Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 7th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 12th Aug., 1887.
I THORSTEN NORDENFELT of 53 Parliament Street in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machine guns and relates
especially to that class of machine gun in which the loading is automatically
performed.
The barrel of the gun is carried in a cradle in which it is able to slide longitudinally.
The cradle has trunnions upon it which are carried in bearings upon a forked support
which is able to turn upon a firm base. The barrel is surrounded by a coiled spring
which is compressed when the barrel recoils between a collar upon the barrel and a
shoulder upon the cradle. The recoil of the gun and its return to the firing position
are further controlled by a hydraulic compressor hereinafter described.
The breech of the gun is closed by a breech plate or block which is connected
by two side cheeks with studs upon the side of the barrel. The side cheeks with
the breech block are able to turn around the studs-they move in a downward
direction in opening the breech. The stud axes are at some distance in advance of the
rear end of the barrel and their centres are about on a level with the underside of
the hore. On the side cheeks of the breech block cylindrical bosses are formed at a
short distance in rear of the stud axes,--these bosses are received into guide slots
formed in the sides of the cradle. The form of these guide slots is such that at the
commencement of the recoil and as soon as the gases generated by the explosion
have had time to escape, the slots operate against the bosses in such manner as to
draw down the breech block to fully open the breech; and they retain the breech
block in this position until the recoil terminates.
In connection with the breech block an extractor is provided which as the breech
opens, withdraws the case of the exploded cartridge, and just as the breech becomes
fully opened the extractor moving rapidly throws the case out from the barrel. The
cartridge case then falls clear away on to the ground beneath.
As the barrel recedes during recoil it finds a cartridge in position to enter into the
bore. The cartridge is not pushed forward into the bore as is the case in most
automatic guns, but the recoil takes the barrel over the cartridge. The cartridge

page_text: does not advance until it is already in the barrel. When it is moved somewhat
forward on account of the shape of a rocker which will be described further on. The
barrel in returning to the firing position carries the cartridge forward with it. The
path of the breech block during the return of the gun is not quite that which it
follows, whilst the breech opens, for in order to ensure that the cartridge shall go
forward with the barrel it is necessary that the breech block should commence to close
as soon as the barrel begins to advance. In order to effect this the main bosses which
guide the breech block during the recoil have studs let into them with springs which
tend to project the studs outwards from the bosses. Guide grooves are provided for
these studs within the main guides. During most of the recoil the studs do not
coincide with the guide grooves and therefore cannot enter them, but at the end of the
recoil the guide grooves are in a position to receive the studs which then spring into
them. The barrel advances these studs, and grooves control the breech block, they
raise it slightly at the commencement of the return and so retain it up to the time
when the final closing of the breech takes place.
In this position the guide grooves die out and the breech block is left dependent on
the main guides, which then further raise it and close the breech completely.
The breech block is provided with a firing pin and at the proper time for firing this
pin is struck by a haminer.
The hammer is jointed to the cradle and a spring applied in connection with the
joint causes the blow to be struck with sufficient force. When the barrel recoils it
pushes back the hammer and then it is retained by a sear or catch until the time for
firing arrives; it is then liberated by pulling a trigger. It is also so arranged that
the hammer can be cocked by hand.
Cartridges are fed to this gun from a cartridge hopper which is mounted upon the
cradle in such a position as to be a short distance in rear of the breech end of the
barrel when this is in the firing position. This cartridge hopper is formed at its
lower end with an incline on which the flange of the bottom cartridge rests and which
throws the cartridge slightly forward as it descends out of the hopper.
In the front end of the hopper is a catch which turns by its own weight and then
prevents the cartridge from going forward and thus keeps it in its place. The
recoiling barrel turns the catch and allows the cartridge to come down far enough to
be supported by the barrel. The barrel returning allows the cartridge that formerly
rested on the barrel to drop down on to a spring finger which keeps it in such a
position that the cartridge case next extracted from the barrel may pass beneath it.
The base of the cartridge thus waiting to enter the gun is supported upon a rocker
provided at the rear end of the cradle. So the cartridge is retained until the gun is
next fired.
The next cartridges in the hopper will be kept in its place by the above mentioned
catch.
Directly after the extraction has taken place the barrel in recoiling comes against
the spring finger and removes it from beneath the head of the cartridge and at the
same time a projecting lip upon the barrel some distance above the bore, and in rear
of it comes against the fore part of the cartridge and leads it down into the bore.
Simultaneously also with the cartridge being liberated at the fore end by the
retirement of the spring finger it is liberated also in rear by the movement of the
rocker, the rocker and the spring finger being coupled together.
To facilitate the loading of the gun independently of the recoil I provide an incline
upon the barrel and around it I have a ring on which there is a corresponding incline.
By turning the ring about the barrel by means of a handle the barrel is forced back in
the cradle against the resistance of the spring coiled around it. This movement is
sufficient to cause the breech to be opened and when it is opened the cartridge case if
there be one in the gun can be drawn out by hand as it will have been already loosened
by the extractor. When the breech is clear a cartridge is inserted also by hand.
Then by turning the ring in the reverse direction the barrel is allowed to return to
the firing position, and on the trigger being pulled the shot is fired. The next loading
takes place automatically.

page_text: The hydraulic compressor which controls the movement of the gun in its cradle
consists of a cylinder attached to the cradle beneath the barrel and parallel to it. The
cylinder contains a piston and a piston rod extending through glands at both ends of
the cylinder and at its rear end the piston rod is fixed to the barrel. The cylinder is
formed with a passage along one side of it; this passage at its fore end communicates
by a wide opening with the space in the cylinder in front of the piston. Also at
distances along the cylinder from end to end small holes are bored at intervals
connecting the main cavity with the passage. When the gun recoils and the piston
traverses the cylinder from front to rear at the commencement of the recoil many of
these small holes are available to allow the liquid behind the piston to pass into the
passage and by it to the part of the cylinder in front of the piston; but as the recoil
proceeds these holes are passed over in order by the piston and the number of holes
available to transmit the liquid from the rear to the front of the piston is progressively
reduced. The speed of the piston diminishes as the number of available holes is
reduced and so the required resistance to the movement of the piston along the
cylinder is obtained.
In order to avoid the aim being lost by the recoil of the gun I provide means for
locking the cradle rendering it at this time fast with its support and the support fast
with the base. A second hydraulic cylinder is used for this purpose; it is in
communication with the first; it contains a piston or ram, and the pressure exerted by
the gun in recoil is conveyed by the liquid to this ram which is thus projected outwards.
The ram is connected with and actuates a wedge or double incline and drives it in
between two bolts at right angles to the ram. The bolts have corresponding inclines
upon them and they are thus driven outwards and caused to exert a strong pressure
against a flange on the support by which the gun is carried, and this is sufficient to
prevent any training movement.
The frictional pressure of the ram and wedge on the bolt pieces is also sufficient to
retain the cradle and prevent it from rocking upon its trunnions thus during recoil the
cradle is immoveable upon its support.
I avail myself of the same hydraulic cylinders in order independently of the recoil,
to lock the gun in position when it has been laid upon an object. On the side of the
main hydraulic cylinder I provide another small cylinder containing a ram fitting it
accurately or it may be working through a cup leather. This ram at its outer end is
enlarged and has a screw thread cut upon it, it also carries a hand wheel by which it
can be turned. The screw thread on the ram works with a corresponding thread cut
in the mouth of the cylinder so that by turning the hand wheel the small ram is driven
into its cylinder. Liquid is thus ejected therefrom into the main cylinder and thence
it passes into the auxiliary cylinder containing the locking ram. Hence by turning
the hand wheel the locking ram is thrust out and caused to act against the bolts in the
manner already described as taking place during recoil. This arrangement in no way
interfer with the action of the hydraulic compressor in controlling the gun on firing,
but the gun is not locked, except during recoil, unless the hand wheel has been turned
so as to drive inwards the small ram upon which it is fixed. The cylinder containing
this ram has an opening in its side which serves to introduce liquid to fill the cylinders.
When the hand wheel is screwed fully back this aperture becomes uncovered.
.
T
11
1 1
1000

page_text: Improvements in Machine Guns and in Mountings therefor.
I THORSTEN NORDENFELT of 53 Parliament Street in the City of Westminster
Civil 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 improvements in machine guns and relates
especially to that class of machine gun in which the loading is automatically
performed.
The barrel of the gun is carried in a cradle in which it is able to slide longitudinally.
The cradle has trunnions upon it which are carried in bearings upon a forked support
which is able to turn upon a firm base. The barrel is surrounded by a coiled spring
which is compressed when the barrel recoils between a collar upon the barrel and a
shoulder upon the cradle. The recoil of the gun and its return to the firing position
are further controlled by a hydraulic compressor hereinafter described.
The breech of the gun is closed by a breech plate or block which is connected by
two side cheeks with studs upon the side of the barrel. The side cheeks with the
breech block are able to turn around the studs-they move in a downward direction in
opening the breech. The stud axes are at some distance in advance of the rear end
of the barrel and their centres are about on a level with the underside of the bore.
On the side cheeks of the breech block cylindrical bosses are formed at a short distance
in rear of the stud axes, these bosses are received into guide slots formed in the
sides of the cradle. The form of these guide slots is such that at the commencement
of the recoil and as soon as the gases generated by the explosion have had time to
escape, the slots operate against the bosses in such manner as to draw down the
breech block to fully open the breech; and they retain the breech block in this
position until the recoil terminates.
In connection with the breech block an extractor is provided which as the breech
opens, withdraws the case of the exploded cartridge, and just as the breech becomes
fully opened the extractor moving rapidly throws the case out from the barrel. The
cartridge case then falls clear away on to the ground beneath.
As the barrel recedes during recoil it finds a cartridge in position to enter into
the bore. The cartridge is not pushed forward into the bore as is the case in most
automatic guns, but the recoil takes the barrel over the cartridge. The cartridge does
not advance until it is already in the barrel. When it is moved somewhat forward on
account of the shape of a rocker which will be described further on the barrel in
returning to the firing position carries the cartridge forward with it. The path of the
breech block during the return of the gun is not quite that which it follows whilst
the breech opens, for in order to ensure that the cartridge shall go forward with the
barrel it is necessary that the breech block should commence to close as soon as the barrel

page_text: begins to advance. In order to effect this one of the main bosses which guide the
breech block during the recoil has a stud let into it with a spring which tends to project
the stud outwards from the boss. A guide groove is provided for this stud within
one of the main guides. During most of the recoil the stud does not coincide with
the guide groove and therefore cannot enter it, but at the end of the recoil the guide
As the barrel
groove is in a position to receive the stud which then springs in.
advances the stud and groove control the breech block, they raise it slightly at the
commencement of the return and so retain up to the time when the final closing of
the breech takes place.
In this position the guide groove dies out and the breech block is left dependent on
the main guides, which then further raise it and close the breech completely.
The breech block is provided with a firing pin and at the proper time for firing
this pin is struck by a hammer.
The hammer is jointed to the cradle and a spring applied in connection with the
joint causes the blow to be struck with sufficient force. When the barrel recoils it
pushes back the hammer and then it is retained by a sear or catch until the time for
firing arrives, it is then liberated by pulling a trigger. It is also so arranged that the
hammer can be cocked by hand.
Cartridges are fed to this gun from a cartridge hopper which is mounted upon the
cradle in such a position as to be a short distance in rear of the breech end of the
barrel when this is in the firing position. This cartridge hopper is formed at its lower
end with an incline on which the flange of the bottom cartridge rests and which
throws the cartridge slightly forward as it descends out of the hopper.
In the front end of the hopper is a catch which turns by its own weight and then
prevents the cartridge from going forward and thus keeps it in its place. The
recoiling barrel turns the catch and allows the cartridge to come down far enough to be
supported by the barrel. The barrel returning allows the cartridge that formerly
rested on the barrel to drop down on to a spring finger which keeps it in such a
position that the cartridge case next extracted from the barrel may pass beneath it.
The base of the cartridge thus waiting to enter the gun is supported upon a rocker
provided at the rear end of the cradle. So the cartridge is retained until the gun
is next fired.
The next cartridge in the hopper will be kept in its place by the above mentioned
catch.
Directly after the extraction has taken place the barrel in recoiling comes against
the spring finger and removes it from beneath the head of the cartridge and at the
same time a projecting lip upon the barrel some distance above the bore and in rear of
it comes against the fore part of the cartridge and leads it down into the bore.
Simultaneously also with the cartridge being liberated at the fore end by the retire-
ment of the spring finger it is liberated also in rear by the movement of the rocker,
the rocker and the spring finger being coupled together.
To facilitate the loading of the gun independently of the recoil I provide an incline
upon the barrel and around it I have a ring on which there is a corresponding incline.
By turning the ring about the barrel by means of a handle the barrel is forced back
in the cradle against the resistance of the spring coiled around it. This movement is
sufficient to cause the breech to be opened and when it is opened the cartridge case if
there be one in the gun can be drawn out by hand as it will have been already loosened
by the extractor. When the breech is clear a cartridge is inserted also by hand.
Then by turning the ring in the reverse direction the barrel is allowed to return to the
firing position, and on the trigger being pulled the shot is fired. The next loading
takes place automatically.
The hydraulic compressor which controls the movement of the gun in its cradle
consists of a cylinder attached to the cradle beneath the barrel and parallel to it. The
cylinder contains a piston and a piston rod extending through glands at both ends of
the cylinder and at it rear end the piston rod is fixed to the barrel. The cylinder is
formed with a passage along one side of it; this passage at its fore end communicates

page_text: Also at
by a wide opening with the space in the cylinder in front of the piston.
distances along the cylinder from end to end small holes are bored at intervals
connecting the main cavity with the passage. When the gun recoils and the piston
traverses the cylinder from front to rear at the commencement of the recoil many of
these small holes are available to allow the liquid behind the piston to pass into the
passage and by it to the part of the cylinder in front of the piston ; but as the recoil
proceeds these holes are passed over in order by the piston and the number of holes
available to transmit the liquid from the rear to the front of the piston is progressively
reduced. The speed of the piston diminishes as the number of available holes is
reduced and so the required resistance to the movement of the piston along the
cylinder is obtained.
In order to avoid the aim being lost by the recoil of the gun I provide means for
locking the cradle rendering it at this time fast with its support and the support fast
with the base. A second hydraulic cylinder is used for this purpose; it is in communi-
cation with the first; it contains a piston or ram, and the pressure exerted by the gun
in recoil is conveyed by the liquid to this ram which is thus projected outwards. The
ram is connected with and actuates a wedge or double incline and drives it in
between two bolts at right angles to the ram. "The bolts have corresponding inclines
upon them and they are thus driven outwards and caused to exert a strong pressure
against a flange on the support by which the gun is carried, and this is sufficient to
prevent any training movement.
The frictional pressure of the ram and wedge on the bolt pieces is also sufficient to
retain the cradle and prevent it from rocking upon its trunnions thus during recoil the
cradle is immoveable upon its support.
I avail myself of the same hydraulic cylinders in order independently of the recoil
to lock the gun in position when it has been laid upon an object. On the side of the
main hydraulic cylinder I provide another small cylinder containing a ram fitting it
accurately or it may be working through a cup leather. This ram at its outer end is
enlarged and has a screw thread cut upon it, it also carries a hand wheel by which it
can be turned. The screw thread on the_ram_works with a corresponding_thread_cut_
in the mouth of the cylinder so that by turning the hand wheel the small ram is
driven into its cylinder. Liquid is thus ejected therefrom into the main cylinder and
thence it passes into the auxiliary cylinder containing the locking ram.
Hence by
turning the hand wheel the locking ram is thrust out and caused to act against the
bolts in the manner already described as taking place during recoil. This arrangment
in no way interferes with the action of the hydraulic compressor in controlling the
gun on firing, but the gun is not locked except during recoil unless the hand wheel
has been turned so as to drive inwards the small ram upon which it is fixed. The
cylinder containing this ram has an opening in its side which serves to introduce
liquid to fill the cylinders. When the hand wheel is screwed fully back this aperture
becomes uncovered.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figures 1 1 and 1° show a side elevation of a gun constructed in accordance with
my invention; to adapt it to the size of the sheets the figure is divided by lines
marked 1. 1. and 2. 2.1
Figure 2 is a rear elevation and Figures 3A 3B and 3° show a plan similarly
divided.
These figures show the general arrangement.
a is the base with the forked support carrying the cradle 6 by its trunnions. c is
the barrel. d the coiled spring between the barrel and cradle forcing the barrel
forward. e is the breech block. f is the magazine. g is a shoulder piece fixed to the

page_text: cradle by the aid of which the gunner lays the gun.
is a guard on the rear of
the cradle to divert from the gunner the cartridge cases thrown out rearwards by the
extractor. i and are the sights. is the hammer. m is the finger which supports
the fore end of the cartridge ready to enter the gun.
n is the rocker which supports
the cartridge in rear. o is the stop in the magazine which prevents the cartridges
escaping from it until the proper moment. is the handle on a ring surrounding the
barrel which serves to force back the barrel preparatory to hand loading. is the
cylinder of the hydraulic compresser. is the locking cylinder and s is the hand
wheel which is turned to lock the cradle fast with the support.
Figures 4A 4B and 4° show to a larger scale three portions of a plan of the barrel
of the gun.
Figures 44 and 4 show side elevations of these portions.
Figure 4 is a transverse section looking to the rear.
Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the barrel.
Figure 4 is an elevation of parts of the coiled spring surrounding the barrel and
pressing it forward.
Figure 4 shows an elevation and Figure 4a transverse section of the ring screwed
upon the barrel to serve as an abutment for the coiled spring.
in these figures A' A' are the studs upon the sides of the barrel which serve to
connect the breech plate or block therewith. A2 is the recess in the rear of the barrel
which receives the extractor. A³ is the projecting lip upon the barrel which, by its
incline, directs the cartridge into the bore. A is a stud beneath the barrel which
serves to connect it with the piston rod of the hydraulic compressor. A is the incline
upon the exterior of the barrel which comes into use when the gun is loaded by hand,
and being operated upon by another similar incline, forces the barrel back, compressing
the spring around it.
Figures 5A 5B and 5° show a side elevation divided into three portions by lines 3. 3.
and 4. 4. and represent the cradle in which the barrel moves to and fro in a direction
parallel to its axis.
Figures 5 5 and 5 show a vertical section similarly divided of the cradle on the
line A B in Figures 5º 5" and 5².
Figures 5 5 and 5 show a horizontal section similarly divided of the cradle on
the line cdefgh in Figures 5º 5 and 5.
Figure 5 is an end elevation of the cradle looking towards the rear.
Figure 5 is a transverse section of the cradle on the line I, K, in Figure 5.
Figures 5 and 5 show a side elevation of the spring case which is fixed to the
fore part of the cradle; the figure is divided on the line 5, 5.
Figure 5° is an end elevation of the same.
In these figures B₁, B', are the trunnions by which the cradle is carried upon its
forked support. B2 is the fore end of the cradle upon which the case enclosing the
coiled spring is fixed, and this end of the cradle also serves as an abutment for the
spring. B³ is a cavity in the cradle which receives a ring shown in side elevation by
Figure 5 and in end elevation by Figure 59. This ring can be turned in the cradle
by means of its handle B and then the incline B³ upon it operating in conjunction
with the incline on the barrel, serves to force the barrel rearwards for loading by
hand. B, B6, are dove-tail grooves at the top of the cradle to receive the cover plate,
upon which the magazine which supplies the cartridges is mounted. B', B', are the
inclined grooves which control the breech block during the movements of the barrel,
causing it to open away from the breech end of the barrel during the early part of the
recoil and to close again during the last part of the forward movement of the gun.
BB is a smaller groove formed within one of the guide grooves B' it serves in the
manner already described to control the breech block during the forward movement
of the barrel, raising the breech block somewhat at the commencement of the return
movement; this groove has no influence on the movement of the breech-block during
the recoil. B is the opening in the side of the cradle for the passage of the hammer.
B1 is the opening in the side of the cradle for the passage of the finger which supports

page_text: the fore end of the cartridge which is next to enter the barrel, but in such a position
as to admit of the case of the cartridge last fired to be thrown out beneath it.
B¹¹ is
the centre about which the rocker supporting the cartridge at its rear end turns.
B12 is a groove in which works the rod connecting the finger with the rocker and
which causes a suitable movement to be transmitted by the finger to the rocker.
Figure 6ª is a side elevation of the breech block.
Figure 6B is a rear elevation of the same.
Figure 6 is a vertical and longitudinal section.
Figure 6 is a front elevation."
Figure 6 is a horizontal section.
C₁Care the recesses in the side cheeks of the breech block which receive the studs
upon the sides of the barrel and which with them, form the joints connecting the
breech block with the barrel. The breech-block simply turns about these studs; the
elongated form of the recesses is given simply to allow the studs to pass to their places
when putting the parts together. C2 is the firing pin which is struck by the hammer
for the purpose of exploding the cartridge; the cartridge being armed with a central
priming are the cylindrical bosses upon the side cheeks of the breech block
which, being held in the guide grooves of the cradle control the movement of the
breech block, and they carry it downwards away from the breech end of the barrel
during the early part of the recoil and close it again as the barrel in its return after
recoil comes to the firing position. U is a recess in one of these bosses which receives
the stud and spring shown by Figures 6.
This stud in the manner already described drops into a groove at the end of the
recoil and controls the movement of the breech block during the return of the barrel
lifting the block partially as soon as the return movement commences, so that the
cartridge which is then in the barrel may not be left behind as the barrel travels
forward. Care recesses to receive the arms of the extractor, and ( are guide
grooves which cause the movement of the extractor when the breech opens.
Figure 7 is a rear elevation of the extractor.
Figure 7 is a transverse section of the same, and,
Figure 7 is a plan.
DD are lips which stand in front of the flange of the cartridge when the cartridge
is in the barrel. D2 is the axis of the extractor which turns in the recess provided
for it in rear of the barrel. D³ D³ are arms on the underside of the axis, they rest
against the breech block in the cam grooves formed to receive them, and they cause
the extractor to turn about its axis during the opening of the breech. The cam
grooves are so formed that the movement of the extractor is very slow until towards
the end of the downward movement of the breech block, but latterly the movement of
the extractor is rapid to insure such an impetus being given to the cartridge case as
to carry it clear out of the gun before the barrel receives the next cartridge.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of the finger for supporting the cartridge in the
position ready to be received into the barrel."
Figure 8 is a plan of the same.
Figure 8C is an end elevation.
Figure 8 is a coiled spring which tends constantly to press the finger forward to
intercept the cartridge descending from the magazine, but the breech block comes
against the finger during the recoil, drives it rearwards and releases the cartridge just
as the incline on the barrel comes against it to lead it down into the bore. E¹ is the
part of the finger on which the cartridge lies. E' is an inclined groove on the under
side of the finger which receives a stud upon a connecting rod which connects the
finger with the rocker.
Figure 94 is a front elevation of the rocker.
Figure 9B is an end elevation.
Figure 9c is a plan.
Figure 9D is an arm which is applied at the end of the rocker and which imparts to
it the requisite movements.

page_text: Figure 9 is a plan of this arm.
F is the part of the rocker on which the base flange of the cartridge lies. F' is a
projection behind the base of the cartridge, which serves to prevent the cartridge
being driven rearwards and which preferably is so formed that as the rocker turns it
thrusts the cartridge forward a short distance. F³ F3 are arms upon the rocker
which coming against the end plate of the cradle limit the downward movement of
the part which supports the cartridge. F is a slot in the arm which actuates the
rocker which receives a pin on the conne sting rod, which couples the rocker with the
finger. This slot as will be seen, is so formed that the finger moves for some distance
rearwards before movement is imparted to the rocker. This is done in order that
the cartridge may be liberated at both ends at the
instant.
proper
Figure 10 is a side elevation of the link which couples the finger with the
rocker.
Figure 10B is a plan of the same. The sectional form of this part is also indicated
by Figure 10. Gis the pin which enters the incline slot on the underside of the
finger, and G2 is a pin at the other end which enters the slot in the arm upon the
rocker.
Figure 11 is a side elevation of the hammer.
Figure 11B is an end elevation of the same and
Figure 11° is a plan.
Figures 11" show a coiled spring which surrounds the axis of the hammer and
tends to throw the hammer head forward whenever it is free to advance.
Figure 11 is a side elevation of a handle applied at the upper end of the axis of
the hammer, so that it may be drawn back by hand when necessary.
Figure 11 is an end elevation of the handle, and Figure 11° is a plan of the
same.
His the axis of the hammer. H2 is the hammer head and H³ is a recess into
which the spring bolts drops when the hammer has been forced back, and the hammer
is so retained in the cocked position whether it be driven back automatically by the
recoil of the barrel or drawn back by hand by means of the handle upon its axis.
The spring bolt is withdrawn by means of a trigger each time that it is desired to
fire the gun. The bolt catches in the recess whenever the hammer is driven rear-
wards and to liberate it again the trigger has again to be pulled.
Figure 12 is a side elevation of portions of the magazine or hopper which contains
the cartridges to be supplied to the gun.
Figure 12B is a horizontal section of the same.
I¹¹ are rebates which guide the cartridges by their base flanges during their
descent in the hopper. 12, is the incline at the bottom of the hopper which advances
the undermost cartridge into position to be dropped into the gun. I³, is a stop in the
form of a half moon which serves to retain the cartridge until the proper time for its
delivery arrives. I* I* are arms on the piece I', one on either side within the hopper.
When the barrel recoils, its overhanging lip strikes these arms and raising them
moves the stop I³ out of the way and allows the nose of the cartridge to pass beneath
it. I is a slide which when drawn upwards by hand reinoves the stop and allows
the descent of a cartridge, if it becomes necessary to perform this operation by
hand.
Figure 13 is a diagram showing the relative positions of the barrel, the breech
block, the cartridges, the supporting finger and the rocker at the instant of firing.
Figure 14 is a similar diagram showing the position of the parts during the
recoil, at the moment when the breech block becomes fully open.
Figure 15 is a similar diagram showing the parts after the recoil and when the
forward movement of the barrel has just commenced. The reference letters on
these diagrams correspond to those on the Figures 1. 2 and 3 showing the general
arrangement.
Figures 16 and Figure 16B show a side elevation of the cylinder of the hydraulic
compressor divided into two parts by the line 6.6.

page_text: Figure 16 is a transverse section of the same near the fore end.
Figure 16 is a transverse section taken through the axis of the locking cylinder,
and in this figure the ram also is shown in section.
K' is an eye at the rear end of the piston rod which receives the pin projecting
from the underside of the barrel. K2 is a piston which fits the cylinder accurately
and which when it is made to traverse from end to end of the cylinder, drives the
liquid which the cylinder contains through holes K³ K³, which by a passage K*
connect the space on one side of the piston with that of the other. The arrangement
of these holes is shown by the diagram 16. K' is the locking cylinder. K is its ram.
The cylinder K is so connected with the main cylinder of the hydraulic compressor that
when the recoil commences the ram K is exposed to the fluid pressure in the main
eylinder which the recoil generates. Hence at this time a powerful downward pressure
is exerted by the ram. The lower end of the ram is tapered, as the drawing indicates.
K' is a third cylinder also in communication with the main cylinder and K is a ram
which enters and fits it. K' is a hand wheel on the ram by which it can be turned
and made to traverse along the cylinder by the operation of the screw threads which
the drawing shows. K10 is a hole by which liquid can be poured in when the ram Ke
has been drawn back.
Figure 174 is an end elevation of the base or lower part of the forked support on
which are the bearings receiving the trunnions of the cradle.
Figure 17 is a longitudinal and vertical section of the same.
Figure 17 is a half horizontal section taken on the line A. B. in Figure 17B.
Lis the lower part of the forked support which is able to turn freely upon the
hase about a vertical axis, to permit of the training of the gun. The elevation is
given to the gun by rocking about the trunnions of the cradle. L2 L2 are two blocks
which fill a central cylindrical recess in the base. These blocks meet together in the
middle, forming a V shaped groove L³. The tapered lower end of the ram of the
locking cylinder enters this V shaped groove and when pressure is put upon the ram
it drives the blocks L2 L2 outwards and causes them to exert a strong pressure both
against the part and upon the walls L of the cylindrical recess, in which the
blocks L' are contained. The support is thus locked fast so that no training movement
can take place. At the same time the pressure of the ram upon the blocks L² causes
such an amount of frictional holding between the ram and the blocks that no
alteration in the elevation of the gun can take place.
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 :-
1. In an automatic gun substantially as described, the finger and rocker or like
cartridge supports sustaining the cartridge immediately in rear of the barrel, in
position to enter it when the barrel recoils but leaving room for the case of the
fired cartridge to be first expelled; such cartridge supports being moveable and being
moved out of the way by the barrel during its recoil after the case has been expelled
but in time to allow the cartridge to enter the bore.
2. In an automatic gun substantially as described, the incline on the rear end of
the barrel, serving when the barrel recoils to displace laterally a cartridge held in
readiness immediately in rear of the barrel and bring the cartridge into position to
enter the bore.
3. In an automatic gun substantially as described, the stop in the magazine which
is struck when the barrel and parts connected therewith recoil and so is removed
out of the way to permit a cartridge to descend out of the magazine.
4. The combination substantially as described of the barrel, the cradle, the guides in
the cradle and the breech block connected with the barrel by a joint about which it
turns; the said guides controling the movement of the breech block in the opening
and closing of the breech.

page_text: 5. The combination substantially as described of the barrel breech block and cradle
and the separate guides in the cradle controling the breech during the recoil and
during the return movement of the barrel.
6. The hydraulic compressor substantially as described with its side passage and
numerous perforations successively passed over by the piston and connecting the
space or one side of it with the space on the other side.
7. The combination substantially as described consisting of the hydraulic com-
pressor, the locking cylinder, and the ram of the locking cylinder, which has
inclines upon it operating in a curved groove between a pair of locking bolts or
blocks.
8. The combination substantially as described of the hydraulic compressor the
locking cylinder and gear and the third cylinder with its plunger by means of which
latter the gunner can at his pleasure bring the locking gear into action.
9 The automatic run substantially as described
Dated this 7th day of July 1887.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.