US1525065A - Automatic firearm - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 3. 1925.

J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed D80- 15, 1923 e Sheets-Sheet i o o o o o QR.

Feb. 3. 1925.

J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed Dec. 15, 1925 e SheetS-Sh-eet 2 Feb. 3. 1925.

J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed DeG. 15, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 r m w m Feb. 3. 1925.

J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed Dec. 16, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 F r 5 w M? L Q MR J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed Dec. 15, 1923 Feb, 3. 1925.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 3. 1925.

J. M. BROWNING AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed Dec. 15, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet. 6

A 6 wk Patented Feb. 3. 1925.

- 'UNTED JOHN M. BROWNING, or OGDEN. UTAH.

Aurommno mama. 1

Application filed December 15, 1923. Serial No. 680,963. i

To all whom it may. concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN M. BROWNING, a citizen ofthe United States, residin in Ogden, in the countyof Weber and tate of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Firearms,

of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

The invention relates to an automatic gun of the recoil-operated type in which all the operations of the mechanism, except that of thetrigger, are aii'tomatically .efi'ected A mam object of the invention is to provide an automatic gun of this character which is adapted to fire large caliber projectiles such as can be loaded with a high explosive charge (37 mm. or larger cartridge for instance) but so light in weight as to 'be mobile, adapted to be mounted on aircraft and fired from any position and yet most durable. This object is attained by provid ing a novel construction-and combination of parts, including, amongst other things, new

and novel means for holding and feeding.

the cartridges, a novelform of lock frame and co-operating parts and novel means for actuating the breech block to close and open 'the breech. Moreover, I have provided a construction so simple that the gun can be entirely taken apart and assembled quickly and without the use of any tools, so light that it can be easily carried or moved from place toplace, and can be mounted on any airplane or aircraft of a usuaLtype and can be fired in any position, and yet strong, reliable and safe in operation, and capable of withstanding the severe shocks and strains which accompany the firing of large caliber projectiles. I

While a'main object of my .invention is to provide an automatic gun for firing large caliber projectiles, the invention is equally applicable to small caliber guns.

()ther and further objects and advantages will appear from the following disclosure.

The inventions in their preferred form are shown in the drawings in which,

Fig. 1 represents a top plan view of the Fig. 2 represents a right hand side elevation of the gun. i

Fig. 3 represents avertical transverse section in the lines 3-30f F ig.2.

Fig. 4 represents a horizontal section of the dust cover and feed box in the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 represents a left hand side elevation of the gun.

Fig. 6 represents a right hand View of a central longitudinal vertical section showing I the reciprocating parts in their forward po sition ready for firing. The barrel andrecuperator are broken away, certain parts including'the bufi'er are in elevation, and certain parts including the cooking lever pivot pin spring arm and the feed pawl lever, are

not shown.

Fig. 7 represents a right hand View of a central longitudinal vertical section showing the reciprocating parts in a rearward position. The barrel and recuperator are broken away,"oertain parts are in elevation and cert-am parts mcludmg the cocking lever pivot pin spring arm and the. feed pawl lever, are not shown.

Fig. 8 represents the trigger, detached, in top plan view and front view. In the top plan view a portion of the trigger bar is also shown.

Fi 9 represents a front sectional view showmg the top of the casing, the trigger bar-and the trigger in the line 9-9 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 10 represents a right hand side elevation of the trigger bar with the trigger and portions of the casing and feed box in. section. I

Fig. 11 represents a front view of the .trigger bar with a portion of the top flange of the left hand side plate in section, in line 1111 of Fig. 10, showing the connection betweemthe front end of the trigger bar and said flange.

Fig. 12 represents a left hand view; of a central vertical longitudinal section, with the lock frame and other parts in elevation.

This-view shows the parts when the barrel is in its forward position and the 'lock frame v is being held in its rearward position, ready for the insertion of cartridge into. the gun.

Fig. 13 represents a left hand view of a. vertical longitudinal section showing the.

parts shown in Fig. 12 in position to inject a cartridge into the breech of the barrel.) Fig. 14 represents a top plan view of the,

gun with the top cover oft-he feed. box aiid its latch removed and the trunnion block and broken away at front and rear. The parts are in the position which they occupy in Fig. 12 with the first cartridge bein into the gun. The barrel extension an breech block are not shown.

Fig. 15 represents a top un with the top cover of t e feed box and its latch removed andthe trunnion blocklever in its upper position; in Fig. 17 the cartrid carrier is omitted, and the cartridge is in an earlier stage of its progress 50m the feed plate to the breech than in i 13. Fig. 18 represents a plan view of the feed plate.

I plate with one cartridge in locked position Fig. 19 represents a front view of the feed in the plate. I

Fig. 20 represents a bottom view of the feed plate with one cartridge locked in position in the plate.

Fig. 21- represents section ofthe feed plate of Fig. 19.

Fig-22 represents a front view, bottom view and a right hand end view of the spring catch which looks the cartridges inthe feed plate.

Fig. 23- represents a top view of the feed pawl lever and feed pawl.

Fig. 24 represents a left hand side view of the feed pawl lever and feed pawl.

Fig. 25. represents a front view, a right hand side view' and a horizontal section of the feed lever in the line 25-25 of the ri ht hand side view.

ig. 26 represents a the feed lever spring; 1

Fig. 27 represents a top View and a front view of the cartridge loading tool.

Fig. 28 represents a top view of the barrel broken away) and thebarrel extension an the parts carried thereby.

Fig. 29 represents a right hand side view of the barrel (broken away) and the barrel a vertical transverse in the line 21--21 perspective view of extension and the parts carried thereb Fig. 30 represents a rear view of Fig. 29, withthe several parts in their respective positions.

Fig. 31 represents a front view of Fig. 29, with the several parts in their respective positions.

lan flew of the Fig. 3 2 representson an enlarged scale a section of the right hand arm of the barrel 7 extension and parts carried thereby in the line 32-32 of Fig. 29.

Fig. 33 represents a topview hand side view of the ejector."

Fig. 3.4 represents a to'p'view and a right hand side view of the cartridge guide stop lever.

Fig. 35 represents a rear view of Fig. 36.

Fig. 36 represents a right hand side view of the right hand arm of the barrel extenand a right sion showing, in dotted lines, the cartridge guide lever 1n itsintermediate position.

" Fig. 37 and Fig. 38 are the same, respectively, as Figs. 35. and 36, with the cartridge guide lever in its lowest position.

Fig. 39 represents top, rear and right hand sideviews of the breech block.

Fig. 40 represents top, rear and right hand side views of the breech block stop.

Fig. 41 represents top and right hand side views of the cartridge guide lever.

Figs. 42, 43, 44 and 45 represent respectively, top, rear, right hand side and front views of they look frame, with its associated parts. I

' Fig. 46 represents a fragmenta zontal section in the line 46-46 of l i .Fig. 47 represents a left hand side view of the upper front portion of the lock frame and charger, showing the ejector stud.

Fig. 48 represents a top view of the charghorier, showing the extractor and extractor spring.

' Fig. 49 represents a central vertical section of the front portion of the charger, with the extractor and extractor spring in elevation.

Fig. 50 represents a front view of the charger and extractor.

Fig. 54 represents top, right hand side i and front views of the sear.

1 Fig. 55 represents top, right hand side and front views ofthe trip lever.

Fig. 56 represents a right hand and a bottom view of the cocking lever pivot pin.

Fig. 57 represents a right hand side and a front view of the cocking lever.

Fig. 58 represents a top, a right hand side and a front view of the sear spring.

Fig. 59 represents a rear view of the gun with the rear plate broken away, showing the reaction spring andthe shoulder on the guide rod (in dotted lines), the rear projection on the guide rod,'the guide plate and a portion of the bufier housing.

The gun represented by the drawings purposes as will hereinafter appear.

comprises a frame ofbreech casing 1, rectangular in form, and adapted tocontain the breech and firing mechanism. The said casing is made up of two strong vertical side 1 plates provided, except at their front end portions, with inturned flanges 1 at" top and bottom, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17. The

casing is closed at the top and ends as hereinafter described.

A trunnion block 2 is located between th forward ends of the side plates, where the inturned flanges 1 are omitted, and said block is firmly secured to the side plates at top and bottom, as by a plurality of transverse rivets 2. Rearwardly of said trunnion block the bottom of the casing is left open in the space between the lower inturned flanges of the side plates for the ejection of the empty shells'and' for other Projecting laterally from the trunnion block are the'usual trunnions 2 for mounting the gun on a carriage or other supporting means.

The top of the casing is closed at the rear by the fixed top plate 3 rigidly secured to the inturnedflanges at the top of the side plates, as by means of screws 3 (Fig. 1). From the front end of the top plate 3 forward to a point a short distance back of the rear end of the trunnion block 2, the.

casing is closed at the top by the upwardly projecting feed box 4, secured on both sides to the side plates of the casing and at front I and back to the top side plate flanges in any .\\'cll known manner, as by screws 43. This feed box contains members of the cartridge feeding mechanism and is provided with a transverse feed channel into which the cartridges and the feed plate ,carrying the same may be fed from left to right into the gun, the feed plate being fed out at the right hand side as the firing proceeds. lVhen the gun is not in use, this channel is closed by outwardly swinging doors to prevent the entrance of foreign matter, such as snow or dirt, the door 4 on the left-hand side swinging upward and permitting the entrance of the cartridges and feed plate and the smaller door 4 on the right hand side swinging back and permitting the exit of the feed plate. To permit access to the parts of the mechanism in the box 4, the top of the box is closed by a cover 4, hinged at the rear at 4 and held in its closed portion at the front by a latch 48. The door 4 is hinged to this cover so as to swing outwardly and upwardly. Spring plungers of a usual type (see Fig. 4) co-operate with the doors 4* and 4 to hold them either in their open or closed positions.

The top of the casing between the front end of the feed box 4 and the trunnion block 2 is closed by a small plate 3" fastened as by screws 3 to the top flangesof the side plates, which top flanges run forward to this point. The front end of this;

plate projects downwardly and fits into the groove at the top of the trunnion block to keep out foreign matter (see Figs. 12 and," 13). At the rear end, the breech casing 1 is closed by a vertically slidable rear plate 5 (Figs. 12 and 13) which is guided "and held against longitudinal movement between the side plates by having ribs on its sides engaging corresponding grooves in' the side plates. As shown, the rear plate -5 1s slid upwardly into position and held thereinby a guiding plate and rearward projection on the end of the reaction spring guide rod as hereinafter described Between the top side flanges of the side plates at their forward ends is the bridge plate 6 (Figs. 12, 13 and 14). This plate is rigidly attachedto said side flanges as by rivets notshown, the side flanges being cut away on their under faces to receive the side portions, correspondingly cut away on flo their upper faces, of this late whereby the same is flush with said ages at top and bottom. This plate has rearwardly extending shoulders 6 against which the breech block abuts on its upward movement and which limit said upward movement as here.

inafter described. The inner upper edge of the left hand shoulder 6 slopes downwardly and inwardly to accommodate the cartridge 1 gun as hereinafter said seat is preferably slightl counterbored from its rear end so that the arrel sildably engages only the forward portion of said seat. At its-rear end the barrel is firmly secured as by screw threads (Figs. 12, 13 and 29) to the barrel extension 8, which, near its forward end, is of a size and shape to slidingly fit the inside of the breech casing. The rearward extending arms 8 and 8 of the barrel extension are spaced from the side walls of the casing for the greater portion of.their lengths, as "shown clearly in Figs. 16, 17 and 28; they are also cut away at the bottom for the greater portion of their lengths for reasons which will become apparent as the description proceeds. Thus the combined barrel and barrel extension are supported and guided in their reciprocations .at two spaced points only, thereby greatly lessening the friction between said parts and the breech casing.

To check the recoil 'of the heavy barrel and barrel extension and to. return them to" their forward firing-position as soon as they have reached the limit of their recoil movement, a recuperator 9 is provided. This retion which is well known vand therefore need not be further described. .The recuperator is conveniently secured to the under side of the trunnion block 2, by

forming T-sha ed grooves on the bottom of thereby forming shoulders adapted to clamped between'forward and rear nuts, 9 and 9, respectively, (Fig. 6), each having cylindrical portions to fit the counterbores and locked a ainst rotation when in their operative position, by the breech block stop as hereinafter described, or by any other suitable means. In this manner a very strong connection between the piston rod and the barrel extension is obtained, said connection permitting the easy disassembly of the parts by simply unscrewing the rear nut 9 when the'breech block stop has been removed.

The breech block 10 is formed as shown in Fig. 39, with vertical ribs 10 on each side which have a sliding fit in vertical grooves or mortises 8 in the barrel extension 8 (Figs. 12 and 28). At its lower rear end the breech block is widened longitudinally at 10 (Fig. 39), this widened lower end having a T-shaped slot 10 therein for a purpose hereinafter described. Rigidly attached to or integral with the rear face of the breech block, near its top, is the locking rib 10 hereinafter more fully described.

' The breech block 10 is adapted to open and close the breech of the barrel by vertical reciprocation in the barrel extension, and is reciprocated for this purpose by the breech block actuating lever 11 in a manner now to be described.-

Mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in the casing is the lock frame 12, shown de-' t-a-ched in Figs. 42, 43, 44 and 45. At- 12 (Figs. 43 and are longitudinal grooves on opposite sides of the horizontal portion 12 of the lock frame to receive the inwardly projecting bottom flanges 1 of the side plates of the casingl (see Figs. 16 and 17), and thereby guide and support the lock frame for longitudinal movement therein.

As shown in Figs; 16 and 17 the upper portion of the lock frame takes its position" and reciprocates between the arms 8 and ,8 ofthe barrel extension. Depending from the bottom of the front, end of the lock frame are two lugs 12 (see Figs. 44 and 45) in' which the transverse breech block actuating lever pin 11 is made fast. Pivotally mounted between the lugs 12 on the pin 11 is the breech'block actuating lever 11, of the form shown in Fig. 51. The forward arm of this lever ends in two diverging branches 11" and 11. of upwardly projecting branch 11" is formed with two short lateral studs 11 of a size and form to enten the transverse opening of the T-slot 10 of thebreech block. When the studs 11' are in the slot. 10 of the breech block, the rocking of the lever 11 on its pivot will-cause the vertical reciprocation of the breech bolt. In Fig. 6 the parts are shown in full firing position, with the breech block in its raised position, closin the breech. When the cartridge is fired the barrel, barrel extension,'breech block and lock framerecoil and during this recoil the lever 11 is rotated on its pivot, by means hereinafter described, causing the studs 11' to enterthe transverse opening in the slot 10" of the breech block and move the breech block downwardly from the position shown in Fig.6 to its lowered position shown in Fig. 7, when the barrel and barrel extension are substantially at the end of their rearward movement. The barrel and barrel extension now move foward again under the 7 tension of the recuperatorspring carrying with them the breech block, but the lock frame with its accompanying parts continues its recoil until stopped by the bufi'er, hereinafter described, and after a short forward movement it is temporarily held in a rearward position by means hereinafter described, the barrel, barrel extension and breech block and the lock frame and its accompanying parts thereby separating and permitting the ejection of the discharged cartridge and the feeding into place of a new cartridge. (See Figs. 12 and 13.) As the breech block moves forward with the barrel and barrel extension, leaving the lockframe in its rearward position, the studs 11 will be withdrawn from the slot 10, leaving the parts as shown in Figs. 12 and 13. When subsequently the lock frame moves forward after. the barrel has reached the limit of its forward movement and a new cartridge is in position to be inserted into the breech, the studs 11 will again enter the slot 10, thelever 11 will be rotated'on its pivot and the breech block will be moved vertically to its raised position shown in Fig. 6, closing the breech.

The rocking of the lever 11 during the longitudinal reciprocation of the lock frame is brought about by a plurality of cam surfaces on cam plates fastened to the bottom of the side plates co-operating with studs on the lower branch 11 of the breech block actuating lever 11 and similar studs on the rear arm of said lever. Rigidly fastened The end and depending therefrom is the cam plate I Fig. 6 the forward arm of the lever 11 is 13 see Figs. 2-, 5 and 6). The bottom edge of t is plate beginning at; its front-end first slopes rearwardly and downwardly, then vruns for a distance substantially parallel with the bottom of the casing, then slopes rearwardly and downwardly again for a short distance, then slopes upwardly and rearwardly, and then runs parallel to, and a short distance below, the bottom of the casing;

At 13 is a cam groove on the inner side of the cam plate; commencing at the rear this cam groove runs horizontally for the greater part of its length and ends in a downwardly and forwardly curving por& tion 13. The. upper surface of the straight portion of this groove is the under surface of the bottom, inturned flange of the lefthand side plate. At 13 is an upwardly and rearwardly inclined cam groove opening into the cam groove 13. The top of this groove 13 is closed by a spring pressed switch l3 (Fig. 6). Firmly attached to and depending from the bottom flange of the right hand side plate ofthe casing and just to the rear of the breech block when it is in its lowered position is the cam plate 14 (see Figs. 12 and 13) which is of the same size and shape as that portion of cam plate 13 forward of cam groove 13".

The cam surfaces and grooves just described cooperate with studs on the breech block lever 11 to rock said lever to raise and lower the breech block. The end of the lower branch 11 of the forward arm of .lever 11 is formed with twolong lateral studs 11. The end of the rear arm of the lever 11 is formed with two long lateral studs 11. When the parts are in full firingposition with the breech closed as shown in in a raised position with the studs 11 in contact with the bottom flanges of the side plates of the casing forwardly of the front ends of the bottom edges of the cam plates 13 and 14, the studs 11 being long enough 7 to make this contact. As the parts, including the lock frame 12 and lever 11, move rearwardly on the recoil following the firing of a cartridge the contact between the studs 11 and the rearwardly and downwardly sloping bottom edges or cam surfaces of the cam plates 13 and 1 1 will cam downthe front arm of thelever 11', rocking the lever on its pivot. The initial movement of the lever carries the studs 11 forwardly and downwardly into the slot 10 of the breech block, and further movement of the lever 11 about its pivot carries the breech block verticallydownward. Meanwhile the rear 'arm of the lever is swinging upwardly and before the studs 11 leave the rearwardly and downwardly sloping camsurfac'es' on the bottom of the cam p ates 13-and 14: the left hand stud 11 on the rear arm of lever 11 enters the upwardly and rearwardly inclined cam groove 13 on the inside of plate 13 which acts on said stud 11v to continue the swinging of lever 11 about its ivot on the further rearward movement of t e parts, carrying the breech block to its lowest 0- sition, as shown in Fig. 7. As hereina ter described, the lock frame thereafter continues its rearward movement and the stud 11 presses aside the switch 13 (Fi 6), .and passes into the rear portion 0 barrel extension is stopped by the recu erator before the lock frame has reache its limit of recoil and the recuperator returns the barrel and barrel extension to battery. The recoil and the forward movements of the barrel and barrel extension are bufiered by the recuperator. On its forward movement the barrel is stopped b engagement of the front face of the barre extension with the rear face of the trunnion block.

After the barrel has stopped its recoil the lock frame continues its recoil under its own momentum against the reaction spring the barrel and lock frame drawing apart rom each other, and any excess of recoil will be finally absorbed by asuitable buffer arranged .on the rear plate of the casing and is necessary to hold the breech block in its lowest position, so that on the subsequent return movement of the lock frame the studs 11 will enter the T-slot 10 of the breech block and raise the block to its breech closing position. To this end, a breech block, stop 15 (see Figs. 6, 7, 12-, 13 and 40) is secured to .the lower end of the downwardly projecting portion 8 of the barrel extension 8, said stop being provided with a rearwardly projecting shoulder 15 on which the bottom of the breech block, when the same is in its lowest position, is'ad-apted to rest. The breech after more fully described. During the formounted in said recess on the front face of the breech block is frictionally but an bad in this position by a spring pressed plunger and projecting into a block. I find this friction .plunger' ad uate to hold the'breech block in its lowere p0- sition under any unusual conditions, such as when the gun is 'fired upside down. The

sides of said plunger arebeveledand the sides of therecess in the breech block are correspondingly formed, thereby permitting the plunger to be automatimllypressed aside by applying substantial force to the block to raise it. The breech block stop 15 is secured-to the end of the portion-8 of'the barrel extension by a longitudinal rib and means just describedI make certain that the breech block will not move from itslowest position except when actuated by its aac- 'tuating lever 11, even though the gun be fired upside down as in an aeroplane. This stop v15 may. also prevent turning of the nuts 9 and i), which may be square-headed for this purpose, thereby locking said nuts until stop 15 is removed. I

On the return of the barrel, barrel extension and breech block to forward posi-' tion, if any: m'rtridges remain in the feed plate, the lock frame willbe automatically released and under the tension of the reaction spring will be returned to its forward position, pushing a fresh cartridge into the barrel chamber, all of which willbe hereinward movement of the lock frame the left hand stud 11 on the rear arm of the breech block actuating lever 11 will first be guided in the horizontal cam groove 13 of the cam plate 13, the switch 13 now closing the entrance to cam groove 13. When the stud 11 reaches the downwardly and forwardly curved cam groove 13, the studs 11 at the forward end of lever 11 will have entered the slot 10 in the breech block and thecartridge will have been almost fully inserted into the chamber, and as the lock, frame completes its forward movement the studs 11 will be guided downwardly by the cam groove 13*, and the rear cam surface on the cam plate 14 which at their lower ends are substantially vertical, rocking the lever 11 about its pivot to raise the front arm of the lever and thereby raise the breech bolt at a rapidly increasl rate. The passage of the studs 11 through cam groove 13 and along saidcam surfaceserves to raise the breech block about half way of its full upward movement while the lock frame is imam completing its forward a 11 cam surface on cam etc 14 justas the lock If 1111110 completes its award movement and the final upward movement of the breech block to its upper closing position is com- I pleted 1y under its own momentum and partly y the continued rotation of the lever .11 about its pivot by the action of-the breech block lever spring 16 on the breech block lever strut 16.

the cartridge into the barrel. The dzuds leave the cam'groove 13 and the rear/i The said breech block lever s ring is 'seatedina longitudinal seat provlded therefor centrally of the'under side of thelowerhorizontal ortion 12 (Figs. 16, 42, 43 and 44) of the ock frame. Said spring abuts at its rear end against a collar on the end of l a spring guide pin, and at its front end againstanother circular collar which, when theparts are assembled, abuts against the rear end ofthe lever strut 1.6. There are inturned flanges at the front end of the spring seat to hold the spring in its seat in case the strut is removed. The rear collar has a slot in its rear face allowing it. to be turned on its axis, and forward of its rear face has a laterally projecting'stud. The spring is inserted lnto its seat from the rear, and the rear collar may be pushed'in against the ten sion of the spring, the stud passing through a groove cut therefor on the side of the rear portion of the spring seat, until the rear face of the rear collar is flush with the rear face of the portion 12 of the lock frame, when by a partial rotation of the collar the stud will engage in a recess cut therefor in the bottom face of the lock frame, locking the sprin in its seat. The front face of the front col ar is recessed forming a seat for the rear end of the breech block lever strut 16 which is pivoted at 16 6 and 7) in a longitudinal groove 16-cut in the top face of the rear arm of the breech block lever (see Fig. 51). When the breech block lever is rotated to lower the breech block, the struct 16 will compress its spring 16 .and for this purpose a slot is cut in the front portion ofthe bottom face of the spring seat. Fig. 44 shows the strut and springwhen the rear arm of the breech block lever has been raised to its upper-position, The

strut l6 has now passed dead center posihas reached the limit of its rotation in this direction by the'engagementof thestuds 11 with the bottomfaces of the lower flanges of the side plates of the breech casing as shown in Fig. 6, the pressure of the s ring against the strut will serve to hol the breech block lever in the position there shown. The spring and strut therefore serve to hold the breech block lever in position after rotation in either direction.

The parts are so organized that there is a lost motion connection between the breech block and its actuating lever when the breech block has reached'the limit of its upward movement. When the breech block stops in its uppermost position, the actuating lever continues to rotate until it is stopped by engagement of studs 11 with the bottom faces of the lower inturned flanges of the side plates. In this further slight ro-. tation of the breech block actuating lever 11, the studs 11 pass rearwardly from the T- "slot 10 in the breech block and the then downwardly and forwardly sloping surface 11* (Figs. 6, 12, 13 and 51) at the forward end of the arm 11 engages the rear edge of the top of the T-slot holding the breech block firmly in place, as shownin Fig. 6.

Although'the pressure of the breech bloc-k lever sprin 16 prevents any substantial rebound of tie actuating lever, sucl rebound might occur and if it does, the lost motion connection just described prevents such reboundfrom movin the breech block from its uppermost ositlon which might cause a m'isfire. F urt iermore, as hereinafter described, th hammer is retracted and cocked by the movement of the actuating lever on the recoil and the lost motion connection permits an initial retraction of the hammer before any downward movement of the breech block. Thereby the hammer and firing pin are freed from contact with each other and the forward end of the firing pin is freed from contact with the shell and the breech block is free to be, lowered without any friction from the hammer or firing pin or injur to said firing pin. Again this lost motion connection offers a convenient means for permitting the parts to recoil a short distance before there is any movement of the breech block. The breech block is under tremendous pressure from the expansion V were strain on the operating parts.

studs on the breech block lever to permit the shell or projectile to leave the barrel and' relieve the pressure on the breech block.

If there were no lost motion connection, however, this same result could be secured by so organizin the engagement of the forward parts of t e cams 13 and 14- with studs 11'that the lever'll would not commence to rotate until after the initial recoil of the parts.

The upward movement of the breech block is limited by the top of the breech block coming in'contact w1th shoulders 6" (Figs. 14 and 15) of the bridge plate 6.

Suitable means are provided to lock together the lock frame and the breech block when the lock frame is in its forward position and the breech block is in its upper closing position. Such lockin means may comprise a vertical rearwardy projecting T-shaped j rib 10. arranged centrall and near the top of the rear face of the reech block 10 and adapted, when the breech block is in its raised position, to engage in a corresponding sha ed groove 10 (Figs. 44 and 46) on the ront face of the lock frame. On the final upward movement of 'the breech block, immediately on the lock in firm engagement at 'the moment offiring and on their initial recoil. ItTal'sof insures that the lock-f frame can .notfbe retracted manually without lowering the breech block.

For the manual operation of the breech mechanism the breech blockactuating lever 11 is provided with'a finger piece 11 which depends from{ the rear portion of the rear arm of said lever (Figs- 44 and 51) and which is adapted to be engaged by the hand of the operator. A rearward pull on the finger piece when the parts are in the forward position shown in Fig. 6 acts to first swing the actuating lever 11 about its pivot,

the initial pull seating the studs 11 in the slot 10- in the breech block and the continued pull rotating the lever. 11 and lowering the breech block vertically. Since the pull required to retract the lock frame is insuflicient to move theheavy barrel against the 'recuperator spring, the barrel and its accompanying parts are not moved rearwardly on manual retraction of the lock frame. But since the breech block and lock frame are locked together when in firing position, the lock frame can not be disengaged from the breech block until the block has been lowered, thereby insuring that the initial pull onthe breech block actuating lever will move the breech block downward and insuring that the lock frame will notv be retracted without lowering the breechblock.

As explainedabove, the initial pull on the finger piece 11 seats the studs 11 in the slot of the breech block and starts the breech block downward without sepg," ng the lock frame from the breech" lo blocki Just as the breech block reaches the position where it becomes unlockedlfrom the lock frame the left hand stud 11" at the rear of the leverll enters the'cam groove 13", the lock frame up to this time being held in its forward'position by its locking engagement with the breech block. On continued pull on the finger piece the stud 11v passes rearwardly and u wardly, guided by cam groove 13", moving the lock frame rearwardly and swinging the lever 11. about its.

ward against the pressure of its reaction spring. On manually returning the, parts to forward position, the -members go.

through the same cycle of operations and breech block to its lower position bein per movements as in the automatic operation. It will be seen that in the manual opera,- tion, since the barrel remains forward, the rearwardly and downwardly inclined bottom cam edges of cam. plates 13 and 14, as well as the cam groove 13,perform no function, their normal function of moving the formed manually and by the coo eration of" the cam roove 13', with the stu 11 which insures t at the breech block is moved to 'the limit .of its lowered position on the manual retraction of the lock frame. By this construction and arrange arrel' can be manually opened and the lock frame brought into a rearward position, ready to push a cartridge into the barrel chamber on. the succeeding forward movement, 'in a minimum of time and with a single operation, namely, a rearward pull on the finger piece 11 of the breech block actuating lever 11. 1

The forward movement of the lock frame is slowed down and buffered by the cam operations on the breech block lever above described and by its energy beingctransferred to the breech block and cartrid 'e. The form'of these cam surfaces and weight of the breech block, which is raised to breech closing position during this for- '8' on the barrel ments of arts, it is evident that the breech of the.

ward movement of the lock frame offer a powerful retarding action on the movement of the lock frame and brin it to rest without any yiolent bl'ow. he lock frame comes to a full stop by the front face of the lower horizontal portion 12 coming in contact with the rearwardly facing shoulders extension (Figs. 12, 13, 28 and 29). Y 1

The reaction spring 17 is provided with a' telescopic guiderod 17 (Fig. 13), the

a removable collared plug 17" to receive the thrust of the front end of the spring, while the rear section of the said rod'is formed.

forward section of'whi'ch is provided with its guide rod can be readily removed as a unit from the casing. A small central projection' 17 providing a shoulder 12 and 13) on the f10l1t en of thefront section of the guide rod extends through and forwardly .of said washer and normally projects into a hole formed in an upwardly rojecting arm 18 at the forward left-hand side ofthe lock frame (see Figs". 12, 16, 17, 43 and 45),

while the rear section of the. guide rod is' similarly formed with a rearward projection 17 which engages a hole in the rear plate 5 (Fig. .12), to hold the guide rod in position laterally. To hold thevrear plate firmly in its closed position, andtoassist in holding the uide rod in position and to facilitate assem ly of the parts, the rear end of the guide rod 17 is provided with a guid- 59% positioned between plug 17 and the rear end of projection 17 and adapted, when the rod is in position in the casin to rest a ainst the inner face of the left and side 0 the rear plate and ,to engage the inner face of the left hand side plate of the easing and the upper and lower inturned flanges of said side plate as shown in Fig. 59. When the "projection 17 therefore engages in the hole in the rear .plate, the rear plate cannot be slid downwardly out of position because of the en agement ofthe ottom edge of the guide p ate 17 with the bottom inturned vflangeof the left hand side plate; The forward'end of the spring 17 or-locating plate 17 (Figs. 12, 13 and is further guided and seated in a seat.

formed therefor by the top surface of the lower horizontal portion 12 of the lock frame 12, the lower left hand face of the centrally arranged upwardly projecting portion 12 (Figs. 12, 13,16 and l of said lock frame and the arcuate guide 8 on the bottom of the lefthand arm 8" of the bar-,

rel extension (see Figs. 16,17 and 30). To

bined reaction spring, guide rod and guide plate, it is only necessary to press against the rear projection. 17 on the guide rod and move it forwardly beyond the front face of the rear plate by the point of a cartridge, and at the same time slide the rear plate downwardly to move the hole out of registry with the projection-17. When this is done the rear plate can be slid downwardly and completely withdrawn from the casing, and the combined sprin guide rod and guide plate can be rearwar ly removed.

The firin pin 19 (Fig. 39) is mounted for longitudina movement in a seat arranged centrally of the breech block in position to strike the center of the primer of a cartridge in I the barrel chamber when the breech block is in its top- The pin is held normally in its rear position with the firing oint withdrawn into the breech block an its rear end protruding from the rear face of most position.

.said breech block under the action of its spring and its longitudinal movement is limited in a usual manner by a transverse pin 19 passing through a longitudinal recess formed in the-cylindrical body of said pin (see Figs. 13 and 39).

The hammer 20 (Fig. 53) for cooperation with said firing pin is mounted for longitudinal slidin movement in a seat provided therefor in t e central upwardly projecting portion 12 of the lock frame 12 (see Figs. 6, 43 and 44). At their rear portions the hammer and hammer seat are substantially rectangular in cross section, the hammer seat having at its rear end a seat for the-head ofthe guide pin as hereinafter described. The hammer is uided in its seat at the rear 10 ribs20 (Fig. 53) projecting from each side which engage corresponding grooves in the hammer seat and at their forward ends the hammer and its seat are cylindrical and the hammer has a sliding fit in its seat. At its forward end the hammer terminates in a flat nose 20 (F i 53) to strike the firin g pin. The main spring 20 .is seated in a cylindrical seat drilled in the hammer as shown in Fig. 53, abutting at its forward end against the end of the seat and at its rear end. against the shoulder of the short guide rod 20 (Fig. 53), which for this purpose is of a larger diameter at its rear than at its forward portion in the sprin The rear enlarged head of the guide to has a slot, allowing the rod to be turned on' its axis, and also carries two small lugs which project from opposite sides. The rear end of the hammer seat, which is cylindrical, is provided with a horizontal slot through w ich these lugs may be made to enter. Slightly in front of the rear end of the hammer two partly-circular recesses are cut into the wall of the seat which the lugs of the guide rod may be as mainspring by the sear 21, also carried by the lock frame 12. The form of the sear is shown in Fig. 54, and as there shown, it has two lugs, projecting from each s1de centrally of the sear, a downwardly, inclined rear arm and 'a nose forming a shoulder at the top of the front end. Under the lugs is a downwardly and forwardly inclined surface 21 to co-operate with the sear spring, as hereinafter described.

' Immediately under the hammer seat the rear centrally and upwardly projecting p0rtion 12 of the lock frame has a longitudlnal recess 12 (Fig. 43). Cut longitudinally into the rear faces of the sides of this recess, just below the hammer seat is a slot, which slot makes a seat for the two lateral In S rigid with said sear, pivoting the sear within the recess, with its downwardly inclined rear arm projecting rearwardly of said portion 12 of the lock frame and its front arm projecting forwardly under the hammer (Fig. 44) The sear is normally held in its cocking position as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 44, with the" nose at its front end in engagement with the bottom of the hammer, by the sear spring 21 (Figs. 6, 7 and 58). The scar spring is an ordinary wire spring, the rear end of which is seated in a shallow recess on the right hand top surface of the laterally widened portion 12 of the lock frame,

as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 42.. .The upwardly projecting forward arm of the spring is bent at right angles at the top, forming a horizontally disposed arm 21" (Fig. 56) which engages the forwardly and downwardly inclined under surface 21 of the sear 21 (see Fi s. 6, 7, 44 and 54), pressing it forwardly, t ereby serving to keep the sear. in its seat and yieldingly in its operative position.

The rear downwardly inclined arm of the sear is adapted to co-operate with the trigger lever 22, shown detached in Fig. 52 ,'which is of bell-crank shape and pivoted on a fixed pivot stud projecting laterally from the right hand s1de of the lug 22 which projects upwardly from the rearv end of the horizontal portion 12 of the lock frame just left of center (see Figs. 42, 43 and 44). The lever 22 is normally held on its pivot stud by the head of screw 22 (Fig. One arm of the trigger lever projects forwardly under the reanaim of the sear, while the other arm projects substantially vertically to a point ad acent the mner ed e of the inwardl projectin top flange o the left hand si e plate 'of t e casing (Fig. 17

To insure that the sear'will not be tripped and disengaged from the cockinglshoulder a latera on the hammer, until the breech ock is in its full upper locked position,'the forward arm of the trigger lever 22 does not directly engage the rear arm of thefsear, but has pivoted to it, at its forward'end, a twoarmed trigger lever connector 22 (see Fig. 52) the rear arm, of which is adapted to engage the sear, while the forward arm is adapted to co-operate with a trip lever 23 (Fig. 553. Centrally of the trip 1ever 1s I y inwardly projectin(g p1vot -pm 23, which/is pivota ly mounte in a corresponding hole in the right handside of the lock frame. At its rear-end the trip lever is formed with a laterally and inwardly projecting arm 23" (Figs. 42 and 55), adapted to overlie the forward arm of the trig er leverv connector 22, while its forwar end projects beyond the frontface of the lock frame and is there formedwith an inwardly and downwardly extending p'rojection 23, which extends into the path of the top surface of the forward arm of the breech block actuating lever 11. When the breech block actuating lever rotates and moves the breech block to its uppermost closing position, the top surface of the forward arm of said actuating lever engages said projection 23, raises it and ther fby he two positions are shown in Figs. 6 and 7 With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 6', when the trigger lever 22 is actuated by pulling it rearward, its forwardly extending arm is raised, the forward armof the connector 22 engages the arm 23 of the trip lever and is held thereby while the rear arm of the said connector engages the rear arm of the sear; further movement of the trigger lever will now raise the rear arm of the sear and actuate the sear to release the hammer. the osition shown in Fig.7, with the breech bloc in its lowered position, and the rear arm of the trip lever 23 raised-the normal movement given the trigger lever 22 is not sufiicient to engage the front arm of the connector 22 with the rear arm 23 of the dent that the gun can not be fired until the breech block is in its uppermost position, the breech block lever thereby serving both to raise the breech block and to control the time, of firing.

When the parts are in The trigger lever 22 projects at its upperend into the path of a lateral inwardly projecting lug 24 at the forward end of the trigger bar 24 (Fi trigger bar, at its %1 'ont end, is slidably secured to the top flange of theleft hand side plate of the casing, as by a tongue and roove connection as shown in Fig. 10. At its rear end said trigger bar has an upward extension projecting through a longitudinal slot in the top plate 3, and provided with a lateral stud sliding on the top surface ofsaid, top plate to hold the rear end of said trigger bar from droppin down" (Fig. 9). The trigger 25 (Fig. 8) is pivoted on the tip. of the top plate 3 by its pivot Stud 25 ig. 1) with its free end extending laterally beyond the left hand side plate of the casing; In the bottom face of the trigger is a slot 25 (Fig. 8) into which the top; of

10, 11 and 16). The

the upwardly projecting rear end of the trigger bar extends, so that when the-free end of the trigger is swung 'rearwardly about its pivotstud thetrigger bar will be moved rearwardly and will engage the trigger lever by its lug 24, thereby rocking the trigger lever and actuating the sear, if the parts are in'their firing position as shown in projecting rear end of the trigger bar with v the front end of the longitudinal opening in the top plate through which'said rear end of the trigger bar projects (Fig. 10). The outer end of the plunger 25 projects into a recess on the stud 25 and this serves to maintain the trigger in position on'its pivot stud 25% Also projecting upwardly from the top casing is the stud 25' (Figs. 1 and 6) positioned to limit the rearward swing of the tri ger so that the trigger lever can not be roc ed sufficiently to actuatethe sear unless the front endof the trip lever has been raised by the breech block actuating lever and the parts are in the position shown in Fig.6. The trigger can be actuated by the direct engagement of the shooters hand with its knurled free end, or by a lanyard or other means attached near its free end, or otherwise.

From the foregoing description of the arrangement of the parts of the firingmechanism on three relatively movable parts of the gun, namely, the vertically movable breech block, the longitudinally movable lock frame and the fixed casing, it will be evident that a number of safety factors are introduced which prevent firing until and unless the breech block is at its uppermost .breech closing position and the lock frame is in its foremost position and the parts are lockedin full firing position.

In this connection it is to be noted that the lost motion connection between the breech block and its actuating lever, when the breech block is in its uppermost position, provides against the possibility of a misfire if the actuating lever should rebound when the lateral studs 11 at the end of the upward stroke of the forward arm ofsaid lever strike the bottom of th side plates of the breech casing. If such lost motion were not provided, it might happen that the rebound of the actuating lever would lower the breech block sufliciently so that the hammer would fail to transmit its full blow-to the firin or the fi ring pin might fail to strike the center of the primer. Either of these results might cause a misfire.

The cocking of the hammer 20 is automatically eflected during the rearward movement of the lock frame. For this purpose the hammer is provided just forward of its center, with a vertical slot 26 (Figs. 44 and 53) of gradually increasing width from top to bottom of the hammer. Into this slot projects the upper arm of the cocking lever 26 (Fig. 57) which is pivotally' mounted in a vertical slot in the forward part of the lock frame,-o'pening downwardly intothe space between the lugs 12" which support the breech block actuating lever.

'The lower arm of said cocking lever projects into said space where it is in position, when the hammer is in its forward position, to be actuated by the front face of shoulder 26 (Fig. 51) formed on the top face of said actuating lever, whereby when said actuating lever is swung about its pivot to lower the breech block after a cartridge has been fired, or when the lock frame is manually pulled to its rearward position, the lower arm of the cocking lever is moved forward and the upper arm of the same is moved rearward (Fig; 7), the engagement of the top of said upper arm with the rear face of the slot 26 forcing the hammer rearwardly in its seat against the tension of the mainspring until it is cooked by the engagement of the sear in the cooking recess 20 on the blottom face of the hammer. When the parts are in a rearward position, as shown in Fig. 7, the lower end of the cocking lever is resting on the top rounded surface of the shoulder 26*, so that when the parts return to forward position and the actuating lever swings on its pivot to raise the breech block the lower end of the cooking lever will ride over the shoulder 26, which will pass from pinbecause out of line therewith,

in place (see Fig. 44).

engagement therewith, and when the hammer Has been released the cooking lever will be rotated on its pivot so that the lower'end thereof will be returned to a position rearwardly of that shown in Fig. 6 (where the hammer has not been released) and projecting into the path of the shoulder 26 so that it will be actuated by the front face of said shoulder to again-cock the hammer on the recoil of the lock frame.

The cooking lever is pivoted on the pivot pin 26 (Fig. 56) which has a rearwardly projecting spring arm 26, the rear end of which is adapted to be seated in an arcuate groove at the righthand forward portion of the rearward and upwardly extending portion 12 of the lock frame (Fig. 44). By springing or snapping the end of arm 26 into the arcuate groove, the pivot 26 is held firmly but removably in place and the cocking lever'can be readily disassembled. The

downwardly projecting lip portion 26 (Fig;

56) of the spring arm engages the forward portlon of-the trip lever 23 and retains it The movable members of the firing mechanism hereinbefore described as mounted in the lock frame are conveniently arranged so as to-permit their ready assembly or disassembly from said frame. By lifting. the rear end of the sear spring 21 from its recess, the spring can be readily removed fromthe frame. The sear will then be free to be rearwardly withdrawn, its trunions being withdrawn rearwardly from their seat. After withdrawal of the sear, the trigger lever can be swung about its pivot stud beyond the normal limit of its movement and laterally removed from its pivot stud on which it is normally held by the head of screw 22. By swinging or snapping the end of the spring arm 26 from engagement in its groove in the lock frame this arm and the pivot 26 can be laterally'withdrawn and the trip lever will be made free to be withdrawn. The hammer can now be withdrawn. By turning the head of the guide rod 20 a partial revolution the lugs thereon will become disengaged and the guide rod and spring can be withdrawn rearwardly. The hammer can then be withdrawn rearwardly from its seat in the lock frame and the cooking lever withdrawn from its slot.

When it is desired to fire automatically, the trigger is held back and on each forward movement of the lock frame the top of the on thetrigger bar, raising the pivot of the trigger lever connector 22 slightly higher than the position shown in Fig. 6. The

forward arm of the breech block actuating trigger lever 22 engages with the stud 24 arm and depressing the rear arm, which actuates the front arm of the trigger lever connector (which is held in actuating position by the trigger and trigger lever) to lag:-

tuate the sear to release the hammer. hammer will thereforebefreleased automatically, so long as there arecartridges in the gun, just as the breech block and lock frame come to full firing position on each forward return of the parts.

The cartridges are fed transversely, from left to right, to the'vertical central 1ongitudinal plane of the gun. My invention'comprises novel means for-holding a plurality the plate is adapted'to carry wardly w on the feed plate is in position in the transverse channel adapted to receive it. The front face of the feed plate is provided with seats such as the recesses 27 to receive the heads of cartridges, these recesses, as herein shown being open at the bottom and rounded at the top to conform to the curva ture of the cartridge case as shown in Fig. 19. Said recesses are formed at their edges with overhanging flanges adapted to receive the rojecting annular rims of the cartridge hea s. A cartridge is shown seated in the center recess in Figs. 19 and 20. It will be noted (see Figs. 19 and 21) that the bottom portions-of recesses 27 are cut deeper than the top portions and formed with a rounded wall. This is to make easy the withdrawal of the cartridges as hereinafter described,

by permitting some play between the car-' tridge and the feed plate as the cartridge is withdrawn downwardly therefrom.

From the foregoing description it will 'be apparent when a cartridge head is inserted from the open end of a recess until it engages the rounded upper or inner end of said recess, it. will be firmly held from longitudinal displacement with its axis substantially at right angles to the plane of the feed plate. To'prevent the cartridges from dropping down out of the plate, means are provided for engaging the rims of said cartridge heads on the sides facing the opensides of the recesses. Said means may comprise a flat spring catch securely fastened to the lower portion of the rear face of the feed plate in such manner that its free and or ends will have a spring action relative to the rear face of the plate. 27, (Fig.- 22), is such a catch adapted to be fastened at its center, as by a'rivet as shown, giving two free ends; At each free end the catch 27 is formed with a forwardly projectin stop projection 27, adapted to extend through a slot formed in the body of the plate, just below the point of tangency of the cartridge rim and the side of the recess,

thereby projecting into the path of the car-.,

tridge and holding it fromdropping down until the 'end of the catch is raised and the stop projection 27" withdrawn. 'rearwardly from its slot. The catch may as shown aer- (Figs. 19 and 20 riveted to the plateflf atone end, and' having only one free end bearing a stop projection. In the embodiinentof the invention illustrated in which five cartridges, I may use one single catch like 27 and one double catch like 27, the single catch 27 having at its free ends. s'to projection of a size to project into the cesses of the first and second cartridges and hold them therein, and a double catch like i mp,

27 with a stop projection at its right hand k free end to project into the right hand side of the recess of the third or middle eartridge and a stop projection on its left hand free end to pro ect into ad'oining sides of the recesses of the fourth and fifth cartridges and hold them in place.

In order to readily withdraw said stop projections from the recemsto permit themsertion of cartridges therein and their successive withdrawal'as the plate is fed through the gun as hereinafter described, the catches are provided near their free ends with rearwardly curving projections 27 having their side ed es bent outwardly and rearwardly so that %y inserting atool havin an inclined cam surface so as to bring sai cam surface under one of the outwardly bent sides of a projection, the catch will be pressed or cammed rearwardly and the sto rejection withdrawn from the recess an lnto inoperative position. This-leaves the recess free and clear for the insertion or withdrawal of a cartridge.- In some cases, as when loading the plate, it may be de sirable to move all the stop projections to their inoperative positions simultaneously and for this purpose a tool may be constructed of such length and provided with a suflicient number of properly positioned cam surfaces, whereby the movement of the tool endwise will cause the cam surfaces to engage and liftall the latches simultaneously. 28 '(Fig. 27) is a convenient form of such a tool, having three camming surfaces 28, arranged so that they will simultaneously engage and cam. rearwardly the three projections 27 shown in Figs. 19 and 20 and having an upstanding end 28" which offers a convenient shoulder for exerting pressure on the tool to push it into place, camming rearwardly the sp catches. After the recesses have been fi l l dfi, the tool be withdrawn and the latches will spring into operative position to retain the cartridges in place in the feed late.

For the automatic feedmg of the feed plate transversely of the n, there are provided on the rear face 0 the upper flange 27. of the feed plate a spaced notches 29, (Fig. 18) formin shoulders at their right hand ends, sai shoulders being ada ted to be engaged by the feed pawl 30 Fig. 23) operated by each reciprocation of along'itudmally movable element such as the barrel and barrel extension.

A convenient means for effecting the operation of said feed pawl may comprise a. horizontally disposed feed pawl lever 31 (Figs. 14, 15, 23 and 24) o "substantially bell crank-shape, pivoted on a vertical pin 31* on brackets 31 arran ed on the right hand side of the feed box Fi 14-and 16). The top of pin 31 is engage by the cover of the feed box and thereby. held down its seat (see Fig. 12). The front arm of the said feed pawl lever extends forwardly to a point adjacent the top of the transverse feed channel32 (Fig. 12), and carries, on a vertical pivot at its forward end, the feed pawl 30, the free hooked end of which 1s actuated toward the feed channel and into engagement with the upper flange of thefeed plate, when the same is in position in the'gun, by the tension of the pawl spr ng 30" (Fig. 23) housed in a seat therefor in rel extenslon, after a shot is fired, the stud the front arm of said feed pawl lever and acting through a plunger against the rear face of the pawl. The rear arm of sad feed pawl lever 31 extends laterally toward the left hand side of the feed box and is' formed at its end, which is thickened vertically by a downward extension 31 (Fig. 24), w1th a vertically extending groove 31 of substantial width and depth.

This groove 31 is adapted to co-operate with an elongated stud 33 (Fig. 25) which I rocks with the swivel stud 33 integral therewith and seated in a pivot hole formed some distance below the upper end of a vertical feed lever 33 6, and 25). This feed lever 33 is pivoted on a trans- I verse pivot' pin 33 (Figs 6 and 16) in a bracket 33 (Figs. 14 and 15) secured inside the left hand side wall of the feed box. Below said stud 33' the feed lever extends downward through a longitudinal slot 33 (Fig. 16) formed in the upper inwardly projecting flange of the left hand' side plate of the breech casing and close to the inner surface of said side plate.

Means are provided for y'ieldlngly holding said lever between certain limits of movement and this means may comprise a spring wire 34 (Fig. 26) having its central portion coiled about a groove formed plurality of equally on the; inner end of the feed lever pivot pin 33 '(see Figs..14 and 15) which is headed .:on its outer end. The spring extends from its seat on said pivot pin both forwardly and rearwardly along the outside of the bracket 33, in which said feed lever is pivoted. At the ends of said bracket, each branch of the spring is placed under some tension to hold the spring and the pivot pin 33 in assembled relation, by pass-. ing each end of the sprin wardl projecting stud 34 Figs. 6 and 15) )IOVl. ed at each'end of the bracket. Each under an in-:

ranch of the spring is then bent at right located in the path of the feed lever on opposite sides of the lever bracket, to yieldingly limit the movement of said lever in each direction. The lower end of the feed lever extends downwardly for some distance into the breech. casing (Figs. 16 and '17) and'lies in the.path of .a lateral outwardly projecting stud 34 on the left hand arm 8 of the barrel extension (Fi Q16, 17 and 28) the rear portion 2 of 'whlch, as hereinbefore described, is spaced some distance from the adjacent sidewall of "the breech casing.

The stud 34 and the end of the feed. lever are so positioned that during the last portion of the recoil of the barrel and bar- 34 will engage the lower end ofi'the feed lever 33 to swing it rearwardly, this in turn through the stud 33 (as the same is located-- below. the pivot point of the feed lever). swinging the feed pawl lever '31 to actuate the feed pawl 30 to the left, from the osition shown in Fig. 15 to that shown in .ig.

14, so as to cause the hooked end ofthe feed pawl to ride idlytoward the left along rear arm of feed lever spring 34,'and by its 6 further rearward movement places said" spring under tension. When the barrel ex-- tension is almost at the limit of its recoil,

the lower end of the feed lever sna s past i-ts engaging stud 34 and the 'spr1ng34,

being under tension, returns it forward some distance, to insure that on thecounter 're-' coil of the barrel and barrel extension the' stud 34 will engage the lever on its rear .face and swing it forwardly, thus swing.

ing the horizontal feed pawl lever 31 to actuate the feed pawl 30 tothe right, from the osition shown in Fig. 14 to that shown in ig. 15, the hooked end of the feed pawl catclnng on the shoulder of the adjacent notch 29 and feedin the feed plate a proper distance from 10 to right in the trans versefeed. channel 32, to position the next cartridge to 'be projected into the barrel chamber. .Dur'ing the last of the forward movement of the vertical feed lever, the inwardly projecting end of the front arm of the spring 34 engages the end of said feed 1 lever, isv laced under tension, and when the endo said lever is released by the stud 34 during the final forward movement of the barrel extension, swings said lever. back a short distance, thereby bringing it into .position to be a ain engaged on its front face bysaid stu on the next recoil of the barrel extension. At the time the'lever 33 engagcsthe front arm of spring 34 and places it under tension, the pawl spring is also placed under tension (see Fig. 15) so that when the stud 34 final y passes beyond-the lever 33, spring 34 and spring 30 both act to swing the lever 33 rearwardly to'substantially the position shown 'in Fig. 6 and act to swing lever 31 from the position of Fig. 15 toward the position of Fig. 14.

To prevent an movement of the feed plate toward the eft, a sto pawl 35 (Figs.

6, 7 and 17) is provided. his pawl maybe convenientlymounted to moveinla vertical plane about a pivot pin supportedjunder the top cover of the feed box 4, and bemg actuated to its normal position by a spring. The pawl co-operates with a series.

of equally spaced notches 35" (Fig. 18) formed in the top of the feed plate. "By lifting the coverof the feed box the stop pawl will be disengaged from the feed plate and the same can be withdrawn to the left 'if the hooked end of the feed pawl 30 is swung back.

It will be noted, by reference to Fig.. 18,-.

' that in addition to the recesses 29 which form the shoulders for engagement by the feed pawl, there are additional recesses 36 at the right and adjacent each shoulder.

These are for the purpose of weakeningthese shoulders so that in case anything jams in the feed channel during the forward movement of the barrel, the shoulder on the feed plate would give way and revent further destruction. The dam feed late can be discarded, and replace with a rash one. I Y

. The-means for automatically feedin' the cartridges intothe barrel chamber an the manner in which said means operate will now be described.

A.- cartridge carrier 37 (Figs. 6, 7, 12 and 13) is pivoted in the rear of the transverse channel 32 in the feed box on a transverse "'lwardly projecting of a carrier latch 39 pivot pin 37- (Figs. 2, 5, 12, 1a, 14

and 15) assing throu h said carrier and the si es, of the to box. The carrier is held centrally of the gun by having spaced forward projections 37" 6, 12 and 13) on its hub straddle a rearward projection 38. (Figs. 12, '13 and forming the rear wall of the transverse feed channel 32 and also by having itslong forarm, which is shaped sov as to pass over t e feed channel and is inclincd downwardly .and forwardly, pass through a space formed between the inner ends of forward guide members '38 and 38" (Figs. 14, 15 and 17) for the feed plate, one pro ecting inwardly from the right hand side of the feed box, and the other from the left hand side. Member 38 which projects inwardly from the ri ht hand side of the feed box has a cam sur ace on its inner edge,

shown in Fig. 17, for camming down'the cartridgesout of the feed plate, as hereinafter described. The projections 37 have. ad-

,di'tional functions hereinafter set forth.

When the parts are in the postion shown in,Figs. 12, i. 15., with the barrel and barrel.

39" in a bracket on the right hand side of" .16) at the bottom of the transverse wall the feed box. The top of this pivot pin engages the feed box cover or a stud projecting downwardly therefrom and is thereby he d in its seat (Fig.12). is actuated inwardly to bring its nose into engagement with said notch on the carrier by a spring 39" (Fig. 14) seated in a recess in the latch and bearing at its outer end This latch against the side of the feed box. The

swing of the latch 39 under the influence of itsfsspring is limited by the engagement .of the oulder 39 (Fig. 14) with an abut- .ment on the side of the feed box. Pivotally mounted by means of a transverse pin 40',

on ashort rearwardly project' --arm' of said carrier is a dog 40 (Figs.- 6, 12 and 13) adapted, when the carrier is in its normal POSltlOIl and the lock frame is in forward position (Fi' 6) to project rearward ly'and downwar y into the path of the lock frame. A strong helical spring 40 (Figs. 6 and 13), seated in a recess in said carrier, acts to depress the dog by acting through a plunger against an upward projection on said dog.

'When the parts are in firing ition, shown in Fig. 6, andthe lock frame is either

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