Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 11th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 21st Jan., 1887.
I JOHN WELLBURN PETTY, of Omaha, in the County of Douglas and State of
Nebraska, United States of America, Gunsmith do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of machine and
other guns; and it consists, essentially, in constructing the guns with a number of
multiple barrels suitably mounted or connected together, each of such multiple barrels
being composed of a series of rifled barrels joined together at their breech ends and
separated at their muzzle ends; in providing each multiple barrel at the muzzle end
with a longitudinally sliding gauge by means of which the muzzles of the barrels
constituting such multiple barrel may be spread apart to secure the scattering of the
missiles, and the shape of the "pattern" regulated; also in means for operating said
gauge and indicating its position. There may be one, or more multiple barrels
according as it is desired to construct, either a single or double barrelled gun for
sporting or other uses, or for field use. When it is desired to construct a hand fire-
arm, the barrel or barrels are mounted in a suitable stock after the manner customary
with ordinary sporting and other rifles and guns. When it is desired to apply the
improvements to the construction of machine guns for field use in military operations
any desired number of such barrels are banded together and mounted upon a suitable
carriage in any customary or approved manner, the manner of combining or mounting
together a series of such barrels being no part of the present Invention.
Each multiple barrel is composed of a plurality of barrels, the number of which
composing each multiple barrel is regulated according to the number of bullets or
pellets it may be desired to throw at each discharge. These barrels it is designed to
rifle, and to make as small in area as practicable. Each of said barrels tapers slightly
from the breech to the muzzle end, and they are firmly connected together at their
breech ends, and from thence muzzleward to within four inches (more or less) of their
muzzles by solder, or otherwise. By thus connecting the barrels together at their
breech ends they are thereby greatly strengthened and rendered capable of sustaining
great strain at the point where such is likely to occur. The object of leaving the
[Price S1

page_text: barrels disconnected at their muzzle-ends, and for a distance rearward thereof, is to
permit of the same being spread apart and outward whenever it may be desired
to cause the bullets or pellets on their discharge from the gun to spread outward, or
scatter, and form an extended pattern. This is accomplished by means of a gauge or
wedge adapted to partly embrace the inner and side faces of the respective barrels,
and which may have attached thereto rods or their equivalent by turning or pulling
rearward upon which latter said gauge or wedge may be drawn rearwardly along the
disconnected muzzle ends of said barrels and thus force them outward and away from
each other. When so drawn apart it will be readily understood that the shot escaping
therefrom upon the discharge of the piece will scatter and cover a greater space than
were said barrels allowed to remain in perfectly straight alignment with their breech
ends. Either the muzzle ends of the barrels may be of tapering form outwardly and
the gauge straight, or vice versa the gauge may be of tapering or wedge shape, and
the barrels somewhat straight. In either construction the drawing rearward of said
gauge along the muzzle end of the barrels will wedge or force the same outwardly, and
increase the area over which the shot projected therefrom will take effect. The degree
of the spread of the barrels can be readily regulated by drawing the gauge there along
a greater or less distance, which can be speedily determined by practice, or by means
of an indicator or index.
Any ordinary ammunition may be used either fixed or cartridges, central or rim-
fire. Each barrel it is designed shall be loaded separately, and a firing pin employed
similar to that used in shot-guns with the exception that there will be as many points
on the firing-pin as there are barrels or chambers, so that upon the hammer descending
all of the barrels will be simultaneously discharged.
J. W. TEXT.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Machine and other Guns.
I, JOHN WELLBURN PETTY residing at Omaha in the County of Douglas and State
of Nebraska United States of America, Gunsmith 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 to certain improvements in the construction of machine and
other guns and it consists essentially in constructing the guns with a number of
multiple barrels suitably mounted or connected together, each of such multiple barrels
being composed of a series of rifled barrels joined together at their breech ends and
separated at their muzzle ends; in providing each multiple barrel at the muzzle end
with a longitudinally sliding gauge by means of which the muzzles of the barrels consti-
tuting such multiple barrel may be spread apart to secure the scattering of the missiles
and the shape of the "pattern" regulated; also in means for operating said gauge and
indicating its position, all as hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specifi-
cation, in which figure 1 represents a perspective view of a gun-barrel constructed
according to my improvements and with the barrels in straight positions, and figure 2
represents a similar view with the muzzle of the barrels spread apart and with the gauge
or wedge being shewn retracted in the latter figure to secure the spread of the muzzle
ends. Figure 3 represents an end view of the breech end of the barrel, Figure 4 a
detail view of the barrel spreading gauge Figure 5 an elevation of a barrel with the
barrel spreading gauge, rods for operating the same, and indicator in position thereon.
Figures 6 and 7 represent, respectively a front and side elevation of the firing pin.
Figure 8 represents, on a larger scale, a longitudinal medial section of one of the
multiple barrels. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the
figures.
A represents a barrel of which there may be one or more employed, as it is desired
to construct either a single or double-barrelled gun for sporting or other uses, or for
field use.
When it is desired to construci a band fire arm, the barrel or barrels are
mounted in a suitable stock after the manner customary with ordinary sporting, and
other rifles and guns. When it is desired to apply the improvements to the construc-
tion of machine-guns for field use in military operations, any desired number of such
barrels are banded together and mounted upon a suitable carriage in any customary or
approved manner, the manner of combining or mounting together a series of such
barrels being no part of the present Invention.
Each multiple barrel A is composed of a plurality of barrels B, the number of which
composing each multiple barrel A is regulated according to requirement. In the
drawings I have shewn a barrel as providel with seven of each-one in the centre and
six surrounding the same-but the number thereof may be either more or less than
therein shewn, according to the number of bullets or pellets it may be desired to throw
at each discharge. These barrels B it is designed to rifle, and to make as small in
area as practicable to sustain the necessary work and wear. Each of said barrels

page_text: tapers slightly from the breech to the muzzle end and they are firmly connected
together at their breech ends and from thence muzzleward to within four inches (more
or less) of their muzzles by solder or otherwise. In the drawings I have shewn said
barrels as soldered at their inner faces to the central barrel and connected together at
their upper faces by means of solder and ribs or strips of metal which fill in the
spaces between said barrels and produce a smooth surface between each. By thus
connecting the barrels together at their breech ends, they are thereby greatly
strengthened and rendered capable of sustaining great strain at the point where such
is likely to occur.
The object of leaving the barrels B disconnected at their, muzzle ends and for a
distance rearward thereof is to permit of the same being spread apart and outward
whenever it may be desired to cause the bullets or pellets, on their discharge from the
gun, to spread outward or scatter and form an extended pattern. This is accomplished
by means of a gauge or wedge D having a series of wings E and curved sockets F
which are passed between and embrace the inner and side faces of the respective
barrels and with lugs G which extend outwardly beyond the barrels for the purpose
of affording means whereby said gauge may be either grasped by the fingers of the
user, or have attached thereto rods H or their equivalent, by turning or pulling rear-
ward upon which latter, or upon said lugs, said gauge or wedge may be drawn rear-
wardly along the disconnected muzzle ends of said barrels B and thus force them
outward and away from each other. When so drawn apart, it will be readily under-
stood that the shot escaping therefrom upon the discharge of the piece will scatter and
cover a greater space than were said barrels allowed to remain in perfectly straight
alignment with their breech ends. Either the muzzle ends of the barrels B may be of
tapering form outwardly and the gauge straight, or vice versa, the gauge may be of
tapering or wedge shape and the barrels somewhat straight. In either construction,
the drawing rearward of said gauge along the muzzle end of the barrels B will wedge
or force the same outwardly and increase the area over which the shot projected there-
from will take effect. The degree of the spread of the barrels can be readily regulated
by drawing the gauge there along a greater or less distance which, when the gauge
alone is used and operated by the thumb and finger of the user, can be speedily
determined by practice. Where however, rods H are attached to the operative lugs G,
I attach to one of the ribs C an indicator or index I upon the face of which are suit-
able indicating marks or figures to indicate the position upon the barrels of said gange.
When such rods are employed, they and the gauge attached thereto are drawn rear-
wardly, and their rearmost ends travel across the face of the indicator-plate and by
their position thereon relatively to the indicating marks indicate the extent of spread
of the muzzles of the barrels B. Usually the rods H will slide within grooves beneath
or at the side of one or inore of the ribs Cand will have attached to their rear ends a
wheel or lugs to permit of the same being grasped by the user for the purpose of
retracting said rods and in such case said rods may be graduated or marked, if desired,
to correspond with the marks or graduations upon the indicator-plate I.
Any ordinary ammunition may be used either fixed or cartridges, central or rim
fire. Each barrel, it is designed, shall be loaded separately and a firing-pin employed
similar to that.used in shot-guns with the exception that there will be as many points
on the firing-pin as there are barrels or chambers B, so that upon the hammer
descending, all of the barrels will be simultaneously discharged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. A gun, having a series of barrels rigidly connected together at their breech ends
and separate at their muzzle ends and a gauge or wedge which reciprocates longi
tudinally between said barrels and spreads them apart substantially as and for the
purpose-set forth.
.
2. A gun having one or more barrels each composed of a plurality of chambers or
barrels connected together at their rear portions and disconnected at their muzzle
ends, a gauge or wedge adapted to partly embrace and slide along and between the

page_text: disconnected muzzle ends to spread them apart, and firing mechanism adapted to fire
each barrel simultaneously.
3. A gun, having one or more barrels each composed of a
connected together at their breech ends and disconnected at their muzzle ends a gauge
plurality of barrels
or wedge adapted to fit and slide between said disconnected ends and spread the same
apart and a rod or rods connected with said gauge for the purpose of actuating the
same.
4. A gun, having one or more barrels each composed of a plurality of barrels
connected together at their breech ends and disconnected at their muzzle ends, a gauge
or wedge adapted to fit and slide between said disconnected ends and spread the same
apart, and an indicator or index attached to the face of the gun for indicating the
position of the muzzle ends of the barrels, substantially as set forth.
5. A gun, having one or more barrels, each composed of a plurality of barrels
gradually tapering from their breech to their muzzle ends, said barrels being connected
together at their rear portions and disconnected at their muzzle ends, and a gauge or
wedge adapted to fit between said disconnected ends and spread the same apart,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
J. W. PETTY.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53. Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.