Improvements in Magazine Guns.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1890-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magazine Guns.
We, HENRY AUGUSTUS PITCHER, Manufacturer, RICHARD DEWHURST,
Banker, LORIN BROWN PENNOCK, Manufacturer, JOHN WHEELOCK ALLEN,
Civil Engineer, all residing at Neilsville, County of Clark, State of Wisconsin,
United States of America, 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:-
Our invention relates to an improvement in magazine guns, adapted to be auto-
matically reloaded and cocked at each discharge, by utilizing a portion of the
explosive gas generated by the combustion of the powder in the gun barrel, and it
consists in the particular construction and combination of devices hereinafter
described and claimed.
This invention is an improvement on the magazine gun described and claimed in
Letters Patent of the United States, No. 397,143, granted to Henry Augustus
Pitcher February 5th 1889.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved automatic magazine gun.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the reverse side thereof.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of our improved automatic magazine
gun, showing the parts of the same in position at the instant of firing.
Figure 4 is a similar view, on a different plane, showing the parts of the same in
position after firing.
Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation, partly in section, showing the parts of the gun
in position, locked, ready to fire.
Figure 6 is a top plan view, with the top plate of the lock case removed.
Figure 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view, taken on the line y—y of
Figure 3.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view, taken on the line a-a
of Figure 3.
Above the barrel B is a magazine tube in which is the usual spring-pressed
follower.
Below the barrel is a tube D in the rear end of which is a cylindrical
chamber A, whose rear end communicates with the barrel at a point near the rear
end of the latter by a vent E, which is adapted to be closed by a screw-plug or
valve F. At one end of the valve is an arm or pointer F, which moves over a
scale on one side of the lock case, and serves to indicate the position of
the valve. C represents a piston which operates and is fitted in the chamber A.
and has an enlarged head H that works in tube D. A coiled spring M arranged
in the tube presses rearward on the piston head, G represents a drive rod, which is
guided in a groove through the lock case at the lower side of the tube D and has its
front end attached rigidly to the piston head H.
In the sides of the lock case in rear of the barrel and below the level of the same
are openings which are closed by plates a. b. Figures 1 and 2, which are adapted to
be removed when necessary the plate on the right hand side of the lock-case has
a downwardly curved longitudinal slot c, and the plate has an opening dat its
front end of suitable size and shape for the discharge and ejectment of a cartridge
shell.
The segment I is adapted to travel longitudinally in the lock case, and has the
pivotted tumbler P at some distance from its front end adapted to be engaged by
the rear end of the drive rod G. The pivot is rigidly secured to the segment

page_text: and works in an oblique slot P13 in the tumbler, so that the latter is adapted to play
obliquely on its pivot as well as to turn thereon.
Within the tang at the rear of the lock-case is a recess; in which operates a
lever which latter has its lower end pivotted on a pin s and has a short arm
which is pivotted a stirrup i.
to
The breech bolt k is arranged in that part of the lock case immediately in rear of
the barrel, and has the depending shoulder e, and on opposite sides of the shoulder,
in a line with the longitudinal axis of the breech bolt, are grooves l, m, see
Figure 7. A tongue n is set in an opening o in one side of the lock-case entering
through the groove l, and a similar tongue p is set in an opening in the opposite
sides of the lock-case entering through the groove m. The said tongues and grooves
thereby serve as ways to guide the breech bolt as will be understood. On the rear
upper corners of the projecting sides of the shoulder e are formed cams g. In the
lower side of the shoulder is journaled an anti-friction roller t that bears and travels
on a horizontally arranged guide arm, the latter being secured at its front end to
a shoulder formed in the lock-case, by a screw v. The drive rod G travels under
this guide, and the downwardly curved cam a at the rear end of the latter causes
the said drive rod, when forced rearward, to bend down and conform to the contour
of the lock-case and thereby retain its engagement with the tumbler P.
It will be observed by reference to Figure 3, that when the segment is in normal
position, at the forward limit of its stroke, the tumbler is disposed in a horizontal
position, with its upper side bearing under the cam a, and its lower side engaged by
the spring h. The stroke of the piston C is such that when the piston moves rear-
ward, for the purpose to be presently explained, the drive rod G forces the tumbler P
rearward, and the latter is maintained in its horizontal position, until its front end
clears the rear end of the came when it turns on its pivot, and becomes released
from its drive rod, as shown in Figure 4.
The lower side of the lock case is concaved at a point slightly in advance of the
trigger-guard, to form the depression P, which permits the tumbler to turn as
heretofore described.
On the ensuing forward movement of the segment I, the tumbler being carried
with it, has its upper end engaged by the rear end of the guide which causes the
tumbler to complete a rotation, and become disposed under the cam & in the position
before described, and shown in Figure 3, with the exception that the end of the
tumbler which was formerly foremost is now rearmost, the tumbler turning or
reversing its position at each stroke of the piston C. The oblique slot P13 in the
tumbler in which the pivot works, adapts the tumbler to thus reverse its position,
and to lie snugly under the cam with either end foremost as will be apparent.
On the inner side of the tongue p at the rear end thereof, is formed a cam ', and in
the front end of the groove m is located a spring-pressed extractor hook 10, which
is caused to engage the flange of the cartridge shell in the breech of the barrel,
when the breech bolt k is at the forward limit of its movement, and is caused to
withdraw the said shell from the barrel when the bolt moves rearward. An arm X
is formed at the rear end of the said hook, and when the breech bolt reaches the
rearward limit of its movement, the said arm engages the cam and thereby partly
turns the hook on its pivot and causes the same to liberate the shell of the exploded
cartridge.
Links y have their front ends pivoted in notches formed in the rear side of the
depending shoulder e of the breech bolt. The rear ends of the said links have
notched faces 2, and are pivoted to links a', the lower sides of which are pivotally
connected to the segment I. The links a have curved ends substantially at right
angles to the pivotted ends, which when the lock is closed, lay up to and under the
septum shoulder against which the faces of the links y abut as indicated in
Figure 3 so that when the segment I is forced to the rear a rolling motion is
imparted to the links which at the start has a powerful fulcrum leverage upon
the links and afterwards a quicker motion, and causes the links y to descend at

page_text: their rear ends and the faces thereof to be cleared from the abutting septum 1 of
the lock case, when they are permitted to proceed rearward with the segment I
until the breech is sufficiently withdrawn. The function of the said septum and
of the faces of the links y, is to lock the breech bolt firmly when at the front.
limit of its movement, and prevent it from being forced backward by the shock of
the explosion, when the gun is fired.
The firing pin c is guided in the breech bolt in the usual manner, and has a slot d'
near its front end which is engaged by an arm e¹ that projects from one of the
links Y; the said arme serving to retract the firing pin when the breech bolt is
drawn rearward by the links y.
The hammer Tis pivoted in the lock case, on a pin and has its percussion
arm arranged in the path of the breech bolt, and provided with an anti-friction
roller R. Hence the hammer is automatically cocked by the breech bolt, when th;
latter moves rearward after each discharge. The hammer-spring has its rear
end secured to the bottom of the lock case, and the front end of the said spring
bears under the anti-friction roller journaled in the hammer.
The trigger N has rearward extending arms O, and pivoted on the same pin with
the trigger is a curved sear of the front end of which is adapted to engage the usual
notches of the hammer, to hold the latter at half and full cock. A. spring
presses upon the scar o at its free end and holds the latter in engagement with the
notches in hammer when not pressed in an opposite direction by the trigger
arm O.
While the segment is moving either forward or rearward its lower side is in
engagement with studs U on the outer sides of the arms of the trigger, and hence
the latter is held in position with the hammer locked at full cock.
Near the rear end of the segment, in its lower side, is a recess ', which clears
the trigger arm studs U only when the breech bolt and the segment are at the
forward limit of their movements, and then enables the trigger to be pulled, to
discharge the scar from the hammer. It will be obvious from the foregoing
description that it will be impossible for the gun to be discharged prematurely,
or until the segment I has passed studs U.
is
The cartridge carrier K is composed of three sections ², 62 and ², the latter
being located between the rear ends of the others. An inclined opening
made between the rear ends of the sections a² 12 and in communication with an
opening in the top of the plate L of the lock-case through which a cartridge
may be inserted into the carrier by hand.
The section a² has a lateral flange 2 formed on its upper side near its front
end, the lower side of the said section being cut away, as shown, and the section /²
is provided near its forward end at its upper and lower sides with flanges y², 2
respectively. A spring, Figure 4, is arranged under the section and bears
on the upper side of the breech bolt, and serves to raise the front end of the said
section and cause it to abut against the base of a cartridge registering with the
magazine, and thus the said section e constitutes a stop to limit the movement
of the cartridge as will be readily understood. At the rear ends of the
sections a², are depending arms in the paths of the cams 7.
The underside of the section a² is provided with a re-entering cam or curve p².
When the breech-bolt moves rearward the cams 7 thereof engage the cams k
of the sections a², and thereby depress the front ends of the same and cause
their upper. flanges to bear downward on the live cartridge partly enclosed
within them, and also the lower flange of section to bear upon the exploded
shell underneath, which has been drawn from the barrel by the cartridge hook w,
and thereby dislodges the exploded shell from the head of the breech-bolt so
that it may be ejected through the opening d by the forward motion of the
breech bolt. It also assists in retaining by its downward force the live cartridge
in position to enter the barrel by the same forward movement of the breech-
bolt. The depressed front ends of the sections a² are held in rear of the

page_text: magazine in such manner as to prevent the cartridges therein from moving into
the lock-case, see Figure 4.
The section somewhat resembles the form of a longitudinal section of tubing,
its hollow or inside diameter corresponding in size to the head of the cartridge.
When it is tilted downward by the contact of cam 7 against the projection of
its rear end, its lower edge or flange forms together with the tongue-which
lays in the longitudinal groove within the side of the breech-bolt underneath the
section a²-a guide for the live cartridge in its forward movement into the barrel.
At the initial forward movement of the breech bolt the cams thereof clear the
cams or arms 2 of the sections a², 62, and as the breech bolt moves forward
the front upper corners of the shoulders e engage the lower sides of sections a², b
thereby raising the front ends of the said sections into alignment with the magazine,
and the carrier being thus caused to register with the rear end of the magazine, a
cartridge from the latter will be moved rearward into the carrier (in the manner
well understood by those skilled in this art) and caused to abut against the front
end of the pivotted section ².
A rod m² connects the longer arm of the lever to the rear end of the
segment 1.
The rear end of the drive rod G works under the guide u, and is directed by the
latter in its engagement with the tumbler P. A spring presses up under the said
tumbler and causes the latter to slide in contact with the guide.
A finger knob S₁ has its shank working in the slot e of plate a see Figure 5, and
is attached to the segment, and consequently the latter, and the entire lock
mechanism, may be operated by hand when desired.
When the piece is discharged a portion of the gas passes through the vent E into
the cylinder A and forces the piston C forward therein, against the force of the
spring M, and causes the drive rod G to engage the tumbler P. The ensuing
reaction of the spring M, causes the piston to be driven rearward in the cylinder,
and the drive rod communicates rearward movement to the segment, which rear-
ward movement is communicated to the breech bolt by the links y, and to the
lever by the rod m². The spring g connected to the lever acts as a buffer to
deaden the shock and prevent injury to the parts of the lock mechanism.
The recoil spring M, together with the rod m² serves to throw the breech bolt
and locking devices forward and completes the operation of loading the gun.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that the lock mechanism is
operated automatically at each discharge of the gun, and caused to eject the empty
shell, reload, and cock the hammer, and therefore, after each discharge it is only
necessary to press the trigger to cause the gun to be again fired, and this may be
kept up until the magazine has been emptied.
It will be observed by reference to Figures 3, 4, & 5, that the upper and lower
sides of the curved portion of the lock case, and the lower side of the segment, are
drawn from the sanie centre, and therefore concentric. This construction is highly
advantageous for the reason that it adapts the curved segment to move back and
forth in the curved portion of the lock case with the smallest possible degree of
friction, thereby increasing the efficiency of the gun and rendering it easy to operate
the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-.
1. In an automatic gun, the combination of the segment I pivotally connected to
the lock mechanism, the lever r, the recoil spring having one end fixed and the free
end pivotally connected to one end of the lever r, the rod m² pivotally connected to
the opposite end of the lever and to the segment I, said elements being appro-
priately located in the stock of the gun, and the devices, substantially as specified,
for operating the segment and the lock mechanism, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. The combination, in a gun-lock mechanism, of the travelling segment and
operating devices therefor, the link connected to said segment and to the breech
bolt, and thereby operating the latter, and the arm projecting from the link and
engaging the firing pin, to retract the latter, substantially as described.
3. The combination, in the lock mechanism of a gun, of the breech bolt, the
slotted firing pin therein, the travelling segment and operating devices therefor the
link connected to said segment and to the bolt, and thereby operating the latter,
and the arm projecting from the link and engaging the slot of the firing pin, to
retract the latter, substantially as described.
4. The combination, in an automatic gun, of the longitudinally travelling segment,
the devices substantially as set forth for operating the same, the pivoted trigger
having the rearward extending arm in the path of the segment, the latter having
the recess near its rear end adapted to clear the said arm, the frame in which
the trigger is mounted having the recess in which the arm may be pressed by the
segment in its rearward movement, substantially as described.
5. The pivotted cartridge carrier comprising the central section e², and the side
sections a², 3, each having the cams, substantially as specified, in combination with
the longitudinally movable breech bolt arranged under the said sections and having
the cams to engage the cams of the sections, and operating the latter, substantially
as described.
6. The curved lock case having the upper and lower sides concentric, the curved
segment concentric with the lower side of the lock case and adapted to move
forward and backward therein, devices substantially as specified, to operate the
segment, and the lock mechanism connected to the said segment, substantially as
described.
7. The lock case having the cam in its main side, in combination with the
breech bolt, the spring-pressed extractor hook pivoted in a recess in one side of the
breech bolt, at the front end thereof, the said extractor hook having a rearward
extending arm provided with a cam arm & arranged in the path of the cam g',
substantially as described.
8. In an automatic magazine gun, the plug F adapted to open and cut off
communication from the bore of the cylindrical chamber A. to the bore of the barrel,
and having the arm or pointer F2 attached to the plug and located on the outside of
the lock case, in combination with the scale F3 on the outside of said lock case,
substantially as described.
Datel
CM 1000
HENRY AUGUSTUS PITCHER, Manufacturer.
RICHARD DEWHURST, Banker.
LORIN BROWN PENNOCK, Manufacturer.
JOHN WHEELOCK ALLEN, Civil Engineer.
J. C. Chapman,
70, Chancery Lane, London, Sub-Agent.