Patent GB-191102969-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Barrel Recoil Guns.
IPC: F41A5/32
Filed: 1911-02-06
Granted: 1911-05-25
Abstract: 2969. Krupp Akt.-Ges., F. March 10, 1910, [Convention date]. [Addition to 762/11.] Ordnance breech mechanism.-Relates to the automatic wedge-breech mechanism described in the parent Specification in which the independently-acting spring accumulators for effecting the opening and closing of the breech are both arranged to be stressed during the run-out of the gun after firing, and consists (1) in an arrangement in which two helical accumulator springs are disposed alongside the gun barrel in a tube in such manner that the tube and springs may be mounted on the gun and dismounted as a whole, and (2) in the arrangement of stops and catches for stressing and releasing the springs. Fig. 1 is a part-sectional side elevation of the gun in the firing position; Fig. 6 is a part-sectional plan of the gun showing the parts in the position, during the runout, in which the two accumulator springs are fulley stressed, and Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8, Fig. 1. The breech-operating hand-lever F is carried by a vertical spindle C' which is connected at its lower end by arms c<6> and pin m<1> to a rod M slidably-mounted in a tube N connected to the gun-slide a<1> by a pin a<4>. The tube N contains the breech-opening and closing springs R, T, the former of which is supported at its ends by the rod M and a sleeve Q, and the latter by shoulders n<4> in the tube N and by the sleeve Q. The sleeve Q is supported in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the head P of a rod p<1> which is screwed into the rod M, and the sleeve has a lug q<1> projecting downwards through a helically-cut slot n<5> in the tube N. The breech mechanism is locked in the closed position by a latch G pivoted in the hand-lever F and arranged to be released by a rod H located in the spindle C' in the manner described below. A pivoted spring pawl J with two projections i<1>, i<2> is carried by the slide-carrier B. During the recoil, the pawl J is pushed aside, first by the lower end of the rod H engaging the projection i<2>, and then by the lug q<1> of the sleeve Q engaging the projection i<1>, but during the run-out, the projection i<1> stops the lug q' while the tube N continues to advance. The sleeve Q is thereby caused to occupy the position shown in Fig. 6, and the springs R, T are compressed. A spring catch U, pivoted in the wall of the tube N, locks the sleeve Q in this position at the instant that, owing to the rotation of the sleeve by the engagement between the lug q<1> and the slot n<5>, the release of the lug from the stop i<1> is effected. As the run-out continues, the rod H engages with, and rides up, the inclined face i<4> of the projection i<2> on the pawl and thereby releases the catch G. The spring R is then free to act, and drives the rod M rearwards, and through the arms c<6>, spindle C<1>, and the thrust lever C, opens the breech, while the head P on the rod p<1> presses back the catch U and releases the sleeve Q. The closing spring T immediately acts upon the sleeve Q, and commences the closing movement of the breech-block D until the movement is stopped by the engagement between the hooks e<3> of the ejector E and the notches d<3> in the breech-block. When the ejector is rocked by the insertion of a fresh cartridge into the breech, or by hand by the outer arm e<4> on the ejector-spindle e<1>, the spring T resumes its action and closes the breech. The accumulator M, N, R, T, Q, P, is dismounted as a whole by withdrawing the pins m<1> and a<4>.