IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE FIELD CARRIAGES FOR MACHINE GUNS AND OTHER LIGHT GUNS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip Thaine, of 1, Saint Swithin's Lane, in the City of
London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE FIELD CARRIAGES
FOR MACHINE GUNS AND OTHER LIGHT GUNS." A communication from
abroad by Thorsten Nordenfelt, of Stockholm, in the Kingdom of Sweden,
Civil Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip Thaine at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th January 1880.
PHILIP THAINE, of No. 1, Saint Swithin's Lane, in the City of London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE FIELD CARRIAGES FOR MACHINE GUNS AND OTHER
LIGHT GUNS." [A communication from abroad by Thorsten Nordenfelt, of Stock-
holm, in the Kingdom of Sweden, Civil Engineer.]
The object of my Invention is to make a field carriage for light guns, and
especially for machine guns, of such a form and weight that it can be used at
discretion either with or without the axle and wheels, and so that it is portable
and convenient for carrying either on horseback or by men on occasions where it is
desirable to leave the wheels and axle behind.
The wheels and axle can be of any usual description suitable for the weight of
the gun; the trail is made as follows:-
The body of the trail is made of iron or steel, two plates or angle irons being
rivetted together at the lower end, and bent outwards at the upper end in order to
make room for the cross screw, which gives the vertical and lateral movements to
the gun when aiming at an object, and also for the purpose of giving greater
steadiness.
The two upper ends of the trail rest upon axle, and are so made that they are
held to the axle by a catch or bolt so that they cannot slip away.
Two stays can also be put on, if special strength is required, from the axle just
inside the wheels to the lower part of the trail, where they would be bolted to the
trail.
At each of the upper ends of the trail is fixed a pin, round which moves the
upper end of an iron leg; these two legs stand downwards, and together with tho

page_text: trail support the gun when the carriage is used without the axle and wheels, and
these two legs fold up on each outside of the trail, to which they are strapped when
the trail is used on the axle and wheels.
When the legs are used for supporting the gun an iron bar connects it with the
trail by means of a catch on the trail and shifting holes in the bar in order that the
legs may be let out as may be required by the unevenness of the ground.
A seat can be fixed to the trail, and the diverging upper ends of the trail can be
covered in so as to form a tool box.
The trail is furnished with the hooks and loops required for conveniently being
strapped to a packsaddle when the carriage is to be carried on the back of a horse
or mule, and for being strung on to a single or double pole when the carriage is to
carried by men at each end of the pole.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Philip Thaine in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
July 1880.
PHILIP THAINE, of No. 1, Saint Swithin's Lane, in the City of London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE FIELD CARRIAGES FOR MACHINE GUNS AND OTHER
LIGHT GUNS." A communication from abroad by Thorsten Nordenfelt, of Stock-
holm, in the Kingdom of Sweden, Civil Engineer."
The object of this Invention is to make a field carriage for light guns, and
especially for machine guns, of such a form and weight that it can be used either
with or without the axle and wheels, and so that it is portable and convenient to
carry either on horse back or by men when the wheels and axle, on account of the
ground or some other reasons, are left behind.
The carriage or trail is shown at Figure 1 arranged for carriage; it is suspended
from a carrying yoke which is made as shown, so that it rests conveniently upon
the shoulders of the porters.
Figure 2 shows the yoke folded for convenience of packing on the limber.
Figure 3 is an elevation, partly in section, of the carriage or trail, with one of its
wheels and axle, and with the machine gun upon it.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the carriage or trail supporting the machine gun, and
as used without the wheels and axle.
The carriage or trail is shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4; the body is made of iron
or steel, two plates or angle irons A, A, (or both plates and angle irons) being
rivetted together at the lower end, and bent outwards at the upper end, in order to
make room for the cross screw, which gives the vertical and lateral motions to the
gun when aiming at an object, as well as for giving greater steadiness, and the
space thereby made between the angle irons or plates is occupied by the tool box b.
The legs B, B, made of iron or steel tubes, are pivoting on the pins p, p, fixed on
each side of the upper part of the trail; these legs are provided with stays 8, 8,
which at their other ends have holes for putting them on to the knobs k, k, on the
middle of the trail when the legs are set. As there are several of these holes on
each stay the legs may be put in any position required, and made suitable for the
most irregular ground.
In convenient height above the ground is a seat a, hinged on to the middle of
the trail, and supported by a leg c on hinge, which, with the strip d on the trail, is
prevented from slipping down. On this seat the gunner has his position during
aiming and firing.
The wheels and axle can be of any usual description suitable for the weight of
the gun, and are either fastened to the trail by means of clamps f, which have a
vertical hole in the upper part, and a key way with a key g to fit to the taps e, e,
on the trail, or in any other convenient way. Two stays can also be put on, if
special strength is required, from the axle just inside the wheels to the lower part
of the trail where they would be bolted on to this.
When the trail is used in the ordinary way on wheels (as shown in Figure 3, one
wheel being removed to show the arrangements), the legs B with their stays 8 are
turned backwards along the sides of the trail, and straped and buckled up with the
straps i and i'.
For using it on legs, as shown in Figure 4, the keys g, Figure 3, are withdrawn
from the clamps f, the trail raised by hand, and the wheels with their axle
removed.
The straps i and are now unbuckled, making the legs B, B, free, and these are
turned forwards to the required position; the stays 8, 8, are hooked on to the knobs
k, k, and the trail is ready for receiving the gun.
For transport without wheels and axle it is proposed to use a yoke or set of

page_text: poles, as shown in Figure 1. The legs B, B, and stays 8, 8, on the trail are buckled
up, as in Figure 3; the seat a is folded down on the trail, and the hooks from the
poles are hooked into holes made for that purpose.
The
These poles, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, are made of hard wood, both ends are
split into two arms, so that one man can place one arm on each shoulder, or two
men abreast can take one arm each on the shoulders nearest to each other.
poles can in this manner be carried by two, three, or four men, according to circum-
stances. At suitable distances the arms of the poles are provided with clamps 1,
and hooks are attached to these for hooking on to the trail. In the middle there
is a joint m for folding them up, and also a lock n for keeping them firm when in
use.
The gun is also carried on a similar yoke or set of poles.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim, the improved
portable carriages for machine guns and other light guns, substantially as described
and represented in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Thaine, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
PHILIP THAINE. (L.S.)