AN IMPROVED MITRAILLEUR
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hunter Henry Murdoch, of No. 7, Staple Inn, in
the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED MITRAILLEUR." -A communication from abroad by the
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hunter Henry Murdoch
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th September 1875.
I, HUNTER HENRY MURDOCH, of No. 7, Staple Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED MITRAILLEUR," to be as follows:-
This Invention, as communicated to me, relates to the construction
and arrangement of that class of fire-arms generally known as mitrail-
leurs, and consists in the improvements herein-after described.
In a metal tube or cylinder mounted on a suitable carriage are
enclosed a number of gun barrels. The said gun barrels are affixed

page_text: in the fore part of the said tube or cylinder, being screwed by their
breech ends into a vertical metal plate resting against a shoulder formed
in the said tube or cylinder, and the muzzles of the said barrels pass
through suitable apertures made to receive them in a plate similar to
the plate just alluded to, the back of which plate rests against another
shoulder in the tube or cylinder. The two plates holding the gun
barrels are secured together by a rod or bolt traversing both, and held
in position by a screw nut, or several screw nuts upon it. The said
plates are further secured in position by keys. Behind the barrels and
-in-the-upper-part-of-the-tube-or-cylinder-is-an-opening-for-the-insertion-
of the cartridge chest. The said cartridge chest is a block of steel of.
rectangular transverse section provided on each side with a projecting
wing or side, which projecting sides take into corresponding slots or
depressions made to receive them in the rear plate carrying the barrels.
The said cartridge chest, which is provided with a handle, is supported
in position by projecting lugs, one on each side, resting on the sides of
the tube or cylinder. The said cartridge chest is traversed by a number
of holes corresponding with the barrels, and forming a series of chambers
for holding the cartridges, each of which, when the chest is in position,
is on a line with one of the barrels. The rear end of the cartridge
chest is closed by a breech block, consisting of a circular steel piston
guided in the tube or cylinder by a projection on its lower side taking
into a slot in the said tube or cylinder, so that the said breech block
is capable of sliding longitudinal motion, but is prevented from rotating.
The said breech block is pierced with a 'number of holes forming
chambers, each of which contains a pin corresponding in position with
the percussion cap of one of the cartridges in the cartridge chest for
the purpose of communicating thereto the action of one of the strikers
herein-after described.

page_text: it. Within the said tubular collar and behind the breech block is a
space herein-after termed the percussion chamber, in which is situated
the actuating mechanism of the strikers herein-after described. The back
of the said chamber is closed by the striker chest, which consists of a
cylindrical steel block fitting into the tube or cylinder, and the front end
of which being of smaller diameter passes into the tubular collar of the
breech block; the said striker chest, which is guided so as to be capable
of motion horizontally without being able to rotate, is pierced with a
number of holes, in each of which holes is a cylindrical hammer or
striker tapering towards its outer end, which projects in front of the
striker chest on a line with one of the pins in the breech block. At the
back of each of the said strikers is a tail of smaller diameter projecting
into a chamber, in which a washer traversed by the said tail receives the
action of a spiral spring; the back of the striker chest is closed by a.
plate in which suitable plugs are screwed, so as to close the spring
chambers and compress the said springs.
The striker chest is mounted on the central spindle, and in front rests.
against.a shoulder on the said spindle, whilst it is maintained in position
behind by a ring affixed by a set screw.
The rear end of the tube or cylinder is closed by a cover, through
which passes the central spindle, which spindle has affixed upon its
outer end a cranked handle, having in it a notch, in which engages a
spring stop on the cover. To be able to turn the said crank it is
necessary to press upon the said spring, so as to disengage it from the
said notch. For this purpose, in the crank arm is formed a slot, in
which is jointed a lever extending at one end to above the spring catch,
and at its other end engaging in a notch in the crank handle, which
handle is mounted on a pin on the crank arm, and capable of motion
thereupon. By drawing the said handle forwards on its pin the jointed
lever is caused to move upon its axis and to press down the spring catch,
and liberate the crank arm, which is then free to rotate.
In the percussion chamber herein-before referred to an inclined plate
or cam is mounted upon the central spindle, so that when the said
spindle is caused to rotate the said inclined plate comes in contact with
each of the strikers in succession, forces it backwards, compresses its
spring, and the said plate continuing to rotate passes from the said
striker, which then being liberated springs forward and strikes the pin

page_text: in front of it in the breech block. The said pin strikes the percussion
cap of the cartridge before it, and causes the said cartridge to explode,
and thus by one revolution of the spindle all the cartridges will be
exploded. In the tube or cylinder outside the tubular collar herein-
before described are formed two inclined slots, traversed respectively by
guides affixed one on each side of the said tubular collar, and provided
with suitable handles, by which the said collar may be caused to rotate
partially. If the said collar be turned in one direction from the incli-
nation of the said slots it will move backwards, drawing with it the
-breech-block-the-striker-chest,-and-the-central-spindle,-the-mitrailleur
will then be open, and the cartridge chest may be changed. If the said
collar be caused to rotate in the contrary direction the several parts
connected with it will advance towards the barrels, and will close the
mitrailleur, which will then be ready for firing.
In order to prevent the crank from being rotated if the mitrailleur be
not properly closed a longitudinal groove is formed along a part of the
central spindle, and a circular groove round the said spindle, a
projecting pin or stop affixed to the cover of the tube or cylinder
engages in the said longitudinal slot, and when the arm is properly
closed the said pin or stop is opposite the circular groove, and the spindle
may then rotate, but when the parts of the mitrailleur are not in a
proper position.for firing the sides of the longitudinal groove prevent
the rotation of the spindle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Hunter Henry Murdoch in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th March 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HUNTER
HENRY MURDOCH, of No. 7, Staple Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting..
WHEREAS¯¯Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Hunter Henry Murdoch, Her special

page_text: license that I, the said Hunter Henry Murdoch, my executors, adminį-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Hunter Henry
Murdoch, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter 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 "AN IMPROVED MITRAILLEUR," a communication
to me from abroad by the Firm of P. Stevens, of Maastrict, in
the Kingdom of Holland, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Hunter Henry Murdoch, my exccutors 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 calendar months next.and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Hunter Henry Murdoch, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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, that is to say :-
This Invention, as communicated to me, relates to the construction
and arrangement of that class of firc-arms generally known as
mitrailleurs, and consists in the improvements herein-aftor described.
In a metal tube or cylinder mounted on a suitable carriage are
enclosed a number of gun barrels. The said gun barrels are affixed in
the fore part of the said tube or cylinder, being screwed by their breech
ends into a vertical metal plate resting against a shoulder formed in the
said tube or cylinder, and the muzzles of the said barrels pass through
suitable apertures made to receive them in a plato similar to the plate,
just referred to, the back of which plate rests against another shoulder.
in the tube or cylinder. The two plates holding the gun barrels are,
secured together by a rod or bolt traversing both, and held in position
by a screw nut or several screw nuts upon it. The said plates are
further secured in position by keys. Behind the barrels and in the
upper part of the tube or cylinder is an opening for the insertion of the
cartridge.chest. The said cartridge chest is a block of steel of rect-.

page_text: angular transverse section provided on each side with a projecting wing
or side, which projecting sides take into corresponding slots or
depressions made to receive them in the rear plate carrying the barrels.
The said cartridge chest which is provided with a handle is supported
in position by projecting lugs, one on each side, resting on the sides of
the tube or cylinder. The said cartridge chest is traversed by a number
of holes corresponding with the barrels and forming a series of chambers
for holding the cartridges, each of which when the chest is in position
is in a line with one of the barrels. The rear end of the cartridge chest
is closed by a breech block consisting of a circular steel piston guided
in the tube or cylinder by a projection on its lower side taking into a
slot in the said tube or cylinder, so that the said breech block is capable
of sliding longitudinal motion, but is prevented from rotating. The
said breech block is pierced with a number of holes forming chambers,
each of which contains a pin corresponding in position with the per-
'cussion cap of one of the cartridges in the cartridge chest for the
purpose of communicating thereto the action of one of the strikers
herein-after described.
At the back of the breech block is affixed a metal plate or disc
through which the rear ends of the said pins project. The said plate or
disc is made in two halves which take into a circular groove in a central
spindle extending to outside the tube or cylinder, where it is provided
with a crank and handle. The said spindle is free to rotate within the
breech block, but moves with it horizontally. The breech block with
its closing disc or plate form together an outer annular groove, in which
engages an annular rim formed inside a tubular collar projecting hori-
zontally behind the said breech block, and capable of rotating upon it.
Within the said tubular collar and behind the breech block is a space,
herein-after termed the percussion chamber, in which is situated the
actuating mechanism of the strikers herein-after described. The back
_of_the_said.chamber-is-closed-by-the-striker chest, which consists of-a
cylindrical steel block fitting into the tube or cylinder, and the front
-end-of-which-being-of-smaller-diameter passes into the tubular collar of
the-breech block. The said striker chest, which is guided so as to be
capable of motion horizontally without being able to rotate, is pierced
with a number of holes, in each of which holes is a cylindrical hammer
or striker tapering towards its outer end which projects in front of the
striker chest on a line with one of the pins in the breech block. At the

page_text: back of each of the said strikers is a tail of smaller diameter projecting
into a chamber, in which a washer traversed by the said tail receives the
action of a spiral spring. The back of the striker chest is closed by a
plate in which suitable plugs are screwed so as to close the spring
chambers and compress the said springs.
The striker chest is mounted on the central spindle, and in front bears
against a shoulder on the said spindle, whilst it is maintained in position
behind by a ring affixed by a set screw.
The rear end of the tube or cylinder is closed by a cover, through
which passes the central spindle, which spindle has affixed upon its outer
end a cranked handle having in it a notch in which engages a spring
stop on the cover. To be able to turn the said crank it is necessary to
press upon the said spring so as to disengage it from the said notch.
For this purpose in the crank arm is formed a slot in which is jointed a
lever extending at one end to above the spring catch, and at its other
end engaging in a notch in the crank handle, which handle' is mounted
on a pin on the crank arm and capable of motion thereupon. By
drawing the said handle forwards on its pin the jointed lever is caused
to move upon its axis and to press down the spring catch and liberate
the crank arm which is then free to rotate.
In the percussion chamber herein-before referred to an inclined plate
or cam is mounted upon the central spindle, so that when the said
spindle is caused to rotate the said inclined plate comes in contact with
each of the strikers in succession, forces it backwards, compresses its
spring, and the said plate continuing to rotate passes from the said
striker, which then being liberated springs forward and strikes the pin
in front of it in the breech block, the said pin strikes the percussion cap
of the cartridge before it and causes the said cartridge to explode, and
thus by one revolution of the spindle all the cartridges will be exploded.
In the tube or cylinder outside the tubular collar herein-before
described are formed two inclined slots traversed respectively by guides
affixed one on each side of the said tubular collar and provided with
suitable handles by which the said collar may be caused to rotate
partially. If the said collar be turned in one direction from the
inclination of the said slots it will move backwards drawing with it the
breech block, the striker chest, and the central spindle. The mitrailleur
will then be open and the cartridge chest may be changed for another.
If the said collar be caused to rotate in the contrary direction - the

page_text: several parts connected with it will advance towards the barrels and will
close the mitrailleur which will then be ready for firing.
In order to prevent the crank from being rotated if the mitrailleur be
not properly closed a longitudinal groove is formed along a part of the
central spindle and a circular groove round the said spindle.
A pro-
jecting pin or stop affixed to the cover of the tube or cylinder engages
in the said longitudinal slot, and when the arm is properly closed the
said pin or stop is opposite the circular groove and the spindle may then
rotate, but when the parts of the mitrailleur-are-not in a proper position
_for-firing the sides of the longitudinal groove prevent the rotation of
the spindle.
But in order that the Invention may be better understood I will
proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which the same is to be performed.
•
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mitrailleur constructed according
to this Invention. Figure 2 represents in longitudinal vertical section
a part of the said mitrailleur drawn to a larger scale. Figure 3 is an
end elevation of the same.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, aro
separate views of several of the parts herein-after described.
The same letters of reference are used to indicate like parts where
they occur in all the Figures.
a is a metal tube or cylinder containing the gun barrels and mechanism.
The said tube or cylinder is mounted on a gun carriage, as seen in
Figure.1; b, b, are the barrels, the breech ends of which are screwed
into the plate c which bears against the shoulder at formed in the tube
or cylinder a, and the muzzles of the said barrels pass through suitablo
apertures made to receive them in a plate similar to the plate c, the back
of which plate rests against another shoulder in the tube or cylindera,
and the two-plates holding the gun barrels -are secured together by a.
-central-rod-or bolt c'; d is the cartridge chest which which is perforated-
with twenty-four holes to receive-twenty-four cartridges d.--The said
cartridge chest-is-represented separately in front and side elevations in
Figure 4. It is introduced into the cylinder a through an opening a³ by
means of a handle d², and the said cartridge chest rests on the sides of the
cylinder by projecting lugs d³, d³; dare projecting side plates which take
into recesses formed to receive them in the plate c and act as guides for
t

page_text: :
holding the cartridge chest d in position; e is the breech block which is
traversed by twenty-four holes forming chambers, cach of which contains
one of the pins e¹. The said breech block e which is represented separately
in front and side elevations at Figure 5 is closed at the back by a metal
disc or plate f through which the rear ends of the pins e¹ project. The
said disc or plate f which is represented separately in front and side
elevations.at Figure 6 is made in two halves, which take into a circular
groove g³ in the central spindle g, represented separately in Figure 11.
The disc or plate f is attached to the breech block by screw pins f¹,
> and the breech block e with its closing disc or plate f form between
them an annular groove, in which engages an annular rim formed
inside the tubular collar h, which projects horizontally behind the said
breech block e and is capable of rotating upon it. Outside the said
tubular collar ½ two inclined slots are formed in the tube or cylinder a;
one of the said slots is shewn at i, Figure 1. In the slot on the left
hand side engages a guide ³ (represented separately in Figure 18), which
guide ³ projects from the outside of the collar h, as seen in Figure 7.
The said guide ³ is provided with a handle 4º (represented separately in
Figure 15), by which the collar / may be caused to rotate partially. In
the slot i on the right hand side (see Figure 1) engages a guide hª
projecting from the right hand side of the collar h, as seen in Figure 7.
The said guide which is represented separately in plan and elevation
in Figure 17 is fixed to the collar / by bolts 7 and h³, as seen in
Figure 7. The bolt is represented separately in Figure 16%; when
it is required to turn the collar the guide ² is acted upon by the
lever, Figure 1; the said lever is represented separately in Figure 13. ·
The breech block e is guided by a projecting stud h³ attached to its
under side by a screw 6, which stud / is capable of sliding in a slot a³
formed in the under side of the cylinder a; j is the percussion chamber;
k is the striker chest which is pierced with twenty-four holes containing
twenty-four hammers or strikers k². The rear end of each of the said
strikers ¹ forms a tail of smaller diameter, projecting into a chamber in
which a washer ³, through which the said tail passes, receives the action
of a spiral spring k². The striker chest / which is represented separately
in side and end elevations in Figure 8 is closed at its rear end by a plate
Z, in which suitable plugs ¹ close the spring chambers, and form abut-
ments for the springs k³. The said plugs are pierced with holes for
the escape of air, and in case of any of the springs * breaking allow of
their being readily removed and replaced by others. The said striker

page_text: chest k is mounted on the central spindle g and in front bears against a
shoulder g, whilst it is maintained in position behind by a ring & affixed
by a set screw *. The said striker chest k is guided so as to be capable
of moving only in a horizontal direction within the cylinder a by a
projection, taking into a slot formed in the said cylinder a.
In the percussion chamber j and mounted upon the central spindle g
is an inclined plate or cam g', forming a segment of a screw represented
separately in side and front views in Figure 9, and in edge view-in-
Figure 10. The said inclined plate-is-keyed upon the spindle g, and
when-the-said spindle is caused to rotate the said inclined plate j¹ comes
in contact with the end of each of the strikers ' in succession, forces it
backwards, compresses its spring ³, and the said plate continuing to
rotate passes from the said striker, which being then liberated springs
forward and strikes the rear end of the pin e' in front of it in the breech
block e, the said pin e¹ then strikes the percussion cap of the cartridge
before it, and causes the said cartridge d¹ to explode, and thus by one
revolution of the spindle g all the cartridges d' in the mitrailleur are
exploded; m is the cover of the cylinder a to which it is attached by
suitable screws. Upon the inner side of the said cover m is screwed a
small bolt or stop represented in Figure 12, the end of which bolt or
and
stop engages in a slot or groove 9³ in the spindle g (see Figure 11),
it is only when the said bolt or stop is on a line with the circular slot or
groove g* that the spindle g can be rotated and the internal mechanism
made to act. The said bolt or stop is in a line with the slot or groove
g', when all the parts are in position for firing; m³ is a spring catch
attached to the cover m, and n is a crank in which is a notch n' in
which the head of the spring catch m³ engages. To be able to turn the
said crank n it is necessary to press upon the said spring-catch m², so as
to disengage it from the notch n². For this purpose the crank arm is
made with a slot in which is jointed at o¹ a lever o, one end o³ of which
lever o extends to above.the-said-spring catch m², and its other end o
engages in a notch-in-the-crank handle of, which handle is capable of_
motion on its axis 06. By drawing the said-handle-o-forward on its pin
or axis.o-the-jointed lever is caused to move upon its centre or joint
pin-and-to press down the spring catch m¹ and liberate the crank
arm, which is then free to rotate.
To open the breech the lever * is raised with the right hand, and the

page_text: hand. The effect produced is that the collar h, the breech block e, the
spindle g, and the striker chest k are caused to move backwards, and
also the cartridge chest d which is gripped by two extractors”
(Figure 14), held in slots e³ in the breech block e, and which take into
two slots a formed in the cartridge chest d, Figure 4, so as to withdraw
the said cartridge chest with the breech block. The cartridge chest may
now be taken out and replaced by another.
To close the breech the handle is raised and the lever + depressed,
when the parts are caused to advance and resume the position
represented in Figure 2, the lever on reaching the bottom of the
slot i (Figure 1), abuts against a pin or stop and is caused to turn over
and engage with the said pin or stop, as shewn.
When it is required to take the mitrailleur to pieces the cover m is
first detached by unscrewing the screws. The mechanism being then
closed a pin is introduced into a hole made inside the cylinder a behind
the striker chest k. The parts are then drawn backwards as much as
possible, and the screw of the ring & being unscrewed the striker chest
is removed, and if it be desired to remove the pins e¹, the four screws f¹
of the plate fare unscrewed.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I wish it to be well understood that I
do not confine myself to the precise details herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of the said Invention; but I claim
as the said Invention, the combination, adaptation, and arrangement of
parts constituting the improved mitrailleur, essentially as herein-before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hunter Henry Murdoch, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of March, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
H. T. ARNOLD,
his Clerk.
H. H. MURDOCH. (L.S.)