improvements in firearms and in cartridges therefor
Year: 1885

page_text: I THOMAS SAMUEL HEFFER of Grantchester in the County of Cambridge,
Brewer, do, hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention for improvements in firearms and in cartridges therefor has for
object. to construct a firearm in which the motive power for the operations of
loading firing and extracting the empty cartridge cases is obtained from the recoil
of the barrel or from the pressure of the gases resulting from the explosion of the
cartridge acting on a piston in a tube either communicating with the interior of
the barrel or situated in the base of the cartridge or from an external source of
power or from a combination of these powers.
When the motive power for operating the firearm is obtained from the recoil
of the barrel, the long end of a flat V-shaped spring passes through a hole in a
bracket secured to the barrel of the firearm. The spring is pivotted at its angle
and its two arms are connected by links to a lever on a small vertical spindle, the
link on the shorter arm of the spring being connected to the lever nearer to the
spindle than the other link. The ends of these links slide in holes in the spring
but are provided with notches which prevent them from sliding further through
the holes in the corresponding directions. On the recoil of the barrel, the long end
of the spring is forced backwards and both ends of the spring slide up, the links
until the short end of the spring engages with the notch in its link and operates
the lever which draws the other link through the spring (the end of this latter link
at the lever moving quicker than its hole in the spring, it being at a greater
distance from the fulcrum of the lever than the other link) so that this link is
gradually drawn up until its notch engages with the spring. On the further
backward movement of the spring, its two arms will be compressed together. On
the termination of the recoil, the resilience of the spring exerts a pressure on the
two links in opposite directions but on account of the unequal leverage the lever is
forced in the opposite direction to its hereinbefore described motion, until the link
of the short arm begins to be drawn through the arm when the momentum of the
parts causes them to regain the positions occupied before the recoil. The other end
of the lever is curved to any suitable shape and is connected by links to a short
crank on a vertical main spindle which is thus by the recoil made to take half a
revolution (hereinafter called the backward motion), it taking another half revolu-
tion in the opposite direction (hereinafter called the forward motion) by the action
of the V-shaped spring. The main vertical spindle is employed to operate the
breech, extracting, loading and firing mechanisms.

page_text: In a modification the two links are operated directly by a bracket on the recoiling
barrel, the forward motion being obtained by means of a spring.
When the motive power is obtained from the pressure of the gases acting on a
piston in a tube communicating with the interior of the barrel, the piston operates
a spring lever which in turn operates the two links on the before mentioned lever
arm. Or the long arm of the V-shaped spring may be connected directly to the
piston in the tube, its end being drawn away from the lever it operates or forced
towards it.
When the motive power is obtained from the pressure of the gases on a piston
at the base of the cartridge, the piston forces the breech block backwards and 1
operates, through suitable connecting pieces, the long end of the V-shaped spring.
Or the piston, when the machinery is worked by the recoil, may be connected to
the stock of the firearm to increase the force of the recoil of the barrel.
It will also be seen that by connecting the two links operated by the V-shaped
spring on the same sides of the fulcrum of the lever or on opposite sides and
arranging the notches to be disengaged at the required times, the main vertical.
spindle can be operated during the backward and forward motion of the spring
during the backward motion only when the short end of the spring will be pre-
vented from moving and both links will pass through holes in the long arm of the
spring or during the forward motion only..
When the recoil or other power is insufficient to work the main spring, it may
be operated by means of gearing, a small crank and a connecting rod or a rack on
the connecting rod may gear with a small wheel on the main axle. The gearing
may be arranged to be wound up against the resistance of a spring. In these
arrangements a catch prevents further motion of the main axle until the cartridge
is exploded.
When a cartridge misses fire, the long end of the V-shaped spring is operated by
hand by means of a piece of string or wire which if desired can be passed over
pulleys to increase the power.
The barrel when the motive power is supplied by the recoil is fixed so as to be
capable of recoiling to a tube or other suitable piece underneath it carrying the
operating mechanism. At a short distance from the breech, the barrel is fixed by
a collar and at the back end by a slide bearing on a piece secured to the tube, the
slide and piece being forced together by means of a lever fulcrumed on a collar
capable of sliding on the tube, one end of the said lever bearing on an incline
causing the other end to gradually increase the pressure between the slide and its
bearing during the recoil. This arrangement forms a brake to reduce the force of
the recoil. The lever may be dispensed with, the brake being formed by the friction
of the slide alone.
In another form of brake, a saddle secured to the barrel slides on two long bars
separated by a wedge shaped piece. The two bars are forced along the wedge so
as to expand them by a spring lever. On the recoil should the friction be too great,
the bars are forced up against the lever and contract thus lessening the friction.
The spring lever thus keeps the friction practically constant whatever the condition
of the surfaces in contact. On the return of the barrel the friction is regulated by
another spring lever at the other end of the long bars which lever draws out the
wedge as the bars are forced along, the wedge being at a greater distance from the
fulcrum than the bars. The long bars may be secured to their frame by vertical
links. If these links are inclined in the required direction, the brake will be
tightened during the recoil only. The frame supporting the long bars may be
supported on uprights so connected to the barrel that the long bars are always
parallel to the barrel and that the bars are expanded when the recoil takes place
down an incline and contracted when up an incline.
When the motive power is obtained from the pressure of the gases resulting.
from the explosion, the pistons acted on by the said gases consist of a thin metal
tube filled with a roll of compressed asbestos and closed at the inner end by a
concave metal cap and at the outer end by a perforated plate having a small bolė

page_text: to receive the end of a rod connecting it to the parts to be operated, the parts of
the piston being thin enough to expand to the sides of the tube in the barrel in
which the pistons are situated.
When the piston is inserted in the base of the cartridge, the outer end of its
thin metal tube is closed and has a piece for holding the cap; the other end of the
tube has a rim which catches against a rim on the cartridge case and prevents the
piston being forced quite out of the case. This piston forces the breech block back
and operates the V-shaped spring..
The breech block slides transversely across the end of the barrel being kept up
to the base of the cartridge by small blocks secured to lugs on the barrel. These
small blocks are removed when the breech block is designed to be forced back to
the lugs by the piston in the cartridge. One end of the breech block is secured to
one end of a frame mounted in suitable supports at the other end. The other end
of the breech block when in position passes under a catch which is secured to the
barrel or which with the frame is capable of being forced back with the breech
block. The frame is operated, by means of a link from a lever on the main axle,
to withdraw and insert the breech block as required. The end of the link is kept
forced against the lever by a spring during the first part of the motion of the main
axle (when the breech block is withdrawn) and is then held by a catch until the
return of the lever; the breech block being replaced during the latter portion of
the forward motion of the main axle.
The breech block carries pivotted in it, a firing pin formed of a curved piece of
flat metal one end of which comes in contact with a lug screwed on the barrel
when the breech block is nearly in position and so causes a spur on the other end
to pierce the cap on one side then to press towards the opposite side and finally,
the other end being drawn off the lug on the barrel, to be drawn over the cap and
exploded it. The explosion thus cannot take place until the breech block is in
position. The lug on the barrel which forces the spur into the cap can be removed
when not desired to fire by this method.
In order to control the time of the explosion of the cartridges, a link is secured
to the lever operating the main spindle and passes through a hole in a fixed plate.
When the lever has been forced backwards, it is prevented from moving forwards
by a notch in the link which is forced to engage, by means of a spring, with the
side of the hole in the plate. The notch can be freed from the side of the hole by
means of a trigger which if kept held down prevents the notch from engaging
with the side of the hole and so allows the continuous firing of the cartridges so
long as they are fed to the barrel. If desired to fire single shots at a time, a
second trigger is employed to pull the first trigger by means of a catch which is
disengaged after each explosion by the notched link and only engages again when
the trigger is let forward.
If desired to let the lever go forward until it begins to operate the breech block,
the notch in the link is prevented from engaging with the side of the hole and a
catch on the frame operating the breech block engages with a projecting lug secured
to the barrel and prevents the breech block coming into position. This catch is
operated by the two triggers in a similar manner to that hereinbefore described.
If desired the breech block may be arranged to be forced into position before
the cartridge is exploded. This is effected by allowing the firing pin to have a
certain amount of play on its pivot and striking it by means of a spring hammer
which is pivotted to the frame operating the breech and which is controlled by the
two triggers in a similar manner to that hereinbefore described. The spring
hammer can be secured to the frame operating the breech block by a catch
operated from the first mentioned trigger; the force of the breech block and of
the spring hammer both aiding in exploding the cartridge.
In another method of firing the cartridges, a firing pin having a blunt point is
pivotted so as to forced opposite the cap by a spring when the breech block comes
into position and a spring hammer raised when the breech block is drawn away,
is released by the triggers in a similar manner to that hereiubefore described when

page_text: the breech block comes into position and forces the blunt point into the cap. Or
the firing pin itself may be weighted and operated in a similar manner.
The cap is made of thin metal or paper, the combustible being kept in place by
a paper or metal wad and a ferrule; or in lieu of the ferrule, the body of the cap
may be indented about half way down.
In order to extract the cartridges, the extractor slides on the barrel and is
connected to a slide block operated from a link on the lever operating the breech
block;
the attachment of the extractor being arranged to allow for the recoil of
the barrel when required. The cartridges are fed from a pair of wheels, between
the teeth of which the cartridges lie, by a clip at the same time that the empty
cartridge case is extracted; the clip being actuated from the before mentioned slide
block. The cartridges are kept on to the clip by two parallel bars which are forced
at the end of the backward motion of the main axle, by a lever on the main axle,
to swing up to force the fresh cartridge on to the extractor; the fresh cartridge
pushing the used empty case before it. The cartridge is then forced by the
extractor into the barrel, it being guided by suitable bars and the swinging bars
are drawn down by another lever on the main axle.
In another arrangement, the rim end of the cartridge is pushed through the belt,
by a guided catch operated by a link from the lever on the main axle, onto two
spring catches which carry it to the parallel bars swinging it onto the extractor.
The wheels on which the cartridges lie are mounted on an axle rotated by a
ratchet motion.by a lever on the main axle.
The cartridges are guided to the wheels by a guide hung on to the axle of the
wheels. The cartridges are contained in a flexible belt guided in a flexible case
secured on one side of the guide; the empty part of the belt passing through a
bag on the other side of the guide. The mouth of the bag is kept open by wire of
sufficient size to allow of the passage of the empty belt but not large enough for
the passage of the full belt. The case through which the full belt passes may be
guided by wheels similar to the wheels on which the cartridges lie and mounted
on. an axle passing through holes in washers sewn in the case; the axle being kept
in position by leather throngs or other suitable means The belt is made of flexible
material kept to its full width by whale bone or steels sewn in between the
cartridges.
-
In another arrangement the belt is doubled into the compartments of a box-like
case having the guide secured centrally to its top. This case is arranged to be
strapped over the shoulder in a suitable position; the guide being secured to or
disengaged from the axle of the wheels as required.
If desired a certain number of cartridges only may be held on the wheels by a
guide.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
Agents for the Applicant,
156, Strand, London, W.C.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Firearms and in Cartridges therefor.
I THOMAS SAMUEL HEFFER of Grantchester in the County of Cambridge,
Brewer, 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:―
My invention for improvements in firearms and in cartridges therefor has for
object to construct a firearm in which the motive power for the operations of
loading, firing and extracting the empty cartridge cases is obtained from the recoil
of the barrel; or from the pressure of the gases resulting from the explosion of the
cartridge acting on a piston'in a tube either communicating with the interior of
the barrel or situated in the base of the cartridge; or from an external source of
power; or from a combination of these powers.
In the accompanying two sheets of drawings
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with part of the feed mechanism removed, of a firearm
constructed according to this invention; and
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan and
Fig. 3 a sectional elevation on line A. B, fig. 2 of the same.
When the motive power for operating the firearm is obtained from the recoil of
the barrel, the long arm of a flat V-shaped spring 1 passes through a hole in a
bracket 2 secured to the barrrel 10 of the firearm. The spring 1 is pivotted at its
angle and its two arms are connected by links 3, 4 to a lever 5 on a vertical
spindle 6; the link 4 on the shorter arm of the spring 1 being connected to the
lever 5 nearer to the spindle 6 than the link 3. The end of the link 3 is formed
with a slot in which the notched end of the long arm of the spring 1 slides. The
link 4 is securely pinned to the shorter arins of the spring 1 and the lever 5
respectively.
.
On the recoil of the barrel 10, the long arm of the spring 1 is forced backwards
causing the notch to slide to the opposite end of the slot in the link 3 and is held
in this position by a spring catch 48 until the short arm of the spring 1 operating
the lever 5, redraws the slot in the link 3 through the notch in the long arm of the
spring 1 so that this link 3 is drawn up until the end of its slot again engages
with the spring 1. The opening of the two arms of the spring at this point, by
means of the link 49, draws down and disengages the catch 48 from the long arm
of the spring, leaving the said arm free to return to its initial position. The
resilience of spring 1--which is under initial strain-exerts a pressure on the two
links 3, 4 in opposite directions, but on account of the unequal leverage, the lever 5
is forced in the opposite direction to its hereinbefore described motion and regains
the position occupied before the recoil.
The other end of the lever 5 is curved to any suitable shape and is connected by
links 7 to a short crank 8 on a vertical main spindle 9 which is thus by the recoil
made to take half a revolution more or less (hereinafter called the backward'
"
... .

page_text: .
motion) it taking another half revolution in the opposite direction-(hereinafter
called the forward motion) by the action of the V-shaped spring 1 as hereinabove
described.
The vertical main spindle 9 is employed to operate the loading, breech, firing
and extracting mechanisms.
When the motive power is obtained from the pressure of the gases acting on a
piston in a tube communicating with the interior of the barrel, the long arm of the
spring 1 is connected directly to the piston in the tube, its end being drawn away
from the lever 5 or forced towards it.
When the motive power is obtained from the pressure of the gases on a piston
at the base of the cartridge, the piston forces the breech block backwards and
operates through suitable connecting pieces, the long arm of the spring 1. Or the
pistons when the machinery is worked by the recoil may be connected to the stock
of the firearm to increase the force of the recoil of the barrel.
It will also be seen that by connecting the two links 3, 4 operated by the
spring 1 on the same sides of the fulcrum of the lever or on opposite sides and
suitably arranging the slots and notches, the main spindle 9 can be operated
during the backward and forward motion of the long arm of the spring; during
the backward motion only, when the short arm of the spring will be prevented
from moving and both links will be operated by the long arm of the spring; or
during the forward motion only.
When the recoil or other power is insufficient to work the main spring 1, it may
be operated by means of gearing, a small crank and a connecting rod; or a rack on
the connecting rod may gear with a small wheel on the main spindle. The gearing
may be arranged to be wound up against the resistance of a spring. In these
arrangements a catch prevents further motion of the main spindle until the
cartridge has exploded.
When a cartridge misses fire, the long arm of the spring 1 is operated by hand
or the lever 5 may be operated by hand by means of the ring 50.
The barrel 10 when the motive power is supplied by the recoil is mounted, so as
to be capable of recoiling, to a tube or other suitable piece 11 underneath it
carrying the operating mechanism.
When the motive power is obtained from the pressure of the gases resulting from
the explosion of the cartridge, the piston acted on by the said gases consists of a
thin metal tube filled with a roll of compressed asbestos and closed at the inner end
by a concave metal cap and at the outer end by a perforated plate having a small
hole to receive the end of a rod connecting it to the parts to be operated, the parts
of the piston being thin enough to expand to the sides of the tube in the barrel in
which the piston is situated.
When the piston is inserted in the base of the cartridge, the outer end of its thin
metal tube is closed and has a piece for holding the cap; the other end of the tube
bas a rim which catches against a rim on the cartridge case and prevents the piston
being forced quite out of the case. This piston forces the breech block back and
operates the spring 1.
The breech block 12 slides transversely across the end of the barrel 10 being
kept up to the base of the cartridge by lugs 13 on the barrel. One end of the
breech block is secured to one end of a frame 15 mounted in suitable supports at
the other end 14. The frame 15 is operated, by means of a link 16, from a lever 17
on the main spindle 9 to withdraw and insert the breech block as required. The
end of the link 16 is kept forced against the lever 17, by a spring (not shewn)
secured to the frame 15, during the first part of the motion of the main spindle
(when the breech block is withdrawn) and is then held back by a catch 18 taking
into a hole 51 on the link 16 until the return of the lever 17%; the breech block
being replaced during the latter portion of the forward motion of the main
spindle 9. Normally however the tendency of the breech block is to remain open,
it being drawn to this position by a spring.

page_text: The breech block carries pivotted in it, a firing pin 19 formed of a curved piece
of flat metal one end of which comes in contact with the barrel when the breech
block is nearly in position and so causes a spur 20 on the other end to pierce the
cap and explode it. The explosion thus cannot take place until the breech block is
in position. The curved firing pin may be arranged to come in contact with a lug
on the barrel which can be removed when not desired to fire by this method.
In order to control the time of the explosion of the cartridges, a link 21 is
secured to the lever 5 operating the main spindle 9 and passes through a hole in a
fixed plate 22. When the lever has been forced backwards it is prevented from
again moving forward by a notch 23 in the link 21 which notch is forced to
engage, by means of a spring 24 with the side of the hole in the plate 22. The
notch 23 can be freed from the side of the hole by means of a trigger lever 25
which if kept held down prevents the notch 23 from engaging with the side of the
hole in the plate 22, and so allows the continuous firing of the cartridges so long
as they are fed to the barrel.
If desired to fire single shots at a time, a second trigger lever 26 is employed
to pull the first trigger by means of a catch 27 which is disengaged after each
explosion by the notched link 21 and only re-engages when the trigger lever 26 is
let forward.
If desired to let the lever 17 go forward until it begins to operate the breech
block, the notch 23 in the link 21 is prevented from engaging with the side of the
hole and a catch on the frame 15 operating the breech block 12 engages with a
projecting lug secured to the barrel and prevents the breech block coming into
position. This catch is operated by the two trigger levers in a similar manner to
that herein before described.
If desired the breech block may be arranged to be forced into position before the
cartridge is exploded. This is effected by allowing the firing pin to have a certain
amount of play on its pivot and striking it by means of a spring hammer which is
pivotted to the frame 15 and whose movement is controlled by two trigger levers
in a similar manner to that herein before described. The spring hammer may be
arranged to be secured to the frame 15 by a catch controlled from the trigger lever;
the force of the breech block and of the spring hammer both aiding in exploding
the cartridge.
The cap is made of thin metal or paper, the combustible being kept in place by
a paper or metal wad and a ferrule; or in lieu of the ferrule, the body of the cap
may be indented about half way down.
:
In order to extract the cartridges, the extractor 28 slides on a guide bar 29 and
is connected to a slide block 30 operated from a link 31 on the lever 17 operating.
the breech-block; the attachment of the extractor being arranged to allow for the
recoil of the barrel by means of rods 32, 33. The rod 32 is cranked to admit of
the bent part of the rod 33 being pressed into and driven by the rod 32 except
when the breech block is closed in which case the link 16 presses the bent portion
of the rod 33 out of the crank on the rod 32 and so allows the two rods to slide
independently of each other. It will thus be seen that the extractor is free to
recoil with the barrel.
The cartridges are fed from a pair of wheels 34, between the arins of which the
cartridges lie, by the clip 28 at the same time that the empty cartridge case is
being extracted; the clip 28 being operated as herein before described from the.
slide block 30. The cartridges are kept onto the clip 28 by a guide case 35 which
is forced, at the end of the backward motion of the main spindle 9, by the lever 36,
to swing up to force the fresh cartridge in line with the bore of the barrel and the.
empty cartridge case off the extractor. The guide case is brought back at the end
of the forward motion of the main spindle 9 by the lever 37. One end of each of
the levers 36, 37 works on a pin on the lever 38 which actuates the guide case 35,
the other ends being pressed by springs against a cam 39 secured to the bracket 41,

page_text: and a cam 40 mounted on the spindle 9. The cam 39 is partly cut away between
the stops 42, 43; these stops serving as abutments for the levers 36, 37 which thus
hold the guide case 35 rigidly in its two extreme positions. The cam 40 is formed
with hooks or claws 44, 45 which engage respectively with the levers 36, 37 as the
spindle 9 oscillates and so actuates the guide case 35. When the fresh cartridge is
in line with the bore of the barrel it is forced by the extractor 28 into the barrel
on the forward motion of the spindle 9, it being guided by the swinging guide
case 35 and suitable guide plates.
The wheels 34 on which the cartridges lie are mounted on an axle 46 rotated by
a ratchet motion 47. On the main spindle 9 and branching from the lever 17 is a
lever 57 having a hole with its axis in the plane of the spindle 9 and converging to
the axis of the spindle 52 which drives the ratchet mechanism 47. Into the before
mentioned hole is fitted one end of a lever 53, the other end being jointed by a
pin 68 to the open slotted part 54 of the spindle 52 and thus forming an universal
joint through which the requisite oscillation for working the ratchet mechanism 47
is communicated from the spindle 9. The end of the spindle 52 is supported in
an extension 55 of the bracket 56.
The cartridges are guided to the wheels 34 by a guide hung onto the axle of the
wheels The cartridges are contained in a flexible belt guided in a flexible case
secured on one side of the guide;. the empty part of the belt passing through into
a bag on the other side of the guide. The mouth of the bag is kept open by wire
of sufficient size to allow of the passage of the empty belt but not large enough for
the passage of the full belt. The case through which the full belt passes may be
provided with wheels similar to the wheels 34 and mounted on an axle passing
through holes in washers sewn in the case; the axle being kept in position by
leather throngs or other suitable means. The belt is made of flexible material kept
to its full width by whale bone or steels sewn in between the cartridges.
In another arrangement the belt is doubled into the compartments of a box-like
case having a guide secured centrally to its top. This case is arranged to be
strapped over the shoulder in a suitable position; the guide being secured to or
disengaged from the axle of the wheels 34 as required.
If desired a certain number of cartridges may be held on the wheels 34 by a
guide.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a firearm in which the loading, breech, firing or extractor mechanism is
operated by force resulting from the explosion of the cartridge, arranging the said
force to act through a bent spring working substantially in the manner described.
2. In a firearm in which force resulting from the explosion of the cartridge is
caused to operate a main spindle actuating the loading, breech, firing or extractor
mechanism, arranging the said force to act through the intervention of a V-shaped
spring links and lever substantially as described.
.
3. The construction of mechanism for operating the breech block from the main
spindle substantially as described.
4. The method of exploding the cartridges by means of a firing pin pivotted in
the breech block and operated by the motion of the breech block substantially as
described.
4
5. The construction of mechanism for feeding the cartridges to the firearm
consisting of wheels between the arms of which the cartridges lie and which are 5
mounted on a spindle rotated from the main spindle by the ratchet mechanisın
substantially as described.
6. The method of operating the extractor or feeding clip from the main spindle
by means of a block sliding on a guide and operated by means of a link connected
to a lever on the said spindle substantially as described.

page_text: 7. The arrangement of guides cams and levers by means of which the cartridges
are brought directly in line with the bore of the barrel and the empty cases are
pushed off the extractor substantially as described.
8. The arrangement of mechanism by means of which the firearm can be caused
to fire continuously so long as cartridges are fed to the firearm substantially as
described.
9. The arrangement of mechanism by means of which the firearm is caused to
fire single shots at a time only substantially as described.
10. The construction of a firearm substantially as shewn in the drawings.
..
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
Agents for the Applicant,
156, Strand, London, W.C.