US499534A

US499534A - gatling

Info

Publication number: US499534A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1893-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1910-06-13

Description

(No Mode-1.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. R. J. GATLING. FEED FOR MACHINE GUNS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD J. GKATLING, OF HARTFORD, CON' NECTICUT.

FEED FOR MACHINE-GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,534, dated June 1 3, 1893. Application filed July 22. 1892. Serial No. 440,880- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD J. GATLING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeds for Machine- Guns, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

The invention relates to the devices provided for feeding cartridges into the breech of machine-guns of that class known as Gatling guns, the object being to produce a simple and cheap feed into which a number of cartridges may be rapidly placed directly from the package in which they are stored and transported, and quickly forced into the breech of the gun, whereby a number of cartridges can be discharged with great rapidity simulating volley firing.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1. is a reduced plan of a Gatling-gun provided with the improvement. Fig. 2. is a transverse section through the revolving lock-cylinder and feed of such a gun. Fig. 3. is a plan of the hopper of the gun. Fig. 4. is an edge View of the same. Fig. 5. is aview looking into the hopper. Fig. 6. is a plan of the feed-case. Fig. 7. is an end view of the feed case. Fig. 8. is an edge View of the same; and Fig. 9. is a detail vertical section of the feed gate.

In the views 1 indicates the frame; 2 the revolving barrels; and 3 the butt-casing in which,on the central shaft 4, is supported the revolving lock-cylinder 5 which bears the reci procatin g locks of a Gatling-gun of common form and construction.

Adjacent to the breech of the barrels in continuation of the casing is a hopper 6 which is pivoted to one side of the frame and provided at the opposite side with a spring catch 7 whereby the hopper may be secured down to close, or thrown over to open the breech. An opening 8 is made through a portion of this hopper and from the lower side of this opening projecting outward on an incline is ashelf 9 adapted to support the end of the feed-case which holds the cartridges. This feed-case consists of a plate 10 having along the rear edge an upright flange, a portion of which, 11, is flat while a portion,12, is provided with a mortise 13 adapted to receive and hold the heads of the cartridges. A rod 14 is secured along one side so as to extend the whole, or only a portion of the length of the plate as desired, and hinged upon this rod so that it may turn over as well as slide back and forth, is a block 15 having a handle 16. The shelf 9 preferably projects outward quite a distance to afford a firm support for the feed-case also that the case may be readily placed upon the shelf and slipped into the opening 8 in the dark. Around the upper side of the opening is a flange 17 mortised to receive and hold the flanged side of the feedcase, while on the opposite side is a flange 18 mortised to receive and hold the flat edge of the feed-case, a flange 19 being formed to guide the cartridges into the gun as they pass down the feed-case. In a mortise in'the top of the hopper preferably in an adjustable block 20 is placed a fluted roll 21 adapted to act as a gate and separate the cartridges as they are fed into the gun so that but one at a time can pass into the cartridge receiving cavity. This roll, in the construction shown, is supported upon a shaft 22 journaled in blocks 23 which are adjustably held in the block 20 by means of the screws 24. When the end of the feed-case is thrust into the opening through the hopper and there held by means of the spring catch 25, the block 15 is turned over on the rod 14 to the position illustrated in dotted outline in Figs. 6 and 7 so that the upper surface of the plate is free from obstruction. Anumber of cartridges in an original paper package or held by any other common means are placed on the plate with their heads against the flat flange 11 and as the package in this position is quickly drawn down toward the gun the heads of the cartridges pass into the mortise 13, then the package is pulled ofi and thrown aside leaving the cartridges on the plate with their heads in the mortise. The block 15 is then turned on its hinge to the position shown in full lines in the drawings and when the gun is in operation these cartridges are by a quick thrust .on the handle of the block pushed into the gun and there rapidly fired in the ordinary manner. The plate 10 may be made of any convenient length to receive any number IUIO of cartridges, and the flange 11 may be made pt suitable height so that the heads of the cartridges may be properly guided into the mortise 13 without special skill, ready to be forced into the gun. With this method of feeding the cartridges are pushed into the gun in groups during action very quickly, each group being fired rapidly as a volley with mfi'ch greater rapidity than if fed in with a regular steady feed. This is of greatutility in ordinary action but is of especial advantage when the gun is operated by means of a motor, for the 'reason that the mechanism of the gun can be operated continuously by power while the cartridges need be only fired when desirable to accomplish the greatest eflect, as in firing a volley from a boat when it .is on the crest of a wave or when an enemy sudlzienly appears and disappears.

The feed is simple and cheap in construction, readily inserted in place in the gun and is so formed as to conveniently receive a number of cartridges directly from the original package without loss of time, so that volleys can be fired with great rapidity.

Ill claim as my inventioniii. A feed for machine guns, consisting of a plate having a flange with a mortised groove adapted to receive the heads of the cartridges, and a sliding block hinged to the plate and movable thereon through the groove for forcing the cartridges therefrom, substantially as specified.

2. A feed for machine guns, consisting of a plate having a flange with a mortised groove adapted to receive the heads of the cartridges, a flange adapted to guide the heads of the cartridges into the groove, and a sliding block movable on said plate through the groove for forcing the cartridgestherefrom, substantially as specified.

3. A feed for machine guns, consisting of a plate having a flange with a mortised groove adapted to receive the heads of the cartridges, a flange adapted to guide the heads of the cartridges into the groove, a rod secured to the side of the plate, and a sliding block pivoted upon said rod for forcing the cartridges from the groove, substantially as specified.

RICHARD J. GATLIN G.