Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1887
Complete Left, 31st Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
I, WILHELM LORENZ of No. 67 Kriegstrasse Karlsruhe in the Grand Duchy of
Baden German Empire, Engineer and Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved vertical acting breech loading mechanisms for
guns that are automatically actuated by the vertical motion of the gun on its
trunnions on firing. For this purpose a device or mechanism provided on the
gun carriage which holds the vertically sliding breech-block in its closed position, but
which is so arranged that on the vertical motion upwards of the breach of the gun on
firing, the block is automatically released so that it can drop down into the open
position by virtue of its own gravity. The release of the breech block by the said
device can take place either at the beginning, or during, or at the end of the upward
motion of the gun.
In the first named case the block will fall at once, while in the two other cases
the block first participates to a greater or less extent in the upward motion of the
gun and only descends into the open position after a greater or shorter lapse of
time.
The downward motion of the block need only take place to such an extent as is
necessary to open the cartridge chamber of the gun so as to enable a cartridge to be
introduced; it is therefore checked in its downward motion at the required point by
means of a suitable automatic, arrangement such as a spring or other catch, a pro-
jection on the block or on gu.. or in the slot thereof, or by means of a stop on the
gun carriage, so that part of it remains in the slot of the gun. From this position the
block can be readily raised up again, either automatically by the device that holds it
while the breech of the gun descends or by hand, and be secured in the closed
position.
The mechanism for securing the block in the closed position can be variously
arranged, and may consist either of a lever device, a locking bolt, or a strutt.
Thus for instance a double ended lever having its fulcrum on the gun carriage may
have its one end directed towards the trunnions and connected to the gun in such
manner that the other end is made to hold the breech block in the closed position in
the slot.
On the upward movement of the breech of the gun on firing, the end of the lever
connected to the gun moves up with this, whereby its other end is moved downward
and the breech block, losing its support, will then sink down in its slot by gravity,

page_text: the lever being either detached from the block or remaining connected by a link
thereto.
If the block is secured in its closed position by a locking bolt, the part carrying the
latter is fixed to the gun carriage and the bolt is forced by a projection on the gun
against the breech block so as to hold this in its closed position. On the upward
motion of the breech of the gun, the projection on the latter is withdrawn from the
bolt, whereupon this is automatically drawn back by spring action or by a weight, so
as to free the breech block and allow it to slide down.
If the block is held in the closed position by a strutt, this is arranged on the gun
carriage either so as to turn on a pivot or so as to slide, and is connected with the
gun by a link or other device in such manner that on the rising of the breech thereof,
a pull is exerted upon the strutt whereby this is removed from the breech block, so
that it can slide down in the slot.
The accompanying drawing shews diagram views of various arrangements for
carrying out my above described invention.
Fig. 1 shews an arrangement in which the sliding breech block B is held in the
closed position when the gun A is in the horizontal position shewn in full lines,
before firing, by means of the two-armed lever C, the end of which directed towards
the trunnion a is connected to the gun, while its fulcrum C is connected to the gun
carriage, as indicated by the arrow 1.
On the dipping of the muzzle end of the gun on firing, and the consequent rising
of the breech end into the dotted position as indicated by arrow II, the free end of
the lever C will be drawn down, away from the breech-block, so that this can slide
down as indicated by arrow III, the parts then assuming the position shewn in
Fig.. 2.
In this position of the breech block in which as before stated, it may be retained
by any suitable means, the charging opening or cartridge chamber of the gun is open
so that a cartridge can be introduced in the direction of the arrow IV.
For closing the cartridge chamber again, a lever d or other suitable device
may be employed, by means of which the block B is raised into the closed position
again, as indicated by arrow IV in which position it will be again held by lever C, on
the sinking of the breech of the gun into its original position as at Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shews an arrangement in which an inclined projection D on the breech of
the gun is caused to force a sliding bolt C against the breech block B, when the gun
is in the horizontal position before firing. The socket C of the sliding bolt being
carried by the gun carriage as indicated by arrow I.
On firing the gun, and consequent rising of the breech end thereof as at fig. 4, the
projection D is withdrawn from the bolt so that this can then be acted upon by a
spring, weight, or caoutchouc buffer, so as to be withdrawn from the breech block, 8ɔ
that this can slide down in the direction of the arrow III into the position shewn at
fig. 4.
On the introduction of fresh cartridge into the open cartridge chamber in the
direction of arrow IV, the breech block is raised again in the direction of arrow V
into the closed position, in which it is again held, on the sinking of the gun, by the
bolt C, forced forward by the incline D on the gun.
In the arrangement shewn at figs. 5 and 6 the breech block B is held in the closed
position by a strut (which is pivotted at to the gun carriage as indicated by
arrow I and is connected to the gun by a link D*. On the breech of the gun rising
on firing, the link D' draws the strutt C away from the block, which can then slide.
down into the open position as shewn at fig. 6.
On the breech block being moved up into the closed position again, the gun in
descending into its original position, will move the strutt by the link D so as to again
assume the position shewn in fig. 5 in which it holds the breech-block.
Dated this 21st day of May 1887
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant. 55

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vertical Breech Closing Mechanism for Guns.
I, WILHELM LORENZ of No. 67 Kriegstrasse Karlsruhe, in the Grand Duchy of
Baden German Empire, Engineer and Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improved vertical acting breech loading mechanisms for
guns that are automatically actuated by the vertical motion of the gun on its trunnions
on firing.
According to the present improvements a device or mechanism is provided on the
gun carriage which holds or locks the vertically sliding breech block in its closed
position, but which is so arranged that on the vertical motion upwards of the breech
of the gun on firing it automatically releases the block so that this can drop down
into the open position by virtue of its own gravity. The release of the breech block
by the said device can take place either at the beginning, or during, or at the end of
the upward motion of the gun.
In the first named case the block will fall at once, while in the two other cases
the block first participates to a greater or less extent in the upward motion of
the gun and only descends into the open position after a greater or shorter lapse
of time.
The downward motion of the block need only take place to such an extent as is
necessary to open the cartridge chamber of the gun so as to enable a cartridge to be
introduced; it is therefore checked in its downward motion at the required point by
means of a suitable automatic arrangement such as a spring or other catech, a pro-
jection on the block, or on the gun, or in the slot thereof, or by means of a stop on
the gun carriage, so that part of it remains in the slot of the gun. From this position
the block can be readily raised up again, either automatically by the device that holds
it while the breech of the gun descends, or by hand, and be secured in the closed
position.
The mechanism for securing the block in the closed position can be variously
arranged, and may consist either of a lever device, a locking bolt, or a strutt.
Thus, for instance, a double ended lever having it fulcrum on the gun carriage may
have its one end directed towards the trunnions and connected to the gun in such
manner that the other end is made to hold the breech block in the closed position in
the slot.
On the upward movement of the breech of the gun on firing, the end of the lever
connected to the gun moves up with this, whereby its other end is moved downward
and the breech block, losing its support will then sink down in its slot by gravity,
the lever being either detached from the block or remaining connected by a link
thereto.
If the block is secured in its closed position by a locking bolt, the part carrying
the latter is fixed to the gun carriage and the bolt is forced by a projection on the

page_text: gun against the breech block so as to hold this in its closed position. On the upward
motion of the breech of the gun, the projection on the latter is withdrawn from the
bolt, whereupon this is automatically drawn back by spring action or by a weight,
so as to free the breech block and allow it to slide down.
If the block is held in the closed position by a strutt, this is arranged on the gun
carriage either so as to turn on a pivot or so as to slide, and is connected with the gun
by a link or other device in such manner that on the rising of the breech thereof, a
pull is exerted upon the strutt whereby this is removed from the breech block so that
it can slide down in the slot.
The drawing accompanying my provisional specification filed 21st May 1887 shew
diagram views of various arrangements for carrying out my above described
invention.
Fig. 1 shews an arrangement in which the sliding breech block B is held in the
closed position when the gun A is in the horizontal position shewn in full lines,
before firing, by means of the two armed lever or catch (, the end of which directed
towards the trunnion a is connected to the gun while its fulcrum C is connected to the
gun carriage, as indicated by the arrow I.
On the dipping of the muzzle end of the gun on firing and the consequent rising
of the breech end into the dotted position as indicated by arrow II, the free end of
the lever C will be drawn down, away from the breech block, so that this can slide
down as indicated by arrow III the parts then assuming the position shown in
Fig. 2.
In this position of the breech block, in which as before stated, it may be retained
by any suitable means, the charging opening of the cartridge chamber 6 of the gun is
open so that a cartridge can be introduced in the direction of the arrow IV.
For closing the cartridge chamber again a lever d or other suitable device may be
employed by means of which the block B is raised into the closed position again, as
indicated by arrow IV in which position it will be again held by lever on the
sinking of the breech of the gun into its original position as at Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shews an arrangement in which an inclined projection D on the breech of
the gun is caused to force a sliding bolt C against the breech block B when the gun
is in the horizontal position before firing. The socket C of the sliding bolt being
carried by the gun carriage as indicated by arrow I.
On firing the gun, and consequent rising of the breech end thereof as at Fig. 4,
the projection D is withdrawn from the bolt C₁ so that this can then be acted
upon by a spring, weight, or caoutchouc buffer, so as to be withdrawn from the breech
block, so that this can slide down in the direction of the arrow III into the position
shewn at Fig. 4.
On the introduction of a fresh cartridge into the open cartridge chamber in the
direction of arrow IV, the breech block is raised again in the direction of arrow V
into the closed position in which it is again held on the sinking of the gun by the
bolt being forced forward by the incline D on the gun.
In the arrangement shewn at Figs. 5 and 6 the breech block B is held in the closed
position by a strutt C which is pivotted at c to the gun carriage as indicated by
arrow I and is connected to the gun by a link D'. On the breech of the gun rising
on firing, the link D' draws the strutt Caway from the block which can then slide
down into the open position as shewn at Fig. 6.
On the breech block being moved up into the closed position again, the gun in
descending into its original position will move the strutt by the link D³ so as to again
assume the position shewn in Fig. 5 in which it holds the breech block.
In
Figs. 7 to 11 of the accompanying drawings shew by way of example the
application of my above described invention to a field gun and to a siege gun.
the field gun shewn at Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the gun A is supported by the elevating
screw X, and has its breech block B held in the closed position by the strutt (
connected by the link D³ to the gun as in the arrangement described with reference
to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, so that, on firing, the parts assume the position at

page_text: Fig. 8; the other parts are indicated by the same letters as in Figs. 5 and 6 and have
the same action.
In the siege gun at Figs. 10 and 11, the breech block B is held in the closed
position by the sliding spring catch having a slotted connection with the gun and
connected by a link c to the carriage so that, on firing, the parts assume the position
shewn at Fig. 11. This arrangement corresponds to that shewn at Figs. 1 and 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
In vertically sliding breech-block mechanism of guns wherein the breech block is
automatically opened on the rising of the breech of the gun on firing, the use of
locking mechanism for securing the breech block in the closed position, which
mechanism is so arranged as to automatically release the breech block and allow it to
descend on the rising of the breech of the gun, substantially as herein described.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.