US703859A - Feeding mechanism for automatic guns. - Google Patents

Description

Patented July I, |902.-

A. VICKERS.

FEEDING MECHNISM FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

(Application led Nov. 1, 1901.\

(No Model.)

l ll No. 703,859. Patented July l, |902. A. vlcKERs.

FEEDINQ MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

(Application filed Nov. 1, 1901.)

- 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

fame/z afar UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ALBERT VIOKERS, OF IVESTMINSTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO VIOKERS SONS da MAXIM, LIMITED, OF WESTMINSTER,LONDON COUNTY, ENGLAND.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR AUTONITIC GUNS.

SPECIFICATION. forminggpart of Letters Patent No. 703,859, dated July 1, 1902.

Application filed November 1,1901. `Serial No. 80,818. (No model.)

1 0 eZ/ whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, ALBERT VICKERS, steelmanufacturer, a subject ofthe King of Great Britain, residing at 32 Victoria street, Westminster, London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism for Automatic Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic guns, and has for its chief object to improve the construction of the feed-block, so that all the parts thereof can be detached or assembled by means of the nsers fingers unaided by a tool.

In order that my invention may be fully understood and carried into practice, I will describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a side elevation of the feed-block detached from the gun. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, and Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section taken on the line vl l of Fig. 2.` Fig. 4 is a local horizont-alY section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an under side view of the slide carrying the feed-pawls. IFig. 6 is a transverse section on the 'line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is an under side View of a portion of the feed-block.

A is the body por-tion of the feed-block, and B the slide carrying the feed-pawls O. D D are the retaining-pawls, and E E are the levers, for actuating the said'slide. According to my invention the said levers E E for operating the slideB are both made in one piece with their stem or spindle e instead of one of them being made separately therefrom and connected to the spindle, as heretofore.'

The bearing a for said spindle e is partly cut away to permit of the spindle being laterally placed into position therein, and the gap formed byzpartly cutting away said bearing, as aforesaid, is closed by a movable piece or bearing-slide d', suitably formed to complete the bearing when in position in the block. This bearing-slide is retained in proper position by the adjacent side plate of the gun Whe'n said block isinserted into place in the gun. In order to prevent the said bearingslide from becoming unintentionally displaced or detached when the feed-block is not in the gun or when the other parts of the block are being assembled, I may provide a spring blade or finger a2, one end of which is adapted to detachably fit into a suitablyformed recess a3 in the .block and the other or free end of which is adapted to lie upon or engage with a recess in the 'said bearingslideu- The free end of the upper lever E-` that is to say, the one that engages with the feed-block slide-is forked or similarly formed to enable it to readily engage With the pin or projection l) on said feed-block slide during the assembling operation.

The springs c for the feed-pawls O are made in one piece, their ends remote from the pawls forming part of a transverse piece c', that is adapted to fit into a suitably-formed groove slide B. The said springs are prevented from becoming unintentionally detached by forming on'the upper surfacev of each of the said pawls at a point immediately in advance of the free ends of the springs a notch or shoulder c2.

The lower or retaining pawls D of the feedblock are mounted upon a removable axispin d, which is longitudinally split or divided at the end d', that is inserted through the block. This split end is so shaped that the members .thereof tend by their resiliency to expand beyond the diameter of the pin, but do not prevent the pin from being passed through the block and the feed-pawls. When, however, the pin is in place, its split end eX- tends beyond the block (see Figs. 2 and 6) and by expanding offers sufficient resistance to prevent the unintentional displacement thereof without the use of alinchpin or other locking means. The opposite end of the said axis-pin is furnished with a head or fingerpiece cl2 for enabling it to be firmly grasped with the fingers When the pin is to -be withdrawn, the said split end becoming closed by the pull exerted on the axis-pin as it `is being withdrawn through the block. The springs d3 for the said pawls D are made in one piece and are maintained in place by the said axispin CZ. (See Figs. 6 and 7.)

The ears F, with which the feed-block is provided for guiding the feed-belt into the mouth of the block, are made smaller than heretofore and are also situated farther back or recess l2', provided for its reception in the V IOO relatively to the mouth, so that they occupy a position quite close to the side plate of the gun, and consequently do not protrude so far from the face of the side plate as heretofore.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In a feed-block, the combination with the body portion, the slide carrying the feedpawls, and the retaining-pawls; of slide-actuating levers formed in one piece With their stern and of a gapped bearing for said stein, Substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In a feed-block, the combination with the body portion, the slide carrying the feedpawls, and the retaining-pawls; of slide-actuating levers formed in one piece with their stein, of a gapped bearing forsaid stem and of a sliding piece for closing the gap in the bearing substantially as described.

3. In a feed-block, the combination With the body portion, the slide carrying the feedpawls, and the retaining-pawls; of slide-actuating levers formed in one piece with their stem, of a gapped bearing for said stem, of a sliding piece for closing the gap in the bearing and of means for retaining said sliding piece in place substantially as described.

4. In a feed-block, the combination with the body portion, the slide carrying the feedpawls, and the retaining-pawls; of slide-actuating levers formed in one piece With their stem, of a gapped bearing for said stem, of a sliding piece for closing the gap in the bearing and of a detachable flexible iinger for retaining said sliding piece in place substantially as described.

5. In a feed-block, the combination with the body portion, the slide carrying the feedpaWls, the slide-actuating levers, and the retaining-pawls; of detachable springs for the feed-pawls, comprising exible members adapted to bear on the pawls and a transverse piece connecting the said iiexible members and adapted to fit into a groove in the slide and to be maintained in such position by bearing-surfaces on the pawls substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 21st day of October, 1901.

ALBERT VICKERS.

Witnesses:

HENRY KING, E. D. LANE.

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