Automatic Guns.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left. 3rd Jan., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Automatic Guns.
COLOMBO RICCI of Santarcangelo di Romagna, Italy, Mechanical Engineer,
residing at present at 85 Vincent Square, Westminster Loudon in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
My invention relates to automatic guns or more especially to automatic machine
guns and automatic rifles which are worked by the force of the recoil generated by
them.
The drawings accompanying my present Specification, are those of an automatic
rifle in which all the operations of opening and closing the breech, loading and
ejecting the empty case, are performed automatically by the said force of the
recoil.
One feature of my present invention is to provide this rifle, which is of the
ordinary shape and size of the average military rifles, with a steel cylindrical sleeve
or body, in which the barrel and the receiver attached to it, may slide freely
longitudinally when the gun is fired.
A square section coil spring is provided at the rear end inside the sleeve to check
the recoil of the barrel.
I make the receiver, which is screwed at the rear end of the barrel, hollow with
both upper and lower parts open, to allow the passage of the cartridges, and provide
the inner faces with suitable grooves in which the bolt is free to slide in its forward
and backward motion when the breech is opened and closed.
The bolt is of the ordinary shape and size, and bears at its forward end, four or
more interrupted threads for locking the breech. A lever is provided that serves
for loading the gun the first time, or manoeuvring it by hand; and a coil spring, of
a smaller size than the one previously described for checking the recoil of the
barrel, is connected at the rear end of the bolt for the purpose of closing the breech
when it has been opened by the recoiling motion of the gun.
The head of this bolt, which carries the extractor, interrupted threads and lever,
is detachable and screwed on the bolt itself, in order to allow the firing pin and a
small coil spring to be put within it.
Another feature of my said invention, is to provide this rifle with suitable means
which enable it to be used as a single loader, that is to say, after one round has
been fired, the breech opened and the empty case ejected automatically, to enable
the soldier to put a fresh cartridge in the receiver by hand before the bolt closes
again.
For this purpose I provide at the rear end of the sleeve a catch, or a sort of
bell crank lever which stops the bolt in its forward motion after it has been thrown
back. A slight pressure of the thumb on the rear end of this catch will release the
bolt which flies instantly forward under the pressure of the coil spring that it
carries at its rear end.

page_text: I provide this rifle with a suitable magazine always ready to deliver automatically
at any critical moment five or more cartridges contained therein.
I dispose this device in a cylindrical tube immediately under the body of the gun
and attached to it, with the cartridges laid in longitudinally and always pressed
upward by a lever which is under the pressure of a coil spring suitably arranged
for this purpose.
A special device is also provided to regulate the tension of this spring, and a
cut-off for the purpose of stopping the magazine and use the rifle as a single
loader.
This magazine is made of the same size, shape and outline of the butt-end, and
thus prevent any deforming or cumbersome piece projecting outside the gun.
The accompanying drawings show the whole mechanism with the different parts
as aforesaid described.
Figure 1 represents the rifle ready to fire.
Figure 2 represents the rifle after firing.
Figure 3 is a transversal section through the magazine showing the cartridges at
the rear end.
A. is the barrel, B. is the receiver, C. the sleeve or body, D. the bolt, E. the
lever, F the extractor, G. the interrupted threads H. the firing pin, I. the firing
pin spring, J the bolt spring, K the recoil spring, L. the nut, M the plug, N the
automatic catch, O the hammer, P the main spring, Q the trigger, R. the magazine,
S the magazine spring, T the magazine lever, U the spindle for the same, V the
cut off, the stock, y the india rubber cushion, Z. the guard.
By firing the gun, the barrel A and the receiver B, Fig. 2, recoil under the
reaction of the gases, and perform the following operations: The recoil spring K.
is compressed and energy is stored within to bring the barrel A, and receiver B.
home again; the lever E of the bolt D. is forced up an incline and causes the
bolt D. to rotate on its axis of of a turn, and as soon as the sectors of the
interrupted threads G are brought in front of the corresponding openings, the bolt D.
is thrown backward until it is arrested by the india rubber cushion y and kept in
this position by the automatic catch N. By this movement, the breech of the gun
is opened, the hammer O is cocked, the empty case ejected, and the bolt spring J
compressed and ready to carry the bolt D. forward again as soon as it is required,
and the whole mechanism is brought from the position shown in Fig.
position shown in Fig. 2.
to the
In the case of the gun used as a single loader, the cut off V. Fig. 3 prevents the
cartridges contained in the magazine Ř. from rising up in front of the bolt D. but
always ready at will; a fresh cartridge is then introduced in the receiver B. without
taking the gun off the shoulder, and by slightly pressing downward with the thumb
of the right hand the automatic catch N., the bolt D. flies forward under the
pressure of the spring J. carries with it the cartridge in the chamber of the barrel,
turns on its axis by the action of the same spring J closes the breech and the gun
is ready to be fired again by simply pulling the trigger Q.
Whenever the soldier wants to make use of the magazine R. he must first shift
the cut off V. by rotating it of a quarter of a turn on its axis and keep the automatic
catch N constantly pressed downward with his right thumb.
In this case, the cartridges are free to rise up from the magazine each in turn
pushed by the lever T. under the pressure of the spring S, as soon as the bolt D. is
thrown back open and makes room for them to rise, and as the automatic catch N
does not stop it as previously pointed out, it will immediately run forward again as
in the aforesaid case.
The head of the spindle U. in the magazine, is made ratchet shape and kept in
place by a catch u. that serves to regulate the tension of the magazine spring S.
The little nut a. attached to the bolt spring J., engages in the rear end of the
plug M, and is used to regulate the twisting tension of the spring J.
The stock X. is made hollow and thus compensate for the extra weight of the
sleeve C.

page_text: Summing up, this rifle can be used:
1st. As a single loader, feeding by hand.
2nd. As a magazine loader, performing all the operations automatically.
3rd. With the magazine full.
4th.
5th.
"
"
دو
"
وو
partially filled up.
empty.
6th. In case of breakage of the bolt spring J. or any accident in the magazine, it
may be still used as an ordinary rifle.
The cartridges may be inserted in the magazine one by one, or in a body of five
or more as is the general use now.
A finger is mounted on the spindle of the hammer O. for the purpose of cocking
it by hand, or putting it in safety when a cartridge is kept in the chamber of the
barrel.
I sometimes use the same mechanism mounted on a tripod or a small carriage and
provided with a suitable cartridge feeder, as a machine gun for small bore
cartridges.
It is obvious that the adoption of larger cartridges or some slight alteration
would not constitute a matter for a new patent.
D
1
1000
Automatic Guns.
I COLOMBO RICCI of Santarcangelo di Romagna, Italy, Mechanical Engineer,
at present residing at 25 Tennison Street, Lambeth, London in the County of
Surrey, 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 automatic guns and automatic machine guns which are
worked by the force of the recoil generated therein.
The drawings accompanying the present Specification are those of an automatic
rifle in which all the operations of opening and closing the breech, loading and
ejecting the empty case and cocking the hammer are performed automatically by
the said force of the recoil.
One feature of my present invention, is to provide this rifle (which is one of the
modern bolt system military rifles) with a steel cylindrical sleeve or body in which
the barrel and the receiver attached to it, may slide freely longitudinally when the
gun is fired.
I provide also a square section, or other shape, coil spring, immediately at the
rear end of the receiver, inside the sleeve, and on the axis of the gun to check the
recuil of the barrel and to carry it forward again.
I make the receiver, (which is screwed on the rear end of the barrel) hollow,
with both upper and lower part open, to allow the passage of the cartridges, and
I provide its inner faces with grooves, in which the bolt slides freely in its forward
and backward motion when the breech is opened and closed.
The bolt is of the ordinary shape and size used for small bore cartridges, & bears
at its forward end four or more interrupted threads for closing the breech. A lever
is also provided, that serves to rotate and slide to and fro the bolt by hand for
loading the gun the first time, and a coil spring, (of a smaller size than the one
previously described for checking the recoil of the barrel,) is connected at the rear
end of the bolt, for the purpose of closing the breech, after having been opened by
the recoiling motion of the barrel.
This coil spring is so arranged, that besides pushing forward the above mentioned
bolt, it forces it to rotate on its axis, and lock the interrupted screw breech. The

page_text: tension of this spring for the radial motion of the bolt, can be regulated at will by
the addition of a nut connected to the rear end of this coil spring and made to
engage in different positions in the rear end of the sleeve itself.
The head of the bolt, (which carries the extractor interrupted threads and lever),
is detachable and screwed on the bolt itself, in order to allow the firing pin and a
small coil spring to be put within it.
A peculiarity of this bolt's head is to have the thread (that serves to screw it to
the bolt) of a very high pitch; by so doing I enable the said bolt's head to be
brought in half a turn at a full stop in its normal position against two shoulders
which are cut in the bolt and bolt's head in opposite direction and of a depth of
half the pitch of the said thread. I moreover make the lever of this bolt's head,
hollow to receive a small coil spring within and close the end by a screwed cap.
This coil spring takes its bearing against the screwed cap at one end, and at the
other presses continually against the extractor which is hooked on the bolt's head
and kept in place by the bolt itself.
By this arrangement I enable the extractor to be changed or taken out by simply
unscrewing the bolt's bead independently of all the other pieces.
Another feature of my present invention, is to provide this rifle with suitable
means, which enable it to be used as a single loader, that's to say; after one round
has been fired, and the breech opened, and the empty case ejected automatically;
to enable the soldier to put a fresh cartridge in the receiver by hand, before the
bolt closes again.
For this purpose, I provide at the rear end of the sleeve, a catch or a sort of
bell crank lever, which stops the bolt in its forward motion, after it has been thrown
backward by the force of the recoil. A slight depression of the thumb on the rear
end of this catch, will release the bolt which flies instantly forward under the
pressure of the coil spring that is connected at its rear end, and carries the cartridge
into the chamber of the gun. To prevent the gun from being fired before it is
completely locked I employ a double sear or safety sear that is released auto-
matically by the bolt in its rotary motion after having been pushed forward by the
action of the bolt spring and completely lodged the cartridge in the chamber of the
barrel.
To enable the soldier to keep this rifle loaded with the hammer cocked and
prevent any possible discharge or accident, I use a safety catch or second trigger
pivoted inside the guard in front of the ordinary trigger.
This safety catch is so arranged that by turning it upward of a quarter of a turn,
it will come in contact with the lower part of the trigger and render the hammer
. motionless.
I sometimes provide this rifle with a suitable magazine, always ready to deliver
automatically and at any critical moment, five or more cartridges contained therein.
I dispose this device in a cylindrical tube immediately under the body of the gun
and attached to it, with the cartridges laid in longitudinally and always pressed
upward by a lever which is under the pressure of a coil spring suitably arranged
for this purpose.
A special device is also provided to regulate the tension of this
coil spring and a cut off for the purpose of stopping the cartridges in the magazine,
and use the rifle as a single loader.
I make this magazine of the same size, shape, and outline of the butt-end, and
thus prevent any deforming or cumbersome piece projecting outside the gun.
The drawings accompanying the present Specification show the whole mechanism
with the different parts as aforesaid described.
Fig. 1. represents the rifle ready to be fired.
Fig. 2. represents the rifle after firing.
Fig. 3. is a cross section of the rifle showing the disposition of the cartridges in
the magazine as well as the two different positions of the lever E. and the
cut-off V.
A. is the barrel, B. the receiver, C. the sleeve or body, D. the bolt, W. the bolt's
head, E. the lever, F. the extractor, G. the interrupted threads H. the firing pin,

page_text: I. the firing pin spring, J. the bolt spring, K. the recoil spring, L. the nut, M. the
plug, N. the automatic catch, O. the hammer P. the main spring, Q. the trigger,
R. the magazine, S. the magazine spring, T. the magazine lever, U. the spindle for the
same, V. the cut-off, X. the stock, y. the rubber cushion, Z. the guard. a. is the nut
for regulating the radial tension of the coil spring J., u the ratchet wheel to
regulate the tension of the magazine spring S., b is the safety sear, d. is the collar
of the bolt D. and c. is the notch that releases the safety sear b., g. is the safety
catch and r. its projection f. is the coil spring for the extractor and e. the cap for
the same.
By firing the gun, the barrel A. and receiver B. recoil under the reaction of the
gases and perform the following operations. The recoil spring K. is compressed
and energy is stored within to bring the barrel A. and receiver B. home again.
The lever E of the bolt D. is forced up an incline and causes the bolt D. to rotate
on its axis of of a turn, and as soon as the sectors of the interrupted threads G
are brought in front of the corresponding openings, the bolt D. is thrown backward
until it is arrested by the cushion y. and kept in this position by the automatic
catch N. By this movement the breech is opened, the hammer O is cocked, the
empty case ejected, and the bolt spring J. compressed and ready to carry the bolt D.
forward again as soon as it is required, and the whole mechanism brought from the
position shown in Fig. 1. to the position shown in Fig. 2.
In the case of the gun being used as a single loader, the cut off V. Fig. 3. prevents
the cartridges contained in the magazine R. from rising up in front of the bolt D.
A fresh cartridge is then introduced in the receiver without taking the gun off the
shoulder, and by slightly pressing downward with the thumb of the right hand, the
automatic catch N. the bolt D. flies forward under the pressure of the coil spring J.
carries with it the cartridge into the chamber of the barrel, turns on its axis by the
radial action of the same spring J. releases the safety sear b., closes the breech,
and the gun is ready to be fired again by pulling the trigger Q.
Whenever the soldier wants to make use of his magazine, he must shift the cut-
off V. by rotating it forward of a quarter of a turn on its axis, and keep the
automatic catch N constantly depressed with his right thumb.
By so doing the cartridges are free to rise up, each one in turn, pushed by the
lever T. under the pressure of the spring S. as soon as the bolt D. is thrown back
open and makes room for them to rise; and as the automatic catch N. does not
stop it as previously pointed out, it will immediately run forward and carry the
cartridge into the chamber of the barrel as in the former case, and be ready to be
fired by simply pulling the trigger Q.
The head of the spindle U. in the magazine is made ratchet shape and prevented
from rotating by a catch u., which serves to regulate the tension of the magazine
spring S.
The little nut a. attached to the bolt spring J. engages in the rear end of the
plug M. and serves to regulate the radial tension of the bolt spring J by turning it
in one sense or the other according to the tension required.
The lever E. of the bolt's head W. is hollow and carries a coil spring f. within
it, for working the extractor F. & by simply unscrewing this bolt's head W., the
extractor can be changed or removed independently of all the other pieces.
The safety catch 7. pivoted on the guard Z. bears at its end a projection r.
which when in the position shown in Fig. 2. prevents the trigger from being pulled
and the hammer released. A suitable spring riveted on the guard Z. serves to
keep this safety catch in the two different positions shewn in Fig. 1. and Fig. 2.
The stock is made hollow and thus compensates for the extra weight of the
sleeve C. Resuming, this rifle so constructed can be used :-
1st. As an automatic single loader feeding by hand.
2nd. As a magazine automatic loader performing all the operations automatically,
excepted the pulling of the trigger.
3rd. With the magazine full.
11 1

page_text: 5th. With the magazine empty.
6th. In case of breakage of the bolt spring J. or any accident in the magazine
(even when this last should be put entirely out of order,) the rifle may be used as
an ordinary military rifle.
The cartridges may be inserted in the magazine one by one, or in a body of five
or more as it is the general use now.
A. finger not shewn in the drawings is mounted outside on the spindle of the
hammer O. for the purpose of cocking or uncocking it by hand as may be the case.
I sometimes dispose of one or more of these rifles on a suitable frame supported
by a tripod, carriage, or other mounting and use them as automatic machine guns.
In this case a special device is provided for releasing or pulling the trigger
automatically at every round fired.
The automatic rifle as described in this Specification can be made with or without
magazine, without parting from the principle of the invention itself.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, what I claim is,
1st. The employment of a square section (or other shape) coil spring placed
immediately at the rear end of the receiver inside the sleeve and on the axis of the
gun, (substantially as shewn and described) for the purpose above specified.
2nd. The employment of another coil spring mounted inside the former one on
the axis of the gun and connected to the rear end of the bolt; and capable to cause
the bolt to revolve radially after having driven it forward in its normal position.
3rd. The employment of a nut or another device connected to the bolt spring
and capable of engaging in any radial position with the rear end of the plug for the
purpose of regulating the radial tension of the bolt spring.
4th. The employment of a catch or bell crank lever connected at the rear end of
the sleeve for the purpose of arresting the bolt at will, in its forward motion and
allowing the gun to be used as a single loader, even when the magazine is completely
full, substantially as shewn and described.
5th. The means to regulate the tension of the coil spring that causes the rising
of the cartridges from the magazine.
6th. The combination of a detachable bolt head carrying the lever interrupted
threads extractor and spring for the same, substantially as described with reference
to Figs. 1 and 2 for the purpose specified.
7th. The employment of a safety catch pivoted inside the guard, capable of being
shifted by hand, and preventing any discharge or accident, when the gun is kept
loaded and cocked, substantially as shewn and described.
8th. The means above described in combination for performing all the operations
in an automatic gun by the force of the recoil.
C. RICCI.