Improved Mechanism for Locking the Barrels of Drop Down Guns.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Mechanism for Locking the Barrels of Drop Down Guns.
We, LOUIS JEUSETTE, commercial traveller, DIEUDONNÉ HENRARD and HENRI
HENRARD, manufacturers of fire arms, all three of 28 rue Faurieux, Herstal, in the
Kingdom of Belgium 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 stateinent :-
Our invention consists in an improved mechanism for locking or closing the
breech of so called break-down guns: the mechanism is operated either from a top lever, as
shown in the arrangement illustrated in fig. 1 and 2 or by a bottom lever, as shown
in the arrangement illustrated in fig. 6.
The mechanism is composed mainly of the said lever, and of two guides connected
by means of ties to the locking bolts, which guides are arranged horizontally in and
transversely to the breech mechanism of the gun. When the lever is at rest, as
shown, both locking bolts engage into a corresponding opening formed on to the
projection of the barrel.
Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of the mechanism, on the line A B fig. 2. Fig. 2 is
a horizontal section on the line C D fig. 1, through the guides and locking bolts.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line E fig. and 2. Fig. 4 shows the locking
bolts open, with the lever and the projection or hook of the barrel, in section.
Fig. 5 is a section of fig. 4 on the line G H. Fig. 6 shows a modification, in
vertical section, with the same arrangement of guides and bolts, but operated by a
bottom lever.
di
The top lever a, fig. 1, is fast on a pin b; the latter is provided, at its lower end,
with a crosshead a all the arms of which are engaged respectively in suitable
openings formed in the guiding pins c¹ d' of the locking bolts c, d. The guiding
pins c, d are connected to the locking bolts c d respectively by means of ties c",
which are sunk into the sides of the break-down portion m of the gun, see fig. 3.
When the top lover a is at rest, both locking bolts c, d fig. 2 and 3 engage an
opening e' of the lumpe and prevent the barrel of the gun from pivotting on its
joint pin fig. 1. The mechanism then assumes the position shown in fig. 1, 2
and 3 and the ties c", "are engaged into the said portion m; and are flush
therewith.

page_text: In order to break the gun down, the top lever a is moved from left to right. The
arms of the crosshead a', a follow this motion of the said lever and the guiding
pins c, d, being operated by the said crosshead, slide in the openings of the portion m
toward the outside and carry with them the ties cl, which also move the locking
bolts €, d outwardly. The said bolts c, d also being guided in the portion m, the
lump e is liberated, see fig. 4, and the gun can be made to break down.
As long as the top lever a has not reassumed its normal position, the ties c", du
project beyond the sides of the portion m. The ties can thus also act as indicators
for the complete closing of the
gun.
The internal ends of the locking bolts c, d fig. and 4 are bevilled, so as to
enable the gun to be closed without requiring the top lever to be operated by hand,
the lump e causing the bolts c, d to separate automatically, upon moving the barrel
so as to close the gun.
Fig. 6 illustrates another arrangement of the lever a; in this modification, the
lever a is under the trigger guard. Otherwise, the mechanism is exactly similar to
the one previously described and operates in a similar manner to the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
A closing mechanism for so called break-down guns, composed of guiding pins c¹, d
sliding in corresponding openings of the portion m and connected by means of
ties e, du to the locking bolts cd, the latter being also guided by the portion m,
the said mechanism being operated from a top lever a arranged above the mechanism
or by a bottom lever arranged under the trigger guard, the said lever acting upon a
cross head aa which operates the guiding pins c, d, the ties e, and the
locking bolts c, d, substantially as herein described and shown, and for the purpose
set forth.
Dad the at Navaushan 1800