Improvements in Breech Loading Quick Firing Guns.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Mar., 1891-Accepted, 3rd June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech Loading Quick Firing Guns.
I, CARL HOLMSTRÖM Civil Engineer, and FRANCIS EDWARD DYKE ACLAND,
late Captain Royal Artillery both of 32 Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention has for its object improvements in breech loading quick firing
guns.
The breech is closed as is usual by means of a breech block secured in the gun
by divided screw threads. The breech is opened by giving to the block a partial
turn and drawing it rearwards. A ring surrounds the breech block and this ring is
connected with the breech by a hinge joint the pin or axis of which is vertical and
tangentially situate in respect to the ring.
For turning the breech block it has a handle jointed to it in rear a little over the
centre. The handle is folded downwards when the gun is ready for firing but for
opening the breech it is raised until it projects radially upwards. During this
movement the handle acts by means of a cam surface around its axis, upon a lever
contained in a recess in the breech block. The lever is engaged with the firing
pin and in this way the firing pin is drawn back; a sear contained within the
breech block then catches upon the firing pin.
Independently of the sear however the firing pin is held by the cocking lever
and cannot move forward until the radial handle is again folded down and this as
will be presently explained cannot be done except when the breech is securely
closed.
In addition to the radial handle before mentioned for turning the breech block to
lock and unlock it, there is a ring handle serving to move the block in and out of
the gun; this is loose on the axis on which the radial handle is fixed. When not
in use the ring handle folds down but when the radial handle is raised the ring
handle also is lifted by a projection on the axis coming against it and so it is
conveniently presented to the hand. To unlock the breech block the radial handle
is moved to the left through an angle of about 60° and the breech block turns in
the breech and in the carrier ring.
A catch lever is pivotted in the breech block and when the breech is locked the
outer end of the catch lever rests against a stop in the carrier ring and this
prevents its head or inner end engaging with a notch in the radial handle. The
rotation of the breech block in the carrier ring however at once sets free the catch
lever and a spring causes it to drop in and lock the radial handle and at the same
time the ring handle.
When the breech block is unlocked it is readily drawn back through the carrier
ring and a stop upon the block prevents its going too far.
When the block is clear
of the breech the ring moves around the joint connecting it with the gun and so
the breech block is carried away to one side and the bore is left clear.
As the ring retires from the breech of the gun a spring catch upon it escapes
from an incline upon the gun and falls in in front of the breech block and holds it
in place in the ring so that it cannot be pushed forward again through the ring
until (after loading) the ring is returned to its place against the rear face of the
breech. The extractor lies in a longitudinal groove in the breech below the seat
for the breech block, or two extractors may be provided, oue below and the other
above. The extractor has a projection on its inner face which enters a groove
passing partly around the breech block. As the breech block turns the screw
threads cause it to be drawn rearwards; it carries the extractor back with it and
so loosens the cartridge case in the bore of the gun. The groove is so formed that

page_text: when the breech block is unlocked it can be drawn back leaving the extractor
behind. The extractor with the cartridge case then remain at rest until the carrier
ring is moved back to convey the breech block to one side and then a cam around
the joint pin or axis of the ring operates preferably by means of a lever to impart
to the extractor a further movement which is at first slow and powerful but
afterwards is rapid and so the extractor is caused to throw the cartridge case out
clear of the gun.
The movements in loading are similar, the cartridge is first inserted as far as the
extractor will allow it to go and the ring is then swung round until the breech
block is in rear of the cartridge. In this movement the spring catch which
retains the breech block in the ring comes against the incline on the breech of the
gun and is thereby lifted. The breech block being thus set free is thrust forward
and as it advances it drives the cartridge home.
•
The breech block is then turned to lock it and as this movement is completed
the catch lever releases the radial handle; this is then folded down and in
consequence the cocking lever is set free and the firing pin can then advance when
the sear liberates it. The gun is fired by pulling a lanyard attached to a small
bell crank lever jointed to the gun. The lever presses upon a button let into a
radial recess in the breech and the stem of the button then thrusts upon another
button contained in a radial recess in the breech block; it abuts on the rear end
of the sear and when it is thrust in the head of the sear is withdrawn from the
retaining notch in the firing pin. The firing spring then throws the pin forward
and the gun is fired.
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I 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech Loading Quick Firing Guns.
We, CARL HOLMSTRÖM, Civil Engineer, and FRANCIS EDWARD DYKE
ACLAND late Captain Royal Artillery, both of 32 Victoria Street, in the City of
Westminster, 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 has for its object improvements in breech.loading quick firing
guns.
The breech is closed as is usual by means of a breech block secured in the gun
by divided screw threads. The breech is opened by giving to the block a partial
turn and drawing it rearwards. A ring surrounds the breech block and this ring
is connected with the breech by a hinge joint the pin or axis of which is vertical and
tangentially situate in respect to the ring.
For turning the breech block it has a handle jointed to it in rear a little over the
centre. The handle is folded downwards when the gun is ready for firing but for
opening the breech it is raised until it projects radially upwards. During this
movement the handle acts by means of a cam surface around its axis, upon a lever
contained in a recess in the breech block. The lever is engaged with the firing
pin and in this way the firing pin is drawn back, a scar contained within the breech
block then catches upon the firing pin.
Independently of the sear however the firing pin is held by the cocking lever
and cannot move forward until the radial handle is again folded down and this as
will be presently explained cannot be done except when the breech is securely
closed.
In addition to the radial handle before mentioned for turning the breech block to
lock and unlock it, there is a ring handle serving to move the block in and out of
the gun; this is loose on the axis on which the radial handle is fixed. When not
in-use the ring handle folds down but when the radial handle is raised the ring
handle also is lifted by a projection on the axis coming against it and so it is

page_text: conveniently presented to the hand. To unlock the breech block the radial handle
is moved to the left through an angle of about 60° and the breech block turns in
the breech and in the carrier ring.
A catch lever is pivotted in the breech block and when the breech is locked the
outer end of the catch lever rests against a stop in the carrier ring and this
prevents its head or inner end engaging with a notch in the radial handle near its
axis. The rotation of the breech block in the carrier ring however at once sets
free the catch lever and a spring causes it to drop in and lock the radial handle.
When the breech block is unlocked it is readily drawn back through the carrier
ring and a stop upon the block prevents its going too far. When the block is
clear of the breech the ring moves around the joint connecting it with the gun
and so the breech block is carried away to one side and the bore is left clear.
As the ring retires from the breech of the gun a spring catch upon it escapes
from an incline upon the gun and falls in in front of the breech block and holds it
in place in the ring so that it cannot be pushed forward again through the ring
until (after loading) the ring is returned to its place against the rear face of the
breech. The extractor lies in a longitudinal groove in the breech below the seat
for the breech block, or two extractors may be provided, one below and the other
above. The extractor has a projection on its inner face which enters a groove
passing partly around the breech block. As the breech block turns the screw
threads cause it to be drawn rearwards; it carries the extractor back with it and
so loosens the cartridge case in the bore of the gun. The groove is so formed
that when the breech block is unlocked it can be drawn back leaving the extractor
behind. The extractor with the cartridge case then remains at rest until the
carrier ring is moved back to convey the breech block to one side and then a cam
around the joint pin or axis of the ring operates preferably by means of a lever to
impart to the extractor a further movement which is at first slow and powerful
but afterwards is rapid and so the extractor is caused to throw the cartridge case
out clear of the gun.
The movements in loading are similar, the cartridge is first inserted as far as the
extractor will allow it to go and the ring is then swung round until the breech
block is in rear of the cartridge. In this movement the spring catch which
retains, the breech block in the ring comes against the incline on the breech of the
gun and is thereby lifted. The breech block being thus set free is thrust forward
and as it advances it drives the cartridge home.
The breech block is then turned to lock it and as this movement is completed
the catch lever releases the radial handle; this is then folded down and in
consequence the cocking lever is set free and the firing pin can then advance when
the sear liberates it. The gun is fired by pulling a lanyard attached to a small
bell crank lever jointed to the gun. The lever presses upon a button let into a
radial recess in the breech and the stem of the button then thrusts upon another
button contained in a radial recess in the breech block; it abuts on the rear end of
the sear and when it is thrust in the head of the sear is withdrawn from the
retaining notch in the firing pin. The firing spring then throws the pin forward
and the gun is fired.
In order that our said invention may be more fully understood and readily
carried into effect we will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the breech end of a rapid firing gun
constructed in accordance with our invention.
Figure 1 is a section of the same on the line 1-2 in Figure 2 with the radial
handle removed.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation,
Figure 3 is a plan of the same.

page_text: In all these figures similar parts are indicated by similar letters. A. is the
C is the axis or joint pin on
breech block. Bis the radial handle jointed to it.
E is the firing pin
which the carrier ring is mounted. Ď is the carrier ring.
within the breech block. F is the cocking lever. Gis the locking lever which
holds the radial handle so that it cannot fold down when the breech is unlocked.
H is the sear.
I is the bell crank lever which serves as a trigger. Jis the spring
catel which holds the breech block back in the carrier ring when the breech is
open. Kis the extractor. Lis the lever which moves the extractor.
The other parts indicated by reference letters on the drawings are as follows:-
a a are the screw threads. Bi is the cam surface on the radial handle which acts
against the rear end of the cocking lever; the other end of the cocking lever
enters a hole or recess in the firing pin. B2 is the ring handle, it is raised when
the lug moving with the radial handle comes against the surface on the
ring handle. D' is a lug moving with the carrier ring D: it acts against the
extractor lever; the eccentric surface d in connection with the lug imparts
the slow movement to the extractor and the lug itself gives the rapid movement
e is the notch in the firing pin
which causes the cartridge case to be thrown out.
with which the sear engages. is the firing spring. is the notch in the radial
handle B with which the lever G cugages. ' is a spring which acts against the
¡ is
lever G. is the centre about which the sear turns and is the sear spring. i
the button against which the trigger thrusts and is the corresponding button in
the breech block which abuts upon the sear. K is a lug on the extractor, it
lodges in the bayonet groove a' in the head of the breech block.
Lis the axis on which the extractor lever turns. is the surface against which
the lug D operates. 12 is an arm of the lever which enters between studs L³ L³
on the underside of the extractor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is: :-
1. In a breech loading gun, the combination of parts consisting of the breech
block A, its radial handle B, the firing pin E, the cocking lever F, and the locking
lever G, the whole so arranged that as the radial handle is raised it withdraws the
firing pin and as the breech block is turned the handle and firing pin become
locked.
2. In a breech loading gun, the combination of parts consisting of the breech
block A, carrier ring D, and retaining catch I, the whole so arranged that when
the block is drawn back and the ring leaves the breech, the catch locks the block
in the ring and retains it until the ring returns.
3. In a breech loading gun, the combination of parts consisting of the breech
block A; the carrier ring D jointed to the breech of the gun; the extractor K
and the lever L the whole so arranged that a cam surface on the ring D operates
against the lever Land thereby moves the extractor.
4. In a breech loading gun, the combination of parts consisting of the breech
block A, carrier ring D jointed to the breech of the gun, and extractor K, the
whole so arranged that whilst the breech block is turned to unlock it, the block is
engaged with the extractor, which however it releases when this movement is
complete, and that whilst the carrier ring is moved about its joint a further
movement is imparted by it to the extractor.
5. Breech loading quick firing guns substantially as described and illustrated by
the annexed drawings.
12.11ox of Wash 1801
CARL HOLMSTROM.
H. D. ACLAND.