Improvements in and Connected with Ejector Mechanism for Breech-loading Small-arms.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 9th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 15th June, 1888
Improvements in and Connected with Ejector Mechanism for
Breech-loading Small-arms.
I, WILLIAM HENRY BRIGHTON of 13 Court, Price Street Birmingham in the
County of Warwick, Gun Action Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to, and in means connected with, ejector mechanism, for
breech loading small arms, of the kind, commonly called drop down guns, rifles and
pistols, as hereinafter described; and by which said improvements, a fired cartridge
case, or fired cartridge cases, is or are only allowed to be ejected and thrown clear
of the barrels.
Thus, on the opening of the barrels of a double gun, an empty case of one barrel,
or the spent cases of both barrels, are only allowed to be ejected, and which is done
by means worked in conjunction with an ordinary solid, or undivided extractor.
I will describe this invention in connection with a double barrelled hammer gun.
Working and fitting in the breech face, and within the solid metal of the undersides
of the barrels, is an extractor, and an extractor rod, of the ordinary kind; and
working within the top of the extractor, are two sliding clips disposed in about a line
with, the middle of the cartridge cases; and which when in their holding positions
overhang or come in front of the adjacent rims of the cartridges; but on the clips
being moved vertically upwards, by means hereinafter described, the clips are free of
the said rims, and allow the cartridges to be thrown clear of the barrels, by spring
ejector mechanism.
The back parts of the clips are made angular or shaped, so as to embrace the
rim, when down, while their front parts (when standing over the top of the extractor)
are inclined, which on the barrel being closed, are forced against the underside of a
jointed spring flap, let within, and lying flush with the breech face of the barrels
above the clips. Thus, when the clips are out of their holding positions, they are
taken back to their clipping positions, by their inclines, as aforesaid, coming against
the underside of the jointed flap when in a vertical position; but on the clips being
forced upwards, on the discharge of the arm, the jointed flap is turned slightly

page_text: outwardly, so as to make room for their desired upward movement. These clips
have stalks at their lower ends, and are kept in determinate positions, by the ends of
springs, taking into retaining notches.
The extractor rod has a long slot near its front end, and wherein a lug or standing
up arm, on the joint of the body part takes, for reciprocating the extractor, on the
opening and closing of the arm.
At the rear of the fore end iron, and through the joint part thereof, a rocking arm
or lever is jointed, whose front end is shouldered, and protrudes above the top face of
the fore-end iron; and against which shouldered part, the extreme front end of the
extractor rod, presses, on the opening of the gun. The front part of this rocking arm
is shaped cam like, and presses upon the free end of a double limbed ejector spring
carried by, and upon the underside of the fore-end iron.
The lower and depending part of the arm, is provided with a bent or notch, where-
with the nose end of a catch or ejector sear, engages, for the keeping of the spring.
in a compressed state, after the opening of the barrels. The force thus stored up
within the spring, on being suddenly released, gives the necessary impetus to the
extractor, which is common to both cartridges.
The rocking arm, is released by a small teit or lug, on the body joint, lifting
the ejector sear from the notch, and which sear is kept up to its work, by a
spring.
Working within the lower part of the breech body, and in a line with, the lock
plate attachment part, are two rotary lifters, with their back ends she Vd on their top
sides, and with the said ends extending a short distance from the back of the body.
The other, or front ends which proceed inwardly to a distance about equal to the face
of the break off, are made pallet like, and upon the inner parts of which said pallet
ends or flat parts the lower ends of two obliquely directed rods, take their bearing.
These rods are directed to about the middle of the breach face, and with their top
ends exposed through a recess cut or sunken therein, and wherein the clips as afore-
said, lie, when the barrels are closed. These rods, whose lower ends are enlarged,
are encircled by coiled springs, whoso ends abut respectively against the shoulder of
the enlarged part, and a shoulder made within the hole or recess wherein they work ;
so that on semi-rotation being given to the lifters, by being struck out of the contre,
or on one side by the head of a tumbler, on the falling of the hammer, the rods are
raised and press upwards the sliding clips, from before the rims of the cases fired,
thus freeing the said cases, on the extractor being urged forward by the freeing of the
ejector spring.
The fore part of the lifters, and the bottoms of the clip operating rods, may be
respectively mitred; .so that the forcing inwards of the said "lifter, by a tumbler or
the like, raises the rods.
Instead of the lifter rotating upon its own axis, it may be made to turn upon a pin
or fulcrum.
The action of the ejector mechanism is as follows.
On one side of the barrels of the gun being fired, the tumbler of the cock, strikes
the top of the lifter out of centre, and rotates it thereby raising the rod, which
presses the clip from in front, or out of the range of the rim of the cartridge
fired.
.
The cock, which is a rebound hammer, passes to a neutral position, which allows
the lifter and rod as aforesaid, to take the respective positions before firing.
The opening of the barrels, now releases the extractor, which is shot outwards
with a sudden impetus, by the energy stored up within the spring, being suddenly
released, by the teit on the body joint, liberating the ejector sear, and so allowing
the spring through the intervention of the rocking lever or striker to exert its whole
repelling power, upon the extractor rod, and so force rearwards, the extractor,
which ejects only the cartridge case fired, as the unfired one is still held by the
second clip, which overhangs its rim.
Thus the freeing of a case or cases, is only done by the firing of them, controlled
and regulated by, the falling of the hammers, or the tumblers of the hammers.

page_text: The closing of the barrels, places the clips in their normal positions, by their
inclines coming under the spring flap as aforesaid.
The clips are also made slightly yielding, so that the rims can snap behind
them.
In applying my invention to concealed hammer guns, the hammer is made to
strike, or impress itself upon the lifter, instead of the tumbler.
When the ejector mechanism is not required to be used, but only the extractor,
for the purpose of saving the cases, then I arrange under the strap of the fore-end
iron, a jointed lever, which operates a slide, which is made to engage with, and fix
the rocking lever and spring, thereby preventing the extractor spring, and parts
carried by it, acting as an ejector, while still reserving to the extractor, its usual
functions of withdrawing the cases.
Instead of a lever, a sliding .catch may be employed, for rendering the ejector
mechanism non-acting; and which said catch may be in the form of a cross pin
passing through the underside of the fore-end iron.
Instead of actuating the rotary lifters or rods, which take the clips from in front
of the rims of the cases, they may be operated directly from the triggers, trigger
blades, or through the intervention of a lever or rods worked by the triggers.
Dated this Eighth day of August 1887.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Ejector Mechanism for
Breech-loading Small Arms.
I, WILLIAM HENRY BRIGHTON of 13 Court, Price Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Gun Action Maker, 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, and in means connected with, ejector mechanism, for
breech loading small arms, of the kind commonly called drop down guns, rifles and
pistols, as hereinafter described; and by which said improvements, a fired cartridge
case, or fired cartridge cases, is or are only allowed to be ejected, and thrown clear of
the barrels.
Thus, on the opening of the barrels of a double gun, an empty case only of one
barrel, or the spent cases of both barrels, are allowed to be ejected; and which is done
by means, worked in conjunction with an ordinary solid or undivided extractor.
I will first describe this invention, in connection with a double barrel hammer gun.
Fitting and working within the breech face, is an extractor, whose single leg, and
guide, works within the solid metal, between the barrels, and on the undersides of the
barrels.
Working at the top part of the extractor, are two sliding clips, disposed at about
the same level, as the middle of the cartridge ends, and which when in their holding
positions, overhang or come in front of, the adjacent rims of the cartridges; but on
the clips being moved vertically upwards, by means hereinafter described, the clips
are free of the said rims, and allow the cartridges to be thrown clear of the barrels, by
spring ejector mechanism.
The fronts of the clips, are provided with depending legs, which work within holes
made down the extractor, while their tops are inclined; so that on the barrels being
closed, the clips are forced into their lowered and holding positions, by a jointed
spring flap, let flush within the breech face of the barrels, above the clips.
Thus, the function of this flap, is to take the clips into a holding position, but on
them being forced upwards, by the discharge of the arm, the jointed flap is turned
obliquely outwards.
The stalks of the clips, are kept in determinate positions, by the ends of springs,
taking into retaining notches.
The extractor rod has a long slot near its front end, and wherein a lug, or standing
up arm, on the joint of the body part, takes, for reciprocating the extractor, on the
opening and closing of the arm.
At the rear of the fore end iron, and through the joint part thereof, a rocking
arm, or striker, is jointed, whose rear top part, is shouldered, and made to protrude
above the top side of the fore end iron; and against which shouldered part, the
extreme front end of the extractor rod, presses, on the opening of the gun. The

page_text: front part of this rocking arm, is shaped cam like, and presses upon the free end
of a double limited ejector spring, carried by, and upon the underside of the fore end
iron.
The lower, and depending part of the striker, is provided with a bent or notch,
wherewith the nose end, of a catch or ejector sear, engages, for the keeping of the
spring, in a compressed state, after the opening of the barrels ; and the force stored.
up within the spring, on being suddenly released, gives the necessary impetus to the
extractor, which is common to both cartridges.
The rocking arm or striker, is released, by a small teit or lug, on the body joint,
acting upon the ejector sear, so as to take it from the striker bent.
Working within the lower part of the breech body, and in juxta position to the
lock plate, lifters are situated, upon the fore inclined parts of which, the lower ends
of hammer lifter rods, pressed down by springs, rest; and which rods are directed to
about the middle of the breech face, and with their top ends exposed through a recess,
cut or sunken therein, and wherein, the clips as aforesaid, lie, when the barrels are
closed.
On the gun being fired, the tumblers strike the lifters, urging them forward, and
pressing upwards the lifter rods, which move the clips from before the rims of the
fired cases, into a position clear of the cartridge rim recesses of the barrels ; so that
on the extractor being liberated and urged forward, by the freeing of the ejector
spring, the spent cases admit of being expelled.
Thus, on one of the barrels being fired, the tumbler of the hammer discharged,
strikes the lifter, and presses the clip of the barrel fired, from out of the range of the
rim recess of the cartridge
The cock which is a rebound hammer, passes to a neutral position, thus allowing
the lifter and rod, as aforesaid, to take the respective positions they had, before
firing.
The opening of the barrels, now releases the extractor, which is shot outwards,
with a sudden impetus, by the stored up energy within the spring, being suddenly
released, on the teit or lug of the body pin, pressing upon the top rear part, and
liberating the ejector sear, which allows the striker or rocking lever, to exert its
repelling power, upon the extractor rod.
It will be observed, that the mechanism only expels the case fired, as the unfired
one is still held by the second and unraised clip.
The clips are made slightly yielding, to admit of the rims of the cartridge cases,
snapping behind them.
In applying my invention, to concealed hammer or hammerless guns, the hammers
are made to strike the lifters, instead of the tumblers of the hammers as aforesaid.
When the ejector mechanism is not required to be used, but only the extractor, for
the purpose of saving the cases, then I arrange under the strap of the fore-end iron, a
jointed lever, which operates a slide, which is made to engage with, and fix the
rocking lever and spring, thereby preventing the extractor spring, and parts carried
by it, acting as an ejector, while still reserving to the extractor, its usual functions of
withdrawing the cases.
Instead of a lever, a cross bolt, in the form of a pin, may be employed, which
passes through the fore-end iron or like parts, and through the ejector striker or sear
parts.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings, the
manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents partly in longitudinal vertical section, and partly in elevation,
a breech loading double drop-down hammer gun, provided with ejector, or cartridge
case expelling mechanism, constructed, and arranged according to my invention; the
said view figure 1, represents the hammer cocked, and the parts of the ejector
mechanism, in the positions which they normally assume, when the gun is ready for
firing. The hammers are provided with rebound locks, whilst the extractor is a solid
or undivided one.
Figure 2 représents a like sectional view, as figure 1, but with the lifter rods in the

page_text: positions which they assume, on the hammers and their tumblers, taking their fully
forward positions, before rebound, and also showing the turned down position of the
flap, which on the closing of the barrels, turns inwardly, and takes the clips to their
normal positions.
Figure 3 represents the same sectional view of figure 1, but with the barrels open,
and a spent cartridge case, in the act of being expelled.
Figure 4 represents an end view of the breech ends of the barrels, showing the clip
taking back flap, and the cartridge case retaining clips, in front elevation, and which
said parts are shown in positions, which they assume, before either of the barrels of
the gun, are fired.
Figure 5 represents a like end elevation, as figure 4, but with the right hand
barrel fired, and with the clip of that barrel raised into a position clear of the rim of
the cartridge shell.
Figure 6 represents a part vertical section, and part elevation of the face of the
break off, and body part of the gun, showing the directions of the lifter rods, with
respect to the break off, and recess cut within the face thereof.
Figure 7 represents another form of lifter, whilst figure 8 is a modification, in
which a fulcrumed lever is employed, instead of a revolving one.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
a, a, are the barrels, is the break off, and 6 is the body part of the gun-c is a
solid or undivided extractor, with a single leg, working within the solid metal of
the undersides of the barrels, and with the extractor thereof, fitting within a recess
made within the face of the breech ends of the said barrels. d, d are sliding clips,
normally disposed, in about a line with the middle of the cartridge cases, and with their
outer top sides coming in front of, or rearwardly overhanging the rims of the cartridge
shells within the barrels, and which said clips are carried by legs d', which work
within downwardly directed holes, running parallel to the face of the extractor, as
aforesaid.
The clips are kept in determinate positions, for freeing and retaining the cartridge
cases, by the free ends of springs e, taking into retaining notches d³, d, cut within the
front sides of the legs d³.
When one of the clips as in figure 5, is raised, then the spring is in the notch dª,
and when lowered, the spring falls into the notch d³.
fis a jointed flap, hanging out of the line of the joint pin ƒ³, upon which it turns,
and normally resting, with its face flush with the ends of the barrels, or the face of
the extractor, when the said extractor, is in the position as in figure 1.
The front of the flap, has a heel f³, under which the free end of a flat spring f^,
takes its bearing, and brings the flap to a vertical position, on the clips being lowered
from the front curved side of the said flap.
Thus, when the clips are down, as in figure 1, the flap lies vertical, with the top
side resting upon the flat of the recessed underside of the top part of the barrels ; and
on one or other of the clips being moved upwards, by the striker rods, as hereinafter
described, the flap being out of the line of its joint centre, is compelled to move, or
incline outwards, as in figure 2; so that the flap's lower end now comes at the back of
the clips, as indicated in the view figure 5.
The closing of the barrels, slides inwards the extractor, in the usual way, and with
the back inclined ends d, coming against the back of the flap, thereby causing the
said clips, to slide downwards, into their holding or retaining positions, as in figure 1.
The extractor is worked in the usual way, by a lug g, on the joint of the body of
the arm, working within a cut away part in the leg c².
At the rear of the fore end iron h, and working through a slot cut therein,
is a rocking arm or striker i, whose rear top side &* comes against the extreme front
end of the extractor rod, while the front of the said rocking arm or striker is
shouldered and cam shaped, and is adapted to press upon the top side free end of a
double limbed ejector spring j, carried by, and upon, the underside of the fore-end
iron.
The rear underside of the said rocking arm or striker is provided with a bent or

page_text: notch, wherewith the hook shaped catch end 2, of an ejector sear
which sear turns about a joint pin k³ as a centre.
k
engages; and
The rear of the ejector sear k is gapped, thus forming shoulders, or toothed like
terminations, against the upper one of which, a small teit or lug 62, on the joint of
the body part of the arm, presses, (on the opening of the barrels) and thereby takes
the hooked fore-part from out of the bent of the rocking arm, or ejector striker, and
releases it, which is urged against the end of the extractor limb, with considerable
velocity and force.
The ejector sear fore part is kept up to its bent as aforesaid, by a flat spring k,
pressing upon its underside, while the ejector spring j is secured to the underside of
the fore-end iron, by a rigidly secured seat ³.
Working obliquely within the breech body part and break off, and directed to the
middle of the latter, are two lifter rods 1, with their lower and enlarged ends 1,
which are pressed down by springs l³ (see figure 6) rest upon the mitred fore ends m²,
of lifters m, whose rears m³, are also mitred or chamfered off; so that by the forcing
inwards of the said lifters m, by the fore-part, or arm n², of a tumbler n, (whose
axes n carries outside hammers n³) the striker rods are raised by the counter
inclines l, m, coming together.
The rising of the rods as aforesaid, causes their top ends to come under the clips,
and raise them into their off positions, or in positions in which their outside top edges
are made to lie outside the line of the rim of the cartridge shells; so that on the
kicking of the extractor striker, on the breaking of the arm, one or both of the
shells is or are allowed to be expelled, by one or both of the clips, lying clear of
the rims.
The tumbler n has full and half cock bents no, no, while o is the sear, p the rebound
and main spring, and o³ the sear spring.
·
It will be understood that the locks are rebounding ones, and that the striker rod or
rods l, according to whether one or both of them have been struck, retreats from the
position figure 2, to that of figure 1, after hammer or hammers have fallen.
The extractor has a supplementary guide leg c', which passes within the rib between
the barrels.
The action of the cartridge case ejector mechanism, is as follows.
The pulling of one of the triggers, causes the hammer of that trigger, to fall, and
strike the rod working within the nipple of the arm, and with the short arm part n²,
of the tumbler, which turns about the axis n³, to strike the inclined rear part m³, of
the lifter m, thereby urging the said lifter forward, and with its mitred fore part m²,
acting upon the like mitred underside, of the rod 1, thereby lifting both the said
rod l, and clip d; and on the top side of the clip coming against the lower hanging
side of the flap f, the said flap, is directed obliquely outwards, as represented in
figures 2 and 5.
The opening of the barrels, by the withdrawal of the bolts, on the turning of the
tang lever q, aside, causes the teit or lug 62, on the joint of the body part, to forcibly
impress itself upon the top tooth or shoulder k, of the ejector sear k, thereby turning
the said sear upwards, from left to right, and taking the hooked fore-part k², from
the bent, of the rocking arm, or striker i, which now being free, or liberated, is
urged with considerable force and impetus, against the exposed end of the extractor
leg, which carries rearwardly, the extractor, and flirts the spent case from the barrel
fired, leaving the other and undischarged case, retained by its clip, rearwardly over-
hanging, or coming in front of its flange.
The outward movement of the extractor, passes and leaves the flap behind it, which
is returned to its vertical position, as in figures 1 and 3, by its spring acting upon
its front underside; so that the closing of the barrels, draws inwardly the extractor,
and makes the front inclined top d³, of the raised clip, to come against the lower
edge of the flap, which causes the clip to be pressed downwards, into its holding
position.
In figure 7, the lifter m is made rotary, with its rear side m³, made excentric, or

page_text: into a short arm, upon which the arm of the tumbler n impresses itself, on the said
tumbler falling, on the arm being discharged.
The fore part m2 of the lifter, is made flat or pallet like, upon which the lower
part of the lifter rod 1, rests; so that on the lifter being made to revolve upon its
own axis, by the tumbler striking its rear end, its fore part lifts the lifter rod, and
raises the clip of that rod, into a position for releasing a spent shell, on the breaking
of the barrels.
Figure 8 represents another form of my invention, in which the lifter rod is raised,
by a lever, fulcrumed about its middle, and with its rear end acted upon, by the
tumbler so that on the tumbler falling, the lever is turned upon its fulcrum centre,
with its fore part raised, and the lifter rod resting upon it, lifted, which removes the
clip in front of it, from its holding position, as aforesaid.
b is the break off, 61 the body part of the arm, m is a lever, with rear arm m³, and
fore arm m³, upon which latter, the enlarged lower end 12, of a lifter / rests, while n is
a tumbler, with a fore part or tumbler arm n².
Figure 9 represents a device for securing or rendering non-acting, the ejector
mechanism, when the same is not required to be used. The said view represents the
top side of the fore-end iron, marked h. r is a lever catch, is the fulcrum centre,
and its fastening end, which takes into a cut away part or hole, in the striker i,
which is thereby secured.
The tail end of the lever catch, is made yielding or spring like, with a protuberanco
on its underside, which engages with retaining notches h¹, h. When in the former
position as represented, the ejector mechanism is rendered non-acting, but when in
the latter, it expels.
In figure 10, h is the fore end iron, r is a slide, with its rear part ³, coming upon
the flat, of the striker i, while the tail end of the said slide is made yielding, and
provided upon its underside, with a swell or protuberance, which takes into retaining
notches h¹, h, for holding the said slide, which is moved into and out of position, by
a sliding movement.
Thus, when the fore part of the slide is taken from the shoulder of the striker, i,
then the said striker can be employed for expelling the extractor rod.
In figure 11, the ejector mechanism is rendered acting or non acting, by a screw
pin passing through the fore-end iron, and taking upon the inclined breast of the
ejector sear, which takes the nose end of the said sear from out of bent with the striker.
is the fore-end iron, s is the screw pin, kis the ejector sear, and ³ the joint pin,
out of the line of pressure of the screw 8.
It will be understood, that to operate the means for rendering the ejector mechanism
non acting, it will be necessary to remove the fore end.
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―
First. Disposing rearwardly over the cartridge rim recess, or recesses, of the
extractors of single, and double guns, an overhanging sliding clip or clips, whereby
cartridge cases, or spent shells, are retained within, or allowed to be thrown clear of
the barrels, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly. Raising sliding clips, of the kind as herein referred to, in the preceding
claim, by means of rods, working upwardly through the body of the arm and break
off, and with the lower ends of the said lifter rods, presented to a lifter, substantially
as described and set forth in figures 1 to 6.
Thirdly. Raising the clips d of single and double guns, for the purpose as described
and set forth, by a combined lifter, and lifter rod, with presented counter inclines,
substantially as set forth in figures 1 to 6.
Fourthly. The combination with a sliding lifter, as in figure 1, a revolving lifter
as in figure 7, and a lever lifter, as in figure 8, of a tumbler or hammer, of both
hammer and hammerless guns, substantially as described and set forth.

page_text: Fifthly. The jointed flap, or the means herein described, for taking the clips back
to their holding positions, on the closing of the barrels, substantially as described and
set forth in figures 1 to 6.
Sixthly. The combination with an extractor, with a single leg ³, and guide c*, of
a flap ff, f, clips d, d, and lifter rod and lifter l, m, as set forth.
Seventhly. An ejector pivoted sear k, with its fore part, and shouldered back
part k, as described and set forth.
Eighthly. The combination with an ejector sear k, with rear and fore parts k³, k*,
of a rocking arm or striker with spring j, as set forth.
Ninthly. Working ejector sears, by a teit or snug 63, upon the joint of the body
part, as described and set forth in figures 1 to 6.
Tenthly. The improvements in ejector or cartridge expelling mechanism, as herein
described and set forth; and which said parts are constructed, arranged and operate,
substantially as, and for the purpose as herein described and set forth in figures 1
to 6.
Eleventhly. Working the lifting rods of ejector mechanism, as herein described,
by means of revolving lifters, substantially as described and set forth, in figure 7.
Twelfthly. Working the lifting rods, or their equivalents, of ejector mechanism,
as herein described and set forth, by a fulcrumed lever, or double arm, substantially
as set forth in figure 8.
Lastly. The means herein described and illustrated, in figures 9, 10 and 11, for
rendering non-acting, the expelling mechanism, which are constructed, arranged, and
work, substantially as set forth.
Dated this Seventh day of May 1888.
WILLIAM HENRY BRIGHTON.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.