US430211A - maxim - Google Patents

Description

(N model.) u sneeze-sheet 1. r Hs Si AUTGMATIO MACHINE GUN.

Patented June .17.; 1890.

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Patented Jupe 17, 1890.

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AUTGMATIU MACHINE GUN. N10. 430,211. PatentedJune V17, 1890. l

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AUTDMATIG MACHINE GUN. No. 430,211. Patented June 17, 1890.

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V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IIIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, OFLONDON,ENGLAND.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE-GUN.

`SPE(.iIFlItil'IION' forming part of Letters .ratent No. 430,211, dated June 17, 1890. y Application led December 28, 1886. Serial lo. 222,849. (lilo model.) Patented iii Eiiglsnd Jini 1. 1886,10. 7,354.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IIIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, mechanical engineer, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of London, England, have Vinvented new and useful Iniprovements in Fire-Arms, (for which I have applied for provisional protection in Great Britain, No. 7,354, dated June 1, 1886,) of which the following is a speciication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My present invention isv an `improvement in that class of guns invented and patented by me and now generally known as automatic guns. The general distinguishing characteristics of such guns are that they have the capability when once discharged of perform" ng automatically by means of energy produce-u1 by or resulting from such discharge, the sevei al steps necessary for subseqn ent discharge;- that is to say, the mechanism involves a s1 1,1.ionary part and a movable or receiling pai which latter is in one of' var'ous ways set `in motion by the force of the disfcharge an@` caused to store energy which returns the operative parts of the gun to their normal or original position. The recoil and return of the parts named are made to extract the empty shell, replace it by a new one,an=l

. to explode the latter.

The improvements which form the subject of my present application are applicable to machine or battery guns, sporting arms,mili tary rifles, and partly t0 large and heavy guns. The main features of the invention relate iii'ore particularly, however, to that form of gun described by me in previous patents, in which the barrel and parts of. the breech mechanism are arranged to recoil in an outer frame or support. The mechanism which I have now devised, however, is greatly simplified, andthe operation of the gun in many respects improved. u

, One feature of my present invention is the provision of means whereby when the breech is closed the breech-blocli will be securely locked to the barrel until the barrel and other parts movable thcrew ith have terminated or nearly terminated their recoil or backward movement, and will their be automatically disengaged from. the said barrel. I provide, also, means by which this backward and subsequf nt forward movement ofY the 1 a section on'the line a: Fig. 1.

barrel (the latter independently of the breechblock) will effect the extraction of the empty shell and the forward movement of the breech-block 'the insertion and discharge of a' fresh one, and of this mechanism I have invented Various forms or modifications, the

main principles of which. I have illustrated herein.l

I employ with the gun a cartridge-feed device of suitable character, which will at the proper times present the cartridges in position to be thrust into the breech by thehreechblock.

My invention further consists in combining a plurality of. barrels and 'breech mechanisms of the general character referred to, together with means for operating the same independently or simultaneously or succes sively.

My invention also comprises certain det-ails of construction andaccessories to the main devices constituting the gun proper, the na.- ture of which will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, of a. machinegun having five barrels and constructed according to my present invention. Fig. 2is Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line Fig. 2, drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 4isa transverse section on the line as", Fig. 2, also drawn to an enlarged scale. partly in horizontal section, and Fig. 6 is a y side elevation, showing a portion of the said Fig. 5 is a plan,

gun. Figs. 5 to 14, inclusive, are drawn t9l an enlarged scale. Fig. 7 is a. rear elevation' showing parts of the gun detached. Fig. 8 is an elevation, partly in section, on the line' w3 m3, Fig. 5, showing details of construction. Fig. 9 is a plan of a trigger rod or shaft, hereinafter described. Fig. 10 is a transverse section through the said rod on the line 'y y, Fig. 9, showing also in side elevation a sear, hereinafter described. Figs. 1l, 12, 13, and 14 are transverse sections on the lines y y', y y, 1/3 ys, and y* y", Fig. 9, respectively. Figs. 15 and 16 show ln side elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal central section another forni or modification of my iinproved gun.- Fig. 17 is a trans'. erse section on Aalie line az, Fig. 15. Fig. 18 is a side ro H is the firing-pin.

shell while th`e said shell is being started from the barrel. The said extractor is reduced in thickness at G to form a spring lwhich bears upon a shoulder at the rear end of the breech-block. 'lhe hooked end 'of the extractor can therefore be readily moved over the flange of a cartridge in the barrel, and `W.ill then be held in engagement therewith by the said spring.

H is the hammer, which is pivoted at H" to the frame A. l

H is the mainspring, which is attached in any convenient manner to the said frame.

r 5 I I' are two sears, which are pivoted upon a pin or rod I", fixed in the outer frame, and are acted upon by springs la, which tend to hold them in engagement with the bent portion H4 of the hammerH when the hammer is cocked.

zo The sear I extends downward and is arranged t0 be automatically disengaged from the hammer by means of aprojection Cien the breechblock atthe termination of the forward movement of the said block. The scar I is a bent lever, one arm of which extends beneath the trigger-rod I, and which is disengaged from the hammer by hand by means of the said trigger-rod, as hereinafter described, The hammer is cocked in the recoil of the inner 3o frame B by means of a projection C upon the breech block. The said hammer is so formed that before it acts upon the firing-pin Il it will depress the pivoted bar C', and thus insure the engagement of the shoulder C3 thereof with the 'shoulder B on the inner frame, and when the said hammer has oper ated to iire the gun it will prevent the disengagement of the said pivotedbar from the inner frame until the hammer isagain cocked.

4o J is a vertical hopper, feeder, or magazine,

which is arranged above the barrel B, with the rear end a short distance in front of the breech end of the barrel when the latter isin its firing position. The lowermost cartridge in the said magazine rests upon the top of the barrel behind a projection B3 thereon. When the barrel recoils, the said cartridge is moved backward by the said-projection into a chamber A'r in the frame A. '10 the top of 5o this chamber, within the same, are secured springs As, which pass downward upon the cartridge thus introduced into the chamber. l/Vhenthe barrel and inner frame have moved forward and the empty shell has been extracted, the said cartridge is forced down in front of the breech-block by the springs A8, and i's supported upon the frame B', so that the said block in the forward movement will 'push the said cartridge into the barrel.

6o The mechanism above described operates as follows-that is to say: The parts are shown in Fig. 2 in the positions which they occupy when the firing-pin has been struck by the hammer and the projectile isabout to move forward in the barrel. 'lhe explosion of the cartridge causes the recoil of the barrel l5 and inner frameB' and parts carried thereby.

In this recoil thehprojection B3 pushes the l lowermost cartridge in the magazine back` ward into the chamber A", the spring D is compressed, and the spring E is extended, as above described. The hammer is cocked, and. is held in its cocked position by the sears I I', or only by the scar I, according to the position of the trigger-rod I, as hereinafter described. `The pivoted bar C' then comes in contact with the arm or projection A" on the frame A, and is thereby `disengaged from the shoulder B" of the frame B. Moreover, the bar D4 is moved backward until its projection D'st-rikes the leverF and causes the same to engage with the pivoted bar C and hold back the breech-block. In the latter position of the backward movement of the frame B and parts carried thereby the spring E is compressed. By the reaction of the springs E E5 considerable force is exerted to move forward the frame B' and barrel B, while the breech-block is held back by the hooked lever F. 'lhe barrel is thus forcibly drawn from the empty cartridge-shell, which is -held back by the extractor G.

As soon as the barrel is clear of the car- `tridge-shell, the latter drops out of the gun through the apertures in the frames A B', and the cartridge in the chamber .A7 is pushed down by the springs As into position to be thrust into the barrel. VYhen the frame B' has terminated or nearly terminated its forward movement, the shoulder or projection D on the sliding bar D* strikes the lever F and disengages the same from the pivoted bar C. The spring D then reacts and effects the forward or retn rn movement of the breechblock. When the breech-block has thrust the cartridge into the barrel andclosed the breech, the projection C5 on the said block strikes the sear I and disengages it from the hammer. It' the sear Iisheld by the triggerrod Il out of engagement with the hammer, as shown in Fig. 2, the hammer, when released from the sear I, as above described, will immediately act upon the tiring-pin and the gun will continue tiring so long as itis supplied with ammunition. If, however, the triggemod I4 is so placed that the scar I' will engage with the hammer when cocked, the said trigger-rod must be turned in order to again lire the gun. 2

When two -or more guns are arranged side by side in a single frame, as shown, for example, in Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4,I prefer to provide means whereby the starting of all of the said guns can be effected by a simple -movement of a lever or handle in one or the other direction. In the gun shown in the said gures I use for this purpose the trigger-rod I.

This rod and the means for operating the` same are illustrated in Figs. 5 to 14. The said trigger-rod is formed with spiral working-snrfaces I5 I, so that when turned in either direction it will ast successively upon the sears I of the sete'ral guns to release them from the corresponding hammers comroc x lo

' the spindle meneing at one or the other side of the series or row of guns, according to the direction in which the said rod is turned. Moreover, by turning the said rod through a small angle one or more of the said guns can be started, while the other guns are left out of action. It will be seen that by adjusting this triggerrod to the position shown in Fig. 10 all of the sears 1' may be permitted to engage with the hammers. Moreover, when the said trigger-rod occupies such a position that its periphery beats against all of the sears I', the said sears will be held out of engagement with the hammers. The said trigger-rod may be provided with an ordinary lever or handle or other suitable device for operating it; but when it is applied to a machine-gun such as that shown in Figs. 1 to 14, I prefer to employ, in combination with the said triggerrod, the devices shown in Figs. 6, 7. and 8, in which K is a bevel-pinion, which is fixed upon the trggerfrod I" and is geared with another bevel-pinion K,tlxed on a spindle K". This spindle is fitted with a capability of rotation in a tubular casing K3, firmly attached to the frame A, and is provided with a suitable handle K. By turning this handle in one or the other direction the trigger-rod I* can be adjusted for the purposes above specilied. The said handle can, moreover, be used for pointing or training the gun and for holding it in any desired position while firing, asimilar handle being provided upon the opposite side of the frame A, if desired, so that the gun can be adjusted by both hands. By these means the rapid working of the gun is greatly facilitated.

I sometimes provide the handle K with a bolt or catch K5 for locking it in any desired position. This bolt or catch is ltted to slide in holes in the hac.: and front parts of the handle Ki and is acted upon by a spring K, inserted in a hole or cavity in the said handle, whereby it is caused to enter one or other of the holes K7 in a segment K, formed or fixed on the tubular easing K3. When the handle K is grasped by the hand, one of the ingers is passed through a ring or annular piece K" .formin g part of the said bolt or catch, so that the said bolt or catch can be withdrawn from the hole K", into which it has been pushed by its spring to permit the turning of the said handle. When the handle is in its central position, the bolt or catch enters the central hole K" in the segment Ks and retains the said handle in this position, the trigger-rod 1 will then be in the position shown in Fig. 10, and all the sears I will be free to engage with the hammers.

I sometimes provide the following means for moving the handle K back to its central sition after it has been turnedin one or the other direction-that is to say, I fit upon K two .arms K1, which are coupled to the plungers Ku. These plungers are fitted to slide in cylinders K, which are pivoted at their lower ends to an enlargement K of the casing K. Spiral springs K are placed in the cylinders Kla and tend to push the plungers K1 upward, and thus hold the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 8. When the handle K is turned in one Vor the other direction, the corresponding spring Kl5 is compressed, and when the said handle is released the said spring by its -reaction moves the same back to its central position. The bolt or catch Kls may, if desired, be dispensed with when the devices shown in Fig. 8 are employed. The parts are in some in stances so constructed and arranged that by turning the handle K* in one direction ali the barrels can be discharged simultaneously, and by turning it in the reverse direction .successive shots can be fired.

I sometimes employ in a gun constructed upon the principles above set forth a grooyed wheel'and a belt or band for feeding the car tridges successively into such a position that they may be moved back in the recoil of the barrel into a chamber in the frame A, as above described. I prefer that this wheel should be fitted to rotate upon the barrel, and that the parts should be so constructed that the barrel is free to move to and fro in the said wheel.

In Figs. 15 to 18 L is a feed-wheel fitted to rotate upon the barrel B, which is capable of to-and-fro movement in the said wheel. L' is a band or belt containing cartridges, which is used incombination with the said feed-wheel. L" is a ratchet-wheel, which is formed or fixed on the feed-wheel L. A pawl Ls is pivoted to a pawl-carrier L, fitted to slide up and down between guides on the frame A. This pawl is acted upon by a spring L5, whereby it is caused to engage with the said ratchetwheel. L is a bent lever, which is pivoted at L7 to the frame A and is coupled to the pawl-carrier L* by means of a pin or bolt L8, passing through an'elongated slot in the said lever, as shown. The said lever is operated as hereinafter described. L is aspring which is attached to the frame A and acts upon the lever Li in such a manner that it tends to keep the pawl-carrier at the top of its stroke and effects thc upward or return movement of the said carrier. A retaining-pawl Lx0 is piv-n oted to the frame A and engages with the ratchet-wheel L". Two spring-plates G3 are at tached to the breech-block C-one on `.ach side thereof. Each of these plates is provided with two projections G G5. The pro- IIO jections G4 are adaptedto spring overand engage with a flange of a cartridge in the barrel to effect the extraction of the empty cartridge shell. The projections G are adapted to spring over and engage with the llange of u cartridge in the uppermost groove of the wheel L to draw back the said cartridge into the chamber A. A projection A is formed on the framefLso that in the partial" rotation of the feed-wheel to bring the cartridge into the loading position, the said cartridge will strike the said projection, and

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thus be prevented from moving past its central position.

The other parts of the gun 'shown in Figs. .1.5 tcl8 are constructed and arranged like those of the several guns shown in Figs. l to 4, with the following exceptions-viz., the spring E is not inclosed in a chamber nr casmg, and instead of being attached to the inner. frame B', as above described, the said spring is...attached at its rear end to a lug formed on a ring B, which is xed upon the bar rel B. This ring B has a projection B12, which in the recoil of the barrel operates the lever L6 and pawl-carrier L4. V

.I sometimes provide the `gun when made with two or more barrels with means for automatically effecting the spreading or dispersal of the bullets. For this purpose I mount the gun upon a pivot or swivel and employ devices such as those shown in Figs. 19 to 21, in which Z is the lower part or base of a cone-mounting, and m. is the swiveling part thereof, wlich is provided with the bearlugs 'm1' for'the trurinions of the gun. The swiveling part m of the gun-mounting is made with an extension or tail-piece m", and the base l is provided with two stops l', which are secured to the said base by bolts l, provided with nuts I3, fitted to slide in an annular T-shaped groove Z in the base l, so that by slackening the said bolts the.. said stops can be adjusted. Each stop has a spring n attached thereto. ,s

When either of'the outer barrels is discharged, the recoil turns the gun in one or the other direction on its pivot until the tailpiece or extension m" strikes one or other of the said springs. The said spring is thus compressed, and then by its reaction moves the gun in the reverse direction. By adjusting the aforesaid stops the angle through which the gun is thus moved can be regulated. When it,l is desired to keep the gun stationary, the said stops are so adj usted that both springs are tightly pressed against the said extension or tail-piece.

By mountingtwo or more of my automatic guns in a single frame, so that 4they will op'- erate independently of each other, as above described, I obtain the advantage ovei machine-guns worked by hand that, whereas in such machine-guus if a cartridge is jammed in one barrel the whole of the barrels are rendered inoperative. In my improved arrangement the jamming of a cartridge in one gun of the series does not affect the,action of the other guns thereof, which will continue to work as usual.

Some of my present improvements are apulicable to guns designed to be worked by hand.

By my present improvements I ain enabled to so construct the breech mcchanisinthat it will be very light, and will occupy a. small space. Consequently I can make a multiplebarrel-machine or'battery gun which' will.

compare favorably with respect to both size and weight with the machine-guns heretofore used. Moreover, I can make an automatic ride so small and light that it can without inconvenience be used in placa of an ordinary rille. y I

Having now described my invention, what I claim is d 1. In an automatic or machine gun, the

block normally locked to the barrel, so that after a discharge they recoil together, a releasing device adapted to unlock the breechblock at the termination of the recoil, a catch or device adapted toengage with the breechblock and prevent its forward move ment when unlocked from the barrel, and means for releasing the same when the barrel has returned to its forward position, as described.

2. The combination, with the sliding barrel, of a breech-block, a locking device securing the breech-block to the barrel, a detent adapted to engage with and release the locking device at the termination of the' recoil. a catch in position toengage with and restrain the breech-block against forward movement when unlocked from the barrel, and a detent movable with the barrel and adapted to release the breech-block when the barrel retii rus to its normal position, as described.

3. The combination of the sliding frame .formed'on or xed to' the barrel, a breech-block capable of movement in oi' on' said inner frame, a locking devic'eior securing the breech-block to the barrel, a detent adapted to encounter and unlock the said device at the termination of the recoil of the barrel, a catch in position to engage and restrain the breech-block against forward movement when released from the barrel, and means for releasing the saine when the bar.- rcl has returned to its forward position, as set forth.

4. The combination, with the sliding barrel,

of a breech-block normally locked thereto,

means for releasing the breech-block at the termination of the recoil-and restraining it against forward movement, a ca tiidge-chamber located over the normal position of the breech-block, from which a cartridge may bereceived between the breech and the restrained breech-block, and a tripping device movable with the barrel and adapted tofrelease the' breech-block when the barrel has reached its normal or forward position.

5. The combination, withl a. sliding barrel,

of a breechblock normally locked thereto, whereby it recoils with the barrel, a detent in the path of the locking devices for releasing the breech-block and barrel at a given int in the recoil, and 4retractile devices connected to the barrel and adapted to effect a return movement thereof independently of the breech-block, as set forth. A

6. The combination of a sliding barrel, a breech-block arranged to recoil therewith and barrel, frame or support in which said barrel is mounted and is adaptedto slide, an inner roo IIO

75 1p combination, with a slidingbarrel, of a breechnormally locked to the barrel, means for unlocking or releasing the breech-block and barrel at the termination of the backward movement or recoil of the barrel, acatch or restraining device with which the breech-block moves lntoengagement after leaving the barrel, and

a tripping device for releasingthe said block when the barrel reaches a given point in its return or forward movement, as sct forth.

7. The combinatiomwith a frame, of a plurality of barrels, each adapted to slide or recoil, inner frames, each of which is formed on or attached to one of said barrels, breechblocks litt ed to slide to and fro in said inner frames, respectively, locking devices securing the breech-blocks against their respective barrels,deten ts for unlocking the breech-block at a given point in the recoil, catches with which the breech-blocks engage after being released from the barrels, and tripping devices for releasing the breech-blocks when the barrels have reached a given point in their forward movement, as set forth.

8. The combination, with two or more automatic guns and a common frame or support in which said guns are arranged to operate independently of each other, of a device common to all the guns for controlling their operation, as set forth.

3. In a magazine lire-arm, the combination of a sliding barrel and breech-block separable from and in line therewith, a cartridgefeeding device or magazine, a shoulder or pro- Jection on the barrel, adapted in the recoil of the barrel to engage with a cartridge and force the same to the rear of the normal position of the breech, whereby on the separation of the barrel and breech-block the said cartridge may be moved transversely into line with the barrel, as set forth.

10. The combination of a sliding barrel arranged to recoil at each discharge, a frame formed on or fixed to the barrel,a breech-block tted to slide to and fro in said frame, a bar or strut pivoted to said breech-block and adapted to engage with the frame and lock the breech-block in closed position, a det-entin the path of said strut for disengaging the Vsame and unlocking the breech-block and4 barrel, a catch adapted to engage and restrain the breech-block against forward movement, and a tripping device for releasing the same, adapted t0 be brought into operation by the forward movement of the barrel and frame t a given position, as set forth.

11. The combination of the outer frame A, the barrel B, capable of sliding therein, the inner frame B', attached to the barrel and provided with a shoulder B", the breechblock C, capable of sliding to and fro in the frame B', the bar or strut C', pivoted thereto and provided with the shoulder Ca and hook tapered end C, the arm or projection A" on said outer frame, adapted to engage the bar C-, the hooked lever F, pivoted to the outer frame, and the slidingbar D, connected with the inner frame and provided with shoulders or projections D D7, as and for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination of a sliding barrel arranged to recoil at each discharge, a breechblock movable in line therewith, a firing-pin exte ding through the breech-block, a locking/device for securing the breech-block to the barrel, and a hammer in position to engagel said locking device and effect the locking of t-he block to the barrel before it strikes the firing-pin, as set forth.

13. The combination, with the barrel, the inner frame B', the breech-block C, adapted to slide therein, the pivoted bar or strut C', adapted to engage with tle inner frame, and the firing-pin ll, of the hammer H',pivoted in position to encounter the strut C' and lock the breech-block to the barrel before it (the hammer) strikes 'the tiring-pin, as set forth.

14. In amaehine-gun of the kind described, wherein both barrel and breech-block are capable of recoil and independent forward movements, the combination, with the barrel, of a spring connected therewith for etecting its return or forward movement and a spring to receive and diminish the effect of the shock produced by the recoil, as herein set forth.

15. The combination of the sliding barrel B, one or more springs connected therewith for effecting the return orforward movement thereof, the breech-block C, means for restraining it against forward movement at the termination of its recoil, and a spring or springs connected therewith for etecting its forward movement when released, as set forth.

16. The combination, with the outer frame A aud the sliding `barrel B, of the plunger E", connected to the barrel, the spring E, connected to the frame and plunger, and the supplementary spring E5, which is compressed by the plunger when drawn back by the recoil of the barrel, as set forth.

17. The combination, with the outer frame A, the sliding barrel B, and the two springs E and E, interposed between the frame and a part connected to the barrel, whereby on the recoil of said barrel one of said springs, as E, will be distended and the other com. pressed, as and for the purpose setforth.

18. The combination, with the outer frame, the sliding barrel, and breech-block, of the spring D, and the slidingbar D', carried by the breech-block and adapted on the recoilot' the breech-block to compress the spring D, as set forth.

19. The combination ofthe cartridge magazine or feeder J, and the sliding barrel B, provided with a shoulder or projection Bia on the upper side of the barrel and forward of the magazine, adapted to engage with a cartridge in the feeder wher the barrel recoils, as set forth.

20. The combination, with the magazine or IOO feeder J, the chamber A" to the rear of said feeder, and the springs A, contained therein, of the sliding barrel B, provided with a shoulder or projection B3, adapted when the barrel recoils to engage with a cartridge in the feeder and force it into the chamber A7, as set forth. i

21. The combination of the hammer II', the Sear I, the projection C5 on the brecchblock for disengaging said sear from the hammer, the scar 1', and the trigger-rod I, whereby said scar I' may be disengaged from the hammer by hand, as set forth.

22. The combination, with two or more automatic guns and a common frame or support in which said guns are mounted in a horizontal line, substantially as described, of an adjustable trigger rod or shaft common to all the guns mounted transversely t'o the barrels and formed with a spiral surface with which the sears of the barrels are adapted to engage, as set forth.

23. In an automatic gun provided with two or more barrels arrangedin a common frame, the combination, with ,the sears I of the respective barrels, of the trigger-rod I, provided with the spiral surfaces I5 I, adapted to permit the disengagement of the sears, and means for partially rotating said rod in either direction, as set forth.

24. The combination, with the triggenrod I, of the shaft K", the bevel-pinins K K', connecting said rod and shaft, and the handle K, fixed oii said shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

25. The combination, with a trigger-rod I4, of the shaft K", the bevel-pinions K K', connecting said rod and shaft, the handle K",

' fixed on said shaft, and the spring-catch K5,

.substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

26. The combination, with the trigger-rod lf, the shaft K2, and the bevel-pinions K K'-, connecting said red and shaft, of the arms Klo on the shaft K2, the oscillating cylinders K13, the springs K, contained therein, and the pliingers K12, A.vorking iii said cylinders and connected with the arms K10, as and for the purpose set forth.

27. The combination,with the outer frame 15o A, the slidingbarrel B, and the inner frame B',

of the sliding bar D4, connected to said frame .and extending to the outside of said outer frame, so that it may be utilized for drawing back-said barrel and inner frame by baud,

substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

28. The combination, with the outer .frame A, the sliding barrel l, he' inner frame B and the breech-block C, substantially as described, of the extractor G, formed with the enlarged part G', so that it will be held down 6o by the part A6 of said outer frame during the extraction of an empty cartridge-shell, substantially as set forth.

29. The combination of two or more sliding barrels 1l, an outer frame A, in which said 65 barrels are arranged,inner frames B ,formed on or attached to said barrels, breecli-blocks C, fitted to slide to and fro iii saidinner frames, bars or struts C', pivoted to said breech-blocks and adapted to engage with said inner frames, arms or projections A on said outer'frames, hooked bent levers F, pivoted to said outer frames, slidngbars Di, connected with said inner frames and provided with shoulders or projections D6 D", extractors G, firing-pins 1I, fitted to slide in said breech-blocks, and hammers II', so arranged that before they strike` said firing-pins they will cause the engagement of said bars or struts C with said inner frames, substantially as and for the pur- 8o pose set forth.

30. In an automatic gun, the combination, with a pivoted support, of a frame mounted thei'co n and capable of limited range of movement about the support in a horizontal plane, of gun-barrels mounted in said frame and adapted by their discharge and recoil to n npai't motion -to the frame and produce a dispersal of the bullets while tiring, as set forth.

31. The combination, with a gun-mounting, the upper pari, whereof is pivoted upon the base thereof, of a'tail-piece or extension fm", formed or fixed ou the said upper part, stops l, adj ustably secured to said base, and springs n, attached to said stop, substantially as set forth.

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto signed my naine inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IIIRAM STEVENS MAXIM.

Witnesses:

DAVID YOUNG,

45 Southampton Bmdmgs. C. JUNGE.

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