AN IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING GUNS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Allen Crockér, of Providence, in the County of
Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, in the United States of America, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING GUNS."
Sealed the 5th February 1878, and dated the 28th August 1877.
Figure 1 is a view showing the barrels and charge chamber in elevation, the other
parts in section and elevation.
Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the cartridge extractor, the spent cartridge
being partly withdrawn.
Figure 3 is a view showing the rear end of the charge chamber, the crown ratchet,
and the pawl connected with the charge extractor; Figure 4 is a plan view.
Figure 5 is a section through the triggers and the pivot.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the triggers.
Figure 7 is a side elevation showing the charge extractor in detail, and the crown'
ratchet; Figure 8 is a section through the same.

page_text: GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
A, A¹, Figure 1, represent two barrels of a double-barrel gun or pistol. The
charge chambers D, D¹, E, E¹, Figure 12, are formed in the revolving block B,
Figures 1, 12, and 3; this revolving block is hung on the spindle G, and has attached
to its rear end a crown ratchet F, Figures 1, 3, 7, and 12. H, H2, is the guard
which is hung on a pivot H¹, in common with the two hammers K, K¹; this guard
when thrown out throws up the pawl F¹, which is connected to it by the pin F³,
and thus acting on the crown ratchet F cause the charge chamber block B to revolve
through one half revolution, the pawl F' being held against the ratchet by the
spring F, Figure 1.
This
The above movement of the guard also serves to cock the hammers, which it
does by coming in contact with the shoulder k, Figure 1, of the hammers, and thus
forces them back. L, L¹, Figures 1 and 13, is a bent rod which serves to lock 'the
charge chamber block B, the point L¹ entering a recess made in the block B.
rod is thrown so as to engage with the recess by the spring L'. This is disengaged
from the block B by a switch cam H³, Figures 15 and 13, formed on the guard H,
which acts in the following manner-The bent rod L terminating in a swinging
switch L2, pivoted to it at Ls, and held in line by a spring L³, Figures 13 and 14, so
that when the guard H, H2, is thrown down, the switch cam H³ comes in contact
with L2, and forces L and L' forward, so that the point L' is disengaged from the
charge chamber block B, thus leaving the block free to be revolved by the pawl F..
But when the guard H, H2; is brought back, the point of the switch cam H³ throws
the switch L² aside, and thus fails to act on the locking device L, L'. M, Figure 13,
is a friction block placed at the end of the charge chamber block B, and is pressed
upon by the rolls H, on the guard H, H2; when said guard is in its normal position,
as soon as the guard is moved in the slightest, the rolls H* free M from pressure and
thus leaves the block free to turn.
The function of this friction block M is to force the charge chamber block B hard
up against the ends of the barrels, and thus prevent escape of powder gases.
M' is
a hard steel screw inserted in the friction block M. When the block becomes worn
by use, the screw M' may be started out a little, and thus take up the wear of the
block.
-
A6, A2, Figures 1, 2, 4, and 11, is a metal housing to which the barrels A are
attached; in this housing I hang the charge chamber block B; the parts A², A², of
this housing extend over the chamber block B, as shown in Figures 4, 11, and 12,
and unite in forming the rear part As; through this rear part As the spindle G passes,
as shown in Figures 1 and 13. The lower part of this housing A6 unites with the
stock at A, A, by a rabbet joint, see Figures 2 and 4, or a hinge joint may be made
at A, A. The whole being so arranged, that when put together, and the spindle G
inserted, as shown in Figure 13, a strong connection is made.
The cartridge extractor, as shown in detail in Figures 7, 8, and 9, is made as
follows: N is a lever pivoted at P; this lever terminates in an excentric N', which
has a projecting tooth N2; N' is a piece of metal that slides in a slot made in the
stock as shown, it being operated by the lever N acting through the tooth N³, and

page_text: a notch made in the said sliding piece; N° is a hook latch pivoted to the sliding
piece N³ at N This latch N terminates in a small hook n, Figure 7; N³ is a
pawl pivoted to the lever N by a pin N, Figure 8. This pawl works into the
teeth of the crown ratchet F attached to the chamber block B.
The above-described charge extractor operates as follows:-By bringing the
lever N down, the pawl N³ draws the chamber block B around one quarter turn,
and leaves it in the position represented in Figure 3. While this has been going
on, the hook latch No is going forward, and continues to go until the hook n enters
one of the chambers, and rests just. below the raised edge that is formed on the
edge of the cartridge P, Figure 2. Now if we turn the lever back, the cam N¹
will throw up the latch No, and cause the hook n to engage with the cartridge,
a continued back motion of the lever N throws back the slide N and latch No,
and withdraws the cartridge.
The triggers R, R, are both hung on one pivot R¹, the let-offs R², see Figure 6,
being hung to the same pivot. These let-offs R² are made with a socket into which
a part of the trigger is placed, as shown in Figure 6; R5 is a small spring inserted
between the nose of the trigger and the let off. This is to prevent any lost motion,
and to make the trigger feel firm to the hand.
Each of the triggers R has a rearward projecting arm R³, Figure 6, the extremity
of which comes in contact with the extension R₁ of the hammer let-off R2, and
causes it to work whenever the trigger is pulled.
Having thus fully described my Invention, what
secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:-
:-
consider as new, and desire to
First. The combination of the double barrel A, A¹, and the charge chamber
block B, with the crown ratchet F, the pawl F, and the guard H, H2, all operating
together, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The combination of the charge chamber block B, the bent rod L, L', and
the guard H, H2, provided with the cam H³, substantially as described, and for the
purpose set forth.
Third. The combination of the charge chamber block B, and the friction block M,
with the rolls H on the guard H, H2, all operating together, substantially as
described, and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the housing A6, A2, A2, A3, A4, with the stock S, all
made substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the cam lever N, N', N2, with the slide N5, extractor
latch N and pawl N³, all operating together, substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Allen Crocker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JAMES ALLEN CROOND
JAMES ALLEN CROCKED
(L.S.)