IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING OR MAGAZINE RIFLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, GEORGE EDWARD VAUGHAN, of 57, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING OR MAGAZINE RIFLES" and in what manner the
same is to bo performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This Invention consists in improvements in repeating rifles having a revolving
drum or magazine and relates more especially to the particular method of actuating
the revolving magazine or cartridge drum which is effected by a guide wheel and
a tooth or grooved projection on that portion of the breech bolt which is opposite
to the locking lever. This grooved projection projects far enough to gear into the
teeth of the guide wheel, and, at the same time, ensures to the breech greater
stability by locking when in the position for firing, into a notch or recess in the
left side of the breech chamber thus neutralizing the recoil of the exploded
cartridge by obviating one sided resistances by the breech bolt. This Invention
also relates to the method of loading by which every cartridge fired may be at
once replaced; and finally, in the peculiar disconnecting mechanism of the cartridge
drum or magazine by means of which the rifle inay be used as a single-loader and
the magazine be allowed to remain full or partially filled.
°
The accompanying Drawings represent the improvements above referred to the
magazine being formed to contain nine cartridges. Figure 1. shows in section the
principal parts of the breech in position for repeating. T. is the revolving magazine
or cartridge drum, R. the guide wheel; z. the tooth or grooved projection which
actuates by means of the guide wheel R. the drum T. which latter is mounted
loosely on the spindle a. On the breech being closed the grooved projection z.
revolves the drum T. to the left and by this movement places the cartridge against
the breech bolt K. On the breech being opened and the breech bolt drawn back
the spring pin d. moves the ratchet wheel S. and, with it, the guide wheel R. and
drum T., so much farther to the left as to bring the cartridge into the loading
chamber, whence on closing the breech it is carried into the barrel. This action
may be repeated until all the cartridges in the magazine have been exhausted.
During the manipulation as above described the check lever H rests with its
roughened end forward as shown in position 1. Figure 1.
In order to reload the magazine the cartridges are placed into the empty loading
chamber, and the drum is turned to the right by pressure with the thumb until an

page_text: empty chamber of the drum appears and this is repented until the magazine is
filled. By reversing the movement of the drum, every discharged cartridge may
be replaced at once without reducing the store of cartridges in the magazine.
If the rifle is to be used as a single loader, the lever H. which is screwed to
the right side of the stock is pressed backwards with the thumb, as shown in
position 2. Figure 1. By this movement, it gears with its lower end into the teeth
of the ratchet wheel S. in such a manner that the drum is held firm, and the rifle
transformed into a single loader. In this case the two upper chambers form the
loading barrel, in which the cartridge is placed. In order to rearrange the rifle
for repeating the thumb of the right hand is pressed against the lever H. to place
it in position 1. Figure 1.
The lever H. being completely independent of the breech it can be placed at all
times, as desired, into the positions 1. and 2. whether the breech is opened or
closed. By this arrangement it can be always ascertained whether the rifle or the
repenting mechanism acts properly, as the spring pin d. by a single movement of
the lever H. can be raised with its lower end which for this purpose is exposed so
that any derangement, which however is excluded, may be indicated at once.
Figure 2. is a plan of the breech which shows the breech bolt K. with its tooth
or grooved projection z. resting in the notch or recess in the breech at 3.
Figure 3. is a transverse section of the rear portion showing the ratchet wheel S.,
the guide wheel R., check lever H., and spring pin d. which acts upon the ratchet
wheel S., to press the cartridge against the breech bolt and to keep the top
chamber of the drum in the central position while the cartridge-therein-is-about-to-
be carried forward into the barrel.
Figure 4. shows the breech bolt K. with its tooth or grooved projection z. for
actuating the revolving magazine and diverting part of the recoil on to the
shoulder of the recess in the breech.
Figure 5. is a view of the guide wheel R. ratchet wheel S. and the revolver or
cartridge drum T. with the charging chambers the wings of which reach only as
far as the end of the cartridge case so that the projectile lies completely free,
and glides easily into the barrel over the rounded off end of the drum. This
construction prevents the distortion of the projectile.
Figure 6 shows the check lever H.
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) The construction and arrangement of the guide and ratchet wheels, rotating
in connection with the magazine or revolver drum having any desired number of
chambers for carrying cartridges, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
(2) The construction of the breech bolt with a toothed or grooved projection for
rotating the guide wheel and for more securely fastening the breech, substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
(3) The arrangement of the check lever for fixing at will the cartridge drum by
gearing into the teeth of the ratchet wheel, substantially as hereinbefore described
and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
Dated this First day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty-four
VAUGHAN & SON.
57, Chancery Lane.