Improvements relating to Automatic Guns.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of Crayford Works,
Crayford, in the County of Kent, and Victoria Mansions, Victoria Street, in
the City of Westminster, Mechanical Engineer, at present residing in Madrid,
Spain.]
Improvements relating to Automatic Guns.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to automatic guns of the kind or class described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent dated 3rd January A.D. 1884, No. 606, that
is to say, guns which are worked by the force or pressure of the gases expelled from
the muzzle of the gun; and my said invention is designed to increase the efficiency
of such guns.
gases
My present improvements relate more particularly to guns wherein the act
directly upon a sliding sleeve or other movable device connected with the breech-
mechanism in such a manner that, when the said device is moved forward by the
dynamic force or pressure of the gases, it will operate the said mechanism and thus
perform some of the operations and store energy for performing other operations
necessary in working the gun.
One feature of my present invention is the construction of the gun with a muzzle-
attachment comprising two flanged tubes or cup-shaped pieces having apertures for
the passage of the shot or bullet, and so arranged relatively to each other that they
form a kind of chamber in which the gases issuing from the muzzle of the gun will
expand, and from which such gases can escape through the forward tubular piece
and through an annular space or passage between the flanges of the two pieces.
One of these pieces forms a kind of cylinder in which the other piece moves some-
what like a piston. One of the said tubular or cup-shaped pieces is firmly attached
to the barrel, or to the cradle or other support wherein the gun is mounted, and the
other tubular or cup-shaped piece is capable of longitudinal movement and is con-
nected in any convenient manner with the breech-mechanism.
One of the said tubular or cup-shaped pieces is sometimes made adjustable
longitudinally relatively to the other, for the purpose of varying the area of the
said annular space or channel, and thus increasing or diminishing the force exerted
by the gases upon the forward or movable piece."
Ι pr vile a spring or springs or other suitable means for storing energy during
the for vard movement of the said movable cup-shaped piece, and for utilizing such
energy for effecting the backward or return movement thereof.
For pening and closing the breech and effecting other operations necessary in
working the gun, I sometimes employ a crank-shaft which is connected with suitable
breech-mechanism, such for instance as that described in the Specification of former
Letters Patent dated 8th July A.D. 1885, No. 8281, so that, by the partial rotation
of the said crank-shaft alternately in either direction, the said breech-mechanism
will be operated as required. And another novel feature of my present invention
is the combination, with such a crank-shaft, of a lever or other suitable device
which is connected with the movable cup-shaped piece or piston, and whereby,
when the said cup-shaped piece or piston is moved forward, the said crank-shaft
will be partially rotated in one direction. I provide, moreover, a spring or springs
or othe suitable means whereby energy will be stored during such partial rotation
of the crank-shaft, and will be utilized for effecting the partial rotation thereof in
the reverse direction.

page_text: I sometimes connect the movable cup-shaped piece or piston, by means of suitable
tods or links, with one arm of a bent lever, which is pivoted to the gun-frame and
he other arm of which acts upon an arm or projection formed or fixed upon the
said crank-shaft. Or I connect the said cup-shaped piece or piston with an arm or
lever fixed upon a shaft or pivot-pin supported in a bearing in the gun-frame.
This shaft or pivot-pin has fixed upon it a toothed segment, which is geared with a
pinion fitted upon the said crank-shaft and connected therewith by a ratchet-wheel
and pawl or other convenient means whereby the said pinion, when turned in one
direction, will move the crank-shaft in the same direction, but, when turned in the
reverse direction, will move freely upon, or independently of the said shaft.
The said bent lever or toothed segment is, in some cases, provided with an arm
which is arranged to operate a slide or other suitable device for feeding or supplying
the cartridges to the gran.
The rod which connects the movable cup-shaped piece with the breech-mechanisin
is sometimes fitted to slide in or upon a suitable guide beneath the barrel. 1 find
it advantageous to connect the said rod with another rod by menus of a nut, which
is restrained from endwise motion relatively to the forward rod, and is thus retained in
position so that it is not liable to be lost. 1 sometimes provide this nut with a
suitable locking device whereby rotation of the nut may be prevented. The rear
connecting rod is coupled at its rear end to the aforesaid bent lever, and is acted
upon by a spring which is compressed or extended in the forward movement of the
cup-shaped piece or piston, and which, by its reaction, effects the backward or
return movement thereof.
My improved gun can be efficiently used either with ball-cartridges or with
blank-cartridges, the forer derived from the gases expelled from the muzzle being
suficient, in either case, to operate the breech-mechanism.
I sometimes modify the construction of my improved gun by connecting the
aforesaid bent lever or toothed segment with muzzle-attachments such as are
described in the said former Specification No. 608. Moreover the improved muzzle-
attachment above described can if desired be used with various arrangements of
breech-mechanism.
D01 1 1 1900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, Loudon, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Automatic Guns.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
My invention relates to guns of the kind or class described in the Specification
of former Letters Patent dated 3rd January A.D. 1884, No. 606, that is to say,
guns worked entirely by the force or pressure of the gases expelled from the
muzzle; and my said invention is designed to increase the efficiency of such guns.
In the said former Specification are described guns in which a sliding sleeve or
other suitable device on the muzzle of the gun is connected with the breech-
mechanism and is arranged to be moved forward by the dynamic force of the gases
issuing from the muzzle, for the purpose of operating the said mechanism.
In the Specification accompanying my Application for Letters Patent No. 6585
bearing the same date as the present. Application, there is described an improved
device or muzzle-attachment for utilising, for the operation of the breech-mechanism,
the expansive force of the gases expelled from the muzzle of a gun. This device
comprises two flanged or cup-shaped pieces or discs, which are arranged one in
front of the other at the muzzle-end of the barrel so as to form a chamber between

page_text: them, and one of which is movable relatively to the other under the action of the
expanding gases.
One feature of my present invention is the combination, with the movable flanged
or cup-shaped piece or disc of a muzzle-attachment such as that described in the
said Specification No. 6585, or with a sliding sleeve or equivalent device such as
that described in the said former Specification No. 606, of improved means whereby
the operation of the breech-mechanism will be effected by the forward movement of
the said cup-shaped piece or disc or of the said sliding sleeve or equivalent device.
For this purpose, I provide a lever which is suitably connected with the said
movable sleeve or cup-shaped piece or disc and is so arranged in combination with
the breech-mechanism that, when the said sleeve or cup-shaped piece or disc is
driven forward relatively to the gun, the said lever will operate the said mechanism
so as to open the breech, extract the empty cartridge-shell and draw a fresh
cartridge from a feed-belt or magazine, and the said sleeve or cup-shaped piece or
disc and the lever will then return to their original position independently of the
breech-mechanism, and will, before the breech-block is driven home, move the said
feed-belt or magazine so as to bring another cartridge into position to be seized by
the hooks or projections on the said block.
My present invention, moreover, comprises the construction of guns wherein the
breech-block slides transversely to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, in such a
manner that the operations necessary in loading and firing, or one or more of these
operations, will be automatically performed by the force or pressure of the gases
expelled from the muzzle of the gun.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation,
Figure 2 a vertical longitudinal central section, and
Figure 3 a plan, partly in horizontal section, the top or cover being removed,
showing one form of my improved automatic gun.
Figure 4 is a side elevation, drawn to an enlarged scale, showing the breech-
block and parts connected therewith, and,
Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, illustrating my improve-
ments applied to a semi-automatic gun, that is to say, a gun in which all the
operations except the loading and firing are automatically performed.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, A is the gun-frame, which is to be mounted, by
means of trunnions or otherwise, in or upon a suitable carriage or mounting in such
a manner that it can be turned about a horizontal pivot or axis to effect the vertical
pointing or elevation of the gun. B is the barrel, which is firmly fixed in the said
frame in any convenient manner. C is the breech-block, which is fitted to slide
between guides A¹ in the said frame or cradle A. D is a crank-shaft supported in
suitable bearings in the said frame A, and the crank D' of which is coupled by
means of a link E to the breech-block C. F is a spring enclosed in a suitable
casing F and designed to store up energy when the crank-shaft D is partially
rotated in one direction, and, by its reaction, to subsequently effect the return
movement of the said crank-shaft.
G is a movable cup-shaped piece or disc which is arranged in front of the muzzle
of the gun. H is another cup-shaped piece or disc, which surrounds the muzzle-
end of the barrel and is secured in the forward end of a cooling chamber or
casing J, in which the muzzle-end of the barrel is free to slide to allow for
expansion and contraction of the barrel. The cup-shaped piece or disc G is made
with a central hole to permit the passage of the shot or bullet through the
same. The cup-shaped piece or disc H is formed somewhat like a cylinder and the
cup-shaped piece or disc G works like a piston therein, an annular space G³ being
left around the piston (+ to permit the escape of gas from the chamber formed
between the said piston and the cylinder H. The said cup-shaped piece or piston G
is provided with a screw-threaded extension G' whereby it is secured in the

page_text: forward end of a bar K, which is fitted to slide in or between guides on the
underside of the casing J, and is coupled at its rear end to the forward end of a
rod L. The rear end of this rod is coupled to a lever M pivoted at M' to the gun-
frame A. This lever M is provideal with an arm M² which, when the said lever is
turned about its pivot by the action of the gases upon the eup-shaped piece or
piston G, acts upon a curved surface D² of the crank "D', and partially rotates the
said crank in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2. The surface D
and the corresponding surface of the arm M² are so formed and arranged that the
point of contact between the same will, in this movement of the said crank,
gradually approach the centre or axis of the crank-shaft, so that an accelerated
motion will be imparted to the said crank. The rot L is provided with a collar 1,
and between this collar and a shoulder A in the gun-frame A is arranged a
spring L, which surrounds the said rod, and which is compressed in the forward
movement of the said rod, and, by its reaction, effects the backward or return
movement thereof.
The lever Mis provided with a short arm M which extends into a slot or
notch N in a bar N fitted to slide in suitable guides in the side of the gun-
frame A. This bar N has near its forward end, another notch N, into which
extends an arm or lever P fixed upon a vertical shaft P supported in a suitable
bearing in the frame A. The said vertical shaft also has fixed up it an arm or
lever P provided with a slot 1; this arm or lever engages with a pin or stud Q
in a sliding piece Q, which is provided with suitable pawis and is adapted to
intermittently feed a belt of cartridges through an aperture in the frame A, above
the rear end of the barrel, substantially as described in the Specifications of the
following former Letters Patent, viz. No. 1307 dated 29th January A.D. 1885,
and No. 8281 dated 8th July A.D. 1885.
The breech-mechanism is constructed substantially as described in the said
Specification No. 8281, that is to say :-
The breech-block C is provided at its forward end with a vertically movable
feed-slide or carrier R having lateral projections R' which, in the to-and-fro
movement of the breech-block, move around the raised cam-surfaces S on the
interior of the frame A. The said slide or carrier is adapted to engage with the
flange of a cartridge in the barrel and also with the flange of a cartridge in the feed-
belt or magazine. For operating the said feed-slide or carrier R, I provide on
the interior of the gun-frame A, in addition to the cam-surfaces S, fixed cams S',
which, during the latter part of the rearward movement of the breech-block, act
upon the projections R' and depress the carrier R so as to bring a fresh cartridge
in line with the barrel and to bring the empty cartridge-shell in line with the
tube W hereinafter mentioned. Moreover 1 provide on one side, or on each side of
the breech-block C, a lever R³ (Figure 4) which is pivoted at R³ to the said block,
and one arm of which works between projections R on the said carrier. The
other arm of the lever R is so arranged in combination with an arm E' attached to
the link or connecting-rod E, that, in the latter part of the movement of the
crank D' and link E to drive the breech-block home, the said arm E will act upon
the lever R and raise the carrier R, thus causing the same to engage with the
flange of another cartridge in the feed-helt or magazine.
The firing pin T is arranged to slide between suitable guides in the breech-
block C. A safety-scar Tis pivoted to the breech-block above the said firing-pin,
and is adapted to engage with a shoulder or projection T on the said firing-pin
when the latter is cocked. This sear will be automatically disengaged from the
firing-pin by the link or connecting-rod E at the termination of the forward or
return movement of the breech-block. U is the firing-hammer which is pivoted to
the breech-block, and one arm of which extends into a notch or recess in the firing-
pin, the other arm thereof extending into the path of the link E, so that the cocking
of the gun will be effected by the said link during the opening of the breech. V is
a sear pivoted to the breech-block and adapted to engage with a shoulder Us on the
firing-hammer U. This scar is neted upon by a spring V which also acts upon the

page_text: firing-pin T. The release of this sear from the firing-hammer is effected by means
of a trigger-rod V2, operated by means of a lever or trigger V, the operation being
substantially as described in the said former Specification No. 8281. W is a tube or
passage arranged beneath the barrel for the ejection of the empty cartridge-shells
from the gun in such a manner that they will not interfere with the movements of
the gunner. The carrier K, in its forward movement, thrusts the empty cartridge-
shell into this tube and is disengaged from the flange of the said cartridge shell by
its subsequent upward movement. A spring catch W' is provided for preventing
backward movement of the cartridge-shells in the said tube.
When the gun is fired, the shot or bullet passes through the passage G² in the
piston G. The gases issuing from the muzzle of the gun expand within the chamber
formed between the piston (r and the cylinder H, from which chamber the said
gases can escape only through the said passage Gand through the annular space G³
between the piston G and cylinder H. The force or pressure exerted by the gases
upon the piston G drives the same forward together with the rods K and L, thus
compressing the spring L and turning the lever M about its pivot in such a manner
as to cause a partial rotation of the crank D' in the direction indicated by the arrow
in Figure 2. In this partial rotation of the crank-shaft the breech-block is drawn
back, the carrier R extracts the empty cartridge-shell from the barrel and, at the
same time, draws a fresh cartridge from the feed-belt or magazine, and the gun is
cocked by the link E acting upon the long arm of the hammer U. The spring F
is, moreover, wound or coiled up, and, by its reaction, effects the return movement
of the crank-shaft, thus inserting the fresh cartridge in the barrel, closing the breech
and preparing the arm for the next discharge, and, if desired, also automatically
effecting the firing of the gun.
The lever M being unconnected with the crank D', this lever and the rods L, K
and piston G will be moved back to their original position by the spring L
previous to the return of the crank. The feeding of another cartridge in the feed-
belt or magazine into the required position above the barrel is thus ensured before
the breech-block is moved forward and the carrier R moved upward to engage with
the said cartridge.
To provide for readily disconnecting and removing the rod K from the rod L
without the necessity for displacing the said rod L, 1 couple these rods together in
the following manner, that is to say, I provide a nut K' which fits into a hole in the
rear end of the rod K and is screwed upon the forward end of the rod L. This nut
is held in the said rod K by one or more pins K² fixed in the said rod K and
passing through an annular groove or recess K³ in the said nut, so that the said nut
is retained in the rod K but can be turned freely therein to screw it upon, or
unscrew it from the rod L. I provide the forward end of the said rod L with a
spring catch L adapted to engage with a shoulder or projection on the said nut to
prevent accidental disconnection of the rods K, L.
I sometimes make the piston ( adjustable relatively to the cylinder F, or
rice versa, so that I am enabled to vary the area of the annular space between
these parts and thus regulate the action of the gases upon the said piston.
By the above described arrangement of the piston G and cylinder H, I provide
for very efficiently utilising the force or pressure of the gases issuing from the
muzzle of the gun for automatically performing the operations of extracting the
empty cartridge-shell and preparing the arm for the next discharge and also, if
desired, for automatically firing the gun.
It is obvious that the construction of the breech-mechanism of my improved gun
can be considerably modified without departing from the nature of my invention,
the disc or piston (being connected with the lever M or with any other suitable
device whereby the breech-mechanism will be operated by the forward movement
of the said disc or piston. For instance, I sometimes connect the said disc or piston
by means of suitable rods or links with an arm or lever fixed upon a shaft or pivot-
pin which is supported in a bearing on the gun-frame, and which has fixed upon it
a toothed segment. This toothed segment is geared with a pinion fitted upon the

page_text: said crank-shaft and connected therewith by a ratchet-wheel and pawl, or other
convenient means, whereby the said pinion, when turned in one direction, will move
the crank shaft in the same direction, but, when turned in the reverse direction,
will move freely upon or independently of the said shaft. The -nid toothed
segment is, in some cases, provided with an arm which is arranged to operate a
slide or other suitable device for feeding or supplying the cartridges to the gun.
I sometimes modify the construction of my improved gun by connecting the
aforesaid hent lever M, or the toothed segment, with one or other of the muzzle-
attachments described in the said former Specification No. 606.
In Figure 5 I have shown a semi-automatic gun constructed according to my
present invention, that is to say, a gun in which the operations of opening the
breech and extracting the empty cartridge-shell are automatically performed, and
the breech is then kept open until a fresh cartridge is inserted by hand or otherwise,
whereby the breech-block is released, this permitting the automatic closing of the
breech by the reaction of a spring in which energy is stored during the operation of
opening the breech.
In the gun shown in this figure, the movable cup-shaped piece or piston G is
connected, by means of the rods K, L and a link or connecting-rod Y, with an arın
or lever fixed upon the crankshaft D. The pin of the crank D' works in a
groove or slot ("in the breech-block C, which, by the partial rotation of the said
crank alternately in either direction, can be moved transversely to the axis of the
barrel to open and close the breech. The pivoted extractor Z is provided with an
arm Z which extends into the path of the breech-block, so that, in the downwardl
movement of the latter, the said extractor will be turned about its pivot and thus
cause to eject the empty cartridge-shell from the gun. The extractor Z is,
moreover, provided with a stud or projection 7 adapted to engage with a notch (
in the top of the breech-block when the barrel is open, and thus hold down the said
block until a fresh cartridge is inserted in the barrel substantially as described in
the Specifications of the former Letters Patent riz. :- No. 4778 dated 30th March
A.D. 1887, and No. 8428 dated 8th June A.D. 1888.
It is evident that, when the gun is fired, the force or pressure of the gases expelled
from the muzzle will, through the medium of the piston (i, rods K, L, connecting-
rod Y and crank-shaft D, effect the opening of the breech and the extraction of the
empty cartridge-shell. The closing of the breech is effected by the reaction of a
spring in which energy is stored during the opening of the breech, as described in
the said former Specifications.
If desired, the loading of the gun may be automatically effected by storing energy
in a spring or springs during the recoil and then utilising such energy for thrusting
a fresh cartridge into the barrel substantially as described in the last-named former
Specification.
My improved gun can be efficiently operated with either blank-cartridges or ball-
cartridges, the force exerted by the gases which issue from the muzzle of the gun
being sufficient, in either case, to operate the breech-mechanism.
Elaving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I wish it understood that I claim :—
First. In a gun provided with a flanged or cup-shaped piece or other suitable
device which will be driven forward relatively to the gim by the gases issuing from
the muzzle thereof the combination of a crank-shaft for operating the breech-
mechanism and a lever which is connected with the said device and which is
arranged to turn the said crank-shaft but is unconnected therewith, for the purposes
above specified.
Second. The crank-shaft and the operating lever having their adjacent surfaces
so formed that, in the partial rotation of the said crank-shaft by the lever, their
point of contact will approach the centre of rotation of the said crank-shaft,
substantially as, and for the purpose, above specified.

page_text: Third. The combination, with the crank-shaft and the lever for operating the
same connected with the moving part of the muzzle-attachment, of suitable feed-
mechanism connected with the said lever in such a manner that, in each operation
of the gun, the said feed-mechanism will be worked as required after the backward
movement but before the forward or return movement of the breech-block,
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the cup-shaped piece or cylinder on the muzzle of
the gun, the cup-shaped piece or piston working in the said cylinder, the lever
connected with the said piston and unconnected with, but arranged to partially
rotate the crank-shaft for operating the breech-mechanism, and a spring or its
equivalent for effecting the return movement of the said lever, substantially as, and
for the purposes, set forth.
Fifth. The combination, with the rods connecting the lever for operating the
breech-mechanism with the movable part of the muzzle-attachment, of a nut
screwed upon one of the said rods and held in the other rod in such a manner that
it can be rotated but cannot move endwise therein, substantially as, and for the
purposes, above specified.
Sixth. A gun wherein the breech-block slides transversely to the longitudinal
axis of the gun and wherein the operations necessary in loading and firing, or one
or more of these operations are automatically performed by the force or pressure of
the gases expelled from the muzzle of the gun, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Seventh. A gun constructed with my improved muzzle-attachment and with the
devices for connecting the same with the arm or lever for operating the breech-
mechanism, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, or
with reference to Figure 5 of the drawings and operating as above specified.
་་
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.