US486938A - odkolek - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. ODKOLEK.

QUICK FIRE GUN Patented Nov. 29, 1892.

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A. ODKOLEK.

QUICK FIRE GUN.

No. 486,938. Patented Nov. 29, 1892.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. ODKOLEK. QUICK FIRE GUN No. 486,938. PatentedNov. 2.9, 1892.

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A. ODKOLEK.

QUIGK FIRE GUN PatentedN'ov 29, 1892. v

l'ikzessess (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

A. ,ODKOLEK. QUICK FIRE GUN.

No. 486,938. Patented Nov. 29, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLF ODKOLEK, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIAJIUN'GARY.

QUICK-FIRE GUN;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,938, dated November 29, 1892. Application filedIay 16, 1892. Serial No. $33.18!). (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADOLF ODKOLEK, Freiherr von Angezd, captain of horse, a subject of the Emperor of Austria, residing at Vienna, in the Province of Lower Austria,in the Empire of Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Quick- Fire Guns; and I do hereby declare the follow ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to rapid-firing breechloading magazine-guns, and has for its object certain improvements whereby the construction of the operative devices is materially simplified and the efliciency of the gun increased.

The improvements that form the subjectmatter of my present invention relate more particularly to a construction of gun such as shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States, granted to me June. 16, 1891, No.454,403,in which the breech and cartridge feeding mechanisms are operated by the gases in the gun-barrel and by a spring-actuated lever, respectively, through the medium of a piston to open the breech and eject the empty shell during the rearward movement of the breech-bolt, a fresh cartridge being fed to the receiver and thence to the breech of the gun, and the latter fired by the forward movement of the said breech-bolt; and my said invention consists in improvements in the breech mechanism and cartridge-feeding devices, also in the provision of means whereby the gun may be fired either from the shoulder or from a gun-rest, and in structural features and combinations of cooperative parts, as will now be fully described, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aside elevation ofmyimproved gun, the rest being shown in dotted lines folded up against the gun-barrel. Fig. 2isa top plan view,and Fig.3 an end view thereof. Fig. 4 is a left-hand side elevation of the receiver and housing for some of the breech and cart ridge feeding devices. Fig. 5 is 3 iongitudinal sectional elevation of the gun, a

portion of the barrel and the gun-rest being broken away and the breech mechanism shown in its position after firing. Fig. 6 is a like view showing the breech mechanism in its position when the breech-bolt has been moved back and acartridge is being fed to the receiver. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the receiver. Fig. Sisasection of the receiver on line w a: of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a section of the receiver on line 11: a of Fig. 5, also showing the breech-bolt and firing-pin in section on a line intersecting the locking-notch in said pin. Fig. 10 is a like view taken on or about on line 00 of Fig. 6. Fig. 11 is a detail View of the cartridge-feeding toothed plates. Fig. 12 is a face view of a toothed strip on one of said plates. Figs.

13 and 15 are sectional views illustrating the construction of the piston-cylinder and piston and its connection with the barrel. Figs. 14 and 16 are sections takenon or about on lines 3 y and y y of Figs. 13 and 15, respectively.

Figs. 17, 18, and 19 are detail views of the piston-rod. Fig. 20 is a horizontal section of a. part of the receiver at the point where the cartridge-belt passes through the same, showing the knife for cutting the cartridge-fastenings; and Figs.21, 22, and 23 are perspective views illustrating various modes of fastening the cartridges to the' belt. Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a portion of the rear end of the gun. Fig. 25 is a like view of the housing L. Fig. 26 is also a perspective view of the cartridge-belt feed-bar; and Fig. 27 is a similar view of a portion of the receiver, illustrating the abutments or knife for detaching the cartridges from the belt.

Similarsymbols refer to like parts wherever such may occur inthe above-describedfigures of drawings.

E indicates thebarrel, and C the receiver, which in this gun is entirely closed except at two points diametrically opposite each other, where said receiver is provided with a longitudinal slot 0 Figs. 5, 6, 2i, and 27, through which enters the cartride-belt N, Figs. 3 and 6, and with a like slot 0", Fig. 1, through which the empty shells are ejected or the cartridges introduced when the gun is used as a single-loader, the said slots being located at the left and right hand side of the receiver, respectively. As more clearly shown in Fig.

127, the slot lies in a higher plane than the slot c, and below said slot 0 is formed a narrow slot c for the passage of the cartridgelhelt, which slot is on a line with the slot 0'. The rear-extension of the receiver C is closed by a covering-plate V, provided at its forward end with lugs v,'that engage suitablerccesses in the receiver, (see Fig. 1,) the rear end 8f said plate being secured to an arm V on t to shoe or tail-piece H of said receiver, which tail-piece is keyed thereto by akey or crossbar H. In order that the key II may be readily removed and at the same time held against displacement in its hearing, it is preferably provided with a sprinZg-catch that engages a suitable recess in the receiver when pushed intoits bearing, and that may readily be disengaged from such recess. The shoe H has a handle I for manipulating. the gun when fired from a rest, and I preferably provide the shoe with shoulder-rest 1', Figs. 1, 2, and 3, so that said gun may be fired from the shoulder when kneeling. For the purpose of deadening or lessening the recoil or shock of the piston-rod, the shoe H is provided with a rubber butter J, Figs. 5 and 6, that projects into the path of said rod, and to prevent toorapid wear of said buffer I arm the same with a metal cap j. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the barrel E is screwed into the receiver (3, and to more effectually lock the same thereto said receiver has at its forward end a transverse groove c, that registers with a corresponding groove in said barrel, thus forming a key-groove for a key e Figs. 4, 5, and 6, which also locks the barrel against rotation on the receiver. To the under side of the receiver is secured a housing L by means of two pins or bolts Z and Z", the forward pin 1 serving also as a pivot for the trigger M, Figs. 1, 5, and 6. Like the key H of the shoe ll these pins are loosely inserted in their bearings so as to be readily removed therefrom, and in order to prevent their accidental displacement they are provided with a springcatch adapted to engage a recess in the re ceiver. I have deemed it unnecessary to show these spring-catches, as their construction is well known and in common use. The lefthand side of the housing L is closed by a plate I, that fits into asuitably-recessed portion of the housing and is held in place by two lugs 1", Fig. 4, so that it may be readily removed and access gained to the interior of the housing if this becomes necessary'forany purpose. The covering-plate extends partly overa pin 1", for purposes presently explained, and said plate has a hook I, to which the cartridge-belt carrier, hereinafter to be described, is hooked. By the removal of the pins 1 I and the key H the housing L and mechanism therein contained, the cover-plate V and shoe H can be removed and the breechbolt and its firingpin drawn out of the receiver.

To prevent the trigger from becoming disconnected from the housing L when the pivotpin is removed, I construct the pivot end of the trigger in the form of a fork that straddies the lug Z on the front face of the housing L, the parts being connected by a suitablchushingm'and fitting between the perforated lugs c at the front end of thereccivcr, to which lugs they are connected by means of the pin-Z, that passes through the bushing m, so as to adapt the trigger M to oscillate freely, the pin l not only serving as a fulcrum for the trigger, but also as a means for connecting the front end of the housing L to the receiver C, this construction being more clearly shown in Figs. 5, 6, 24, and 25. The scar m is pivotally connected with the trigger and projects into the path of the piston-rod D, presently to be described, and in order that said sear may be held in the path of the rod or the full-cock notch therein I provide in the housing L a socket for a hollow piston or plug m", that is pressed outwardly against the trigger M by a spring m (See Fig. 5.)

Underneath the barrel E of the gun is arranged a piston-cylinder F, whose forward end is in communication with said barrel through a channel or gas-passage 6. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in'full lines in Figs. 13 and 15.) This piston-cylinder may form an integral part of the barrel, as shown in Fig. 13, in which case the said cylinder has an opening formed therein on a line with the gas-passage e for boring out said passage, said opening being afterward closed by a screwplug or by an unthreaded plugf, held against accidental displacement by a locking-plate f. The said piston-cylinder may, however, form a separate part of the barrel E, in which case it is provided with a sleeve f that has a slight forwardly-tapering bore fitting on a correspondingly-tapering portion f of the barrel, and in said sleeve .is formed an openingf, diametrically opposite the gas-passage e in the forward end of the piston-cylinder E, through which the boring-tool for boring out said passage, as well as the passage 6 in the barrel, is introduced, as it will be readily seen that after the passage 0 has been bored out the sleeve f is slipped onto the barrel E and turned so that the cylinder F will lie above the same. The opening f will be in position for the introduction of the boringtool for boring out the passage e in said barrel, which passage will register with that e in the cylinder when the sleeve is turned to bring said cylinder into its normal position underneath the barrel. The endwise or forward motion of the sleeve f is prevented by a. nut e, and said sleeve is held against rotary motion on the barrel by a key f driven into suitable grooves formed in the barrel and sleeve before the nut is applied, said grooves and key also serving to properly position the piston-cylinder, so that the gaspassage therein will register with that in the barrel E, as plainly shown in Fig. 15, and when the parts are ground to properly fit together and the retaining-nut is tightened up an escape of gas at thejoint is avoided. The sleeve f may conveniently be used for the rear sight f Near its rear end the pistoncylinder E is provided with a gas-exhaust port Z, Figs. 1, 13, and 15, for the escape of the spent gases.

In order to permit the 'free movement of the piston D within cylinder F, even after the latter has become more or less fouled by the gases admitted thereto,I form in the outer end of said piston a more or less ogival or conical recess d", Fig. 18, whereby a scrapingedge d is formed at the outer peripheral edge of the piston-head for the purpose of removing the sedimentary matter, and in rear of said piston-head I form an annular groove d, in the opposite edges of which are formed notches or channels (1 on lines oblique to the longitudinal axis of the piston, the channels in said edges inclining in opposite directions, the edges of said notches also serving as scraping-edges for the removal of deposits on the cylinder-walls and the forwarding or guiding of such deposits rearwardly. To prevent the accumulation of such deposits in rear of the piston-head from interfering with the movements of the piston, the piston D may be fluted longitudinally, as shown in Figs. 13, 14, 18, and 19, or the diameter of the piston may be reduced in rear of its head, as shown at (Z in Fig. 15, or provided with a spiral thread, as shown at (1 Fig. 17,a large portion of the deposits collected in rear of the piston-head being discharged through the exhaust-port Z, while a large portion of said deposits removed from the cyliuder-walls by the scraping-edge (1 is blown out through said exhaust-port by the spent gases.

The breech-bolt A is cylindrical at its forward end and has a longitudinal slot a in its under side in rear of said cylindrical portion, the rear end of said breech-bolt being slotted vertically, and in said slot is pivoted a gravitating locking-dog B, that has in its upper face an angular recess, (shown in dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 6,) which locking-dog has hearing on abutinents c in the receiver 0, which abntments are seated in suitable openings, Figs. 5, 6, and 7, in which they are held against displacement by retaining-plates 0', Figs. 1 and 7, fitting into dovetailed grooves in the said receiver, as shown in Fig. 7, so that said abutments may be readily removed for any purpose. In rear of the abutments c c the receiver has guide ribs or faces 0 c for guiding the piston-rod, the locking-dog B, and breech-bolt A during the rearward motion of the rod. To hold the abutments against motion toward each other, they are provided at their outer ends with a flange c", seated in a suitable recess formed in the side walls of receiver C, as shown in said Fig. 7, and when the dog engages the abutments it looks the breech-bolt A against rearward motion. To hold the dog B against accidental displacement, the piston-rod D has at its rear end an overhanging or forwardly-projecting arm (I,

that passes over the dog and engages the angular recess therein, as shown in Fig. 5, the nose d of said arm extending into a suitable recess formed in the rear end of the breechbolt A.

The firing-pin G is contained in the breechbolt A so as to slide freely therein, and instead of be g moved in one direction by a spring the power of which must be overcome in firing, as shown and described in my patnt above referred to, I now dispense with the spring and move the firing-pin in both direc tions by the breech-bolt, thereby doing away with a source of great annoyance, in that the springs usually employed often break or be come so weak as not to actuate the pin properly. To the end in view the firing-pin G has a locking notch and shoulder at its rear end, and the piston-rod D has a radial arm (1", in the upper end of which is formed a recess (1' for the reception of said locking shoulder or rib on the firing-pin G,whereby two abutment; (l and d on opposite sides of said recess are formed, that move the pin forward and backward with the piston-rod D, said abutment d extending into the breech-bolt to its upper inner face to properly guide the same, and, as shown, the recess (1' is sufiieiently wide to give the pin a slight play endwise. The arm (1 has an extension (i projecting rearwardly therefrom along the piston-rod, the rear face of which extension is beveled or inclined and acts upon a correspondingly-inclined rib b on the under side of the locking-dog B to lift the same off its abutments c and unlock thebreechbolt when said rod moves rearwardly, when the said dog will be supported by the guideribs 0 Fig. 7. In order that the piston rod may have motion independently of the breech-bolt, the slot therein is made of such length as that the piston-rod can move rearwardly the proper distance to carry the locking or overhanging arm out of engagement with the locking-dog and lift the latter clear of its abutments a before the arm (1 on said rod engages the rear wall of the slot in the breechbolt to carry the same along. The dog B has at its free end a nose b, which when the said dog is lifted has bearing against the forward end of the nose (1 of the overhanging arm (Z on the piston-rod, so that aconuection is provided between the said rod and the breechbolt and through the arm d of the latter with the firing-pin,whereby independent motion of either the breech-bolt or firing-pin is prevented, said partsbein gin a mannerlocked together by and to the piston-rod D. This is an important feature of my invention, in that breakage of any of said parts is avoided, and which may result should there be any play between said parts. By the construction described after the locking-dog has been lifted the breechbolt and firing-pin move with the piston-rod as if they formed integral portions thereof. This is, of course, also the ease during the forward movement of thepiston-rod until the breech-bolt closes the breech, at which time 0 said it will be seen that the breech-bolt and :o plug of said bolt.

tiring-pin are-in perpetual engagement with the piston-rod I), though not positively connected thereto, so that when said piston-rod and breech-bolt. are drawn out of the receiver, as hereinabove described, said parts can be readily disconnected, n fact, I may say they disconnect of their own accord,) while the liring-pin G can be readily removed from the breech-bolt by unscrewing the end cap or The breech-bolt isguided in its movements in the receiver by longit udinal guide-ribs (1*, and the arm d of the piston-rod is guided by similar ribs d, fitting longitudinal grooves c in the opposite side walls of the receiver and being supported by the longitudinal bearing-ribs 0 the pistonrod itself having motion in acylindrical bearing 0 underneath the receiver, in which is formed a longitudinal recess 0 for the passage of the shoe d in the slot-d of said rod, {hereinafter referred to,)as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 8, and 9. The piston-rod D is moved rearwardly by the pressure of the gases in the barrel, passing into thepiston-cylinder F and acting upon the piston D, and said rod is moved forwardly by a spring-actuated lover I, fnlcrumed at Z in the housing or casing L, the spring K of said lever being compressed during the rearward motion of the piston and piston-rod. As shown in Figs.5 and 6, the spring K is V-shaped and loosely abuts against a stud Z on lever l and against an abutment on the housing, so that said spring can be readily removed. The fulcrum-pin l of lever Z is also loosely inserted in its bearings, and is held in place by the covering-plate Z of the housing, so as to admit of its ready withdrawal. The piston-rod has a longitudinal slot (1 into which the upper end of the lever 1 projects, the diameter of the forward wall of the slot being increased by a U-shaped shoe d against which the nose of the lever has hearing. The object of thus increasing the diameter or height of the forward wall of slot d" is to insure perpetual engagement of the lever with the piston-rod and to give the necessary amplitude of motion to the lever in either direction without leaving said slot.

In rapid firing, after the first cartridge has 50 been fed into the receiver, as hereinafter explained, the trigger M is constantly pressed backward, so as to keep the sear out of engageinent with the full-cock notch in the piston-rod D, the loading and firing being automatically effected by the gas-actuated piston and spring-actuated lever Z.

In order that the piston-rod may be ma- "which the said pistou and piston-rod can be moved lmeluvard and forward for the purpose of actuating the breech and cartridgefeeding mechanisms. In view of what has been said it will readily be seen that an accidental explosion of a cartridge within the receiver cannot take place, for the reason that the tiring-pin is held back by the projection 11. in front of the recess with which said pin engages until the breech-bolt; has pushed the cartridge into the breech and said bolt has closed the latter and has been locked against rearward movement, at which time the said firing-pin is carried forward by the pistonrod to explode the cartridge.

I will nowdescribe the mechanism for feeding the cartridges to the receiver, the empty shells being ejected through slot 0 in said receiver by means of any usual or well-known arrangement of ejector. The cartridges may be secured to the belt N either by threadloops n, Fig. 21, or by split rings a, Fig. 2, or by a loop 72 made of flat metal and provided with a heel n to prevent the cartridges from slipping out, according to the construction of the cartridge-shell; The mode of securing the cartridges to the belt shown in Figs. 21, 22, and 23 may be resorted to with that class of shells in which there is either an annular groove at the end of the chargechamber or an annular flange or rim, in which case the stop or heel piece n", Fig. 23, can be dispensed with, while the mode of securing said shell to the belt shown in said Fig. 23 is preferably employed with that class of shells that have neither a groove nor a rim or flange or that have a-rim or flange that projects but very slightly beyond the body of the'shell. The belt N, with its cartridges sccured thereto, is wound on the axis to of a spool, or preferably a cylindrical casing U, having a peripheral opening adapted to be closed byacovering-plate u hinged at u? to the right-hand edge of said opening, so that when said casing, which is provided with a suitable loop u, Fig. 3, is hooked to the book 1*, Fig. 4, and the covering-plate thrown against the receiver, said plate will form a bridge for the cartridge-belt, as shown in Fig. 3. The axis to of the spool or casing U is slotted for the insertion of one end of the cartridge-belt, said axis being then revolved by means of a crank u, for the purpose of winding on the said belt. The crank u is more or less elastic and has bearing on one of the end faces of the casing U, so as to act as a brake to prevent the belt from unwinding too fast under the action of the feed mechanism. Although I prefer the described arrangement of the cartridge-casing U relatively to the receiver, yet, if desired,

said casing may be located below the gun and hooked to the housing L, as shown in dotted A face of the narrow longitudinalslot clwhereby A a passage is formed below the plate for the eartridge-belt N and whereby the cartridges are guided onto the said plate, the receiverwall 0 serving as an abutment to hold the cartridges against lateral movement in a position to be engaged by the breech-bolt during its forward movement to be carried into the breech. In order that the cartridges may move onto the horizontal member of the angleplate 0 the latter is made shorter than the slots 0 c c, and near its forward end the plate has a recess or slot on a line with the tie n at the bullet and of the cartridge,while the rear end of the plate lies just in front of the tie at the butt-end of said cartridge, so that when the breech-bolt A is thrown forward either'by hand orby the lever l the ties will be severed if fibrous ties n are usd,or in case of metallic ties n or n these are spread or opened. When the cartridges are secured to the belt by means of ties made of fibrous material, the rear edge of the horizontal member of the plate 0 and the forward edge of the slot 0 in said horizontal member of the plate are preferably ground to a knifeedge, the platethen acting as a knife to sever the ties. When metallic ties 'n or n Figs. 22 and 23, are employed, these should, of course, be sufliciently flexible as to require but a comparatively-small power to spread them open. In the latter case I provide two slots-one at each end of the plate c -for the passage of the metallic ties, to effect which the partition a between the slots 0 and e in the receiver-wall is made of a separate piece and formed on or secured to the feed-plate R, that performs the function of a gate for the casing C.

The cartridge-belt N as it issues from the narrow slot in the right-hand side of the. receiver passes over a guide-roller q, and thence between two feed-plates O and R, each carrying a number of transverse bars S, provided with teeth 8, Fig. 12. The plate 0 receives a periodical vertically-reciprocating motion through the following instrumentalities: The said plate 0 is secured to a bar P, Figs. 6, 10, and 26, whose lower end is seated in the housing L, Figs. 5 and 6, and at said lower end the bar has a forwardly-projecting perforated foot 1), through which and asuitable opening in the bottom of housing L passes aguide-pin 11 whose upper end is screw-threaded and screws into a out p at the upper end of a cylindrical chamber formed in said housing L, said chamber having a vertical slot Z in which the foot- 1) of bar P has motion. The pin p and nut 11* are held against rotation by a key p driven into a groove in the head 19 of the pin and into a cor esponding groove in the inner periphery of the opening of the housing L. (See Fig. 5.) 0n the pin is mounted a spring 1), whose ends have hearing upon the foot p of arm P and against nut 10*, respectively. The lowerend of the bar P is suitably slotted and recessed, and in said slot and recess is pivoted a spring-actuated pawl 19, whose nose projects into'the path of an arm I on the piston-rod actuating-lever I. As the lever l is thrown back by the pressure of the gases on the piston D, the arm 1 acting upon the pawl p, lifts the barP and its attached plate 0 against the stress of spring 1), and as the teeth 8 on bars S of said plate are curved downwardly said teeth will slide over the cartridge-belt between plates 0 and R. Before the lever 1 reaches the limit of its rearward motion its arm 1 moves out of engagement with the pawl 1)", thereby releasing the bar, which under the stress of its spring 10' is moved downward again, the teeth 8 engaging the cartridge-helt and carrying the same along. These movements are so regulated as to move the belt sufficiently to bring a cartridge into the path of the breech-bolt, which cartridge on the forward movement of said bolt is detached from the belt, as above described, and as the lever-arm 1 comes in contact with the pawl 1) during its forward motion the said pawl will be pressed forwardly against the stress of its spring until said arm has moved clear of the pawl, which is then moved back into its normal position by its spring, ready to be again engaged by the lever-arm on its next rearward motion.

The plate R, that co-operates with the plate 0 in feeding ,the cartridges, is hinged at 1, Figs. 1 and 20, and the teeth 8 on the bars or strips S are also curved downward so as to engage the belt N and prevent the same from moving upwardly with the plate 0, the teeth on the strips S of said plates being arranged in such manner that the teeth of plate 0 will lie opposite the spaces between the teeth of plate R. In order to insure the engagement of the teeth with the belt, the bars or strips S, to which they are secured, are made of spring sheet metal and secured to the respective plates so as to act as springs, yielding to the belt on its downward passage and forcing the teeth into the same on the downward motion of plate 0 and into the teeth of plate B should the belt be moved upwardly with plate 0. The plate, R is substantially a gate, whereby access can be had to the interior of the casing C, in which said plate 0 has motion for the purpose of passing the end of the belt N over plate 0 and out of a slot in the bottom of the casing when a freshcartridge-belt is to be applied. The casing 0 forms part of or is secured to the housing L, and its gate or plate R is locked to the casing by means of a cam-lever r, Fig. 1. When split rings a or split bands n are employed for fastening the cartridges to the belt, suitable slots are formed in the side of the receiver, while the casing C, through which the belt passes, is provided with channels or grooves r Fig. 20, for the passage of said rings or hands. Should the spring 1) fail in its operation of carrying the bar I rapidly down when the latter is released by arm Z of lever Z,I provide a springactuated lever 'I, fnlcrumed at t to the rear wall of housing L, said lever '1 having a stud t projecting laterally therefrom into the path of lever I, while the nose of said lever '1 lies in the path of a lug or abutment p on bar P, Figs. 5 and 6, so that as the lever Z is thrown back by the piston and its rod it will impinge upon the stud z" of lever 'l and force the same downwardly, and with it the bar P, as will be readily understood.

Vhen a gun of the class described is fired from the shoulder, the aim is necessarily more or less unsteady. This I avoid by providing a gun-rest composed of two legs W, hinged together at their upper end, as shown at w, Fig. 3, so that they may be folded together, the legs being prevented from folding when in use by a locking pin or bolt w, inserted in keepers secured to said legs, as shown in dotted lines in Figs.1 and 3 and in full lines in Fig. 5. The upper end of one of the legs \V is pivoted at 20 to a swivel-head 10, that turns freely in a bearing Z formed in the under side of the housing L, said bearing having a vertical slot I, (see Fig. 5,) so that after removal of the locking-bolt 10 and after-folding the legs together they may be turned up against the barrel out of the way, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, whereby the gun may be fired from the shoulder while the marksman is kneeling.

Inasmuch as the gun-rest is swiveled to the gun, the latter can be revolved about its axis and elevated or depressed at pleasure by more or less inclining the gun-rest in one or the other direction, so that the range of fire is materially increased and the handling of the gun facilitated. Instead of connecting the gun-rest to the housing L, it may be connected with the barrel and arranged to fold backward, as will be readily understood.

The operation of the gun may be briefly described as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 5, the gun having just been fired, the piston-rod D and its piston will be moved rearwardly by the pressure of the gases in the barrel entering the piston-cylinder F, the arm or abutment d on said piston-rod lifting the locking-dog B clear of the abutments c in the receiver 0 and moving the breech-bolt A, with the firing-pin, backward into the position shown in Fig. 6, the sear m of the trigger M engaging the fullcock notch (1. In this backward movement the empty shell is withdrawn from the breech and ejected through the slot 0 in receiver 0. As and for the purposes hereinbefore stated, the firing-pin G moves with the piston-rod D for a certain distance independently of the breech-bolt A before the said bolt commences to move with said rod, so that the locking-dog B may be lifted clear of its abutments to admit of a rearward motion of the breech-bolt. As the piston-rod and piston move rearwardly the lever Z is ro'cked backward on its fulcrum and its spring K brought under tension, and simultaneously therewith the nose I", acting upon the spring-pawl p lifts the feed-bar P against the stress of its spring 19 so as to position said bar to act upon the cartridge-carrier belt N to feed a cartridge into the receiver. As the lever 1 reaches the limit of its backward oscillation its nose Z moves out of engagement with the pawl, thus allowing the spring p to draw down the bar P, whose toothed feed-plate S, engaging with the carrier-belt N, draws the same down also, whereby a fresh cartridge is carried into the receiver C, said cart-ridge moving over the plate 0 while the belt N moves under said plate, the ties of the cartridge lying in the notch c and in rear of plate 0 respectively. The gun is now ready for firing by pulling upon the trigger to release the lever Z, which throws the piston-rod and piston forward. During the forward movement the firing-pin G moves with the piston and its rod for a certain distance before the breech-bolt commences its forward motion, for purposes hereinbefore stated. As the parts are about to reach their relative positions shown in Fig. 5, the locking-dog held up during the backward movement of the breech-block by the guide-ribs 0 drops off said ribs into engagement with the abutments c to lock the breech-bolt to the breech, and simultaneouslytherewith the forwardly-projecting-arm (Z on the piston-rod D engages the rear end of the breech-bolt, whereby an accidental displacement of the latter is eflectually prevented. During the forward movement of the breech-bolt the ties that connect the cartridge to its carrier-belt are either severed or released by the pressure of the bolt on the cartridge and the latter is carried into the breech of the gun. As soon as the described movements have taken place the cartridge is exploded. \Vhen it is desired to fire rapidly, the trigger 'l may be kept pulled back, so that the sear cannot engage the full-cock notch (1 and should the spring K of lever Z break and thus fail to carry the piston-rod forward the latter may then be so moved through the medium of the auxiliary trigger d", as hereinbefore explained.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the receiver provided with two abutments, the breech-bolt, and a gravitating locking-dog at the rear end of the bolt having bearing on said abutments, of an endwisemovable rod adapted to impart. motion to the breech-bolt and to have motion independently of said bolt, an abutment on the rod adapted IIO to engage the locking-dog and lift the same off its abntments when said rod moves rearwardly, and a forwardly-projecting arm on the rear end of the rod adapted to engage the locking-dog and hold the same to its abutments when said rod has reached or is about to reach the limit of its forward motion, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the receiver, the breech-bolt, and the locking-dog pivoted to the rear end of said bolt, of abutments removably seated in the receiver and extending into the path of the dog, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the receiver provided with two abutments, the breech-bolt slotted longitudinally near its rear end, and a gravitatin'g' locking-dogat the rear end of the receiver, said dog being provided with an abutment b at its free end, of an endwise-movable rod adapted to impart motion to the breech-bolt and have motion independently thereof, a radial arm extending into the breech-bolt through the slot thereof, an abutment on said rod adapted to engage the locking-dog and lift the same off its abutments during the rearward motion of said rod,'and a forwardly-projecting arm at the rear end of the rod, adapted to contact with the abutment b on the locking-dog during such rearward motion and during a portion of the forward motion of the rod, said arm engaging the upper face of said dog to hold it down to its abut-ments when the rod has reached or is about to reach the limit of its forward motion, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 1

4. In a gun of the class described, the combination,with the receiver provided with two abutmen ts c c, with guide-ribs c in rear thereof, and with guide-grooves 0 extending rearwardly and forwardly of the abutments, the breech-bolt provided with guide-ribs a", fitting said grooves, and with a longitudinal slot near its rear end, and a gravitating lockingdog at the said rear end of the bolt, having bearing on the abutments c c, of an endwisemovable rod, a radial arm extending into the receiver through its slot, an abutment on said rod adapted to engage the locking-dog and lift the same, so as to lie in the plane of the guideribs c and a forwardly-projecting arm d on the rear end of the rod, provided with guideribs (1', fitting the grooves c and having bearing on the ribs 0 said arm contacting with the lockingdog during the rearward and during a portion of the forward movement of the rod and adapted to engage the said dog as it drops off the said guide-ribs when the rod has reached or is about to reach the limit of its forward movement, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a gun of the class described,the combination, with the receiver, the breech-bolt, and the firing-pin G, provided with a lockingshoulder, of an endwise-movable rod provided witha radial arm (1, extending into thebreechbolt through a longitudinal slot therein, said arm being provided with-a forked portion d d, forming a recess (1" for the reception of the shoulder on the firing-pin, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

6. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the receiver provided with abutments c c, the breech-bolt, a gravitating locking-dog at the rear end thereof, and the firing-pin G, having a locking-shoulder at its rear end, of an endwise-movable rod provided with a radial arm d, extending into the receiver through a longitudinal slot therein, said radial arm being forked to form abut ments d d and a recess d between them for the reception of-the locking-shoulder on the firing-pin, and with an abutment d adapted to engage the locking dog and lift it off its abutments on the rearward motion of the rod, and a forwardly-projecting arm on the rear end of said rod adapted to engage the locking-dog and hold it to its abutments when said rod has reached or is about to reach the limit of its forward motion, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the receiver, of a heel-piece H, provided with a shoulder-rest 11 and arm I, said heel-piece being detachably secured to the rear end of the receiver, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the receiver having a rearwardly-projecting guide extension, of a heelpiece adapted to close the end of the receiver detachably secured thereto, and a coveringplate V, connected with the heel-piece for covering the extension of the receiver, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with thereceiver provided with a rearwardly-projecting guide extension slotted transversely at its rear end, of a heelpiece 11', also slotted transversely, the key If, fitting said trans'verse slots, and the coveringplate V, secured to said heel-piece and provided at its forward end with lugs adapted to engage recesses in the receiver, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the barrel, the piston-cylinder, and a gas-duct leading from the forward end of the cylinder to the barrel, said cylinder having an exhaust-port near its rear end, of a piston having its forward end hollowed out to form a peripheral scraping-edge (1 and provided in rear of said edge with a peripheral groove, for the purpose set forth.

11. In a gun of the class described, the combinat ion, with the barrel, the piston-cylinder, a gas-duct leading from the forward-end of the cylinder to the barrel, and an exhaustduct near its rear end, ofa piston having the periphery of its outer face formed into a scraping-edge, an annular groove d in rear of said scraping-edge, and oblique channels d opening into said groove, the body of said piston IOC 5 a gas-duct leading from the forward end of the cylinder to the barrel, and an exhaustduct near its rear end, of a piston having the periphery of its outer face formed into a scraping edge, an annular groove d in rear of said scraping-edge, and oblique channels d, opening into said groove, theliody of said piston being provided with a spiral thread d1, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In a gun of the class described, the com bination, with the barrel E,provided with the conical bearing having a longitudinal groove therein and a screw-threaded portion in frontthereoflandthe piston cylinder F,pro vided with a sleeve f having a correspondingly-conical bore and longitudinal groove therein and fitting on the conical bearing of the barrel, of the key f and nut e, respectively fitted in the grooves in the barrel and sleeve and on the screw-threaded portion of said barrel, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

14. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the receiver (J, provided with a longitudinal transverse passage, a dividing plate dividing said passage, and a cartridgecarrier consisting of a belt, to which the cartridges are secured, said belt passing under the plate and the cartridges over said plate, of an endwise-movable breech-bolt adapted to exert pressure on the cartridges as they are broughtwithin its reach and atoothed belt-teeding device adapted to engage the belt and draw the same through the slot in the receiver, substantially as described.

15. In agun of the class described, the combination of acartridge-carrier to which the cartridges are secured at or near their opposite ends, with the receiver provided with a transverse passage for the belt and with fixed abutments for the fasteners of the cartridges, and the breech-bolt having motion across said transverse passage on the line of acartridge, whereby the latter is detached from the belt by the power exerted thereon by the bolt and carried by said bolt into the breech of the gun.

16. In a gun of the class described, the combination of a cartridge-carrier consisting of a belt, to which the cartridges are fastened, the receiver having a transverse passage for the belt and abutments for the fasteners ot the cartridges, with the breech-bolt having motion inthe receiver across the transverse passage, and the abutments for the cartridgefasteners on a line with a cartridge in said receiver, whereby said cartridge is detached from the belt by the power exerted thereon by the bolt when the latter moves forward, and a feeding device controlled by the bolt to move the cartridge-carrier, for the purpose set forth.

17. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the receiver having a longitudinal slot in one side for the passage of a cartridge-carrier belt and the cartridges secured thereto and a like narrow slot in the opposite side for the passage of the beltonly, of a guide and cutter-blade c", projecting into the receiver from above the narrow slot toward the wider slot, said blade having near its forward edge a slot or recess the forward edge of which, as well as the rear edge of the plate, being ground to knife-edges, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

18. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the receiver C, provided with a longitudinal transverse passage,a dividingplate dividing said passage, and a cartridgecarrier consisting of a belt to which the cartridges are secured, said belt passing under the plate and the cartridges over said plate, of an endwisemovable breech-bolt adapted to exert pressure on the cartridges as they are brought within its reach and a belt-feeding device comprising a vertically-movable plate havingdownwardly-curved teeth adapted to engage the cartridge-belt and draw the same through the slot in the receiver,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

19. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the receiver C, provided with a longitudinal transverse passage, a dividingplate dividing said passage, and a cartridgecarrier consisting of a belt to which the cartridges are secured, said belt passing under the plate and the cartridges over said plate, of an endwise-movable breech-bolt adapted to exert pressure on the cartridges as they are brought within its reach, and a belt-feeding device comprising a vertically-movable plate whose upward motion is controlled by the movements of the breech-bolt, and an actuating device to move the plate downwardly, said plate being provided with down wardlycurved teeth adapted to engage the cartridgebelt when the plate is moving downwardly, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

20. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the receiver 0, provided with a longitudinal transverse passage, a dividingplate dividing said passage, and a cartridgecarrier consisting of a belt to which the cartridges are secured, said belt passing under the plate and the cartridges over said plate, of an endwisemovable breech-bolt adapted to exert pressure on the cartridges as they are brought within its reach, and a belt-feeding device comprising a. vertically-movable plate whose upward motion is controlled by the movements of the breech-bolt, an actuating device to move the plate downwardly, said plate being provided with downwardlycurved teeth adapted to engage the cartridgebelt when the plate is moving downwardly,

and a correspondiugly-toothed fixed plate opposite said movable plate operating to hold the belt against upward motion with said movable plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

21. In a gun of the class described, the coms bination, with the vertically-movable bar P and its attached plate and the elastic toothed strips S thereon, of a" fixed plate R, provided with like toothed strips arranged opposite plate 0, the teeth in both plates bero ing curved downwardly, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

22. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the fixed plate R, the plate 0,

, its spring-actuated bar P, and the spring: actuated pawl p at the foot of said bar, of the spring-actuated lever Z, provided with an arm Z at its lower end adapted to engage the pawl 10 and the piston-rod D in perpetual engagement with said lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

23. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the housing L, provided with an opening, the gate R, hinged to and adapted to close said opening, said gate having down- 2 5 wardly-curved teeth on its inner face, the endwise-movable piston-rod 'D, and the springactuated leverl in perpetual engagement with the rod, said lever having at its lower end an arm I, of the spring-actuated bar P, provided 0 at its lower end with a spring-actuated pawl p adapted to be engaged by the arm Z of lever l, and the plate 0, secured to the upper end of bar P opposite the gate R, said plate 0 being likewise provided with downwardly-curving 3 5 66132, substantially as and for the purpose set ort 24. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the receiver provided with lugs c, the housing L, provided with perforated car 0 F, fitting between said lugs, the trigger M, having a forked portion into which the ear P fits, and a bushing m, extending through said forked portion and the perforation of the ear P, of a retainingpin passing through the lugs c and the bushing m, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

25. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the piston-rod D, provided with a full-cock notch, and the housing L, of the trigger M, pivoted to the front face of said housing and prohided with a sear m adapted to engage the full-cock notch in the piston-rod, and the spring-actuated stud m, loosely seated in a recess in the housing and having bearing on the rear face of the trigger, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

26. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the piston-rod D, provided with a longitudinal slot d", and the shoe d at the forward end of said slot, of the spring-actuated lever 1, extending into the slot d", substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

27. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the iston and its rod D, of the receiver, the heel-piece H, and the buffer J, .65 projecting from said heel-piece into the path of the rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

28. The combination, with a gun of the class described, of a gun-rest comprising two legs hinged together and connected with the gun so asto revolve about horizontal and vertical axes, for the purpose set forth.

29. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the housing L, provided with a cylindrical and vertically-slotted bearing 1, of two legs W W, hinged together, and a cylindrical head seated in said bearing, to which head the upper end of the legs is pivoted, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

30. In a gun of the class described, the cartridge-belt carrier consisting of a cylindrical casing U, having a slotted axial spindle u, a more or less elastic crank u, secured on said spindle, and a cover u, hinged at a to an opening in said casing, which is also provided with a loop u, in combination with the gun and housing L, the side wall of which is provided with a hook Z substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 9o

31. In a gun of the class described, the combination, with the receiver having a rearwardly projecting guide extension, the housing L, depending from the receiver, the heelpiece H, and the covering-plate V, connected with the heel-piece and receiver to cover the extension thereof,of the pins Z Z", connecting the housing with the receiver, and the key H, connecting the heel-piece to the extension of said receiver, for the purpose set forth.

32. The combination, with a gun provided with a support or stand therefor, of a shoulder-rest detachably secured to the rear end of the gun, for the purpose fet forth.

33. The combination, with agun,of a sup- 5 port or stand and a shoulder-rest, both detachably secured to the gun, for the purpose set forth.

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

. ADOLF ODKOLEK.

Witnesses:

W. B. MURPHY, PAUL BERGER.

IOC

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