Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 24th Aug., 1883
Complete Specification Accepted, 19th Oct., 1888
I, WILHELM LORENZ of 61 Kriegs strasse of 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 firing mechanism contained in the sliding breech block
of breech loading guns, wherein the firing pin is brought into the cocked position
from the head end of the breech block by means of a cocking spindle, the rotation of
which is rendered dependent upon the rotation of the closing screw.
One improvement consists in providing for the rotation of the cocking spindle by
means of the closing screw, one or more teeth upon the latter which gears or gear
with a corresponding tooth or teeth upon the cocking spindle.
A second improvement consists in providing a locking bolt or catch which locks
the firing pin after cocking by the cocking spindle, and retains it in that position
until released from the head end of the breech block, whereupon the firing pin is
thrown forward so as to effect the firing of the charge.
The liberation of the firing pin from the locking bolt is effected in the usual
manner by pulling at the latter by means of a lanyard with a hook. The accidental
withdrawal of the loading bolt is prevented by means of safety appliances to be
presently described.
In the accompanying drawings Figs. 1 to 10s shew by way of example one
arrangement of firing mechanism constructed as above described.
Fig. 1 shews that in this arrangement two screw threads a of the closing screw A
are partly formed with teeth a' at which gear with the teeth of the cocking
spindle B Figs. 2 and 4. On rotating the closing screw in the direction of the
arrow I Figs. 2 and 4, which rotation effects the opening of the breech block, the
cocking spindle will be rotated in the direction of the arrow II.
By this rotation the firing pin C is forced backward by a tappet on the
cocking spindle into the cocked position Fig. 3.
During this backward motion of the firing pin it presses with a beak c against the

page_text: beak d of the locking bolt D Fig. 1 and in sliding past, forces this back, until the two
beaks have their straight parallel sides face to face. At this moment the spring d
Figs. 2 and 6 forces the locking bolt into the position shown at Fig. 1, in which it
prevents the firing pin from springing forward.
The closing screw A can now be turned in the contrary direction to the arrow I
without affecting the cocked position of the firing pin, by which rotation the breech
block is secured in the closed position after having been pushed into the gun. The
cocking spindle is by this means also turned back into its original position, the
tappet on the same passing free of the firing pin during such motion, as shown at
Fig. 3.
When the closing screw has turned quite home, the breech block is secured and the
cocking spindle B has arrived at its original position, the gun being now ready for
firing, as the firing pin C can spring forward as soon as it is liberated from the
locking bolt D, without hindrance from the tappet b.
с
The locking bolt D is always pressed against the firing pin by its spring ; in
order that the beaks c d shall maintain their proper relative position, the firing pin has
a feather centering a corresponding groove in the breech block K and the locking
bolt is formed with a rectangular section at d² working in a corresponding
rectangular hole in the plate E. The external end of the locking bolt is formed with
a hook shaped head Figs. 1, 6 and 9 for the hook of the lanyard.
The locking bolt slides in a direction at an angle to the parallel sides of the breech
block so that the lanyard H with its hook may pass the crank handle A' as shewn at
Fig. 6. It may however be arranged in a position parallel to the sides of the breech
block, as shewn at Fig. 5, in which case it is provided with a crosshead having a
hook at each end, so that the firing lanyard can be attached either above or
below the crank handle A. Fig. 4 shews an end view of the locking bolt and its
spring for this arrangement, the plate E being removed.
The hooks fit close against similar books fixed on the plate E Figs. 1 and 3,
so that the two together form a round hole into which takes the hook of the firing
lanyard H. On this being pulled, the hook of the locking bolt moves outwards in the
direction of the arrow III, while the hook remains stationary so that an opening
is formed between the two, as indicated in dotted lines at Figs. 1 and 5, through
which the hook passes out. Just before or at the same time that this takes place,
the beak d of the locking bolt will have liberated the beak e of the firing pin, so that
this can be thrown forward by its spring for firing the charge.
For preventing the accidental withdrawal of the locking bolt, a disc F, rotatable
by a crank handle fis attached to the plate E.
In the arrangement shewn at Figs. 1, 9, 10, 1C, the rotation is shewn to be effected
by the connection of the disc F with a screw fi but it will be readily understood
that any other known device, as for instance a revolving stud that is provented from
moving longitudinally, may be used. The disc F enters a notch d in the locking
bolt, and thus prevents this from being drawn outwards, when turned into the
position at Fig. 10ª by the handle f, and the disc is itself held in this position by a
spring entering a notch in the disc.
For freeing the locking bolt so as to allow of the firing of the gun, the disc F is
first turned into the position shewn at Figs. 1, 9, and 10, in which the notch få
comes opposite the bolt D and thus allows the latter to move past. it, the disc being
held in this position by the spring entering a second notch in the same.
The hook on the plate E is in this arrangement formed in one with the handle f,
so that is brought in contact with the hook d³ when the handle is turned into
the position at Figs. 1, 9 and 10.
Thus the gunner cannot fire until by turning the handle he has both formed the
eye for the lanyard hook and liberated the locking bolt, or in other words, the
readiness to fire is indicated by the formation of the eye for the lanyard hook, as in
any other position of the parts the locking bolt is locked by the disc F; and, in
addition, the hook d³ is of such a form that the hook would slide off it without
exercising any pull on the locking bolt D.
:

page_text: In the arrangement at Figs. 5 and 8 the books f³ are separate from the handle,
and are fixed on the plate E, and the hooks d³ of the locking bolt are always kept in
the same position relatively thereto by the rectangular form d² of the locking bolt.
With this arrangement therefore, the readiness for fire is only indicated by the
position of the handle f. At Figs. 8 and 8b the relative positions of the safety disc F
with handle and of the locking bolt D are shewn to a larger scale.
Instead of forming the screw threads of the closing screw with several teeth, as at
Figs. 1, 2 and 4, or with a single tooth, the cocking spindle being also formed with
one tooth, as at Fig. 4, a separate toothed segment or toothed pinion a¹ a² may be
provided either before or behind the plate E, gearing into corresponding teeth on the
cocking spindle B, as shewn at Figs. 1 and 16. The locking bolt D with its
spring d, the safety disc F with handle f, the hooks 3 and the spring g may all be
variously modified in construction without departing from the nature of the invention.
The constructions shewn are however considered to be the simplest and best.
The separation, according to the present invention of the cocking action and the
firing action at the head end of the sliding breech block affords great safety against
accidental firing, as after cocking the firing pin and the locking of the same by the
locking bolt, both the closing screw A and the cocking spindle B can be turned
without affecting the firing pin, until this is released by pulling the locking bolt. The
described firing device affords perfect surety that the firing pin must be thrown
forward when the hook of the firing lanyard has passed out of the hook of the
locking bolt.
Dated this 26th day of November 1807

page_text: Improvements in Firing Mechanism for Breech Loading Ordnance.
I WILHELM LORENZ of 61 Kriegs strasse of 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 firing mechanism contained in the sliding breech block of
breech loading guns, wherein the firing pin is brought into the cocked position from
the head end of the breech block by means of a cocking spindle, the rotation of which
is rendered dependent upon the rotation of the closing screw.
One improvement consists in providing for the rotation of the cocking spindle by
means of the closing screw, one or more teeth upon the latter which gears or gear
with a corresponding tooth or teeth upon the cocking spindle.
A second improvement consists in providing a locking bolt or catch which locks
the firing pin after cocking by the cocking spindle, and retains it in that position
until released from the head end of the breech block, whereupon the firing pin is
thrown forward so as to effect the firing of the charge.
The liberation of the firing pin from the locking bolt is effected in the usual
manner by pulling at the latter by means of a lanyard with a hook. The accidental
withdrawal of the locking bolt is prevented by means of safety appliances to be
presently described.
In the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification filed 26th November
1887 Figs. 1 to 10 shew, by way of example, one arrangement of firing mechanism
constructed as above described. Fig. 11 shews a cross section through the breech of
the gun, shewing the extractor.
Fig. 1 shews that in this arrangement two screw threads a of the closing screw A
are partly formed with teeth a¹ a' which gear with the teeth of the cocking spindle B
Figs. 2 and 4. On rotating the closing screw in the direction of the arrow I Figs. 2
and 4, which rotation effects the opening of the breech block, the cocking spindle
will be rotated in the direction of the arrow II.
By this rotation the firing pin C is forced backward by a tappet on the cocking
spindle into the cocked position Fig. 3.
During this backward motion of the firing pin it presses with a beak e against the
beak d of the locking bolt D Fig. 1 and in sliding past forces this back, until the two
beaks have their straight parallel sides face to face. At this moment the spring d
Figs. 2 and 6 forces the locking bolt into the position shewn at Fig. 1, in which it
prevents the firing pin from springing forward.
The closing screw A can now be turned in the contrary direction to the arrow I
without affecting the cocked position of the firing pin, by which rotation the breech
block is secured in the closed position after having been pushed into the gun. The
cocking spindle is by this meaus also turned back into its original position, the
tappet b on the same passing free of the firing pin during such motion, as shewn
at Fig. 3.

page_text: When the closing screw has turned quite home, the breech block is secured and
the cocking spindle B has arrived at its original position, the gun being now ready
for firing as the firing pin C can spring forward as soon as it is liberated from the
locking bolt D, without hinderance from the tappet b.
The locking bolt D is always pressed against the firing pin by its spring d'; in
order that the heaks ed shall maintain their proper relative position the firing pin
has a feather centering a corresponding groove in the breech block K and the
locking bolt is formed with a rectangular section at working in a corresponding
rectangular hole in the plate E.
The external end of the locking bolt is formed with a hook shaped head d³ Figs. 1, 6
and 9 for the hook of the lanyard.
The locking bolt slides in a direction at an angle to the parallel sides of the breech
block so that the lanyard H with it hook may pass the crank handle A' as shewn at
Fig. 6. It may however be arranged in a position parallel to the sides of the
breech block, as shewn at Fig. 5 in which case it is provided with a crosshead having
a hook ³ ³ at each end, so that the firing lanyard can be attached either above or
below the crank handle A¹. Fig. 4 shows an end view of the locking bolt and its
spring d¹ for this arrangement, the plate E being removed.
The hooks fit close against similar hooks 3 fixed on the plate E Figs. 1 and 8
so that the two together form a round hole into which takes the hook of the firing
lanyard H. On this being pulled, the hook of the locking bolt moves outwards in the
direction of the arrow III, while the hook remains stationary so that an opening
is formed between the two, as indicated in dotted lines at Figs. 1 and 5, through
which the hook h passes out. Just before or at the same time that this takes place,
the beak d of the locking bolt will have liberated the beak c of the firing pin, so that
this can be thrown forward by its spring for firing the charge.
.
For preventing the accidental withdrawal of the locking bolt, a disc F, rotatable by
a crank handlef, is attached to the plato E.
In the arrangement shewn at Figs. 1, 9, 10, 10 the rotation is shewn to be effected
by the connection of the disc F with a screw f' but it will be readily understood that
any other known device, as for instance a revolving stud that is prevented from
moving longitudinally, may be used. The disc F enters a notch d in the locking
holt and thus prevents this from being drawn outwards when turned into the position
at Fig. 10 by the handle f, and the disc is itself held in this position by a spring g
entering a notch in the disc.
For freeing the locking bolt so as to allow of the firing of the gun, the disc Fis
first turned into the position shewn at Figs. 1, 9, and 10, in which the notch f³
comes opposite the bolt D and thus allows the latter to move past it, the disc being
held in this position by the spring g entering a second notch in the same.
The hook on the plate E is in this arrangement formed in one with the handle f
so that is brought in contact with the hook d³ when the handle is turned into the
position at Figs. 19 and 10.
Thus the gunner cannot fire until by turning the handle f, he has both formed the
eye for the lanyard hook and liberated the locking bolt or in other words, tho
readiness to fire is indicated by the formation of the eye for the lanyard hook, as in
any other position of the parts the locking bolt is locked by the disc F; and in
addition the hook d³ is of such a form that the hook would slide off it, without
exercising any pull on the locking bolt D.
In the arrangement at Figs. 5 and 8 the hooks f³ are separate from the handle f,
and are fixed on the plate E, and the hooks d³ of the locking bolt are always kept
in the same position relatively thereto by the rectangular form of the locking bolt.
With this arrangement therefore, the readiness for fire is only indicated by the
position of the handle f. At Figs. 8ª and 8 the relative positions of the safety disc F
with handle fand of the locking bolt D are shewn to a larger scale.
Instead of forming the screw threads of the closing screw with several teeth, as at
Figs. 1, 2 and 4, or with a single tooth, the cocking spindle being also formed with
one tooth, as at Fig. 4, a separate toothed segment or toothed pinion a¹ a² may be

page_text: with its
provided either before or behind the plate E, gearing into corresponding teeth on
the cocking spindle B, as shewn at Figs. 1° and 1. The locking bolt
spring d' the safety disc F with handle, the looks f3 and the spring g may all be
variously modified in construction without departing from the nature of the invention.
The constructions shewn are however considered to be the simplest and best.
The separation according to the present invention of the cocking action and the
firing action at the head end of the sliding breech block affords great safety against
accidental firing, as after cocking the firing pin and the locking of the same by the
locking bolt, both the closing screw A and the cocking spindle B can be turned
without affecting the firing pin until this is released by pulling the locking bolt.
The described firing device affords perfect surety that the firing pin must be thrown
forward when the hook of the firing lanyard has passed out of the hook of the
locking bolt.
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. In firing mechanism for breech loading ordnance the use of a closing screw A
having teeth a a² a³ a gearing with teeth
on the cocking spindle B of the
firing pin C, whereby on the turning of the closing screw for opening the breech
block, the cocking spindle is at the same time rotated so as to cock the firing pin,
substantially as herein described.
2. In firing mechanism such as is referred to in the preceding claim, the use of a
locking bolt with beak d against which bears a beak c on the firing pin C when
the latter is cocked, so as to force the locking bolt back until the beak has passed,
whereupon the locking bolt is urged forward again by a spring so as to retain the
firing pin in the locked position.
3. In combination with the locking bolt referred to in the preceding claim, the
use of a rotatable safety disc F with notch f which disc engages with a notch don
the locking bolt and thereby prevents the longitudinal motion of this except when the
disc is turned so as to present its notch f to the locking bolt substantially as herein
described.
4. In combination with the safety disc referred to in the preceding claim, the use
of a spring arranged to enter the notches for f of the disc so as to hold this
either in the closed or the open position, substantially as herein described.
5. In combination with the locking bolt D referred to in the preceding claims, the
use of a stud or studs f³ fixed on the plate E of the breech block, and which forms
with the stud d³ of the locking bolt a closed eye for the reception of the hook of the
firing lanyard which eye opens so as to permit the escape of the hook when the
locking bolt has been drawn outward thereby, substantially as herein described.
Dated this 24th day of August 1888.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.