Year: 1887

page_text: 1, JOSEPH JAMES SPEED, of 3 Woodstock Villas, Waltham Cross, in the County
of Herts, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to springs for elevating cartridges in the magazines of
repeating fire-arms.
Springs for this purpose have, in some instances, been made of wire coiled in such a
manner that cach convolution corresponds in shape with the horizontal section of the
magazine. Springs of this kind or class, as heretofore made do not, when the
magazine is full of cartridges, raise the forward ends of the first two or three cartridges
sufficiently to ensure their entrance into the chamber of the gun when pushed forward
by the breech-bolt. Moreover the convolutions of such springs are liable to become
interlocked when the spring is compressed.
Now my invention is designed to obviate these defects, and to provide a magazine-
spring in which the centre line of pressure is adjustable to suit the balance of the
cartridge, to ensure all the cartridges rising parallel, and which can be manufactured at
a small cost and will act very efficiently.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide a spring made of wire coiled
in such a manner that the convolutions thereof are oblong, and I secure the said spring
at its upper end to a plate or follower. The said spring is so formed that, when com-
pressed, the ends of each convulution will be slightly in front of or behind the ends
of the convolution above it. By this means I obviate any liability to interlocking of
the convolutions.
I also provide an additional or supplementary spring, which will come into
action for the purpose of feeding the first two or three cartridges from a full

page_text: This addititional or supplementary spring is designed to raise the forward end of the
topmost two or three cartridges when the magazine is full into the proper position to
ensure the entrance of the same into the chamber of the gun when pushed forward by
the breech-bolt.
I prefer that this additional or supplementary spring should be a continuation of the
wire forming the aforesaid coiled spring, the intermediate part of the wire being
utilized connecting the two springs to the aforesaid plate or follower. This connec-
tion is advantageously effected by forming hooks on the said plate or follower
and causing the wire to engage with the said hooks. If desired, however, the two
springs are made separately and attached to the plate or follower in any convenient
manner.
DAIL
1007
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
י-ת.
Improvements relating to Springs for Elevating Cartridges
Magazines of Repeating Fire-arms.
n the
I, JOSEPH JAMES SPEED, of 3 Woodstock Villas, Waltham Cross, in the County
of Herts, Mechanical 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 springs for elevating cartridges in the magazines of repeating
fire-arms.
Springs for this purpose have, in some instances, been made of wire coiled in such
a manner that each convolution corresponds in shape with the horizontal section of
the magazine. Springs of this kind or class as heretofore made require long
controlling guides on the top of the magazine, making it difficult to load the magazine
when in the rifle; moreover the coils being very long, the said springs require to be
made of wire of large diameter and consequently take up considerable space when
compressed, and the said springs do not raise the whole of the cartridges to a suitable
position to ensure their entrance into the chamber of the gun when pushed forward
by the breech-bolt. Moreover the convolutions of such springs are liable to become
interlocked when the spring is compressed.
Now my invention is designed to obviate these defects and to provide a magazine-
spring in which the centre line of pressure is adjustable to suit the balance of the

page_text: cartridge by having shorter coils or by shifting its position on the platform or follower
forward or backward. My improved spring, morcover, permits the use of short
controlling guides so that the magazine can be loaded in or out of the rifle ; my said
spring raises all the cartridges into a position as nearly parallel to the axis of the
barrel as is necessary to ensure their entrance into the same when pushed forward
by the breech-bolt; and it can be manufactured at a small cost and will act very
efficiently.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention can be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practico.
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a spring cartridge-elevator constructed
according to my said invention.
Figure 2 is an underside view of the same.
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of a magazine, part of the casing being
removed, showing the said spring compressed.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is the spring which is made of wire coiled in such a manner that the convolutions
thereof are oblong. The said spring A is secured at its upper end to a plate or
follower B. The spring is so formed that, when compressed in the magazine Cas
shown in Figure 3, the ends of each convolution will be slightly in front of (or
behind) the ends of the convolution above it. By this means I obviate any liability
to interlocking of the convolutions. The said spring is, moreover, shorter than those
heretofore used and can therefore be made of wire of smaller diameter, and permits
the use of shorter controlling guides than heretofore.
I also provide an additional or supplementary spring D which will come into
action for the purpose of feeding the first two or three cartridges from a full
magazine. This additional or supplementary spring D is designed to raise the forward
ends of the topmost two or three cartridges, when the magazino C is full, into the
proper position to ensure the entrance of the said cartridges into the chamber of the
gun when pushed forward by the breech-bolt.
I prefer that the additional or supplementary spring D should be a continuation of
the wire forming the coiled or main spring A, the intermediate part E of the said
wire being utilized for connecting the two springs to the plate or follower B. This
connection is advantageously effected by forming hooks F on the said plate or
follower B and causing the wire E to engage with the said hooks. If desired,
however, the two springs are made separately and attached to the plato or follower B
in any convenient manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that I
claim-
First. The improved cartridge-elevating spring, the convultions of which are oblong,
and which is so formed that, when compressed, the ends of each of its convolutions
will be in front of or behind the ends of the convolution above it, substantially as,
and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. The additional or supplementary spring formed with or separate from the
main spring, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
411
1
T
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.