Improved Firing Appliances for Small-arms.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1.96-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Firing Appliances for Small-arms.
FREDERICK BEESLEY 2 St. James's Street, London S.W. Gunmaker do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
--
To enable the operator to discharge two or more barrels of one firearm by the
use of one trigger only. The release of the sear of one lock of a two barrel gun is.
effected by the pull of the trigger in the ordinary way, for the release of the
second, I provide a lever hinged to the trigger plate, or a slide attached to the
downward projecting leg of the trigger safety bolt, or both, each movable in, a,
vertical direction: a stepped rack and a ratchet lever, controlled by a click spring,
or a spring catch, are provided, in either the trigger, the vertical slide, or lever, as,
may he required. Pushing the trigger safety bolt forward, places the parts in
gear, on pulling the trigger to release the sear of the first lock, one of the limbs is
also lifted up a step, where a catch spring retains it close under the sear of the
second lock, meanwhile the trigger is pressed forward by a spring into its first
position. On pulling the trigger again, it acts through the slide or lever to release
the sear of the second lock; and so on with as many locks as may be required.
When using only one trigger to fire two or more barrels of one arm, it sometimes
happens, that the reaction of recoil resulting from the first discharge, is quicker
than the action of the finger in releasing the trigger, which is thereby involuntarily
pressed, and the succeeding barrel: unintentionally discharged; to, avoid this I
apply a spring check, or a train of wheels, somewhat in the style of a clockwork,
escapement, as a brake, to the sears of the locks or the trigger, in such a way, as
to retard their motion and the succeeding pull of the trigger, so long as to permit
the effects of the reaction after recoil to have passed when the trigger having
recovered its normal position will be again amenable to the pull of the finger.
On opening the gun to reload after firing the parts will be moved into their first
position. Either lock may be operated first at the will of the operator.
001 M 1005
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
L
Improved Firing Appliances for Small-arms.
FREDERICK BEESLEY 2 St. James's Street London 'S. W. Gunmaker, 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:-
15
.
'lamin
To enable the operator to discharge two or more barrels of one firearm, by the.
use of one trigger only. The release of the sear of one lock of a two barrel gun.
is effected by the pull of the trigger in the ordinary way, for the release of the
second, provide a lever binged to the trigger plate, or a slide attached to the
downward projecting leg of the trigger safety bolt, or both, each moveable in a
vertical direction: a stepped rack and a ratchet lever, controlled by a click spring,
or a spring catch are provided in either the trigger, the vertical slide, or lever as.
may be required. Pushing the trigger safety bolt forward places the parts in

page_text: -
gear, or unblocks the trigger, and freeing it for action. On pulling the trigger
to release the sear of the first lock, one of the limbs is also lifted up a step, where
a catch spring retains it close under the sear of the second lock, meanwhile the
trigger is pressed forward by a spring into its first position. On pulling the
trigger it acts, through the slide or lever to release the sear of the second lock,
and so on with as many locks as may be required.
When using only one trigger to fire two or more barrels of one arm, it some-
times happens, that the reaction of recoil, resulting from the first discharge, is
quicker than the action of the finger in releasing the trigger, which is thereby
involuntarily pulled, or pressed, and the succeeding barrel unintentionally discharged;
to avoid this apply a spring check, or a train of wheels somewhat in the style of
a clockwork escapement, as a brake, to. the sears of the locks, or the triggers, in
such a way as to retard their motion, and the succeeding pull of the trigger, so
long, as to permit the effects of the reaction after recoil to have passed: when the
trigger having recovered its normal position, will be again amenable to the pull of
the' finger.
On opening the gun to reload after firing the parts will be moved
into their first position. Either lock may be operated 'first at the will of the
operator.
I will now more fully describe the parts, and movements in detail, in conjunction
with the accompanying illustrations, in order that my invention may be fully
understood.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation representing breech block, with trigger-plate,
trigger, and my arrangement attached, tang of sear, also a portion of stock of gun,
shewing the "regulator" and its communicating rod..
Fig. 2. the same with the parts in a different position.
Fig. 3. the same with the parts in a further different position.
Fig. 4. is a reverse view of the trigger plate with attachments.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4 showing also sears N, N¹.
Fig. 6 is a reversed view of the trigger only.
.
Fig. 7. is a reversed view of the lever only, showing its return end containing the
detent and its spring.
Fig. 8 is an obverse view of the timing slide.
Fig. 9. is a plan view of Fig. 8.
Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation showing a variation of the invention, the
lever being provided with a step or steps, and the trigger, safety bolt, with, a
spring catch for securely retaining the lever during the interval between the
successive discharges of the gun.
Fig. 11. the same as Fig. 10 with the parts slightly varied.
All the illustrations have corresponding letters and numbers.
Fig. 1 shows trigger plate B attached to breech block A, it is arranged with two
slots all in the usual, or similar manner, in one slot is a
trigger C, of somewhat
ordinary pattern having two steps in its rear edge C¹ and C, in the other slot is a
flat blade, having a return rear end, enclosing a detent F and its spring, which
combined I will term a lever D; both C and D have a vertical movement on the
pivot E, similar to two ordinary triggers of a gun. In this. case C moves in the right
slot, and D in the left, but that is a matter of detail in manufacture, the detent F
is arranged to take into the steps C₁ and C, and further projects outwards
beyond C, so that it may come into engagement with the timing slide. H, lying
parallel with the trigger blade from front to rear of the trigger plate.. The slide H
has its forward end opposite the locking bolt of the 'gun, I, a recess 'H' on its
inner side to admit and engage the outer wing of F; also a projection at H2 on its
inner side which is in position to take under or into the back of D; its rear. end is
in contact with a rod K communicating with-the-" regulator" M, and N 'represents
the tang of the sear, or sears, both being in the same visual 'line. In Fig. 1 the
parts are in position for operating the two locks of a gun in succession as follows,
on pulling C by its finger part, backwards and upwards, it lifts the sear N,
discharging its corresponding barrel, at the same time through the detent F in C¹,
:

page_text: lifting D so that its upper edge, comes close under the other sear N₁, where it is.
maintained by the timing slide H pushed forward under its rear end, meanwhile.
C being released by the finger, has fallen forward, and downward by the action.
of a usual spring, and the parts remain in the position shown in Fig. 2.
Further pulling the trigger whether involuntary or otherwise cannot actuate the
sear of the second lock, until the forward motion of the timing slide H'bring³. H³:
under the inclined plane of D and lifts that sufficiently to enable the detant F to
take into step C2 of the trigger, when the parts will be in the position shown in
Fig. 3, and if C be again pulled, D will actuate the remaining sear N₁ to discharge.
the second barrel. The gradual forward n
movement of the timing slide H is derived.
from a train of wheels enclosed in a box M in the stock of the gun, as shown, or
otherwise, and may be adjusted to permit firing the second barrel at any given.
interval from the fraction of a second, upwards to any period of time; the train of
wheels with its spring is always in a state of tension, the amount of power expended
through the crank O, and communicating rod K, in moving the timing slide H,
being restored by the backward thrust given to those parts from the locking bolt I.
of the gun when opening the breech to recharge the barrels.
In its backward motion H engages at H with the projecting wing F1 of the
detent, throwing it out of gear with C³, when C and D by the action of their
ordinary springs, and the other parts, resume the position as shewn in Fig. 1.
A variation of the invention is shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the lever has an
upward projection with a step D₁ on its side, to engage with a spring catch S
attached to the trigger safety bolt R. When R is pushed forward the parts are
brought into gear as in Fig. 11, on pulling C with the finger, D is also lifted &.
S engages with D³, and securely retains D, while C is prevented moving forward
by the retarding action exercised by H for an interval, after which it drops &:
allows F to take into C, and then, only, may the trigger actuate the second sear.
In this form of the invention, the steps may be cut in the leg of the trigger safety
bolt, and the spring catch attached to D, and varied in form from the drawings
in either case, on opening the gun to recharge, the safety bolt is driven back,.
and the parts being thrown out of gear resume the positions shown in Figs. 1.
and 10.
In using the term "train of wheels" in this invention I mean either a barrel &:
spring, or cog wheel, with arbor and spring, or spring only with one or more cog-
wheels & pinions with, or without a fan, or an escape wheel with lever, or other
terminal; or one wheel only as a balance wheel of an escapement, carrying a light
coiled spring maintained at tension, so that when released by pulling the trigger,.
as the train of wheels are, it performs part of a revolution, returning by its own
recoil during which period of time it is operating through the timing slide to retard.
the action of either trigger or lever, to prevent firing the second barrel of the gun,
I apply the term " regulator" to any of the combination of wheels, or wheel &
springs, or spring, for the purposes described, and such a regulator may be attached
to any other form of single, or double trigger gun for the same purposes as are-
hereinbefore described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is.
1. The combination of two triggers, or of one trigger and a lever arranged in.
parallel slots, and one carrying a spring detant for taking into steps in the other,
giving alternating relative elevations of each, substantially as described and
illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 10.
2. The combination of two triggers, or of one trigger and a lever arranged in
parallel slots, with spring detant, and steps, giving alternating elevations, with a
reciprocating, or timing slide or rod, arranged to engage with such spring detant
and throw it out of gear substantially as herein described, and illustrated in Figs. 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 11.

page_text: 3. The combination of a reciprocating timing slide, or rod controlled and
governed by a train of wheels, termed a "regulator" with two triggers, or one
trigger and levers, for retarding the action of such triggers or levers on the gun
locks to prevent the too rapid successive discharges of a gun, substantially as
described, and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
4. The combination of the triggers, or trigger and lever with spring detant, steps,
timing slide, and "regulator," substantially as herein described, and illustrated,
or any mere, varied, imitation of the same for successively discharging the barrels
of a gun.
5. The use of a spring catch on the trigger safety bolt in combination with a
step or steps on the trigger or levers, or vice versa, for retaining one of such
triggers or levers during the successive discharges of the gun substantially as
described and illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11.
"
'
6. The use of a regulator comprising, and made of springs and wheels,
combined in any of the forms specified, for controlling and timing through
the triggers, or trigger and lever, successive discharges of guns having two or
more barrels.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1896