Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted. 22nd Jan., 1889
I, THOMAS WILLIAM WEBLEY, of the Firm of P. Webley and Son, of Weaman
Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gunmaker, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of breech-loading ejector firearms in which the
barrels have a drop down motion for opening, and in which the ejecting action of the
extractors is dependent on the previous fall of the tumblers.
The object of my invention is to simplify the mechanism by which the fall of the
tumbler, when the weapon is fired, is caused to effect the release of the ejector spring,
and ensure the ejection of the empty cartridge case.
The principal feature of my invention lies in the means used to effect mechanical
communication between the tumbler of the firing mechanism and the detaining
member of the ejector mechanism, so that the fall of the tumbler of the firing
mechanism shall so affect the ejector mechanism that the latter shall act to eject the
empty cartridge case when the barrels are turned downwards.
This mechanical communication between the firing and ejecting mechanism of
ejector firearms is the most essential feature in such firearms.
According to may invention I effect this communication by means of the lever
which cocks the tumblers, instead of by the use of a special limb.
To enable the cocking lever to perform the double functions of cocking the tumblers
and setting the ejector mechanism for the act of ejection, I give the said cocking
lever two separate or combined motions.
To effect the cocking of the tumbler the lever turns on its centre in the usual way.
In addition to this ordinary motion the said cocking lever has a slight reciprocating
motion. This reciprocating notion is dependent on the rise and fall of the tumbler of
the firing mechanism.
When the tumbler is cocked the cocking lever produces no effect on the ejector
mechanism; but, when the tumbler of the firing mechanisin falls at the discharge, the
cocking lever moves into such a position as to be ready to cause the ejector mechanism
to act.

page_text: The cocking lever may, for this purpose, either reciprocate in a slide, or have a
curvilinear motion on a short link; as, in either case, its change of position will
effect the end aimed at, namely the release of the ejector mechanism by reason of the
fall of the tumbler of the firing mechanism.
This improvement, namely causing the cocking lever to act as the means of
mechanical communication between the firing and ejecting mechanisms, may be used
with various types of each or both, as the details of the firing and ejecting mechanisms
do not affect the nature of my invention of using a cocking lever having a compound
motion for the purposes set forth.

page_text: I, THOMAS WILLIAM WEBLEY, of the Firm of P. Webley and Son, of Weaman
Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Gunmaker do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to that class of breech-loading ejector firearms in which the
barrels have a drop down motion for opening, and in which the ejecting action of the
extractors is dependent on the previous fall of the tumblers.
The object of my invention is to simplify the mechanism by which the fall of the
tumbler, when the weapon is fired, is caused to effect the release of the ejector spring,
and ensure the ejection of the empty cartridge case.
The principal feature of my invention lies in the means used to effect mechanical
communication between the tumbler of the firing mechanism and the detaining
member of the ejector mechanism, so that the fall of the tumbler of the firing
mechanism shall so affect the ejector mechanism that the latter shall act to eject the
empty cartridge case when the barrels are turned downwards.
This mechanical communication between the firing and ejecting mechanism of
ejector fire-arms is the most essential feature in such fire-arms.
According to my invention I effect this communication by means of the lever
which cocks the tumblers, instead of by the use of a special limb.
To enable the cocking lever to perform the double functions of cocking the
tumblers and setting the ejector mechanisın for the act of ejection, I give the said
cocking lever two separate or combined motions.
To effect the cocking of the tumbler the lever turns on its centre in the usual way.
In addition to this ordinary motion the said cocking lever has a slight reciprocating
motion. This reciprocating motion is dependent on the rise and fall of the tumbler
of the firing mechanism.
When the tumbler is cocked the cocking lever produces no effect on the ejector
mechanism; but, when the tumbler of the firing mechanism falls at the discharge,
the cocking. lever moves into such position as to be ready to cause the ejector
mechanism to act.
The cocking lever may for this purpose, either reciprocate in a slide, or have a
curvilinear motion on a short link, as in either case, the change of position will
effect the end aimed at, namely the release of the ejector mechanism by reason of
the fall of the tumbler of the firing mechanism.
This improvement, namely causing the cocking lever to act as the means of
mechanical communication between the firing and ejecting mechanisms, may be
used with various types of each or both, as the details of the firing and ejecting
mechanisins do not affect the nature of my invention of using a cocking lever having
a compound motion for the purposes set forth.

page_text: The accompanying drawings shew how the functions of cocking the tumbler and
setting free the ejector mechanism, when required, are performed by the cocking
lever.
Fig. 1 shews the firing mechanism, cocking lever, and ejecting mechanism at the
moment of ejection. Fig. 11 shews the firing mechanism and cocking lever when
ejection is not required to take place.
The cocking lever a acts in the following manner: When the barrels are dropped
down in opening the
gun
the fore-end iron operates the cocking lever in the usual
way, causing the tail a to raise and carry back the tumbler to cock, if not already
cocked.
с
This function of the cocking lever is well known and needs no further description.
The other function-that of setting free the ejector mechanism when required-
is provided for in the following way. The cocking lever a is free to reciprocate for
a short distance in a longitudinal direction. Supposing the tumbler is down after
discharge and the gun be then opened, the mechanism assumes the position shewn in
Fig. 1. The tail a of the cocking lever is under the heel of the tumbler and abuts
against the rocker c which is carried in and by the tumbler b. If however the gun
be opened when the tumbler is at full cock the tail a' of the cocking lever a gets
under the rocker c and moves the said rocker as in Fig. 11, It will be seen that
the cocking lever a is further forward in Fig. 1. than in Fig. 11. The vertical
dotted lines w, x, y, and mark this difference of longitudinal position of the
cocking lever a, and this variation of position measures the before mentioned
longitudinal reciprocating movement on which depends the due performance of the
second function of the cocking lever a, namely, setting free the ejecting mechanism
at the right moment. It will be seen that in Fig. 1 the end a² of the cocking lever a
projects to the line w. By so doing it moves the limb d and so sets the ejecting
mechanism free. The limb d is a bellcrank lever which bears upon the tail of the
ejector scear e. When the cocking lever a moves the limb d the tail of the scear e.is
moved sideways under the extractor cam f. The cam f releases the scear e-as the
opening of the gun is completed-and the spring g gives the extractor the ejecting
motion.
In Fig. 11 the end a² of the cocking lever only reaches to the line x, and therefore
the limb is not moved and the ejecting mechanism remains locked.
Hence it will be seen that on opening the gun the cocking lever a will act in two
different ways according to the position of the tumbler. If the gun be discharged
and the tumbler down, the cocking lever will act as in Fig. 1 and cause ejection of
the cartridge case: but, if the tumbler be at cock the cocking lever will act as in
Fig. 11 and no action of the ejecting mechanism will ensue.
Having now particularly described, and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In drop down breechloading firearms the use of the cocking lever having the
two motions for cocking the tumbler and releasing or not releasing the ejecting
mechanism as required according to the discharged or cocked position of the tumbler.
2. The use of the rocker c in the tumbler in combination with the cocking lever
for the purposes described.