IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE-GUNS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Owen Jones of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
of America now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE-GUNS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Owen Jones at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st January 1882.
OWEN JONES of Philadelphia Pennsylvania, United States of America now of
8 Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE-GUNS."
My Invention relates to improvements in guns of that class or type which has n
series of fixed barrels with their ends into which the cartridges are inserted in a
straight row or line in combination with loading and extracting devices which
move longitudinally to and fro at the rear of the said barrels that is to say a class
of weapons of which the "Gardner" and "Nordenfelt" guns are well known
examples.
My improvements relate chiefly to devices or arrangements for feeding or
supplying the cartridges to the barrels and extracting and ejecting the empty
cartridge shells or cases therefrom and are designed to render these guns more
efficient and convenient than heretofore by simplyfying the mechanism and
accelerating the working of the same.
According to one part of my said improvements I construct a rectangular frame
of iron or other suitable metal having in it a series of rows of tubes for the
reception of the cartridges; the number of tubes in each row must correspond
with the number of barrels in the gun and the rows are parallel and at equal
distances apart one above the other. The said box or frame when used is placed
in vertical guides in the sides of the gun frame at the rear of the barrels and I
provide the gun with a front and back plate the back plate being perforated with
a row of holes arranged opposite, or in line with the barrels. These plates are
adjustable on hinges or otherwise so that they can be raised when a frame of
cartridges is to be placed between them, and lowered or removed when the gun is
not being fired.
I provide the gun with novel mechanism whereby the said frame when placed in

page_text: I
its guides between the said plates will have each row of cartridges brought
accurately in line with the barrels so that each row of cartridges can be, by the
mechanism hereinafter described, pushed into the barrels and fired and the empty
cartridge cases can be withdrawn and removed from the gun. For this purpose
provide a cross-bar which I hereinafter term the plunger-block. To this block I
attach two supporting sliding rods on which the said cartridge-frame when first
inserted in the gun rests in such a position that the lower row of cartridges con-
tained therein is in line with the barrels. The vertical sides of the cartridge frame
are formed with ribs and grooves extending across them. The supporting rods on
which the said frame rests are arranged in combination with other rods which I
call shifting rods and whose forward ends are formed with projections to support
the said frame, and by moving these last named rods longitudinally to and fro their
projections pass from one groove to the next above it, each of such movements
causing the depression or lowering of the frame so as to bring one row after the
other of the cartridges in line with the barrels, that is to say, into the proper
position to be fired. The said shifting rods are pivoted at their rear ends to a
plunger-block hereinafter described and the action of their forward ends whereby
they are caused to rise from one groove to another in the sides of the cartridge
frame is effected by means of cam grooves or tracks in the sides of the gun frame.
Or I may
substitute for the devices above described toothed wheels arranged to
turn on journals at the sides of the gun frame and so arranged as to support the
cartridge frame and cause the same to descend as they are intermittently rotated
by the action of the plunger block. I prefer that the aforesaid back plate through
which the plungers pass to drive the cartridges forward into the barrels should be
extended down below the barrels so that in case of the accidental explosion or
hang-fire" of a cartridge at any time, the same will not be blown to the rear of
the gun when extracted from the barrels. The aforesaid back and front plates afford
efficient means for keeping the cartridges in place in the cartridge frame after it
has been placed in the gun and previous to firing them whatever may be the
inclination or position in which the gun may stand. I provide for keeping the
cartridges in place in the said frame previous to placing the latter in the gun by
providing at the front and back of the frame a sliding plate or series of plates which
partially cover the ends of the tubes till the frame is placed in the gun and are
then adjusted to leave the tubes clear so as not to obstruct the firing or other
operations.
"
Any required number of the said cartridge fraines can be provided with each gun
so that they can be filled with cartridges and supplied one after the other without
and delay as required during the working of the gun.
For forcing the cartridges from the said frames into the barrels I employ a series
of plungers whoso rear ends are secured in the said plunger block. Each
plunger is hollow and encloses a firing pin and spiral spring for driving the latter
forward. Each plunger also carries an extractor. The said plunger-block and plungers
are actuated by means of any suitable devices, for instance, I may use a cam
arranged at the rear of the gun frame. I prefer to employ a cam fixed on a shaft
or axis arranged parallel with the axes of the barrels either in line with or below
the same and journalled in cross bars of the frame so that the manipulating handle
is at the rear extremity of the gun. This cam has in it, suitably formed grooves
which act on rollers attached to extensions from the said plunger-block and tho
required to-and-fro movements are thus imparted to the plungers. The said cam
which is preferably in the form of a cylinder also has projections for releasing the
firing pins; that is to say one cross bar of the gun frame in which the cam shaft is
journalled has formed in it a groove or channel extending from end to end of the
In this groovo I fit a sliding plate in which I form a series of holes corre-
sponding in number with the plungers but of peculiar form; that is to say each hole
has large and small parts to permit it to hold the firing pin when in one position
and release it when moved from this position and I prefer to make some of the
boles longer than the others so that the firing of all of the barrels will not be exactly
same.

page_text: simultaneous. This sliding plate is provided with studs so arranged in relation to
projections on the said cam that when the plungers are drawn back the heads of
the firing pins which are provided with flanges or collars will enter the large part
of the said holes, the sliding plate being then moved so that the small part of the
holes will pass behind the said collars to hold back the firing pins whilo the
plungers move forward to push the cartridges into the barrels.
Then at the proper time the sliding plate or slide is moved by the cam to
release the firing pins which are driven forward by the said spiral springs to
discharge the cartridges.
The extractors are so arranged as to act in a positive or certain manner to with-
draw the empty shells from tho barrels without the aid of springs.
Each extractor consists of a small bar of steel or other metal hinged or jointed
between its two ends to the upper side of the plunger. The forward end is provided
with the usual hook or claw to engage with the rim or flange of the cartridge-shell
and its rear end has a projection which passes through a slot in the plunger to the
interior of the latter. The result of this formation and arrangement of the firing
pin is that while the plungers are moving forward the oxtractors can work freely
on their pivots so that their hooked ends can pass over, and adjust themselves to the
rims of the cartridge shells, but when the firing pins have been driven forward a
projection or shoulder on the pin comes in contact with the projection on the rear
end of the extractor and locks and holds the same with its hook or claw over the
cartridge rim or flange till the same has been withdrawn from the barrel and tho
pins have been again retracted in the plungers.
Another part of my said Invention relates to a inodification of the above described
mechanism for feeding or supplying the cartridges to the gun as follows that is to
say I place at the rear of the series of barrels and in close proximity thereto a
transversly sliding frame fitted to work to-and-fro in suitable bearings in the gun-
frame. This frame is provided with a series of recesses or grooves into which the
cartridges are received from the hopper above the slide and from which they pass
into the barrels. The chief peculiarity or novel feature of this apperatus is the
supplying or feeding each barrel from two sides of the same, that is to say each
barrel is fed from a groove in the slide as the latter moves in one direction and
from another groove in the said slide as it moves in the opposite direction. In
combination with this slide, and above the same, is a slotted plate which forms the
bottom of the hopper and through whose slots the cartridges descend into the grooves
in the slide. The number of cartridge receptacles or grooves in the slide and the
number of slots in the plate must be adapted to the number of barrels ; for example
in a gun with five barrels the slide will have ten grooves or receptacles and the
said plate will have six slots and the hopper six compartments. With this apparatus
there is no lost or waste motion in the movement of the feed-slide as in other guns
of this class.
The said transverse slide is operated by means of a cam similar to that above
described through the medium of a lever or other connection which will give it the
required to-and-fro motion I may employ in this modification means for firing,
extracting, and ejecting the cartridges similar to those above described care being
taken to arrange the said parts so that the movements of the said slide shall take
place in the proper relation to those of the other devices.
In some cases I further provide for ejecting the empty cartridge shells from the
gun by the following contrivance that is to say: I provide at the sides of the gun
two slotted plates which are fitted in recesses in the frame and are connected at their
forward end by a bar or rod extending across the said frame. The plunger block
which carries the plungers is provided with small studs which work in the slots of
the said plates and these slots are so formed at their rear ends that as the said studs
strike the same their forward ends are depressed with a jerk or rapid movement and
as at this moment the cartridge-shells have been drawn back the cross bar or rod
connecting the said plates will strike the said shells or those of them that have not
previously dropped and thus ensure their removal from the gun. A similar jerk or

page_text: rapid movement raises the said cross bar at the commencement of the forward
movement of the plungers.
I may further modify my Invention by substituting for the aforesaid transversely
reciprocating slide or sliding frame a series of rotary or oscillating chambers or
receptacles which are supported in suitable bearings and receive the cartridges from
the hopper and present them to the barrels. I prefer that the oscillating chambers
should be so arranged in combination with the barrels that each barrel shall be fed
alternately by two of the said chambers and that each chamber shall feed a barrel
by its movement in either direction. These oscillating cartridge chambers or feeders
may be segment-shaped that is to say with an outer convex surface and an inner
concave surface so that the cartridges will rest on their outer convex surface as they
fall from the hopper and are then transferred to the inner concave surfaces or recesses
to be thence pushed into the barrels by the above described or other suitable devices.
The said feeders should be all connected by a pivotted bar or by other incans
which will keep them in their proper relative position and ensure their all moving
simultaneously. The said oscillating feeders may also be formed with an upper
groove or concave receptacle and an inner groove that is to say each feeder has one
groove into which the cartridges are received from the hopper and another groove
in which a cartridge that has been received from the hopper by the adjacent feeder
is deposited to be thence pushed into the barrel. I may also make the cartridge
receptacles or feeders star-shaped that is to say with a series of longitudinal chambers
or grooves at equal distance apart around them for the reception of the cartridges
from the hopper. In this case the said feeders rotate and one chamber after
the other receives a cartridge and places it in line with a barrel. All of these
oscillating or rotating devices may be operated by a cam arranged as above described
or by other suitable-means..
In a gun provided with my improved feeding apparatus in either of the forms or
modifications above described the operating cam may be arranged to be manipulated
by a handle at the rear as above specified or at either side of the gun. And my
improvements may with slight modifications be applied to existing guns of the typo
or class to which this Invention apperatains.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Owen Jones in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st July
1882.
OWEN JONES, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, now of
8, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE GUNS."
My Invention relates to improvements in that class or type of guns which have
a series of fixed barrels arranged in a horizontal plane in combination with
cartridge feeding mechanism and with loading, firing and extracting devices which
move longitudinally to and fro at the rear of the said barrels, that is to say, it
relates to a class of weapons of which the "Gardner" and "Nordenfelt" guns are
well known examples.
My improvements relate chiefly to devices or arrangements for feeding or
supplying the cartridges to the barrels and extracting and ejecting the empty
cartridge shells or cases therefrom, and are designed to render these guns more
efficient and convenient than heretofore by simplifying the mechanism and
accelerating the working of the same.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a machine-gun constructed according to my
Invention with the cover removed to clearly shew the parts beneath the same, and
with the back plate hereinafter described in section, and
Figure 2 is a central longitudinal vortical section of the said gun with a portion
of the cartridge frame or box hereinafter described in position therein.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the said gun on the lino x, x Figure 1 looking
towards the rear.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of the said gun on the
line x, x Figure 1, showing more particularly the devices for operating and con-
trolling the movements of the cartridge frames or boxes in their passage through
the gun as hereinafter described.
Figure 5 is a view of the front surface of the back plate between which and a
front plate hereinafter described the cartridge frames or boxes are adapted to
descend.
Figure 6 is a side elevation (drawn to a reduced scale) of the said gun with a
cartridge frame or box therein.
Figure 7 is a rear view of one of my improved cartridge frames or boxes to be
used with the said gun, and
Figure 8 is a vertical section of the same on a plate parallel with the front and
back plates.
Figure 9 is a rear view,
Figure 10 is a vertical section in a plane parallel with the front and back
plates, and
Figure 11 a vertical section, in a plane at right angles to the front and back
plates, shewing a slightly modified construction of the said cartridge frames or
boxes, the cartridges in theso views being shown therein
Figure 12 is a plan or top view, with the cover removed and one of the plungers
bereinafter described in section, of another of my machine-guns wherein the
cartridges are fed or supplied to the gun by means of a transversely sliding frame
as hereinafter described, and
Figure 13 is a central longitudinal vertical section of the same
Figures 14 and 15 are transverse sections of the said gun on the lines y, y and
y', y Figure 12 looking toward the front end of the gun, and
Figure 16 is a transverse section of the said gun on the line Figure 12 looking
towards the rear,

page_text: Figure 17 is a plan or top view of the lever which transmits motion to the
transversely sliding frame for bringing the cartridges into line with the barrels.
Figure 18 is a diagram showing the cam-surfaces of the main cam projected in a
horizontal plane
Figure 19 is a vertical transverse section of another of my machine-guns wherein
I employ a series of rotary chambers or receptacles for receiving the cartridges
from the hopper and presenting them in line with the barrels as hereinafter
described, and
Figure 20 is a plan of a portion of the said gun partly in horizontal section on
the line z¹¹, Figure 19.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
In the said Drawings a.represents the main frame of the gun which may be
constructed of gun metal, brass, iron or other suitable metal and b, b represent the
barrels of the said gun, c, c are plungers containing the firing pins c* and carrying
the extractors d, d, and e represents the crank whereby motion is imparted to the
cam-cylinder f for operating the said plungers.
The remaining parts are hereinafter described
According to one part of my said improvements I construct a rectangular frame
or box g, as shewn in Figures 7 and 8, of iron, brass or other suitable metal having
in it a series of rows of tubes g¹ for the reception of the cartridges; the number of
tubes in cach horizontal row must correspond with the number of barrels b in the
gun and the said rows are parallel and at equal distances apart one above the other.
The said frame or box, when it is to be used, is placed behind or at the rear of the
barrels and between vertical guides h* formed on or attached to a front plate h and
a back plate h' as shewn in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6. These plates when raised are
preferably connected by a suitable book or bar as shewn in Figure 6. The back
plate is perforated with a row of holes 2 arranged opposite to or in line with
the barrels b the plate below the said holes being bevelled as shown so that the
empty shells which have been extracted will be forced forward by the contact of
their rims with these inclined surfaces so as not to interfere with the descent of
the box or frame. These plates h, h are adjustable on hinges or pivots shewn in
Figure 2, or otherwise, so that they can be raised when a frame or box g of cartridges
is to be placed between them and lowered or removed when the gun is not in use.
In Figures 9, 10 and 11 I havo illustrated a modified construction of the said
frame or box g in which the chambers for holding the cartridges are formed by
combining two corrugated plates g g of brass or other suitable metal secured to
the back and front plates g³, g' of the frame or box
I provide the gun with novel mechanism whereby the said frame or box when
placed between the guides upon the said plates h, h¹ will have each of its rows of
cartridges brought accurately in line with the barrels so that each of the said rows
of cartridges can be, by the mechanism hereinafter described, pushed into the barrels
and fired and the empty cartridge-cases withdrawn and removed from the gun.
For this purpose I provide a cross-bar c¹ which I hereinafter term the plunger-
block. To this plunger-block I attach two supporting sliding rods i which are
adapted to pass into grooves g between the ribs go formed on the vertical sides of
the cartridge frame or box and extending across the same. These supporting rods i
are arranged in combination with other rods j which I term shifting rods. The
said rods are pivotted at their rear end to the plunger block c' as shown at j
in Figures 1 and 4 and their forward ends are formed with rollers or projections j¹
to support the frame or box when it is first placed in the gun and by moving these
last named rods longitudinally to and fro the said rollers or projections j' pass from
one groove g³ to the groove next above that is to say they pass from the position
shown at 1 in Figure 4 to the position shewn at 2 and as the plunger block c¹
completes its rearward movement after the roller j' has been brought into the last
named position an inclined surface on each of the rods j comes in contact with
a pin or stud in the frame of the gun thereby causing the said roller or projection
¹ to pass from the position shown at 2 into the position shewn at 1 and in such

page_text: movement effect the depression or lowering of the cartridge frame or box so as to
bring one row after the other of the cartridges in line with the barrels that is to
say into the proper position to be forced forward into the said barrels and fired.
Each of the said shifting rods is provided at its forward end with another roller or
projection, which is adapted to travel in a groove in the frame of the gun and
in its forward movement the said roller or projection raises and passes beyond a
switch pivotted in the said frame as shown. These rollers 3 on the commence-
ment of the rearward movement of the plunger-block ride up the switches k
whereby the rollers or projections j' are caused to rise from one groove g³, to
another in the sides of the cartridge frame or box g. During these movements
the said cartridge-frame rests on the aforesaid supporting rods i which during the
passage of the rollers 7 from one groove to another groove g³ remain within and
support the cartridge frame or box. Or I may substitute for the devices above
described toothed wheels arranged to turn on journals at the sides of the gun
frame and so arranged as to support the cartridge frame or box and cause the same
to descend as they are intermittently rotated by the action of the plunger block.
I prefer that the back plate h' through which the plungers pass to drive the
cartridges forward into the barrels should be extended down below the said barrels
as shown in Figures 2 and 6 so that in case of the "hang-fire" of a cartridge at
any time the same will not be blown to the rear of the gun when extracted from
the barrels. The barrel block a' is bevelled or inclined at a in such a manner as
to ensure the downward direction of any ball from a cartridge that might explode
after being withdrawn from one of the barrels b. The aforesaid back and front
plates afford efficient means for keeping the cartridges in place in the cartridge
frame or box g after the latter has been placed in the gun and previous to firing
the cartridges whatever may be the inclination or position which the said gun
may occupy. To keep the cartridges in place in the said frame or box previous to
placing the latter in the gun I provide at the front and back of the frame g
sliding plates g which partially cover the ends of the tubes g' or chambers
containing the cartridges till the frame is placed in the gun and are then adjusted
to leave the said tubes or chambers clear so as not to obstruct the firing or other
operations. To effect this adjustment automatically I provide the said sliding
plates with a pin or stud gs which enters a cam-groove ³ in the front plate h and
a cam groove h in the back plate h' and is so arranged as to move the said sliding
plates laterally or transversely before the lowest row of cartridges in the frane or
box comes in line with the barrels. Any required number of the said cartridge
frames or boxes can be provided with each gun so that they can be filled with
cartridges and supplied one after the other without any delay as required during
the working of the gun.
In some cases I provide the ends of the said cartridge fraines or boxes with
springs or other devices which when a frame or box is placed between the
plates h h will on coming in contact with another frame or box below cause the
said frames to be connected so that the lower frame in its downward movement
will carry with it the frame or box above it.
For forcing the cartridges from the said frames into the barrels I employ the
series of plungers c secured in the said plunger block c' as shown. Each of the
said plungers c is hollow and encloses the firing pin c* and a spiral spring for
driving the latter forward. Each plunger also carries an extractor as shewn at d.
The said plunger block c' and plungers c are actuated by means of any suitable
devices for instance I may use a cam arranged under the rear portion of the gun
frame or in any other convenient position. I prefer to employ for this purpose
the cam cylinder or cam f fixed on a shaft or axis f' arranged parallel with the
axes of the barrels, either in line with or below the same, and journalled in supports
extending across the frame so that the manipulating handle or crank e is at the
rear extrenity of the gun. This cam cylinder has on it suitably formed can
surfaces which act on a roller c attached to an extension from the said plunger-
block c' and the required to-and-fro movements are thus imparted to the plungers.

page_text: Or instead of one roller and extension I, may employ two rollers and extensions
when the axis of the cam-cylinder is on the same horizontal plane as the axis of
the barrels. The said cam or cam-cylinder also has cams or cam-projections ƒ ƒ³
for operating the firing plate m through the medium of the downwardly projecting
arms mm² attached to a transversely moving slide m³ which carries the said
firing plate m. This slide is supported in a box extending from one side of the
gun-frame to the other in front of the rear cross-bar in which the cam-shaft is
journalled. The said plate m is formed with a series of holes corresponding in
number with the plungers but of peculiar form, that is to say; each hole has two
large parts 3, 4, and a smaller part 5, as shewn, to permit it to hold the firing pin
when in one position and release it when moved from this position and I prefer to
make some of the holes longer than the other as shown so that the firing of all of
the barrels will not be exactly simultaneous. The aforesaid arms m³, m² on the
transversely moving slide m³, are so arranged in relation to the cams or cam-
projections f³ that when the plungers are drawn back the heads of the firing
pins which are provided with flanges or collars will enter the large part 3 of the
said holes, the sliding plate being then moved so that the small part 5 of the holes
will pass behind the said collars to hold back the firing pins while the plungers
move forward to push the cartridges into the barrels. Then at the proper time
the slide is moved still further in the same direction by the cam or cam-projection f³
to bring the large parts 4 of the holes opposite the firing pins which are then
released and driven forward by the said spiral springs to discharge the cartridges.
After the firing pins have been thus projected forward by their springs the
continued revolution of the cams or cam-projections, fs causes the plate m to
be moved in the opposite direction, that is to say, in such a manner that the large
parts 3 of the holes therein will be brought into line with the firing pins.
By the arrangement of the cam-surfaces upon the cam-cylinder fƒ as shown I
obtain the advantage of a comparatively long dwell or pause of the plungers while
the cartridges are being fired as the part of the cam is in contact with the
roller during the firing of the gun. And in making the cam I can vary the
length of this part to give any required pause or dwell.
The extractors d, are so arranged as to act in a positive or certain manner to
withdraw the empty shells from the barrels without the aid of springs. Each
extractor consists of a small bar of steel or other metal hinged or jointed between
its two ends, as at d', to the plunger. The forward end of the said extractor is
provided with the usual hook or claw to engage with the rim or flange of the
cartridge-shell and its rear end has a projection d which passes through a slot in
the plunger to the interior of the latter. The result of this formation and arrange-
ment of the firing pin is that while the plungers are moving forward the extractors
can work freely on their pivots so that their booked ends can pass over and adjust
themselves to the rims of the cartridge-shells, but when the firing pins have been
driven forward a projection or shoulder on the pin comes in contact with the
projection d² on the rear end of the extractor and locks and holds the same with
its hook or claw over the cartridge rim or flange till the same has been withdrawn
from the barrel and the pins have been again held back by the firing plate m.
By having the series of plungers fixed in one block or bar which is moved to and
fro by a rotating can I avoid all loss of time which might occur from incomplete
movements of a lever or other reciprocating device for giving the longitudinal
movements to the said series of plungers.
The part of my Invention illustrated in Figures 12, 13 and 14 of the Drawings
relates to another construction of mechanism for feeding or supplying the
cartridges to the gun as follows, that is to say, I place at the rear of
the series of barrels band in close proximity thereto a transversely sliding
frame n fitted to work to-and-fro on suitable bearings formed on
gun-frame a. This sliding frame n is provided with a series of recesses or
grooves 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 into which the cartridges passing
from a hopper through slots in the cover of the gun and through slots in a block
the

page_text: or plate o are received and from which they pass into the barrels. A peculiarity
or novel feature of this apparatus is the supplying or feeding of each barrel with a
cartridge first from he side and then from the other side of the same, that is to say
each barrel is fed the first time from a groove in the slide after the latter moves in
one direction, and the next time from another groove in the said slide after it moves
in the opposite direction. The number of cartridge receptacles or grooves in the
slide and the number of slots in the cover and in the aforesaid block or plate o
must be adapted to the number of barrels; for example, in a gun with five barrels
the slide will have ten grooves or receptacles and the said block or plate will have
six slots 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21, and the hopper six compartments. The
transverse movement of the slide in one direction brings the recesses or grooves
6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 under the apertures or slots 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 in the slotted
plate or block o; the reverse movement of the said slide brings these recesses or
grooves in line with the barrels, and the grooves 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 under the
apertures or slots 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 in the block or plate o so that they may be
supplied with cartridges from the hopper or cartridge feeder. From the above
description it will be readily understood that, before the plungers commence to
move forward to force into the barrels the cartridges in the grooves of the slide n
directly in front of them, other cartridges have descended into the adjacent grooves
or recesses in readiness to be brought into line with the barrels during the latter
portion of the return stroke of the said plungers. Thus, before the plungers strike
the cartridges in one series of grooves in the slide n so as to force them into the
barrels, the set of cartridges that are designed to be next inserted into the said
barrels are in place in the adjacent series of grooves. By this arrangement the
sliden receives motion in one direction only in order to bring a serios of cartridges
into line with the barrels in contradistinction to a back and forth or reciprocating
motion, thus obviating any liability of the cartridges to become jammed during the
operation of the gun at a high speed.
The
The said transverso slide n is operated by means of a lever p or other connection
which will give it the required to-and-fro transverse motion. When I employ a
lever as shewn at p, I pivot the same at p¹ to a bar or plate extending across the
gun and arrange its front end to act upon studs or projections n¹ upon
the under surface of the aforesaid transversely moving slide n. This lever
pis provided with inclined surfaces p³ p³, and also with other inclined sur-
faces, p, p. Against these surfaces a roller or stud q' on a lever arm or shifting
device q is adapted to come in contact. This shifting device q is pivotted
to the plunger block c' and travels back and forth with the same.
operation of the said devices is as follows, that is to say, assuming that the
transversely moving slide n is in the position shewn in Figures 12 and 14, the
plungers in moving forward will first enter the rear end of the recesses or grooves, 7,
9, 11, 13 and 15 and in the continued movement of the said plungers and the
plunger block the stud or part q¹ of the shifting device 9 which was previously in
contact with the surface p³, as shewn in Figure 12, will come in contact with the
inclined surface p³, and, as the lever p carrying such inclined surface cannot move
transversely by reason of the fact that the slide is prevented from moving
transversely owing to the entrance of the plungers into its grooves or recesses as
above set forth, it follows that the said shifting device q will be caused to turn
upon its pivot, and be held in such a position by a spring 9 attached to the
plunger block and engaging with inclined surfaces upon the shifting device q that,
when the aforesaid plunger block and plungers move backward the stud or part q'
will como in contact with the inclined surface p instead of the surface p³ and as at
the time this contact takes place the plungers have left the grooves or recesses in
the slide n and consequently left the same free to be moved, the said stud or part q²,
in the latter part of the rearward movement of the plunger-block will operate
upon the aforesaid cam-surface p' and cause the lever p to move upon its pivot to
such an extent that its front end will so move the slide n as to bring its grooves 6,
8, 10, 12 and 14 into line with the barrels. As the plunger-block again moves..

page_text: forward with the plungers and the slide n is held stationary by the entrance of the
forward ends of the said plungers into its grooves or recesses, the stud or part q
will come in contact with the inclined surfaco p', so as to adjust the said stud and
its shifting device 9 into such a position that during the retrograde movement of
the plunger-block the said stud will strike the surface 2 and consequently move
.the slide in such a position that its grooves or recesses 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 are
again brought into line with the barrels. I may employ in this gun, as shown in
the Drawings, means for firing, extracting and ejecting the cartridges similar to
those above described care being taken to arrange the parts so that the movements
of the said transversely moving slide shall take place in the proper relation to
those of the other devices.
In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 19 and 20 I substitute for the
aforesaid transversely reciprocating slide or sliding frame n a series of rotary
feeders or feed chambers or receptacles ", which are supported in suitable
bearings or plates's, 8' and receive the cartridges from the hopper and present them
to the barrels.
These chambers or receptacles are provided with outer convex surfaces whereon
the cartridges will rest as they fall from the hopper, as shown in Figure 19, and
with inner concave surfaces or recesses to receive and carry the cartridges into line
with the barrels to permit the said cartridges to be pushed into the latter by the
above described or other suitable devices. "The said feeders are all connected by a
bar or by other means which will keep them in their proper relative position and
ensure their all moving simultaneously. Rotary movement is imparted to the
said chambers or receptacles by a rack and pinions or by other suitable mechanism.
The said feeders rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows and in their
revolution the empty cartridge-shells brought from the barrels into the said
recesses by the extractors are discharged or dropped out as the feeders revolve to
take a fresh charge from the feed hopper:
In a gun provided with my improved feeding apparatus in either of the forms
or modifications above described, the operating cam may be arranged to be
manipulated by a handle at the rear as above specified or at either side of the gun.
And my improvements may with slight modifications be applied to existing guns
of the type or class to which this Invention appertains. My improved guns are
provided with suitable mechanism to enable them to be sighted, and elevated or
depressed, and, if desired, with means for ensuring the lateral movement of the
barrels when being fired so as to spread or scatter the balls.
Morcover any
suitable carriage may be employed whereon to mount the gun.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same I wish it understood that I do not claim generally or irrespectively the
novel features herein specified the employment of a longitudinally reciprocating
series of plungers at the rear of the barrels nor the employment of a transversely
reciprocating feeding slide as these devices in different forms are employed in the
said Nordenfelt, Gardner and other guns but I claim :-
--
First. A series or row of plungers secured in a block or bar arranged to slide
toward and from the breech ends of the barrels and operated by a rotating cam so
that they all move together or simultaneously.
Second. A box or frame for holding the cartridges in such a manner that the
horizontal rows of cartridges can be thereby presented successively to the barrels
and the empty shells received therefrom, and constructed substantially as shewn in
Figures 7 and 8 or as in Figures 9, 10 and 11, of the Drawings.
Third. The combination, with the said cartridge frame or box of the mechanism
substantially as described for forcing the cartridges from the same into the gun
barrels, firing them and removing the discharged cartridge shells from the barrels
into the said frame or box, as above set forth. .
Fourth. The devices in the gun for supporting the said box and giving to it the
properly regulated downward movements for bringing the successive rows of
cartridges into line with the barrels, substantially as described.

page_text: Fifth. The combination with the said devices, of the cartridge holding frame or
box, as above set forth.
Sixth. The front and back plates h, h' provided with grooves formed and
arranged in combination with studs or projections on the sliding plates or covers
of the cartridge-holding frame or box so that as the said box descends in its guides
the said sliding plates are caused to uncover the ends of the tubes, recesses or
chambers containing the cartridges, as and for the purpose, specified.
Seventh. The combination, with a row or series of gun-barrels, of the apparatus
consisting of the transversely moving slide provided with two grooves or recesses
for bringing the cartridges into line with each barrel and a slotted plate or block
which has one slot or aperture in excess of the number of barrels, all arranged and
operating as and for the purpose, specified.
Eighth. The said transversely moving slide arranged and operating in com-
bination with the said series of barrels, the slotted plate and the plungers and
moved to and fro by the lever with inclined surfaces and the shifting device, or by
other suitable means substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Ninth. The combination, with the series or row of barrels and the plungers, of
the rotating feeding devices arranged and operating substantially as set forth.
Tenth. In combination with the firing pins, the plate formed with the peculiarly
shaped holes or slots for alternately holding and releasing the said pins and
supported by a slide arranged in connection with and operated by cams,
substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
In witness whereof I the said Owen Jones have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Thirty-first day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.