Improvements in or connected with Breech Loading Small Arms
Year: 1893

page_text: of Application, 12th June, 1893-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Breech Loading Small Arms
I, THEODOR BERGMANN, of Gaggenau, Baden, in the Empire of Germany,
Manager of the Eissenwerke Gaggenau Actien-gesellschaft, 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 :-
It has been found particularly in fire arms of the Flobert type, that the hammer
under the influence of the mainspring constitutes of itself, to a certain extent, a
breech closure. But if the charge be increased then the pressure of the gases
generated by the ignition and explosion of the explosive, used in the cartridge,
forces open the said breech closure and throws out the cartridge case to the rear,
the projectile nevertheless retaining a certain momentum.
Taking advantage of this fact, I construct a breech closing mechanism which has
great advantages particularly as applied to that class of small arms termed pistols.
This breech closing mechanism is also applicable to other small arms such as rifles
and fowling pieces or the like.
The construction hereinafter described is in comparison with existing automatic
fire arms extremely simple and is very suitable for military purposes especially as a
substitute for revolvers, because it is even more simple than the latter, and it allows
of more accurate and more rapid firing, and it gives most excellent results more
particularly when the explosive used is smokeless powder.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a self acting pistol manufactured in
accordance with my invention with the lock plate removed and without the breech
spring-rod, breech-spring, and spring-lever.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the trigger slide or pusher and
Figure 2A represents a plan of the same.
Figure 3 represents a sectional plan of the body or casing of the breech-action
and of the breech-bolt with the locking-bolt unlocked, and Figure 3 represents a
similar section of the same with the locking bolt locked.
Figure 4 represents a side elevation of the breech bolt.
Figure 5 represents a longitudinal elevation, and Figure 6 represents an end or
rear elevation of a complete pistol seen from the side and muzzle end respectively.
Figure 7 represents à sectional plan of the head of the breech-bolt with the
locking bolt.
Figure 8 represents the locking bolt.
Figure 9 represents a side elevation of the coupling between the breech bolt and
the breech spring rod.
Figure 10 represents an elevation of the latter (Figure 9) seen from the front.
Figures 1 to 6 relate to the construction which I prefer to use for the smallest
sized pistols in which rim fire cartridges are used.
Figures 7 to 10 relate to the construction I prefer to use for pistols in which
central fire cartridges are used.
The casing A to which the barrel is fastened, and in a recess or bore in which
the breech bolt B travels rectilinearly is milled out in a suitable manner at the top
and at the right hand so that a cartridge can be pushed into the barrel and ejected
in a direct manner.
This aperture is continued back at the right hand for a distance, such that the
locking bolt C which projects from the breech bolt can move back until it strikes
against the fixed or solid wall a.
The breech spring D (Fig. 5) is located below the barrel in the casing and the
latter is further provided on the left hand side with a recess or hole a' (Fig. 3) for

page_text: engagement with the locking bolt C, and also with a fillet a² (Fig. 3) which
projects into the recess for the breech bolt B and moves in a groove 2 (Figures 3
and 34) in B and e² (Figure 8) in C and effects the rectilinear movement of the
breech bolt and the ejection or extraction of the spent cartridge case.
The breech bolt B has forward a transverse hole 6 for the locking bolt C and at
the rear a hole for the spring lever F (Figure 5) or its screw or bolt.
In the breech bolt B a striker E (Figures 9 and 10) is located either in a groove
or in a hole. The spring lever F which has at its forward end a nose (Figure 3)
and at its rear end a notch f¹ (Figure 5) is connected with the breech bolt Bin
such a manner that its axis pin f' is passed at through the breech bolt B and is
prevented by means of a nut f³ from falling out.
The locking bolt C which is located in the breech-bolt B and the movement of
which is limited by the striker [by the fact that the forward end of the latter
passes either through a lateral cut away portion (in the case of small arms of the
rim fire type) or through a hole (in the case of small arms of the central fire type)
in the locking bolt C Figures 3, 7 and 8] passes in its locking position into the
recess a¹ (Figure 3) of the casing A. But since the rear surface of the locking
bolt Cat c (Figures 3 and 7) and also the surface in the casing A against which
the inclined surface c is adapted to bear are bevelled to some extent, pressure upon
the front face of the breech bolt B is capable of forcing the locking bolt C out of
its locking position but so that the opposite end of C projects at the right hand to
a greater extent from the breech bolt B.
With the continued rearward movement of the breech bolt B, the projecting
portion of the locking bolt C strikes against the fixed or solid wall a of the casing A
and thus limits the rearward movement of the breech bolt B.
Simultaneously with the rearward movement of the breech bolt B the hammer
is pushed into full cock.
Now in order that the locking bolt C shall not move to one side too easily, it is
provided with a second inclined surface e' against which acts a suitably shaped
surface of the striker. The pressure exerted by the firing or striking spring
(mainspring) by means of the hammer upon the striker E and consequently upon
the inclined surface c' serves to produce a greater friction in the operation. The
same effect is produced whether the transverse hole in the breech bolt B for the
locking bolt C, is perpendicular, and the surface is inclined, or whether
the transverse hole 6 is inclined and the surface c is perpendicular.
The breech spring rod G (Figures 5, 9, and 10) which transmits the pressure
of the spring D (Figure 5) to the breech bolt B is provided either at its forward
end with a cap or case 9 (Figures 5, 6 and 10) which works in the hole for D or
the breech spring rod G terminates simply in a knob which projects into the said
hole, and against which the breech spring D presses. The groove a³ (Figure 1)
allows of the to and fro movement of the breech spring rod G. The breech spring
rod G ends at its rear in a bent portion or elbow which is either provided with a
pin g (Figure 5) against which the spring lever F bears with its notch f¹ (Figure 5)
or the elbow is simply formed with a hole into which is passed a bolt or screw that
connects the breech spring rod G and the breech bolt B together. The striker E
is prevented from falling out by means of the axis pin 2 or other bolt being
made to engage in a notch cut or made in the rear end of the striker E Figure 10.
When the parts A, B, C, E, F, G, are connected together in this manner the
breech bolt B driven by the breech spring D is constantly brought into the closing
position.
Moreover the spiral breech spring D may also be replaced by a flat spring. The
spring lever F is held in the position shown by solid lines in Figs. 5 and 3 by its
forward portion springing inwardly towards the locking bolt C and its nose f
Figures 3 and 5 engaging with the locking bolt C and pressing the latter into the
closing position.
When the spring lever F is brought into the position shown by dotted lines
(Figure 5) by the disengagement of the nose ƒ and rotation to the rear the breech
ર

page_text: spring rod G with the spiral breech spring D is disengaged and the breech bolt B
can be readily opened and closed by means of the spring lever F.
The hammer lock which is otherwise similar to that generally in use differs as
regards the trigger mechanism from that usually employed.
It is well known that in automatic fire arms the lock is, after firing, cocked
again with such rapidity that the finger is not able to release the trigger quickly
enough, and the rod which has just been disengaged cannot engage at the proper
time in the full cock rest or bent.
To remedy this drawback we provide a slide or pusher H (Figures 1 and 2)
which works in the left side of the wall of the lock casing. It has a knob which
projects into the lock cavity and in which the tooth h is pivotted.
On the side knob of the pusher H is provided a spring which acts upon the
tooth in such a manner that it constantly tends to assume the position shown in
Figure 1.
Since the trigger in almost all small arms of the pistol type is inconveniently
located for use,
have arranged it fork fashion in a suitable position in front and
I have accordingly prolonged the pusher H to said point. The trigger is adapted
to be turned up into the position shown by dotted lines, Figure 5, for the
convenience of carriage or storage.
When the hammer is cocked, the tumbler (sear) T moves into the full cock rest
(bent) of the former. The tumbler (sear) spring pushes with its forward end the
slide or pusher H constantly forwards towards the trigger. When the trigger is
pulled, its face strikes against the forward end 3 of the slide or pusher H and
pushes the latter towards the tumbler (sear) T. If the pressure is continued the
nose of the slide or pusher H engages under the nose i of the tumbler (sear) T,
and raises it out of the rest (bent).
Now as the finger is still pressing on the trigger the pusher jumps with its
nose over the nose and the tumbler (sear) T can at once move again into the
full cock rest (bent). If now the trigger be released the slide or pusher H driven
by its spring moves back and at the moment that the nose or projection comes
under the nose or projection i the former moves into the position shown in Figure 2.
Now as soon as these two noses or projections have passed each other the nose or
projection moves up again into the position (Figure 1) ready for a renewed
pulling of the trigger.
The known form of magazine with movable side wall acts with loose cartridges
and with packet ammunition, the cartridges passing from underneath through an
opening up into the chamber of the casing.
Since the spent cartridges are driven by the force in excess of the powder gases
with a breech bolt B back out of the barrel and are extracted by impact against
the fillet a² an extractor is not necessary.
The general action is as follows:-
When a cartridge is fired in the barrel by pulling the trigger the pressure of the
gases is generated so rapidly and is so great upon the side walls of the cartridge
case that the latter in combination with the breech bolt B and the breech closure
described herein cannot move back immediately. After the projectile has received
a sufficient amount of propelling force, the powder gases still in excess open the
breech and the breech bolt is forced back to its utmost limit, the spent cartridge
being ejected, and the lock mechanism being cocked anew.
During the forward movement of the breech bolt B another cartridge is passed
in the well known manner out of the magazine into the barrel. The finger allows
the trigger to move back for renewed pulling and the weapon is again ready for
firing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. In automatic fire arms, a breech-closing mechanism which is not a rigid

page_text: locking device, but as described and illustrated is such that it offers a resistance to
the initial pressure of the powder gases until the projectile has received the
requisite propelling force, but by the excess pressure of the gases opens the breech
at the last moment and is forced back.
2. In automatic fire arms a rod G which transmits the pressure of a spiral
spring in the manner described and illustrated and which allows of throwing the
spring D out of operation by the employment of the spring lever F.
3. In automatic fire arms a trigger mechanism consisting of the pusher H. with
tooth and spring h³ which allows of the lock mechanism moving into the full cock
rest whilst the trigger remains depressed.
נ.י.ת
1009
1
J. G. LORRAIN, Mem. Inst. E.E., Mem. Inst. M.E.,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent,
Per A. P. W.