IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO 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 AND RELATING TO MACHINE GUNS." A communication
from abroad by De Witt Clinton Farrington, of Lowell, Massachusetts, United
States of America.
Sealed the 6th December 1878, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
and dated the 14th May 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th May 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINE
GUNS." A communication from abroad by De Witt Clinton Farrington, of Lowell,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
The improvements in machine guns, and the means of feeding the same, which
form the subject matter of this Invention, arc herein-after described and illustrated
under four heads or divisions, as follows, viz. :—
First. Devices for supporting and shifting the barrels of the gun.
Second. Devices for feeding the cartridges to the gun.
Third. Automatic and adjustable traverse mechanism, whereby a constant lateral
change may be given to the direction of the barrels.
And, Fourth. Mechanism for adjusting the carriage of the gun for increasing the
angle of elevation and depression of the barrels, and for varying the plane of their
lateral sweep.
The Invention relates to that class of machine guns in which there is a nest or
group of barrels, and the following is a description of the devices and mechanism
embraced in each of the above-named divisions.
First. Devices for Supporting and Shifting the Barrels of the Gun.-The main · ·
object of the devices included under this head is to provide efficient and ready

page_text: means of shifting the barrels, at the pleasure of the gunners, as one barrel after
another becomes heated; and also to provide means of supporting the barrels,
whereby they will have the requisite longitudinal play to compensate for any
extension produced by the high temperature which accompanies rapid firing without
having their parallelism with each other disturbed, and whereby they may be
readily lifted and conveniently supported for purposes of examination or cleaning.
The accompanying Drawings (Sheet I.) show the improved mechanism as applied
to a group of four barrels, Figures 1 to 5 inclusive giving various views of the
shifting devices, and Figures 6 to 8 inclusive showing the mode of supporting the
muzzle end of the barrels and providing for the longitudinal play.
Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the barrels and the shifting devices; Figure 2 is a
rear elevation of the same parts, showing the barrel as partially rotated and midway
between two consecutive firing positions; Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same,
the shifting lever being shown partly in section.
Figuro.4 is a vertical section of the parts as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of the spring bolt for locking the barrels
against accidental rotation.
Figure 6 is a plan view of the muzzle-supporting devices.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the barrels, showing the muzzle supports in section.
And Figure 8 is a transverse view of the parts on a plane immediately behind
the muzzle-supporting ring.
Referring to these Drawings it will be seen that the barrels are mounted in two
disks, one, A, at thoir rear, and one, B, near their muzzles; and these disks again are
supported by and turn within the rings C and D. Of these rings the rear ono is
sustained by means of side ears resting on the breech frame of the gun, while the
other one is pivoted to the forward end of the arms E, E, projecting forward from
the breech frame, so as to turn freely on a horizontal axis.
An annular shoulder or step is formed on each of the barrel-supporting disks.
In the case of the rear disk this shoulder is cut into a series of ratchet teeth
corresponding in number to the number of the barrels, and designed to work in
conjunction with the pawl of the shifting lever, as herein-after explained; and in
the case of the forward disk the shoulder on its periphery is arranged to abut
against a corresponding shoulder on the inner face of the supporting ring, which
construction is designed to prevent the barrels from falling through the muzzle ring
when they are tilted upon the horizontal pivots of such ring.
F is the shifting lever provided with a spring pawl G, and pivoted to the disk A
so as to turn freely thereon; and H is a spring detent for locking the barrels against
further or accidental rotation when onco shifted. The pawl G carries upon its side
a trippet or lifter I, which passes alternately under and over the head of the detent H
as the shifting lever moves forward and back.
The operation of this part of the mechanism is as follows:-As the shifting lever
is thrown from left to right the toe or lifter I passes under the head of the detent
bolt H, and lifts its point out of engagement with the periphery of the disk A, thus
leaving the barrels free to be rotated. Immediately thereafter and before the lifter I
has released the bolt H, the pawl G has engaged with a tooth of the ratchet and
begun to rotate the disk, so that the bolt H will be sustained in its elevated position
even after the lifter I has passed out from under its head, and will remain so until
the lever reaches its extreme throw, when the bolt will drop into the next hole J in
the disk A, and thus securely lock the barrels against further rotation until the
detent is again raised.
In returning the shifting lever to its original position the barrels are held by the
detent H, and the pawl G rides upon the inclined face of the ratchet tooth next
behind it. This keeps the lifter I raised until it has passed over the head of the
detent, when the pawl drops into the next succeeding depression of the ratchet,
ready, when required, to move the barrels forward another step.
K, K, are two pins projecting rearward from the ring C, designed to operate in

page_text: conjunction with the housing of the hopper, which fits down upon them to lock the
barrels down against vertical displacement.
The barrels are screwed into the rear disk A, having no longitudinal play therein;
but, as is clearly shown in the Drawings, each barrel has an independent play
within certain limits in the muzzle-supporting disk B, and this disk, in turn, bas a
limited play in its supporting ring.
From this construction it follows that when a barrel becomes heated under rapid
firing and expands, it can slide in the muzzle disk; and if this expansion proceeds
until the shoulder on the barrel meets the disk, then the disk can be carried bodily
forward within the surrounding ring sliding on the other barrels. Thus both the
disk and all the other barrels are protected from injurious strain and warping by
the heating of any one barrel.
Whenever, for the purpose of inspection, cleaning, or removal of a foreign body,
it becomes necessary to get access to the rear of the barrels, this is easily effected
by the use of the horizontal pivots or trunnions on which the muzzle ring D is
hung. Upon releasing the rear of the barrels from the holding-down devices the
entire system of barrels can be tilted upon theso trunnions, and secured temporarily
in such position by passing a bar across the two arms E, E, underneath the barrels.
The annular shoulder on the periphery of the disk B prevents tho barrel, when thus
tilted, from sliding through the muzzle ring.
Second. Devices for Feeding the Cartridges to the Gun-The object of the
devices included under this division is to provide an easy and rapid mode of feeding
cartridges to the magazine of a machine gun, and at the same time render them
secure and convenient for transportation. These devices are fully illustrated on
Sheet I. of the Drawings in Figures 9 to 13 inclusive.
Figure 9 is a vertical section of the hopper (here shown as operi in front), the
cartridge holder being shown inserted in the throat of the hopper.
Figure 10 is a rear elevation of the parts occupying the same relative position.
Figure 11 is a horizontal section of the cartridge holder detached; Figure 12 is a
broken vertical section of the same.
And Figure 13 is a horizontal section of the hopper and cartridge holder on the
dotted line of Figure 9, showing a cartridge in position for feeding.
"
The cartridge holder or case L, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, consists of a strip
of metal or other suitable material, shaped so as to form grooves or channels for the
reception of the flange of the cartridges, the cartridges being allowed sufficient play
in those grooves to descend easily by the force of gravity when the holder is placed
in an upright position.
To prevent the cartridge from dropping out accidentally a bent spring M is
secured to the back of each end of the holder, the toe of which reaches in under
the bottom of the cartridge, and thus sustains the entire column. In filling the
holder one of these springs must be pressed back, and so also when it is desired to
let the cartridges run out of the holder into the hopper, through which they are fed
into the gun.
N is the hopper or feed tube, which, when in use, is to be so placed as to feed the
cartridges down to the carrier, by which they are conveyed into the barrels. This
tube is made slightly trumpet-shaped at its top to facilitate the introduction of the
holder or cartridge case; and it has on its interior and opposite each other two
narrow longitudinal grooves a, a, constructed to hold the cartridge by its flange
while it descends freely by its own weight.
If the cartridge holder L, filled with cartridges, be inserted in the tube N, and
the spring M upon the lower end of the case be thrown back, the cartridges will
immediately run out of the case into the tube N, and through that into the gun
below; and a ready mode of thus unlocking the cartridges is provided in the
peculiar form given to the spring M. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, this spring is.
provided with two ears b, b, one on each side of the toe c, and turning outward
from the back of the case.
• Attached to the back of the feed tube or hopper is a plate O, from which two

page_text: arms d, d, project through an opening into the interior of the tube in such position
that the points thereof will catch under the ears on the spring M as the cartridge
case descends, and thus, acting as an inclined plane, force the spring back and
release the cartridges. If this spring is of the proper strength the simple weight of
the loaded case will be sufficient to operate it.
Instead of the arms d, d, any equivalent device acting as a stop and catching
under the ears b, b, may be used.
As soon as the last cartridge has passed from the case the case is to be thrown
out and a new one with a fresh supply of cartridges inserted in its place.
It is not necessary to the use of the improvements herein set forth that the
hopper or feed tube be open in front, as shown in the Drawings. If closed, it
would, if made of the proper shape, admit of the entrance of the cartridge holder
.and the cartridges with the same facility as now.
Third. Automatic and Adjustable Traverse Mechanism.-This part of the Inven-
tion is to provide an automatic and an adjustable traverse, i.e., a traverse
imechanism wbich can be readily adjusted to the desired sweep of the gun, and
which, when once adjusted, will operate automatically as the gun is discharged;
and consists in the use of an adjustable eccentric connected with the main shaft
by suitable gearing, as more fully herein-after set forth. This traverse mechanism
is fully illustrated in the accompanying Drawings (Sheet II., Figures 14 to 17
inclusive).
Figure 14 is a rear elevation of the breech of the gun.
Figure 15 is a longitudinal vertical section.
Figure 16 is an enlarged detail view showing the adjustable eccentric and the
thumbscrew for regulating it.
And Figure 17 is a rear view of the traverse block and the swivel which connects
it with the elevating screw.
P is the frame, which carries the lock mechanisn and the feeding devices. Qis
the arbor or main shaft, operated by, the crank S, and an intermediate multiplying
gear, and carrying the worm wheel R. The intermediato multiplying gear is
formed upon the interior of the wheel T, and meshes with the gear U upon the
main shaft. The worm wheel R meshes with the worm gear V, the shaft of which,
carries a bevel pinion (represented by the pitch line W) which engages the bevel
gear X and thus drives the countershaft Y. The outer end of this shaft Y is made
square, and over this square end is fitted the cylindrical eccentric block Z, which,
by reason of the rectangular slot therein, can be adjusted to a greater or less degree
of eccentricity upon its shaft. This adjustinent is effected by means of the thumb-
screw c, which fits a female screw in the shaft Y, and thus by its rotation moves the
block Z backward or forward with reference to the axis of such shaft. This
eccentric block is situated between the two prongs of the forked standard f which
comes up from the traverse block g. These prongs serve as abutments, against
which the eccentric works to give the required throw to the breech of the gun.
The breech of the gun rests upon the T shaped way formed upon the upper face
of the traverse block, the lower face of the breech being grooved so as to fit the
flanges of its track, and reciprocating thereon in a lateral projection. The traverse,
block is to be swiveled upon the upper end of the elevating screw (not shown in
the Drawings) so that it can change direction slightly as the gun traverses upon its
main pivot, and thus prevent binding, this swiveling being effected by means of tho
pin, the lower end of which drops into a socket formed on the upper end of the
elevating screw; and between the traverse and the elevating screw there is to be a
transverse joint, formed by a bolt passing through the lug h, and the ears of the
forked swivel pin i. This joint is desired to give the requisite inclination to the
traverse block as the gun is elevated or depressed.
The operation of this mechanism is as follows:-The countershaft Y is caused to
revolve by means of its geared connections with the main shaft, carrying with it'
the eccentric block Z, and the working of this eccentric block against the prongs
of the standard f, which serve as abutments, imparts a lateral reciprocation to the

page_text: breech of the gun, the extent of which is regulated by the degree of eccentricity
which is given to the block Z, and may, whenever desired, be reduced to zero by
simply centering the eccentric block.
This constitutes an automatic traverse, and one, moreover, in which, by a simple
adjustment of the screw of the eccentric, the lateral sweep can be regulated at
pleasure, even while the gun is in action.
It will readily be understood that the object of this traverse mechanism is simply
to spread the shots delivered by the gun as circumstances. may require, and has
nothing to do with any change of the line of-fire. This latter is to be effected in
any of the usual modes, the entire mechanism of the gun being swiveled upon its
carriage or tripod, so as, when unclamped, to be turned in any direction at the will
of the gunners, as herein-after set forth.
Fourth. Mechanism for adjusting the Carriage of the Gun.-The main object of
the mechanism included in this division of the Invention is to adapt the gun to
more efficient service upon broken or uneven ground. To this end, as will be
readily understood, means should be provided for elevating or depressing the barrels
through the greatest range, and they should also be capable of traversing in a
horizontal or any other desired plane, whatever may be the surface of the ground
on which the gun stands. The mechanism by which these results are accomplished
is fully illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, on Sheet II., Figures 18, 19,
and 20, Figure 18 being a perspective of the gun mounted on its carriage,
Figure 19 being a detail view showing more particularly the mechanism for
leveling the piece, and Figure 20 being a view of the trail plate or anchor inverted.
Referring to the Drawing, j is the stock of the carriage; k and l, the two cheeks
attached to the axle by means of the straps m and n, which encircle the rounded
parts of the axle in such way as to permit the latter to turn freely in them.
Firmly bolted to the axle are two sword plates o, o, (one only of which is shown in
the Drawings), and the part p of each of these is provided with a series of holes for
receiving the end of a pin or key passing through the corresponding cheek piece.
By means of these plates and keys the stock and the axle can be locked together as
required. The gun E' is supported upon its trunnions r, in the vertical frame R¹,
and this frame R' is pivoted at q to a horizontal frame, which in turn is pivoted at
´s to a seat upon the axle. This horizontal frame is made in two parts Fi and G',
one of which, FL, being the part which more immediately supports the gun, is so
shaped at is forward end as to turn freely within a socket formed in the other.
t is the bolt which secures the two parts together, and the revolution of the part F
within its socket is regulated by means of the cogs and screw bolt and v. w is the
elevating screw which works within a cylinder a, which in turn can be elevated or
depressed within the cylinder y and is regulated by the set screw ; and H¹ is á
set screw for locking the frame F' and G' upon the axle.
The operation of the parts will readily be understood. By the use of the sword
plates o, in combination with the elevating screw w and the sliding cylinder x, a
greater range can be obtained in elevating and depressing the gun than would be
possible with the screw alone; and this is specially desirable in the machine gun,
which, by reason of its extreme portability, requires a capacity in this respect that
would be useless in a heavier piece.
It is plain that instead of the perforated sword o and its detaining pin or key
any device capable of accomplishing the same result, as a pawl and ratchet, may be
substituted at the will of the constructor.
The pivot s is the center on which the gun is caused to move in changing its
general line of fire, while q is the pivot around which the automatic traverse takes
place. The special mechanism by means of which the traverse may be effected is
not shown, as that forms the subject of the third division herein.
It is manifest that if a gun is made to traverse laterally while in operation, the
barrels should reciprocate in a plane having the same lateral inclination (if any) as
the line of objects at which the fire is directed, which may be widely different fron

page_text: the plane of the ground upon which the gun immediately stands. By means of the
pivot t and the adjusting mechanism u and this desirable result can readily be
attained, since the pivot t'constitutes an axis of motion at right angles to the pivot
on which the gun traverses, and by means of the cogs and screw bolts u and the
gun can be adjusted at any desired point in its arc of motion around this axis.
It is plain that for the cogs and screw bolts u and v, shown in the Drawing,
various other devices capable of accomplishing 'the same result may be substituted,
without in any way departing from the principle of the Invention, e.g., a ball-and-
socket joint situated below the frame F1, the main point being to secure for the
adjustment required an axis of motion at right angles to the pivot around which
the gun traverses.
PJ..
I is the trail plate or anchor; this device, as usually made, consists of a plate
bolted to the under side of the stock trail and having its two side edges turned
down into two parallel flanges.
The present improvement consists of a plate in which these flanges are made,
converging towards the front. It results from this construction that as the gun is
driven back by the recoil, the earth or sod is compacted and wedged in between
the converging sides of this plate,. and it thus becomes far more effectual to resist
the recoil.
So far as concerns the improved elevating and depressing mechanism above
described, as also the mechanism for regulating the fire according to the lateral
slope of the ground, it will be readily understood that it may be used in connection
with a gun mounted upon a tripod as well as one mounted on a wheel carriage.
In order to a more perfect understanding of the construction and operation of the
gun as a whole, descriptions and illustrations will now be given of the mechanism
by which the cartridges as they fall from the hopper are brought and held in align-
ment with the barrels, and of the contruction and operation of the lock mechanism
by which the cartridges are forced into the barrels and discharged, and the shells
extracted; and, also, of the location and operation of the lock mechanism in
its relation to the traverse mechanism heretofore described under the third
division.
On Sheet III. of the Drawings, Figure 21 is a longitudinal vertical section
through the center of the gun, the revolving cam groove cylinder and other parts
being in elevation, showing the relative position and operation of the various
parts.
Figure 22 is a plan view of the body of the gun, the cover being removed.
Figure 23 is a cross section on the line - - , of Figure 22, showing the geared
wheels and the ratchet wheel, and the devices by which their revolution is con-
trolled.
Figure 24 is a cross section on the line y-y, of Figure 22, showing the cartridge
carrying wheels.
Figure 25 is a plan view of the lock, the upper portion of the case being re-
moved.
Several of the parts shown in these Figures having been represented in previous
Drawings will be designated by the same letters, and the new parts will be desig
nated by numerals, as follows, viz.:-1 and 2 represent geared wheels, the gears
extending entirely around their circumference, although shown in the Drawings as
extending only partially around, and are connected by the shafts 3 and 4 to the
cartridge carrying wheels 5 and 6; all these wheels are fast to their shafts and
turn with them, and make only a partial revolution during each revolution of the
main shaft.
This partial revolution is effected as follows:-Directly in front of the wheel 2,
and made fast to the shaft 4, is a ratchet wheel 7; below, and slightly in front of
this ratchet wheel, and secured to the main shaft is a wheel 8, provided upon its
side with a boss or knob 9, which as the wheel 8 is revolved, engages with the
ratchet wheel 7, and causes its partial revolution, and also the partial revolution of

page_text: the wheels 1 and 2, and 5 and 6; the revolution thus given to the cartridge car-
rying wheels 5 and 6 is just sufficient to carry the lower cartridge from its position
in the bottom of the hopper into alignment with the barrel of the gun..
The cartridge having been brought into this position, the carrying wheels are
held stationary by the following described means, till the cartridge is forced into
the barrel and discharged. The ratchet wheel 7 is provided with a two-armed:
pawl 10, which is hung loosely upon the shaft 4, one of its arms being bent forward.
so as to ride over the periphery of the wheel 8, and the other being in engagement
with the ratchet wheel..
The periphery of the wheel 8 is provided with a depression 11 extending through-
out about one-fourth of its circumference, and as the arm of the pawl which rests.
upon this wheel is heavier than the other arm, it drops into the depression and.
releases the other arm from its engagement with the ratchet; as soon as the paw!
has passed the depression, it is again lifted upon the periphery of the wheel, and
I its other arm brought into engagement with the ratchet, and the cartridge carrying.
wheels are held stationary till the depression in the wheel 8 allows the arm to.drop:
again. The knob 9 and the .depression 11 of the wheel 8 are so related to each
other that the knob engages with the ratchet just as the pawl is released there-
from.
The main shaft beyond the geared wheels 1 and 2 is enlarged and provided with..
an endless cam groove 12; the direction of this groove is shown in Figures 21 and
22. From the face of this cylinder or enlarged portion of the shaft projects the:
cocking plate 13, and the recoil plate 14.
The lock 15 is shown.in section in Figure 21, and in plan in Figure 25, and is:
moved on a plate with ways to and from the barrels by the revolution of the grooved.
cylinder, the projection 16 on the lock case resting in the groove.12.
The lock is provided with a case enclosing a plunger. 18, within which plays a
firing pin 19; to the rear of the fireing pin is the hammer 20, and projecting from.
the hammer through a slot in the case is the trigger or lug 21; a stiff spring 22
rests between the rear of the case and the shoulders 23. The firing pin is also
provided with a spring 26 to retract, the pin when it has been thrown by the
hammer.
Attached to the case, and projecting beyond the end of the plunger, are the ex-
tractors 27, 27, having their projecting ends so shaped as to grasp the flange of the.
cartridge when they are closed upon it by the forcing of their tails asunder by the:
entrance of the hammer between them.
By making the firing pin separate from. the bolt or hammer which drives it:
forward, a more limited forward and backward movement can be given to the pin,.
the desired force being obtained by the more extended throw of the hammer, and
the, liability of fouling the lock. by pumping back the gases from the exploded":
cartridge is proportionately avoided.
The cocking plate 13 and the recoil plate 14 are preferably of steel, and are
firmly fixed in and project from the revolving.cam grooved cylinder. The cocking.
plate is situated on that portion of the cylinder adjacent the cartridge carrying
wheels 5 and 6, and passes. about one-fourth around the cylinder, the direction of.its
operating face being at nearly right angles to the line of the main shaft, while the.
cam groove which lies directly behind the cocking plate gradually approaches the..
cocking plate.
-
The recoil plate is located directly in the rear of this part of the cam groove, and
is parallel with it. The cover A¹ of the magazine case when closed, holds the lock.:
and other parts in position.
The lock being placed in position, its lug 16 resting in. the groove adjacent the
ratchet wheel (as shown in Fig. 22), it is driven towards the barrels by the:
revolution of the cylinder.
.
As the lock is advanced, the end of the plungor is forced against the butt of the .
cartridge which is held between the wheels 5 and 6 on a line with the barrel, and

page_text: pushes the cartridge into the barrel; the trigger or lug 21 is also brought in contact
with the face of the cocking plate, and the advance of the hammer 20 is thereby
arrested; the lock however continuing its forward movement by reason of the
forward direction of the groove; when, by the further revolution of the cylinder,
the cocking plate has passed the line of the advance of the lock, the trigger is
released, and the expansion of the spring 22 throws tlie hammer against the butt of
the firing pin, and drives the pin forward into the cartridge and explodes it.
The cartridge has been pushed fully into the barrel júst at the moment of the
release of the trigger from the cocking plate, and the hooked ends of the extractors
are closed over the flange of the cartridge by the entrance of the head of the hammer
between their tails, and held in that position till the shell is withdrawn from the
barrel and drops between the wheels 5 and 6.
After the cartridge is exploded, the continued revolution of the cylinder retracts
the lock and extracts the shell. The knob 9 and depression 11 are so located on
the wheel 8; that as soon as the shell has been extracted; the wheels 1 and 2, and 5
and 6, will be unlocked and again partially revolved; and a second cartridge brought
into line with the barrel before the lock has advanced a second time.
The grooved cylinder can be revolved with great rapidity, and as a single cart-
ridge is exploded at each revolution, several hundred shots per minute can easily be
fired.
The barrels of the gun; at any time during the firing, may be shifted instantly to
prevent them from becoming overheated: If the firing is very rapid, the barrels
should be changed for about every 2000 shots, and it will be found necessary
momentarily to slacken the fire somewhat while the change is made (see descrip-
tion under first division herein).
A constant supply of cartridges can readily be fed to the gun by the use of the
hopper, and the cartridge holders as herein-before fully described (seo description
under second division).
The traverse mechanism is so connected that it is operated by the revolution of
the main shaft; and by simply adjusting the screw e at any time during the firing,
the lateral range or sweep of the barrels may be varied to any extent within the
limits of the adjustment (see description under third division).
The angles of elevation and depression of the barrels, and also the plane of their
lateral sweep can be varied at any time by a convenient adjustment of the carriage,
or the gun upon the carriage (see description under fourth division).
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,-
1. The combination of the shifting devices and the barrel supporting discs and
rings, substantially as set forth, whereby the barrels may be readily shifted at the
will of the operator.
2. The muzzle-supporting disc working in a ring mounted on trunnions, which,
while permitting the group of barrels to be rotated, also permits them to be readily
tilted as occasion requires.
3. The feeding mechanism consisting of the grooved cartridge holder provided
with springs attached to its rear side for holding the cartridges in place, and of the
grooved hopper or feed tube provided with arms or equivalent devices projecting
inwardly for releasing the cartridges from the holder or case.
4. The automatic traverse, consisting of an adjustable eccentric operated from the
main shaft and combined with suitable abutments, substantially in the manner set
forth.
5. In combination with the adjustable eccentric and suitable abutments, the
swivelled traverse block which supports the breech of the gun.
6. The combination in a machine gun of an elevating screw, a sword plate or
equivalent device, and an intermediate plate supporting the gun proper and the
J
•

page_text: 7. The combination, substantially as described, of a traverse pivot and an axis of
motion at right angles thereto for regulating the plane of the traverse.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WM RORT LAKE (L.S.)