US669236A - Automatic machine-gun. - Google Patents

Description

Patented EJiar. 5 19m,

F. m. GARLAND.

AUTOMATIC FfiMii-HHE GUN.

(Application m'ea Feb. 16, 1900.)

(No Modei.)

Inventon Witnessex. ham A wyfi. 54w; 7/( 022.4076,

Attorney.

'0. 669,236. Paten ted marfs, l90l.

r. M. GARLAND.

'AUTUMATIG MACHINE GUN.

(Application filed Feb. 16, 1900.:

' 7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Attorney.

Patenisd Mar. 5, 890i. F. M. GAELANB.

AUYGEATIG HAEHINE GUN.

m. esamsas.

(Application filed Feb. 16, 1900.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 3.

YintOl 4 Attol eg m m 5 h a .M d e t n e t a P D N A L R A G M Ch 6 3 9 6 6 0 N AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

{Application filed Feb. 16, 1900.}

(No Model.)

7 Sheets-Shoat 4' Inventor. I 4 V VVitnesses.

mow. A 5;

Ml 669,233 Patented Mar. 5, I908. r. m. GARLAND. AUTDHATIG MAM-"NE GUN.

(Application filed Feb, 16, 1900.;

7 Shank-Shoot 5 Inventor. aw M. f h aux! Attorney.

No. 669,236. Patented am. 5, 19 0:.

F. m. GARLAND.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE sun.

(A plication filed Feb. 16, 1900.) (No Model.) 7 Sheets-8haat 7,

1 a tto 1" may.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

FRANK M. GARLAND, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 669,236, dated March 5, 1901.

Application filed February 16, 1900. Serial No. 5,499. \Ng model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. GARLAND, a citizen of the United States,residingat New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of-Connecticnt, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Machine-Guns, of which the following is a Specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic machine-guns, and has especial reference .to that class of machine-gunsin which the mechanism is actuated by the recoil of the barrel.

It is one ObjGOh'Of my invention, among other things, to construct a gun of this character having variable means connected with the breech-block mechanism for regulating and controlling the speed of movement thereof, so that the cartridge may be pushed home and the gun loaded at any desired speed.

It is a further object of my invention to perform thenecessary operations required with the fewest possible parts, which shall be so grouped as to occupy the smallest. possible space and be designed so as to be economically constructed and readily assembled.

In the machinegun hereinafter described 7 the barrel is mounted in a case and connected with a piston which is movable within a fluid-chambor, the flow of fluid therein being controlled so that the barrel will recoil at apredetermined speed. Rotatably mounted within the case beneath the breech end of the barrel is a sleeve connected by lever mechanism with the breech-block. As the barrel recoils the breech-block mechanism is carried rearwardly therewith and through the said lever mechanism impartsa partial rotation to the said sleeve against the action of a spring inclosediherein. At the extreme rearward limit of movement of the barrel a pawl having a portion thereof broken away.

receives thecartridges from a magazine separably attached to the case and presents them to the breech block mechanism. breech block mechanism reaches substantially its rearmost position the carrier is forced outward a sufficient distance toadmit a cartridge into the case, which drops upon alatch-lever secured to the carrier and releases the same. The carrier being new free is swung inwardly by a spring, and a new cartridge is pushed in between the extractorfinger-sand is thereheid, at the same time forcing out the empty shell, which is 'disengaged through the case. The inward movement of the carrier actuates the pawl, before referred to, so that it is released from the sleeve when the new cartridge has been fixed 'in the extractor-fingers, and the spring then .re-turns the said sleeve to its original position, which through the lever mechanism carries the breech-block forward and forces the cartridge home. Connected with thespringsleeve is a piston movable 'within a li uidchamber connected by parts with an auxiliary fl uid-cham her. The speed of the return movement of the sleeve is determined by the liow ot' fluid from the fluid-chamber to the auxiliary chamber, part for the fluid control being variable by means of a device actuated fromthe rear end of the gun. The breech-block mechanismis self-locking andconstructed so that it moves forward without rotation until a part thereof 85 enters the breech end of the barrel, when through an interrupted screw connection the same is rotated and lockedin the breech of the gun. This relieves the breech-block and lever mechanisms from the force of theexplosion, and hence I am enabled to construct these parts of very light material, thereby.

greatly lessening the weight of the gun.

Referring to the drawings; in which like numerals designate like parts in th several 9':

views, Figure l is a side elevation ot'the gun, Fig.

2 is a rear viewwithout the mount. Fig. 3

is a side elevation of the rearend of the rangeadjusting devices. beiug'partly in section. 11 Fig. 4 is a view of the interior mechanisms with the case shown in section. Fig ois a detailed view'of thefluid-chamber and the adjacent parts for controlling the speed of As the 55 and vice versa, the size of the through and within which the firing-pin 22 is actuated, the rear end of the bore being closed by a plug 23, having a tapered threaded body in engagement with an interior thread in the a recess 28 in the face-bolt, a spring-shield 29, between which and the shoulder 30 upon the face-bolt are a plurality of Bellevillc springs, and a lip 31, which projects from the outside of the said extractor-fingers into a recess or spline 32 in the barrel and a corresponding recess or spline 32 in the arms of the breech-frame, both of which splines are in line with each other and form a continuousun broken recess. The engagement of the lip 31 with the recesses 32 32 holds the face bolt against rotation.

Surrounding the shank of the face-bolt and movable lengthwise thereon is a rotator-33, having recesses 34 34 in the top-and bottom thereof and into-which project the guideways 35 35 upon the opposing faces of the arms'of the breech-block frame. A stud 36 projects laterally from one side of the rotator and is engaged by the socket 79 in the breecltblock lever 37.

Upon the shell of the rotator a male thread 38 is out, having a long easy pitch of, say, about one turn to eight inches, which engages with the female thread 59 in the bore of the locking-bolt 40. v

Between the head of the face-bolt 20 and the rotator 33, bcim supported at its forward end by the shank of said face-bolt, (see Fig. 23,) is the locking-bolt 40, having a hollow shank portion with an interior thread 39 of the same pitch as the thread upon the rotator, and a head portion 41, upon the outside of which is a plurality, preferably four in number, of threaded projections 42, corresponding with a like number of threaded projections in the breech end of the gun-barrel.

The numeral 22 designates the firing-pin, the head of which is of substantially the same diameter as the bore 21, it being held against rotation therein by the cars 43 43, which project into the splines 44 44 in the face-bolt. Au interrupted exterior thread 45 upon the shank of the firing-pin admits of a quick and a locked engagenn-mt of tho firing-pin in the firing-pin head 46, which has a corresponding interrupted interior thread within the central hub thereof. The firing-pin head 46 is provided with recesses" in the top and bottom thcreof,which haveaslidingengagement with guideways 35 A sear 47 is secured within an opening 48 in the lower arm of the breechblockframe upon a pintle 49 and is provided with rocker-arms 50, cut away at 168 to permit a yielding movement of the upper parts thereof, catch-arms 51, and an operating-arm 52. Fixed to the rear end of the case 1 is a pistol-gri p 54, and pivotally secured therein is the finger-lever 55, to the upper end of which is attached the sear-bar 56, which is flattened and drawn out very thin at its forward end, where it abuts against the operating-arm 52 of the sear. Thesear-bar 56 is supported near its front end by the wall 57 of the case 1.

(See Figs. 8 to In Fig. 23 tl1e.breech-block mechanism is shown in itsclosed or firing position, with the firing-pin held by the sear preparatory to firing. In this position the front face of the vrotator 33 is flush with the rear face ofthehead of the locking-bolt 40 and the front of the face-bolt is tl nsh with the rear-face of the bore-tube 53 Within the barrel, the threaded projections 42 upon the locking-bolt having engagement with the threaded projections in the breech end of the barrel. .By pressing the finger-lever 55 the sear-bar 56 is pushed -forward and thesear is rocked upon the pintle 49 and the catch-arms 5] released from the notches 158 in the firing-pin head. The coil-spring 58, surrounding the shank of the firing-pin, which has been held in a compressed position by the sear, is now released, and its expansion carries the firing-pin forward, the point of which strikes the primer of the cartridge and discharges the same. After the gun has been fired the rotator is drawn to the rear by the levermechanism through its connection with the stud 36, moving between the guideways 35 and sliding over the shank of the face-bolt 20. The backward movementof the rotator, which it will )9 remembered is held against rotation, imparts a slight rotary movement to the locking-bolt about its axis and disengages the threaded projections 42 upon thelocking'bolt from the threaded projections in the breech of the barrel, permitting the locking-bolt and rotator to move backwardly together, the ex! ractor-fingers withdrawing the cartridgeshell from the barrel. The head of the plug 23forms a stop for the rotator, and therefore limits the amount of rotation that can be given to the locking-bolt. All of the parts excepting the rotatori'emain stationary while the locking-bolt is being unscrewed from the breech of the gun and until the rotator strikes the head of the plug 23, when ail of the parts move in unison. When unscrewed, the project ions 42 upon the locking-bolt are opposite the recesses between the projections in the breech of the gun, and vice versa, the line'A B of Fig. 29 being then vertical. The firingpin head 46 is also pushed rearwardly by the plug in its backward movement. A plan view of the parts in their relative positions when nmving in the breech-block frame is shown in Fig. 26'. Between the rotator and lockingbolt a coil-spring 5.) is inserted which normally thrusts the same apartand reduces materially the friction between the threads of the locking-bolt and those in'the breech end of the barrel, when the said locking-bolt is being rotated, as it counteracts the pull of the rotator. This spring is of sufficientstrength to hold the front end of the face-bolt tightly against the rear end of the barrel-tube While the locking-bolt is being rotated, and thus reducing the sliding friction between the threads to practically nothing, insuring thereby an easy movement of the lockingbolt within the breech end of the barrel. When the backward stroke or the breech-block mechanism is about completed, the rear ends ofthe extractor-fingers abut against pins 60 60 in the breech-block frame, which push the extractor-lingers forward,com pressing the Belleville springs and releasing the cartridge,which can now be removed and a new one insc? At the beginning of the forward stroke the extractor-fingers are released from the pins 60 (i0 and the cartridge is held rigid against the front of the face-belt. All of the parts move forward together until the catch-arms 51 51 of the sear engage with the notches 158, which hold the firing-pin head against further forward movement until released by actuating the sear, as before described. The balance of the breech-block mecha iiism continues its forward movement until the cartridge is pushed home in the gun-barrel. The facebolt now remains statioi'iary and the rotator continues its forward movement alone, which additional movement rotates the locking-bolt about its axis, and the threaded projections thereon engage with those within the interior of the breech of the barrel, as before do scribed, locking the face-bolt and all of the face-bolt and the locking-bolt to permit the same to slide over the arms of the sear. In

thebottom of the rotator the recesses 62 are not cut entirely through from front to rear,

I imtrtcrminate midway of its length to permil the sear to be actuated when the rotater is home, illustrated in Fig. 21-. As thoroiator 33 rides over the rocket-arms 5O 50 of the sear the witch-arms 51 5] are thrown upward into the pathof the tiring-pin head and enter the notches 158 therein, holding the same against movement while the rotator advances. When the rotator comes to rest, the recesses 02 are directly over the rockerarms 50 50 and the sear can be swung upon its pivet-mountings, so that the catch-arms will be disengaged from the iiringpin head.

During the return movement of the breech fecting or engaging with the catch-arms 51; but as the breech mechanism continues its rearward movement the ends of the recesses 169 engage with and depress the catch-arms 51, at the same time elevating the arms 50 against the bottom of the rotator. As the arms 50 have a slight yielding movement, due to the recesses 168 therein, the catch-arms can be depressed sufficiently to permit the firingpin head to pass over them and be disengaged from the sear. This construction of parts in sures a positive means against accidental or premature discharges of the piece before the breech-block mechanism is at rest and the cartridge home in the barrel, as the forward movement of the rotator insures a positive engagement'of. the sear with the firing-pin head, which cannot be released until the brecch block mechanism is home and at rest.

Rotatably mounted between the sides of the case 1 beneath the breech end of the barrel is the sleeve 63, supported at one end by a boss 130 and at the other end by a bushing 64, fitted into the side of the case. Extending through said sleeve and case is a springbolt 65, having a radially-slotted head 6-7 and a nut 66 threaded'thereon. Surrounding'the spring-boa; is a coilspring 70, whiclris fixed t ..s end to a pin 68 in the spring-bolt and at the other end to a pin 69 within the sleeve. The sleeve 63 is actuated manually by means of the handlever 71, rotatably mounted within the bushing 64 and through the hub of which passes the spring-bolt 65, the handgrip 72 being secured to one end of said'lever upon a stud 73. A recess is cut in the end of the sleeve 63, Figs. 10, 11, and 12, for the reception of the lug 74 upon the hand-lever 71, U. I. recess being of suificient width to permit the movement of the sleeve without movement of the handlever. When the parts are in the position show-n in Fig. 4, the shoulder 75 at one end of said recess is against the face of the lug 71, and by now moving the handlever the engagement of the lug 74 with the shoulder 75 causes the sleeve (53 to rotate and to actuate the other mechanisms. The tension of the coil-spring 70 is varied by shifting the relative position of the pin GS-With the pin 69, which is accomplished by rotating the spring-bolt upon its axis and securing it in a new position. To rotate the springboit, the hand-lever 71 is turned upon its hub until the groove 76 is brought into register with one of the radial grooves 77, when a key of any common construction is placed in said groove, making a rigid connection between the two parts. Now by uulooscning the nut 66 and by swinging the llttlld-IGVGI the spring-bolt is rotated and the tension of the spring is increased or lessened, according to the direction of rotation, and when the desired tension is attained the nut 06 is again tightened and the spring-bolt 65 isheld rigid in its new position. During the operation just described the lug Ti moves within the r cess.

cut in the end of the sleeve (J3.

iugs I have illustrated a device which contension of the toil-spring 70. F5

Any form of preferred device maybe used to retain the hand-lever 71. in its vertical position against accidentaldisplacement. the particular former construction of which is immaterial .to my invention. In the drawsists of a boss 78 upon the side of the case, which fits into a recess upon 'the inner side of the lever. (See Fig. 7.)

. The breech-block lever mechanism comprises a breech-block lever 37, having a hub end thereon within whicbis a socket 79 to re ceive the stud 36 upon the rotator, and secured at the other end to a rock-lever 80, pivotally fixed by a stud 81 to ahub 82 upon the barrel-strapB. A link 159 joins the rock-lever 80 with the lever-arm 83, which is integral with and projects radially from the sleeve Secured within the lugs 84 84 upon the bottom of the case 1 is the pawl 85, having a vertical arm 86, to which is secured one end of a pawl-bar 8 The pawl-bar 87 passes through the barrel-strap 3 and is supported at its rear end by a cam 88, held within a lug 89, depending from an interior part of the case, and lying between said strap and. the cam Se is a coil-s'pring90, which encircles the said pawl-bar. When the barrel recoils, the rotator is carried back with it, which movement of the rotator rearwardly oscillates the levers from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 10,and thereby imparting a partial rotation to the sleeve 63 against the During the recoil of the barrel the spring 90 is compressed and exerts an endwise pressure upon the pawl-bar 87 and through it to the pawl 85,

which lies normally upon the outer surface of the sleeve 63. As the barrel reaches its reartnost position the pawl 85 drops into anotch 91 in the sleeve 63 and is there held by the spring 90, thus preventinga return move- The pressure exerted upon the pawl 85 by.

ment of the sleeve 63 until the pawl 85 has been disengaged from the notch 91. When the barrel is moving forward under the action ofthe spring 11 the rock-lever is os- (-illated' through its connection with the strap 3, and when the barrel has completed its forward movement the levers occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 11, in which the hub end of the lever 37 is in its rearmost posit-ion. This movement of the levers carries th e breech-block mechanism to therear and withd raws the cartrid ge-shell from the-breech of the barrel. By swinging the pawl upon its pivot-mounting, which is done through the pawl-rod 87, the pawl 85 is lifted from the notch 91 in the sleeve 63 and the spring 70 returns said sleeve and the lever mechanism to their original positions. (See Fig. 4.)

the spring is greatest when the barrel reaches the limit of its recoil, the spring being then compressed the most at the time when the pawl engages with the notch 91.

When the pawl is-released after the barrel has moved forward again, the pressure of the it from the sleeve 63.

the slot 92.

spring is the least, or none at all, if desired; and but little-effort is required to disengage The means for actuating said lever-bar 87 will be hereinafter de scribed. I

Within the. case 1., near the forward end, is

the fluid -chamber 160 and the auxiliary cha'mber 161, which chambers are closed at either end by suitable packing-glands 162 of any preferred form or construction. The auxiliary chamber 161 is closed at its front end by the plug 163, having a hexagonal head. Movable within the ti did-chamber 160 is a piston 164, preferably integral with apiston-rod 167, that is secured at its rear end to a crosshead 165, the upper end of which. is movable in a guideway 166, integral with the case 1, and the lower end of which is provided with a slot 92, having an open throat.

Integral with the sleeve 63 are two arms 93, which extend radially therefrom, being joined at theirouter ends by a circular follower 94, which follower is movable, within The open space between the arms 93 is sufiicient to permit the cross-head .165 to pass therethrough.

In the auxiliary chamber 161 is the valve.

95, through the center 'of which is a tube 96, having a port-hole 97 through one side thereof and having an arm 98 fixed to the rear end. A coil-spring99 lies between the valve and the plug 163 and normally holds the said valve againstits'seat. The fluid-chamber 160 and auxiliary chamber 161 are connected at the front end by the port and at the rear end by the port 101. The movement of the sleeve 63 imparts a longitudinal movement tothe cross-head .165 and the piston 164 through the follower 94, which eugages with the sides of the slot-'92. The extreme positions of the'arms 93 and the follower '94 are shown in Fig. 5 by full and broken lines. During the recoil of the barrel the piston 164 moves rearwardly within the chamber and the fluid therein enters the auxiliary chamber 161 through the port 101, forcing the valve 95 off its seat against the-spring 99, and the fluid entering the opposite eudof said chamber 160 through the port 100. portion of the fluid also passes through the tube 96, entering the same through the port 97-. When the piston comes to rest, the pressure upon the fluid is removed and the valve 95 is forced back again upon its seat hythe spring 99. the pawl 85 has been lifted from the notch in the barrel 63 and the spring 70 is returning the said sleeve to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 5 the piston I64: fort-es the tluid from the chamber 160, through the -port 100, into the front end of the auxiliary cham her. 161. The only escape for the fluid from the front to the rear end of the auxiliary chamber is through the tube 96 and port 97, as the valve is held't-ightly against its seat by the spring'99.

By means of a lengthwise adjustment of (SeeFig.5.) After 9 opening'from the magazineattached to -t he gun. drawings, as it is not a part ofthe present invention. The new cartridge drops upon the inner end of the latch-lever 123 and lifts the 'latch 124 from its engagement-with the case 1, and the spring 114 then thrusts the yoke andthe carrier 109 in'wardly, the cartridge lying upon the top side of. the shelf 118. The innermost position of the carrierisillustrated by broken lines in Fig. 8 and in which posi-' tion the horizontal shelf 118 is above the lower arm of the breech-block frame 15 and the cam-plate119 below. The engagement of the shelf 117 with the case 1 holds thee-arrier against a rocking movement until the their hold upon the old shell is released. The

extractor-fingers remainin this position untii the carrier places the new cartridge between ihe said extractor-fingers, pushing out the old shell, which drops through the case, following the path designated by the arrow in Fig. 8. A knock-off arm 137 is made integral with the hub 113 of the yoke and projects laterally therefrom toward the center of the gun and iniline with the cam 88 upon the pawl-bar 87. When the new cartridge has been placed in the extractor-fingers, the knock-off arm 137 engages with the inclined face of ,said cam, moving the pawl-bar 87 lengthwise and rocking the pawl 85, so that it is disengaged from the notch-in the sleeve (53. The sleeve 63 being now released is returned to the position shown in Fig. 4 by the spring 70, as before described, and the levers move the breech-block mechanism forward,

: pushing the new cartridge home in the barrel. As soon as the breech-block mechanism begins to advance the cam 127, which has lieeiragainst the stop-shoulder 122, enters the cam-groove 120 and the carrier is pushed outward during the forward movement of the rotator until the cam rides out of said groove onto the edge 129 of the cam-plate, when the carrier is in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 8, as before described. The camgroove 120 is of varying depths, tapering from the cam edge 121 to a knife-edge at the shoulder 122. The cam 127 springs the cam-plate 119 downward while passing through said cam-groove; but instantly upon its leaving said cam-groove the cam-plate springs back again to its original position. 'lhis const-ruction prevents the cam 127 entering the camgroove from the cam 121 instead of from the stop-lug 122, which would be the case if the (tam-groove were of a uniform depth.

At no time can a cartridge pass through the opening except when the breech-block I have not shown the magazine in the.

terial to myinvenlion.

mechanism is in substantially its .rearmost position. Hence the carrier does not receive the new cartridge until said breech-block mechanism is about ready to receive it.

- Integral with the sideof the case 1 are trunnions 138,- which project laterally therefrom and are journaled in a head-yoke 159, having the hinged caps secured thereto, the shank 141. of said yoke being rotatable in a mount 151. I

Any preferred form of sight devices may be'at-tached to the gun-body, the particular form or construction of which not being malhe numerals 152 designate the sights I prefer to use, which are attached to the case 1.

The mechanism for adjusting the range of the gun either vertically or in a circular path comprises a bevel-pinion 153, rotat-ably mounted within the base of the head-yoke I 10,-) and covered by a cap 142. the said bevelpinion having engagement with an integral bevel-gear 1433 upon the top of the mount '151, a rod 144, upon the rear end of which is the-hand-wheel and having a tube; 146 fixed upon the forward end, a ball-joint 147, connecting the shank of the bevel-pinion153 with the tube 146, a threaded sleeve 154, a nut 148, havingtrunnions 149, the said nut being supported between ears 150, integralwith the case 1 and projecting downwardly therefrom, and a hand-wheel 155, keyed to the rear end of said threaded sleeve; 154.. .To mover-he barrel vertically, the hand-wheel 145is rotated, which through the threaded sleeve154 and the nut 148 is given the desiredyertical posilion, as will be clearly understood from the drawings, and to move the piece in a rotary plane the hand-wheel145'is rotated, and by means of the engagement of the bevel-pinion 153 with the bevel-gear 143 the gun is caused to move in a rotary path. Both a rotary and vertical range of adjustment at one and the same time maybe given to the barrel by rotating the hand-wheelsm and 155 synchronously.

In therear end of the case 1 is atelescopic extension-case 156, which is pushed outward tothe position shown by broken lines in Fig. 4 when the barrel recoils and remains in said rearward position until pushed in again manually. Then in its foremost position, or-that shown by full lines in Fig. 4, the head is substantially flush with the rear end of the case 1. By the use of this extension-case I am enabled to shorten the case 1 considerably, as the necessary length of the. case required to admit of the movement of the breech-block frame with the recoil of the barrel is accommodated by-t-his e'xtension'case, the end of which is linsh with the end of the breechblock frame whenin its forward position and is forced outwardtherewith when the barrel and the frame recoil, where it. remains,"being an extension of the case only when an extension is req'uired-that is, during the firing of the gun, This tube may be fastoned in the case, if desired, so as not to be withdrawn without,removing the fastening devices, and to provide for such fastening means, which means are well lHlOWU in the art, one or more longitudinal recesses 157 are provided in the bottom and top of said ase.

There are many-minor changes and alterations that can be made within my invention, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but claim all that falls fairly within the scope of my invention. I I i What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Anautomaticmachine-gunhavingalongitud nally-movablc barrel; a breech-frame attached to and'movable with said barrel; a

brcech block mechanism; lever mechanism for actuating said breech-block mechanism withinsaid frame, the said lever mechanism being actuated from a fluid -controlled sleeve beneath the breech end of said barrel, substantially as described.

.lbngitudinally movable barrel; a breechframe attached to and movable with said barrel'; a breech-block mechanism; a fluid controlled sleeve beneath the breech end of said barrel having a lever connection therewith whereby the recoil of said barrel im parts thereto a partial rotation; and a lever mechanism connecting the said sleeve with the said breech-block mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic machine-gun having a longitudinally-movable barrel; the combination therewith of a breech-block mechanism; and means for actuating the same, which means comprises a sleeve rotatably mounted, beneath the breech end of said barrel, lever connections between the said sleeve and said breech-block mechanism, fulcrumd to a part upon the-said barrel so that the recoil of said barrel imparts a partial rotation to the said sleeve; ,and a spring connected with saidsleeve for imparting thereto a reverse rota-f tion", substantially as described. I 4.. In an automatic machine-gun, having longitudinally-movable barrel; the combina-- tipn therewith of a breech-block mechanism; and means for moving the same toward and away from said barrel, the said means comprising a rotatably-monnted fluid-controlled sleeve rotatably mounted in the case; a r0cl lever pivotally secured at one end to a rigid part upon said barrel; a brcechdcver joined at one end to said breech-block mechanism and at the other end to the said rock-lever, a link pivot-ally secured to the said .rock-lcver midway of its length, and to the said sleeve, substantially as describe' 3. In combination wi rtho breech-block mechanism of an automatic machine-gun; means for moving said mechanism toward and away from the barrel, which means are actuated by the recoil thereof; and means t'orregulating the speed of movement of said breechblock mechanism, the said means com prising a [mid-chamber, an auxiliary fluid-chamber, a piston movable within said fluid-chamber 'during the movement of said breech-block mechanism, portsconnecting the said chamhers, a valye witfin said auxiliary chamber, and a tube passing through said val vc having a port therethrough, said tube being adjustable whereby the exposed area of said port may be varied, substantially as described.

7. In an automatic machine-gun, having a longitudinally-movable barrel; a breech-block mechanism; lever mechanism having connection with said breech-block mechanism and said barrel; a sleeve connected with'said lever mechanism whereby the recoil of the baurel imparts thereto a partial rotation; a fiiudchamber; apiston having connection 'iirith said sleeve and movable within said fluid chamber; an auxiliary chamber; ports between said chambers; a valve within said auxiliary chamber, a tube passing through said valve having a port therethrough, and means foradj usting the position of said tube whereby the exposed areaof said port may be varied; substantially as described.

8. In an automatic machine-gun, the combinationwith a rotatably-mounted sleeve; of.

a coil-spring for imparting thereto a partial rotation in onedirection; and means for regulating thev speed of movement of said sleeve under theaction of the coil-spring, the said means comprising a piston movable within a fluid-chamber and having connectiOnwith said sleeve; an auxiliary fluid-chamber; ports connecting the said chambers at'either end, "a tubehaving a port through one side thereof, within said auxiliary chamber; a valve sun rounding'said tube; and adjusting devices wherijby the relative positions of the port in said-tube and the said valve may be varied, substantially as described.

9. In an automatic machine-gun, having a longitudinallymovable barrel; a breechblock mechanism; lever mechanisms for moving said b zeech-block mechanism toward and away frrmrthe said barrel; a rotatably-monnted fiuid qzbntrolled sleeve beneath the'breech end of said barrel having a link. connection with said lever mechanism whereby the recoil of the barrel imparts thereto a partial r0- tation; and. a pawl designed to engage with ceases rotation when said sleeve has assumed a predetermined position, substantially as described.

10. In an automatic machine-gun, having a longitudinally-movable barrel; the combination with the, sleeve 63, having the arms 93 93 projecting therefrom; of the fiuid chamber -160and auxiliarychamber 161; piston-rod 167 upon one end of which is a cross-head 165 having engagement with the said sleeve 63; valve 95; coil-spring 99; tube 96 having the port 97 therethrough, and means for adjusting the position of said tube in relation to said valve; all constructed and operating substantially as described.

11. In an automatic machine-gun, having a longitudinally movable barrel; a breech-, frame attached to and movable with said barrel; a breech-block mechanism and means for moving the same toward and away from the said barrel; carrier 'pivotally secured to a yoke having a movement each side of its normal position and provided with a shelf portion which projects beneath the cartridge-' opening in said case, except when the said yoke is in its outermost position, substantially as described.

12. In an automatic machine-gun, havinga longitudinally movable' barrel; a breechblock mechanismg levermechanism for movnigsaiu breech-block mehanismewars and away from said barrel, a sleeve having a conthereto, and having acam atone end; a spring for normally holding said pawl in engagement with said sleeve; and a laterally-moving carrier having a knock-0d arm 137 thereon movable in the path of said cam, the engagement of said knocked arm with said cam imparting an endwise movement to said pawl-rod and releasing the said pawl from engagement with said sleeve, substantially as described.

14-. In an automatic machinegun, the combination with a swinging yoke 110, of a carrier'lOflpivotally securedthereto; and having the horizontal shelves 117 and 118; a camplate 119 having acam 121 thereon and a camgroove 120 thereth rough, fixed to said carrier; and a latch-lever 123, and means, as a cam 127, for swinging said yoke, all constructed and operating substantially as described.

15. A breech-block mechanism, comprising a face-boll having extractor-fingers therein and a central bore therethrough; a plug for closing the rear end of said bore; a rotator surrounding and movable upon the shank of said face-bolt,-and having means whereby an actuating-lever may .be attached thereto; a locking-bolt also surrounding. the said facebolt having an interior thread engaging with the exterior thread upon the said rotator and provided with an interrupted exterior screwthread; and meansfhs a coil-spring, for re ducing the sliding friction'upon the eXterio threads of the said locking-bolt.

16. In a breech-block mechanism, in combination with a face-bolt, a non-rotatablerotator movable lengthwise upon the shank of said face-bolt and having an exterior thread thereon; a locking-bolt provided with a pin rality of threaded projections and hayineg' an interior thread engaging with the thread upon the said rotator, and means, as"a coilspring, abutting at either and against the said locking-bolt and the said rotator, for reducing 'the sliding friction upon the said threaded projections, substantially as de scribed. 1

17. In a breech-loading gun having a barrel provided with a plurality of threadedpro jections in the'breech thereof the combination therewith of a breech-frame, and a breech-block mechanism movable in' said frame; the said mechanism comprising a facebolt; a rotator; and a locking-bolthaving threaded projections correspondiug'with the threaded projections. in the barrelbreech; means for rotating the said locking-bolt during the movement of the said rotator, and means,

as a coil-spring, for reduciugthe sliding friction between the threadediprofjections inthe barrel-breech and upon the locking-bolt, substantially as described. I i

18. In a-breech-block mechanism,the com bination with a face-bolt,.of'a non-rotatablerotator movable lengthwise u'pon" the shank of'said face-bolt, and having an exterior thread thereon, of a locking-bolt having an interior thread engaging with the thread upon the said rotator, and a coilrspring sur;

rounding a portion of' the said locking-bolt and abutting at either end against the said locking-bolt and the said rotator, normally thrusting said locking bbltand rotator apart, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK M. GARLAND.

' Witnesses:

C. H. TAYLOR,

M. C. GARLAND.

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