Improvements in Machine Guns.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 25th June, 1892
Improvements in Machine Guns.
I, ADOLF ODKOLEK FREIHERR VON AUGEZD, of III Strohgasse 11 Vienna,
Austria, Officer in the Imperial Army, 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 relates to improvements in the construction of machine gun
described in the Specification to Patent No. 16939 of 23 October 1890, which
improvements have for their object to insure the perfect working of the
mechanism and to enable the fire arm to be fired from the shoulder and to be
easily transported.
The closing of the breech, instead of being effected by the sector-like closing
piece D' described in the Specification 16939, is effected by a jointed piece
hinged to the breech bolt (similar to that of the Elliot-Colt gun, known since 1883)
which is unlocked by the movement of the piston rod effected by the pressure of
the powder gases, and is locked in the breech casing by the forward motion of the
piston rod effected by spring action and by the closing of the breech bolt.
The firing pin is connected to the piston rod in such manner that the firing
mechanism only consists of the firing pin which is kept in the withdrawn or
cocked position in the breech bolt up to the moment of firing, without the use of a
spring.
Instead of the cartridge feed mechanism described in Specification 16939ºº, a
step-by-step mechanism is employed acting under spring pressure, which moves the
cartridge belt transversely through the breech casing with a step by step downward
motion, and which is actuated by the lever which bends the spring that closes the
breech bolt, on the backward movement of the piston rod.
The breech bolt casing is entirely closed with the exception of the cartridge
inlet and discharge opening and the breech bolt and piston rod are secured by a
rebound axis which at the same time serves for fixing the piston shoe.
The trigger and the handle for opening the breech bolt are arranged in a
forward position for convenience of handling.
The said improvements are shewn on the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 shews a side view of the machine gun.
Figure 2 is a plan.
Figure 3 an end view of the same.
Figure 4 is a left hand side view of the breech bolt and lever casting.
Figures 5 and 6 shew the complete mechanism of the machine gun without the
barrel and cylinder, respectively in the closed and open position of the breech
bolt.
Figure 7 shews the breech bolt casing in vertical longitudinal section.
Figures 8 and 9 are cross sections on lines x-x and - Figure 5.
Figure 10 is a cross section on line 2. Figure 6, with the middle position of

page_text: is arranged for the passage of the cartridge belt, on which the cartridges are
secured by means of fixed rings or clamps.
Figures 21 to 23 shew other arrangements for securing the cartridges on the
cartridge belt.
As shewn in Figures 5 and 6, the closing of the breech is effected by a locking
piece B pivotted to the rear end of the breech bolt, (similar to the Elliot-Colt gun)
which rests upon hardened steel cheeks (Figures 7 and 8) in the breech bolt
casing C, and which are held by slides c¹ pushed in from the side.
The locking of the piece B is effected with closed breech bolt by a nose
piece d on the piston rod D which is guided in the breech bolt casing, which stud
is provided with lateral guide ribs d' that take into the guide grooves c³ in which
the breech bolt A is guided by means of its guide ribs a, Figure 9.
The locking is effected by causing the lower horizontal surface of the nose piece d
to slide over a surface of the locking piece B, the stud d' on the upper end of the
nose piece d being made to engage with a recess of the end of the breech bolt,
which latter is prevented by the casing, from shifting upward. When the piston
rod D is thrown backward by the pressure of the gases passing from the barrel E
through passage e into the cylinder F, the nose piece d releases the locking
piece B; this remains however in its supporting position until the projection d³
of the piston rod, slides under the nose 6 of the locking piece, whereby this is
raised.
On the motion of the piston rod D backwards, the firing pin G, a nose on whose
back end projects between the projections d' and d³ on the piston rod, is consequently
carried back by the latter, whereupon after the unlocking of the locking piece B,
the projection d' which engages with the breech bolt is made to bear against latter
and begins to move it back at the moment when the piece B is raised with the
stud in front of the stud d' of the nose piece d of the piston rod. The
parts d B d' and G then form a rigid whole with the breech bolt, and the piston
rod, in consequence of which the breech bolt is made to follow the motion of the
piston rod.
On the opening of the breech bolt the bending of a spring K is also effected,
which, as described in Patent No. 16939 is situated in a lever casing L that is
removeable from the breech bolt casing and acts upon a lever l gearing with the
piston rod. The spring may be suitably made of an elbow form which is inserted
loose between the lever stud and the casing.
In order to maintain the lever I always in effective engagement with the piston
rod D, the upper end of the lever is formed curved, and into the slot of the piston
rod is introduced a cheek d³ Figure 5 whose height is greater than the diameter of
the piston rod, so that the end of the lever has always presented to it a sufficient
bearing surface.
The breech bolt is maintained in the opened position by means of the sear m
situated in the front part of the casing, which sear takes into the notch d°, Figure 6,
of the piston rod. For single fire, the trigger M. is actuated with a short pull,
while if several charges are to be fired one after the other, or for rapid fire, the
trigger is continuously held back. The closing of the breech bolt is effected by the
power of the spring K. The breech bolt A is for this purpose pushed forward by
the piston rod nose d and its stud d³ pressing against the locking piece B and the
horizontal guiding surfaces co Figure 7 of the casing prevent any escape of the
piece B until the breech bolt is completely closed. The stud d² of the nose d then
slides off the stud 6 of the locking piece B' and thereby causes the latter to be
depressed on to the cheeks c, whereupon the nose d engages with the piece B in the
manner previously described, and thus effects the locking of the breech bolt.
At the commencement of the locking the firing pin G which till then has been
held in the backward position (Figure 6) by means of the projection d' of the
piston rod, is moved forward by being pressed upon by the projection d' of the
piston rod, and is made to strike and fire the cap of the cartridge. From this
arrangement it follows that any firing of a cartridge on its introduction into the

page_text: cartridge chamber is quite impossible and that the firing can only be effected when
the breech bolt is completely closed up against the cartridge chamber.
The opening of the breech bolt by hand instead of being effected as described
in Patent 1693900 by the presser e is effected by means of a second trigger
inserted in the front part of the piston rod in front of the firing trigger, and
secured by a pin d', so that by pressing upon this the piston rod is forced
backward.
The withdrawal and ejection of the cartridge case on the opening of the breech
bolt is effected through a discharge opening Figures 1 and 10, on the right
hand side of the casing, by means of an ejector of known construction.
During the backward motion of the piston rod D and breech bolt, the breech
bolt casing is closed by a transverse axis H Figure 6 which at the same time
serves to secure the butt shoe I.
This butt shoe may advantageously be provided with a curved arm i Figure 1
which facilitates the holding of the fire arm against the shoulder.
For limiting the recoil and weakening the blow of the piston rod D, there is
inserted between the transverse axis H and the piston rod an elastic or spring
buffer J in the guide of the piston rod.
The automatic feed of the cartridges is effected by means of a cartridge belt N
which passes transversely through the breech bolt casing between the breech
bolt A and the piston rod (Figure 10) which belt is advanced by a step-by-step
feed device which at each opening of the breech bolt advances the belt a distance
equal to a cartridge.
This feed device consists of a bar P, sliding in a prismatic guide on the right
hand side of the breech bolt and lever casing, of a vertically sliding plate O in the
said bar, and of a flap R, that can turn on a hinge r, on the breech block casing,
and which covers the slot, c of the casing through which the cartridge belt passes,
as also the guide roller 9 and plate O, and its guide, in such manner (Figures 1,
7, 10) that the end of the belt drawn out of the casing is situated between the
plate O and the flap R.
The flap R and plate O have each a number of bars S provided with curved
teeth s. Figures 10. 11 and 12 which plates have spring action so that the teeth s
are pressed into the cartridge belt situated between them (Figure 11) when the
flap R is closed by the lever r¹ (Figures 1 and 7.) pivotted to the casing.
The movement of the plate O upwards is effected by the lever which is turned
backwards by the piston rod D on the opening of the breech bolt, while the down-
ward motion is effected by a spring p'.
For this purpose the lever 1 has an arm over which is situated a tooth p in
the rod P pressed outward by a spring, when the breechbolt is closed. The
spring p' is placed in a cylindrical chamber of the lever casing and rests on the
one hand upon the projection p on the lower end of the rod P, projecting into
the chamber and on the other hand upon a nut p screwed on the end of bolt p³
passing through the projection p, and guided in slot 15 of the chamber in such
manner that no rotation of the nut can take place.
The head p of the screw bolt p³ is supported on the outside of the lever casing L
and a strut or pin p entering the head prevents the turning of the bolt.
The spring p' tends to maintain the bar P together with the plate O in the
position shewn at Figure 5, the tension of the spring being regulated at will by
screwing the bolt p³ into the nut p². For this purpose the bolt can be pressed out
of the lever casing to such an extent that the pin p³ comes out of the gear with the
head of the bolt whereupon the bolt can be turned.
If the lever is turned by the piston rod D from the position Figure 5 into the
position Figure 6, the arm thereof by pressing on the tooth p of bar P forces
the latter together with plate O upwards, the spring p¹ being thereby put in tension
and the teeth s in the closed flap Ŕ preventing the belt being carried upward with
the plate.
When the breechbolt is opened the arm 1 of the lever passes out of contact with

page_text: the tooth p of the bar P and the latter together with the plate O is propelled
downwards by the spring p², the teeth s at the same tine carrying the belt down
with them.
On closing the breech bolt the arm of lever i presses the tooth p of the bar
back, and the tooth then springs forward again over the arm.
The feed of the cartridges is effected as already described, between the breech
bolt A and the piston rod D Figure 10 transversely through the casing C, so that
this casing can be completely closed at top. The belt N to which the cartridges
are attached side by side at two points, is introduced into the casing at the left
hand side through the opening c, and is drawn out on the right hand side through
a slot of a size only large enough for the band to pass through; from this slot it
passes downwards along the lever casing L between the plate O and the flap R
(Figs. 1. 3 and 10). The slot c is continued within the casing by a knife c' which
is rivetted to the bar that forms the abutment for the cartridge (Figs. 7 and 10).
The knife c' passes backwards to a short distance from the casing and is formed at
its front part with a notch co (Fig. 7) so that it can penetrate freely between the
cartridge and the belt between the two points of attachment. The attachment of
the cartridge which is advantageously formed with a circular groove next the base
rim for this purpose, may either be effected as shewn at Fig. 21 by sewing with
thread n, which is placed in the said groove and in the necking of the front end,
and is then secured to the belt, or, as shewn in Fig. 22, by means of split wire
rings sewn to the belt, or again, as shewn at Fig. 23, by clamps n² sewn or
rivetted to the belt, of which the realnost one has a turned-up lug n³ which
prevents the cartridge from slipping backwards. In order to allow of the passage
of the rings n' or clamps n there must be formed grooves 2 in the flap R, and the
bar and knife are advantageously combined with the flap.
By means of the above described feed device a cartridge is always brought in
front of the breech bolt and cartridge chamber when the breech bolt is open.
When the latter is thrown forward by the action of the spring K, the thread
attachments n Fig. 21 are cut by the knife c' and the cartridge is forced into the
cartridge chamber; with the fastenings shewn at Figs. 22 and 23, the cartridge is
forced out of the rings n' or clamps n into the cartridge chamber.
Any lateral shifting of the cartridge is prevented by the bar of the casing on
the one side, and the next following cartridge on the other side.
Should an imperfect feed of the cartridges take place, that is to say, should the
plate ( not be sufficiently moved by the spring, the downward motion of the
bar P together with the plate O can be effected by means of the lever l. For
this purpose the lever casing L has pivotted to it a lever T which by means
When the
of a springt Fig. 5 is held over a projection 7 on the bar P.
lever is in its extreme backward position it strikes against a stud t¹ of the
lever T, whereby the front end thereof is moved downwards, and should the rod P
have remained behind, it will press this down with it.
For transporting the cartridge belts N a cylindrical dium U is provided
(Figs. 2 and 3) into the slotted axis u of which the end of the cartridge belt
is pushed, whereupon by the rotation of the axis by means of the crank u',
which bears with spring action against the surface of the drum and seives at
the same time as brake, the belt is coiled up upon the axis. The opening at the
periphery of the drum for this entrance and delivery of the cartridge belt is
closed by a flap u³, Fig. 3, hinged at u². On firing, the drum U is hung by
means of a lateral loop u on a stud 18 at the side of the cover of the lever
casing L (Figs. 3 and 4), the opened flap u³ being made to rest against the breech
bolt casing so as to act as support to the cartridge belt as it passes in (Figs. 2
and 3).
As shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the cartridge drum instead of being placed
at the side, can be hooked on to the underside of the lever casing.
Further improvements relate to the cylinder F and the piston or piston rod D.
The cylinder is advantageously made in one piece with the barrel (Figs. 13

page_text: and 14); with this arrangement, the hole necessary for boring the passage e is
closed by a conical plug, either ground in, or inade of copper which is secured by
a dovetail wedge driven in over it.
The cylinder can also be made removable as shewn at Figs. 15 and 16, in which
case it is made with a conical socket, f' ground upon a corresponding seat on the
barrel, and secured thereon by a screw nut e' screwed on to a threaded part of the
barrel, while a key f³ driven in between the socket and the barrel, prevents
the cylinder from being turned out of position. The hole being formed in the
socket for boring the passage into the cylinder, no special means for closing
such hole is required, as it is closed by the barrel itself. The fore sight f³ can
advantageously be formed on the socket f³.
In order to maintain perfect freedom of motion for the piston rod D in the
cylinder F notwithstanding the entrance, for a considerable length of time, of the
powder gases into the cylinder, even with long continued rapid fire, the front end
of the piston rod (Figs. 18 and 19) is formed with an ogival hollow d¹º, so as to
form a sharp edge on the front end. Behind such edge one or more annular
grooves are cut, the edges of which are formed with obliquely placed opposite
notches d. In order to reduce the friction of the piston rod and to afford room
for the deposit of the solid residues, the front end of the piston rod is formed with
longitudinal flutings d¹ (Figs. 13 and 14).
The same end is obtained if the piston rod is made of a smaller diameter 13
(Fig. 15) behind the front end, or with steep helical grooves d¹ Fig. 17.
In order to facilitate the rapid taking to pieces of the fire arm, the two bolts 1³
and for securing the lever casing L and the transverse axis H are only slid through
and are prevented from falling out by spring beaks catching into corresponding
recesses in the breech bolt casing.
In order that the trigger M may not separate from the lever casing L on
removing the bolt 3, it is first fitted with a forked part next its pivot, on to the
lug of the lever casing, which fits between the cheeks c (Fig. 8) of the breech
bolt casing, and it is secured there by a tubular bolt m', through which passes the
before mentioned bolt 1³. The catching of the sear m into the piston rod is
effected by means of a spring m³ introduced into the lever casing and made to press
upon the trigger M, a socket m³ being inserted over the spring.
2'
The cover plate V of the breech bolt casing is advantageously fixed to the butt
shoe I and takes with lateral lugs Fig. 1 into notches c (Fig. 4) of the breech
bolt casing, this plate V being made to cover the slides c¹ so that they cannot fall
or be pushed out. After removal of the transverse axis H the cover plate V
together with the butt shoe can be removed.
When the bolts of the lever casing L have been removed, the latter can be
taken off, and, the trigger having been removed, the piston rod together with
the breech bolt can be drawn out of the casing. Access can be gained to the
interior of the lever casing L, after removal of the cover plate 17, which is held
by the lateral lugs 10 (Fig. 4); the plate partly covers the head of the trigger
pin and thus prevents the latter from falling out.
The barrel E is prevented from shifting by a key e², driven into a projection c¹³
(Fig. 5) of the breech bolt casing head, at right angles to the barrel axis.
For conveniently holding the fire arm against the shoulder, when kneeling, a
folding stand is employed which is conveniently pivottel to the lever casing L. It
consists of two legs W pivotted together at w (Fig. 3) which are folded together
and turned up against the barrel when the firearm is not in use, as indicated at
Fig. i.
When in use, the two legs, which have their upper end w¹ pivotted to a bolt w
(Fig. 5) mounted in a swivelling head w³ in a lug 2 on the lever casing, are turned
downwards; the flat end w' of the legs then comes out of the slot 13 of the lug on
the lever casing, and fits into the head w³, whereupon the stand is turned round 90°,
so that the opened legs assume the position indicated at Fig. 3, in which they are
held by a catch w¹ that slides from the one leg into the other.

page_text: In consequence of the swivelling arrangement of the head w³ in the lever casing,
the firearm can be turned through any angle while firing, so as to distribute the
fire along an extended front of the enemy, while the necessary elevation can be
obtained by inclining the weapon up or down upon the bottom ends of the legs.
The stand with its swivelling head could also be attached to the front end of the
barrel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
In machine guns in which the powder gases are made to act upon a piston in a
cylinder:
1. The combination with the breech bolt of a pivotted locking piece B which in
closing the breech bolt is pressed downwards by a stud d' on the nose piece d of the
piston rod D, on to supports c of the casing C and is locked by the nose piece d
sliding over the same, while the raising of the locking piece on the backward
motion of the piston rod is effected by a projection d³ acting on a beak 6 of the
locking piece, whereupon a projection d' on the piston rod seizes the breech bolt
and pushes it back, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of
the drawings.
2. The combination with the breech bolt casing C of locking cheeks c (Fig. 7)
secured by slides c', and against which the locking piece B bears.
3. A firing pin mechanism consisting of a firing pin G which on the opening of
the breech bolt is drawn back by a projection of the piston rod D, and on the
closing of the breech bolt, is thrown forward by a projection d' on the piston rod.
4. A piston rod or piston D with a hollowed front end 10 and a circular
groove the edges of which are formed with toothlike oblique notches, the
piston rod being formed at its rear part with longitudinal flutings d¹ or a reduced
diameter or helical grooves d substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 13 to 17.
5. A cylinder F either formed in one piece with the barrel E, in which case the
hole for boring the passage e is closed by a plug and wedge f1 (Fig. 13), or
provided with a socket slid on to the barrel and secured by a key 3 and nut e',
the hole in the socket for boring the passage e being closed by the barrel itself
(Fig. 14).
6. For effecting the opening of the breech bolt, the use of a trigger de inserted
in a slot in the front part of the piston rod D and secured by a pin d'.
7. A trigger M mounted on a tubular pin m¹ on the front part of the lever
casing L and having a sear m which, in the open position of the breech bolt, is
pressed by a spring m² into a notch d³ in the piston rod D.
8. The combination of a transverse axis H passing through the rear end of the
breech bolt casing C with a butt shoe I, a cover plate V fixed to the said shoe and
engaging with the notch c¹² (Fig. 4) of the casing, and a buffer J bearing against
the axis H.
9. For the feed of the cartridges by means of a belt, an inlet opening c³ between
the breech bolt A and the piston rod D, in combination with a slot on the
opposite side and a knife c' with slit c arranged in the plane of the slot, so as to
allow of the passage of the cartridge belt, and a bare serving as abutment for the
cartridge, over which bar is situated the discharge opening c".
10. For effecting a step by step forward motion of the cartridge belt for the
feed of the cartridges, a rising and falling plate O with spring teeth s, and a
flap R also provided with teeth, closed by means of a lever r, between which
parts O and R the cartridge belt passes, the raising of the plate O being effected
by the action of an arm of the lever 1 on the movable tooth p of the plate
carrier P, a spring p¹, regulated by a screw p³, being thereby compressed, 80 as,
afterwards propelling the plate O downwards to cause the teeths of the latter to
move the belt N forward.
in

page_text: 11. The use for forcibly moving the plate O downwards, of a lever T, pivotted
in the lever casing L and whose front end acts in the raised position of the plate O
upon the plate carrier P when the lever strikes in its extreme position, upon the
projection t' of the lever T and turns it downward.
12. For effecting the feed of the cartridges, the use of cartridge belts N to which
the cartridges are secured either by sewing with thread fitting in a groove n at the
base and round the front end, or by split rings or loops n' sewn on, or by means of
clamps of which the rear one has a lugn, suitable grooves being formed in the
flap R for the passage of the rings or clamps.
13. A cartridge belt drum U round the axis u of which the cartridge belt is
wound and which has a loop by means of which it can be mounted on a stud 18
at the side of or below the lever casing when firing.
14. A folding stand for the gun consisting of two legs W rotatable on a hinge w,
and whose common end w¹ is fitted rotatably in the swivel head w³, swivelling in a
projection on the lever casing L, the swivel head and projection being
slotted, so that the folded legs can be turned up against the barrel.
Dated this 13th day of April 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.