IMPROVED FEED-APPARATUS FOR MACHINE OR BATTERY GUNS OR OTHER FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 59° Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVED
FEED-APPARATUS FOR MACHINE OR BATTERY GUNS OR OTHER FIRE-ARMS" to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to feed-apparatus for supplying machine or battery guns or
repeating fire-arms with cartridges and comprises various improvements hereinafter
described.
The essential feature of my said invention is the combination of two devices
which I term the first and second feed-wheels. The first feed-wheel, which may
also be termed a magazine, is arranged to rotate or partially rotate on a vertical
axis above the barrel. The second feed-wheel is arranged to rotate on an axis
parallel with that of the barrel.
These wheels are suitably geared together, and the said second feed-wheel is
arranged to be intermittently rotated by the breech-block in its to-and-fro move-
ment or by other suitable means.
The first feed-wheel or magazine is made with a box or case divided into com-
partments, each of which is capable of containing a number of cartridges. The
second wheel has in it a series of longitudinal grooves or channels. The first
wheel is so arranged relatively to the other wheel that it brings oach compartment,
at the proper time, above one of the grooves of the second feed-wheel.
The aforesaid box or case is constructed in such a manner that, before the
cartridges in the first feed-wheel have been all used, it can be removed and
replaced by a similar box or case containing a fresh supply of cartridges, so that
the working of the gun need not be discontinued through having to wait for the
magazine to be refilled. I provide the said box or case with an adjustable ring
having a series of projections, which, when the ring is in one position, lie under
the several compartments in the box or case so as to prevent the dropping of the
cartridges therefrom; or I may use, in place of this ring, a perforated cover with
radial apertures and so arranged that the bars between these apertures prevent the
dropping of the cartridges from the box. When the box or case has been fitted
npon the first feed-wheel, the said ring or cover is rotated upon the box or case a
sufficient distance to leave the spaces between the said projections or bars of the

page_text: ring or cover clear, so that the cartridges will fall from the said compartments into
the compartments of the first feed-wheel or magazine, the bottom of which is a
stationary plate provided with a slot or aperture above the second feed-wheel. As
ench compartiment in the said feed-wheel comes into position to coincide with this
aperture, the lowermost cartridge therein drops through the latter into the upper-
most groove of the said second feed-wheel.
I sometimes provide a curved or inclined projection or plate for ensuring the
transfer of the cartridges from the first feed-wheel to the second feed-wheel. This
projection or plate is usually fixed to the aforesaid stationary plate, at one side of
the aperture therein. ⚫
b
The box or magazine for containing the cartridges is preferably provided with a
handle and so arranged that it can be readily removed from, and replaced upon,
the vertical shaft on which it rotates. And I prefer to provide one or more pins
or.studs which project from the first feed-wheel to enter apertures in the said box
or case and thus ensure the coincidence of the compartments in the said box or
case with the apertures in the said feed-wheel.

page_text: I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57° Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for " IMPROVED
FEED-APPARATUS FOR MACHINE OR BATTERY GUNS OR OTHER FIRE-ARMS" 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 feed-apparatus for supplying machine or battery guns or
repeating fire-arms with cartridges, and comprises various improvements as herein-
after described.
The most important feature of my said invention is an apparatus or device
consisting essentially of two parts, which I term the first and second feed-wheels.
The first feed-wheel, which may also be termed a magazine, is mounted on a
vertical axis above the barrel. The second feed-wheel is mounted on an axis
parallel to, and above, that of the barrel. These two wheels are suitably geared
together, and are arranged to be intermittently rotated by the breech-block in its
to-and-fro movement or by some other suitable part of the mechanism, the move-
ments of which are coincident with, or properly timed relatively to, those of the
breech-block, to transfer or deliver cartridges from the first feed-wheel, or from a
suitable magazine, case, box, or holder placed thereon, to the mechanism which
inserts them into the barrel of the gun.
My improvements are applicable to automatic guns as well as to those which are
operated by hand.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section shewing my improven.ents applied to
an automatic fire-arm constructed as described with reference to Figure 10 of the
drawings in the specification of Letters Patent dated 26th May A.D. 1884, N° 8242.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1, showing an edge view
of part of the first feed-wheel and its casing.
Figure 3 is a plan of the first feed-wheel with a portion of its top plate
removed.
Figure 4 is a vertical central section of the said feed-wheel.
Figure 5 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, and
Figure 6 a vertical central section, showing a cartridge-box or magazine to be
used in combination with the said feed-wheel.
Figure 7 is a vertical central section.
Figure 8 a plan, partly in horizontal section on the line ³, 1, Figure 7, and
Figure 9 a transverse section on the line ³,³, Figure 8, illustrating a modification
of my invention.
Like letters of referenco indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a indicates the shoe or body of the gun, b the barrel, and c the breech-block.
d is the first feed-wheel or magazine, which is constructed with a contral piece
or boss having projections d³, and with an outer ring or casing d³, having

page_text: inwardly projecting pieces d' attached thereto. A top plate d³ connects the said
central piece and outer ring or casing, and is made with a serios of aportures or
slots de corresponding in shape with the longitudinal section of a cartridge. This
feed wheel is mounted upon the vertical shaft e, whose axis is normal to that of
the barrel. f is the second feed-wheel, which is made with longitudinal grooves or
channels and with two series of teeth f¹, f, as described in the specification of
former Letters Patent dated 3rd January A.D. 1884, No 606. The said wheel fis
mounted on the horizontal shaft g, whose axis is parallel to that of the barrel.
The feed-wheel d and shaft e àre supported in a bearing attached to a plato h
which is secured to the top of the shoe or body a. A bevel gear-wheel i, fixed on
the lower end of the shaft c, gears with the bevel pinion j fixed on the shaft g.
This shaft is mounted, and fitted to turn freely, in bearings in the parts a¹, a³, of
the gun.
The cartridges are to be placed between the projections d², d' of the feed-wheel d,
as shewn in Figure 3, so that they rest on the plate h. This plate is made with a
slot or aperture h² to permit the cartridges, which are successively moved into
position over the said aperture as hereinafter explained, to fall from the foed-
wheel & into the feed-wheel f. The wheel fis arranged to be intermittently rotated
by the breach-block c, in its to-and-fro movement, by means of the projection c¹ on
the said block; this projection acts upon the teeth f¹, f' as described in the said
former specification No 606. And the said feed-whcel fimparts intermittent rotary
motion to the wheel d through the bevel pinion j and wheel i, the relative velocities
of the said wheel and pinion being such that in, or during, each movement of the
wheel to bring a fresh cartridge into line with the barrel, the wheel d will be
moved a sufficient distance to cause another cartridge to fall through the aperture /*
into the uppermost groove of the wheel f
k is a curved plate or guide for ensuring the proper delivery or transfer of the
cartridges from the wheel d to the wheel f. This plate or guide is formed on, or
secured to, the plate h at one side of the aperture ², in such a position that, as the
cartridges lying in the magazine or wheel d are thereby carried forward around its
axis, they will successively come in contact with the said guido and fall through
the aperture h. The plate h, moreover, has a downward projection or incline, as
shewn at 3, down which the cartridges will roll into the grooves of the wheel f
as will be readily understood by referring to Figure 2. The empty cartridge-cases,
as they are withdrawn from the barrel, are carried around by the wheel fand
ejected through the aperture in a similar manner to that described in the said
former specification Nº 606.
m is a cartridge-box, case, or magazine, which I usually employ in combination
with the said feed-apparatus. This box or case is divided into compartments m²,
cach of which is capable of containing a number of cartridges placed one above
another, as shewn in Figure 1. The connection of the said box or case with tho
feed-wheel d is such that, before the cartridges in the first feed-wheel have been all
used, the said box or case can be readily removed, and replaced by a similar box or
case containing a fresh supply of cartridges, so that the working of the gun need
not be discontinued by reason of having to wait for the magazine to be refilled.
n is an adjustable cover for the box or case m. This cover is formed with radial
apertures or slots n' corresponding in shape, or nearly so, with those in the top
plate d of the first feed-wheel. When this cover is in its closed position, the
bars n between the said apertures or slots will lie beneath the compartments m¹
and thus prevent the dropping of the cartridges from the box m. To permit the
cover and box m to be slightly rotated relatively to each other as hereinafter
specified, the said cover is secured by screws 22³, passing through slots n' in
the periphery of the cover, and screwed into the said box. Instead of the cover n,
I sometimes use an adjustable ring having a series of projections which, when the
ring is in one position, lie under the several compartments m¹ and prevent the
dropping of the cartridges therefrom, and, when the said ring is turned a short,
distance, leave the said compartments open.

page_text: The box or magazino. m is provided with a tubular handle o, which is firmly
secured in the plates m², m³, and whereby it can be very readily.removed from, and
replaced upon, the vertical shaft e on which it rotates. Two pins or studs parc
fixed in the wheel d and project upward therefrom to enter holes q, q' in the cover n
and in the plate m³ of the box or case m, and thus ensure the coincidence of the
compartments m³ with the apertures do of the feed-wheel d. In order that the act
of placing the box m in its proper position on the wheel & shall cause the automatic
opening of the compartments m', to permit the cartridges to fall therefrom, I so
arrange the said cover in combination with the said box and the pin p that, when
the cover is in position to close the compartments m', the holes q are situated
relatively to the holes g as shewn in Figure 5, and, when the box m is placed on
the shaft e, the pins or studs p, which are tapered or pointed at their ends, will
enter the holes and their points will project a short distance into the holes q; it
is obvious that, if a slight downward pressure is now exerted upon the box m, the
inclined surfaces of the ends of the said pins or studs, acting on the edges of the
holes q', will cause the box m to turn until the holes q¹ coincide with the holes q.
and tho box m will be pressed into its place on the wheel d. The apertures n¹ and
compartments m¹ will then coincide with the apertures do in the plate d³, and the
compartments m' will be open at the bottom so that the cartridges will full there-.
from into the compartments of the feed-wheel d. To facilitato the placing of the
box m on the wheel d, the cover n is made with a conical part n³, which will pass™
easily over the tapered or pointed end of the shaft c. For the same purpose, a
number of holes q arc formed in the cover n and a similar number of holes are
formed in the plate m³ of the box m, so that, whatever may be the position of the
box when placed on the shaft c, it will only require to be slightly rotated to permit
the pins or studs p to enter two of the said holes.
In some cases, instead of arranging the parts so that the opening of the compart-
ments m¹ will be effected by the act of placing the box m on the wheel d, I provide
for turning the said box or its cover by hand, after the said box has been placed on
the wheel d. For this purpose either the plate m³ or the cover must be formed
with slots concentric with the handle o, instead of with the round holes q or q².
In the above described form or modification of my apparatus, the feed-wheels.
are, as above stated, arranged to be moved by the breech-block in its to-and-fro
movement, in the manner described in the said former specification N° 606, wherein
it is stated that the broech-block partially rotates the feed-wheels in its forward
movement as well as in its recoil. But I sometimes so construct my feed-apparatus
that the breech-block will, during. its recoil, cause the first foed-wheel to move
a sufficient distance to bring a fresh cartridge above the aperture h³, and the said
wheel will remain stationary during the forward movement of the breech-block, as
hereinafter described.
In the modification of my invention shewn in Figures 7, 8 and 9, a ring or
annular piece 7 is secured upon the plate h. The heads of the cartridges rest upon
this ring. The said ring is formed with a rim or flange r³, within which the feed-
wheel dis arranged to rotate. Another ring or annular piece a is secured to the
plate h for the ends of the projectiles to rest upon. The projections * are shaped
as shewn in Figure 7, to afford space for the piece &. These two annular pieces 7, 8,
are notched or cut away above the aperture as shown at r³, 82, to permit the
cartridges to fall through the said aperture. A steel ring t is secured to the exterior
of the casing and has teeth formed on its underside to engage with a spring-
retaining pawl secured to the plate h and projecting through a hole in the annular
piece r, so that the wheel d can only rotate in one direction. The said spring-
retaining pawl is not shewn in the drawing. I provide sliding pieces or bolts u for
holding the wheel & in place after it has been inserted within the rim r². These
sliding bolts are retained in position by pins ul.
A flat spring is passed through the shaft e and secured therein by a pin v.
The extremities of this spring lie between projections d', d³, on the central piece d'
of the wheel d. These projections are far enough apart to permit a certain amount

page_text: of "lost-motion" of the shaft e. For this purpose also the boss of the piece o is
slotted or cut away as shown at d*.
When the breech-block recoils and causes the partial rotation of the shaft e, the
spring acts upon the projections & and partially rotates the feed-wheel d, the
momentum imparted to the said wheel causing it to turn, after the shaft e has
The breech-
ceased moving, until the projections de come against the spring v.
block, in its forward movement, rotates the shaft e sufficiently to bring the ends of
the spring against the projections ready for again moving the said wheel,
but there is lost-motion" of the said shaft as regards its action upon the feed-
wheel d.
By these means, I provide a yielding connection between the shaft e and wheel d,
and diminish the shock to these parts caused by the breech-block in its recoil.
I also obviate the necessity for moving the feed-wheel d during the forward
movement of the breech-block, and thus diminish the shock produced by the
action of the breech-block, in this movement, upon the feed-wheel f. Moreover
I prevent or diminish the injurious re-action of the teeth f1,3 of the wheel fupon
the projection c¹ of the breech-block, which results from the tendency of the feed-
wheel d to rebound or recoil after cach forward movement thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. In the cartridge-feed-apparatus of a machine or other gun, the combination
of two feed-wheels mounted on axes at right angles to each other and so arranged
that, when intermittently rotated, the cartridges will be transferred from the one
to the other of the said wheels, as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Second. The combination of the said feed-apparatus with a machine or other gun
in such a manner that cartridges supplied to the said first or upper feed-wheel will,
by the action of the gun, be successively transferred or delivered from the said
apparatus to the part or device which inserts them in the barrel, as above set forth.
Third. The combination, with the first feed-wheel, of the removable box or
magazine and means substantially as described for ensuring the coincidence of tho
compartments of the said box with the apertures in the feod-wheel, as, and for the
purpose, set forth.
Fourth. The perforated cover or its equivalent so arranged in combination with
the said box or magazine, and with the pins p, that the act of placing the said box
in position on the feed-wheel will cause the automatic opening of the compartiments
of the said box, as, and for the purpose, specified.
Fifth. The connection of the feed-wheel d with its shaft or axis through the
medium of a spring, substantially in the manuer described with reference to
Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, so that there is "lost-motion" of the shaft e
during the forward movement of the breech-block and the said shaft acts upon the
feed-wheel only during the recoil of the said block, as above set forth.
. Sixth. The improved feed - apparatus comprising the aforesaid two wheels
constructed and arranged relatively to the other parts of the said apparatus
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 6, or Figures 7, 8 and 9
of the accompanying drawings, for the purposes specified.