IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING ORDNANCE, AND IN CARTRIDGES THEREFOR
Year: 1873

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of
Harris and Mills, of 35, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REPEATING ORDNANCE, AND IN CARTRIDGES THEREFOR."-A communi-
cation from abroad by James Patton Taylor, of Elizabethton,
in the County of Carter, and State of Tennessee, Trustee for the
Taylor Repeating Ordnance Association of Knoxville, Tennesee, in
the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph
Barnard Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 29th April 1873.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and
Mills, of 35, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING ORDNANCE, AND IN CARTRIDGES THEREFOR," a
communication to me from abroad by James Patton Taylor, of

page_text: "
Elizabethton, in the County of Carter, and State of Tennessee, Trustee
for the Taylor Repeating Ordnance Association of Knoxville, Tennessee,
in the United States of America, to be as follows :-
This Invention relates chiefly to improvements in repeating ordnance
of the general character described in Letters Patent granted to me, dated
June 27, 1871, No. 1686.
The weapon is constructed with a cluster of barrels, preferably
arranged with a slight horizontal divergence, so as to distribute the fire
over an extended horizontal plane, and with a revolving breech piece
having four (more or less) clusters of chambers, the chambers in
each cluster corresponding with the barrels in number and relative
position.
By an intermittent rotary movement of the breech piece the clusters
of chambers are successively carried into position for loading, for
firing, and for ejection of the cartridge shells, one cluster or section
being brought into cach position at each movement. The barrels are
discharged simultaneously or successively, as preferred.
As now improved the gun is constructed with a double trail. The
trunnions of the gun are mounted, as before, on a bolster or standard
swivelled to the axle for training. The supplemental trail on which the
'brecch rests is connected to the same trunnions, extends around and
'beneath the axle, and is supported at its rear end upon the main trail by
means of an endless screw and rack for elevation.
The magazines are provided with cap plates perforated to correspond
with the tubes thereof, and turning on central pivots, so that a slight
rotary movement of the said cap plates will close all the tubes when
filled, and a reverse movement will reopen them after the magazine has
been placed in position for feeding.
Longitudinal stripes of caoutchouc, or other suitable material, are
applied within the magazine tubes to prevent the sliding of the cartridges
by gravity when the gun is inclined. Similar strips may also be applied
within the breech plate apertures.
The feeding is effected by means of a reciprocating ratchet bar
engaging with the spring bolt on the disc or head which carries the fced
rods, the said spring bolt catching the rack at the forward movement of
the latter, and yielding at its backward movement.
J

page_text: The feeder head is further provided with a transverse horizontal crank
shaft provided with handles at its ends, and adapted by a partial
rotation to retract the spring bolt, so that the feeder can be slipped back
when a depleted magazine is to be removed, and a full one introduced.
The ratchet bar is made with adjustable teeth, and is actuated through
the medium of a lever or levers moving in a vertical plane coincident
with the axis of the revolving breech piece, and actuated by a cam
wheel attached to the rear end of a rotating shaft, on which the said
brcech piece turns. The vertical lever or levers are guided by a longi.
tudinal slot in a bar beneath them. These levers are employed also
to retract the firing hammer when the barrels are to be discharged
simultaneously. The rotary shaft carries at its forward end a cam wheel
which actuates the ejecting lever to clear the chambers of discharged
cartridge shells. The revolving breech piece is attached to a sleeve
fitted to turn on the shaft. This loose sleeve and the first-named cam
wheel, which is keyed to the shaft, are formed with ratchet teeth, the
teeth of the two being presented in opposite directions, so that a lever
fulcrumed loosely upon the shaft or sleeve, and carrying a pair of
pawls to engage with the said ratchet teeth may by one movement,
revolve the breech piece, and by the reverse movement revolve the shaft
in the opposite direction, the effect of the last movement being to load
a new cluster of chambers to discharge the shells from the cluster or
section last fired, and (if the parts be adjusted for simultaneous firing)
to discharge the cluster or section last brought up to the firing
position.
The hammer consists of a sliding rod carrying a disc perforated to
receive the firing pins, and slide thereon. The hammer is retracted by
the engagement of the vertical lever with an adjustable spring tooth in
the hammer shank, and when released is thrown forward by a spring, so
as to strike forcibly against collars formed on the pins for this purpose.
The tooth on the hammer shank is adapted to yield on the return of the
lever, and to catch it in readiness for the next discharge.
When it is desired to disconnect the simultaneous firing mechanism
the said spring tooth is turned out of the way so as to permit the
movement of the lever without effect upon the hammer. The barrels
may then be discharged in succession by means of a disc rotated through
the medium of a hand crank, gearing, and worm, and carrying spring
hammers, which in their revolution ride upon stationary cams arranged
A 2

page_text: in such relation to the firing pins as to cause the spring hammers to
strike the pins in succession, one spring hammer being thus required.
for each circle of barrels. A single revolution of the hammer case thus
effects the discharge of all the barrels in succession, and it is then
locked by a yielding catch without violence, indicating that the barrels
are all discharged. The catch is subsequently withdrawn to permit
another revolution.
The main operating lever, which effects at one movement the rotation
of the breech and at the reverse movement the loading of one section
thereof and the discharge of another, is also provided with a tappet
mechanism for unlocking and permitting the automatic locking of the
breech piece. The handle of this lever is detachable and carries the
tappet, so that the gun may be rendered inoperative when desired. The
barrels are enclosed in a casing kept constantly full of water or other
cooling liquid, and are formed with screws and collars which form the
means of securing the parts of the said casing together.
Wipers are attached to the revolving breech piece to clean the inner
faces of the breech plate. The said breech plate is made in two parts
with segments to separate them, and the front or inner face of its rear
member is formed with countersinks around the loading apertures
to ensure
chambers.
the complete seating of cartridges within the breech
The Invention also relates to a cartridge of peculiar construction, so
formed that the front of the shell or casing extending as far forward as
the point of the ball will bear against the base of the cartridge next in
front near the margin thereof. This prevents pressure of the point of
the ball against the firing cap within the magazine, which, with rapid
working, might cause danger of explosion. As a further protection the
feed rods are formed with concave ends, so that they will not press upon
the centre part of the cartridges.
To insure the correct seating of the magazines within the cradle,
which is mounted on the trail for their reception, two or more of the
longitudinal bars of the said cradle are provided with discs or washers,
upon the edges of which the magazines rest, and each magazine has an
arm or stud projecting radially from one or each of its heads, which arm,
by resting against the upper bar of the cradle, determines the proper
position of the magazine to bring its. chambers in correspondence with

page_text: the feed rods, and with the loading apertures in the breech plate. A
curved arm hinged below, and having a spring catch at its upper end,
locks the magazine within the cradle, and admits of its ready release
when emptied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 29th October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 35, South-
ampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, Her special
license, that I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Benjamin Joseph
Barnard Mills, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REPEATING ORDNANCE, AND IN CARTRIDGES THEREFOR,"
a communication to me from abroad by James Patton Taylor, of
Elizabethton, in the County of Carter, and State of Tennessee, Trustee
for the Taylor Repeating Ordnance Association of Knoxville, Tennessee,
in the United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, my executors or admi-
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say
:-
The weapon is constructed with a cluster of barrels preferably arranged 5
with a slight horizontal divergence, so as to distribute the fire over an
extended horizontal plane, and with a revolving breech piece having four
(more or less) clusters of chambers, the chambers in each cluster cor-
responding with the barrels in number and relative position.
By an intermittent rotary movement of the breech piece the clusters 1
of chambers are successively carried into position for loading, for firing,
and for ejection of the cartridge shells, one cluster or section being
brought into each position at each movement. The barrels are discharged
simultaneously or successively, as preferred.
The gun is constructed with a double trail. The trunnions of the gun 3
are mounted on a bolster or standard, swivelled to the axle for training.
The supplemental trail on which the breech rests is connected to the
trunnions, extends round and beneath the axle, and is supported at its
rear end upon the main trail by means of an endless screw and rack for
elevation.
The magazines are provided with cap plates perforated to correspond
with the tubes thereof, and turning on central pivots, so that a slight
rotary movement of the said cap plates will close all the tubes when
filled, and a reverse movement will reopen them after the magazine has
been placed in position for feeding.
Longitudinal strips of caoutchouc or other suitable material are placed
within the magazine tubes to prevent the sliding of the cartridges by
gravity when the gun is inclined. Similar strips may also be applied
within the breach plate apertures.
The feeding is effected by means of a reciprocating ratchet bar engaging
with a spring bolt on the disc or head which carries the feed rods, the
said spring bolt catching the rack at the forward movement of the latter
and yielding at its backward movement.
The feeder head is further provided with a transverse horizontal crank
shaft, provided with handles at its ends, and adapted by a partial rotation
to retract the spring bolt, so that the feeder can be slipped back when a

page_text: depleted magazine is to be removed and a full one introduced. The
ratchet bar is made with adjustable teeth, and is actuated through the
medium of a lever or levers moving in a vertical plane coincident with
the axis of the revolving breech piece, and actuated by a cam wheel
attached to the rear end of a rotating shaft, on which the said breech
piece turns. The vertical lever or levers are guided by a longitudinal
slot in a bar beneath them. These levers are employed also to retract
the firing hammer when the barrels are to be discharged simultaneously.
The rotary shaft carries at its forward end a cam wheel, which actuates
the ejecting lever to clear the chambers of discharged cartridge shells.
The revolving breech piece is attached to a sleeve fitted to turn on the
shaft; this loose sleeve and the first-named cam wheel, which is keyed
to the shaft, are formed with ratchet teeth, the teeth of the two being
presented in opposite directions, so that a lever fulcrumed loosely upon
the shaft or sleeve, and carrying a pair of pawls to engage with the said
ratchet teeth may by one movement revolve the breech piece; and by ·
the reverse movement revolve the shaft in the opposite direction, the
effect of the last movement being to load a new cluster of chambers, to
discharge the shells from the cluster or section last fired, and (if the
parts be adjusted for simultaneous firing) to discharge the cluster or
section last brought up to the firing position.
The hammer consists of a sliding rod, carrying a disc perforated to
receive the firing pins and slide thereon.. The hammer is retracted by
the engagement of the vertical lever with an adjustable spring tooth in
the hammer shank, and when released is thrown forward by a spring, so
as to strike forcibly against collars formed on the pins for this purpose.
The tooth on the hammer shank is adapted to yield on the return of the
lever, and to catch it in readiness for the next discharge.
When it is desired to disconnect the simultaneous firing mechanism
the said spring tooth is turned out of the way, so as to permit the move-
ment of the lever without effect upon the hammer. The barrels may
then be discharged in succession by means of a disc rotated through
the medium of a hand crank, gearing, and worm, and carrying.
spring hammers, which in their revolution ride upon stationary cams
arranged in such relation to the firing pins as to cause the spring
hammers to strike the pins in succession, one spring hammer being thus
required for each circle of barrels. A single revolution of the hammer
case thus effects the discharge of all the barrels in succession, and it is..
.

page_text: then locked by a yielding catch without violence, indicating that the
barrels are all discharged. The catch is subsequently withdraw to
permit another revolution.
The main operating lever, which effects at one movement the rotation
of the breech, and at the reverse movement the loading of one section
thereof and the discharge of another, is also provided with a tappet
mechanism for unlocking and permitting the automatic locking of the
breech piece. The handle of this lever is detachable, and carries the
tappet so that the gun may be rendered inoperative when desired. The
barrels are enclosed in a casing kept constantly full of water or other
cooling liquid, and are formed with screws and collars, which form the
means of securing the parts of the said casing together, as herein-after
described.
Wipers are attached to the revolving breech piece to clean the inner
faces of the breech plate. The said breech plate is made in two parts,
with segments to separate them, and the front or inner face of its rear
member is formed with countersinks around the loading apertures to
insure the complete seating of cartridges within the breech chambers.
The Invention also relates to a cartridge so formed that the front of
the shell or casing, extending as far forward as the point of the ball, will
bear against the base of the cartridge next in front near the margin
thereof. This prevents pressure of the point of the ball against the
firing cap within the magazine, which, with rapid working, might cause
danger of explosion. As a further protection, the feed rods are formed
with concave ends, so that they will not press upon the centre parts of
the cartridges.
To insure the correct seating of the magazines within the cradle which
is mounted on the trail for their reception two or more of the longitu-
dinal bars of the said cradle are provided with discs or washers, upon the
edges of which the magazines rest, and each magazine has an arm or
stud projecting radially from one or each of its heads, which arm by
resting against the upper bar of the cradle determines the proper
position of the magazine to bring its chambers in correspondence with
the feed rods and with the loading apertures in the breech plate. A
curved arm hinged below, and having a spring catch at its upper end,
locks the magazine within the cradle, and admits of its ready release
when emptied.

page_text: And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood,
and readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying
Drawings, more fully to describe the same.
Drawings, more fumy to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a plan of a gun illustrating
the Invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, with one wheel omitted; Figure 3 is a
transverse section on the line z, z, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section, omitting the carriage and
the operating shaft and its attachments.
Figure 5 is a section in a horizontal plane coincident with the axis of
the revolving breech piece, showing the said brush piece and the
operating shaft in plan.
Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of the operating shaft and
its attachments.
Figure 7 is a plan of the guide bar, shown in vertical section in
Figure 6.
Figure 8 is an elevation of the operating lever.
Figure 9 is a front end view of the operating shaft, sleeve, and cam
wheels.
Figure 10. is a sectional elevation, showing the detent employed to
prevent backward movement of the shaft.
Figure 11 is a rear clevation of the same parts.
Figure 12 is a transverse section of the magazine cradle, showing a
3 magazine in position, with a portion of its pivotted cap omitted.
Figure 13 is a rear view of the lower part of the breech plate.
Figure 14 is a rear elevation of the revolving breech piece.
Figure 15 is a perspective view of a wiper or brush detached from the
said breech piece.
Figure 16 is a transverse section on the line y, y, Figure 4.
Figure 17 is a perspective view of the rear face of the hammer head
for simultaneous firing.

page_text: arms 12 are connected by a dovetailed grooved plate 13 sliding on a
bar 14 of corresponding form, secured to the standard by yokes or
straps 15, and supported thereon by means of an endless screw 16, having
its bearings in the said yokes, and gearing with the rack. A square 17
on the end of the screw shaft enables its rotation by means of a key or
wrench 18, Figure 28. The grooved plate 13 has a curvature concentric
with the vertical pivot 4, and is formed at back with a rack 19, with
which gears a pinion 20, the shaft 21 of which turns in bearings 22,
projecting from the bar 14, and is squared at top to receive the key 18.
It will now be understood that the screw 16 is employed to regulato
the elevation of the gun, and the pinion 20 for accurate training.
A casing 23 incloses the barrels 24 for the greater part of their
length, and is intended to be kept full of water or other cooling liquid
during action.
The barrels aro provided at any preferred distance from their muzzles
with hexagonal or other angular collars 25 to receive a wrench, and
with screw threads 26, the latter entering corresponding threaded
openings in the head 27 of the casing, and the collars being by this
action brought home firmly against the said casing head. The rear
extremities of the barrels are also provided with threads 28 to screw into
the front plate 29 of the stationary breech. The collars 25 and threads 26
and 28 on the barrels thus serve to secure the parts of the casing firmly
together, and to the breech plate 29. The breech plates 29 and 30 are
firmly secured together by bolts 31, segment plates 32, 33, being inter-
posed between them, above and below, to provide room for the revolving
chambered breech piece.
The breech piece is made up of two plates 34, 35, connected by
tubes 36, which form the charge chambers, and by bolts 37. The
chambers 36 are disposed in clusters, those in each section of the breech
piece corresponding in number and position with the barrels 24, and any
convenient number of clusters or sections being employed. In the
present illustration four such clusters of chambers are shown.
From the lower part of the stationary breech a cradle extends back-
wards to receive the magazines, and guide the feeding mechanism
presently to be described. This cradle is formed of longitudinal bars 38,
39, and perforated heads 40. The breech plates and cradle rest in
bearings 41 on the supplemental trial 11.

page_text: The feeder consists of a head 42 guided by the longitudinal bars of
the cradle 38, and carrying ramrods 43 equal in number to the barrels,
and corresponding in relative position. These rods are preferably formed
with slightly concave ends, so that they may not come in contact with
tho firing caps of the centre fire cartridges.
At the upper edge of the rear face of the feeder head 42 is a tooth 44
having shanks 45 guided by bearings 46, and pressed upward by
springs 47. A horizontal transverse shaft 48 is also journaled on the
rear face of the feeder head, the said shaft being formed at its
extremities with handles 49 for turning it, and at its centre with a
crank 50, which engages with the shanks 45, so that by turning the
shaft with its crank downward the tooth 44 will be retracted to an
inoperative position, and so held until released.
The intermittent movement of the feeder to charge all the chambers,
as each cluster or section is successively brought into position, is pro-
duced by a reciprocating rack 51 provided with adjustable teeth 52,
which are set at distances corresponding with the length of cartridge
used. The spring tooth 44 yields at the backward movement, so as to
'communicate each movement to the feeder. The rack 51 is pivotted
in front to the lower end of a lever 53, which is fulcrumed at 54, and
formed with a longitudinal slot 55 to afford means of attaching it
adjustably by a link 56 to a second lever 57, which is fulcrumed at
58, and connected at its lower end to a rod 59 formed with an upwardly
projecting lug 60, which is acted on by a cam wheel 61 keyed to a
central shaft 62, which extends forward through the breech plates, and
carries on its projecting forward end a second cam wheel 113. The
levers 53 and 57 are guided at their lower ends by a longitudinal slot in
the upper bar 38 of the cradle.
'
Surrounding the shaft 62 within the breech 29, 30, is a sleeve 64
keyed to a bushing within the breech piece 34, 35, and employed to
communicate the rotary movement of the latter. The sleeve 64 is
formed with a right-hand ratchet flange 65, and the hub of the cam
wheel 61 with a left-hand ratchet flange 66. Between these two sets of
ratchet teeth, and turning freely on the sleeve 64, is the main operating
lever 67, which carries two spring pauls 68, 69. The paul 68 engages
with the ratchet teeth 65 at cach upward movement of the lever to
revolve the breech piece to the right. The pawl 69. engages with the

page_text: ratchet teeth 66 at each downward movement to turn the shaft 62 and
its attachments to the left. The lever 67 also carries a cam 70, which
at the upward movement of the said lever presses backward upon the
end of a rod 71 connected to the lower end of the lever 57, so as to
move the rack 51 backward to re-engage with the feeder, and the top of
the lever 57 forward to re-engage with the simultaneous firing hammer,
as herein-after described. The handle 67ª of the operating lever is made
detachable, and is secured in its socket by a screw 72.
The operating lever 67 is guided in a plane perpendicular to the axis
of the breech piece by means of a slide 73 attached to the lever, and
working in a grooved flange 74 concentric with the said axis. A pin 75
projecting from the face of the removable part 67% of the lever, and
pressed outward by a spring 76, shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, is
employed to retract at the beginning of the upward motion of the lever
a spring catch 77 by which the breech piece is.held stationary after each
quarter revolution.
This operation is effected by the following mechanism:-The catch
bolt 77 is pressed inward by a spring 78 acting through the medium
of a lever 79, so as to cause said bolt to catch automatically in a
notch 80, which is provided for it in each section of the revolving
breech piece. A segment lever 81 fulcrumed at 82 is formed with a
wedge shaped ridge 83, on which the spring pin 75 rides as the lever 67
descends, the pin being pressed in by the increasing projection of the
ridge, and by reason of the guide 73, 74, preventing any lateral play of
the lever 67. On reaching the termination of the ridge 83 the pin 75
springs under its lower end, the obliquity of which causes the pressure
of the pin to throw the segment lever 81 outward as the lever 67 ascends,
and by pressure of said lever 81 against the short lever 79 to retract
the catch 77. On reaching a less prominent part of the ridge 83 the
pin 75 permits the parts 77, 78, 79, to resume their normal positions
in readiness to catch the breech piece automatically on the completion
of its quarter revolution.
The mechanism for firing the charges of all the barrels simultaneously
consists of a hammer rod 84 carrying a head 85 working within a
cylindrical casing 86 attached to the back of the stationary breech
plate 30, and thrown forward by springs 87 and 87, which are
compressed between the head 85 and a stationary partition 88. The
firing pins 89 slide at their respective ends within apertures in the rear

page_text: breech plate 30 and the partition 88, and are formed with collars 89
to receive the stroke of the hammer head 85. Springs 90 bearing
backward against the collars 89 retract the points of the pins within the
breech plate 30 and cause their rear ends to project through the
partition 88 after the firing stroke has been delivered.
The hammer is retracted for firing by means of the lever 57 engaging
in front of a tooth 91 attached to a small shaft 92 fitted to turn within
the projecting rear end of the hammer stock so as to permit the end of
the lever to slip past the said tooth in one direction, when it is restored
to its operative position by a spring 93, so as to catch the lever in its
backward movement. When it is not desired to operate the hammer 84,
85, the tooth 91 is permanently held in its retracted position by turning
the shaft 92 backward, and securing it by causing a stud 94 to enter a
hole or notch 95. The lever 57, and hammer 84, 85, are thus completely
disconnected. The barrels may then be discharged separately in rapid
succession by means of a hammer case or lock 96 revolving within the
stationary casing 86 and carrying separate hammers 97, 98, one for each
circle of firing pins 89. Projecting backward from the partition 88 are
a number of stationary cams 99 arranged in close proximity to the rear
ends of the firing pins, one for each. The effect of this arrangement
is to press back the hammers as they are carried around in their
revolution and cause them to be thrown forward by their springs 100
on each firing pin in succession. The rotary motion of this device is
produced by means of a hand crank 101, gear wheel 102, pinion 103,
and worm shaft 104, the latter gearing with a toothed rim 105 on the
revolving hammer case or lock 96.
When one revolution of the inner hammer case 96 is completed all
the barrels will have been discharged, and the operator is made aware of
the fact by the arrest of the motion. This is caused without violence
by a latch 106 catching in a notch 107 in the head of the revolving
case, and compressing a spring-stop 108. The latter being then with-
drawn this rotary motion may be resumed.
The apparatus for ejecting the empty cartridge shells consists of a
lever 109, fulcrumed at 110, and pivotted at its free end to a head or
disc 111 carrying ejecting rods 112, which are arranged in two
concentric circles, or otherwise, to correspond with the chambers in
cach section of the revolving breech piece. This lever is advanced by

page_text: the cam wheel 113 acting through the medium of the rod 114, and is
retracted by the spring 115.
Figures 10 and 11 represent a device to secure the shaft 62 and its
attachments against backward movement. This consists of a spring.
catch 116, arranged to engage with a notch 117 on the back of the cam
wheel 61 at each quarter revolution.
Recesses are formed in the revolving breech between the sections
a, b, c, d, as illustrated in Figure 14. Two (more or less) of these
recesses are occupied by brushes 118, one of which is shown in
perspective at Figure 15. These brushes serve to wipe and cleanse the
opposite inner faces of the breech plates 29 and 30 at each revolution.
The cartridges for this gun are preferably made as represented in
Figures 23, 24, and 25. Said Figures show a centre-fire flanged
cartridge, with its casing 119 of sufficient length to extend forward at
least as far as the point of the ball 120, and the lubricating material 121
is applied wholly within the casing around the conical front of the
ball.
It will be apparent that cartridges of this construction are not subject
to variations in length as are those of ordinary construction, in
which the ball projects beyond the casing, and may be forced into the
latter to a greater or less extent by endwise pressure. The front of the
full-length shell or casing bears against the base of the cartridge next
in front, near the periphery thereof, without pressure or contact against
the firing cap in the centre.
The magazines may be made of metal or of wood with tubes 122 for
the reception of cartridges. As illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings they consist of cylinders 123 of sheet metal with (perforated
heads 124, in which the ends of the tubes 122 are secured, and to the
centres of which are pivotted caps 125 perforated so as to register with
the tubes, or by a slight rotation on their pivots to close the same.
Lugs 126 and stops 127, 128, are employed to facilitate the adjustment
of the pivotted caps. Within the tubes or chambers of the magazine
are longitudinal ribs 129 of soft rubber or other suitable material,
adapted to offer sufficient resistance to the sliding of the cartridges
within them to prevent their movement by gravity in the event of the
gun being considerably inclined. Similar strips are introduced within

page_text: the apertures of the rear breech plate, as shown at 130, to retain the
cartridges.
To secure the proper seating of the cartridges within the breech
chambers, countersinks, or concavities, 131 are formed on the front or
interior face of the rear breech plate 30 around the apertures therein.
In the event of any cartridges not being forced fully home within their
chambers by the action of the rammers or feeders the countersinks
press them in with a wedging action on the rotation of the breech.
In order to insure the correct seating of the magazines within the
cradle, the longitudinal bars of the latter are provided with discs or
washers 132 and each of the magazines with a pin or stud 133 to rest
against the guide bar 38. When the magazine reaches this position its
tubes register accurately with the chambers of either section of the
revolving breech which may be in position for loading. The magazine
is then locked in position by means of a curved bar 134 hinged by its
lower end at 135 and carrying at its upper end a spring catch 136 which
locks automatically underneath the guide bar 38 so as to secure the
magazine in position.
When the magazines are to be charged the locking bar 134 is readily
released by a downward pressure on its spring catch 136.
'The segment lever 81 is further provided with a dovetail lug 137
sliding in a corresponding groove in the breech plate to guide the said
lever and relieve its fulcrum pin from pressure.
The operation of the gun may be briefly described as follows:-The
several magazines being each opened at one end by turning the cap so
that the apertures therein will registerw ith the chambers 122, the latter
are all filled with cartridges, the cap is then turned back to close the cham-
bers. The operator now grasps the handles at the ends of the horizontal
shaft 48, turns the shaft so as to retract the spring tooth 44, and draws
the feeder 42, 43, to its rearmost position. A magazine is now placed in
the cradle, its ends resting on the edges of the discs or washers 132, and
the pins 133 against the bar 38. This determines the proper positions
to arrange the chambers in the magazines to correspond with those
in the section (a for example) of the revolving breech piece. The
end caps of the magazine are then turned to open both ends of
the chambers therein, the feeder -42, 43, is run forward until the ends

page_text: of its rods are in contact with the rear cartridges in the magazine-
chambers, and all is in readiness for loading. A downward movement
of the operating lever 67 now rotates the shaft and cam wheel 62, 61,
so as to draw the lower ends of the levers 53, 57, forward, and with
them the rack 51, which by communicating its movement to the feeder
42, 43, moves all of the cartridges forward, forcing one into each of the
chambers in the breech piece section a. As the pin 75 has now
caught under the oblique end of the ridge 83, on the segment lever 81,
as illustrated Figures 21 and 22, the next upward movement of the
lever 67 moving the segment lever 81 to the left retracts the bolt 77,-
and by rotary movement communicated through the ratchet sleeve 64
turns the entire breech piece 34, 35, one-fourth of a revolution, carrying,
the section a to a horizontal position and the section 6 into position for
loading.
The next downward movement charges the section 6 in the manner
already described. An upward movement then carries section a up into
firing position behind the barrels and section c into loading position.
The next downward movement charges section c, and if the tooth 91 be
in operative position the same movement of the vertical levers retracts
the hammer 84, 85, until the upper end of the lever 57 slips from the
said tooth 91, releasing the hammer and causing the springs 87.to.
throw the hammer head 85 with a sharp percussion against the collars
89%, on the firing pins, and exploding all the cartridges at once.
If it be desired to discharge the barrels separately in rapid succession
so as to produce the effect of a continuous fusilade, the spring tooth. 91
is turned out of position by drawing back the shaft 92 and turning it
until the pin 94 will enter the hole 95. The crank 101 then is rotated,
communicating rotation to the separate hammer casing or lock 96,-
thus causing the hammers 97, 98, to mount the stationary cams 99,
and escaping therefrom to be thrown by their springs 100 forcibly against
each of the firing pins 89 in succession until all have been struck. The
same movement of the shaft 62 which loads one section of the breech
and (if desired) discharges another, actuates the lever 109 through the
medium of the front cam wheel 63 so as to eject the empty shells
from the section previously discharged and carried down into horizontal
position.

page_text: mode in which the same is carried into effect, I would have it
understood that what I claim is,—
Firstly. The magazines constructed substantially as herein described
with perforated pivoted caps for the purposes set forth.
Secondly. The guide strips 129, 130, applied within the magazine.
chambers and breech plate openings for the purpose stated.
Thirdly. The gauges 132, 133, to determine the correct seating of the
magazine in the cradle.
Fourthly. The locking bar 134 and spring catch 136, or equivalent
devices for securing the magazine within the cradle.
Fifthly. The feeder 42, 43, and reciprocating rack 51, constructed and
operating substantially as set forth.
Sixthly. The crank or cam shaft 48 and spring tooth 44 applied to
the feeder head, and arranged to operate in the manner substantially as
and for the purposes herein set forth.
Seventhly. The combined levers 53, 57, and connecting link 56,
adjustable to regulate the relative movements of the said levers as
explained.
Eighthly. The operating lever made in two separable parts 67 and 67,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Ninthly. The combination and arrangement of the shaft 62, cam
wheel 61, ratchet wheels 65, 66, operating lever 67, and pawls 68, 69.
. Tenthly. The bar 38 slotted to guide the lower ends of the levers
53, 57, as explained.
Eleventhly. The detent 116 to secure the wheel 61 and shaft 62
against reverse movement, as explained.
Twelfthly. The combination and arrangement of the locking lever 79,
spring catch 77, spring pin 75, and operating lever 67, constructed and
operating as set forth.
Thirteenthly. The breech plates 29, 30, bolted together in connection
with segments 32, 33, and perforated to permit the charging and
discharging of the breech chambers in the manner set forth.

page_text: Fourteenthly. The countersinks or concavities surrounding the forward
margins of the openings in the rear breech plate for the purpose
set forth.
Fifteenthly. The barrels 24 provided with collars 25, and screw
threads 26 for the purpose of securing the barrels, casing, and breech
plate together as explained.
Sixteenthly. The wipers 118 employed in combination with the
sectional revolving breech piece as described.
Seventeenthly. The supplemental trail 11 constructed and employed
substantially as described.
Eighteenthly. The training and elevating devices applied to the rear
end of the supplemental trail in manner substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of
October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-three.