US1603099A - Machine gun and vehicle - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Shag; 1

R. L. wmsm MACHINE uN AND VEHICLE Filed March 7. 1913 Oct. 12 1926.,

Oct. 12 1926. 7 1,603,099 R. L. WRIGHT MACHINE GUN AND VEHICLE Filed Mar h '7 913 4 SbeetsSheet 2 Q N 1\ I N N 1 w 4 W Q W; 0 N g d Q ",3 Y N g: I a r I Q Q vINVENTQR.

()cto 12 1926; v L603fi99 R. L. WRIGHT MACHINE GUN AND VEHICLE Filed March '2 1918 I 4 SheetsSheet 5 Oct 12 1926,

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R. L. WRIGHT MACHINE GUN AND VEHICLE Filed March 7 918 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT LEE WRIGHT, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA; WILL IE CRCCKETT WRIGHT ADMINISTRATRIX OF SAID ROBERT LEE WRIGHT, DECEASED.

MACHINE GUN AND VEHICLE.

7 Application filed March 7, 1918. Serial No. 221,005.

This invention has relation to machine 7 guns and has for an object to provide ways and means to place together and mount all makes of individual machine guns, machine rifles, machine cannons and all other firearms of all calibers in a way that one man can point, fire and operate a plurality of them both simultaneously and separately.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide ways and means to place individual guns, rifles, cannons and all kinds of firearms together, preferably like men in line of battle in a suitable way so that one man can point, fire and operate any suitable number of individual guns, rifles, or cannons, and all other firearms as above mentionedand fire them all simultaneously and separately at the will of the gun pointer or range finder, thus taking the plaoe of the larger portion of the men now used in firing and operating shoulder rifles, and other maadjusting the machine as a whole.

' of the ground it is traveling over, and to move the body of the vehicle very close to the ground or raised at the will of the gunpointer or range-finder.

Another object of this invention is the production of a machine gun, rifle, or cannon composed of individual machine guns, rifles, and cannons complete in every respect as above mentioned, and electrical means for operating and firing said rifles and for These guns may be placed on any suitable stationary or disappearing mounting and also mounted on all movable vehicle automobile or car, water crafts, air crafts, or any movable object or conveyance,

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel details of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which like numerals designate like parts in all the views:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through one of the guns.

Fig. l is a view of another firing lug and wheel that can be used instead of the one shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the said gun.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of said gun.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the complete machine with the guns mounted thereon.

Fig. 5 is a plan view. of the complete machine and i Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical view of the electric circuit for controlling the operation of the machine gun.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawing.

As shown in Figs. 1-3, each gun consists of a barrel 1 and a cylindrical magazine 2, suitably mounted in the breech 3 of the gun, all parts of which are made of metal.

The cylinder is provided with a rim or peripheral gear 4, which is driven by a pinion 5 on a short shaft 6. The opposite end of said shaft 6 is also provided with a pinion 7 which is driven by a pinion Wheel 8 with groups of teeth in spaced relation upon a motor shaft 9 driven by the motor 10. The gun breech is extended rearwardly to provide suitable bearings for the shafts. The magazine 2 is provided with notches 11 designed to be engaged by a spring latch 12 to hold said magazine in proper alignment as the gun is being fired.

The magazine is also provided with pockets-l3 to receive the cartridges.

A spring-actuated firing pin 14 is mounted tofslide in the breech and a main spring 15 furnishes the striking power for the pin 14; j The firing pin 14% has a depending lug 16 li U at the rear end thereof adapted to be engaged by teeth or lugs 17 upon the motor shaft 9. The lugs 17 are so arranged with respect to the gear 8 that the lugs 17 will allow the lug 16 to drop oif just before the gear 8 engages the pinion 7 to move the cylinder 2 and place another charge behind the barrel.

The cylinder 2 is mounted upon a removable shaft 18 which has secured thereto a suitable handle 18 upon one end and is threaded upon the opposite end to screw into one of a pair of hangers integral with the breech of the gun.

As seen by the drawings, the cylinder can be easily taken out and replaced by another filled cylinder.

The breech is further provided with a bearing 19 to engage a rod 20 which is used in sighting the guns when mounted.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the rifles above described are mounted in yokes 21 upon standards 22, said standards being secured to a platform 23 which in turn is mounted upon a carriage 24.

The guns are free to move vertically in the yokes 21 which embrace trunnions on the guns. The rear ends of the individual machine rifles are connected together by the aforementioned rod 20, and the forward ends of the barrels are suitably connected by a rod 25.

The platform 23 has a rearwardly extending portion 26 upon which is mounted a small electric motor 27, provided with a pinion 28, said pinion engaging a rack 29 attached to the bar 20 for raising and lowering the line of sight of the guns.

Depending from the centre of the platform 23 is a bar 30 which slides vertically in a bearing 31 mounted upon the vehicle, automobile or car 32.

The bar 30 has on one side a rack 33 engaged by a pinion 34 upon the shaft of a motor 35, as shown. The motor is designed to raise or lower the platform 23. The upper end of the bar 30 is secured to a disk 36 provided with ball bearings 37 upon which rest a disk and gear 38, which is part of the platform 23. Secured to the disk 36 is a motor 39, with a pinion 40 upon its shaft.

The pinion 40 engages the gear 38 and under the impulses of the motor imparts a turning or horizontal motion to the platform relative to the supporting bar 30 which is secured in the center of said platform.

The vehicle, automobile, car or carriage 32 is mounted upon wheels 41 secured to standards, shafts or bars 42 mounted to rotate in bars 43,'said bars being provided with rack teeth 44 to be engaged by pinions 45 on the shafts of motors 46, secured beneath the platform of the carriage vehicle.

shown in the casing 49.

44 is the well known Otis electric operated clutch secured to the supports of the platform of the automobile or vehicle with the jaws of the clutch gripped on the rackbar and the electric wiring connected to the wires operating the electric motor in a way for the clutch and electric motor on each rack-bar to operate simultaneously, while only one clutch is shown there is one of the same clutches used in the same way on each of the other three rack-bars.

The standards, shafts or bars 42 are provided with handles 47 on their upper ends to engage segments 48 in order to steer the vehicle, automobile or car in any proper direction. 49 shows the casing or socket part of the brace 49 through which the ground gripping part of the brace indicated by numeral 49*, is moved in order to shorten or lengthen the brace and the length of the brace is adjusted by a bolt on the ground gripping means and the notches in the slot The brace is hinged to the frame of the vehicle or automobile or carriage 24, as designated by 49". in order to fold or lay the braces back against the frame when the braces are not in use.

The vehicle, automobile or car may be propelled in any suitable manner. Braces 49 are hinged to the platform of the vehicle to steady it while the guns are being fired.

The motors 10 of the guns are controlled by a switch S and receive their power from a battery 50.

As shown. there is an independent circuit for each of the motors 10 as well as a trunk circuit for all of said motors.

The motors 27, 39, 35 and 46 are controlled by a switch S motors 54 and 59 by switch- All of the motors receive their power from the battery 50. I

All of the switches may be placed on one board within easy reachof the operator.

All of the gun barrels are covered by cooling jackets as shown and the cooling fluid may be forced through the jackets and around the barrels by a pump 51. Preferably I secure a pump 52 in the jacket of an end gun.

A piston 53 operates in the cylinder'and is connected by means of a piston rod with a pitman 53 which in turn is eccentrically connected to a disk 56 which is operated by means of a motor 54 whereby operation of the motor will reciprocate the piston' 53 to force air into the space 1" in the jacket surrounding the end gun. In Figure 5 it will be noted that the pump mechanism is located at the right hand end gun and the air after passing around the jacket passes to the next gun through a pipe 51' and from said second gun to the third through a pipe 52' 4 ward and in it is an electric fan 58 driven by 7 terminal of each served that by closing the switch S a' sixth contact .connected in of the battery is ,the switch arm into contact with an electric motor 59. c

The object of the electric fan 58 is to cool the air within the funnel-shaped device 57 so that the pump may have a supply of cool air to draw from.

The switch S comprises five contacts, each being connected to one of the motors" 10, and common to a motors. Que motor is then led to acommoii return to the battery, while a terminal also connected to an .arm' comprising the switch S. Thus, by moving any of the 10 selected hand to opterminal leading to all of the individual contacts any motor may be operated. Onthe other crate the motors 10 simultaneously and in unison it is but necessary to bridge all of the contacts by means of the wing on the switch arm whereby all the motors will be Operated in unison.- 'In the same manner the switch S comprises six contacts, four of which are for the motors 46 and the other two for the motors-27 and 39. It will be obbringing the switch arm of the switch S into engagement with any of the contacts selected the motor in circuit with said contact will be energized. By it will be observed that both the motors 59 and 54 will be operated since they are connected in series.

In Fig. 1' elements 8, 9, 7 and 17 can be used instead of and in the same way and in r the place of 7, 8, ,9'and 17.

49 is a handle that -is movedfrom one notch to the other to adjust the lengthof the brace 49, and 49 is a hinge where the brace folds up against the vehicle out of the way, see Fig. 4. I reserve the right to-use any suitable clutch in holding the standards 43, on which the wheels of the vehicle are in place preferably like those used on elevators in buildings. I

It "s obvious that those skilled in the art may vai y the details of the construction as well as the arrangement ofparts without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the above disclosureexcept as may be requlred by the claims. 7 3" is sight on the gun. I reserve the right to use any kind 0 power to move the vehicle or automobile on which theguns are mounted.

Having thus describedmy said invention, WhatIclainris: I 1. Amachine comprising a-plurality saidpinion wheel of magazine rifles'mounted upon a carriage, electrically operated means for operating said rifles, electrically operated means for sighting said rifles independent of the vehicle, and electrically operated means for adjusting the carriage to the terrain in a way to prevent the vehicle from turning over and bringing the guns on a level plane regardless of the condition of the terrain, substantially as described in the specification and shown in the drawings.

2. An automobile with wheels on axles of same having a vertical rack bar, secured to each axle, teeth on said rack bars, wheel with teeth on a shaft meshing with said teeth on each rack bar, each of saidafter being elevated, and means to adjust each wheel in a way to bring theframe or body on a level regardless of the condition of the ground or terrain by operating said clutches and rotating said shafts secured to the frame-or body of the automobile.

3. A vehicle having 'a vertical rack'bar, secured to each axle, teeth on said rack'bars, a pinion wheel with teeth on a shaft meshing with said teeth on each rack bar, each of said shafts secured to the frame or body of the vehicle, a clutch with its jaws gripped around each rack, bar and secured to the frame or body, of the vehicle, and means to operate each clutch on each rack bar and rotate each shaft with pinion meshing with each rack bar in a pinion with wheels on axles of same a way to lower the frame or body of the on a level regardless of the condition of the ground, or terrain, by operating said clutches and rotating said'shafts secured to the frame or body of the vehicle with the jaws of each clutch gripped around each rack bar..v

pedestal a rack bar vertically and movably mounts *in said gun pedestal, teeth on said rack vbar, an electric motor with shaft and pinion wheel'secured to said gun pedestal, meshing with the teeth on said rack'ba13j a turn table support with race ways formedon the upward end-of said rack bar, aturntable with race ways mounted on said support, balls in the race yvays of saidsupport and turn table in a way for mid turntable to rotateon said balls, teeth ground and elevate same A gun composed of a plurality of in-@ dividual machine guns mounted upon a gun around the turn table, an electric motor with shaft and pinion wheel secured to said support on the rack bar, teeth on said pinion wheel meshing. with the teeth on the turn table, a plate mounted upon the top of said turn table, a plurality of vertical stands with yokes suitable for mounting a plurality of machine guns mounted on said plate, and a plurality of machine guns mounted in said yokes.

5. A-gun composed of a plurality of individual machine guns, means to connect said guns together in a way to be moved in unison, an electric'motor with shaft on each of said guns, a spring pressed firing pin with notch or lug on same secured in each gun, a lug secured to the shaft of each electric motor in a way to engage and disengage the notch orlug on the firing pin of each gun upon rotating said shaft and a pinion wheel with teeth or notches grouped on same se-. cured to the shaft of each electric motor on each gun' in a way for said grouped teeth or notches to mesh at intervals with teeth on other pinion wheels on shaft operating a cylinder or drum magazine on each of said guns in a way to rotate said ma azine on each gun and fire ammunition rom said magazine through the barrel of each gun by the continuous rotating of the shaftof the electric motor on each of said guns.

6. A machine gun comprising a barrel, an electric motor with shaft comprising a firing shaft for said gun, a spring pressed firing pin, with notch or lug on same, secured in said 11, a lug secured to the shaft of said electric motor 1n a way to engage anddisengage the notch or lug on the firing pin of said gun, upon rotating said shaft, and a pinion wheel with teeth or notches grouped on same secured to the shaft of the electric motor secured to said un, in a way for said grouped teeth or notclies to mesh at intervals with teeth on other pinion wheel on a shaft operating a cylinder or drum magazine on said gun in' a way to rotate said magazine onsaid gun and fire ammunition from said magazine through the barrel of said gun by the continuous rotating of the shaft of said electricmotor on said gun.

7. A machine gun comprising a barrel, an electric motor with shaft comprising a firing shaft forsaid gun secured thereto, a spring pressed firing pin with notch or lug on same secured in said'gun, a lug secured to the shaft of said electric motor in a way to engage and disengage the notch or lug on the firing pin secured in said upon rotating said shaft and a pinion w eel with teeth or notches groupedon same secured to .the shaft of the electric motor on said gunin a way ,for said grouped teeth or notches to mesh at intervals with teeth on other pinion wheel on av shaft having teeth or notches on the.

eadof said shaft'meshing teeth or notches on a cylinder or drum magazine on said gun in a way to rotate said magazine on said gun and fire ammunition from said magazine through the barrel of said 'gun by the continuous rotating of the shaft of said electric motor on said gun.

' 8. A gun mount comprising a wheel slipported platform, a standard mounted'thereon, a rack bar vertically movable the standard, a support on said rack bar, a turn table rotatably mounted on said support an electrically operable means for rotatingthe turntable, and a pluralit of machine guns mounted on said turn ta le.;

9. In a machine gun, the combination of a barrel and means for passin air and fluid around the barrel, a rotatab e drummagazine, means to insert cartridges and ammunition into the drum magazine in a way to be rotated to the breech of the barrel in osition to be fired through the barrel o the gun, notches around the exterior of the drum magazine, meshing with a pinion onone end of a shaft, the other end of the shaft havlng a pinion meshing with the grouped teeth in spaced relation on the pinion wheel on the shaft of the electric motor, a firing pm 7 engageable with a spring and 2. lug on the shaft of the electric motor to engage the firing pin in a way to force it backward against the spring upon the movement of the shaft of the electric motor, a pair of sights mounted upon said guns, and any suitable ways and means to operate the electric motor and turn the shaft and fire and operate the gun b the continuous motion of the shaft'of thee ectric motor.

10. In a gun composed of a plurality of guns and means for passin air and fluid around the barrels, a rotata le drum magazine for each gun, means to insert cartridges and ammunition into the drummagazine of each gun in a way to be rotated to the breech of the barrel of each gun in position to be fired through the barrel of each gun, notches around the exterior of the magazine of each gun meshing with a plnion on one end of a shaft of each gun, the other end of the shaft of each gun having a. pm-

ion meshing with the grouped teeth in spaced relation on the pinion wheel of each on the shaft of the electric motor of eac a firing pin engageable with a spring on' each gun, and a lug on the shaft of the electr c motor of each gun to engage the firing pm on each gun to spring on each the shaft of the electric motor of each gun, a pair of sights mounted upon one gun, and any suitable ways and means to operate the motor on each gun, and turn the shaft on each gun and fire and operate each any suitable ways and means "Di power to force it backward against the gun upon the movement of gun, and

turn the shaft on each gun o nt,-fire.

and operate each gun both taneq a and separately by distant control and otherwise.

11. A plurality of guns, each of said guns having a barrel and means for placing ammunition in position to be fired from said guns and a single continuously rotating means to fire simultaneously said guns.

12. A gun mount comprising a leveling platform, a vertically adjustable turntable supported thereby, a motor and adjusting rack and pinion therefor, a plurality of relatively fixed rackbar supports for said platform, separate elevating motors geared to the rackbars and carried by the platform, and platform retaining devices whereby one or more of the motors can be operated to adjust the platform and the latter locked in the adjusted position to conform to the terrain.

13. A portable gun mount, compris ig a leveling platform, a vertically adjustable turntable supported by said platform, a plurality of rack bar wheel supports for said platform separate elevating motors gearing with the 'rackbars and carried by the platform and a releasable retaining connection between each vraclzzbar and the platform whereby one or more of the motors can be form to the terrain.

14. A machine gun comprising a pivoted barrel and cylindrical magazine, an operat ing motor carried by the gun, motor operating connections including a transverse motor shaft provided with a cooking In and with a mutilated gear wheel, a longitu inal shaft geared therewith, and at the opposite end geared with the magazine cylinder.

15. The combination of a machine gun comprising a plurality of individual guns each having its separate pivotal axis and magazine, means connecting the guns Whereby all can be tilted, as a unit, an operating motor carried-by each gun with a gun mount comprising a leveling platform and vertically adjustable turntablecarried thereby, and separate motors mounted on the platform and cooperating with relatively fixed rack bar supports whereby the platform can be adjusted and leveled with respect to the terrain.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT LEE' WRIGHT.

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