A spring loaded detaining cam is then positioned to capture the firing pin knob. The lock forward and backward motion is now caused by a lug at the rear of the lock, which rides within 'racetrack' cams that are cast or machined into a stationary part of the gun. The firing pin runs through the body of the lock, and is fired by pulling back on the knob at the rear of the pin, and then releasing it at the appropriate moment. Gatling's 1872 patent introduced a lock design that was significantly shorter, and which therefore required a shorter casing, and thus reduced the weight of the gun. This is illustrated in the animation for the 1865 model. The firing pin had been cocked by another cam positioned towards the front of the lock chamber. In previous designs, the locks, one for each barrel, had been driven forward and pulled back by inclined ramps or cams. The operation of this lock is the main purpose of this page and animation. The key feature was the design of the locks, which had been patented two years before (U.S. The lock cylinder and carrier blocks were cast hollow, and much use was made of brass rather than iron. Barrel lengths were reduced to 18 inches. The gun incorporated several features to reduce weight. The short 10-barrel Gatling gun of 1874, sometimes referred to as the Camel Gun, was designed to be light enough to be transported on pack horse, or man-ported (or even by camel) and fired from a tripod, cart (or camel).
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