Improvements in Machine and other Guns and Carriages for same with the Object of Making them Automatic.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 10th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 11th Feb., 1887.
Improvements in Machine and other Guns and Carriages for same
with the Object of Making them Automatic.
I WILLIAM A'COURT GRANVILLE BIRKIN of Aspley Hall, Nottinghamshire Gentle-
man, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
This invention relates to the means by which the mechanism for closing and opening
of the breech for loading and firing, and for extraction of the empty cartridge case of
any machine gun, quick-firing shell gun, or any similar firearm, is worked or rendered
working automatically while the gun or arm is recoiling, and returning back to its
former position; it also relates to the storing up of the power given out by the recoil
also to the checking and regulation of this power, and also to the regulation and
controlling of the development of this stored up power.
For this purpose I mount the gun or firearm on a recoil carriage which may be of
any design, as long as it admits of the gun moving vertically and horizontally. To
some part of the stationary part of the carriage I join or fasten an arm or stud or
bracket provided with, or itself substituting a friction roller or stud or slotted cam
or other means as rack and pinion or gearing, by which I work the lever, arm, cam
or crank or other part by which the mechanism of the gun or firearm is intended to be
worked. Or I can place these means of working the mechanism on the movable parts
carrying the gun or on the gun itself.
I may check the force of the recoil by hydraulic or pneumatic arrangements or by
counterbalancing weights or by friction arrangements or by lifting the gun or parts
thereof; in each case storing up part of or all the power by compressing springs or
other elastic materials, or by compressing air or creating a vacuum. To render all
this work smooth I use one or more valves, actuated by the movements of the gun or
other parts so constructed as to enable the means employed to offer the greatest
resistance at the beginning of the recoil and gradually diminishing until all the power
necessary for the working of the mechanism when the recoil is finished, is stored up.
The valve or valves are also so constructed that they stop the movement of the gun
before the stored up power begins to work.

page_text: 22
or a slotted
To regulate the stored up power I use as regulator or governor, a
«fusce
cam, or a lever, or a gearing all built and constructed on the principle of the "fusee,"
for the sake of equalizing the work so that enough power is saved till the moment
when the resistance to be overcome is great which may be at the finish of the working
of the mechanism.
As this invention is applicable to any gun or firearm as for instance; the Hotchkiss,
Nordenfelt, Gardner, Gatling or other machine gun or quickfiring shell gun or to
single or multiple barrel guns, but as some of these are not provided with a magazine
or feeder but loaded by hand I construct for such arms, if wanted, for the sake of
making the automatic working of the mechanism useful with regard to selfloading
and quickfiring, a feeder in combination with a magazine or other cartridge holder
and when necessary I alter the extractor or other part or parts of the mechanism so
as to provide a quick extraction and feeding in combination with the breech and firing
mechanism. For instance in the Nordenfelt and Hotchkiss quickfiring shell guns,
the breech mechanism of which have many similarities. I put around the axis, which
operates the mechanism, or fix to another centre a single or double extractor which I
work after the breech has been opened either by the movement of the breech block or
wedge. By contact of this moving block with the extractor or by the can or lever
working the mechanism coming into contact with the extractor I make it swing round
its centre with great force.
When the extraction is done 1 move a shoe or other movable part containing or
supporting a cartridge in the feeder by a lever, or lug, or cam, fixed to or being part
of or acted upon by the principal lever or arm or other part. By moving this shoe or
part I give a quick and sudden motion to a lever, or shovel, or arm, or cam, fixed to
or movable round a centre fixed to the hopper or feeder box, or the breech, or shoulder
piece, or other part of the gun. This lever is moved directly or indirectly by the shoe
or even by other parts of the mechanism admitting the cartridge to fall down into the
recess in rear of the opened breech and pushes it afterwards into the chamber of the
gun.
It is understood that if more than one barrel is used all or some of the parts may
be, if necessary, doubled, or trebled, according to the number of barrels.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said W. A'C. G. Birkin.

page_text: I, WILLIAM A COURT GRANVILLE BIRKIN of Aspley Hall, Nottinghamshire,
Gentleman, 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 inventions relates to means by which the loading of a breech-loading gun may
be rendered automatic and may be performed by the power developed during the
recoil.
For this purpose I mount the gun on a recoil carriage or carriage along which it
can recoil. To some stationary part of the carriage I connect a friction roller or stud
or equivalent instrument by which I work the lever arm actuating the breech
mechanism of the gun.
I check the force of the recoil by hydraulic arrangements and store up part of the
power by compressing springs or by equivalent means. I use a valve actuated by the
movements of the gun and other parts to stop the movement of the gun as the stored
up power begins to work.
To regulate the stored up power I use a fusee or a slotted cam equalising or
adjusting the work to the power. I mount upon the axis, which operates the
mechanism, an extractor which I work after the breech has opened perferably by the
movement of the breech block.
When the extraction is done I move a shoe or part containing or supporting a
cartridge in the feeder. By moving this shoe or part I give a quick and sudden
motion to a shovel, or arm moveable round a centre fixed to the hopper or other part
of the gun. The shovel or arm is moved by the shoe. The movement of these parts
admits the cartridge to fall down into the recess in rear of the opened breech and
causes it to be pushed afterwards into the chamber of the gun.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a gun and gun mounting constructed
and arranged in accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical section shewing the mechanism at the breech end of the gun;
the parts are in the position they occupy when the breech is closed and the gun ready
for firing.
Figure 3 is a similar section but with the breech open for loading.

page_text: Figures 5 shew to a larger scale portions of the control mechanism and Figures 6
shew to a larger scale some of the operating parts in the two extreme positions.
A is a forked support carried in suitable bearings and capable of rotating for the
purpose of laying the gun upon the object. At the upper end of this support are
bearings to receive trunnions upon a trunnion frame or cradle B. This cradle can
rock upon its trunnions in order to give the proper elevation to the gun, and it
partakes of the movement of the support A when this is turned to lay the gun. The
parts A and B thus constitute a recoil carriage. C is the gun, it is capable of
moving longitudinally in the trunnion frame or cradle B, but it has no other
independent movement. It is controlled by the trunnion-frame and dependent thereon
both for the elevation and training movements.
B
The breech of the gun is closed by mechanism substantially similar to that described
in the specification of a patent No. 2496 in the year 1882. This mechanism consists of
a breech block D capable of turning about an axis E and behind the block D there is
a wedge or locking piece F which engages with grooves in the side checks C¹ of the
gun. The wedge or locking piece F has to be withdrawn before the block D can turn
to open the breech. Similarly when the breech is closed the block D-is secured by
raising the wedge or locking piece F behind it. The axis E has a lever G fixed upon
it, by means of which it is turned, and projections upon the axis then impart to the
parts D and F. the movements above stated. The wedge operates the extractor H,
and as the breech block arrives at the end of its course the extractor is thrown back
rapidly into the position in which it is shewn in figure 3 thereby ejecting the case of
the cartridge last fired and coming into position to support a fresh cartridge. The
finger, operated as hereinafter described works the shoe or slide K at the lower part of
the magazine or cartridge hopper Land thereby regulates the descent of the cartridges
from the magazine as hereinafter described. The slide K when it moves actuates an
instrument M which I call a "shovel" by which the cartridge is thrust forward into the
barrel. Beneath the gun Cand attached to it on the under side is a stud carrying a
roller which is received into the groove of a snail cam or fusce N this fusee or
cam is mounted upon an axis N¹ which is carried in bearings upon the trunnion frame
or cradle B, so that when the gun recoils the snail cam or fusee and its axis N' are
rotated, at first rapidly and afterwards more slowly relatively to the movement of the
gun. On the axis N₁ there is a pinion N which engages with a rack O and when the
gun recoils turning the axis N¹ the rack O is moved forward. As the rack advances
it compresses the coiled spring P, it also moves the piston Q along the cylinder R, and
during this movement liquid which the cylinder contains is compelled to pass from one
side of the piston to the other by passages R¹, and so the violence of the recoil and the
return of the gun by the action of the spring P is moderated. In place of a spring a
pneumatic cylinder might be employed. S is a valve by turning which about its
axis S all the passages R' within the cylinder can be closed, and when this is done the
gun is locked in position so that it cannot advance under the operation of the spring P.
Sis a roller on the same axis with the valve S and it has a cam groove S³ cut in it.
T is a block having a projection T¹ engaging the groove S3 the piece T is able to
move along the guide bar U but it is pressed constantly rearward by a coiled spring V
which surrounds the guide bar. On the rack O there is a tooth O' which enters a
notch in the piece T, so that when the rack O advances during the recoil of the gun
the block T is carried forward with it. A straight groove in the guide U prevents the
block T turning during this forward movement and as the projection T¹ on the block then
also traverses along a straight guide groove in the roller S the valve S does not move
during the recoil of the gun. As the recoil comes to an end the projection T on the
block T comes against the inclined end of the straight guide groove in the bar. U and
then the block T is turned around upon the guide. This movement effects two objects;
it frees the block T from the tooth O¹ upon the rack and it places the projection T¹ on
to the inclined or cam-like part of the grove S³ in the roller S². The block T is now
pressed back by the spring U and as it returns it causes a partial rotation of the
roller S and the valve S. The valve S is so caused for a moment to close the
passages R¹, R¹ and the forward motion of the gun is thus checked. Immediately
.

page_text: afterwards however the further movement of the block Topens the valve S leaving the
gun free to advance under the influence of the spring P. The block T is restrained during
its return by another straight groove in the guide and by an incline at the end it is
the rack again engages with it. The groove S³
turned back until the tooth red manner so as to insure such a length of pause
in the roller can be shaped in any
before the gun advances after the recoil as may be necessary for the proper action of
the loading mechanism.
The lever G on the axis E, by means of which the breech mechanism of the gun is
worked, is slotted, and into the slot a pin or roller G¹ is received. This pin or roller
is carried by the trunnion frame or cradle B and does not recoil with the gun,
consequently as the gun retires the pin or roller G₁ causes movement of the lever at a
speed dependent on the form of the guide slot and the opening of the breech and other
movements already explained take place. The wedge or locking piece F is first
drawn down from behind the breech block Dand during this movement a projection F¹
upon the wedge comes against the finger D' jointed within the breech block D and
forces the finger back so as to withdraw the firing pin D², compressing also the
spring D³. This goes on until the finger D is forced so far back that the sear lever D
is able to engage with its lower end and retain it. The extractor also, as already
stated, is thrown back when the breech opens, and the case of the cartridge last fired
is thrown out to the rear. The finger Walso now acts, the pin or roller G¹ coming
against a projection upon it beneath the fulcrum. The finger moves rearward the
hopper slide K from the position it occupies in figure 2 to that in which it is shewn in
figure 3. This movement allows the cartridge previously contained in the slide, as
seen in figure 1, to fall down on to the breech block and on to the cross bar of the
extractor to the position seen in figure 3. When the hopper slide thus moves
rearwards it carries the cartridge back until it is able to fall through the aperture at
the bottom of the magazine, which it cannot do when in the position in which it is
shewn in figure 2, being supported both in front and rear, the latter by the flanges at
the base of the cartridge resting against the sides of the opening at a part where this is
too narrow to allow the flanges to pass through.
In figure it will be seen that behind the base of the cartridge there is an
instrument M. which I call a shovel; it has its fulcrum
upon the magazine or hopper at M'
and it also has a slotted hole in it into which a pin K³ projecting from the side of the
magazine slide K projects. As the gun commences to advance again after recoil the
finger W also advances carrying the magazine slide or shoe K with it. The shovel M
moves with the shoe K passing from the position in which it is shewn at figure 2 to
that in which it is shewn at figure 3 sweeping around about its fulcrum M' and in so
doing thrusting forward the cartridge from the position in which it is seen at figure 3
and causing it to enter the bore of the gun. The same movement of the shoe K
allows another cartridge to descend into it and to occupy the position indicated in
figure 2 for it is only when the shoe is forward that the Hanges at the base of the
cartridge are unsupported by it.
The shovel places the cartridge in such a position that the rise of the breech block D
brings it home to its place.
When the breech is closed the sear lever D is within reach of the trigger X and on
pulling the trigger the gun is fired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I would remark that I do not claim
generally guns with mountings so arranged that during the recoil and the return after
recoil the gun is automatically loaded by the aid of the power developed by the recoil;
but declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination comprising a gun with breech mechanism operated by the partial
rotation to and fro of an axis upon the gun; a recoil carriage in which the gun moves
during recoil and is afterwards brought forward again by the reaction of a spring or
its equivalent; and a connection between the axis of the breech mechanism and the

page_text: recoil carriage whereby during the recoil and the return of the gun the breech
mechanism is automatically worked and the gun loaded substantially as described.
2. The combination with a gun and gun mounting so arranged that the loading is
automatically performed during the recoil and return of the gun; of an hydraulic
check apparatus with a valve which being closed by the movement of the gun and
other parts, delays the return movement of the gun giving thereby time for the proper
working of the loading appliances substantially as described.
3. The use of a fusee or cam to transmit power between the gun and a spring or
its equivalent and thereby regulating the storing up of power in the spring or its
equivalent during recoil, and the developement of power from the spring or its
equivalent whilst the gun moves forward to the firing position.
4. The combination with a breech-loading gun having a magazine or hopper
mounted upon it to supply cartridges to the barrel of an instrument or shovel M
turning about a fulcrum M and which after a cartridge has descended from the
magazine or hopper sweeps forward around the fulcrum and thrusts the cartridge on
into the barrel substantially as described.
5. The combination with a breech-loading gun having a rotating or transversely
moving breech block, of a magazine automatically supplying cartridges to the barrel
substantially as described.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.