Patent GB-190713372-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Ordnance.
Filed: 1907-06-10
Granted: 1908-05-21
Abstract: 13,372. Beardmore & Co., W., HallÚ, C. R. S. J., and Bremberg, A. Juno 10. Ordnance breech mechanism.-Relates to selfloading ordnance'of the type described in Specification No. 24,560, A D. 1906, in which the unloading of an empty cartridge and the insertion of a fresh cartridge is effected through a system of lazy-tongs. According to the present invention, an accumulator comprising combined spring and fluid control cylinders is employed to actuate the lazy-tongs, and the travel of the point of connexion between the lazy-tongs and the loading and unloading mechanism is increased, thereby diminishing the relative motion between the parts. In one arrangement, the cradle A<1>, Fig. 12, is recessed to carry a bar A<3> connected at the rear to the gun and having a projection A<4>, Fi<g>. 3, at the forward end. A bed plate A<6> carried by the cradle supports a tray A<7>, Figs. 3, 8, and 12, which is connected at the rear to the stirrup extractor A<8>. The lazy. tongs A<9> rest on this tray, the end of the front links being pivoted on a pin B, and the rear links are crossed and pivoted on separate pins B<1>, B<2> on a non-recoiling part of the mounting. A cover-plate B<3> has guides B<4> in which slide the accumulator consisting of three cylinders B<6>, B<7>. The two outer cylinders B<6> are of the usual spring recoil type, and the piston-rod of each is connected to a fixed cross-bar C' on the forward end of the cradle. In the central cylinder B<7>, the pistonrod C<2> surrounded by the spring C is itself tubular and contains fluid, and is provided with a looselyfitting or grooved piston C<3>, the rod C<4> of which is secured to the fixed cross-bar C'. The accumulator is attached by a continuation C<5> of the rod C<2> to a cross-head C<6> which slides in guides in the coverplate B<3>, Figs. 3 and 6, its motion rearward being limited by the engagement of a catch C<7> on its forward end with a recess C<8> in the cover-plate. A block C<9> slides in s'ots in the plate B<3> and crosshead C<6> and has pivoted thereto, the centre pin D of the pair of levers second from the rear of the lazy-tongs. A cam-plate D', Fig. 8, secured to the transverse member of the cross-head C<6>, is grooved to receive a pin D' which controls the movement of levers D<3> carrying a loading-tray D<4>, in order to swing the tray in and out at the required times. The pin has a spring-supported cap, as shown in Fig. 13, and the grooves are of varying depths so that the pin is caused to travel forward along one groove and back along the other. When the gun recoils, the bar A<3> moves with it, and, by means of the projection A<4>, draws the accumulator rearward and partly compresses the springs C in the cylinders B<6>. At the same time, the tubular rod C<2> and cross-head C<6> are forced back by the spring C in the cylinder B<7> until stopped by the catch C<7> engaging the rear end of the recess C<8>, Fig. 3 ; the compression of all three springs C is then completed. At the end of its travel, the accumulator is temporarily retained by spring catches D<5>, Figs. 2 and 8, engaging notches in the accumulator. The lazy-tongs are so far collapsed that the block C<9> carrying the pin D is moved to the rear end of the slot C" in the crosshead C<6>. On the return journey of the gunbarrel, the breech mechanism is opened by a known lever-and-cam action, the tray A<7> is carried forward, and the block C<9> advances until the part D<8> has lifted the catch G<7> out of the recess C<8>. The cross-head C<6> and piston-rod C<2> are then forced rearward by the central compressed spring C until the parts occupy the positions shown in Fig. 6, the block C9 and pin D being carried rearward and secured by a catch E<3> engaging a recess E' in the plate B<3> ; the lazy-tongs are consequently collapsed, thus pulling back the tray A<7> and withdrawing the empty cartridge case by means of the extractor A<8>. Spring-controlled claws E, Fig. 15, are released from the cartridge case by means of arms E' which are engaged by fixed stops J at the end of the rearward motion-of the tray A<7>, and, at the same time, trip-pieces E<5>, Fig. 8, on the tray release the catches D<5> and leave the accumulator free to return. The accumulator is then driven forward by the compressed springs C in the outer cylinders B<6>, and the tubular rod C<2> and cross-head C<6> are also advanced. During the first part of this movement, the loading-tray D' carries a fresh cartridge in front of the chamber, a projection E<6> releases the catch E<3>, the cross-head drives forward the block C9 and pin D, the lazy-tongs are fully expanded, the tray A<7> is carried to its forward position, and the fresh cartridge is thereby rammed home. The extractor releases a catch which allows the breech to be closed. By means of screw and worm geariog E<9>, G, Fig. 3, the first charge is inserted by hand, or the gun may be loaded by hand at each round. In modifications, the loading-tray is actuated by a cam-plate attached to the tray A<7>, and a single cylinder with two concentric springs C is used for the accumulator.