Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying Cartridges to Machine Guns.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1893
Complete Spec fication Left, 5th Jec., 1893-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying Cartridges to
Machine Guns.
We, JOHN ADAMS NORTON, Director and General Agent of The Gardner Guu
Company, and WILLIAM RICHARDS, Mechanical Engineer of the aforesaid
Company, both of 49 and 51 Curtain Road, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for supplying cartridges to
guns of that type or class of which the well known "Gardner" gun is a prominent
example.
In a gun of this kind the cartridges are now supplied to the feed mechanism by
means of a vertical grooved guide, bar, or plate which is arranged at the breech in
the proper position to deliver the cartridges as they descend therein to a hori-
zontally-reciprocating slide which distributes the cartridges to the gun barrels.
The groove in the said bar is T-headed, that is to say, it is rebated or undercut,
the back being a closed fat surface and the front being open, so that the flanged
base or rim of the cartridge enters the rebate while the tube or body of the same
projects through the forward side of the guide, bar, or plate, the cartridge being
therefore free to slide down the groove while prevented by its flange from escaping
therefrom. The said guide, bar, or plate is of such a length as to contain a con-
siderable number of cartridges placed one over the other and forming a colunu,
which, when the gun is working moves downward as the successive cartridges reach
and pass away from the bottom of the groove.
As the cartridges are held in the rebate of the T-headed groove by the rim or
flange while the cylindrical part containing the bullet projects through the open
front side of the bar or plate and has no support outside of the same, it is obvious
that the weight of the bullet tends to tilt the cartridges in such a manner that the
lower edge of the rim bears against the back of the groove, and its upper edge
bears against the edges of the groove or aperture through which the cartridges
project. In other words, the action of gravity on the front end of the cartridges
causes a turning moment whereby two points on the cartridge are forced into con-
tact with two opposite sides of the groove, and it is obvious that at these points of
contact friction exists and such friction of course tends to retard the downward
movement of the column of cartridges. In ordinary cases no disadvantage arises
from this circumstance but it is possible that under some conditions if the gun
should be used at a high angle of elevation some inconveniences might arise there-
from, as in such position the component of the weight which presses the cartridge-
rim against the sides of the groove will be increased.
Therefore to prevent the possibility of any difficulty from this cause we have
devised our present improvements.
The said improvements consist partly in combining with the aforesaid vertical

page_text: feed bar means which render the descent of the cartridges in the groove inde-
pendent of the action of gravity. This object we accomplish by a device which
acts to relieve the rim or flange of the cartridges of the friction which retards their
descent in the groove. As above stated the cartridges in the groove are tilted by
the weight of the bullet and hang downward so that the lower edge of the rim is
pressed against the back of the said groove. Now it is obvious that if the surface
against which the cartridge rim is thus pressed is caused to move in the same
direction as the cartridge it will not retard or prevent the movement of the latter.
We therefore place at the back of the groove a movable surface which, in the
working of the gun, has imparted to it, by the breech-mechanism, a downward
movement whereby it causes the descent of the cartridges in the groove. This
moving surface does not in any case require to be provided with projections of any
kind to push the cartridges along the groove.
In applying our said invention to a two barrelled "Gardner" gun we prefer that
the said moving surface should be made in the form of an endless band passing over
small rollers at the top and bottom of the vertical T-headed groove. In this case
the lower roller is connected with a small toothed pinion which is geared with a
toothed wheel on the shaft of a ratchet apparatus which shaft is arranged trans-
versely across the frame of the gun. This apparatus comprises a reciprocating
lever arranged to be actuated by the existing breech-mechanism of the gun which
lever is so arranged in combination with the ratchet shaft and wheels that in each
of its alternate movements in opposite directions it imparts a downward impulse to
the band or moving surface of the vertical groove. In some instances we modify
the above-described apparatus by placing a toothed wheel on one end of the crank
shaft inside the frame in such a manner that it will gear with a wheel or pinion
arranged in the cover, the said wheel or pinion being connected with a pulley from
which a belt extends to another pulley on a transverse shaft, which, through the
medium of small toothed wheels or pinions, actuates the moving surface in the
vertical groove.
In this modification of our invention we dispense with the ratchet
apparatus and therefore the endless band of the vertical groove has a continuous
action tending to move the column of cartridges downward in the groove.
Guns of this class with more than two barrels are usually furnished with a
vertical plate having in it a separate groove for each barrel. We provide each of
these grooves with a moving surface or band arranged to be operated by mechanism
such as that above described or other suitable mechanism operated directly or
indirectly by the crank shaft.
In guns such as those above referred to the vertical grooved bar or plate has
'been so constructed and attached to the gun that when in use it can only occupy
one position, that is to say, it drops into a socket wherein it is held at a right angle
to the axis of the gun barrels and cannot assume any other position on the gun.
Consequently, when the gun is adjusted to any degree of elevation, the guide
groove is moved to the same degree out of its vertical position and therefore out of
the position in which gravity acts most freely on the column of cartridges.
To prevent all possibility of the inconvenience that might arise from this
circumstance we now, according to another part of our improvements, so construct
the aforesaid bar or plate that when placed on the gun it can be adjusted relatively
to the axis of the gun barrels so that whatever may be the angle of elevation of the
gun the guide groove or grooves can be kept in the most advantageous position,
with respect to the action of gravity upon the column of cartridges in the groove.
For this purpose we form in the cover of the gun a socket greater in the direction
of the length of the gun than the end of the bar or plate which is inserted therein
and we provide a pin or bolt which extends through the side of the cover in the
proper position to engage with either or any of two or more holes formed in the end
of the bar or plate. The socket being larger than the end of the bar or plate
allows the latter to be adjusted therein either at a right augle to the axis of the
barrel or any other angle according to the elevation of the gun. Or we provide
other means for attaching the said bar or plate to the cover in a manner which will

page_text: permit of its angular adjustment for the purpose specified. Moreover this part of
our invention is applicable to the jointed frame described in the Specification of
Letters Patent No. 2572 A.D. 1891.
Dated this 1st day of August 1893.
Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying Cartridges to
Machine Guns.
We, JOHN ADAMS NORTON, Director and General Agent of The Gardner Gun
Company, and WILLIAM RICHARDS, Mechanical Engineer, both of 49 and
51 Curtain Road, in the County of Middlesex, 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: --
Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for supplying cartridges. to
guns of that type or class of which the well-known "Gardner " gun is a prominent
example.
In a gun of this kind the cartridges are now supplied to the feed mechanism by
means of a vertical grooved guide, bar, or plate, which is arranged at the breech
in the proper position to deliver the cartridges as they descend therein to
a horizontally-reciprocating slide which distributes the cartridges to the gun
barrels.
.
The groove in the said bar is T-headed, that is to say, it is rebated or undercut,
the back being a closed flat surface and the front being open, so that the flanged
base or rim of the cartridge enters the rebate while the tube or body of the same
projects through the forward side of the guide, bar, or plate, the cartridge being
therefore free to slide down the groove while prevented by its flange from escaping
therefrom. The said guide, bar, or plate is of such length as to contain a
considerable number of cartridges placed one over the other, and forming a column,
which, when the gun is working moves downward as the successive cartridges reach
and pass away from the bottom of the groove.
As the cartridges are held in the rebate of the T-headed groove by the rim or
flange while the cylindrical part containing the bullet projects through the open
front side of the bar or plate and has no support outside of the same, it is obvious
that the weight of the bullet tends to tilt the cartridges in such a manner that the
lower edge of the rim bears against the back of the groove, and its upper edge
bears against the edges of the groove or aperture through which the cartridges
project. In other words, the action of gravity on the front end of the cartridges
causes a turning moment whereby points on the cartridge are forced into contact
with opposite sides of the groove and it is obvious that at these points of contact
friction exists and such friction of course tends to retard the downward movement.
of the column of cartridges. In ordinary cases no disadvantage arises from this
circumstance but it is possible that under some conditions, if the gun should be
used at a high angle of elevation, some inconveniences might arise therefrom, as
in such position the component of the weight which presses the cartridge-rim
against the sides of the groove will be increased.
Therefore, to prevent the possibility of any difficulty from this cause, we have
devised our present improvements..
The said improvements consist partly in combining with the aforesaid vertical
feed-bar means which render the descent of the cartridges in the groove independent
of the action of gravity. This object we accomplish by a device which acts to

page_text: relieve the rim or flange of the cartridges of the friction which retards their
descent in the groove. As above stated the cartridges in the groove are tilted by
the weight of the bullet and hang downward so that the lower edge of the rim is
pressed against the back of the said groove. Now it is obvious that if the surface
against which the cartridge rim is thus pressed is caused to move in the same
direction as the cartridge it will not retard or prevent the movement of the latter.
We therefore place at the back of the groove a movable surface, which, in the
working of the gun, has imparted to it, by the breech-mechanism, a downward
movement whereby it causes the descent or advance of the cartridges in the groove.
This moving surface does not in any case require to be provided with projections
of any kind to push the cartridges along the groove.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood we will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a feed-bar provided according to our invention
with a movable surface and means whereby motion is imparted thereto,
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same,
Figure 3 is side elevation of the said feed-bar, partly in vertical section, on the
line XX of Figure 2,
Figure 4 is a transverse section through the bar, on the line Y Y of Figure 1,
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the breech of a two-barrelled "Gardner" gun
with the said improved feed-bar in place therein. The upper part of this figure is
in vertical central section.
Figure 6 is an underside view of the cover of the breech-frame of the said gun.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the breech frame of a "Gardner" gan fitted with
a modified form of driving-apparatus for the aforesaid movable surface.
Figure 8 is an underside view of the cover of the breech-frame of the gun shown
in Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, of a feed-bar fitted
with an alternative form of movable surface,
Figure 10 is a transverse section on the line Z Z of Figure 9,
Figure 1 is an elevation similar to Figure 5, showing a further alternative
construction of feed-bar according to our invention,
Figure 12 is a side elevation of a feed-bar which is hereinafter particularly
described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
+6
We will describe our invention with reference first to Figures 1 to 6. A is the
breech-frame of a Gardner" gun. B is the cover of the breech-frame hinged
thereto at C. B is an opening in the cover B to receive the feed-bar D and to
permit the cartridges to pass to the horizontally-reciprocating slide of the gun.
The lower end D of the bar D is shaped to fit the opening B' and provided with
a hole D' to receive the end of a spring bolt E which is adapted to slide in the
cover B to engage with the bar when the latter is in place. The upper end of the
feed-bar is widened as shown, to facilitate the entry of cartridges into a groove D³
formed in the front face of the bar.
F is a spindle journalled in a block F adapted to slide in guides D provided
upon the bar D near the upper end thereof. D is a lug upon the bar, just above
the guides D. F2 is an adjusting spindle rotatable in the lug D' and provided with
a screwed end which is adapted to engage with a threaded hole in the block Fas
shown in Figure 3.
Gis a spindle journalled in the lower end of the bar D.
F3 is a small pulley with a corrugated or roughened periphery, secured upon the
spindle and arranged to project into the groove D3 through an opening formed in
the bar D.
F
Gis a similar pulley secured upon the spindle G and received in a recess formed
centrally in the lower end D° of the bar D. The spindle G has also a toothed
pinion G2 secured thereon which is received in a cavity formed in the exterior of
the bar at the lower end thereof.

page_text: H is an endless band of corrugated metal, leather, tape or other suitable
material or a flat link chain which is placed upon the pulleys F3 and G' as shown
so that part of the band is in the groove D³ the bottom of which is very slightly
channelled to receive it, and part of it lies over the rear face of the bar, within a
protective casing D which is attached to the said bar. By operating the adjusting-
spindle F to move the block F¹ the band H may be tightened or slackened as
desired.
II are cartridges in the groove D³. J is the handle by which the gun
is operated. J is the main shaft of the gun, operated by the said handle.
KK are the plungers, forming part of the well-known mechanism of the
"Gardner"
gun.
L is a can, operated by the handle J to actuate the said mechanism.
M is a rocking-lever, pivoted within the cover B and provided with cam-
faces MM² thereon which lie in the line of travel of the plungers K K'. N N'are
arms pivoted to the ends of the rocking-lever M and having pawls O' O'
hingel thereto; the pawls O¹¹ have tails 03 03 formed thereon. P Pare
springs secured upon the arms N N¹ to bear against the said tails. B B³ are pro-
jections formed upon the interior of the cover B to guide the arins N N in their
reciprocation.
Qis a spindle adapted to turn in bearings in the cover B.
QQ are ratchet wheels fixed upon the said spindle Q to be operated by the
pawls OR is a spur pinion fixed upon the spindle Q. S is an intermediate
shaft adapted to turn in bearings in the interior of the cover B, and provided with
a spur pinion S geared with the pinions G2 and R.
In the operation of this apparatus the plungers K K strike the cam faces M' M²
alternately as each plunger moves forward, so that the lever M oscillates and
effects the reciprocation of the arms N N'. As the said arms approach respectively
the ratchet wheels QQ, the pawls 001 come into gear with the said ratchet.
wheels and rotate them intermittently and thereby turn the spindle Q and the
pinion R intermittently in the direction indicated by the arrow shewn in proximity
thereto. As one pawl retires from engagement with one of the ratchets the other
pawl advances into engagement with the other ratchet. The pinion R com-
municates this movement through the pinion S¹ to the pinion G2 on the spindle G
which latter by means of the pulley Gi operates the band H so that the portion
thereof within the groove D descends intermittently and facilitates, by its action
upon the flanges of the cartridges resting against it, their descent towards the
opening B, at the times at which the cartridges are to be received by the
horizontally-reciprocating slide aforesaid.
In the modification of the aforesaid apparatus illustrated by Figures 7 and 8, we
place upon the crank-shaft J a toothed wheel J to operate another toothed
wheel T placed upon a stud T secured inside the cover B. The said wheel T is
connected with a pulley T from which a belt U extends to another pulley V on a
transverse shaft. Q which is journaled in the cover and actuates by means of
suitable gearing, the moving surface in the groove of the feed-bar. In this
modification we dispense with ratchet apparatus and therefore the endless band of
the vertical groove has a continuous action tending to move the cartridges downward
in the groove, instead of the intermittent action which is obtained by the use of the
ratchet apparatus.
Guns of the class hereinbefore referred to are usually furnished, when they
have more than two barrels, with a vertical feed-plate having in it a separate
groove for each barrel. We provide each of these grooves with a moving surface
or band arranged to be operated by mechanism such as that above described or
other suitable mechanism, operated directly or indirectly by the crank-shaft.
In the alternative construction illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 a screw-threaded
spindle W is mounted in the feed-bar so as to project into the groove D³ at the
rear side thereof. The said spindle is operated by suitable gearing connected with
its lower end and with the breech-mechanism of the gun. When the spindle W is

page_text: rotated the descent of the cartridges is facilitated by the action of the screw
threads upon the bases of the cartridges.
In the further alternative construction illustrated in Figure 11, the lower
end D of the feed-bar is curved so that the principal portion of the bar is at
a considerable angle with the vertical, and lies fairly close to the cover B.
In this feed-bar a band H is provided, which is operated and arranged as in the
construction illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 except that additional pulleys G³ are
provided in the feed-bar for the purpose of guiding the band H as shown, at the
curved part thereof.
The angle that the principal part of the bar makes with the shorter vertical
portion D received in the socket in the cover B, may of course be made
different from the angle in the example shown. By the use of moving surfaces
in a feed-bar according to our invention the cartridges travel, downward therein
with ease, even when the bar is as much inclined as in Figure 11.
In guns such as those above referred to, the vertical grooved feed-bar or plate
has been so constructed and attached to the gun that when in use it can only
occupy one position, that is to say, it drops into a socket wherein it is held at a
right angle to the axis of the gun barrels and cannot assume any other position on
the gun. Consequently, when the gun is adjusted to any degree of elevation,
the guide groove is moved to the same degree out of its vertical position and
therefore out of the position in which gravity acts most freely on the column of
cartridges.
To prevent all possibility of the inconvenience that might arise from this
circumstance we now construct the aforesaid bar as illustrated in Figure 12, so
that when placed on the gun it can be adjusted relatively to the axis of the gun
barrels, so that whatever may be the angle of elevation of the gun the guide
groove D can be kept in the most advantageous position, with respect to the
action of gravity upon the column of cartridges in the groove.
For this purpose
we form in the cover B of the gun a socket greater in the direction of the
length of the gun than the end of the bar D which is inserted therein. Two
holes D are provided in the end of the feed-bar, and the pin or bolt E which
extends through the side of the cover as in Figure 6, into the socket in which
the feed-bar is received, will engage with either of the two holes D'.
socket being larger than the end of the feed-har or plate allows the latter to
be adjusted therein either at a right angle to the axis of the barrel or another
angle according to the elevation of the gun. More than two holes D₁ may be
provided. Or we provide other nicans for attaching the feed-bar or feed-plate
to the cover in a manner which will permit of its angular adjustment for the
purpose specified. Moreover this part of our invention is applicable to the jointed
Irame described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 2572 A.D. 1891.
The
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we
are aware that it has already been proposed to feed cartridges down the hoppers of
machine guns by means of an endless band provided with projections passing over
rollers and operated by the feed mechanism of the gun and we lay no claim to such
construction, but what we claim is :-
1. A feed bar or plate having a surface on or against which the rear ends of
the cartridges rest and which moves forward or downward to conduct the cartridges
to the gun.
2. The combination with the slide or other part which distributes the cartridges
to the barrels, of a feed-bar or feed-plate having a movable surface operated by
the breech-mechanism, for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with the feed-bar or feed-plate of a movable baud or belt
or two or more bands or belts, geared with the breech-mechanism of the gun, with
or without means for regulating the tension of the belts or bands, substantially as
hereinbefore described for the purposes specified.

page_text: 4. The combination, with the breech-frame, of a feed-bar or feed-plate which can
be adjusted to and used at different angles to the axes of the barrels, for the
purposes specified.
5. The improved feed-bar, substantially as herein before described with reference
to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 or to Figures 9 and 10, or to Figure 11, of the accom-
panying drawings, for the purposes specified.
6. The means for holding the feed-bar or feed-plate at different angles, substan-
tially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 12 of the accompanying
drawings, for the purposes specified.
7. The combination, with the endless belt or its equivalent in the grooved bar,
of the mechanism for operating the same relatively to the two barrels of the gun,
substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 or to
Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings, for the purposes specified.
8. The apparatus consisting of an endless belt or its equivalent in the grooved
bar or plate, and its operating mechanism, all mounted upon the hinged cover and
arranged relatively to the breech mechanism within the frame, as above set forth
and for the purposes specified.
9. The grooved bar or plate provided with a screw on or against which the bases
or flanges of the cartridges rest so that they are fed forward or downward by the
rotation of the said screw for the purpose specified.
10. A machine gun provided with feed mechanism substantially such as that
hereinabove specified for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 24th day of November 1893
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Sonthampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.