Improvements relating to Machine-guns and to Cartridge Food-mechanism therefor.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Machine-guns and to Cartridge
Food-mechanism therefor.
1. OWEN JONES, of 68 Great Russell Street, in the County of London, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to machine-guns and to cartridge feed-mechanism therefor.
and the chief object of my said invention is to provide improved mechanism for
effecting a positive feed of the cartridges in machine-guns of that kind or class of
which the well-known Gardner" gun is a type.
"
In some machine-guns of this kind or class as hitherto constructed, such for
example as the one-barrelled and the two-barrelled "Gardner
guns, there is a
transversely moving feed-slide whereby the cartridges, successively fed into the gun,
are moved in front of the plunger or plungers of the gun.
According to one part of my present invention, I provide for moving a suitable
cartridge-holder or feed-belt provided with suitable clips intermittently through
the gun, and for successively transferring the cartridges from the said belt or
holder to the aforesaid feed-slide. In one form of my improved feed-mechanism, I
provide a suitable device whereby, in the operation of the gun, the cartridges are
successively pushed out of the belt or holder into such a position that they will be
thrust into the said feed-slide by the plunger or plungers of the gun in the forward
movement thereof.
In another form or modification of my improved feed-mechanism, I provide for
the thrusting of the cartridges successively into the said feed-slide directly from the
cartridge-holder or feed-belt by the plunger or plungers of the gun, without the use
of an extra or supplementary device for pushing the cartridges out of the said holder
or feed-belt.
In carrying my invention into practice according to one method, I arrange above
the plungers and in rear of the feed-slide, a suitable feed-wheel arranged to be
intermittently rotated about its axis in the working of the gun; for example I
provide for the intermittent rotation of the said feed-wheel by the cam-shaft or
crank-shaft of the gun through the medium of convenient devices. This wheel is
adapted to engage with and feed through the gun a suitable belt or other holder or
carrier from which the cartridges are successively pushed into the feed-slide by
projections or arms on the plungers of the gun in the forward movement of such
plungers. In cases where the cartridges in the belt or holder are situated at too
high a level to be pushed directly from the said belt or holder into the feed-slide, I
find it advantageous to provide one or more pivoted arms or levers, arranged to be
operated by the cam-shaft or crank-shaft of the gun through the medium of
convenient devices, whereby the cartridges will be successively pushed out of the
cartridge-holder or feed-belt into the space behind and in line with the feed-
slide, from which space they will be thrust into the feed-slide in the forward
movement of the plunger or plungers of the gun. Or a separate device may be
ised for this purpose.
The pushing-out device is sometimes arranged to work vertically. Or a fixed
nclined or curved surface is provided whereby, in the rotation of the feed-wheel,
he cartridges will be successively pushed out of the belt or carrier. Or a cam is
rranged to be turned about the feed-wheel-shaft in such a manner as to push the
artridges out of the said belt or carrier as required.

page_text: I find it advantageous, in some instances, to mount the pushing-out device on a
pivot at one side of the gun, and to make the said device with two arms which
extend transversely one in front and the other in rear of the feed-wheel below
the shaft or spindle thereof. This pushing-out device may, if desired, be arranged
to be worked by the longitudinally moving rod or har which is usually employed in
"Gardner" guns for operating the feed-slide, or by the device used to rotate the
feed-wheel, or by other suitable mechanism.
I can, if desired, arrange the feed-wheel in any other convenient position for the
purpose of my invention. For instance, I sometimes arrange the said wheel below
the plungers and so construct the feed-belt that, as the latter is moved through the
gun by the said wheel, the cartridges may be successively pushed out of the said
belt and into the feed-slide by the projections or arins on the plungers, which
projections or arms act alternately on the cartridges in the forward movement of
the plungers respectively. Or if too low to be pushed directly from the feed-belt
into the feed-slide, I can use the supplementary pushing-out device to raise the
cartridges into the proper position to be acted upon in the forward movement of
the plungers.
I sometimes make the cartridge-holder or carrier in the form of a band or
chain provided with clips to engage with the rear ends or portions of the cart-
ridges, or in the form of a rigid piece provided with such clips; and I provide
for feeding this cartridge-holder or carrier intermittently either up or down through
the gun
In this case 1 am enabled to arrange the feed-mechanism at the back of
the feed-slide or in such a position that, as the holder is fed downward through the
gun, the cartridges will be successively moved into such a position that they rest
in the feed-slide with their rear ends projecting therefrom, and the said cartridges will
then be pushed into the said slide by the plungers as above mentionel. In other
instances, make the cartridge-holder in the form of a corrugated strip, or a belt
or chain, provided with clips to engage with the cartridges which are inserted
therein on either side of the said strip, helt or chain alternately, so that the
plungers can act alternately upon the cartridges to push them into the feed-slide.
The cartridge-holder or carrier can, if desired, be arranged to enter and leave
the gun at a suitable angle so as to be clear of the elevating-gear and other
parts. Or it can be arranged to enter at one side of the gun and leave at the
bottom, or to enter at the top or bottom of the gun and leave at one side thereof.
It is advantageous, when the feed-wheel is arranged to rotate about an axis
below the centres of the plungers, in "Ganiner" guns as heretofore constructed,
to lengthen the frame or bisly of the gun and the plunger or plungers so that the
fed-mechanisin above mentioned will be clear of the other working parts of
the gun.
I sometimes employ other suitable devices, such as a reciprocating bar or
slide provided with pawls to engage with the cartridges, for the purpose of
feeding the belt or carrier through the gun. In such cases 1 use an extra or
supplementary device for pushing the cartridges out of the said belt or carrier
into position in front of the plungers or in front of the projections or arms of the
said plungers.
ليصة
1
1 1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements relating to Machine-guns and to Cartridge
Feed-mechanism therefor,
I, OWEN JONES, of 68 Great Russell Street, in the County of London, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
he performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to machine-guns and to cartridge feed-mechanism therefor,
and the chief object of my said invention is to provide improved mechanism for
effecting a positive feed of the cartridges in machine-guns of that kind or class of
which the well-known "Gardner" gun is a type.
In the Specifications of former Letters Patent No. 12,206 dated 1st July 1892
and No. 21,651 dated 26th November 1892, I have described machine-guns which
are so constructed that, in the operation thereof, the cartridges contained in
a belt or holder moved or fed interimittently through the gun, will be transferred
successively from the said belt or holder into a transversely moving feed-slide or
feed-piece, such, for instance, as is employed in the one-barrelled and two-barrelled
"Gardner" guns and in other well-known machine-guns, whereby the cartridges,
successively fed into the same, are moved into the space or spaces in front of the
plunger or plungers of the gun, so that they will be thrust by the said plunger or
plungers into the barrel or barrels.
My present invention comprises the construction of the gun in such a manner
that the cartridges will be pushed from the belt or holder directly into the space
in rear of the feed-slide or feed-piece and will then be thrust into the said feed-
slide or feed-piece by the plunger or plungers in the forward movement thereof.
In another form or modification of my present invention, I provide improved
means whereby the cartridges will be thrust successively from the belt or holder
directly into the said feed-slide or feed-piece. In some instances, I so arrange
the devices for feeding the belt or holder intermittently through the gun, that
the cartridges will be successively thrust from the said belt or holder directly
into the feed-slide or feed-piece by the plunger or plungers of the gun in
the forward movement thereof, so that I am enabled to dispense with an extra
or supplementary device for pushing the cartridges from the said belt or holder
into the feed-slide or feed-piece or into the space in rear of the said feed-slide or
feed-piece.
My said invention also comprises other improvements or modifications bereinafter
set forth.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a transverse section, and
Figure 2 a longitudinal section, showing a portion of a "Gardner" gun provided
with one form of my improved cartridge feed-mechanism.
Figure 3 is a plan, partly in horizontal section,
Figure 4a longitudinal section on the line, r, Figure 3, and
Figure 5 a transverse section, drawn to an enlarged scale, showing another form
or modification of my said invention.
Figure 6 is a transverse section, and
Figure 7 a longitudinal section, showing a further modification of my said
invention.
Figure 8 shows a portion of Figure 6 with some of the parts in a different
Josition.
Figure 9 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, and

page_text: Figure 10 a transverse section, showing another form or modification of my
improved feed-mechanism.
Figures 11 and 13 are longitudinal sections, and
Figures 12 and 14 transverse sections, showing further modifications of my said
invention.
Figure 15 is an edge view illustrating a peculiar form of cartridge-holder
hereinafter described.
Figure 16 is a plan, partly in horizontal section,
Figure 17 a longitudinal section, and
Figure 18 a transverse section, showing a still further modification of my
improved feed-mechanism, and
Figure 19 is a view showing details of construction.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the gun-frame, which is provided with a hinged lid or cover A¹; B, Bare
the cartridges; (is the cartridge-belt or holder; D, D are the breech-bolts or
plungers of the gun; E is the transversely moving feed-slide.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cartridge-belt C is provided
with clips and is fed through a slot or channel a extending transversely
through the gun-frame above the plungers D and behind the feel-slide E,
instead of over the said feed-slide as described in my said former Specifications.
The said channel a is in communication through a vertical slot with the
space between the plunger D of the gun. Beneath this slot and between
the plungers D is provided a grooved support or trough R, such, for instance,
as is described in my said former Specification No. 21,651, adapted to receive
the cartridges B as the latter are successively pushed down from the clips e
through the slot b as hereinafter described.
In the
The cartridge belt or holder C may be fed through the gun by any convenient
means, and any suitable pushing-down device may be employed for transferring
the cartridges directly from the belt or holder C into the trough R.
arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, the feed-mechanism employed comprises a
reciprocating carrier H provided with two pivoted pawls 1, adapted to engage with
the cartridges or with the clipse of the cartridge-helt, substantially as described in
my said former Specification No. 12,206. This carrier is moved transversely to and
fro by means of a lever J pivoted at J to the cover A' and actuated by a
cam-groove K in the disc K of the crank-shaft of the gun. The pushing-down
device in the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises arms or levers F
pivoted at F to a support A in the cover A', and arranged one in front and the
other in rear of the cartridge-holder C, which arms or levers are operated through
the medium of a slide M engaging with projections F thereon substantially as
described in my said former Specification No. 12.206. Projections or arms ware
provided one on the inner side of ench plunger D, for the purpose of pushing the
cartridges transferred to the trough R, into the feed-slide E, the said projections
or arms being arranged to pass the cartridges, in their backward movement
relatively thereto, substantially as described in my said former Specification
No. 21,651.
The pushing-out device is sometimes made in the form of a bent lever arranged
to turn about a pivot which extends transversely to the gun-frame, as in some of the
modifications described in my said former Specifications.
In Figures 3, 4 and 5, I have shown one arrangement in which the cartridges
are, during the movement of the belt or holder C through the gun, successively
pushed er deflected out of the said belt or holder directly into the feed-slide E by
fixed inclined deflecting surfaces or wedges. In this arrangement, a reciprocating
pawl-carrier H provided with pivoted pawls L is arranged above the feed-slide E,
substantially as described in any said former Specification No. 21,631; and wedges or
wedge-pieces te, each having an inclined (or curved) surface w', are firmly secured
in the gun-frame in such a position that, in the movement of the belt or holder C
through the gun in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 5, the cartridges

page_text: will be deflected or forced down out of the said belt or holder by the wedge-pieces ir
directly into the feed-slide E through the slot or opening &, the spring of the clips c
assisting in imparting the required downward movement to the cartridges after the
latter have been moved down far enough to bring their centres below the
extremities of the said clips. The pawl-carrier H is arranged to be moved to and
fro as required, that is to say, twice in each revolution of the crank-shaft of the
gun, through the medium of a reciprocating sliding bar P worked by pins or
studs P, fixed in the disc K2 of the said crank-shaft. This sliding bar P
engages with one arm of a bell-crank-lever Q pivoted at Q', the other arm of which
lever engages with the pawl-carrier H. It will be seen that the pins or studs P1, P¹
revolve within a loop or eye at the end of the bar P. which loop or eye is so shaped
internally that, in each half-revolution of the said crank-shalt, the said pin will
move the bar l' to and fro through the required distance to transfer a fresh
cartridge from the belt or holder C into the feed-slide or feed-piece E. The
pawls may, if desired, be acted upon by springs whereby they will be caused to
engage with the cartridges. It is obvious that I can, if desired, use other suitable
means for moving the bar P to and fro twice in each revolution of the crank-shaft
or cam-shaft of the gun. For instance, I can employ a cam-groove of suitable
shape formed in a disc or cam on the said shaft and engaging with a pin or stud on
the said bar.
In Figures 6, 7 and 8, I have shown another modification of my invention
wherein fixed inclined deflecting pieces or wedges we are used for forcing the
cartridges successively out of the clips into the feed-slide E as the belt or
holder C is fed through the gun. The said belt or holder is, in this case, moved
through the gun by a feed-wheel G operated intermittently by any convenient
means. To prevent the rebounding of the cartridges from the said feed-slide, and
thus obviate any liability to jamming of the said cartridges, I provide swinging
pieces or arms y adapted to be displaced by each cartridge in its downward
inovement, and, on the said cartridge reaching its proper position in the feed-slide,
to swing over the said cartridge and retain the same in place; in some cases, I find
it advantageous to combine springs y with the said swinging pieces to control their
movement.
I can, if desired, make these swinging pieces y to serve as inclines or deflecting
pieces, by pivoting them in such a manner that the cartridges pushed forward by the
feed-wheel will push the pieces y until their travel is arrested by suitable stops,
when they will present an inclined surface against which, in the continued movement
of the belt C, the cartridge will be pushed by the feed-wheel so that it will be
forced down into the feed-slide E. Tam thus enabled to dispense with the wedge-
pieces c.
In the modification shown in Figures 9 and 10, a forked wedge-piece we having
inclined surfaces is arranged to slide between guides A7, and to be moved to
and fro by a lever J worked, like the lever J above referred to, by a cam-groove
in one of the discs of the crank-shaft of the gun. Or it may be worked by other
convenient devices. This wedge-piece enters between the cartridges and the belt
or band of the holder C, or between the cartridge and a part or parts of the clip,
and thus, in the movement of the holder C through the gun by the feed-wheel G,
the cartridges are successively pushed out of the said holder directly into the feel-
slide E.
In other cases, a cam is arranged to be turned about the feed-wheel shaft or
otherwise in such a manner as to push the cartridges out of the said belt or carrier
as required.
It is obvious that either of the arrangements of my improved fee 1-mechanism
above described with reference to Figures 3 to 10 may be modified in such a
manner that the cartridges will be successively pushed or deflected by a suitable
device, such, for instance, as the wedge-pieces ir, from the clips of the cartridge
belt or holder into the space in rear of the feed-slide, instead of being pushed
directly into the feed-slide, the belt or holder and the pushing out device being,

page_text: for this purpose, arranged behind the said feed-slide. It is also evident that the
inclined or deflecting pieces described with reference to Figures 3 to 10 may be
used for transferring or deflecting the cartridges successively from the belt or
holder into such a position that they will be thrust into the barrel or barrels by the
plunger or plungers in the forward inovement of the latter, without the intervention
of a feed-lide or other device for bringing them into line with the barrel or
barrels.
In another form or modification of my invention, the device for moving the
cartridge belt or holder intermittently through the gun, is arranged in rear of the
feed-slide, in such a manner that the cartridges will be successively pushed into
the feed-slide by projections or arms on the plungers of the gun in the forward
movement of h plungers. For instance, in Figures 11 and 12, the feed-wheel G
is arranged in rear of the feelslide E and below the plungers.
In this case,
I provide an incline behind the feed--lide E, and I construct the clips of the
feed-belt in such a manner that they extend from the sand belt but a short distance
beyond the centre the cartridge, and, as the said belt is moved intermittently
through the gun by the wheel G, the cartridges will be successively pushed out of
the said left and into the feed--lide E by the projections or arms a on the plungers,
that is to say, in the forward movement of either plunger, a cartridge will be
pushed forward in the corresponding clipe by the projection or arm u of the said
plunger, and, in its forward movement, will he raid by the incline = so as to
disengage it from the sant chip, and it will then be pushed by the said projection
or arm into the feed--lite E.
In cases where the feel-wheel or its equivalent has to be arranged in such a
position that the cartridges are too low to be pushed directly from the feed-belt
into the feed-slide, I use a supplementary pushing-out device, such, for instance,
as those above described, to raise the cartridges out of the belt into the proper
position to be acted upon by one or other of the plungers in the forward movement
thereof.
I sometimes make the cartri Ige-holder or carrier in the form of a link-chain C,
Figures 13 and 11, provided with elipse to engage with the rear ends or parts of
the cartridges. Or the cartridge-holder may be in the form of a rigid piece or a
belt or hand provided with such clips. I provide for feeling this cartridge-holder
intermittently either up or down through the gun through the medium of a feed-
wheel G or by other suitable means. The cartridges are pushed from the said
holder into the feed--lide E by projections or arms on the plungers as above
described. A guide A is fixed in the frame A to receive the pins ("of the link-
chain and this guide the said chain in its passage through the gun, and at the
same time prevent the pushing forward of the said chain by the action of the
projections or arms on the plungers when pushing the cartridges from the clips.
In cases where the holder (is moved intermittently upward through the gun,
spring supports D are sometimes provided to support the cartridges, when pushed
forward out of the clips e, until they are thrust into the feed-slide E. These
springs will be moved away from each other by the cartridges in the upward
movement of the latter.
According to another modification of my invention, I make the cartridge-holder
in the form of a corrugated strip C, Figure 15, or in the form of a belt or chain
provided with clips alternately on either side thereof to engage with the cartridges,
so that, as the holder C is fed intermittently up or down through the gun, the
projections on the plungers can act alternately upon the cartridges to push them
from the said holder directly into the feed-slide.
The cartridge-holder can, if desired, be arranged to enter and leave the gun at a
suitable angle so as to be clear of the elevating gear and other parts. Or it can be
arranged to enter at one side of the gun and leave at the bottom, or to enter at the
top or bottom of the gun and leave at one side thereof.
In applying my improvements to "Gardner" guns as heretofore constructed, it is
advantageous, when the feed-wheel or its equivalent is arranged to rotate about an

page_text: axis below the centres of the plungers, to lengthen the frame or body of the gun
and the plunger or plungers. so that the feed-mechanism above mentioned will be
clear of the other working parts of the gun. My improvements may, however, be
applied to such guns without lengthening the frame or body thereof, providing
the cocking-lever of the right-hand plunger is shifted from the left-hand to the
right-hand side thereof.
"
In the modification of my invention shown in Figures 16 to 19, the belt or
holder C is fed through an aperture in the side of the cover A', by the feed-
wheel G, whereby the said belt or holder is moved downward through the space
between the plungers D, the clips of the cartridge-holder engaging with the rear
ends or parts of the cartridges. The maid food-whoal is so arranged relatively to the
feed-slide E that, as the belt or holder C is fed downward, the cartridges therein
will be moved successively into the space between the plungers, with their forward
end or part extending into the feed-slide, and will be thrust fully into the said
feed-slide by the projections on the plungers in the forward movement thereof.
A guide A is fixed in the frame A to receive the pins of the link-chain C
substantially as and for the purposes above described with reference to Figures 13
and 14. The feed-wheel G is driven by means of projections or tappets K³ on the
disc of the crank-shaft of the gun, two of these projections or tappets being
provided on the said disc diametrically opposite each other. The said projections
or tappets Kare arranged to act upon the pins or teeth (of a wheel which is
fixed on a shaft G connected by suitable gearing with the feed-wheel G. A
retaining pawl N is also provided for preventing backward movement of the
feed-wheel G and cartridge-holder C.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what 1
claim is :-
First. A machine-gun which is constructed with a transversely moving feed-slide
or feed-piece, and in which suitable provision is made for feeding a cartridge belt or
holder intermittently through the gun and for pushing or forcing the cartridges
successively out of the said belt or holder directly into the space in rear of the said
feed-slide or feed-piece so that they will be thrust into the same by the plunger or
plungers, substantially as herein before described.
Second. The combination, with a transversely moving feed-slide or feed-piece
and with suitable means for feeding a cartridge belt or holder intermittently
through the gun, of a support or trough behind the said feed-slide or feed-piece,
and a device for pushing or deflecting the cartridges successively out of the said
belt or holder directly into the said support or trough, substantially as, and for
the purposes, above specified.
Third. The combination, with suitable means for moving a cartridge belt or
holder intermittently through the gun, of fixed or movable inclined or curved
deflecting pieces or wedges whereby the cartridges are successively forced out of
the said belt or holder directly into a transversely moving feed-slide or feed-piece,
or into the space in rear of the same, or into the space in rear of the barrel, or
barrels, substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Fourth. The combination, with the feed-mechanism comprising the inclined or
curved pieces or wedges for deflecting or forcing the cartridges out of the belt or
holder, of devices for holding down the cartridges and preventing the rebound
thereof, substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Fifth. The modification of my invention wherein the swinging arms or pieces for
holding down the cartridges and preventing the rebound thereof, are arranged in
combination with suitable stops so that they will also serve for deflecting or forcing
the cartridges out of the belt or holder, substantially as, and for the purposes, abovo
specified.
Sixth. The reciprocating bar suitably connected with mechanism for feeding a
cartridge belt or holder intermittently through the gun, and arranged to be

page_text: actuated by the operating crank-shaft or camshaft of the gun in such a manner
that the said bar will be moved to and fro twice in each revolution of the said
shaft, substantially as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Seventh. The mechanism for moving the cartridge belt or holder intermittently
through the gun, so arranged in combination with the transversely moving feed-
slide or feed-piere and with the plunger or plungers, that the cartridges will be
pushel successively from the said belt or lobler directly into the sand feed-slide or
feed-piece by the plunger or plungers, substantially as, and for the purposes, above
specifiel.
Eighth. A machine-gun provided with my improved mechanism constructed
substantially as described with reference to either of the forms or modifications
shown in the accompanying drawings and operating as above specified.
Ninth. A cartridge-holder consisting of a belt, band or chain provided with clips
adapted to engage with the rear ends or parts of the cartridges, substantially as,
and for the purposes, above specified.
Tenth. A cartridge-holder composed of a corrugated strip or a belt, band or
chain having clips arranged alternately on either side thereof, substantially as, and
for the purpose, above specified.
Dated the 19th day of Lanusse 1604
OWEN JONES.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicaut.
OWEN JONES.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicaut.