This invention relates to ammunition feeding systems for shotguns having multiple magazines.
Shotguns for self-defense purposes may feature dual magazine tubes which provide expanded ammunition capacity. A desirable feature in such shotguns allows the operator to manually select the tube from which the ammunition feeds. For pump action operation, the action must reciprocate from battery to open breech and back into battery to the full extent of fore-end travel for proper operation of the feed system, which moves a shell from one of the magazines into the chamber. A manually operated selector is used to select the magazine tube from which the shell is removed and chambered.
If the magazine selector is manipulated during fore-end travel into battery before the return of the fore-end to the full extent of travel it may cause shells to be released from both magazine tubes simultaneously. The result will be a malfunction (known as “locking up”) of the action. A mechanism which prevents the manipulation of the magazine selector in any position but at the full extent of fore-end travel is expected to avoid this malfunction.
The invention concerns a feeding system for feeding ammunition to a firearm such as a shotgun. In an example embodiment the feeding system comprises a right magazine tube mountable on the firearm. The right magazine tube defines a right bore for receiving the ammunition. A right outer cut-off is mountable on the firearm. The right outer cut-off has a right blocking surface movable between a first position blocking the right bore and a second position not blocking the right bore. A right biasing spring acts on the right outer cut-off and biases the right blocking surface into the first position. A right cam follower is mounted on the right outer cut-off. A right cam is mountable on the firearm. The right cam is engageable with the right cam follower for moving the right blocking surface between the first and the second positions. A left magazine tube is mountable on the firearm. The left magazine tube defines a left bore for receiving the ammunition. A left outer cut-off is mountable on the firearm. The left outer cut-off has a left blocking surface movable between a first position blocking the left bore and a second position not blocking the left bore. A left biasing spring acts on the left outer cut-off and biases the left blocking surface into the first position. A left cam follower is mounted on the left outer cut-off. A left cam is mountable on the firearm. The left cam is engageable with the left cam follower for moving the left blocking surface between the first and the second positions.
A selector is mountable on the firearm. The selector has an activation surface in facing relation with the right and left cams. The selector is movable lengthwise along the first and second magazine tubes for engaging the activation surface with one of the left or right cams. The selector is movable transversely to the first and second magazine tubes for positioning the activation surface for engagement with one of the left or right cams.
An example feeding system according to the invention may further comprise an interrupter surface mountable on the firearm. An example interrupter surface extends lengthwise along the first and second magazine tubes. The interrupter surface has an end positioned distal to the right and left outer cut-offs. A boss extends from the selector. The boss is engageable with the interrupter surface when the selector is positioned between the end and the right and left outer cut-offs thereby preventing movement of the selector transversely to the right and left magazine tubes.
An example feeding system may further comprise an inner cut-off mountable on the firearm. An example inner cut-off has first and second blocking surfaces movable between a first position respectively blocking the right and the left bores, and a second position not blocking the right and left bores. An inner cam follower is mounted on the inner cut-off. An inner cut-off cam is mountable on the firearm in an example. The inner cut-off cam is engageable with the inner cam follower for moving the first and second blocking surfaces between the first and second positions. An inner cut-off cam actuator is movably mountable on the firearm by way of example. The inner cut-off cam actuator is movable into engagement with the inner cut-off cam for moving the first and second blocking surfaces between the first and second positions. An inner biasing spring acts on the inner cut-off and biasing the first and second blocking surfaces into the second position.
In an example feeding system the inner cut-off comprises a housing mountable on the magazine tubes. A lever is mounted on the housing and pivotable about an axis oriented transversely to the magazine tubes. Further by way of example, a feeding system may comprise a fore-end chassis mountable on the firearm and movable lengthwise along the right and left magazine tubes. The selector and the inner cut-off cam actuator are mounted on the fore-end chassis in this example.
In a particular example embodiment the right outer cut-off comprises a right lever pivotably mountable on the right magazine tube. The right blocking surface is mounted on one end of the right lever. The right cam follower is mounted on an opposite end of the right lever. Further by way of example, the left outer cut-off comprises a left lever pivotably mountable on the left magazine tube. The left blocking surface is mounted on one end of the left lever. The left cam follower is mounted on an opposite end of the left lever. By way of example, the right cam may comprise an elongate body slideably mountable on the right magazine tube and the left cam may comprise an elongate body slideably mountable on the left magazine tube.
In an example embodiment of a feeding system the selector may comprise a body mounted on the fore-end chassis and movable relatively thereto transversely to the right and left magazine tubes. The activation surface and the boss are mounted on the body. A right button projects from one side of the body transversely to the right and left magazine tubes. A left button projects from an opposite side of the body transversely to the right and left magazine tubes. The right and left buttons are adapted for manually moving the body transversely to the right and left magazine tubes.
In a particular example embodiment the interrupter surface comprises a wall mountable between the left and right magazine tubes. Further by way of example the right outer cut-off may comprise a right manual actuator surface extending therefrom and the left outer cut-off may comprise a left manual actuator surface extending therefrom. The right and left manual actuator surfaces permit manual moving of the right and left blocking surfaces between the first and second positions.
The invention also encompasses a shotgun. In an example embodiment the shotgun comprises a receiver. A barrel having a breech and a chamber is mounted on the receiver. A feeding system for feeding ammunition to the chamber is also provided. An example feeding system comprises a right magazine tube mounted on the receiver. The right magazine tube defines a right bore for receiving the ammunition. A right outer cut-off is mounted on the receiver. The right outer cut-off has a right blocking surface movable between a first position blocking the right bore and a second position not blocking the right bore. A right biasing spring acts on the right outer cut-off for biasing the right blocking surface into the first position. A right cam follower is mounted on the right outer cut-off. A right cam is mounted on the receiver. The right cam is engageable with the right cam follower for moving the right outer cut-off between the first and the second positions. A left magazine tube is mounted on the receiver. The left magazine tube defines a left bore for receiving the ammunition. A left outer cut-off is mounted on the receiver. The left outer cut-off has a left blocking surface movable between a first position blocking the left bore and a second position not blocking the left bore. A left biasing spring acts on the left outer cut-off for biasing the left blocking surface into the first position. A left cam follower is mounted on the left outer cut-off. A left cam is mounted on the receiver. The left cam is engageable with the left cam follower for moving the left blocking surface between the first and the second positions. A selector is mounted on the receiver. The selector has an activation surface in facing relation with the right and left cams. The selector is movable lengthwise along the first and second magazine tubes for engaging the activation surface with one of the left or right cams. The selector is movable transversely to the first and second magazine tubes for positioning the activation surface for engagement with one of the left or right cams.
By way of example a shotgun according to the invention may further comprise an interrupter surface mounted on the receiver. An example interrupter surface may extend lengthwise along the first and second magazine tubes. The interrupter surface has an end positioned distal to the right and left outer cut-offs. A boss extends from the selector. The boss is engageable with the interrupter surface when the selector is positioned between the end and the right and left outer cut-offs thereby preventing movement of the selector transversely to the right and left magazine tubes.
An example shotgun may further comprise an inner cut-off mounted on the receiver. An example inner cut-off may have first and second blocking surfaces movable between a first position respectively blocking the right and the left bores, and a second position not blocking the right and left bores. An inner cam follower is mounted on the inner cut-off. An inner cut-off cam is mountable on the shotgun. The inner cut-off cam is engageable with the inner cam follower for moving the first and second blocking surfaces between the first and second positions. An inner cut-off cam actuator may be movably mounted on the receiver. The inner cut-off cam actuator is movable into engagement with the inner cut-off cam for moving the first and second blocking surfaces between the first and second positions. An inner biasing spring acts on the inner cut-off and biases the first and second blocking surfaces into the second position.
An example the inner cut-off may comprise a housing mounted on the magazine tubes. A lever is mounted on the housing and is pivotable about an axis oriented transversely to the magazine tubes in this example.
A shotgun according to the invention may further comprise a fore-end chassis mounted on the receiver. The fore-end chassis is movable lengthwise along the right and left magazine tubes. The selector and the inner cut-off cam actuator are mounted on the fore-end chassis.
In an example embodiment the right outer cut-off may comprise a right lever pivotably mounted on the right magazine tube. The right blocking surface is mounted on one end of the right lever, and the right cam follower is mounted on an opposite end of the right lever in this embodiment.
In an example embodiment, the left outer cut-off comprises a left lever pivotably mounted on the left magazine tube. The left blocking surface is mounted on one end of the left lever, and the left cam follower is mounted on an opposite end of the left lever.
In a specific example embodiment the right cam comprises an elongate body slidably mounted on the right magazine tube. Also by way of example, the left cam comprises an elongate body slidably mounted on the left magazine tube. In an example embodiment the selector may comprise a body mounted on the fore-end chassis. The body is movable relatively to the fore-end chassis transversely to the right and left magazine tubes. The activation surface and the boss may be mounted on the body. A right button projects from one side of the body transversely to the right and left magazine tubes. A left button projects from an opposite side of the body transversely to the right and left magazine tubes. The right and left buttons are adapted for manually moving the body transversely to the right and left magazine tubes.
In an example embodiment the interrupter surface may comprise a wall mounted on the receiver between the left and right magazine tubes. Further by way of example the right outer cut-off may comprise a right manual actuator surface extending therefrom, and the left outer cut-off may comprise a left manual actuator surface extending therefrom. The right and left manual actuator surfaces permit manual moving of the right and left blocking surfaces between the first and second positions in this example.
The invention further encompasses a selector mountable on a shotgun having a plurality of ammunition magazines wherein respective cams for releasing the ammunition from the magazines are associated with each magazine. In an example embodiment the selector comprises a selector body defining an activation surface positionable in facing relation with the cams one at a time. The selector body is mountable on the shotgun and movable relatively to the cams for engaging the activation surface with a selected one of the cams. In a particular example the selector body is movable transversely to the magazines for positioning the activation surface in facing relation with the selected one of the cams. The selector body may also be movable lengthwise along the magazines for engagement of the activation surface with the selected one of the cams.
A selector according to the invention may further comprise an interrupter surface mountable on the shotgun. The interrupter surface may extend lengthwise along the magazines and have an end positionable distal to the cams. A boss extends from the selector. The boss is engageable with the interrupter surface when the selector is positioned between the end and the cams thereby preventing movement of the selector transversely to the magazines.
The invention also includes shotgun, which, by way of example comprises a plurality of ammunition magazines and respective cams for releasing ammunition from the magazines associated with each cam. The example shotgun may also comprise a selector. In a specific example the selector comprises a selector body mounted on the shotgun. The selector body defines an activation surface positionable in facing relation with the cams one at a time. The selector body is movable relatively to the cams for engaging the activation surface with a selected one of the cams.
By way of example the selector body is movable transversely to the magazines for positioning the activation surface in facing relation with a selected one of the cams. Further by way of example, the selector body may be movable lengthwise along the magazines for engagement of the activation surface with a selected one of the cams. An example shotgun may further comprise an interrupter surface mounted on the shotgun. The interrupter surface may extend lengthwise along the magazines in an example embodiment and have an end positionable distal to the cams. A boss extends from the selector. The boss is engageable with the interrupter surface when the selector is positioned between the end and the cams to thereby prevent movement of the selector transversely to the magazines. A further example comprises a fore-end chassis movably mounted thereon. The selector body is mounted on the fore-end chassis in this example. The example shotgun may also include an action. The fore-end chassis is connected to the action, such that motion of the fore-end chassis cycles the action into and out of battery during operation of the shotgun.
An example shotgun according to the invention may comprise a plurality of ammunition magazines and respective cut-offs for releasing ammunition from the magazines associated with each cut-off. Each of the cut-offs has a blocking surface movable between a first position blocking one of the magazines and a second position not blocking the one of the magazines. At least one of the cut-offs has a manual actuator surface extending therefrom. The manual actuator surface permits manual moving of the blocking surface of the at least one cut-off between the first and second positions. In an example shotgun according to the invention the at least one cut-off may comprise a lever pivotably mounted on one of the magazines. The blocking surface of the at least one cut-off is mounted proximate to one end of the lever. The manual actuator surface is mounted proximate to an opposite end of the lever in this example.
As shotgun 10 is a self-defense shotgun, its feeding system 24 coordinates the feeding of ammunition 30 to the chamber 18 from either the right magazine tube 26 or a left magazine tube 58 shown in
As shown in
Coordination of ammunition feed from the right and left magazine tubes 26 and 58 to the chamber 18 is effected through a selector 92 mounted on the receiver 12 and shown in
Shotguns for self-defense purposes having multiple magazines may suffer from a malfunction known as “lock up”, where a second shell is released from a magazine before a first shell has been chambered. This may occur, for example, when a first shell is released from one of the magazines and the selector is then switched and the user releases a second shell out of the other magazine by again drawing the fore-end chassis back out of battery before completion of a full return stroke chambering the previously released first shell. The first shell will not have completed its feeding cycle, and with the release of the second shell there will thus be two shells attempting to feed into the chamber as the fore-end chassis is subsequently moved to place the action in battery. The result will be the “locking up” of the action which remains out of battery without a shell chambered until the two shells are cleared from the firearm.
To avoid the lock up malfunction it is advantageous to use an interrupter mechanism 106, shown in
As shown in
Operation of the example ammunition feed system 24 according to the invention is described beginning with
In
As shown in
As shown by the position of the inner cam actuator 138 in
The design of the right and left outer cut-offs 32 and 62 and the inner cut-off 116 permits the left and right magazines 26 and 58 to be emptied without the need to cycle the action of shotgun 10. This is especially convenient when many shells are present in the magazines and is also safer because no rounds being removed need to be first chambered during the process. With the shotgun 10 in battery as shown in
Shotguns 10 according to the invention are expected to operate more reliably and with greater safety than those of the prior art.
This application is based upon and claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/878,826, filed Jul. 26, 2019, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/899,425, filed Sep. 12, 2019, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
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