US3330061A

US3330061A - Rifle bolt action

Info

Publication number: US3330061A
Application number: US482833A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Homer E Koon
Original assignee: Brandt Arms Inc
Current assignee: Brandt Arms Inc
Priority date: 1965-08-26
Filing date: 1965-08-26
Publication date: 1967-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 1984-07-11

Description

July 11, i967 H. E. KooN, JR

RIFLE BOLT ACTION 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 26, 1965 mwv Bgm 7 l -11-1- m f- M f Il 'I IVI .ll" k w w\ E um uw Q 5.1% .@m e @E Om- Nmu Q\Q||| Q mm WMU mm 1 -..Musi nt N2 Nm N3 www www, I: z A 0 c@ A@ m Q if 2 mm .-IHHPHVIH .HVVIVVI lm/Hl lll/UM/hu' QM M vn 1| lljrlslffr MM 2 mv uw EN 3 Kl mm m` mm ww *Nm :w m: Q QM r n mg om INVEIn-OR Homer E. Koon,Jr. BY @paw /UU ATTORNEY .Buy il, 1967 H. E. KooN, .JR

RIFLE BOLT ACTION 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 26y 1965 INVENTQR n, J r. /WA

Homer E. Koo I ATTORNEY n United States Patent O 3,330,061 RIFLE BOLT ACTION Homer E. Kaon, Jr., Gainesville, Tex., assigner to Brandt Arms, Inc., Gainesville, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Aug. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 482,833 16 Claims. (Cl. I2-16) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an improved breech-type rifle bolt action having a firing pin contained within the bolt proper, and characterized by an improved locking lug arrangement disposed adjacent the front end of the bolt and an improved cocking mechanism. The locking lug arrangement comprises a plurality of receiver and bolt locking lugs circumferentially aligned about the receiver and bolt, respectively, that greatly increase the locking shear area for strength. The cocking mechanism comprises a symmetrical arrangement of cams and camming surfaces for ease of cocking and short upright movement of the bolt.

Many improvements in the construction of breech-type, rifle bolt actions have been made in the past several years, whereby these improvements have related, more or less, to a single or limited number of specific components in the action without a great deal of effort placed on the overall function of the action. For example, various innovations have been offered for the improvement of the means for locking the bolt within the receiver in the ring position to increase the firing strength to provide a greater safety factor. Similarly, other improvements have been made in cocking mechanisms, trigger mechanisms and other components. Often when an improvement is made to one or more specific features of an action, however, corresponding improvements are not made to other specific features to coordinate the overall function thereof, which sometimes results in a less eliicient operation of the specific features which are not improved. As a prime example of this, many improvements made in the locking arrangement of a bolt within a receiver have not been accompanied by corresponding improvements or changes in the cocking mechanism. Since the unlocking of a bolt is closely interrelated with the cocking of the firing pin, whereby rotation of the bolt handle accomplishes both, it is important that an improvement, if made in one of these functions, not detrimentally affect or cause less efficiency in action of the other function.

Because a great deal of emphasis has not been placed on the domestic mass production of rie bolt actions (as contrasted to the domestic mass production of entire rifles) but has been placed on the distribution of a limited number of custom made actions, there has been little concern regarding the manufacturing cost of the actions to be sold separately. Consequently, many improvements in rifle bolt actions have been a complex nature in the sense of manufacturing costs. In fact, some of the innovations in this area are not only costly to manufacture but make it costly to assemble the action, all of which is incompatible with the mass production of actions for competitive distribution.

It is one object of the invention to provide an improved rie bolt action in which all of the improvements therein are coordinated in the sense of the functions of the various improved components cooperating with each other to result in an overall ease and efficiency of operation, while at the same time, taking into account the cost of manufacturing and assembling on a mass basis so as to provide an action that is economically competitive. A specific object is the provision of an improved locking arrangement of the bolt in the receiver, with another specic object being the provision of an improved cocking mechanism for the firing pin, and with a further object being the provision of the two just-mentioned improvements which cooperate with each other in their functions to provide an overall improved action. Yet another object is to provide an improved action having a minimum of components to achieve a low cost of manufacture and an ease of assembly.

According to these objects, the invention provides an improved locking arrangementof the bolt in the receiver and an improved cocking mechanism for cocking the ring pin, wherein the firing pin is cocking concurrently with the unlocking of the bolt. The locking arrangement is such as to provide an increased strength for firing by virtue of the configuration of and relationship between a plurality of receiver locking lugs and a plurality of bolt locking lugs, each plurality of which are disposed adjacent the front end of the bolt. By virtue of the number of lugs and the corresponding arcuate lengths thereof, the degree of rotation required to unlock the bolt is optimized. Cooperating with this is an improved cocking mechanism comprising a plurality of cams operating on a plurality of cam surfaces which functions to require a minimum of cocking force that precludes any substantial Wear on the firing pin. A novel camming cylinder is provided for this purpose which also functions as a rear extension for the bolt to give support to the firing pin and yet characterizes the action by a simple assembly operation.

Many other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the appended claims and the attached drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several gures, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a preferred embodiment of the rifle bolt action;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view, partly in section, taken generally along lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 3-A and 3-B are elevational views in section of the locking lug arrangement between the bolt proper and the receiver when in the unlocked and locked positions, respectively, wherein FIGURE 3B is taken along section lines 3-B, 3-B of FIGURE l shown in the locked position, and 3-A is a corresponding view in the unlocked position;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the novel bolt extension and camming cylinder for being attached to the rear of the bolt proper for cooperating with a cocking piece for withdrawing the firing pin;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a cocking piece to which the rear of the tiring pin is attached for cooperating with the camming cylinder shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of the cocking piece, camming cylinder, bolt and firing pin when the ring pin is in the fired position;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view of the bolt proper showing a groove for guiding the bolt when it is withdrawn and for limiting the rearward movement of the bolt; and

tion. Defined at 4the front end of the bolt about the periphery thereof are a pluraiity of locking lugs, such as shown at numeral 22; and defined about the inner wall of the receiver are corresponding locking lugs, such as shown at at numeral 24, for cooperating in locking and unlocking relationship with the bolt locking lugs when the bolt is rotated to the locked and unlocked positions, respectively. The outside diameter of the bolt locking lugs are made equal to the outside diameter of the bolt proper to prevent wobbling of the bolt when it is wi-thdrawn or slid forward as in the case of bolt locking lugs protruding beyond the diameter of the bolt proper used in conjunction with corresponding channels in the receiver. Here, the bolt acts as a piston wi-thin the receiver. To effect this, the bolt defines a short length 21 of restricted diameter adjacent the front end thereof just behind the bolt locking lugs, and the receiver locking lugs coincide and fit into this restricted diameter length. The bolt termintes at the front end in a cylindrical recessed wall 26 for containing the rim of a cartridge, wherein there is defined in this wall an ejector for ejecting the spent cartridge out opening 16 in the receiver when the bolt is retracted, and a latch for holding the shell, all as will be shown later.

A bolt extension and camming cylinder 30 is securely attached to the rear end of the bolt 20 in threaded engagement therewith and locked in position by a set screw 31 as shown, which extension includes a bolt handle 32 formed as an integral part thereof, all as will be described in more detail in conjunction with FIGURE 4. The purpose of the bolt extension and camming cylinder, which forms a single unitary piece, is to provide a working channel through which the firing pin is movable and supported, and also comprises part of the means for cocking the firing pin. As the bolt handle 32 is rotated upward, it causes the bolt to be rotated therewith to an unlocked position, which also cocks the firing pin. Conversely, rotation of the bolt handle downward causes the bolt to be rotated to the locked position.

Although reference will again be had to FIGURE 1 for a further description, reference is now had to FIGURES 3-A and 3-B to describe in detail the locking lug arr-angement defined at the front of the bolt and about the interior wall of the receiver. FIGURE 3-B is taken along section lines 3-B, 3-B of FIGURE `1, which shows the bolt in the locked position, and FIGURE 3-A is the corresponding view when the bolt is rotated to the unlocked position. Referring now to FIGURE 3A, the bolt 20 is shown with

locking lugs

22, 22' and 22 disposed about the periphery forming an integral part thereof.

Locking lugs

22 and 22 are identical and are disposed 120 apart from their center lines, and each being 60 from the vertical when in the unlocked position. Locking lug 22" is centered along the vertical when in the unlocked position but is wider and defines a larger area and Width than does either locking lugs 22 or 22'. There are two identical receiver locking lugs 24' and 24" positioned between the

bolt locking lugs

22 and 22, respectively, and the bolt locking lug 22 when in the unlocked position. A third receiver locking lug 24 is disposed between the

bolt locking lugs

22 and 22 when in the unlocked position and is wider and defines a greater area than the other two receiver locking lugs. It can be seen that the space between the two

receiver locking lugs

24 and 24 is the largest of the spaces between any of the receiver locking lugs and is made so for the purpose of allowing the passage therethrough of 4a maximum diameter cartridge, such as a magnum load, for example. Moreover, the width of this space is slightly greater than the diameter of the recessed wall 26 as shown by the dashed outline 27, so that the largest cartridge that the bolt can handle can also be passed between the receiver locking lugs. Thus a cartridge, when being loaded into the ring chamber by moving the bolt forward, does not have to be supported along the center line of the receiver channel prior to entering the tiring chamber in order to pass between the receiver locking lugs. That is to say, the action does not have to be operable to cause the cartridge to become fully engaged and supported by the latch yat the front of the bolt prior to the cartridge passing between the receiver locking lugs. The advantage in this is that a short action is possible to allow the cartridge magazine to be located just behind the firing chamber so that the cartridges are loaded into the firing chamber at an angle.

The action utilizes three circumferentially aligned locking lugs on each of the bolt and receiver to provide an optimum angle through which the bolt handle and bolt must be rotated from the locked to the unlocked positions for several purposes. First, it is desirable to maintain this angle of rotation at a minimu-m in order to make a faster action; one in which the user does less work over a shorter period of time. Secondly, however, the firing -pin is cocked as the bolt is unlocked in this particular action by means of cams and cam surfaces. The smaller the angle of rotation, the harder it is to cock the firing pin, since the cam must work on cam surfaces having a steeper incline. Thus from the standpoint of cocking the firing pin as the bolt is unlocked, it is desirable to provide an action that requires a maximum angle of rotation for unlocking the bolt. Thirdly, this particular action uses a plurality of cams and cam surfaces symmetrically disposed about the axis of the bolt proper for the purposes of eliminating any net lateral forces acting on the firing pin during the cocking thereof to prevent wear, while also making it much easier to cock the firing pin as compared to a single cam and cam surface disposed at one side of the firing pin. The preferred embodiment of the action uses three cams and cam surfaces for this purpose, which will be described in detail below. Therefore, to achieve optimum results in all of these considerations, the angle of rotation required to unlock the bolt is made such that there is a sufficient rotation to insure easy cocking of the firing pin for the number of cams and cam surfaces used, yet a suiciently small degree of rotation to insure that the various cam surfaces do not have to overlap each other and to provide an easy, short stroke for the user. Because of the three cams and cam surfaces used in the preferred embodiment of the action, three locking lugs are used on each of the receiver and bolt to optimize these considerations, as will become more apparent hereinafter. In other words, it has been found that by using three locking lugs on each the receiver and bolt, an angle of rotation of 60 can be achieved which allows the use of three cams and cam surfaces that do not overlap which provides a optimum cocking force. Use of more or less locking lugs has been found to change the required angle of rotation accordingly. Although the use of more locking lugs disposed about the axis of the bolt proper provides for a smaller angle of rotation and allows the use of additional cams and cam surfaces, which on first impression appears to indicate a smaller required cocking force, the angle of incline of the cam surfaces must be increased accordingly beyond that of the optimum, resulting in a greater force being required to unlock the bolt and cock the firing pin.

Another important consideration in the configurations of the locking lugs is the locking strength provided when the corresponding bolt and receiver locking lugs are engaged. Except for the consideration of providing the wider space between the receiver locking lugs 24 and 24" to allow the passage therebetween of a maximum diameter cartridge, it would appear that the optimum configuration of the locking lugs to provide a maximum locking strength would be achieved by making the sides thereof correspond With radial lines from the axis of the bolt. In such a case, the total arcuate length of the three receiver locking lugs adjacent the inner wall of the receiver corresponds to and the total arcuate length of the three corresponding bolt locking lugs adjacent the restricted diameter length 21 of the bolt corresponds to 180, which results in an exact matching and coincidence of the respective receiver and bolt locking lugs when in the locked position and an exact matching and coincidence of the bolt locking lugs with the respective spaces between the receiver locking lugs when vin the unlocked position. However, it has been found that failure of locking lugs in the case of being broken is the result of shear forces parallel to the bolt axis rather than torque being exerted 4in a plane including the bolt axis, and therefore, -the maximum locking strength is achieved by the max-imization of the total arcuate lengths of the receiver and bolt locking lugs adjacent the receiver and bolt, respectively. An increased locking strength is achieved in the locking lugs shown in FIG- URES 3-A and 3-B, as will become apparent, as compared to the case of the sides of the locking lugs corresponding to radial lines.

Referring to FIGURE 3-B, the bolt is shown in the locked position locking from the rear of the action, wherein the bolt has been rotated 60 in a clockwise direction from that shown in FIGURE 3A. Here it will be noted that the bolt locking lug 22 is disposed in front of land engages the receiver locking lug 24, bolt locking lug 22 is disposed in front of and engages receiver locking lug 24 and bolt locking lug 22" is disposed in front of and engages receiver locking lug 24". In the particular embodiment of the locking lugs shown in these gures, the two smaller bolt locking lugs each have arcuate lengths adjacent the restricted diameter length 21 of the bolt that correspond to 60, although the sides thereof are parallel with the radial line through the center thereof from the bolt axis rather than being along radial lines themselves. The same is true with the sides of the larger bolt locking lug, and in this case, it has a greater arcuate length along the line of attachment to the bolt which corresponds t-o 90. The lug 22 may be made larger than the other two since the additional space is available between the receiver locking lugs 24 and 24" and is made larger (and wider) to increase the total stress bearing surface of the bolt locking lugs. Thus a total bolt locking lug arcuate length is provided which corresponds to a total angle of 210, or corresponding to 30 more of the total perimeter about the bolt along the line at which the lugs are formed thereon than in the case of locking lugs whose sides are formed along radial lines. However, the total arcuate length would be the same for the bolt locking lugs except for the fact that locking lug 22 is made larger than the others. The reason for making the sides of the bolt locking lugs along lines inside of the radial lines which correspond to the sides at their points of juncture with the bolt will now be apparent, since more space along the vinterior wall of the receiver is allowed to increase the total arcuate length of the receiver locking lugs along their line of juncture with the receiver wall. In the embodiment shown, the larger of the receiver locking lugs 24 has an arcuate length adjacent the receiver wall which corresponds to about 74, whereas the two smaller receiver locking lugs 24 and 24" each have an arcuate length adjacent the receiver Wall which corresponds to about 63 Thus a total receiver locking lug arcuate length is provided which corresponds to a total angle of about 200, or corresponds to about 20 more of the total perimeter of the interior wall of the receiver than in the case where `the sides of the bolt locking lugs are formed along radial lines from bolt axis.

It will be seen from FIGURE 3-B that the receiver and bolt locking lugs overlap each other to some degree. However, the shear forces are transmitted to the line of juncture between a locking lug and the bolt or receiver, whichever is the case, and the arcuate length along this juncture line is the major strength factor. The arcuate lengths can be further increased by increasing the spacial separation between the reduced diameter length 21 of the bolt and the inside receiver wall and leaving the bolt locking lugs the same. Since the inside diameter of the receiver will be increased accordingly in this case, so will the arcuate lengths of the receiver locking lugs. The total arcuate lengths of the bolt and receiver lugs can also be increased by making the opposite sides thereof converge to a greater degree away from the line of juncture or attachment, thus allowing a proportional increase in the arcuate lengths of the corresponding locking lugs on either side thereof. The increased width of bolt locking lug 22" takes advantage of more shear area when in locked engagement with receiver locking lug 24" thus greatly increasing the shear strength.

Referring again to FIGURE l, a firing pin 44 is assembled within a channel 40 defined in the bolt proper and is carried thereby, wherein the channel 40 defines a beveled shoulder 42 toward the front end of the bolt and a reduced diameter channel in fr-ont thereof which terminates in a hole 52 opening into the front end of the bolt. The major length of the firing pin is of constant diameter with a shoulder 46 of enlarged diameter equal approximately to the diameter of channel 40. The firing pin also defines a length 48 of reduced diameter coinciding with hole 52 in the front of the bolt for striking the cartridge. A compression spring 54 is assembled about the firing pin and is held between shoulder 46 and the front end of the bolt extension and camming cylinder 30, whereby the spring is compressed therebetween when the firing pin is refr-acted. The tiring pin passes directly through the bolt extension and camming cylinder within a channel 56 defined therein and term-inates in a threaded end 58 which end is threadedly engaged as shown at numeral 60 into a cocking piece 62 and secured thereto by a set screw 61. The rear end of the camming cylinder is loosely threaded, shown at nurneral 66, within a cocking piece sleeve 64, the latter of which encloses the cocking piece, a rear end of the firing pin and the rear end of the camming cylinder, with the front end thereof being adjacent the bolt handle 32. This cocking piece will be shown -in more detail in conjunction with FIGURE 5, but the operation will now be briefly described. Channel 56, through which the firing pin passes, is in close tolerance with the firing pin to provide a working channel therefor for -movement back and forth therethrough, although the firing pin is freely movable therein. Actually, the channel which is relatively elongated, provides a substantial support for the firing pin to prevent any tendency to exert a net lateral force on the firing pin to cause it to wear when it is cocked and retracted backwards. As noted earlier, the bolt extension and camming cylinder are tightly secured to the bolt in threaded relationship therewith, and secured by a lock screw 31, so that when the bolt handle is rotated upward to cock the firing pin, `the bolt is rotated therewith. However, the camming cylinder, or rear portion of the bolt extension is in loose threaded engagement with the cocking piece sleeve, so that when the bolt handle is rotated upward, the cocking piecesleeve does not rotate but allows the camming cylinder to rotate relative thereto on threads 66. The cocking piece sleeve is prevented from rotation by providing a flat surface 67 (shown in FIGURE 2) at the rear of the receiver on which a flatlower surface 68 of the cocking piece sleeve rides.

When the bolt handle is rotated to unlock the bolt, a plurality of cams (shown in FIGURE 5) defined on the front of the cocking piece are caused to ride withinv cor-- responding camming surfaces provided in the rear of the camming cylinder forming a part of the bolt extension. The cocking piece itself is prevented from rotation by means of the rearward extension 72 thereof which rides within a corresponding channel 65 defined within thc cocking piece sleeve. Thus as the bolt handle and bolt are rotated, the cocking piece is urged backwards and carries with it the firing pin.

The entire bolt mechanism including the receiver and the barrel are mounted in a stock by means of

bolts

82, 83 and 84, as shown. As in some conventional actions, this `action includes a magazine 86 having a follower 88 and a follower spring 90 for urging the cartridges upward into the receiver when the bolt is retracted, with a pivoted plate 92 at the bottom of the magazine for removing unspent cartridges. The action also includes a trigger mechanism indicated generally at 100 which additionally includes a trigger and trigger guard, means for releasing the magazine plate 92, means for providing a safety to prevent firing and means for releasing the bolt so that it can be withdrawn entirely out of the receiver, all as will be described later.

Referring now to the perspective view of the bolt extension and camming cylinder shown in FIGURE 4 and designated generally at 30, the extension comprises a cylindrical, forward extension member 110 which is threaded for being screwed into the rear interior of the bolt, a middle section which defines as an integral part therewith the bolt handle 32, and a rear camming cylinder 112 which is threaded for being engaged with the cocking piece sleeve. The front extension 110 is of a first diameter to fit within the interior of the bolt, and the camming cylinder 112 is of a larger diameter for being threaded into the cocking piece sleeve. Defined in the rear of the camming cylinder are a plurality of cam surfaces 116 which are disposed symmetrically about the center axis of the extension and camming cylinder. In the specific example shown, there are three camming surfaces 116, each of which defines a shoulder 117 parallel with the axis of the cylinder and a tiat surface 118 perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder. The working channel 56 is defined through the extension and cylinder and terminates in a shoulder 119.

The cocking piece, designated generally at 62, is shown in the perspective view of FIGURE 5, and comprises a cylindrical member 120 about the periphery of which there are defined a plurality of cams 122, which cams are disposed symmetrically thereabout. In the case shown, there are three cams which correspond to the three cam surfaces 116 on the camming cylinder. Each of the cams defines a curved or beveled surface 124 at the front thereof for riding on the cam surfaces 116. The cocking piece defines the rearward extension 72 which rides within the corresponding channel 65 in the cocking piece sleeve to prevent it from turning, and a slightly (about 5 from vertical) beveled surface 130 at the lower front thereof which engages a sear contained within the trigger mechanism for maintaining the firing pin in the cocked position, all as will be described later. Also defined within the cylindrical member 120 along the axis thereof is the threaded channel 60 within which the rear portion of the firing pin is threadedly attached thereto and secured by a lock screw 61 (shown in FIGURE 6). A shoulder 126 defining the front end of the cylindrical member 120 tits within the camming cylinder between the camming surfaces.

The cam surfaces and cams are symmetrically disposed about the center line of the bolt, and thus the center line of the firing pin, so that the net resultant force exerted on the firing pin is directly backwards along the axis thereof. This prevents any net lateral or bending forces from being exerted on the firing pin to cause it to wear. Furthermore, the working channel within the bolt extension and camming cylinder further prevents any lateral movement of the firing pin. That is to say, the firing pin is centered within the bolt channel 40 and supported on the front end by shoulder 46 and at the rear end through the working channel 56 within the bolt extension.

It will be noted that the same number of cam surfaces and cams are used as there are locking lugs on each of the bolt and receiver. Although it would be possible to use two cam surfaces and cams, it would not give a maximum working surface between the cocking piece and the camming cylinder and would not insure to as great an extent the elimination of any lateral forces on the firing pin. That is to say, if two cam surfaces and cams are used, extremely close tolerances must be observed to insure that the two cams engage to an equal extent the two corresponding cam surfaces. By using three of each, the necessity for close tolerances is not as great, since there is more margin for error. That is to say, the forces between the cams and cam surfaces are more equally distributed. Moreover, the actual bolting of the rie to unlock it and cock the firing pin is made easier by using more than two cams and cam surfaces, since each corresponding cam and cam surface is required to do a proportionately less amount of work as a function of the number of the cam and cam surface pairs. Only three cam surfaces and cams are used in this embodiment because of the degree of rotation required to unlock the bolt, which is determined by the configuration and number of locking lugs. If more than three cam surfaces were used, they would be required to overlap each other in order to be able to rotate the bolt by a suiiicient angle to unlock it. This would therefore not allow enough room on the camming cylinder toprovide the fiat landing 118 on which the cams 124 come to rest when the bolt is unlocked. Thus the symmetrical construction of the action can now be seen which provides a simplified manufacturing technique with an absolute ease of operation. At the same time, the action is so constructed that there is little or no wear on the moving parts.

The firing pin and cocking piece are shown in the cocked position in FIGURE 1, wherein the bolt has been rotated to cock the firing piece and then rotated back to lock it, with the cams 124 being again disposed directly behind the cam surfaces 116 in alignment therewith. The firing pin and cocking piece are shown in the fired position in FIGURE 6, which is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of the rear portion of the action. In this position, the cams are positioned within the camming cylinder against the cam surfaces in the forward-most position, such as shown with cam 122 against surface 116.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, a sear 140 fulcrumed about a pivot 141 is biased upward by a spring 142 mounted between the scar and a stationary member 144 and engages the beveled surface of the cocking piece 62 through a slot 131 provided in the bottom of the receiver. As shown in FIGURE l, the cocking piece is in the cocked position such that the sear is urged upward against the beveled surface, whereas in the fired position shown in FIGURE 6, the trigger mechanism is released to allow the firing pin compression spring 54 to urge the firing pin forward and thus cause the cocking piece to override the sear. A trigger piece including a generally upright member 146 is adapted to engage the sear and become positioned thereunder when the cocking piece is urged rearward to allow the sear to move upward. The trigger piece is fulcrumed about a pivot 147 and includes a trigger 146 projecting lbelow the trigger mechanism. An adjustment screw 152 is threaded through stationary member 144 and held secure by a locking nut 145 to limit the counter-clockwise rotation of the trigger piece. In the cocked position shown in FIGURE 1, the action is red by pulling the trigger 146' to move the upright member 146 from under the sear 140 and allow the cocking piece to override the Sear. A spring 148 is mounted between the trigger guard 150 and horizontal member or lever integral with the trigger piece to urge the trigger piece in a counterclockwise direction to position the upright member 146 under the sear when the action is cocked. Another adjustment screw 154 is threaded through member 155 and secured therein by a locking nut 157, and engages a safety member 156 mounted within the trigger guard. The adjustment screw 154 serves a dual purpose in that it limits the clockwise rotation of the trigger piece in the instance where the safety 156 is oli, and prevents entirely any clockwise rotation or pulling of the trigger when the safety is on. The safety 156 is shown in the off position but is of a type that is moved laterally back and forth perpendicular to the plane of the drawing between an on and off position. When the safety is on, the adjustment screw rides on a cylindrical surface on the safety to prevent the clockwise rotation of the trigger piece.

A lever 160 is pivotally attached to the front of the trigger guard and actuated by extension 164 to release the magazine plate 92. However, this lever is biased in a clockwise position by spring 162 mounted within the trigger guard urging against the lever, with the upper end of the lever engaging a beveled surface of the magazine plate 92. By urging the extension 164 forward to cause a counter-clockwise rotation of this lever, it is moved out of engagement with the bottom plate 92 to allow the latter to swing open. Spring 162 also bears against the safety mechanism 156 at all times to maintain the latter in either of its positions.

A downward extending member 170 is pivotally attached at 171 to another lever 172 fulcrumed about a pivot 173, with the lower end of member 170 projecting through a hole down into the opening of the trigger guard. The forward end 174 of lever 172 is connected to another upright member 176 which defines an enlarged upper end 178 forming a shoulder therewith, and a spring 180 is disposed about member 176 between the shoulder of end 17 8 and the bottom of a recess formed within stationary member 182, wherein member 178 passes through the stationary member. Thus the spring biases member 178 up through a hole in the bottom f the receiver and into a groove 190 provided in the bolt proper and acts as a stop to limit the rearward movement of the bolt. However, by urging member 170` upward, member 178 is forced downward out of the bolt groove by lever 172 so that the bolt can be completely withdrawn from the receiver. The bolt groove within which member 178 rides is shown more clearly in the elevational view of the bolt proper of FIGURE 7, wherein there is a groove 192 that runs substantially the length of the bolt but terminates at one end at a point spaced from the restricted diameter length 21 and at the other end at a point spaced from the rear of the bolt. The bolt is shown rotated about its axis to show the groove. This channel 192 is parallel with the axis of the bolt and connects with a lateral channel or groove 190 within which the member 178 rides as the bolt is rotated, wherein channel 190 is beveled upward away from channel 192. When the bolt is in the locked position, the member 17S is depressed downward and rests on the surface of the bolt proper as shown in FIGURE 7, so that member 170 is withdrawn upward out of the trigger guard and out of the way of the operators trigger finger. When the bolt is unlocked, member 178 will then be in alignment with the longitudinal groove 192. It will be seen that the bolt can be withdrawn only until member 17S cornes to rest against the forward wall of groove 192 unless member 178 is urged downward. In the latter case, the bolt may be completely withdrawn from the receiver. Also shown is an extractor 200y (shown in FIG- URE 2) formed at the front of the bolt, which extractor will be explained below.

A front elevational view of the bolt is shown in FIG- URE S, wherein there is shown a cartridge extractor 200 comprising spring metal having an arcuate beveled fiange 202 projecting out in front of the recess 26 in the face of the bolt, and being secured within the wall of the bolt by a dovetail extension (not shown) perpendicular to the flange 202. Because bolt locking lug 22 coincides in angular position with the receiver opening 16 when the bolt is in the unlocked rotational position for loading and unloading cartridges, extractor 200 must be positioned just below lug 22. A cooperating ejector 206 is disposed opposite the receiver opening 16 for ejecting the cartridge when the bolt is withdrawn. The ejector is conventional and comprises a spring loaded member which is compressed inward when the cartridge is forced behind the extractor and forces the cartridge out of the extractor when the cartridge is withdrawn in alignment with the receiver opening. In operation, the cartridge rim is forced under the flange of the extractor as a result of the extractor spring action and the slicing action of the cartridge rim as the bolt urges the cartridge into the firing chamber.

The relatively few components comprising the action proper (not including the trigger mechanism for present purposes) make it apparent that the cost of manufacture is lower than for the more sophisticated actions. Moreover, the bolt extension and camming cylinder, in addition to its functional improvements, makes it very simple to assemble the firing pin within the bolt, and is a relatively inexpensive component to manufacture. In fact, the overall simplicity of construction of the action is apparent, in addition to the improved features which provide a much more functional and efiicient operation. Certain modifications and substitutions which do not depart from the spirit of the invention will undoubtedly occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the invention be limited only as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A rifle bolt action comprising:

(a) a receiver having a bolt channel therein adapted for being secured at the front end thereof to a barrel and defining first locking lug means adjacent said front end, y

(b) a bolt rotatably and slidably mounted in said bolt channel defining second locking lug means adjacent the front end thereof for engaging said first locking lug means in locking relation therewith when said bolt is slid forward in said receiver and rotated to its firing position,

(c) a first cylindrical member secured at one end to the rear of said bolt for rotation therewith having a plurality of cam surfaces in the other endV thereof symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis of said bolt and defining a firing pin channel therethrough along said axis of said bolt,

(d) a firing pin assembly including a ring pin mounted within said bolt extending rearwardly through said firing pin channel, and

(e) a second cylindrical member securely attached to said firing pin assembly rearward of said first member and adapted to engage a trigger mechanism, and having a plurality of forwardly facing cams symmetrically disposed about said bolt axis for engaging said plurality of cam surfaces, respectively, for cocking said firing pin when said bolt is rotated from said firing position to an unlocked position.

2. A .rifle bolt action according to claim 1 wherein said second cylindrical member is non-rotatably movable along said bolt axis, and including a bolt handle secured to said first cylindrical means for rotating said first cylindrical means and said bolt for causing said second cylindrical member to be urged rearward to cock said firing pin by means of the coact-ion of said plurality of cams and cam surfaces.

3. A rifie bolt action according to claim 2 including a sleeve member disposed about said second cylindrical member for cooperation therewith to prevent rotation thereof.

4. A rifle bolt act-ion according to claim 2V wherein said first locking lug means comprises a rst plurality 0f spaced apart locking lugs extending inwardly into said bolt channel from the inner wall of said receiver adjacent; the front end thereof, said bolt defines a length of restricted diameter adjacent the front end thereof, and said second locking lug means comprises a second plurality of spaced apart locking lugs extending outwardly from said length of restricted diameter of said bolt to a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the major portion of said bolt, said second plurality of locking lugs adapted for being positioned in front of said first plurality of locking lugs, respectively, in substantial corresponding relation therewith when said bolt is in the locked, firing position, and adapted for passing through the respective spaces between said first plurality of locking lugs when said bolt is rotated to the unlocked position.

5. A rifle bolt action comprising:

(a) a receiver having a bolt channel therein adapted for being secured at the front end thereof to a barrel,

(b) a bolt rotatably and slidably mounted in said bolt channel defining a length adjacent the front end thereof having a smaller diameter than that of the bolt proper,

(c) a first plurality of spaced apart locking lugs extending inwardly into said bolt channel from the inner wall of said receiver adjacent the front end thereof to an inner diameter substantially corresponding to said smaller diameter and each having sides thereof converging inwardly toward each other at angles more acute than that of radial lines extending from the center of said bolt channel,

(d) `a second plurality of spaced apart locking lugs extending outwardly from said smaller diameter length of said bolt to an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said bolt proper being adapted for being positioned in front of said iirst plurality of locking lugs, respectively, when said bolt is in the locked, firing position, and corresponding to the respective spaces between said iirst plurality of locking lugs for passing therethrough when said bolt is rotated to the unlocked position,

(e) a first cylindrical member secured at one end to the rear of said bolt for rotation therewith having a plurality of cam surfaces in the other end thereof `symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis of said bolt and defining a firing pin channel therethrough along said axis of said bolt,

(f) -a firing pin assembly including a firing pin mounted within said bolt extending rearwardly through said firing pin channel, and

(g) a second cylindrical member securely attached to said firing pin assembly rearward of said rst member and adapted to engage a trigger mechanism, and having a plurality of forwardly facing cams symmetrically disposed about said bolt axis for engaging said plurality of cam surfaces, respectively, for cooking said ring pin when said bolt is rotated from said tiring position to an unlocked position.

6. A rifle bolt action comprising:

(b) a bolt rotatably and slidably mounted in said bolt channel defining a length adjacent the front end thereof having a smaller diameter than that of the boltY proper,

(c) a first plurality of spaced apart locking lugs extending inwardly into said bolt channel from the inner wall of said receiver adjacent the front end thereof to an inner diameter substantially corresponding to said smaller diameter and having a total arcuate length adjacent said inner wall of said receiver greater than fifty percent of the circumference of said inner wall, 'i

(d) a second plurality of spaced apart locking lugs extending outwardly from said smaller diameter length of said bolt to an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said bolt proper and having a total arcuate length adjacent said smaller diameter length greater than fifty percent of the circumference of said small diameter length,

(e) said second plurality of locking lugs adapted for being positioned in front of said first plurality of locking lugs, respectively," when said bolt is in the locked, firing position, and corresponding to the renspective spaces between said first plurality of locking lugs for passing therethrough when said bolt is rotated to the unlocked position,

(f) a rst cylindrical member secured at one end to the rear of said bolt for rotation therewith having a plurality of cam surfaces in the other end thereof symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis of said bolt and dening a firing pin channel therethrough along said axis of said bolt,

(g) a ring pin assembly including a firing pin mounted within said bolt extending rearwardly through said firing pin channel, and

(h) a second cylindrical member securely attached to said firing pin assembly rearward of said first member and adapted to engage a trigger mechanism, and having a plurality of forwardly facing cams symmetrically disposed about said bolt axis for engaging said plurality of cam surfaces, respectively, for cocking said firing pin when said bolt is rotated from said firing position to an unlocked position.

7. A rifle bolt action according to claim 6 wherein said second cylindrical member is non-rotatably movable along said bolt axis, and including a bolt handle secured to said first cylindrical means for rotating said first cylindrical means and said bolt for causing said second cylindrical member to be urged rearward to cock said firing pin by means of the coaction of said plurality of cams and cam surfaces.

8. A rifle bolt action according to claim 7 including a sleeve member disposed about said second cylindrical member for cooperation therewith to prevent rotation thereof.

9. A rifle bolt action comprising;

(b) a bolt rotatably and slidably mounted in said -bolt channel defining a length adjacent the front end thereof having a smaller diameter than that of the bolt proper,

(c) a first plurality of three spaced apart locking lugs extending inwardly into said bolt channel from the inner wall of said receiver adjacent the front end thereof to an inner diameter substantially corresponding to said smaller diameter and having a total arcuate length adjacent said inner wall of said receiver greater than fifty percent of the circumference of said inner Wall,

(d) a seocnd plurality of three spaced apart locking lugs extending outwardly from said smaller diameter Ilength of said `bolt to an outerdiameter substantially equal to the diameter of said bolt proper and having a total arcuate length adjacent said smaller diameter length greater than fifty percent of the circumference of said small diameter length,

(e) said second plurality of locking lugs adapted for being positioned in front of said first plurality of locking lugs, respectively, when said bolt is in the locked, firing position, and corresponding to the respective spaces between said first plurality of locking lugs for passing therethrough when said bolt is rotated to the unlocked position,

(f) a first cylindrical member secured at one end to the rear of said bolt for rotation therewith having a plurality of three cam surfaces in the other end thereof symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis of said bolt and delining a firing pin channel therethrough along said axis of said bolt,

(g) a tiring pin assembly including a firing pin mounted within said bolt extending rearwardly through said rin g pin channel, and

(h) a second cylindrical member securely attached to said firing pin assembly rearward of said first member and adapted to engage a trigger mechanism, and having a plurality of three forwardly facing cams symmetrically disposed about said bolt axis for engaging said plurality of ca-rn surfaces, respectively, for cooking said firing pin when said bolt is rotated from said firing position to an unlocked position.

10. A rifle -bolt action according to claim 9 wherein the angle of rotation of said bolt betwen the locked and unlocked positions is about 60.

11. A riiie bolt action according to claim 6 wherein a space is provided at the bottom of said bolt channel Vbe- 13 tween an adjacent two of said first plurality of locking lugs for the pasasge of a cartridge therethrough.

12. A rie bolt action according to claim 11 wherein said space provided at the bottom of said bolt channel has a width at least equal to the diameter of the largest portion of said cartridge.

13. A rilie bolt action according to claim 12 wherein one of said plurality of bolt locking lugs corresponds to said space provided at the bottom of said bolt channel to increase the locking strength of said bolt in said receiver.

14. A rifle bolt action comprising:

(c) a lirst plurality of spaced apart, circumferentia'lly aligned locking lugs extending inwardly into said bolt channel from the inner wall of said receiver adjacent the front end thereof to an inner diameter substantially coresponding to said smaller diameter and having a total arcuate length adjacent said inner wall of said receiver :greater than fty percent of the circumference of said wall.

(d) a second plurality of spaced apart, circumferentially aligned locking lugs extending outwardly from said smaller diameter length of said bolt to an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said bolt proper and having a total arcuate length adjacent said smaller diameter length greater than fifty percent of the circumference of said smaller diameter length,

(e) said second plurality of locking lugs adapted for -being positioned in front of said first plurality of locking lugs, respectively, when said bolt is in the locked, tiring position, and corresponding to the respective spaces between said iirst plurality of locking lugs for passing therethrough when said bolt is rotated to the unlocked position,

(f) :said rst plurality of locking lugs having a space between an adjacent pair thereof that is greater than the spaces between said pair and other locking lugs adjacent thereto, respectively,

(g) one of said second plurality of locking lugs having a greater width than the other of said second plurality of locking lugs that corresponds to the said greater space when said bolt is in the unlocked position,

(h) a firing pin assembly including a `firing pin mounted within said bolt, and

(i) means for cocking said firing pin when said bolt is rotated from the tiring position -to an unlocked position.

15. A rie bolt action as set forth in claim 14 wherein said greater space between said two of said rst plurality of locking lugs is provided at the bottom of said receiver.

16. A rifle bolt action comprising:

(b) a bolt rotatably and slidably mounted in said bolt channel defining a length adjacent the front end thereof having `a smaller diameter than that of the bolt proper,

(-c) a first plurality of three spaced apart circumferentially aligned locking lugs extending inwardly into said bolt channel from the inner wall of said receiver adjacent the front end thereof to an inner diameter substantially corresponding to said smaller diameter and having a total arcuate length adjacent said inner wall of said receiver greater than fifty percent of the circumference of said wall,

(d) iirst and second of said first plurality of locking lugs 4being spaced apart by an arcuate length along the circumference of the inner wall of said receiver at the bottom thereof greater than the arcuate lengths by which said first and said second locking lugs are spaced apart from said third locking lug,

(e) a second plurality of three spaced apart circumferentially aligned locking lugs extending outwardly from `said smaller diameter length of said bolt to an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said bolt proper and, having a total arcuate length adjacent said smaller diameter length greater than fifty percent of the circumference of said smaller diameter length,

(f) said second plurality of locking lugs adapted for being positioned in front of said iirst plurality, respectively, when said bolt is in the locked, ring position, and corresponding to the respective spaces between said first plurality of locking lugs for passing therethrough when said bolt is rotated to the unlocked position,

4(g) :one of said second plurality of `locking lugs coinciding with said greater space between said lirst and said second locking lugs of said first plurality of locking lugs when said bolt is in the unlocked position having a greater width than the second and Ithird of said second plurality of locking lugs,

(h) a tiring pin assembly including a firing pin mounted in said bolt, and

(i) means for cocking said tiring pin when said bolt is rotated from the iiring position to the unlocked position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 411,145 9/ 1889 Godsal 42-16.1 1,226,566 5/1917 Moore 42-16t1 2,685,754 v8/ 1954 Crittenden et al. 42-16.1 3,013,355 12/1961 Weatherby 42-16.1 3,274,724 9/ 1966 Brandt 42-16 SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Primary Examiner. BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Examiner.

Claims

1. A RIFLE BOLT ACTION COMPRISING: (A) A RECEIVER HAVING A BOLT CHANNEL THEREIN ADAPTED FOR BEING SECURED AT THE FRONT END THEREOF TO A BARREL AND DEFINING FIRST LOCKING LUG MEANS ADJACENT SAID FRONT END, (B) A BOLT ROTATABLY AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BOLT CHANNEL DEFINING SECOND LOCKING LUG MEANS ADJACENT THE FRON END THEREOF FOR ENGAGING SAID FIRST LOCKING LUG MEANS IN LOCKING RELATION THEREWITH WHEN SAID BOLT IS SLID FORWARD IN SAID RECEIVER AND ROTATED TO ITS FIRING POSITION, (C) A FIRST CYLINDRICAL MEMBER SECURED AT ONE END TO THE REAR OF SAID BOLT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH HAVING A PLURALITY OF CAM SURFACES IN THE OTHER END THEREOF SYMMETRICALLY DISPOSED ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID BOLT AND DEFINING A FIRING PIN CHANNEL THERETHROUGH ALONG SAID AXIS OF SAID BOLT, (D) A FIRING PIN ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A FIRING PIN MOUNTED WITHIN SAID BOLT EXTENDING REARWARDLY THROUGH SAID FIRING PIN CHANNEL, AND (E) A SECOND CYLINDRICAL MEMBER SECURELY ATTACHED TO SAID FIRING PIN ASSEMBLY REARWARD OF SAID FIRST MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A TRIGGER MECHANISM, AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF FORWARDLY FACING CAMS SYMMETRICALLY DISPOSED ABOUT SAID BOLT AXIS FOR ENGAGING SAID PLURALITY OF CAM SURFACES, RESPECTIVELY, FOR COCKING SAID FIRING PIN WHEN SAID BOLT IS ROTATED FROM SAID FIRING POSITION TO AN UNLOCKED POSITION.