Improvements in Machine Guns.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1897-Accepted, 17th, July, 1897.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machine Guns.
I, JOSE DE SOUZA CARNEIRO DE ANDRADE, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and at present
of 34 Torrington Square, in the County of London, Under Manager in the Gun
shops of the Naval Arsenal, at Rio de Janeiro, aforesaid, 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, reference being had to
the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say
My invention relates to improvements in quick firing machine guns, and it has for
its object to enable the operations of loading, firing, and extracting to be effected by
a single revolution of a crank handle; to provide means whereby the barrels can all
be fired simultaneously, or successively, as may be desired; and to simplify and
reduce the number of working parts, without impairing the efficiency of this class of
weapon.
My invention will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan of my improved quick-fire machine gun.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, but showing the breech mechanism exposed to
view.
Fig. 4 is a rear view, the end plate having been removed for the sake of clearness.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of the breech end shewing the parts in
position at the moment of loading.
Fig. 6 is a similar view, but shewing the parts in position at the moment of firing.
Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the cartridge or locking plunger with its firing pin and
extractor.
Figs. 8 and 9 are a side and end view, respectively, of the firing cam.
Figs. 10 and 11 are two views, at right angles to each other, of the lever for
locking the parts while the gun is being fired.
Figs. 12 and 13 are a side and end view, respectively, of the cam for operating the
abovementioned locking lever.
Fig. 14 is a plan, and Fig. 15 an end view of the cartridge carrier.
Fig. 16 is an elevation, partly in section, and Fig. 17 a plan of the firing bar.
Figs. 7 to 17 are drawn to a larger scale than are the previous figures; and like
letters of reference denote the same parts throughout the drawings.
In carrying out my Invention, I mount any suitable number of barrels, a, say four,
in a frame b which extends, as usual, beyond the breech of the barrels, and is provided
with a cover c, on which is mounted the magazine (not shewn) containing the
cartridges. These latter fall through apertures c¹ in the cover c, into recesses (in
the cartridge-carrier plate d. The cover c is hinged to the rear end of the frame b,
and can be raised, after removing the magazine, for the purpose of cleaning,
inspecting, or repairing the mechanism.
6 is a cross plate by means of which the rear ends of the two sides of the frame
are connected together.

page_text: Behind the cartridge carrier d, are disposed hollow plungers e, eaclí being provided
with a firing pin f and cartridge extractor g of the usual, or of any suitable, con-
struction. They correspond in number, and are arranged in line with the barrels a,
their rear ends being secured, by screwing, in a rectangular frame h. This frame is
grooved on its outer sides and slides in guides b', 'on the inner sides of the frame b.
The frame h (carrying the plungers) receives an intermittent to and fro movement
from a double-toothed plate which is acted upon by a toothed sector j keyed on a
shaft k, having its bearings in the frame b and extending, at one end, beyond the
frame, at one side thereof, to receive a crank handle 1, by turning which the several
operations of loading, firing, and extracting are performed, as hereinafter described.
The sliding frame h imparts motion to a lever m which, in its turn, moves the
cartridge carrier d transversely to the barrels so bringing the cartridges opposite their
respective barrels.
A separate firing-barn is provided for each of the barrels, and is arranged
longitudinally below the sliding frame h. Each barn is formed with a longitudinal
recess in which are arranged the hammer o, and sear p. The hammer is controlled
by a spring o¹, fixed at o³, and engaging at its free end, which is forked, with a
transverse pino on a short linko'pivotted at o' to the hammer, see Fig. 16. The sear p,
controlled by a spring p*, is pivotted at p' in the bar a and at its front end, engages
in a notch o in the baumer, and keeps this latter in its cocked position until it
becomes disengaged, at the moment of firing, by the action of cams q, formed as rings,
and mounted on the shaft k. These cams may be arranged axially with the shaft k,
or may be arranged step-wise, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. With the former arrange.
ment, the barrels would all be fired simultaneously, whereas with the latter they would
be fired successively.
During the firing, the frame ⁄ is kept locked by a lever, pivotted at r¹ to the
fraine b, and raised at the requisite moment by a cam 8, also keyed on shaft k.
Suitable elevating and traversing gear, the usual sights, and any convenient recoil
arrangement are provided.
The action is as follows, it being assumed that the crank-handle has been revolved
sufficiently, in the direction of the arrow, to allow the cartridges to fall from the
magazine on to the carrier plate d. Now, by continuing to turn this handle, the
toothed sector j is brought into engagement with the upper teeth of the plate i and
so causes the frame h to advance towards the barrels. During the first part of this
forward moveinent, the frame acts upon the pivotted lever m, and moves it into the
position shewn in Fig. 3, thereby giving the cartridge-carrier a transverse motion, and
so bringing the cartridges opposite the breech of their respective barrels, and
consequently in line with the plungers 6. Directly the plungers come into contact
with the flanges of the cartridges, the extractors g grip these flanges and the whole
mechanism inoves forward to its furthest position (Fig. 6). At this moment, the cain 8
lifts the rear end of the lever which then retains the frame in position during
firing. The firing takes place on the toothed sector leaving the upper teeth of the
plate and before it engages with the lower teeth thereof; and in order to fire
the barrels one after the other it is necessary to produce short abrupt movements of the
crank handlo so as to bring the cams q separately into action in a more or less rapid
succession. These cams, in this movement, act against the heel of the sears and
cause them to release the hammers o which then fly up into the position shewn in
dotted lines, Fig. 16, and strike against the firing pins. When the last barrel has
been fired, the cam 8 permits the lever to free the frame h; which is then
moved rearwards by the toothed sector engaging, at this moment, with the lower
teeth of the plate i. The extractors now withdraw the empty cartridge cases,
whereupon they fall through the apertures d in the carrier d, this latter being
then moved into its initial position by the action of the frame h on the rear end
of the lever m. This frame in its rearward movement, forces the hammers back
into their cocked position, as shewn in full lines, Fig. 16. This completes the
revolution of the crank handle, and, with it, the whole cycle of operations. A
second revolution produces like results, and so on.
4

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
aud in, what manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim :
1. A quick-firing machine gun so constructed that by a single revolution of a
crank handle the operations of loading, firing, and extracting are performed,
substantially as described.
2. The firing mechanism, substantially as herein described and as shewn with
reference to Figs. 5, 6, 16 and 17 of the drawings.
3. The means for imparting an intermittent to and fro movement to the breech
mechanism, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the
drawings.
4. The means for locking the frame carrying the cartridge plungers, during
firing, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 6, 10, and 11 of the
drawings.
5. The means for enabling all the barrels to be fired either successively, or
simultaneously, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 5, 6, 8 and 9 of the
drawings.
6. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the improved
nechanism for effecting the loading, firing, and extracting operations, substantially
as described, and as shewn in the aunexed drawings.
7. My improved quick-firing machine gun, substantially as hereiubefore described
and shewn in the annexed drawings.
Dated this 31st day of May 1897.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78,Fleet Street, London, and 5A Market Street, Nottinghain,
Agent for the Applicant,