IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE GUNS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
"
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE GUNS." A communication from abroad by
William Gardner. of Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America.
Sealed the 1st November 1878, and dated the 8th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th July 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE GUNS." [A com-
munication from abroad by William Gardner, of Hartford, Connecticut, United
States of America.]
This Invention relates to improvements in machine guns of the class described in
the Specification of my former Letters Patent dated March 1, A.D. 1876, No. 881;
and the said Invention is designed to increase the efficiency of such guns while
simplifying their construction and reducing the cost of their manufacture.
The gun described in the said former Specification has a frame of metal plates,
which support the breech block, and through whose sides the trunnions pass, the
said trunnions being hung in boxes on an auxiliary frame. The said gun has a
vertical cartridge feeder with a T shaped groove; it also has a space behind the
barrels, into which the cartridges are delivered, and partitions to support the said
cartridges, and in combination with the said partitions there is an oscillating plate
for transferring the cartridges; also a slotted plate, which supports the cartridges
as they are fed into the gun, but permits them to drop when extracted; also a cain
and wrist arranged in combination with a breech pin or plunger, firing lever, firing
pin, and mainspring for exploding the cartridges.
The said breech pin or plunger is formed at its rear end with U shaped extensions
to receive a wrist or crank pin, whereby the said breech pin receives motion from
the crank; and in combination with the above parts the said gun has a hinged
cover; also a stop and crank for controlling the action of the hammer and firing
pin.
According to my present Invention I retain the above-described breech pin with
its shaped extensions, and also the firing pin, and mainspring, and some of the
other parts used in the said gun, as described in my former Specification, but I

page_text: greatly modify or change the same in some very important features, as will appear
from the following description :-I simplify and improve the mechanism for receiving
the cartridges from the vertical cartridge feeder, bringing them into line with the
barrel, and ejecting the exploded cartridge shells from the gun. For this purpose
I use a sliding plate or slide fitted to move transversely across the space at the rear
of the barrel. This slide or plate is formed with a longitudinal rib or raised
portion, on which rests the lower one of the cartridges as they descend in the
vertical feeder. The said slide or plate is also provided with an adjustable partition
arranged parallel with the aforesaid longitudinal rib, and which, with the said rib,
forms a recess, into which each cartridge is received prior to its moving forward
into the barrel. This partition is made adjustable in order that it may leave a
free space for the ejection of the exploded cartridge shells. For this purpose the
said partition is held up by a spring placed below the same, and I form on the end
of the plunger a bevilled or inclined surface, which, as the said plunger moves
forward, acts on the said partition and forces it down level with the surface of the
said slide, so that the empty cartridge shell lying in the said recess may, as the
slide is moved to admit the next cartridge, move freely away from the same, and
be ejected from the gun through a slot or aperture provided for this purpose in the
side of the frame or breech case.
The aforesaid slide or sliding plate is operated by a separate or independent
cam arranged at the side of the cam that operates the plunger. The motion of the
said cam is transmitted to the slide through the medium of a rod, which is formed
with two projections arranged in contact with the periphery of the said cam on
opposite sides of its axis. The other end of the said rod is formed with a diagonal
slot, into which projects a pin, or stud, or small roller on the under side of the said
slide. By the action of the sides of this diagonal slot on the said pin or roller the
longitudinal movement of the rod is caused to impart the required transverse
movement to the said slide.
One very important feature of my Invention is the positive nature of the action
of the extractor. This extractor is connected to the plunger by a longitudinal
slot and pin, so that the extractor is free to move endwise a short distance inde-
pendently of the plunger.
I employ as a cover to the space behind the barrel a grooved plate, which serves
to guide the extractor by means of a stud or protuberance thereon, which projects
and works in the groove of the said plate; and at the rear end of this groove I
form a stop or shoulder, which nearly at the termination of the backward move-
ment of the plunger arrests the extractor, so that the hook or claw of the latter
projects beyond the front end of the plunger such a distance that as the cartridges
are brought into line with the barrel by the action of the feed slide the rims of
all of the cartridges, though they may vary considerably in length, will pass
laterally behind the said book or claw. Therefore I obviate the necessity of using
a spring extractor, and of forcing the same over the rims of the cartridges after
they are pushed into the barrel.
The aforesaid cams and parts operated thereby are so relatively arranged that
the movements of the feed slide and plunger are alternate, that is to say, the said
slide turns a cartridge into line with the barrel and stops; then the plunger moves
forward and inserts the said cartridge into the barrel and the gun is fired; then
the slide moves back to receive another cartridge from the vertical feeder, and
stops while the plunger is moved back, and the exploded cartridge shell is extracted
and ejected from the gun.
By these improvements the said gun is rendered very simple in its construction
and operation, the action of all of its parts will be positive, and the possibility of
failure in the extraction or ejection of the cartridge shells is entirely obviated.
Another very important advantage connected with the said gun is the possibility
of working it in any position without affecting the feeding or ejection of the
cartridges.
The said Invention is applicable to guns with either one or two barrels.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
January 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE GUNS." A com-
munication from abroad by William Gardner, of Hartford, Connecticut, United
States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in machine guns of the class described in
the Specification of my former Letters Patent dated March 1, A.D. 1876, No. 881;
and the said Invention is designed to improve the mechanism by incorporating
therewith various novel features, and thereby furnish arms of this class, which will
be highly efficient and very conveniently operated under all circumstances; and
moreover will be very simple with regard to the construction and fitting together
of their parts, and very cheap to manufacture.
1
These improvements are equally applicable to guns with one barrel or with two
barrels.
The gun described in the said former Specification has a frame of metal plates,
which support the breech block, and through whose sides the trunnions pass, the
said trunnions being hung in boxes on an auxiliary frame; and the said gun has a
vertical cartridge feeder with a T shaped groove; it also has a space behind the
barrels, into which the cartridges are delivered, and partitions to support the said
cartridges; and in combination with the said partitions there is an oscillating
plate for transferring the cartridges from the feeder to the space behind the barrel;
also a slotted plate or horizontal cartridge feeder, which supports the cartridges as
they are fed into the said space, but permits them to drop when extracted from the
barrel; also a cam and wrist arranged in combination with a breech pin or plunger,
and with a firing lever, firing pin, and mainspring for exploding the cartridges.
The said breech pin or plunger is formed at its rear end with U shaped extensions
to receive the wrist or crank pin, whereby the said breech pin receives motion
from the crank; and in combination with the above parts the said gun has a hinged
cover; also a stop and crank for controlling the action of the hammer, and a firing
pin.
According to my present. Invention I retain the above-described breech pin with
its U shaped extensions, and also the firing pin and mainspring, and some of the
other parts used in the gun, as described in my said former Specification, but I
greatly modify or change the same in some very important features, as will appear
from the following description:-
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of the breech of a gun with one barrel, shewing
the application of my present improvements to the same.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the said breech.
Figures 3 and 4 are side elevations, partly in section, and shewing the mechanism
inside the said frame in different positions.
Figure 5 is a plan or top view of the breech with the cover removed.
Figures 6, 6, and 7 are transverse sections on the line x*, **, Figure 1, shewing
the parts of the said mechanism in different positions.
Figures 8, 9, and 10 shew portions of the said mechanism detached.
Figure 11 is a front end view of the aforesaid plunger.
Figures 12, 13, and 14 are transverse sections of the same on the lines x, x, y, y,
and z, z, Figure 3.
Figure 15 is a side elevation drawn to a reduced scale shewing the said gun
mounted on its stand or carriage.
Figure 16 is a transverse section shewing my improvements applied to a gun
with two barrels.

page_text: Figures 17 and 18 are a plan and vertical section of a holder for supplying the
feeder with cartridges.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A is the breech frame or case constructed of iron, brass, or other suitable metal,
and provided with a hinged cover A¹; B is the barrel, which may be of any suit-
able bore and length, and which is screwed in or otherwise securely attached to the
front of the breech frame or case A.
I simplify and reduce the cost of manufacture of the sides of the said frame or
case while increasing the strength of the same by forming on it the longitudinal
rib or projection a, which extends around the slot a¹, and is flush at its upper edge
with the top of the case, thereby concealing the joint between the said case and its
cover, and presenting a surface which may be readily finished by the simple
operation of planing.
I also greatly simplify and improve the mechanism for receiving the cartridges
from the vertical cartridge feeder b, bringing them into line with the barrel B, and
ejecting the exploded cartridge shells from the gun. For this purpose I use a
sliding plate or slide c fitted to move transversely across the space immediately at
the rear of the barrel B. This transverse slide or plate c is formed with a longi-
tudinal rib or raised portion d, which, when the parts are in the position shewn in
Figure 6, forms one side of a groove or receptacle in which the cartridges are
received one at a time from the said vertical feeder, that is to say, the lower one
of the number of cartridges in the said feeder drops and rests in this groove or
receptacle, and is moved therein as herein-after described to bring it in line with
the barrel.
The said slide or plate is also provided with a vertically adjustable or movable
partition e arranged parallel with the aforesaid longitudinal rib d, and which, with
the said rib, forms the said groove or recess, into which each cartridge is received,
and in which it is moved transversely into line with the barrel prior to its moving
forward into the same. This partition e forms for the said groove an adjustable
or movable side, which ensures the proper guiding of the cartridge as it is being
forced by the plunger into the barrel, and which is then rendered temporarily non-
existent by moving the said partition entirely below the said groove to leave a
clear space for the ejection of the exploded cartridge shells, and to permit the said
partition to pass under the plunger in returning to reform the said groove in the
position shewn in Figure 6. For this purpose the said partition is held up by a
spring placed below the same, and which permits the alternate elevation and
depression of the said partition in the manner and by the means herein-after
described, and the four-sided groove or receptacle formed by the sliding plato c, the
rib or shelf d, the movable partition e, and the block or plate herein-after described
in the cover A¹ forms a very important feature of my Invention.
The plunger g is shewn detached in Figure 10, which is a view of the side
opposite to that shewn in Figure 3. The said plunger has an endwise movement
in the line of the barrel's axis imparted to it by a cam h acting on the surfaces h¹,
which are so formed as to give the plunger an intermittent motion, that is to say,
.there is a pause between the forward and backward strokes of the said plunger for
a purpose herein-after specified.
The aforesaid slide or sliding plate c is operated by a separate or independent
cam i arranged at the side of the cam that operates the plunger g. The motion
of the said cam i is transmitted to the slide c through the medium of a rod j,
shewn detached in Figures 8 and 9. This rod is formed with two projections j³,
whose extremities are formed and arranged to work in contact with the periphery
,of the said cam i on opposite sides of its axis. The other end of the said rod j is
formed with an inclined or oblique slot 2, into which projects a pin or stud k
(preferably provided with a small roller) on the under side of the said slide c. By
the action of the sides of this inclined slot ja on the said pin or roller the longi-
tudinal movement given by the cam i to the rod j is caused to impart the required
transverse movement to the slide c.

page_text: I form on one side of the end of the plunger ga bevelled or inclined surface g*,
which, as the said plunger moves forward, acts on the upper edge of the partition e
and depresses or forces it down till the said upper edge is level with the upper
surface of the said slide c; and when the plunger has reached the forward end of
its stroke the said slide is moved transversely across the breech back into the
position for receiving the next cartridge from the cartridge feeder, so that the
empty cartridge shell as the plunger is withdrawn lies outside of the said partition e,
and during the movement of the slide to bring the next cartridge in a line with
the barrel, the said partition strikes the empty cartridge shell and ejects the same
through the slot or aperture a¹ provided for this purpose in the side of the frame
or breech case A.
For raising or forcing up the partition e as the slide c moves backward to receive
another cartridge I prefer to use a stud e¹ secured in the casing A. The said stud
is provided with an inclined face, and so located that the end of the rod e* con-
nected with the said partition e will strike the said inclined face of the stud e¹, and
will thus cause the necessary elevation of the said partition. This partition is
then retained in its elevated position by the spring f, as above described, until a
further movement of the said slide takes place, when the above-described move-
ments are repeated.
One very important feature of my Invention is the positive character of the
action of the extractor l. This extractor is connected to the plunger by a longi-
tudinal slot m and pin n, as clearly shewn in Figures 3, 4, and 10, so that the said
extractor is free to move endwise a short distance independently of the plunger g..
The operation of this extractor is ensured by the following means, that is to
say I employ as a cover or top for the space behind the barrel a grooved plate or
block o, which is fixed within the cover A³, and serves to guide the exterior / by
means of a stud or protuberance formed on the said extractor, and which projects
and works to and fro longitudinally in the groove o' of the said plate or block o,
and at the rear end of this groove o' I form a stop or shoulder o³, which nearly at
the termination of the backward movement of the plunger g arrests the extractor
in such a position that its hook or claw 2 projects beyond the front end of the
plunger ga considerable distance, as shewn in Figure 3.
The object of this arrangement is to ensure the passing of the flanges of all of
the cartridges behind the hook or claw of the extractor as they are brought by the
feed slide c into line with the barrel previous to being pushed into the same.
The importance of this arrangement or device will be obvious if attention is
given to the following considerations:-It is frequently the case that cartridges
supplied for such arms vary considerably in length, and therefore an extractor
fixed rigidly on the plunger would project too far for some of them, and not far
enough for others, or must have such an amount of projection as would greatly
impair its efficiency. It has been customary to employ a spring extractor, which is
forced end wise over the rim of the cartridge as the same is pushed into the barrel,
and which is very liable to be broken; but the above-described arrangement
provides for all variations of length, and ensures the passage of the flanges of all
of the cartridges laterally behind the hook or claw, and I thereby obviate the
necessity of using a spring extractor, and of forcing the same over the rims of the
cartridges after they are pushed into the barrel.
The aforesaid cams h, i, and parts operated thereby are relatively so arranged
that the movements of the feed slide c and plunger are alternate, that is to say,
the said slide receives a cartridge from the vertical feeder b, moves it into line
with the barrel, and stops; then the plunger g moves forward and inserts the said
cartridge into the barrel, and the gun is fired; then the slide c moves back to
receive another cartridge from the vertical feeder and stops while the plunger g
is moved back, and the empty or exploded cartridge shell is extracted and ejected
from the gun through the slot a¹ in the side of the same; and the movements and
action of the said plunger and slide may be continued for any length of time and
with great rapidity.

page_text: A notch he is cut in one of the discs h*, which are connected by the cam or
wrist pin h to allow of the necessary upward movement of the long arm r¹ of a
bell-crank lever ? when the parts of the gun are in the proper position for firing.
The short arm 72 of this lever projects up through a slot or opening g' in the
plunger g, and enters a slot in the firing pin g³. The notch h³ is so located with
respect to the arm of the bell-crank lever that the said arm is held in the
position shewn in Figure 3 by the periphery of the disc h* until the plunger has
carried the cartridge forward into the barrel ready to be fired; then by the further
rotation of the discs h* by the handle h³ attached to the shaft h the said notch is
brought into such a position as to permit the action of the mainspring t on said
lever r, thus causing the arm 2 to drive forward the firing pin g² and explode the
cartridge. This position of the parts of the mechanism is shewn in Figure 4.
By these improvements the said gun is rendered very simple in its construction
and operation, the action of all of its parts will be positive, and the possibility of
failure in the extraction or ejection of the cartridge shells is entirely obviated.
Another very important advantage connected with the said gun is the possibility
of working it in any position without affecting the feeding or ejection of the
cartridges.
Instead of arranging the piece c to slide horizontally from side to side on the
rods c³, as shewn, I may form the said piece with a downward extension, and pivot
the same at its lower end to the breech frame, so that this piece c will have an
oscillating instead of a sliding movement, its upper surface being part of a circle
whose centre is the said pivot.
The arrangement of the movable partition or partitions in this oscillating piece
will be the same as in the slide.
The required oscillating movement of the said piece may be derived from the
cam through the medium of any suitable rods or other devices.
The cartridge holder for supplying the vertical cartridge feeder b, shewn in
Figures 17 and 18, is constructed as follows, that is to say:-p is a block of wood
or other suitable material provided with recesses p₁ to receive the cartridges, the
said recesses being of such a depth that the heads of the cartridges when inserted
into the same will project beyond the face of the said block, as shewn,
In the sides of the said block I cut recesses p² for the reception of the flanges q'
of a plato q of tin or other material of the shape shewn in Figure 17. This plate
prevents the dropping of any of the cartridges from the cartridge holder P after
the same has been filled with such cartridges.
When it is desired to supply the feeder b the said cartridge holder is held above
the same, and by moving it downward while the lower edge of the plate q rests
upon the surface b¹ of the said vertical feeder the cartridges will be inserted into
the feeder, the plate q falling away from the holder p; the said block can then be
drawn away from the feeder, leaving the cartridge heads behind the flange in the
feeder, and the cartridges are free to descend in the same, and drop upon the slide c,
as above described.
In Figure 16 I have shewn my improvements as applied to a gun with two
barrels. In this arrangement the rib or raised portion d is reduced in width, and
the cartridges are received between this rib d and the movable partition e on either
side alternately.
It will be observed that in this arm there are two discharge apertures a³, and
two movable partitious e in the slide c, the other parts being substantially the
same as those above described.
The plungers in connection with the said double-barreled gun are operated by a
double crank so arranged as to give an alternate movement to the said plungers,
thereby causing an alternate firing of each barrel of the said gun.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,.
First. The slide, or sliding, or oscillating piece arranged to move transversely to

page_text: and fro in the space behind the barrel, and provided with an adjustable partition,
which alternately presents and removes one side of a chamber or receptacle in
which each cartridge lies in its passage through the gun.
Second. The combination of this slide, or sliding, or oscillating piece and its
movable partition with the block or plate in the cover in such a manner that the
said block or plate forms the top of the said chamber or receptacle, as above set
forth.
Third. The combination of the said movable partition with the inclined surface
on the plunger, and with the spring, and with or without the inclined face or
projection in the bottom of the breech frame, in such a manner that the said
partition is alternately raised, held up, and depressed, as and for the purposes
specified.
Fourth. The longitudinally moving plunger and the transversely moving slide
combined and operating within the breech frame, as and for the purposes specified.
Fifth. The peculiar arrangement of the extractor in combination with the end of
the plunger, the transversely moving slide or piece, the movable partition, and the
aforesaid block or plate in such a manner that notwithstanding any differences in
the length of the cartridges there will be no obstacle to the passing of their heads
behind the hook or claw of the said extractor, and the latter will operate without
liability to failure, as above set forth.
Sixth. The combination of parts comprising the above-described transversely
moving slide or piece, and movable partition, the vertical cartridge feeder, and the
discharge aperture at the side of the breech frame or box, as and for the purposes
above set forth.
Seventh. The combination of parts comprising the aforesaid longitudinally
moving plunger, the transversely moving slide with its partition plate, and the
operating cams and connections so combined and arranged that the proper relative
movements of the said plunger, slide, and partition plate are effected by the turning
of the handle, as and for the purposes above set forth.
Eighth. A gun with either one or two barrels, provided with the improved
mechanism, consisting of the parts above described, and shewn in the accompanying
Drawing, and operating as above.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.-