Improvements in Machine Guns and other Breech-loading... Fire-arms.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machine Guns and other Breech-loading...
Fire-arms.
We, JOHN MOSES BROWNING and MATTHEW SANDEFUR BROWNING,
Manufacturers, both of Ogden, County of Weber and Territory of Utah, United
States of America, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in that class of guns in which the gas
produced by explosion after it has given a maximum initial velocity to the projectile
is further utilized as a means for operating the breech-mechanism of the arm, and
whereby rapid and successive firing may be automatically produced, it being only
necessary after firing the first shot to furnish a supply of cartridges to the gun,
which continues its operation so long as cartridges are so supplied.
The object of the invention is to produce a simple and efficient mechanism
adapted to receive the action of or to be actuated by the pressure of the gases of
explosion before the projectile shall have left or issued from the barrel, and by
means of which movement is transmitted to the breech-mechanism of the arm for
its operation, the mechanism being provided with means for its perfect control and
the interruption of its operation at any time at will; the invention is more
particularly set forth in the claims hereinafter following forming a part of this
Specification of invention, one embodiment thereof being comprised in the parts
and mechanisms and in the combination of parts and mechanisms and their
operations hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete gun and a portion of the mount.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the gun showing the mechanism in
the closed position, and
Figure 3 is a similar view showing the mechanism in open position.
Figures 4 to 10 inclusive, are drawn to a larger scale than the other views.
Figure 4 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the receiver
and adjacent parts.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the rear end of the receiver showing
especially the safety-catch for locking the hammer in rear position, and Figure 6 is
a transverse section of the same.
Figure 7 is a detached horizontal section showing the slide for disengaging the
pawls of the feed-wheel.
Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken along the centre line of the barrel and
showing the breech-piece and portions of the receiver and barrel.
Figure 9 is a similar section but is taken on a lower plane indicated by the
line 9-9, Figure 4.
Figure 9 is a detail section of the rear end of the feed pawl arm and pawl for
the feed wheel.
Figure 10 is a transverse section taken on the plane of the rear face of tle
feed-wheel.
Figure 11 is a rear elevation of the feed-belt box and portion of the mount
shown in Figure 1, with the gun in transverse section.
Figure 12 is a detail plan view showing, detached from each other, the end of the
feed-belt box and the bracket for holding the same.
Figure 13 is an underneath plan view of the gun with a portion at the rear
broken away.

page_text: Figure 15 is an underneath plan view of the slide, detached.
Figure 16 is a side elevation of the slide in reversed position so as to show the
right side thereof.
Figure 17 is a detached longitudinal section showing a modified construction of
the bracket for the gas operated lever, Figure 18 is a transverse section of
the same.
Figre 19 is a longitudinal vertical section illustrating a modified construction.
Figure 20 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section of the rear portion of the
slide and magazine tube, and
Figure 21 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section of the front portion of the
retracting spring, all as shown in Figure 19.
Figure 22 is a transverse section taken on the line 22-22 of Figure 21.
A represents the receiver to the forward end of which the barrel B is attached,
the barrel opening into the receiver at its rear end. Side plates B B', cover the
lower part of the receiver and extend from the rear of the receiver forward to a
sufficient distance to cover and protect the mechanism. The bottom plate B³ joius
the lower edges of the side plates throughout a portion of their length. The
breech-piece C is arranged in the receiver and adapted for longitudinal movement
backward and forward in the rear of the open end of the barrel; the breech-piece
is also adapted to swing so that in the forward position its rear end may stand in
front of abutments which will support the breech-piece against recoil, and from
these abutments the breech-piece escapes at the proper time. In the construction
here shown the rear end of the breech-piece moves downward in front of abutments,
and escapes therefrom by an upward movement of its rear end, but in other con-
structions embodying this invention the breech-piece may be locked by a lateral
or upward or oblique movement whereby it may be moved in front of suitably placed
abutments. In the construction here shown the receiver is constructed with a
longitudinal recess D constituting the bore of the receiver, within which the breech-
piece is adapted to move longitudinally. This recess is covered or closed on the
top but is opened longitudinally through the bottom, and is so constructed that the
recess on each side of the said central opening forms grooves in or through which
the breech-piece may work. At the forward end of the breech-piece is a lateral
projection E which extends into and works in a groove on the left side of the recess,
and the breech-piece and receiver are so shaped that the breech-piece when in
forward position may swing upon the projection E as a trunnion to bring its rear
end down in front of the abutments or shoulders H, H, and the breech-piece will
rest against said shoulders or abutments to resist recoil being thereby locked in
forward or firing position; but when the rear end of the breech-piece is raised up
above and out of engagement with the shoulders H, H, the breech-piece may then
be moved rearward in its recess to the open position shown in Figure 3, and then
when the breech-piece is again moved forward its rear end may drop down to engage
with the abutments as before described.
In the barrel at some point forward of the cartridge chamber, an aperture 1 is
formed which opens outwardly or radially from the bore of the barrel so that the
gases produced by the explosion of the cartridge may escape through said aperture
as soon as the bullet has passed that point and before it has escaped from the barrel.
Jrepresents a lever which is hung upon a fixed pivot K' on a bracket which is
beld between the side plates B, B, and is fitted so as to be held against lateral
motion in relation to the barrel but is free to allow the barrel to move longitudinally
in relation thereto and to the side plates when said barrel becomes expanded in
firing. In the construction shown in the main views of the drawing. one end of the
bracket K encircles the barrel, while in the construction shown in Figures 17
and 18, the bracket K is secured to or may form part of a tongue sliding in a
groove in the lower part of the barrel. The lever J is adapted to swing in a plane
parallel with the axis of the aperture I or the vertical axis of the barrel; as here
represented the lever is hung at the rear of the aperture I alongside of and beneath

page_text: the barrel and it extends forward when in closed position so that its forward end
is exposed to the action of the gases which pass through the aperture I, conse-
quently when the gases escape through said aperture they act upon the said lever
and force it to swing from its closed position shown in Figure to its open position
shown in Figure 3. As here represented the gases do not operate directly upon
the lever as in other efficient constructions (not shown) they may do within the
purview of this invention, but a housing L is arranged around the aperture I,
forming an enlarged opening M, between the end of the lever and the aperture,
and in the lever a finger N is hung upon a pivot O, on the lever, said finger being
adapted to enter the open end of the housing L as shown in Figure 2, so that
the end of the finger is directly exposed to and closes the aperture 1, and the gases
will operate directly upon the end of the finger and thus actuate the lever J. The
finger has a certain amount of freedom in its swinging movement and is of somewhat
smaller diameter than the opening in the housing so as to insure its proper entrance
into the housing at all times and allow for the expansion of the barrel and other
parts occasioned through the heat generated by successive firing, and also to
prevent the possibility of clogging the finger within the housing. The housing
serves as a guard to prevent the lateral escape of the gases which might
occasionally happen were the end of the lever shown in the drawing adapted to
bear directly against the aperture upon the outside of the barrel without some such
protection. The movement of the lever as hereinabove described imparts to the
breech-piece the opening movement, as from the position shown in Figure 2 to that
shown in Figure 3, and this movement is communicated to the breech-piece through
a slide P arranged in longitudinal guides beneath the brecch-piece, and connected
to the lever by means of a rod Q. As shown, the pivot pin of said connecting
rod Q in the slide P has flat ends which work in grooves in the side plates B' so
as to guide the forward end of the slide P, and guides for the slide are formed in
the receiver.
As the breech-picce when in forward position is locked against its abutments,
it is necessary to raise it before moving it to the rear, and in order to produce
such rising movement of the rear end of the breech-piece, the breech-piece is
constructed with a downwardly projecting rib R upon its under side which is
less in width than the opening downward from the recess in which the breech-
piece moves, and this rib is provided with an upwardly and forwardly inclined
or cam-shaped slot S, which cam slot or groove is horizontal at its top for a
short distance and then inclines downward and rearward. One of the purposes
subserved by providing the cam-slot in the rib of the breech-piece with a
horizontal portion at its forward end is that a slight rearward movement of the
slide is attained before the slide commences to unlock the breech-piece, whereby
the breech-piece is held locked during that time against delayed firing; and a
further object is that the breech-piece will have reached its fully locked position
at the end of its forward movement before the slide releases the hammer from
the sear and there will be a period of rest while the breech-piece is in its fully
locked position before the gun is fired. The rib R of the breech-piece extends
into a longitudinal slot T in the rear end of the slide P, and across that slot
is a pin U which passes through the cam-shaped slot S in the rib R of the
breech-piece; the position of the cam-slot S in the breech-piece with relation to
the pin U of the slide, is such that when the breech-piece is in its down or
closed position, as shown in Figure 2, the pin stands at the upper horizontal
end of the slot S, consequently in the first part of the rear movement of the
slide P, the pin U moves in the slot S and causes the breech-piece to rise until
it escapes from its abutment, and then the continued movement of the slide P
will produce a longitudinal rearward movement of the breech-piece until it
reaches its extreme open position as seen in Figure 3; and when the slide P
returns or is moved forward it will draw the breech-piece forward with it to its
closed position, and as soon as the breech-piece has reached its closed position,
and comes to a stand, the pin U will again act in the cain-slot S and as the

page_text: slide completes its forward movement will cause the rear end of the breech-piece
to drop in front of its abutments, whereby it will be supported against recoil as
before stated. Instead of having the pin on the slide Pand the cam-groove in
the breech-piece the arrangement may be reversed and the pin located in the
breech-piece and the cam-groove in the slide.
The opening movement of the breech-piece is produced by the direct action of
gases as before described, and the closing movement is produced by the reaction of
a spring or by other mechanical means." As here represented two spiral or coiled
springs W, are arranged in longitudinal tubes X in lines parallel with the plane of
movement of the lever J and one on each side of the rod Y, and the rod carries on
its rear end a cross-head Z extending into each of the tubes X and pressing
against the rear ends of the springs W, either directly or as shown through the
medium of sliding pins or plungers Z' in said tube (see Figure 14), so that as
the rod Y is drawn forward the springs will be compressed within the tubes. The
forward end of the rod Y is connected to an arm of the lever J, by intermediate
pivoted links as shown, or otherwise, so that as the lever turns from the position
shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3, the rod Y will be drawn forward and
the springs W correspondingly compressed. The retractile power of these springs
is sufficient to return the lever J and all parts including the breech mechanism
connected therewith from the open position shown in Figure 3 to the closed
position shown in Figure 2. A single spring may be employed in place of the two
springs as shown, or a greater number of springs may be employed, and other
mechanisms adapted to automatically restore the parts to their normal or closed
positions after they have been thrown by the gases of explosion to open position
may be employed within the scope of this invention.
As a cushion for the opening movement of the lever and so as to break the force
of the opening movement and take up the excess of momentum, a spring is arranged
in rear of the lever and as here shown the front portion of the bottom plate B' is
utilized for this purpose and the grooves in the side plates B' for this end of the
bottom plate are enlarged slightly to allow this spring action of the bottom plate.
The lever J strikes the spring end of the bottom plate at the end of its opening
movement and the spring serves as a cushion or buffer to produce an easy or
yielding stop for the lever and to impart an initial impetus on its return movement.
In some constructions a separate spring may be used for this purpose. The lever .J
may be counter-balanced if desired but such construction is not usually necessary
and is not shown.
At the rear of the breech-piece a longitudinally reciprocating hammer e is arranged,
provided with a suitable spring f, so that as the breech-piece is thrown rearward,
the hammer will also be forced rearward and will compress its spring, the hammer
being caught by a suitable trigger when in its fully cocked position. In the usual
operation of the gun, cartridges will be successively supplied to the barrel and the
hammer will operate when the breech-piece is closed and locked to explode the
cartridge in the barrel, and the gases of explosion will operate the swinging lever
and cause the breech-piece to be raised and unlocked and opened and will re-cock
the hammer, and then return the breech-piece as before described and release the
hammer to produce a second explosion, and so on, the successive explosions being
produced as fast as and as long as cartridges are supplied to the barrel.
To supply the cartridges a rotating feed-wheel is arranged upon an axle which
is shown as held in lugs extending up from the bottom plate B', with the feed-
wheel fitted to rotate upon it. This wheel is constructed to carry a cartridge into
position to be transferred to other parts of the breech mechanism. As shown this
wheel comprises two heads g, h, on a sleeve fitted to rotate upon said axle /', these
heads being provided with teeth or projections between which are grooves to engage
with and carry the cartridges to the position for transfer to the carrier, although
in some constructions the feed-wheel may be a simple grooved cylinder. The
cartridges a may be introduced one at a time by hand through an opening k in the
left side plate B', or may be carried in on a band or belt formed in pockets as

page_text: shown in Figure 10, each pocket holding a cartridge, the belt jentering through
the opening k and passing out empty through an opening in the right side
plate B. The cartridge band or belt may be carried in the box i to be hereinafter
described.
The feed-wheel is rotated so as to successively present the cartridges into a
position below the bore of the barrel, by means of a spring-pawl o carried by a
lever p, and a vibratory movement is imparted to this lever p, by a rocking arm q,
having a pin which works in a slot in the front end of the lever p, and this rocking
arm 7 is operated by projections u, v, extending from the right side of the slide P
and engaging with the upper end of said rocking arm 7 as the slide is moved
backward and forward by the swinging lever J. Stop-pins are provided as shown
to prevent the rocking arm q from moving beyond either of its extreme positions.
In Figure 3 the rocking arm g is shown in extreme rearward position and the rear
or pawl end of the lever pis raised. At the commencement of the forward
movement of the slide P the rocking arm is unaffected and remains in rearward
position until the rear projection of the slide strikes it, thus affording time for the
carrier to deliver its cartridge and return into position to receive another cartridge
before said second cartridge is brought over the end of the carrier, and then the
rocking arm q is moved forward with the slide and the pawl end of the lever
moved downward and the feed-wheel rotated by the engagement of the pawl o and
one of the projections or teeth of the head g of the feed-wheel, and thus the feed-
wheel is rotated so as to present another cartridge into position for transfer. When
the rocking arm q is again moved backward and pawl o again raised, the upper
inclined face of the pawl o (see Figure 94) works against an inclined face on the
head and the feed-wheel being positively held against backward movement by
the pivoted and spring actuated stop-pawl r which engages with another tooth of
the head g, the pawl o will be pushed inward and will slide over the inclined face
of the head g without causing any movement of the feed-wheel.
is
To enable the operator to release or disengage the feed-wheel from its pawls
a slide (see Figures 4 and 7) is provided having a thumb-piece on the outside
of the right side plate B', and normally held by a spring out of engagement
with said pawls, but which may be operated by pushing the thumb-piece forward
to engage with the end of the stop-pawl r, and to push directly against the
face of the feed-pawl o, and thus to throw both pawls out of engagement with
the feed-wheel so that the feed-wheel may be moved freely in either direction
by hand, or if not operated by hand will remain at rest and thus the supply of
cartridges to the gun will be checked.
In rear of the feed-wheel a carrier is hung upon a pivot m near the rear
end of the carrier, said pivot being preferably formed by screws or pins extending
from the receiver into said carrier, and to restrain the movement of said carrier
it is desirable to provide friction devices such as the spring-operated pistons d, d,
fitted into recesses in the sides of the receiver which recesses are exteriorly
closed by the screws d', d', and pressing against the sides of the carrier l.
Normally the carrier stands in the position, shown in Figure 2 and in full lines
in Figure 3, below the line of the cartridge a in the feed-wheel and with its
forward end resting upon the rear one of the two lugs which hold the axle '
of the feed-wheel so that the cartridge so standing may be forced rearward from
the feed-wheel onto the carrier as shown in Figure 9.
To thus transfer the cartridges from the feed-wheel to the carrier, the slide P
is provided with means for transferring a cartridge from said feed-wheel onto said
carrier. It is evident that an extractor may be used for this purpose projecting
from the slide and acting to extract the cartridge from the feed-wheel and
feed-belt, if any, thereon, but in the construction herein shown a highly efficient
device for this purpose is provided in the rearwardly projecting finger n on the
under side of the slide P which stands in line with the cartridge in the feed-
wheel, so that as the slide approaches its rearward position the finger n will
strike the forward end of the cartridge a and will move the cartridge back upon

page_text: the carrier so that the forward end of the cartridge is just in rear of the rear
end of the barrel as shown in Figure 3; then the carrier with a cartridge
upon it is raised to the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 3, to bring the
forward end of the cartridge into position in rear of the open end of the barrel
and the head end of the cartridge forward of a portion of the open breech-piece,
so that when the breech-piece next moves forward it will transfer the cartridge
from the carrier into the barrel. Stops to the rearward movement of the
cartridge when pushed upon the carrier are formed by slight inward projections a³, a²,
from the sides of the receiver as shown in Figure 9, and inclined guide surfaces or
shoulders a' (see Figure 3) are formed in the side of the receiver to guide the head
end of the cartridge as it is pushed forward by the breech-piece so that the head end
of the cartridge will ride up over these guides into a position nearly in line with
the barrel. These guides a permit a much earlier commencement of the return
movement of the carrier than would otherwise be practicable, thereby allowing
more time for its movement and that of other parts, which is very important in
rapid firing or automatic guns. It is of course evident that the stops for the
rearward movement of the cartridge may be formed upon the carrier within the
purview of this invention.
The carrier is raised at the commencement of the forward movement of the
breech-piece. To effect this movement a spring dog or latch is pivoted at
the rear end of the carrier and the slide P is constructed with a downward
projection which in the rearward movement of the slide moves the latch = rear-
ward said latch being so constructed as to yield to this rearward movement
without causing any movement of the carrier 7. At the termination of said
rearward movement the projection 4 has moved over and in rear of the latch 5, and
the latch and projection 4 are in the position shown in Figure 3 with the dog or
latch inclined backward but in such position that the first forward movement of
the slide P will cause the projection 4 to depress the rear end of the carrier / by
its engagement with the latch and thus raise its forward end and bring the carrier
and the cartridge thereon up into the position shown in the dotted lines in Figure 3.
The carrier will be held in this position until the projection 4 has passed over the
end of the latch z in the extreme forward position of said latch, thus insuring
that the forward end of the breech-piece will have engaged with the cartridge and
lifted it into engagement with the guides a' before the carrier can move downward;
then as the parts approach a closed position the inclined lower face 5 of the
slide P strikes against the upper face of the carrier in front of the pivot m thereof
and moves the front end of the carrier down into lower position. This downward
movement of the front end of the carrier takes place before the feed-wheel has
presented another cartridge in position for transfer upon the carrier, as above set
forth in describing the operation of the feed-pawl o.
2
=
To produce automatic and continuous firing whenever it is desired so to do, and
yet prevent accidental firing, the sear is so arranged that the hammer can only be
released when the breech-piece is in its closed position. As here shown the sear 6
is hung alongside of the trigger 8 the trigger and sear having a common pivot 7,
and a spring 9 is divided into two parts one resting against the sear 6 and the other
against the trigger 8, or two separate springs may be provided, one part or one
spring tending to hold upward the sear 6 so that its hook will be in position to
engage with the notch or shoulder of the hammer e, and the other part or spring
tending to hold up the forward end of the trigger so that its hook will be in position
to engage with the notch on the hammer e. A firing lever 10 (see Figure 4) is
pivoted at 11 in a recess in the outside of the receiver A, and between said receiver
and the left side plate B, and is provided at its rear end with a pin or stud 12
which extends through a slot in the receiver in position to engage with the forward
end of the sear 6, and the firing lever is provided on its front end with the pin or
stud 13 which extends through a slot in the receiver in position to engage with an
inclined surface 14 on the side of the slide P when the said slide is in its extreme
forward position, but which rests in a groove or depression in said slide forward of

page_text: the inclined surface 14 in all other positions of the slide P. Normally the spring
of the sear holds it in position to engage with the notch on the hammer e and holds
up the rear end of the firing lever 10, but when the slide reaches its extreme
forward position the inclined surface 14 works against the pin 13 and raises the
forward end of the firing lever 10 thereby depressing the rear end of said lever and
through the pin 12 moving the sear downward and out of engagement with the
notch of the hammer e. If the trigger is held in pulled position this movement of
the firing lever 10 and sear 6 will cause the hammer to be released so as to explode
the cartridge which is now in place with the breech-piece locked in front of its
abutments, and thus so long as the trigger is held in pulled position the firing will
be automatic, and as soon as the cartridge is in place in the barrel and the breech-
piece locked in lower position, the cartridge will be exploded and the gases of
explosion will operate the swinging lever J and cause another cartridge to be placed
within the barrel and exploded and this operation will be repeated so long as
cartridges are supplied to the gun, but if the trigger is released it will hold the
hammer back and the operation of the firing lever and sear will not cause
the hammer to be released or the cartridge in the barrel to be exploded and the
hammer will thus be held in the cocked position and the firing will cease.
The firing pin 15 projects at the rear end of the breech-piece in the usual manner
and extends therethrough, as clearly shown in Figure 8. To prevent any contact
between the hammer and the firing pin except when the breech-piece is in the
fully closed and locked position the hammer is provided with a projection 16
at its lower front face and the upper front face of the bammer is a considerable
distance to the rear of this projection 16 so that if the hammer were released at
any time before the rear end of the breech-piece had been moved down in front of
its abutments, as for instance when the parts are in the position shown in
Figure 4, the projection 16 on the hammer face would strike the rear end of the
breech-piece while the upper portion of the face of the hammer which would
be in line with the firing pin 15 with the breech-block in such upper position
would be held back clear of the end of the firing pin and thus the cartridge
would not be exploded; when, however, the breech-piece has reached its forward
position and dropped down in front of its abutments and is thus securely locked,
the end of the firing pin 15 will be in line with the projection 16 of the hammer as
shown in Figure 2, and the hammer upon being released and thrown forward by its
spring will come in contact therewith and explode the cartridge. It is of course
evident that the face of the hammer may be without projections and a projection
or projections may be provided upon the rear face of the breech-piece to accomplish
a like result.
A safety catch is provided for locking the hammer in rear position, consisting
of a button 27 arranged in the breech-casing of the gun, and as shown located in
the vertical opening, beneath the recess or bore D of the receiver and pivoted on
the screw 31 so that its rear face may be moved up at will into position to engage
with the front face of the hammer when the hammer is at full cock. A stem 30
from this button passes through a slot in the right wall of the receiver and has a
thumb-piece 29 on its end outside of the casing, and a friction spring 28, surrounds
the stem to hold it and the button and the thumb-piece in the position to which
they are moved by the operator in manipulating the thumb-piece. When the
thumb-piece 29 is pushed down in lower position the button 27 is entirely clear of
the hammer, and when the thumb-piece is raised the button locks the hammer.
If by mistake the button is raised before the hammer has been pushed back by the
breech-piece, so as to stand in rear of the hammer face instead of in front of it,
then the bammer head will in moving back push the button down out of its way,
and thus the operation of the gun will not be interfered with.
To the breech-piece is attached on its right side a spring-extractor H² of the
well-known construction which yielding on the forward movement of the breech-
piece springs over the cartridge head, and on the rearward movement of the
breech-piece engages with the cartridge head and positively draws the shell from

page_text: the barrel. The ejector H³ is so constructed as to present a lengthened surface in
the path of the head of the cartridge shell as the same is being pulled backward
by the extractor H³, said ejector having a series of teeth, and as shown each tooth
extending slightly further outward toward the cartridge head than the tooth in
front of it (sce Figure 8). With these teeth thus arranged the head of the shell
will pass from tooth to tooth until finally the shell is thrown out through the
opening 17 in the side of the receiver, and the successive action of the teeth will
give it a whirl longitudinally so as to throw it through the opening in the receiver
in a short curve which will cause it to fall close to the gun, in contradistinction to
being thrown directly from the gun to one side as would be the case were the
ejection made instantaneously by a single ejecting shoulder. In machine guns the
movement is so rapid that if the shells be suddenly ejected the force will be so great
as to make it dangerous to persons standing near the gun, but by the construction
of ejector above described this danger is overcome, and the shells are thrown with
less violence and will fall close to the gun. These results may be measurably
attained in a construction in which the several teeth of the ejector are of the same
height and have inclined faces and neither one of said teeth is itself quite sufficient
to throw the head of the shell out of engagement with the extractor. The breech-
piece may in some constructions and where automatic action is not desired, be
provided with other suitable and effective extracting and ejecting devices to
withdraw the exploded shell from the barrel and discharge it from the gun.
As represented the breech-piece is provided with an upward projection 18 at
its forward end which works in a longitudinal groove 19 in the top or upper inside
face of the recess D of the receiver in which the breech-piece moves; this serves
to support the breech-piece laterally when in its forward position and in the line
of the discharge opening 17. The hammer is also shown as having an upwardly
extending tongne or projection working in said groove 19. If a cylindrical recess
were formed in the receiver in place of the rectangular recess D this groove might
be depended upon to guide the hammer therein.
Devices may be arranged to supply cartridges to the feed-wheel by a hopper or
by cartridge bands or belts, such devices being adapted to successively present the
cartridges through the opening to the feed-wheel. The preferred construction
for this purpose is as above described by means of the feed-band or belt and this
belt may be supplied with cartridges inserted into its pockets, and packed within
the feed-belt box i so that it will be pulled out therefrom and its cartridges
successively supplied to the gun by the operation of the feed-wheel. This feed-
belt box is shown as held by a bracket having projections on its vertical sides
which engage with grooves in the sides of the feed belt box and also having
a supporting flange for said box and this bracket has a horizontal dovetailed
plate fitted to slide in a corresponding groove formed in the plate 2 secured to
the bottom plate B2 of the gun. A spring-actuated lock bolt is fitted to slide
vertically in the bracket and in upper position enters a depression or socket in
the plate and thereby locks the plate and bracket together and has an operating
knob projecting outward through a bayonet slot in the bracket so that this lock-bolt
may be pulled down and turned in its slot so as to be held in unlocked position
when it is desired to attach or remove the bracket', or may be released so that
it will be held by its spring in engagement with the plate. A sliding cover i
is shown for the feed-belt box i. An important advantage resulting from the above
construction, and especially from the fact that the feed belt box is suspended from
the gun is that the position of the feed belt box in relation to the gun is fixed
and unaltered no matter what may be the elevation or the direction in which the
gun is pointed. This insures that the cartridge belt will always be fed to the
fyed-wheel in a direction at a right angle to the axis of the feed-wheel, and will
always be properly guided into the gun.
The gun may be adapted to fire from the shoulder but it is preferred to mount
it upon a suitable firm support. One construction of such support is shown in
Figures and 11 and consists of a swivel 20 adapted to fit in a socket of a tripod

page_text: or carriage or bulwark or mast-head rail as usual with mounts of machine guns.
A gun rest 21 is secured to the side plates and bottom plate of the gun and has
a downwardly projecting rib 22 the lower end of which forms a segment of a circle
and has teeth formed at its lower edge which engage with a worm-wheel mounted
upon a shaft 23 in the swivel, said shaft being adapted to be operated by a hand-
wheel 24. The gun rest is pivoted at 25 to the uprights of the swivel. Any
desired elevation may be secured by operating the hand-wheel 24.
When operating as a machine gun it will be convenient to provide a grasp 26
in rear of the trigger so that the operator may apply his hand thereto and
conveniently reach the trigger with his finger, and the stem of the hammer e extends
into this grasp 26.
Parts of the mechanism of the gun described while specially adapted for machine
guns are also applicable to other fire arms such as magazine or single breech-loaders ;
for illustration the slide P may be provided with a handle or grasp under the
barrel and forward of the receiver so that by the hand of the operator the slide
may be moved backward and forward to operate the mechanism of the arm, and
in such case the breech-piece with its sear and trigger will operate in the same
manner as in a single breech-loader or repeater, the arrangement of the sear and
trigger with relation to the breech-piece being such that it is impossible to release
the hammer until the breech-piece be fully closed. Again the gun may be provided
with a common tubular magazine forward of the receiver, opening directly onto
the carrier, as in well-known magazine guns, the mechanisms being operated by the
gases as described or by hand manipulation as above indicated, or in any well known
imanner; while therefore, all the parts of the gun are specially adapted for
employment in a machine gun, the invention is not to be understood as limited to
the employment of the mechanism in a machine gun.
In Figures 19 to 22 inclusive, a modified construction of gun is shown embodying
this invention in which a suitable butt stock, as 33, is provided so that the
gun is adapted to be fired from the shoulder. A tubular magazine is also shown
in place of the cartridge feed wheel shown in other views of the drawings,
comprising a magazine tube 34 held to the barrel by one or more thimbles in the
usual way and at one of said thimbles, marked 35, closed by a plug so as to divide
the interior of said tube into two separate compartments.
In the rear compart-
ment the cartridges a are contained and these cartridges may be actuated by the
usual magazine spring and follower 36, and in the front compartment is arrange:
the retracting spring W for the gas lever J, said spring being shown in this
modified construction as of helical form and pressing at its forward end against a
projection or guide piece P₁ extending upward from the front end of the slide P
and sliding in the front part of said magazine tube 34 as clearly shown in
Figures 21 and 22. The helical spring W may also be so constructed as to sustain
any surplus of energy in the rear movement of the swinging lever J. The
construction and arrangement of the gas lever, finger, opening and housing are
similar to those shown and above fully described in connection with the main views
of the drawing and the swinging gas lever J is connected to the slide P by the
connecting rod Q. The slide P is arranged beneath the magazine tube 34, and
this slide P has near its rear end an upward offset and is wide and bifurcated as
clearly shown in Figure 20 and the rear end of the slide engages with the breech
piece C and imparts movements thereto in the same manner as above fully
described in connection with the main views of the drawing. The carrier / is
similar in construction to that heretofore described except that it has a downward
projection at its front end which closes the open rear end of the magazine tube 34
when the carrier is in raised position thus preventing any cartridge from being
thrown out except when the carrier is lowered. The breech piece C is slightly
modified in construction in that it has a downward projection at its front end
against which the rear end of the rearmost cartridge stands when the gun is closed.
A magazine spring dog 37 is arranged at the rear open end of the magazine
B

page_text: tube 34 and serves to hold the column of cartridges in the magazine by engaging
with the head of the rearmost one, and this magazine dog 37 only releases the bead
of the last cartridge when the breech mechanism is in its fully closed position,
inclined cam surfaces 38 (see Figure 20) upon the slide P engaging with the rear
end of the magazine dog or with projections from said rear end during the last
part of the forward movement of the slide P. Thus when the breech mechanism is
closed the spring magazine dog is caused to release the rearmost cartridge and
said cartridge is pressed by the magazine spring against the downward projection
at the front end of the breech piece C so that as the breech piece is moved
rearward in the next opening movement of the breech mechanism the cartridge
follows it sliding out over the carrier and taking its proper position thereon,
while the first rearward movement of the slide P releases the magazine dog
and thus again closes the magazine. The magazine is charged through the
loading gate 39 pivoted at the bottom of the receiver, the cartridges being
introduced through said gate when the carrier is in the raised position, and the
magazine dog 37 yielding as each cartridge is introduced. The firing pin 15, the
hammere and hammer spring may be constructed and arranged as heretofore
described but in the construction shown the stem and spring of the hammer are in
a separate cylindrical casing 40 extending rearward from the receiver. The
trigger 42 is connected to the hammer engaging sear or trigger 8 by an
intermediate pivoted lever. The firing lever and means for locking the hammer
in rearward position except when the breech piece is in forward fully closed
position may be embodied in this construction as in the construction shown in the
main views of the drawing. It is evident that the gas operated mechanism
including the lever J and connecting rod Q may be omitted, or the connecting
rod Q may be disconnected from the slide P and the slide Pia that event could
be operated by hand and to accomplish such operation it would only be necessary
to provide a suitable handle or grasp in convenient position to be manipulated by
the left hand of the operator and directly secured to or otherwise connected with
the slide P.
A fore-stock 41 of usual construction is shown partly covering the magazine
tube and slide, but where the slide is operated by hand this fore-stock may be
omitted, the grasp or handle for manipulating the slide being sufficient for holding
the gun by the left hand of the operator.
While the mechanism described for a machine gun is adapted for the employ-
ment of a swinging lever as a means for operating said mechanism, it will be
understood that the mechanism may be operated by other mechanisins for receiving
the force of the gases of explosion, such for illustration as a longitudinal slide on
the end of the barrel, forming a chamber around the muzzle so that the gases
will operate on said slide to impart a forward movement to it, this slide being
connected to the breech-mechanism; or other appliances for bringing into action
or utilizing the force of the gases of explosion may he employed to operate the
breech-mechanism within the scope of this invention.
The foregoing clearly describes a gun shown in the accompanying.drawings
which embodies this invention, but the invention is not limited to the particular
character or construction of the parts, mechanisms or devices thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. In a gun, the combination with the barrel provided with an opening in rear
of the muzzle through which the gases of explosion escape, of a breech mechanism
normally held locked, a lever arranged alongside the barrel, and means connecting
said lever with the breech mechanism, said lever being adapted to close said
opening in the barrel and to be operated upon by the gases of explosion to he
removed from said opening and thereby unlock the breech mechanisin and force

page_text: it rearward, and automatically operating means to restore the lever and breech
mechanism to their closed positions and lock the breech mechanism, substantially
as set forth.
2. In a gun, the combination with the barrel having an opening in rear of the
muzzle through which the gases of explosion escape, of a breech mechanism
normally held locked, a lever hung upon a fixed pivot the free end of said lever
extending towards said opening and provided with a device movably attached
thereto, said device substantially closing said opening in its closed position and
adapted to be removed from said opening by the gases of explosion and thereby
operate said lever to unlock and open the breech mechanism, and automatically
operating means to restore said device and lever to their closed positions and
thereby close and lock the breech mechanism, substantially as set forth.
3. In a gun, the combination with the barrel having an aperture opening from
the bore at a point in rear of the muzzle, of a breech mechanism normally held
locked, a lever arranged alongside said barrel and hung upon a stationary pivot
and extending toward said aperture, whereby the free end of said lever is adapted
to receive the force of the gases of explosion escaping through said aperture to
impart to said lever a swinging movement away froin said aperture, automatically
operating retracting means to restore the lever to its closed position, and means to
connect the lever with the breech mechanism, whereby in the opening movement
of said lever the breech mechanism will be unlocked and thrown to its open
position and the reaction of the retracting means will return the said lever and
breech mechanism to their closed position and lock the breech mechanism,
substantially as set forth.
4. In a gun, the combination with the barrel constructed with an aperture
opening there from at a point in rear of the muzzle, of a lever hung upon a fixed
pivot and adapted to swing in substantially a longitudinal plane, the free end of the
lever extending toward said aperture and provided with a finger hinged thereto, the
said finger extending toward and so as to substantially cover said aperture when in
closed position, whereby the gases of explosion may escape through said aperture
and operate upon the end of said finger thereby operating said lever and a breech
mechanism connected with said lever, and whereby the opening movement of said
lever will impart the opening movement to said breech mechanism, and a spring or
springs adapted to return said lever and close the breech mechanism, substantially
as set forth.
5. In a gun, the combination with the barrel constructed with an aperture
opening outward from the bore of the barrel at a point in rear of the muzzle, of a
lever hung upon a stationary pivot and adapted to swing in substantially a
longitudinal plane, the free end of said lever extending to said aperture, a finger
bung to the free end of said lever and adapted to cover said aperture, a housing
around said aperture having an opening through which said finger may pass to said
aperture, a breech mechanism and connection from said lever to said breech
mechanism whereby the opening movement of said lever will impart the opening
movement to said breech mechanism, and a spring or springs adapted to return said
lever and bring said breech mechanism to its closed position, substantially as
set forth.
6. In a gun, the combination with the barrel open at the rear and constructed
with an aperture opening radially from the bore at a point in rear of the muzzle, of
a lever hung upon a stationary pivot and extending toward said aperture whereby
the free end of the said lever is adapted to receive the force of the gases of
explosion escaping through- said aperture to impart to said lever a swinging
movement away from said aperture, one or more longitudinal tubes and springs
arranged therein, a rod connected to said lever and arranged so as to bear against
and compress said spring or springs during the opening movement of said lever, and
breech mechanism connected with said lever, whereby in the opening movement of
said lever the breech mechanism will be thrown to its open position, and the spring
or springs compressed, and the reaction of the compressed spring or springs will

page_text: return the said lever and breech mechanism to their closed positions, substantially
as set forth.
7. In a gun, the combination with the barrel, of a breech-piece normally held
locked and arranged in a longitudinal recess in rear of the barrel and adapted to
slide backward and forward therein, a slide located alongside of the barrel,
mechanism for imparting reciprocating movement to said slide, and means
connecting the breech-piece and slide, whereby in the first part of the rear
movement of said slide the rear end of the breech-piece will be raised and unlocked
and then on the continued movement of said slide the breech-piece will receive a
corresponding rear or opening movement and on the return of said slide the breech-
ece will receive a forward or closing movement and during the last part of the
forward movement of said slide the rear end of the breech-piece will be forced down
and locked, substantially as set forth.
8. In a gun, the combination with the barrel having an opening in rear of the
muzzle through which the gases of explosion escape, of a longitudinally
reciprocating breech-piece normally held locked, a slide arranged longitudinally
alongside the barrel and connected to the breech-piece, and mechanism for
imparting longitudinal movement to said slide to unlock the breech-piece and
impart backward and forward movement thereto, said mechanism being adapted to
be operated by the gases of explosion which escape through said opening in the
barrel, substantially as set forth.
9. In a gun, the combination with the barrel provided with an aperture in rear
of the muzzle, of a longitudinally reciprocating breech-piece normally held locked,
a slide arranged longitudinally alongside the barrel and connected to the breech-
piece, mechanism for imparting longitudinal rearward movement to the slide to
unlock the breech-piece and move it rearward, said mechanism being adapted to be
operated by the gases of explosion, and automatically operating means to restore
the breech-piece and slide and gas-operated mechanism to their closed position and
lock the breech-piece, substantially as set forth.
10. In a gun, the combination with the barrel opening in the rear into the
receiver, of a breech-piece adapted for longitudinal movement backward and
forward in said receiver, the breech-piece being also adapted to swing on its
forward end when in forward position in said receiver, and abutments in said
receiver against which the rear end of the breech-piece will engage in its forward
position to support it against recoil and from which abutments the breech-piece
will be disengaged by the movement of its rear end, substantially as set forth.
11. In a gun, the combination with the barrel opening in the rear into the
receiver, of a breech-piece adapted for reciprocating longitudinal movement in said
receiver, the rear end of the breech-piece being also adapted to swing vertically in
said receiver and said breech-piece being constructed and adapted to operate so
that in its forward position its rear end will be lowered and will engage with the
receiver to support the breech-piece against recoil and from which the breech-
piece will be disengaged by an upward movement of its rear end so as to unlock
said breech-piece to enable it to be moved longitudinally rearward, and mechanism
adapted to be operated by the gases produced by explosion to raise and unlock
said breech-piece and move it longitudinally rearward in the receiver, substantially
as set forth.
12. In a gun having the barrel opening at the rear into the receiver, the
combination of a breech-piece arranged in a longitudinal recess in rear of the barrel
and adapted to slide backward and forward therein, the said recess being open
longitudinally on its under side and the breech-piece constructed with a downward
projection extending through said opening, the said downward projection
constructed with an upwardly and forwardly inclined slot, the breech-piece being
adapted to drop at its rear end when in the closed position forward of abutments
formed in the receiver, a slide located beneath the barrel and extending rearward
beneath the breech-piece and provided with a pin adapted to work in said slot in
the breech-piece, mechanism for imparting reciprocating movement to said slide and

page_text: whereby in the first part of the rear movement of said slide the rear end of said
breech-piece will be raised from its abutments and then on the continued movement
of said slide the breech-piece will receive a corresponding rear or opening
movement and on the return of said slide the breech-piece will receive a forward or
closing movement and during the last part of the forward movement of the said
slide the rear end of the breech-piece will be forced downward into engagement
with its abutments, substantially as set forth.
13. In a gun, the combination with the barrel constructed with an aperture in
rear of the muzzle through which the gases of explosion escape, of a lever hung
alongside of said barrel upon a fixed pivot and adapted to swing away from said
barrel, the free end of the lever extending toward the aperture and provided with
a finger hinged thereto adapted to substantially cover said aperture when in the
closed position and whereby the gases of explosion may escape through said
aperture and operate upon the end of said finger thereby operating said lever and a
breech mechanism connected with said lever, whereby the opening movement of
said lever will impart the opening movement to the said breech mechanism,
substantially as set forth.
14. In a gun, the combination with the barrel constructed with an aperture in
rear of the muzzle through which the gases of explosion escape, of a lever hung
alongside said barrel upon a fixed pivot and adapted to swing away from said
barrel, the free end of the lever extending toward the aperture and provided with a
finger hinged thereto adapted to substantially cover said aperture when in the
closed position and whereby the gases of explosion may escape through said
aperture and operate upon the end of said finger thereby operating said lever, a
breech mechanism connected with said lever whereby the opening movement of said
lever will impart the opening movement to the said breech mechanism, and means
connected with said lever adapted to operate to restore said lever to its closed
position and thereby impart the closing movement to said breech mechanism and
lock the breech mechanism, substantially as set forth.
15. In a gun, the combination with the barrel, opening in the rear into the
receiver, of a breech-piece adapted for longitudinal movement backward and
forward in said receiver, the breech-piece being adapted to swing on its forward
end vertically in said receiver and provided on its under side with a downwardly
extending projection or rib having a cam slot formed horizontal at its top for a
short distance and then inclined downwardly and rearwardly, a slide located
beneath the barrel provided with a pin adapted to work in the cam-slot in the said
rib of the breech-piece, and mechanism for imparting longitudinal reciprocating
movement to said slide and breech-piece whereby said slide will have a slight
rearward movement independent of the movement of the breech-piece, and on the
continued rearward movement of said slide the breech-piece will be unlocked and
opened and then on the continued movement of the said slide the breech-piece will
receive a corresponding rear or opening movement and on the return of said slide
the breech-piece will receive a forward or closing movement and during the last
part of the forward movement of the slide the breech-piece will be locked and will
be thus locked before the slide bas completed its return or forward movement,
substantially as set forth.
16. In a gun, the combination with the barrel of a longitudinally reciprocating
slide provided with a rearwardly extending finger or projection, a feed-wheel
adapted to carry cartridges into the pathway of said finger, a vertically vibrating
carrier located at the rear of said feed-wheel and operated by the movements of
said slide, and mechanism for imparting longitudinal movement to said slide so
that as the slide moves rearward the projection or finger thereon will engage with
the forward end of a cartridge in the feed-wheel and force it rearward onto the
carrier, substantially as set forth.
17. In a gun having the barrel opening into the receiver at the rear, the com-
bination of a longitudinally reciprocating breech-piece, a longitu linally reciprocating
slide adapted to engage the breech-piece to impart reciprocating movement to it,

page_text: a carrier hung in the receiver and adapted to receive a cartridge, a feed-wheel
forward of said cartier and below the axis of the barrel and having longitudinal
grooves each adapted to receive a cartridge and present it in line with but forward
of the carrier, and means for rotating said feed-wheel step by step, the slide
provided with means for transferring a cartridge from said feed-wheel onto the
carrier during the rear movement of said slide, substantially as set forth.
18. In a gun, the combination with the barrel, of a longitudinally reciprocating
breech-piece, a slide arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel and connected to
said breech-piece, said slide being provided with a rearwardly extending finger or
projection, a feed-wheel adapted to carry cartridges into the pathway of said
finger, a vertically vibrating carrier located at the rear of the feed-wheel,
mechanism for imparting longitudinal movements to said slide and corresponding
longitudinal movements to the breech-piece, whereby as the slide moves rearward the
projection or finger thereon will engage with the forward end of a cartridge in the
terd-wheel and force it rearward onto the carrier and the breech-piece will also
be moved rearward and on the return movement of the slide said slide will
engage with the carrier to raise it to bring the forward end of the cartridge into
position at the rear of the open end of the barrel and as the slide returns the
breech-piece will also return and engage with the said cartridge and transfer it
from the carrier into the barrel and the slide will engage with the carrier again
and move it to its lower position, substantially as set forth.
19. In a gun, the combination with the barrel, of a longitudinally reciprocating
breech-piece, a slide arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel and connected to
said breech-piece, said slide being provided with a rearwardly extending finger or
projection, a feed-wheel adapted to carry cartridges into the pathway of said
finger, a vertically vibrating carrier located at the rear of the feed-wheel,
mechanism for imparting longitudinal movements to said slide and corresponding
longitudinal movements to the breech-piece whereby as the slide moves rearward
the projection or finger thereon will engage with the forward end of a cartridge
in the feed-wheel and force it rearward onto the carrier and the breech-piece will
also be moved rearward and on the return movement of the slide said slide will
engage with the carrier to raise it to bring the forward end of the cartridge into
position at the rear of the open end of the barrel and as the slide returns the
breech-piece will also return and engage with the said cartridge and transfer it
from the carrier into the barrel and the slide will engage with the carrier again
and move it to its lower position, and means for rotating said feed-wheel step by
step so as to bring in succession one cartridge after another into position for
transfer onto the carrier, substantially as set forth.
20. In a gun, the combination with the barrel, of a longitudinally reciprocating
breech-piece, a slide arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel and connected to
said breech-piece, said slide being provided with a rearwardly extending finger or
projection, a feed-wheel adapted to carry cartridges into the pathway of said
finger, a vertically vibrating carrier located at the rear of the feed-wheel,
mechanism for imparting longitudinal movements to said slide and corresponding
longitudinal movement to the breech-piece, whereby as the slide moves rearward
the projection or finger thereon will engage with the forward end of a cartridge in
the feed-wheel and force it rearward onto the carrier and the breech-piece will
also be moved rearward and on the return movement of the slide said 'slide will
engage with the carrier to raise it to bring the forward end of the cartridge into
position at the rear of the open end of the barrel and as the slide returns the
breech-piece will also return and engage with said cartridge and transfer it from
the carrier into the barrel and the slide will engage with the carrier again and
move it to its lower position, and automatically operated means for extracting the
exploded shell from the barrel and ejecting it from the gun, substantially as set
forth.
21. In a gun, the combination with the barrel, of a longitudinally reciprocating
breech-piece, a slide arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel and connected to

page_text: said breech-piece, said slide being provided with a rearwardly extending finger or
projection, a feed-wheel adapted to carry cartridges into the pathway of said finger,
a vertically vibrating carrier located at the rear of said feed-wheel, mechanism
for imparting longitudinal movement to said slide and corresponding longitudinal
movement to the breech-piece, whereby as the slide inoves rearward the projection
or finger thereon will engage with the forward end of a cartridge in the feed-
wheel and force it rearward onto the carrier and the breech-piece will also be
moved rearward and one return movement of the slide said slide will engage
with the carrier to raise it to bring the forward end of the cartridge into position
at the rear of the open end of the barrel and as the slide returns the breech-piece
will also return and engage with the said cartridge and transfer it from the carrier
into the barrel and the slide will engage with the carrier again and move it to
lower position, and means for rotating said feed-wheel step by step adapted to be
operated by said slide on its return or forward movement so as to bring in
succession one cartridge after another into position for transfer onto the carrier,
substantially as set forth.
22. In a gun, the combination with the barrel, of a longitudinally reciprocating
breech-piece, a slide arranged longitudinally beneath the breech-piece, said slide
being provided with a rearwardly extending finger or projection, a feed-wheel
adapted to carry cartridges into the pathway of said finger, a vertically vibrating
carrier located at the rear of said feed-wheel, mechanism for imparting longitudinal
movements to said slide and corresponding longitudinal movement to the breech-
piece, whereby as the slide moves rearward the projection or finger thereon will
engage with the forward end of a cartridge in the feed-wheel and force it rearward
onto the carrier and the breech-piece will also be moved rearward, said slide being
also provided with a depending lug or projection on its rear end which will ride
over the carrier on the rearward movement of the slide but which will engage with and
lower the rear end of the carrier on its return or forward movement and thereby raise
the forward end of the carrier so as to bring the cartridge into position at the
rear of the open end of the barrel, and so that as the slide returns the breech-
piece will also return and engage said cartridge and transfer it into the barrel, and
the slide will engage with the carrier again and move it to its lower position,
substantially as set forth.
23. In a gun having the barrel opening into the receiver at the rear, the com-
bination of a reciprocating breech-piece, a reciprocating slide adapted to impart
the reciprocating movement to the breech-piece, a carrier hung upon a pivot in the
receiver and adapted to receive cartridges from the source of supply, and a
spring-latch hung upon a pivot in the carrier, the carrier being constructed with a
stop to limit the movement of said latch in one direction, and the slide being con-
structed to engage said latch as the slide approaches its extreme rear position and
to turn the latch so as to escape therefrom, the spring of the latch serving to
return the latch forward of said engaging part of the slide, and whereby as the
slide commences its return or closing movement it will engage said latch from the
rear and actuate the carrier, substantially as set forth.
24. In a gun having the breech open into the receiver at the rear, the com-
bination with a longitudinally reciprocating breech-piece, of a longitudinal slide
extending forward from the receiver and into the receiver rearward below the
breech-piece and connected to the breech-piece and adapted to impart longitudinal
reciprocating movement thereto, a hammer arranged to move longitudinally in
rear of the said breech-piece and so as to receive a rear movement under the rear
movement of the breech-piece, a spring adapted to be compressed by said hammer
in its rear movement, a trigger adapted to engage with said hammer when the
hammer is in rear position, a sear normally held in position to prevent the forward
movement of the hammer, and a firing lever adapted to engage with said sear, and
extending forward so as to be operated by the breech-piece when the breech-piece
is in closed position to cause said firing lever to move the sear out of the path of
the hammer, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 25. In a gun, the combination with the barrel, and a receiver, into which the rear
of the barrel opens. of a longitudinally reciprocating breech-piece, a reciprocating
slide arranged longitudinally alongside the barrel and connected to said breech-piece,
a vibrating carrier adapted to receive a cartridge and to bring the same into position
for transfer to the barrel, and guide surfaces or shoulders on the sides of said receiver
whereby said cartridge is guided in its transfer from the carrier to the barrel,
substantially as set forth.
26. In a gun, the combination with the barrel, of a longitudinally reciprocating
breech-piece, a slide arranged longitudinally beneath the barrel and extending rear-
ward into the receiver, nechanism for imparting longitudinal movement to said
slide, said slide being connected to the breech-piece and adapted to impart backward
and forward movement thereto, a carrier located beneath the said slide and hung
upon a pivot near its rear end and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, the
forward end of the carrier adapted to receive a cartridge, the carrier extending
in rear of its pivot and constructed with a longitudinally swinging spring-latch,
the said slide constructed with a downward projection adapted to escape said
latch in its rear movement but to engage therewith as the slide moves forward
to depress the rear end of said carrier and raise the forward end to present
the cartridge on the carrier in front of the breech-piece, substantially as set
forth.
27. In a gun having the barrel opening at the rear into the receiver, the
combination of a longitudinally reciprocating breech-piece, said breech-piece being
provided with an extracting hook, and an ejector arranged in the receiver opposite
the extracting hook of the breech-piece, the said ejector having on its face a series
of teeth arranged to successively engage the head of the shell while in the grasp of
the extractor, substantially as set forth.
28. In a gun having the barrel opening at the rear into the receiver, the
combination of a longitudinally reciprocating breech-piece and means for actuating
the same by the gases of explosion, said breech-piece being provided with an
extractor, and an ejector having a series of teeth arranged to successively project at
increasing distances in the pathway of the head of the shell as the same is being
pulled rearward by the extractor, substantially as set forth.
29. In a gun having the barrel opening into the receiver at the rear, the
combination of a longitudinally reciprocating breech-piece and mechanism for
imparting longitudinal movement thereto, a carrier hung below said breech-piece
and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, one or more spring-pistons pressing
against the sides of said carrier, and mechanism for presenting a cartridge onto
said carrier and raising the forward end of said carrier so as to bring the
cartridge into position at the rear of the open end of the barrel to be engaged by
the breech-piece, and for moving said carrier to its lower position, substantially as
set forth.
30. In a gun having the barrel opening into the receiver at the rear, the
combination of a longitudinally reciprocating breech-piece, a longitudinal slide
beneath the breech-piece, mechanism for imparting longitudinal reciprocating
movement to said slide, the said slide being connected to the breech-piece and
adapted to impart corresponding reciprocating movement thereto, a carrier hung
below said slide and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, a cartridge feed-wheel
forward of said carrier and adapted under rotation to carry cartridges and
successively present them to said carrier, the said slide constructed with a finger
on its under side projecting rearward and adapted to force a cartridge from said
feed-wheel onto said carrier, and mechanism to impart rotation to said feed-wheel,
substantially as set forth.
31. In a gun, the combination with the barrel, of a longitudinally reciprocating
slide provided with a rearwardly extending finger or projection, a feed-wheel
adapted to carry cartridges into the pathway of said finger, a vertically vibrating
carrier located at the rear of said feed-wheel and operated by the movements
of said slide, and mechanism for imparting longitudinal movement to said slide

page_text: so that as the slide moves rearward, the projection or finger thereon will
engage with the forward end of the cartridge in the feed-wheel and force it
rearward onto the carrier, and spring-pistons arranged to press against the
opposite sides of said carrier to restrain the movement thereof, substantially as
set forth.
32. In a gun baving the barrel opening into the receiver at the rear, the
combination of a longitudinally reciprocating breech-piece, a reciprocating hammer
arranged to move longitudinally in rear of the said breech-piece so as to receive a
real movement under the rear movement of the breech-piece, and a safety-catch so
arranged that it may be moved into the path of said hammer to prevent forward
movement thereof, or be moved entirely clear thereof, and so that it will yield to
rearward movement of the hammer and means for operating said catch from the
exterior of the gun, substantially as set forth.
33. In a gun, the combination with the barrel opening into the receiver at the
rear, of a breech-piece arranged to reciprocate longitudinally in a recess of the
receiver, mechanism operated by the gases of explosion to reciprocate said breech-
piece, a reciprocating hammer arranged to move longitudinally in said recess of
the receiver in rear of said breech-piece and so as to receive a rear novement under
the rear movement of the breech-piece, a carrier for delivering cartridges in rear
of the open end of the barrel and in front of the breech-piece, and a safety-catch
comprising a pivoted button so arranged that it may be moved into the path of said
hammer to prevent forward movement of said hammer but yield to rearward move-
ment thereof, or may be moved entirely clear thereof, and a stem connected to said
button and having an external thumb-piece or handle, and a friction device connected
to said button, substantially as set forth.
34. In a gun, the combination with the barrel, of a cartridge feed baud or belt,
a feed-wheel adapted to carry cartridges in said belt into position to be received by
a breech-mechanism and by said mechanism transferred to firing position in the
barrel, and a feed-belt box carried by the gun and having a fixed position relative
thereto independently of the movement of the gun upon its carriage or support,
substantially as set forth.
35. In a gun, the combination with the barrel, of a cartridge feed band or belt,
a feed-wheel adapted to carry cartridges in said belt into position to be received by
a breech mechanism and by said mechanism transferred to firing position in the
barrel, a feed-belt box, a bracket adapted to carry said feed-belt box and adapted
to be attached to the gun, and a lock mechanism for detachably holding said bracket
in attachment with the gun, substantially as set forth.
36. In a gun, the combination with the barrel, of a swinging lever adapted to
be operated by the gases of explosion, a breech mechanism connected to said
swinging lever and operated thereby, and a spring bottom plate of the gun casing
against which said swinging lever strikes in its extreme open position and which
acts as a buffer thereto, and means for automatically returning said lever to its closed
position, substantially as set forth.
37. In a gun a longitudinally reciprocating slide and means operated by the
gases of explosion for actuating the same, and a breech-piece actuated by said
slide, a carrier and a cartridge feed-wheel, said carrier being adapted to receive
cartridges from the feed-wheel, a feed-pawl arranged to be operated by said slide
and to rotate the feed-wheel, a stop-pawl to resist backward rotation of said feed-
wheel, and a slide arranged so that it may be operated from the exterior of the gun
to throw both the feed-pawl and the stop-pawl out of engagement with the feed
wheel, substantially as set forth.
Dand the 2nd 1
1.1 1004
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent, London,
For the Applicants.