IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING ORDNANCE, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO MUZZLE LOADERS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Needham, of Chiswick Mall, in the County of
Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING
ORDNANCE, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO MUZZLE
LOADERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Needham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th June 1880.
JOSEPH NEEDHAM, of Chiswick Mall, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH LOADING ORDNANCE, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE
TO MUZZLE LOADERS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in breech loading ordnance, parts
of which improvements are applicable to muzzle loaders.
I build up the body of the gun with a series of tubes closely fitting each other,
but instead of shrinking these tubes one over the other, or forcing them into
position by hydraulic or other pressure, as heretofore, I, according to my present
Invention, form them slightly conical, so as to enable them to be readily placed in
position, and when forced home to produce a perfectly solid body.
And for the purpose of enabling the tubes to be readily forced home and retained
in such position, I form on the corresponding outer and inner surfaces of the breech
ends of such tubes, for a short distance along their lengths, screw threads, which,
by turning the one tube in or upon the other, force the tubes fully home into close
contact with each other.
I employ, as heretofore, a conical breech piece formed with a screw around the
same to screw into a corresponding female screw formed in the breech end of the
body of the gun; but according to my present Invention, I form the breech piece
and its seat coned to such a degree as to enable the breech piece to take a firm hold
of all the tubes excepting, if desired, the outer one.
Constructed, as above described, with a solid breech piece the gun is suitable for
muzzle loading ordnance, but when constructing breech loadors, instead of
employing a solid breech piece, as above described, with respect to muzzle loaders, I
form the breech piece in two parts, divided longitudinally, but pivotted to a strap
or bar or otherwise connected together to compel the two parts to work in unison,

page_text: .
and yet permit them to open out from each other for the purpose hereinafter
described.
I also for breech loaders form the female screw in the breech end of the gun
with an undercut thread communicating with the said female screw to receive short
corresponding projections on the screw thread of the breech piece. A vent is
preferably bored through one part of the breech piece to enable the charge to be
ignited, and a weighted lever is also pivotted to one part thereof to act in combina-
tion with studs fixed one to each part of the breech piece. A stop is arranged to
prevent the breech piece, when unscrewed to open the breech end of the gun,
becoming entirely disconnected from the gun.
By using the handle the breech piece can be turned in either direction, and by
giving one or the other stud a sharp blow therewith the breech piece can be
forcibly screwed home, or after firing it can be easily started for unscrewing.
When retracting the breech piece for the purpose of loading, the projections on
the screw thereof retain their position in the undercut thread of the breech end of
the gun, and thereby prevent the two halves of the breech piece becoming
disconnected from the gun and falling out, whilst at the same time the two halves
of the breech piece are gradually opened out on their pivots in the connecting bar
or on their other connections, until when sufficiently retracted for loading the bore
of the gun becomes fully uncovered.
The bottom part of the thread in the breech end of the gun is also formed with
a cross chanuel to facilitate the escape from the thread of any grit or deposit, and a
small space is formed in the faces of the two halves of the breech piece for a similar
purpose, whilst the conical front end of the breech piece is for a short distance
from its end formed to fit closely a corresponding seat in the breech end of
the gun.
If desired, when cartridges are used, the breech piece may be provided with
means for withdrawing the cartridge case from the gun.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said 'Joseph 'Needham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
December 1880.
**
JOSEPH NEEDHAM, of Chiswick Mall, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH LOADING ORDNANCE, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE
TO MUZZLE LOADERS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in breech loading ordnance, parts
of which improvements are applicable to muzzle loaders.
I build up the body of the gun with a series of tubes closely fitting each other,
but instead of shrinking these tubes one over the other, or forcing them into
position by hydraulic or other pressure, as heretofore, I, according to my present
Invention, form them slightly conical, so as to enable them to be readily placed in
position, and when forced home to produce a perfectly solid body. And for the
purpose of enabling the tubes to be readily forced home and retained in such
position, I form on the corresponding outer and inner surfaces of the breech ends
of such tubes for a short distance along their lengths, screw threads, which by
turning the one tube in or upon the other force the tubes fully home into close
contact with each other.
I employ, as heretofore, a conical breech piece formed with a screw around the
same to screw into a corresponding female screw formed in the breech end of the
body of the gun; but, according to my present Invention, I form the breech piece
and its seat coned to such a degree as to enable the breech piece to take a firm hold
of all the tubes, excepting, if desired, the outer one.
Constructed, as above described, with a solid breech piece the gun is suitable
for muzzle loading ordnance, but when constructing breech loaders instead of
employing a solid breech piece, as above described, with respect to muzzle loaders,
I form the breech piece in two parts, divided longitudinally, but pivotted to a
strap or bar, or otherwise connected together, to compel the two parts to work in
unison, and yet permit them to open out from each other for the purpose hereinafter
described.
I also for breech loaders form the female screw in the breech end of the gun
with an undercut thread communicating with the said female screw to receive short
corresponding projections on the screw thread of the breech piece. A vent is
preferably bored through one part of the breech piece to enable the charge to be
ignited, and a weighted lever is also pivotted to one part thereof to act in combination
with studs fixed one to each part of the breech piece. A stop is arranged to prevent
the breech piece, when unscrewed to open the breech end of the gun, becoming
entirely disconnected from the gun.
By using the handle the breech piece can be turned in either direction, and by
giving one or the other stud a sharp blow therewith the breech piece can be forcibly
screwed home, or after firing it can be easily started for unscrewing.
When retracting the breech piece for the purpose of loading, the projections on
the screw thereof retain their position in the undercut thread of the breech end of
the gun, and thereby prevent the two halves of the breech piece becoming discon-
nected from the gun and falling out, whilst at the same time the two halves of the
breech piece are gradually opened out on their pivots in the connecting bar or on
their other connections until when sufficiently retracted for loading the bore of the
gun becomes fully uncovered.
The bottom part of the thread in the breech end of the gun is also formed with
a cross channel to facilitate the escape from the thread of any grit or deposit, and
a small space is formed in the faces of the two halves of the breech piece for a
similar purpose, whilst the conical front end of the breech piece is for a short distance

page_text: from its end formed to fit closely a corresponding seat in the breech end of
the gun.
If desired when cartridges are used the breech piece may be provided with means
for withdrawing the cartridge case from the gun.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view partly in section of parts of a muzzle loading gun
constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section,
and Figure 3 is a breech end view of parts of a breech loading gun constructed
according to my Invention; Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section; Figure 5
is a horizontal longitudinal section, and Figure 6 is a breech end view of the gun
represented at Figures 2 and 3 showing the breech parts in the position they
would be caused to assume when loading, and Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a
side and breech end view of the conical breech plug separately.
Figure 9 is a breech end view, and Figure 10 is a side view of parts of a breech
loading gun constructed according to my Invention, but showing the two parts.
of the breech piece connected together by different means from that shown in
Figures 2 to 8.
In all the Figures like parts are marked with similar letters of reference.
I build up the body of the gun with a series of tubes a, a, closely fitting each
other, but instead of shrinking these tubes one over the other or forcing them into
their correct relative position by bydraulic or other pressure as heretofore, I,
according to my present Invention, form them slightly conical, so as to enable them
to be readily placed in position, and when forced home to produce a perfectly solid
body. And in order to enable the tubes a to be readily forced home and retained in
such position, I form on the corresponding outer and inner surfaces of the breech
ends of such tubes for a short distance along their lengths screw threads a¹, which
by turning the one tube a in or upon the other force the said tubes fully home into
close contact with each other.
I employ as heretofore a conical breech piece b formed with a screw b' around
the same, to screw into a corresponding female screw a formed in the breech end
of the gun, but according to my present Invention, I form the breech piece band
its seat coned to such a degree as to enable the breech piece b to take a firm hold of
all the tubes a excepting if desired the outer one.
Constructed as above described and as represented at Figure 1 with a solid
breech piece, the gun is suitable for muzzle loading ordnance, but when constructing
breech loaders, instead of employing a solid breech piece as above described, with
respect to muzzle loaders I form the breech piece b, as shown in Figures 2 to 10, in
two parts, divided longitudinally, but in soine cases pivotted at 62, 62, see Figures 2
to 8, to a strap or bar c to compel the two parts to work in unison, and yet permit
them to open out from each other, as shown at Figures 5 and 6, for the purpose
hereinafter described. The two parts of the breech piece may be otherwise
connected together for the above purpose, another mode of connection being shown
at Figures 9 and 10, in which a guide rod b³ is fixed to each part of the breech
piece and works in a corresponding guide hole formed in the opposite part, thereby
enabling the two parts to travel away from or towards each other on such rods in
a right line.
I also for breech loaders form the female screw a² in the breech end of the gun
with an undercut thread as communicating with the said female screw a² to receive
short corresponding projections b on the screw thread b' of the breech piece. A
vent is preferably bored through one part of the breech piece b to enable the
charge to be ignited, and a weighted lever d is also pivotted to one part thereof to
act in combination with studs be fixed one to each part of the breech piece b.
In Figures 2 to 8 the lower corners of the two halves of the breech piece are

page_text: rounded to permit of the required motion of such parts, and in combination with
the studs b², b and strap or bar c to act as stops to prevent the breech piece, when
unscrewed to open the breech end of the gun, becoming entirely disconnected from
the gun by screwing out therefrom.
In Figures 9 and 10 the guide rods bs are provided with heads 63x to serve as
stops for a similar purpose to that above described.
By using the handle or weighted lever d, the breech piece b cau be turned in
either direction, and by giving one or the other stud 66 a sharp blow therewith, the
breech piece b can be forcibly screwed home, or after firing it can be readily started
for unscrewing.
The bottom part of the thread a³ in the breech end of the gun is also formed
with a cross channel at to facilitate the escape from the thread a³ of any grit or
deposit, and a space b7 is formed in the faces of the two halves of the breech piece b
for a similar purpose.
The conical front end of the breech piece b is for a short distance from its end
formed to fit closely a corresponding seat in the breech end of the gun.
If desired, when cartridges are used, the breech piece may be provided with means
for withdrawing the cartridge case from the gun.
When retracting the breech piece b for the purpose of loading the gun, the
projections b on the screw b¹ retain their position in the undercut thread a³ of the
breech end of the gun, and thereby prevent the two halves of the breech piece b
becoming disconnected from the gun and falling out, whilst at the same time the
two halves of the breech piece b are gradually opened out on their pivots b* in the
connecting link or bar or on their other connections, such, for instance, as the guide
rods 6, until when sufficiently retracted for loading the bore of the gun becomes
fully uncovered.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what 1 claim is,-
First. Forming the body of a gun, whether breech loading or muzzle loading, of
a series of slightly conical tubes, closely fitting each other and formed with screw
threads on their breech ends, substantially as herein shown and described and for
the purpose stated.
Second. Forming the screwed breech piece of a muzzle loading gun and its scat
in the breech end of the body of the gun, coned to such a degree as to enable the
breech piece to obtain a firm hold of all the tubes forming the body of the gun,
excepting, if desired, the outer one, substantially as herein shown and described.
Third. Forming the conical screwed breech piece of a breech loading gun in two
parts, connected together so as to cause them to work in unison and with short
projections on the thread thereof to fit undercut threads formed in the breech end
of the gun, substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Fourth. Providing divided breech pieces constructed as herein described, with
connections and stops, substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated.
Fifth. The general arrangement and combination of parts of muzzle loading guns,
substantially as herein shown and described and
Sixth. The general arrangement and combination of parts of breech loading guns,
substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Needham, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
JOSEPH NEEDHAM. (L.S.)