23 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
EXPLANATION OE LOCK ACTION OF “GATLING GUN.” 
{In continuation of paper published in “ProceedingsNo. 8, Vol. VIII.) 
BY 
CAPTAIN J. E. OWEN, R.A., 
CAPTAIN INSTRUCTOR ROYAL GUN FACTORIES. 
Action of the Service Gatling Gun . 
Since completing the foregoing, I have been enabled, by the kindness 
of Captain Andrew Noble (late Royal Artillery), of the Els wick Ordnance 
Company, - * to give the attached Plate, showing the development of 
the cam which causes the reciprocal action of the locks in our service 
Gatling. The plate also allows one to see at a glance the ten locks, 
each in a different part of its cycle of action, and shows how the 
cocking-ring or cam draws back and then releases the hammer and 
firing pin. 
Locks Y. and VI. are in section, the remainder in plan. The line 
ah across the sections of the ten barrels denotes the commencement of 
their rifling. 
The curved gun-metal cam AA , as well as the spiral steel cam or 
cocking-ring R , is stationary; and as the spindle carrying lock-chamber 
with locks and cartridge-carrier revolves, the following action occurs :— 
At I. a cartridge has just dropped on cartridge-carrier in front of 
lock. 
At II. it has been a little pushed forward, as the base of the lock 
advances up the curve of A A. 
At III. and IV. we see the cartridge pushed into the barrel. 
At IV. the projecting stud of the hammer (shown in each lock by a 
dotted curve) also comes in contact with the cocking-cam R. 
At V. the base of the lock has reached the flat part of the cam, the 
spring has been fully compressed, and the cartridge pushed right home. 
At VI., the stud of the hammer being released from cocking-ring, 
the needle flies forward and explodes the cartridge. The base of the 
lock at that time rests against a plate of steel let into gun-metal cam 
at SS. 
At VII. the lock begins to retreat, its base being forced down the 
opposite curve of cam. The extractor commences to extract empty 
case. 
At VIII. and IX. the empty cartridge-case is still further withdrawn ; 
while at X. the case has been extracted, and the lock itself, having 
been drawn clear of the barrel, is ready to pass again to position I. 
Thus it will be seen that, during each complete revolution of the 
barrels and lock-chamber, every lock in succession loads, fires, and 
extracts a cartridge-case; so that ten shots are fired in each revolution. 
* Captain Noble very kindly had the drawing made, from which the plate was reduced and 
lithographed. 
