Improvements in Carriages for Machine Guns.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 12th July, 1890
cases.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carriages for Machine Guns.
I, THORSTEN NORDENFELT, of 53, Parliament Street, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to carriages for machine guns of small calibre. In carriages
for rapid movement, known as galloping carriages, the base is a rectangular frame
supported by springs from an axle, and a pair of wheels. The carriage is drawn by
horses harnessed to a pole or to a pair of shafts, connected with the axle. The base
frame supports a box with numerous partitions adapted to receive the ammunition
The lower part of the box is divided into several compartments each fo
receive a case containing ammunition. These cases enter the box from the front
they are pushed in lengthwise, the side or smallest dimension of the case being
downwards; two doors at the front of the box keep the cases in place. At its two
ends the box is higher than in the middle, and is adapted to receive a second
fier of cases. The lids or covers to these parts of the box form seats for the soldiers
when the gun is travelling. The seats are hinged to the box and they are iron plated,
one of them is raised when the gun is in action to enable the gun to be fed from the
cases in that part of the box, or both of them may be raised and form shields to protect
the men working the gun.
The front of the box serves as a shield.
Immediately beneath the seats there
are compartments for ammunition cases, three under each seat, and these cases
are arranged transversely, that is to say, the longer dimension of the box is parallel to
the axle. Between the two driving scats and in front of them there is a third scat at
a lower level and facing in the opposite direction this seat is to be occupied by a
soldier when firing. The seat is supported directly upon the splinter bar and the legs
of the man siting upon it pass down through an opening in the frame, he is provided
with a fool rest suspended below the axle. Thus seated the soldier is in a convenient
position for aiming the gun.
The mounting for the gun is between the two driving seats, The gun trunnions
are held in a fork formed with an inverted serket which fits on to the upper end of a
pivot or support. The gun can be moved around the support through a sufficient
angle to bring it to bear on the objeci, and it can also turn on its trunnions in order
to give it the elevation required. But in addition to these adjustments the pivot is
made movable in two directions, one movement is about a longitudinal axis at
its lower end and this admits of the pivot being set upright when the carriage
is standing on uneven ground with one wheel higher than the other. By means
of the other movement the pivot can be set upright when the base frame is
inclined from front in rear for the gun is sometimes fired when the horses are
harnessed and sometimes when the horses have been taken out and the head of
the pole or shaft is resting upon the ground. In this latter case the base frame
is inclined at a considerable angle. Nevertheless the pivot upon which the gun
is carried is required to be approximately upright and for this purpose it is
carried upon a foot which can be moved along a circular are.
This are is fixed upon
the box and forms the base piece of the gun mounting. The foot can be shifted along
this are and clamped in any desired position. The foot carries the axis or joint pin
about which the pivot ean furn sideways: it also is provided with hearings in which a
screw is carried. The screw has hand wheels at its ends by which it in be turned.
and there is a nut upon it provided with two horns which embrace a pin projecting
from the pivot. By turning one or other of the hand wheels the nut is traversed and
the pivot is inclined to the base frame to the extent desired.
The socket of the trunnion fork is provided with an arm projecting to the rear; and

page_text: this arm carries a trunnion nut into which the elevating screw is received. Traversing
gear is also provided in connection with this arm. Provision is made for carrying all
necessary tools.
In the infantry carriage the axle is provided with a pair of shafts and the frame-
work which carries the ammunition cases and the gun is fixed upon the shafts directly
over the axle, no springs being employed in this carriage. The gun is mounted as
before upon a pivot which can be set upright when the carriage is standing upon
uneven ground by turning it around a longitudinal axis or joint pin. In this
carriage the joint pin is immediately beneath the axle and it is central between the
two wheels. As this gun is always fired with the shafts resting upon the ground the
are adjustment for the post which supports the gun is not required. The ammunition
in this case is contained in compartments of an open rack; one compartment is above
the axle and one below the axle on both sides of its gun. All the ammunition cases
are carried with the longer dimension parallel to the axle: they are slidden along
guides into the ammunition rack from the back and when in place are secured by
doors. Each compartment may contain four cases in which case sixteen ammunition
cases are carried in all. The boxes being so arranged with regard to the axle that
the same weight comes on either side of the axle. The guides in connection with the
upper tiers of ammunition cases are so arranged that one of the ammunition cases on
each side can be lifted out from the top, the guides being cut away to admit of this
and being here replaced by a catch which, by means of a handle, can be withdrawi
when the case is required to be removed. When firing the soldier working the gun
is seated upon a slot extending from one shaft to the other, but for travelling with
horse draught this slat is turned to one side and is secured upon the top of one of the
shafts. The carriage is further supported when firing by a pair of props which can be
turned down from the shafts at a short distance in front of the axle: these props also
when travelling fold up alongside of the shafts.
Similar props are also provided to the galloping carriage and their use is to help the
shafts to take up the vibration of the carriage when the gun is fired. The fore part of
the ammunition rack is of stout iron and serves as a shield, and a shield with an
aperture in it through which the muzzle of the gun projects may be fixed to the
socket piece upon which the gun is carried.
The cases are arranged so that the gun can be fed with a belt from one of them
whilst they are in the framework and when one is empty it is replaced by a
filled one.
Dated this 1st day of Aumusi 1889
THN. NORDEN FELT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carriages for Machine Guns.
1. THORSTEN NORDENFELT. of 53, Parliament Street, in the City of Westminster,
Civil 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:-
This Invention relates to carriages for machine guns of small calibre.
Figure 1 of the annexed drawings shows a longitudinal section of a carriage con-
structed in accordance with my Invention: it is what is known as a galloping
carriage.
Figure 2 is a front elevation partly in section and Figure 3 is a half plan of the
same.
In this carriage the base is a rectangular frame a supported by springs from an
axle and a pair of wheels d d. The carriage is drawn by horses harnessed to a pole
or to a pair of shafts ee connected with the axle. The base frame supports a box f
with numerous partitions fl fl adapted to receive the ammunition cases. The lower
part of the box is divided into several compartments each to receive a case
containing ammunition. These cases enter the box from the front they are pushed

page_text: in lengthwise, the side or smallest dimension of the case beng downwards; iwo narrow
doors at the front of the box keep the cases g g in place. At its two ends the
box is higher than in the middle, and is adapted to receive a second tier of cases g¹ g¹
and the front cases are kept in place by doors ff. The lids or covers f' to these
parts of the box form seats for the soldiers when the gun is travelling. The seats are
hinged to the box and they are iron plated; one of them is raised when the gun is in
action to enable the gun to be fed from the cases in that part of the box, or both of
them may be raised and form shields to protect the men working the gun.
The part of the box which faces the enemy when the gun is in action serves as a
shield. Under each seat, three ammunition cases are arranged transversely, that is to
say, the long dimension of the box is parallel to the axle. Between the two driving
seats and in front of them there is a third seat at a lower level and facing in the
opposite direction this seat is to be occupied by a soldier when firing. The seat is
supported directly upon the splinter bar and the legs of the man sitting upon it. pass
down through an opening in the frame, he is provided with a foot rest & suspended
below the axle. Thus seated the soldier is in a convenient position for aiming the
gun.
The mounting for the gun is between the two driving seats. The gun trunnions are
held in a fork / formed with an inverted socket which fits on to the upper end of a
pivot or support m. The gun can be moved around the support through a sufficient
angle to bring it to bear on the object,and it can also turn on its trunnions a¹ in order
to give it the elevation required. But in addition to these adjustments the pivot mis
made moveable in two directions, one movement is about a longitudinal axis o at its
lower end and this admits of the pivot being set upright when the carriage is standing
on uneven ground with one wheel higher than the other. By means of the other
movement the pivot can be set upright when the base frame is inclined from front to
rear for the gun is sometimes fired when the horses are harnessed and sometimes
when the horses have been taken out and the head of the pole or shaft is resting upon
the ground. In this latter case the base frame is inclined at a considerable angle.
Nevertheless the pivot m upon which the gun is carried is required to be approximately
upright and for this purpose it is carried upon a foot which can be moved along a
circular are q
This are is fixed upon the box f and forms the base piece of the
mounting. The foot can be shifted along this are 7 and clamped in any desired
position. The foot carries the axis or joint pin about which the pivot can turn side-
ways; it also is provided with hearings in which a screw is carried. The surew
has band wheels at its ends by which it can be turned, and there is a nut s upon it
provided with two horns which embrace a pin m' projecting from the pivot. By
turning one or other of the hand wheels the nut is traversed and the pivot is
inclined to the base frame to the extent desired.
"
gun
The socket of the trunnion fork is provided with an arm projecting to the rear.
and this arm carries a trunnion uut into which the elevating screw is received.
Traversing gear is also provided in connection with this arm P, it slides on a guide
surface carried by arms m² projecting from the pivot m and it can be clamped in any
required position. Provision is made for carrying all necessary tools.
The spade, axe and pick are represented in the drawings. is a netting to hold cords
and the like.
are props which are let down when the gun is in action with the
horses detached; these props as well as the shafts then rest on the ground and steady
the carriage. are guards and straps for the accommodation of the riders.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section.
Figure 5 is a front elevation, and
Figure is a half plan of an infantry carriage constructed according to my
Invention; it is in many respects similar to the carriage already described.
In the infantry carriage the axle A is provided with a pair of shafis B B and the
framework C which carries the ammunition cases and the gun is fixed upon the shafts
directly over the axle, no springs being employed in this carriage. The gun is mounted
as before upon a pivot D which can be set upright when the carriage is standing upon
uneven ground by turning it around a longitudinal axis or joint pin E. In this

page_text: carriage the joint pin is immediately beneath the axle and it is central between the two
wheels. As this gun is always fired when the shafts resting upon the ground the are
adjustment for the pivot or post which supports the gun is noi required. The
ammunition in this case is contained in compartments of an open rack: one compart-
ment is above the axle and one below the axle on both sides of its gun. All the
ammunition cases F F are carried with the longer dimension parallel to the axle; they
are slidden along guides G G into the ammunition rack from the back and when in
place are secured by doors or stops HII. The guides enter grooves formed to receive
them in the ends of the cases. Each compartment may contain four cases FF in which
case sixteen ammunition cases are carried in all the boxes being so arranged with
regard to the axle that the same weight comes on either side of the axle. The guides in
connection with the upper tiers of ammunition cases are so arranged that one of the
ammunition cases on the right side can be lifted out from the top. the guides G G being
cut awayto admit of this and being here replaced bya catch which by means of a handle!
can be withdrawn when the case is required to be removed. By the slat K which
extends from one shaft to the other the carriage can be guided when man draught is
used, but for travelling with horse draught this slat is turned to one side and is
secured upon the top of one of the shafts. The carriage is further supported when
firing by a pair of props L which can be turned down from the shafts at a short
distance in front of the axle these props also when travelling fold up alongside of the
shafts; their use is to help the shafts to take up the vibration of the carriage when the
gun is fired. The fore part of the ammunition rack is of stout iron and serves as a
shield, and a shield M with an aperture in it through which the muzzle of the gun
projects may be fixed to the socket piece upon which the gun is carried.
The cases are arranged so that the gun can be fed with a belt from one of them
whilst they are in the framework and when one is empty it is replaced by a filled one.
The gun mounting is the same as in the carriage previously described in reference
io the Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Having now previously described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what I
claim is
1. A machine gun carriage in which the pivot of the gun mounting is jointed so
that it can be set upright when one wheel of the carriage upon higher ground than
the other.
2. A machine gun carriage in which the pivot is jointed to a foot which is moveable
along a circular are in such manner as to admit of the pivot being set upright whether
the horses are harnessed or the shafts or pole are resting upon the ground.
3. A machine gun carriage in which the gun mounting is carried upon a box which
receives a tier of ammunition cases extending from side to side of the carriage
beneath the gun and other ammunition cases on each side of the gun over the first
tier.
4. A machine gun carriage substantially as described in respect to Figures 1,
and 3.
5. A machine gun carriage substantially as described in respect to Figures 4,
and 6.
T
310041. 1 il 1890
CARPMAEL & Co..
Agents for the Applicant.