Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1887
Complete Left, 25th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 25th July, 1888
I CHARLES FREDERICK WOOD of 35 Hanby Terrace, Ordnance Road Enfield Lock
in the County of Middlesex Machinist do hereby déclare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention relates especially to the preventing of the jamming of
Cartridges in Machine Guns by providing an Automatic cut off to each barrel, I will
now describe the Improvements as applied to that Class of Gun well known as the
Nordenfelt which have the barrels side by side in a Horizontal plane. Immediately
in the rear of the barrels is the Cartridge receiver into which the Cartridges fall from
the Magazine and which carries the Cartridges to the barrels, the Cartridge receiver
has openings through it as usual for the delivery of the Cartridge cases when they are
withdrawn from the Barrels. In my opinion the great defect in Machine Guns as at
present constructed is that Cartridges are fed to the Receiver indiscriminally. Should
the previous cartridge case fail to be extracted from one of the barrels still the Cart-
ridges are fed into the Receiver and at the next forward stroke of the plungers the
two Cartridges are jammed together and thus the Gun is rendered useless for the time
being.
I propose to remedy this defect by the addition of various novel devices hereinafter
described. According to this Invention I employ a series of short levers or fingers
suspended upon axis pins within or below the grooves of the Cartridge Receiver said
levers or fingers being capable of an easy swinging movement upon the pins, I cut
away a portion of the metal within the grooves and fit the lever into the cavity so
formed in such a manner that the levers in their raised positions permit free course
for the Cartridges into the barrels, also for the ejection of the empty cartridge shells
as heretofore, whereas in their lowered positions the short ends of the levers are raised
into the Cartridge grooves and thus prevents the Cartridges from entering the grooves
from the Magazine (said levers have a long and a short end the short end being equal
or thereabouts to the diameter of the Cartridge rim the other end being much longer
and acting as a counterpoise (which may be weighted at its end) The long ends of
the levers are beveled or inclined and operate in connection with catches upon a cross

page_text: slide provided upon the under side of cartridge receiver, said slide being operated to-
and-fro by the inclines upon breech block which operate the Cartridge receiver, the
action is as follows, the levers are all raised to the under side of Cartridge receiver
being retained in that position by catches upon cross slide before mentioned the
plungers or breech block being previously drawn back the Cartridges fall from the
Magazino into the grooves in front of barrels the plungers are now forced forward
driving the Cartridges into the barrels and firing them, the plungers are now with-
drawn bringing out the empty cases, when they have been partially withdrawn, the
cross slide with all the catches attached are all pushed back releasing all the lovers the
long ends of which drop down a little bringing their short ends in contact with under-
side of Cartridge cases and resting in that position for an instant, upon the further
movement of breech block or plungers the catch slide is again pushed forward tho
catches again engaging and retaining the levers but supposing one of the Cartridge
casos missed being extracted from one of the barrels (which often happens) then the
lever belonging to that barrel would drop right down by reason of Cartridge case not
being there to support the short end of said lever, the said short end is now in an
erect position within the receiver groove thus preventing the next Cartridge from
entering said groove the lever remaining in this position until the plungers are again
pushed forward by which it is raised to its original position and so on alternately it
will therefore be seen that the Gun goes on firing minus the one barrel thus cut off
but at the next outward stroke the Cartridge may be extracted then the said barrel
will resume its firing, it is evident that the details of this Invention may be carried
into effect in many different ways without departing from the principle herein contained
as in applying it to the Gatling the Hotchkiss and other Machine Guns the details
would have to be altered to suit the various arrangements in the various Guns. One
modification of the foregoing arrangement is as follows
I mount a slide upon Cartridge Receiver immediately in front of apertures in same.
This slide is capable of a to and fro motion upon the Receiver and is moved by
inclines upon breech block upon this slide I mount testers or fingers one to each barrel
each tester is mounted upon an axis pin studs are provided upon the Receiver suitably
inclined or beveled to operate cach finger, the fingers are also suitably inclined top
and bottom to engage with the studs which operate as follows, the finger slide is
pushed over and all the fingers or testers thereby depressed the Cartridges are pushed
into the barrels and fired the return stroke now commences when moved a little out-
wards the finger slide is pushed over to the left the fingers strike against the Cartridge
cases which depress the fingers upon the further movement of the slide they enter
beneath the studs which complete the depression. Supposing any of the Cartridges
have not been extracted from the barrel those fingers will not be depressed but will
continue their course into the groove in receiver thereby preventing the Cartridge
from entering said groove from the Magazine or the finger may be caused to operate
a separate cut off arranged for that purpose, or I may arrange a tester to work through
side of barrels into the Chambers if found desirable or beneath the apertures in Cart-
ridge Receiver in such a manner as to strike a finger and thus prove the withdrawal
of Cartridge case.
D
11
3211 ,
a
1

page_text: I CHARLES FREDERICK WOOD of 35 Hanby Terrace Ordnance Road Enfield Lock in
the County of Middlesex Machinist 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:-
The object of this Invention relates especially to the preventing of the jamming of
Cartridges in Machine Guns by providing an Automatic cut off to each Barrel. I
will now describe the improvements as applied to that class of Gun well known as the
Nordenfelt which has the barrels side by side in an liorizontal plane. Immediately in
rear of the barrels is the Cartridge Receiver into which the Cartridges fall from the
Magazine and which carries the Cartridges to the Barrels The Cartridge Receiver
has openings through it as usual for the delivery of the Cartridge cases when they are
withdrawn from the Barrels-According to this Invention I employ a series of short
levers or
fingers suspended upon axis pins within or below the grooves of the Cartridge
Receiver Said levers or fingers being capable of an easy swinging movement upon
the pins I cut away a portion of the metal within the grooves and fit the lever into
the cavity so formed in such a manner that the levers in their raised positions permit
free course for the cartridges into the barrels also for the ejection of the empty
Cartridge shells as heretofore, whereas in their lowered positions the short ends of the
levers are raised into the Cartridge grooves and this prevents the Cartridges from
entering the grooves from the magazine.
Said levers have a long and a short end the short end being equal or thereabouts
to the diameter of the Cartridge rim the other end being much longer and acting
as a counterpoise which may be weighted at its end, the long ends of the levers
are bevelled or inclined and operate in connection with catches upon a cross slido
provided upon the under side of Cartridge Receiver-Said slide being operated to
and fro by the inclines upon breech block which operate the Cartridge Receiver,
one of said inclines is made moveable on plunger plate by swinging it clear.of
inclines on finger slide the same being inoperative during the first feed of
Cartridges.
The action is as follows the levers are all raised to the under side of Cartridge
Receiver being retained in that position by catches upon the cross slide before
mentioned the plungers or breech block being previously drawn back the Cartridges
fall from the magazine into the grooves in front of the barrels-the plungers are now
forced forwards driving the Cartridges into the barrels and firing them, the plungers
are then withdrawn bringing out the empty cases when they have been partially with-
drawn, the cross slide with all the catches attached are all pushed back releasing all
the levers the long ends of which drop down a little bringing their short ends in
contact with the underside of Cartridge Cases and resting in that position for an
instant. Upon the further movement of the breech block or plungers the catch slide
is again pushed forward the catches again engaging and retaining the levers; but

page_text: '
supposing one of the Cartridge Cases missed being extracted from one of the barrels
(which often happens) then the lever belonging to that barrel would drop right down
by reason of the Cartridge Case not being there to support the short end of said lever
the said short end is now in an erect position within the Receiver Groove thus
preventing the next Cartridge from entering said groove the lever remaining in this
position until the plungers are again pushed forward by which it is raised to its
original position and so on alternately.
It will therefore be seen that the gun goes on firing minus the one barrel thus cut
off but at the next outward stroke the Cartridge may be extracted then the said barrel
will resume its firing.
It is evident that the details of this invention may be carried into effect in many
different ways without departing from the principle herein contained as in applying it
to the Gatling the Hotchkiss and other Machine Guns the details would have to be
altered to suit the various arrangements in the various Guns.
One modification of the foregoing arrangement is as follows. I mount a slide upon
the Cartridge Receiver immediately in front of the apertures in the same, this slide is
capable of a to and fro motion upon the Receiver and is moved by inclines upon breech
block Upon this slide I mount testers or fingers one to each barrel each tester is
mounted upon an axis pin. Studs are provided upon the Receiver suitably inclined
or bevelled to operate each finger, the fingers are also suitably inclined top and bottom
to engage with the studs which operate as follows :-
The finger slide is pushed over and all the fingers or testers thereby raised by
the stud, the Cartridges are pushed into the barrels and fired, the return stroke
now commences, when moved a little outwards the finger slide is pushed over to
the left the fingers strike against the Cartridge Cases which depresses the fingers,
upon the further movement of the slide they cuter beneath the studs which complete
the depression Should the Cartridge Case not be drawn out the finger engages with
cut off and pushes it over.
Supposing any of the Cartridges have not been extracted from the barrels those
fingers will not be depressed but will continue their course and engage with the
cut offs thereby preventing the Cartridge from entering said grooves from the
magazine.
I may arrange a Tester to work through side of barrels into the Chambers if found
desirable in this modification, there is a lever placed in the Carrier upon an axis pin
one end thereof projects into a groove cut into end of barrel to the depth of
recess for cartridge head-Should a cartridge be left in the barrel the lever is held
back thereby whilst the Cartridge Carrier travels to the left which has the effect
of throwing the opposite end of said lever across the recess in carrier and thus
preventing a Cartridge from entering said recess as hereafter described.
Or beneath the apertures in Cartridge Receiver in such a manner as to strike a
finger and thus prove the withdrawal of the Cartridge. In this case the lever is so
arranged that should a Cartridge Case be left in the Chamber, upon the movement of
the Carrier to the left said lever is held back so enlarging the Receiver Groove that
when the Cartridge falls from the magazine into said groove it is not retained therein
but falls clean through the same and out of the underside.
In applying this invention to the two barrel Gardner Gun I arrange the tester upon
an axis pin projecting from Cartridge Carrier (in this gun the Cartridges are fed from
magazine to Cartridge Carrier before the shell is extracted from the barrel) I there-
fore arrange a lifter within the Cartridge Carrier and immediately beneath the Cartridge
last delivered thereto, the tester is connected with the lifter by means of a lever, said
lever swings upon one of the lugs beneath the Carrier as an axis and engages with
lifter by means of inclines upon the top side. When the Cartridge Case is not
extracted the tester rises in front of chamber moves over the lever sufficient to cause
the incline upon the bolt or plunger to engage with opposite end of said lever thereby
pushing it over to the full extent and thus raising the lifter and returning the cartridge
to the magazine.
The cut-off may be operated by means of slide which operates the cartridge carrier.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
One modification of the foregoing arrangement is as follows
Fig. 1 is an elevation through the fore part of cartridge carrier shewing part of
plungers with my Invention applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is the plan of fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a section through line A¹ B₁ Fig. 4 and shews the slide and cut-off and
indicator, the carrier being cut away.
Fig. 4 is the plan of fig. 3 with carrier o extended.
I mount a slide a upon the forepart of cartridge carrier o. This slide a is capable of
a to and fro motion upon the carrier o and may be attached thereto in any suitable
manner and is moved by inclines s, supon the breech block t engaging with corre-
sponding inclines q, n & p upon the finger slide. Upon this slide I mount testers b one
to each barrel. Each tester is mounted upon an axis pin or screw e upon which it can
rise and fall by pressure, the tester being held tight upon the axis pin to prevent it
falling by its own weight. A concave spring washer may be used as at L Fig. 5.
Studs are provided projecting from the receiver o through the slot r in the finger
slide a which operates as follows.
The finger slide a is pushed over by incline s upon breech block t at the forward
movement of breech block t by means of said incline s engaging with incline upon
the finger slide a carrying the slide to the left. During this movement of finger slide
the fingers or indicators 6 are brought into contact with the studs k at the inclined
part w of Indicator b. Fig. 3 which stud raises the indicator into position for the
return stroke. The cartridges are now fired, the plunger is drawn back bringing
out the cartridge cases. When they have been partially withdrawn as shewn in Fig. 2
the inclines upon breech block t engages with incline n upon finger slide, pushing
slide over to the left bringing indicator b against the cartridge case c' which depresses
the indicator by means of inclined surface as readily seen in Fig. 1.
Suppose any of the cartridges have not been extracted from the barrels those
fingers or indicators b will not be depressed but will continue their course and engage
with the cut-offs by means of shoulders engaging with stud d projecting below and
forming part of cut off plate as represented at Fig. 3. The cut-off plate c is of thin
metal secured to top of carrier o by means of axis pin d' upon which the cut-off plate
turns.
Fig. 4 shews the cut off c in operation being pushed in a diagonal position across
the groove in cartridge carrier o so that when the carrier moves over for a fresh supply
of cartridges the cartridge will rest upon the plate c and will not be allowed to enter
said groove. Upon the further movement backward of plunger t the incline s¹ engages
with incline p upon projecting part of finger slide a which insures that the finger
slide a shall move to the left with cartridge carrier o when the said carrier moves over
for a fresh supply of cartridges. Upon the return or forward stroke of breech block
the inclines upon breech block engages with incline q upon the finger slide a pushing
it to the right at the same time returning the cut off c to its original position by means
of stud in finger slide a engaging with stud d on cut off plate c. Figs. 1 & 2 is part
of framing of gun cut away at z for clearance for finger slide a. 1 fig. 1 is a movable
inclined stop under the plunger plate carried between two ears through which passes
an axis pin upon which the movable incline is capable of moving in and out of
engagement with inclines n and p shewn in fig. 1 engaging, & being retained in
that position by spring m. By turning the handle part of 7 on axis pin x until it rests
upon the breech block the inclined part s' is lifted clear of inclines n & p. The gun
can then be fired without operating the finger slide a.
It is also needful to move inclined stop clear of inclines p & n upon finger slide a
during the insertion of the first charge of cartridges.

page_text: may arrange besters. Wo work through side of barrels into the chamber in round
desirable.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the breech end of barrel and through the fore
part of cartridge carrier of a machine gun.
Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of fig. 5 shewing the cut off in its position when the
gun is firing and extracting.
Fig. 7 is a sectional plan showing the cut off in its position when the cartridge case
is left in the barrel.
с
In this modification there is a lever a placed in the carrier d upon an axis pin b.
One end of lever a projects into a groove e cut into end of barrel c to the depth of
recess of cartridge head. Should a cartridge be left in the barrel c the forward end of
lever a is held back whilst the cartridge carrier travels to the left for a fresh supply
of cartridges which has the effect of throwing the opposite end of said lever a across
the recess in carrier d and thus prevents cartridge from entering. said recess from
magazine as shewn at Fig. 7.
Upon the return of cartridge carrier to the right the front end of lever a comes
against part of cross piece thus taking the lever a back into position as shewn at
Fig. 6. The lever a is caused to work stiffly. For this purpose I insert a spring
washer L Fig. 5 upon axis pin b to insure that said lever shall not move accidentally.
Or beneath the apertures in cartridge carrier or receiver in such a manner as to
strike a finger and thus prove the withdrawal of the cartridge from the carrier.
Figs. 8. 9. 10 is another modification of my invention. Fig. 8 is a vertical section
through the breech end of barrel c and through the cartridge carrier d. Fig. 9 is
a sectional plan of Fig. 8 shewing lever c' in position when gun is firing and extracting.
Fig. 10 is a sectional plan shewing the lever c¹ pushed back by the head of cartridge g
left in the barrel c.
In this modification the lever c¹ forms one side of recess in carrier d, that part of
said lever marked vis level with top surface of carrier d the rest of said lever is made
thinner and rests in slot cut through carrier as shewn at w Fig. 8. The lever c¹
swings upon an axis pin d¹ and from it extends forward to fore end of cartridge
carrier d. Should a cartridge case be left in barrel c at the next outward stroke of
breech block the carrier d being moved over to the left for fresh supply of cartridges,
the lever c¹ is held back by cartridge head g as shewn at Fig. 10. thereby enlarging
the channel or aperture and allowing the cartridge when received from magazine to
fall through the carrier to the ground thereby preventing its jamming with cartridge
case already within the barrel. F is a spring let into lever to push back lever c¹
upon the return of carrier to the right. è is a stop pin to prevent lever c¹ going too far
inwards.
Fig. 11 is the plan of a part of the carrier of a two barrel Gardner Gun.
Fig. 12 is a side view of fig. 11 with part of plunger shewn. Fig. 13 is an
elevation of fig. 11 from the front end shewing indicator and lifter in their raised
positions.
The
In this gun the cartridges are delivered from the magazine to cartridge carrier
before the cartridge case begins to be extracted from the barrels. I therefore arrange
a lifter within the cartridge carrier n and immediately beneath the cartridge last
delivered thereto. The tester or indicator a is connected with the lifter b by means
of a lever c which swings from one of the lugs q upon carrier n as an axis.
cartridge indicator a swings upon an axis pin Fig. 13 & 14 projecting from or
forming part of cartridge carrier n. The lever c engages with indicator a by means
of slot e shewn at fig. 13 & 14. The cartridge lifter swings upon the axis pin k, in
cartridge carrier. The lever c actuates cartridge lifter 6 by means of inclined lug d
Figs. 11 & 12, engaging with corresponding inclines upon part of lifter marked o
the lug d being inclined both ways. The motion of lever ċ to the left raises cartridge
lifter up whilst reverse motion pulls it down.
The action is as follows.-Cartridge carrier moves transversely for supply of
cartridges. This movement bring the indicator a hard against a spring carried by cam

page_text: lever slide of gun which moves cartridge carrier transversely. This spring brings the
indicator a hard against the cartridge case at Fig. 14 which stops the further
movement of indicator a.
Should the cartridge case miss being extracted then the indicator a would continue
its course upwards as shewn at Fig. 13 moving the lever c by means of its projecting
into slot e thus moving outer end of lever c into lino of plunger p upon which is an
inclined projection fig. 11 & 12 which engages with inclined projection m upon
lever c driving over lever to the right and raising the cartridge lifter 6 by means of
inclined lug d as shewn in fig. 13 engaging with stretcher o in lifter b.
The cartridge is thereby returned to magazine by the point b of lifter. Upon the
return of cartridge carrier to the right the indicator a is stopped by framing of gun.
The various parts are thereby returned to their original positions.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that 1 claim
First A Tester for proving the withdrawal or otherwise of the Cartridge Case the
means by which the Tester slide is moved and parts in connection therewith.
Second The cut off operated by the Tester when the body of Cartridge is not there
to depress the Tester.
Third A lever or its equivalent engaging with the Cartridge head missed being
extracted from the barrel with the result that the feed of Cartridges to that barrel is
stopped.
Fourth-A lever or its equivalent placed within the Cartridge carrier or recess and
engaging with the head of Cartridge left in the barrel, thus causing the enlargement
of the recess to such an extent as to allow the Cartridge to fall through the aperture
when received from the magazine.
Fifth A Cartridge Tester to swing upon an axis pin projecting from Cartridge
Carrier described in Sheet 3 of the Drawing herewith.
Sixth Broadly a tester engaging with the body or head of Cartridges in machine
guns and a cut off in connection with the said Tester.
Dated this 25th day of May 1888