Cam operated, single shot, falling block firing mechanism for a rifle

Abstract

A single shot rifle having a cam operated, falling breechblock firing mechanism. The firing mechanism includes a breechblock vertically movable within a housing member, and a laterally movable hammer operable to strike a cartridge. The firing mechanism further includes a pivotal breechblock link, connected to a manually operable lever, to effect vertical movement of the breechblock. Additionally, the lever is pivotal about a rotary cam member featuring three cam riding surfaces to operate an ejector mechanism for extracting spent casings from a breech, and to allow manual insertion of a fresh cartridge into the breech.

Claimed is:  
     
         1 . A single shot rifle with a cam operated, falling breechblock firing mechanism, said rifle comprising: 
 a. a breechblock housing situated between a stock member and a projectile directing barrel, where said barrel terminates in a breech to receive a projectile, said breech opening into said housing; and,    b. a firing mechanism comprising a breechblock vertically movable within said housing from an upper firing position to a lower position to allow for the extraction of a spent projectile from said breech, and insertion of a fresh projectile; and, a laterally movable hammer operable to strike said projectile in said upper firing position; said firing mechanism further including: 
 i. a manually operable lever, pivotal about a rotary cam member, connected to a pivotal breechblock link to effect vertical movement of said breechblock between said upper and lower positions;  
 ii. said rotary cam member including a first cam surface of a first uniform radius, a second cam surface having a second uniform radius greater than said first uniform radius, and a third cam surface of varying radius; and,  
 iii. a spent projectile ejector mechanism operable with the respective said cam surfaces to effect ejection of said spent projectile.  
   
     
     
         2 . The single shot rifle of  claim 1 , wherein said ejector mechanism includes a pivotal blank extractor arm operable in a retracted position on said first cam surface, and an extended position on said third cam surface.  
     
     
         3 . The single shot rifle of  claim 2 , including an ejector plunger mechanism containing a spring biased plunger arm cooperating with said extractor arm to pivot said extractor arm from said retracted position to said extended position, where said ejector plunger mechanism is operable on said first and second cam surfaces.  
     
     
         4 . The single shot rifle of  claim 1 , wherein said pivotal breechblock link is retracted in said upper firing position, and pivoted in supporting contact with said breechblock in said lower position.  
     
     
         5 . The single shot rifle of  claim 1 , wherein said breechblock includes a pivotal member mounting a sear for securing said hammer against premature release, and a trigger activated trigger arm for moving said pivotal member to thereby release said sear from contact with said hammer.  
     
     
         6 . The single shot rifle according to  claim 5 , wherein said trigger arm is pivotal from a position in contact with said pivotal member to a retracted position free from said movable breechblock.  
     
     
         7 . The single shot rifle of  claim 6 , wherein said manually operable lever mounts a spring arm acting against said trigger arm in said contact position.  
     
     
         8 . The single shot rifle of  claim 1 , wherein said breechblock link is pivotally mounted to said breechblock, and includes an elongated slot for receiving a pin, where said pin is mounted to said manually operable lever.