Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1887
Complete Left, 8th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 16th Mar.,
1888
I, THORSTEN NORDENFELT of 53 Parliament Street, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a field mounting for machine guns on
which gun and ammunition are carried on the same axle so as to do away with limbers
and avoid the possibility of gun and ammunition being separated in action.
I provide two types of carriages one intended to be always pulled by horses and to
follow cavalry the other made so as to be generally pulled by men and to follow
infantry, but at the same time be provided with shafts for animal draft.
The mounting to follow cavalry is formed of a two wheeled carriage to be pulled by
two horses one placed between shafts the other to be mounted.
The shafts are provided with long irons which go under the carriage the ends of
which are jointed to the axle one outside the wheel and the other at about the middle
of the axle.
In front of the wheels is a bar which goes the whole width of the carriage and to
which the shafts are connected. Firmly connected with this bar is a platform which
is supported from the axle by two carriage springs.
Across the platform I place a box in which room is provided for ammunition.
Above the middle of the box I mount the gun carriage.
The mounting is preferably composed of a short standard which at its upper end
has the gun jointed to it by a horizontal joint or trunnions.
The standard is formed at the bottom with a broad foot to rest upon a plate above
the top of the box and has an axis descending from its centre through a tubular
socket. At its lower end it rests in a step bearing. It has also an arm projecting
from it which at its outer end rests on a curved bearing plate. The outer end of the
arm has jointed to it a tubular socket screwed internally-the elevating screw for
raising or lowering the breech end of the gun screws into this socket. The elevating
screw has a hand wheel upon it by which it can be turned-preferably it is also made
hollow and screwed internally to screw on to a screw rod jointed to the breech
of the gun so that the raising or lowering of the breech may be more quickly
effected.

page_text: For training the gun the arm also carries a horizontal axis with a worm upon it to
gear into a circular toothed arc which is fixed to the socket and is concentric with it.
The axis can be turned by a hand wheel on its outer end.
On the top of the box on each side of the gun seats are provided for two men and
in front of the box and on the platform there is room enough for the men to kneel
when firing. The seats of the men can be turned up and will then serve as shields.
The box is in front closed by lids which can be let down on to the platform thus
opening the box and admitting the ammunition which is carried in hoppers or
cartridge-carriers to be taken out from the different compartments in which they are
placed and used for the gun. The front board of the platform is joined to the
platform by hinges so that it can be raised up to give support for the feet of the men.
The seats are surrounded by arm rests and wheel guards are placed on both sides of
the platform.
The mounting is made so as to enable the gun to be fired either with the horses in
or out of the shafts or with the shafts up or resting on the ground. The elevating
screw is made long enough to admit of this.
To help the horses to keep up the mounting when in firing position, or to be able
to fire with the horses out but with the shafts up, the carriage is provided with two
props one on each side of the platform and in front of the axle. Each prop is so
inade that it can quickly be shortened or lengthened-It may be formed of a bar
with a handle at the top-the bar sliding into a tube which can pivot round a
stationary point at the side of the platform.
On the bar is a stud which goes into a longitudinal slot in the tube. The slot has
in different places transverse branches into which the stud can enter when the bar is
turned thus locking the bar from sliding. For steadying the props I sometimes
connect the lower end of the bar with the framework by adjustable chains. When
the props are in position these chains act as stays.
ין
In travelling position the bar is drawn up through the tube and turned until it
comes about parallel with the platform. If more ammunition is wanted than what is
carried in cartridge-holders in the box I place another box containing ammunition
packed in paper or otherwise in rear of the big box and fix it by straps.
The mounting for infantry is constructed in many respects in a similar manner.
Both shafts are jointed to the axle inside the wheels. Between them and resting on
the axle is a framework which carries two moveable boxes containing the ammunition.
The front of the frame has two loops through which the shafts pass. The rear of the
framework is covered over and protected by a coned shield on the apex of which the
gun mounting which may be formed in the manner herein before described is carried.
The ammunition boxes can slide out through the front end of the frame between
the shafts. They are secured in their places by locking bolts. The ammunition is
carried in hoppers or cartridge carriers placed in compartments in the boxes. The
boxes are opened at the end nearest the shafts at the top by a sliding lid in order to
enable ammunition to be taken out of the boxes through the framework when they
are in their places. The other half of each box is covered with a hinged lid at the
top. In order to carry more ammunition I sometimes fix a box carrying ammunition
packed in paper or otherwise underneath the framework and in rear of the axle.
Room is provided for two distributors in compartments underneath the front part of
the framework and between the shafts.
The rear end of the framework is lined with netting and is used for carrying drag
ropes tools etc.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gun Mountings, Adapted Especially for Machine
Guns.
I, THORSTEN NORDENFELT, of 53 Parliament Street, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be perforined to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide a field mounting for machine guns on
which gun and ammunition are carried on the same axle so as to do away with limber3.
and avoid the possibility of gun and ammunition being separated in action.
I provide two types of carriages one intended to be always pulled by horses and to
follow cavalry the other made so as to be generally pulled by men and to follow
infantry, but at the same time provided with shafts for animal draft.
The mounting to follow cavalry is shown by the Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal and vertical section.
Figure 2 is a half front elevation.
Figure 3 is a half rear elevation partly in section.
Figure 4 is a half plan.
Figure 5 shows the brake and hand lever in connection therewith.
Figure 6 is a section on the line A B in Figure 1.
The mounting to follow cavalry is formed of a two wheeled carriage to be pulled
by two horses one placed between shafts the other to be inounted.
The shafts a a are provided with long irons a¹ a' which go under the carriage the
ends of which are jointed to the axle one outside the wheel and the other at about
the middle of the axle.
In front of the wheels is a bar c which goes the whole width of the carriage and
to which the shafts a are connected. Firmly connected with this bar is a platform d
which is supported from the axle by two carriage springs e e.
Across the platform I place a box f in which room is provided for ammunition.
Above the middle of the box I mount the gun carriage.
g
The mounting or gun holder is preferably composed of a short standard which
at its upper end has the gun h jointed to it by a horizontal joint or trunnions.
The standard is formed at the bottom with a broad foot g¹ to rest upon a plate i
above the top of the box and has an axis descending from its centre through a tubular
socket k. At its lower end it rests in a step bearing 1. It has also an arm m pro-
jecting from it which at its outer end rests on a bearing plate 1. The outer end of
the arm has jointed to it a screw stem n entering a corresponding nut or sleeve o on
which is a hand wheel o'. p is another screw stem which enters the nut or sleeve o
at its upper end and this is jointed to the breech of the gun. This gear serves to
elevate and depress the gun.

page_text: For training the gun the arm m also carries a horizontal axis q with a worm g¹
upon it to gear into a circular toothed arc which is fixed to the socket and is con-
centric with it. The axis can be turned by a hand wheel q² on its outer end.
On the top of the box f on each side of the gun seats f1 f1 are provided for two
men and in front of the box and on the platform d there is room enough for the men
to kneel when firing. The seats for the men can be turned up and will then serve as
shields. The box is in front closed by lids f2 which can be let down on to the
platform thus opening the box and admitting the ammunition which is carried in
hoppers or cartridge-carriers to be taken out from the different compartments in
which they are placed and used for the gun. The front board d¹ of the platform is
joined to the platform by hinges so that it can be raised up to give support for the
feet of the men. The seats are surrounded by arm rests and wheel guards are
placed on both sides of the platform.
The mounting is made so as to enable the gun to be fired either with the horses
in or out of the shafts or with the shafts up or resting on the ground. The elevating
screw is made long enough to admit of this.
To help the horses to keep up the mounting when in firing position or to be able to fire
with the horses out but with the shafts up, the carriage is provided with two props
one on each side of the platform and in front of the axle. Each prop is so made that
it can quickly be shortened or lengthened. It is formed of a bar s with a handle at the
top the bar sliding into a tube s¹ which can pivot round a stationary point s³ at the
side of the platform.
On the bar is a stud which goes into a longitudinal slot s* in the tube. The slot
has in different places transverse branches into which the stud can enter when the bar
is turned thus locking the bar from sliding. For steadying the props I sometimes
connect the lower end of the bar with the framework by adjustable chains t t. When
the props are in position these chains act as stays.
In travelling position the bar is drawn up through the tube and turned until it
comes about parallel with the platform as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1. If
more ammunition is wanted than what is carried in cartridge-holders in the box I
place another box containing ammunition packed in paper or otherwise in rear of the
big box and fix it by straps.
u is a brake drum by the side of one of the wheels. u¹ is the lever handle and
brake strap.
The mounting for infantry is constructed in many respects in a similar manner.
Figure 7 shows a side elevation of this mounting. Figure 8 is a plan but without
the wheels.
Figure 9.is a front elevation partly in section and with some parts removed.
Figures 10 show one of the ammunition boxes. Both shafts à a are jointed to the
axle 6 inside the wheels. Between them and resting on the axle is a framework v
which carries two moveable boxes to containing the ammunition. The front of the
frame has two loops through which the shafts pass. The rear of the framework
is covered over and protected by a coned shield on the apex of which the gun
mounting formed in the manner hereinbefore described is carried; the elevating gear
only being slightly modified.
The ammunition boxes w can slide out through the front end of the frame v between
the shafts. They are secured in their places by locking bolts. The ammunition is
carried in hoppers or cartridge carriers placed in compartments in the boxes w. The
boxes are opened at the end nearest the shafts at the top by a sliding lid w¹ in order to
enable ammunition to be taken out of the boxes through the framework when they
are in their places. The other half of each box is covered with a hinged lid w³ at the
top. In order to carry more ammunition I sometimes fix a box carrying ammunition
packed in paper or otherwise underneath the framework and in rear of the axle.
Room is provided for two distributors in compartments y y underneath the front part
of the framework and between the shafts.
The rear end of the framework is lined with netting at z and is used for carrying
drag ropes tools etc.

page_text: 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 combination substantially as described consisting of the two wheeled
carriage and shafts; the platform carried on springs and supported by the shafts and
axle; the ammunition box upon the platform; the gun mounting or holder carried
upon the box and the supporting legs which steady the carriage as herein set forth.
2. A gun mounting for a machine gun substantially as described and shown by the
Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings.
3. The combination substantially as described consisting of the two wheeled
carriage and shafts; the framework open in front and carried upon the shafts and
axle; the ammunition boxes sliding longitudinally into the framework; the inclined
shield mounted on the framework and the gun mounting or holder carried by the
platform and shield as herein set forth.
4. A gun mounting for a machine gun substantially as described and shown by the
Figures 7 to 10 of the drawings.