US169686A - Improvement in machine-guns - Google Patents

Description

6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. B. FARWELL.

MACHINE-GUN.

Patented Nov. 9, 1875.

xuPFJEnS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASMINGrON. D C.

6 Sheets-Sheet Z.

W. B. FAR'WELL.

MACHINE GUN.

Patented Nov. 9,1875.

LW M7 6Sheetsfsheetv W. B. FARWELL.

MACHINE-GUN.

Patented Nov.9, 1875.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4f.

W. B. FARWELL.

Y 5. 7 8 1 9, V. o N d e .ob n e b a D.. N U Alun E N I H C A M 6 8 6 9 6 1 0. N

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W. B. FARWELL.-

MACHINE-GUN.

Patented Nov.9,1875.

N. PETERS, PHuTo-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON.

e sheets-sheet 6. W. B. FARWELL.

MACHINE-GUN.

Patented Nov. 9,1875.

N.FETERS, PHcTO-LITHOGRAPHER. wAsHlNGTcN. D Cv WILLARD B. FARWELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINE=GUNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. BGEBASSQS, dated November 9, 1875 application led May 7, 1875.

To all lwhom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD BRIGHAM FARWELL, of the city, count-y, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Machine-Gun, of which the following is a specication:

This invention relates to a new machinegun, which has resulted from experiments with the machine-gun described in former patents granted to me and numbered 137,428 and 154,596.

The present invention, though retaining the general arrangement of barrels and dischargemagazine which is shown in my former patents, departs from the inventions described therein by the employment of an entirely different mechanism for loading, firing, and discharging the cartridges by an entirely novel disposition of the firing and loading parts, whereby the same are brought entirely within the cylindrical breech-chambers that constitute rearward extensions of the barrels by an entirely new method ot' supporting and adjusting the frame which carries the barrels, and also by a new traversing mechanism for vibrating the gun during the tiring process.

The chief point of novelty in the presentinvention is in the use of telescopic tubing applied within the breech-chambers of the barrel, the innermost tube in each chamber carrying and embracing the firing-pin, and serving in itself as the breech-closer of the barrel proper. The tube next surrounding the innermost tube has no longitudinal, but a rotary, movement, and is provided with an internal screw-thread, whereby, when it is revolved, it serves to impart longitudinal motion to the innermost tube, and to move the same forward to close the breech end ofthe barrel, and subsequently backward for openingthebreech end and allowing` a new cartridge to be. brought into position.

By this arrangement of telescopic tubing I am enabled to dispense with all the complex mechanism for ring and loading the gun which is described in my former patents, and to confine the whole mechanism within the breech continuation of the barrel. This allows ready access to all the interior parts,

.ready and convenient repair, and particularly enter into each barrel are exact duplicates ot" one another, while heretofore more ot' a general transverse operating` mechanism, common to all the parts, had to be employed.

I have nothing but a simple transverse shaft with gears and clutches thereon for operating the external tubing aforementioned, and none of the locking and unlocking bars, which were chiefl features in my former inventions.

By my new invention I can readily throw any one or more ofthe barrels out of action.

Another great feature involved in my present invention is the application beneath the charging-magazine and behind the barrels of receiving-Jaws, upon which the cartridge is dropped from the discharging magazine, and by which it is sustained in line with the bore ofthe barrel, to be subsequently pushed home by the breech-closer. These jaws are auto-v matically operated as soon as the cartridge has been pushed far enough into the barrel, remaining open as the breech-closer moves backward, to allow the empty cartridge-shell to be dropped through, but are closed as soon as the breech-closer reaches its most backward position, so that they will receive the new cartridge. The various special features ofthe mode of hanging the frame, operating the traverse, and adjusting the frame, working the magazine, and the magazine-support, will all be hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying six sheets of drawings, Figure l is a plan or top View, partly in section, of my improved machine-gun. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the san-ie. Fir. 3 is a detail vertical section through the center of the nut which receives the lower end of the tail-screw. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the breech-chamberof one of the barrels. This ligure and all succeeding figures are drawn on a larger scale than Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical transverse section on the line c c, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail back view, partly in section, of what I term the breech-chamber. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical transverse section through the cartridge-receiving chamber, which is between the breech end ofthe barrel and the breech-chamber. Fig. 8 is a. detail end view of the breech end ot' the barrel. vertical transverse section through a series of barrels and part of the cartridge-holding magazine, the line K K in Fig. 4 indicating` the plane ofsection. Fig. 10 is a detail pla-n view of part ot' themagazilie-supporting slide, and Fig. ll is a vertical longitudinal section ot such slide. By the word longitudinal sect-ion I mean a section taken on the' line ot' the bore of the barrel, and by the word transverse section a section talien at right angles to the line of the barrel. Fig. 12 is a back view, partly in section of the gun, showing the traversii'ig mechanism, and also the arrangement of clutches and gear-wheels of the operating-shaft. Fig. 13 is a vertical transverse section through two ot' the barrels, showing the mechanism for ad- -justing and moving the cartridge-magazine.

Fig. 14 1s a vertical longitudinal section on the line c 7c, Fig. 13. Fig. l5 is a detail end view ot the operating-shaft, showing the means for transmitting motion to the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A A A in the drawings are the barrels of the gun, of which a suitable number maybe employed, and which are arranged side by side and parallel with each other7 and irmly secured in a frame, B, which is supported on a gun-carriage, D, ot' suitable construction, a turn-table, ll, heilig interposed between the gun-carriage and the frame that receives the trunnions C to allow ot' adjusting the gun laterally bythe traversingmechanism, to be hereinafter more fully described.

rlhe mode of hanging the frame on the trullnions G is more fully shown in Figs. 4 and 12, and also indicated in Fig. 2. I form the trunnions C directly on the turn-table E, and pass them through pendent eyebolts F, which are secured by suitable keys, or otherwise, to the frame B, as indicated more clearly on the right-hand side of Fig. 12. By this arrangement I not only shorten the dista-nce between the two trunnions and facilitate the adjustment ot' the gun 011 the trunnions,lbut I also obtain ready means for separating the frame from the carriage, which can be done by merely unfastening the eyebolts F.

In my last previous patent, and in all guns of similar form heretofore used, the trunnions were formed directly on the fra-me, and at the sides of the frame, their distance from each other being the full width of the frame, and they were hung in eyes or journals fastened to the gun-carriage or turn-table. It will be seen from Fig. 1;: that by my present arrangement the distance between the two trunnions need not exceed the distance between tive of the barrels,-and where ten barrels are used, as indicated in Fig. 1, the saving of metal is quite considerable, aside' from the greater ease o t' adjustment.

G is the tail-screw, interposed between the rear of the frame B and the carriage D for supportingthe rear ends of the barrels, and

Fig. 9 is a adjusting them jointly on the trunnions C. The upper end of the tail-screw G is formed into a ball, which is inserted within a spherical socket fortned in the lower part ot' the traversing-nut H of the gun. Iis the traversing-worm, hung in the rear part of the fra-me B, and rotated in the manner hereinafter described, for traversing the gun-that is to say, for turning the barrels jointly on the axis a of the turn-table. As this worm I is revolved it turns within the nut H, and as this nut is connected with the tail-screw, and thereby with the carriage D in such a way that it cannot be laterally displaced, it follows that tbe displacement effected by the turning of' the worm will be transmitted to the Vframe B of the gun, whereby said frame will be caused to turn in one direction or the other on the axis a of the turn-table.

In my last former patent I have described a peculiar dovetail attachment and slide for connecting the cap of the tail-screw with the traversing-nut; but I have found that by forming the cap ot the tail-screw directly on the traversing-nut, in the manner clearly shown in Figs. 2 and l2, and by using' the ball-andsocliet joint in the manner indicated, the same result will be obtained as that described iu my last former patent, with less friction, however, and by simpler mechanism. This result is still more readily obtained by the use of the pivoted nut I), in which the lower end of the tail-screw has its support, and which is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This nut is suul; iu a cavity or opening otl the gun-carriage, and has laterally-projeeting trunnions, by which it is hung in the carriage, so it can vibrate backward and forward, and adjust itself, and with it the tail-screw, to the inelination produced by the turning of said tailscrew.

In my former machine-gun, and in the majority ot other gulls employing tail-screws, it is customary to tirmly secure the nut b in the carriage, and in my last-named patent I have provided a connection between the. upper end of the tail-screw and the traversing-nut, which would allow the two parts to remain connected during the operat-ion ot' the tailscrew, but which did not allow the tail-screw to change its inclination or direction. It was consequently necessary tointerpose a third article-a connecti11g-link, so to saybetween the traversing-uut and the tail-screw. But in my present gun, where the upper end ot' the tail-screw is directly inserted in the traversing-nut, the operation of parts can only be obtained by allowing au inclination of the tail-screw, and therefore the pivoting of the lower nut had to be resorted to. The cap of the tail-screw is, of course, made separate from the body ot the traversing-mit, in the manner indicated in Fig. 2 and by dotted lines in Fig..12, the two parts being screwed or otherwise rigidly connected together.

The rear ends or breech ends of all the barteaesc 3| rels are screwed into a cross-bar, d, ot' the 'frame B, and near their forward ends they are contined in another cross-bar, c, of the frame B. Behind, and inline with the breechend of each barrel, is a cylindrical chamber, J, which I term the breech-chamber, and which contains within it the mechanism for loading and tiring the cartridges, andI for eX- tracting the emptycartridge-shells, as hereinafter more fully specified.

The front end of the breech-chamber J is screwed around the rear end of the barrel A, to which it appertains, substantially as indicated in Fig. 4, so that thus the breech-chamber actually constitutes the continuation of the barrel, though virtually not part ofthe barrel proper. The rearmost end of the breech-chamber J connects with a transverse box, Il, wit-hin which the operating-shaft M, with all its several attachments, is contained. This operatingshat't by preference is 'turned by hand, and I prefer to use the means illustrated in Figs. 1 and l5 for this purposethat is to say, I rigidly-attach a pinion, j", to the end of the shaft M, and let this pinion gear into the teeth otan internal gear-wheel, N, which is connected with'an operating-crank, g. By revolving the crank g on the wheel N the pinion j', and with it the shaft M, is also turned, the preferable arrangement bein such that one rotation of the crank will produce three revolutions of the shaft M. A pinion, h, which is mounted upon the shaft M, (sec Fig. 12,) meshes into the teeth of a gearwheel, t', thatis loosely hung upon the traversing` worm or shaft I. Ihis gear-wheel t connects rigidly with a bevel-gear wheel, j, that meshes into another bevel-gear wheel, L, which is hung in the frame B, as indicated in Fig. l2. A third bevel-gear wheel, m, is loose on the traversing-woran I, and in gear with the wheel l, and set to face the wheel j. A clutch, a, is applied to the shaft I, between the wheels j and m, and is connected with a suitable lever, by which it can be thrown into connection with either one of these two wheels.

. When the clutch is thrown into connection with the wheel j the traversing-worm will be rotated slowly in a direction opposite to that in which it will be rotated if the clutch is .thrown into gear with the wheel on, and if it is desired to have no automatic traverse, it is only-necessary to set the clutch midway between the two wheels j and m, and thereby bring the traversin g-worm entirely out oli' operative connection with the shaft M.

lhe opposite end of the traversin g-worm is, by bevel-gear wheels o, connected with a-n arbor, 1J, to which a crank-handle can be secured for operating the traversing-worm by hand, so that it' the clutch 'n throws the wheels 7 m out of action the traverse can be obtained, if desired, by turning the arbor p.

It will be observed that this arrangement of operating the traverse either automatically or by hand renders the gun much more useful than one having only an automatic traverse, as it is often necessary to quickly set the gun at a much greater angle than that at .winch 1t could be set by the ordinary automatic apparatus 5 and yet the automatic apparatus is such that if in action it would cause. all the barrels to change their position slightly at'ter each h ring, and thus under rapid tire alarge angle in front of the gun will be entirely swept.

As already stated, the rear end of each breech-chamber J connects with the traversebox L that contains the shaft M; but a .cascabel-plate, q, is screwed into an opening 1n the rear of the box L in line with each one of the barrels and breech-chambers, so that by the unscrewing of the cascabel-plate the mechanism in front of the same will be disclosed, and easy -of access. Directly behind the und of each barrel proper is formed a slot, i, through the bottom of the breech-chamber, as clearly shown in FiO. 4, and a similar slot is cut vertically above o" through the top of the breechchamber, for the reception. of the cartridge-dipperO, hereinafter more fully referred to. That partof the breech-chamber whichis occupied lengthwise by the slots and the dipperI call the cartridge-receiving chamber. Directly behind the cartridge-receii-'ing chamber a xed bearing, s, is secured in the breech-chamber 5 and at the rear end of said breech-chamber another fixed bearin g, t, is screwed or otherwise secured therein. rlhese two bearings serve to support a horizontal tube, I), which tube is concentric with thebreech-chamber, and in line with the barrel A, to which it pertains, and is capable of revolving in its bearings. Upon the rear end ot' this tubeis h'rmly secured a beveled gear-wheel, u, whose hub@ is toothed for opera-tingl the dipper, as clearly indicated in Figa. The tube I has an internal screw-thread cut into it, which engages the external screw-thread formed on an interior tube, Q, which tube Q extends through the front bearing s, as clearly showu iirFig. 4. rIhe drawing also clearly shows that the tube Q is concentric with P and J, and in line with the axis of the barrel A. lhe tube Q serves as a breecl'i-closer.

During the rotation ofthe tube ID in one direction the inner tubeQ will be caused to move forward toward the barrel until its front end reaches within the breech end of the barrel. When the tube IJ is revolved in the opposite direction the innermost tube Q will be drawn backward.

A cartritige-extractor, is pivoted to the frontend of thebreech-closerQ between downwardly-proiecti n g lugs thereon, and is capable ofentering beneath the liange ofthe cartridge in the barrel, and remaining in contact therewith during the firing process, so that it may withdraw the empty cartridge-shell upon the return motion of the breech-closer Q.

w is the tiring-pin,havingwithiu the brcech' closer a shoulder near its front end, which trout end extends through an aperture in the l remesa front end of the breech-closer. rIhis tiringpin is placed vlengthwise through the tube Q, and extends through the hollow rearward extension of the tube P, as shown. A suitable spring embraces this tiring-pin between its shoulder and the rear end of the breechcloser. The rear end of the iiring-pin which extends beyond the bevel-wheel u, has a button or head forined upon it, which serves, in connection with a vibrating claw, It, to hold the firing-pin back during the loading operation--that is to say, when the breech-closer is screwed forward the firing-pin remains in the position shown in Fig. 4, being held hack by the claw R, and after the breech-closer has pushed the cartridge home into the barrel,

, and all the parts have been arranged ready for firmg, the claw R is moved aside and re! leases the firing-pin, which :is thereupon violently thrownforward by the spring, said spring having been contracted between the reu-r end of the tube Q and the shoulder of the pin w during the forward motion of said tube. In order to prevent the shock which is p'roduced by the explosion of the cartridge from tending to start the breech-closer Q in its backward motionthat is to say, from givingit a short turn in the screw-thread of P, which would not be impossible were the breechcloser to retain its connection with the screwt-hread of the surrounding tube P--I cause the thread of the tube Q to entirely leave that of P in the position of the parts ready for liring, and utilize therefore the ends of the two screwthreads of P and Q as shoulders, and as a rea-r support for the breech-closer, the front edge of the thread on Q bearing in this position against a spring-washer, Y, which is in` tcrposed between the front bearing s and the front end of the tube P, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. This spring-washer not only allows the screw-thread of the tube Q to leave that of P, but it .also serves, as the tube P coinmences to be turned back, to crowd the tube Q backward, and reinsert its thread into that of P, thus facilitating the-operation of parts. It must be observed that in order to allow the above-|nentioned backward and forward niotion of the breech-closer Q the number of its screw-threads must be much less than that of the threads in the tube l, as indicated in Fig.4. lIhe mechanism ibriini'iarting rotary motion tothe tube P, and reversing it automatically, also that for operating` the vibrating claw It, I will now proceed to describe.

yThe main shaft M carries two loose beveled gear-wheels, a2 c3, ou opposite sides of, and in gear with, each beveled wheel u, substantially as indicated in Fig. 12, and also in Fig. 1 1

Between these two wheels a? ai* is iitted, upon the shaft M, a sliding clutch, d2, which clutch, when moved against one of said two wheels, a2 or c3, throws the saine into connection with theshaft M, so it will be revolved by said shaft. rIhe other of the two wheels a? a being` loose meanwhile it follows that that wheel,

a2 or c3, which is locked by the clutch, will impart motion to the wheel u' and to the tube P. It also follows that the clutch, which locks said wheel, revolves with the shaft. Upon the inner face of the cascabel-plate q is screwed or otherwise fastened a plate, c2, to which the back end ofthe claw R is pivoted, as indicated in Fig. fl. A central stein, projecting from said plate c2, constitutes the pivot or axis for a small wheel, cl2, which has lits front face formed into six, more or less, teeth, and which, ou its. edge, carries a cam, di. The shank of the claw It connects, by'a ring, e2, rigidly with a rod, f2, which is pivoted to the lower edge ofthe plate c2 directly in line with the ,pivot ofthe claw. vibrated on this pivot the lower rod f2 will also vibrate on its own pivot. g2 g2 are pins that project from the shank ofthe claw li', and from the rod f2 into a circumferential groov'e ofthe clutch b2, as indicated in Fig. 4. a short pin projecting radially from the clutch 112, for the purpose of engaging into the teeth of the little wheel d2, and imparting intermittent rota-ri7 motion to the said wheel. Now, if the shaft M is rotated in the direction of the arrow, shown in Figs. 4 and 15, and the clutches b2 should all be in gear with the wheels c2, then each tube P is rotated in the direction ofthe arrow indicated in Fig. 12, by

which rotation it will canse the breech-closer Q to be inoved forward. I prefer to so arrange the. diameters of the wheels a? and u Ithe third revolution of the shaft M, when the .breech-closer Q will have been as farforward as possible, the motion imparted to the wheel d2 will cause its cani cl3 to come in Contact with one of two inwardly-proiecting pins ofthe ring c2, as indicated in Fig. 5, and thereby to push said ring toene side, as in Fig. 5, and vibrate the claw and lower rod fZ on their pivots. rIhis inotion of the claw will cause the same to release the firing-pin, and the latter will be propelled forward by its spring, causing the cartridge to be exploded. The vibration imparted to the claw, above mentioned, and to the rod f2, will not only cause a disengagement ofthe firing-pin, but will, by the pins'g, which extend from the claw and rod f into the clutch, also cause said clutch to be moved from the wheel a2 into contact with the' wheel a3, so that now the rot-ation'of the tube P will be reversed and the breech-closer automatically drawn back. During this reversed motion ot' the tube P the clutch will not reverse its motion, but will revolve, as before, with the shaft, and impart intermittent rotaryl motion It follows that when the claw is to the little wheel d2 by engaging once during each revolmion with one ot' the teeth thereof; and when the tube P has iinishcd its next third rotation, which has brought the breech-closer as far back as possible, the cam of the wheel d2 will come in contact with the opposite pin of the ring e2, and thereby vibrate said ring, and with it the claw, so as to cause the latter to engage with the tiring-pin again, and also cause the said claw and its rod f2 to move t-he clutch in contact again with the wheel a2.

Thus it is seen that by the continuous rotation imparted to the shaft M in one direction the clutch will automatically ship and unship the two gear-wheels a2 c3 alternately; the tube P will be continuously rotated, once in one direction, and then in the other direction; the breech-closer will be moved backward and forward; the firing-pin engaged and disengaged; and, in fact, the whole tiring and loading process automatically carried on.

In this connection I will yet have to describe the movement of the clipper, which is also derived from the rotation ot' the wheel a. The hub ot' the wheel u constitutes, as already described, a toothed wheel, c, which meshes into the teeth ot' a toothed segment, i2, that is mounted upon a shaft, jz, whose bearings are within thel breeclrchamber J, above the tube P, as shown in Fig. 4.

This shaft j2 connects its squared front end with the rear end ot' the clipper O by entering a slotted recess in the rear-end plate of said clipper. The front of said clipper is formed into a beveled or tapering` pin, which enters a socket provided for its reception in the front part of the breech-chamber J. rIhis mode of hanging the clipper allows the ready removal thereof, for, by merely drawing the shaft j? backward it will be detached from the clipper. and the latter may be readily withdrawn from the breech-chamber by lifting its rear end and drawing the front beveled pin out of the socket.

The clipper operates as follows: It is turned up' in the position indicated in Figs. 4 and 7 during the forward motion ot' thebreech-closer, and remains in that position until the cartridge last putin has been loaded and fired. l'Vhen the breech-closer begins to be drawn back, the wheel V, gearing into the segment i2, will turn the shaftjAll on the clipper so as to bring the concave side of said dipper to the top. The clipper will then, in its concave part, receive from the magazine above a cartridge, and will retain that cartridge until the breech-closer begins to move forward. At the very commencement ofthe forward motion the clipper is reversed by the reversal of the motion of the wheel Q1 and segment i2, and is thereby caused to throw its cartridge into the cartridge-receiving chamber, upon the receivingjaw's, that will be hereinafter more fully described.

After discharging its cartridge the clipper resumes its former position, the'same as shown in Fig. 7, and enters with its sharpened edge beneath the upper cartridges, which would, but for the presence of the dipper, drop into the cartridge loading-chamber, but are, by the clipper, prevented from so doing.

I have, in my tirst patent, hereinabove mentioned, already described a clipper for discharging the cartridges into the barrel, but said clipper was arranged above the cartridgechamber and in combination only with the inclined bottom of a peculiar magazine. By arranging it as I now do, in line with and strictly within the breech-chamber of the gun, I economize space, and permit the use of a fiat-bottomed magazine, which may stand close above the dipper, in the manner indicated in Fig. 4, and also make it possible to load the several barrels successively, in contradistinction to the simultaneous loading formerly required.

For gaining access to the interior mechanism of the gun-barrel, it will only be necessa` ry to unscrew the cascabel-plate pertainingto said` barrel, taking with it the plate c2, claw R, and rod f2. A small screw, clearly shown in Fig. 4, which fastens the wheel u to the tube P, can then be unscrewed, allowing the withdrawal of-the wheel u. On the further withdrawal of the shat'tj2, and removal ofthe dipper, the rear bearing t of the tube P can be unscrewed, whereupon the entirel tube P, with all its contents, can be withdrawn.

S S are two jaws, which are hung between the breech end of the barrel and the front bearing s of the tube P, and which are intended to receive the cartridge that is dropped by the dipper, and to hold it in line with the bore of the barrel until the breech closer has pushed it into the latter. Each of these jaws is rmly and rigidly attached near its upper edge to its pivot Z2, and these stems or pivots are both hung with their front ends in the rear of the barrel, and with their rear ends in the bearing s, as indicated in Fig. 4. The rear portion of each stem Z2 is not covered by or in Contact with thejaw S, as shown in Fig. 4, and such uncovered portion of eachstem L2 is twisted spirally. m2 is a yoke which straddles the front end ofthe breech-closer andl embraces the twisted parts of the stems Z2, and which, when the breech-closer has nearly reached its most forward position, is, by a projecting pin on said breech-closer (such pin not being shown in the drawing) pushed forward the distance, which intervenes between the beni-lng s and the rear edge ot' the jaw S. The ends ofthe yoke m2 embracing the twisted ends ot' the stems l2, it follows that, as the yoke is pushed forward by the projecting pin of the breech -closer, the same causes the twisted stems to turn, and thereby also causes thejaws S S to be swung apart into the position shown in Fig. 7. Wnen the breechcloser, upon being drawn backward, has nearly reached its rearmost position it draws the yoke back with it by another projecting pin,

and thereby turns the twisted stems l2, and closes the jaws S S again sufciently to cause them to form a support for the cartridge that is subsequently dropped by the dipper. T is the magazine-support, and Uthe magazine, ot' myimproved gun. The magazine-support is a platt'orn'i, which is placed over the barrels, extending laterally across the whole width ot the gun, as shown in Fig. 1, and which, by three transverse ribs, has its surface formed into two shallow receivers for two magazines, This magazine-support T is supported by rollers a2 on the frame ofthe gun, in the manner clearly indicated in Figs. 9, 10, and 11, in such a vay that it can be moved backward and forward along the frame. The front edge 'ot' the magazine-support T is made slantin'g, as shown in Fig. 4, so that a ball striking the same will not be able to reach and injure the mechanism used in and near the cartridge-receiving chamber. The magazine U is made sufficiently long to extend across all the barrels ot' the gun, and is, by vertical longitudinal partitions, divided into chambers, each sniciently wide to receive one cartridge on a horizontal plane, and sufficiently high to receive tive, more or less, cartridges on a vertical plane. When this magazine is placed upon the support T, while the same is in the position shown in Fig. 4, the magazine is moved laterally on its slotted bottom A3 to bring one row of cartridges above the dipper-s 0, to drop them upon said dippers. The loading and iring process can then be continued, and after each tiring a new cartridge, from the same chamber or compartment ot' the magazine, drops upon the dipper, Svc., until all the cartridges ot' the one cham-ber, above the dipper, have been consumed.

The magazine must then be moved laterallyr to bring a new row ot' cartridges over the dippers, and after that has been exhausted the magazine can be moved to bring the next row ot' cartridges over the dippers, &c. Vhen the magazine is nearly empty, a new magazine, filled with cartridges, is placed upon the empty space ot the support T, in rear of the first magazine; and as soon as the trst magazine is entirely empty, the support T is slid forward on the rollers n2, and the new magazine brought over the dippers and acted upon, as above described. The entry-magazine can then be removed and refilled, or other disposition made, as required; and when the second magazine is nearly empty, a new-filled magazine is placed on the support T in front of it, and brought above the dippers, by sliding the support backward after the second magazine has been entirely emptied. Thus, the ring process can be entirely continuous by providing the magazine-support with a sliding motion, and with a double support for two magazines.

For imparting the necessary intermittent rectilinear motion to the magazine, a pawl mechanism is used, which operates it at requisite intervals. This mechanism is more clearly shown in Figs. 13, 14, and 15, and its position will be further understood by reference to Fig. 1. l

I utilize a cam-groove in the edge ot' the internal gear-wheel N, which gives motion to the drivingshattv M, in the manner hereinabove already described,v for also imparting reciprocating motion to a horizontal rod, o2. This rod carries a pawl, 192, which is, by a suitable spring action, held against the edge of a toothed wheel, q2. The pawl192 is double, one part of it entering, as already stated, into the toothed wheel g2, while the other part has the tendency to reach the notched end ot' a crank, r2, that projects from a sleeve, s2, which loosely embraces the shaft t2 ot' the wheel q2, said shaft being hung in the frame ot' the gun.

From the same sleeve s2, which is shown clearly in Fig. 14, and which hangs longitudinally between two ot' the barrels ot' the gun, projects a jointed pawl, a2, in contact with the notched lower edge ot' the magazine U, said notched edge being, preferably, the front edge ot' the magazine. The spaces between the notches in the lower edge ot' the magazine must correspond with the widths ot the chambers t'ormed in the magazine. Now, it must further be observed that the wheel q2 has one tooth or notch about twice the depth ot' all the other teeth, as seen in Fig. 13. When the pawl 192 enters into this deep tooth, its other part is carried into the notch ot' the crank r2, and the next succeeding motion, by which the rod O2 is pushed toward the toothed wheel, will cause the pawl 192 to vibrate the crank r2, thereby turning the sleeve s2, and operating the pawl a2, which moves the magazine.k After this motion ot' the pawl u2, the same will remain at rest again until the wheel q2 has completed a further revolution under the injuence of the pawl 192. Thus I am enabled to retain the magazine at rest while the cartridges that are superposed in the same chamber ofthe magazine are being utilized; but when the chamber above each dipper has been entirely emptied, the magazine will be fed laterally by the pawl u2 to bring a new chamber over the dipper, until all the chambers have been exhausted. l

In order to keep the mechanism just de scribed constantly in the proper position to properly ai'ect the magazine whenever placed upon it., I have devised means t'or throwing the pawl 192 entirely out of contact with lthe wheel q2 during the time that no magazine stands on the support T. This means consists ot' a spring-rod, o2, which bears against the non-toothed lower ed'gc ot' the magazine, as shown in Fig. 14, and which, when there is a magazine placed upon the support T, is depressed. The lower end ot' this spring-rod v2 connects by another rod, 102, with the pawl192, and throws said pawl into contact with the wheel (12 whenever the rod v2 is depressed by the magazne,bnt when the magazine is re.-

Maese 7 moved, said rod is immediately raised by its backward motion of the breechcloser. As spring, and thereby causes the rod wz to swing this backward motion takes place the carthe pawl p2 out of contact with the wheel q2. tridge-extractor removes the empty shell from There is also a notch cut into the edge of the the barrel, and allows it to drop out through magazine, that bears on the spring-rod c2 to the open space formed between the open jaws allow the elevation of said spring-rod as soon S S, and as the breech-closer nearly reaches as the last vertical row of cartridges has been its most backward position it moves the yoke brought over the dippers. This rounded m2 back with it, and thereby turns the twisted notch is indicated in Fig. 13. stems Z2 and causes the jaws S S to close be- The general operation ofthe gun will be unneath the clipper', the said dipper having been derstood without special description, but for turned up, with its concave side to the top, greater clearness I will proceed to denote the just as the breech-closer commenced its backsuccession of the processes carried on by the ward motion. Immediately on the breechre'volution ofthe shaft M. After the gunghas closer reaching its most backward position been properly pointed by the adjustment of the claw R is a-gain brought over the firingthe tail-screw, and, if necessary, also by operpin to lock it, and the clutch b2 is again moved ating the traversingworm I by hand, the into contact with the wheel a2, and the operatraverse-clutch a is thrown into gear with one tion continued as before described. After all of the beveled wheels on the traverse-worm, the cartridges of a vertical row over each barso that, by a subsequent revolution of the rel have been discharged the pa-wl p2 drops shaft M, the traverse may be properly operinto the deep tooth of the wheel q2, and thereated. A magazine iilled with cartridges is by causes the crank r2 to be affected and the next placed upon the front of the support T magazine to be fed laterally to bring a new in such position that the pawl a2 will enter the row of cartridges over the dippers. lirst tooth on the under side of the magazine, It is evident that the magazine-bottom A3 asindicatedinFiglS,thatbcing the iirst workmust remain immovable on thesupport T, ing position ofthe magazine. ln this position while the magazine is moved laterally, as dethe tiret row of cartridges intended for each scribed. barrel willbe broughtabovethedipper ot'such It will be observed that the cartridge-exbarrel. Rotary motion is now imparted to tractor or is pivoted in a slot formed in the the shaft M in the direction of the arrow breech-closer Q, beneath the tiring-pin w, and shown in Fig. 4, the wheels a2 being, meanthat when the breech-closer Q is drawn back, while, in gear with their respective clutches as in Fig. 4, the head or shoulder of the tiringb2, and consequently also actuating the beveled pin will bear against the rear end of the exwheels a and tubes P. At the iirst start of tractor to hold its front-end elevated and to this motion the dipper is turned to throw the prevent the extractorfrom playing on its pivot; first cartridge of the row above it upon the but as soon as the breech-closer is moved forclosed jaws S S. The continued motion imward toward the barrel A from the position parted to the tube P, as stated, causes the shown in Fig. 4, the rear end of the extractor breech-closer which, by the way, receives ceases to be under the head or enlargement projectingfeathers from the surrounding bearof the tiring-pin, and receives thereby liberty ing S, so it will be prevented from turning on to play to a slight extent on its pivot, and this its axis, to be screwed forward, so it willpush slight degree of play will allow it to pass its the cartridge home into the barrel. Just hooked end under the flange ot' the cartridge before the cartridge is entirely pushed into in the barrel. The tlange of the cartridge will the barrel the yoke m2 will be moved forward, then remain in the notch of the extractor in and thejaws SSsprea-d apart. The cartridgethe requisite manner. When, afterward, the extractor thereupon enters during the confning-pin is propelled forward to explode the tinued forward motion ofthe breech-closer uncartridge the head or enlargement on said pin der the iiange of the cartridge. After a carwill at once arrive over the rear end of the tridge has thus been pushed vhome the claw extractor x, and 'prevent such extractor from lt is swung aside by the action of the cam d? vibrating during the subsequent backward of the wheel d2, which coma s in contact with motion of the breech-closer, and therefore the the pin of the ring e2, an'd the firing-pin is extractor will be forced to retain its hold ou thrown forward, exploding the cartridge. the cartridge-shell until the same has been en- The ring action may of course be simultatirely withdrawn from within the barrel. Thus neous in all the barrels, as also the loading as the extractor is pivoted beneath the firingaction, or may be successive by properly adpin, and the head on the tiring-pin, which is jnsting the clutches b2 with reference to the used to limit its degree of forward motion, position of their projecting pins h2. By causlocks the extractor, the extractor must operate ing the claw to release the tiring-pin the clutch automatically in the desired manner. b2 has, as already hereinbefore specified, also I claim as my inventioncaused, by its own longitudinal motion, the l. The tail-screw G, combined with the pivrelease of the wheel a2 and the throwing in oted nut b and by ball-and-socket joint with gear of the wheel a3, and the consequent rethe traversing-nut H, substantially as herein versal of the rotation of the tube l?, and a shown and described.

2. The traversing-worm I, combined with the beveled wheels j m and, by gearing, with the transverse operating-shaft M, and provided with a clutch, a, by which its motion can be reversed, substantially asl herein shown and described.

3. In combination with the transverse operating shat't M, that gears into the traversingworm I, the beveled wheels;- m, clutch a, and gearingo, by which thetraverse can be changed from an lautomatic to a hand traverse, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. rIhe reciprocating breech-closer Q, provided with an external screw-thread to receive its motion from the rotating embracingtube P having an internal screw-thread, substantially as specilied. v

5.' The combination ot' the barrel A with the real-wa rdl y-extendin g breech-ch amber J ,transverse box L, and with the cascabel q, which is applied to said box, substantially as specified.

(i. The combination ot' the tiring-pin w, tubular breech-closer Q, embracing tube P, and cylindrical breech-chamber J, all ot' said parts being concentric and operating substantially as specilied.

7. The tubular screw P, connected rigidly with the beveled wheel u and gear-wheel c, and combined with the breech-closer Q and cartridge dipper-shaftj2, substantially as specified. 4

8. In combination with two or more barrels, A A, which are placed on the same plane, in a machine-gun, the operating-shaft M, carrying two or more sliding clutches, b2, and two or more loose wheels, a2 a3, all arranged so that each ot' the barrels A will have its interi'or mechanism actuated by the same shaft M, but independently from the other barrels through the intervention ot' the clutches and Wheels a2 a3, substantially as speeitied.

9. The sliding clutch b2, made with a projecting pin, h2, for the purpose ot' inn'iarting intermittent rotary motion to the toothed wheel d, substantially as described.

l0. The rotating-wheel d2, provided with a cam, d3, and combined with the claw and lever It, for operating the clutch and aiecting the tiring-pin ot' the machine-gun, substantially as specitied.

11. The clutch b2, combined with the lever R, which carries the pin g2 into a groove ot' the clutch and with intermediate mechanism,

whereby the rotation of the clutch serves to vibrate the lever lt and to move the clutch lengthwise, as specied.

2. rihe cascabel-plate q, carrying on its inner face the plate 02, which serves as a pivot for the lever t, and as support for the wheel d, substantially as specitied.

13. The tiring-pin zu, combined with the vibrating claw R, by which it is locked and released, substantially as herein shown and described.

14. In combination with the'shank of the claw R, the ring e2 and rod f2, said ring carrying two pins on opposite sides of the actuating-wheel d2 to be ai'ected by the cam d3, substantially as herein shown and described.

l5. The vibrating cartridge-extractor m, pivoted in a slot ot' the tubular reciprocating breech-closer Q, beneath the tiring-pin w, and combined with said tiring-pin to be locked by the head or enlargement thereof, substantially as herein shown and described.

16. In combination with the front bearing s ot" the rotating tube P, the spring 1, which is interposed between the end of the tube P andv the bearings, to operate in conjunction with the reciprocating breech-closer Q, substantially as specified.

17. rPhe vibrating cartridge-flipper O, fitted within a recess ot' the breech-chamber J, and attached removably to the operating-shaf'tjZ, substantially as herein shown and described.

1S. The gear-wheel c, mounted on the rotary tube P and combined with the toothed segment 112 on the shaft jz ot the vibrating di pper, substantially as herein specilied.

19. rlhe vibratingjaws S S, arranged in the cartridge-receiving chamber beneath the vibrating dipner O, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

20. In combination with the vibratingjaws S S, the twisted stems l2 and the sliding' yoke m2 for the purpose ot' opera-tin g said jaws, as Speciled.

21. The double pawl p2, combined with the toothed wheel q2 and with the operating-crank r2 on the sleeve s2, substantially as specified.

22. In combination with the cam-wheel N and reciprocating rod O2, the pawl p2, wheel g2, crank r2, and operating-pawl u2, all arranged substantially as specih'ed.

23. rlhe wheel q2, made with one tooth deeper than the remaining teeth, and combined with the actuating-pawl p2 and notched crank r2 to throw said pawl in connection with said crank once only during the rotation of said wheel, as specilied.

24. The combination of the spring-rod c2 and connecting-rod 102 with the pawlp, for the purpose ot' being acted upon by the magazine,'in the manner specified.

25. The sliding 1nagazine-support T, made with three transverse ribs, which form its surface into two shallow receivers for two magazines, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

- 26. In combination with a machine-gun having a series ot' parallel barrels, the laterallymovable magazine u and the longitudinallymovable magazine-support T, substantially as described.

27. The combination of the dipper O with the breech-chambers J and their relative arrangement, whereby the dipper will be enabled to support a cartridge, which will be clear of the charging-magazine, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

W. B. FARWELL.

Witnesses:

ERNEST C. WEBB, A. V. BRIESEN.

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