Improvements in Breech Mechanism for Ordnance.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6'h Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 25th Aug., 1394-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech Mechanism for Ordnance.
I, JOHN NOEL CAREY of Queenscliffe, in the Colony of Victoria, Military
Captain, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in placing a large metal ball in a suitably constructed
chamber in the breech of the gun and arranging it in such a manner that it can
be partly revolved (by journals or ball bearings) and rotated or partially rotated by
gear placed outside the gun for such purpose. This ball after having been first
made solid has a tubular passage drilled straight through it. The said passage or
cylindrical bore being of the sanie calibre as the gun or slightly larger or smaller
as the case may be to suit local requirements.
At the back of this ball (by a male and female screw) is set a strong metal
liner and shaped to suit the peripheral curve of the ball and thus form a backing
for the said ball.
The ball, at its place of meeting with liner, has annular grooves cut away in it
in such a manner that the pressure on the ball, when the charge is exploded, may
as far as possible be exerted or distributed equally on all the threads of the screw
(or its equivalent) which holds the metal liner in position.
This metal liner is arranged so as to rotate forwards or backwards at the pleasure
of the operator on the motion of lever handles (or equivalents) provided with
points of travel and a locking mechanism.
To work the invention the large screw metal liner in the breech last mentioned
is partially revolved or unscrewed thus taking the pressure or backing up away from
behind the ball. This allows the ball to be freely rotated 90 degrees; and will
bring the bored tubular passage in the ball in view of the operator. The cartridge
may then be passed through the ball and up to a stop collar which latter meeting
the rim on the end of the cartridge prevents its further progress. The metal ball
aforesaid is then again partially revolved 90 degrees by its mechanism, the latter is
then locked and the gun ready for firing.
A small tubular passage passes through the ball (at a right angle to the large
tubular bore), and in this small passage the cap and its firing mechanism is placed
before each firing of the gun, the mechanism being preferably retained in its
position by an interrupted screw formed on the firing tube and in the small passage
in the ball. An obdurator is provided at the front of the ball and arrangement
is made whereby the obdurator may rotate with the ball by apparatus hereinafter
to be described.
The mechanism for operating the ball I construct preferably as follows-Into
the ball at opposite points I place two spindles, whose journals are arranged so
that they may rotate in sliding block bearings, sufficient play being allowed in the
slots holding these bearings to permit the ball and spindles to be moved backwards
and forwards a short distance. The said spindles and their bearings pass right
through the shell of the breech of the gun to the outside and on the end of one
of them I mount a hand lever or its equivalent, and so arranged that upon
actuating this said hand-lever a sufficient distance the ball spindle may be rotated
the desired travel (preferably 90 degrees as aforesaid). A stop collar or pin can
be provided to arrest any travel beyond the predetermined point, and either of the
shafts can also be provided with a stop-plug to prevent any movement of the
mechanism when not in operation.
Pressure springs are placed in front of the ball spindles in order to keep a slight
backward pressure on the ball so that when the backing up liner is unscrewed

page_text: the springs may cause the ball, and obdurator attached to front of same, to move
backwards in the oval recess a sufficient distance to permit the obdurator to free
itself from its position in the gun and rotate with the ball the 90 degrees as before
set forth.
Dated this 6th day of November 1893.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech Mechanism for Ordnance.
I, JOHN NOEL CAREY, of Queenscliffe, in the Colony of Victoria Military
Captain, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to give an absolutely secure breech, to all breech
loading guns of any calibre; the said breech being more rapidly and easily worked
than any in use up to the present day.
This invention consists in placing a large metal ball in a suitably constructed
chamber in the breech of the gun, and arranging it in such a manner that it can
be partly revolved (by journals or ball bearings) and rotated or partially rotated
by gear placed outside the gun for such purpose.
The accompanying drawings clearly illustrate my invention.
Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through the breech end of the gun, showing the
breech closed the ball being in section.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the gun with mountings removed.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the gun showing the mountings and end of the ball
trunnions.
Fig. 4 is an end view with the various mountings attached.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing another method of rotating the breech block,
and also showing the main trunnions of the gun.
Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the gun showing two methods of firing.
Fig. 7 shows another method of firing.
Fig. 8 shows a method of extracting cartridges when using made up cases.
Fig. 9 shows a side elevation of the gun with the end of the breech block
trunnion.
Fig. 10 shows the passage through the breech ball in line with the chamber of
the gun, with the cartridge case just pushed in.
As will be seen by the various drawings I do not make the ball a true sphere,
but I make it of such form that the pressure of the gas on the ball (generated
by the explosion of the powder) may be as far as possible equally distributed on
all the threads of the metal liner behind the ball, (which are of the usual
interrupted form) and are constructed to take all the pressure.
The method of working is as follows; The gun a has a chamber prepared to
take the ball or cut-away sphere . The latter has a circular hole c which passes
through it at right angles to the plane of the paper. Behind is the metal
liner & screwed externally to fit the internal threads in breech of gun; e is a
screwed metal seating easily removable and on which the asbestos obturator
presses thus sealing the gun. is a washer which holds in place the asbestos
pad or obturator by means of the screw h.
In carrying my invention into practice I first withdraw the metal liner d until
it clears the ball, and also allows the obturator to turn within its chamber; this
being effected, I can now rotate the ball until the passage c is in line with the
bore of the gun.

page_text: I now press up the ball into its seat by means of the metal liner d, without at
the same time rotating the ball on its trunnions, I can now sponge out the gun;
after this operation the charge can now be introduced, the metal liner withdrawn
and the ball rotated 90° and pressed forward by means of the metal liner being.
screwed home..
The firing mechanism being now adjusted the gun is ready for being fired.
In Fig. 1, the firing mechanism is shewn at the side, with the firing. needle
attached, which passes through one of the trunnions."
On the trigger being pulled by a lanyard against a powerful spring, work is,
stored up until such time as the trigger escapes from the lanyard, when the
hammer on suddenly strikes the needle and explodes the detonator; the fire.
passing down the passage shewn in dotted lines through the ball and vent bolt to,
the charge.
Another method of firing is shewn in Fig. 6, in which an axial vent is screwedr
into the breech block after the gun has been loaded, and the breech ball has been
turned round in place.
Preparation is then made for firing, (as shewn) which is similar to the previous
method in which the trigger k is pulled by the lanyard until it clears the end of
the hook, when the spring attached to the trigger will drive it forward striking
the needle and so explode the charge.
Another method is shewn at where a radial vent is screwed into the chamber
of the gun. In this case any of the approved means of firing may be used.
In Fig. 7 another method of firing is shewn, in which the blow is conveyed from
the trigger and hammer through a rod to an angled lever, thence to the firing
needle; the principle being the same in each case.
In Fig. 8 I show a means of pressing the cartridge into its place, together with
a means for extracting the same.
In Figs. 3 and 4 I shew a lever m n which I use to start the metal liner d to
rotate, by pulling the point m away from the vertical centre of the gun; the
method of operation being thus :-The lever m n turns on the point n causing the
lever no to move on the point n which compels the lever po to move on o and
the point p to change its position and move along the slot p s carrying the metal
liner with it to the end of its range.
I,
If now I move the levert on its hinge, I disengage it from the pin p and if
desired I can move the metal liner out by means of the spur pinion q. fn Fig. 3
I have shewn a groove u v w which is used for automatically revolving the breech
ball, as the metal liner d is withdrawn. In the sealed position of the gun the
spring bolt is at u as shewn, but as the metal liner is withdrawn the two levers xx
which are carried on the trunnions, are pulled backwards by the pins near
which project into the front plate; this causes the breech ball to move backwards,
but the lever uy having the spring bolt u at its extremity, is compelled to move in
the groove u v during this movement, causing the breech ball during its backward
motion to also make a rotation of 90° in other words the hole through the breech
ball now rests axially with the gun; if it is now required to sponge out the gun
I must bring up the ball to its seating in the chamber without rotating the breech
ball.
This is accomplished by turning the rod by a handle at the rear of the gun
which makes a cam on its end raise the spring bolt u out of its groove; if now
the breech ball is pressed home it will cause the spring bolt u to move along the
groove v w.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is;-
1. The placing of a metal ball in a suitably constructed chamber in the breech
of the gun and arranging it in such a manner that it can be partially revolved
and rotated or partially rotated by gear placed outside the gun for such purpose,

page_text: in combination with an aperture extending through the ball, in such a direction
that by turning the block on its axis transversely to the bore, it causes the breech
block to open or close; I so construct said breech block that the cartridge being
inserted into the aperture of the gun will be forced home by the surface of the
block at the same time closing the breech substantially as described and illustrated
in and by the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with the breech block of a mechanism for automatically
revolving the said block as shewn in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 of the accompanying sheet
of illustrative drawings.
3. The metal liner d connected by any suitable means to the breech of the gun
as herein described and shewn with reference to Figs. 1, 6, 7 and 10, of the
accompanying drawings.
4. The improved mechanism for firing as shewn in Figs. 1, 5 and 7 substantially
as described and illustrated.
5. The form of obturator g substantially as shewn and described with reference
of Fig. 1 of the drawings.
6. The breech mechanism for ordnance guns of any calibre substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Fourth day of August 1894.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
12, Basinghall Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.