Patent GB-144654-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machine and like guns
IPC: F41A3/38
Filed: 1920-06-08
Abstract: 144,654. Gabet, G. D. C. D. J. Nov. 22, 1918, [Convention date]. Machine g u n s ; cartridge b e l t s ; methods of sighting. -Relates to gasoperated guns of the kind wherein the reciprocating breechblock is held in the closing position by longitudinal tension rods, and consists in positive means for holding the rods in the breech - closing position. The gun barrel 1, Fig. 2, has a recessed breech face 7 formed with a cartridge guide 8. The front face of the longitudinally - sliding breech-block 19, Fig. 5, is shaped to enter the recess 7 and abut against the breechface. In the closed position, the breech-block is locked to the barrel by longitudinal rods 22, the slotted ends 35 of which are sprung into engagement with lugs 2 on the barrel. The rods 22 carry the return springs 33, are secured to lugs 21 on the breech-block, and pass through lugs 4, 5 on the barrel, and through eyes 100, Fig. 10, in spring arms 98 connected by a yoke 94 to the rod 96 of the gas piston 93. The ends 99 of the springs arms 98 are engaged in the slotted ends 35 of the rods 22, and are adapted, during the rearward stroke of the gas piston, to contact with lugs 3 on the barrel, by which they are forced outwards to unlock the rods 22 from the barrel lugs 2. Further movement of the gas piston carries the breech-block rearwards to open the breech. The gas piston works in a cylinder 18, which communicates with the barrel bore by a port 1<b> and has an exhaust port at 18a. When the front ends of the rods 22 are sprung outwards, relative transverse movement occurs between lateral projections 36 on the rods, and this movement rocks a bell-crank 44 which is pivoted on one of the projections and connected to a cocking-rod 43 which cocks the striker 39 through a cocking-lever 42. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) comprises also a feed mechanism, speed-regulating means, and a cartridge belt, and refers to means for heating by the exhaust gases from the gun the working parts of machine guns mounted on aircraft, aiming by means of an auxiliary fierarm discharging tracer bullets of smaller calibre but of the same muzzle-velocity as the projectiles discharged by the gun, a cartridge counter combined with the feed mechanism, and a bag to collect certain parts of the special cartridge belt. The cartridge belt 89 comprises a strip of fabric doubled on itself lengthwise and held together at intervals to form cartridge loops by pegs 90, Fig. 18 (Cancelled). The two free ends of the belt are connected to pins on two spring-drums 65, one on each side of the feed tube 56, and a pivoted forked member is arranged to withdraw the pegs 90 as the belt moves upwards in the tube and eject them into a bag 61. A counter is combined with one of the spring drums. The feed-lever 79, actuated by a finger 95 on the gas piston, is forked, and each arm 82, one on each side of the feed tube, carries a feed-pawl 87. A belt-retaining pawl 74<1> is provided at each side of the feed-tube. The cartridges are fed into the gun breech by a feed-finger pivoted in a longitudinal recess in the lower side of the breechblock. The rate of discharge is regulated by adjustment of the size of the port 1<b> in the barrel by means of a screw plug 17. The plug is held in any adjusted position by a spring detent. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.