Improvements in Breech-loading Ordnance.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE CANET,
of 87, Avenue Henri-Martin, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer.]
Improvements in Breech-loading Ordnance.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 breech-loading ordnance, and comprises various
improvements in the mechanism thereof as bereinafter described.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a rear view of a gun provided with breech-mechanism in accordance
with my invention.
Figure 1 shows a recess in the end of the breech for receiving and limiting the
turning movement of the operating lever.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the breech and breech-mechanism illustrated
in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the mushroom head and retaining piece.
Figure 4 is a section showing the operating lever in the position ready to unlock
the block.
Figure 5 is a section through the breech-block illustrating a slight modification
hereinafter described.
Figure 6 illustrates a convenient form of locking catch for the operating lever.
Figure 7 is a horizontal section of a modified form of breech-mechanism, the
block being shown partly withdrawn.
Figure 8 is a rear view, and
Figure 9 is a horizontal central section showing a modified form of firing
mechanism.
Figure 10 is a section showing the block partly withdrawn.
Figure 11 is a rear view, and
Figure 12 is a central section showing a further modified form of firing
mechanism, in which a portion of the said mechanism is carried by the operating
lever.
Figure 13 is a rear elevation, and
Figure 14 is a central section showing a still further modified firing mechanism, and
Figure 15 is a rear elevation, and
Figure 16 is a central section of another form of firing mechanism constructed
according to my invention.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
The breech screw consists of a cylinder A furnished on its periphery with
interrupted screw-threaded conical segments A'. In some instances however I
employ in combination with the improvements hereinafter described an ordinary
cylindrical breech-block.
In the case where the screw serves as the obturator, it is furnished with a
central rod B Figures 2 and 5 in which is provided the igniting orifice A². The
said rod B is preferably maintained in place in the breech-block by a pin B' as
shown in Figure 2, or it is screwed into the block as in Figure 5, but it may be
retained by any other suitable means. The mushroom head C is free to slide in
the breech screw and on the central rod B. It is retained in position either by a

page_text: piece C, Figures 2 and 3, which is received in a recess or neck B2 in the shaft B,
or by a pin C, Figure 5 secured in the breech-block and entering a notch in the
mushroom head.
D is a plastic obturator of a suitable description placed between the mushroom
head C and the body of the breech-screw, and E is a second obturator for
preventing the escape of powder gases between the head C and the central rod B.
The said second obturator is in some instances constructed from a soft metallic
ring C, Figure 2, of suitable form which is forcibly pressed against the breech-
block preferably by a screw gland C³. In other instances the second obturator
comprises a small plastic roll C, Figure 5, placed around the shaft/B, and secured
by a screw gland Ĉ³.
The movements for opening and closing the breech are performed by means of
an operating lever K pivoted at K¹ to the rear face of the breech-block and
furnished at its inner end with a rounded enlargement K³. When the breech is
closed, the lever is engaged in a recess y2 in the rear end of the breech, see
Figure 1, being held therein by a spring L mounted in the carrier ring and acting
on the tail end of the lever, or by other suitable means.
This device serves to
prevent unscrewing of the breech-block in the firing of the gun.
Another device having the same object is shown in Figure 6.
It consists of a
handle M capable of sliding axially in the lever proper K and having a hook M¹
which when the breech is properly closed enters a recess M2 in the end of the
breech being forced therein by means of a spring M³.
N is a suitable recess provided in the carrier bracket in such a position that it
receives the enlarged end of the lever K when the latter is turned to unlock the
breech screw, and constitutes a fulcrum for the said lever when the same is pulled
rearwardly to withdraw the block from the breech. Said recess is formed by a
hook-shaped projection N¹.
The movements required in opening the breech are as follows: viz.: 1st. The
operating lever is disengaged. 2nd. A turning movement is imparted to the
breech-block by the aid of the said lever K, such movement being limited by
the end y of the groove y¹ in the breech (Figures 1 and 1^). At the end of this
turning movement the shoulder or enlargement K2 of the lever K enters the
recess N formed in the carrier bracket. 3rd. The lever K is then pulled to
the rear, thereby withdrawing the block. During this latter movement
the shoulder K2 takes the part of a movable axis and the cylindrical core of the
breech-block slides in a corresponding part of the carrier or carrier bracket. By
reason of the conical form of the screw-threaded segments, the block is very quickly
withdrawn from the breech, its endwise movement being followed by the turning
of the carrier bracket about its hinge which completes the opening of the breech.
When the screw is cylindrical in form, the rearward movement thereof required to
clear the breech is a little longer than when the screw is conical.
To close the breech, similar movements in the reverse order and direction are
required, that is to say, the operating lever is moved to turn the carrier bracket
forward and press the breech-block into the bore of the gun, the block is then
turned to cause the threads of the screw to engage with those of the gun. At the
end of this period of rotation, the lever K is caused, by the spring L, to drop into
the recess. 2, or the handle M of the lever is pressed by the spring M³ into
engagement with the recess M² provided for it in the end of the breech.
a
The firing apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a bolt F carrying
cylinder F in which are placed the firing pin and the detent. The spring Hof
the firing pin is controlled by means of a two-armed lever G, one arm of which
has an eye G¹ for receiving the hook of the firing lanyard, and the other is provided
with a roller G2 bearing on the said spring.
During the first part of the opening of the breech, the tail F of the bolt F
slides over an eccentric part F formed on the bracket, which has the effect. of
causing the bolt to slide radially, and so withdraw. the firing pin from the vent.
I provide safety mechanism such as that described in the Specification of prior

page_text: British Patent No. 11858 A.D. 1891 for preventing the discharge of the gun before
the breech is properly closed.
To effect the firing, it is sufficient when the breech is closed to place a primer
or cartridge in the vent A' and to pull the firing lanyard in the direction of the
arrow Figure 2, whereupon the bolt F is released and allowed to return and bring
the firing pin opposite the vent, then the lanyard being still pulled the spring is
compressed and held back by a special detent such as that specified in the before-
mentioned prior Specification. This firing mechanism can obviously be applied to
guns using metallic cartridge cases.
A modified form of this firing mechanism is shewn in Figure 7. It comprises a
firing pin J the head of which is acted on during the withdrawal of the breech-
screw by the hooked part K³ of the operating lever K.
When the breech is closed, the head of the firing pin released by the part K³
takes a bearing against the lip Q1 of a spring detent Q which at the same instant
engages in a recess K* formed in the operating lever K. It is therefore impossible
to act on the detent to release the firing pin and consequently to effect the
firing, so long as the breech is not completely closed and the operating lever is not
home in its stop-notch or recess because it is only when the lever is in this position
that the back of the detent ceases to abut against the side of the said recess K' in
the said lever. When the breech is properly closed the spring detent Q is unlocked
and it can then be operated to release the firing hammer.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 represent a modification of the firing mechanism hereinabove
described.
Figures 11 to 16 represent a series of modifications in which part of the devices
designed for producing the ignition of the tube are entirely contained in the operating
lever.
The opening mechanism proper is substantially the same as that above
described.
The mechanism of Figures 8 to 10 comprises: -The breech block A preferably
made slightly conical but in some instances it is made cylindrical, the carrier bracket R,
and the operating lever made of two parts. One of these parts k is articulated
at K to the breech-screw and is furnished with an enlarged end K2 which at the
termination of the unlocking movement enters a recess N provided at the rear part
of the carrier bracket; the other part M of the operating lever is a hollow handle
which slides upon the rod k and encloses a spring M³ that tends to push it outwards.
M is a hook formed on the handle M and which in the closed position enters a
notch or recess M2 Figure 9 formed in the rear end of the gun and locks the
handle to the gun. M is a tubular prolongation of the handle M which operates
as hereinafter described to prevent premature firing.
For opening the breech, I first move the handle M to compress the spring M³,
and thus disengage the hook M¹ from the recess M2; I then turn the handle to the
left and with it the breech-block, thus disengaging the screw threads; and then
draw the operating lever backward. During the last named movement, the block
is first drawn back; then the enlargement K2 of the lever having passed into the
cavity N and having thus become the fulcrum about which the lever turns for the
extraction of the screw, the latter is removed from the gun. For completing
the opening, the operating lever is turned to the right hand side of the gun; and
thereby the whole of the breech-mechanism supported by the carrier bracket is
turned aside about the hinge or pivot of the latter.
To close the breech similar movements are effected in the inverse order and
direction.
The firing pin a is provided with a fixed collar 6 to which is secured one end of
the spring c the other extremity of which spring is held in a cavity c¹ of the block.
Said spring serves to return the firing pin to its initial position after the latter has
been turned as hereinafter described to effect the firing. A ring or sleeve d
mounted upon the firing pin is secured thereto by means of a cottar e which passes
through a slot in the ring and thus allows a certain longitudinal sliding movement

page_text: of the ring to compress the spring c. On the rear face of the ring d are formed
ratchet teeth fff. Upon the rear end of the firing pin is keyed a head g the
forward face of which is furnished with ratchet teeth h h h inclined in the reverse
direction to the teeth ff. A tail piece i provided with on eye ¹ for the lanyard
is formed or fixed on the head g and serves for turning the head as hereinafter
described. m m' are two lugs secured on or formed with the head g. p is a catch
placed in a recess or cavity provided for it in the block A. q is a spring for
pushing the said catch outward; 9 is a projection formed on the catch for preventing
its turning upon its axis. This catch carries moreover a projection which
normally occupies the position indicated in Figures 9 and 10, that is to say, it lies
between the aforesaid lugs m m¹ and in that position it does not interfere with the
turning of the head g to operate the firing pin, but when the catch p is pushed
inward to bring the projection in front of the cam m the head 9 cannot be
turned, and the firing mechanism is thus rendered inoperative.
An intermediate ring s mounted loosely upon the firing pin in a position
between the head 9 and the ring d presents upon its faces teeth ¹h¹, f¹ƒ¹
adapted to engage respectively with the teeth h h,ff of the head and ring.
The operation of this mechanism is as follows, that is to say, the breech being
closed and the lanyard engaged with the eye i¹ it is sufficient to pull the lanyard in
the direction indicated by the arrow Figure 8, whereupon the head g turns the
intermediate pieces the teeth fl of which rise upon the corresponding teeth f of
the ring d and thus operate to draw back the firing pin and compress the spring c.
This movement is continued till the teeth ff¹ come point to point, whereupon a
very small displacement in the same direction is sufficient to allow the teeth to
engage again, and to liberate the firing pin thus allowing it to strike, under the
action of the spring c. The said spring c moreover, by reason of its being secured
at one end to the block A and at the other end to the pin a, serves to turn back
the firing pin to its original position after firing.
The firing can be effected only when the breech is completely closed because
when the handle M is depressed in order to disengage the hook M' from the
recess M² the prolongation or sleeve M* acts upon the inclined face p³ of the
catch p, and presses the latter into its cavity, thereby placing the projection r in
front of the lug m'; by this movement the firing mechanism is rendered immovable,
because the firing pin can then no longer turn about its axis. When the operating
lever is drawn back as shown in Figure 10 the tail part of the head projects
into a cavity K in the operating lever and locks the firing mechanism by preventing
the rotation of the head 9.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, the breech-mechanism is
similar to those previously described except that the firing-mechanism is somewhat
modified. The hammer, the spring and the trigger are entirely enclosed in the
operating lever which is enlarged for this purpose at 1, 2, 3, 4. It follows from
this construction that upon the opening of the breech, the firing pin, which
remains in the screw, is separated from the remainder of the firing mechanism.
The hammer a is slotted to receive the spring c and the head a' of the
hammer is formed to receive the catch 1. The head of this catch is adapted
to engage under the action of the spring n with the part gl of the trigger g.
The said trigger is bifurcated at its middle part to allow the passage of the
head a¹ of the hammer a; it is adapted to turn upon an axis and bas at one
of its extremities a roller g³ which bears upon one of the branches of the
spring c, and at the other extremity it is furnished with an eye for receiving
the lanyard.
.
The operation of the mechanism is as follows:-The breech being closed it
is sufficient to draw the tail-piece i of the trigger g in the direction indicated by
the arrow whereupon the nose g' describing an arc of a circle round the centre g²
pushes the head of the catch rearwardly, but since the catch 1 moves in a
straight line it follows that the trigger will ultimately escape from the catch
The hammer a actuated by the spring which has been compressed during the

page_text: l
rearward movement of the catch, will then be violently projected against the firing
pin and will cause the ignition of the tube. The trigger when released will return
to its original position under the action of the spring c which presses against the
aforesaid friction roller g³ carried by the upper end of said trigger. During this
return movement the catch is first depressed and is then returned by its spring n
to its normal position in engagement with the trigger. When the handle M of the
operating lever is pushed inward to unlock the same from the gun, the prolonga-
tion M' thereof engages with the long branch of the spring c, and thus prevents
any movement of the said spring during the turning of the breech. The trigger
cannot therefore be moved when the operating lever is unlocked from the breech.
As soon as the extraction commences the hammer separates from the firing pin,
consequently accidental firing becomes impossible.
According to a further modification illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, the firing
mechanism can be actuated at will either by means of a lanyard, or by a side rod z
which is controlled by a disengaging device, as described in the Specification of
my prior British Patent 5808. This mechanism consists of a hollow hammer a
containing a spiral spring c and placed in a cavity in the operating lever, the said
spring being compressed between the end of the cavity in the hammer and that in
the operating lever. The hammer a carries a projection a' which engages with
the catch controlled by its spring n; the catch has a projection 12 opposite the
toe of a rod t which slides in the axis of the operating lever K. This rod t is
bifurcated at its outer extremity t¹ to receive a lever v of special form which lever
turns about an axis v' and has at the lanyard eye and at v² an abutment plate
for the rod z of the automatic firing mechanism. M³ is a spring for controlling
the rod t.
The operation of the mechanism is as follows: The breech being closed it is
sufficient for igniting the tube to move either by means of the lanyard or through
the medium of the rod, the lever in the direction of the arrow. By these means
the rod t is moved in the operating lever and carries with it the catch which
consequently releases the projection a² and liberates the hammer a which is then
violently projected against the firing pin and ignites the tube. In case of a miss-fire
the mechanism may be cocked again by means of a lever w which bears against the
operating lever K and the small arm w¹ of which engages with a part w² of suitable
form provided in the tail piece of the hammer a as indicated. The lever w may
be replaced by a ring secured to the extremity of the hammer and which may be
pulled by hand in case of a miss-fire to cock the hammer. At ordinary times the
cocking of the hammer is effected by the closing of the breech. As soon as the
handle M is pushed inward and during the whole time of the turning movement,
its prolongation M is in contact with the toe of the rod t, and thus locks said rod
and prevents firing. Firing is also impossible after the commencement of the
movement for extracting the screw, for the reasons already stated with reference
to Figures 11 and 12.
A still further modification is shown in Figures 15 and 16 for permitting the
firing to take place automatically. The trigger y turns about its axis 9² and bears
upon the long branch of the hammer spring e by the roller g³. It is actuated by a
lever of suitable form to which it is united by a pin fitted thereto with a
sufficient play to permit of the simultaneous rotation of the two parts about their
respective axes. The lever turns about its axis and, as in the previous con-
struction, has an eye for the lanyard, and an abutment piece for the rod 2 of
the automatic firing mechanism. The operation is as follows: The breech being
completely closed it is sufficient to impart to the lever a rotary movement about
its axis in the direction indicated by the arrow, which movement is communicated
to the trigger g; the latter operates the hammer by the parts g' and 'as in the
construction shown in Figure 12 and compresses the two branches of the spring c
until the disengagement of the parts g' and is effected, whereupon the hammer
will strike the firing pin as described with reference to Figure 12. As in the
previous case, when the handle M is pushed inward and during the whole time of

page_text: the turning movement of the lever a stop M on said handle will bear upon an
abutment of the lever v, and thus render the firing mechanism immovable.
Moreover for the reasons previously stated any action of the hammer upon the
firing pin becomes impossible as soon as the extraction of the screw has commenced.
. Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :—
1st. The mechanism comprising a cylindrical breech-block with screw-threaded
segments of which the exterior surface is that of a truncated cone having its
largest diameter towards the rear, substantially as set forth, and for the purpose
specified.
2nd. A screw breech-block having a hollow rod or tube in one piece with, or
fixed in any suitable manner in, the block, substantially as set forth.
3rd. The mushroom head capable of sliding on the central rod and in the breech-
block, and limited in its movement by a suitable stop fixed on the rod or in the
block, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.
4th. The obturator consisting of two parts composed of malleable metal or
suitable plastic material, one part of which is compressed during the firing between
the back of the head and the breech-block, and the other part of which is above
the joint of the head and the central rod of the breech-block, substantially as
described and for the purpose specified.
5th. The operating lever pivoted on the rear face of the breech-block, and
furnished at one of its extremities with a shoulder which at the termination of the
rotation of the breech-screw engages in a recess in the bracket and serves as the
fulcrum during the extraction of the breech-block, substantially as described.
6th. The combination with the breech-block, of the safety devices shewn in the
accompanying drawings, and consisting either of a recess formed in the end of the
breech and designed to receive the lever, or of a handle movable in the body of
the lever and furnished with a hook which engages in a notch in the end of the
breech, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.
7th. The firing mechanism which consists of a movable bolt carrying the per-
cussion mechanism, a spring hammer with a detent, and a recoil spring which acts
on the extremity of one of the arms of the firing lever, substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1 to 4.
8th. The firing apparatus comprising a hammer the head of which is first raised by
a cam on the operating lever, then bears against a detent which at the same instant
is secured by the operating lever in such a manner as to prevent premature firing,
substantially as described with reference to Figure 7.
9th. The firing mechanism which is cocked by a rotary movement of the firing
pin about its axis, substantially as described with reference to Figures 8 to 10 of
the drawings.
10th. The safety mechanism whereby the firing pin is rendered immovable upon
its axis and which prevents the firing when the lever is not locked to the breech,
substantially as described with reference to Figures 8 to 10 of the drawings.
11th. The operating lever, with a portion of the firing mechanism enclosed
therein substantially as described with reference to Figures 11 to 16 of the drawings
for the purpose specified.
12th. The firing mechanism in which safety is ensured during the opening of the
breech by first rendering the firing spring immovable, and then separating the
hammer from the firing pin, substantially as described with reference to Figures 11
to 16 of the drawings.
13th. The combination of parts, substantially as set forth, designed to enable the
firing to be effected either by a lanyard or by a side rod and the mechanism as
.described in the Specification No. 5808 of 1893.
14th. The mechanism substantially as described with reference to Figures 13
and 14, for enabling the firing pin to be cocked by the closing of the breech, and

page_text: the firing to be then effected substantially as set forth, and for the purpose
specified.
15th. The mechanism comprising a rod in the interior of the operating lever
arranged in combination with a bent lever operated either by a lanyard or by a
side rod, substantially as described with reference to Figures 13 and 14, for the
purpose specified.
16th. The modification of my invention, consisting in the employment as a
substitute for the plastic obturator above described, of metallic cases, substantially
as described and for the purpose specified.
17th. A gun provided with breech-mechanism substantially such as that
represented in either or any of the accompanying drawings or any mere modifications
thereof for the purposes specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.