Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European PatentBulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with theImplementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has beenpaid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)

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(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Date of publication and mention of the grant of the patent: 03.04.2013 Bulletin 2013/14

(21) Application number: 08797397.0

(22) Date of filing: 07.08.2008

(51) Int Cl.:F41A 3/66 (2006.01) F41A 19/42 (2006.01)

F41C 3/14 (2006.01) F41C 23/10 (2006.01)

F41A 21/48 (2006.01) F41C 23/16 (2006.01)

(86) International application number: PCT/US2008/072506

(87) International publication number: WO 2009/023531 (19.02.2009 Gazette 2009/08)

(54) LIGHT-WEIGHT FIRING CONTROL HOUSING FOR REVOLVER

LEICHTES SCHIESSSTEUERGEHÄUSE FÜR EINEN REVOLVER

LOGEMENT DE CONTRÔLE DE MISE À FEU LÉGER POUR RÉVOLVER

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(30) Priority: 14.08.2007 US 955723 P01.08.2008 US 184706

(43) Date of publication of application: 19.05.2010 Bulletin 2010/20

(73) Proprietor: STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC.Southport, CT 06890 (US)

(72) Inventor: ZAJK, Joseph, J.Newport, NH 03773 (US)

(74) Representative: Moreland, David et alMarks & Clerk LLP Aurora 120 Bothwell StreetGlasgowG2 7JS (GB)

(56) References cited: US-A- 422 930 US-A- 465 179US-A- 678 274 US-A- 3 810 326US-A- 3 810 326 US-A- 3 918 189US-A- 5 293 708 US-A- 5 483 766US-A- 5 622 160 US-A- 5 622 160

• ’Modern Firearms-Handguns-MP412 "REX"’, [Online] XP008131636 Retrieved from the Internet: <URL:http://web.archive.org/web/20040813192 555/http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg49-e.ht m>

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Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to fire-arms, and more particularly to a revolver with a separatefiring control housing and cylinder frame.[0002] Revolvers typically include a cylinder framewhich rotatably supports a revolving cylinder with a plu-rality of chambers for holding cartridges and a grip framethat provides a structure for mounting and supporting ahand grip attached thereto at the rear of the revolver. Thebarrel of the revolver is also mounted to the front of orforms part of the cylinder frame.[0003] In some designs such as heavy duty revolverscapable of firing magnum-type loads, a strong one-pieceintegral frame construction is often preferred which com-bines both the cylinder and grip frames into one integralunit for added durability needed to sustain the shockloads and recoil resulting from firing such high-caliberrevolvers. United States Patent 6,574,898 shows a typ-ical one-piece revolver frame. Other known designs suchas the revolver shown in U.S. Patent 6,928,763 utilize atwo-piece frame construction in which a separate struc-turally light and relatively thin grip frame is attached tothe more robust cylinder frame which absorbs the bulkof the recoil forces. In such two-piece designs; the gripframe provides not much more than a narrow skeletalframework for mounting a hand grip thereto. The firingcontrol mechanism components including the hammer,trigger, pawl, and related parts are mounted together ina firing control housing that typically is formed as an in-tegral part of the substantially heavier cylinder frame. Thefiring control housing is typically located in the rear of thecylinder frame since these components operably interactwith and therefore must be located proximate to the rearof the cylinder for striking a chambered cartridge. In prac-tice, it is difficult to achieve proper alignment and meshingbetween the trigger and hammer operably coupled there-to if these firing control components were mounted inseparate frames. To withstand the shock and stressesassociated with firing the revolver, the cylinder frame in-cluding the firing control housing have traditionally beenmade of metal such as steel or aluminum.[0004] Reducing the weight of the component supportstructures for firearms and therefore the overall weightis desirable for making the firearm easier for a user tocarry. This is especially true for compact concealed-carryfirearms where weight is an important consideration.However, both cylinder and sometimes separate gripframes used hereto fore for revolvers have traditionallybeen made completely of metal. This is largely becausethe firing control components were mounted in the firingcontrol housing portion of the cylinder frame, which nec-essarily is made of metal. Because the metal cylinderframe is far heavier than the grip frame even in two-piecerevolver frame constructions, there was little weight sav-ings possible by simply making the grip frame of a lighter

material. Although semi-automatic pistols have usednon-metallic polymer grip frames in combination withmetal reciprocating slides mounted thereon, the conceptof using dual materials in revolvers has not been usedheretofore because of the limited potential gains in weightreduction achievable using the foregoing conventionalrevolver construction with mounting the firing controlcomponents in the cylinder frame. Previous use of non-Ometallic materials such as polymers in revolvers hasbeen largely limited to the non-structural handgrips whichtypically are attached to the metal grip frame via threadedfasteners. Accordingly, an improved revolver componentsupport structure and filing control arrangement is de-sired.[0005] US 5,293,708 (STRAYER et al) discloses aframe/handgrip assembly provided for autoloading hand-guns of the Model 1911 A1 type which incorporates agripless preferably metal frame structure having guiderails for receiving a conventional slide and having a con-figuration for receiving other standard 1911 A1 compo-nents. US 5,622, 160 (CASAS SALVA) discloses im-provements in gas-powered guns of the revolver type.The gun includes a barrel (10), and a revolving projectileloader (11), which is constituted by two pieces obtainedby moulding. US 3,810,326 discloses a revolver con-structed in two interloking subassemblies.

SUMMARY OF THE VENTION

[0006] According to the present invention there is pro-vided a revolver according to appended claim 1, and amethod of assembling a revolver according to appendedclaim 10. In one embodiment, a revolver is provided thatincludes a cylinder frame for rotatably carrying the cylin-der and a separate firing control housing for mountingand supporting the firing control mechanism componentsoperably associated with the cylinder for discharging therevolver. In one embodiment, the cylinder frame is madeof metal while the firing control housing preferably ismade of a light-weight non-metallic material, and morepreferably in one embodiment is made of a polymer pos-sessing a combination of high strength and toughness.In one embodiment, the rear of the firing control housingincludes an elongated rear grip tang for mounting a handgrip thereto.[0007] Advantageously, in contrast to aluminium whichis sometimes used for revolver frames, a polymer-basedfiring control housing frame, for example, according tothe preferred embodiment, has approximately equalstrength to some aluminium allows with only approxi-mately half of the weight. Furthermore, since the firingcontrol housing is not part of the heavier metal cylinderframe as in known revolver designs, the length of thecylinder frame can be truncated and shortened to allowmore of the component support structure to be madefrom the lighter weight non-metallic material. The pre-ferred embodiment therefore offers a revolver in thesame overall unit size to the user at a significantly re-

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duced total weight compared with known all metal revolv-ers. In addition, a contrasting and/or textured non-metal-lic firing control housing such as one made of a dark orotherwise colored polymer provides an aesthetically in-teresting and pleasing appearance to many users notseen heretofore in all metal frame revolver designs hav-ing a substantially uniform appearance in color and tex-ture.[0008] According to another embodiment, a sol-id-frame revolver with lateral or side swing-out cylinderis provided that includes a cylinder latching system ormechanism for locking the pivotally movable cylinder intoa supportive cylinder frame. Such revolver designs typ-ically include a cylinder swing arm or crane to pivotallymount the cylinder to the cylinder frame for loading car-tridges into or removing spent cartridge casings from thecylinder. In one embodiment, a cylinder latching mech-anism for a revolver includes a cylinder rotatably mount-ed in a frame and a spring-loaded plunger engageablewith the cylinder or a component operably associatedwith the cylinder, such as without limitation an ejector inone embodiment. The plunger is moveable from a lockedposition to an unlocked position to release the cylinder.In a preferred embodiment, the plunger may be slidablydisposed in a cavity in the cylinder frame and retainedtherein by a retaining plug locked into the frame by aninterference fit between a barrel insert and the retainingplug.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The features of the preferred embodiments willbe described with reference to the following drawingswhere like elements are labeled similarly, and in which:[0010] FIG. 1 is a left side cross-sectional view of oneembodiment of a revolver with a separate firing controlhousing;[0011] FIG. 2 is a right side cross-sectional view of therevolver of FIG. 1;[0012] FIGS. 3 is a right side cross-sectional view ofthe firing control housing of the revolver of FIG. 1 withfiring control components mounted therein;[0013] FIG. 4 is a right side view of the firing controlhousing of the revolver of FIG. 1 with firing control com-ponents mounted therein;[0014] FIG. 5 is a right side perspective view of thefiring control housing of the revolver of FIG. 1 with firingcontrol components mounted therein;[0015] FIG. 6 is an exploded front perspective view ofthe revolver of FIG. 1;[0016] FIG. 7 is a close-up cross-sectional side viewof the barrel portion of the revolver of FIG. 1.[0017] FIG. 8 is a rearward-looking exploded perspec-tive view of the barrel portion of the revolver of FIG. 1;[0018] FIG. 9 is a forward-looking exploded perspec-tive view of the barrel portion of the revolver of FIG. 1;[0019] FIG. 10 is left side perspective view of the firingcontrol housing of the revolver of FIG. 1 with firing control

components mounted therein; and[0020] FIG. 11 is an exploded rear perspective view ofthe revolver of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The features and benefits of the invention areillustrated and described herein by reference to preferredembodiments. This description of preferred embodi-ments is intended to be read in connection with the ac-companying drawings, which are to be considered partof the entire written description. In the description of em-bodiments disclosed herein, any reference to directionor orientation is merely intended for convenience of de-scription and is not intended in any way to limit the scopeof the present invention. Relative terms such as "lower,""upper," "horizontal," "vertical,", "above," "below," "up,""down," "top" and "bottom" as well as derivative thereof(e.g., "horizontally," "downwardly," "upwardly," etc.)should be construed to refer to the orientation as thendescribed or as shown in the drawing under discussion.These relative terms are for convenience of descriptiononly and do not require that the apparatus be constructedor operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as"attached," "affixed," "connected" and "interconnected,"refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured orattached to one another either directly or indirectlythrough intervening structures, as well as both movableor rigid attachments or relationships, unless expresslydescribed otherwise. Moreover, the features and benefitsof the invention are illustrated by reference to the pre-ferred embodiments. Accordingly, the invention express-ly should not be limited to such preferred embodimentsillustrating some possible non-limiting combination offeatures that may exist alone or in other combinations offeatures; the scope of the invention being defined by theclaims appended hereto.[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1, a revolver 10 in the formof a double-action solid-frame revolver is shown as in-cluding a cylinder frame 12 with cylinder 16 rotatably car-ried by frame 12 and defining a plurality of chambers 13formed inside therein for holding cartridges. Cylinder 16is supported by a cylinder crane 180 including an uppersupport tube 101 received through the hub of the cylinderand a lower retaining pin 19 removably received throughaperture 56 of the crane. Cylinder crane 180 is used topivot cylinder 16 outwards from cylinder frame 12 froma ready-to-fire position wherein the cylinder is positionedin the frame and a chamber 13 may be aligned with barrel14, to a lateral loading position for loading cartridges intochambers 13 wherein the cylinder is laterally displacedfrom the frame. Revolver 10 further includes barrel 14extending forward from cylinder frame 12 and definingan internal bore 166 for receiving a bullet. In a preferredembodiment, barrel 14 includes a barrel insert 140 whichis a separate component that is removably received inbarrel mounting bore 79 of cylinder frame 12 (best shownin FIGS. 7 and 8) and supported by the frame as shown

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herein. In other embodiments, the barrel may be formedas an integral part of cylinder frame 12 (not shown). Pref-erably, barrel insert 140 is made of tough metal such assteel that is capable of withstanding deflagration pres-sures from discharging revolver 10 and capable of with-standing the wear caused by the heat and friction of thebullet as it travels through the internal bore 166. In apreferred embodiment, cylinder frame 12 is preferablymade of metal, and more preferably may be aluminum,titanium, or steel.[0023] With continuing reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 7,revolver 10 further includes a spring-loaded ejector 106for ejecting spent cartridge casings from the revolver.Ejector 106 is disposed at the rear of cylinder 16 and isconfigured to operably engage the rim of a cartridge whendisposed in each cylinder 13. An ejector rod 104 havinga passageway disposed therethrough is coupled to ejec-tor 106 and extends axially forward through cylinder 16.Ejector spring 103 biases ejector rod 104 forward andmay be depressed by a user to ejector spent casing fromrevolver 10 in a conventional manner. In a preferred em-bodiment, ejector rod 104 preferably includes a for-ward-extending ejector rod extension 17 which is config-ured to engage an end cap 71 disposed thereon. Pref-erably, at least a portion of ejector rod extension 17 isexternally threaded to engage complementary-config-ured internal threads on end cap 71, further describedherein.[0024] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, revolver 10further includes a separate firing control housing 20 at-tached to the rear of cylinder frame 12 for mounting andhousing the firing control components used to dischargeand operate the revolver. In one embodiment, firing con-trol housing 20 is removably attachable to cylinder frame12. In one embodiment, the rear of firing control housing20 includes an elongated rear grip tang 22 for supportingand mounting a one-piece or two-piece hand grip (notshown) thereto. In one possible embodiment as shown,firing control housing 20 preferably may include a forwardextending portion defining an integral trigger guard 23.In other embodiments, trigger guard 23 may be a sepa-rate component that attaches to firing control housing 20and/or cylinder frame 12.[0025] Preferably, firing control housing 20 may bemade of a light-weight non-metallic material, and morepreferably in one embodiment may be made from a pol-ymer. In a preferred embodiment, firing control housing20 is made of a composite material such as a fiber-rein-forced polymer for added strength and toughness to with-stand the forces of firing revolver 10. Some typical suit-able and durable polymers that may be used without lim-itation are fiber-reinforced nylons and urethanes. Anysuitable non-metallic light-weight material may be usedso long as it has sufficient strength and toughness towithstand forces generated from firing revolver 10. In apreferred embodiment, firing control housing 20 is madeby a molding process. Advantageously, in contrast to us-ing metals, fabricating firing control housing 20 from a

polymer via molding processes allows complex and in-tricate shapes and openings to be economically createdand which are needed to incorporate the various firingcontrol mechanism and other components. Moreover,such intricate shapes and openings either cannot tech-nically be produced in metals or require extensive ma-chining steps which are cost prohibitive.[0026] It will be appreciated that although firing controlhousing 20 is shown in application to a double-actionrevolver with an internal hammer 18, the invention mayalso be used with equal benefit for single-action and dou-ble-action revolvers having either internal hammers orhammers with an exposed spur that is manually cockableby a user. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to dou-ble action and/or internal spurless hammer revolver de-signs as illustrated by the preferred embodiment herein.[0027] It will be appreciated that while a fiber reinforcedpolymer is the preferred material for the firing controlhousing, certain revolver cartridges generate very highfiring pressures and resulting forces on the revolverframe. These may exceed the strength of the polymerfire control housing. Therefore, the invention is not limitedto polymers but may include metals such as aluminum,titanium, or steel.[0028] Fabricating firing control housing 20 fromnon-metallic materials such as polymers offers numer-ous possibilities for creating an aesthetically interestingand pleasing overall ornamental appearance for revolver10 not available in many conventional revolver designs.For example, as best shown in FIG. 2, preferably non-me-tallic cylinder firing control housing 20 may be made dark-er in color than contrasting metallic cylinder frame 12.Thus, in some possible embodiments, firing control hous-ing 20 may be dark grey or black in color. In other possibleembodiments, however, the metallic cylinder frame maybe darker (e.g. blued or blackened) whereas the firingcontrol housing may be made of a contrasting lighter colorin non-metallic material. In addition, in some embodi-ments, firing control housing 20 may have various sur-face textures such as graining, pebbling, dimples, etc.Accordingly, numerous ornamental color and texturecombinations are advantageously possible for revolver10 as a result of using non-metallic materials for firingcontrol housing 20.[0029] Firing control housing 20 may be mounted tocylinder frame 12 in any suitable manner. In one possibleembodiment as shown in FIGS. 1, 6, 7, and 11, firingcontrol housing 20 may be mounted to cylinder frame 12via an upper pinned connection 24 located generally be-hind cylinder 16 and a forward lower pinned connection25 above trigger guard 23. In a preferred embodiment,upper pinned connection 24 may be formed by pin 94received through two spaced-apart holes 92 in a pair ofprojections 162 extending from firing control housing 20and a single hole 90 in a projection 164 on preferablycylinder frame 12 as shown. Since firing control housing20 is preferably made of a non-metallic material such aspolymer in a preferred embodiment while cylinder frame

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12 is made of metal, the added bearing surface providedby two projections 162 on the weaker polymeric housing20 provides a strong connection to absorb the recoil forc-es from discharging revolver 10 which are distributedover a pair of polymeric projections defining holes 92.[0030] In one embodiment, lower pinned connection25 for mounting firing control housing 20 to cylinder frame12 may be formed by a threaded hole 26 disposed infiring control housing 20 which receives lower retainingpin 19 operably associated with forming a pivot for cyl-inder crane 180. In one embodiment, pin 19 includes ashaft having at least a portion being threaded to engagecomplementary-shaped threads in hole 26. In a preferredembodiment where firing control housing 20 is made ofa non-metallic material and pin 19 is metallic, a metallicthreaded insert 105 (best shown in FIG. 7) configured tothreadably engage pin 19 may be disposed in firing con-trol housing hole 26 to prevent stripping of threads in thegenerally softer non-metallic housing. In a preferred em-bodiment, retaining pin 19 may have a head at one endconfigured to be engaged by a tool such as a slotted,Phillips, or other shaped screwdriver for securing pin 19to firing control housing 20.[0031] With continuing reference to FIGS. 1, 6, and 7,retaining pin 19 in one embodiment may be receivedthrough a pair of spaced-apart holes 96 defined in a lobedportion 93 formed near the bottom forward section of cyl-inder frame 12 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Lobed portion 93further defines a recess 107 disposed between holes 96which is configured to receive the lower portion of cylindercrane swing arm 100 with aperture 56. In one embodi-ment, lobed portion 93 of cylinder frame 12 is receivedin a complementary-shaped recess 91 formed on a for-ward portion of firing control housing 20 as best shownin FIGS. 6 and 7. When lobed portion 93 is seated inrecess 91 of cylinder frame 12, holes 96 in lobed portion93, aperture 56 in swing arm 100, and threaded hole 26in cylinder frame 12 preferably become concentricallyaligned so that retaining pin 19 may be inserted there-through to couple the cylinder frame 12 and cylindercrane 180 to the front of firing control housing 20. Re-taining pin 19 is threaded into hole 26 or metallic insert105 to secure the cylinder frame 12 and firing controlhousing 20 together.[0032] It will be appreciated that the foregoing lowerpinned connection 25 construction with retaining pin 19provides a robust attachment of the cylinder frame to thepreferably lighter-weight, non-metallic firing control hous-ing that is capable of withstanding recoil forces generatedby discharging revolver 10. Unlike the use of polymergrip frames in semi-automatic pistols which have recip-rocating slides and recoil springs to absorb the recoil forc-es, all of the recoil forces generated by revolvers areabsorbed by the historically metal cylinder frame andmetal grip frames, both of which traditionally have beenmade of steel and/or aluminum. Therefore, pinned at-tachment of the metal-to-metal frame components ofconventional revolvers using relatively small metal pins

and fasteners have heretofore been relied upon to pre-vent separation of the cylinder frames and grip framesdue to recoil forces. This traditional type of mounting tech-nique would lack sufficient strength and be generally un-suitable for coupling a metal cylinder frame to non-me-tallic firing control housing or similar structure, particularlyfor the front mount which experiences the highest bend-ing stresses when discharging a revolver. The robustmounting arrangement provided herein provides a se-cure mount capable of withstanding the recoil forces andstress associated with recoil making the use of light-weight, non-metallic firing control housings possible.[0033] FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view ofrevolver 10. Cylinder frame 12 defines an opening 15which receives cylinder 16. In contrast to conventionallarger and heavier metal cylinder frames, the truncatedlength and reduced size of the metal cylinder frame 12is made possible by mounting the firing control compo-nents in a separate preferably non-metallic and lighter-weight firing control housing 20 (see, e.g. FIGS. 3 and4). In a preferred embodiment, firing control housing 20is made of a polymer and includes grip tang 22 to furtherreduce weight.[0034] Figures 3-5 show various right side views of thefiring control housing 20 with the firing control compo-nents supported and mounted therein. As shown in FIG.3, in one embodiment grip tang 22 is configured to definean opening 41 for receiving an optional rotary mainspringlock 40 and its associated lock housing 42 (shown in FIG.4) mounted to the grip tang using pins inserted in holes43. The rotary lock 40 interacts with hammer strut 64 todisable the firing control mechanism.[0035] Referring now primarily to FIGS. 1-5 and 10,revolver 10 in a preferred embodiment includes a firingcontrol mechanism completely supported by firing controlhousing 20 that is independent of the cylinder frame 12,and which mechanism generally includes the followingfiring control components: trigger 11, hammer 18, cylin-der lock 32, hammer lever or dog 34, pawl 35, and main-spring assembly 30 with mainspring 31. In one embodi-ment, mainspring assembly 30 includes mainspring strut64 having an upper end 150 pinned connection to pin 36of hammer 18 and a lower end 37 braced against a portionof grip tang 22. In one embodiment shown in the figures,lower end 37 of strut 64 may be engaged with a rotarylock 40 that may be provided and disposed in grip tang22. Hammer dog 34 is essentially a spring-biased leverthat is pivotably mounted to hammer 18 about a pinnedconnection 52 and is operably positioned between trigger11 and hammer 18. Hammer dog 34 is biased upwards(clockwise in FIG. 1) by a spring 54 (see FIG. 2) towardshammer 18 and is engageable by the rear of trigger 11.Hammer dog 34 is rotated upwards in response to a trig-ger pull to fully cock and then release hammer 18 forwardfor discharging revolver 10 in a conventional double ac-tion operating mode. When released, trigger 11 then re-turns downward and forward after firing to the positionshown in FIG. 1.

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[0036] Hammer 18 is pivotably mounted to firing con-trol housing 20 about a pinned connection 53 and is mov-able in rearward and forward arcuate motions. Hammer18 is biased forward towards the cylinder by mainspring31 as noted above. As shown in the preferred embodi-ment, hammer 18 is completely internal and movably dis-posed in cavity 21 of firing control housing 20. In oneembodiment, the upper portion hammer 18 may have arounded or arcuate profile and upper surface as shownthat complements a corresponding arcuate inner profileof cavity 21. Since firing control housing 20 is advanta-geously completely enclosed in the preferred embodi-ment, foreign debris cannot enter cavity 21 and contam-inate the firing mechanism unlike some conventionalhousing designs which sometimes have an upper open-ing even when spurless hammers are used. Advanta-geously, the use of non-metallic materials such as mold-ed polymers for firing control housing 20 makes fabrica-tion of intricate details and curved contours possible andmore economical than fabricating comparable metalhousings which may require separate and additional ma-chining steps to create these features. In addition, rawproduction costs associated with molding polymers toform firing control housing as shown and described here-in is advantageously significantly less than producingsuch a housing in metal. Moreover, it should be notedthat the smooth, rounded top profile of firing control hous-ing 20 is ideally suited for small concealed-carry revolv-ers since the revolver will not snag on a user’s clothingwhen drawn. Although the preferred embodiment is anenclosed spurless hammer, the invention is not be limitedto this design and may also include versions with an openslot for a protruding, spurred hammer that can be man-ually operated by the user.[0037] With continued reference to FIGS. 1-5 and 10,trigger 11 is pivotably mounted to firing control housing20 about a pinned connection 38 and moves arcuatelyin response to a trigger pull by a user. Trigger 11 is biaseddownwards and forward by trigger torsion spring 33. Cyl-inder lock 32 is mounted about pinned connection 39 tofiring control housing 20 and is actuated by trigger 11.Cylinder lock 32 keeps one of the chambers 13 concen-trically aligned with the bore of barrel insert 140 duringfiring. Cylinder lock 32 is preferably biased upwards bya spring (not shown) into engagement with a cylinder lockdepression 50 formed in cylinder 16. Preferably, a cylin-der lock depression 50 is provided for each chamber.When trigger 11 is pulled rearwards, a front portion ofthe trigger ahead of pinned connection 38 rotates down-wards (counter-clockwise in FIG. 1) which engages androtates cylinder lock 32 downwards in an opposite direc-tion (clockwise in FIG. 1) about pin 39. This motion dis-engages cylinder lock 32 from one of the cylinder lockdepressions 50 (see FIG. 1) so that cylinder 16 may berotated by pawl 35 in a conventional manner to the nextfiring position in response to pulling the trigger 11. Whentrigger 11 reaches a predetermined rearward point anda cylinder 13 containing the next cartridge to be dis-

charged aligns with barrel insert 140, cylinder lock 32 isreleased by the trigger and returns to its initially upwardposition to engage an new cylinder lock depression 50.Further rearward motion of hammer 18 releases the ham-mer to strike and detonate the cartridge directly or indi-rectly via an intermediate firing pin carried by the cylinderframe 12 positioned between the hammer and cartridge.[0038] As described above, pulling trigger 11 alsococks and releases hammer 18 to discharge revolver 10,When trigger 11 is pulled, an extension arm 51 projectingrearwards from the trigger engages and rotates hammerdog 34 upwards (clockwise in FIG. 1) which in turn rotateshammer 18 rearwards (clockwise in FIG. 1) to a prede-termined point where the hammer is then released tostrike a cartridge in one of the chambers 13 or an inter-mediate firing pin disposed between the hammer andcartridge.[0039] With continued reference to FIGS. 1-5 and 10,the firing control mechanism of revolver 10 may includea transfer bar 55 in some embodiments. Transfer bar 55is vertically movable in response to a trigger pull andreduces the likelihood that the revolver will fire in the ab-sence of a trigger pull. In one embodiment, transfer bar55 may be positioned forward of hammer dog 34 and ismovably coupled to trigger 11 via a pinned connection57. Pawl 35 may also be movably coupled to trigger 11via same pinned connection 57 or by a different connec-tion. A spring-loaded firing pin 60 (shown in FIGS. 1 and2 without the spring for clarity) is received in a recessformed in cylinder frame 12 and axially movable thereinto strike a cartridge when loaded in chamber 13. Whentrigger 11 is pulled, transfer bar 55 moves vertically up-wards in response and becomes positioned betweenhammer 18 and firing pin 60. As hammer 18 becomesfully cocked and is then released as described herein,the hammer strikes transfer bar 55 which in turn transfersthe force to firing pin 60 propelling the firing pin forwardto strike a cartridge. In the absence of a trigger pull, ham-mer 18 preferably is incapable of reaching firing pin 60when the hammer is in its forward-most position.[0040] With reference to FIGS. 1-2, 6, and particularlyFIG. 7, cylinder crane 180 includes an upper support tube101 that includes a rearward-extending cylindrical por-tion received in the hub 160 of the cylinder 16 and aforward-extending portion that in one embodiment is re-ceived in a complementary shaped recess 70 in the for-ward portion of cylinder frame 12. In one embodimentbest shown in FIG. 6, the forward-extending portion ofsupport tube 101 need not be completely cylindrical inshape since it is disposed in cylinder frame 12 and notthe cylindrically-shaped cylinder hub. Support tube 101rotatably supports cylinder 16 in cylinder frame 12. In apreferred embodiment, upper support tube 101 prefera-bly is hollow to axially slidably receive center pin rod 62and ejector rod 104 received at least partially in tube 101.Cylinder center pin rod 62 is biased rearward by spring102 (best shown in FIG. 7) and axially movable beingactuated by a cylinder release latch 61 (shown in FIG.

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10). Center pin rod 62 allows a user to disengage ejectorrod extension 17 from cylinder frame 12 and pivot cylinder16 laterally outwards from the cylinder frame 12 as furtherdescribed herein to load cartridges into or eject spentcasings from cylinder chambers 13 using ejector 106.[0041] In one possible embodiment, upper supporttube 101 is disposed on top of crane swing arm 100 (bestshown in FIG. 6). Support tube 101 may be formed asan integral part of swing arm 100 or may be a separatecomponent attached thereto in other embodiments. Ap-erture 56 is defined by a lower portion of swing arm 100to receive crane retaining pin 19 therein.[0042] Figures 7-9 show one embodiment of a cylindercrane latching system including a latching member suchas plunger 72, biasing spring 73, and retaining plug 75.As best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, retaining plug 75 includesan enlarged front head 80 with hole therein to allow aportion of plunger 72 such as stem 98 to be projectedtherethrough and a generally cylindrical rear sleeve 81that is inserted into a cavity 74 formed in cylinder frame12. At least a portion of plunger 72 is slidably disposedin cavity 74 of cylinder frame 12 as shown, which alsohouses spring 73. In one embodiment, spring 73 is ahelical compression spring. Preferably, a portion ofplunger 72 and spring 73 are disposed in sleeve 81 ofretaining plug 75. Plunger 72 includes a generally cylin-drical rear projection 87 that preferably extends rear-wards at least partially into recess 70 through a rear open-ing 120 in cavity 74 as shown and is slidably received inan axial opening 108 in the tip of end cap 71 such thatthe plunger contacts and biases cylinder center pin rod62 rearwards. The rear of rod 62 is acted upon by cylinderrelease latch 61 (see FIGS. 1 and 10) which axially movesthe rod against the force of spring 73 when actuated.[0043] A front portion of plunger 72 in one embodimentincludes a stem 98 that is slidably received in a forwardaperture 99 of retaining plug 75. Stem 98 helps guideplunger 72 when spring 73 is compressed and the plung-er is moved forward as described herein, thereby pro-jecting a portion of stem 98 through aperture 99. Theinteraction of stem 98 and aperture 99 adds stability toaxial movement of plunger 72 in cavity 74. In one em-bodiment, plunger 72 includes a flanged portion 86 thatengages a portion of cylinder frame 12 surrounding rearopening 120 adjacent to cavity 74 to prevent the plungerfrom being ejected rearwards through the cavity by spring73. Preferably, flanged portion 86 is larger in diameterthan rear opening 120. In one embodiment, front opening121 of cavity 74 has a larger diameter than rear opening120 and at least a slightly larger diameter than flangedportion 86 to allow plunger 72 to be inserted into cavity74 from the front. Cavity 74 preferably is bored, drilled,or otherwise formed in cylinder frame 12 from the frontsince the tooling necessary to produce the cavity is gen-erally not accessible from the rear of the cylinder frame,which in a preferred embodiment has a generally solidstructure at the rear except for two small holes for thefiring pin 60 and center pin rod 62 (see FIG. 6).

[0044] With reference to FIGS. 7-10, when the userwishes to reload revolver 10, cylinder release latch 61 isdepressed which engages the rear of center pin rod 62and moves the rod forward against spring-loaded plunger72, which preferably is in contact with the front of the rodas shown. Plunger 72 is forced forward and retracted intocavity 74 while compressing spring 73 (not shown) to apoint where cap 71 may be disengaged from the plungerallowing the cylinder 16 to be swung out laterally fromcylinder frame 12. After cylinder 16 is swung out and pinrod 62 disengages plunger 72, plunger 72 is free to re-emerge rearwards from cavity 74 into recess 70 underthe force of spring 73.[0045] To return cylinder 16 to cylinder frame 12, theuser pushes the cylinder back into the frame. Cap 71engages plunger 72 forcing the plunger back again intocavity 74 until the hole in the end of the cap becomesconcentrically aligned with the plunger which then reent-ers the cap and returns to the position shown in FIG. 7before release latch 61 was actuated. To facilitatesmooth engagement and movement between cap 71 andplunger 72, the rear portion of the plunger such as rearprojection 87 is preferably shaped with a biased surface82 that engages cap 71 which preferably is cylindrically-shaped. In one embodiment, forward end of cap 71 mayalso preferably be rounded as shown to facilitate smoothengagement with plunger 72. In one embodiment, biasedsurface 82 of plunger 72 may be retained in the orienta-tion shown by providing a longitudinal slot 83 in the bot-tom of plunger sleeve 81 which is adapted and configuredto slidably receive a lug 84 on the bottom of the plunger.[0046] As best shown in FIGS. 7-10, plunger 72 andretaining plug 75 may be retained in cylinder frame 12 ina preferred embodiment without the use of a cross-pinand complex arrangements as used in some convention-al revolver designs. Head 80 of retaining plug 75 may beconfigured with a stepped portion 76 which is engagedby a radially-enlarged flange or boss 77 on the front ofbarrel insert 140. Preferably, barrel insert 140 may havean internal rifled surface and external threads that en-gage complementary internal threads in barrel mountingbore 79 in barrel 14 of cylinder frame 12. When barrelinsert 140 is threaded into cylinder frame 12, steppedportion 76 of retaining plug 75 is engaged by and trappedbehind boss 77 of barrel insert 140 via surface-to-surfacecontact, thereby locking the end cap 71 to revolver 10.Advantageously, this provides a mechanically simplemeans for securing retaining plug 75 in revolver 10 with-out the use of pins. The front horizontal part of steppedportion 76 of retaining plug 75 preferably may be arcu-ately shaped as shown to mate with the cylindrical con-tour of boss 77 which rests thereon. This also helps main-tain retaining plug 75 in the position shown so that slot83 in sleeve 81 remains on bottom to in turn maintainbiased surface 82 of plunger 72 in a vertical position viasliding engagement of bottom lug 84 with the slot.[0047] The foregoing cylinder lock system advanta-geously is mechanically simple, reliable, and accom-

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plished in fewer parts than some convention revolver de-signs that reduces production costs in both materials andassembly labor. The cylinder latching system also haseconomic advantage, as the cap 71 and/or retaining plug75 may be produced from either metal or non-metallicmaterials, and may be produced either by metal injectionmolding (MIM) or via injection molding of a polymer.[0048] A preferred method of assembling the cylinderlatching system will now be described with reference toFIGS. 7-9. The method includes inserting plunger 72 intocavity 74 of cylinder frame 12. Preferably, plunger 72 isinserted into cavity 74 from the front of cylinder frame 12through front opening 121. Plunger 72 is preferably ori-ented so that biased surface 82 faces the left side of pistol10 (as shown in FIG. 9) and lug 84 is on the bottom tobe subsequently received by slot 83 in sleeve 81. Next,spring 73 is inserted into cavity 74 and engaged withplunger flanged portion 86 forcing the plunger rearwardsand extending rear projection 87 through rear opening120 of the cavity (if not already extended therethrough).Flanged portion 86 of plunger 72 engages a portion ofcylinder frame 12 surrounding opening 120. Retainingplug 75 is then inserted into cavity 74 with sleeve 81 beingfirst received in the cavity. Preferably, slot 83 in sleeve81 is slidably engaged with lug 84 of plunger 72. Steppedportion 76 of retaining plug 75 engages a complementa-ry-shaped portion of cylinder frame 12 and becomesseated in the frame. Barrel insert 140 is then rotationallyinserted into barrel 14 engaging the external threads onthe insert with the internal threads 79 formed on the bar-rel. Stepped portion 76 is engaged by a radially-enlargedflange or boss 77 on the front of barrel insert 140, therebytrapping and locking retaining plug 75 in cylinder frame12.[0049] In another alternative embodiment, spring 73may be inserted into sleeve 81 of retaining plug 75 fol-lowed by inserting plunger 72 into the retaining plug be-hind the spring. Slot 83 in sleeve 81 is preferably slidablyengaged with lug 84 of plunger 72. The retainingplug-plunger assembly 75, 72 may then be inserted intocavity 74 of cylinder frame 12 in the position shown inFIGS. 7-9. This is followed by threadably inserting barrelinsert 140 into barrel 40 as described above, and trappingretaining plug 75 in the cylinder frame with the barrelinsert.

Claims

1. A revolver (10) with light-weight firing control housing(20) comprising:

a metallic cylinder frame (12) supporting a ro-tatable cylinder (16) defining a plurality of car-tridge-receiving chambers (13), the cylinder be-ing received in a complementary configuredopening (15) defined by the cylinder frame;characterised by,

a separable firing control housing (20) made ofa non-metallic material and attached to the cyl-inder frame (12), the firing control housing sup-porting at least one firing control mechanismcomponent for discharging the revolver (10);a spaced pair of forwardly extending projections(162) disposed on the firing control housing (20)that receive therebetween a rearwardly extend-ing projection (164) disposed on the cylinderframe, the forwardly extending projections eachdefining a firing control housing bearing surfacethat engages the cylinder frame (12) for absorb-ing recoil forces from discharging the revolver.

2. The revolver (10) of claim 1wherein the firing control housing (20) is made of apolymer, orthe firing control housing (20) includes an integralgrip tang (22) configured for mounting a hand gripthereto, and optionally in such casefurther comprising a mainspring strut (150) support-ed by the grip tang of the firing control housing.

3. The revolver (10) of claim 1, wherein the firing controlhousing (20) includes a forward portion having athreaded metallic insert (105) for receiving a com-plementary threaded retaining pin (19) that pivotablymounts a cylinder crane (180) to the revolver for ro-tationally supporting the cylinder (16).

4. The revolver (10) of claim 1, wherein the firing controlhousing (20) further defines an arcuately-shaped in-ternal cavity (21) that houses a hammer (18) pivotallymounted to the housing for pivotable movement, andoptionallywherein the firing control housing (20) has a roundedtop profile that complements the shape of the arcu-ately-shaped internal cavity (21) to prevent snaggingthe revolver on a user’s clothing, or optionallywherein the hammer (18) has an arcuately-shapedtop that complements the arcutately-shaped internalcavity.

5. The revolver (10) of claim 1, wherein the firing controlhousing (20) includes an integral trigger guard (23),orwherein the firing control housing (20) is formed byinjection molding, orwherein the at least one firing control mechanismcomponent is a pivotable hammer (18) actuated bya trigger (11), the hammer and the trigger being piv-otably mounted to the firing control housing (20).

6. The revolver (10) of claim 1, wherein the cylinderframe (12) is coupled to the firing control housing(20) by an axially-aligned retaining pin (19) receivedthrough a mounting hole (26) in a lower portion ofthe cylinder frame, the retaining pin engaging a fron-

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tally open metallic insert (105) disposed in the for-ward portion of the firing control housing.

7. The revolver (10) of claim 6, wherein the cylinderframe (12) comprises a pair of spaced apart mount-ing holes (96) disposed in a lower lobed portion (93)of the cylinder frame, and optionallywherein a recess (107) is defined in the lower lobedportion (93) between the pair of mounting holes (96)that receives a swing arm (100) of a cylinder crane(180) coupled to the cylinder (16) operable to pivotthe cylinder laterally outwards from the cylinderframe (12), the swing arm including a hole (56) con-centrically aligned with the mounting holes (96) inthe lobed portion (93) wherein the retaining pin (19)being received through the mounting holes in thelobed portion and swing arm, or optionallywherein the lower lobed portion (93) of the cylinderframe (12) is arcuately shaped and is seated in acomplementary shaped recess (91) formed in thefiring control housing (20).

8. The revolver (10) of claim 6, wherein the cylinderframe (12) is further coupled to the firing controlhousing (20) via an upper rear pinned connection(24) located at least partially behind the cylinder (16)near an upper portion of the housing.

9. The revolver (10) of claim 8, wherein the upper rearpinned connection (24) comprises a laterally dis-posed pin (94) received through concentricallyaligned mounting holes (90, 92) in the cylinder frame(12) and firing control housing (20), and optionallywherein the firing control housing (20) includes twomounting holes (92) with one mounting hole beingdisposed in each of two spaced apart projections(162) formed on the housing and the cylinder framemounting hole (90) is disposed in a projection (164)formed on the cylinder frame (12), the laterally dis-posed pin extending through the holes in the housingand cylinder frame.

10. A method of assembling a revolver (10) having alight-weight firing control housing (20) comprising:

providing a non-metallic firing control housing(20);mounting a trigger (11) to the housing (20);mounting a hammer (18) to the housing (20) forpivotable movement between a cocked and anuncocked position;securing a metallic cylinder frame (12) to thehousing (20);inserting a projection (164) disposed on the rearof the cylinder frame (12) between a pair ofspaced apart projections (162) disposed on thefiring control housing (20); andengaging bearing surfaces defined by the pair

of projections (162) on the firing control housing(20) with mating bearing surfaces on the cylinderframe (12) for absorbing recoil forces from dis-charging the revolver (10).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the securing stepincludes axially inserting a retaining pin (19) througha hole (96) in the cylinder frame (12) and engagingthe retaining pin with the firing control housing (20).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the engaging stepincludes engaging a threaded portion of the retainingpin (19) with an axially aligned threaded metallic in-sert (105) disposed in the firing control housing.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising placinga cylinder crane (180) with the cylinder (16) rotatablymounted thereon into the cylinder frame (12), andwherein the securing step includes inserting the re-taining pin (19) through the hole (96) in the cylinderframe (12) and an aperture (56) in the cylinder crane(180) to secure the cylinder frame and the cylindercrane to the firing control housing (20).

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the firing controlhousing (20) is made of a polymer.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the securing stepincludes laterally inserting a pin (94) through con-centrically aligned holes (90, 92) formed in an upperpart of the cylinder frame (12) and firing control hous-ing (20).

Patentansprüche

1. Revolver (10) mit einem leichten Abschuss-Steue-rungsgehäuse (20), der Folgendes umfasst:

einen metallischen Trommelrahmen (12), der ei-ne drehbare Trommel (16) trägt, die mehrerePatronenaufnahmekammern (13) definiert, wo-bei die Trommel in einer komplementär konfigu-rierten Öffnung (159) aufgenommen wird, diedurch den Trommelrahmen geformt wird, ge-kennzeichnet durchein abtrennbares Abschuss-Steuerungsgehäu-se (20), das aus einem nichtmetallischen Werk-stoff hergestellt und an dem Trommelrahmen(12) befestigt ist, wobei das Abschuss-Steue-rungsgehäuse wenigstens einen Bestandteil ei-nes Abschuss-Steuerungsmechanismus zumAbfeuern des Revolvers (10) trägt,ein mit Zwischenraum angeordnetes Paar vonsich nach vorn erstreckenden Vorsprüngen(162), angeordnet an dem Abschuss-Steue-rungsgehäuse (20), die zwischen denselben ei-nen sich nach hinten erstreckenden Vorsprung

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(164), angeordnet an dem Trommelrahmen,aufnehmen, wobei die sich nach vom erstrek-kenden Vorsprünge jeweils eine Lagerfläche fürdas Abschuss-Steuerungsgehäuse definieren,die den Trommelrahmen (12) in Eingriff nimmt,um Rückstoßkräfte vom Abfeuern des Revol-vers zu absorbieren.

2. Revolver (10) nach Anspruch 1,wobei das Abschuss-Steuerungsgehäuse (20) auseinem Polymer hergestellt ist oderdas Abschuss-Steuerungsgehäuse (20) eine inte-grale Griffangel (22) einschließt, die zum Anbringeneines Handgriffs an derselben konfiguriert ist, undder in einem solchen Fall wahlweiseferner eine Schlagfederstrebe (150) umfasst, diedurch die Griffangel des Abschuss-Steuerungsge-häuses getragen wird.

3. Revolver (10) nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Ab-schuss-Steuerungsgehäuse (20) einen vorderenAbschnitt, der einen mit Gewinde versehenen me-tallischen Einsatz (105) hat, zum Aufnehmen eineskomplementär mit Gewinde versehenen Haltestifts(19), der schwenkbar einen Trommelkran (180) andem Revolver anbringt, um die Trommel (16) dreh-bar zu tragen.

4. Revolver (10) nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Ab-schuss-Steuerungsgehäuse (20) ferner einen bo-genförmigen inneren Hohlraum (21) definiert, der ei-nen Hahn (18) aufnimmt, der für eine Schwenkbe-wegung schwenkbar an dem Gehäuse angebrachtist, und wahlweisewobei das Abschuss-Steuerungsgehäuse (20) einabgerundetes oberes Profil hat, das die Form desbogenförmigen inneren Hohlraums (21) ergänzt, umein Hängenbleiben des Revolvers an der Kleidungeines Benutzers zu verhindern, oder wahlweisewobei der Hahn (18) eine bogenförmige Oberseitehat, die den bogenförmigen inneren Hohlraum er-gänzt.

5. Revolver (10) nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Ab-schuss-Steuerungsgehäuse (20) einen integralenAbzugsschutz (23) einschließt oderwobei das Abschuss-Steuerungsgehäuse (20)durch Spritzgießen geformt ist oderwobei der wenigstens eine Bestandteil des Ab-schuss-Steuerungsmechanismus ein schwenkba-rer Hahn (18) ist, der durch einen Abzug (11) betätigtwird, wobei der Hahn und der Abzug schwenkbar andem Abschuss-Steuerungsgehäuse (20) ange-bracht sind.

6. Revolver (10) nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Trommel-rahmen (12) durch einen axial ausgerichteten Hal-testift (19), der durch ein Anbringungsloch (26) in

einem unteren Abschnitt des Trommelrahmens auf-genommen wird, an das Abschuss-Steuerungsge-häuse (20) gekoppelt ist, wobei der Haltestift einenfrontal offenen metallischen Einsatz (105) in Eingriffnimmt, der in dem vorderen Abschnitt des Abschuss-Steuerungsgehäuses angeordnet ist.

7. Revolver (10) nach Anspruch 6, wobei der Trommel-rahmen (12) ein Paar von mit Zwischenraum entferntangeordneten Anbringungslöchern (96) umfasst,das in einem unteren gelappten Abschnitt (93) desder Trommelrahmens angeordnet ist, und wahlwei-sewobei eine Aussparung (107) in dem unteren ge-lappten Abschnitt (93) zwischen dem Paar von An-bringungslöchern (96) definiert ist, die einenSchwenkarm (100) eines an die Trommel (16) ge-koppelten Trommelkrans (180) aufnimmt, der funk-tionsfähig ist, um die Trommel seitlich nach außenaus dem Trommelrahmen (12) zu schwenken, wobeider Schwenkarm ein Loch (56) einschließt, das kon-zentrisch mit den Anbringungslöchern (96) in demgelappten Abschnitt (93) ausgerichtet ist, wobei derHaltestift (19) durch die Anbringungslöcher in demgelappten Abschnitt und dem Schwenkarm aufge-nommen wird, oder wahlweisewobei der untere gelappte Abschnitt (93) des Trom-melrahmens (12) bogenförmig gestaltet ist und ineiner komplementär geformten Aussparung (91)festsitzt, die in dem Abschuss-Steuerungsgehäuse(20) geformt ist.

8. Revolver (10) nach Anspruch 6, wobei der Trommel-rahmen (12) ferner über eine obere hintere Stiftver-bindung (24), die wenigstens teilweise hinter derTrommel (16) nahe einem oberen Abschnitt des Ge-häuses angeordnet ist, an das Abschuss-Steue-rungsgehäuse (20) gekoppelt ist.

9. Revolver (10) nach Anspruch 8, wobei die obere hin-tere Stiftverbindung (24) einen seitlich angeordnetenStift (94) umfasst, der durch die konzentrisch aus-gerichteten Anbringungslöcher (90, 92) in demTrommelrahmen (12) und dem Abschuss-Steue-rungsgehäuse (20) aufgenommen wird, und wahl-weisewobei das Abschuss-Steuerungsgehäuse (20) zweiAnbringungslöcher (92) einschließt, wobei ein An-bringungsloch in jedem der zwei an dem Gehäusegeformten Vorsprünge (162) angeordnet ist und dasTrommelrahmen-Anbringungsloch (90) in einem andem Trommelrahmen (12) geformten Vorsprung(164) angeordnet ist, wobei sich der seitlich ange-ordnete Stift durch die Löcher in dem Gehäuse unddem Trommelrahmen erstreckt.

10. Verfahren zum Zusammenbauen eines Revolvers(10), der ein leichtes Abschuss-Steuerungsgehäuse

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(20) hat, wobei das Verfahren Folgendes umfasst:

das Bereitstellen eines nichtmetallischen Ab-schuss-Steuerungsgehäuses (20),das Anbringen eines Abzugs (11) an dem Ge-häuse (20),das Anbringen eines Hahns (18) an dem Ge-häuse (20) für eine Schwenkbewegung zwi-schen einer gespannten und einer nicht ge-spannten Stellung,das Befestigen eines metallischen Trommelrah-mens (12) an dem Abschuss-Steuerungsge-häuse (20),das Einsetzen eines an der Rückseite des Trom-melrahmens (12) angeordneten Vorsprungs(164) zwischen einem Paar von an dem Ab-schuss-Steuerungsgehäuse (20) angeordnetenVorsprüngen (162) unddas In-Eingriff-Bringen von Lagerflächen, diedurch das Paar von Vorsprüngen (162) an demAbschuss-Steuerungsgehäuse (20) definiertwerden, mit passenden Lagerflächen an demTrommelrahmen (12), um Rückstoßkräfte vomAbfeuern des Revolvers (10) zu absorbieren.

11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 10, wobei der Befesti-gungsschritt das axiale Einsetzen eines Haltestifts(19) durch ein Loch (96) in dem Trommelrahmen (12)und das In-Eingriff-Bringen des Haltestifts mit demAbschuss-Steuerungsgehäuse (20) einschließt.

12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, wobei der Eingriffs-schritt das In-Eingriff-Bringen eines mit Gewindeversehenen Abschnitts des Haltestifts (19) mit einemaxial ausgerichteten mit Gewinde versehenen me-tallischen Einsatz (105), der in dem Abschuss-Steuerungsgehäuse bereitgestellt wird.

13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 12, das ferner das Anord-nen eines Trommelkrans (180) mit der drehbar andemselben angebrachten Trommel (16) in demTrommelrahmen (12) umfasst, und wobei der Befe-stigungsschritt das Einsetzen des Haltestifts (19)durch das Loch (96) in dem Trommelrahmen (12)und eine Öffnung (56) in dem Trommelkran (180)umfasst, um den Trommelrahmen und den Trom-melkran an dem Abschuss-Steuerungsgehäuse(20) zu befestigen.

14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 10, wobei das Abschuss-Steuerungsgehäuse (20) aus einem Polymer herge-stellt ist.

15. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, wobei der Befesti-gungsschritt das seitliche Einsetzen eines Stifts (94)durch konzentrisch ausgerichtete Löcher (90, 92),die in einem oberen Teil des Trommelrahmens (12)und dem Abschuss-Steuerungsgehäuse (20) ge-

formt sind, einschließt.

Revendications

1. Révolver (10), comportant un logement de contrôledu tir léger (20), comprenant :

une carcasse de barillet métallique (12), sup-portant un barillet rotatif (16), définissant plu-sieurs chambres de réception de cartouches(13), le barillet étant reçu dans une ouverture àconfiguration complémentaire (15) définie par lacarcasse du barillet ; caractérisé parun logement de contrôle du tir séparable (20),composé d’un matériau non métallique et fixésur la carcasse du barillet (12), le logement decontrôle du tir supportant au moins un compo-sant de mécanisme de contrôle du tir pour dé-charger le révolver (10) ;une paire de saillies espacées s’étendant versl’avant (162), agencées sur le logement de con-trôle du tir (20), recevant entre elles une saillies’étendant vers l’arrière (164), agencée sur lacarcasse du barillet, les saillies s’étendant versl’avant définissant chacune une surface de sup-port du logement de contrôle du tir s’engageantdans la carcasse du barillet (12) pour absorberles forces de recul entraînées par la déchargedu révolver.

2. Révolver (10) selon la revendication 1,dans lequel le logement de contrôle du tir (20) estfabriqué à partir d’un polymère ; oule logement de contrôle du tir (20) englobe un mon-tant de poignée d’une seule pièce (22), destiné aumontage d’une poignée sur celui-ci, et optionnelle-ment dans un tel cascomprenant en outre une entretoise du ressort depercussion (150), supportée par le montant de poi-gnée du logement de contrôle du tir.

3. Révolver (10) selon la revendication 1, dans lequelle logement de contrôle du tir (20) englobe une partieavant, comportant un insert métallique fileté (105)pour recevoir une goupille de retenue à filetage com-plémentaire (19), assurant le montage pivotant d’unbras de support de barillet (180) sur le révolver poursupporter de manière rotative le barillet (16).

4. Révolver (10) selon la revendication 1, dans lequelle logement de contrôle du tir (20) définit en outreune cavité interne de forme arquée (21) recevant unchien (18) monté de manière pivotante sur le loge-ment en vue d’un déplacement pivotant ; et option-nellementdans lequel le logement de contrôle du tir (20) a unprofil supérieur arrondi, complémentaire de la forme

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de la cavité interne de forme arquée (21), pour em-pêcher un accrochage du révolver sur les vêtementsd’un utilisateur ; ou optionnellementdans lequel le chien (18) comporte une partie supé-rieure de forme arquée complémentaire de la cavitéinterne de forme arquée.

5. Révolver (10) selon la revendication 1, dans lequelle logement de contrôle du tir (20) englobe un pontetd’une seule pièce (23) ; oudans lequel le logement de contrôle du tir (20) estformé par moulage par injection ; oudans lequel le au moins un composant du mécanis-me de contrôle du tir est un chien pivotant (18) ac-tionné par une détente (11), le chien et la détenteétant montés de manière pivotante sur le logementde contrôle du tir (20).

6. Révolver (10) selon la revendication 1, dans lequella carcasse du barillet (12) est accouplée au loge-ment de contrôle du tir (20) par une goupille de re-tenue à alignement axial (19), reçue à travers un troude montage (26) dans une partie inférieure de la car-casse du barillet, la goupille de retenue s’engageantdans un insert métallique ouvert vers l’avant (105)agencé dans la partie avant du logement de contrôledu tir.

7. Révolver (10) selon la revendication 6, dans lequella carcasse du barillet (12) comprend une paire detrous de montage espacés (96), agencés dans unepartie inférieure lobée (93) de la carcasse du barillet ;et optionnellementdans lequel un évidement (107) est défini dans lapartie inférieure lobée (93) entre la paire de trous demontage (96), recevant un bras oscillant (100) d’unbras de support du barillet (180) accouplé au barillet(16) et servant à faire pivoter le barillet latéralementvers l’extérieur de la carcasse du barillet (12), le brasoscillant englobant un trou (56) aligné de manièreconcentrique avec les trous de montage (96) dansla partie lobée (93), la goupille de retenue (19) étantreçue à travers les trous de montage dans la partielobée et du bras oscillant ; ou optionnellementdans lequel la partie inférieure lobée (93) de la car-casse du barillet (12) a une forme arquée et est logéedans un évidement de forme complémentaire (91)formé dans le logement de contrôle du tir (20).

8. Révolver (10) selon la revendication 6, dans lequella carcasse du barillet (12) est en outre accoupléeau logement de contrôle du tir (20) par l’intermédiaired’une connexion à goupilles arrière supérieure (24),agencée au moins partiellement derrière le barillet(16), près d’une partie supérieure du logement.

9. Révolver (10) selon la revendication 8, dans lequella connexion à goupilles arrière supérieure (24) com-

prend une goupille à agencement latéral (94) reçueà travers des trous de montage à alignement con-centrique (90, 92) dans la carcasse du barillet (12)et le logement de contrôle du tir (20) ; et optionnel-lementdans lequel le logement de contrôle du tir (20) en-globe deux trous de montage (92), un trou de mon-tage étant agencé dans chacune de deux sailliesespacées (162) formées sur le logement, le trou demontage de la carcasse du barillet (90) étant agencédans une saillie (164) formée sur la carcasse du ba-rillet (12), la goupille à agencement latéral s’étendantà travers les trous dans le logement et la carcassedu barillet.

10. Procédé d’assemblage d’un révolver (10), compor-tant un logement de contrôle du tir léger (20), com-prenant les étapes ci-dessous :

fourniture d’un logement de contrôle du tir nonmétallique (20) ;montage d’une détente (11) sur le logement(20) ;montage d’un chien (18) sur le logement (20),en vue d’un déplacement pivotant entre une po-sition armée et une position non armée ;fixation d’une carcasse de barillet métallique(12) sur le logement (20) ;insertion d’une saillie (164) agencée sur la partiearrière de la carcasse du barillet (12) entre unepaire de saillies espacées (162) agencées surle logement de contrôle du tir (20); etengagement de surfaces de support définies parla paire de saillies (162) sur le logement de con-trôle du tir (20) dans des surfaces de supportcomplémentaires sur la carcasse du barillet(12), en vue d’absorber les forces de recul en-traînées par la décharge du révolver (10).

11. Procédé selon la revendication 10, dans lequel l’éta-pe de fixation englobe l’insertion axiale d’une gou-pille de retenue (19) à travers un trou (96) dans lacarcasse du barillet (12) et l’engagement de la gou-pille de retenue dans le logement de contrôle du tir(20).

12. Procédé selon la revendication 11, dans lequel l’éta-pe d’engagement englobe l’engagement d’une par-tie filetée de la goupille de retenue (19) dans un insertmétallique fileté à alignement axial (105) agencédans le logement de contrôle du tir.

13. Procédé selon la revendication 12, comprenant enoutre l’étape d’agencement d’un bras de support debarillet (180), le barillet (16) y étant monté de manièrerotative, dans la carcasse du barillet (12), l’étape defixation englobant l’insertion de la goupille de rete-nue (19) à travers le trou (96) dans la carcasse du

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barillet (12) et une ouverture (56) du support du ba-rillet (180), pour fixer la carcasse du barillet et le sup-port du barillet sur le logement de contrôle du tir (20).

14. Procédé selon la revendication 10, dans lequel lelogement de contrôle du tir (20) est composé d’unpolymère.

15. Procédé selon la revendication 11, dans lequel l’éta-pe de fixation englobe l’insertion latérale d’une gou-pille (94) à travers des trous à alignement concen-trique (90, 92), formés dans une partie supérieurede la carcasse du barillet (12) et le logement de con-trôle du tir (20).

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REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader’s convenience only. It does not form part of the Europeanpatent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot beexcluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description

• US 6574898 B [0003]• US 6928763 B [0003]• US 5293708 A, STRAYER [0005]

• US 5622 A [0005]• US 160 A [0005]• US 3810326 A [0005]