Improvements in and relating to Quick Firing Guns and other Fire-arms
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar, 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 4th May, 1889
RESERVE CO
Improvements in and relating to Quick Firing Guns and other
Fire-arms
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57D, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows
My invention relates to quick-firing guns and other fire-arms
The main object of the present invention is to improve the construction and increase
the efficiency of quick-firing guns which are automatic in their action, that is to say,
in which all or nearly all the operations necessary in extracting the empty-cartridge
shell and loading and firing the gun are performed by energy developed by the
explosion of a cartridge in the barrel
My improved gun is preferably constructed in such manner that, after it has
recoiled and during its return movement, or after it has returned to the firing position,
the opening of the breech and the extraction of the empty cartridge-shell will be
automatically performed by the sliding of the breech-block transversely to the axis
of the barrel The chief advantage afforded by this construction is that time is allowed
for the escape of the gases from the muzzle of the gun before the empty cartridge-shell
1s extracted, so that there will be no escape of gases during or after the extraction
thereof This is especially advantageous in the case of guns for use with large
cartridges, as, if time is not allowed for the escape of the gases before the extraction
of the empty shell, there is not only in escape it the breech after such extraction, but
the empty shell is liable to be injured and the chamber of the gun to become fouled to
such an extent as to ultimately prevent the introduction of a loaded cartridge
therein
In some instances, however, I make the gun as hereinafter described so that the
breech will be opened during the recoil
My invention comprises various improvements hereinafter set forth
The ann-frame is provided with trunnions whereby it may be supported in a suitable

page_text: carriage or mounting The gun proper, that is to say, the birrel and breech-
mechanism are arranged to slide longitudinally in the sul frame The barrel is
provided at the breech-end thereof with a slotted extension in which the breech-block
is fitted to slide transversely to the axis of the barrel The said breech-block is
guided in its vertical movement by projections formed thereon and fitting into corre-
sponding recesses in the extension of the barrel, or by other suitable means A spring
is arranged in combination with the said frime and the barrel so that it will be
compressed during the recoil and will then react to effect the forward or re.urn
movement of the birrel and breech-block
A shaft is supported in bearings formed on the underside of the barrel at the breech-
end thereof and the gun-trame is formed with a slot to permit the said shaft to move
freely with the birrel and breech-bloch during the to-and-fro movement thereof The
said shaft has fixed thereon a lever having two arms connected by a pin or rod
which extends through slots in the breech-block so that, when the said shaft is turned
through an angle of about 60°, the said pin or rod will move the breech-block down-
ward and open the breech
An arm is fixed on the said shaft and stop-lever or pawl is pivoted to the gun
frame, when the parts are in the firing position, the said lever or pawl rests upon the
said arm
The short arm of the said lever or pawl is acted upon by a spring which is
enclosed incising formed on or attached to the frame and which tends to slightly
turn the said lever or piwl about its pivot at the termination of the recoil, so that, in
the forward or return movement of the barrel, the said arm will engage with the rear
end of the lever or pawl and the shaft will be partially rotated and the breech thus
automatically open ed The said lever is provided with a stop which will impinge
against projection on the barrel and thus limit the downward movement of the
breech-block
A bent spring is secured to the gun-frame so that its free end acts upon a roller
carried by projection on the said arm for the purpose of storing up energy during
the opening of the breech and subsequently utilizing such energy for effecting the
closing of the breech The firing pin or striker is arranged to slide longitudinally
between guides on the breech-block and is formed with a central slot and with
shoulders on its underside A spring bears against the rear end of the firing pin
so that it will be compressed when the said firing pin is cocked, and will subsequently
react to fire the gun when the said firing pin is released as hereinafter described
bent cocking lever is pivoted to the breech-block and extends downward through the
slot in the firing pin, its lower cnd extending into the pith of the pin or rod of the
aforesaid lever
A
A hooked lever or sear is pivoted to the breech-block and, when the firing pin is
cocked, engiges with one of the said shoulders Another arm or lever is forined
integrally with the said sear and is designed to be actuated by a trigger connected
with the said lever, or the sud lever may be actuated by a lanyard attached to its
lower end, or by other suitable means for the purpose of disengaging the said sear
from the firing pin
To prevent the pulling of the trigger to fire the gun before the breech-block 15
in its firing position, stety sear is pivoted to the breech-block and is acted upon by
a spring whereby it is caused to engage with the other shoulder on the firing pin when
the said firing pin is cocked This sear is arranged to be released automatically by
means of the pin or rod of the lever for operating the breech-bloch
A forked extrictor is provided each arm of which is formed with a lip adapted to
engage with or side of the flange of a cartridge in the barrel The said extractor is
pivoted to the breech-end of the barrel and is provided with in arm which projects
beneath the breech-bloch, so that, when the latter is moved down to open the breech,
the said block will ict upon the said arm and turn the extractor about its pivot to
extract the empty cartridge-shell from the shell The extractor is provided with
projections adapted to engige with a recess in the top of the breech-block for the
purpose of holding down the said block until released by the insertion of a fresh
cartridge as herein after described

page_text: To provide for facilitating the pointing of the gun and for retaining the same in any
position to which it may be turned about its trunnions and thus preventing displace-
ment of the gun by the preponderance of the breech, a crutch or shoulder-piece is used
in combination with a locking device This crutch or shoulder-piece is pivoted to a
frame formed or fixed on a tubular rod which is firmly secured at its forward end to
the gun frame A lever is pivoted to the frame, and the short arm of the said lever is
The other end
coupled to one end of a rod extending through the said hollow rod
of the inner rod is adapted to engage with a toothed or serrited segment pivoted to
the gun-mounting
The long arm of the lever in the shoulder piece is acted upon by a spring which
tends to hold the parts in the positions shown, so that the gun cannot turn upon
its trunnions When it is desired to elevate or depress the gun, the gunner can,
by pressing his shoulder against the crutch turn the lever therein upon or about
its pivot and draw the inner rod backward out of engagement with the segment
As soon as the crutch is released, the spring will cause the said rod to agun engage
with the said segment
A hydraulic cylinder is secured to the gun frime and in this cylinder works a piston
the rod whereof works through stuffing-box at the end of the said cylinder
This device constitutes a brake for controlling the recoil of the gun and its return
to the firing position The piston-rod is firmly secured at its rear end to a projection
or lug on the breech-end of the barrel, and is provided with collar which bears
against a shoulder thereon This collar connects the said piston-rod with a spiral
spring which surrounds the said rod and bears at its rear end against a cap fixed in
the end of a casing which encloses the said spring
The said cylinder is provided with an aperture or passage to permit the introduction
into the same of water or other liquid The bore of the said cylinder is taper from
the forward to the rear end thereof, that is to say, the forward end is made larger
in diameter than the rear end thereof In the recoil, the liquid in the cylinder must
be forced from the rear to the front of the piston through the space between the
'said piston and the sides or walls of the cylinder, the force of the recoil will therefore
be counteracted The piston is perforated and provided with a valve which is con-
nected with the rod by a pin extending into slots in the said valve
closed during the recoil and opens to permit the return of the gun to the firing
position under the action of the spring
This valve 1S
For starting the gun when the breech is closed and there is no cartridge in the
barrel it is necessary to open the breech by hand This operation is effected by
means of a hand-lever applied to one end of the shaft
The gun above described operates automatically in respect of the opening of the
breech, the extraction of the empty cartridge-shell and the cocking of the gun, that
Is to say, all the operations, with the exception of the insertion of the cartridges into
the barrel and the releasing of the firing pin or striker, are automatically performed
By fixing the trigger in the firing position, the gun may be rendered entirely
automatic with the exception of the insertion of the cartridges in the barrel
purpose
In making a gun for use with large and heavy cartridges I sometimes provide tor
the automatic insertion of the cartridges into the barrel For this
I some-
times employ a tube or sleeve which is fitted to slide longitudinally upon the rod of
the aforesaid shoulder-piece A spring is placed upon the said rod between the
said shoulder-piece and a shoulder on the interior of the said tube or sleeve and
18 enclosed or partly enclosed by the sud sleeve The sleeve is provided with a
stud or projection and a corresponding stud or projection is formed on the barrel
A lever or catch is pivoted to the tube or sleeve and is acted upon by a spring which
causes or tends to cause the said catch to engage with a shoulder on the inner lod
connected with the shoulder-piece, when the sleeve is in its rearmost position
bracket is formed on or attached to the tube or sleeve and is adapted to receive
the base or rear end of a cartridge when the latter is placed in position for thrust.ng
into the barrel The rear end of the said lever or catch extends along one side of the
A

page_text: D
•
said bracket so that, when a cartridge is placed upon the said bracket, the said
cartridge will disengage the said catch from the shoulder and the spring will then
react and thrust the cartridge into the barrel
To facilitate the charging of the gun, I prefer to arrange upon the gun-mounting
a magazine or holder for the cartridges from which the said cartridges can be readily
lifted or withdrawn by hand one by one for placing in the gun or for dropping
into position to be thrust into the barrel by spring as above described
This
cartridge-holder or magazine is attached to the swivelling part of the gun-mounting
so that it extends below and it one side of the breech of the gun A suitable
spring is arranged in the said magazine for elevating the cartridge, therein, ind
the magazine is provided at its upper end with spring fingers for retaining the
cartridges therein whilst permitting their withdrawal therefrom as required
According to another modification of my invention the shaft for operating the
breech-block is provided with a forked lever the arms or ends of which are provided
with pins or projections working in slots in the breech-block so that when the said
shaft is turned through the required angle the sud pius will move the breech-block
downward and open the breech, substantially as above described The short arm
of the stop-lever or pawl is acted upon by i sping which is enclosed in casing
formed on or attached to the gun frame and which tends to turn the sud lever
about its pivot it the termination of the recoil A stop or projection is formed on
the said casing to limit the downward movement of the lever or piwl The sud
shaft is provided with a flat portion against which the breech-block in its downward
movement will impinge, the downward movement of the breech-block is thus
limited The arm or cum on the said shaft is enclosed by casing which is secured
to the barrel by suitable screws, and the lover or pawl works in a slot or aperture
formed in this casiag
The said shaft is provided with a coiled spring which is wound up during the
opening of the breech and then reacts to close the said breech
This spring is
enclosed in a separate casing secured to the casing around the sud arin or cam by
means of screws or other fastenings
Another lever is formed or fixed on the sud shift ind is adapted to engage with
the end of the coching level A bent lover or sear is pivoted to the breech-block
and is provided with a downwardly projecting arm which is connected by suitable
levers to the trigger The sud sear is so arranged that when, in the forward
movement of the gun, the shift is turned about its axis, the sad lover will move
the cocking lever backward into engagement with the sud sear A spring acts upon
the downwardly projecting arm of the sud sear and holds the latter in engagement
with the cocking-lever until released by the pulling of the trigger
The extractor is arranged to slide in a longitudinal slot in the breech-end of the
barrel and is provided with a lug or projection which fits into groove or recess in
the breech-block The sud projection is provided with an inclined surface
said groove or recess is made of such shape that, when the breech-block moves down
the sud inclined surface rides along an inclined surface on the breech-block thereby
drawing the empty cartridge-shell from the barrel A horizontal surface on the
breech block then comes in contact with the underside of the said lug or projection
which will thus act as a stop to prevent the further upward movement of the breech-
block until released as herein described
The
Upon the insertion of a fresh cartiidge, the flange thereof will strike against the
lip of the extractor and will move the lug or projection out of engagement with the
said horizontal face and onto another inclined surface, the pressure of the coiled
spring acting upon the breech-b.ock will then cause the said block to move upward
and the said lug or projection sliding on the inclined surface the extractor will be
moved back
According to another modification of my said invention instead of providing for the
opening of the breeca during the return movement of the gun as above described, I
arrange the mechanism in such a manner that the breech will be opened during the

page_text: In this case the nyuraune cymder may be dispensed wi
taken up by the gun cariage or mounting
VO
Upon the side of the barrel is arranged a pivoted pawl provided with an arm
which is acted upon by a spring pin enclosed in a casing attached to the barrel This
spring tends to press the sud arm against a stop
The hind-lever has formed or fixed thereon projection which, when the breech is
closed, engages with the sud piwl When the gun is fired the shock produced by
the explosion is sufficient to slightly compress the spring in the said casing and
release the sad lever, whereupon the coiled spring, which is wound or coiled in the
reverse direction to that above described, acts upon the shaft and opens the breech
The breech may then be closed and the said spring compressed by hand by means of
the hand lever the pawl engaging with the projection on the sud hand-lever and
holding the same in its closed position until released by the shoch produced by the
next discharge
According to another modification of my invention 1 pivot the stop-lever or pawl to
a heavy block or weight fitted to slide between guides formed on or attached to the
gun-frame The said weight is formed with 1 slot corresponding with the slot in the
said frame, and the shift for operating the breech-block extends through the said
slots, the arm being fixed on the said shaft outside of the said weight A spring is
connected at one end to the gun frume and at its other end to the said weight In
the recoil of the gun, the sud shaft, acting upon the weight at the rear end of the slot
therem, moves the sud weight rapidly backward so that it expands the spring, the
pawl, in this movement acts upon the arm on the shift in the manner hereinbefore
described and thus opens the breech The spring then reacts and moves forward the
weight ready for the next discharge The breech is closed upon the insertion of
cartridge into the barrel as herein before described
In a further modification of my invention the stop lever or pawl is placed behind
the shaft, and the said pawl and the arm are inverted, so that the opening of the
breech will be effected in the forward or return movement, instead of in the backward
movement of the said weight
In some instances I provide means for connecting the hand-lever with the aforesud
shaft in such a manner that it can be readily disconnected therefrom to permit the
movement of the said shaft independently of the lever, and connected therewith to
permit the operation of the breech-mechanis.n by hand, and so that the said lever can
be readily applied to and removed from the sud shaft For this purpose slit or
divided collar, sleeve or clip 15 sometimes fitted upon the said shaft and may be
clamped tightly thereon as hereinafter described The hand-lever 15 provided with
screw-stud which passes through one part of the said collar or clip and is screwed into
the other part thereof The shaft is formed with a circumferential groove through
which the said stud pisses so that the said lever, while retained upon the shaft, can be
rotated thereon The collar or clip is, moreover, formed with a flange which engages
with a flanged rib on the gun-frame and thus assists in retaining the said lever upon
the shaft whilst permitting its rotation thereon
When the lever is in one position, the shaft can be operated automatically as herein-
before described without affecting the said lever If it is desired to operate the
breech-mechanism by hand, the lever can be firmly fixed upon the shaft by turning
the said lever about the axis of the said stud through an angle of about 180 degrees
To facilitate the application of the lever to the shaft and its removal therefrom, flat
surfaces are formed on the shaft and on the said flange of the clip By turning the
said lever upon the shaft through an angle of about 180 degrees, the stud will be
released from the groove in the shaft, and the flange of the clip from the flanged rib
on the gun-frame so that the lever and chip can be drawn off the shaft The said
lever and collar or clip can be placed and secured upon the shaft by the reverse of
these operations
When the lever and collar or clip are removed, the shaft can be
withdrawn and the breech-block will then fall out of the breech-chamber It will be
seen, however, that, when the lever is freely suspended from the shaft, the said shaft
and lever are securely held in place by the aforesaid devices.

page_text: In other instances the hand-lever is pivoted to lugs formed on the collar or sleeve
The said collar or sleeve is made with a transverse slot or groove and the shaft is made
with a corresponding slot or groove so that, by turning the lever upon or about
its pivot through an angle of about 180 degrees, the said lever and collar or sleeve
may be firmly connected with the shaft By turning the said lever and collar or
sleeve upon the shaft through an angle of about 180 degrees, they will be released
so that they can be drawn off the shaft The shaft can then be withdrawn as above
described
Dated this 8th day of June 1888

page_text: שש -
Improvements in and relating to Quick-firing Guns and other
Fire-arms
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57 Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical 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 quick-firing guns and other fire-irms
The main object of the present invention is to improve the construction and
increase the efficiency of quick-firing guns such as are described in the Specification of
foriner Letters Patent dated 30th March A D 1887, No 4778, that is to say, quick-
firing guns which are automatic in their action, or in which all, or nearly all the
operations necessary in extracting the empty cartridge-shell and loading and firing the
gun are performed by energy developed by the explosion of the cartridge in the barrel,
and in which the preech-block is arranged to move transversely to the axis of the
barrel to open and close the breech
My said invention comprises improved means whereby, after the gun has recoiled
and during its return movement or after it has returned to the firing position, the
opening of the breech and the extraction of the empty cartridge-shell will be
automatically performed by the sliding of the breech-block transversely to the axis of
the barrel The chief advantage afforded by this arrangement is that time is allowed
for the escape of the powder-gases from the muzzle of the gun before the empty
cartridge-shell is extracted, so that there will be no escape of gas from the breech
during or after such extraction This is especially advantageous in the case of guns
for use with large cartridges, as otherwise there would not only be an escape of gas
at the breech, but the empty cartridge-shell would be liable to injury and the chamber
of the gun would in time become fouled to such an extent as to ultimately prevent the
introduction of a loaded cartridge therein In some instances, however, I make my
improved gun as hereinafter described, so that the breech will be opened during the
recoil
My said invention, moreover, comprises various other improvements hereinafter set
forth
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of my improved quick-firing gun, showing
the parts in the positions which they occupy when the gun is ready for firing, part of
a casing hereinafter referred to being removed
Figure 2 is similar view, showing the parts in the positions which they occupy
after the gun has recoiled and has commenced its return movement
Figure 3 is similar view, showing the parts in the positions which they occupy
when the gun, after recoiling, has returned to the firing position, the breech being
open ready for the insertion of a fi esh cartiidge, 1 shoulder piece or crutch herein-
after described for facilitating the uiming or pointing of the gun being shown in
longitudinal central section
Figure is vertical longitudinal central section of the gun, showing the parts in
the positions which they occupy when the gun has been fired and is about to recoil

page_text: Figure 4ª is sectional elevation, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the firing pin or
striker detachod
Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of the said gun, showing the parts in the
positions which they occupy when the gun, after recoiling, has returned to the firing
position, the breech being open ready for the insertion of a fresh cartridge, as in
Figure 3
Figure 6 is sectional elevation showing details of construction
Figure 7 is
invention
plan, partly in horizontal section, illustrating modification of my
Figure 81s side elevation, partly in vertical section, showing a cartridge-magazine
combined with my improved gun as hereinafter set forth
Figure 9 is side elevation, and
Figure 10 a vertical longitudinal central section, of part of another form of quick-
firing gun constructed according to my present invention
Figure 11 is a horizontal central section of the same
Figure 12 is a sectional view showing details of construction
Figure 13 is an elevation of the right hand side
Figure 14 an clevation of the left hand side, and
I
Figure 15 rear elevation of the breech-block, all drawn to an enlarged scale
Figures 16 and 17 are sido elevations illustrating another form or modification of
my sud invention
Figures 18 and 19 are side elevations illustrating a further modification of my said
invention
Figures 20 and 21 are side elevations illustrating still further modification
thereof
Figure 22 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, illustrating improved means
for connecting hind-lever hereinafter described with the shaft for operating the
bi eech-block
Figure 23 is an end elevation partly in transverse section on the line y, y,
Figure 22
Figure 24 is side elevation
Figure 25 in end elevation partly in section on the line y¹, y¹, Figure 24, and
Figure 26 an underside view, illustrating other means for connecting the said lever
and shaft
A is the gun-frame which is provided with trunnions A¹ whereby it may be sup-
ported in a suitable carriage or mounting as shown, for example, in Figure 8, B is
the barrel, (the breech-block
In the gun shown in Figures 1 to 6, and in that shown in Figures 9 to 15, the gun
proper, that is to say, the barrel and breech-mechanism are arranged to slide longi-
tudinally in the firme A The barrel is provided at the breech-und thereof with
slotted reinforce B in which the breech-block is fitted to slide vertically or
transversely to the axis of the barrel The said block is guided in its vertical move-
ment by projections fitted to slide in corresponding grooves or recesses B², the sud
projections being formed on the breech-block and the grooves or recesses in the
reinforce B¹ as in Figure 5, or vice versa as in Figures 10 to 15
A sping B³ is arranged in combination with the frume A and the barrel B in the
manner herein after described, so that it will be compressed during the recoil and
will, by its re iction, effect the forward or return movement of the barrel and breech-
block
Disshaft which has its bearings in projections or lugs B₁ formed on the under-
side of the burel at the breech-end thereof and which has fixed thereo in crank or
cranks & the pin or pins d¹ whereof work in slots or grooves C in the breech-block
The frame A is formed with slots A³ through which extends the shift D, and which
allow the said shift to move freely with the barrel and breech-block in the recoil and
return movements thereof
In the gun shown in Figures 1 to 6, the shaft D has a forked lever or crank d, the
two arms or webs of which are connected by the pin d¹ which extends through the

page_text: slots in the breech-block C, so that, when the shaft D is turned through an
angle of about 60° in the direction indicted by the arrows in Figures 2 and 4,
the crank-pin d' will move the breech-block downward and thus open the breech
The slots Care shaped as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the forward or upper part
of these slots being concentric with the shaft D, when the breech-block is in its
closed position, so that the pin d¹ of the lever or crank d will have a small amount
of lost motion therein relatively to the breech-block for the purposes hereinafter
explained
An arm is fixed on the shaft D and is formed with a hook or projection d'
and also with a projection do for the purposes hereafter specified A stop-lever
or pawl is pivoted at 6' to the frame A, when the parts ire in the positions shown
in Figures 1 and 4, the said lever or pawl b rests upon the sud rm d T'he said
lever or pawl is, however, uddapted to engage with the hook of the rm d³ (as
shown in Figure 2), in the return movement of the gun, for the purpose of
automatically effecting the opening o' the beech as hic after described The
said lever or pawl has short rm * acted upon by spring b³, which is firmly
secured to the frame A and which tends to turn the said lever or pawl about its
pivot 6, thus ensuring its engagement with the sud hook do in the return movement
of the gun
The lever or pawl 6 is, moreover, formed with spring be for preventing
injurious shock or concussion on the impact of the hook with the sud pawl The
lever or crank d is provided with a short rim which will impinge against a
stop B' on the barrel and thus limit the downwud inovenient of the breech-block
dis a bent-spring which is secured to the frame A and the free end of which acts
upon a roller d' carried by a projection d8 on the arm &, for the purpose of
storing energy during the opening of the breech and subsequently utilizing such
energy for effecting the closing of the breech
The springs 6 and d may conveniently be formed in one piece is shown The
sand springs, the lover or pawl b and the arm are enclosed in a casing E which
is formed on, or attached to the trume A, and the cover E¹ of which is provided
with a slot E (Figure 8) corresponding with the adjacent slot A2 in the said frune
Fis the firing-pin or striker, which is arranged to slide longitudinally upon
guides c on the breech-block C, and is formed with a central slot find with
shoulders, (Figure 4) on its under side A spring bears against the ear
end of the firing-pin so thit the sad spring will be compressed when the firing
pin is cocked, and will subsequently 1 ct to fire the gun when the said firing-pin is
released is hereinafter described A bent cocking lever 9 18 pivoted at g' to the
breech-block and works in the slot f in the firing-pin, the sud lever extends
downward into the path of the crank-pin di
19 a forked lever or sear which is pivoted at ¹ to the breech-block C and which
when the firing-pin is coched, will engage with the shoulders f¹ thereof The lever
or sear is formed with a long arm and is designed to be actuated by a trigger h
(Figures 1, 2 and 3) connected with the sud arm h, or the said lever or sear my be
actuated by a lany ird attached to the lower end of the sud arm, or by other suitable
means for the purpose of disengaging it from the firing-pin The spring f³ 13 fixed
in the arm and serves to effect the engagement of the sear with the hring-pin as
well as to actuate the said firing-pin when released
To prevent the release of the firing-pin before the breech-block is in its firing
position a safety-sear is pivotted at to the breech-block and 19 acted upon by a
spring whereby it is caused to engage with the shoulder on the firing-pin when
the said firing-pin is cocked This sear is arranged to be released automatically by
means of the crank-pin d as hereinafter described
J is a forked extractor each arm of which is formed with a lip 2, the said lips being
adapted to engage with the flange of a cartridge in the birrel The sud extractor is
pivoted at J to the breech end of the barrel and is provided with an arm J' which
projects beneath the breech-block, so that, when the latter is moved down to open the
breech, the sud block will act upon the said arm J and turn the said extractor about
its pivot J', thus extracting the empty cartridge-shell from the barrel The extractor J
B

page_text: is pivoted with projections adapted to engage with hooks (3 on the breech-block
for the puroso of holding down the sud block until released by the insertion of a
fresh cartridge into the barrel herein after described
เ
To provide for facilitating the uming or pointing of the gund for rot uning the
same in any position to which it may be turned about its trannions and thus preventing
displacement of the gun by the preponderance of the bitch, I employ crutch or
shoulder-piece in combination with locking device as herein after described, that is to
say The shoulder-piece K is pivoted at Kto frum K³ (Figure 3) formed or hyd
on a tubular rod K' which is firmly secured at its forward cnd to the gun-frame A
A lever is pivoted at ¹ to the frume K ind the short in of the said lever is
coupled to one end of a rod k² extending through the hollow rod K¹ The other ond
of the inner rod k² is idapted to engage with toothed or scriited segment ³,
Figure 6 pivoted at * to any suitable part of the gun-mounting The long arm of
the lever is acted upon by spring which tends to hold the parts in the position
shown so that the gun cannot turn about its trunnions A¹
When it is desired to elevate or depress the gun, the gunni can, by pressing his
shoulder against the shoulder-piece K, turn the level k upon or about its pivot und
draw the inner rod k bichwird out of engagement with the segment k³
As soon is
the shoulder-piece K is released, the spring will cause the rod 1³ to igun engige
with the sud segment
I sometimes provide other suitable mens whereby the turning of the gun about its
trunnions will be prevented until pressure is applied to the pivoted shoulder-piece
L (Figures 4 and 5) is a hydriulic cylinder which is secured to the gun-frimo A
and in which works a piston L, the rod whereof extends through a stuffing box lat
the end of the said cylinder This device constitutes hi the for controlling the
recoil of the gun and its return to the hing position The piston-iod is firmly scoured
at its rear end to the part 1 of the burel, ind is fitted to slide in the pirt A of the
gun-frame A, the sud piston-rod is, morcover, provided with fixed collu L³ The
spirl spring B which surrounds the said rod bear at its forward end agunst the
fixed collar L and at its real end agunstcap Be fixed in the end of a casing B'
which encloses the sud spring B³
The cylinder L is provided with an aperture or pissige to permit the introduction
into the sime of water or other liquid, which aperture is closed by a suitable plug
The bore of the said cylinder is slightly taper from the forward to the rear und
thereof, that is to say the forward end is mide slightly larger in diameter thin the
reir end thereof In the recoil, the liquid in the cylinder L must be forced from
the rear to the front of the piston through the spice between the said piston and the
wall of the cylinder, the force of the recoil will, therefore, be counteracted by the
resistance to the flow of the liquid
The piston L' is perforated and provided with a valve L' which is connected with
the 1od L by a pin fixed in the sand rod ind oxtending into elongated lots in the
said valve This valve will remain closed during the recoil, but will open in the return
of the gun to the firing position under the action of the spring B³, and thus permit the
liquid to flow freely from the front to the rear of the piston
The operation of the gun herein before described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 15
as follows, that is to say -When the gun is fired, the barrel and breech-mechanism
recoil in the frame A The velocity of the recoil is regulated or controlled by the
spring B and by the piston L' working in the hydraulic cylinder L At the termin l-
tion of the recoil the stop-lever or pawl 6 fills in front of the book d on the um d³,
and, in the forward or return movement of the gun the said hook engiges with the
extremity of the said lever or pawl as shown in Figure 2, the spring 6 of the stop-lever
or pawl b is compressed and the shaft D 1 then partially rotated about its axis in the
direction indicated by the arrows in Figures and 4 In this partial rotation of
the said shaft I), the crank-pin d' first moves in the concentric part of the slots (",
consequently to downward motion is imparted to the breech-block until the sud pin
airives in the horizontal put of the said slots, in traversing the concentric part of the
slots C³, the said crank-pin d' icts upon the cocking lever 9 and draws back the firing

page_text: pin F
in the continued movement of the snart about its axis, the ring pins
fully cocked and the breech-block is moved downward to open the breech and the
spring d is expanded as shown in Figure 3, the sear 2, being released by the
movement of the crank-pin d' away from the same, is caused by its spring &² to engage
with the shoulder of the firing-pin, the sear moreover, engages with the
shoulders of the said firing-pin, which is thus retained in its cocked position The
breech-block, in its descent, acts upon the arm J of the extractor J and ejects
the empty cartridge-shell from the barrel The spring 66, as above stated, diminishes
the shock or concussion caused by the impact of the hook d' with the extremity of the
pawl b, the said spring, moi cover, by its reaction, en-ures a gradually increasing
velocity of movement of the shaft D about its axis in opening the breech
The downward movement of the breech-block is arrested by the contact of the
stop d with the projection B' on the barrel and the said block is held down by
the engagement of the projections ¹ on the extractor J with the hooks C³ of the
said block
At the termination of the forward or return movement of the barrel and breech-
block, the projection d¹º on the arm & strikes the stop-lever or pawl bind disengages
the same from the hook d as shown in Figure 3 The gun is now ready to receive
another cartridge, the flange of which, upon the said cartridge being forcibly inserted
into the barrel by hand, strikes the lips of the extractor J and thus releases the
breech-block from the projections 1 and forces the said extractor into the recesses
provided therefor in the breech-end of the barrel The spring d then reacts upon the
arm d, thus turning the shaft D about its axis in the reverse direction to that
indicated by the arrows in Figures 2 and 4. In this movement of the said shaft,
the breech-block is first raised and the breech closed, the crank-pin d then strikes
the lower arm of the safety-sear 2 and disengages it from the shoulder f of the
firing-pin F The gun is now ready to be fired by hand by means of the trigger
or equivalent device
The lost motion of the crank-pin d in relation to the breech-block, obtained by
the formation of the slots C as above described, ensures the drawing back of the
firing-pin before the breech-bloch commences its downward movement, and the
complete closing of the breech before the safety-sear 2 is 1eleased
In starting the gun when the breech is closed and there is no cartridge in the
birrel, it is necessary to open the breech by hand This operation is effected by
applying a hand-lever to one end of the shaft D and turning the sud shift through
in ingle of about 60 degrees in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figures 2
and 4 A cartridge is then inserted, and, on firing this cartridge, the operations
necessary in preparing the gun for the insertion of a fresh cartridge will be
automatically performed
It will therefore be seen that the gun above described, after the breech has been
opened by hand and a cartridge has been inserted into the barrel, operates automatically
in respect of the opening of the breech, the extraction of the empty cartridge-shell
and the cocking of the gun, that is to say, all the operations, with the exception of
the insertion of the cartridges into the barrel and the releasing of the firing-pin or
striker, are automatically performed By fixing the trigger in the fring position,
the gun may be rendered entirely automatic with the exception of the insertion of the
cartridges into the barrel
into the barrel
R is a tube or
A spring S is
I sometimes provide for the automatic insertion of the cartridges
In Figure 7, I have illustrated apparatus designed for this purpose
sleeve which is fitted to slide longitudinally upon the hollow rod K¹
placed upon the said 1od between the shoulder-piece Kind a shoulder R¹ on the
interior of the tube or sleeve R, the sud spring being enclosed or party enclosed
by the said sleeve The sleeve R 15 provided with a stud or projection R³ and a
A lever
corresponding stud or projection B is formed or fixed on the barrel B
or catch T is pivoted it T¹ to the tube or sleeve R. and is acted upon by a spring T³,
which causes, or tends to cause the said catch to engage with a shoulder k" on the
hollow rod K¹ when the sleeve R is in its rearmost position as shown, A bracket R³

page_text: is formed on, or attached to the tube or sleeve R This bricket is adapted to receive
the base or rear end of cartridge, when the latter is placed in position for thrusting
into the birrel The rear end of the lever or catch T extends along one side of the
bachet R³ so that cartridge, when pliced upon the said brichet, will strike the sud
catch and disengage it from the shoulder k
-
The operation of the apparatus shown in Figure is as follows, thit is to say
In the recoil, the projection B acting upon the projection R' drives the sleek R
backward upon the rod K¹, thus compressing the spring S, until the catch T engiges
with the shoulder k* The sud catch then holds back the sleeve R, th is hoping the
said spring compressed To load the gun, it is only necessary to drop a cartidge
into the slot in the breech of the gun and into the bracket R', the flange of the sud
cartridge then strikes the catch T and turns the same upon its pivot, thus disengaging
it from the shoulder k³ as shown The spring S, by its reaction, then pushes forward
the sleeve R, thereby thrusting or throwing the said cartridge into the barrel of
the gun
This arrangement is very advantageous in a gun for use with large and hervy
cartridges
I can, if desired, employ other devices, in plice of the spring, for storing energy
during the recoil and subsequently utilizing such energy for thrusting or throwing a
cartridge into the barrel For instance, I can use for this purpose a piston or plun er
which, in the recoil, will compress air in a cylinder or chamber
To facilitate the charging of the gun, I prefer to arrange upon the gun-mounting,
a migazine oi holder for the cartridges from which the said cartridges can be readily
lifted or withdrawn by hand one by one for placing in the gun or for dropping into
position to be thrust into the barrel by the spring S as above described In Figure 8,
U 15 1 cartridge-holder or magazine which is attached to the swivelling part of the
gun-mounting so that it extends below and at one side of the breech of the gun
A suitable spring U¹ is arranged in the said magazine for elevating the cartridges
therein, and the magazine is provided at its upper end with spring fingers u for
retaining the cartridges therein whilst permitting their withdrawal therefrom by hand
as required
rforated
In the modification of my invention shown in Figures 9 to 15, strong involute
spings B³ are arranged within the hydraulic recoil-brake cylinder L with a
disc between them, so that they will be compressed during the recoil and will, by
their reaction, effect the forward or return movement of the gun The shaft Dis
provided with a lever D¹ for opening the breech by hand
The short arm 6* of the
stop-lever or pul bis acted upon by a spring which is enclosed in a casing b
formed on, or attached to the gun-fiame A, and which tends to turn the said lever
about its pivot, so that, at the termination of the recoil, it will engage with the hook d
of the rm d² A stop or projection 6% is formed on the said sing 6 to limit the
downward movement of the long arm of the love or paul b The sud shaft D 15 so
arranged that the breech-block C, in its downward movement, will come in contact
therewith and the downward movement of the said block will thus be irrested The
arm on the shaft D is enclosed by a casing d", which is secured to the barrel by
screws or otherwise, and is formed with a slot or aperture in which works the lever
or pawl b
The shaft D is provided with a coiled spring d which will be wound up during the
opening of the breech and will, by its reaction, raise the breech-block and close
the breech, substantially as described in my sand former specification
The said spring
18 enclosed in a separite casing secured to the cising d*
A lover d 18 fixed on the shaft D and is a inged to act upon the end of the
cocking-lever g for the purpose of cocking the firing-pin when the sud shift is turned
to open the breech A bent lever or sear 9 is pivoted at g to the breech-hloch
and is provided with a downwardly projecting arm g³ which is connected with the
trigger The said sear q* is so arranged that it will engige with the cocking-
lever when the firing-pin is cocked, and will thus rotan the same in its cocked
position. A spring acts upon the downwardly projecting arm g² of the sear g*

page_text: for the purpose of keeping the said sear in engagement with the cocking-lever g
until released by the pulling of the trigger
The extractor J 1 arranged to slide in a longitudinal slot BB in the breech end of
the barrel and is provided with a lug or projection 7 which extends into a groove or
russ in the breech-block C The said projection is provided with an inclined
sur ice, Figure 14, for the purpose hereinafter explained The groove c³ is partly
vertical and partly oblique as shown in Figure 14 The extractor I operated is
follow>, viz When the breech-block is moved downward to open the breech, the
inclined surface on the projection being acted upon by the inclined surface c* on
the breech-block, the extrictor J is moved backward and extracts the empty cartridge-
shell from the barrel The projection then engiges with horizontal surface con
the breech-block and thus prevents the upward movement of the breech-block until
relised as hereafter described Upon the insertion of a fresh cartridge into the
bariel, the flange of the said cartridge strikes the lip of the extractor and moves
the said extrictor forward so that its lng or projection is disengaged from the
horizontal surfice, the coiled spring d, by its reaction, then moves the breech-block
upward and the sad lng or projection being acted upon by the inclined surface c*,
the forward movement of the extractor is completed, the cartridge being, at the same
time, driven home by the inclined surface c' on the breech-block
J
Instead of providing for the opening of the breech by a stop-lever or pawl during
the forward or return movement of the gun as above described, I sometimes arrange
the mechanism in such a minner that the breech-block will be retained in its closed
position by a pawl or other device and will be released by the shock or concussion
of the discharge and then moved automatically to open the breech
In this case, the
bydraulic cylinder and the outer frame or support are dispensed with, and the recoil
1s taken up by the gun-carriage or mounting, the trunnions being formed on, or
attached to the barrel
In the gun shown in Figures 16 and 17, a pawl is pivoted at 1¹ to the reinforce of
the barrel and is provided with a circular projection o
arm i This arm is acted
upon by a rod or plunger which is fitted to slide in a casing attached to the sud
reinforce and is acted upon by a spring enclosed in the said casing:
This spring
tends to press the arm against a stop
The lever D has fixed therein, or formed
thereon a stud on projection Ds with which the pawl is adapted to engage as shown
in Figure 16
In this modification, the closing of the breech has to be effected by hand by means
of the lever D¹ In this operation, the spring d is wound up or compressed and
energy is thus stored in the said spring When the breech is thus closed, the pawl a
engiges with the projection D and retains the breech-block in its closed position
When the gun is fired, the shock or concussion produced by the explosion is sufficient
to drive back the arm and compress the spring, the pawl is thus turned about
its pivot and disengaged from the stud on projection 1) and the lever D¹ is released,
whereupon the coiled spring_d, by its reaction, turns the shaft D in the direction
indicated by the arrow in Figure 16 and thus opens the breech and extraets
the empty cartridge-shell by mechanism substantially such as that hereinbutore
described
I can, if desired, employ other suitable devices, in place of the pivoted pawl or
catch, for retaining the breech-block in its closed position whilst permitting the
release thereof by the shock or concussion of the discharge Moreover other suitable
devices may be substituted for the spring, for effecting the automatic opening of the
breech when the breech-block is thus released
In Figures 18 and 19, 1 have shown modification of my invention wherein I
pivot the stop-lever or pawl 6 to heavy block or weight fitted to slide hetween
guides V¹ formed on, or attached to the gun-frime A The weight V is formed with
a slot V³, and the shaft D extends through the sud slot, the arm being fixed on the
shaft outside the said weight A spring W is connected at one end to the gun-
frime A and at its other end to the weight V In the recoil of the gun, the shaft D,

page_text: acting upon the weight V at the rear end of the lot therein, moves the sud weight
rapidly backward, so that it expands on extends the spring W, the sud weight V,
by reason of its momentum, continuing its bichwund movement until it issume the
position shown in Figure 19, the pawlb, in this movement, ut upon the arm and
thus opens the breech by mechanism substantially as heieinbuture described
spring W then reacts and moves forward the wught V ready for the next discharge
Upon the insertion o. a cartridge into the barrel, the breech is closed by theiction
of a spring as herembefore described
Tho
In the modification of my invention shown in Figures 20 und 21, I also employ
weight V arranged to slide in guides V₁ on the frime A substantially is described
with reference to Figures 16 and 19 In this notification, however, the stop-lever
or pawl b is placed behind and below the shatt D, and the said pawl ind the arın d
are inverted, so that the opening of the breech will be effected in the forward or
return movement, instead of in the backward movement of the weight V
It is obvious that the stop-lever or pawl, in either of the modifications shown in
Figures 18 to 21, may be formed with a spring substantially is ind for the purpose
described with reference to the gun shown in Figures 1 to 5
In some instances, I provide means for securing the hind-lover and the operating
shaft in place in the gun in such a manner that they can be readily removed there from
And I also provide means whereby the said lever may be put into and out of
operative connection with the said shaft, without the necessity for completely removing
or detaching it therefrom I thus provide for permitting the movement of the
shaft independently of the said lever while the litter is suspended freely from the
shaft, or the connection of the lever with the shaft for the purpose of operating
the breech-mechanism by hand
The
In Figures 22 and 23, m is a split or divided collar, sleeve or clip which is fitted
upon the shaft D and may be clamped tightly thereon as herein after described
lever D¹ is provided with a screw-stud n which is passed through one part of the
collar or clip m and is screwed into the other part thereof, as shown in Figure 22
The shaft D is formed with a circumferential groove De, into which the said stud
projects as shown in Fig 23, so that the said lever, while retained upon the shaft
can be rotated thereon The collar or clip m is, moreover, formed with a flange m'
which engages with a flanged rib A* on one side of the gun-frame A and thus
assists in retaining the said lever upon the shaft whilst permitting its rotation
thereon
When the lever is in the position shown, the shaft can be operated automatically
as herein before described without affecting the sud lever If it is desired to
operate the breech-mechanism by hand, the lever D' may be firmly fixed upon the
shaft D by turning the said lever about the axis of the stud n through an angle of
180 degrees in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 23 and thus causing
the collar or clip m to tightly clump the said shaft
To facilitate the application of the lever to the shaft and its removal therefrom,
the metal of the shaft D is cut away or removed to form flat surface D' and
a portion of the flange m¹ of the collar or clip m is also cut way or removed to form
a flat surface m³
By turning the lever D¹ upon or about the axis of the shaft D from the position
shown, through an angle of about 180 degrees in the direction indicated by the arrow
in Fig 22, the stud n will be brought into such a position relatively to the flat
surface D' on the said shaft as to permit the removal of the lever D¹ from the said
shaft, and, at the same time, the flat surface m being brought into coincidence with
the underside of the flange of the rib A, the flange m¹ of the collar or clip m will
be disengaged from the Hanged rib A, the said lever D¹ ind the collar or chip m can
then be drawn off the shaft The said lever ind collar or clip can be pliced and
secured upon the shaft by reversing these operations When the lever and collar
or clip are removed, the shaft D can be withdrawn and the breech-bloch with the
crank for operating the same will then fall out of the breech-chamber

page_text: It will be seen, however, that, when the lever is freely suspended from the shaft,
the said shift and lever are securely held in place in the gun by the foresand
devices whilst the said shaft can turn independently of the lever
In Figures 24, 25 and 26, the lever D is pivoted at De to lugs m³ formed on
the collir or sleeve m The said collar or sleeve is made with a transverse slot or
groove m and the shift D is made with a corresponding slot or groove D', so
that, by turning the lever upon or about its pivot De from the position shown,
through an angle of thout 180 degrees in the direction indicated by the irrow
in Figure 25, the sul lover, and co'lar may be firmly connected with the shaft D, so
thit the breech can be opened ind closed by hind
The sud shift and the lever and cellar or sleeve are held in plice by a flange m¹
having a flattened surfice m² and adapted to engage with a flinged rib A' on the
gun-frame as above described with reference to Figures 22 and 23, therefore, by
turning the said lever and collar or sleeve upon or about the axis of the shaft D
from the position shown, through an angle of about 180 degrees in the direction
indicated by the row in Figure 24, they can be disengaged from the said shift as
above mentioned and the shaft can then be withdrawn from the gun
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my sud inven-
tion, and in what minner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that
I claim
First The employment, in a gun of the kind or class hereinbefore described, of
a pivoted stop-lever or pawl formed with spring for the purposes above specbed
Second-The combinition, with the shaft and crank for oporating the breech-block
and with the arm hiving the hook or projection, of stop-lever or pawl which is
pivoted to the gun-trame so th it, in the recoil, or in the forward or return movement
of the gun, it will engage with the said arm and operate the sud shaft and crank
to open the breech, and which is formed with a spring for diminishing the shock
or concussion due to impact of the said arm with the stop-lever or piwl
Third-The combination of pirts comprising the shaft and crank for operating the
breech-block, the arm fixed on the said shaft and provided with the hook or projection
and with the roller, the bent spring, and the stop-lever or pawl, substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, and for the purposes
specified
Fourth-The combination, with a gun, of a spring or other device for storing
energy during the recoil and for utilizing such energy, when cartridge is placed by
hand in the loading position, for thrusting on throwing the said cartridge into
the barrel
Fifth-A gun which is arranged to recoil in a frame or support having a shoulder-
piece or crutch, and which has combined therewith a tube or sleeve fitted to slide
upon the rod of the said crutch and provided with a support for a cartridge when
placed in the loading position, a spring arranged to act upon the said sleeve, and
means for retaining the sud tube or sleeve at the rear end of its stroke or
movement until released by the placing of a cartridge in the loading position,
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth
Sixth-The combination, with a gun of the kind or class hereinbefore described,
of cartridge-holder or magazine attached to the swivelling part of the gun-
mounting and provided with devices for elevating the cartridges and for retaining
them in the said holder or magazine whilst permitting their ready withdrawal
therefrom, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth
Seventh The improved device comprising the pivoted shoulder-piece and means
whereby the turning of the gun about its trunnions will be prevented except when
pressure is applied to the said shoulder-piece, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth
Eighth The improved gun constructed substantially as described with reference
to Figures 1 to 6 or with reference to Figures 9 to 15 of the drawings and operating
as above specified

page_text: Ninth A gun when in the breech-block is held in its closed position by pawl or
other device und, when the gun is fired, will be released by the shock or concussion of
the discharge, and will then be moved automatically to open the breech
Tenth-A gun wherein the brutch-block shades transversely to the axis of the birrel
to open and close the bieuch and his combined with it meins for storing energy in
the closing of the breach by hand and for subsequently utilizing such energy to
automatically effect the opening of the bruech
Eleventh The combination, with the transversely sliding breech-block and the
lever for closing the breech by hand, of a spring or springs for automatically
effecting the opening of the breech, ind a piwl pivoted to the barrel and a lupted
to hold the breech-block in its closed position until released by the shock or concussion
of the discharge, substantially as described with reference to Figures 16 and 17 of
the drawings
Twelfth A gun which is arranged to recoil in a frame or support and wherein a
stop-lever or pawl for opening the breech is carried by, and pivoted to a heavy bloch
or weight fitted to slide in or upon suitable guides on the said frame or support and
acted upon by 1 spring, for the purposes above specified
Thirteenth-The improved method or manner of securing the operating shaft and
lever in place n the gun so that they can be readily removed therefrom, substantially
as described
Fourteenth-The combination, with the shaft and lever for operating the breech-
block, of means for putting the said lever into and out of operative connection
with the shaft without removing or detaching it therefrom, for the purposes above
*pecified
Fifteenth-The combination of parts comprising the operating shaft and lever, the
collar, clip or sleeve, and means, subst intially is described with reference to Figures 22
and 23 or with reference to Figures 24, 25 and 26 of the drawings, for securing the
said shaft and lever in place in the gun whilst permitting their ready removil
therefrom when desired, ind for putting the sud lever into and out of operative
connection with the shaft without removing or detaching it therefrom, as, and for the
purposes specified