AN IMPROVED MACHINE GUN
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Willard Brigham Farwell, of the City, County,
and State of New York, United States of America, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED MACHINE GUN."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Willard Brigham Farwell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 10th June 1875, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLARD
BRIGHAM FARWELL, of the City, County, and State of New York,:
United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
Machine Gun,” and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for
the same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am and the true
and first Inventor thereof.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said Willard Brigham Farwell, do
hereby declare that the following Complete Specification, under my
hand and seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said In-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying three
Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say): :-.
This Invention relates to a new machine gun, which has resulted from
experiments with the machine gun described in former British Letters
Patent granted to me September 12th, 1874, and numbered 3133.
The present Invention though retaining the general arrangement of
barrels and discharge magazine which is shown in my former Patent,
departs from the Invention described therein by the employment of an
entirely different mechanism for loading, firing, and discharging the.
cartridges, by an entirely novel disposition of the firing and loading
parts, whereby the same are brought entirely within the cylindrical
breech chambers that constitute rearward extensions of the barrels, by
an entirely new method of supporting and adjusting the frame which
carries the barrels, and also by a new traversing mechanism for vibrating
the gun during the firing process.
The chief point of novelty in the present Invention is in the use of
telescopic tubing applied within the breech chambers of the barrel, tho
innermost tube in each chamber carrying and embracing the firing pin,
and serving in itself as the breech closer of the barrel proper. The tube
next surrounding the innermost tube has no longitudinal but a rotary
movement, and is provided with an internal screw-thread, whereby when
it is revolved it serves to impart longitudinal motion to the innermost
tube, and to move the same forward to close the breech end of the
barrel, and subsequently backwards for opening the breech end and
allowing a new cartridge to be brought into position. By this arrange-
ment of telescopic tubing I am enabled to dispense with all the complex
mechanism for firing and loading the gun which is described in my
former Patent, and to confine the whole mechanism within the breech
continuation of the barrel. This allows ready access to all the interior
parts, ready and convenient repair, and particularly a cheaper con-
struction, since the parts which enter into each barrel are exact
duplicates of one another, while heretofore more of a general transverse

page_text: operating mechanism common to all the parts had to be employed. I
have nothing but a simple transverse shaft with gears and clutches
thereon for operating the external tubing afore mentioned, and none of
the locking and unlocking bars which were chief features in my former
Invention.
By my new Invention I can throw readily any one or more of the
barrels out of action.
Another great feature involved in my present Invention, is the
application beneath the charging magazine and behind the barrels, of
receiving jaws upon which the cartridge is dropped from the discharging
magazine, and by which it is sustained in line with the bore of the
barrel, to be subsequently pushed home by the breech closer. These
jaws are automatically operated as soon as the cartridge has been pushed
far enough into the barrel, remaining open as the breech closer moves
backwards to allow the empty cartridge shell to be dropped through, but
are closed as soon as the breech closer reaches its most backward
position, so that they will receive and hold the new cartridge.
The various special features of the mode of hanging the frame,
operating the traverse, and adjusting the frame, working the magazine
and the magazine support, will all be herein-after more fully described.
In the accompanying Sheets of Drawings Figure 1 is a plan or top
view, partly in section of my improved machine gun; Figure 2 is a side
clevation, partly in section of the same.
Figure 3 is a detail vertical section through the centre of the nut
which receives the lower end of the tail screw.
Figure 4 is a longitndinal section through the breech chamber of one
of the barrels. This Figure and all succeeding Figures are drawn on a
larger scale than Figures 1, 2, 3, that is, on a scale of about seven
inches to one foot. Figure 5 is a detail vertical transverse section on
the line c, c, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a detail back view, partly in section of what I term the
breech chambers.
Figure 7 is a detail vertical transverse through the cartridge receiving
chamber, which is between the breech end of the barrel and the breech
chamber.
Thi
1
1
11

page_text: and part of the cartridge holding magazine, the line k, k, in Figure 4,
indicating the plane of section.
Figure 10 is a detail plan view of part of the magazine supporting
slide; and Figure 11 is a vertical longitudinal section of such slide.
By the word longitudinal section I mean a section taken on the line of
the bore of the barrel, and by the word transverse section, a section
taken at right angles to the line of the barrel.
Figure 12 is a back view, partly in section of the gun showing the
traversing mechanism, and also the arrangement of clutches and gear
wheels of the operating shaft.
Figure 13 is a vertical transverse section through two of the barrels,
showing the mechanism for adjusting and moving the cartridge
magazine; Figure 14 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line c, k,
Figure 13.
Figure 15 is a detail end view of the operating shaft, showing the
means for transmitting motion to the same.
Similar letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures may be employed, and which are arranged side by side and
parallel with each other, and firmly secured in a frame B, which' is
supported on a gun carriage D of suitable contruction, a turn-table E
being interposed between the gun carriage and the frame that receives the
trunnions C to allow of adjusting the gun laterally by the traversing
mechanism, to be herein after more fully described.
The mode of hanging the frame on the trunnions C is more fully
shown in Figures 4 and 12, and also indicated in Figure 2. I form the
trunnions € directly on the turn-table E, and pass them through pendent
eye-bolts F, which are secured by suitable keys or otherwise to the
frame B, as indicated more clearly on the right-hand side of Figure 12.
By this arrangement I not only shorten the distance between the two
trunnions, and facilitate the adjustment of the gun on the trunnions, but
I also obtain ready means for separating the frame from the carriage,
which can be done by merely unfastening the eye-bolts F.

page_text: in my last pictions later, dod in an guns of star for heretofore
used, the trunnions were formed directly on the frame and at the sides
of the frame B, their distance from each other being the full width of
the frame, and they were hung in eyes or journals fastened to the gun
carriage or turn-table.
It will be seen from Figure 12 that by my present arrangement the
distance between the two trunnions need not exceed the distance between
five of the barrels,. and where ten barrels are used, as indicated in
Figure 1, the saving of metal is quite considerable, aside from the
greater ease of adjustment. G is the tail screw interposed between the
rear of the frame B and the carriage D for supporting the rear ends of
the barrels and adjusting them jointly on the trunnions C. The upper
end of the tail screw G is formed into a ball, which is inserted within a
spherical socket formed in the lower part of the traversing nut H of the
gun. I is the traversing worm hung in the rear part of the frame B,
and rotated in the manner herein-after described for traversing the gun,.
that is to say, for turning the barrels jointly on the axis a of the turn-
table. As this worm I is revolved it turns within the nut H, and as this
is connected with the tail screw, and thereby with the carriage D, in such
a way that it cannot be laterally displaced, it follows that the displace-
ment effected by the turning of the worm will be transmitted to the
frame B of the gun, whereby said frame will be caused to turn in ono
direction or the other on the axis a of the turn-table.
In my last former Patent I have described a peculiar dovetail attach-
ment and slide for connecting the cap of the tail screw with the traversing
nut, but I have found that by forming the cap of the tail screw directly
on the traversing nut, in the manner clearly shown in Figures 2 and 12,'
and by using the ball-and-socket joint in the manner indicated, the same
result will be obtained as that described in my last former Patent, with
less friction, however, and by simpler mechanism. This result is still
more readily attained by the use of the pivoted nut b, in which the lower
end of the tail screw has its support, and which is clearly shown in
Figures 2 and 3. This nut is sunk in a cavity or opening of the gun
carriage, and has laterally-projecting trunnions, by which it is hung in
the carriage so it can vibrate back and forwards and adjust itself, and
with it the tail screw, to the inclination produced by the turning of
said tail screw.

page_text: In my former machine gun, and in all other guns employing tail
screws, it is customary to firmly secure the nut 6 in the carriage, and my
last-named Patent I have provided a connection between the upper end
of the tail screw and the traversing nut, which would allow the two parts
to remain connected during the operation of the tail screw, but which
did not allow the tail screw to change its inclination or direction. It
was consequently necessary to interpose a third article, a connecting link
so to say, between the traversing nut and the tail screw.
But in my
present gun, where the upper end of the tail screw is directly inserted in
the traversing nut, the operation of parts can only be obtained by allowing
an inclination of the tail screw, and therefore the pivoting of the lower
nut had to be resorted to. The cap of the tail screw is of course made
separate from the body of the traversing nut in the manner indicated in
Figure 2 and by dotted lines in Figure 12, the two parts being screwed
or otherwise rigidly connected together.
The rear ends or breech ends of all the barrels are screwed into a cross
bar d of the frame B, and near their forward ends they are confined in
another cross bar e of the frame B. Behind and in line with the brecch
end of each barrel is a cylindrical chamber J, which I term the breech
chamber, and which contains within it the mechanism for loading and
firing the cartridger, and for extracting the empty cartridge shells, as
herein-after more fully specified. The front end of the breech chamber J
is screwed around the rear end of the barrel A, to which it appertains,
substantially as indicated in Figure 4, so that thus the brecch chamber
actually constitutes the continuation of the barrel, though virtually not
part of the barrel proper.
The rearmost end of the breech chamber J connects with a transverse
box L, within which the operating shaft M with all its several attach-
ments is contained. This operating shaft, by preference, is turned by
hand; and I prefer to use the means illustrated in Figures 1 and 15 for
this purpose, that is to say, I rigidly attach a pinion f to the end of the
shaft M, and let this pinion gear into the teeth of an internal gear
wheel N, which is connected with an operating crank g. By revolving
the crank g on the wheel N the pinion f, and with it the shaft M is also
turned, the preferable arrangement being such that one rotation of the
crank will produce three revolutions of the shaft M. A pinion h, which
is mounted upon the shaft M (see Figure 12) meshes into the teeth of a
gear wheel i that is loosely hung upon the traversing worm on shaft I.

page_text: This gear wheel I connects rigidly with a bevel gear wheel; that meshes
into another bevel gear 1, which is hung in the frame B, as indi-
cated in Figure 12. A third bevel gear wheel mis loose on the
traversing worm I, and in gear with the wheel 1, and set to face the
wheel j. A clutch n is applied to the shaft I between the wheels j and
m, and is connected with a suitable lever by which it can be thrown into
connection with either one of these two wheels. When the clutch is
thrown into connection with the wheel ; the traversing worm will be
rotated slowly in a direction opposite to that in which it will be rotated
if the clutch is thrown into gear with the wheel m; and if it is desired
to have no automatic traverse it is only necessary to set the clutch mid-
way between the two wheels j and m, and thereby bring the traversing
worm entirely out of operative connection with the shaft M.
The opposite end of the traversing worm is by bevel gear wheels o
connected with an arbor p, to which a crank handle can be secured for
operating the transverse worm by hand, so that if the clutch n throws
the wheels j, m, out of action the traverse can be obtained if desired by
turning the arbor p. It will be observed that this arrangement of
operating the traverse either automatically or by hand renders the gun
much more useful than one having only an automatic traverse, as it
is often necessary to quickly set the gun at a much greater angle
than that at which it could be set by the ordinary automatic apparatus,
and yet the automatic apparatus is such that if in action it would cause
all the barrels to change their position slightly after each firing, and
thus under rapid fire a large angle will be entirely swept in front of
the gun.
As already stated the rear end of each breech chamber J consists
with the transverse box L that contains the shaft M, but a cascabel.
plate q is screwed into an opening at the rear of the box Ĺ in line with
each one of the barrels and breech chambers, so that by the unscrewing
of the cascabel plate the mechanism in front of the same will be dis
closed and easy of access.
Directly behind the end of each barrel proper is formed a slot r
through the bottom of breech chamber, as clearly shown in Figure 4,
and a similar slot is cut vertically above through the top of the breech
chamber for the reception of the cartridge dipper O, herein-after more.
fully referred to. That part of the breech chamber, which is occupied
lengthwise by the slots and the dipper, I call the cartridge receiving.

page_text: chamber. Directly behind the cartridge receiving chamber a fixed
bearing S is secured in the breech chamber, and at the rear end of said
breech chamber another fixed bearing T is screwed, or otherwise secured
therein. These two bearings serve to support a horizontal tube P, which
tube is concentric with the breech chamber, and in line with the
barrel A, to which it pertains, and is capable of revolving in its bearings,
Upon the rear end of this tube is firmly secured a bevelled gear wheel w,
whose hub v is toothed for operating the dipper, as clearly indicated in
Figure 4. The tube P as an interval screw thread cut into it, which
engages the external screw thread formed on an interior tube Q, which
tube Q extends through the front bearing S, as clearly shown in
Figure 4. The Drawing also clearly shows that the tube Q is concentric
with P and J, and in line with the axis of the barrel A. The tube Q
serves as a breech closer. During the rotation of the tube P in one
direction the inner tube Q will be caused to move forward towards the
barrel until its front end reaches within the breech end of the barrel.
When the tube P is revolved in the opposite direction the innermost
tube Q will be drawn backwards. A cartridge extractor x is pivoted to
the front end of the breech closer Q between downwardly projecting
lugs thereon, and is capable of entering beneath the flange of the car- a
tridge in the barrel, and remain in contact therewith during the firing
process, so that it may withdraw the empty cartridge shell upon the
return motion of the breech closer Q. to is the firing pin, having within
the breech closer a shoulder near its front end, which front end extends
through an opening in the front end of the breech closer. This firing a
pin is placed lengthwise through the tube Q, and extends through the
hollow rearward extension of the tube P, as shown. A suitable spring
embraces this firing pin between its shoulder and the rear end of the
breech closer. The rear end of the firing pin, which extends beyond
the bevel wheel u, has a button or head formed upon it, which serves in
connection with a vibrating claw R to hold the firing pin back during
the loading operation, that is to say, when the breech closer is screwed
forward the firing pin remains in the position shown in Figure 4, being
held back by the 'claw R, and after the breech closer has pushed the
cartridge home into the barrel, and all the parts have been arranged 3
ready for firing the claw R is moved aside, and releases the firing pin,
which is thereupon violently thrown forward by the spring, said spring
having been contracted between the rear end of the tube Q and the
shoulder of the pin w during the forward motion of said tube.

page_text: .
In order to prevent the shock, which is produced by the explosion of
the cartridge, from tending to start the breech closer Q in its backward
motion, that is to say, from giving it a short turn in the screw thread
of P, which would not be impossible were the breech closer to retain its
connection with the screw thread of the surrounding tube P, I cause
the thread of the tube Q to entirely leave that of P in the position of.
the parts ready for firing, and utilize therefor the ends of the two screw
threads of P and Q as shoulders, and as a rear support for the breech
closer, the front edge of the thread on Q bearing in this position against
a spring washer Y, which is interposed between the front bearing S and
the front end of the tube P, as clearly shown in Figure 4. This spring
washer not only allows the screw thread of the tube Q to leave that of
P, but it also serves
as the tube P commences to be turned back
to crowd the tube Q backwards, and reinsert its thread in that of P, thus
facilitating the operation of parts.
It must be observed that in order to allow the above mentioned back
and forward motion of the breech closer Q, the number of its screw
threads must be much less than that of the threads in the tube P, as
indicated in Figure 4.
The mechanism for imparting rotary motion to the tube P and reversing
it automatically, also that for operating the vibrating claw R I will
now proceed to describe:-The main shaft M carrics two loose bevelled
gear wheels a³, a³, on opposite sides of and in gear with cach bevelled
wheel, substantially as indicated in Figure 12, and also in Figure 1.
Between these two wheels a² and a³ is fitted upon the shaft M a sliding
clutch 6, which clutch when moved against one of said two wheels a*
or a throws the same into connection with the shaft M so that it will be
revolved by said shaft. The other of the two wheels being loose mean-
while it follows that that wheel a² or a³ which is locked by the clutch
will impart motion to the wheel u and to the tube P. It also follows
that the clutch which locks said wheel revolves with the shaft. Upon
the inner face of the cascabel plate q is screwed or otherwise fastened a
plate c², to which the back end of the claw R is pivoted, as indicated in
Figure 4. A central stem projecting from said plate c* constitutes the
pivot or axis for a small wheel ď, which has its front face formed into
six, more or less, teeth, and which on its edge carries a cam d³. Tho
shank of the claw R connects by a ring e² rigidly with a rod ƒ³, which
is pivoted to the lower edge of the plate c² directly in line with the pivot

page_text: of the claw. It follows that when the claw is vibrated on this pivot the
lower rod f' will also vibrate on its own pivot. 92, 93, arc pins that
project from the shank of the claw R, and from the rod få into a cir-
cumferential groove of the clutch 6, as indicated in Figure 4. h is a
short pin projecting radially from the clutch 6° for the purpose of
engaging in the teeth of the little wheel d³, and imparting intermittent
rotary motion to the said wheel. Now if the shaft M is rotated in the
direction of the arrow, shown in Figure 4 and 15, and the clutches 6º
should all be in gear with the wheels a³, then each tube P is rotated in
the direction of arrow indicated in Figure 12, by which rotation it
will cause the breech closer q to be moved forward.
I prefer to so arrange the diameters of the wheels a² and u that three
revolutions of the former will produce four of the latter, but these pro-
portions may be varied according to the length and variation of pitch of
the screw thread of the tube P. At each revolution of the shaft M the
clutch 6 causes its pin h² to engage into the face of the toothed wheel d'
and to impart a partial rotation to the said wheel, and at the end of the
third revolution of the shaft M, when the breech closer Q will have
been as far forward as possible the motion imparted to the wheel d³ will
cause its cam d³ to come in contact with one of two inwardly projecting
pins of the ring e³, as indicated in Figure 5, and thereby to push said ring
to one side, as in Figure 5, and vibrate the claw and lower rod f* on their
pivots. This motion of the claw will cause the same to release the firing
pin, and the latter will be propelled forward by its spring, causing the
cartridge to be exploded. The vibration imparted to the claw above
mentioned and to the rod f' will not only cause a disengagement of the
firing pin, but will by the pins g² which extend from the claw and rod f*
into the clutch also cause said clutch to be moved from the wheel a² into
contact with the wheel a³, so that now the rotation of the tube P will be
reversed, and the breech closer automatically drawn back. During this
reversed motion of the tube P the clutch will not reverse its motion, but
will revolve as before with the shaft and impart intermittent rotary motion
to the little wheel d² by engaging once during each revolution with one of
the teeth thereof, and when the tube P has finished its next fourth rotation,
which has brought the breech closer as far back as possible, the cam of
the wheel d² will come in contact with the opposite pin of the ring e¹
and thereby vibrate said ring, and with it the claw, so as to cause the
latter to engage with the firing pin again, and also cause the said claw
and its rod f to move the clutch in contact again with the wheel a².

page_text: Thus it is seen that by the continuous rotation imparted to the shaft M
in one direction the clutch will automatically ship and unship the two
gear wheels a, a³, alternately, the tube P will be continuously rotated,
once in one direction and then in the other direction; the brecch closer
will be moved backwards and forwards, the firing pin engaged and dis-
engaged, and in fact the whole firing and loading process automatically
carried on.
In this connection I will yet have to describe the movement
of the dipper, which is also derived from the rotation of the wheel u.
The hub of the wheel u constitutes, as already described, a toothed
wheel which meshes into the teeth of a toothed segment * that is
mounted upon a shaft j³, whose bearings are within the breech chamber J
above the tube P, as shown in Figure 4. This shaft J connects its
squared front end with the rear end of the dipper O by entering a slotted
recess in the rear end plate of said dipper. The front of said dipper is
formed into a bevelled or tapering pin which enters a socket provided
for its reception in the front part of the breech chamber J. This mode
of hanging the dipper allows the ready removal thereof, for by merely
drawing the shaft j backwards it will be detached from the gripper and
the latter may be readily withdrawn from the breech chamber by lifting
its rear end and drawing the front bevelled pin out of the socket.
The dipper operator as follows: -It is turned up in the position
indicated in Figure 4 and 7 during the forward motion of the breech
closer, and remains in that position until the cartridge last put in has
been loaded and fired. When the breech closer begins to be drawn back
the wheel gearing into the segment will turn the shaft of the
dipper so as to bring the concave side of said dipper to the top. The
dipper will then in its concave part receive from the magazine above a
cartridge, and will retain that cartridge until the breech closer begins to
move forward.
At the very commencement of the forward motion of Q the dipper is
reversed by the reversal of the motion of the wheel and segment ², and
is thereby caused to throw its cartridge into the cartridge receiving
chamber upon the receiving jaws that will be herein-after more fully
described. After discharging its cartridge the dipper resumes its former
position, the same as shown in Figure 7, and enters with its sharpened
edge beneath the upper cartridges, which would but for the presence of
the dipper drop into the cartridge loading chamber, but are by the dipper
prevented from so doing.

page_text: I am aware that there has prior to my present Invention already been
described a dipper for discharging the cartridges into the barrel, but said
dipper was arranged above the cartridge chamber, and in combination
only with the inclined bottom of a peculiar magazine. By arranging it
as I now do in line with and strictly within the breech chamber of the
gun I economize space, and permit the use of a flat-bottomed magazine,
which may stand close above the dipper in the manner indicated in
Figure 4, and also make it possible to load the several barrels suc-
cessively in contradistinction to the simultaneous loading formerly
required.
For gaining access to the interior mechanism of the gun barrel it will
only be necessary to unscrew the cascabel plate pertaining to the said
barrel, taking with it the plate C2, claw R, and rod f2. As mall screw, clearly
shown in Figure 4, which fastens the wheel to the tube P, can then be
unscrewed, allowing the withdrawal of the wheel u. On the further
withdrawal of the shaft j³, and removal of the dipper, the rear bearing t
of the tube P can be unscrewed, whereupon the entire tube P with all
its contents can be withdrawn.
S, S, are two jaws which are hung between the breech end of the
barrel and the front bearings of the tube P, and which are intended to
receive the cartridge that is dropped by the dipper, and to hold it in line
with the bore of the barrel until the breech closer has pushed it into
the latter. Each of these jaws is firmly and rigidly attached near its
upper edge to its pivot 1, and these stems or pivots are both hung with
their front ends in the rear of the barrel, and with their rear ends in the
bearings, as indicated in Figure 4. The rear portion of each stem
is not covered by or in contact with the jaw S, as shown in Figure 4,
and such uncovered portion of each stem 12 is twisted spirally. m² is a
yoke which straddles the front end of the breech closer, and embraces
the twisted parts of the stems 1, and which when the breech closer has
nearly reached its most forward position is by a projecting pin on said
breech closer (such pin not being shown in the Drawing) pushed forward
the distance which interveres between the bearings and the rear edge
of the jaw S.
The ends of the yoke m³ embracing the twisted ends of the stems 1² it
follows that as the yoke is pushed forward by the projecting pin of the
breech closer the same causes the twisted stems to turn, and thereby

page_text: also causes the jaws S, S, to be swung apart into the position shown in
Figure 7. When the breech closer upon being drawn backwards has
nearly reached its rearmost position it draws the yoke back with it
by another projecting pin, and thereby turns the twisted stems ³, and
closes the jaws S, S, again sufficiently to cause them to form a support
for the cartridge that is subsequently dropped by the dipper.
.
T is the magazine support, and U the magazine of my improved gun.
The magazine support is a platform which is placed over the barrels ex-
tending laterally across the whole width of the gun, as shown in Figure 1,
and which by three transverse ribs has its surface formed into two
shallow receivers for two magazines U. This magazine support T is
supported by rollers n² on the frame of the gun in the manner clearly
indicated in Figures 9, 10, and 11 in such a way that it can be moved
backwards and forwards along the frame. The front edge of the magazine
support T is made slanting, as shown in Figure 4, so that a ball striking
the same will not be able to reach and injure the mechanism used in
and near the cartridge receiving chamber. The magazine U is made
sufficiently long to extend across all the barrels of the gun, and is by
vertical longitudinal partitions divided into chambers each sufficiently
wide to receive one cartridge on a horizontal plane, and sufficiently high
to receive five, more or less, cartridges on a vertical plane. When this
magazine is placed upon the support T, while the same is in the position
shown in Figure 4, the magazine is moved laterally on its slotted
bottom A³ to bring one row of cartridges above the dippers O, and to
drop them upon said dippers. The loading and firing process can then
be continued, and after each firing a new cartridge from the same
chamber or compartment of the magazine drops upon the dipper, &c.
until all the cartridges of the one chamber above the dipper have been
consumed. The magazine must then be moved laterally to bring a new
row of cartridges over the dippers, and after that has been exhausted the
magazine can be moved to bring the next row of cartridges over the
dippers, &c.
When the magazine is nearly empty a new magazine filled with
cartridges is placed upon the empty space of the support T in rear of
the first magazine, and as soon as the first magazine is entirely empty
the support T is slid forward on the rollers n², and the new magazine
brought over the dippers and acted upon as above described. The empty
magazine can then be removed and refilled or other disposition made as

page_text: required, and when the second magazine is nearly empty a new filled
magazine is placed on the support T in front of it, and brought above
the dippers by sliding the support backwards after the second magazine
has been entirely emptied. Thus the firing process can be entirely con-
tinuous by providing the magazine support with a sliding motion and
with a double support for two magazines.
For imparting the necessary intermittent rectilinear motion to the
magazine a pawl mechanism is used, which operates it at requisite
intervals. This mechanism is more clearly shown in Figures 13, 14,
and 15, and its position will be further understood by reference to
Figure 1.
I utilize a cam groove in the edge of the internal gear wheel N, which
gives motion to the driving shaft M, in the manner herein-above already
described, for also imparting reciprocating motion to a horizontal rod o³.
This rod carries a pawl p³, which is by a suitable spring action held
against the edge of toothed wheel 23. The pawl p² is double, one part
of it entering, as already stated, into. the toothed wheel 92, while the
other part has the tendency to reach the notched end of a crank that
projects from a sleeve 82 which loosely embraces the shaft of the
wheel q³, said shaft being hung in the frame of the gun. From the
same sleeve &², which is shown clearly in Figure 14, and which hangs
longitudinally between two of the barrels of the gun, projects a jointed
pawl u in contact with the notched lower edge of the magazine U, said
notched edge being preferably the front edge of the magazine. The
spaces between the notches in the lower edge of the magazine must
correspond with the widths of the chambers formed in the magazine.
Now it must further be observed that the wheel q has one tooth or
notch about twice the depth of all the other teeth, as seen in Figure 13.
When the pawl p³ enters into this deep tooth its outer part is carried
into the notch of the crank r², and the next succeeding motion, by which
the rod o is pushed towards the toothed wheel, will cause the pawl p² to
vibrate the crank »², thereby turning the sleeve 83 and operating the
pawl u³, which moves the magazine. After this motion of the pawl u³
the same will remain at rest again until the wheel q³ has completed a
further revolution under the influence of the pawl p².
Thus I am
enabled to retain the magazine at rest while the cartridges that are
superposed in the same chamber of the magazine are being utilized, but

page_text: when the chamber above each dipper has been entirely emptied the
magazine will be fed laterally by the pawl u³ to bring a new chamber
over the dippers until all the chambers have been exhausted.
In order to keep the mechanism just described constantly in the proper
3 position to properly affect the magazine whenever placed upon it, I have
devised means for throwing the pawl på entirely out of contact with the
wheel q³ during the time that no magazine stands on the support T.
This means consists of a spring rod v³, which bears against the non-
toothed lower edge of the magazine, as shown in Figure 14, and which
when there is a magazine placed upon the support T is depressed. The
lower end of this spring rod ³ connects by another rod w³ with the
pawl p³, and throws said pawl into contact with the wheel q whenever
the rod is depressed by the magazine, but when the magazine is
removed said rod is immediately raised by its spring, and thereby causes
the rod w³ to swing the pawl p³ out of contact with the wheel q². There
is also a notch cut into the edge of the magazine that bears on tho
spring rod vs to allow the elevation of said spring rod as soon as the last
vertical row of cartridges has been brought over the dippers. This
rounded notch is indicated in Figure 13.
The general operation of the gun will be understood without special
description, but for greater clearness I will proceed to denote the succes-
sion of the processes carried on by the revolution of the shaft M: —Aftor
the gun has been properly pointed by the adjustment of the tail screw,
and, if necessary, also by operating the traversing worm I by hand, the
traverse clutch n is thrown into gear with one of the bevelled wheels on
the traverse worm, so that by a subsequent revolution of the shaft M
the traverse may be properly operated. A magazine filled with cart-
ridges is next placed upon the front of the support T in such position
that the pawl will enter the first tooth on the under side of tho
magazine, as indicated in Figure 13, that being the first working
position of the magazine. In this position the first row of cartridges
intended for each barrel will be brought above the dipper of such barrel.
Rotary motion is now imparted to the shaft M in the direction of the
arrow shown in Figure 4, the wheels a² being meanwhile in gear with
their respective clutches b², and consequently also actuating the bevelled
wheels and tubes P. At the first start of this motion the dipper is
turned to throw the first cartridge of the row above it upon the closed
jaws S, S. The continued motion imparted to the tube P, as stated,

page_text: causes the breech closer Q, which, by the way, receives projecting
feathers from the surrounding bearing S, so it will be prevented from
turning on its axis, to be screwed forward, so it will push the cartridge
home into the barrel. Just before the cartridge is entirely pushed into
the barrel the yoke m² will be moved forward and the jaws S, S, spread
apart. The cartridge extractor thereupon enters during the continued
forward motion of the breech closer under the flange of the cartridge.
After a cartridge has thus been pushed home, the claw R is swung
aside by the action of the cam d³ of the wheel d³, which comes in contact
with the pin of the ring e², and the firing pin is thrown forward, exploding
the cartridge.
-
The firing action may of course be simultaneous in all the barrels, as also
the loading action, or may be successive by properly adjusting the clutches
62 with reference to the position of their projecting pins h². By causing the
claw to release the firing pin the clutch 63 has, as already herein-before
specified, also caused by its own longitudinal motion the release of the
wheel a, and the throwing-in gear of the wheel a³, and the consequent
reversal of the rotation of the tube P and a backward motion of the
breech closer. As this backward motion takes place the cartridge
extractor removes the empty shell from the barrel, and allows it to drop
out through the open space formed between the open jaws S, S, and as
the breech closer nearly reaches its most backward position it moves the
yoke me back with it, and thereby turns the twisted stems and causes
the jaws S, S, to close beneath the dipper, the said upper having been
turned up with its concave side to the top, just as the breech closer
commenced its backward motion. I immediately on the breech closer
reaching its most backward position the claw R is again brought over
the firing pin to lock it, and the clutch 6 is again moved into contact
with the wheel a², and the operation continued as before described.
After all the cartridges of a vertical row over each barrel have been dis-
charged, the pawl p³ drops into the deep tooth of the wheel q³, and thereby
causes the crank 78 to be affected, and the magazine to be fed laterally
to bring a new row of cartridges over the dippers. It is evident that
the magazine bottom A³ must remain immovable on the support T whilo
the magazine is moved laterally, as described.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to

page_text: 1st. The turn-table E provided and made in one piece with the
trunnions C, C, and combined with the eye bolts F which are secured
to the frame B of the gun, substantially as herein shown and described.
2nd. A machine gun hung on trunnions which are arranged beneath
the barrels, and whose distance apart is less than the space occupied by
the barrels laterally, substantially as described.
3rd. The tail screw G combined with the pivoted nut 6, and by ball-
and-socket joint, with the traversing nut H, substantially as herein
shown and described.
4th. The traversing worm I combined with the bevelled wheels j, l, m,
and by gearing with the operating shaft M, and provided with a clutch n
by which its motion can be reversed, substantially as herein' shown and
described..
5th. In combination with the operating. shaft M that gears into the
traversing worm I, the bevelled wheel j, m, clutch n, and the gearing o,
by which the traverse can be changed from an automatic to a hand
traverse, substantially as herein shown and described.
6th. The reciprocating breech closer Q provided with a scrow thread
to receive its motion from the rotating embracing tube P, substantially
as specified.
7th. The combination of the barrel A with the rearwardly extending
breech chamber J, transverse box L, and with the casabel plate q, which
is applied to said box, substantially as specified.
8th. The combination of the firing pin w, tubular breech closer Q,
embracing tube P, and cylindrical breech chamber J, all of said parts
being concentric and operating, substantially as specified.
9th. The combination of the tubular screw P which embraces the
breech closer Q with the bevelled wheel u and gear wheel v, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
10th. The operating shaft M carrying the two loose wheels a³, a³, and
the sliding clutch 63 in line with each barrel of a machine gun, substan-
tially as and for the purpose described.
11th. The sliding clutch 63 made with a projecting pin for the
purpose of imparting intermittent rotary motion to the toothed wheel d³,
substantially as described.

page_text: -
12th. The rotating wheel & provided with a cam d³ and combined
with the claw and lever R for operating the clutch and effecting the
firing pin of the machine gun, substantially as specified.
13th. The clutch ' combined with the lever R which carries the
ping into a groove of the clutch, and with intermediate mechanism
whereby the rotation of the clutch serves to vibrate the lever R and to
move the clutch lengthwise, as specified.
14th. The cascabel plate 7 carrying on its inner face the plate c³ which
serves as a pivot for the lever R and as support for the wheel d³, sub-
stantially as specified.
15th. The firing pin to combined with the vibrating claw R by which
-it is locked and released, substantially as herein shown and described.
16th. In combination with the shank of the claw R, the ring e², and
rod f, said ring carrying two pins on opposite sides of the actuating
wheel d³ to be affected by the cam d³, substantially as herein shown and
described.
17th. The vibrating cartridge extractor x pivoted to the tubular reci-
procating breech closer Q and operating, substantially as hercin shown
and described.
18th. I combination with the front bearing S of the rotating tube P,
the spring washer y, which is interposed between the end of the tube P
and the bearing S to operate in conjunction with the reciprocating breech
closer Q, substantially as specified.
19th. The vibrating cartridge dipper O fitted within a recess of the
breech chamber J and attached removably to the operating shaft, sub-
stantially as herein shown and described.
20th. The gear wheel mounted on the rotary tube P and combined
with the toothed segment i on the shaft j³ of the vibrating dipper, sub-
stantially as herein specified..
21st. The vibrating jaws S, S, arranged in the cartridge receiving
chamber beneath the vibrating dipper O, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
22nd. In combination with the vibrating jaws S, S, the twisted
stems and the sliding yoke m² for the purpose of operating said jaws,
as specified.

page_text: 23rd. The double pawl p³ combined with the toothed wheel q* and
with the operating crank on the sleeve 83, substantially as specified.
24th. In combination with the cam wheel N and reciprocating rod o³,
the pawl p, wheel q³, crank 78, and operating pawl u³, all arranged.sub-
stantially as specified.
25th. The wheel q³ made with one tooth deeper than the remaining
teeth and combined with the actuating pawl p² and notched, crank. 78 to
throw said pawl in connection with said crank once only during the
rotation of said wheel, as specified.
26th. The combination of the spring rod v³ and connecting rod w³
with the pawl p³ for the purpose of being acted on by the magazine,
in the manner specified.
27th. The sliding magazine support T arranged to be capable of sup-
porting two magazines, one in front of the other, substantially as and
for the purpose herein shown and described.
28th. In combination with a machine gun having a series of parallel
barrels, the laterally, movable magazinė u, and the longitudinally
moveable magazine support T, substantially as described.
29th. The combination of the dipper O with the breech chamber J
and their relative arrangement, whereby the dipper will be enabled to
support a cartridge which will be clear of the charging magazine, sub-
´stantially as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Willard Brigham Farwell, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witnesses,
WILLARD BRIGHAM FARWELL. (L.S.)
ARTHUR V. BRIESEN.
ANSELMO MORAGA.