IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE GUNS AND GUN CARRIAGES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Noble of the Elswick Works, Newcastle upon-
Tyne, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE GUNS AND GUN
CARRIAGES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Noble at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th October 1882.
ANDREW NOBLE of the Elswick Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINE GUNS AND GUN CARRIAGES"
This Invention has for its object improvements in machine guns and gun
carriages.
My improved machine gun is intended especially to throw projectiles of several
pounds weight with great velocity and in very rapid succession. In rear of the
ordinary trunnions and near the breech end of a gun I provide other trunnions and
upon these I mount eccentrics. The eccentrics on the two sides are connected by
lever frame which serves as the handle by which the gun is worked. - The breech
block is fixed to the eccentric straps.
A metallic capsule cartridge of large proportions is used with this gun. The
breech block is furnished with a grooved lip and when the cartridge is in position
in the gun this lip engages with the base flange of the cartridge around the upper
half of its circumference. When after firing the handle is raised the movement of
the eccentrics first causes the base block to recede a short distance from the breech
face drawing back the cartridge case or capsule with it. In the further movement
of the handle it operates against a projecting part of the breech block and then the
breech block, the eccentrics and the handles move all together in an upward
direction around the trunnions, the breech is thus left open but with the cartridge
capsule partly withdrawn lying loosely in it. The capsule can readily be removed
by hand and the new cartridge is then introduced. This new cartridge when
inserted is pushed in until stopped by a spring stop provided for the purpose on
the under side of the breech opening. The stop is so placed that when in the next
operation the breech block is lowered by drawing down the handle the lip upon
the breech block comes just to overlap the flange of the cartridge. In the
further downward movement of the handle the eccentrics revolving without the

page_text: straps the breech. block is drawn forward until the cartridge is thrust home
into the barrel. The cartridge is fired by a striker contained in the breech
block.
The gun is cocked as the breech is closed-for this purpose a spindle is fitted
into the upper part of the breech block in such manner that it can be slid
backwards and forwards. It has a lever attached to its rear end-the lower end
of the lever comes in front of a collar on the spring firing bolt.
When the breech block is drawn up against the breech end of the gun the
spindle is stopped from moving forwards with it and the lever holds back the firing.
bolt and compresses its spring. A lanyard is attached to an arm extending from
the lever and on pulling this arm downwards the lever is turned and frees the
spring firing bolt and fires the gun. A projection upon a small bracket fixed to the.
rear of the breach block prevents the lever from revolving until the breech block is
absolutely in its firing position, the projection will then have moved past the end
of the lever so that the lever may turn when the lanyard is pulled. A spring is
fitted inside the breech block to act against a collar on the spindle which carries
the lever so that when the breech block is moved back the lever returns again to
its former position behind the collar of the firing bolt ready for the next round.
The carriage is a gun metal casting with a circular base and central pivot. It
has a recoil press cylinder cast with it extending forwards on each side in line with
the gun trunnions. It also carries on the right side a pivot for an elevating lever
crutch the pivot is concentric with the trunnions. The crutch extends rearwards
beyond the rear of the barrel, it engages with a pin on the side of the gun so that
when the crutch is moved up or down, it carries the gun along with it-the hollow
part of the crutch wherein this pin engages is cut away to the maximum angles of
elevation and depression of the gun, to the whole length of recoil, so that the gun
may recoil freely when in any position of elevation or depression without moving
the crutch. The crutch can be clamped in any position to an are on the carriage
by a clamp lever.
"The trunnions are mounted in trunnion blocks which can slide backwards
horizontally upon guide ways at the top of the carriage. A piston rod is screwed
into cach trunnion block and extends forwards right through the recoil press
cylinder. On the piston rod is a piston having a spring loaded annular valve on
the front end which allows the water to pass from one side of the piston to the
other on recoil. The gun is returned automatically into firing position by means
of a spring acting against the back end of the piston in the inside of the recoil
press. The piston is not packed and is made sufficiently slack to allow the water
to flow back again on the gun returning into firing position. A packed piston may
be used and a by-pass pipe with a non return clack valve fitted to allow the gun
to return freely into loading position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Andrew Noble in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th April
1883:
ANDREW NOBLE of the Elswick Works Newcastle upon Tyne
IN MACHINE GUNS AND GUN CARRIAGES"
"IMPROVEMENTS
This invention has for its object improvements in machine guns and gun
carriages.
My improved machine gun is intended especially to throw projectiles of several
pounds weight with great velocity and in very rapid succession. In rear of the
ordinary trunnions and near the breech end of a gun I provide other trunnions and
upon these I mount eccentrics. The eccentrics on the two sides are connected by a
lever frame which serves as the handle by which the gun is worked. The breech
block is fixed.to the eccentric straps.
A metallic capsule cartridge of large proportions is used with this gun. The
breech block is furnished with a grooved, lip and when the cartridge is in position
in the gun this lip engages with the base flange of the cartridge around the upper
half of its circumference. When after firing the handle is raised the movement of
the eccentrics first causes the breech block to recede a short distance from the
breech face drawing back the cartridge case or capsule with it. In the further
movement of the handle it operates against a projecting part of the breech block
and then the breech block, the eccentrics and the handles move all together in an
upward direction around the trunnions the breech is thus left open but with the
cartridge capsule partly withdrawn lying loosely in it. The capsule can readily be
removed by hand and the new cartridge is then introduced. This new cartridge
when inserted is pushed in until stopped by a spring stop provided for the purpose
on the under side of the breech opening. The stop is so placed that when in the
next operation the breech block is lowered by drawing down the handle the lip
upon the breech block comes just to overlap the flange of the cartridge. In the
further downward movement of the handle the eccentrics revolving without the
straps the breech block is drawn forward until the cartridge is thrust home into the
barrel. The cartridge is fired by a striker contained in the breech block.
.
The gun is cocked as the breech 'is closed-for this purpose a spindle is fitted
into the upper part of the breech block in such manner that it can be slid back-
wards and forwards. It has a lever attached to its rear end-the lower end of the
lever comes in front of a collar on the spring firing bolt.
When the breech block is drawn up against the breech end of the gun the spindle
is stopped from moving forwards with it and the lever holds back the firing bolt
and compresses its spring. A lanyard is attached to an arm extending from the
lever and on pulling this arm downwards the lever is turned and frees the spring
firing bolt and fires the gun. A projection upon a small bracket fixed to the rear
of the breech block prevents the lever from revolving until the breech block is
absolutely in its firing position, the projection will then have moved past the end
of the lever so that the lever may turn when the lanyard is pulled. A spring is
fitted inside the breech block to act against a collar on the spindle which carries
the lever so that when the breech block is moved back the lever returns again to
its former position behind the collar of the firing bolt ready for the next round.
The carriage is a gun metal casting with a circular base and central pivot. It'
has a recoil press cylinder cast with it extending forwards on each side in line with
the gun trunnions. It also carries on the right side a pivot for an elevating lever
crutch the pivot is concentric with the trunnions. The crutch extends rearwards
beyond the rear of the barrel, it engages with a pin on the side of the gun so. that

page_text: when the crutch is moved up or down it carries the gun along with it-the hollow
part of the crutch wherein this pin engages is cut away to the maximum angles. of
elevation and depression of the gun to the whole leugth of recoil so that the gun
may recoil freely when in any position of elevation or depression without moving
the crutch. The crutch can be clamped in any position to an arc on the carriage
by a clamp lever.
-
.
The trunnions are mounted in trunnion blocks which can slide backwards
horizontally upon guide ways at the top of the carriage. A piston rod is screwed
into each trunnion block and extends forwards right through the recoil press
cylinder. On the piston rod is a piston having a spring loaded annular valve on
the front end which allows the water to pass from one side of the piston to the
other on recoil. The gun is returned automatically into firing position by means
of a spring acting against the back end of the piston in the inside of the recoil
press. The piston is not packed and is made sufficiently slack to allow the water
to flow back again on the gun returning into firing position. A packed piston may
be used and a by-pass pipe with a non return clack valve fitted to allow the gun to
return freely into loading position.
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.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 is a side elevation of a gun and carriage
constructed in accordance with my invention Figure 3 is a rear elevation of
the gun.
a. a. are the ordinary trunnions of the gun.
b. b. are other trunnions nearer to the breech.
c. c. are eccentrics moveable upon the trunnions b.
c. is a lever frame attached to the eccentrics and serving as a handle.
d. is the breech block and d. d. the eccentric straps which carry it.
Tho projections at d*. d. are those with which the lever frame o come in
contact in opening the gun. The dotted lines above the gun in Figure 2 show the 3
position of the lever frame and breech block when the gun is open.
:
6. is the capsule cartridge in its place in the gun, its base flange is overlapped by
the lip d. on the breech block.
"
fis the spring stop up to which the cartridge should be thrust in loading.
g is the striker which when liberated and thrown forward by its spring explodes
the priming at the base of the cartridge.
is a spindle fitted into, a recess in the breech block and provided with a spring,
i. is a latch like lever on the spindle h; when the breech is open the spring
causes it to drop in front of the collar gl on the striker, and in closing the breech
the striker is retained by it whilst the breech block moves forward.
2. is an arm on the lever i. to which a lanyard is attached.
k is a bracket having a projection upon it which prevents the latch lever from
releasing the striker until the breech is fully closed.
l'is the main piece of the gun carriage and . . are press cylinders cast with it.
1x is a central vertical pivot on which the carriage with the gun can turn freely.
m is a directing crutch, it is mounted on a pivot . on the gun carriage concentric
with the trunnions a.
n. is a stud on the side of the gun which is received into a cavity in the crutch m
so that when the crutch is elevated or depressed it carries the gun with it but as
will be seen the form of the cavity is such that the gun can recoil without affecting
the crutch.
o is a clamp lever by which the crutch can be set fast with the carriage when
desired.
L
hoxinuing the trunniong a a of the aun
2

page_text: q.q. are the pistons on the rods q within the cylinders . Coiled springs also are
contained within the cylinders these pressing against the pistons after the recoil
move the gun forward.
The operation of the parts will be clearly understood without further
description.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of.
performing the same I would have it understood that I claim :-
First. The gun substantially as described.
Second. The breech closing mechanism consisting of a breech block moved by
eccentrics to and fro and also moving with the eccentrics around their centres
substantially as described.
Third. The gun carriage substantially as described.
Fourth. The crutch pivoted upon the carriage and engaging with the gun
substantially as described so as to control its direction but without partaking of
the recoil.
In witness whereof I the said Andrew Noble have hereunto set my hand and
seal this tenth day of April in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
A. NOBLE (L.S.)