Gunlock system for a multiple-barrel firearm

The invention pertains to a gunlock system for a multiple-barrel gun, with at least two hammers that are arranged in displaceable fashion on a basquill lock part, one respective hammer holder assigned to each hammer, and a trigger device that comprises sears assigned to the firing pins, a trigger and a selector mechanism, wherein the selector mechanism contains a selector element that can be displaced on the basquill lock part, and wherein a rocker that can be actuated by the trigger is movably arranged on the selector element. A pendulum mass arranged on the selector element is connected to the rocker in such a way that the distance between the rocker and the sears is increased during an excursion of the pendulum mass from a predetermined starting position under the influence the acceleration or deceleration of the selector element.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to a gunlock system for a multiple-barrel firearm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A gunlock system of this type is known from DE 101 18 046 A1. This gunlock system contains two hammers that are arranged to slide on a lock plate and a trigger device that contains sears assigned to the hammers, a trigger and a selector mechanism for automatically connecting the trigger to the sear of the not-yet-released hammer after the first shot has been fired so that the second hammer can be released by the trigger. In order to create a versatile and highly reliable gunlock system, the selector mechanism contains a selector element that can be shifted in the longitudinal direction of the firearm and is provided with a pivotable rocker that is spaced apart from the sears in the cocked position of both hammers and not engaged with the sear of the second hammer so as not to fire the second shot until the first shot has been fired. Although this known gunlock system already provides adequate protection against double-firing, i.e., the unintentional firing of a second shot after the intentional firing of a first shot, it is always desirable to improve, particularly with respect to guns, the operational security and, simultaneously, to achieve a high level of dependability.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,361,510 A discloses a trigger mechanism for a double barreled firearm that comprises two pivotable hammers, two sears that are assigned to the hammers and a trigger that is connected to the sears. The connection between the trigger and the two sears is realized with the aid of a lever that can be displaced transverse to the trigger. Depending on its position, this lever engages beneath one or the other sear in order to release the corresponding hammer. For this purpose, the lever is arranged on the front end of a guide pin that is supported in an axially displaceable fashion in a bore of a selector element that can be displaced transverse to the trigger. The lever is pressed in the direction of the two sears with the aid of a compression spring that is arranged between the selector element and the lever. A recoil inertia block is fixed on the rear end of the guide pin that protrudes rearward relative to the guide part, wherein this recoil inertia block disengages the lever from the sears during the recoil that occurs when a shot is fired. However, the lever is disengaged from the sears only when the recoil inertia block moves rearward relative to the selector element in this case.

In a trigger mechanism known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,436 A, a selector mechanism is provided so that either barrel can be selected to be fired first. The trigger is connected to sears by means of a connector, which also serves as an inertia block and ensures that the second sear can be actuated by the trigger to fire a subsequent shot from the second barrel only after a shot has been fired from the first barrel.

EP 0 592 103 A1 discloses a gunlock for a double barreled shotgun with two pivotable hammers, sears assigned to the hammers, a trigger and a selector mechanism for selecting the firing sequence of the two barrels. The selector mechanism contains a manually adjustable selector plate that cooperates with a forked selector in order to selectively actuate the sear. The forked selector is pivotally mounted on a recoil inertia block that is connected to the trigger in articulated fashion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the problem of additionally improving protection against the undesired double-firing in prior art gunlock systems.

This problem is solved with a gunlock system as claimed.

One significant advantage of the gunlock system according to the invention can be seen in that the protection against undesired double-firing is also ensured if the shooter does not shoulder the firearm correctly such that the acceleration phase of the firearm is excessively long during recoil. The pendulum mass provided on the selector element causes the rocker to be displaced rearward relative to the selector element during the acceleration phase as well as the deceleration phase of the firearm such that the distance between a front projection of the rocker and the sears is increased. This provides superior protection against unintentionally firing a second shot because the rocker cannot engage beneath the sears during the acceleration and deceleration phases of the firearm.

In the gunlock system according to the invention, the hammers and the firing pins can be linearly displaced in the longitudinal direction of the firearm such that the kinetic energy can be utilized as effectively as possible, while simultaneously achieving a compact design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1–5show a gunlock system of a multiple-barrel shotgun in different positions. According toFIGS. 2–5, the gunlock system contains two adjacently arranged hammers2and3that are displaceably guided on a lower basquill lock part (lock plate)1and serve to actuate two firing pins4and5arranged one on top of the other. The two firing pins4and5are guided in an axially displaceable fashion in a not shown upper basquill lock part and are indicated only schematically in the figures.

Each hammer2,3is acted upon by a firing pin spring and a corresponding hammer holder6, which can be pivoted between a hold position and a release position, as well as a corresponding sear7, which cooperates with the respective hammer holder. A trigger8makes it possible to pivot the sears7from a blocking position, from which it fixes the respective hammer holder6in its holding position, to a release position in which it releases the hammer holder6so that the respective hammer2or3is able to move forward. In its holding position, the hammer holder6holds the respective hammer2or3in its tensioned position. In its released position, the hammer holder6releases the respective hammer2or3, subjected to the force of the firing pin spring, so that it is able to impact the respective firing pin4or5in order to fire a shot.

The displacement of the two hammers2and3into the tensioned position is respectively realized with the aid of a cocking lever9that is displaceably supported in the basquill lock part1and conventionally cooperates with a not shown drawbar in such a way that the hammers2and3are displaced into their cocked position by the drawbar and the corresponding cocking lever9when the barrel is dropped.FIGS. 1–5show only the hammer holder6and the sear7of the hammer2provided for actuating the upper firing pin4. A corresponding hammer holder and a corresponding sear are also provided for the hammer3shown inFIGS. 2–5.

According toFIG. 1, the hammer holder6is arranged on the lower basquill lock part1such that it can be pivoted about a first transverse pin10and pressed into its upper holding position by a coil spring11. In the upper holding position of the hammer holder6, the hammer2adjoins an upper locking edge12of the hammer holder6and is held in the cocked position by this locking edge. The hammer holder6also contains a lower locking projection13that is engaged with a front locking projection14of the sear7that is pivotable about a second transverse pin15in its blocking position. The sear7is pressed into its blocking position by a coil spring16. On its rear end, the sear7contains a downwardly directed arm17and a rearwardly protruding projection18. When the rear end of the sear7is raised, the front locking projection14is lowered and disengaged from the locking projection13of the hammer holder6. This causes the hammer holder6to be released such that the hammer2is able to move forward under the influence of the firing pin spring. A catch blade19can be pivoted about a second transverse pin15, wherein said catch blade engages in a corresponding recess20of the hammer2when the trigger8is not actuated and is not pivoted downward so as to release the hammer2until the rear end of the sear7is raised. This ensures that the hammer2is blocked when the trigger8is not actuated and that is released only when the trigger8is actually actuated. This makes it possible to realize an additional full security mechanism.

As mentioned above, the gunlock system also contains a corresponding set of the gunlock components described above with reference to the hammer2for the hammer3. The hammer holder of the hammer3and the corresponding sear can also be pivoted about transverse pins10and15, respectively.

The trigger8according toFIG. 2is arranged on the lower basquill lock part1such that it is movable about a trigger axis21. On its rear end, the trigger contains a through bore22for holding a pin23that limits the movement of the trigger. On its front side, the trigger8contains a slide24that is guided by a guide pin25such that it can be moved in the longitudinal direction. The slide24is designed in such a way that it directly engages with the downwardly directed arm17of the sear7acting on the hammer2or the sear on the hammer3, depending on its position. For this purpose, the slide24according toFIGS. 9a–bcontains lateral arms26a,26band recesses56aand56b. Consequently, it is possible to select whether the trigger8initially fires the cartridge in the upper or the lower barrel by adjusting the slide24accordingly.

In the rear position of the slide24shown inFIG. 8a, the downwardly protruding arm17of the sear7acting on the hammer2engages in the recess56aof the slide24when the trigger8is actuated. The downwardly protruding arm17of the sear acting on the hammer3, in contrast, is in contact with the lateral arm26bof the slide24. When the trigger8is initially actuated, the rear end of the not shown sear acting on the hammer3is raised so as to release the hammer holder acting on it rather than [raising] the rear end of the sear7shown in the figure that serves for releasing the hammer holder6acting on the hammer2. The sear releases the hammer holder such that the hammer3is able to impact the firing pin5assigned to the lower barrel under the influence of the firing pin spring. Therefore, the first shot is fired from the lower barrel in the position of the slide24shown inFIG. 8a.

However, if the first shot should be fired from the upper barrel, the slide24can be displaced into the front position shown inFIG. 8b. In this case, the downwardly protruding arm17of the sear7acting on the hammer2is in contact with the lateral arm26aof the slide24while the corresponding arm of the other sear engages in the recess56bof the slide24. During the initial actuation of the trigger8, the rear end of the sear7is raised by the lateral arm26aso that the hammer holder6acting on the hammer2is released. Consequently, the hammer2is released in order to fire a shot from the upper barrel.

In order to automatically change over from one barrel to the other barrel after the first shot is fired, a selector mechanism, which is illustrated separately inFIGS. 6a,6band7a cis arranged beneath the two hammers2and3. According toFIGS. 6aand6b, the selector mechanism contains a forked selector element27that is guided on a corresponding extension of the lower basquill lock part1such that it can be displaced in its longitudinal direction with the aid of a lower guide groove28. The forked selector element27has two parallel legs29and30, between which a rocker31is arranged such that it can not only be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the selector element27, but also pivoted about a transverse axis32. The transverse axis32is guided in a slot33that transversely extends through the selector element27so as to displace the rocker31in the longitudinal direction of the selector element27. The rocker31is pressed forward by a compression spring34. On its front end, the rocker31is provided with a projection35for engaging beneath the rearwardly protruding projections18of the two sears7. The projection35shown inFIG. 1adjoins the rear end of the slide24and is thus pressed upward when the trigger8is actuated.

The spring37is arranged in a blind bore36in the rear side of the selector element27, with the rear end of said spring being supported on a rear wall39of the basquill lock part1by means of a guide pin38, as shown inFIG. 1. A pin shaped selector part41with a wedge shaped pressure element42protruding upward from its rear end is arranged in a recess40on the upper side of the selector element27so that it can be displaced to either side by a certain angle. The selector part41is secured from falling out by means of a transverse pin43. The wedge shaped pressure element42defines the position of the selector element27as a function of the position of the hammers2and3, as described in greater detail below.

A pendulum mass44is coupled to the leg29of the selector element27, so that it is able to swing back and forth. The pendulum mass44is shown by broken lines in the side view according toFIG. 6aand rotatably guided in a corresponding opening46of the leg29with the aid of a guide pin45, which is illustrated in the top view according toFIG. 6b. The pendulum mass is axially secured by a pin47. An inwardly protruding adjusting cam48is integrally formed onto the guide pin45and engages into a lateral recess49of the rocker31.

According toFIG. 7a, an oblique contact surface50is provided on the rear end of the recess49, with an oblique mating surface51of the adjusting cam48adjoining this contact surface in its entirety when the pendulum mass44is in the vertical starting position shown inFIG. 7a. The oblique contact surface50and the oblique mating surface51are designed in such a way that the pendulum mass44is pressed into a predetermined vertical starting position by the rocker31that is pressed forward by the compression spring34. In this position, a rear end face52of the rocker31is spaced apart from an inner contact surface53of the selector element27by a distance L. However, when the pendulum mass44swings forward or backward, the rocker31is pushed rearward against the force of the compression spring34until the rear end face52of the rocker31comes in contact with the inner contact surface53of the selector element27. When the pendulum mass44swings forward as shown inFIG. 7b, the rocker31is moved rearward with the aid of the lower edge54of the adjusting cam48. Although the pendulum mass44shown inFIG. 7cswings backward, the rocker31is moved rearward with the aid of the upper edge55of the adjusting cam48.

The described gunlock system functions as described below:

When the firearm is cocked and the trigger8is not yet actuated, the above described components of the gunlock system according to the invention assume the position shown inFIG. 1. The hammer2and the not shown hammer3are held in their tensioned position by the respective hammer holders6. The selector element27with the rocker31movably arranged thereon is also held in the tensioned position by the wedge shaped pressure element42of the selector part41that adjoins the rear side of the hammers2and3. The compression spring34presses the pendulum mass44into the vertical starting position shown so that the rocker31assumes its front starting position relative to the selector element27as shown in the figure. In this position, the front projection35of the rocker31is spaced apart from the rear extension18of the sears7by a predetermined distance L, i.e., the rocker31and the sears7are not directly connected to one another.

When the trigger8is initially actuated, the rear end of the sear7acting on the hammer2or the rear end of the sear acting on the hammer3is raised first, depending on the position of the slide24, by the respective lateral arms26aand26bof the slide24. Here, the locking projection14situated on the front end of the sear7releases the corresponding hammer holder6. In the tensioned position of the slide24shown inFIG. 1, the hammer3is released when the trigger8is initially actuated, and it acts on the lower firing pin5, as shown inFIG. 2. When the hammer3moves forward under the influence of the firing pin spring, the selector part41of the selector element27that is pivotable to either side yields laterally such that the selector element27is able to move forward relative to the basquill lock part1under the influence of the spring37, into the position shown inFIG. 5in which the front projection35of the rocker31engages beneath the rear extension18of the sear7. When the trigger8is actuated again, the rear end of the sear7is raised with the aid of the rocker31so that the hammer holder6acting on the hammer2is released. However, if the slide24is situated in the front position, the hammer2for actuating the upper firing pin4is released first when the trigger8is initially actuated. Subsequently, the selector part41yields to the other side and the selector element27is able to move forward under the influence of the spring37.

The dynamic processes taking place in the selector mechanism for preventing a multiple-barrel firearm from double-firing, i.e., from unintentionally firing a second shot during the recoil movement of the firearm, are described below with reference toFIGS. 25.

FIG. 2shows the gunlock system during recoil, where the acceleration increases until it reaches a maximum value. In this state, the selector element27, which is pressed forward by the spring37, is in contact with the lower basquill lock part1. During the rearward acceleration, inertia causes the pendulum mass44to carry out a forward excursion such that the rocker31is displaced rearward relative to the selector element27. When the pendulum mass44reaches its maximum forward excursion as shown inFIG. 2, the front projection35of the rocker31is spaced apart from the rear extension19of the two sears7by a distance L3, even if the selector element27is situated in the front position. This means that a second shot cannot be fired in this state.

The deceleration of the firearm sets in after the acceleration is completed. This deceleration ensures that the selector element27shown inFIG. 3is initially pressed against the rear wall39of the basquill lock part1against the force of the spring37, and that the pendulum mass44subsequently carries out a backward excursion until its maximum backward excursion shown inFIG. 3is reached. Consequently, the rocker31is also displaced rearward relative to the selector element27against the force of the spring34until it contacts the selector element27. In this position, the front projection35of the rocker31is spaced apart from the rear extension18of the two sears7by a distance L4. This means that a second shot cannot also be fired in this state. The selector mechanism remains in this state until the restoring spring force exceeds the initial force of the selector mechanism.

After the deceleration phase is completed, the selector mechanism is once again displaced toward the front end position. If the trigger8is actuated during this process as shown inFIG. 4, the front projection35of the rocker31is unable to engage beneath the extension18of the sear7, but rather is pressed against its rear edge, as indicated by the arrow K. The second hammer2cannot be released in this position. The front projection35of the rocker31is not able to engage beneath the extension18of the sear7in order to fire the second shot until the trigger8is released.

However, if the trigger8is not actuated when the deceleration phase is completed, the front projection35of the rocker31is able to engage beneath the extension18of the sear7as shown inFIG. 5. The sear7for firing the second shot can then be actuated with the aid of the rocker31.