Improvements in the Locking Mechanism of Drop Down Small Arms.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Aug., 1892-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Locking Mechanism of Drop Down Small Arms.
OLIVER HORTON Gunmaker 11 Royal Exchange Square Glasgow do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It has reference to the mechanism by which the barrels of such drop down small
arms as are known as "
top lever"
are locked in their closed position; and consists
(1) In making the cam or crank actuating the bolt, the spindle on which said
cam or crank is carried, the circular head of lever, (whether or not used for
engaging with the upper lump of a treble grip gun) and the lever, of one solid
piece of metal.
(2) In forming upon the spindle by which the motion of the lever is transmitted
to the bolt, or upon a collar attached thereto, suitable means for its so engaging in
its socket as to prevent its rising from position; alternative of which are, (a) form-
ing on a cylindrical part of said spindle, or upon a collar attached to the spindle, a
flange or groove, or series of flanges or grooves, which flange, groove or series of
either would be cut away at certain parts of their circumference in such a way as
to leave disposed around the circumference, alternately a gap and a portion of
flange; these gaps or interruptions, in the event of there being used a series of
flanges or grooves, would in an axial direction coincide with each other, so that the
piece on which said interrupted flanges or grooves are formed may be readily
inserted in a suitable socket, and, on being rotated, would be locked therein by
the projections having engaged with similar projections formed in the socket.
(b) Forming on aforesaid cylindrical part instead of the series of flanges or
grooves already described, what is known as an interrupted screw, with which
device the arrangements would be carried out in a similar manner to that described
under heading (a). (c) The use in connection with the flange, groove, or series of
either, with or without the interruptions, of a piece of metal inserted so as to
project into the socket and so engage with the grooves or projections as to prevent
the grooved part from rising from position, and control or limit its rotary motion.
(3) The use of a friction spring to keep the lever in either of its extreme
positions; as, for instance, in the event of the lever spring being broken, and it is
desired to use the gun before having said spring replaced.
Dated this 30th day of November 1891
O. HORTON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Locking Mechanism of Drop Down Small Arms.
I, OLIVER HORTON, Gunmaker 11 Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow, 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:—
The improvements have reference to the mechanism, by which the barrels of
such drop down small arms as are known as "Top Lever" are locked in their
closed position; and consist (1) In making the cam or crank actuating the bolt, the
spindle on which said cam or crank is carried, the circular head of lever (whether
or not used for engaging with the upper lump of a treble grip gun), and the lever,
of one solid piece of metal. See Fig. 1.
(2) In forming upon the spindle by which the motion of the lever is transmitted
to the bolt, or upon a collar attached thereto, suitable means for its so engaging

page_text: in its socket as to prevent its rising from position: alternative of which are
(a) forming upon a cylindrical part of said spindle, or upon a collar attached to
the spindle, a flange, or groove, or series of flanges or grooves, which flange,
groove, or series of either would be interrupted at certain parts of their circum-
ference, so as to have disposed around the circumference, alternately a gap and a
portion of flange; these gaps or interruptions, in the event of there being used a
series of flanges or grooves, would in an axial direction, coincide with each other,
so that the piece on which said interrupted flanges or grooves are formed may be
readily inserted in a suitable socket, and on being rotated would be locked therein
by the projections having engaged with corresponding projections formed inside
the socket. Figures 2, 3 and 4 represent the devices just described, Fig. 2 being
a side view, and Fig. 4 a front view of same piece. In the cross section the
number of interruptions has been assumed as three, but any number might be used.
(b) Forming instead of the series of flanges or grooves already described, what
is known as an interrupted screw, with which device the arrangements would be
-carried out in a similar manner to that described in preceeding paragraph.
See Fig. 2B.
:
(c) The use in lieu of the internal projections above referred to, and in connection
with the flange, groove, or series of cither, with or without the interruptions, of a
piece of metal inserted so as to project into the socket, and so engage with the
grooves or projections as to prevent the grooved part from rising from position, or
control or limit its rotary motion.
(3) The use of a friction spring to keep the lever in either of its extreme
positions, as for instance, in the event of the lever-spring being broken, and it is
desired to use the gun before having, said spring replaced, proposed spring to be
placed on the body-strap under the lever, or on the lever so as to play against the
body strap.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manuer the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. The use of a solid locking key having spindle & cam, gripping head and
lever, formed of one piece.
2. The use of an interrupted screw as above described, whether formed on the
spindle, or on a collar or piece attached to the spindle.
3. The use of the friction spring for retaining top lever in position; all
substantially as herein before described.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of August 1892. .
OLIVER HUKTON.