Improvement in Cartridge Carrying Belts used in Feeding Automatic Machine Guns with Cartridges.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 3rd May, 1898-Accepted, 11th June, 1898
Improvement in Cartridge Carrying Belts used in Feeding Automatic
Machine Guns with Cartridges.
THE HOTCHKISS ORDNANCE COMPANY LIMITED, of 49, Parliament Street, London,
S.W., (a communication from abroad by Laurence V. Benèt, Artillery Engineer,
of 21, Rue Royale, Paris, France, and Henri A. Mercié, Mechanical Engineer, of
21, Rue Royale, Paris, France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows;-
The present invention relates to cartridge carrying belts used in feeding auto-
matic machine guns and more particularly to that kind of belt described in our
former Letters Patent dated March 10 1896 No. 5426.
As distinguished from the feed strip described in the said patent, the belt con-
structed in accordance with the present improvements is neither formed of a single
straight piece of metal of limited length and more or less elastic (as shewn in
Fig. 64 of the said patent), nor of a series of individually formed cartridge-carriers
which are linked more or less flexibly together (as shown in Fig. 67 of the said
patent), but is formed of individual cartridge-carriers of an improved construction
which are slipped or threaded on to one or more longitudinal bands or ribbons of
metal, for uniting the carriers together side by side into a flexible belt.
A feed-belt constructed in accordance with the present improvements affords
the advantage of being highly flexible without presenting any risk of tearing the
carriers apart, as is likely to be the case with the feed-belt shown in Fig. 67 of
the said patent, particularly if it be considered that the feed strip or belt is pulled
through the automatic machine gun with considerable violence. Moreover a feed-
belt as herein constructed enables of its being readily utilised in the form of a
coil of long dimensions, capable of being wound in a drum placed alongside of the
gun. Furthermore, the individual carriers, as herein constructed, are strong and
capable of readily resisting the wear and tear they are subjected to by the device
operating in the gun for feeding the cartridge-carrying belt of strip therethrough.
The improved construction of cartridge-carrying belt is particularly intended
to be used with the well known Hotchkiss automatic machine gun, but it is obvious
that it is capable of being used with any other kind of machine gun.
In the accompanying drawings, we have shown the various phases for the manu-
facture of this improved cartridge-carrying feed-belt, as well as the completed
belt itself, all in full size.
Fig 1, is a plan showing a portion of the completed belt comprising four
cartridge carriers.
Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2, 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the
arrows.
Fig. 3 is a section on the broken line 3, 3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of
the arrows.
Figs. 4, 5 & 6 are plans and Figs. 7 to 14 are perspective views showing the
successive phases of manufacture,

page_text: Figs. 15 & 16 show an improved tongue for facilitating the introduction of the
feed-belt into the machine gun.
:
A blank 1 assuming the shape shown in Fig. 1 is first produced, after which
two slots 22 are punched out, Fig. 5; nicks are made at 3 3 and incisions at 44,
Fig. 6.
The clips 5, 6 & 7 by means of which the cartridge is to be held are then
bent over as in Fig. 7, and the lips 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, & 13, are bent down as in
Fig. 8, whereupon the blank itself is bent into the position shown in Fig. 9 and
then into the position shown in Fig. 10, after which it is ready to be slipped on
to two long metallic bands or ribbons 14, 15, as shown in Fig. 11. When the
blank has reached that stage of manufacture, the lips 8, 9, 12 & 13 are bent over
against the body of the blank 1, and the lips 10, 11 are likewise bent down in such
a manner as to cause them to enter the slots 2, 2, as shown in Fig. 12, after which
a lip 16 is bent up against the clip 6 and acts to reinforce the clip 6 against
which operates the feed wheel or other actuating device of the machine gun for
feeding the cartridge-carrying belt through the mechanism of the gun, as will be
readily understood on referring to our said prior patent.
The cartridge-carrier is now completed and only requires to be securely attached
to the bands 14, 15; this is accomplished as regards the band 14 by producing a
depression at 17, Figs. 1 & 2 so as to disturb the three thicknesses of metal and
unite them firmly, and, as regards the band 15, by cutting the three thicknesses
through at 18 and depressing it into a projection 19 against which rests the head
of the cartridge 20, as shown in Fig. 1.
In Figs. 15 & 16, we have shown in plan and in elevation an improved tongue
on the first cartridge-carrier of each belt, the said tongue acting to facilitate the
introduction of the belt into the machine gun.
On the first cartridge-carrier 1 of the series on the belt is formed a lip 20 to
which is fastened, by means of a covering plate 21, and rivets or screws 22, a band
of leather, soft rubber, canvas or other suitable flexible material 23 having a
tapered tip 24 of metal or other suitable substance..
Improvements in Cartridge Carrying Belts used in Feeding Automatic
Machine Guns with Cartridges.
A communication from abroad by LAURENCE V. BENET, Artillery Engineer, of
21, Rue Royale, Paris, France, and HENRI A. MERCIE, Mechanical Engineer,
of 21, Rue Royale, Paris, France.
We, THE HOTCHKISS ORDNANCE COMPANY LIMITED of 49, Parliament Street,
S. W., London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The present invention relates to cartridge carrying belts used in feeding auto-
matic machine-guns and more particularly to that kind of belt described in the
Specification of our former Letters Patent dated March 10 1896 No. 5426.
As distinguished from the feed-strip described in the said specification the belt
constructed in accordance with the present improvements is neither formed of a

page_text: single straight piece of metal of limited length and more or less elastic (as shown
in Fig. 64 of the drawings of the said specification), nor of a series of individually
formed cartridge carriers which are linked more or less flexibly together (as shown
in Fig. 67 of the said drawings); but is formed of individual cartridge-carriers
of an improved construction which are slipped or threaded onto one or more longi-
tudinal bands or ribbons of metal, for uniting the carriers together side by side
into a flexible belt.
A feed-belt constructed in accordance with the present invention affords the
advantage of being highly flexible without presenting such risk of tearing
the carriers apart, as is likely to obtain with the feed-belt shown in the said Fig. 67,
owing to the considerable violence with which the feed-strip or belt is pulled
through the receiver of the machine-gun when the latter is being worked auto-
matically. Moreover, a feed-belt constructed as hereinafter described is adapted
to be readily wound on a drum placed alongside of the gun and then used in the
form of a long coil. Furthermore the individual carriers constructed according
to the present invention are strong and capable of resisting wear and tear such
as they are subjected to by the device operating in the gun for feeding the
cartridge-carrying belt or strip therethrough.
Although the improved construction of cartridge-carrying belt is more particu-
larly intended to be used with the well known Hotchkiss automatic machine-gun,
it will be obvious that it is capable of being used with other kinds of machine-
guns.
In the drawings accompanying our Provisional Specification we have illustrated
various stages in the manufacture of the improved cartridge-carrying feed-belt,
as well as the completed belt itself, all in full size. Referring to those drawings,
Fig. 1 is a plan showing a portion of the completed belt comprising four
cartridge-carriers;
Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2, 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the
horizontal arrows;
Fig. 3 is a section on the broken line 3, 3, of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of
the vertical arrows.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are plans and Figs. 7 to 13 are perspective views showing the
partially formed cartridge carrier in successive stages of its manufacture, and
Fig. 14 shows it completed.
Figs. 15 and 16 show an improved tongue for facilitating the introduction of
the feed-belt into the machine-gun.
A blank 1 of the shape shown in Fig. 4 is first produced, after which two slots 2, 2
are punched out (see Fig. 5) nicks are made at 3, 3, 3, 3, and incisions at 4, 4 (see
Fig. 6). The parts to constitute the clips 5, 6 and 7 by means of which the
cartridge is to be held, are then bent over as in Fig. 7, and the lips 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
and 13 are bent down as in Fig. 8, whereupon the blank itself is bent into the
position shown in Fig. 9, and then into the position shown in Fig. 10, after which
it is ready to be slipped onto two long metallic bands or ribbons 14, 15 as shown
in Fig. 11. When the blank has reached that stage of manufacture, the lips 8, 912
and 13 are bent over against the body of the blank 1, and the lips 10, 11 are
likewise bent down in such a manner as to cause them to enter the slots 2, 2, as
shown in Fig. 12, after which the lip 16 is bent up against the clip 6 and acts to
reinforce the clip 6, against which operates the feed wheel or other actuating
device of the machine-gun for feeding the cartridge-carrying belt through the
receiver or equivalent of the gun, as will be readily understood on referring to
the specification of our said prior patent.
The cartridge-carrier is now completed and only requires to be securely attached
to the bands 14, 15; this is accomplished, as regards the band 14, by producing a
depression at 17, Figs. 1 and 2, so as to disturb the' three thicknesses of metal and
unite them firmly, and, as regards the band 15, by punching the three thick-
nesses through at 18, to form a projection 19 against which rests the head of the
cartridge 20, as shown in Fig. 1.

page_text: In Figs. 15 and 16, we have shown in plan and elevation an improved tongue
on the end of the belt, the said tongue acting to facilitate the introduction of the
belt into the machine-gun.
The band 15 is extended a short distance beyond the first cartridge-carrier 1
of the series on the belt, and to the said extension is fastened, by means of a
covering plate 21 and rivets or screws 22, a band of leather, soft rubber, canvas
or other suitable flexible material 23, having a tapered tip 24 of metal or other
suitable substance.
The belt may be adapted for use with a machine gun such as des-
cribed in our before mentioned Specification No. 5426 of 1896 by so forming
the first cartridge carrier 1 of the series on the belt as to facilitate engagement
with the feed mechanism of the machine gun and so shaping the last cartridge
carrier or the rear end of the belt as to enable locking mechanism, to act to lock
the gun when the last cartridge on the belt has been fired substantially as described
with reference to and illustrated by Fig. 64 of the drawings annexed to the said
specification.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A cartridge-carrier formed of a blank which is bent over upon itself, has its
ends secured to the portion intermediate of the bends, and is formed with clips to
hold the cartridge, substantially as described.
2. A cartridge-carrier formed of a blank having clips to hold the cartridge,
and lips at the ends thereof, the said blank being bent over upon itself, and the
said lips bent over the intermediate or central portion of the blank so as to hold
the ends thereto, substantially as described.
3. A cartridge-carrier formed of a blank having clips to hold the cartridge, lips
at and near the ends thereof, and slots in the central portion the said blank being
bent over upon itself, and its ends being held to the central portion or part between
the bends by the said lips (two of which enter the said slots) being bent over the
edges of the said central portion, substantially as described."
4. A cartridge-carrier formed of a blank having clips to hold the cartridge,
and lips at and near the ends thereof, the said blank being bent over upon itself
and the said lips being bent over the edges of the central portion of the blank
to hold the ends down, and one of the said lips being bent up against one of the
said clips to reinforce the same, substantially as described.
5. In a feed-belt for automatic machine-guns, the combination, with two bands,
of cartridge-carriers formed of blanks bent over upon themselves and secured
together, and having clips to hold the cartridge, the said cartridge-carriers being
placed upon the said bands, and means for securing the carriers to the said bands,
substantially as described.
6. In a feed-belt for automatic machine-guns, the combination, with two bands,
of cartridge-carriers formed of blanks having clips to hold the cartridges and lips
near the ends thereof, the said blanks being bent over upon themselves and the
said lips bent over the central portion thereof; the said carriers being placed upon
the said bands; and means for securing the said carriers to the said bands, sub-
stantially as described.
7. In a feed-band for automatic machine-guns, the combination, with two bands,
of cartridge-carriers formed of blanks having clips to hold the cartridges and lips
near the ends thereof; the said blanks being bent over upon themselves and the said
lips bent over the central portion thereof; one of the said lips being bent against
one of the clips to reinforce the same; the said carriers being placed upon the
said bands and means for securing the said carriers to the said bands, substantially
as described.
8. In a feed-band for automatic machine-guns, the combination, with two bands,
of cartridge-carriers formed of blanks having clips to hold the cartridges and lips

page_text: near the ends thereof; the said blanks being bent over upon themselves and the
said lips bent over the central part thereof; the said carriers being placed upon
the said bands; means for securing the said carriers to the said bands, and a lug 19
formed on the carriers, substantially as described.
9. In a feed-band for automatic machine-guns, the combination, with two bands,
of cartridge-carriers formed of blanks having clips to hold the cartridges and
lips near the ends thereof; the said blanks being bent over upon themselves and the
said lips bent over the central part thereof; the said carriers being placed upon
the said bands; means for securing the said carriers to the said bands, and a
flexible band 23 secured to the said belt, substantially as described.
10. A feed-belt for automatic machine-guns, consisting of two bands; distinct
cartridge-carriers secured to the said bands; each of said carriers being formed
of a blank doubled over upon itself, and having clips to hold the cartridges; and
a lip laid against one of the said clips for reinforcing the latter, substantially as
described.
11. A feed-belt for automatic machine-guns, consisting of two bands; distinct
cartridge-carriers secured to the said bands; each of said carriers being formed of
a blank doubled over upon itself, and having clips on the central portion to hold
the cartridge, and slots also in the central portion and lips on the bent over portions
to engage the said slots, substantially as described.
12. A feed-belt for automatic machine-guns consisting of two bands; distinct
cartridge-carriers secured to the said bands; each of said carriers being formed
of a blank doubled over upon itself, and having clips on the central portion to
hold the cartridge; and lips on the bent over portion to engage the central portion,
one of the said lips being laid against one of the said clips, substantially as
described.
13. A feed-belt for automatic machine-guns, consisting of two bands; distinct
cartridge-carriers secured to the said bands; each of said carriers being formed
of a blank doubled over upon itself, and having clips to hold the cartridges; a lip
laid against one of the said clips, and a flexible band 23 secured to one end of the
belt, substantially as described.
14. The improved cartridge carrier hereinabove described with reference to and
shewn in the drawings left with our Provisional Specification for the purpose
mentioned.
15. The improved cartridge carrying belt hereinabove described with reference
to and illustrated in the drawings left with out Provisional Specification, for the
purpose mentioned.
May 1898.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.