US1451443A

US1451443A - Machine gun

Info

Publication number: US1451443A
Application number: US265239A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fowler Elbert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1918-12-04
Filing date: 1918-12-04
Publication date: 1923-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 1940-04-10
Also published as: GB136166A

Description

Apr. 10, 1923'. 1,451,443

E. FOWLER MACHINE GUN Original Filed Dec. 4, 1918 Y 5 sheets-sheet l www ' Apr. 10, .1923. y 1,451,443

E. FowLER l MACHINE GUN Original Filed Dec. 4, 1918 5 sheets-sheet 2 .lliIIIII "in "if, MII' Amun Api-Q io, 1923.

. FOWLER MACHINE GUN Original Filed Dec. 4, 191k QWNM. Nm. mm.

Y wh

Apr. lo, 1923.v

Original Fld Dec.

5 sheets-sheet 4 1 NQ Y NQ @www N5 @Nw Nb ,Mul/VII! Api. w, 1923.

E. FOWLER MACHINE GUN Original Filed Dec.

4, 1918l 5 sheets-sheen 5 To all @kom itmay conce/mf Patented Apr. 10,1923.

Vnutren STATES 'PATENT Vol-Flea ELBERT rownEa, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MACHINE GUN.

Application led lbecember'dr,v 1918, Serial No. 285,239.` Renewed December 21, 1922.;

yBe yit known that I, ELBERT FoWLnR, captain, Ordnance Department, U. S. A., a citizen of the United States, residing at Balti# more, Maryland, have invented an Improvement in Machine Guns,`of which the followin is a specification.

his invention relates, generally, to automatic machine guns ofl that description in which all operations of the mechanism are automatically effected by the energy of the recoil of the movable parts,and is of the same general class as the Vickers machine gun, model of 1915, and the Browning machine gnu, model of 1917.

The invention relates, particularly, to novel improvements in recoil-operated machine guns in which the barrel and breech parts recoil together, while interlocked, a limited distance and are then unlocked, the movement of the barrel being thereupon arrested, and the breech bolt continuing its recoil, during which energy is stored in a reaction spring, by which all parts are returned to the forward firing position.

One object of the invention is to produce an improved firearm of'l this class which is especially adapted for military service by reason ef its reliability, accuracy, strength, absolute safetyl under all conditions, light Weight, and extreme simplicity of construction, and lbecause the parts are not likely to get out of order..

Another object is to provide a novel improved construction ofmachine gun in which certain parts of the mechanism perform several distinct functions, thereby reducing thenumber of the component parts and reducing the time and labor of assembling the parts and the cost of the gun as an entirety. For instance, in my lconstruction, I have devised asingle instrumentality ,of peculiar form, which serves the dual function of extracting the cartridge from the feed-belt and of cooking the firlng-pin, this single member thus performing functions.

which are usually performed by two parts in machine guns as heretofore constructed.

Another object relates Vto the provision of a cartridge-extractor,movable on an instant pivot, whereby the front end of said throughout the several views. The dliferent figures of the drawings may be brieiy deextractor moves downward inv substantially a straight line, which construction is an improvement over other well known constructions, in which the front end of the extractor describes an arc in its movement,

necessitating a special contour ofthe front end of the-breech-bolt. c

Another object relates to the manner of mounting the cartridge-extractor on the breech-bolt, whereby it may be removed from said bolt without withdrawing the latter from the gun, which construction is an improvement over Aother constructions, in which it is necessary to withdrawv the breech-bolt from the gun before the cartridge-extractor can be removed.

VAnotherobject relates 'to the novel con-l struction-of the ejector which obviates the use of springs and whereby the cam-pin carried by1t e the support for the ejector.v

' Another object relates to the provision of. novel and improved'mechanism for locking the breech-bolt, against the breech vthrough the recoil plates of the barrel trunnion piece, whereby the barrel and breech-bolt recoil together, while `interlocked, a limited distance, and are then'automatically unlocked. And a complemental object is the peculiar construction of thelbreech-bolt locking member whereby it serves the additional func` tion of'a breech-bolt accelerator, thus combining 1n a'single instrumentality functions which are usually performed by two parts,.

in machine guns as heretoforeconstructed` Another object relates to the provision of novel and improved trigger-scar mechanism. Another object relates to the provision of a buffer carried by the recoil-plates, againstv which the breech-blt recoils during the latter portionD of its rearward movement so .extractor constitutes, also,A

that no strain is imposed in the rear. end

plate, as in other constructions.

Another ob'ect. relates to the provisionv Another object relates to the provisionv of novel and improved safety locking means v for 4the trigger.

The accompanying drawings disclose an exemplary embodiment of the underlying principles of my invention. Like reference characters denote K corresponding parts scribed as Eollows: V-

Fig. 1 is a'centrah'vertical, longitudinal, sectional view through the gun, showing the `safety locking mechanism for the trigger;

'gun and the breech-bolt'moved rearward by recoil a short distance; j

Fig. -4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the position of the parts corresponding to the position thereof shown in i 3; Fig. 5 is a view `similar to Fig. l, but showingthe position of the parts lwhen the breech-bolty has reached the point of maximum recoil;

Fig. 6 is a top planl View of the gun, thebolt being removed to show the underlying arts' E) Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are sectional views through the feed-slide and its operating mechanism, showing the relative positions of the feedslide and feed pawl at different stages in the operation of the gun; v

Fig. 10 is ahorizontal sectional` lview through the cover;

Figs. 11, 12, 1.3 are detail views of the ex tractor and ejector;

Fig. 14 is a sectional detail view of the Fig. 15 is a transverse section on the line 15--15, Fig. 14; and j Fig. 16 is asectional view on the line 16-16, Fig. 4.

Referring'now in detail to the drawings:

The barrel I passes lengthwise through the cooling-jacket la, from the front of which its muzzle projects some distance; while the rear portion of the barrel is supported in a seat provided for it in the trunnion block 2. The breech end of the barrel is screwed into the transverse barrel trunnion piece 3, on the trunnions 3', 3 of which are journaled the forward ends of right and left hand recoil plates 4, 4. Suitable means are provided for locking the breech-bolt 17 against the breech during the combined rearward movement of the barrel, the barrel trunnionvpiece, the breech-bolt and the recoil plates, and, in this instance, the following described means are used:

The rear ends of the recoil plates 4, 4 are provided with bearings 6, 6, in which

cranks

8, 8 are free to swing -through an angle of approximately 60%. The cranks 8, v8 are connected by a member 7, operable to lock the breech-bolt 17 against the breech through the recoil plates 4. 4, as shown in Fig. 1.

The breech-bolt locking-member 7 is provided with an arcuate cam surface or face 19, which, in the movement of said member to releasing position, bears upon the vertical Y face 18 of a depending projection 1S iiriedrv at the rear of the breech-bolt 17 and acts as an accelerator for the breech bolt 17.

Asthe .breech bolt 17 moves from the position thereof shown `in Fig. 1,-to its rearmost position, as shown in Fig. 5, mechanism about to be described is operative to jection 18 of the breech-bolt, to throw the breech bolt rearward. 'Ihe locking member L 7 is provided, opposite theinclined cam face 19, with a beveled locking face 20, which, in the raised or` locking position of the member7, bears against the corresponding ywall 21 of a recess in the under surface ofthe breech-bolt 17.

'It will thus be seen that the member 7 is a combined breech-bolt locking member and accelerator. i The locking member 7 is positively forced into its upper locking position by suitable means. In this instance, the means shown in the drawing is given 'as an example, and will now be described. Projecting through a longitudinally-extending slot in the side plate 77, is a boss 9 (Fig. 16), which engagesr a correspondingly-shaped socket in the adjacent crank 8. Fast on this boss 9, is

an arm 10 for actuating the

cranks

8, 8 and,

, consequently, the locking member 7. The

arm or lever 10 is disposed in a casing 10a secured to one of the side plates 77 (see Figs. 2, 4, Gand 16). The inner surface of the Wall of said casing carries a locking cam 14 and an unlocking cam 12. In the forward andrearward movements of the recoil plates, the lever 10 strikes against said cams, thus swingingthe cranks 8, 8on their pivots 6, 6, and throwing the locking member 7 into and out of locking position with respect Vto the breech bolt 17. The lever 10 with the cam 12 vserves to limit the rearward movement of the barrel and the plates 4 due to recoil and the force required to operate the lever serves to absorb the shock of recoil of these parts.

Carried by the recoil plates 4, 4 are ribs 15, .15, which fit in corresponding grooves in the sides of the breech-bolt '17. these ribs thus forming tracks on which the breechbolt reciprocates.

0n the front face of thebolt 17 is a langeway 22 for receiving and guiding the heads of cartridges, as usual, l.and for extracting the cartridge shell after the cartridge has been fired. (See more particularly Fig. 5.)

Extending longitudinally through lsaid breech-bolt 17, near the top thereof, is an opening 23. In said opening is a coiled recoil thereof and restoring the barrel and plates 4 to normal position. The, reaction spring is; in this instance, shown as encir-` cling a rod 25 having at its forward end, a head 42, against the rear face of which one end of said spring is seated.

Projecting into the rear end of said opening 23, is a trigger-tube 26, into which the rod 25 projects. Said trigger-tube is provided, on its bottom, with a depending lugl 27, having an inclined rear face, as shown, constituting a sear releasing member (as presently appearing).

The trigger-tube 26 extends rearward and projects (see more particularly Fig. 14), at its rear end, through an aperture provided therefor in the handle block or plate 79, and into a trigger-casing 7 9". The trigger-tube is provided, at4 thefpoint where it projects through the plate 79, with two longitudinally extending, diametrically opposed

longitudinal slots

26a, 26a, through which projects a pin 83, against which the rear end of the spring 24 bears. The rear face of said handle block 79 carries an annular, internallythreaded nipple 79, in which is threaded a tubular open-ended trigger-casing 79", having a longitudinally extending groove 7 9c in its inner face, a longitudinally extending slot 79e diametrically opposite the groove 79, and an inturned annular flange 79d at its rear end.

The trigger 7 9f is provided with a head 7 9g annular in cross section and having a rib 79h diametrically opposite the trigger finger piece 7 9f, for a purpose presently appearing. The head 79g is elongated so as to project forwardly of the trigger piece 79t and normally rests, at its forward end, against the outer face of the plate 7 9, as shown in Fig. 14:. The head 79g is provided with an axial recess 79i extending from the end thereof farthest from the finger trigger piece 7 9l and terminating short of the other end thereof, in which recess isI seated the rear end of the trigger tube 26. Suitable. means are provided for securing the trigger-head 79g to the trigger-tube 26 and, in this instance, a cotter pin 7 9j is shown as projecting transversely through the slot 7 9e and through said head and trigger-tube. Any other securing means may, however, be used, as this is an unimportant detail, in the nature of ay mere mechanical expedient.

Suitable mechanism may be provided for normally maintaining thetrigger in safe position against unpremeditated release of the sear by the trigger-tube controlled by the trigger. The exemplary means shown in the drawig will now be described:

A rotatable locking annulus 79k is disposed between the rear face of the head 79g. of the trigger and the ange 7 9@l of the trigger-casing 7 9". The annulus is provided with diametrically-opposite, longitudinally- Aing upon the button extending slots 79', 79' extending from the front end thereof, which, in therotation of thering, are adapted to be brought into registry with the projection 79, andv with the upper end .of the tri ger finger-piece 79'. Means are provided or normally holding the ring in such position that said slots are out -of registry with the projection 79l1 and with the upper end of the trigger fingerpiece 79, and for returning said ring, after rotationthereof, to normal position. The trigger-casing 79? is provided with a longitu 'inally-extending slot 79 in which slides a pin 79n carried by a button 7 9 slidably disposed within said annulus 79k, the latter having a cam slot 79D, into which said/pin projects. It will thus be seen that the'button moves along a rectilinear path and has no" rotatable movement, and that the' annulus 79 k rotates and has no rectilinear movement. Consequently, in view of the. construction described, it will bea parent that, by press- I79", so asto move the same toward the head 7 9b of the trigger, the slots 7 9m, 7 9m will be brought into registry with the projection 79h, andwith the upper end of the trigger finger-piece 79f, so that said trigger may be moved rearward, said projection 7 9h-and the upper end of the trigger finger-piece moving in said slots. The means for automatic-ally returning the button 7 9 and the annulus 7 9k to normal position,l after actuation thereof, comprises a coiled spring 7 91, one end thereof being secured'to the button 79o and the other end thereofv to the head 79g.

By virtue of the relative arrangement of the trigger and its safety locking means, the operator may press with the thumb of one hand upon the button 7 9, and with a finger of the same hand against the trigger 79f.

clined face 28 of.. the scar, in the cocked position of the gun, is in engagement with the inclined face of the lug 27 at the forward. end of the trigger tube 26.

Forwardly of the pivotal point ofl said.

scar, the latter is provided with a bearing face 37, at the top of which is a forwardlyextending arm 37b. At the bottom of sald arm is a recess 30, forming the locking recess for the head 31 of the irmg pin 32. j

The firing pin 32 is seated in a longitudinally extending recess 32 in the breech-bolt, and is provided, toward its forward end, with a longitudinally-extending slot38 and with a longitudinally-extending recess extending from the rear end of the firingpin and terminating short of the slot 38. In said recess 35 is disposed a coiled spring 34, constituting a driving spring for the firing pin. The rear end of the spring bears upon a plunger 37 projecting through the rear end of said firing pin and contacting with the bearing face 37a of the sear 29, thereby constantlytending to force the rear end of the sear upward.

The combined cooking' lever and extractor 40 is disposed in a vertical recess 40d, in the breech-bolt 17, and` is provided with a rear-v ward-projecting tail 39 depending into the slot 38 of the firing-pin 32; at the upper end, with a forwardlyextending arm 40f, terminating in an arcuate edge engageable with the groove a in a cartridge; on its rear face, with a shoulder 43, against which the head 42 of the driving spring rod 25 constantly engages: also on its rear face, with alrnuckle 40 projecting into a' socket 40a 1n the breech-bolt 17; and with a forwardly-extending link 40b pivotally supported at one end thereof, on the livoted pin 41 disposed intermediate the en s of the extractor, the other end of the .link having a bearing in a socket 41c in the wall 41e vof the recess 40d in the breech-bolt.

It will be noted by the construction described that the extractor may be removed from the breech-bolt without removal of the latter from the gun, which is a distinct and material advantage over well-known constructions, in which it is necessary to remove the breech-bolt from the gun in order to remove the extractor. It will be also noted, by the construction described, that the extractor swings on an instant center.

The cartridge extractor 40 carries the depending shell-ejector 80. The ejector comprises a curved beak, as shown, and the Astrap 81, which embraces the forward end of the arm 4()t of. theextractor 40` and is secured thereto by a cam pin 82 which extends through the strap and through said forward end of the arm 40t and projects beyond the same on each side thereof, to form as it were, horns. The ejector 80 is constructed of spring material and may be stamped upfrom` sheet metal. vIt will be noted that the pin 82 is a combined cam-pin and supporting pin for the ejector. The cam-pin, while having a tight fit in the transverse hole in the arm 40", is removable therefrom; so that, should the ejector break it may be easily removed and a perfect ejector substituted therefor.

The Vcam pin 82 is adapted to guide the extractor 40 in extracting a cartridge, and in properly positioning the same, and for this purpose, thel

side plates

77, 77 are provided with

cam plates

83, 83, each having an upper edge which is straight for the greater portion of its length and thence gradually downwardly inclined toward its rear end, as shown at 85. The cams are also provided with a straight lower edge and oppositely inclined sides as shown. At lthe bottom and inclined sides of vthe cam-plates is a groove 86. j

On top of the breech-bolt 17 is secured a feed-cam connector 48, comprising, in this instance, two conver ing arms 48', 48', as shown in Fig. 2, an a lateral, upstanding lug 48a which engages a corresponding groove 50 in the rear end of the feed cam 50. Said rear end of the. cam is provided with a beveled face 61. The feed cam 50 is provided with

longitudinal side tongues

51, 51, which engage and slide in

corresponding grooves

53, 53 in the cover 57. Thus, the feed cam 50, under the compulsion of the connector 48 which is secured to the breech bolt 17, slides front and rear, as the breech bolt reciprocates.

The feed cam is provided, on itsunder face, with a cam-groove 60, in which isseated a lug 66 carried on the upper surface of the feed slide 62. v

The feed-slide 62 comprises a top plate which carries the lug 66, and sides 62', 62', carrying transverse tongues or ribs, which engage and slide in corresponding transversely extending grooves 65. 65 in the transversely-disposed,

dependent brackets

65a, 65a carried by the cover 57, whereby the feedslide moves transversely with respect to said cover and to the feed cam 50, and whereby a backward and forward movement of the latter causes a movement of the feed slide transversely thereof.

The sidesl 62', 62', of the feed-slide 62 carry lateral, depending arms 62a, 62a, connected, at their lower ends, by a pin 70, constituting a pivot for a cartridge feed pawl, 7 4 provided with a ramp 67, which causes the feed pawl to rise up over a cartridge which may not have been extracted on the previous rearward movement of the pawl due to 'mal-function. This prevents the feed pawlfrom engaging the succeeding cartridge, thus automatically preventing the succeeding cartridge from being moved over into interference with the preceding cartridge which the 'extractor failed to with-l draw from the cartridge belt A, and eliminating the possibility of the occurrence of one of the worse types of jams known in machine g'un work. In this connection, -attention is directed to the fact that this result is accomplished without the use of an extension finger, as in other machine guns.

A coiled spring 7 5, one end thereof bearing against the end face of the top of thc feed slide 62 .and the other end against the feed pawl 74, serves to normally actuate the latter downward toward the cartridges in the cartridge belt A.

The feed pawl 74 is provided, at the end thereof opposite the pivotal end, with a serrated, cartridge-engaging face'74.

At the inlet end ofthe cartridge feed channel is a cartridge feed-box, which, in

(which easily works loose).

this instance, comprises the flaring upper and

lower portions

76 and 77, respectively. Pivoted in the lower portion 77 at 71, and projecting through an aperture 71a in said portion, 1s dog 69, with its upper end yieldingly held, by a spring 72,'in the path of the cartridge belt A in the feed channel. This dog revents, in the usual-manner, the cartridge elt moving in the Wrong direction. This dog does not require the usual finger piece for moving it at will out'of the path of lthe feed-belt, in case of a stoppage of the same; since the belt may, if necessary, be instantly and readily moved, raised, or adjusted in the feed-channel by simply opening the cover 57 ,5' which gives free access to the feed belt.

At their rear, the recoil plates 4, 4 are bent toward each other, forming a carrier for the buffer 73. lt'will be noted by this construction that the rear end platev of the gun is relieved of all strain, as the bu'er is not seated thereagainst, as in other constructions.

The operation of the belt-feeding mechanism is as follows:

As the breech-bolt 17 moves to the rear under recoil, the feed cam 50, which is connected to the bolt through the connector 48, moveswith it. Since the stud 66 on the feedslide 62 operates in the cam groove 60 of the feed cam 50, this rearward movement of the bolt causes a movement from right to left of the feed slide, during which movement the feed-pawl 74 rises over a cartridge in the belt A, against the vresistance of the feedpawl spring75, and hence is in a position to engage this cartridge and move it from left to right when the bolt 17 again m'oves forward. i'

After having reached its limit of rearward travel, the bolt 17 moves forward, under impetus of the reaction spring 24, and forces the feed-cam forward which, since the stud 66 of the feed cam 50 works in the camgroove of the cam 50, causes the feedslide to move from left to right, thus bringing the next cartridge into the ready-to-feed position. Y

Attention is c'alled to the fact that the movement of the b elt feeding mechanism is not derived from the sudden and short movement of thebarrel-recoil, as in one well known type of gun; nor is it transmitted through the belt feed lever (whichis easily bent) operating ona belt-feed lever pivot In my construction, the force necessary to feed the belt is applied directly at the ,point at which theenergy is required.` Y

As the breech-bolt 17 moves to the rear, the extractor 40, whichis in engagement with a cartridge, drags the/.same from the belt A and moves it ,to the rear, without any downward movement, until the

horns

82, 82

of the extractor strike the downward curved 'surfaces 85 of the cams 83, whichcauses a downward swing of the extractor, since the reaction spring 24 exerts a constant pressure, through the head 42, on the upper shoulder 43 of the extractor. When the

horns

82, 82 reach the switch point of the cams 83, that is, when they reach the lower end of the downward curved portion 85 (as shown in Fig; 5), the extractor is being acted upon by the breech-bolt spring 24 and by thefiringpin spring 34. At this instant, the boltspring 24 is fully compressed and lies entirely within the trigger-tube 26, while 'the firing-pinspring 34 1s partially compressed. Since the breech-bolt spring 24 is working through a longer lever arm than the firing pin spring 34, said spring 24 exerts the greater pressure and, consequently, causes the extractor to swing downward, which does away with the use of any kind'of switch.

As the bolt 17 moves forward, the ydown'- wardly and forwardly sloping rear end surface of the cams 83 permit the extractor to move farther downward, thus increasing theV movement of the extractor causes the ejector bolt by reason of its head being engaged in the flange way 22, outof place. Simultaneously the cartridge which is engaged by the extractor 40 is lowered into line with the barrel Upon the breech bolt moving forward, said cartridge is inserted in the barrel.

For the purpose of manually moving the breech bolt rearward and forward, a handle 90, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 6, is inserted into the bottom slide plate 91 near its front end, the rear end of the slide being provided with an upturned flange in position to be engaged bylug 18 of the bolt 17 uponrearward movement thereof. A spring catch 92 on the upper face of the bottom slide plate 91 is in thepath of lng 18, SQ-that, when the slide is manually moved rearwardly saidcatch will engage the lug 18 to move the bolt also rearwardly. An unlocking cam, such as 93, is positioned adjacent the rear limit of travel of catch 92, in position to force catch 92 downward when the slide has reached the extreme rearward position.

With the foregoing description of its construction the operation of the breech mechanism will be readily understood. After a feed-belt, with cartridges in the pockets thereof, has been inserted into the feedchannel from the left side to the right, the

maturely.

bolt is automatically repeated, and the next cartridge is seated in the barrel ready for firing. In this manner, single shots may be fired at will, the pulling of vthe trigger rocking the sear each time to release the firing pin, the sear thereupon returning to llocking position to hold the firing pin again in a cocked position.

lf it is desired to fire a succession of shots, or a burst, the trigger is pulled and held by the finger of the operator, which tilts the sear, so that the upper end thereof bears against the lug27 of the triggertube 26. Since the trigger is held in the rear posit-ion, the bevel on the sear comes into engagement With the bevel on the lug under the driving spring tube, thus automatically tripping the sear and releasing the tiring pin eachV time the bolt approaches the extreme forward and locked position, thus constituting a safety provision Which prevents any movement of the trigger tube from being communicated to the sear pre- It is evident that various changes in the form and arrangement of the parts may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a machine gun or the like, a combined firing-pin cooking-member, cartridgeextractor and shell ejector'.v

2. In a machine gun or the like, a combined ring-pin cooking member and cartridge extractor in one piece and a shell ejector carried thereby.

- 3. ln a machine gun or the like, a combined tiltable firing pin cooking member, and cartridge extractor.

4. In a machine gun or the like, a combined tiltable firing pin cooking member and cartridge extractor, and spring means for tilting said combined tiring pin cocking member and cartridge extractor.

5. In a machine gun or the like, a feeding, mechanism for successively feeding cartridges in a cartridge belt to a position above and in line with the barrel, a firing pin, and a combined firing-pin cooking member and cartridge extractor engageable with said firing pin to cock the same, and

with the cartridges in the cartridge belt to extract the same successively therefrom.

6.*In a machine gun or the like, feeding mechanism for successively feeding cartridges in a cartridge belt to a position above and in line with the barrel, a firing pin, and a combined firing-pin cooking member andI cartridge extractor engageable with said firing pin to cock the same and with the cartridges in the cartridge belt to extract'the same'successively therefrom, and means ieldingly bearing against said combined ring pin cooking member and cartridge extractor for tilting the same.

7. In a machine gun or the like, feeding mechanism for successivelyl feeding cartridges in a cartridge belt to a position above and in line With the barrel, a cartridge extractor engageable with the cartridges in the cart-ridge belt to extract the same successively therefrom, and trigger mechanism comprising a trigger, aA tube movable with said trigger, and a spring projectlng into said tube and bearing against said cartridge extractor for tilting the same.

8. ln a machinegun or the like, feeding mechanism for successively feeding cartridges in a cartridge belt to a position above and in line With the barrel, a cartridge-extractor engageable with the cartridges in the cartridge belt to extract the same successively therefrom, a breech bolt carrying said cartridge extractor, and a reaction spring for returning said breech bolt to firing position after the recoil thereof, said spring constantly bearing against said extractor to tilt the same.

9. In a machine gun or the like, feeding mechanism for successively feeding cartridges in a cartridge belt to a position above and in line With the barrel, a firing pin provided with a recess, a cartridge extractor engageable With the cartridges in the cartridge belt to extract the same successively, and projecting into said recess of the firing pin to cock the latter.

10. Ina machine gun 'or the like, a breech bolt having a recess for the reception of a cartrldge extractor, one Wall of said recess being cut away to form a pocket, a cartridge extractor projecting into said recess 'and havlng a knuckle rejecting into said pocket, an means yiel ingly engaging said cartridge extractor to tilt the'same.

11. In a lmachine gun or the like, a breech bolthaving a rrecess for the reception of a cartridge extractor, one Wall of said recess being cut away to form a pocket, a cartrldg'e-extractor projecting into said recess and having a knuckle projecting into said pocket, and a link connecting said extractor with the f ront Wall of said recess, and means for yleldingly engaging the said extractor to tilt lthe same.

12. In a machine gun or the like, trigger mechanism, a firing pin having a longitudinally extending recess, a sear for holding the firing pin in cocked position' and a firing pin driving spring housed in said recess and maintaining said sear in constant contact with said triggermechanism.

13. In a machine gun or the like', trigger mechanism, a firing pin, a scar for holding the firing pin in cocked position, said firing pin havlng a longitudinally extending recess, a plunger projecting i'nto said recess at one end thereof and bearing against said sear', and a firing-pin driving-spring housed in said recess and bearing against the inner end of said -plunger for constantly maintaining the same in forcible Contact with said Sear.

14. In a machine gun or the like, the combination, with the recoil plates of the barrel, of a breech bolt having a recess inits bottom surface, and a swinging locking member` for locking said breech-bolt against the breech through said recoil plates, said locking member having a curved face bearing against the at rear wall of said recess.l

l5. In a machine gun or the like, the combination with the recoil plates of the barrel, of a breech bolt having a recess in its bottom surface, and a swinging locking member for locking said breech bolt, against the breech bolt through said recoil plates, said locking member having a curved Jface bearing against the rear wall of said recess, and a straight face bearing against the front wall of said recess.

16. In a machine gun or the like, the combination with the recoil plates of the barrel, of a breech bolt, swinging cranks carried by said recoil plates, and a locking member carried at the lower ends ot said cranks and movable into and out of locking relation with said breech bolt.

17. In a machine gun or the like, the com.

bination with the recoil plates of the barrel,

of .a breech bolt, swinging cranks carried by said recoil plates, a locking member carried at the lower ends of said cranks and movable into and out of locking relation with vsaid breech bolt,- and an operating arm connected with said cranks for moving the same.

18. In a machine gun or the like, the combination, with the recoil plates of the barrel, of a breech-bolt, swinging cranks carried b said recoil plates, a locking member carrled at the lower ends of said cranks and movable into and out of locking relation with said breech bolt, an 'operating arm connected with said cranks for moving the same, and cams in the path of movement of said operatin arm for moving'the same to throw the loc ing member into and out of locking relation with respect to said breech bolt.,

19. In a machine gun or the like, a breech bolt, a combined ring pin cooking mem-- ber and cartridge extractor carried thereby and movable on an instant centerA and means for moving said combined cooking member and cartridge extractor whereby the front end 0f said member moves vertically in substantial parallelism with the front face of the breech bolt.

20. In a machine gun or the like, the combination, with a breech-bolt, of a combined spring-tilted firing-pin cocking-member and cartridge-extractor carried thereb and removable therefrom, without with rawalof said bolt from the n, by manual movement rearward of said member, against the tension of its spring.

21. In a machine gun,a cartridge-exl tractor carrying a removable cam-pin, and an ejector supported upon said pin and comprismg a strap-portion bent over vsaid extractor and throu hwhich said pin projects, and a longitudinallyv-curved, dependingbeak. v Intestimony whereof I aixm si nature.

ELBERT F W ER.