IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE OR MAGAZINE GUNS
Year: 1884

page_text: I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention for
16 IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINE OR MAGAZINE GUNS" 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 to provide a magazine or machine gun of a
novel and simplified construction whereby the same may be fired at any angle
without changing the position of the base upon which it rests, and wherein the
cartridges are horizontally conveyed to and exploded at the exact moment of
passing the breech of the gun barrel and also by which the cartridges may be fed
consecutively into position in unlimited numbers without cessation of firing;
means being also provided for regulating the temperature of the gun barrel during
the operation of firing and these improvements consist essentially of the details of
construction and general arrangement of parts all as will be hereinafter fully
described and specifically designated in the claims.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my
complete Invention Figure 2 a side elevation of the same Figure 3 a top plan view
and Figure 4 detail sectional views thereof.
Similar letters of reference occurring on the several Figures indicate corresponding
parts.
In carrying out this Invention the base or bed frame A is preferably of a tripod
shape being composed of a flat circular table supported by 3 spreading legs
BS shewn; the upper part of the circular table being recessed out to receive the
circular base B of the upright B' and the said base B being held upon the said
table by an overlapping circular flange A as fully shewn in Figure 1. In the
upper end of the upright B' is pivoted the lower part of the frame C which
carries the gun barrel the sliding magazine breech block and the mechanism for
D

page_text: J
operating said breech block, and for discharging the cartridges said frame being
composed of two elongated and solid sides C' C united by an elongated slotted
bottom C³ and an upper central block or cover C' the gun barrel D being formed
solid with the centre of the side C¹ as shewn within the slotted bottom of the
frame C is arranged a series of rollers a upon which the elongated magazine breech 5
block is adapted to freely slide in a horizontal position and at right angles to
the breech of the gun, the said elongated breech block being provided with a
horizontal range of charge chambers which are arranged at such distances
apart that at each movement of the breech block a cartridge is brought into firing
position in the rear of the gun barrel D. Upon each side of the upper and lower 1
surfaces of the breech block E is arranged a narrow ratchet C; the angles of the
ratchet upon one side projecting in a reverse direction to the angles of the ratchet
upon the opposite side, the object of such an arrangement being that either end of
the said breech block may be readily inserted in position in the frame C with the
same effect. Upon the upper surface of the slotted bottom C³ and immediately 1
in the rear of the gun barrel D is arranged a flat spring & the free end of which
engages with the ratchet nearest the rear of the gun barrel, upon the lower surface
of the beech block the object of the same heing to prevent the said breech block
from moving in a contrary direction to that intended, as also to hold the breech
block in place as each cartridge is brought forward in position for firing. Near
one end of the gun frame C are provided two uprights e e¹ which are pivoted near
the bottom of said frame on cach side and connected together at the top by a cross
arm e² as shown. Upon tho centro of the cross arm e² are journalled the the outer
ends of two arms F. F¹; the inner end of the arm F' being adopted to work
through a slot in the central block or cover C' and engage with the ratchet upon
the upper surface of the breech block E opposite the rear of the gun barrel; a
spring secured to the upper part of the central block or cover C serving to keep
the end of said arm F' down in contact with the ratchet. The inner end of the
arm F is of a wedge or cam shape which works beneath a small arm or lug g on
a vertical rod h which is supported in slots in a cross frame G and in the central
block or cover C, through which it works; a spring i upon the cross frame G
serving to depress the rod down in the slot through the central block or cover C
and the lower end of the said rod h being sharp or pointed for engagement with
the ratchet upon the upper surface of the breech block E nearest the rear of the
gun barrel. Upon the back part of the side C and rigidly secured thereto is
provided a downwardly projecting frame H having a cross arm H¹ projecting over
the same as shown and within which is journalled the driving wheel I having a
suitable crank handle 1' for operating the same; said wheel being provided with
two inwardly projecting angular flanges I' as shown. To the right of the wheel I
is arranged the trigger J which is pivoted at its centre within a projection upon
the side of the fraine H the bottom of said trigger being bent outwardly at right
angles to its length to provide a short arm K upon which is journalled a friction
roller K. The upper end of the trigger J projects into an opening in the said
frame Hand abuts against the firing pin 7 which may be of any suitable construc-
tion, a spring K in the lower part of the frame H engaging with the lower portion
of the trigger J to throw it outwardly at each operation of firing. To the left of
the wheel I is provided an elongated and vertical spring arm K which is secured
at its lower end to the bottom of the frame H while its upper end is provided with
a wedge shaped bolt m which projects through a slot in the said frame H with ono
side abutting against the lower end of the upright c' below the point where said
upright is pivotted to the frame. The gun barrel D is surrounded by an enclosing
jacket D' of copper brass or other suitable material the space between the two
parts being adapted to be filled with water and is provided with an exhaust cock n
beneath the muzzle of the gun and a valve o at the breech of the same, the object
being to keep the barrel cool during the operation of firing. To the base of the
vertical upright B' is provided a rigid cross arm L upon each end of which are

page_text: pivotted the one end of the arms L' L' the opposite ends of said arms being
pivotted to the lower ends of the two rods L L the upper ends of which in turn
are pivoted to a circular projection M beneath the muzzle of the gun. A cross-
bar N is pivotted between the two rods L L near their lower ends and said cross
bar is provided with a. circular screw opening for the reception of the outer end of
the screw rod P the inner end of which has its bearings in a bracket upon the side
of the vertical upright B' and is provided with a suitable wheel R for turning said
screw rod in reverse directions for either elevating or depressing the muzzle of
the gun.
The construction of this Invention as above described it will be observed that
in the operation of the same the sliding breech block E having its chambers filled
with cartridges, is first adjusted in the franio C upon the roller a with the end of
the arm F engaging with the ratchet c upon the outer upper surface of said breech
block. The wheel I is then turned by the crank I causing one of the angular
flanges I to press the wedge shaped bolt m on the upper end of the spring arin K
into the recess in the frame and to forco back the lower end of the upright cl
causing its upper end and the cross arm e to move forward, thereby operating the
arm F which pushes the breech block inwardly until a cartridge is brought into
position at the rear of the breech of the gun, and in true line therewith. Simul-
taneously with the movement of the arm F¹ the arm F also moves forward, its
wedge shaped end moving outwardly from beneath tho lug g and allowing the
vertical rod h to descend and engage with the ratchet upon the inner upper surface
of the breech block to hold the same in place aided by the spring & upon the upper
surface of the shotted bottom C until the cartridge is exploded. At the moment
of the cartridge arriving in position at the breech of the gun, the opposite angular
flange I on the wheel I operates the trigger J to explode said cartridge which is
no sooner accomplished than the trigger and spring arm K having cleared the
said angular flange I on the wheel I resume their former positions; the arm e
being thrown back by the spring s upon the frame H and the arms F F' raising
the vertical rod and dropping into the next depression of the ratchet in respective
order. The above operation is repeated at pleasure, causing a continuous and
regular discharge of the cartridges as they are brought forward to the breech of
the gun in consecutivo order. Before the breech block E has passed entirely
through the frame C a duplicate breceli block filled with cartridges can be inserted
in the said frame directly in the rear of the first breech block and this operation
being repeated an unremitting discharge of the gun may be kept up.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First. In a machine gun the combination with the single barrel gun D, having a
surrounding jacket D' of the frame C horizontal breech block E and the mechanism
for operating said breech block and for discharging the cartridges as they are fed
into position at the breech of the gun all substantially as shewn and described. .
Second. In a machine gun the combination of the horizontally sliding breech
block E with the frame C and gun D whereby the cartridges are horizontally
conveyed to and exploded at the exact moment of passing the breech of the gun
substantially as specified.
Third. In a machine gun the combination with the horizontal sliding brecch
block E of the arms F F vertical rod h spring d cross-arm e' uprights e-e¹ spring
arm K trigger J wheel I provided with crank I' and angular flange 1 frame C
gun D and tripod base A all substantially as shewn and described.
Fourth. The combination of the base A with the circular base B of the upright B
carrying the gun D and frame C substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The combination of the cross-arm L upon the upright B¹ with the
arms L' L' rods L L cross bar N and screw rod P substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
•

page_text: Sixth. The combination of the upright B₁ carrying the frames C and H and
gun D and provided with the circular base B cross frame S and bar or lever T
with the tripod shaped base A and flange A' substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
"
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