AN IMPROVED CARRIAGE FOR A MACHINE GUN
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JAMES GEORGE ACCLES, of Hartford, Connecticut, one of the United States
of America, at present residing at 41 Craven Street Strand in the County of
Middlesex England Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
AN IMPROVED CARRIAGE FOR A MACHINE GUN to be as follows:-
«
This invention has for its object an improved carriage for a machine-gun.
The body of the carriage is supported in front upon a crank axle with a pair of
wheels. It is provided with a trail projecting to the rear.
The trail is curved
upwards at its end and terminates in a socket. The socket receives a spindle
which is forked at its lower end and carries a small steering wheel. A handle is
jointed to this fork, by means of which the carriage is steered and drawn from
place to place. The trail is further supported upon an arc projecting forwards
horizontally from the fork of the steering wheel and entering a guide groove
beneath the trail.
The gun is carried upon a pedestal centrally placed upon the carriage body
immediately in rear of the axle. At the top of the pedestal there is a socket
receiving the stem of a fork, in which the trunnions of the gun are carried. There
are adjustable stops on the top of the socket to limit in a horizontal plane the
notion of the gun whilst in action so that more or less spreading of the fire may
be obtained as may be desired. A curved arc is also connected beneath the gun
concentric with the trunnions, and this carries stops which can be clipped upon it
in any desired position to limit the movement of the gun in a vertical plane.
By the sides of the pedestal are metal cases for containing the ammunition and
the feeders in which the ammunition is arranged for the supply of the gun. There
are two cases on either side one standing on the other; the upper case carries the
feeders ready charged and the other or under case carries spare ammunition in
packages. The two cases are made to lock together, the upper one on to the lower,
and the latter is secured to the carriage by lugs on its under side and a spring bolt
entering one of these lugs.
In front of the gun also underneath the muzzle there are two or more ammunition
cases standing one on the other, and the lower one is secured to the carriage in the
manner already described. The ammunition is divided in this manner for more
convenient transport upon pack mules. Two of the cases form a load.

page_text: The carriage is provided with tracking ropes, by which it is drawn whilst
retiring, and wooden poles are provided, ode on each side which enter sockets upon
the carriage; by these the carriage is propelled by men when advancing in action.
The same poles can be fitted into sockets, one on either side of the steering handle
and these then serve as shafts and a mule can be harnessed between them to aid in
moving the carriage.
For travelling long distances and carrying a large amount of ammunition the
small steering wheel is replaced by a limber carriage which receives the end of the
trail as this is usually carried in field guns.
The seat for the man who works the gun in action is upon the trail; it is jointed
to the rising part at its rear end so that it can be raised up out of the way when
not in use. Beneath the body of the carriage there are two stirrups like foot rests
by which the man steadies himself, so that he is able to work the gun conveniently
and efficiently whilst it is in movement.
The gun is controlled by a stock lever passing under the art of the operator, by
this he can direct the gun whilst looking along the sights and firing.
The gun thus mounted can fire both whilst advancing and during retreat-
a feature of very great importance.

page_text: I JAMES GEORGE ACCLES of Hartford Connecticut one of the United States
of America at present residing at 41 Craven Street Strand in the County of
Middlesex England Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the 'following statement :-
-
This invention has for its object an improved carriage for a machine gun.
The body of the carriage is supported in front upon a crank axle with a pair of
wheels. It is provided with a trail projecting to the rear. The trail is curved
upwards at its end and terminates in a socket. The socket receives a spindle which
is forked at its lower end and carries a small steering wheel.
A handle is jointed
to this fork by means of which the carriage is steered and drawn from place to
place. The trail is further supported upon an arc projecting forwards horizontally
from the fork of the steering wheel and entering a guide groove beneath the trail.
The gun is carried upon a pedestal centrally placed upon the carriage body
immediately in rear of the axle. At the top of the pedestal there is a socket
receiving the stem of a fork in which the trunnions of the gun are carried. There
are adjustable stops on the top of the socket to limit in a horizontal plane the
motion of the gun whilst in action so that more or less spreading of the fire may
be obtained as may be desired.
A curved arc is also connected beneath the gun concentric with the trunnions
and this carries stops which can be clipped upon it in any desired position to limit
the movement of the gun in a vertical plane.
By the sides of the pedestal are metal cases for containing the ammunition and
the feeders in which the ammunition is arranged for the supply of the gun. There
are two cases on either side one standing on the other the upper case carries the
feeders ready charged and the other or under case carries spare ammunition in
packages. The two cases are made to lock together the upper one on to the lower
and the latter is secured to the carriage by lugs on its under side and a spring bolt
entering one of these lugs.
In front of the gun also underneath the muzzle there are two or more ammunition
cases standing one on the other and the lower one is secured to the carriage in the
manner already described. The ammunition is divided in this manner for more
convenient transport upon pack mules. Two of the cases form a load.
The carriage is provided with tracking ropes by which it is drawn whilst retiring
and wooden poles are provided one on each side which enter sockets upon the
carriage by these the carriage is propelled by men when advancing in action. The
same poles can be fitted into sockets one on either side of the steering handle and
these then serve as shafts and a mule can be harnessed between them to aid in
moving the carriage.
For travelling long distances and carrying a large amount of ammunition the
small steering wheel is replaced by a limber carriage which receives the end of the
trail as this is usually carried in field guns.

page_text: not in use. Beneath the body of the carriage there are two stirrup like foot rests
by which the man steadies himself so that he is able to work the gun conveniently
and efficiently whilst it is in movement.
The gun is controlled by a stock lever passing under the arm of the operator by
this he can direct the gun whilst looking along the sights and firing.
The gun thus mounted can fire both whilst advancing and during retreat a
feature of very great importance.
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 plan of the carriage complete with the two pushing poles in
position. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a front elevation of
the same. Figure 4 is a vertical section of the steering wheel showing the centre
bolt and bush or cylinder. Figure 5 is a side elevation of the steering wheel
showing the horizontal are. Figure 6 is a side and Figure 7 a rear elevation of the
ammunition cases. Figure 8 is an elevation partly in section of the gun fork or
mount showing a detail in connection therewith.
The body of the carriage is supported in the front part upon an axle a with a
pair of wheels. Two pieces of angle iron or steel which form the trail bare joined
to the axle a near the centre a short distance apart and projecting forward and to
the rear.
The rear end of the trail b is curved and terminates in a socket b' the
socket receives a spindle c which is forked at its lower end c'. Between the fork
is placed the steering wheel 1 it is kept in its place by a pin or bolt c. On this
pin or bolt c between the sides of the fork c. is placed a bush or cylinder c³ on
which runs the steering wheel.
The object of this bush or cylinder is to keep the sides of the fork c¹ the proper
distance apart and when the bolt c³ is screwed up tight to keep the fork el rigid
and prevent the sides of the fork e² from closing in against the hub of the steering
wheel. The centre bolt c* is left long enough to take the fork c4 in which is fitted
the steering and drag handle c or shafts projecting forward from the lower end of
the fork c¹ is a horizontal arc c which runs in guide grooves beneath the rear end
of the trail 62. The object of the arc c is to help to support the trail b¹ and
prevent the spindle c from bending or breaking when striking against any object
when the carriage is moving.
A seat b³ for the man who fires the gun is fitted to the rising part of the trail b²
at the rear so arranged that it can be turned up out of the way when not in use.
At each side of the trail b joined to the axle a near the wheels are two angle iron
or steel side pieces d..
Stays e are carried from the trail b to the side pieces d and held in their places
with screw bolts.
-
The remaining space between the trail b and the side pieces d are filled up with
wood. To strengthen the carriage two stays freach from the rear end of the
trail be to the ends of the axle a. Near the centre of the stays fare right and left
hand threaded nuts f' by means of which all slackness in the carriage can be taken
up. On each side of the side pieces d at the rear projecting downwards and bent
under the carriage is fitted two stirrups d' or foot rests by which the man steadies
himself so that he is able to work the gun conveniently and efficiently while it is
in movement. The metal which forms the stirrups is carried upwards and
terminates in eyes or sockets (³ in which two poles d³ are placed pointing to the
rear.
The object of these two poles d³ is to provide means by which the gun and
carriage can be advanced into action from the rear by men pushing against the
aforesaid poles d³ and without having men in front of the gun or carriage.

page_text: These two poles d³ can be fitted into sockets one on each end of the cross bar of
the drag handle c and so form a pair of shafts for a mule.
The gun is carried upon a pedestal g placed upon the trail b immediately in rear
of the axle a. At the top of the pedestal y is a socket g' into which is fitted the
stem of the fork or gun mount g² in which the trunnions of the gun are carried.
There are adjustable stops on the top of the socket gl. A curved arc g³ is also
connected beneath the gun concentric with the trunnions on which are two stops g'
which can be set at any desired position.
On the side of the fork or mount where the arc g³ passes through the lower part
there is fitted a set nut or screw plug 9' spring go and pin g.
The object of this arrangement is to prevent the gun from moving too freely by
producing a friction on the elevating arc. On each side of the pedestal g are metal
cases h containing ammunition and the feeders in which ammunition is carried for
immediate supply to the gun.
The cover of the upper case is hinged at the front end ¹ so when open at right
angles to the top of the case hit forms a shield to protect the men working the gun
in action. The two cases h and 2 are locked together by means of lugs h³ on the
under side of the upper case h which enter cleats on the top or sides of the lower
case and are prevented from moving out by means of a pin or bolt passing
through the lug h³ and cleat. The lower case h2 is held on the carriage by lugs
passing under cleats and prevented from moving by means of a spring bolt or pin
passing through the cleats and lugs in the same manner as already described. In
front of the pedestal g under the muzzle of the gun are three metal ammunition
cases h one on the other and secured together and held on the carriage in the
manner already described.
When firing the gun while the carriage is advancing or retiring the man who
works the gun rides on the seat b³ at the rear end of the trail band steadies
himself with his feet in the stirrups d.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. A machine gun carriage having three wheels and a bent trail with a seat and
steadying stirrups substantially as described.
2. A machine gun carriage with a steering wheel at the rear end of the trail
carried in a fork having an horizontal arc running in guide grooves in the trail
substantially as described.
3. A machine gun carriage having poles d³ at the sides and projecting to the rear
substantially as described.
4. A machine gun carriage having ammunition cases arranged one on the other
and locked together and to the carriage substantially as described.
5. The stops g' on the arc g³ together with the parts 95 g and g' all for
facilitating the adjustment of the vertical movement of the gun substantially as
described.
6. A machine gun carriage substantially as described and represented by the
annexed drawings.