GB144755A - Improvements in automatic guns - Google Patents

Abstract

144,755. Armstrong, Whitworth, & Co., Sir W. G., Hadcock, Sir A. G., and Forster, G. Feb. 18, 1919. Machine g u n s ; cartridge magazines. -Relates to guns of the type in which a number of cartridges, carried by a rotatable holder situated within a drum, are conveyed one by one by a carrier into line with the axis of the gun and automatically pushed into the chamber of the gun by a rammer. According to the invention, the rotatable holder is carried by the gun mounting, and a pivoted carrier conveys the cartridges to the gun chamber, the breech-block, as it closes, turning the carrier back into position to receive a fresh cartridge and causing a partial rotation of the holder. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the gun showing the drum 6 detachably mounted on a fixed bracket 8 and containing a rotary holder for five cartridges. The cartridges are conveyed in succession from the drum to a position in line with the bore by a carrier-arm 14 pivoted on a shaft 9 and forced to the position shown, against the action of a spring 16, by the closing of the breech-block 5. When the gun recoils, the carrierarm bears against the side of the gun and a projection 15 on the breech-block engages the forward extension 20 of a finger 19 on the carrier, thereby cocking a rammer spring 21 mounted in a casing 17. As soon as the spring 21 is held cocked by a pawl 22, the extension 25 of the finger 19 rubs over a surface 27 and moves the finger behind a cartridge in the carrier. When the gun returns to firing position with its breech open, the carrier swings inwards, the rammer spring 21 is released by the contact of a pawl 22 with a fixed projection 28, and the cartridge is rammed home. The breech-block is released as usual when the cartridge meets the extractors, and pushes the carrier back to the position shown, a pawl 29 meanwhile engaging teeth 13 to rotate the cartridge-holder in the drum and bring a fresh cartridge into the carrier. The carrier has a circular projection 30 engaging with teeth 12 to prevent improper rotation of the holder. Instead of changing the drum, fresh cartridges may be inserted through a door 11.