IMPROVE- MENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINE-GUNS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, OWEN JONES, of 18 Southampton Street, Bloomsbury Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINE-GUNS " to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the now well known "Gardner "
machine-gun, one form or modification of which is described in the specification of
Letters Patent dated 22nd December 1880, N° 5384.
་
My said invention is designed to improve the construction and increase the
efficiency of such guns by combining therewith feed-apparatus similar to that
described in the specification of my former Letters Patent dated 31st January 1882,
No 491.
In guns of this class, as heretofore constructed, the cartridges are first arranged
in rows or columns in vertical feeders, down which they descend to a horizontal
slide or sliding plate whereby they are transferred to grooves in line with, and in
front of, the plungers which force them into the barrels. In this operation gravity
plays an important part, and its action will be effectual while the gun is being
worked in a horizontal position, but, when such guns have any considerable
elevation or depression, it is found that the friction between the cartridges and the
surfaces of the vertical feeders is so great as to impede the descent of the cartridges
therein, so that the feed is stopped or becomes uncertain. The chief object of my
present invention is to provide "Gardner" guns with a positive feed which does
not depend upon the action of gravity; although, in some cases, the operation of
my feed apparatus is assisted by gravity.
In carrying my said invention into practice, in respect of the positive feed
I dispense with the vertical feeders, the horizontal sliding plate or slide at the rear
of the barrels, and the grooved bed-plate described in the said former specification
No 5384; I am thus enabled to obtain a clear rectangular space or aperture at the
rear of the barrels, and I make a corresponding aperture in the cover of the gun.
In this manner I provide for the introduction into the gun of a box or frame,
similar to that described in my said specification N° 491, for supplying the gun
with cartridges.
I provide means whereby the said box or frame will be caused to move inter-
mittently through the said space or aperture in the gun-frame, to bring the rows
of cartridges successively in line with the barrels. For this purpose I provide for

page_text: operating the box by mechanism which receives an intermittent motion from the
cams or cam-shaft forming part of the original mechanism of the gun. Various
forms or arrangements of mechanism are practicable for this purpose, but I prefer
the following, viz :-I provide the said box or frame with a rack or series of teeth
on each side thereof; two pinions formed or fixed on shafts carried in suitable
bearings in the sides of the frame are arranged to gear with the said racks when
the box is inserted in the gun; the said shafts are provided with pins, teeth, or
grooved wheels to engage with tappets or with cam-grooves or projections in, or
on, each of the end discs or cams of the cam-shaft or crank-shaft, so that, in each
revolution of the said crank-shaft, one of the said pins, or teeth, or grooved wheels
will be moved to turn its shaft and pinion partially around its axis. The pinions
are thus intermittently rotated so that, after the discharge of each row of cartridges,
the box or frame is moved down sufficiently to bring a fresh row of cartridges into
line with the barrels, and is held in that position while the cartridges in this row
are fired and extracted.
In some cases, I retain the vertical feeders and substitute for the sliding plate
or slide herein before referred to, a transversely sliding frame which is fitted to work
to and fro in suitable bearings and is provided with grooves or recesses, substantially
as described in the said former specification N° 491. This frame requires to be
moved in one direction during one revolution of the crank-shaft and in the opposite
direction during the next revolution thereof. For this purpose, I preferably fix on
each end of the crank-shaft, within the gun-frame, a toothed pinion which is
geared with a toothed wheel having twice as many teeth as the said pinion, so that
the said wheel will be rotated once in every two revolutions of the crank-shaft.
The toothed wheels are mounted upon pins or studs fixed in the gun-frame, and
are provided with projections or tappets which, in the alternate revolutions of the
crank-shaft, will act upon the sliding frame, either directly or through the medium
of suitable levers or devices, and move the said frame in opposite directions. The
projections or tappets on the two toothed wheels are placed diametrically opposite
to each other, so that the said wheels will act alternately upon the sliding frame.
Dated thin l Ja of T... 100R
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant..

page_text: I, OWEN JONES, of 18 Southampton Street, Bloomsbury Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, 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:
My invention relates to machine-guns of the class described in the specifications
of Letters Patent No 881 dated 1st March A.D. 1876, N°, 2735 dated 8th July
A.D. 1878, and No 5384 dated 22nd December A.D. 1880, and now commonly
known as "Gardner" guns, another type or example of which class of guns is
described in the specification of Letters Patent No 1317 dated 2nd April A.D. 1879.,
My said invention is designed to improve the construction and increase the
efficiency of such guns by substituting, for the feed-mechanism heretofore used in
the "Gardner" system, apparatus similar to that described in the specification of
my former Letters Patent dated 31st January A.D. 1882, No 491.
In guns of the class above specified, as heretofore constructed, the cartridges are
first arranged in rows or columns in vertical feeders, down which they descend to
a horizontal slide or sliding plate whereby they are transferred to grooves in line
with, and in front of, the plungers which force them into the barrels. In this feed
operation, gravity plays an important part, and its action will be effectual while.
the gun is being worked in a horizontal position and at such a speed as will give,
time for the descent of the cartridges in front of the plungers while the said
plungers are in their rearmost position; but, when such guns have any considerable
elevation or depression, it is found that the friction between the cartridges and the
surfaces of the vertical feeders is so great as to impede the descent of the cartridges
therein, so that the feed is stopped or becomes uncertain.
The chief object of my present invention is to provide machine-guns of the class,
above referred to with a positive feed which does not depend upon the action of
gravity, although, in some modifications, of my invention, the operation of the feed-
apparatus is assisted by gravity.
In carrying my said invention into practice in respect of the positive feed,
I dispense with the original feed-mechanism of the gun, and thus obtain a clear,
rectangular space or aperture in the gun-frame at the rear of the barrels, and
I make a corresponding aperture in the top or cover of the gun. In this manner
I provide for the introduction into the gun of a box or frame, similar to that
described in my said specification No 491, for supplying the gun with cartridges.
I provide means whereby the said box or frame will be caused to move
intermittently through the said space or aperture in the gun-frame, to bring
the rows of cartridges successively in line with the barrels. For this purpose
I provide for operating the box by mechanism which receives an intermittent
motion from the cam-shaft or crank-shaft forming part of the original mechanism
of the gun. I employ various forms or arrangements, of mechanisin for this.
purpose.
J
In some cases, I retain the vertical feeders and substitute, for the other parts,
of the original feed-mechanism of the gun, a, horizontal transversely sliding frame a

page_text: which is fitted to work to-and-fro in suitable bearings and is provided with grooves
or recesses, substantially as described in my said specification No 491.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1.is a plan, and
Figure 2 a vertical longitudinal central section of a "Gardner" gun with my
positive feed-apparatus applied thereto.
Figure 3 is a plan of the same, partly in horizontal central section.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line x, x¹, Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a side elevation showing details of construction.
Figure 7 is a vertical section, on the line y, y Figure 2, of part of my cartridge
box or frame.
Figure 8 is a side elevation, and
Figure 9 an end elevation, partly in transverse section, showing a modification,
of my invention.
Figure 10 is a plan of a "Gardner" gun with my horizontal transversely sliding
frame applied thereto, the top or cover of the gun being removed.
Figure 11 is a section on the line x, x², Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a transverse section on the line a³, ³, Figure 10.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a is the gun-frame; b, b are the barrels; c, c are the plungers; d, d are the
crank-pins, which are formed integrally with the discs or cams e fixed upon the
shaft f
9 is my vertical sliding box or frame for supplying the gun with cartridges.
This box or frame slides between two plates g¹, g³, which are hinged or pivotted to
the gun-frame a, substantially as described in my said former specification, so that,
when not in use, they can be turned down into the position shown in dotted lines
in Figure 2. The said box is provided with rack-teeth h on each side thereof.
Two pinions i are formed or fixed on shafts j carried in suitable bearings in the
sides of the gun-frame a. When the box or frame g is inserted in the rectangular
aperture in the gun-frame, these pinions gear with the racks h as shown. Notched
discs or wheels are fixed upon the shafts j, and a stud or projection / is provided
upon each of the outer cams or discs e. In each revolution of the cam-shaft or
crank-shaft f, these studs or projections engage with the notched wheels and
partially rotate the shafts j, and pinions i. An intermittent downward motion is
thus imparted to the box or frame g. The pitch of the notches in the wheels k is
such that the pinions i, in each revolution of the shaft f, will be turned sufficiently
to impart the requisite downward movement to the box g so that, after the
discharge of a row of cartridges therein and the extraction of the empty cartridge-
shells, a fresh row of cartridges will be brought into position to be thrust into the
barrel
To provide for retaining the box or frame g stationary during the loading, firing
and extracting, so that it will not be moved down by gravity whilst the studs or
projections are out of engagement with the notched wheels k, employ two stop.
bolts or catches m. These bolts or catches are fitted to slide to-and-fro in guides m¹
attached to the frame a. Each of the said bolts or catches is adapted to enter one
or other of a series of holes or notches g³ in the box g, Figure 6. A groove e¹ is
formed in each of the outer discs or cams e, and the bolts or catches m are provided
with studs or projections m³ which extend into the said cam-grooves. Therefore,
in the rotation of the cam-shaft or crank-shaft f, a positive reciprocating motion
is imparted to the said bolts or catches to insert them into, and withdraw them
from, the said holes or notches gs. The shape or configuration of the grooves e¹ is
such that the said bolts or catches will be withdrawn from the box or frame g at
the moment when the studs or projections are about to engage with the notched
wheels k, and will be inserted in the said box or frame at the moment when the
studs or projections / are about to leave the said notched wheels.

page_text: I prefer to employ two extractors n in combination with each plunger c, and to
arrange the said extractors one on each side of the plunger. In the gun shown in
Figures 1 to 7, the extractors are constructed and arranged as follows, that is to
say: Each extractor n has a projection at or near its rear end fitting into a hole
or cavity c¹ in the plunger c and provided with an elongated slot n¹. Through
this slot is passed a pin which is fixed in the plunger c. The extractor is, moreover,
provided with a projection n², which is fitted with a capability of to-and-fro
movement in a hole or cavity c² in the plunger c, and which is bevelled or inclined
at its forward end, the plunger c at the forward end of the hole or cavity c³ having
a corresponding, inclined surface. The extractors are free to move outward at their
forward extremities sufficiently to permit them to pass over the flanges of the
cartridges. When the plungers are moved backward to extract the empty
cartridge-shells, they move a short distance independently of the extractors, the
said inclined surfaces then come in contact with the inclined projections n² and
firmly hold the extractors in engagement with the cartridge-shells while the latter
are being extracted.
The empty cartridge-shells are drawn back by the extractors until their flanges
project beyond the back of the box or frame g; in the downward movement of
the said box or frame the said shells are disengaged from the extractors and are
then moved forward by the incline a¹ on the gun-frame, until they lie within the
box or frame, as described in my said former specification.
The corrugated plates g of the said box or frame, instead of being vertical, as
described in my, said former specification, are placed horizontally to permit the
passage of the extractors through the said box or frame.
Any other suitable extractors may be employed. In some instances, I use spring
extractors of the usual or any suitable construction.
I sometimes use other means than those above described for imparting from the
cam-shaft or crank-shaft an intermittent downward movement to the box or
frame g. For instance, I substitute pinions o (Figures 8 and 9) for the notched
wheels above described, and provide upon each of the outer cams or discs e, a rib
or projection p. This rib or projection throughout the greater portion of its length
is concentric with the shaft f; throughout the remainder of its length it extends
spirally inward. The shape or configuration of the said rib or projection is such
that it will; in each revolution of the shaft f, partially rotate the pinion o, one end
of the said rib or projection engaging with a tooth of the said pinion before the
other end thereof is disengaged from the preceding tooth of the pinion. A positive
intermittent downward movement is, in this manner, imparted to the box or
frame g. This arrangement may be used with or without the stop-bolts or catches
above described.
"
8
The gun shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12 is provided with a horizontal sliding
frame q formed with grooves or recesses q¹ into which the cartridges fall by gravity
from a vertical feeder such as those ordinarily used with Gardner" guns. This
frame requires to be moved in opposite directions during alternate revolutions of
the crank-shaft to transfer the cartridges which it receives from the said feeder
into line with and in front of the plungers c as described in my said specification
No 491. For this purpose, I preferably fix on each end of the crank-shaft f,
within the gun frame a, a pinion r which is geared with a toothed wheel & fitted to
rotate upon a pin or stud s¹ fixed in the gun-frame a. Each of these toothed-
wheels has twice as many teeth as the corresponding pinion, therefore, while the
crank-shaft is making two revolutions, the said toothed wheels will make one
revolution. Each of the said toothed wheels is provided with an inclined surface
or projection which, in each revolution of the said wheel, will act upon a
tappet q on the sliding frame q. The projection on one of the said wheels is
diametrically opposite that on the other wheel; the said wheels will, therefore,
act alternately upon the said frame and thus impart thereto the required recipro-
cating motion,

page_text: '
q
A block or plate t is fitted in the gun-frame a above the sliding frame o̟ and is
formed with apertures through which the cartridges will fall into the grooves q¹
of the sliding plate q from the vertical feeder, which is to be fixed above the said
plate as described in my said former specification.-
I sometimes substitute, for the pinions and toothed wheels 8, other gearing
whereby the required reciprocating motion will be imparted from the crank-shaft f
to the sliding frame
g.
In each of the guns above described and shown in the accompanying drawings,
the gun-frame and barrels, and the plungers cand mechanism for working the
same are constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described in the said
specification Nº 5384.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood
that I claim:-
First. In a machine-gun of the kind or class above specified, the substitution,
for the ordinary feed-mechanism, of my cartridge, box or frame and means for
imparting thereto from the cam-shaft or crank-shaft an intermittent downward
movement, for the purpose set forth.
Second. The combination of parts comprising the rack-teeth on the box or
frame, the pinions gearing therewith, and the notched wheels fixed upon the shafts
of the said pinions and arranged to be operated by studs or projections on the cams
or discs, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings,
and for the purpose specified.
Third. The modification of my invention wherein I provide for operating the
cartridge box or frame by means of ribs or projections on the cams or discs,
substantially as described with reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings for
the purpose specified.
Fourth. The combination, with the devices for moving the said box or frame, of
the stop-bolts or catches and the cam-grooves, substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings for the purpose specified.
Fifth. In a machine-gun of the kind or class above specified, the substitution,
for the ordinary feed-mechanism, of my horizontal transversely sliding frame and
means for imparting reciprocating motion thereto from the cam-shaft or crank-
shaft, for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The improved machine-gun consisting of the parts constructed and
combined substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
or to Figures 10, 11 and 12 of the drawings and operating as specified.