US1709399A - Automatic firearm - Google Patents

Description

F. HERLACH ET AL 1,709,399

April 16, I929.

' AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed May 19, 1928. 2 Sheets-Sheet m2 m T); m N R V/ i W 8 A flmwm I a Mm 1 1 w 5 r L; 9.? 2; "u i J .0 b 4 m lm h 1m 9 7 m ME. r Z

April 16, 1929.

F. HERLACH ET AL AUTOMATIC FIREARM Filed May 19, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTU s 12-1 b rjazal nznlfleodorj lzkw a 7ATI'EIVRN LY Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT DEF-FEE.

FRITZ HERLACH AND THEODOR BAKULA, OF DUS SELDORF, GERMANY, ASSIGNORS TO RHEINISCHE METALLWAAREN- UND MASCHINENFABRIK, OF DUSSELDOIRF-DEREN- nonr, GERMANY.

AUTOMATIC FIREARM.

Application filed May 19, 1928, Serial No. 279,131, and in Germany April 27, 1926.

Our invention relates to an automatic fire arm to which the cartridges are fed from the side, and has for its object to afiord the possibility of a great number of shots to be fired uninterruptedly, and to avoid, notwith standing, the employment of voluminous and heavy magazines hitherto required therefor.

The invention substantially consists in the fact, that the fire arm is designed to simultaneously receive two separate cartridge magazines, adapted to be exchanged independently of one another and to be brought by suitable means successively into the range of themembers of the arm that shift the cartridges inthe direction of the bore of the barrel into the cartridge chamber of the latter.

The invention further comprises means for alternately adjustingv automatically the one or the other of the two magazines for the feed of the cartridges and to cause, when one magazine is empty, the fire to be continued from the other magazine. Means are furtherprovided,by which the feed from a maga zine may be interrupted at any time, even if it is not yet emptied, whereupon the other magazine automatically undertakes the further feed of cartridges. Furthermore, in order to not have extended undesiredly, after both magazines have been emptied, the interruption of the fire that arises due to the insertion of new full magazines, by starting anew the automatic operation of the arm by hand, whereby much time is occupied, a mechanism is provided, by

which the firing of the last present cartridge,

" after being shifted into the cartridge chamher, is automatically rendered impossible, by the trigger mechanism of the arm being locked. I Only by the insertion of a full magazine in the magazine chamber the possibility of uninterruptedly firing is re-established. In order to allow of our invention to be more easily understood, a preferred embodiment of same is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as applied to an automatic barrel recoil firm arm. In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross section of the arm seen from the muzzle toward the magazine mechanism, two cartridge magazines being inserted,

Figure 2 1s a top view of tle magazine mechanism,

T he magaaz'ne chamber.

A case b serves as slide for the barrel and for the breech sleeve a connected thereto, which case has laterally arranged on it the magazlne chamber 0 which is open on its outer end. A horizontal partition 0 divides the chamber a into two compartments each adapted to lodge a cartridge magazine. The upper and lower wall of the chamber 0- has pocketlike rises to enable parts projecting from the magazines to freely pass.

When the barrel assumes the firing or run out position, the passage opening, leading to the bore of case b, of the magazine chamber 0 1S closed by the outer wall of the breech sleeve a, Whilst with the barrel in recoil position, an aperture forming-the cartridge inlet, of sleeve a registers with said chamber opening, both compartments of the magazine chamber opening into the cartridge inlet. Two lipshaped cartridge feeders d, d project, respectively, from the upper and lower cham ber wall into the path of the breech sleeve a, which feeders are mounted onthese walls and, when the barrel is in firing position, pass into slots a provided in sleeve a.

T he cartridge magazines.

The cartridge magazines; 6, Figures 3-5, consist of thin-walled sheet metal boxes open on one of their narrow sides' and are each provided with a feeder e adapted to be shifted under the action of a feed spring e in the direction toward their opening. The cartridges are inserted .in the magazine transversely of their longitudinal axis, whereby the feeder e is urged back and the feed spring 6 is tensioned. s

The opening of the magazine box is closed by a lid f that is provided'with means for locking it in open and closed position. To this end locking bolts 9 are vertically shiftably mounted in guide b1ocks g on those of 'the broad sides 7 of the boxe s,which, after the box has been inserted in the chambere,

. abut on the upper and lower wall thereof,

see also Figure 1. The locking bolts 9 are provided with notches g and pressed outward by flat springs 9 arranged below them. In this outer position the bolts 9 lock the lid f in the closing position against'an opening motion, by hooks abutting on the stem of the bolts 9 Upon depressing however the bolts'g the notches a arrive opposite the hooks f of the lid 7. The latter is then lifted by hand or by the pressure exerted by the vcartridges contained in the box, and is se- Mechanism for alternately and automatically I adjusting to feed position the introduced magazine boxes.

The adjustment of a full cartridge magazinebox e in a condition to feed a cartridge to the barrel takes place by opening'the lid f by the action of a releasing mechanism provided on each magazine compartment. When a magazine box e is inserted in a compartment, its lid 7 is in closed position and the upwardly projecting locking bolts g glide unhinderedly into the above-mentioned pocket 0 A shaft h is mounted each on the upper and lower chamber wall, see Figures 1 and 2, each of which shafts has so fixed on it two releasing levers it that their cam-shaped ends it, that project into recesses of the chamber walls, are opposite the above described locking bolts 9 of the magazine boxes 6. The rocking motion of the shafts h is derived from the inserting and withdrawing motion of the magazine boxes.

On the side walls of the compartments are arranged casings i in which rods i are lodged so as to be shifted toward the barrel under the action of springs i Levers/ o, fixed on each shaft it engages each a slot of the respective rod i and thus serve to transmit the shifting motion of the rods i to the shafts h in one or other direction and to convert it into a rocking motion of these shafts. The shaft h mounted on the upper compartment and acting by its releasing levers it upon the inserted magazine box, is in mesh with 1 the rod i of the lower compartment and vice-versa. When the compartments are empty, the cam ends k of all releasing levers k project under the action of, the springs 11 into the path of the magazine locking bolts 9 of the lids f, which bolts assume their upper posia 'tion. Whena box eis inserted in one of the compartments, e. g. inthe' upper one, noses pressure acting upon it by the cartridges and is locked in open position by the bolts '9 and hooks f, as above described.

The magazine box 6 introduced in the upper compartment is thus adjusted for feeding a cartridge, whilst the releasing mechanism of the lower compartment has been brought into an inoperative position. The lid f of a box introduced later on in the lower compartment remains closed. This lower box however rocks out of operation the releasing levers h, for the lid of the upper box e.

This lid thus remains unacted upon in'the locked open position When the upper box is withdrawn, the springs i of the upper compartment are relaxed by the simultaneous withdrawal of the noses e while the lid 7 of the lower box e is automatically opened by the lower releasing levers if being rocked. Only one single box is thus open and adapted to supply 'cartridges. a

In order to fix the boxes in their extreme position within thecompartments against the action of the feed springs e and'springs 1?, two locking levers k are rigidly fixed on an upper and lower shaft 7c, the hook-shaped ends of which levers engage through suitable slots of the compartment walls each a nose e of the box walls. By springs, 72 coiled on the shaftk the locking levers k are pressed toward the box wall, see Figure 1. When a box e is introduced, its noses e lift the looking levers k whereupon'the hook ends of the latter engage behind the'noses. e and thus lock the box against the action of thesprings i and e.

The locking levers k may be disengaged by hand by means of the handles k rigid on the shaft 72.. When the locking levers k are disengaged by manipulating the handles k,-

the respective box 0 is automatically ejected from its compartment by the action of the springs i The described release of the magazine locking mechanism may only be executed after the lid f of the respective box has been closed, as otherwise the cartridges still containedin the box-would be ejected by thefeed spring e and would deposit in the respective compartment. To prevent this, a lid closinglever l is fixed on each shaft is, the curved end of which lever abuts on the open lid f in the midst thereof, of a box that is present in locked position in the respective compartment. Upon releasing the locking levers k by means of the handle k the lid closing lever Z depresses the opened lid 7 into closing position, whereby the engagement of the locking bolts 9 and hooks f is suppressed. When arrived however in closing position, the lid f is at once locked again by the bolts 9 Upon the box then being ejected by the springs l at the same time the lid f of the other box that remains in its compartment, is automatically opened.

When a magazine box, e. g. the upper one, has been unlocked and ejected, the releasing levers k of the lower compartment, which levers now press upon the bolts 9 of the lower box due to the upper springs i being relaxed,

and open the lid f of this box, will not allow of the lower box to be unlocked by the handle 10 and of its lid f to be closed simultaneously.

To permit this nevertheless, handles i are provided on the rods 6 by means of which handles a temporary lifting of the releasing levers k may be obtained when the lower box should likewise be unlocked by hand.

In order to automatically close'an emptied magazine box and simultaneously opening the other full one, the following mechanism is provided. An unlocking lever m fulcrumed at m on the chamber wall is provided symmetrically for each magazine box. The end m of. these levers forms a. stop and projects through a recess of the chamber wall into the' path of a projection 6 provided on the feeder e and projecting from the side wall of the box and running in a slot 6 of the latter.

After the last cartridge has left the magazine box and entered the'breech of the arm, so

i that the box is empty, the projection e of the feeder 6 hits the stop m of the unlocking lever m and rocks the latter about its fulcrum so that lever m by means of a face m that abuts on the locking lever rocks the magazine locking mechanism is, k in the unlocking direction, while at the same time the lid f is closed by the appurtenant lid closing lever Z. The empty closed magazine box is thererel. To this end noses e are provided near the front end of the magazine boxes, which noses, when the boxes are inserted in the compartments, strike against double levers n pivoted on the front wall of chamber a and rock these levers in such a manner, that the other ends of the latter, that engage suitable recesses of a shiftable rod 0, Figures 1 and 2, shift this rod against the action of a spring p. This spring p is tensioned, as soon as any magazine box is introduced, and remains tensloned, as long as any box is being lodged in locked state in the compartments. A doublearm-ed interrupting lever 9V is fulcrumed on the chamber 0, the one arm of which lever '19 engages another recess provided in the rod 0, while its other arm g- -is in connection with the trigger mechanism (not shown) and acts as a locking member therefor. When at least one box is in the chamber 0, the lever arm is out of the range of the trigger mechanism. The single box still in the chamber 0 is ejected by unlocking it manually or after the last cartridge has been fed therefrom to the barrel, the lever 01, follows under the ac tion of spring p the nose e that now gives way tow ard'the right, rod 0 is shifted and locks the locking member .(lever arm) of the interrupting lever 9 into a position in which it locks the trigger mechanism. Hence, the last cartridge is introduced still in the cartridge chamber of the barrel, but cannot be fired, before a full box 6 has been inserted in the chamber a.

A handle 9 of the interrupting lever 9 allows of the lever arm g to be releasedby hand from looking position, so that the trigger is ready tofire the last cartridge that has already been transferred into the barrel.

The mechanism for interruptingthe firing possibility operates thus in dependence upon the ejecting motion of a box 6 that has been unlocked within the compartment. In order to warrant this interruption as to the last cartridge, when a failure of ejection of the empty box occurs, as it may be the case'e. g. due to a bruised box getting jammed in the compartment, a special safety device is provided that operates independently of the' ejecting motion of the box 6. To this end the stop face of the lever n, Figures 6 and 7, on

which abuts the nose 6 in inserting a box, is

not rigidly arranged on this lever, but is designed as a bolt 8 shiftably arranged transversely of the inserting direction of the box against the action of a spring Toward the box the bolt 8 has a slope face 8 on which strikes the projection e of the feeder 6 when the last cartridge is supplied from the box to the closure of the arm, shortly before this injection causes the unlocking of the box in (to-operation with the locking mechanism m k 70 The projection e presses the bolt 8 out of the range of the box nose 6 that abuts thereon, so that the levern passes past the nose 6 under the action of spring ;0 and the locking member 9 is rocked into the .position to lock the trigger mechanism.

Mode of operation. A full magazine box e is firstly inserted in one of the compartments of chamber 0, e. g. in

the upper compartment, and is automatically locked in its feed position by the locking levers k Its lid f is then unlocked automatically and opens under the pressure of the cartridges lodged in the box and urged by the feed spring 6 The first cartridge abuts on the outer face of the breech sleeve a. The locking member 9 of the trigger locking mechanism is being rocked into inoperative position, so that this mechanism is ready to fire. Another magazine box'that now is inserted in the lower compartment, is firstly waiting therein with closed lid f and in locked state, this box however rocking the lid unlocking mechanism It h of the upper compartment into inoperative position.

To start the automatic operation of the arm, the barrel is drawn back by hand, while at the same time its closure (not shown) that glides in the breech sleeve a, is opened, where- 'by the cartridge inlet opening of sleeve a comes to lie opposite the first cartridge of the upper, open magazine box a. This cartridge is shifted under the action of the feed spring e laterally into the path of the sleeve (1. and is held in this position by the upper feeding lip d and the front edge 0" of the partition 0 of chamber 0, see Figure 1.

Upon the barrel running out, the rear wall of the cartridge inlet opening of sleeve a shifts the cartridge forward out of the range of the lip d and of the partition 0 The next cartridge of the upper magazine box presses the first one into the path of the breech piece not shown) which then effects in known manner the further shift of the first cartridge into the cartridge chamber of the barrel.

' The arm is now in loaded state and for a continuous fire only'the operation of the trigger and the supply of full magazine boxes is required to replace the empty and automatically ejected ones. When the last cartridge of the upper box has arrived in the path of the breech sleeve a, the unlocking lever m of the upper compartment lifts under the action of the projection e of the feeder e the locking levers from the box noses 6, while at the same time the lid f of the empty upper box is closed. The latter is then ejected by the action of the springs 71 which at the same time unlock the lid '7 of the lower box through the intermediary of the lid releasing mechanism b 71. 72. The lower box thereupon undertakes the further feed of cartridges into the path of the movable parts of the breech without any interruption of the fire.

The described play of the magazine mechanism is automatically continued so that the arm is continuouslyfiring. until either the trigger is released.- or no full magazine box is inserted in due time or'is not inserted at all instead'of an ejected one. In this case the firing possibility is -interrupted shortly after the last cartridge has been supplied from the box still present in one of the compartments, by means of the trigger locking mechanism e" e s n 0 p 9 The last cartridge is still introduced in the barrel, but perseveres therein without being fired.

What we claim, is i- 1. In an automatic firm arm a barrel, a

breech closure thereon having a lateral car I let, a spring-actuated feeder arranged in' said box and adapted to urge the cartridges" toward said outlet and a lid arranged on said outlet, and adapted to retain the cartridges in said box.

2. 'In an automatic fire arm, a barrel, a breech closure thereon having a lateral cartridge inlet, two frames laterally arranged on a fixed part of the arm opposite said cartridge inlet and openin thereinto, separate cartridge magazines a apted to be introduced in said frames, said magazines each consisting of a box having a cartridge outlet, a spring-actuated feeder arranged in said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward said outlet, a lid arranged on said outlet and adapted to retain the cartridges in said box, and means for automatically locking said lid both in closed and open position.

3. In anautomatic fire arm, a barrel, 9.

breech closure thereon having a lateral cartridge inlet, two frames laterally arranged on a fixed part of the arm opposite said cartridge inlet and opening thereinto, separate cartrid e magazines adapted to be introduced in said frames, said magazines each consisting of a box having a cartridge outlet, a spring-actuated feeder arranged in said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward said outlet, a lid arranged on said outlet and adapted to retain the cartridges in said box, means for automatically locking said lid both in closed and opened position, and means for automatically unlocking said lid in closed position upon the boxinserting in one of said frames.

4. In an automatic fire arm a barrel, 9. breech closure thereon havinga lateral cartridge inlet, two frames laterally arranged on a fixed part of the arm opposite said cartridge inlet and opening thereinto, separate cartridge magazines adapted to be introduced in said frames, said magazines each consisting of a box having a cartridge outlet, a spring-actuated feeder arranged in said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward said out-let, arlid arranged on said outlet-and adapted to retain the cartridges in said box, means for automatically locking said lid both in closed and open position,

-m eans arranged on each, of said frames and for leaving Vunacted upon the lid locking being withdrawn therefrom.

-5. In an automatic fire arm a barrel, a breech closure thereon having a lateral cartridge inlet, two frames laterally arranged on a fixed part of the arm opposite said cartridge inlet and opening thereinto, separate cartridge magazines adapted to be intro-" ducedin said frames, said magazines each consisting of a box having a cartridge outlet, a sprin -actuated feeder arranged in said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward said outlet, a 'lid arranged on said outlet and adapted to retain the cartridges in said box, means for automatically locking said lid both in closed and open position, a projection on each of said boxes, a member arranged on each of said frames and adapted to be shifted thereon by said projection upon a box being inserted in said frame, a spring adapted to act against this shift, a lever fulcrumed on each frame and adapted to be rocked by said shiftable member of the other frame, and another lever positively;

connected to said first-named one and adapted to act, when rocked, upon said lid locking means to unlock said lid in closed position.

6. In an automatic fire arm a barrel, a breech closure thereon having a lateral cartridge inlet, two frames laterally arrangedon a fixed part of the arm opposite said cartridge inlet and opening thereinto, separate cartridge magazines adapted to be introduced in said frames, said magazines each consisting of a box having a cartridge out let, a spring-actuated feeder arranged in said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward said outlet, a lid arranged on said outlet and adapted to retain the cartridges in said box, means for automatically locking said lid both in closed and open position, a projection on each .of said boxes, a member arranged on each of said frames and adapted to be shifted thereon by said projection upon a box being inserted in said frame, a spring adapted to act against this shift, a lever fulcrumed on each frame and adapted to be rocked by said shiftable member of the other .frame, another lever positively connected to said first-named one and adapted to act, when rocked, upon said lid locking means to unlock said lid in closed position, means for locking said boxes in said frames in feedin position, releasing means for said box 100 ing means, and means for ejectingthe emptied boxes from said frames.

' 7. In an-automatic fire arm abarrel, a breech closure thereon having a lateral cartridge inlet, two frameslaterally arranged on a fixed part of the arm opposite said cartridge inlet and opening thereinto, separate cartridge magazines adapted to be introduced in said frames, said magazines each consistingof a box having a cartridge-outlet, a spring-actuated feeder arranged in said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward said outlet, a lid arranged on said outlet and adapted to retain the cartridges in saidbox, means for automatically locking said lid both in closed and open position, a projection on each of said boxes, a member arranged on each of said frames and adapted to be shifted thereon by said projection upon a box being inserted in said frame, a spring adapted to act against this shift, a lever fulcrumed on each frame and adapted to be rocked by said shiftable member of the other frame, another lever positively connected to said first-named one and adapted to act, when rocked, upon said lid locking means to unlock .said lid in closed position, means for locking by said spring-actuated shiftable member and said box projection.

8. In an automatic fire arm a barrel, a breech closure thereon having a lateral cartridgeinlet, two frames laterally arranged on a fixed part of the arm opposite said cartridge inlet and opening thereinto, separate cartridge magazines adapted to be introduced in said frames, said magazines each consisting of a box having a cartridge outlet, a spring-actuated feeder arranged in said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward said outlet, a lid arranged on said outlet and adapted to retain the cartridges in said box, means for automatically locking said lid both in closed and open position, a projection on each of said boxes, 8, member arranged on each frame and adapted to be' shifted in the box inserting direction and adapted to be shifted by said projection upon a box being inserted in said frame, a spring adapted to act against this shift, a lever fulcrumed on each frame and adapted to be rocked by said shiftable member of the other frame, another lever positively connected to said first-named one and adapted to act, when rocked, upon said lid locking means to unlock said lid in closed position, means for locking said boxes in said frames in feeding position,

and means for ejecting the emptied boxes from said frames, these means being formed by said spring-actuated shiftable member and said box projection.

9. In an automatic fire arm a barrel, a breech closure thereon having a lateral cartridge inlet, two frames laterally arranged on a fixed part of the arm opposite said cartridge inlet and opening thereinto, separate cartridge magazines adapted to be introduced in said frames, said magazines each consisting of a box having a cartridge outlet, a spring-actuated feeder arranged 1n said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward said outlet, a lid arranged on said outlet and adapted to retain the cartridges in said box, means for automatically locking said lid both in'closed and open position, a projection on each ofsaid boxes, a member arranged on each frame and adapted to be shifted by said projection upon a box being inserted in said frame, a spring adapted to act against this shift, a lever fulcrumed on each frame and adapted to be rocked by said shiftable member of the other frame, another lever positively connected to said first-named one and adapted to'act, when rocked, 'upon said lid locking means to unlock said lid in closed position, a pawl pivoted on each frame, a stop face on each box adapted to co-operate therewith so as to lock said box in feeding position, a lever positively connected to said pawl and adapted to act upon the open lid of the respective box so as to unlock said lid in open position upon said pawl being disengaged from said stop face, and means for ejecting the emptied boxes from said frame. 10. In an automatic fire arm a barrel, a breech closure thereon having a lateral cartridge inlet, two frames laterally-arranged on a fixed part of the arm opposite said cartridge inlet and opening thereinto, separate cartridge magazines adapted to be introduced in said frames, said magazines each consisting of a box having a cartridge outlet, a

I spring-actuated feeder arranged in said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward said outlet, a lid arranged on said outlet and adapted to retain the cartridges in said box,

means for automatically locking said lid both in closed and open position, a projection on each of said boxes, 21 member arranged on each frame and adapted to be shifted by said projection upon a box being inserted therein, a spring adapted to act against this shift, a lever fulcrumed on each frame and adapted to berocked by said shiftable member of the other frame, another lever positively connected to said first-named one and adapted to act, when rocked, upon said lid locking means to unlock said lid in closed position, a v

pawl pivoted on each frame, a stop face on each box adapted to co-operate therewith so as to lock said box in feeding positioma third lever positively connected to said pawl and adapted to act upon the open lid of the respective box so as. to unlock said lid in open position upon said pawl being disengaged from said stop face, and means for ejecting the emptied boxes from said frames, these means being formed vby said spring-actuated shiftable member and said box projection.

11. In an automatic fire arm a barrel, a breech closure thereon having a lateral cartridge inlet, two frames laterally arranged on a fixed part of the arm opposite said cartridge inlet and opening thereinto, separate cartridge magazines adapted to be introduced each of said boxes, a member arranged on eachframe and adapted to be shifted by said projection upon a box being inserted therein, a spring adapted to act against this shift, a lever fulcrumed on each frame and adapted to be rocked by said shiftable member of the other frame, another lever positively con nected to said first-named one and adapted to act, when rocked, upon said lid locking means to unlock'said lid in closed position, a pawl pivoted on each frame, a stop face on each box adapted to co-operate therewith so as to lock said box in feeding position, a third lever positively connected to said pawl and adapted to act upon the open lid of the respective box so as to unlock said lid in open position upon said pawl being disengaged from said stop face, manipulative releasing means for said pawl and said third lever connected thereto, and means for ejecting the emptied boxes from said frames, these means being formed by said spring-actuated shiftable member and said box projection.

12. In an automatic fire arm a barrel, a breech closure thereon having a lateral cartridge inlet, two frames laterally arranged on a fixed part of the arm opposite said'car tridge inlet and opening thereintd, separate cartridge magazines adapted to be introduced in said frames, said magazines each consisting of a box having a cartridge outlet, a spring-actuated feeder arranged in said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward said outlet, a lid arranged on said outlet and adapted'to retain thecartridges in said box,

lUU

means for automatically locking said lid both in closed and open position, a projection on each ofvsald boxes, a member arranged on each'frame and adapted to be shifted by said projection upon a box being inserted therein,

a spring adapted to act against this shift, a lever fulcrumed on each frame and adapted to'be rocked by said shiftable member of the said box in feedingposition, a third lever positively connected to said pawl and-adapted to act upon the'open lid of the respective box so as to unlock said lid in open position upon said pawl being disengaged from said stop face, means for automatically disengaging said pawl and actuating said third lever after the last cartridge has been supplied to the closure of the arm, and means for ejecting theemptied boxesfromsaidframes.

13. In an automatic fire arm a barrel, a breech closure thereon having a lateral cartridge inlet, two frames laterally arranged on a fixed part of the arm opposite said cartridge inlet and opening thereinto, separate cartridge magazines adapted to be introduced in said frames, said magazines each consisting of a box having a cartridge outlet,

a spring-actuated feeder arranged in said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward said outlet, a lid arranged on said out-' let and adapted to retain the cartridges in said box, means for automatically locking said lid both in closed and open positi0n, a projection on each of said boxes, a member arranged on each frame and adapted to be shifted by said projection upon a box being inserted therein, a spring adapted to act against this shift,a lever fulcrumed on each frame and adapted to be rocked by said shiftable member of the other frame, another lever positively connected to said first-named one and adapted-to act, when rocked, upon said lid locking means to unlock said lid in closed position, a pawl pivoted on each frame, a stop face on each box adapted to co-operate therewith so as to lock said box in feeding position, a third lever positivelyconnected to said pawl and adapted to act upon the open lid'of the respective box so as to unlock said. lid in open position upon said pawl being disengaged from said stop face, a rocking lever adapted to lift by its rocking motion said pawlfrom said stop face and to actuate said third lever, a nose arranged on said springactuated feeder of each box and adapted to rock said rocking lever,and means for ejecting the emptied'boxes from said frames.

' 14. In an automatic fire arm a barrel, a breech closure thereon having a lateral cartridge inlet,-two frames laterally arrangedon a fixed part of the arm opposite said cartridge inlet and opening thereinto, separate cartridge magazines adapted to be introduced on each-frame and adapted to be shifted by said projection upon a box being insertedtherein, a spring adapted to act against this shift, a lever fulcrumed on each frame and adapted to be rocked by said shiftable member of the other frame, another lever positively connected to said first-named one and adapted to act, when rocked, upon said lid locking means to unlock said lid in closed position, a pawl pivoted oneach frame, a stop face on eachboxadapted to co-operate therewith so as'to'lock said box in feeding position, a third lever positively connected to said pawl and adapted to act upon the openlid of the respective box so as to unlock said lid in open position upon said pawl being disengaged from said stop face, means for automatically disengaging said pawl and actuating said third lever after the last cartridge has been supplied to the closure of the arm, means for ejecting" the emptied boxes from said frames, and manipulative means arranged on said shiftable members and adapted'to allow of said lid unlocking levers to be thrown out of their operative position.

15. In an automatic lire arm a barrel, a breech closure thereon having a lateral cartridge'inlet, two frames laterally arranged on a fixed part of the arm opposite said cartridge inlet and opening thereinto, separate cartridge magazines each consisting of a box having a cartridge outlet, a spring-actuated feeder arranged in said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward said outlet, a lid arranged on said outlet and adapted to retain the cartridges in said b0x;- means for automatically locking said lid both in closed and open position, a projection on ach of said boxes, a member arranged on eac frame and adapted to be shifted by said projection upon a box being inserted therein, a spring adapted to act against this shift, a lever fulcrumed on each frame and adapted to be rocked by said shiftable member of the other frame, another lever positively connected to said first-named one and adapted to act, when rocked, upon said lid locking means to unlock said lid in closed position, a pawl pivoted on each frame,

a stop face on each box adapted to co-operate therewith so as to lock said box in feeding position, a third lever positively connected to said pawl and adapted to act upon the open lid of the respective box so as to unlock said lid in open position upon said pawl being disengaged from said stop face, means for automatically disengaging said pawl and actuating said third lever after the last cartridge has been supplied to the closure of the arm, means for ejecting the emptied boxes from said .frames, manipulative means arranged on said shiftable members and adapted to allow of said lidunlocking levers to be thrown out 'of their operative position, and means for crippling the trigger mechanism after a' last cartridge has been supplied to the closure.

16; In an automatic fire arm a barrel, a breech closure thereon having a lateral cartridge inlet, two frames laterally arranged on a fixed part of the arm opposite said cartridge inlet and openirigdhereinto, separate cartridge magazines each consisting of a box having a cartridge outlet,"a spring-actuated feeder arranged in said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward saidvoutlet, a lid arranged on said outlet and adapted to retain the cartridges in said box, means for automatically locking said lid both in closed and open position, a projection on each ofsaid boxes, a member arranged on each frame and adapted to be shifted by said projection upon a box being inserted therein, a spring adapted to act against this shift, a lever fulcrumed on each frame and ada ted to be rocked by said shiftable member 0 the other/frame, another lever positively connected to said first-named one and adapted to act, when rocked, upon said lid locking means to unlock said lid in closed position, a paw-l pivoted on each frame, a stop .face on each.

ox adapted to co-operate therewith so as to lock' said box in feeding position, a third lever positively connected to said pawl and adapted to act upon the open lid of' the respective box so as to 'unlock said lid in open said last-named nose, upon a box being in-' serted in one of the frames, and a spring adapted to be held tensioned by said nose and to rock said crippling lever into operative position when relaxed by said nose releasing it, that is when the respective box is ejected.

17f In an automatic fire arm a barrel, a'

breech closure thereon having a lateral car tridge inlet, twoframes laterally arranged on a fixed part of thearm opposite said cartridge inlet and opening thereinto, separate cartridge magazines each consisting of a box having a cartridge outlet, a spring-actuated feeder arranged in said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward said outlet, a lid arranged on said outlet and adapted to retain the cartridges in said box, means for automatically locking said lid both in closed and open position, a projection on each of said boxes, a member arranged on each frame 'rocked by said shiftable member of the other and adapted to be' shifted by said projection upon a box being inserted therein, a spring adapted to act against this shift, a lever fulcrumedon each frame and-adapted to be frame, another lever positively connected to v said first-named one and adapted to act, when rocked, upon said lid locking means to unlock said lid in closed position, a pawl pivoted on each frame,a stop face on each box adapted to co-operate therewith so as to lock sand box in ,feeding position, a third lever positively connected to said pawl and adapted to bers and adapted to allow ofsaid lid unlocking levers to be thrown outof their operative position, another nose near the forward end of each box, acrippling lever for the trigger mechanism of the arm, and adapted to be rocked into inoperative position by said lastnamed nose, upon a box being inserted in one of the frames, a spring adapted to be held tensioned by said nose and to rock said crippling lever into operative position when relaxed by said nose releasin it, and manipulative means arranged on sai crippling lever and adapted to rock it into inoperative position independently of said nose.

18. In an automatic fire arm a barrel, :1, breech closure thereon having a lateral cart-- ridge inlet, two frames laterally arranged on a fixed part of the arm opposite said cartridge inlet and opening thereinto, separate cartridge magazines each'consisting of a box having a cartridge outlet, a spring-actuated feeder arranged in said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward said outlet, a lid arranged on said outlet and adapted to retain the cartridges in said box, means for automatically locking said lid both in closed and open position a projection on each of said boxes, a member arranged on each frame and adapted to be shifted by said projection upon a box being inserted therein, a spring adapted to act against this shift, a lever fulcrumed on each frame and adapted to be rocked by said shiftable member of the other I frame, another lever positively connected to said first-named. one and adapted to act, when rocked, upon said lid'locking means to unlock said lid in closed position, a pawl pivoted on each frame, a stop face on each box adapted to co-operate therewith so as to lock said bcix in feeding position, a third lever positively connected to said pawl and adapted to act upon the open lid of the respective box so as to unlock said lid in open position upon said pawl being disengaged from said'stop face, means for automatically' disengaging said pawl and actuating said third leverafter the last cartridge has been sup lied to. the closure of the arm, means for ejecting the emptied boxes from said frames, manipulative means arranged on said shiftable members andtadapted to allow of said lid unlocking lever o be thrown out of their operative position, another nose near the forward endof each box, a crippling lever for the trigger mechanism of the arm,

and adapted to be rocked into operative position by said last-named nose, upon a box being inserted in one of the frames, a springadapted to be held tensioned by said nose and to rock said crippling lever into operative position when relaxed by said nose releasing it, that is when the respective box is ejected, and means for rocking said crippling lever into operative'position in case of failcartridge magazines each consisting of a box having a cartridge outlet, a spring-actuated feeder arranged in said box and adapted to urge the cartridges toward said outlet, a lid arranged on said outlet and adapted to retain the cartridges in said box, means for automatically locking said lid both in closed and open position, a projection on each of said boxes, a member arranged on each frame and adapted to be-shifted by said projection upon a box being inserted therein, a spring adapted to act against this shift, a lever fulcrumed 011 each frame and-adapted to be rocked by said shiftable member of the other frame. another lever positively connected to said first-named one and adapted to act, when rocked, upon said lid locking means to unlock said lid in closed position, a pawl pivoted on each frame, a stop face on each box adapted to co-operate therewith so as to lock said box in feeding position, a third lever positively connected to said pawl and adapted to act upon the open lid of the respective box so as to unlock said lid in open position upon said pawl being disengaged frOm said stop face, means for automatically disengaging said pawl and actuating said third'lever after the last cartridge has been supplied to the closure of the arm, means for ejecting the emptied boxes from said frames, manipulative means 'arranged on said shii'table members and adapted to allow of said lid unlocking lever to be thrown out of their operative position, another nose near the forward end of each box, a crippling lever for the tri ger mechanism of the arm, and adapted tolie rocked into operative position by said last-named nose, upon a box being inserted in one of the frames, a spring adapted to be held tensioned by said nose, an intermediate lever adapted to be rocked by said spring and to transmit this rocking motion to said cripling lever so as to rock the latter into operative position upon said spring being relax'ed by said nose releasing said intermediate lever, a spring-actuated sliding bolt on said intermediate lever and adapted to cooperate with said nose for rocking said intermediate lever, said bolt having a slope face adapted to co-operate with said feeder nose and to be depressed by it shortly before said feeder nose unlocks its bpx for ejection, so as to throw said sliding bolt out of the range of said first-named nose.

20. In an automatic fire arm, two magazine chambers, a cartridge magazine adapted to be inserted in eachof said chambers and having a cartridge outlet anda spring actulated cartridge feeder, means for securing t! 3 cartridge magazine in the magazine chamber, means for automatically cutting out the cartridge feeder of one magazine when the other magazine is feeding cartridges, and means for automatically releasing and ejecting the magazine from which all cartridges have been fired and simultaneously bringing the other magazine into action to feed cartridges therefrom.

In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures.

FRITZ HERLACH. THEODOR RAKULA.

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