Improvements in Drop-down Small-arms.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 27th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 15th Feb.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drop-down Small-arms.
I, THOMAS WOODWARD of 7 Bath Street Birmingham in the county of Warwick
Gun manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention consists of improvements in the cartridge ejecting mechanism of
breech-loading small-arms with drop down barrels and is carried out in the following
manner.
In double-barreled guns, I use a divided extractor, a cam or lever, being provided
to partially withdraw these extractors, in the ordinary manner. Each extractor is
also provided with an ejector spring, constantly urging it back towards the false
breech, these springs may be either of a flat, V, or, spiral form. When spiral springs
are used I prefer to attach them to a small covering-plate, which lies between the
fore-end and the barrels, this plate has its ends turned up, the forward end being pro-
vided with holes, and the rear end, with slots in which the spring guiding rods can
work. When flat or V springs are used, I prefer to attach them to, the foreend iron,
in such a manner, that their free ends, bear upon the forward arms of small bell-
crank levers, working in a block, attached to the barrels, between the lump and loop,
the other arms of these. levers, bear against the forward ends of the extractor legs, and
so communicate to them the pressure of the springs attached to the foreend.
By this arrangement, when the foreend is removed from the gun, all pressure is
taken off the ejector-springs.
Each extractor is also provided with a catch, controlled by a friction-spring, these
catches which may have either a sliding or circular, motion, are attached, to the fore-
end iron, and are capable of taking either of two positions, in one of which, they
allow their extractors to be withdrawn to the fullest extent, in the other position, they
lock their corresponding extractor, upon the firing of the corresponding barrel, till
such time as the gun is open wide enough, to allow the cartridge case to pass clear
over the false breech, when they are turned into their unlocked position, by the
motion of the hinge-joint of the action, and so allow the extractor to move rapidly
backwards, and so eject the cartridge case. These catches are turned, into the locked
position, upon firing the corresponding barrel, by the action of the cocking-lever. or
rod, which is allowed a small amount of play for that, purpose, or they may be
turned into that position by means of a special rod or lever actuated by the lock
mechanism.
If preferred the before mentioned catches, may be used to control the motion of the
ejector-springs in lieu of the extractors, they being actuated by the dock or cocking
mechanisin in a precisely similar manner to that before described.
Dated this. 25th day of March 1889
THOMAS WOODWARD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drop-down Small-arms.
1 THOMAS WOODWARD of 7 Bath Street Birmingham Gun-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 the spent shell ejecting mechanism, of breech loading
small arms
us hereinafter described

page_text: Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in longitudinal vertical section,
and partly in elevation, a breecli loading drop down double gun, provided with spent
cartridge case ejecting mechanism, constructed and arranged according to my said
invention The said figure 1, represents the hammer down and the gun discharged,
and with the sear or catch which is controlled by the falling of the hammer, through
the intervention of a cocking beam or lever, shown engaged with the leg of the
extractor.
Figure 2 represents a like section as figure 1, but with the barrels partly opened, or
in the position which they take, just before fully opening and ejection This view also
exemplifies how the hammer is cocked by the same beam or lever, which puts ou
ejection; and which cocking is performed by the short arm of the said beam or lever,
taking into a hole in the joint of the fore end iron, and by the angular movement
made by the said fore end iron, on the opening of the barrels, turns the lever upon its
centre, as shewn.
Figure 3 represents a like longitudinal section as figure 2, but with the barrels
fully opened, and the spent cartridge shell in the act of being ejected.
Figure 4 represents the joint part of the fore end iron, with the sear or catch,
and incline ended spring for keeping the same in its acting, and neutral positions.
Figure 5 represents a plan, and side elevation of the sear, or catch separately.
Figure 6 represents the covering plate, with the ejector strikers.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
a are the barrels, 6 the break off, c the breech body, d the fore end, e² the extractor
leg of a split, or double extractor e, working within the solid metal or rib between the
barrels, the ejector striker with its rear end f2, flattened and coming against the
front end of the said extractor leg-The said rear end of the ejector striker, works
and is guided within gaps g², of a covering plate g, whilst the fore part of the said
ejector striker, works through a hole g³, in the front of the covering plate g.
Surrounding the ejector striker, and disposed between the turned up fore part of
the covering plate, and the shoulder formed at the junction of the round' part with
the flat part, is a coiled spring h.
Working within the breech body part is a lever or bean i, fulcrumed at 2, and
having short and long arm 3, 4; the short end 3, takes in a hole d³, of the joint
part d, of the fore end iron d', and acts against a jointed scar or catch j, jointed at j,
and having shoulders j³, 1, and an outstanding horn j³.
The leg of the extracting mechanism, has a slot or gap e³, and shoulder e¹, which
former is of a length equal to the traverse of the extracting movement, whilst the
shoulder constitutes a stop, and comes against the sear or catch stop j³, and is held
there by the said sear, until liberated by the beam or lever i, on the opening of the
barrels, as hereinbefore described.
The extractors are worked from snugs or arms c², on the joint c³, of the breech
body part c, in the usual manner.
The lock mechanism consists of a hammer K, jointed at K2, and with a depending
limb or leg K³, directed from the breast and lower part of the said hammer, and
coming upon the top side of the extreme rear end, of the lever i...
is the cap striker, m is a sear, and n is a main spring, whilst is a tang
lever..
OPERATION.
The falling of the hammer, for the discharge of the arm, causes the leg ³, of the
said hammer, to press upon the rear top side of the lever, and turn the said lever,
upon its joint centre 2, and raise the short arm 3, which on its extreme top side fore
part, coming in contact with the outstanding horn j³, of the sear or catch j, trips or
swings it upwards, with the shoulder ³, coming within the slot or gap e³ of the
extractor lege, thereby putting on ejection.
The spring h, was put into a state of tension by the closing of the barrels, and is
also held in that condition, so long as the barrels are closed.

page_text: The opening of the barrels, as in figure 2, cocks the hammer, by the turning of the
lever, consequent upon the angular movement made by the fore end; the said opening
also allows the extractor leg to be pushed outwardly to an extracting distance, and
with the shoulder e, of its slot or gape coming against the shoulder j³, of the sear or
catchj, thereby retaining the said extractor leg, for ejection.
The fully opening of the barrels as in figure 3, causes the overhanging shoulder,
of the said sear, to come against the fixed stop p, protruding outwardly from the
joint c, of the breech body c, thereby turning downwardly the said sear, and taking
its shoulder j³, from before the shoulder et, of the extractor leg e², thus releasing the
said extractor, which is driven rearwardly, and with considerable impetus, by the
coiled spring o, which was held under a state of compression.
The sudden releasing of the extractor leg by the sear coming within the path of
the fixed stop and impinging against it throws the spent case clear of the barrel.
The closing of the arm compresses the coiled spring h, which is held in that state,
by the barrels being closed, or until ejection has been put on, by the falling of the
hammer, which causes the sear to go into bent, with the extracting mechanism.
On the sear or catch being out of bent, the extracting mechanism works only to the
extent of an extracting distance, whilst the shoulder of the sear lies without the path
of the sear liberating fixed stop, as aforesaid.
The sear or catch may be made to engage with the ejector striker, instead of with
the extractor leg.
The sear or catch (see figure 4) is held in its lowered, and raised positions, by a
spring q, with a V shaped free end g², which takes respectively upon the top and
front sides of the horn or projection jo, according to the position in which the said sear
is in.
Thus when the sear is lowered, or out of bent or stop, then the underside of the
Vend of the spring, rests upon the top front edge, of the horn.
When the sear is in bent, the top side of the V shaped end, rests against the front of it.
The stop p, may be made to slide or screw within a hole or recess, formed within
the breech body, so that when ejection is not required, (in order to save the cases) the
stop is made to retreat and lie flush with the joint of the said body part, by turning
the same inwardly by a screw driver or by sliding it inwardly by a pusher, or other
means, directed through the sides of the breech body, near its joint.
By making the stop acting or non-acting at will, an advantage is obtained, in
respect of making the arm an ejector, or only an extractor.
It will be understood, that each barrel of the said double gun, is provided with
extracting, ejecting, and lock mechanism of a like construction, as described.
I am aware that sears or catches have been employed in connection with the legs
of the extracting mechanism, and also that the cocking levers have been worked, or
operated by the forepart of them passing directly through the fore end iron; and
further, I am also aware that ejection-strikers have been employed working at the front
of the extractor legs, and surrounded by coiled spring.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
First—The particular construction of the putting on ejector sear j, with its shoulders
and parts,, j*, and j³, in combination with the extractor leg, with slot or gap, and
shoulder es,
e¹
Secondly-The combination with the extracting mechanism leg e³, with slot and
shoulder e, e, of the sear j, with its cognate parts, and the ejector striker, with
its covering plate, consisting of rod f; spring n and plate g, with guides g², g³, all
arranged, combined and operating substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly The combination with the extracting, ejecting, and putting on ejection
sear, of a jointed lever or beam, i, worked for ejection, by a leg on the underside,
and fore part of the hammer, substantially as described and set forth.
Fourthly The combination with the ejector sear with shoulder
jector stop p for liberating the said sear, substantially as set forth.
of a fixed

page_text: Fifthly Making the ejector stop p, moveable, or sliding, so as to admit of the
same, being taken out of the path of the ejecting sear, in order to convert an ejecting
gun, into a non-ejecting one, if desirable."
Lastly The general construction, arrangement and combination of the parts of
ejecting mechanism, as herein described, and set forth.
Dated this 22nd dow of Duaomhar 1980
THOMAS WOODWARD.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.