Improvements in Automatic Guns.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Automatic Guns.
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 18 Queen's Gate Place, in the County of
Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates chiefly to that class of automatic machine guns in which
the barrel does not recoil, the breech-mechanism being operated by a device upon
which the gases of discharge act as they escape from apertures formed in the barrel
near the muzzle, or from the muzzle itself.
According to one part of my present invention the escaping gases enter a gas-
chamber at the muzzle end of the water-jacket and there act on a movable
plate or hinged flap whose movement is transmitted to the breech mechanism by
means of a suitable rod or rods which operate a bell-crank lever that acts on
the crank, this bell-crank lever being so formed that it also serves as a "dead stop
for preventing rebound of the parts when the breech is closed.
وو
In the ordinary "Maxim" guns as heretofore generally constructed the cartridges
are supplied to the gun by a belt which is provided with clips for holding the
cartridges and which passes through a "feed-box" arranged above the breech-end
of the barrel, but according to one part of my present invention instead of arranging
the feed-box over the barrel it is placed to the rear of the barrel and in such a
position that each cartridge, as it is brought by the belt into the loading position,
is pushed directly from its clip into the cartridge chamber of the barrel by a plunger
on the breech-block or lock, and after it has been fired its empty case is drawn back
into the same clip of the belt and is carried away by the onward movement of
the belt. The breech-block or lock need not therefore, be provided with any
transversely moving cartridge carrier or cartridge transferring device on its forward
part, such as that usually employed in the ordinary Maxim guns.
The aforesaid plunger or bolt on the breech-block or lock is co-axial with the
barrel and is arranged to operate in conjunction with a cartridge belt wherein the
cartridges are held by metallic clips so formed that the plunger or bolt can
freely enter the said clips and push the cartridges directly forward into the barrel.
The said clips are provided with stops which serve to limit the extent to which
the empty cartridge cases can be drawn backward into the clips by the plunger
or bolt.
I prefer to construct the belt of a number of articulated metallic sections, each
section carrying a clip. In order that the plunger or bolt may effectually perform
the pushing of the cartridges from the clips into the barrel and the withdrawing of
the empty cases from the barrel into the clips, the said clips have to be open at the
top and have also to be made very elastic, and each articulated section of the belt
should be corrugated or similarly formed so as to possess the requisite strength
and lightness. The clips are also connected to the belt in such a manner that no
rivet heads or analogous fastenings exist on the inside of the clips, and their inner
surfaces are quite smooth so as to present no impediment to the longitudinal move-
ment of the cartridges as they pass out of or into the said clips. There are several
advantages derivable from the use of belts constructed in this manner, one being
the ease with which the cartridges cases can be collected after firing, because the

page_text: act of recharging the belt with fresh cartridges simultaneously ejects the empty
cases from the clips.
In some cases a strip of linen or cotton tape or other fabric is employed for
connecting one section of the belt to another.
I may use any convenient means for imparting a step by step feeding movement
to the belt, but I prefer to employ a feed-wheel which is arranged in such a manner
that its axis is in the same vertical plane as the axis of the barrel so that the
aforesaid plunger or bolt can pass between the peripheral teeth of the feed-wheel
as the breech-block or lock reciprocates during the working of the gun. Inter-
mittent motion may be imparted to the feed-wheel by means of a spring-controlled
pawl which acts on a series of teeth on the feed-wheel. This pawl may be pivotally
connected to a lever the tail of which lies in the path of projections on the crank-
shaft, one of the said projections acting to depress the tail of the lever, and the
other to elevate it as the crank-shaft performs its backward and forward rotary
movements. The said pawl is thus vertically reciprocated to actuate the feed-
wheel. A shoulder may be formed on the said pawl for coming between the teeth
of the feed-wheel and acting as a stop to prevent the feed-wheel from turning
beyond its proper distance as the pawl acts thereon.
In connection with the aforesaid pawl I provide a device which can be operated
from the exterior of the gun, for keeping the said pawl out of gear with the feed-
wheel so that the gun can be thrown out of action. The said device is preferably
so arranged that the crank-handle can be caused to engage with a catch forming
part of the device, whereby the crank-handle is retained in a forward position when
the pawl is out of gear with the feed-wheel.
The extractor is so arranged in conjunction with a flexible arm carried by the
firing bolt or pin that by means of suitable guides the nose or hook of the said
extractor is, at the commencement of the rearward movement of the breech block
or leck, firmly held in engagement with the head of the cartridge in the barrel.
This object is attained by arranging the front end of the aforesaid arm to enter
between a fixed stop and the upper part of the extractor and thereby act at this
time as a wedge for keeping the extractor firmly pressed down. During the
"cocking," however, the said front end of the arm is withdrawn and as the breech-
block or lock approaches the end of its rearward movement the said arm is elevated
by a fixed cam-piece and raises the extractor sufficiently to release the empty
cartridge case that has been withdrawn from the barrel into the clip of the belt.
During the forward movement of the breech-block or lock the flexible arm
permits the extractor to have a certain amount of free movement so that in the
event of its hook not having properly engaged with the head or rim of the
cartridge, the said book will be enabled to pass over the rim when the cartridge
is inserted into the barrel, because the aforesaid flexible arm, being carried by
the firing bolt or pin, does not advance and perform its wedge like action on
the extractor until the firing bolt or pin itself advances in the act of firing the
cartridge.
The lower part of the breech-block or lock is formed with a vertical opening
through which the main-spring of the firing mechanism is inserted into its place,
and this opening is provided with inclined faces which as the spring is pushed into
the lock, act on the said spring and force its free ends towards each other and at
the same time guide it into the proper position for engaging with the firing
bolt or pin. By these means the main spring can be readily inserted into the
lock by merely thrusting it through the aforesaid opening and the removal of the
spring is equally simple. The use of a special instrument for removing and replacing
the main spring is thus rendered unnecessary.
The firing and safety sears are arranged side by side on a horizontal axis carried
by the breech-bolt or lock, each of them being provided with shoulders for engaging
with a projection on the firing bolt or pin. As usual, I provide the safety sear
with a nose which is acted on to disengage this sear from the firing bolt or pin as
the connecting-rod of the breech-block assumes its horizontal position. The

page_text: firing sear is provided with a lateral projection or cam which is acted on to disengage
this sear by a suitable projection on a sliding rod or bar when this latter is actuated
by the trigger or firing button. The spring by which the said sears are controlled
is preferably provided with a lateral fin which enters a triangular slot forined in
the breech-block body, the said slot being so arranged that the fin when turned into
an approximately horizontal position will tightly fit the slot. This enables the
spring to be very readily connected to or disconnected from the breech-block when
desired.
The firing button is formed with a circumferential groove near its inner end and
a fixed curved plate engages with this groove; extending rearwardly from this
circumferential groove is a longitudinal groove whose shape in cross-section corre-
sponds with the curvature of the said plate, so that when the firing-button is turned
into a position to bring its longitudinal groove in correspondence with the aforesaid
plate, the button can be pushed in to fire the gun, but when the button is turned
into a position to bring its longitudinal groove out of correspondence with the said
plate the button cannot be pushed in. The firing button is also formed at its inner
end with a transverse V-shaped notch which, when a V-shaped projection on a
pivoted lever connecting the firing button to the bar or rod that operates the firing
sear is in engagement therewith, will prevent the firing button from being turned
accidentally, although it will not be so firmly held as to prevent the button from
being intentionally turned when sufficient twisting force is exerted thereon.
On the water-jacket of the gun I provide a lift-valve that will not allow the
steam to escape unless its pressure exceeds, say, five atmospheres, and in conjunction
with this valve I employ a rotary plug or cock which is kept in place by a flexible
arm or spring acting on its upper part. This rotary plug is provided with apertures
which are so arranged that by turning it into one position the steam can be blown
off from the muzzle end of the water-jacket through an opening in the plug without
passing through the lift-valve. This position I term the "muzzle blow off."
When the plug is turned into another position the steam can pass from the rear
end of the water-jacket to the said lift-valve. This I term the "depression"
position. When the plug is turned into another position the steam can neither
pass through the plug nor reach the lift-valve. It is when the plug is in this
position that the chief function of the aforesaid flexible arm or spring comes into
requisition, for if the pressure within the water jacket should at this time become
excessive, the flexible arm no longer exerts sufficient force to retain the plug
in place and therefore the plug rises and permits the accumulated steam to escape.
The plug consequently while in this position serves as a safety-valve. When the
plug is turned into another position it allows the steam to escape from the front
end of the water-jacket and reach the aforesaid lift-valve. This I term the
"elevation" position. When the plug is turned into another position the steam
can be blown off from the breech end of the water-jacket without passing through
the lift-valve. This I term the "breech blow off" position. I may provide the
said plug with a handle by which it can be turned and this handle may be slotted,
so that when turned into the various positions above mentioned, words or signs on
the exterior of the water-jacket will be visible through the slot when the handle is
turned into the proper position.
The side plates of the casing enclosing the breech mechanism are connected
to the rear end of the water-jacket by lugs thereon entering between lugs on the
said side plates, and vertical pins passing through the lugs, secure these parts
together. A firm connection is thus established between these parts so as to
prevent any yielding or separation of the same at the instant of firing. Horizontally
arranged lugs are also provided at the upper and lower ends of the water-jacket,
and to these lugs the top and bottom plates are respectively connected by hinge
pins. In this manner not only can the top plate be opened upwardly but the
bottom plate can be turned downwardly, so that the interior of the casing and the
breech mechanism can be examined and reached with great facility.
According to another part of my present invention and where it is desired to

page_text: construct a very light and compact gun, I provide the water-jacket with a tubular
casing which is capable of longitudinal movement under the action of the gases of
discharge escaping from the aforesaid lateral openings in the barrel and entering
a gas-chamber whose outer movable end forms part of the aforesaid tubular casing.
The other end of this casing is furnished with a lug to which is connected a rod for
transmitting the movement of the casing to the breech mechanism of the gun.
A spring is provided for returning this rod and the casing to their firing position
after each discharge.
The water-jacket is provided at the rear of the muzzle with a series of lateral
holes and the tubular casing is also provided with a lateral hole or lateral holes
which coincide with the holes in the water-jacket when the tubular casing moves
forward at each discharge. The water-jacket is also formed with another hole
through which water can be supplied from a reservoir so that the water that
escapes through the aforesaid lateral holes at each discharge of the gun, can
be replaced by fresh cool water. The reservoir may be situated above the gun so
that the water will flow therefrom by gravity, or the said reservoir may be situated
below the gun and the water therein be fed to the gun by compressed air. Or,
what will probably be found most advantageous, the water may be contained in an
india-rubber or other bag which is connected to the water-jacket by a suitable
pipe and this bag may be placed under the gunner's seat so that his weight will
have the effect of forcing the water from the bag into and through the water-
jacket. Or the bag may be otherwise arranged to permit of its being subjected to
sufficient pressure to force the water from it. The aforesaid tubular casing is
preferably made of little weight and of very hard steel so as to resist rough usage
and protect the water-jacket, which is made of softer metal. By the employment
of the tubular casing, the rods or bars heretofore employed for transmitting the
movement of the muzzle-device to the breech mechanism are dispensed with and
the symmetrical appearance of the gun is therefore not impaired.
In this gun although the breech-block is adapted to push the cartridges from the
belt into the barrel and to return the empty cartridge cases into the same clips
from which the cartridges were pushed into the barrel as above described I modify
the construction of the breech-block as follows. That is to say I employ a rotary
breech block or bolt having at its forward end interrupted screw threads for
engagement with corresponding screw threads in the barrel, and the requisite
rotary movement for locking and unlocking the breech-block is obtained by an arm
or lever projecting radially from the breech-block through a slot in the casing of
the gun. The forward end of this slot is formed vertically to receive the said arm
as it turns downward in locking the breech-block to the barrel. This arm or lever
is raised out of the vertical portion of the slot by an incline forming part of the
rod that is operated by the aforesaid sliding tubular casing, and in front of the
said arm the upper end of a pivoted lever is situated, the lower end of said lever
being acted upon by a resilient arm mounted on the aforesaid rod carrying the
incline. Therefore as this rod moves forward at each discharge of the gun the
breech-block is turned about its axis and unlocked by the aforesaid incline, and is
also driven backward to open the breech by the said pivoted lever striking against
the arm on the breech-block. At the same time the firing pin is "cocked" by the
action of cam pieces which move the firing pin longitudinally as the radial arm
turns in rising. A spiral spring arranged within the casing of the gun returns the
breech-block to its firing position after such discharge; this spring is preferably
enclosed within telescopic tubes. The rotary movement of the breech-block to
lock it to the barrel is effected by a spring which forces the arm downwardly when
the latter returns to the vertical slot in the casing.
The intermittent movement of the feed-wheel may be effected by means similar
to those already described, but I prefer to arrange the free end of the lever
operating the driving pawl in the path of the breech-block so as to be operated
directly thereby. The "cocking" of the hammer is also effected directly by the
rearward movement of the breech-block.

page_text: The extractor is pivoted to the breech block and has a long tail with a projection
which works in suitable guides or is otherwise controlled so that the hook of
the extractor is caused to release a cartridge case at the proper time and also
firmly engage with the head of a cartridge when the latter is in the barrel.
A suitable buffer of wood or other appropriate material may be provided in
rear of the breech-block for the latter to strike against as it completes each
rearward movement.
The herein before mentioned articulated metallic cartridge belt may be modified
in construction to render it applicable to guns in which the cartridges are not.
pushed forward out of the clips as in the guns above described. And when so
modified I prefer to form the ends of the clips where the projectiles of the cartridges
lie, with bent up ends which prevent the cartridges from working out of the clips,
and also enable the belt to be quickly and accurately filled with cartridges without
the aid of a machine. The clips proper are preferably produced from suitably
shaped blanks having lateral tongues which are bent upwardly into a curved form
to receive and retain the cartridges.
Dated this 8th day of Anil 1806
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Automatic Guns.
1, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 18 Queen's Gate Place, in the County of
Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates chiefly to that class of automatic machine-guns in which
the barrel does not recoil, the breech-mechanism being operated by a movable
device upon which the gases of discharge act as they escape from apertures formed
in the barrel near the muzzle, or from the muzzle itself.
In "Maxim" guns as heretofore generally constructed the cartridge feed belt
passes through a "feed box" arranged above the breech-end of the barrel, but
according to my present invention instead of arranging the feed-box over the
barrel it is placed in such a position that each cartridge, as it is brought by the
belt into the loading position, is pushed directly from its clip into the cartridge
chamber of the barrel by a plunger or bolt forming part of the breech-block or
lock, and after it has been fired its empty case is drawn back into the same clip
and is carried away by the onward movement of the belt. Therefore the breech-
block or lock is not provided with any transversely or vertically moving cartridge
carrier or cartridge transferring device on its forward part, such as that usually
employed in Maxim guns.
The aforesaid plunger or bolt on the breech-block or lock is co-axial with the
barrel and is arranged to operate in conjunction with a cartridge belt wherein the
cartridges are held by metallic clips so formed that the plunger or bolt can freely
enter the said clips and push the cartridges directly forward into the barrel.
I prefer to construct the belt of a number of articulated metallic sections, each
section carrying a clip. An important advantage derivable from the use of belts
having clips constructed in this manner, is the ease with which the cartridge cases
can be collected after firing, because the act of recharging the belt with fresh
cartridges simultaneously ejects the empty cases from the clips. In some cases a
strip of linen, cotton tape or other fabric is employed for connecting one section of
the belt to another.

page_text: I may use any convenient means for imparting a step by step feeding movement
to the belt, but I prefer to employ a feed-wheel which is arranged in such a
manner that its longitudinal axis is in the same vertical plane as the axis of the
barrel so that the aforesaid plunger or bolt can pass between the peripheral teeth
of the feed-wheel as the breech-block or lock reciprocates during the working of
the gun. Intermittent motion may be imparted to the feed-wheel by means of a
pivoted lever having a spring-controlled pawl which acts on a series of teeth on
the feed-wheel as will be hereinafter fully described.
In connection with the aforesaid pawl I provide a device which can be operated
from the exterior of the gun, for keeping the said pawl out of gear with the
feed-wheel so that the gun can be thrown out of action.
The extractor is so arranged in conjunction with a flexible or resilient arm carried
by the firing pin that by means of suitable guides the nose or hook of the said
extractor is at the commencement of the rearward movement of the breech block
or lock, firmly held in engagement with the flange of the cartridge in the barrel.
This object is attained by arranging the forward end of the aforesaid arm to enter
between a fixed stop and the upper part of the extractor and thereby act at this
time as a wedge for keeping the extractor firmly pressed down. During the
cocking, however, the said forward end of the arm is withdrawn and as the breech-
block or lock approaches the end of its rearward movement, the said arm is elevated
by a fixed cam-piece and raises the extractor sufficiently to release the empty
cartridge case that has been withdrawn by the extractor from the barrel into the
clip of the belt. During the forward movement of the breech-block or lock the
flexible arm permits the extractor to have a certain amount of free movement so
that in the event of its hook or claw not having properly engaged with the flange
or rim of the cartridge, the said hook will be enabled to pass over the rim when
the cartridge is inserted into the barrel, because the aforesaid flexible arm; being
carried by the firing pin does not independently advance nor perform its wedge-like
action on the extractor until the firing pin itself advances in the act of firing the
cartridge.
The lower part of the breech-block or lock is formed with a vertical opening
through which the main-spring of the firing mechanism is inserted into its place,
and this opening is provided with inclines which, as the spring is pushed into the
lock, act on the said spring and force its free ends towards each other and at the
same time guide it into proper position for engaging with the firing pin. By these
means the main spring can be readily inserted into the lock by merely thrusting it
through the aforesaid opening, and the removal of the spring is equally simple.
The use of a special instrument for removing and replacing the main spring is thus
rendered unnecessary.
On the water-jacket of the gun I provide a valve that will not allow the steam
to escape unless its pressure exceeds, say, five atmospheres, and in conjunction with
this valve I employ a rotary plug or cock which is kept in place by a flexible arm
or spring acting on its upper part. This rotary plug is provided with apertures
which are so arranged that the plug can be set into one or other of several positions
for the purposes hereinafter described.
According to another part of my present invention and where it is desired to
construct a very light and compact gun, I provide the water-jacket with a tubular
casing which is capable of longitudinal movement under the action of the gases of
discharge escaping from the barrel and entering a gas-chamber whose outer
movable end forms part of the aforesaid tubular casing. The other end of this
casing is furnished with a lug to which is connected a rod for transmitting the
movement of the casing to the breech mechanism of the gun. A spring is provided
for returning this red and the casing to their firing position after each discharge.
The water-jacket is provided near the muzzle with a lateral hole or lateral holes
and the tubular casing is also provided with holes which coincide with those in the
water-jacket when the tubular casing moves forward at each discharge. The
water-jacket is also formed near its breech end with another hole through which

page_text: water can be supplied from a reservoir so that the water that escapes through the
aforesaid lateral holes at each discharge of the gun, can be replaced by fresh cool
water. The reservoir may be situated above the gun so that the water will flow
therefrom by gravity, or the said reservoir may be situated below the gun and the
water therein be fed to the gun by compressed air. Or, what will probably be
found most advantageous, the water may be contained in an india-rubber or other
flexible bag which is connected to the water-jacket by a suitable pipe and this bag
may be placed under the gunner's seat so that his weight will have the effect of
forcing the water from the bag into and through the water-jacket. Or the bag
may be otherwise arranged to permit of its being subjected to sufficient pressure to
force the water from it. The aforesaid tubular casing is preferably made of very
hard steel so as to resist rough usage and protect the water-jacket, which is made
of softer metal. By the employment of the tubular casing, the rods or bars
heretofore employed for transmitting the movement of the muzzle-device to the
breech mechanism are dispensed with and the symmetrical appearance of the gun
is therefore unimpaired.
In this gun although the breech-block is adapted to push the cartridges from
the belt into the barrel and to return the empty cartridge cases into the same clips
from which the cartridges were pushed into the barrel as above described, I modify
the construction of the breech-block as follows;-that is to say I employ a rotary
breech block or bolt having at its forward end interrupted screw threads for
engagement with interrupted screw threads in the barrel, and the requisite rotary
movement for locking and unlocking the breech-block is obtained by an arm or
lever projecting radially from the breech-block through a slot in the casing of the
gun. The forward end of this slot is formed vertically to receive the said arm as
it turns downward in locking the breech-block to the barrel. This arm or lever is
raised out of the vertical portion of the slot by an incline forming part of the rod
that is operated by the aforesaid sliding tubular casing, and in front of the said
arm is situated the upper end of a pivoted lever whose lower end is acted upon by
a resilient arm mounted on the aforesaid rod carrying the incline. Therefore as
this rod moves forward at each discharge of the gun the breech-block is turned
about its axis and unlocked by the aforesaid incline, and is also driven backward to
open the breech by the said pivoted lever striking against the arm on the breech-
block. At the same time the firing pin is cocked by the action of cam pieces which
move the firing pin longitudinally as the radial arm turns in rising. A spiral spring
arranged within the casing of the gun returns the breech-block to its firing position
after each discharge. The rotary movement of the breech-block to lock it to the
barrel is effected by a spring which forces the arm downwardly when the latter
reaches the vertical slot in the casing, and simultaneously with the completion of
this locking movement a projection on the radial arm releases the safety sear.
The intermittent movement of the feed-wheel may be effected by means similar
to those already alluded to, but I prefer to arrange the free end of the lever that
operates the driving pawl, in the path of the breech-block so as to be operated
directly thereby. The cocking of the hammer is also effected directly by the
rearward movement of the breech-block.
The extractor is pivoted to the breech block and has a long tail with a projection
which works in suitable guides or is otherwise controlled so that the hook of the
extractor is caused to release a cartridge case at the proper time and also to firmly
engage with the rim of a cartridge in the barrel.
The hereinbefore mentioned articulated metallic cartridge belt may be modified
in construction to render it applicable to guns in which the cartridges are not
pushed forward out of the clips as above described. And when so modified I prefer
to form the ends of the clips where the projectiles of the cartridges lie, with bent
up ends which prevent the cartridges from working out of the clips, and also enable
the belt to be quickly and accurately filled with cartridges without the aid of a
machine.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried

page_text: into effect I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which
Figures 1 and 14 together represent a longitudinal section of the gun constructed
in accordance with the first part of my invention the parts thereof being in the
position they occupy after firing.
Figure 2 a sectional plan of the rear portion of the gun shewn in Figure 1, the
top plate or cover having been removed to exhibit the breech-mechanism.
Figure 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 1.1. of Figure 1
and shews the cartridge belt travelling through the gun.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are longitudinal sections of the breech-block or lock on a
larger scale, Figure 4 representing the breech closed and the striker "cocked,"
Figure 5 the breech closed but the striker "fired," and Figure 6 the breech opened
and the striker again "cocked."
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a plan and a cross section on the line 2. 2
(Figure 7) shewing a detail of the extracting mechanism.
Figure 9 is a plan of the safety and firing sears.
Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 are detail views shewing respectively a longitudinal
section, an end view, a plan, and a transverse section on the line 3. 3 (Figure 10)
of the breech-end portion of the water-jacket with the steam escape device carried
thereby.
Figures 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are horizontal sections shewing diagrammatically
the steam escape device in various positions.
Figure 19 is a side elevation of the right-hand plate of the casing enclosing the
breech-mechanism and shews means for locking the crank-handle in a forward
position when it is desired to remove the cartridge belt from, or adjust it in,
the gun.
Figure 20 is a similar view to that shewn in the preceding figure but shews the
mechanism employed for feeding the cartridge belt through the gun. This
mechanism is situated on the inside of the plate, but for sake of clearness the
outline of the plate itself is merely indicated by dotted lines.
.
Figure 21 is a plan of the mechanism illustrated in the foregoing figure, and
Figure 22 is a transverse section substantially on the line 4. 4 of Figure 20.
Figure 23 is a side elevation shewing the inside of the left-hand plate of the
casing and illustrates more particularly the mechanism employed for operating the
crank-shaft. This view also shews the mechanism for releasing the firing scar to
fire the gun.
Figures 24 and 25 are detail views of the firing button for actuating the firing
mechanism; Figure 24 being an elevation of the said button detached, and
Figure 25 an end view thereof as seen from the inside of the gun.
Figures 26 to 29 illustrate the feed-belt; Figure 26 being a vertical section
on the line 5. 5 of Figure 27; Figure 27 a plan; Figure 28 a back view, and
Figure 29 a transverse section taken through one of the clips on the line 6. 6
of Figure 27.
Figures 30 to 35 illustrate in plan and edge view, the blanks from which the
parts forming the belt are constructed.
Figure 36 is a longitudinal section of the belt constructed in a slightly different
manner.
Figure 37 is an elevation of the right side of a gun constructed according to the
second part of my invention.
Figure 38 is a longitudinal section of the same, and
Figure 39 is a plan with the top cover plate removed.
Figures 40 and 41 are transverse sections taken respectively on the lines 7. 7
and 8. 8 of Figure 38.
Figures 42 and 43 are respectively a central longitudinal section and a plan, of
the breech-block on a larger scale.
Figure 44 is a front end view of the breech-block.
Figure 45 is a transverse section on the line 9, 9 of Figure 42.

page_text: Figure 46 is a rear end view, with the firing pin removed.
Figure 47 is a transverse section of the firing pin shewing the inner face of its
head.
Figure 48 is a plan, and
Figure 49 is a vertical section of the end of the breech-block into which the
aforesaid head of the firing pin is received.
Figure 50 is an end elevation, and
Figure 51 is a plan of the radial arm by which the breech-block is turned about
its axis to lock and unlock it to and from the barrel.
Figures 52 and 53 are detail views shewing more or less diagrammatically the
manner in which the breech-block is operated during the working of the gun;
Figure 52 representing the breech-block in its closed position and Figure 53 repre-
senting it in its open position. The dotted lines in these two figures indicate the
front plate of the casing enclosing the breech mechanism.
Figure 54 represents the flexible bag or water-reservoir for supplying the water-
jacket with water during the working of the gun.
I will first describe that part of my invention illustrated by Figures 1 to 36
wherein A is the casing enclosing the breech-mechanism, the said casing consisting
of the side plates a a¹ the top and bottom plates a² a³, and the end plate a. a is
the spring catch for retaining the top plate or cover closed; B is the barrel; C is
the breech-block or lock; A¹ the guide plates in which the breech block or lock
reciprocates; D the crank shaft; D¹ the crank; E the connecting rod coupling
the crank to the lock; G the spiral spring which acts on the fusee G¹ to return the
crank to its forward position; H the box or casing enclosing this spring; I the
crank handle; J the buffer spring against which the crank-handle strikes in its
forward movement; K the roller over which the cartridge belt passes as it enters
the gun; and L the firing button.
The barrel B is, at its breech end, formed with a flange B¹ which is connected
by a screw B' to the rear portion F1 of the water-jacket F. The muzzle end of
the barrel passes through a stuffing box F³ in a disc or partition F which is
screwed into or otherwise connected to the water-jacket at a short distance from
the muzzle end thereof so as to leave a space to receive the gas chamber d. Near
the muzzle end of the barrel transverse openings b b are formed through which the
gases of discharge pass into the chamber d, the outer end of which is provided
with the hinged flap d' connected to the breech mechanism by a rod d² which
extends along the underside of the water-jacket and at its opposite end is coupled
by a pin a³ to a bar d adapted to slide longitudinally within the casing A of the
gun. The side plate al of this casing is formed with a slot a through which a
lug d' on the bar d' projects the said "lug being connected on the exterior of the
gun to the adjacent end of the spring G.
The rear end of the bar d' is recessed or slotted at de for the reception of the
end of the limb d' forming part of a bell-crank lever which is pivoted at d* to the
side plate a' of the casing A. The other limb d8 of this bell-crank lever is
adapted to act upon the curved edge D2 of the crank. It will thus be seen that
when the flap d' is turned into the dotted position indicated in Figure 1ª the bar d
is shifted longitudinally and causes the bell-crank lever to turn the crank about its
axis and open the breech. When this movement takes place the spiral spring G
will be subjected to two stretching forces, one due to the forward movement of the
bar d' and the other to the backward angular movement of the fusee G' carried by
the crank shaft. Consequently the said spring in its reaction not only restores
the crank to its horizontal position and closes the breech, but also returns the flap
to its closed position. The end of the aforesaid curved edge D2 of the crank is
bevelled at D (see Figure 23) and the adjacent edge of the limb d' of the bell-
crank lever is recessed at d for the reception of the aforesaid bevelled end of the
crank. By these means, immediately the parts assume the position represented by
the full lines in Figure 23, the crank is firmly retained in its forward position,
from which it cannot again move until the bar d' is actuated afresh by the
R

page_text: flap. In other words the bell-erank lever acts as a "dead stop" and prevents any
rebounding of the parts when the breech is closed by the action of the aforesaid
spring G.
The said bell-crank lever is furnished with a projection do which is so situated
that it lies behind an extension d on the guide. The bell-crank lever is thus
normally held in place on its fulcrum d*, but by turning the said bell-crank lever
into a position to remove the said projection do from behind the extension d¹¹ it
can be readily detached laterally from its fulcrum d*.
The breech-block or lock comprises a hollow body portion C having at its
forward end a bolt or plunger C' through which the firing pin or striker c extends.
The rear end of the striker is carried by a sliding block o' which is notched at o
to receive the nose of the cocking lever e. This sliding block e¹ has lateral
projections which enter and work in guide grooves C formed in the side plates
of the lock body. The said sliding block is also formed with a longitudinal slot
through which extends a transverse pin E¹ for securing the connecting rod E to
the lock. ' is the main spring one end of which bears against a notch C³ in a fixed
piece on the lock body and the other end against a notch o in a projection on the
sliding block of the striker. C is an opening in the lock body and C5 C6 are
inclines with which the opposite sides of this opening are provided, the said inclines
being so arranged with respect to the aforesaid notches Ce that when the striker
is in its forward position these notches are located immediately at the upper
extremities of the inclines. By these means I am enabled to readily insert the
main spring into the lock by merely thrusting it upwardly through the opening
existing between the inclined surfaces C and C, these surfaces acting as guides
which force the ends of the main spring towards each other and release them when
they reach the upper ends of the inclines and permit them to enter the aforesaid
notches C. The removal of the main spring is equally simple by exerting a
downward pull thereon. The use of a special instrument for inserting and
removing the main spring is therefore unnecessary.
c is the extractor which is pivoted at co to the upper part of the bolt or
plunger C. Its front end is curved and provided with a hook or claw c which is
adapted to engage with the flange or rim of the cartridge in the barrel when the
lock is in its closed position (Figures 4 and 5) the said breech end of the barrel
being recessed at for permitting the extractor to assume such position. It will
be observed that the barrel is not formed with a recess to receive the flange of the
cartridge but that the flange rests against and projects beyond the flat surface of
the breech end of the barrel. Near the front end of the extractor and on the upper
edge thereof is a head or tee-piece c" which engages with a slot el formed in the
free end of a resilient arm c. This arm is connected at its rear end c to the
sliding block of the striker, the connection being such that the arm is capable of
slight pivotal movement. The manner of coupling the extractor to the resilient
arm by the head or tee piece c¹ and slot c3 enables the said arm to shift with the
striker longitudinally without interfering with the extractor and without becoming
disengaged therefrom. Extending laterally from the slotted end of the resilient
arm is an ear or lug e" (Figures 7 and 8) which during the rearward movement of
the lock is acted upon to raise the said arm and the extractor by a projection or
cam-piece c standing out from the left hand guide plate A. c18 is a flexible guide
attached to the side plate al of the gun, the said guide being so situated that it
keeps the arm c¹ in its depressed position and therefore the extractor in engage-
ment with a cartridge until the aforesaid car el engages with and is raised by the
said cam piece e", that is to say until the lock has completed or almost completed
its rearward movement. When the arm c4 is raised, the extractor is likewise
lifted by its head or tee-piece and then releases the cartridge. In order to
prevent the arm e from rising too high at this time, as it otherwise might do when
its ear is out of engagement with the flexible guide e I provide on the cover a of
the gun a downward projection ax which occupies a position just above the slotted
end of the said arm when the latter is in its rearward position (Figure 6). a' is a

page_text: bar extending transversely between the two side plates a a¹ this bar being so
situated that it acts to press down the extractor into engagement with the head of
the cartridge as the latter is thrust into the cartridge chamber by the bolt or
plunger C. When the gun is fired, the striker, in performing its forward
movement, carries the slotted end of the flexible arm between the said bar a
and the extractor, and thereby acts as a wedge to firmly hold the extractor in
engagement with the head of the cartridge during the initial rearward movement
of the lock, that is to say when it is in the act of withdrawing the empty
cartridge case from the barrel.
el is a transverse pin carried by the lock body and on this pin are loosely
mounted the safety sear and the firing sear . Each of these sears is provided
with a shoulder " which is capable of engagement with a corresponding
shoulder on the rear end of the upper edge of the sliding block e' of the striker.
A spring carried by the lock body tends to keep these sears depressed. As a
convenient manner of connecting this spring to the lock body I provide a triangular
slot ex into which a fin on the spring is adapted to enter. This fin is somewhat
longer than the shorter or horizontal side of the triangular slot but is somewhat
shorter than the hypothenuse. In the insertion of the fin 'into the slot the said fin
is placed parallel to the said hypothenuse and is shifted in an upward direction
until its extremities bind against the apex and base of the triangular slot. The
spring is thus firmly held in position and is assisted to retain such position by its
pressure on the sears. The free end 25 of the safety sear 20 is bent downward so
that its extremity lies somewhat lower than the shoulder c2; in other words the
relative position of these parts is such that when the side arms of the connecting
rod E assume their horizontal position (Figure 4) in the closing of the breech,
they act upon the aforesaid bent end and raise the safety sear high enough to
bring its shoulder out of the path of the shoulder on the sliding block e. The
striker can then be released by lifting the firing sear ". The lifting of this sear
is effected by a sliding rod or bar M which is provided with a cam piece m
(Figure 23) that can be brought under an inclined lateral shoulder on the firing
sear when the said bar is shifted rearwardly. This rearward movement of the bar
is performed by pressing inwardly the firing button L whose inner end acts upon a
pivoted lever m¹ which at its upper end engages with the aforesaid bar M.
M¹ M² are brackets in which this bar slides, one of them viz. M' is furnished
with an ear M³ against which the rear end of a rod M4 carried by the bar M bears
by the action of a spiral spring surrounding the said rod. When the firing
button L is released, after having been pressed inward, this spring controlled
rod M acts to return the sliding bar to its forward position and removes the cam
piece m out of engagement with the firing sear.
The said firing button is formed at the inner end of its stem with a V-shaped
notch (see Figures 24 and 25) with which a V-shaped projection m* on the lower
end of the aforesaid pivoted lever m' engages, and prevents the button from being
unintentionally turned. The said V-shaped notch will however permit the button
to be turned if sufficient force be purposely exerted thereon. The said stem of the
firing button is likewise formed with a circumferential groove / near the inner end
thereof and into this groove fits a disc or washer 3 secured to the end plate a' of
the gun. A longitudinal groove is also formed in the stem of the firing button
and extends rearwardly from the aforesaid circumferential groove . This longi-
tudinal groove is segmental in cross-section and conforms to the curvature of the
disc 13. Therefore when the firing button is turned into a position to bring the
longitudinal groove in correspondence with the said disc 1, the firing button can
be readily pushed in to discharge the gun; but if the button be turned out of this
position so that the longitudinal groove no longer occupies a position in corre-
spondence with the disc then the circumferential groove will act as a safety
device to prevent the inward movement of the firing button. If desired the button
may also be furnished with a stud which is adapted to enter a hole as in the
end plate at when turned into a proper position, otherwise the said stud will

page_text: strike against the plate a* when pushed inwardly and prevent the gun from being
discharged.
The rearward movement or cocking of the striker is effected by the side arms of
the connecting rod E depressing the tail of the cocking lever c during their down-
ward movement as the lock retirca in opening the breech.
The aforesaid resilient arm c¹ does not affect the extractor during the cocking
of the striker, the slotted end of the arm permitting the latter to slide independently
of the extractor. When, however, the breech block or lock retires far enough to
bring the said arm into the position shewn in Figure 6 it raises the extractor as
there shown, and thus releases the cartridge case after having drawn it into the
empty clip of the cartridge belt. This arm and the flexible guide c¹s also permit
the extractor to have a certain amount of free vertical movement during the
closing of the breech so that in the event of a cartridge getting in front of the
curved end of the extractor, the lip thereon will be able to get in front of
the flange of the cartridge either during its advance movement or after the latter
is in the cartridge chamber. It is only on the instant of firing and when the
striker flies forward, that the extractor becomes firmly held in engagement with
the cartridge by the wedge like action that takes place as the slotted end of the
flexible arm passes beneath the transverse bar a².
Situated immediately below the bolt or plunger C' of the lock is a feed wheel N
having a series of teeth N¹ on its periphery for engaging with the clips on the
cartridge belt to carry it through the gun during the movement of the feed wheel.
In the space between the uppermost of these circumferential teeth the bolt or
plunger on the lock reciprocates at each discharge and during its backward
movement withdraws the cartridge case from the barrel and replaces it in the
same clip of the belt from which it was originally taken during the forward
movement of the bolt or plunger. The said clips of the cartridge belt are
constructed in the manner hereinafter stated to permit of this operation and the
feed mechanism is so devised as subsequently explained that the said feed wheel
remains stationary during the pushing of the cartridge from the belt into the
barrel, and the withdrawal thereof after firing.
The feed wheel receives an intermittent rotary movement from an arm n n¹
(Figures 20 to 22). which is pivoted at n² to the inner face of the side plate a.
The end n of this arm is made somewhat flexible and the end n' is provided with a
pivoted pawl n³. The said feed wheel is formed with projections or teeth N2 with
which this pawl engages to actuate the feed wheel. The tooth of the pawl is kept
normally in engagement with the said projections or teeth N' by means of a
spring n one end of which is connected to a stud on the side plate a and the other
end to an extension n' on the pawl. The pawl is also formed with a shoulder n
which is so arranged that when the pawl rises in the act of turning the feed wheel,
this shoulder comes between the projections or teeth N', as shewn by the dotted
lines in Figure 22, thereby preventing the feed wheel from turning beyond its
proper distance and ensuring that the next cartridge in the belt shall come truly
in alignment with the cartridge chamber and with the bolt or plunger on the lock,
which latter has at this time fully retired to the rear. To operate the arm n n¹,
the crank-shaft is furnished with two projections D' D' and between these two
projections the end n of the arm lies so as to be operated on by the projection D³
as the crank rotates backwardly and the lock retires, and by the projection D' as
the crank rotates forwardly and the lock advances. The rearward movement of
the lock is however such that the projection D³ comes against and exerts pressure
on the end n of the arm before the bolt or plunger of the lock has entirely left the
feed-wheel. Consequently on the instant the said bolt or plunger leaves the feed wheel,
the latter is immediately shifted to bring a fresh cartridge in the belt between the
cartridge chamber and the bolt or plunger. By these means elasticity of the parts
is obtained and any sudden or jerky action of the mechanism is avoided. As the
said bolt or plunger enters the feed-wheel and the crank returns to its forward

page_text: position, the projection D returns the arm n n¹ to its original position ready to
advance the feed-wheel another step at the next rearward movement of the lock.
On account of the rapid action of the parts, the feed wheel does not have time to
shift out of its proper position, but in slower firing guns a pawl may be provided
to prevent the wheel from shifting backward while the bolt is out of engagement
with one of the peripheral cavities in the wheel.
Mounted on the aforesaid side plate a is a sliding bar O which is supported by a
bracket axx at one end and by a pin ax at the other end. The bar is formed
with a key hole slot o' for the reception of the said pin ax, the narrow portion of
the slot acting as a guide and the wider portion serving to enable the bar to be
readily removed from the pin and detached when desired. The said bar is formed
at its front end with an incline o and at its rear end with a jaw o² the said incline
being adapted to come against the extension n³ of the pawl n³ when the bar O is
moved inward and to thereby shift the tooth of the pawl out of engagement with
the teeth or projections N2 on the feed-wheel. In order to effect this movement
of the bar O a lever or catch O' (best seen in Figure 19) is pivoted at Ox on the
outside of the plate a, this lever or catch having at its lower end a pin o³ which
projects through a curved slot ax in the said plate and engages with the aforesaid
jaw o of the bar O. The lever or catch O' has a hooked upper end of which is
capable of engaging with a projection i on the crank handle I when the latter is in
its forward position and the said catch turned into the position represented by the
dotted lines in Figure 19. The catch then locks the crank handle in its forward
position and thus acts as a safety contrivance for throwing the gun out of action.
The said catch by liberating the pawl from the feed-wheel as above described
enables the latter to be turned in either direction, and also permits the cartridge
belt to be readily withdrawn from the gun when all the cartridges have been fired.
There is a pin o near the upper end of the catch, which is adapted to engage with
one or other of two recesses a al0 (Figure 20) in the plate a so that the said catch
can be retained in either of its extreme positions.
The water jacket F is formed in two portions which are connected together by
screw threads Fx. In the rear portion of the said water-jacket there is a transverse
passage which terminates at one end in a socket f for the reception of a rotary
tapered plug P and at the other end in a socket for the reception of a valve P¹
(Figures 10, 12 and 13). This valve may be of any desired construction, that
illustrated in the drawings consisting of a hollow screw plug f having a segmental
opening therein which communicates with the atmosphere.
Within the hollow
screw plug is a coned valve f7 which is kept on its seat by a spring surrounding its
spindle. The outer end of this spindle extends through a screw cap f on the
hollow plug f. This valve should be such that it will not allow the steam to
escape until the pressure within the water jacket exceeds, say, five atmospheres.
The aforesaid plug socket f is open at its lower end and communicates by
lateral openings f, f, situated diametrically opposite each other, with the interior
of the water jacket. Connected to the opening f³ is a tube f whose outer end f10
(Figure 1) extends to a point in proximity to the muzzle end of the water jacket.
It will thus be seen that the opening fis open to the water jacket at the breech
end thereof and the opening f at the muzzle end thereof through the aforesaid
pipe f. This arrangement enables the steam to reach the plug P from either end
of the water jacket so that when the muzzle of the gun is depressed and the open
end 10 of the tube is covered by the water, the steam can reach the plug by the
opening 2, and when the muzzle of the gun is elevated and the opening fis
covered by the water, the steam can reach the plug by the opening at the end f10
of the said tube f'.
The aforesaid rotary plug P has two passages in it, one of which, viz.: f, is
vertical with a lateral opening f" at its lower end, and is open to the atmosphere
at its upper end, while the other, viz.: 18 is a segmental groove or channel which
extends around the plug for about a third of its circumference. Near the upper

page_text: part of the plug is a handle f" by which the said plug can be turned into the
desired position to bring its passages in contiguity to any of the openings f¹ƒ ƒ³
of the plug socket.
On the upper end of the plug is a cylindrical prolongation f" which enters a
hole in the free extremity of a flexible arm f. This arm is connected at its
opposite end to the water jacket by a screw pin f" and acts as a spring to keep
the plug in its socket. The under surface of the outer end of this flexible arm
has a series of cavities or holes f 18 into one or other of which a pin on the
plug can enter for the purpose of preventing the plug from being accidentally
turned after it has been set into the required position. Lugs or finger pieces fo
are also provided on the said flexible arm to enable it to be raised out of
engagement with the said pin f, when it is required to set the plug into a new
position.
On reference to Figure 12 it will be seen that there are five positions (marked 1,
2, 3, 4, 5) into which the plug can be set, and at Figures 14 to 18 I have shewn
horizontal sections illustrating the plug in each of these positions. When the
handle is in No. 1 position (Figure 14) the opening 12 coincides with the
opening that communicates with the tube f, and the segmental channel f¹³
then lies opposite the opening f2 without connecting this opening with either of
the others. The steam can thus be blown off from the muzzle end of the water
jacket through the pipe and directly through the vertical opening in the
plug without passing to the valve P¹. This position is what I term the "muzzle
blow off."
In No. 2 position (Figure 15) the handle f¹ has been turned one step to the
right, the openings f 12 being then disconnected and the segmental channel 13
turned into a position to connect the passages f¹ f. The steam can then pass
from the rear end of the water-jacket to the valve P¹. This I term the
"depression" position.
In No. 3 position (Figure 16) the handle has been turned another step to the
right and all the openings are disconnected, so that no outlet then exists for the
steam. I term this the "closed" position. It is when the plug is in this position
that the chief function of the flexible arm f1 comes into requisition, for if the
pressure within the water-jacket increases to an abnormal extent the said arm no
longer exerts sufficient force to keep the plug in its socket, with the result that the
plug becomes lifted and permits the steam to escape. The plug, while in this
position, therefore acts as a safety valve.
In No. 4 position (Figure 17) the handle has been turned another step forward
thereby causing the segmental channel f¹³ to connect the passages ff while f³ f
still remain disconnected. The steam can then escape from the front end of the
water jacket by the tube f and reach the valve P¹ by the passage f¹. This
I term the "elevation" position.
In No. 5 position (Figure 18) the handle has been turned another step forward
thereby bringing the passage f opposite the passage f while the passages f
and fare disconnected. The steam can then be blown off from the breech end of
the water jacket directly through the vertical opening f" in the plug without
passing to the valve P. This I term the "breech blow off" position."
I provide words or signs on the surface of the water jacket for indicating the
above mentioned various positions, and I prefer to form the aforesaid handle f
with a longitudinal opening " through which these various words or signs appear
when the handle is put into a position to cover them.
The rear end of the water jacket is formed with two series of vertically
arranged lugs F F and the side plates a a' are likewise formed with end lugs at
(Figures 19 and 23) to fit between these lugs F. Vertical pins pass through each
of these series of lugs and connect the said side plates to the water jacket. A firm
connection between the parts is thus established so as to prevent any yielding
thereof at the instant of firing. Horizontally arranged lugs F F are likewise
formed at the upper and lower ends of the rear portion of the water jacket and

page_text: to these lugs the top plate a and the bottom plate as are respectively connected
by hinge pins and lugs. In this manner not only can the top plate be opened.
upwardly but the bottom plate can also be turned downwardly, which enables the
interior of the casing and the breech mechanism to be examined and reached with
great facility.
The cartridge belt that I have devised for this gun is of novel and peculiar
construction, the belt being formed of a number of articulated sections each
bearing a clip of special construction to enable the cartridge to be forced therefrom
into the cartridge chamber by the forward movement of the lock and the empty
case to be replaced into the same clip, after having been fired and extracted by
the rearward movement of the lock as already explained. For this purpose the
clips are open at the top and made of very elastic material, and each section of the
articulated belt is corrugated or similarly formed in order that it may possess
the requisite strength and lightness. It is also necessary that the method of
connecting the clips to the belt shall be such that no rivet heads or analogous
fastenings shall exist on the inside of the clips, but that their inner surfaces shall
be smooth so as to present no impediment to the longitudinal movement of the
cartridge out of or into the said clips.
Figures 26 to 35 illustrate a belt constructed in the manner I prefer. Each
section of the belt consists of a corrugated piece of thin stamped metal Q which
is corrugated at 9 (Figures 34 and 35) and formed with lappets g' on each side.
These sections are bent into approximately semi-circular form (Figure 26) and the
lappets are bent into cylindrical form, the latter being so disposed that those on
one section enter between those on a contiguous section, and a retaining pin q' is
passed through them to pivotally secure one section to another. The clip Qis
formed from a blank similar to that shewn in Figures 30 and 31, the longitudinal
edges thereof being bent up into cylindrical form as seen in Figure 26. The rear
end g of the clip, or that end into which the cartridge is inserted when placed in the
belt, is bell mouthed, so as to offer but slight resistance to the entrance of the flange
of the cartridge when the latter is pushed forward through the clip by the plunger
on the lock. The said clip is secured to the sections Q by a metallic strip Q
(Figures 32 and 33) having lateral tongues which are bent at right angles to
the strip before applying the latter to the clip. Apertures 9 are formed in the
sections Q and the clips Q these apertures coinciding when the clips are placed
in proper position on the said sections. The tongues 2 are then passed through
these apertures and afterwards bent inwardly toward each other at the back of the
clips as shown in Figure 28. The said strips, clips and sections are thus all firmly
connected together and in such a manner that no rough surface is produced on the
inside of the clips to impede the free movement of the cartridges through the clips.
The forward ends g of the said strips are bent under the forward ends of the clips
as clearly seen in Figure 29, while the rear ends of said strips are bent upward and
inwardly to form resilient stops q' (Figure 29) that act to prevent the flanges of
the empty cartridges from being drawn too far back when they are extracted from
the barrel and drawn into the clips as before stated. These stops do not however
offer appreciable resistance to the insertion of the cartridges into the belt, owing
to their curved form and resilience, nor do they impede the entrance of the plunger
of the lock.
In some cases, as for instance when firing in a downward direction at a steep
inclination, the gun may occupy an extreme position of depression, while the
cartridge box from which the belt is passing does not move at all, and then it may
be necessary to have a belt more flexible than the metallic articulated belt above
described. In such cases instead of connecting together the metallic sections Q by
hinge joints I may connect them by a band or strip of fabric such as linen or
cotton tape as shown at R in Figure 36. But for ordinary purposes the aforesaid
articulated belt will be found preferable. The said belt may be constructed of
brass, German silver, steel, hard aluminium, or, what is perhaps best of all, hard
and elastic aluminium bronze.

page_text: I will now describe the gun illustrated by Figures 37 to 54 which is constructed
in accordance with the second part of my invention.
As in the gun already described the barrel B does not recoil and is provided
with lateral openings b near its muzzle to enable the gases to enter a gas-chamber d
surrounding the said apertures b. Instead, however, of pivoting or hinging the
movable end d of this chamber, it is arranged to slide and for this purpose is
furnished with a tubular casing d2 which extends rearwardly from the said end d
and surrounds the water-jacket F upon which it slides during the working of the gun.
The rear portion of this tubular casing is furnished with a lug d¹s to which is
connected the rod d for transmitting the movements of the said casing to the
breech-mechanism. G' is a spring contained in a recess G³ and surrounding a
portion of this rod, for returning the sliding casing to the firing position after each
discharge of the gun. To the inner end of the aforesaid rod d2 is rivetted a
vertical plate d (best seen in Figures 52 and 53) having an inclined edge d and
a horizontal slot ds. This plate is also provided with a resilient arm d, the free
end d of which lies in the same plane as the end d" of a lever do. This lever
is pivoted at d to the inside of the plate a of the casing enclosing the breech-
mechanism.
In this gun although the breech-block is adapted to push the cartridges from
the belt into the barrel and to return the empty cartridge cases into the same clips
from which they were pushed into the barrel, as stated in connection with the gun
first described above, I modify the construction as follows:-I employ a rotary
breecb-block which is carried in a tubular slide 27 having lateral lugs c28 which
work in guides A' on the side plates a a¹. The breech-block is provided near its
rear end with a radial arm 2 which projects through a horizontal slot a¹2
(Figure 37) in the side plate a. This slot terminates at its forward end in a
vertical portion a¹ into which the arm c29 enters by the action of a spring co when
the breech-block is completing its forward movement. The requisite rotary or
angular movement is thereby imparted to the breech-block to cause its end c³¹
which is formed with interrupted screw-threads, to engage with corresponding
interrupted screw-threaded portions in the breech end of the barrel and thereby
lock the said breech block in its closed position (Figures 38 and 52). When the
said radial arm is in this position it lies immediately above the inclined edge d of
the plate d so that on discharge of the gun and the movement of the rod d² in a
direction towards the muzzle, this inclined edge d's presses against the underside
of the radial arm and lifts it out of the vertical portion as of the slot a¹, thus
turning the breech block sufficiently to unlock it from the barrel. The said rod d'
rapidly continuing its movement brings the free end d18 of the resilient arm d¹ into
collision with the lower end of the lever do, whereby the upper end of the latter
strikes a smart backward blow on the radial arın and drives it together with the
breech-block rearwardly (Figure 53), thus opening the breech. Pivoted at co to
the breech-block is the extractor having a long tail 32 from which projects
laterally a lug. Depending from this lug is an arm or projection which
when the radial arm centers the vertical portion as of the slot a¹, is acted on by
a projection on the inner end of the said radial arm. By these means I ensure
that the tail of the extractor shall be firmly held in its raised position out of the
way of the hammer C' at the instant of firing. The aforesaid lug on the
extractor, works on a resilient guide c¹8 having at its rear end an inclined
portion cx which, as the breech-block retires, directs the lug beneath the bent
end of a flange cand thereby depresses the tail of the extractor. The hook cl
of the extractor is thus disengaged from the empty cartridge case, when the latter
is fully withdrawn from the barrel by the extractor, and inserted into the same clip
of the belt from which it was pushed by the breech-block at the preceding forward
movement thereof.
T (Figure 38) is a buffer of wood or other appropriate material carried by the
end plate a of the gun casing and so arranged that the rear end of the breech-

page_text: block will collide therewith as it is driven to the end of its backward stroke at each
discharge of the gun.
In this construction of gun the hammer C7 and other parts of the lock do not
recoil with the breech-block but are carried in side plates C* (Figures 38 to 41)
riveted or otherwise affixed to the bottom plate of the gun. The cocking of the
hammer is therefore effected directly by the breech-block as it performs its rearward
movement, as in certain previous guns already patented by me.
Cs is the firing sear and C' the safety sear both of which are mounted on, the
axle C10 and controlled by the spring C. The sear C has a cam like recess C12
which is so arranged that the said sear cannot be released until a projection C¹³ on
the radial arm acts upon this recess as the breech block completes its angular
movement in becoming locked to the barrel.
The intermittent movement of the feed-wheel N is obtained in an analogous
manner to that already described in connection with the feed-mechanism illustrated
at Figures 20, 21 and 22, that is to say by a rocking arm nn' provided with a
pivoted pawl n which engages with the teeth N2 on the feed-wheel. The free
end n of the said arm lies in the path of the breech-block and is depressed as the
latter moves backward in opening the breech. A spring n serves the double
purpose of returning the arm n n¹ to its normal position and of keeping the pawl n³
in engagement with the feed-wheel.
The return of the breech-block to close the breech and push a fresh cartridge
into the barrel is effected by a spiral spring G (shewn in dotted lines in Figure 38).
which is arranged inside the gun and is enclosed in telescopic cases g g*.
The firing pin c extends completely through the breech-block and is provided at
its rear end with a head ca having pins projecting from the inner face
thereof (Figure 47) and adapted to enter inclined notches 10 in the rear end
of the breech-block, the said rear end being also formed with a recess for
the reception of the said head c. The inner walls or sides of this recess
are inclined as shewn at Figure 46 to permit of the breech-block participating in
its partial rotary movement without turning the firing pin. The firing pin is held
in place by a screw-pin 2 which passes through a segmental slot c³ (Figure 45) in
the breech-block and enters a longitudinal slot c (Figure 42) in the firing pin.
This slot " enables the firing pin to move longitudinally to the required extent.
When the radial arm is raised by the incline d as already explained, to unlock
the breech-block, the aforesaid inclined notches co act on the pins of the firing
pin and force them in a direction away from the end of the breech-block, thereby
drawing the point of the firing pin into the breech-block, so that when the breech-
block pushes the next fresh cartridge into the barrel there will be no danger of the
firing pin coming against the primer and prematurely exploding the cartridge.
After the firing pin is thus withdrawn it cannot advance again until the radial arm
once more enters and descends to the bottom of the vertical portion as of the
slot a and brings its notches 10 opposite the pins c, that is to say when the
breech is fully closed. The firing pin will then be impelled forward by
the hammer C in the act of firing the gun.
By reason of the water-jacket of this gun being comparatively small and
therefore not capable of holding much water, I provide for a further supply of
cool water to the jacket from a suitable reservoir, during the firing of the gun.
For this purpose the water-jacket is formed near the muzzle with a series of radial
holes F7, (Figure 38) which are so arranged that as the tubular casing d¹ moves
outwardly at each discharge of the gun, a hole or holes d in the said casing are
caused to come opposite the said holes F', whereby a portion of the water is
allowed to escape at each discharge, a fresh quantity of cool water entering
through an opening F8 situated near the breech end of the water-jacket. The
receptacle or reservoir containing the cool water for the water-jacket may be
located above the gun so that the water will flow into the jacket by the action of
gravity, or the said reservoir may be situated below the gun and the water be
C

page_text: supplied to the jacket by compressed air. Or, as I prefer, the water may be
contained in an india-rubber or other.flexible bag U having a flexible or other
pipe U for connection to the aforesaid inlet F on the water jacket. This bag
can be placed under the gunner's seat so that his weight will have the effect of
forcing the water from the bag into and through the water-jacket. Or the bag
may be otherwise arranged to permit of its being subjected to sufficient pressure to
force the water from it through the water-jacket.
The cartridge belt employed with this gun may be similar to that already
described above.
Some of the aforesaid improvements are applicable to guns differing in
construction from those herein described.
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 in an automatic gun is:
1. The arrangement of the feed box and the construction of the breech block
whereby as the breech closes a cartridge is thrust longitudinally from a clip of the
feed belt into the barrel, whence after firing it is withdrawn as the breech opens
and replaced within the same clip, substantially as described.
2. The breech block or lock having its parts constructed and adapted to
operate substantially as described with reference to Figures 4 to 8 of the drawings
and for the purposes specified.
3. A cartridge belt composed of articulated metallic sections carrying clips for
the cartridges substantially as described.
4. A cartridge belt constructed substantially as described with reference to
Figures 26 to 35 or Figure 36 for the purposes specified.
5. The means for operating the feed-wheel for intermittently feeding the
cartridge belt through the gun, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 20, 21 and 22 or Figure 38 of the drawings.
6. The means for enabling the cartridge belt feeding device to be thrown out of
action substantially as described with reference to Figures 19 and 20 of the
drawings.
7. The construction and arrangement of the extractor and the resilient arm
which, on the advance of the firing pin to fire a cartridge, acts on the extractor as
a wedge substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
8. The construction of the lock to permit the insertion and withdrawal of the
main spring without the use of special instruments, substantially as described.
9. The combination with the water-jacket of a loose rotary plug working in a
socket having apertures therein which communicate respectively with the breech
end of the water jacket, with a tube leading to the muzzle end of the water jacket,
and with a valve, substantially as described with reference to Figures 10 to 18 and
for the purposes specified.
10. The V-notch formed in the inner end of the stem of the firing button, and
adapted to receive a V shaped projection on the lever coupling the firing button to
the bar operating the firing sear, for the purpose specified.
11. The connection of the side plates a a' and the top and bottom plates a² a to
the water jacket substantially as described with reference to Figure 11 of the
drawings.
12. The means for locking the firing button in a safety position substantially as
described with reference to Figures 1, 24 and 25 of the drawings.
13. A sliding casing surrounding the water-jacket and forming part of the
movable end of a gas-chamber into which the gases of discharge enter from the
barrel substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
14. The screw threaded breech-block arranged to be operated through the
agency of a radial arm projecting from the breech-block through a suitable slot in
the casing of the gun, substantially as described.
15. A flexible bag or water-reservoir which is connected to the water-jacket and

page_text: situated under the gunner's seat so that his weight will force the water from the
bag, or is otherwise arranged to permit of its being subjected to sufficient
pressure to force the water from it through the water-jacket for the purpose
specified.
.
16. The combination with the water-jacket and with the aforesaid flexible
water-reservoir of means for allowing a portion of the water to escape from the
water-jacket at each discharge.
17. The manner of imparting to the breech-block its angular and end wise
movements substantially as described with reference to Figures 52 and 53 of the
drawings.
18. The combination with a rotary breech-block having a radial spring controlled
arm, of a movable incline which is actuated by a device at the muzzle operated by
the gases of discharge substantially as described.
19. The combination with the movable incline of a pivoted lever which is
actuated by a resilient arm carried by the aforesaid incline substantially as
described and for the purpose specified.
20. The combination with the breech block of a firing pin which is cocked by
the angular movement of the said block and prevented from becoming released to
fire the gun until after the completion of its angular locking movement substantially
as described.
21. An automatic gun in which all or any of my herein set forth improvements
are employed substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 36 or
Figures 37 to 54 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of January 1897
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.