Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Adjusting Maxim and other like Guns.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Adjusting Maxim
and other like Guns.
I, ALFRED JAMES HOLCROFT, of Stone Dam Mills, Halifax in the County of
York, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
invention has been communicated to be by Charles Renier, of Pretoria, South
Africa, Electrical Engineer) to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide simple and reliable means for adjust-
ing the line of fire in Maxim guns, and in other like portable quickfiring guns
mounted on a tripod, notwithstanding that the three legs of the tripod may be
placed on uneven ground.
According to my invention the head of the gun or carriage or both is connected
to a barrel mounted in a suitable cylindrical framework. The barrel by means
of a holt or shaft is connected to a toothed quadrant gearing with a worm wheel,
operated by a milled screw head, which, on being operated in either direction
causes the quadrant to rotate, and thus adjust to any position the barrel of the
gun so that the line of fire can be brought to any position independent of the
position of the three legs of the tripod upon which the gun is mounted and
carried.
Dated this fith day of Inuar 1807
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Patent Agents.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Adjusting Maxim
and other like Guns.
I, ALFRED JAMES HOLCROFT, of Stone Dam Mills, Halifax, in the County of
York, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
invention has been communicated to me by Charles Renier, Pretoria, South
Africa, Electrical Engineer), and in what manner the same is to be performeu,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
The object of my invention is to provide simple and reliable means for adjust-
ing the line of fire in Maxim guns, and in other like portable quickfiring guns
runted on a tripod, notwithstanding that the three legs of the tripod may be
placed on uneven ground.
According to my invention the head of the gun or carriage or both is connected
to a barrel mounted in a suitable cylindrical framework. The barrel by means

page_text: of a bolt or shaft is connected to a toothed quadrant gearing with a worm wheel,
operated by a milled screw head, which on being operated in either direction
causes the quadrant to rotate, and thus adjust to any position the barrel of the
gun so that the line of fire can be brought to any position independent of the
position of the three legs of the tripod upon which the gun is mounted and
carried.
To describe my invention more fully I will make reference to the accompanying
sheet of Drawings wherein Fig. 1 is longitudinal section of my improved
apparatus, and Fig. 2 cross section on line ab Fig. 1.
A represents a brass or other metal cup shaped tube and it forms the main
support carrying all the parts and fittings of the gun carriage. The tube Brests
in the cup shane tube A and it is capable of oscillating therein according to the
line of fire required. C shews a slot formed in the tube B and D is a toothed
segment placed within the said slot. E is introduced into the barrel Bas shewn
in the Drawing with the pins F passed through the holes f in the toothed
segment. G is a bolt screwed through the part E making segment D and E a
fixture. His a bracket for holding the worm L in position such worm gearing
with the cogged segment D. The end of the bracket H is fixed by screws h¹ to
the tube B. J is a milled edged hand wheel fixed on the axis K which hand
wheel on being turned to the right or left will change the position of the tube E
to any angle, the above parts being fixed to the tripod. Fig. 3 is a detail of the
segment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
The improved apparatus herein shewn and described for adjusting the line of
fire in Maxim and other like guns, notwithstanding that the tripod may be
placed on uneven ground, all constructed and operating substantially as herein
shewn and described.
Dated this 4th day of October 1897.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Patent Agents.