MENT IN MACHINE GUNS
Year: 1885

page_text: We CARL WILLIam Worrell, Gentleman, of 32, Wellington Square, Chelsea,
and FRANCIS PODGER, Engineer, of 19, Oakley Crescent, Chelsea, both in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVE-
MENT IN MACHINE GUNS, to be as follows:-
Our invention has for its object to avoid the jamming of cartridges by making
the firing chamber or cartridge bed of small cannon-or machine guns of two or
more pieces.
For this purpose we employ two metallic discs, preferably cylindrical and of
equal size, and place them so, that the two discs nearly touch each other along
a straight line, hereinafter called line of contact. Each disc has in its circumference
a number of semicylindrical grooves at equal distances apart and placed so, that,
when the discs are turned with the same circumferential speed, any groove of one
disc in passing the line of contact will be situated exactly opposite a corresponding
groove of the other disc and form with the same a cylindrical bore or cartridge
bed. The width or depth of each disc may be approximately equal to the length
of a cartridge, and the diameter of each groove slightly larger, than that of a
cartridge. The two discs may be mounted on a pair of parallel axles, adapted to
turn in bearings formed by plates situated in front and at the back of the two
discs, one of the axles receiving (intermittent) rotary motion by means of any
suitable mechanism and transmitting this motion to the other disc by means of a
pair of spur-wheels, so that the two discs have always exactly the same circum-
ferential speed. One of the two discs carries a belt of cartridges placed at the
same distance apart as the circumferential grooves. The axis of the gun-barrel is
situated in the prolongation of the line of contact, and the ignition of the charge
may be produced by any suitable mechanism.
Instead of forming the cartridge grooves directly in the body of each disc, they
may be formed by semicylindrical bushes placed in corresponding grooves of the
discs, each bush or lining being made to project a little over the circumference of
the disc, and allowed to describe a short rotary motion about its own axis, which
Price 77

page_text: axis, when the groove passes through the line of contact, coincides with the axis
of the corresponding bush of the otlier disc.
To secure each bush in the respective groove, we form at each end of the groove
(and at the base thereof) a recess for the reception of a key, fixed to the extremity
of the bush (by a dove-tail-joint) and projecting radially therefrom. The width
of the key (measured tangentially to the circumference of the bush) is less than
the width of the recess, so as to allow a certain angular motion, and the key and
recess are inade angular in cross section (that is to say a section parallel with the
axis of the disc) so as to prevent the bush from falling radially out of its groove.
Dated this 10th Jant At TOOE

page_text: Improvement in Machine Guns.
We CARL WILLIAM WORRELL, Gentleman, of 32 Wellington Square, Chelsea,
and FRANCIS PODGER, Engineer, of 19 Oakley Crescent, Chelsea, both in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention for
IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINE GUNS, and in what manner the same is to be
performed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our invention has for its object to avoid the jamming of cartridges by making
the firing chamber. or.cartridge bed of small cannon, or machine guns of two or
more pieces..
For this purpose we employ two metallic blocks or discs, preferably cylindrical,
or of circular section and of equal size, and place them so that the two disca or
blocks nearly touch each other along a straight line hereinafter called line of
contact. Each circular block has in its circumference a number of semi cylindrical
grooves at equal distances apart like the teeth of wheels but placed so that when
the circular blocks are turned with the same circumferential speed, any groove of.
one block, in passing the line of contact, will be situated exactly opposite a corre-
sponding groove of the other block and form with the same a cylindrical bore or
cartridge bed. The length or depth of each block as measured along its axial line
is approximately equal to the length of a cartridge, and the diameter of each groove
slightly larger than that of a cartridge.. The two blocks may be mounted on a.
pair of parallel axles, adapted to turn in bearings in front and at the back of the
circular blocks; the said axles receiving (intermittent) rotary motion by means of
any suitable mechanism; so that the two blocks have always exactly the same
circumferential speed. One of the two blocks may carry à belt of cartridges
placed. at the same distance apart, and corresponding with the circumferential
grooves of the circular blocks. The axis of the gun barrel is situated in the pro-
longation of the line of contact, and the ignition of the charge may be produced
by any suitable mechanism.
In further describing the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying
drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a horizontal section along line Z-Z of Fig. 2 of the
breech part of a machine gun embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a cross section
ulong line X-X of Fig. 1. The other figures represent details and modifications.
A and A¹ are the two rotary blocks, having cylindrical grooves a, a. B is the
gun barrel, C a casing filled with water, forming a cooling jacket around the barrel.
D and D' are the axles of the blocks A and A, E is the front plate supporting the
front ends of the said axles, F is an intermediate plate or partition to guide and
support the revolving blocks extending through the said partition. G is a bracket.
secured at its ends to the plate F. and holding the rear ends of the axles D, D¹.
At the rear end of each circular, block, and in front of the partition F, a groove;
or clearance space. a¹ is formed. to freely receive the flange or rim of the cartridge ;;
so that, when the latter is in place, and beld. between the two blocks, the cartridge
case is. supported along its whole length, and practically throughout its whole;

page_text: circumferential surface. When the charge is exploded, a slight expansion of the
case takes place, but the strain being taken up by the heavy circular cartridge
blocks or discs, the danger of bursting the case is avoided. As the blocks are
turned, and the cartridge belt drawn in, each cartridge lies in its consecutive semi-
circular groove until it approaches the line of contact, when it becomes enclosed
by the corresponding groove upon the other block; and as the cartridge is only
fully enclosed at one point, (at which it is fired); and then only for an instant of
time, it will be seen that the risk of its being jammed is reduced to a minimum.
As soon as each cartridge is fired, the cartridge bed or chamber opens by the
rotation of the blocks, the clearance becoming greater until the empty case
drops out.
Should a cartridge miss. fire,. it in no way. impedes the action of those following,
nor is it necessary to stop the working of the gun.
The two cartridge blocks are caused to rotate in opposite directions by a shaft H,
carrying two worms I, I'; which engage with teeth, pins, or rollers, J, J', attached
to, or formed on, each of the blocks A, A A portion, however, of each worm
does not lie along a helical, path as does the remainder, but is square, or at right.
angles with the axis of the shaft.
The object of this is to hold- or lock. the two blocks in a stationary position,
while the striking gear is firing the cartridge held therein, so that a continuous..
rotary motion of the shaft carrying the worms, imparts to each of the two blocks
an intermittent motion. The alternate periods of this motion of the blocks,
therefore, coincide with the charging and firing of the gun; the discharge of the
empty cases occurring automatically from the rotation of the blocks; as described
previously."
The worm shaft H, may be driven by a toothed wheel L, gearing into a pinion K
mounted upon the said shaft; the wheel L being connected to the working handle M;
turned by the gunner; or any other suitable mechanism may be employed. Although
it is preferred to use the rotary blocks A, A¹, of equal diameter, yet it may be
desirable for certain forms of guns to have them of unequal diameter; but in such
cases the two blocks should have the same circumferential speed along the line of
contact, and for this purpose, the worm or driving device, or the wheels engaging
therewith will require modification.
It will also appear that some other mode of feeding the cartridges to the firing
chamber may be desired, without departing from the principle of this invention.
The mechanism for igniting the cartridge is represented in detail by Fig. 3 which
is part of a vertical section along the line Y―Y of Fig. 2. This mechanism chiefly
comprises a lever N having its fulcrum n¹ in a recess of the partition F, and
carrying at its longer arm a pin n situated in the prolongation of the axis of the
gun barrel and cartridge bed. The shorter arm of the lever N is placed opposite
the centre of the worm shaft H which has a cam adapted to lift the lever N
during the revolution of the can, and thereby to withdraw the striking pin n from
the cartridge and partition F as indicated by dotted lines. A forked spring O,
moveable at the upper end, and fixed at the lower end' by a plate P; serves to
press the lever N and striker n against the cartridge. The recessed part of the
partition F is perforated for the passage of the pin n, and the two branches of the
spring 0, 0, are connected at the top by a cross bar o.
:
Qis the back plate supporting the axle m of the handle M. The plates E, F,
and Q, are connected by three stay bolts R, R, and R. The bolt R₁ connecting
the plates at the top, is not shown in Fig: 1, but represented in detail by Fig. 4.
S is a cover leaving in the upper left hand corner a feed opening for the cartridges
which are connected by a belt, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 shows the middle portion of the rotary blocks A, A on a large scale,
together with three cartridges T, T, T, of which T¹ is in position for firing. S¹-is
a guide plate, S are guards between which the empty cartridges drop down.
Instead of forming the cartridge grooves directly in the body of each block in
the solid, they' may be formed by semi-cylindrical bushes Uplaced in corresponding

page_text: grooves of the discs or blocks, as illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7; each bush or lining
being made to project a little over the circumference of the block A, and allowed
to describe a short rotary motion about its own axis, which axis, when the groove
passes through the line of contact, coincides with the axis of the corresponding
bush of the other block.
To secure each bush in the respective groove, we form at each end of the groove,
(and at the base thereof), a recess V for the reception of a key u, fixed to the
extremity of the bush by a dovetailed joint, and projecting radially therefrom.
The width of the key u, (measured tangentially to the circumference of the bush),
is less than the width of the recess, so as to allow a certain angular motion around
the axis of the bush, and the key and recess are made angular in cross section;
(see Fig. 7), so as to prevent the bush from falling radially out of its groove.
It is to be understood that although we have shown and described the application
of our invention to single barrel guns, it is evident that the same may be adapted
to other types of machine guns or small cannons.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is,
1. A machine gun, in which the cartridge bed is formed by a pair of rotary
blocks having in their circumference open longitudinal grooves adapted to receive
cartridges, the said blocks and grooves being placed so that in passing the line of
contact, any groove of one block forms with a groove of the other block an axial
chamber corresponding in shape and size to the cartridge.
2. A machine gun comprising in its construction a gun barrel B, a pair of grooved
rotary blocks A, A¹ and axles D, D¹, frame E, F, mechanism for imparting to the
blocks an intermittent rotary motion, and mechanism for firing the cartridge.
3. In a machine gun having a pair of rotary blocks with longitudinal grooves
for feeding and holding the cartridges, a pair of continuous circular grooves a¹ for
the flanges of the cartridges.
4. The combination of grooved rotary blocks having teeth or pins J, J¹, with
shaft H and worms I, I', and mechanism for imparting to the latter a continuous
rotary motion.
5. The combination of shaft H having worms I, I, with nechanism adapted to
fire the cartridges by the turning of the shaft H.
.
6. A pair of grooved rotary cartridge blocks provided with bushes or linings U.
The whole substantially as described and illustrated, and for the purpose
specified.