Improvements in Magazine Rifles and in Machine Guns Formed therefrom.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1888-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magazine Rifles and in Machine Guns Formed
therefrom.
1, GUILLERMO ANTONIO FARINI of No. 2 Vernon Place Bloomsbury Square
London, W.C. Author, Inventor and Impressario 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 small arms, particularly rifles, the action
is completely closed in, and the cartridges are fed into the gun at the side or sides
behind the bore, where the portable cartridge case or magazine is attached when
required The bolt is pushed into its place and firmly locked by one straight-forward
movement and withdrawn with one straight backward movement the pushing the
cartridge into the bore of the gun also locks the gun, there is a locking block that
falls behind the bolt when it is pushed forward.
The handle to the bolt projects through a slot underneath the gun and acts as a
lever to raise the locking block when it is pulled backwards to extract the empty
shell, which falls out of the slot that the handle to the bolt works in. Tho rifle
can be loaded and fired from the shoulder either with or without magazine or
magazines.
To turn the rifles as they are into a machine gun I construct a frame to receive
one, two, four or more. The handles to the bolts of the rifles being attached to
sliding pieces which are attached to cranks by connecting rods the turning of which
works the holt forwards and backwards, pushing a cartridge into the bore and
withdrawing the empty shell and at the same time it works an endless ribbon feeder―
that the cartridges are attached to.-This feeder is attached to the said frame opposite
the opening of the rifle where the cartridges are put into it, and consists of two
upright pieces that supports a roller with a ratchet at one end, the roller is furnished
with pins projecting from it which fit into eyelet holes in the ribbon or leather strap
that the cartridges are attached to, in pushing the bolt into its place a wedge shaped
projection on the sliding pieces strikes a lever that turns the ratchet wheel that is
attached to the roller, which raises a cartridge into place, and the withdrawing of the
bolt causes another wedge shaped projection to strike the same lever which forces the
cartridge out of the clips that fastens it to the ribbon, into the gun in front of
the bolt as the empty case is being ejected through the slot underneath the rifle, and
this is repeated as long as there are any cartridges on the ribbon, the crank to each
gun is so arranged that no two guns can be fired at the same time.
All the alteration necessary to the rifle before putting it into the frame is to slide
the spring that pushes the locking block into position, over the pin that is connected
with the trigger, and this will cause the rifle to fire by the insertion of the cartridge
into the bore of the gun.
My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
wherein like letters represent the same parts.
Figure 1 represents a side view of the mechanism with bolt withdrawn.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section, the firing pin being ready cocked for firing.
Figure 3 is plan of the spring for cocking the firing pin und of the breech or
locking block.
Figure 4 is a front view of the breech block with the forked lever for raising the
same. Figure 5 is a sectional view of the bolt in its guide. Figures 6, 7. and 8
represents the trigger mechanism and its guard inside view and plan. Figure 9 is
a longitudinal section of the magazine & breech chamber the bolt being drawn back.
Figure 10 is a plan, and Figure 11 is a transverse section of the same showing
cartridges in position. Figure 12 is side elevation of rifle with small fixed magazine

page_text: to which is attached a portable magazine as shown in dotted lines. Figure 13 is
a plan of same. Figure 14 is side elevation of same rifle without fixed magazine
showing opening for the feeding of the cartridge into it, with sliding door that closes
the opening.
Figure 16 is magazine for rifle (Figure 12) showing spring that fastens it on the
small angular magazine. Figures 15 and 17 are side elevations of magazines for
rifle as shown in Figure 14. Figure 18 is a cross section of same partially charged
with cartridges. Figure 19 is plan of locking block and spring catch with safety
sliding block. Figure 20 is under side view of top plate that covers the locking
block and spring catch attached to which is a sliding spring that forces the locking
block down, and also the pin attached to the trigger when pushed forward for that
purpose (to fire cartridges by their insertion). Figure 21 is side elevation of same
showing sliding spring. Figure 22 is side elevation of the frame to hold rifles and
cranks connecting rods and slides that work the bolts of the guns in place of the
hand, shows also cartridge feeding mechanism that is worked by wedges on the slides.
One gun is shown in position. Figure 23 is front end elevation of frame and stand.
Figure 24 is a plan of frame with rifle and cartridge feeder removed showing cranks
and slides that work the handles of the guns. Figure 25 is a plan of cartridge feeder.
Figure 26 is a front view showing cartridges on belt. Figure 27 end elevation of
same showing lever quadrant for forcing cartridges out of the clips that are on the
belt.
In describing the action of the mechanism, a cartridge is placed in the magazine M
(if used for single firing) which falls into the receiver A, in front of the bolt C when
in the position as shown in Figure 1.
By pushing the handle H forward to the position as shown in dotted lines the
cartridge is pushed into its place which raises the extractor F over the rim of the
cartridge P, the end of the extractor being wedge shaped. And the spiral spring i
(Figure 2) is compressed by the spring catch retaining the head (S) of the
firing pin as the bolt is pushed forward and when the bolt Cis in position tho locking
block K falls behind it, having been pushed down by the spring that is attached to
the top cover B Fig. 21 when it is ready for firing, by pulling the trigger D
Figure 6 the rear end of lever K' which is part of same presses against the dotted
line end of the spring catch thai projects downwards which it raises and releases the
firing pin S Figure 2 and the compressed spiral spring i forces it forward and causes
the point of it to strike the cartridge P. The gun being fired the lever handle H is
pulled back when it acts upon the pivot pand is moved into position as shown in
dotted lines causing the forked end as shown at G Figure 4 to raise the locking
block K which permits of the bolt C being withdrawn bringing with it the empty
shell by means of the extractor F. The empty shell is drawn a little further back
than where it went in falling through the slot X which at X' is recessed to allow the
rim of the cartridge which holds it in the chamber to pass through when it drops
out, and another cartridge from the magazine instantly takes its place as shown in
Figure 9, and the same backward and forward movement of the handle will continue
to load and extract. Figures 8 and 19 are plans of the top of the rifle, showing the
locking block K and top of pint that is attached to the trigger lever, f1 is a spring
catch that holds the firing pin back when the bolt is pushed forward-(r) is safety
sliding lock in position when rifle is being used and when used to lock the bolt and
trigger and prevent the rifle from being fired accidentally when carried with a
cartridge in the bore, it is pulled out with the thumb over the locking block K and
the spring catch which prevents either of them from acting, as shown in dotted
lines. Figure 20 is under side of top plate B that covers Figure 19 showing
spring that forces the locking block down and is so arranged that by loosening
the screw that fastens it to the plate it can be pushed forward over the head of the
pint shown in dotted lines so that in forcing the locking blocks down, it pushes the
pin down at the same time, which fires the rifle the moment the bolt is home and
the cartridge is in the bore. Figure 16 is portable magazine for rifle (Figure 12)
showing broad spring that retains the cartridges in.

page_text: The magazine on the rifle is forced over the small projecting magazine M
Figure 12 which opens the spring and allows the cartridges to fall into the rifle
the dotted lines shows the depth of the part that fits over the magazine M
(Figure 12). Figures 15 and 17 are side elevations of right and left hand
magazines for the rifle (Figure 14). Figure 18 is a cross section of same
attached to the gun (2) is a spring with piece turned down which passes through
the magazine in front of the cartridges as shown, but by pushing it further on than
shown in drawing, the spring is raised by coming in contact with the corner of the
rifle at 5 which releases the cartridges so that the zig zag spring (6) acts upon the
base of the cartridges and forces them into the chamber when the empty shell is
extracted.
When the rifles are put into the forked holders (c) on frame / pin C is pushed
through them and the stock of the rifle, the front forked holder having a hinged
cap that holds the barrel of the rifle fast. Then the gunner turns the handle b
which revolves the cranks a and imparts motion through the connecting rods a²
to the slides a³ to which they are attached by crossheads a².
By turning the said handle reciprocating motion is imparted to the slides a³
(by means of the cranks a) which carries the handle H of each rifle by means of
an hinged piece at the front end of the said hinge opening to receive the handle H
of the rifle, which is afterwards closed and secured by a pin. By this means to
each revolution of the handle b and cranks a, the sliding bolt C connected to the
handle H shown in Figs. 2 & 5 has pushed a cartridge into the chamber of the rifle
and extracted the empty shell after firing.
The same operation being repeated to each revolution.
A constant supply of cartridges to each rifle is kept up by the automatic feeding
apparatus which is fixed to the main framing as shewn in Fig. 22 of the drawings,
also detached from framing in Figs. 25, 26, and 27, motion is given to the said feeding
mechanism by means of the angular or wedge shaped pieces d & d Figs. 22, 23
& 24 coming in contact with the rocking quadrant-leverd at the point Fig. 27
which forces it down and places another cartridge into position, by the quadrant
lover which acts upon lever d by means of the pins e that are attached to the
quadrant-lever d. the lever causes the drum to revolve a given distance by the
ratchet, on the said drum is hung a belt g with eye-let holes at the required
distance apart to pass on to the pins g' as the drum revolves, to the said belt are
attached the spring clips at either side for the purpose of carrying the cartridges g²
as herein before described and shown in the drawings.
This same movement will feed the cartridges from the portable magazine
Figures 15, 16 and 17.-Figure 12ª is detail of a wedge and handle to work the bolt
and raise the locking block instead of the lever handle H the locking block is also
wedge shaped at its bottom.
The slot for the handle H to work the bolt backwards and forwards can be at the
side instead of the bottom of the rifle and the magazine on the bottom instead of
at the side.
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 :-
First A locking block to fall behind the bolt as horcin described.
Second A lever handle attached to the bolt to work it backwards and forwards
and raise the locking block at the same time in one movement.
Third A wedge shaped slide with handle attached to raise the locking block and
move the bolt backwards and forwards as herein described.
Fourth A rifle with fixed or portable magazines on one or both sides of the
chamber.
-
Fifth Portable magazine with zig zag springs to force the cartridge into the
chamber and side spring with point projecting over cartridges to prevent them from
falling out when magazine is not on the rifle.

page_text: Sixth-The said side spring to open and release the cartridges by the action
of putting it on the rifle and at the same time fasten it firmly to the rifle as herein
described.
Seventh-A locking slide or safety slide to hold locking block down and trigger
from being pulled as herein described.
Eighth A gun so constructed as to drop the empty shell out of the bottom as
herein described.
Ninth The trigger mechanism so constructed that it cannot be pulled' if the
locking block is not firmly down as herein described.
Tenth -The mechanism of the rifle so constructed that one straight forward
movement of the bolt with the bandle, pushes the cartridge into its place for firing
and locks itself at the same timo as herein described.
Eleventh The same construction to unlock and withdraw the empty shell by
one straight backward movement of the bolt when firing single and also to place
another cartridge into position when the magazine is used as berein described.
Twelfth The chamber so constructed that by withdrawing the empty shell a
little further back than where the full one falls in it falls out through a slot cut for
the rim the point of the extractor preventing the full one from falling through as
herein described.
Thirteenth-The improved construction as herein set forth with all the com-
binations.
Fourteenth-A frame to receive one or more rifles with cranks, connecting rods
and slides, to be turned by a crank handle for the purpose of working the handles of
the guns backwards and forwards as hercin described.
Fifteenth A feeder of cartridges worked by wedges attached to sliders as herein
described.
:
Sixteenth One wedge to force cartridges into the rifle by the backward move-
ment of the bolt, and the other wedge to raise another cartridge into position by the
forward movement as herein described.
Seventeenth-A drum worked with quadrant lever by means of a rachet wheel
having pins projecting to carry belt of carriages, said belt having eyelet holes to
receive said pins on drum as herein described.
Eighteenth The application of said feeder to any other gun of any calibre.
Nineteenth The combination of cranks and slides, with quadrant levers, drum
with ratchet and belt with cartridges attached to it by spring clips to be worked by
turning the crank handle so that the cartridges are inserted fired and the empty
cartridges are withdrawn and another one takes its place as herein described.
Twentieth-The combination of said rifle frame and feeder of cartridges or either
separate for guns as herein described-
-or guns of any calibre.
Dated this 27th day of August 1888.
G. A. FARINI.