US996569A - Semi-automatic gun. - Google Patents

Description

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I". L, BRIGGS.

SEMIFAUTOMATIU GUN.

' PPLIOATION FILED APR. 1a, 1906, 996,569, Patented June 27, 1911 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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I L. L. BRIGGS; v SEMI-AUTOMATIC GUN. P ,APPLIOATION TILED APB.13,1906.

Patented June 27, 1911.

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APPLICATION FILED APR.13, 1900.

996,569. Patented June 27,1911.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

' Louis L. muses, or sna'non,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASS IGNOB TD ORVILLE Q. ALLEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SEMI-AUTOMATIC GUN.

7 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 27; 1911 Application filed April'13, 1906. Serial Nb. 311,537.

To all whom/it may concern:

IBe .it known th'atI, Louis L. Dmecs, a: c1t1'zen ofthe United States, residing at 'Sharon, in the-county of Mercer and btate of Penns lvania, 'haveinven'ted certain new and use ul Improvements" in Semi-Automat-i'c Guns';- and I do herebydeclare the following to be a"full,iclear, and exact do 4 'scription of the invention, such as will enable "others skilled-in the art to which it appertains to make and-.nse the same.

- My inveiitionirelates to improvements in 'semisa-utomatic guns, and it consists in providing certain simplified apparatus for operating. the. breech mechanism of the gun,

"either by hand or by the stored up energy of a spring operatedoncounter recoil, and

in certain means for confining the operationof the apparatus either to the semiautomatic operation or to hand operation.

My invention also consists in certain other novelfeatures and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which the same parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the several views. Figure 1 is a side elevation of the breech of the gun, parts being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the breech'oi' the gun, parts being omitted for the sake of clearness in the drawings. Fig. 3 shows a transverse section through a portion of the mount and shows the operating and locking cams in engagement with the arm on the -main bolt. Fi 4 shows a section along the line H'of' ig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows. Figs. 5, 6,7, 8, and 9 show diagranunatically the engagement of the operatin cam with the arms carried by the main be t.

'A represents the gun bodyprovided with the breech A adapted to receive a reciprocating block A. -This gun body is pro vided with a downwardly projecting lug A in which'the main bolt D is journaled. The gun A re'coils in the cradle B, which carries the recoil cylinders B. These recoil cvlinders have the usual pistons, not shown,

connected to the rods O, whichrods are.

screw threaded as at c to engage interior nism controlled by the main bolt piston rod G threads in the hollow screw C. The exterior screw threads of this screw 0 engage 1n the lug A The hollow screw, C is turned .by means of the squared head 0, and c and c are look nuts. By. ,this arrangement, the piston rods C areadjustably connected to the lug A and the compres- SIOI I Of the return springs C in. the recoil cylinders B may be adjusted, as desired. The breech block A is operated-b mechawhich .boltmay beturned' either by the handle E, or by the semi-automatic attachment that will now be described. l

" The details of the hand operating device may be' of any suitable or well known type, such, for instance, as that described in the patent to William H. Briggs and V. C.

Tasker, No. 625,326, granted May 23, 1899. Suitable extractors are provided, not only for extracting the empty cartrid e case after firing the gun, but also for docking the breech in the open position until the said extractors are tripped, as in loading the gun. Said extractors are well known in the art, and are shown, for instance, in the Driggs and Tasker patent referred to, and

not being a part of my present invention will notice described herein. I

In order to operate the gun by the energy of the recoil, I provide a semi-automatic attachment, the parts of which for convenience of arrangement are distributed on 0p-1 posite sides of the gun. On the right'hand side of the gun I have shown the springand the parts connected thereto for restoring the breech block to the closed position, and on the opposite side of the gun I have shown the yielding cam arrangement whereby the gun is allowed to, recoil freely with the breech closed, and whereby the breech is opened on counter recoil, and whereby the breech mechanism may be' locked against hand operation, or the semi-automatic attachmentmay be thrown out of action, all p of which will be hereinafter described.

Referring to Figs. 1-: and 2,-F represents a short arm on the bolt D, which arm F engages'a hook G connected by means of the chain G, to the hook g on the end of the This piston rod carries .a piston, Gr loosely mounted in" the cylinder ;j threaded end g" of the rod G The for ward end of this cylinder H is open, so that a wrench may be inserted, and these look nuts g may be set up or eased off, as may be desired. The compression of this spring,

I should be so adjusted thatthis spring will be able to restore the breech mechanism to the closed position when the said mechanism is released by the cam attachment on the opposite side of the gun. 'This cam attachment comprises two features, first a cam block having engaging and locking arms, and, second, a block carried by the main bolt having'arm'swith projections adapted to'en age the cam members.

, Re erring now to Figs, 3 to 9, K represents 'a block carried by the main bolt 1), which has two arms. The longer arm carries a roller K and the shorter arm ,K'

carries a lug In with an engaging face 70,

' 'which lug projects outwardly beyond the outer edge of the roller K as show most clearly in Fig. 3. This lug in has a curved face is, shown in dotted lines in'Figs. 5; to

- 9'. M represents a cam block, which is provided withtwo lugs M and M The'shorter lug M is provided with a curved holding face 721/ adapted to engagethe face is on the arm .K', while the longer and larger lug M projects outward beyond the face of the lug M, so as to engage the roller K This lug M has two engaging faces m and m anda straight shoulder m adapted to engage some part of the gun mount carried by the cradle when-the lug M is subjected to the pressure occasioned by the-opening of the breech mechanism. This holding shoulder m is normally held in engagementwith the corresponding face of the bar B fast to the cradle B, by means'of th coil spring N, which is fast at one end to the block M, and the other end to the bar B so that the said cam' block may be rotated in one direction against the force of this spring,

but is held against rotation in the opposite direction by the rigid engagement of the shoulder m, and the bar B as just described. It will be noted that the engaging faceor shoulder of the bar B carried by the cradle is perpendicular to the line of travel of the gun, so that there is no possibility of the cam rocking in the reverse di-. rection when struck by the roller .70 on counter recoil. The said cam'block is'shown as journaled in a socket B in the boss B secured to the bar B Iprovide an arrangement for throwing the semi-automatic attachment into and out of operation, which. comprises a cylindrical cover P knurled on its outside for convenience of manipulation, as shown in Fig. 2, and this cover is pro. vided with a tongue P, which is provided with a flange sector p, which passes into'th notch m; in the cam block, and engag s in the segmental recess beneath the lip 77 thus forming a bayonet joint. The end of this recess is indicated at m" in Fig. 4, and the flange sector p engages the end of this recess when the parts are in the assembled position, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4.

The cover P is provided with an. annular recess 12? between the tongue P and the outer flange P see Fig. 3, into which project the parts I) and m of the boss B", and

the block M respectively. The cover P, and with'it the cam block M,-ma'y be held in either'the' operative or the inoperative positionby means of the plunger Q,'which is normally pressed inward by the spring Q,

mounted in the casing Q secured to the cover P. This plunger passes through the flange P of the cover, and engages in one or the other of the notches b or L in the bpss B. When the parts are in the position for semi-automatic operation the spring in Fig. 4;, but by pulling the plunger out of the notch and rotating the cover P, and with it the cam block M, until this spring plunger snaps into the notch b the semi-automatic attachment may be thrown out of operation and the gun may be operated byhand only,

as will'be hereinafter described.

Assuming the parts to be in,the, position -After the roller 1' passes-clear of the lug M the spring'N will snap the cam back' to the initial position, and the un' keeps .on recoiling. on counter recoil, the rollerK will strike the opposite face m of the lug M and will roll down this curved face, the cam block being rigidly held against motion in this direction and the Parts l assume the Posi- This will cause thetion shown in Fig. 7. bolt D to open the breech mechanism, and this mechanism will, beheld in the open position by the extractor engagement, notshown, but already described, as well known plunger Q. engages in the notch b, as shown shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, and assuming the As the gun comes orward again in the art. After the roller K has passed clear of the lug M being the position im-' mediately followingthatindicated in Fig. 7,

- and the spring N then snaps the cam in, this position, it will be evi there will be no engagement whatever between the block K and the 111 s M and M and the spring I would rock t 'e bolt D back to the position forclosmg the breech were it not for the enga ement of the extractors with the breech b ock, as already described.

Now when the extractors are tripped, as by theunsertron of a fresh cartridge case, the spring I rocks the bolt D back to the posi- (11011 for closing the breech, which is 1ndi-. cated in Fig. 5. Before reaching this position, however, the ln lc,strikes the In M, rocking the cam bloc to the position 5 own in Fig. 8, after which the face k. of the lug it passes behind the face m of the lu M, Iilock back to' the position shown in Fig. When out that-it will be impossible to turn the bolt D for olp'ening the breech by hand, and therefore t e gun cannot be hand operated while the semi-automatic attachment is in engagement.

To throw the semi-automatic attachment out of engagement, it will only be necessary to pull out the spring plunger Q, see Fig. 4, and then rotate the cam block until the plunger Q, snaps into the 'notch b This position of the cam blockwhen thrown out of engagement is illustrated in Fig. 9. IVhen the parts are in this position, the gun can move on recoil and oncounter recoil without any part of the block K striking any part of the cam block M.

Thus it will be seen that the semi-autm matic attachment may be readily thrown into and out of engagement, that the gun cannot be operated by hand while the semiautomatic attachment is on, and that the cam block may be readilyapplied'to or'removed from the gun by disengagingthe cap P and drawing the cam block inward toward the gun, out of engagement with the recess B on the arm B I urthermcre,the semiautomatic attachment is located out of the way, and. is more or less protected by the contiguous parts of the gun and mount. Furthermore,- the breech actuating spring is inclosed in a protective casing, and at the same time may be readily adjusted, when desired. Furthermore, this specific arrangementof recoil cylinders and pistons fobvlates the necessity of any band on the gun for the attachment thereto of the piston rods, the lug already provided as a bearing for the main bolt being made use of for this purpose. This and the various other advantages of the herein described improved and simplified structure will be evident to any one skilled in the art.

It will be obvious that various modifications might be madethat could be used with-- out departing from the spiritof my invention; a

.Having thus described my. invention, what I. claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In ,asemi-automatic gun, the combination with the gun body and cradle, of one or more recoil cy said gumb ody and said cradle, a return spring mounted in each cylinder for restort e gun to the initial position, a main bot journaled beneath the breech of the gun, breech mechanism operated by said main bolt, a hand lever for rotating said main bolt, a lug on said main bolt for 0 erating same automatically, a cylinder rigidly attached to said gun, a piston, piston rod and spring" all recoiling with the gun, mounted in said cylinder, :1 flexible connection between said piston rod and said lug on the main bolt, an. arm on the opposite end of said m'ain bolt, and a' cam attached to a struck 'by' said arm on recoil and to engage said arm and rock the same as the gun goes forward on counter-recoil, substantially as described. 1

2. In asemi-autom'atic gun, the combination with the gun body and cradle, of one or more recoil cylinders and istonsconnecting said gun body and said cradle, a return spring mounted in each cylinder for restoring the gun to the initial position, a main bolt journaled beneath the breech of the gun, breech mechanism operated by said main bolt, 21. hand lever for rotating said main bolt, a lug on said main bolt for operating same automatically, a cylinder rigidly attached to said gun and open at its forward end, a piston, piston rod, and spring mounted in said cylinder all recoiling with the gun, with means for adjusting the position of the piston relative to the piston'rod 105 and thus adjusting thecompression of said spring, a flexible connection between said piston rod and said lug on the main bolt, an arm on the opposite end of said main bolt, and a cam attached to a part of said cradle and adapted to yield when struck by said arm on recoil and to engage said arm and rock the same as the gun goes forward on counter-recoil, substantially as described.

3. In a semi-automatic gun,- the combina- 115 tion with the gun body having a down- \vardly projecting lug, and the cradle, of one or more recoil cylinders and-pistons connecting said lug on the gun body and said cradle, a return spring mounted in each cylinder for restoring the gun to the initial posltion, a main bolt journaled in saidlug beneath the breech of the gun, breech mechan'ism operated by said main bolt, a hand lever for rotating said main bolt, a lug on said main bolt for operating same automatically, a cylinder rigidly attached to said gun, 9. pston, piston rod and spring, mounted in said cylinder all recoiling with the gun, a. flexi ble' connection between said -p1ston' rod and lnders and pistons connecting 10 said lug on the main bolt, an arm on the opposite end of said main bolt, and a cam attached. to a part of the cradle and adapted to yield when struck bysaid arm on recoil and to engagesaid arm and rock-the same as the gun goes forward on counter-recoil, substantially as described.

4. In a semi-automatic gun, the combination with the gun body having a downwardly projecting lug, and the cradle, of one or more recoil. cylinders and pistons con and said. cradle, a return spring mounted in 3611. cylinder for restoring the gun to the initial position, a main bolt journaled in said lug;-

necting said lug on the gun bo beneath the breech of the gun, breech mechanism operated by said bolt, a hand lever i'or rotating saidv main bolt, a lug on said, main boltfor operating same automatically, a

cylinder rigidly attached tosaid gun and.

open at its forward end, a piston rod and spring mounted in said cylinder all recoiling with the gun, with means for adjusting the position of the piston relative to the piston rod and thus adjusting-the compression of said spring, a flexible connection between said piston rod and said lug on the main bolt, an arm on the opposite end of said main bolt, and a cam attached to a part 'of said cradle and adaptedflo yield. when struck by said arm on recoil and to engage said arm and rock thefsame as the gun goes forwardon counter-pecoil, substantially as described.

' 5. In a semi-automatic gun, the combination with the gun body and cradle, of one or more recoil cylinders and pistons connecting said gun body and said cradle, a return spring mounted in each cylinder for restoring the gun to the initial position, a main bolt journaled beneath the breech of the gun, breech mechanism operated by said main bolt, a hand lever for rotating said main bolt, a lug on said main bolt for operating same automatically,a' cylinder rigidly attached to said gun, a piston, piston rod and spring mounted in said cylinder and all recoiling with the gun, a flexible connection between said piston rod and said lug on the main bolt, a cam arm on said main bolt, and a cam attached to a part of said cradle and adapted to yield when struck by said arm on recoil and to engage said arm and rock the same as the gun goes forward on counterrecoil, substantially as described.

6. In a. semi-automatic gun, the combination with the gun body and cradle, of "one or more recoil cylinders and pistons connecting said gun body and said cradle, a return spring nwunted in each cylinder for restoring the gun. to the initial position, a main bolt jonrnaled beneath the breech of the gun, breech mechanism operated by said main bolt, a hand lever for rotating said main bolt, a lug on said main bolt for operating said arm on recoil and to engage said ceases same automatically, a cylinder rigidly attached to said gun and open at its forward end, a piston, piston rod and spring, mounted in said cylinder and all recoiling with the gun, the said piston rod bein screw threaded on its forward portion, wlth lock nuts for adjusting; the position of the piston relative to the piston rod and thus adjusting the compression of said spring, a flexible connection between said piston rod and said lug on the main bolt, a cam arm on said main bolt, and acam attached to a part of 'said cradle and adapted to yield when struck by armand rock the same as the gun'goes forward on counter-recoil, substantially as described.

7. In a semi-automatic gun, the ombination with the gun body and cradle, of one or more recoil cylinders and pistons connecting said gun body and said cradle, a return spring mounted in each cylinder for restoring the gun to the initial position, a main bolt journaled beneath the breech of the gun, breech. mechanism 0 erated by said main bolt, a hand lever or rotating said main bolt, a lug on said main bolt for operating same automatically, a cylinder rigidly attached to said gun, a piston, piston rod'and spring mounted in said cylinder and all recoiling with the gun, a flexible connection between said piston rod and said lug on the main bolt, an arm on the opposite end of said main-bolt, acam block pivotally attached to apart of-said cradle and provided with an engaging shoulder adapted to hold the cam against rotation when struck oncounter-recoil, and a coil spring surrounding said cam block and adapted to yield when the cam is struck bysaid arm on recoil, substantially as described. I

8. In a semnautomatic gun, the combination' with the gun body and cradle, of one or more recoil cylinders, and pistons connecting (it the piston relative to the piston rod and thus adjusting the compression of said spring, a flexible connection between said piston rod and said lug on the main bolt, an arm on the oppositeend of said main bolt, a cam block pivotally attached to a part of said cradle and provided with. an engag ng shoulder adapted to hold thecam' aga nst rotation when struck on counter-recoil, and a coil spring surrounding'said cam block and 1 adapted to yield when struck by said arm on recoil andto restore said cam to the position, for engaging said arm as the gun goes forward on counter-recoil, substantially as de-- scribed. I

' 9, In a semi-automatic gun, the combinaftion with the gun body and'cradle, of one or more recoil cylinders and pistons connecting said gun body and said cradle, a return spring mounted in each cylinder for restoring the gun to the mitla-l position, a main spring, mounted in said cylinder and all recoiling with the gun, means for connecting said piston rod and said lug on the main bolt, an arm on the main bolt, and a cam attached to a part of the cradle and adapted to yield when struck by said arm on recoil and to engage said arm and rock the same as the gun goes foward on counter-recoil, substantially as described. 10. In a semi-automatic gun, the combination with the gun body and cradle, of one or more recoil cylinders and pistons connecting said gun body and said cradle, areturn spring mounted in each cylinder for restoring the gun to-' the initial position, a main bolt journaled at the breech of the gun, breech mechanism operated by said main bolt, means for rotating said main bolt by hand, a lug on said main bolt for operating same automatically, a cylinder rigidly at tached to said gun and open at its forward end, a piston, piston rod and spring, mount ed in said cylinder and all rccoiling with the gun, with'means for adjusting the-position of the piston relative to the piston rod and thus adjusting the compression of said spring, means for connecting said piston rod and said lug on the main bolt, an arm on main bolt, and a cam attached to a part of said cradle and adapted to yield when struck by said arm on recoil and to'engage said arm and rock the same as the gun goes forward on counter-recoil, substantially as described.

11. In a semi-automatic gun, the combination with the gun body and cradle, of one or more recoil cylinders and pistons connecting said gun'body and said cradle, a return spring mounted in eachcyli-nder for restoring the gun tothe initial position, a mam bolt journaled at the breech of the gun,

breech mechanism operated by said main bolt, means for rotating said main boltby hand, a lug on said main bolt for operating game automatically, a cylinder rigidly atached to saidgun and open atits forward end, a piston, piston rod and spring, mount- I in said cylinder and ab recoilingwith the -:gun, the forward portion of said piston rodbeing, screw threaded, a nut on said screw threaded portion of said piston rod, means for connecting said piston rod and said In on the main bolt, an arm on main bolt, an

a cam attached to a part of said cradle-and,"

adapted to yield when struck by said arm on recoil and to engage said arm and rock the same as the gun goes forward on counterrecoil, substantially as described;

12; In a semi-automatic gun, the combination with. the gun body and cradle, of one or more recoil cylinders and pistons connecting said gun body and said cradle, a return spring mounted in each cylinder for restoring the gun to the initial position, a main bolt journaled to the breech of the gun,

breech mechanism operated by said main bolt, a lug on said main bolt for operating same automatically, a cylinder rigidly attached to said gun, a piston, piston rod and a spring under compression, all mounted in said cylinder and all recoiling with" the gun, means for varying the compression of said spring, a'flexible connection between said piston and said lug on the main bolt, and mechanism operated on counter-recoil for opening the breech against the action of said spring, substantially as described.

13. In a semi-automatic gun, the combination with the gun body and cradle, of one or more recoil cylinders and pi'stons connecting sa'id gun body and said cradle, a return spring mounted in each cylinder for restoring the gun to the initial position, a main bolt journaled to the breech of the gun, breech mechanism operated by said main bolt, a-lug on said main bolt for operating same automatically, a cylinder rigidly attached to said gun and open at its forward end, a piston, a screw threaded piston rod, and a spring under compression. all mounted in said cylinder and all. recoiling with the gun, with lock nuts for adjusting the position of the piston relative to the piston rod and thus adjusting the compression of said spring, means for connecting said piston rod and said lug on the main bolt, and mechanism operated on counter-recoil for opening the breech against the action of said sprin substantially as described.

14. In a semi-automatic gun, the combma tion with the gun body and cradle, of one or more recoil cylinders and pistons connecting said gun body and said cradle, a return spring mounted in each cylinder for restoring the gun to the initial position, a main bolt journaled at the breech of the gun, breech mechanism operated by said main bolt, means for rotating said main bolt. by hand, a lug on said main bolt for operat ng same automatically, an operating spring normally under compression connected to said lug, a casing-exterior to and separate from the 'recoil cylinder detachably eon nected to the gun and containing said spring,

an arm on the opposite end of said main -bolt, and mechanism operated on counter- 'reco1l for openlng the breech against the action of said spring, and a cam. attached to a part of the cradle and adapted to yield when struck by said arm on recoil and, to abut against a rigid face of the cradle and engage said arm and rock the same as the gun goes forward on counter-recoil with. means for throwing said cam into and out of ,en-

gagement, substantially as described.

15. In a semi-automatic gun, the combination with the gun body and cradle,o f one or more recoil cylinders and pistons connecting said gun body and said cradle, a return hand, a lug on said main bolt for operating same] automatically, an operating spring normally under compression connected to said lug, a casing exterior to and separate from the recoil cylinder detachably connected to the gun and containing said spring, an arm on the opposite end of said main bolt, and mechanism operated on counter-recoil for opening the breech against the action of said spring, and a cam attached to a part of the cradle and adapted to yield when struck by said arm on recoil and to abut against the rigid face of the cradle and to rock the said arm as the-gun goes forward on counter-recoil, substantially as described.

16. In a breech loading gun, the combination with a main bolt for operating the breech mechanism, and a cam arrangement for rocking this bolt on counter recoil, of a casing detachably secured to the gun body exterior to the recoil cylinder, a rod mounted in said casing, a collar mounted on said rod and loosely fitting in said casing, means for adjusting the position of said collar on said rod, a coil spring mounted on said rod and held under compression between said collar and said casing, and means for connecting said rod to an arm on said main bolt, said coil spring, rod and casing recoiling with the gun, substantially as described.

17. In a breech loading gun, the combina tion with a main bolt for operating the breech mechanism, and a cam arrangement for rocking this bolt on counter recoil, of a cylindrical casing open .at one end and se cured to the gun body, a rod mounted in said casing and screw threaded along a portion thereof, a collar mounted on said rod and loosely fitting in said casingzlock nuts for adjusting the position of saidcollar on said rod, 'a coil spring mounted on said rod and held under compression between said collar and said casing, and means for connecting said rod to 'an arm on said main coiling with scribed.

18. In a breech loading gun, the combination with'a mainbolt for Operating the breech mechanism, and a cam arrangement for rocking this bolt on counter recoil of a cylindrical casing open-at one end and se cured to the gun body, a rod mounted in said casing and screw threadedalong a portion thereof, a collar mounted on said rod and loosely fitting in said'casing, lock nuts for bolt, said coil-spring, rod, and easing rethe gun, substantially as deadjusting the position of said collar on saidrod, a coil spring mounted on said rod and held under compression between said collar and said casing, and a flexible connectlon between said rod and an arm on said main bolt, said coil-spring, rod, and easing recoiling with the gun, substantially as described. I j

' 19. Ina semi-automatic gun, the combination with the gun and cradle, the latter hav-' ing ashoulder perpendicular to the line of travel of the gun, of the main bolt adapted to rock on its axis, of an arm carried by said main bolt provided with a lug or roller projecting .therefrom parallel to the .axis of the main bolt, a rotary cam block mounted in the cradle and provided with a cam adapted to engage said lug or roller and also provided with a shoulder adapted. to engage the corresponding shoulder on the cradle.

and to hold the cam block against rotation in one direction, and a coil spring'mountedon' said cam block and adapted to normally hold said shoulders in engagement, but to ed to rock on its axis, of an arm carried by said main bolt provided with a lug .or roller projecting therefrom parallel to the axis of the main bolt, a rotary cam block mounted in the cradle and provided with a cam adapted to engage said lug or roller and also pro vided with a shoulder adapted. to engage the corresponding shoulder on the cradle and to hold the cam block against rotation" in one direction, and a coil spring mounted" on said cam block and adapted to normally i hold said shoulders. in engagement, but to yield against pressure in the reverse direction, with means-for locking said cam block either in the operative or inoperative posi-.

tion as may be desired, substantially asde- .21. In a semi-automatic gun, the combi nation with the gun and cradle, the latter having a shoulder perpendicular to the line of travel of the gun, of the main bolt adapted to rockon its'axis. of an arm ,carried by saidmain bolt provided with ,a lu'g or roller projecting therefrom parallel to the axis of the main bolt, a rotary cam block mounted in the cradle and provided with a cam adapted to engage said lug or roller and also pro- .vided with a shoulder adapted to engage the' corresponding shoulder on the cradle and to hold the cam block against rotation in one direction, and a coil spring mounted travel of the gun, of the main bolt adapted to rock on its axis, of an arm carried by said main bolt provided with a lug or roller projecting therefrom parallel to the axis of the main bolt, and a locking arm also carried by said' main bolt, a rotary cam bloc-k mounted in the cradle and provided with a cam'adapted to engage said lug or roller, and a locking lug to engage said lockmg arm, and also provided wlth a shoulder I adapted to engage the corresponding shoulder on the cradle and to hold the cam block against rotation in one direction, and a coil spring mounted on said cam block and adapted to normally hold said shoulders in engagement, but to yield against pressure in the reverse direction, substantlally as a cyhndrical casing-open at one end and described.

23. In a semi-automatic gun, the combination with a gun and cradle, the latter having a shoulder perpendicular to the line oftravel of the gun, of the main bolt adapted to rock on its axis, of an arm carried by said main bolt provided with a lug or .roller projecting therefrom parallel to the axis of the main bolt, and a' locking arm also carried by said main bolt, a. rotary'cam block mounted in the cradle and provided with a cam adapt-- ed to engage said lug or roller and a locking lug to engage said locking arm, and also provided with a shoulder adapted to engage the corresponding shoulder on the cradle and to hold the cam 'block against rotation in one direction, and a coil spring mounted on said cam block and adapted to normally hold. said shoulders in engagement, but to yieldagainstpressure in the reverse direction, 'withmeans for locking said cam block either in the operative or inoperative position asmay be desired,substantially as described. r

24. In a semi-automatic gun. the combination with the. gun and cradle, the latter having a shoulder perpendicular to the line of travel of the gun, of the main bolt adapted to rock on its axis. of 'an arm carried by said main bolt provided with a lug or roller project-ing therefrom parallel to the axis of the main bolt, and a locking arm also carried by said mam bolt, a rotary cam block mounted 1n the cradle and provided with a cam adapted to engage said lug or roller, and a locking lug to engage said lorlting arm and also prov1ded,witl 1 a shoulder adapted to.en-

gage the" corresponding shoulder on the cradle and to hold the cam block against rotation in one direction, and a coil'spring mounted on said cam block and adapted to normally hold said shoulders in engagement, but to yield against pressure in the reverse direction,-with a spring latch adapted to lock said cam block in the operative or inoperative position as may be desired, substantially as described.

25 In a breech loading gun, the combination with a main boltfor operating the breech mechanism, and a cam arrangement for rockingthis bolt on counter recoih of'a cylindrical casing open at one end an'd-secured to the un body, a rod mounted in said casing, a"col ar mounted on said rod, a coil spring mounted on said rod and-heldunder compression between said collarand' said cas said spring, and means forconnecting said ing, means-for varying the compression of 1 rod to an arm on said mainbolt, said casing,

coil-spring, androd all recoiling with the? gun, substantially as described.

26. In a breech loading gun, the combination with a main bolt for operating the breech mechanism, and a cam arrangement for rocking this bolt on counter recoil, of

secured to the gun body, a rod mounted' in said casing and screw threaded along a portion thereof, a collar mounted on said rod and loosely fitting in said casing, a 0011 spring mounted on said rod and held under compression between said collar and said 0 casing, a nut for compressing said spring,

and means for connecting saidrod to an armon; said mam bolt, said casing, coil-spring,

and rod all recoi'ling with the gun, substantially as described. 27.

niatically, a cylinder rigidly attached to said gun exterior to the recoil cylinder; a piston, V

n a semi-automatic gun, the combi 3 'natio with the gun body and cradle, of one piston rod and a spring under compress on, all mounted in said cylinder and all recoil- I ing with the gun, means for varying the compression of said spring, a connection between said piston andv said lug on the main bolt, and mechanism operatedon counterrecoil for openingthe breech against the-action of said spring, substantially as (10- a 1- scribed. y 28. In a'semi-autqmatlc gun, the combl nation with the gun body and cradle, of one ,or' more recoil cylinders-and a main bolt journaled to the breech ofithe. gun, breech mechanism operated by said main bolt, a 1. lug on said main belt for operating same automatically, a cylinder rigidly attached to said gun and open at its forward end, a piston, a screw threaded piston rod, and a spring under compression, all mounted in' said cylinder and all recoiling with the gi n,"a nut, for adjusting the position of the piston relative to the piston rod and thus adjusting the compression of said spring, means for connecting said piston rod and ,said lug on the main bolt, and mechanism operated on counter-recoil for opening the breech against the action of said spring, substantially as described.

29. In a breech loading gun, the combination with a main bolt for operating the breech mechanism, and a cam arrangement for rocking this bolt on counter recoil, of a cylindrical casing open at one'end and secured to the gun body, a rod mounted in said casing and screw threaded along a portion thereof, a collar mounted on said rod and loosely fitting insaidcasing, a nut for adjusting the position of s aidcollar on said rod. a coil spring mounted on said rod and, ."-held under compression; between said collar faiid-"said casing, and iiieans for connecting said rod to an arm on said. main bolt, said coil'spring, rod, and casing recoiling with the gniigsubstantially as described.

' I a breech loading gun, the combiith a' main bolt for operating the breech, nechanism, and a cam arrangement forrocki ng this bolt on counter recoil, of a. cylindrical casing open at one end and seolffred to the gun body, a rod mounted in said casing and screw threaded along a' portion. thereof. a collar mounted on said rod 'and loosely fitting in said casingla nut for adjusting the position of said collar on said 45 rod. a coil spring mounted on said rod and held under compression between-said collar and said casing. and a connection between said rod and an arm on said main bolt, said coil springrod. and casing rccoill ing with thegun, substantially as described.

31. Ina semi-automatic gun, the combination w'th the gun body and cradle. of one or. more recoil cylinders. a main bolt jouri naled tothebreech of the gun. breech mecln I anism operated by said main bolt. means on said main. bolt for operating same automatically, .a cylinder rigidly attached to saidi un'exterior to the recoil cylinder; a pis on,

piston rod and a spring under compression, all mounted in said cylinder and all recoilmg with the gun,"'a connection between said piston and said main bolt, 'and mechanism operated on counter-recoil for opening the breech against the action of said spring, substantially "as described.

32. In asemi-automatic' gun, the combination with the gun body and cradle, of one or more recoil cylinders, a mainbolt journaled to the breechof the gun, breech mechanism operated by said main bolt, means on said main bolt for operating same automatically, a cylinder rigidly attached to said gun breechmechanism, and at-Ecam arrangementfor rocking this bolt on counter recoil, of a casing detachably secured to the gun, body exterior to the recoil cylinder, a rod. mount ed-in said' casing, a collar mounted on said rod and loosely: fitting in said casing, means for adjusting the position of'said collar on said rod, a. coil .spring mounted on said rod and held under compression between said collar and said casing, and means for connecting saidrod to a part on said'main bolt, said coil spring, rod and easing recoiling with the'gun', substantially as described.

34:. In a breech loading gun, the combinationnvith a main bolt for operating the breech mechanism, and a cam arrangement for rocking this bolt oncounter-recoil, of a cylindrical casing open at one end and secured to the gun body, a rod mounted in said casing, a collar mounted on said rod, a coil spring mounted on said rod and held under compression between said collar and said casing. means for varying the compression of said spring, and means for connecting said rod to a part on said main bolt, said casing. coil-spring, and rod all recoiling with the gun, substantially as described.

in testimony whereof, I afiix my signa ture, in presence of 'two Witnesses.

LOUIS L. DRIGGS. Vitnesses VF. MAX. DURALL, GEO. L. CARY.

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