for use in Automatic or Improvements in Cartridge-belts Machine-guns.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
for use in Automatic or
Improvements in Cartridge-belts
Machine-guns.
I, EUGÈNE TROCHAIN, of 10, Rue du Château d'Eau, Paris, in the Republic of
France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to flexible bands or belts serving as portable cartridge-
magazines in automatic or machine-guns of the Maxim type and similar automatic
or machine-guns for rapid firing.
The bands or belts of this kind, when they are formed exclusively of two strips
or ribbons of textile material (canvas or the like) laid one on the other and
connected together, at regular intervals, by double transverse metallic plates
united by means of rivets, are very sensitive to atmospheric influences and
particularly moisture. Under the influence of the latter, they contract or shrink to
a considerable extent causing an appreciable diminution in the diameter of the
passages or spaces formed between the two strips or ribbons and limited by
successive transverse metallic plates. From this there results a certain difficulty
to the attendants on the gun, in inserting the cartridges into these passages, and a
great variation in the force which has to be exerted by the breech-mechanism in
removing the cartridges from their seats.
It has been suggested, in order to obviate this disadvantage, to permanently fix
in each passage or space a cylindrical tube of metal, which is practically unaffected
by variations in the condition of the atmosphere, and is of an internal diameter
equal to the external diameter of the bottom part of the cartridge for which it
serves as a seat or support. The bands or belts thus formed, which are termed
"semi-metallic," have not in every case given completely satisfactory results, since
they do not render it possible to limit, in an exact and automatic manner, the
distance to which the cartridge can enter into the tube or seat and (by reason of
the somewhat conical form of the case) to ensure the exact centering of the latter
relatively to the tube, this centering being indispensable to obtain absolute
parallelism and exact alignment of the cartridges.
It is in view of remedying these defects that I have devised the band or belt
forming the subject of the present invention. This improvement consists in forming,
in the interior of the metallic tube serving to receive the cartridge, and near to the
front end of this tube, a projection or stop with a rounded surface having the form.
of a circular crown or ring the internal diameter of which is equal to the external
diameter of the cylindrical contracted end or neck of the cartridge case, and the
centre of which is arranged on the geometrical axis of the tube. The neck of the
case thus enters, without appreciable play, into the said ring, and as, on the other
hand, the cylindrical part of the bottom of the cartridge fits exactly into the rear
end of the tube, the cartridge, once put into position, is exactly centered with
respect to the latter. Moreover the distance between the projection or stop and
the rear end of the tube, through which the cartridge is introduced, is determined
so that, when the shoulder formed by the neck of the case abuts against the said
projection or stop, the cartridge is exactly in the position which it should occupy
relatively to the band in a transverse direction. It is thus only necessary to force
the cartridge forward until this contact takes place in order to be sure that
-

page_text: the said cartridge has entered exactly the desired distance into its seat.
In this manner, the exact alignment of the cartridges is ensured auto-
matically, as well as their parallelism, resulting from their exact centering in the
tubes, care having been taken to arrange the geometrical axes thereof rigorously
parallel to each other in the manufacture of the band.
The above mentioned projection or stop can moreover be produced, either by
suitably forming the receiving-tube itself, or by fitting a piece of suitable shape in
the interior of this tube.
In order that my invention may be easily understood, I have shown, by way of
example, in the accompanying drawing, two of the forms of construction which I
consider to be the most practical to carry out my improvement, by the two methods
which I have just mentioned. In this drawing :-
:-
Figures 1 and 2 show my improved semi-metallic band or belt with bezelled or
spun tubes, Figure 1 being a plan of the band or belt fitted with cartridges, with
one of the tubes in axial section, and Figure 2 a longitudinal section of the same on
the line A. B, Figure 1.
Figures 3 and 4 show a modification of the construction of this same band or
belt in which stamped projections or stops are fitted in the interior of the tubes, the
former figure being a plan view of the band, fitted with cartridges, one of the tubes
being in axial section, and the latter figure a longitudinal section of the same on
the line CD, Figure 3.
In all these figures the parts which correspond or perform the same function are
indicated by the same reference numerals.
The semi-metallic band or belt shown in Figures 1 and 2 is composed of two
superposed strips or ribbons 1, 1 of suitable textile material (canvas or like fabric
of hemp, linen, cotton, etc.), secured against each other at regular intervals by
double metallic plates 2, 2 united by rivets 3, 3, a certain number of plates 4, 4
longer than the plates 2, being arranged regularly from point to point and engaging
by their prolongations in the box of the breech-mechanism to prevent the displace-
ment of the cartridges from their seat.
Between the ribbons 1, 1 in the spaces included between the metallic plates, are
introduced, with sufficient tightness, cylindrical tubes 5, 5 of thin metal (sheet
brass for example). In the interior of each of these tubes is formed the circular
projection or stop 6 serving, as above explained, to effect the centering and
alignment of the cartridges 8, 8 (shown in chain and full lines in the position which
they normally occupy when the shoulder on the case has come into engagement
with the said projection or stop). This projection or stop, of rounded shape in
transverse section, Figure 1, is formed by stamping or spinning inwards the metal
of the tube itself around the whole of its circumference. The tubes 5, 5 thus
formed are fixed relatively to the band in a transverse direction by means of rounded
pins or keys 7 passing through the strips 1, 1.
The modification shown in Figures 3 and 4 is of absolutely identical construction
to that of the arrangement just described, with the difference that each of the
tubes 5, 5 is closed at its front end by a flat plate having a central hole to permit
the passage of the neck of the case, and that the projection or stop is formed by a
socket 6, stamped to the form shown in section in Figure 3, in such a manner as to
present a rounded edge or rim forcibly sunk into the tube 5 till it is in contact with
the bottom of the tube.
My improved semi-metallic bands or belts can be constructed of any suitable
dimensions, proportions and materials in accordance with the calibre and form of
the cartridges to be employed. I thus do not limit myself in any way to the
particular details of construction herein before described, and shown, by way of
example in the accompanying drawing, reserving to myself the right to modify
these details as required, without in any way departing from the nature of my
invention, and particularly in replacing the continuous circular projection 6,
described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2, by three or more projections or
nibs formed in the interior of the tube 5 by stamping the metal and serving to

page_text: centre the cartridge whilst supporting the neck by three or more suitably
arranged points of contact.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
-
1. The improved semi-metallic band or belt for automatic or machine guns for
rapid firing, comprising two superposed strips or ribbons of textile material,
connected together at regular intervals by metallic plates united by rivets and
together holding a certain number of cylindrical tubes of thin metal, the said
tubes, which are fixed relatively to the band by means of rounded pins or keys,
being provided internally with a continuous projection or stop, or a number of
projections, serving to ensure the centering and to automatically limit the
entrance of the cartridge into its seat, substantially as, and for the purposes,
herein before described.
2. The modification of my invention in which the internal projection or stop
for the cartridges is produced by bezelling, spinning or otherwise forcing inwards
the metal of the tube itself, around the whole of its circumference, substantially
as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing.
3. The modification of my invention in which the projection or stop for the
cartridges is formed by a piece or socket formed with rounded rims or edges and
forcibly inserted into the tube, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing.
nd th
A 1 1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.