Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 30th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1889
I, GEORGE STUART, of Elswick Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a machine for filling the feeders of Gatling guns.
This machine is intended to be used in connection with feeders in which the
cartridges are held in radial openings in a drum and are controlled by spirals within
the drum case so that when the feeder is in use the cartridges are brought forward
one at a time to a mouth in the case from which they pass into the gun.
The filling apparatus consists of a body or base which can be clipped in place on to
the case of the feeder over the mouth. This body carries a cartridge hopper through
which cartridges supplied at the upper end descend in regular order.
There are springs at the lower end of the hopper which prevent the descent of the
cartridges except at the times when the drum is properly placed to receive them.
The body also carries a crank which is rotated by means of a handle and this by a
connecting rod imparts a to and fro movement to a saddle piece mounted on the
body.
The saddle piece carries a pawl which by engaging with pins on the drum of the
feeder, rotates it step by step bringing the radial openings in the drum successively
up to the mouth in the case.
The saddle piece also carries inclines which enter the hopper when the saddle
advances. These inclines come into contact with the cartridge resting on the springs
and force it past them. The cartridge so liberated falls into the drum; the saddle.
then recedes and again advances thereby moving the drum round a step to bring the
next radial opening into position and supplying a cartridge to it; so the work goes on.
Dated this 7th day of May 1888.

page_text: A Machine for Filling the Feeders of Gatling Guns.
I, GEORGE STUART, of Elswick Works, Newcastle upon Tyne, 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:
This invention has for its object a machine for filling the feeders of Gatling guns.
This machine is intended to be used in connection with feeders in which the
cartridges are held in radial openings in a drum and are controlled by spirals within
the drum case so that when the feeder is in use the cartridges are brought forward
one at a time to a mouth in the case from which they pass into the gun.
The filling apparatus consists of a body or base which can be clipped in place on to
the case of the feeder over the mouth. This body carries a cartridge hopper through
which cartridges supplied at the upper end descend in regular order.
There are springs at the lower end of the hopper which prevent the descent of the
cartridges except at the times when the drum is properly placed to receive them.
The body also carries a crank which is rotated by means of a handle and this by a
connecting rod imparts a to and fro movement to a saddle piece mounted on the
body.
The saddle piece carries a pawl which by engaging with pins on the drum of the
feeder, rotates it step by step bringing the radial openings in the drum successively up
to the mouth in the case.
The saddle piece also carries inclines which enter the hopper when the saddle
advances. These inclines come into contact with the cartridge resting on the springs
and force it past them. The cartridge so liberated falls into the drum; the saddle
then recedes and again advances thereby moving the drum round a step to bring the
next radial opening into position and supplying a cartridge to it; so the work
goes on.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine; it is shown mounted in its place upon
the drum case of the Gatling feeder.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same but without the cover enclosing the
working parts which is shown in outline only in Figure 1.
a is the drum case of the Gatling feeder and a¹ the part thereof in which the mouth
is formed. The drum with its radial slots b to receive the cartridges and its driving
pins c is indicated within the drum case by dotted lines.
d is the body of the filler, it fits on over the mouth of the drum case and is secured
in its place by the spring catch e. f is the tray or trough in which the cartridges are

page_text: arranged and they descend by gravity into the hopper or enclosed channel f. g¹ g²
are two springs which support the lowest cartridge near its ends and prevent it from
passing down to the mouth of the drum case until it is required to do so.
h is a saddle arranged to slide in guide grooves d' in the body d.
¿ is a cranked
axis carried by the body d-it is turned by means of a handle k at its end. lis a.
connecting rod coupling the crank with the saddle. m is a spring pawl carried by
the saddle and engaging with the pins c. n¹ n³ are inclines on the saddle projecting
through openings in the hopper or channel f¹ and coming into contact with the
cartridges.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
After the cartridges have been placed in the tray the handle k is turned thereby
rotating the crank and sliding saddle backwards and forwards. The first half turn
of the crank handle pushes the sliding saddle back, withdraws the inclines n' n²
and allows the cartridges to fall and rest upon the springs g¹g. On turning the
handle the second half turn the pawl m on the sliding saddle pushes the drum round
and brings one of its radial slots into the receiving position, whilst at the same time
the inclines n' n advance and force the cartridges past the springs n¹n into the
drum. After the cartridges have entered the drum the work is taken up by the
spiral grooves on either side and the cartridges are forced at every turn of the crank
nearer their final position.
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 :-
1. A machine for filling the feeder of Gatling guns consisting of a body or frame
carrying a cartridge hopper for conveying the cartridges and a saddle or reciprocating
part provided with a driving-pawl and inclines which rotate the drum of the feeder
step by step and also passes the cartridges successively into the mouth of the drum
case substantially as described.
2. A machine substantially as described and shown by the annexed drawings for
filling the feeders of Gatling guns.
D
1000