Ejector and Cartridge Positioner for Revolvers

In hand guns having a revolving cylinder, ammunition of a designated caliber is used, however, different manufacturers produced shells of a like caliber but often of different lengths, having rims in the cap end of the casing of varying diameter. The ejecting mechanism for removing spent casings and for maintaining the cartridges in the cylinder in the proper position relative to the firing pin, is usually designed by the manufacturer for a single gun. The need for a gun that will accommodate all ammunition of the same caliber is apparent. It is the object of this invention to provide for such a gun.

An ejecting mechanism for revolvers having the usual cylinder and a movable axle longitudinally mounted in the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, said axle having outwardly and upwardly inclined casing contacting arms formed of a light spring material, and the extended ends of which are shaped to permit a casing rim to bear against and raise the arm, when loading from the front, and using a front loader as described in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,239, and as the rim of the casing passes the end of the ejector, the ejector will drop back into casing holding position, engaging the rim of the casing, and when loading from the rear of the gun, the rim of the casing will be engaged by the end of the ejector and held in firing position, and in either instance, when the casings are spent or it is desired to unload the gun, the ejector may be actuated in the usual manner and the casings discharged from the cylinder. A ratchet plate is detachably mounted on the end of the axle, and provides means for revolving the cylinder in the gun in the usual manner.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a gun.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end view of the cylinder, with the ratchet plate partially broken away.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2, showing a cartridge in dotted lines in the middle of a cylinder bore.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a gun frame in which the cylinder 2 is mounted on the crane 3 to be swung outwardly for loading and unloading, in the usual manner. An ejector rod 4 extend through the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 2, and extends along the bottom of the barrel 5, also in the usual manner, and is spring loaded to maintain the rod normally in retracted position, also customary for revolvers of all makes, and has one end reduced and externally threaded, as at 6. The ejector 7 is mounted on the reduced portion, having a port 9 in one end to receive said reduced portion, and seats against the shoulder 8 with the threaded area 6 of the rod 4 extending through said port 9. Extending upwardly and inclined outwardly are the ejector arms 10 formed of spring material and each being transversely concave at the extended ends and having a notch 11 formed in the extended end and having the area beneath the notch 11 tapered upwardly and outwardly as 12.

Mounted on the end of the threaded portion 6 of the rod 4 is the ratchet plate stem 14, which is internally threaded at 15 and a ratchet plate 13 is fixedly mounted on the other end, and adapted to be engaged by the revolving mechanism of the gun (not shown) in the usual manner.

When the plate 13 is mounted on the rod 4, there will remain a space between the plate and the extended ends of the ejector arms 10, so that the rim of a casing being loaded from the front is inserted into a bore of the cylinder and will bear against the extended end of the ejector arm. As the rim bears against the tapered end 12 of the ejector arm 10, the arm 10 yields upwardly and inwardly and the rim moves past the end of said arm and permits the end of the arm 10 to drop back into its original position so that the notch 11 will engage the rim of the casing holding the casing in position for firing. When loading from the rear, the arm 10 will yield inwardly and upwardly to permit the casing to enter the cylinder bore until notch 11 engages the casing rim and the end of the arm extends into the casing groove. All casings have the peripheral groove 16. The distance of travel of the ejector arms 10 as a casing is inserted in a cylinder bore, will permit the engagement of any casing of the designated caliber, so that either rim or rimless cartridges may be loaded in the cylinder, the ejector arm holding each cartridge in the desired position with relation to the firing pin of the gun, regardless of the length of the casing or the projectile.