Patent GB-190618637-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Breech Loading Guns.
Inventor: SCHNEIDER CHARLES PROSPER EUGE
Filed: 1906-08-20
Granted: 1907-08-20
Abstract: 18,637. Schneider, C. P. E., and Rimailho, E. Aug. 20. Ordnance breech mechanism; loading-appliances. -The breech-screw, when unlocked, is withdrawn axially and serves as a rammer for loading the gun at all angles of elevation. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus, Fig. 4 a longitudinal section, and Fig. 12 a rear elevation. Fig. 5 is a plan of part of the apparatus. The breech-screw carrier f is mounted upon a frame consisting of two longitudinal bars c, d, connected at their rear ends by the cross-bar e. The bar c is formed with a rack 37 at its rear end which, through gearing 11, 12, 38, effects the unlocking of the breechscrew. The bar d is formed with a rack w, and in addition carries a longitudinal ratchet bar 20 which is pivoted at its ends upon pins s. A pinion 3 mounted upon a shaft m is carried by an arm 5 pivoted to the carriage l at 6 so that the pinion may be thrown into, or out of, gear with the rack w by lifting the hand-wheel 4 at the outer end of the shaft m. The arm 5 when rocked raises or lowers a block 7, to which is pivoted, by a pin 45 and slot, a pawl 35 pressed upwards by a spring. A bell-crank lever 31, 32, Fig. 6, is pivoted to the carriage l; its horizontal arm 31, pressed upwards by a spring 9, engages, during the initial rearward movement of the rack w, with a lug 34 upon the rack until the breech-screw has been unlocked by the rack-bar 37. The pawl 31 is then released, and its arm 32 is free to engage above a projection 33 on the block 7 to lock the latter, and consequently the arm 5, in the position in which the pinion 3 and rack ware in gear. Further rotation of the hand-wheel 4 moves the frame c, d, e, breechblock v, and carrier f rearwards as a whole, and at the same time energizes the spring or other recuperator 2. In the extreme rearward position, the pawl 31 is engaged by a second lug 30 on the bar d and the block 7 is released ; the pinion 3 can then drop out of gear, and the arm 5 raises the pawl 35 into engagement with the end tooth 36 of the ratchet bar 20. The projectile having been placed in position for loading upon a carrier j which is operated by the movements.of the frame c, d, e, the pawl 35 is released by the act of lifting the hand-wheel 4 to re-engage the pinion 3 with the rack w. The operations then take place in the reverse order to that already described. In practice, the gun and frame c, d, e recoil together, but, while the gun counter-recoils, the frame is held by the pawl 35 and ratchet bar 20, the breechscrew being thus unlocked and withdrawn. Daring the recoil the frame is locked to the gun by teeth 21 on a transverse arm on the ratchet bar 20. The bar 20 is rocked to release the. teeth 21, when its tooth 36 strikes the pawl 35 during the commencement of the counter-recoil movement of the gun, or, when the unlocking and withdrawal of the breech-screw is done by hand, by the lifting nf a pallet y by a projection 43 on the arm 5. When unlocked, the breech - screw v is locked against rotation in the carrier t by a spring - catch 13, which is released when the nose 40 strikes the gun during the closing operation.