IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE GUNS AND IN FEEDERS FOR THE SAME AND FOR OTHER USES
Year: 1881

page_text: No text detected.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James George Accles at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th December 1881.
.
JAMES GEORGE ACCLES of Hartford, Connecticut one of the United States of
America at present residing at 41 Craven Street Strand in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE GUNS AND IN FEEDERS FOR THE SAME
AND FOR OTHER USES,"
This Invention has for its object improvements in machine guns and in feeders
for the same and for other uses; and relates especially to guns of the "Gatlin"
type in which the cartridges are fed in succession into compartments in a revolving
"receiver" and are thrust forward from these compartments into the barrels of the
gun with which the compartments communicate.
To supply the cartridges to the receiver I make use of a "feeder" constructed
as follows: The frame or stationary part of the feeder consists of two circular
plates connected together by a central boss and at such a distance apart that the
cartridges can lie lengthwise between the two side plates.-The frame is also
enclosed around the periphery so that it forms a drum enclosed except on the
under side where there is an opening for the delivery of the cartridges and for
other purposes. Here the feeder rests on the "hopper of the gun it is placed
with its axis parallel to the barrels. The "hopper" is a piece mounted over the
"receiver" it supports the feeder and retains it in its place; it also conducts
the cartridges delivered from the feeder into the compartments of the receiver.
There are projections on the side plates of the feeder which enter corresponding
recesses in the hopper.
"
The side plates of the feeder have spiral ribs upon them which serve to retain

page_text: and guide the cartridges, the nose of the projectile lying between the spiral ribs on
the one plate and the base flange of the cartridge between the spiral ribs upon the
other plate.
It is not necessary that the ribs should be formed to a true spiral curve indeed
it is preferred that the guide ribs should take the form of a series of concentric
and nearly complete circles connected by short inclines so as to form a continuous
guide track commencing near the central boss and terminating at the circumference
of the side plates. The cartridges lying in these spiral guides are further controlled
by a wheel or propeller forming the moving part of the feeder.
The propellor
consists of a hub surrounding the central boss and capable of revolving upon it;
and upon the hub two discs are fixed parallel to each other and a short distance
apart. The hub with its discs thus forms a wheel of which the diameter is a little
less than that of the side plates of the feeder frame and the wheel is free to revolve
between the side plates.
Radial slots are cut in the discs forming the sides of the propellor and the
cartridges in the feeder are contained in these slots. Hence when the propellor is
casued to rotate it carries the cartridges along the spiral guides and brings them
up in succession to the point in the periphery of the side plates where these guides
terminate and where the cartridges are delivered.
_The_propellor is made_to_rotate by means of projections_or_teeth upon the slotted
discs which engage with corresponding parts upon the receiver.
The cartridges are delivered from the under side of the feeder, and they pass down
inclines upon the hopper which lead them into the compartments of the receiver
as each compartment in succession comes uppermost. The inclines on the
hopper project into grooves which are cut all around the receiver to admit the
inclines.
The cartridge having been lodged in the compartment of the receiver is as the
receiver moves on in its revolution thrust forward into the barrel by the advance
into the receiver of a sliding bolt. A lock is contained in the bolt and the bolt.
carries also an extracting hook on its under side or that nearest the centre. This
hook can slide a distance longitudinally upon the bolt and at the time when the
cartridge enters the compartment of the receiver the hook stands out some
distance from the face of the bolt and there is plenty of room for the flange of
the cartridge to drop in between the face of the bolt and the lip of the extracting
hook.
The
To ensure that the extracting hook shall be thus properly placed a stem or
pusher passes back from the extractor to the rear of the bolt; it there projects and
comes at the proper time against a fixed incline and so is thrust forward. As the
cartridge passes to its place in the barrel the extracting book closes in against the
flange of the cartridge. As soon as the cartridge is safely in the barrel the striker
or firing pin of the lock being liberated, flies forward and the shot is fired.
striker is propelled forward against the priming of the cartridge by a coiled spring
within the bolt acting against a loose ring which abuts upon a collar on the stem
of the striker. Before the nose of the striker however projects from the face of
the bolt the loose ring comes against stops within the bolt which arrest the ring,
but the striker by the momentum it has acquired continues to advance; it strikes
its blow and having done so is free to recede and withdraw its nose from the face
of the bolt.
In the further rotation of the receiver the bolt retires and by means of the
extracting brook brings back the case of the discharged cartridge into the receiver
to the position it occupied on first entering. The cartridge case is then caught by
inclines on the hopper provided for this purpose. These inclines dip down into
corresponding grooves formed in and around the receiver and during the onward
motion of the receiver the cartridge case rides up the inclines and having got clear
of the receiver is delivered at the side of the gun either on to the ground or into a
receptacle.
In place of arranging the feeder with its axis parallel with the barrels as above

page_text: described it may be placed with its axis at right angles, and its construction then
requires some modification. The frame or stationary part of the feeder consists of
two concentric cylinders with a space between in which the cartridges lie radially
between guide ribs on the cylinders. These ribs form a helical course along which
the cartridges are carried by a propellor substantially similar to that already
described but differing in form.-The helical course in which the cartridges are
thus made to move, so that they may be brought forward in succession and
delivered into the compartments of the receiver commences at the upper end of the
cylinders and terminates at the lower end where the cartridges pass from the
feeder to the hopper and from the hopper to the compartments of the receiver as
already explained.
These feeders are applicable to other guns and also for feeding cartridge
machines and for like uses.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James George Accles in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
June 1882.
JAMES GEORGE ACCLES of Hartford Connecticut one of the United States
of America at present residing at 41 Craven Street Strand in the County of
Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE GUNS AND IN FEEDERS FOR THE SAME
AND FOR OTHER USES."
"
This Invention has for its object improvements in machine guns and in feeders
for the same and for other uses; and relates especially to guns of the "Gatlin " type
in which the cartridges are fed in succession into compartments in a revolving
"receiver" and are thrust forward from these compartments into the barrels of the
gun with which the compartments communicate.
To supply the cartridges to the receiver I make use of a "feeder" constructed_as_
follows: The frame or stationary part of the feeder consists of two circular plates
connected together by a central boss and at such a distance apart that the
cartridges can lie lengthwise between the two side plates. The frame is also
enclosed around the periphery so that it forms a drum enclosed except on the
underside where there is an opening for the delivery of the cartridges for other
purposes. Here the feeder rests on the "hopper" of the gun it is placed with its
axle parallel to the barrels. The "hopper" is a piece mounted over the "receiver "
it supports the feeder and retains it in its place; it also conducts the cartridges
delivered from the feeder into the compartments of the receiver. There are
projections on the side plates of the feeder which enter corresponding recesses in
the hopper.
The side plates of the feeder have spiral ribs upon them which serve to retain
and guide the cartridges, the nose of the projectile lying between the spiral ribs on
the one plate and the base flange of the cartridge between the spiral ribs upon the
other plate.
It is not necessary that the ribs should be formed to a true spiral curve indeed
it is preferred that the guide ribs should take the form of a series of concentric and
nearly complete circles connected by short inclines so as to form a continuous
guide track commencing near the central boss and terminating at the circuinference
of the side plates. The cartridges lying in these spiral guides are further controlled
by a wheel or propellor forming the moving part of the feeder. The propellor
consists of a hub surrounding the central boss and capable of revolving upon it,
and upon the hub two discs are fixed parallel to each other and a short distance
apart. The hub with its dises thus forms a wheel of which the diameter is a little
less than that of the side plates of the feeder frame and the wheel is free to revolve
between the side plates.
Radial slots are cut in the discs forming the sides of the propellor and the
cartridges in the feeder are contained in these slots.
Hence when the propellor is caused to rotate it carries the cartridges along the
spiral guides and brings them up in succession to the point in the periphery of
the side plates where these guides terminate and where the cartridges are
delivered.
The propellor is made to rotate by means of projections or teeth upon the slotted
discs which engage with corresponding parts upon the receiver.
The cartridges are delivered from the under side of the feeder, and they pass
down inclines upon the hopper which lead them into the compartments of the
receiver as each compartment in succession comes uppermost. The inclines on the

page_text: hopper project into grooves which are cut all around the receiver to admit the
inclines.
The cartridge having been lodged in the compartment of the receiver is as the
receiver moves on in its revolution thrust forward into the barrel by the advance
into the receiver of a sliding bolt. A lock is contained in the bolt and the bolt
carries also an extracting hook on its underside or that nearest the centre. This
hook can slide a distance longitudinally upon the bolt and at the time when the
cartridge enters the compartment of the receiver the hook stands out some distance
from the face of the bolt and there is plenty of room for the flange of the cartridge
to drop in between the face of the bolt and the lip of the extracting hook.
To ensure that the extracting hook shall be thus properly placed a stem or
pusher passes back from the extractor to the rear of the bolt; it there projects and
comes at the proper time against a fixed incline and so is thrust forward.
.
As the cartridge passes to its place in the barrel the extracting hook closes in
against the flange of the cartridge. As soon as the cartridge is safely in the barrel
the striker or firing pin of the lock being liberated flies forward and the shot is
fired. The striker is propelled forward against the priming of the cartridge by a
coiled spring within the bolt acting against a loose ring which abuts upon a collar
on the stem of the striker. Before the nose of the striker however projects from
the face of the bolt the loose ring comes against stops within the bolt which arrest
the ring, but the striker by the momentum it has acquired continues to advance
it strikes its blow and having done so is free to recede and withdraw its nose from
the face of the bolt.
In the further rotation of the receiver the bolt retires and by means of the
extracting hook brings back the case of the discharged cartridge into the receiver
to the position it occupied on first entering. The cartridge case is then caught by
inclines on the hopper provided for this purpose. These inclines dip down into
corresponding grooves formed in and around the receiver and during the onward
motion of the receiver the cartridge case rides up the inclines and having got clear
of the receiver is delivered at the side of the gun either on to the ground or into a
receptacle.
In place of arranging the feeder with its axis parallel with the barrels as above
described it may be placed with its axis at right angles and its construction then
requires some modification. The frame or stationary part of the feeder consists of
two concentric cylinders with a space between in which the cartridges lie radially
between guide ribs on the cylinders. These ribs form a helical course along which
the cartridges are carried by a propellor substantially similar to that already
described but differing in form. The helical course in which the cartridges are
thus made to move, so that they may be brought forward in succession and delivered
into the compartments of the receiver commences at the upper end of the cylinders
and terminates at the lower end where the cartridges pass from the feeder to the
hopper and from the hopper to the compartments of the receiver as already
explained.
These feeders are applicable to other guns and also for feeding cartridge
machines and for like uses.
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 side elevation of a Gatlin gun having my improvements applied.
The feed hopper is seen in this Figure and so also is the crank for revolving the
main axis to which the barrels are attached.

page_text: Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 1, 1 in Figures 4 and 5 and
looking to the right.
Figure 7 is a transverse section taken near the same line and looking to the
left.
Figure 8 is a plan partly in section of the receiver of the gun.
Figure 9 is a rear elevation of the same partly in section on the line 2, 2
Figure 8.
Figure 10 is an underside view of the feeder.
Figure 11 is a rear elevation of the feeder as it appears in its place upon the
hopper.
Figure 12 is a transverse vertical section of the feeder and hopper.
Figure 13 is a sectional elevation of the same. The feeder as shown in Figures 12
and 13 is without the propellor.
Figure 14 is a rear elevation similar to Figure 11 but showing also the receiver
of the gun in transverse section.
Figure 15 is a vertical section through the feeder and the receiver and some
other parts of the gun.
In the Figures 14 and 15 the propellor of the feeder is shown in its place.
Figure 16 is a rear elevation of the propellor and the receiver of the gun
without any other parts,-showing-how-they-engage-the-one-with-the-other.-A-
portion of the receiver is seen in section.
Figure 17 is a longitudinal section of one of the sliding bolts of the gun with the
parts in immediate connection therewith.
Figure 18 is a back view of the bolt.
Figures 19 show separately a small incline or cam surface operating in conjunction
with the extractor.
Figure 20 is a vertical and longitudinal section of a part of a gun carrying a
feeder of a modified form.
Figure 21 is a back elevation of this feeder and of the receiver of the gun.
The general arrangement of the gun is shown by the Figures 1, 2 and 3.
a is an outer casing having trunnions a¹ by, which the gun is mounted on its
carriage. is an axis passing through the casing longitudinally it has a worm
wheel b¹ fixed upon it and it can be rotated by turning the crank handle c c¹ is
a worm on the same axis with the crank handle and engaging with the worm
wheel b¹ dd are the barrels c is the receiver and ff are the guides in the part
called the "cylinder" into which the sliding bolts g g are drawn back out of the
receiver. In this Figure the receiver and cylinder are represented as made in one
piece this may or may not be the case. The parts dc and fare secured to the axis b
and are carried round with it hh is a lining piece inserted into the casing a,
in it are formed the stationary cam surfaces by which the bolts g are actuated
as is usual in guns of this class, is the hopper. The hopper is jointed to the
casing a at a² so that it can be readily lifted to obtain access to the receiver but
when at work it is held down in its place by a spring catch 1. The upper surface
of the hopper is hollowed out for the lower part of the cylindrical feeder / to fit
into it and its side flanges are grooved at to receive the corresponding
projections on the exterior of the feeder. ³ is the opening in the bottom of the
hopper by which the cartridges descend from the feeder into the receiver. 3×3×
are slits passing into 3. to make way for the notched projections e¹. el. on the
receiver. The projections el serve to give motion to the propellor of the feeder.
and are inclines provided on the under side of the hopper for the purpose of
controlling the cartridge until it reaches its place in the compartment of the receiver.
These inclines correspond with the channels in which the cartridges are guided
within the feeder. The inclines dip down into the annular grooves e provided
for them in the receiver. Of a piece with the inclines are other inclines ***
and these serve to raise the cases of the spent cartridges out of the receiver and to
discharge them through the spout of the hopper. are pieces on the hopper
to prevent premature movement of the cartridge endwise. are spiral ribs

page_text: formed upon the front and back plates of the casing of the feeder; in the guide
channels between the ribs the cartridges lie supported by their ends. The
propellor is capable of revolving freely upon the central boss *. * are radial
slits formed in the two side plates of the propellor, in these slits also the bodies of
the cartridges lie, are studs connecting the propellor plates near their peripheries
to hold them in place. 1 1 are teeth or projections fixed upon the propellor
around its periphery to engage with the projections e¹.e on the receiver; they
enter the notches in these projections so that as the receiver revolves it is compelled
to carry the propellor round with it and the cartridges are thereby brought
forward at the proper intervals.- is the opening in the underside of the case of
the feeder serving both for putting in the cartridges and for delivering them into
the hopper of the gun.
At the time when the cartridge drops into its compartment in the receiver the
extractor g is fully forward and the base flange of the cartridge passes behind the
hook at its end. Whilst the receiver continues to revolve it carries the cartridges
on as it receives them and the bolts g being operated by the cam advance
successively and thrust the cartridges into the barrels. 2 is the striker within the
bolt g it has the collar gx formed upon it and it also passes through the loose
ring gg is a coiled spring contained within the bolt and pressing against the
ring g³. At its other end the spring abuts upon an end piece inserted into the
bolt and secured by a pin. The cam operates upon the head of the striker to
draw it back and to release it at the proper time for firing as heretofore. The
spring urges forward the ring, until it is stopped by coming to the shoulder at
the end of the enlarged part of the passage in the bolt, the striker then continues
its forward motion and fires the cartridge in consequence of the momentum
imparted to it.
The way in which the parts of the bolt forming the lock are put together is as
follows:-
The striker g² and its collar g²x are as already stated formed in one piece and
the head at the rear end of the striker is also solid with it. The end piece g³, the
spring g' and the ring g³ are put together first and afterwards are inserted into the
bolt and then the end piece is secured by the insertion of the pin. The end piece
is passed on, then the spring and lastly the loose ring is put on to the small part
of the stem inmediately behind the collar.
An opening is cut in the ring on one side as seen at g* to admit its slipping on
to the striker at a part where the stem of the striker is flattened.
The extractor g¹ closes up to the base flange of the cartridge when the bolt is in
its forward position for it then comes against the end of the barrel. To ensure the
extractor being moved out again before a fresh cartridge is laid in front of it there
is the pusher g behind the extractor and this is moved forward at the proper
time by contact with the fixed incline or cain n. The extractor and pusher may
be made in one piece.
In the modified form of feeder seen in Figures 20 and 21 the axis of motion of
the propellor is vertical in place of horizontal but the action is substantially as
already described and the construction will be readily understood from the
Drawings. The better form however is that shown in the preceding Figures.
My feeder is applicable to a variety of purposes for feeding cartridge cases in
process of manufacture to the machines employed for the purpose for feeding screw
and rivet blanks into machines and for many such like uses.
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. My improved feeder in which the cartridges are supported between spiral
or helical guides and are driven by a rotary propellor along such guides to the
point of delivery substantially as described.
Second. The hopper having guiding inclines projecting from its under side
and entering similar grooves in the receiver to guide the cartridge in its place in
the receiver substantially as described.

page_text: Third. The receiver having projections ¹ gearing with and driving the propellor
by which the cartridges are brought into the gun substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination of the feeder, the hopper, and the receiver substantially
as described.
Fifth. The combination of the parts 9, 9ª, 9²×, g³, g' and g³ substantially as i
described.
Sixth. The sliding extractor with the pusher behind it operated by a cam
surface substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said James George Accles have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty third day of January in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
AMADAN
LAAT DA
J. GEORGE ACCLES. (L.S.)