US367825A - maxim - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

H. MAXIM.

MACHINE GUN.

frye/Zion' N. PETERS, Pham-Lithograph". washington, D. C4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEo I-IIRAM S. MAXIM, OF LONDON, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND.

MACHINE-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,825, dated August 9, 1887.

Original application Iiled May 2, 1884, Serial No. 130,166. Divided and this application filed January 8, 1885. Serial No. 152,245. (No model.) Patented in England February 23, 1884, No. 3,844; in France October 25, 1884, No. 162,735; in Austria-Hungary, November 22, 1884, No, 35,518 and No. 53,930; in Belgium December 30, 1884, No. 66,323; in Italy January 23, 1885, XVIII No. 17,422; in Spain May 19. .1885, No. 4,471, and in Germany September 23, 1885, No 32,501.

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hiram S. MAXIM, a citizen of the United States, residing in London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machine or Battery Guns, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same, this application being a division of an application filed by me May 2, 1884, No. 130,166.

For this invention I have obtained patents in the following countries and in no others: England, No. 3,844, dated February 23, 1884; France, No. 162, 735,l dated October 25, 1884; Belgium, No. 66,323, dated December 30, 1887i; Germany, No. 32,501, dated September 23, 1885, Austria-Hungary, Nos. 35,518 and 53,930, dated November 22,1884; Italy, Vol. XVIII, No. 17,422, dated January 23, 1885, and Spain, No. 4,471, dated May 19, 1885.

My present invention relates to improvements in machine or battery guns, the said improvements consisting in a novel construction and disposition of the mechanism for loading, tiring, and extracting the shells or cartridges, and in a device for preventing the barrel from becoming heated by rapid discharges of the arm.

The tirstnamed improvements comprise two sets of wheels,which I designate the feed7 and delivery7 wheels. Over thefeed-wheel is carried a belt of cartridges, which are transferred tothe delivery-wheel by mechanism hereinafter described, and from the delivery-l wheel into the barrel by a reciprocatingbreechblock. The breech-block and the device for `transferring the cartridges are connected to a in the construction and arrangement of the parts which make np the gun, the nature of which will be moreiully hereinafter described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Eig. lis a longitudinal central section of my My invention also involves certain details 5o improved gun. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same, taken just above the barrel.' Fie. 3 is a side elevation of the gear used in the manipulation of the gun, certain parts being4 removed. Fig.'4 is a sectional view showing the same in detail.

A is a strong metal frame whichis provided with a lid or cover, t, and which may be mounted on any suitablestand or carriage.

B is the barrel, and c the breech-block.

D is a crank-shaft, which is carried in bearings D at the rear part of the frame a.

E is a connecting-rod, one end of which is coupled to the crank-pin D2, and the other end of which is coupled to the breech-block c. This connectingrod is made of such length that when the breech is closed the crank will be nearly or quite on dead-center.

The breech-block O is carried by two cross-v heads, G' G2, arranged to slide between suitable guides, E, projecting from the sides of the f 'ame A. The extractor G and the scar II are mounted on the breech-block O, and are acted upon by the double spring G', which is also fixed to the breech-block. The firing-pin passes through the breech block C, and is acted upon by a spiral spring, IX, which tends to push it forward. The cock orhammcr Jis pivoted to a bracket or arm, K, extending downward from the breech-block C, and is made with a circular part, J', which enters a slot, I', in the pin I. The said hammer has, moreover, a curved extension, J2, which,when the breech-block is drawn backward, comes into contact or engagement with a pin or rod, L, iixed in the frame A, so that the said hammer is cocked.

The sear H is a bent lever pivoted to the breech-block, and in its path of movement is astop,\V,whichit encounters when the breech is closed by the breech-block, and which sets free the hammer and discharges the piece. The stop WV is a pin that extends through a slotin the frame A, and is adjustable by means of a plate or lever, V, properly secured to the outside of the frame.

Any ordinary device for tripping the scar maybe employed; but it is desirable to have some means of shifting theposition of the stop, in order that it may be moved out of the path of the scar when it is desirable to close the breech without discharging the gun.

The barrel B is fixed to the 'frame A at B10. Below the breech is located a feed-wheel, Q, and back of this, with its cartridgereceptacles in line with the bore, is a cartridge-delivery wheel, Q. The details of the construction and operation of these wheels form a part of the application of which thisis a division, and are there fully described. A general understanding of the nature of these parts may be had, however7 by vreference to Fig. l.

The two wheels Q and Q contain a certain number of grooves or recesses in line with their axes, and their relative position is such that the uppermost groove of the feed-wheel Q is iii line with the lowest groove in the delivery-wliecl Q'. These wheels are carried by the shafts Q2 Q, and are provided with tlietoothed wheels Q" Q5, which are geared with each other by means of the intermediate wheel, Q, earried by a stud, Q7, fixed to the frame A. The wheels are inelosed in suitable easings, and are rotated by means of a projection or tooth, C5, with inclined faces ou the breech-block, which engages with teeth or lugs of corresponding shape on the rear portion of the deliverywheel. By the reeiprocation of the breech-block an intermittent rotarymovement is thus imparted to the wheels.

A hooked rod, K', is pivoted to the lower end ofthe bracket K, and when the breech is closed engages with the flange of the cartridge in the uppermost groove of the wheel Q, as shown in Fig. l. The said rod K is supported by a spring, K2, and is arranged to be acted upon by a fixed arm, K3, having an inclined 'face which comes in eoxitaet with a correspond ingly-i ncli ned face on the said rod and depresses the saine, and thus disengages it from the cartridge at the proper time.

On one end ofthe crank-shaft D is a pinion, T. Vith this engages a toothed segment, U, which is arranged to be partially rotated, first in one direction and then in the opposite, by means of a hand-lever, U', that fits in a socket, U2, on the segment, a spring-catch, U3, being used to keep the lever in place. On the end of the crank-shaft opposite to that earryiiigthe pinion T, I [lx a boss, T', having a project-ion, T2, which, when the breech is closed, presses against a spring, T, fixed to the frame A. By these means I prevent the too sudden impact of the breech-block against the barrel. The boss T and spring T'l are covered by a casing, T.

In order to prevent the barrel from becoming heated by rapid discharges, some means of cooling the same should be used. That which I employ is a water-chamber, B, surrounding the barrel, and in order to permit the escape of steam, in whatever position the barrel may be, I place at the side of or above said water-chamber B a cylinder, V, which coinmunieates at each end with the chamber B by passages VCVZ. The passage V'l is connected with the forward end of the chamber B by means of a pipe, V/s. A piston or cylindrical weight, V4, is arranged in the said cylinder, and is provided at its ends with the valves V VV'. muzzle of the gun is elevated the said weight will descend by gravity and the valve V5 will close the passage V, and when the muzzle of the gun is depressed the said weight will fall in the other direction, so that the valve V6 will close the passage V2. The steam formed in the chamber B will therefore pass into the cylinder V at one or the other end thereof, ac-

cording to the position of the gun, and the said cylinder is provided with apertures V7 to permit the escape of the steam therefrom. The barrel B is held in a stuffing-box, B12.

The operation of the gun is as follows: A belt of cartridges is passed over the feed-wheel Q and the lever U raised or lowered, as the case may be, to impart a partial rotation to the crank-shaft T. This movement is conimuiiicated to the brocoli-block by the connecting-rod E. The backward movement of the breech-block brings the curved end ofthe haininer J into engagement with the pin L and cocks the hammer. In its rearward move- 4ment the breeclrblock carries the rod K back and draws out acartridge from the uppermost groove ofthe feed-wheel Q into the low-A est groove of the delivery-wlieel Q. At the proper time "the rod K is depressed by the arm K and releases the cartridge. It then passes back through the next groove of the 'wheel Q to take hold of a fresh cartridge, the two wheels having been moved by the backward movement of the breeclrbloek through the space of one groove. This action is repeated during the time that the gun is in operation. Vhen a shell is brought into the groovein line with the bore, it is forced by the forward movement of the breech-block into the barrel, and at the moment when the breech is closed the hammer is released by the engagement of the scar with the stop XV and the cartridge exploded. Then by the manipulation ofthe lever U lthe breech-block is drawn back and the extractor G draws the empty shell from the barrel into the vacant groove of the delivery-wheel. A projection on the extractor G comes in contact with a suitable stop fixed in its path to the :trame A and causes the lever to release the shell, which, on the forward movement of the breech-block, is carried by the rotation of the wheel Qoff to onelside and event ually dropped out of its groove.

The gun which I have now described possesses many advantages, among which are the facility with which it may be fired and the This weight is so arranged that when the capability of being worked by gunncrs below it in a protected position.

Vithout limiting myself tothe exact details of construction which I have described, what I claim as my invention isl. In amaehine-gun,the combination, with a longitudinally-movablebreech-block, a rotary cartridge holder placed relatively to the breech-block, 'so that by the forward movement of thelatter acartridge will be forced from the holder into the barrel,and gearing between the breech block and the cartridge-holder for intermittently rotating the holder in unison with the movement of the breech-block, of a crank-shaft and connecting-rod for imparting ato-and-fro movement to the breechbiock, and a device for turning or partially rotating the crank-shaft, all substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine-gun, the combination, with a longitudinally-movable breech-block, a rotary cartridge-holder placed relatively to the breech-block, so that by the forward movement of the latter a cartridge will be forced from the holder into the barrel ,and gearing between the breech-block and the cartridge-holder for intermittently rotating the holder .in unison with the movement of thebreech-block, of a crankshaft and connecting-rod for imparting a toand-fro movementtotheb1eech-block,atoothed segment in gear with a pinion on the crankshaft,and a lever for operating or turning the segment, all. substantially as herein set forth,

3. In a machine-gun, the combination, with a cartridge-feed wheel, a delivery-wheel, a sliding breech-block arranged to rotate said wheels, and a device connected with the breechblock and adapted to transfer the cartridges from Ithe feed wheel to thedelivery-wheel, of a crank-shaft and connecting-rod for imparting a to-and-fro movement to the breech-block, and a hand-lever for turning said crank-shaft, as herein described.

4. In a machine-gun, the combination, with a cartridge-feed wheel, a delivery-wheel, a

sliding breech-block arranged to rotate said wheels, an extractor and tiri ng mechanism carried by the breech-block, a spring-controlled hooked rod connected with the breech-block and adapted to transfer the cartridges from the feed to the delivery-wheel, a crank-shaft and connecting-rod for imparting a to-and-fro movement to the breech-block, and a handlevcr for operating or turning the crank-shaft, as herein described.

5. In a machine-gun of the kind described, the combination, with the sliding breechblock, the crank-shaft, the connecting-rod between the breech-block and shaft, and means for partially rotating the crank-shaft, of the boss TQ having the projection T2 and fixed to said shaft, and the spring T, fixed to the sta- -tionary frame of the gun, and upon which said projection impinges, in the manner and Afor lthe purpose set forth.

6. In a machine-gun of the kind described, the combination, with the sliding breechblock, the4 crank-shaft, the connecting-rod between the breech-block and shaft, and means for partially rotating the crank-shaft, of the boss T, having the projection T2, and fixed to said shaft, and the spring T3, fixed to the stationary frame of the gun upon which the projection impinges, and the cover or casing T4, secured to the frame of the gun, all as set forth.

7. The combination, with the barrel B and a water jacket or chamber surrounding the same, of a separate chamber communicating with the cud of the water-chamber, a weight or piston contained in said chamber, valves at each end controlled by said piston, and passages at the ends of the chamber for the escape of steam, all as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand -this 17th day of November, 1884.

HIRAM S. MAXIM.

VVitnesses:

I-I. I-I. NEWMAN, RUFUs G. ANGELI..

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