groove122where a ball123actuated by a spring124snaps in. The engagement of the drum4therefore occurs when, by means of the manual actuation of the control element116, the ball123is introduced into the groove122, and, vice-versa, the disengagement of the drum4occurs when, again by means of the manual actuation of the control element116, the ball123is removed from the groove122.

With respect to the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-7, in the embodiment ofFIGS. 8 and 9there is a further sealing system that opposes the slipping out of the drum4, consisting of a ball125that, pushed by a spring126, is arranged in an imprint127of the removal arm14of the drum.

Moreover, in the embodiment ofFIGS. 8 and 9there is a recess128in the drum housing window for conveying the firing gases suitable for conveying them laterally to avoid dirtying the hand.

In the present invention, the containment of the overall length of the firearm has been solved in an extremely simple manner through purposeful arrangement of the hinging points of the firing means of the firearm to the fore-end of the firearm, and in particular arranging the hinging point of the hammer9substantially vertically aligned with the point in which the hammer9strikes the cartridge capsule.

To obtain the substantial zeroing of the misalignment between the hinging point of the hammer9and the point in which the hammer9strikes the cartridge capsule, the hinging point of the hammer9is advantageously arranged between the hinging point of the rotation foot25of the drum4and the hinging point of the distributor27.

The revolver thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all of which are covered by the inventive concept; moreover, all of the details can be replaced with technically equivalent elements.