Firearm indexing mechanism

Abstract

A revolver includes a frame; a hammer rotatably coupled to the frame; a trigger mounted on the frame and movably coupled to the hammer; a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame and having more than six chambers, each of the chambers adapted to receive a cartridge, wherein the cylinder is rotatable into discrete firing positions; and a pawl connected to the hammer for moving the cylinder between the discrete firing positions.

1 . A revolver comprising:
 a frame;   a hammer rotatably coupled to the frame;   a trigger mounted on the frame and movably coupled to the hammer;   a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame and having twelve chambers, each of the twelve chambers adapted to receive a cartridge, wherein the cylinder is rotatable into twelve discrete firing positions; and   a pawl connected to the hammer for moving the cylinder between the discrete firing positions.   
     
     
         2 . The revolver of  claim 1 , wherein the pawl has a single finger adapted to contact the cylinder. 
     
     
         3 . The revolver of  claim 1 , wherein each of the twelve chambers is adapted to receive a .22 caliber cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . The revolver of  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder is configured to rotate about 30 degrees between discrete firing positions. 
     
     
         5 . The revolver of  claim 1 , further comprising a ratchet on the cylinder, wherein the pawl engages the ratchet to rotate the cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The revolver of  claim 1 , wherein the ratchet comprises twelve teeth. 
     
     
         7 . The revolver of  claim 1 , wherein the hammer has a first notch and a second notch adapted to receive a trigger tang integral with the trigger, and a hammer sear adapted to receive a trigger sear integral with the trigger tang. 
     
     
         8 . The revolver of claim of  claim 7 , wherein rotation of the hammer from a safety position in which the trigger tang is in the second notch to a full cock position in which the trigger sear engages the hammer sear causes the cylinder to rotate 30 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The revolver of claim of  1 , further comprising a cylinder lock pivotally mounted to the frame and adapted to engage the cylinder to prevent rotation of the cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The revolver of  claim 9 , wherein the cylinder has twelve notches and wherein the cylinder lock is adapted to engage one of the twelve notches in each discrete firing position. 
     
     
         11 . A revolver comprising:
 a frame;   a hammer rotatably coupled to the frame;   a trigger mounted on the frame and movably coupled to the hammer;   a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame and having a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers adapted to receive a cartridge, wherein the cylinder is rotatable into discrete firing positions; and   a pawl connected to the hammer for rotating the cylinder thirty degrees between the discrete firing positions.   
     
     
         12 . The revolver of  claim 11 , wherein the pawl has a single finger adapted to contact the cylinder. 
     
     
         13 . The revolver of  claim 11 , wherein the pawl is adapted to contact the cylinder at only a single point during rotation of the cylinder. 
     
     
         14 . The revolver of  claim 11 , further comprising a ratchet on the cylinder, wherein the pawl engages the ratchet to rotate the cylinder. 
     
     
         15 . The revolver of  claim 14 , wherein the ratchet comprises a plurality of teeth and wherein the pawl is adapted to engage only a single tooth of the plurality of teeth to rotate the cylinder between discrete firing positions. 
     
     
         16 . The revolver of  claim 11 , wherein the frame has an aperture and wherein one of the plurality of chambers is aligned with the aperture in the discrete firing position. 
     
     
         17 . The revolver of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of chambers is adapted to receive a .22 caliber cartridge. 
     
     
         18 . A revolver comprising:
 a frame;   a hammer rotatably coupled to the frame;   a trigger mounted on the frame and movably coupled to the hammer;   a cylinder rotatably mounted on the frame and having more than six chambers, each of the more than six chambers adapted to receive a cartridge, wherein the cylinder is rotatable into a plurality of discrete firing positions; and   a pawl connected to the hammer for moving the cylinder between the plurality of discrete firing positions, wherein the pawl has a single finger adapted to contact the cylinder.   
     
     
         19 . The revolver of  claim 18 , wherein the pawl is adapted to contact the cylinder at only a single point during rotation of the cylinder.