IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF MULTITUBULAR FIREARMS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Giovanni Pace, of the City of Valetta, in tho Island of
Malta, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE
CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF MULTITUBULAR FIREARMS."
1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Giovanni Pace at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th April 1880.
GIOVANNI PACE, of the City of Valetta, in the Island of Malta. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF MULTITUBULAR
FIREARMS."
This Invention has reference to certain improvements in or connected with the
construction and working of fire-arms, the Invention having especial reference to
combined multitubular and magazine fire-arms.
The tubes or barrels, of which there may be any suitable or required number, are
arranged parallel with each other and in a rectangular, circular, grouped, or in any
other desired order, and are supported by the front plate of a case into which the
cartridges are charged or fed from the magazine or main receptacle, as hereinafter
described, this case being carried by a stand or frame by which the other parts of
the machine are also carried.
The magazine or main receptacle for the cartridges is situated rearward of the
case, and the cartridges are fed from the former into the latter in regular succession
by means of a series of rammers (equal in number to the barrels) and which are
reciprocated to and fro by rods (one to each rammer) actuated by a series of
cranks (one to cach rod) on a shaft which is supported at the rear end of the
machine by the frame, and is turned at any desired speed by means of a handle.
The cranks are arranged in such a manner as to cause a constant succession of
movements of the successive rammers and therefore a continuous supply of
cartridges from the magazine to the case, and a continuous or non-intermittent
discharge thereof, as hereinafter described.
To the rod of each rammer is secured a guide plate by which the rammer is
carried, and which also carries a projecting cam or inclined piece which engages
with or is suitably jointed or connected to a cartridge receiver to which it imparts
vertical reciprocating movements within one division or chamber of the case,

page_text: causing it when the cam is thrust forward to be raised to the proper position for
receiving the cartridges as they are thrust by the rammers from the magazine,
and causing it when the cam is drawn back to be lowered to the proper position
for the discharge of the cartridgo.
Each cam similarly acts upon a detainer by which a needle or striker is controlled,
allowing it to be impelled by a hammer only when the rearward movement of the
cam sufficiently lowers it.
The guido plate of the rod of each rammer also carries a spring catch, which
in its forward movement on encountering the depending end of its hammer slips
past it, but in its rearward movement catches it until it is well back when it
releases it, the hammer being then impelled by a spring with great energy against
the inner end of the striker so as to explode the cartridge, the detainer boing then
out of the way and the cartridge in proper position.
The guided plates carrying the rammers, cams, and spring catches work between
suitable guide rods, the foremost connecting bar of which acts as a rear stop for
the series of needles or strikers.
The hammers and their springs and the guide rods which are connected at each
end by a bar are carried or supported by the frame.
At each end the frame carries a grooved wheel or pulley, the two being connected
by an endless chain or wire, the object being to provide a means by which the
above-described mechanism may be actuated from oither end of the machine.
Tho mechanisin is all enclosed within a suitable case or box which may be made
of wood or metal of a corresponding form, (the handle and part of the barrels and
of the magazine alone protruding,) or of such a form as to conceal its nature and
intended use.
The action of the mechanism is as follows:-Upon motion being given to the
crank-shaft from either end of the machine by means of the handle, the said cranks
successively thrust forward and withdraw the series of rods carrying the guided
plates, each of which carries its series of a rammer, a spring catch, and a cam or
inclined piece. At the forward movements of the rods the cams successively raise
their respective cartridge receivers within the partitioned case into proper portions
to receive the cartridges from the magazine, the bottom of which is grooved or
corrugated so that each cartridge shall be exactly opposite the chamber of the
receiver when it is sufficiently elevated, the forward movements of the cams also
raising the detainers so as to push back the striking needles, and towards the end
of this forward movement the series of rammers are successively caused to push
the cartridges lying in the grooves at the bottom of the magazine into the opposite
raised receivers and clear of the magazine, and to expel from the receivers the
used cases of any discharged cartridges which may be therein. In the receding
movements of the rods, which commence immediately after the charging of their
respective receivers, the latter and their needle-detainers are succossively lowered
by the action of the cams, the former into firing position and the latter out of the
paths of the needles, and their spring catches successively catch into their respective
bammers, withdrawing the latter against the resistance of their springs until they
successively escape their catches when they are successively acted upon by their
respective springs, and cause the successive dischargo of the cartridges in the
receivers already in firing position.
Among the advantages of the above described arrangement as compared with
that of other fire-arms of a similar class are its comparative lightness and small
compass, enabling it to be carried and worked without fatigue; its simplicity,
enabling it to be loaded and fired while the bearer is in any position; and its
capability of continuously ejecting a continuous supply and practically indefinite
number of projectiles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions o
the said Giovanni Pace in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th October
1880.
GIOVANNI PACE, of the City of Valetta, in the Island of Malta.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF MULTITUBULAR
FIRE-ARMS."
This Invention has reference to certain improvements in or connected with the
construction and working of fire-arms, the Invention having especial reference to
combined multitubular and magazine fire-arms.
The tubes or barrels, of which there may be any suitable or required number,
are arranged parallel with each other and in a linear, rectangular, circular,
grouped, or in other desired order.
The barrels 1 are supported by the front plate 2 of a case 3 into which the
cartridges are charged or fed from the magazine or main receptacle 5, as
hereinafter described, the case 3 being carried by a stand or frame 6 by which
the other parts of the machine are also carried.
The magazine 5 is situated rearward of the case 3, and the cartridges are fed
from the former into the latter in regular succession by means of a series of
rammers 7, and which are reciprocated to and fro by rods 8 actuated by a series
of cranks 9 on a shaft 10 which is supported at the rear end of the machine
by the frame 6, and is turned at any desired speed by means of a handle placed
on its squared end 11.
The cranks are arranged in such a manner as to cause a constant succession
of movements of the successive rammers, and therefore a continuous supply of
cartridges from the magazine to the case 3, and a continuous discharge thereof,
as hereinafter described.
To the rod 8 of each rammer is jointed or secured a guided plate 15 by which,
as shown most clearly in Figure 2, the rammer is carried, the plate also carries
a projecting cam or inclined piece 16 which engages with or is suitably jointed
by means of a pivoted piece a, see Figures 1, 2, and 4 (which are respectively
a longitudinal section, a detached longitudinal section, and a sectional plan view),
to a recessed cartridge receiver 17, to which it imparts vertical reciprocating
movements within one division or chamber of the case 3 (which is partitioned into
chambers by division plates 18), as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the latter being a
cross section of the apparatus, the left half in advance of the plate 2 and the right
half behind it), causing it when the cam is thrust forward to be raised to the proper
position (shown in Figure 1, and also in Figure 4) for receiving the cartridge as it
is thrust by the corresponding rammers from the magazine 5, and causing it when
the cam is drawn back to be lowered to the proper position (shown in Figure 2, and
also in Figure 4) for the discharge of the cartridge.
Each cam 16 similarly acts upon a detainer 19 by which a needle or striker 20 is
controlled, allowing it to be impelled by a hammer 21 only when the rearward
movement of the cam sufficiently lowers it, as shown in Figure 2.
The guided plate 15 of the rod of each rammer also carries a spring-catch 22
which in its forward movement on encountering the depending end 23 of its
hammer 21 slips past it, but in its rearward movement catches it until it is well
back, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, when it releases it, the hammer being
then impelled by a spring 24 with great energy against the inner end of the
striker 20 so as to explode the cartridge, the detainer 19 being then out of the way
and the cartridge in proper position.
The guided plates 15 which thus carry the rammers, cams, and spring catches
work between suitable guide rods 25, the foremost connecting bar 26 of which acts
as a rear stop for the series of needles or strikers 20, see Figure 2.

page_text: The hammers 21, their springs 24, and the guide rods 25 which are connected
at each end by a bar 26 are carried or supported by cross bars of the frame 0
as clearly shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 5.
At each end the frame carries a shaft 10, 27, and on these shafts are fitted
grooved wheels or pulleys 28 or their equivalents, such as bevil gearing, the two
being connected by an endless chain or wire 29 or by a spindle carrying other
bevil gearing the object being to provide a means by which the above described
mechanism may be actuated from either end of the machine, a handle being
placed on either squared end 11 of the shafts 10, 27. This arrangement however is
quite optional.
The mechanism is all enclosed within a suitable case or box 30, which may be
made of wood or metal of a corresponding form, the handle and part of the barrels
and of the magazine alone protruding; or it may be made of such a form as to
conceal its nature and intended use.
The action of the mechanism is as follows:-Upon motion being given to the
crank shaft 10 from either end of the machine by means of a handlo the cranks 9
successively thrust forward and withdraw the series of rods 8, reciprocating the
guided plates 15, each of which carries its series of a raminer 7, a spring catch 22,
and a cam or inclined piece 16. At the forward movements of the rods S the
cams 16 successively raise their respective cartridge receivers 17 within the
partitioned case 3 into proper positions (see Figure 1) to receive the cartridges 4 from
the magazine 5, the bottom of which is grooved or corrugated, as shown most
clearly in Figure 5, which is a cross section, the left half through the magazine
and the right half in rear thereof, so that cach cartridge shall be exactly opposite
the chamber 31 of the receiver when it is sufficiently elevated, see Figure 1, the
forward movements of the cams also raising the detainers 19, so as to push back
the striking needles 20; and towards the end of this forward movement the series
of rammers 7 are successively caused to push the cartridges lying in the grooves
at the bottom of the magazine 5 into the opposite raised receivers 17 and clear of
the magazine, as shown in Figure 1, and to expel from the receivers the used cases
of any discharged cartridges which may be therein, and which fall down the
inclined plate 36 and out at the side of the machine. In the receding movements
of the rods 8, which commence immediately after the charging of their respectivo
receivers 17, the latter and their needle detainers 19 are successively lowered by
the action of the cams 16, the former into firing position, see Figure 2, and the
latter out of the paths of the needles 20, and their spring catches 22 successively
catch into the ends 23 of their respective hammers 21, withdrawing the latter
against the resistance of their springs 24 until they successively escape their
catches 22, when they are successively acted upon by their respective springs 24,
and cause the successive discharge of the cartridges in the receivers 17 immediately
they reach the firing position.
Among the advantages of the above described arrangement as compared with
other fire arms of a similar class are its comparative lightness and sinali compass,
enabling it to be carried and worked without fatigue; its simplicity, enabling it
to be loaded and fired while the bearer is in any position; and its capability of
continuously discharging a continuous supply and practically indefinite number of
projectiles.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention,―
The novel and peculiar combination in combined multitubular and magazine
fire arms of reciprocating cams or inclined pieces 16 with cartridge receivers 17,
which are acted upon thereby, as and for the purposes herein before described, and
with rammers 7 for pushing the cartridges from a magazine 5 into the receivers,
and with spring catches 22 for withdrawing hammers 21, which upon being released
therefrom are acted upon by springs 24, and with detainers 19 for controlling the
action of the needles, primary motion being derived from a series of cranks 9 or by

page_text: any equivalent means, and the above parts acting substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings. I also claim any analogous or subsidiary combination of such parts
having the interaction or being for the purposes hereinbefore respectively set forth,
5 and the application of the same in whole or in part for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Giovanni Pace, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and cighty.
GIOVANNI PACE. (L.S.)