GB2144525A

GB2144525A - Hammer mechanism for guns

Info

Publication number: GB2144525A
Application number: GB08417189A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pier Carlo Beretta
Original assignee: Fabbrica dArmi Pietro Beretta SpA
Current assignee: Beretta SpA
Priority date: 1983-08-02
Filing date: 1984-07-05
Publication date: 1985-03-06
Also published as: AT397150B; DE3424245C2; DE3424245A1; GB2144525B; IT1172042B; GB8417189D0; ATA215084A; IT8305177A0; BE900146A; FR2550855A1; FR2550855B1

Abstract

A hammer mechanism for guns comprises a spring-actuated hammer (1,5), a trigger lever (6) having a restraining tooth (6') which engages the hammer (1) in the cocked position of the gun, and a safety bar (9) having a tooth (9') which restrains the hammer in an intermediate position so as to prevent uncontrolled firing of the gun. The hammer (1), the lever (6) and the bar (9) are each pivotally mounted between a plate (3) and a supporting bridle or counterplate (4). The hammer (1) is provided, in its upper region, with a rearwardly directed projection portion (20) terminating in a downwardly extending cocking catch (21) engageable with the restraining tooth (6') of the trigger lever (6) in the cocked position of the hammer (1), and a cam-shaped projection (23) including a safety catch (22) cooperable with the engaging tooth (9') of the safety bar (9) is formed on one lateral edge of the hammer (1), the trigger lever (6) being connected to the trigger of the gun and, in use, acting upon the safety bar (9) to move it out of the trajectory of the safety catch (22) of the hammer (1) when the hammer (1) is released by the trigger lever (6) in order to fire the gun. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hammer mechanism for guns The present invention relates to a hammer mechanism for guns.

In trigger and striking mechanisms for guns, various forms of enciosed hammer mechanisms are known. Generally, these comprise a hammer, a trigger and safety bars which are pivotally mounted between a plate and a counterplate or bridle. In such known arrangments, a lower rearward portion of the hammer often incorporates a cocking catch and a safety catch, which catches engage with restraining teeth provided on a trigger bar and a safety bar respectively. However, in such arrangements, it is not ensured that the hammer remains in the cocked condition if the gun is struck or dropped. It is, in fact, possible for the hammer to be disengaged accidentally from the trigger bar and this may result in the accidental, and dangerous firing of the weapon.

Moreover, in such known arrangements, the trigger and safety bars are generally disposed alongside or on top of one another and are acted upon separately by spring members.

Such bars are of square or rectangular section at their rearward ends, such end sections are designed to be acted upon simultaneously by the trigger mechanism so that the bars must be displaced simultaneously when the hammer is released in order that a shot can be fired.

The present invention seeks to provide a simple and functional hammer mechanism for guns whereby the engaged hammer can be securely maintained in a cocked position, even when subjected to an impact in that the hammer and the trigger lever tend to reinforce their mutual interlocking effect in such circumstances. The invention also seeks to provide a hammer mechanism comprising trigger lever and a safety bar which are acted upon by a single spring. The lever and bar arranged in-line so that the lever can be operated by the trigger whilst the safety bar is displaced by the lever into an inoperative position when the hammer is released by means of the trigger.

According to the present invention, there is provided a hammer mechanism for guns comprising a spring-actuated hammer a trigger lever having a restraining tooth which engages the hammer in the cocked position of the gun and a safety bar having a tooth which restrains the hammer in an intermediate position so as to prevent uncontrolled firing of the gun, the hammer, the lever and the bar each being pivotally mounted between a plate and a supporting bridle or counterplate, wherein the hammer is provided, in its upper region, with a rearwardly directed projection portion, the projection portion terminating in a downwardly extending cocking catch engageable with the restraining tooth of the trigger lever in the cocked position of the hammer and wherein a cam-shaped projection including a safety catch co-operable with the engaging tooth of the safety bar is formed on one lateral edge of the hammer, the trigger lever being connected to the trigger of the gun and, in use, acting upon the safety bar to move it out of the trajectory of the safety catch of the hammer when the hammer is released by the trigger lever in order to fire the gun.

One embodiment of a hammer mechanism in accordance with the present invention will be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a hammer mechanism in accordance with the present invention, the hammer being in its released position, Figure 2 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but with the hammer engaging a safety bar, so that the hammer mechanism is in its safe state.

Figure 3 shows, on a smaller scale, relative to Figs. 1 and 2, a similar view of the hammer mechanism but with the hammer engaging a trigger lever, the hammer thus being in its cocked position.

Figure 4 shows a view similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 but shows the hammer mechanism as the hammer is being released, and Figure 5 shows a sectional view taken along the line V-V in Fig. 1.

In the drawings, there is shown a hammer mechanism in accordance with present invention, the mechanism comprising a hammer 1 which is pivotally mounted about an axis 2.

The axis 2 extends between a plate 3 and a support bridle or counterplate 4.

The hammer 1 is spring-actuated in a known manner by means of a spring 5. The spring 5 is compressed when the hammer 1 is in its cocked position, as is shown in Fig. 3, and displaces the hammer into the striking position shown in Fig. 1.

The upper portion of the hammer 1 is provided with a rearwardly directed projection portion 20, which projection portion terminates in a downwardly directed cocking catch 21. The cocking catch 21 is so designed as to engage with a restraining tooth 6' formed on a pivotable trigger lever 6. This catch and tooth arrangement allows the hammer mechanism to be cocked as shown in Fig. 3. The trigger lever 6 is pivotally mounted on pin 7 extending between the plate 3 and the counterplate 4 and the rearmost end 1 6 of the lever 6 cooperates with a block or member 8' connected to a trigger 8. Pulling the trigger 8 causes displacement of the lever 6 and releases the hammer 1.

The mechanism also includes a safety catch 22. The catch 22 comprises a cam-shaped projection portion 23 formed on the side of the hammer 1 which engages with tooth 9' provided on a safety bar 9 in the safe state of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2. In such state, the hammer 1 is locked in an intermediate position without being able to strike even if the hammer becomes accidentally released from the trigger lever without the trigger being actuated or if the act of cocking the hammer is initiated but is not completed for any reason. The safety bar 9 is also pivoted about a pin 1 9 extending between the plate 3 and the counterplate 4. The trigger lever 6 and the safety bar 9 are acted upon by a single common spring 10 mounted on a pin 7. The spring has two arms 11 and 1 2 which engage, respectively the lever 6 and the bar 9.This spring 10 acts to displace the lever 6 and the bar 9 upwards in the cocked position of the hammer mechanism and to hold the ends of the lever 6 and the bar 9 by means of their teeth 6' and 9' respectively, in engagement with the hammer in the safe position.

The displacement of the trigger lever 6 against the action of the spring 10 is brought about by the projection portion 20 of the hammer 1 when the mechanism is cocked and subsequently by the block 8' connected to the trigger 8 when the hammer is released.

The displacement of the bar 9 against the action of the spring 10 is brought about by the cam projection portion 23 of the hammer when the hammer is moved into the cocked position and then by the trigger lever 6 when the hammer is released. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the safety bar 9 extends alongside the forward end of the trigger lever 6 and incorporates, as can be seen in Fig. 5, an intermediate lateral protuberance 1 3 which is located in the plane of and below the forward end of the trigger lever 6 when displaced forwardly, that is to say towards the engaging tooth 9' of the safety bar 9, with respect to the pivot pin of the bar 9.

The kinematic chain controlling the hammer 1 is engaged in both directions and is without play inasmuch as the connecting block or member 8' engages with the trigger lever 6 and the safety bar 9 also bears against the trigger lever 6. Thus, when acted upon by the trigger 8 the trigger lever 6 is displaced so as to cause its restraining tooth 6' to become disengaged from the cocking catch 21 of the hammer 1 to disengage the latter. At the same time, the lever 6, acts on the lateral protuberance 1 3 on the bar 9 to move the bar and to cause the tooth 9' thereon to move out of the trajectory of catch 22 of the hammer 1, as is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Accordingly, the catch does not interfere with the movement of the hammer which is thus released to fire.

When the safety bar 9 is not moved by trigger lever 6, it is in a position in which it intercepts and arrests the safety catch 22 of the hammer, thereby preventing the striking action. This can occur if the hammer is accidentally released without the trigger 8 being pulled, for example, as the result of the weapon being struck or dropped or the cocking catch being broken.

On the other hand, this particular arrangement of cocking catch 21 of the hammer 1 is such as to ensure that the hammer correctly engages arresting tooth 6' of trigger lever 6 even if the weapon is struck or dropped in a way which, otherwise, would tend to displace the hammer in an uncontrolled manner.

The coupling between cocking catch 21 of hammer 1 and the restraining tooth 6' of the trigger lever 6 tends to become accentuated in the event of movement of the hammer. In fact, even if the hammer is rotated rearwardly (clockwise as shown in the drawings), the lever 6 tends to displace the hammer upwardly, thereby keeping the tooth 6' engaged with the cocking catch 22. The tendency of the hammer 1 to rotate in the opposite direction helps to accentuate the link between the engaged teeth 21 and 6'. The absence of play in the linkage also makes it possible for the force applied to the trigger in order to release the hammer to be reduced, thus rendering the weapon more sensitive.

Claims

1. A hammer mechanism for guns comprising a spring-actuated hammer, a trigger lever having a restraining tooth which engages the hammer in the cocked position of the gun and a safety bar having a tooth which restrains the hammer in an intermediate position so as to prevent uncontrolled firing of the gun, the hammer, the lever and the bar each being pivotally mounted between a plate and a supporting bridle or counterplate wherein the hammer is provided, in its upper region, with a rearwardly directed projection portion, the projection portion terminating in a downwardly extending cocking catch engageable with the restraining tooth of the trigger lever in the cocked position of the hammer and wherein a cam-shaped projection including a safety catch co-operable with the engaging tooth of the safety bar is formed on one lateral edge of the hammer the trigger lever being connected to the trigger of the gun and, in use, acting upon the safety bar to move it out of the trajectory of the safety catch of the hammer when the hammer is released by the trigger lever in order to fire the gun.

2. A hammer mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which the safety bar extends alongside the forward portion of the trigger lever and includes an intermediate lateral protuberance which lies in the plane of, and beneath, the forward end of the trigger lever, the lateral protuberance lying between the plane including the pivot axis of the bar and the engaging tooth of the bar.

3. A hammer mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the trigger lever and the safety bar are spring-biassed by a single spring, the spring having two arms which engage the lever and the bar respectively in such a manner as to displace their ends which are provided with, respectively, the restraining teeth and engaging teeth, in an upwardly direction.

4. A hammer mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim in which the kinematic mechanism formed by an actuating block or member connected to the trigger, the trigger lever and the safety bar are linked together and are in contact with one another without play.

5. A hammer mechanism as claimed in claim 1 constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.