IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING OR FEEDING REVOLVING GUNS OR MITRAILLEUSES WITH CARTRIDGES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lewis Wells Broadwell, of Vienna, in the
Kingdom of Austria, and of Jermyn Street, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
SUPPLYING OR FEEDING REVOLVING GUNS OR MITRAILLEUSES WITH CARTRIDGES”
Sealed the 28th February 1871, and dated the 14th September 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lewis Wells Broadwell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th September 1870.
I, LEWIS WELLS BROADWELL, of Vienna, in the Kingdom of Austria,
and of Jermyn Street, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
SUPPLYING OR FEEDING REVOLVING GUNS OR MITRAILLEUSES WITH CARTRIDGES," to
be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the construction of apparatus to be applied
to field and fortification guns in which the barrels are rotated, to bring
each of them under an opening or cartridge chamber to be loaded in

page_text: succession, and are applicable especially to those arms known as the
Gatling mitrailleuse or multiple gun, and to an incline or lip in the
table slot to compel the cartridges to enter the barrels horizontally.
Hitherto in working the Gatling and other revolving multiple guns or
mitrailleuses there has been a difficulty experienced in ensuring each
barrel or charge chamber receiving in rapid succession a cartridge from
the magazine or holder without jamming, and thus causing delay.
Now by my Invention this difficulty is overcome, and the cartridges
are deposited in the charge chamber in regular order for the filling of
each barrel in succession.
My apparatus consists of a circular revolving cartridge holder pro-
vided with partitions for keeping cach column of cartridges in a division
of their own, and from which they are taken by the charge chambers of
the barrels in succession as they arrive under the opening in a stationary
bottom plate of the holder. The cartridges are-arranged-in-the-divisions,
one above the other, and the rim of each alternate one rests upon the
body of the others next them; by this means they lie in a zig-zag
manner, and therefore assume and maintain a horizontal position, so
that as they descend to the bottom of the division each one is in position
to be caught by the charge chambers of the barrels as they come round.
A weight in each division is caused to bear upon and slide down a
groove provided for it, so that it follows the cartridges and prevents
them sticking or becoming choked in the divisions. The divisions
are arranged round a central tube which forms a socket for dropping
on to the pin or stud of a table or plate over the charge chambers. The
table is recessed for a projection on the bottom plate to drop into to
ensure the hole in the bottom plate coming directly over the chamber
opening. In filling the divisions the holder is turned upside down, and
the weight of one of the divisions is brought up to the bottom plate by
hand;
the cartridges are then arranged as before mentioned, one above
the other, the weight being guided down the groove until it reaches a
spring which is slightly depressed to permit of the last cartridge being
slipped under the bottom plate, whereupon the bottom plate can be
moved round to uncover the next division, when the same operation
is repeated again and again until all the divisions are full. The bottom
plate is provided with a catch, which can be depressed to release the
holder after it is placed in position on the table. In turning the holder
as each division becomes empty it is only necessary for the attendant

page_text: to press against a button with his finger when. it will move the required
distance. The holder is provided with a handle to enable it to be lifted
in and out of position with facility. The aperture in the table through
which the cartridges fall on their way to the chambers is inclined on
the two sides to narrow the space, and thus lead the cartridges singly
to the bottom of it,, and in order to prevent the bullet end dropping
soonest, by reason of its superior weight, I incline one of the ends of
the aperture, which incline creates a friction on the tip of the bullet
and checks its tendency to fall. This incline forms a lip, which
is important to ensure the cartridges entering the barrels horizontally.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Lewis Wells Broadwell in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th March 1871.
TO WHOM TO ALL THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LEWIS
WELLS BROADWELL, of Vienna, in the Kingdom of Austria, and of
Jermyn Street, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Lewis Wells Broadwell, Her special
licence that I, the said Lewis Wells Broadwell, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Lewis Wells
Broadwell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times. there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING OR: FEEDING REVOLVING GUNS OR
MITRAILLEUSES WITH CARTRIDGES,” upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Lewis Wells Broadwell, my executors or administrators, by, an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands. and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within. six

page_text: calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Lewis Wells Broadwell, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to the construction of apparatus to be applied
to field and fortification guns, in which the barrels are rotated to bring
each of them under an opening or cartridge chamber to be loaded in
succession, and are applicable especially to those arms known as the
Gatling mitrailleuse or multiple gun, and to an incline or lip in the
table slot to compel the cartridges to enter the barrels horizontally.
Hitherto in working the Gatling and other revolving multiple guns
_or_mitrailleuses-there-has-been-a-difficulty-experienced-in-ensuring
each barrel or charge chamber receiving in rapid succession a cartridge
from the magazine or holder without jamming, and thus causing delay.
Now by my Invention this difficulty is overcome and the cartridges
are deposited in the charge chamber in regular order for the filling of
each barrel in succession.
My apparatus consists of a circular revolving cartridge holder pro-
vided with partitions for keeping each column of cartridges in a division
of their own, and from which they are taken by the charge chambers of
the barrels in succession as they arrive under the opening in a stationary
bottom plate of the holder. The cartridges are arranged in the divisions
one above the other, and the rim of each alternate one rests upon the
body of the others next them; by this means they lie in a zig-zag
manner, and therefore assume and maintain a horizontal position, so
that as they descend to the bottom of the division each one is in position
to be caught by the charge chambers of the barrels as they come round.
A weight in each division is caused to bear upon and slide down a
groove provided for it, so that it follows the cartridges and prevents
them sticking or becoming choked in the divisions. The divisions are
arranged round a central tube, which forms a socket for dropping on
to the pin or stud of a table or plate over the charge chambers. The
table is recessed for a projection on the bottom plate to drop into to
ensure the hole in the bottom plate coming directly over the chamber
opening. In filling the divisions the holder is turned upside down, and

page_text: the weight of one of the divisions is brought up to the bottom plate by
hand; the cartridges are then arranged, as before mentioned, one above
the other, the weight being guided down the groove until it reaches a
spring, which is slightly depressed to permit of the last cartridge being
slipped under the bottom plate, whereupon the bottom plate can be moved
round to uncover the next division, when the same operation is repeated
again and again until all the divisions are full. The bottom plate is pro-
vided with a catch which can be depressed to release the holder after it is
placed in position on the table. In turning the holder as each division
becomes empty it is only necessary for the attendant to press against a
button with his finger, when it will move the required distance. The holder
is provided with a handle to enable it to be lifted in and out of position
with facility. The aperture in the table, through which the cartridges
fall on their way to the chambers, is inclined on the two sides to narrow
the space, and thus lead the cartridges singly to the bottom of it, and
in order to prevent the bullet end dropping soonest by reason of its
superior weight, I incline one of the ends of the aperture, which incline
creates a friction on the tip of the bullet and checks its tendency to fall.
This incline forms a lip, which is important to ensure the cartridges
> entering the barrels horizontally.
The manner in which I carry my Invention into effect will be under-
stood by reference to the accompanying Drawings and to the following
detailed description thereof.
Figure 1 represents a detached view of the apparatus before referred
to for holding a number of cartridges, and by which the barrels of
revolving guns, such as those for field and fortification uses, and known
as multiple guns or mitrailleuses, can be fed in quick succession as the
barrels are revolved. The holder is represented partly in section to
show clearly how the cartridges lodge in the divisions in a zig-zag
manner, for the purpose before spoken of.
The holder is composed
preferably of a cylindrical shape, as seen, it has a central tube a, a,
forming the support to a series of partitions b, b, which are fastened to it
and to each other for dividing the body into a number of compartments,
into which the cartridges are placed. The tube a, a, is connected at
top to a cover or end piece c, which is provided with a handle d, so that
the holder can be lifted on and off the gun, or be moved from place to
place, as desired. Each of the partitions consists of a plate bent at
the middle to bring the two ends nearly together, so that it partakes.

page_text: nearly the shape of the cartridge intended to be placed within it, the
two ends are then again bent to bring the edges closer together, but not
so close as to touch; by this means a space is left for presser plates f, f
to slide up and down in, as required. The outer edge of this plate
serving as a thumb piece for moving it while the portion inside the
compartment acts as a weight and compels the cartridges to fall as the
lower ones are removed by the barrels or by a block in connection with
them. The lower end of the central tube a, a, has a ring 9, 9, on its
inner face, which forms an abutment or shoulder for holding the ring
between a bottom plate ¹ and a socket h, so that the holder can be
moved round when it is placed on the table or top plate i of the gun,.
as shown in Figure 2. The bottom plate g¹ is perforated or has an
aperture at one part of it, as seen at Figure 3, which aperture comes
over the opening in the table to allow of the cartridges passing to the
barrels, but the plate g is held in one position on the table by the step_
-or-rib-k, dropping or taking into a groove in its top. The outer end
of the rib is pierced and forms one half of a hinge joint, the other
half being composed of a plate acting as a locking piece or catch m to
prevent the holder revolving when in one position, that is, when the
handle n is up, as seen in Figure 1, but admitting of it being moved
intermittently by the thumb as the compartments are emptied of the
cartridges, when the pressure of the operator's finger is exerted against
the rib, the holder being provided with projections p, p, to enable that
to be done. The top of the table is provided with a plug p', which
enters the socket and forms a means of holding it steady thereon
during the firing of the arm; the plate is hinged to the barrel frame q
at one side, and it passes over the rear of the barrels and terminates
in a catch arrangement to fix it in a firm manner, it being fitted with a
lever catch which takes into a notch in the opposite frame 8, as shown
in Figures 4 and 5, which are respectively a sectional elevation and a plan
view of that portion. When it is found necessary to turn the top plate
over or up to examine the breech end of the barrels, the levert is moved
to one side to release the catch from the notch. It is not essential to
have a locking lever of the form shown for the purpose of retaining the
top plate in position, as a spring bolt or some other similar contrivance
can be used in lieu thereof.
In the Drawings, as clearly seen in Figure 6, I have shown a block u
at the rear of the barrels, generally termed the cartridge carrier, for
receiving the cartridges. before they are moved into the barrels by means

page_text: of the push piece or lock mechanism, but I do not restrict myself to
employing a block for that purpose, as the termination of the barrels w
may be shaped to receive them in a similar manner.
.
The opening ¹ in the table is of a tapered form, and its two sides x, x,
guide the cartridges down to the block singly, so that they can be
removed one by one, this is important for the perfect and regular action
of the gun; and to prevent the cartridges becoming tilted by the heavier
or bullet end falling quicker than the base end, I taper the front end y
of the aperture, so that the tips of the bullets bear against the taper,
as seen in Figure 2, and is retarded in'the descent; by this means the
cartridges are caused to enter the spaces of the block or of the barrels
in a true horizontal manner; this improvement is also important, as by
it the cartridges are made to enter the spaces in proper position for the
push picce to act upon them without fear of becoming jammed or
impeded in the process of loading and firing. The piece or front end y
of the feed hole is projected down into a groove in the carrier
block next the barrels, and thus serves to cut off the entrance to that
particular barrel which is in front of it while in this position, and
prevents the cartridge which lies upon the one already in the groove
of the carrier from sliding forward and prematurely entering slightly.
into the opposite barrel, which if allowed to occur, as heretofore, will
cause a jam and stop the firing. The push piece is of the usual shape
and form, and is so made that it acts as an extractor for removing
the empty cases from the barrels after their discharge in the manner
well known. In order to fill the holder with cartridges it is turned
bottom upwards, and the pressure plate funder the opening in the
plate g¹ is brought up the division to the top when the cartridges are
placed in one by one in such a manner that they break joint, so to
speak, that is, the base of each alternate one is laid over or outside of
the bases of the previous ones, whereby they assume nearly a horizontal
position, and as each cartridge rests slightly on one side of that next it,
they lie in a zig-zag manner in the division, the plate f being moved
down the distance of one cartridge as they are inserted, until the.
division becomes full, and the plate frests upon the spring z, when a
slight pressure exerted upon the top cartridge forces down the spring to
admit of the plate g¹ being turned round to the next division, which can
be filled in a similar manner, and so on, until all the divisions are full.
When the plate g' is turned in the manner just described, the pressure
of the springs,, is sufficient to retain the columns of cartridges in a

page_text: secure manner for transportation from place to place, or while the holder
is being lifted on to the table i, as the plate g' and cylinder can be locked
at any portion of their revolution by the catch m, as before explained;
the handle d serving as a means for carrying the holder when it is turned
the proper way uppermost.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
the improvements before described and shown are subject to various
modifications and alterations, both in the construction, arrangement,
and their mode of action for the different construction of arm for which
they are intended, therefore I do not limit myself to the precise mode
herein-before set forth, but what I desire to claim as my Invention
of "Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying or Feeding Revolving
Guns or Mitrailleuses with Cartridges is,—
Firstly: The construction and employment of cartridge holders of the
shape shown and described, in which a series of divisions are formed for
holding cartridges, which holder can be applied to revolving guns or
mitrailleuses in the manner herein set forth.
Secondly. The construction of cartridge holders which can be moved
intermittently by hand when such are employed with revolving guns
or mitrailleuses, substantially as described and shown.
Thirdly. The construction and employment of a table or top plate
for receiving a holder, and in which the aperture for feeding the
cartridges into the barrels or block is tapered and projected downward.
into a groove in the front end of the carrier block, in the manner and
for the purposes herein-before described and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lewis Wells Broadwell, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of February One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
LEWIS WELLS BROADWELL. (L.S.)