IMPROVEMENTS IN STANDS OR SUPPORTS FOR MACHINE-GUNS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STANDS OR SUPPORTS FOR MACHINE-GUNS.” A communi-
cation from abroad by Edward Granville Parkhurst, of Hartford, Connecticut,
United States of America, Gentleman.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th May 1880.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN STANDS OR SUPPORTS FOR
MACHINE GUNS." A communication from abroad by Edward Granville Parkhurst,
of Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America, Gentleman.
These improvements relate to tripod-supports for machine-guns, upon which the
gun is placed when in use, but which can be detached and carried separately, the
same being made to fold up for ease of transportation.
The object of the said Invention is to provide a stand for a machine-gun, which
will be more firm and rigid than those heretofore used, and upon which the gun
can be oscillated from side to side without the shock experienced in those heretofore
in use, and at the same time have an adjustment for limiting the throw in a hori-
zontal arc. It also has for its object an improved construction and arrangement
of the several parts by which the action is rendered more efficient than

page_text: legs pass the pins C. The upper part of the legs is furnished with a V-shaped
projection A¹, which fits into a similarly shaped recess in the part B when the legs
are spread for use; D is a central spindle fixed in the head B and extending
downwards. Upon this spindle slides the clamp E, which spreads the legs forcibly
apart when it is placed against them, and pressed upward by the hand-nut F upon
a screw-thread on the lower end of the spindle D. The clamp E is provided
with an arm reaching to each leg, and which when the tripod is shut up for
transportation, and the clamp released, passes between the legs by turning it
slightly to one side. When the legs are spread and the clamp is forced
against them the projections A¹ are pressed into the V-shaped slots in the
head, and the legs are firmly held so as to prevent any possibility of move-
ment; G is the rotating head, which supports the gun upon a standard G¹ in the
usual manner. It turns upon a central bearing on the part B, shewn at B¹ in
Figure 3; H is a band forming a friction-clamp between the parts B and G. It
lies between the flange B2 on the head B and the flange G2 on the rotating head G.
It is attached to the flange G³, as shewn in Figure 5, and binds upon the flange B²
by means of the clamp-screw J, which is operated by the bandle J¹. The turning
down of the handle from the position shewn in Figure 1 clamps the two heads B
and G together, and holds the gun firmly in position; K is a horse-shoe shaped
spring secured by rivets or screws at L to the head B. Its ends K' incline out-
wardly, as shewn in Figure 4, and lie between the blocks B3, B³, there being a small
space between the spring and blocks; M is a sliding pin in the head G moved out
and in radially by means of the screw N and cross-head or wheel N¹. The diameter
of the pin is such as to be just included between the outer ends of the spring K,
and to have more play as it approaches the centre. When it reaches the inner ends of
the parts K' it can then move entirely round the circle inside of the spring. This
construction allows the pin to hold the gun firmly when the said pin is turned
completely out to admit of more play or oscillation as it approaches the centre, and
when it is turned completely in as far as it can go the gun can be rotated all
around the circle; O is a graduated scale between the parts B and G, by which the
amount of angular oscillation can be measured; P is a fork passing into a groove
in the top of the spindle D for holding on the head G. It is furnished with the
lever R for keeping it in place by means of a small projection P¹ which enters into
a notch in the upper rim of the central portion of Ġ when the outer end of the
lever is turned down, as shewn in Figure 3.
Ps is an arm of the lever R which acts upon the top of the spindle D when the
outer end is turned up so as to force the fork outward and loosen it so that it can
be easily withdrawn.
The operation of my Invention is as follows, that is to say:-The legs of the
tripod are folded up for transportation. When it is desired to set up the tripod
the legs are extended and the clamp E placed against them; the nut F is then
turned until the legs are firmly held by the V-shaped grooves in B, together with
the pins C and the clamp. When the gun is mounted, and it is desired to turn it
all round, the pin M is screwed back beyond the part K¹ of the spring, the upper
or rotating head can then turn freely. It can then be clamped in any position by
turning down the handle J¹.
When it is desired to swing the gun through any small angle, back and forth, the
pin M is screwed out so as to enter between the ends of the spring at K¹, and the
amount of oscillation is determined by the position of the pin, being less and less,
until when entirely out the pin holds the gun firmly in the required position.
Any desired angle of swing can be measured on the scale O; while oscillating back
and forth the pin M strikes upon the spring, which takes up the blow, that would
otherwise be struck upon the blocks B³. The spring receives the blow and then
rests upon the block.
When the gun is to be dismantled, and the rotating head removed, the lever R
is turned upward, which draws out the fork P so that it can be readily removed.
The head is then taken off

page_text: •
It will thus be seen that a much more useful and effective tripod is obtained by
means of my improvements than has heretofore been known.
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 under-
stood that I claim,―
First. The combination of the head B having the V-shaped supports in which
the legs rest when open, the clamp, the legs, and the pins of the tripod constructed
and arranged to hold the legs firmly when spread, substantially as above
described.
Second. The combination of the spring to receive the shock and the movable
pin M, to adjust the throw, with the fixed head and the rotating head, substantially
as herein described.
Third. The spring, furnished with the inclined ends, in combination with the
movable pin M and the fixed and movable heads, whereby the horizontal throw
of the gun is adjusted, substantially as above described.
Fourth. The lever with its projection fitting into a recess in the head G and the
arm P³, in combination with the spindle and the fork, whereby the said fork is
fastened and released, substantially as above described.
Fifth. The clamp-band having the screw and the handle, in combination with
the fixed head and the rotating head. substantially as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
HENRY H. LAKE. (L.S.)