Improvements in Safety-locking the Breech Screw Mechanism of Guns.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety-locking the Breech Screw Mechanism of
Guns.
I, AUGUST REICHTWALD, of 9, New Broad Street, in the City of London, Steel,
Iron, Metal, and Mineral Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from abroad by the Firm of Fried Krupp, of Essen, in
the Empire of Germany, Cast Steel Manufacturers), to be as follows:-
―
The present invention relates to a safety device for locking the breech screw
mechanisms of guns, by means of which the opening of the breech and the firing
of the gun at the same time can be rendered impossible.
Two locking bolts, which I will term for clearness of description A and B, are
arranged in vertical holes in the breech door, which receives the rear end of the
breech block. In this case the bolt A constitutes the axis of rotation of the push-
ing lever, by which the breech is moved, and the bolt B forms the axis of rotation
for the trigger. The cylindrical bolt A is provided with a head, and a collar, and
the shank of the bolt.is surrounded at its upper part below the collar by a coiled
or helical spring. On the head of the bolt A there is provided an adjustable boss.
The cylindrical bolt B is provided with a head, and a bearing collar, and in the
under part of the bearing collar of the bolt B, there are cut two rests or notches
to communicate with a circular guide groove into which can take the adjustable
upwardly projecting boss of the bolt A. The adjustable boss of the bolt A, by
engaging in one rest or notch in the bearing collar of the bolt B, keeps the bolt B
in the locking position, whilst when the adjustable boss engages in the other
notch, the breech is unlocked (firing position). A piece is cut out of the shank of
the bolt B at the level of the pushing lever in such a manner that the bolt B
when in the firing position does not hinder the horizontal rotation of the pushing
lever when the breech is being opened. But if, however, the bolt B is in the lock-
ing position which is the case when it is rotated about 90° from the firing position,
then the part of the shank of the bolt B which has been left entire, will engage in
a recess that is situated in the right hand end of the pushing lever and will pre-
vent the latter from making any movement whatever, and the breech cannot there-
fore be opened. The shank of the bolt B is of such length that it extends down-
wards through a cylindrical hole in the trigger, and this hole is widened out in a
cylindrical manner in its upper part to receive a nose, which is provided on the
shank of the bolt B, but in such a manner as to leave a stop piece in such hole of
the trigger, and so that when the breech is locked, the bolt B bears with its nose
against this stop piece, and thereby prevents all rotation of the trigger, and there-
fore also the firing of the gun.

page_text: A short arm which is mounted on the bearing collar of the bolt B, limits the
rotary movement of the bolt B, by striking against the head of the bolt A, when it
is brought into the locking position. In returning into the firing position, the
rotation of the belt B is limited by the adjustable boss of the bolt A, which strikes
against the end of the circular groove in the shoulder of the bolt. The coiled spring
which is arranged under the shoulder of the bolt A presses this bolt continually
upwards, so that the boss of the bolt A is held firmly in one or other notch of the
bolt B. When the bolt B is to be rotated for the purpose of locking or un-locking
the breech, the bolt A must be depressed to such an extent as to allow the boss or
upward projection of the said bolt A to pass out of one or other of the notches of
the flange of the bolt B. In the rotation of the bolt B the boss of the bolt A slides
in the groove of the shoulder of the bolt B.
The invention presents therefore a device for locking screw breech mechanism,
in which the bolt B forms the axis of rotation for the trigger, the said bolt being
capable of rotation, it being arranged to be held firmly in two end positions by
means of the rotary bolt A of the pushing lever; said rotary bolt A being capable of
axial movement and being provided with a nose, which enters into corresponding
notches of the locking bolt B; the said bolt B, when in one end position, releasing
the trigger (and also releasing the pushing lever, by means of its partly cut away
shank) whilst the said bolt B when in the other end position bears with a nose
against the trigger, and rotates with its shank into a recess of the pushing lever,
so that the trigger and the pushing lever are rendered incapable of moving.
Dated this 17th day of March 1898
BREWER & SON,
London & Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety-locking the Breech Screw Mechanism of
Guns.
I, AUGUST REICHWALD, of 9, New Broad Street, in the City of London, Steel,
Iron, Metal, and Mineral Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from abroad by the Firm of Fried Krupp, of Essen, in
the Empire of Germany, Cast Steel Manufacturers), and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:
--
The present invention relates to a device for locking the breech screw mechanism
of guns, by means of which the opening of the breech, and also the firing of the
gun at the same time, can be rendered impossible. In the accompanying draw-
ings, Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the breech, (the breech being closed and not
safety locked). Fig. 2 shews partly a plan of the breech, and partly a horizontal
section through the middle of the same (the breech being closed and not safety
locked, and the striker being uncocked). Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through
the middle of the breech. The carrier arm is however shewn in section above the push-
ing lever, (the breech being closed and safety locked, and the striker being cocked).
Figs. 4 to 10 are detail views of the locking device.
locking device in the locking position. Fig. 5 is
line III, through Fig. 4 seen from the underside.
on the line III-IV, through Fig. 4, seen from
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the
a horizontal section on the
Fig. 6 is a horizontal section
the underside. Fig. 7 is a

page_text: horizontal section on the line V-VI, through Fig. 4, seen from above. Figs. 8
9 and 10 are sections which correspond with Figs. 5, 6, 7, but which shew the
several parts in the unlocked or firing position.
The two locking bolts A and B are arranged in vertical holes in the carrier arm C
which receives the rear end of the breech block G. In this case the bolt A con-
stitutes the axle of rotation of the pushing lever D, which produces the motion of
the breech, and the bolt B forms the axis of rotation for the trigger E. The
direction of motion of the pushing lever in opening the breech, and the motion of
the trigger in firing, is indicated in Figs. 9 and 10, by means of arrows.
The
cylindrical bolt A (Figs. 1-4) is provided with a head g, and the collar f. The
shank of the bolt is surrounded at its upper part by the coiled spring F. On the
head g of the bolt there is provided the adjusting boss a. The cylindrical bolt B
(Figs. 1 and 4) is provided with the head h, and the bearing collar i. In the under
part of the bearing collar (Fig. 6) there are cut two rests or notches k and 7, and
a circular guide groove m (Fig. 5), for the adjusting boss a of the bolt A. The
adjusting boss a by engaging in the rest or notch k, keep the bolt B in the locking
position, whilst when the adjusting boss a engages in the notch 7, the breech is
unlocked (firing position). A piece is cut out of the shank of the bolt B at the
level of the pushing lever D (Fig. 4) in such a manner that the bolt B being in
the firing position (Fig. 9) does not hinder the horizontal rotation of the pushing
lever when the breech is being opened (Fig. 9). But if, however, the bolt B is in
the locking position (Figs. 3, 4 and 6) which is the case when it is rotated about 90°
from the firing position, then the part of the shank of the bolt B which has been
left entire will engage in the recess d, that is situated in the right hand end of the
pushing lever D and will prevent the latter from making any movement whatever,
the breech can therefore not be opened. The shank of the bolt B is of such length
that it extends downwards through a cylindrical hole in the trigger E (Figs. 1
and 4). This hole is widened out in a cylindrical manner in its upper part for the
nose c, which is provided on the shank of the bolt B, but in such a manner as to
leave a
bridge-piece e (Figs. 3, 7, 10). When the breech is safety-locked, the
bolt B bears with its nose against this bridge-piece, and thereby prevents all
rotation of the trigger E, and therefore also the firing of the gun.
The short arm b which is mounted on the bearing collar i of the bolt B, limits,
by striking against the head of the bolt A, the rotary movement of the bolt B,
when it is brought into the firing position (Fig. 2). In returning into the locking
position, the rotation of the bolt B is limited by the adjusting boss of the bolt A,
which strikes against the end of the circular groove in the shoulder of the bolt B
(Fig. 5). The coiled spring F which is arranged under the shoulder f of the bolt A
(Figs. 1 and 4) presses this bolt continually upwards, so that the boss is held
firmly in the one or other notch of the bolt B. When the bolt B is to be rotated
for the purpose of locking or unlocking the breech, the bolt A must be depressed
to such an extent as to allow the boss to pass out of the notch k, or the notch 1.
In the rotation of the bolt B the boss a slides in the groove m of the shoulder i.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. A device for locking screw breech mechanisms, consisting of a bolt, which forms
the axis of rotation for the trigger, and is capable of rotation, and which is arranged
to be held firmly in two end positions, and is so shaped as to form a stop to all
rotation of the trigger, and of the pushing lever, when locked in one of these
positions, and to release the trigger and the pushing lever, when locked in the
other position.
2. A device for locking screw breech mechanisms, consisting of a bolt B, which
forms the axis of rotation for the trigger E, and which is capable of rotation and
is arranged to be held firmly in two end positions, by means of a bolt A which
forms the axis of rotation of the pushing lever D; said bolt A being capable of

page_text: axial movement, and being provided with a nose a, which enters into corresponding
notches and of the locking bolt B; the said bolt 3, when in one end position,
releasing the trigger E, and also releasing the pushing lever D, by means of its
partly cut away shank, whilst the said bolt B when in the other end position,
bears with a nose against the trigger E, and engages with its shank a recess d
of the pushing lever D, so that the trigger and the pushing lever are rendered
incapable of moving.
Dated this 5th day of November 1898.
BREWER & SON,
London & Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.