US591155A

US591155A - Recoil-operated gun

Info

Publication number: US591155A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1914-10-05

Description

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. W. S. BURGESS.

REGOIL OPERATED GUN.

No. 591,155. Patented Oct. 5,1897.

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(No Model.) W S BURGESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

REGIOIIL OPERATED GUN. No. 591,155. Patented Oct. 5,1897.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. S. BURGESS.

REGOIL OPERATED GUN.

m $5 w mafi 1 K0 rlnsr w 1 NORRIS mans co. Pmrqumu. wAswNnmm a c (No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W. S. BURGESS.

REGOIL OPERATED GUN.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM STARLING BURGESS, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

RECOlL-OPERATED GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,155, dated October 5, 1897. Application filed November 2, 1896. Serial No. 610,791. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM STARLING BURGESS, of Brookline, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Rapid-Fire or Machine Guns, of which the following description, in con nection with the accompanying drawings, is

a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object .the production of a simple, direct-acting, rapid-fire or machine gun of that class wherein the charges are delivered successively one after another to the loading-chamber from a suitable magazine, the recoil being utilized to automatically reset the parts of and load the gun preparatory to the discharge of the next shot. I have aimed to reduce the number of parts in so far as is compatible with accuracy and rapidity of operation, thus simplifying and reducing the mechanism without de-.

creasing the strength and integrity of the structure. I have shown herein a novel form of magazine as forming part of my invention, but it will be understood that if desired any other suitable form of magazine may be employed.

Various novel features of my invention will be hereinafter fully described in the specification and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1, in side elevation and partly broken out, represents a gun embodying my invention in loading position with the magazine in place. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the longitudinal axis .of the barrel with the parts in firing position,

the magazine being omitted. Fig. 3 is a similar view, the magazine being partially shown and with-the parts of the gun in loading position and taken on the line a; at, Fig. 7. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the main portion of the gun, taken on the longitudinal axis of the barrel, with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the barrel and its support,

taken on the line as, Fig. 3, through the breech-chamber. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the gun on the line a"? 00 Fig. 3, through thetrunnions. Fig. 7 is an enlarged top or plan view of a'portion of the gun, the front end thereof being broken off to save space, the magazine being shown in section. Fig. Sis a transverse sectional view of the rear end of the gun, through the back piece, on the line a a Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective detail of the breechblock. Fig. 10 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the shell carrier or transferrer. Fig. 11 is a transverse section thereof on the line a a, Fig. 10. Fig. 2 is a detail, partly in section, of the magazine-actuating pawl; and Fig. 13 is a perspective view, broken out between its ends, of the gun-frame detached, the sheet-metal casing. being omittedat the rear end of the frame. Fig. 14 is a perspective detail view of the breech-block guide and barrel-jacket, the latter being broken 01f at its front end. Fig. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of the breech-block and parts carried thereby, the breech-block and said parts being shown in the same position as in Fig. 3; and Fig. 16 is a like view showing the breech-block in locked position and with the firing-pin ready to be released to fire the gun.

I have herein shown the gun-frame as comprising four rigid metal bars a, extended in parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the gun and preferably square in cross-section,

rigidly secured at their ends to forgings a and a? in suitable manner, as by bolts or rivets 1 and 2, respectively, and also to an intermediate trunnion-band a herein shown as by rivets 3, the said band having suitable trunnions a by which the gun may be supported on the head of a tripod T, Fig. 1, or other desired form of mount.

As shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 8, the bars a of the frame are arranged in the form of a rectangular figure, giving great strength with lightness and providing ample space and support for the operative parts of the gun.

The forging a which may be termed the back piece, is shown in Figs. 8 and 13 as enlarged at its upper end and recessed to receive the side bars a, between the pairs of which at each side the breech block and breech-block support or guide O to be described, are movable, the back piece being cut out at a to receive the breech-block guide, the said guide being rigidly attached to the gun-barrel, while the depending portion a of said back piece provides a support for some of the controlling devices. A sheetmetal suitable strength,adj ustably attached at their outer ends to the front plate a of the frame and at their inner ends to the barrel extension or breech-block guide G by laterallyextended lugs c thereon, the said lugs sliding between and being guided by the two side bars a at each side of the frame.

The barrel B, having a suitable bore b and breech-chamber b of suitable shape to receive the cartridge, is rigidly secured by shrinking or other suitable means to a jacket 0, surrounding the barrel for a portion of its length, and, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is square in cross-section to enter the space between the side bars a of the frame.

The jacket is provided at each side with laterally-extended lugs O, which enter between and are guided by the two bars a at each side of the frame, the lugs being extended adjacent the jacket at 5 to bear against the vertical inner faces of the side bars.

At the rear or inner end of the barrel the jacket is bifurcated and extended rearwardly through the back piece a the two sides of such extension O forming a support orguide for the breechbl0ck, as will be described, the inner faces of the extensions being recessed at c and provided near their lower ends with shoulders c to receive and support and guide the breech-block D. Fig. 9.)

The breech-block is shown as comprising a slide-bar d, which enters the recess c of its support, said slide-bar at its rear end having separated downturned extensions cl, which rest and slide upon the longitudinal shoulders c on the breech-block guide O and the breech-block is cut out or recessed to form a longitudinal opening (1 enlarged between its (Shown separately in ends at (Z the inner faces of the extensions d being recessed at (1 Figs. 2, 3, and 8, forming curved shoulders (1 the recesses forming a chamber to receive a locking-block e, pivoted at e in the breech-block and adapted to' enter when in looking position a notch c in the connecting portion 0 of the extensions O said cross-piece or connecting portion being recessed at the rear of the notch to leave a vertical shoulder 0 with which cooperates a dog e forming a part of the locking-block e, when the latter is rocked, as will be described, by the recoil of the gun. At the instant of discharge the shoulders d transmit the recoil shock from the breech-block through the lock e to the breech-block guide O thereby causing the barrel and attached breech block guide to recoil.

A lever f is pivotally connected at its lower end by a short link f to the extension a of the back piece, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the upper end of the lever being extended between the sides of the breech-block guide O and having pivoted thereto at f 2 an arm f through an opening f of which is extended an upturned finger e forming a rigid part of the locking-block e, the under side of the arm f being notched at f to be engaged by a detentf, pivoted at f in a slot at the rear end of the breech-block and controlled by a spring 8.

The detent is provided with a laterally-offset toe f in the path of and to be engaged by a shoulder a on one of the extension-pieces or sides O as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

The cross connection 0 0E the breech-block guide C is reduced in width and downturned to form a foot 0 through which is extended a slide-rod f pivoted at f on the lever f, the lever-arm between f and f .being substantially twice as great as the length of 'the leenlargement or flange f thereon at the rear of the foot 0 a spiral spring 3' surrounding the rod between the front of the foot and an adjustable collar f, held on the threaded front end of the slide-rod.

The flattened portion 01 of the breech-block has upon its under side a longitudinally-extend'ed rounded tubular portion (1 to inclose the firing-pin g, (see Figs. 2, 3, and 11,) the forward end of the part (1 being transversely recessed at its under side at 61 while the tubular enlargement is carried beyond the breech-block, as at d", Fig. 9, and cylindrical in form to enter and close the breech-chamber when the cartridge is in place.

Cartridge-gripping jaws j are pivoted at to the-breech-block in the recess (1 one at each side of the tubular extension (1 said jaws at their forward ends being slightly concaved longitudinally at j Fig. 10, to embrace the sides of the cartridge-case. The jaws are normally separated by suitable leaf-springs s interposed between them and the projecting part (1 as clearly shown in Fig. 10, the

jaws and enlargement being preferably recessed to hold the springs in place. The jaws are extended rearwardly beyond their pivots and inturned at 7' to enter small holes (1 in the tubular enlargement (Z of the breechblock, the said ends j of the jaws cooperating with and being controlled by the firingpin, which is reduced in diameter at g and enlarged to elliptical form in cross-section at g at its front end.

By referring to Fig. 10 it will be obvious that when the firing-pin is drawn back, or to the left viewing said figure, the. gradual en largement thereof will act upon the inturned ends j of the gripping-jaws to separate them and thereby close the outer or gripping faces of the jaws upon a cartridge H, the shoul- IIO dersj formed at the inner ends of the gripping-faces, closing over the usual base-ring or enlargement of the cartridge-case to extract the latter after firing.

The firing pin is extended through the breech-block into the recess d therein and has secured thereto a block 9 acted upon by a suitable firing-spring s rigidly secured at one end to a pin 9 in the breech-block.

The block 9 has extended rearwardly therefrom a latch 9 to be engaged when the firingpin is withdrawn by a suitable notched :sear g pivoted at g to the breech-block and normally held by a spring 8 against a stop-pin or projection 12, the scar being released or tripped by a suitable wiper 25, fast on a rockshaft t, supported in suitable bearings I? on the gun-frame and actuated by a trigger T of suitable construction, movement of the triggercausing the wiper t to wipe over and depress the tail of the sear when the latter is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 16, to thereby trip the sear, releasing the latch g and permitting the firing-spring s to throw the firing-pin and fire the cartridge.

By referring to Figs. 3 and 15, wherein the parts of the gun are'shown in extended position ready to load, it will be seen that the firing-pin is, relatively to the breech-block, in firing position, and it will be obvious that said firing-pinmust be withdrawn in the breech block into the retracted position shown in Figs. 2 and 16 in engagement with the sear before the cartridge is inserted in the barrel.

Referring now to Fig. 2, let it be supposed that the gun is fired. Then thefiring-pin, having been thrown forward by its actuatingspring 3 until it strikes the cartridge, assumes a position relative to the breech-block substantially as shown in Fig. 3. At the in stant of discharge, however, the recoil of the gun acts, through the breech-block and lock e, upon the foot C forming a part of the breech-block guideC to throw the lever f from the position shown in Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrow 25. The upper end of the lever moving more rapidly acts, through its arm f to turn the locking-block c on its fulcrum e, the dog e acting upon the vertical shoulder c as soon as the block leaves its holding-recess c to slowly move the breechblock relatively to its guide to thereby start the cartridge from the breech-block chamber, such retarded movement of the breech-block continuing until the shoulders f X on the arm 1" engage the lowermost shoulders 20 of the enlarged part (1 of the recess in the breechblock. Thereafter as the upper end of the lever f continues to move in the direction of the arrow 25, Fig. 2, the breech-block must move in unison therewith, and such movement of the breech-block continues until the gradually-decreasing force of the recoil is equalized by the tension of the retractingsprings S, the parts in such position being slightly farther to the left than as shown in Fig. 3. Just after the initial movement of the breech-block described the notch f of the arm f moves past the detentf", and when the outward movement of the breech-block ceases and its inward movement begins, due to the tension of the retracting-springs S, the detent enters the notch, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the locking-block 6 will be held in the position shown in Fig. 3 until positively released, and the breech-block must travel in unison with the upper end of the lever f.

' The breech-block and firing-pin will start in unison in the direction of the arrow 30,.

Fig. 3, and the firing-pin is not retracted relatively to the breech-block until a springcontrolled locking-pawl g on the block g engages the shoulder c on the breech-block guide C thereby retarding or holding the tiring-pin until the sear 9 carried by the breech-block, advances far enough to engage the latch g and the beveled end of the locking-pawl g is then engaged and tripped by a pin 18 on the breech-block, the tripped pawl being shown clearly in Fig. 2 with the sear in engagement with the firing-pin latch g After the trip of the pawl g the firingpin and breech-block continue their movement together until the toe f 8 of the detent f in turn is engaged by the shoulder 0 withdrawing the detent from engagement with the arm f and disconnecting the lever f and breech block, the latter then closing the breech, and the continued movement of the lever f then acts to turn the locking-block e from its fulcrum into engagement with the locking-notch ,c

The spring 8 will act as a buffer or cushion for the barrel to prevent shock as the breech of the barrel is closed by the breechblock, it being remembered that the lower end of the lever f has its fulcrum fixed or stationary. The spring 3' is of such strength that during almost the entire inward movement of the breech-block and guide the flange f will be held against the foot 0 and when the breech-block is fully entered into the breech the upper end of the lever cannot move farther relatively to the breech-block guide O and should the barrel and the attached breech-block guide tend to move still farther forward, due to its inertia, then the spring 8' would be compressed by the foot 0 moving with the barrel, and said spring would then act as a bufier or cushion.

The breech-block guide O is provided with a cartridge-support 0 to receive a fresh cartridge from the magazine, to be described, the support being so located that the plate portion d of the breech-block slides back and forth over said support in the movement of the block.

When the gun is in firing position, Fig. 2, the breech-block is shown as extended over the cartridge-support, and when the breechblock moves forward from the position shown in Fig. 3 the jaws j thereof will engage and grip the cartridge then on the support,- the closing of the jaws being effected by retraction of the firing-pin g, as has been described.

After the cartridge is gripped forward movement of the breech-block will transfer the cartridge from the support 0" across the open space 0 between it and the breech of the barrel, and the cartridge will finally be inserted in the breech-chamber b. The support 0 is below a horizontal line passing through the .bore of the barrel, in order that the forwardly-extended portion d of the breech-block can slide over said support in its return movement, and the nose of the projectile will lift slightly on entering the breech-chamber to properly position the projectile.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that the breech-chamber is laterally recessed at b to receive the forward ends of the jaws as they are closed upon the cartridge, while the tubular portion d of the breech-block enters and completely closes the rear end of the chamber.

When the gun is discharged, the firing-pin g is thrown forward by its spring 3 so that the enlarged portion 9 thereof is moved toward the outer ends of the jaws and bringing the reduced portion 9' opposite the inturned ends 3" of said jaws, so that when the breechblock is retracted, as has been described, the jaw-springs s will open them as soon as they pass beyond the retaining-walls (see Fig. 4) of the breech-block guide immediately at the rear of the breech of the barrel, so that the empty cartridge-case will not be released by the grippers until it is sulficiently'withdrawn from the breech-chamber to insure its discharge therefrom through the opening 0 described.

be described.

The magazine consists, essentially, of a cylinder M, closed at its lower end, except for the elongated radially-disposed opening an, and provided with a foot M, shown in Fig. 3 as extended into a suitable recess in the trunnion-ring a the cylinder at its opposite side having an exterior lug to form a slightlyconcaved seat m for the eccentrically-mounted locking-stud m on a yoke m pivoted at m on the gun-frame, the eccentric lockingstud m having a suitable handle m If the handle is turned down to the left, Fig. 3, the stud will be rocked to lift it from its seat m and the yoke m can be turned upon its pivot to withdraw the locking-stud, so that the magazine maybe removed, when desired, for recharging or refilling.

The bottom of the cylinder M hasan upturned central boss m to support a grid m, mounted to rotate on a vertical pin or stud m the said grid, as best shown in Fig. 7, having a series of radial openings or pockets m therein of such shape and size as to permit the passage therethrough of a single car- -position above the chute 0.

tridge at a time, the depth of the grid being about equal to the diameter of the cartridge.

Upon the interior of the cylinder M are secured in suitable manner a series of stalls N, each stall being preferably composed of sheet metal or suitable light material and in crosssection, as shown in Fig. 7, having a shape approximating that of a cartridge. These stalls extend from just above the grid m to substantially the upper end of the cylinder M,

and when the magazine is charged each stall is filled with a series of cartridges, resting one upon another, the. lowermost cartridge of the series, however, entering the pocket m of the grid which is beneath the stall, and thus supporting the superimposed cartridges in that particular stall.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that if the grid is rotated intermittingly to bring one pocket after another over the discharge-chute 0. the pockets will each discharge a cartridge therefrom into the chute.

There is no stall in the magazine immediately above the discharge-chute a and when a cartridge is discharged from the grid, which is practically a carrier or transferrer, the empty pocket at the next movement of the transferrer will be moved beneath the stall next beyond to receive therefrom the lowermost cartridge of its series, and that cartridge would make one nearly complete revolution with the transferrer before being brought into It will be seen, therefore, that the first stall beyond the discharge-opening m of the magazine will be the first stall emptied, and then the second stall will be emptied, then the third, and so on until the cartridges have been transferred from all of the stalls in the magazine to the cartridge-support 0 The cylinder M has mounted therein a shaft n, transverse to the length of the gun and provided inside the cylinder with a cam 01/ in engagement with an arm n pivoted at one end at n on the cylinder-wall and slotted or forked at n at its other end to receive a slide-rod n vertically movable in the bearing m on the cylinder and normally depressed by a spring 8 the upper end of which may be held against the top or cap of the cylinder.

The slide-rod n is located in the vertical plane of the discharge-openin g m of the magazine and is headed at its lower end at n to yieldingly bear upon a cartridge on its support 0 and retain it in place until firmly gripped by the jaws carried by the breech-block.

The rock-shaft n is extended through the wall of the magazine-cylinder M and has fast thereon a rocker-arm M, the lower end of which is engaged by a suitable yoke n suit-- ably bolted to the breech-block guide to move therewith and from which it may be readily detached when it is desired to remove the barrel from the frame.

When the barrel and breech-block guide move forward, the rock-shaft n will be partially rotated to lift the cam n and thereby the arm 71?, the latter raising the headed slide rod 02, from engagement with the cartridge, as the latter is then firmly held by the gripping-jaws, and the slide-rod continues to rise until its head assumes about the dotted-line position n", Fig. 3.

The transferrer or grid m is provided with a series of peripheral pins or projections 111, which are exposed through a horizontal slot in the wall of the cylinder M to the action of a spring-pawl m mounted in cars 72 on the rocker-arm n and controlled by a suitable spring 5 Just as the head or of the slide-rod clears the top of the grid or transferrer the pawl m will engage one of the projections m of the transferrer, and as the rocker-arm n completes its movement, due to the movement of the breech-block guide, the transferrer will be rotated one step, or sufficiently to bring a new pocket over the discharge-opening m. A suitable detent-pawl m prevents retrograde motion of the transferrer as the arm n is swung back by the recoil into the position shown in Fig. 1 and the pawl m clicks back ready to engage the next succeeding projection on the following forward stroke of the rocker-arm. When the rocker-arm swings rearwardly, the cam 'n is depressed, permitting the spring 5 to act upon the slide-rod n and follow the transferred cartridge down through the chute (it onto the support 0 as soon as the portion b of the breech-block slides back from off the support.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 15, and 16, I have shown a cover-plate D secured to the rear end of the breech-block and covering or protecting the mechanism carried by said block between the depending portions d thereof, the cover-plate being cut away at 80 to permit the passage therethrough of the upturned end of the sear g to allow the wiper t to cooperate therewith, said cover-plate also having a' suitable opening to accommodate the upturned portion 6 of the locking-block.

. A suitable shoulder-rest R (shown only in Fig. 1) is secured to the gun-frame and is adapted to be held against the shoulder of the operator when the, gun is in use in order to train or direct the gun, as may be desired. Suitable sights will be providedin usual manner, and to prevent accidental movement of the trigger the same is protected by a guard T partly broken out in Fig. 7 and only indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The trigger is provided with a trigger-spring S (see dotted lines, Fig. 3, and full lines, Fig. 7,) tending to normally retain the trigger and wiper t in the position shown in Fig. 2.

If the dotted-line position of the wiper in Fig. 2 is referred to, it will be seen that by holding the trigger retracted the gun will operate automatically, for the portion g of the sear will be engaged by the wiper at every forward or firing movement of the breechblock to thereby release the firing-pin and discharge the gun.

Inasmuch as the operation of the gun mechanism is due to the recoil itis necessary before firing the first shot to draw back the breech-block and breech-block guide into the position shown in Fig. l by hand, and for this purpose I. have secured a suitable handhold or grip G to one side of the breech-block guide 0". In order, therefore, to begin firing, the operator will first grasp the handhold G and draw the breech-block guide rearwardly until a cartridge has been transferred from the magazine to the cartridge-support 0 whereupon the handhold is released and the gun loaded by virtue of the recoil-springs S. Thereafter the gun will automatically load after each shot fired, as has been hereinbefore described. 1

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement herein shown, as the same may be modified without departin gfrom the spirit and scope of my invention.

If desired or found necessary, the barrel may be provided with a water-jacket of any usual or suitable construction.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-" a 1. In .a machine-gun, a supporting-frame, the barrel longitudinally movable therein, a barrel-retracting spring, means to at times lock the barrel and breech-block from relative movement, a spring-controlled firing-pin carried by the breech-block, outwardly movable therewith, cocking mechanism for the pin, automatically operated upon return of the breech-block, a manually-controlled releasing device for said mechanism, actuating mechanism for the breech-block governed by the recoil,and connections between saidm echanism and the locking means, to control the latter, substantially as described.

2. In a machine-gun, abreech-block reciprocable in the direction of the length of the barrel, and moved'in one direction by-the recoil, means to positively move it .in the opposite direction, a spring-controlled firing-pin longitudinally movable in said block, mechanism to retain the firing-pin stationary during a portion of such latter movement of the breech-block, a releasing device for the pin, operative when the breech-block is locked, and a locking device for said breech-block to retain it in firing position, substantially as described.

3. Ina machine-gun, a longitudinally-movmeans, combined with means carried by the breech-block to positively retain the locking device inoperative during the return movement of the breech-block, and a trip to release the locking device when the breechblock reaches the end of such movement, substantially as described.

4. Inamachine-gun, a longitudinally-movable breech-block guide, a breech-block reciprocable thereon, means, actuated by the recoil, to move the breech-block and guide outwardly at difierent speeds, a detent for the breech-block, operative during a portion of its inward movement, alocking device for the breech-block, governed by said actuating means, and a trip for the detent, substantially as described.

5. Inamachine-gun, a longitudinally-movable breech-block guide, a breech-block reciprocable thereon, a spring-controlled firin gpin longitudinally movable in said breechblock, the barrel rigidly attached to the said guide, a supporting-frame in which the barrel and guide are movable, mechanism to cock -or set the firing-pin on the inward movement of the breechblock, means, actuated by the recoil, to move the breech-block outwardly and relatively to its guide, a retracting-spring to efiect the return of the barrel and guide to normal position, to thereby move the breechblock inward, and a releasing device for the firing-pin, substantially as described.

6. In a machine-gun, a breech-block reciprocable-in the direction of the length of the barrel, means controlled by the recoil to actuate the breech-block, a firing-pin longitudinally movable in said breech-block, its actuating-spring,a sear mounted on the block,

a cooperating latch on the firing-pin, and

means to hold the firing-pin stationary relatively to the breech-block on the inward movement of the latter, substantially'asdescribed.

7. In a machine-gun, a breech-block reciprocable in the direction of the length of the barrel, means controlled by the recoil to actuate the breech-block, a spring-controlled firing-pin longitudinally movable in said breech-block, means to set or cock the pin on the inward movement of the breech-block, and a scar and cooperating latch, to retain the firing-pin cocked, substantially as described.

8. In a machine-gun, a breech-block reciprocable in the direction of the length of the barrel, means controlled by the recoil to actuate the breech-block, a spring-controlled firing pin longitudinally movable in said breech-block, means to set or cook the pin on the inward movement of the breech-block, and a trip for said means, a sear and cooperating latch, to retain the pin cocked, and means controlled by a trigger to disengage the scar and latch, substantially as described.

9. In a machine-gun, a breech-block guide, a breech-block reciprocable thereon, a springcontrolled firing-pin longitudinally movable in said breech-block, means to automatically set it on the inward movement of the breechblock, means actuated by the recoil to operate the breech-block, cartridge-gripping devices mounted on the latter, to grip a cartridge, insert it in the barrel, and eject the empty shell, and means, controlled jointly by movement of the breech-block and firing-pin to operate said gripping devices, substantially as described.

10. In a machine-gun, the barrel and attached breech-block guide, a breech-block reciprocable in the latter, a supporting-frame on which the barrel and guide are longitudinally movable, retractile springs for the barrel, means, actuated by the recoil, to move the breech-block outwardly, and a buffer forming a part of said means to cushion the return of the barrel to firing position, substantially as described.

11. In a machine-gun, the barrel and attached bifurcated breech-block guide provided with a shoulder, a breech-block reciprocable in and between the sides of the latter, a supporting-frame on which the barrel and guide are longitudinally movable, retractile springs for the barrel, means, actuated by the recoil, to move the breech-block out-' wardly, a locking device pivotally mounted on the block to at times lock the breech-block to its guide, a dog, forming a part of said locking'device andmeans to rock said device to bring the dog into engagement with the shoulder and thereby effect a slow initial movement to the breech-block and guide in unison and to thereafter fully release the locking device, substantially as described.

12. In a machine-gun, an open supportingframe, comprising upper and lower side bars in parallelism, end pieces and a trunnionring rigidly secured thereto, a barrel, and a breech-block guide rigidly attached thereto, both longitudinally movable on said frame and within the side bars thereof, a breechblock reciprocable on its guide, a retractile spring, and a bufier for the barrel upon its return to normal position, substantially as described.

13. In a machine-gun, a longitudinallymovable bifurcated breech-block guide, a breech block reciprocable within the side walls thereof, means actuated by the recoil, to move said guide and block outward, said means including an accelerating-lever yieldin gly connected between its ends to the guide, and connections between the free end of the lever and breech-block, to start the latter slowly, and thereafter to increase the speed of the breech-block relatively to the guide, and aretractile spring to return the said guide to normal position, substantially as described.

14. In a machine-gun,a breech-block,means actuated by the recoil, to cause it to recipro cate in the direction of the length of the barrel, a firing-pin, a device fixed relatively to the breech-block to move the firing-pin into cooking position at or near the beginning of the return movement of the breech-block, means carried by the breech-block to thereafter move forward, engage and retain the IIC said retaining means, whereby the gun may be discharged automatically or at will, substantially as described.

15. In a machine-gun,the barrel, a breechblock guide movable therewith, and having a locking-notch, a reciprocating recessed breech-block, having curved shoulders, a locking-block pivoted in the recess to rest against the curved shoulders and enter the notch, to thereby look the breech-block to the guide, accelerating mechanism to reciprocate the breech-block relatively to the guide, connections between said mechanism and the locking-block to rock the latter, and unlock said guide and breech-block, the shoulders transmitting the recoil shock through the 1ocking-block to the guide, and retractile springs to control the recoil of the barrel, substantially as described.

16. A magazine for machine-guns, comprisin ga fixed cylindrical case having a dischargeopening in its lower end, an intermittinglymovable transferrer movable over said lower end and having open, cartridge -receiving pockets, means to support a series of superposed cartridges in the case above the transferrer to deliver the cartridges one by one to the latter, a follower reciprocable in line with the discharge-opening of the case, to follow a discharged cartridge through said opening, and means to reciprocate the follower, substantially as described.

17. In a machine-gun, a breech-block reciprocable in alinement with the barrel, devices carried by said breech-block to grip a cartridge and insert it in the breech-.cham

ber, a cartridge-magazine having a dischargeopening, a support located below the opening to receive a cartridge from the magazine and support it until engaged by the gripping devices, a transferrerto deliver cartridges one by one to the discharge-opening of the magazine, and means to actuate the transferrer intermittingly, substantially as described.

18. In a machine-gun, a stationary magazine having a discharge-opening in its lower end, a transferrer to deliver cartridges singly to said opening, a support below the opening, to receive and sustain a cartridge discharged from the magazine, means operative by the recoil, to actuate the transferrer, and a carrier to en gage a supported cartridge, and convey it to the breech-chamber, substantially as described.

19. In a machine-gun, a stationary magazine having a discharge-opening in its lower end, a transferrer to deliver cartridges singly to said opening, a support below the opening, to receive and sustain a cartridge discharged from the magazine, a follower to yieldingly retain a cartridge on its support, means operative by the recoil, to operate the transferrer and follower intermittingly, and a carrier to positively engage a supported cartridge and convey it to the breech-chamber, substantially as described.

20. In a machine-gun, the barrel having a breech-chamber provided with lateral recesses, a cartridge-support, a cartridge-carrier having jaws to grip and hold a supported cartridge and convey it to the breech-chamber, means to retain the jaws closed until the empty shell has been withdrawn from the breech-chamber, and mechanism controlled by the recoil, to reciprocate the carrier and operate the jaws, the latter entering the lateral recesses of the breech-chamber when the cartridge is therein, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM STARLING BURGESS;

Witnesses:

JOHN G. EDWARDS, ALEX. C. PROUDFIT.