GB2552365A

GB2552365A - Barrel assembly comprising a cartridge ejection mechanism for a shotgun

Info

Publication number: GB2552365A
Application number: GB1612672.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Moore Andrew
Original assignee: James Purdey and Sons Ltd
Current assignee: James Purdey and Sons Ltd
Priority date: 2016-07-21
Filing date: 2016-07-21
Publication date: 2018-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2036-07-21
Also published as: GB2552365B; GB201612672D0

Abstract

A barrel assembly 1 for a shotgun comprises a barrel 12, 13 comprising a cartridge compartment and a cartridge ejection mechanism for ejecting an empty cartridge from the cartridge compartment after the cartridge has been fired. The cartridge ejection mechanism comprises an extractor spring 2.1, 2.2 positioned inside a spring cavity. In a relaxed state, the extractor spring 2.1, 2.2 has a length of at most 130% of the length of the spring cavity.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Barrel assembly comprising a cartridge ejection mechanism for a shotgun Abstract Title: Ejector mechanism for shotgun (57) A barrel assembly 1 for a shotgun comprises a barrel 12, 13 comprising a cartridge compartment and a cartridge ejection mechanism for ejecting an empty cartridge from the cartridge compartment after the cartridge has been fired. The cartridge ejection mechanism comprises an extractor spring 2.1, 2.2 positioned inside a spring cavity. In a relaxed state, the extractor spring 2.1, 2.2 has a length of at most 130% of the length of the spring cavity.

1/3

6.1

Fig. 1

2/3

3.2

Fig. 2

3/3

14.1

Fig. 3

Barrel assembly comprising a cartridge ejection mechanism for a shotgun

Technical Field

The invention relates to a barrel assembly comprising a cartridge ejection mechanism for a shotgun.

Background Art

In shotguns, after shots have been fired, empty cartridges are generally ejected from cartridge compartments located at the rear of the barrels of the shotgun by a cartridge ejection mechanism. Typically the ejection mechanism is triggered automatically when the shotgun is opened. More particularly, such cartridge ejection mechanisms generally comprise springs that are loaded when the shotgun is closed and that are suddenly released when the shotgun is opened in order to exert a force on the cartridge sufficient to eject it from the shotgun.

However, spring loaded ejection mechanisms can sometimes become jammed, which results in the cartridges not being ejected properly. A jammed ejection mechanism is very unpleasant, especially during cold weather when the shooter has to use cold fingers to pull out the cartridges manually. A jammed or malfunctioning ejection mechanism may also be detrimental to a shooter’s performance since it affects the ability to quickly load the next cartridge. This is for example problematic in the case of a flurry of numerous birds. Furthermore, the springs in cartridge ejection mechanisms are typically exposed to wear and have to be replaced regularly.

It is an object of the invention to overcome or to at least diminish the abovementioned disadvantages of cartridge ejection mechanisms in shotguns. In particular, it is the objective of the invention to provide a shotgun which reliably ejects empty cartridges when opening the shotgun and which has a low level of maintenance.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a barrel assembly for a shotgun, in which the barrel assembly comprises a barrel comprising a cartridge compartment and a cartridge ejection mechanism for ejecting an empty cartridge from the cartridge compartment after the cartridge has been fired. The cartridge ejection mechanism comprises an extractor spring positioned inside a spring cavity, and, in its relaxed state, the extractor spring has a length of at most 130% of the length of the spring cavity.

Preferably the cartridge ejection mechanism comprises a lugger cooperating with the extractor spring and which is configured to push the cartridge out of the cartridge compartment when the shotgun is opened. The lugger may comprise a spring rod that is also positioned in the spring cavity. The spring rod may include a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a larger diameter than the second portion, and part of the extractor spring extending over the second portion of the spring rod inside the cavity. One end of the extractor spring may abut against a junction surface between the first and second portions of the spring rod, and the other end of the extractor spring may be in contact with a wall of the spring cavity. The lugger preferably further comprises a pushing lip for interacting with an empty cartridge during ejection of the cartridge.

In a preferred embodiment, the extractor spring has a length of at most 120%, and more preferably at most 110%, of the length of the spring cavity. The spring cavity may for example have a length between 53 mm and 59 mm. The extractor spring is preferably a coil spring.

In another aspect, the invention provides a double barrel assembly comprising two barrels, such as an over-and-under double barrel assembly, in which each barrel assembly is as described above. Preferably in this case, the springs in each barrel assembly have at least substantially the same dimensions and the spring cavities in each barrel assembly also have at least substantially the same dimensions.

The invention also relates to a shotgun comprising such a barrel assembly or double-barrel assembly.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the following, an embodiment of the invention is described by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective cross-sectional side view of a rear part of a barrel assembly according to the invention;

Figure 2 is another perspective side view of a rear part of a barrel assembly according to the invention; and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a lower barrel through its spring cavity.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

Figure 1 is a perspective, cross-sectional view showing a barrel assembly 1 comprising a cartridge ejection mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention. The barrel assembly 1 comprises an upper barrel 12 and a lower o

J barrel 13, each of which is partly shown in the drawings. The barrel assembly thus forms part of an over-and-under shotgun. Each barrel typically extends from a cartridge compartment to a muzzle.

The barrel assembly 1 comprises a cartridge ejection mechanism which includes a first lugger 3.1, i.e., a bar like element for pushing an empty cartridge (not shown) out of a cartridge compartment 8 of the lower barrel 13. The first lugger 3.1 comprises a main body 4.1, a pushing lip 5.1 and a spring rod 6.1 having a first portion 6.11 and second portion 6.12. As shown in Figure 3, the io first portion 6.11 of the spring rod 6.1 has a larger diameter than the second portion 6.12. The lower barrel also comprises a spring cavity 14.1 as also shown in Figure 3.

When a cartridge is loaded, the spring rod 6.1 and a first extractor spring 2.1 are positioned inside the spring cavity 14.1. In this position, part of the first extractor spring 2.1 extends over the second portion 6.12 of the spring rod 6.1 and one end of a first extractor spring 2.1 abuts against the junction surface between the first and second portions of the spring rod 6.1, as shown. The other end of the first extractor spring 2.1 is in direct contact with a wall of the spring cavity 14.1. The spring cavity 14.1 is thus completely filled by the first extractor spring 2.1 and the spring rod 6.1. Since the spring rod 6.1 of the lugger 3.1 extends into the spring cavity 14.1, a very reliable and yet simple interaction between the lugger and the spring are assured. However, the cartridge ejection mechanism may have a different configuration, for example additional components may be positioned between the spring and the lugger.

In Figure 1, a second extractor spring 2.2 is also shown. This second extractor spring 2.2 is similar to the first extractor spring 2.1, but it is configured to push an empty cartridge out of a cartridge compartment 7 of the upper barrel 12, via a second lugger 3.2 of which only a spring rod 6.2 and a lip 5.2 are visible in

Figure 1.

Figure 2 shows another perspective view of the barrel assembly 1 in Figure 1. In this view, the two cartridge compartments 7 and 8 of the upper barrel 12 and the lower barrel 13, respectively, are clearly visible. The lugger 3.1 and spring 2.1 for ejecting an empty cartridge out of the cartridge compartment 8 of the lower barrel 13 have been described above. Figure 2 additionally shows a second lugger 3.2, comprising a main body 4.2 and a pushing lip 5.2 in more detail. The second lugger 3.2 is configured to eject an empty cartridge out of the io cartridge compartment 7 of the upper barrel 12. As noted above and shown in Figure 1, the lugger 3.2 also comprises a spring rod 6.2 cooperating with the second extractor spring 2.2 in a second spring cavity.

In the above-described double-barreled shotgun embodiment, the spring cavities run essentially parallel with both barrels. For an over-and-under barrel assembly comprising an upper barrel and a lower barrel, each spring cavity is preferably located near a weld section that links together the upper barrel and the lower barrel. Preferably, the cartridge ejection mechanisms for each barrel are identical, and in particular the first and second extractor springs 2.1, 2.2 have the same dimensions, and the spring cavities also have the same dimensions. This has the advantage of assuring a good symmetry of the cartridge ejection mechanisms in each barrel, and the cartridges may be ejected from the double-barreled shotgun simultaneously. Alternatively, it would be possible to use a single extractor spring and/or a single lugger for ejecting cartridges from both barrels at the same time.

In known manner, the main body 4 of each lugger is preferably configured to be released automatically when the shotgun is opened, such as to liberate the extractor spring and thereby initiate the ejection of the cartridge from the cartridge compartment. In particular, the pushing lip 5 of each lugger 3 is preferably configured to smoothly interact with the cartridge, especially with a rim of the cartridge. In the illustrated embodiment shown in Figure 2, the two pushing lips 5.1 and 5.2 each comprise a rounded surface 9.1 and 9.2 respectively, and each rounded surface 9.1, 9.2 further comprises a circumferential ledge. The rounded surfaces 9.1 and 9.2 are adapted to be in contact with rims of the cartridges and to assure that they are properly and smoothly ejected from the cartridge compartments 7 and 8 when the shotgun is opened. The radius of each rounded surface preferably matches the radius of the cartridge.

io

The main body 4 of each lugger 3 also preferably comprises a stopping cam 10 to keep the lugger from moving too far after the process of ejecting the cartridge has been started. In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 2, each lugger 3 is shown in a blocked state, i.e., the extractor spring associated with the lugger 3 is compressed by the spring rod 6 inside the spring cavity 14. The lugger 3 is blocked in this position by an ejector cam (not shown). Once the shotgun is opened and for example an opening angle of 45° is exceeded, the lugger 3 is suddenly released by the ejection cam and is pushed rearward by the extractor spring via the spring rod of the lugger 3. Here “opening the shotgun” refers to folding open the shotgun by pushing the barrel assembly and a stock of the shotgun towards each other. Also in this context, “rearward” means away from muzzles ofthe barrels 12 and 13. In order to keep the lugger 3 from moving too far, the stopping cam 10 after a few mm of movement comes into contact with a stopper disc 15, and the rearward movement of the lugger 3 is thus arrested.

However, this sudden forceful movement is sufficient to eject an empty cartridge out of the cartridge compartment 7, 8.

In accordance with the present invention, each extractor spring has a length in its relaxed state that is at most 130% of the length of the corresponding spring cavity. The inventors have found that if a longer extractor spring is used, in particular one that is much longer than the spring cavity (as is conventionally the case), the spring may buckle up inside the spring cavity and can thereby cause the cartridge ejection mechanism to malfunction. Furthermore, since a longer extractor spring is exposed to elevated stress during repeated operation, the lifespan of the spring is reduced. The use of a shorter spring according to the present invention leads to a more reliably functioning cartridge ejection mechanism, despite the fact that the shorter spring generally has a somewhat smaller spring constant than a longer one. In addition, the use of a shorter spring according to the present invention results in cartridges being ejected to further away from the shotgun compared to cartridge ejection mechanisms where longer springs are used.

In a preferred embodiment, in the relaxed state, each extractor spring has a length of at most 120%, and more preferably at most 110%, of the length of its respective spring cavity. In one particular embodiment, each extractor spring has a length of approximately 108% of the length of the corresponding spring cavity. In this context, the term approximately is understood as +/- 2%. The inventors have found that such a spring length is particularly advantageous and leads to very long ejection distances for the empty cartridges.

In operation, when the extractor springs 2.1 and 2.2 are mounted inside the spring cavities, they are partly compressed by the spring rods 6.1 and 6.2 and in one embodiment they have a length of approximately 84% of the lengths of the spring cavities in this compressed state.

In a preferred embodiment, the first spring cavity and the second spring cavity have a length between 53 mm and 59 mm and a diameter between 4 mm and 6 mm. In one such specific embodiment, the spring cavity has a length of 54.9 mm and a diameter of 5 mm. Such dimensions have been found to be particularly advantageous in terms of their ability to cooperate with appropriate extractor springs to effectively eject cartridges in a manner that is forceful enough not to be a nuisance to the shooter but not so forceful that they could for example hurt bystanders.

In a preferred embodiment, the extractor springs are coil springs. In one specific example, the springs have:

a wire diameter of approximately 0.95 mm, an outside diameter of approximately 4.75 mm, an inside diameter of approximately 2.85 mm, io - a total coil number of approximately 36.65, a spring constant of approximately 3.86 N/mm a free length (i.e., a length in a relaxed state) of approximately 59.5 mm a solid length (i.e., a length in a fully compressed state) of 38.9 mm.

The springs may for example be made of steel, for instance of the type Music Wire BS 5216 Drawn.

Reference list

1	Barrel assembly
2.1, 2.2	Extractor spring
5 3.1,4.1	Lugger
4.1, 4.2	Main body
5.1, 5.2	Pushing lip
6.1, 6.2	Spring rod
7	Cartridge compartment (of upper barrel)
io 8	Cartridge compartment (of lower barrel)
9.1, 9.2	Rounded surface
10	Stopping cam
12	Upper barrel
13	Lower barrel
15 14.1	Spring cavity
15	Stopper disc

Claims

1. Barrel assembly (1) for a shotgun, wherein the barrel assembly (1) comprises a barrel (12, 13) comprising a cartridge compartment (7, 8) and a

5 cartridge ejection mechanism for ejecting an empty cartridge from the cartridge compartment (7, 8) after the cartridge has been fired, wherein the cartridge ejection mechanism comprises an extractor spring (2) positioned inside a spring cavity (14.1), characterised in that, in a relaxed state, the extractor spring (2) has a length of at most 130% of the length of the spring cavity (14.1).

io

2. A barrel assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the cartridge ejection mechanism comprises a lugger (3) cooperating with the extractor spring (2), the lugger being configured to push the cartridge out of the cartridge compartment (7) when the shotgun is opened.

3. A barrel assembly (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the lugger (3) comprises a spring rod (6) that is also positioned in the spring cavity (14), the spring rod including a first portion (6.11) and a second portion (6.12), the first portion (6.11) having a larger diameter than the second portion (6.12),

20 wherein part of the extractor spring (2) extends over the second portion (6.12) of the spring rod (6).

4. A barrel assembly (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that one end of the extractor spring (2) abuts against a junction surface between the first and

25 second portions of the spring rod (6), and the other end of the extractor spring (2) is in contact with a wall of the spring cavity (14.1).

5. A barrel assembly (1) according to any one of claims 2-4, characterised in that the lugger (3) further comprises a pushing lip (5) for interacting with an empty cartridge during ejection of the cartridge.

56. A barrel assembly (1) according to any preceding claim, characterised in that, in the relaxed state, the extractor spring (2) has a length of at most 120%, preferably at most 110%, of the length of the spring cavity (14.1).

7. A barrel assembly (1) according to any preceding claim, characterised in io that the spring cavity (14.1) has a length between 53 mm and 59 mm.

8. A barrel assembly (1) according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the extractor spring (2) is a coil spring.

15

9. A double barrel assembly (1) comprising two barrels, each barrel comprising a barrel assembly according to any preceding claim.

10. A double barrel assembly (1) according to claim 9 comprising an upper barrel (12) and a lower barrel (13).

11. A double barrel assembly (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the extractor springs in each barrel assembly have at least substantially the same dimensions and the spring cavities in each barrel assembly also have at least substantially the same dimensions.

12. Shotgun comprising a barrel assembly or a double-barrel assembly (1) according to any of the previous claims.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1612672.4 Examiner: Peter Macey