IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING MECHANISM FOR ORDNANCE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Quick, of Buxted, Uckfield, in the County of
Sussex, Chief Engineer, Royal Navy, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING MECHANISM FOR ORDNANCE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Quick at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th May 1881.
GEORGE QUICK, of Buxted, Uckfield, in the County of Sussex, Chief Engineer,
Royal Navy. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING MECHANISM FOR ORDNANCE."
The objects of these improvements are, 1st, to afford greater facilities in loading
the gun; and 2nd, to cause the breech to be opened by one movement for the gun
to be loaded, and to close the breech by one movement ready for the gun to be
fired; 3rd, to provide an effective gas check or obturator.
These improvements consist, firstly, in forming a slot or breech-screw-carriage-
way right across the breech of the gun at a right angle to the bore, and
horizontally, that is, in a line with the trunnions by means of drilling and slotting
machines, and in forming numerous parallel grooves and lands on the upper and
lower sides of the said slot or breech-screw-carriage-way by means of a slotting or
grooving machine. Into this carriage-way I fit a block of steel, which I call the
sliding carriage, forming on its upper and lower side, grooves and lands,
corresponding to and fitting into the lands and grooves in the surface of the
carriage-way in which the carriage is fitted to slide easily. In fitting the said
sliding carriage I prefer to fit it in the carriage-way, so that there shall be a
considerable space between the forward face of the said carriage and the rear face
of the carriage-way and of the powder chamber, so that the carriage may not be
liable to be jammed by any powder residuum or fouling arising from any escape of
gas from the powder chamber. I make the sliding carriage about three calibres in
length, that is, measured from one side of the gun towards the other, and near one
end of the said carriage I bore a hole right through it directly in a line with the
chamber of the gun, and in this hole I cut a female screw thread, into which I fit a
male screw plug of steel, with its front end formed for closing the rear end of the
powder chamber, and its rear end projecting in the rear of the sliding carriage and
D...eil

page_text: fitted with a crank or tappet lever. Near the other end of the carriage I bore
another hole right through it directly in line with the chamber of the gun, and of
about the same diameter as the chamber, so as to guide the projectiles into their
proper position in the bore. I form the front of the breech screw plug so that it
shall enter into the rear of the powder chamber, and I fit it with a metal
expanding ring and with a valve face as hereinafter described, or with a Broadwell
gas ring, or any other description of gas check may be used for preventing the
escape of gas from the chamber or the charge being fired.
Secondly. On the rear end of the breech screw which is prolonged in the rear of
the sliding carriage, I fix a crank lever by which the breech screw can be turned,
and on one side of this lever at a convenient distance from the centre of the screw
I form a projecting pin on which a small friction collar may be fitted; and on the
rear end of the gun, at the same distance from the centre line of the powder
chamber as the said pin on the lever is from the centre of the breech screw, I form a
slot in the gun of a convenient size and shape to receive and guide the said pin in
the lever, at that part of the revolution when the breech screw has been turned
sufficiently to be free from the powder chamber and the sliding carriage is free to
move. When the lever has been moved so as to bring the pin to bear against onc
side of the said guide, further movement of the lever causes the breech screw and
sliding carriage to be forced over on one side, and thus the breech becomes opened
ready for the gun to be loaded.
The reverse motion brings the sliding carriage and breech screw back into their
original position with the breech screw in line with the powder chamber, at which
point the pin in the lever becomes free from the slot, and the breech screw is
screwed up by the continued motion of the lever, and the gun is closed ready for
firing.
In lieu of forming a slot in the metal of the gun, I prefer to affix to the rear face
of the breech of the gun one or more projecting pieces of metal to form the guide
for the pin in the lever.
Thirdly. In guns of large size where it is desirable that there should be a
multiplication of power for turning the breech screw and moving the sliding
carriage, I affix on the prolongation of the breech screw a toothed wheel, and in
the sliding carriage I mount a pinion gearing in the said wheel, and I fix a crank
lever to the said pinion whereby it can be turned. In the rear of the said toothed
wheel I fix on the prolongation of the breech screw a short lever having a pin or
friction roller in the end suitable for gearing into the slot or guide in the rear of
gun for moving the sliding carriage as hereinbefore described.
the
The breech screw with the toothed wheel may be actuated by a worm or other
suitable gearing, but I prefer to use the pinion and lever as described.
Fourthly. My improvement consists in constructing a ring of steel or other
suitable metal presenting a convex surface to the powder charge, and partly
inserted in the face of the breech screw to which it is secured by a bolt. The
forward part of the ring is made to project slightly in advance of the face of the
breech screw, and of such size as to enter into the rear of the powder chamber.
The face of the breech screw surrounding the gas ring butts up against the rear of
the powder chamber. On the charge being fired the gas pressure coming on the
convex part of the gas ring compresses or flattens it, and thus expands the
periphery of the said ring equally in all directions, by which it completely closes
the rear of the powder chamber.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Quick in the Great Seal Patent Office
21st November 1881.
on
the
GEORGE QUICK, of Buxted, Uckfield, in the County of Sussex, Chief Engineer,
Royal Navy. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING MECHANISM FOR ORDNANCE."
Improvements in breech-loading mechanism for ordnance.
The objects of these improvements are, first, to afford greater facilities in loading
the gun; and, second, to cause the breech to be opened by one movement for the
gun to be loaded, and to close the breech by one movement ready for the gun to
be fired; third, to provide an efficient gas check.
These improvements consist, firstly, in forming a slot or breech screw carriage
way right across the breech of the gun at a right angle to the bore, and hori-
zontally, that is, in a line with the trunnions by means of drilling and slotting
machines, and in forming numerous parallel grooves and lands at right angles to
the bore on the upper and lower sides of the said slot or breech-screw-carriage-way
by means of a slotting or grooving machine. Into this carriage way I fit a block
of steel, which I call the sliding carriage, forming on its upper and lower sideз
grooves and lands corresponding to and fitting into the lands and grooves in the
surface of the carriage way in which the carriage is fitted to slide easily. In
fitting the said sliding carriage I prefer to fit it in the carriage way or slot, so that
there shall be a considerable space between the forward face of the said carriage
and the rear face of the carriage way and of the powder chamber, so that the
sliding carriage may not be liable to be jammed by any powder residuum or fouling
arising from any cause whatever. I make the sliding carriage about three calibres
in length, that is, measured from one side to the other, and near one end of the
said carriage I-bore a hole right through it directly in a line with the chamber of
the gun, and in this hole I cut a female screw thread, into which I fit a male screw
plug or breech-screw of steel with its forward end formed for carrying an expanded
gas check ring for closing the rear end of the powder chamber, and its rear end
projecting in the rear of the sliding carriage, on which projecting end I fit a crank
or other lever. Near the other end of the sliding carriage I bore a hole right
through the said carriage directly in line with the chamber of the gun and of
about the same diameter as the chamber, through which hole the gun can bo
loaded.
I form the front of the breech screw so that it shall butt up against the rear of
the powder chamber, and I fit it with a metal expanding ring (preferably of steel)
and with a valve face, as hereinafter described; but any other description of gas
check may be used for preventing the escape of gas from the chamber on the charge
being fired.
It is well known that sliding blocks have been used for closing the powder
chamber of guns, as in Krupp's and Whitworth's systems, but in this Invention the
sliding block does not bear against the rear of the powder chamber, the said sliding
block having a loading hole and having parallel lands and grooves on its upper and
lower sides fitting into corresponding grooves and lands cut at right angles to the
bore of the gun in the slot formed in the rear end of the gun; thus the sliding
block acts only as a carriage for the breech screw at the rear end of the gun, by
which arrangement a shorter, more compact, and effective breech mechanism is
obtained than by any other form of construction, having a breech screw for closing
the chamber. And on the rear end of the breech screw, which is prolonged in the
rear of the sliding carriage, I fix a lever by which the breech-screw can be turned,
and on one side of this lever at a convenient distance from the centre of the breech

page_text: screw I form a projecting pin on which a small friction collar may be fitted; and on
the rear end of the gun, at the same distance from the centre line or axis of the
powder chamber as the said pin on the lever is from the centre of the breech screw,
I form a slot or guide on the rear face of the gun of a convenient size and shape to
receive and guide the said pin in the lever at that part of the revolution when the
brecch screw has been turned sufficiently to be free from the powder chamber, and
the sliding carriage is free to move. When the lever has been moved so as to
bring the pin to bear against one side of the said guide, further movement of the
lever causes the breech screw and sliding carriage to be forced over on one side
until the loading hole in the sliding carriage comes in line with the powder chamber
when the gun can be loaded.
The reverse motion brings the sliding carriage and breech screw back into their
original position with the breech screw in line with the powder chamber, at which
point the pin in the lever becomes free from the slot or guide, and the breech screw
is screwed up by the continuous motion of the lever, and the gun is thus closed
ready for firing.
In lieu of forming a slot in the metal of the gun, I prefer to affix to the rear face
of the breech of the gun one or more pieces of metal to form the guide for the pin
in the lever.
Secondly. In guns of large size where it is desirable that there should be a
multiplication of power for turning the breech screw and moving the sliding
carriage, I affix on the prolongation of the breech screw a toothed wheel, and in
the sliding carriage I mount a pinion gearing in the said wheel, and I fix a crank
lever to the said pinion whereby it can be turned. In the rear of the said toothed
wheel I fix also on the prolongation of the breech screw a short lever having a
pin or friction roller in the end suitable for gearing into or bearing against the
slot or guide on the rear of the gun for moving the sliding carriage, as herein before
described.
The breech-screw with the toothed wheel may be actuated by a worm or other
suitable gearing, but I prefer to use the pinion and lever as described.
It is obvious that a similar motion may be imparted to the sliding carriage by
means of the lever on the breech screw, having a slot of suitable shape formed in
one end thereof, and gearing unto a pin or stud fixed on the rear face of the breech
of the gun; but I prefer to use the form of lever with a pin gearing into a guide
on the rear of the gun, as hereinbefore described.
Thirdly. My improvement consists in constructing a ring of steel or other suitable
metal, presenting a convex surface to the powder charge and partly inserted in the
face of the breech screw, to which it is secured by a bolt. The forward part of
the ring is made to project slightly in advance of the face of the breech screw, and
of such size as to enter into the rear of the powder chamber. The face of the
breech screw surrounding the gas ring may butt up against the rear of the powder
chamber. On the charge being fired the gas pressure coming on the convex part
of the gas ring compresses or flattens it, and thus expands the periphery of the
said ring equally in all directions, by which it completely closes the rear of the
powder chamber, for the greater the pressure of the gas the greater will be the
expansion of the periphery of the ring. On the pressure being removed the
periphery of the ring will be contracted by virtue of the elasticity of the convex
part of the ring, causing it to resume its normal shape.
Description of Drawing.-Figure 1 is an elevation of the rear of the breech of
the gun as closed when ready for firing; Figure 2 is a longitudinal elevation of the
same; Figure 3 is an elevation of the rear of the breech showing the position of the
lever when the breech screw and gas check are released from the powder chamber,
and the sliding carriage is free to move; Figure 4 is an elevation of the rear of the
breech showing the sliding carriage moved and the chamber open ready for the
gun to be loaded; Figure 5 is a horizontal section of part of the gun, with the
sliding carriage removed, showing the lands and grooves in the carriage way.
In these Figures, A is the body of the gun; B is the sliding carriage; C is

page_text: the breech screw; E is the loading hole in the sliding carriage; G is the crank
lever; m, m₁, form the guide for the pin p in the crank lever.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the forward face of the crank lever G, and Figure 7 is
an elevation of the side of the same. In these Figures p is the pin referred to for
working in the guide m, m₁, shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Figures 6A and 6 B show modified forms of the crank lever, which may be used
when it is desirable that the breech screw should be turned through a considerable
angle to withdraw the gas ring or obturator from the powder chamber before the
sliding carriage is caused to move. Figure 6 C shows a lever with a slot suitable
for gearing unto a pin fixed into the rear face of the gun.
Figure 8 is an elevation of the rear end of a gun of large size showing the breech
closed, as when ready for firing.
Figure 9 is the same elevation, but with the lever Ġ and the cap plate of the
pinion removed.
In these Figures, A is the body of the gun; B is the sliding carriage; C is the
breech screw; D is the toothed wheel fixed to the breech screw; E is the loading
hole in the sliding carriage; F is the pinion; G is the lever, the end of which by
gearing into the guide m, m₁, moves the sliding carriage; g is the lever of the
pinion, by which the breech screw, the lever G, and sliding carriage are moved.
Figure 10 is a longitudinal section of a breech screw, and Figure 11 is an
elevation of the forward end of the same showing the arrangement of an expanding
ring fitting into the said breech screw.
In these Figures C is the breech screw; R is the expanding ring secured to the
breech screw C by the screw bolt S, in which the vent may be formed.
Figures 12, 13, and 14 show a similar ring, but of a different section; Figure 12
is a section; Figure 13 is a front elevation, and Figure 14 is a rear elevation of the.
same.
Figure 12 A shows a ring of a slightly varied section.
Figure 10 A, on Sheet 2, is a longitudinal section of the breech of the gun
showing the breech screw with the gas check in position, as when the gun is ready
to be fired. In this Figure A is the body of the gun; B is the sliding carriage;
C is the breech screw; G is the lever; p is the pin thereon; m is the fulcrum or
guide fixed on the gun; R is the gas check ring; and S is the bolt securing the
said gas check to the breech screw.
Stops are fitted on the gun or in the slideway in any convenient position to
limit the travel of the sliding carriage and to arrest it in the proper position for
the gun to be loaded, and also in the proper position for the breech screw to be
screwed up to close the chamber after the gun is loaded. These stops are not
shown in the Drawings.
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of .
carrying the same into practical effect, I desire it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the exact detail herein set forth, as such may be varied or modified
without departing from the system thereof. Also I desire it to be understood that
I do not claim the particular form of slot or carriage way in the gun, nor the
mounting of a breech screw in a sliding carriage generally, but I claim as my
Invention,―
First. The combination of (1) a gun having a transverse slot or carriage-way in
the breech thereof, the said carriage-way having numerous parallel lands and
grooves on its upper and lower surfaces formed at right angles to the bore of the
gun, with (2) a sliding carriage having corresponding grooves and lands formed on
its upper and lower surfaces fitting into the lands and grooves in the carriage-way
of the gun; the said carriage having (3) a breech screw fitted therein to close the
powder chamber, and (4) a loading hole through which the gun can be loaded,
the said breech screw having (5) a lever fixed on its rear end, by which the breech
screw can be turned; and the gun having (6) a guide or pin as fulcrum for said
lever, by means of which fulcrum the said lever may be used to move the said

page_text: sliding carriage into or out of the loading position by one movement only,
substantially as described.
Second. The combination of the breech screw mounted in the sliding carriage
with the toothed wheel on the breech screw pinion in the sliding carriage with
lever thereon, together with the lever on the breech screw and fulcrum on the gun,
substantially as described.
Third. The combination of the mounting on the forward part of the breech-screw
of a gas check ring presenting a convex surface to the powder pressure, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
Fourth. The general combination of the carriage way in the gun sliding carriage,
with breech screw and loading hole, lever on breech screw, fulcrum on gun, and
gas check on breech screw, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Fifth. The general combination of the carriage-way in the gun sliding carriage,
with breech screw and loading hole, toothed wheel on breech screw gearing with
pinion in sliding carriage, lever on pinion, and lever on breech screw gearing with
a fulcrum on the gun, and gas check on breech screw, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Quick, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty first day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.