Improvements relating to Machine-guns and to Cartridge Feed- mechanism therefor.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Machine-guns and to Cartridge Feed-
mechanism therefor.
I, OWEN JONES, of 68 Great Russell Street, in the County of London, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to machine-guns and to cartridge feed-mechanism therefor,
and its main object is to provide improved mechanism for effecting a positive feed
of the cartridges in machine-guns of the kind or class of which the well-known
"Gardner" gun is a type.
In some of the machine-guns of this kind or class, such for instance as the one-
barrelled or the two-barrelled "Gardner" gun, there is a transversely moving feed-
slide which receives the cartridges successively from a vertical hopper or feeder and
moves them into the space in front of the breech-bolt or plunger or alternately into
the spaces in front of the breech-bolts or plungers of the gun, so that they will be
thrust into the barrel or barrels by the said plunger or plungers in the forward
movement thereof.
The said transversely moving feed-slide, as hitherto constructed, has a fixed
longitudinal rib or raised portion, and one or two vertically movable ribs or
partitions forming together with the said fixed rib a groove or grooves for the
reception of cartridges. These movable partitions are held up by springs arranged
below the same so that they may be depressed by the plungers to permit the
passage of either partition beneath the corresponding plunger in the transverse
movement of the said feed-slide, after which operation the partition is raised by its
spring so as to again form the groove for the reception of a fresh cartridge.
Now according to one part of iny present invention, instead of employing the
aforesaid vertically movable partition or partitions, I provide the transversely
moving feed-slide with a rocking or oscillating piece or cradle having one or two
grooves or compartments for the reception of cartridges, the said groove or grooves
being formed by means of longitudinal ribs or raised portions rigidly attached to
the body of the said rocking piece or cradle. This rocking piece or cradle is
combined with means whereby it will be turned through a small angle about its
axis first in one direction and then in the reverse direction, in such a manner as to
permit the requisite movement of the feed-slide beneath the plunger or plungers.
In applying this part of my said invention to a two-barrelled gun, I find it
advantageous to construct and combine the plungers and the feed-slide having the
rocking-piece or cradle, in such a manner that the said cradle will be turned in one
direction by one plunger and in the reverse direction by the other plunger, each
plunger, in its forward movement, acting upon the adjacent outer rib of the cradle
so as to depress the said rib. In applying my invention to a single-barrelled gun,
I sometimes provide the rocking piece or cradle with a counter weight whereby,
after it has been turned in one direction by the plunger and the feed-slide has been
moved transversely beneath the plunger, the said cradle will be turned back to its
original position so that it may receive a fresh cartridge.
By my improvements above mentioned, I am enabled to dispense with springs in
the feed-slide, thereby diminishing the force required to effect the forward movement
of the plungers of the gun, and, at the same time, reducing the number of parts of
the gun.
In some instances, I provide suitable spring catches or stops for holding the

page_text: cradle in position at either extremity of its oscillation in such a manner as to
prevent accidental movement of the said cradle.
In the case of a single-barrelled gun, I can, if desired, use a spring in place of a
counterweight for effecting the return movement of the cradle after it has been
turned by the plunger.
According to another part of my said invention, I provide improved means for
moving intermittently through the gun, a cartridge belt or band from which the
cartridges are successively transferred to the aforesaid feed-slide or to an equivalent
device for moving them into the space in front of the plunger or alternately into
the spaces in front of the plungers of the gun.
For this purpose, I employ a feed-wheel adapted to engage with clips on the
said belt or band or with the cartridges contained in the said belt, which feed-wheel
is provided on one or both sides with suitable pins or projections, and I combine,
with this wheel, a bar or frame arranged to be moved to and fro transversely to the
axis of the said feed-wheel, and having projections, studs or spring pawls, one
above and the other beneath the axis of the said wheel. These parts are so
arranged that, in the to-and-fro movement of the bar or frame, the studs or pawls
on the said bar or frame will act alternately upon the pins or projections on the
wheel and will thus impart intermittent rotary notion to the said wheel.
The required reciprocating motion is imparted to the said bar or frame from the
operating lever or crank-shaft of the gun through the medium of cams and levers
or other suitable devices.
I find it advantageous, in some instances, to employ for this purpose a sliding bar
having oblique slots into which extend suitable pins or studs on the said
reciprocating frame, so that, when the said sliding bar is moved longitudinally to
and fro, it will impart the requisite reciprocating motion to the said frame. The
said sliding bar may, if desired, be operated by the cam usually employed in
"Gardner" guns for actuating the sliding bar which transmits motion to the feed-
slide.
I sometimes construct my improved gun in such a manner that the cartridges
contained in the belt or band fed through the gun by the aforesaid feed-wheel, will
be successively drawn or pushed backward out of the said belt or band and after-
wards thrust into the feed-slide. In this case, I can employ a cartridge-belt
consisting of two strips of canvas or other suitable material united at intervals by
rivets or otherwise in such a manner as to leave openings to receive the cartridges.
To facilitate the insertion and retention of the cartridges into these openings, I
make the said belt with metal pieces which are placed between the strips of canvas
or other material and are secured thereto by means of the rivets or other fastenings
used for uniting the said strips. These metal pieces are so shaped that they keep
the said strips a short distance apart at the openings or loops of the belt, thus
permitting the cartridges to be very readily inserted therein.
For this purpose I
find it advantageous to make each metal piece of such shape that, when the belt is
charged, the said metal piece will extend partly around each of the adjacent
cartridges.
Dated the 30th day of August 1893.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Machine-guns and to Cartridge Feed-
mechanism therefor.
1, OWEN JONES, of 68 Great Russell Street, in the County of London,
Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to machine-guns and to cartridge feed-mechanism therefor,
and its main object is to provide improved mechanism for effecting a positive feed of
the cartridges in machine-guns of the kind or class of which the well-known
"Gardner "gun is a type.
In some of the machine-guns of this kind or class, such, for instance, as the
one-barrelled and the two-barrelled "Gardner" guns, there is a transversely moving
feed-slide which receives the cartridges successively from a vertical hopper or
feeder and moves them into the space in front of the breech-bolt or plunger or
alternately into the spaces in front of the breech-bolts or plungers of the gun, so
that they will be thrust into the barrel or barrels by the said plunger or plungers in
the forward movement thereof.
The said transversely moving feed-slide, as hitherto constructed, has a fixed
longitudinal rib or raised portion, and one or two vertically movable ribs or
partitions forming together with the said fixed rib a groove or grooves for the
reception of cartridges and serving to effect the ejection from the gun of the
empty cartridge-cases extracted from the barrels in the backward movement of
the plungers. These movable partitions are held up by springs arranged below
the same, so that, after the ejection of a cartridge-case by either of the said
partitions, the latter may be depressed by the corresponding plunger to permit its
passage beneath the same in the transverse movement of the said feed-slide, after
which operation the partition that has been depressed is raised by its spring.
Now according to one part of my present invention, instead of employing the
aforesaid vertically movable spring partition or partitions, I provide the trans-
versely moving feed-slide with a rocking or oscillating piece or cradle having one
or two grooves or compartments for the reception of cartridges, the said groove or
grooves being formed by means of longitudinal ribs or raised portions rigidly
attached to or forming part of the body of the said rocking piece or cradle. This
rocking piece or cradle is combined with means whereby it will be turned through
a small angle about a longitudinal axis first in one direction and then in the reverse
direction, in such a manner as to permit the requisite movement of the feed-slide
and cradle beneath the plunger or plungers.
My oscillating piece or cradle is applicable to "Gardner" guns as hitherto
constructed, and also to guns of other construction, such, for instance, as those
I have described in the Specifications of former Letters Patent granted to me,
viz. —No. 2624 of 1892, No. 12,206 of 1892, No. 21,651 of 1892, and No. 5949
of 1893.
In applying this part of my said invention to a two-barrelled gun, I find it
advantageous to construct and combine the plungers and the feed-slide provided
with the pivoted or oscillating piece or cradle, in such a manner that the said
cradle will be turned in one direction by one plunger and in the reverse direction
by the other plunger, each plunger, in its forward movement, acting upon the
adjacent outer rib of the cradle so as to depress the said rib and at the same time
raise the other outer rib. In applying my invention to a single-barrelled gun, I
sometimes provide the pivoted or oscillating piece or cradle with a counterweight
or a spring or other convenient means whereby, after it has been turned in one
direction by the plunger and the feed-slide has been moved transversely beneath the
plunger, the said cradle will be turned back to its original position so that it is

page_text: ready to receive a fresh cartridge and to effect the ejection of another empty
cartridge-case.
By my improvements above mentioned, I diminish the force required to effect
the forward movement of the plungers of the gun and the transverse movement of
the feed-slide, and, at the same time, reduce the number of parts in the gun.
In some instances, I provide suitable spring catches or stops for holding the
pivoted or oscillating piece or cradle in position at either extremity of its
oscillation, in such a manner as to prevent accidental movement of the said cradle.
According to another part of my said invention, I provide improved means for
moving intermittently through the gun, a cartridge belt or band from which the
cartridges are successively transferred to the aforesaid feed-slide or to an equivalent
device for moving them into the space in front of the plunger, or alternately into
the spaces in front of the plungers of the gun.
For this purpose, I employ a feed-wheel adapted to engage with clips on the said
belt or band or with the cartridges contained in the said belt or band, which feed-
wheel is provided on one or both sides with suitable pins or projections, and I
combine, with this wheel, a bar or frame arranged to be moved to and fro
transversely to the axis of the said feed-wheel, and having projections, studs or
spring pawls, one above and the other beneath the axis of the said wheel. These
parts are so arranged that, in the to-and-fro movement of the said bar or frame,
the studs or pawls thereon will act alternately upon the pins or projections on the
wheel and will thus impart intermittent rotary notion to the said wheel.
The required reciprocating motion is imparted to the said bar or frame from the
operating lever or crank-shaft of the gun through the medium of cams and levers
or other suitable devices.
I find it advantageous, in some instances, to employ for this purpose a sliding
bar having oblique slots into which extend suitable pins or studs on the said
reciprocating frame, so that, when the said sliding har is moved longitudinally
to and fro, it will impart the requisite transverse reciprocating motion to the said
frame. The said sliding bar may, if desired, be operated by the cam usually
employed in "Gardner" guns for actuating the sliding bar which transmits motion
to the feed-slide.
I sometimes construct my improved gun as hereinafter described, so that the
cartridges contained in the belt or band fed through the gun, will be successively
drawn backward out of the said belt or band and afterwards thrust into the feed-
slide. In this case, and in other cases where provision is made for drawing or
pushing the cartridges out of the belt or band and afterwards thrusting them into
the feed-slide or equivalent device, I can, if desired, employ a cartridge-belt
consisting of two strips of canvas or other suitable material united at intervals
by rivets or otherwise in such a manner as to leave openings to receive the
cartridges. To facilitate the insertion and retention of the cartridges in these
openings, and to protect the edges of the belt during the withdrawal of the
cartridges therefrom, I sometimes make the said belt with metal pieces which are
placed between the strips of canvas or other material and are secured thereto by
means of the rivets or other fastenings used for uniting the said strips. The-c
metal pieces are so shaped that they keep the said strips a short distance apart at
the openings or loops of the belt, thus permitting the cartridges to be very readily
inserted therein, when loading or charging the said belt.
For this purpose, I
find it advantageous to make the said metal pieces of such shape that, when the
belt is filled with cartridges, each of the said metal pieces will extend partly around
each of the adjacent cartridges.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, and
Figure 2 a vertical longitudinal section showing a portion of a machine-gun with
my improvements applied thereto.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same, drawn to an enlarged scale.

page_text: Figure 4 shows a por CTOR
Tige i drawn to an emarged scale.
Figure 5 is a plan, partly in horizontal section,
Figure 6 a vertical longitudinal section, and
Figure 7 a transverse section on the line y, y, Figure 6, illustrating another form
or modification of my improved machine-gun.
Figure 8 is a transverse section on the line y' y', Figure 6, some of the parts
being removed.
Figure 9 is a transverse section on the line y², y², Figure 6, drawn to an enlarged
scale, some of the parts being removed.
Figure 10 is a vertical longitudinal section, and
Figure 11 a plan, illustrating details of construction.
Figure 12 is a side elevation of the parts illustrated in Figure 10, showing the
same in a different position.
Figure 13 is a transverse section illustrating the application of my oscillating
piece or cradle to the feed-slide of a single-barrelled "Gardner" gun.
Figure 14 is a similar view, some of the parts being shown in a different position.
Figure 15 a rear elevation, and
Figure 16 a plan, illustrating another modification of my invention.
Figure 17 is a vertical longitudinal section, and
Figure 18 a rear elevation illustrating a further modification of my said
invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the gun-frame which is provided with the usual hinged lid or cover A';
B, B are the cartridges; C is the feed-belt or cartridge-holder; D, D' are the
breech-bolts or plungers; E is the transversely-moving feed-slide or feed-piece.
The feed-slide E is provided with a pivoted or oscillating piece or cradle M
which is formed with a central projection or rib M' and with outer projections or
ribs M2, M2, and which is arranged in a recess E' in the said feed-slide.
In the gun shown in Figures 1 to 4, the oscillating piece or cradle M is secured
in the feed-slide E by means of screws M³ which serve as the pivots or trunnions of
the said oscillating piece or cradle, the recess E¹ being made sufficiently deep to
allow the upper surface of either rib M² to sink to the level of the top of the feed-
slide E when depressed by the advancing inclined edge D² of the corresponding
breech-bolt or plunger D or D'
It will be seen that my rocking piece or cradle takes the place of the fixed and
vertically movable partitions hitherto employed in the feed-slide of "Gardner"
guns, and very efficiently fulfils the functions of the said partitions without
necessitating the use of springs, the said rocking piece or cradle being turned
about its axis first in one direction and then in the reverse direction by the
plungers D, D¹ alternately acting in their forward movement upon the ribs M³.
In Figures 1 to 4 I have shown one form or arrangement of my improved
mechanism for feeding a cartridge-belt or holder intermittently through the gun.
G is a feed-wheel which is mounted in suitable bearings G¹ and is formed with
curved or other suitably shaped arms preferably adapted to engage with the
cartridges B on either side of the belt or band C. The said feed-wheel is provided
at either end with pins or studs r equidistant from each other and from the axis of
the said wheel. In combination with this wheel is arranged a reciprocating frame ³
fitted to slide in suitable guides in the top or cover of the gun-frame and provided
with shoulders or projections at each end of the wheel G, one above and another
below the axis of the said wheel. These shoulders or projections are adapted
to engage alternately with the pins or studs r in the feed-wheel so that, by
continuously reciprocating the frame ², intermittent rotary motion will be imparted
to the said feed-wheel G.
The required transverse reciprocating motion is preferably imparted to the
frame from the operating lever or crank-shaft of the gun. For this purpose, in
the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 4, a sliding bars is connected with the
sliding bar Y which is usually employed in "Gardner guns for transmitting
"

page_text: motion to the feed-slide E. The bars is provided with oblique slots s'adapted to
engage with pins or studs 2 projecting from the upper surface of the frame r³.
Therefore, in each revolution of the crank-shaft of the gun, the said bar 8, and
consequently the frame 12, will be moved to and fro, and, by their movement in
either direction, will turn the feed-wheel G so as to bring a fresh cartridge into
position to be drawn out of the belt C.
The other parts of the gun shown in Figures 1 to 4 are constructed and arranged
substantially as described in my said former Specification No. 21,651 with
reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings accompanying the said Specification.
In Figure 3, I have shown one form of my improved cartridge-belt C, which
consists of two layers or strips of canvas, cotton-webbing, or other suitable material
with metal pieces C' between them, and united at intervals by rivets so as to leave
openings to receive the cartridges B, the said metal pieces C¹ being secured in
position by means of the rivets or other fastenings which unite the two strips of
canvas or other material. The metal pieces C¹ are preferably shaped as shown, so
that each piece extends partly around each of the adjacent spaces or loops for the
cartridges. The said metal pieces serve to keep more or less open the spaces or
loops between the said strips, thus facilitating the insertion of the cartridges therein
in the operation of loading or charging the said belt. The said metal pieces also
serve to retain the belt in place in the gun and to take the strain off the edges of
the canvas or similar material during the withdrawal of the cartridges from the
:said belt.
It is evident that I can also use this cartridge-belt in a gun constructed as
hereinafter described with reference to Figures 5 to 12, or in other guns provided
with means for drawing or pushing the cartridges backward out of the said
belt or band and afterwards thrusting them into a feed-slide or equivalent device.
In the modification of my invention illustrated in Figures 5 to 12, the rocking
piece or cradle M is made of semi-circular form in transverse section, and is formed
with curved slots M through which is passed a rod or pin N'; this rod or pin is
secured in an upright forming a part of the piece N screwed into the feed-slide E,
the curved slots M* being so formed that the rocking piece or cradle will be turned
about its longitudinal axis when either of its ribs M' is depressed.
The belt or band C, in this gun, is intermittently moved through the transverse
opening a in the gun-frame by means of a sliding pawl-carrier H which is provided
with one or more pivoted pawls L, and to which reciprocating motion is imparted
by a sliding bars having oblique slots s' into which extend pins or studs s² fixed in
the pawl-carrier H. The sliding bars is, in this arrangement, suitably connected
with a reciprocating bar P worked by pins or studs P, P' fixed in the disc K² of
the crank-shaft, substantially as described in my said former Specification
No. 5949 of 1893. The bars is so connected with the bar P that it will be
disconnected therefrom when the cover A' is raised, and will be again connected
therewith when the said cover is lowered.
For drawing the cartridges backward out of the feed-belt C and thrusting them
into the feed-slide E, the following mechanism is provided, that is to say:- -Above
the feed-slide E is arranged a plate A8 which supports the belt of cartridges as the
same is fed through the slot a. A support or trough R is arranged in rear of the
feed-slide E and between the plungers D, to receive the cartridges drawn out of
the belt C. In the said support or trough is fitted to slide a short plunger or
pusher R¹, to the upper part of which is pivoted at an arm or lever d. This
fever is provided with a shoulder or shoulders d' adapted to engage with the flange
or rim of a cartridge in the feed-belt C as hereinafter described.
The plunger or pusher R' is arranged to be moved to and fro in the support or
trough R by means of a lever T pivoted at T¹ and actuated, through the medium
of another lever U pivoted at U', by cams V and V₁ formed on the central disc K'
of the crank-shaft, the said lever U being forked at its forward end and engaging
with a pin or stud T2 in the said lever T. The arm U2 of the lever U is shown
provided with an anti-friction roller to bear against the cams V, V. If desired,

page_text: the arm U of the said lever may also be provided with an anti-friction roller for
this purpose.
The lever d is provided near its pivot with a projection d³ adapted to engage.
with projections e, f on the top of the trough R, at each end of the stroke or travel
of the plunger or pusher R¹. To the free end of the said arm or lever d is pivoted
an arm y so formed as to engage with the shells or bodies of the cartridges; this
lever g is formed with an arm or projection g' adapted to engage with a projection /
on the trough R during the backward movement of the plunger or pusher R, for
the purpose of pushing the cartridges drawn from the belt C down into the
trough R.
For holding the lever or arm d in position at either extremity of its
movement, I sometimes provide one or more spring washers engaging with the side
or sides of the lever or arm; or I employ a spring i, Figures 10 and 11, having
pin or projection at its free end adapted to enter one or the other of two depressions
or recesses in the surface of the said lever. Or, if desired, the lever g may be
maintained in the position shown in Figure 10 by means of any suitable spring.
The support or trough R, in the gun shown in Figures 5 to 12, is made in two
parts, which are kept apart by suitable distance-pieces placed between them. These
two parts are fitted into slots in the bottom of the frame A and are made with
wing-pieces R2 having extensions R³ which drop into slots in the side of the said
frame, so that they will be held firmly in position by the cover A', but can be
readily taken out when necessary. The wing-pieces R2 serve also as guides for the
plungers D, D'. The two parts of the trough R are also extended rearwardly and
serve for supporting the pivots of the levers T and U.
The trough R is so arranged that a cartridge supported therein is on a slightly
higher level than the feed-slide E and cradle M, and the said cartridge, when
pushed into the cradle, will fall through a short distance in front of the said trough..
Therefore, when the gun is elevated, the said cartridge is prevented by the said.
trough from slipping backwards out of the cradle M.
The operation of the mechanism shown in Figures 5 to 12 is as follows:-
Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Figures 5 and 6, then, on the
crank-shaft being turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 6, the
cartridge contained in the cradle M of the feed-slide E will be thrust by
the plunger D into the corresponding barrel, the said plunger, at the same time,.
turning the cradle M about its axis; almost simultaneously with the forward
movement of the plunger D, the plunger D' will be moved backward and will draw
the empty cartridge-case out of the other barrel on to the feed-slide E outside of
the said cradle M, the cam V' will then act upon the arm U2 of the lever U and.
move the plunger or pusher R¹ forward through the medium of the lever T, thus
pushing the cartridge B lying in the trough R into the cradle M, and causing the
projection on the lever d to come into contact with the projection e at the
forward end of the trough R; the lever d will thus be depressed, as indicated in
Figure 10, and caused to engage with the flange or rim of a cartridge B in the
feed-belt C, which has meanwhile been fed into position by the pawls L. The
feed-slide E will then be moved across the gun so as to eject the empty cartridge-
case and, at the same time, move the cartridge just thrust into the cradle M into
the space in front of the plunger D', which will then be moved forward and will
push the said cartridge into the corresponding barrel, the plunger D being drawn
backward and extracting the empty shell or case of the cartridge which it previously
thrust into the corresponding barrel. The cam V will then act upon the other
arm U of the lever U and move the plunger or pusher R¹ backwards, thus with-
drawing the said cartridge B from the feed-belt Č. When the said cartridge has
been moved back clear of the rear end of the plate A, the arm or projection g' will
come into contact with the projection hand the lever g will thereby be turned about its
pivot and thus caused to push the said cartridge down into the trough R, as indicated
in Figure 12. As the plunger or pusher R' reaches the end of its backward stroke,
the projection d³ will come into contact with the projection f on the trough B and

page_text: the lever d will thus be raised into the position shown in Figure 6. The operations
above described will then be repeated.
In Figures 13 and 14, I have shown a modified form of my pivoted or oscillating
piece or cradle applied to a single-barrelled "Gardner" gun provided with the usual
vertical feed-bar or hopper W. In this arrangement, the oscillating piece or
cradle M is pivoted at M' to the feed-slide E and is provided with a single
projection or rib M² at one side thereof, which rib extends through a slot or
opening E2 in the feed-slide E. The said cradle is provided with a spring M*
whereby it is held in the position shown in Figure 13, and which serves for
returning it to this position. The cartridges in the feed-bar W fall successively
upon the feed-slide E to the left of the projection or rib M². When the feed-
slide E is moved across the gun in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 13,
the cartridge thereon is moved into the space in front of the plunger D, and the
rib or projection M² ejects from the gun the empty cartridge-case previously drawn
out of the barrel by the said plunger. The said oscillating piece or cradle Mis
then turned about its axis Ms into the position shown in Figure 14, by the
plunger D in its forward movement; the feed-slide E being then moved trans-
versely in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 14, the projection
or rib M³ passes beneath the said plunger, and the spring Me returns the cradle M
to its original position shown in Figure 13. Or the said cradle may be returned
to its original position by means of an incline A' on the gun-frame A acting upon
an incline M7 on the piece M, in the latter part of the transverse movement of
the feed-slide E.
In Figures 15 and 16, I have shown the application of my oscillating piece or cradle
in a somewhat similar manner to a two-barrelled gun. In this arrangement, the
body of the feed-slide is made in two parts E³, E, and, after the rocking piece or
cradle M is placed in the recess E', the part E is fitted upon the part E³ and
firmly secured thereto by screws or otherwise, the pivot-pin M³ of the cradle M
being then inserted in holes in the piece E' and cradle M, and suitably secured in
place. The rib M' is, in this case, formed on the part E of the feed-slide. When
the said cradle is turned about its axis as hereinbefore described, the ribs M²
thereof are moved up and down in the slots or openings E' left between the two
parts E³, E.
It is evident that I can, if desired, apply my oscillating piece or cradle to
a double-barrelled "Gardner" gun provided with the usual vertical feed-bar
or hopper, or with other suitable means for supplying the cartridges to the
feed-slide.
To adapt my improved mechanism for use with rimless cartridges, I sometimes
make my oscillating piece or cradle M with the bottom of the grooves therein
inclined towards the barrel as shown in Figures 17 and 18, that is to say, I incline
the surface or surfaces on which the cartridges rest in the feed-slide, so that the
cartridges will rest therein with their axis horizontal, or but very slightly inclined,
preferably towards the barrel, thus permitting the engagement of the extractor
with the grooved head of the cartridge when the feed-slide is moved across the gun,
notwithstanding the fact that, when cartridges of this kind are used, there must be
no longitudinal play of the extractor relatively to the plunger as in "Gardner" guns
constructed for use with cartridges having the usual flange or rim.
To more effectually ensure the engagement of the extractor with the rimless
cartridge, I sometimes provide the oscillating piece or cradle M with spring
catches M or equivalent devices, which enter the grooves of the cartridges and thus
prevent accidental longitudinal movement of the said cartridges in the oscillating
piece or cradle. Either catch M³ will be pushed down out of the path of the corre
sponding plunger when the cartridge engaged by the said catch is pushed forward
by the said plunger.
I sometimes make the guide at the rear of the feed-slide, that is to say, the guide
in which the plungers move to and fro, so that it extends over the rear end of the

page_text: feed-slide, the latter being cut away as required for the purpose, and I provide the
said guide with a transverse rib or projection which will enter the groove of a
rimless cartridge when the latter is pushed into the feed-slide, the said rib or
projection being cut away where necessary to permit the to-and-fro movement of
the plungers.
I sometimes provide a cushion T3 of wood, leather, india-rubber or other suitable
material, which is secured above the feed-slide E midway between the barrels of the
gun, so that, when a cartridge is pushed into the cradle M, its bullet end will come
in contact with the said cushion, thus preventing its being pushed too far forward
in the said cradle.
Or I provide one or more spring or other catches below or above or at the sides
of the cartridge in the feed-slide E or cradle M, so arranged that the said catches
will engage with the bullet end or other suitable part of the cartridge when pushed
into the feed-slide or cradle, and thus prevent its being pushed in too far, and will
retain it in the proper position to ensure the engagement of the extractor with its
groove when the feed-slide is moved across the gun. These catches are so arranged
that they will be moved aside when the cartridge is pushed forward by the plunger.
The said catch or catches will, therefore, serve in place of the spring catches MⓇ and
cushion T3 above described.
In some instances, I make my oscillating piece or cradle with two vertically
movable parts, each of which is provided with a longitudinal projection or rib at its
outer side, and which are combined with a pivoted lever in such a manner that the
depression of either side of the device will effect the raising of the other side thereof.
Or, for a single barrelled gun, I use only one of the said parts and combine the same
with a suitably pivoted lever provided with a counterweight or a spring or other
suitable means for effecting its return movement.
It is evident that I can, whilst preserving the advantages of my oscillating piece
or cradle, somewhat further modify the construction and arrangement of the same,
whether it is designed for use with the devices above described or with other
devices for supplying cartridges to the feed-slide; it is also evident that other
suitable means may be provided for turning the said oscillating piece or cradle
about its axis as required, for the purpose above specified. Moreover my oscillating
piece or cradle may, if desired, be applied to an oscillating feed-piece such as is
referred to in the Specification of Letters Patent dated 8th July 1878 No. 2735,
instead of to a feed-slide having a horizontal movement as in the arrangements
shown in the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. A pivoted or oscillating piece or cradle having one or more longitudinal
ribs or projections and so arranged in a feed-slide or equivalent device that it can
be turned about a longitudinal axis, for the purposes above specified.
Second. A feed-slide or its equivalent provided with a device having at each side
thereof a longitudinal projection or rib and so arranged in the said feed-slide or its
equivalent that the depression of one side of the said device will effect the raising of
the other side thereof, substantially as hereinbefore described and for the purposes
specified.
Third. A machine-gun which is constructed with a transversely moving feed-
slide or its equivalent provided with a pivoted or oscillating piece or cradle
arranged to be turned through a suitable angle about a longitudinal axis by the
plunger or plungers of the gun in the forward movement of the same, for purposes
above specified.
Fourth. The combination of a feed-wheel provided with suitable projections, and
a bar or frame movable to and fro transversely to the axis of the said wheel and so
5 constructed that, in its to-and-fro movement, it will act upon the projections of the
B

page_text: said feed-wheel alternately above and below the axis thereof and thus impart
intermittent rotation to the said wheel.
Fifth. The combination of the feed-wheel, the reciprocating bar or frame for
intermittently rotating the said wheel, and the means for operating the said bar or
frame through the medium of the crank-shaft or cam-shaft of the gun, substantially
as, and for the purposes, above set forth.
Sixth. The above described improvements whereby I adapt my feed-mechanism
for use with rimless cartridges.
Seventh. The improved machine-gun constructed substantially as described with
reference to either of the forms or modifications illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, and operating as above specified.
Eighth. The improved cartridge belt or band having the metal pieces secured
between the strips of canvas, cotton-webbing or other material, substantially as, and
for the purposes, above specified.
T
OWEN JONES.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
OWEN JONES.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.