IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING MECHANISM FOR ORDNANCE, AND IN PROJECTILES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Quick, of 43, Warwick Road, Paddington, in the
County of Middlesex, Chief Engineer, Royal Navy, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING MECHANISM FOR ORDNANCE, AND IN
PROJECTILES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Quick at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st January 1880.
GEORGE QUICK, of 43, Warwick Road, Paddington, in the County of Middlesex,
Chief Engineer, Royal Navy. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING MECHANISM
FOR ORDNANCE AND PROJECTILES."
The improvements which relate to the breech loading mechanism are applicable
for converting muzzle loading guns into breech loaders, as well as to new guns
constructed for the purpose, and are a modification of the Invention for which
I was granted Provisional Protection A.D. 1879, 9th December, No. 5033.
These improvements consist in cutting a slot or breech screw carriage way across
the breech of the gun at right angles to the bore, and in forming on the sides of the
said slot or breech screw carriage way numerous parallel grooves, into which a
block of steel or other metal is fitted to slide easily at right angles to the bore of
the gun, which block forms a sliding carriage for a breech screw plug for closing
the rear end of the powder chamber of the gun.
The slot or way for the sliding carriage may be cut in the breech of the gun in a
line with the trunnions, or at a right or any other angle thereto, and may extend
right across the whole diameter of the gun or only a part thereof, and the sliding
carriage may be actuated directly by hand, or by a worm and nut, or rack and
pinion, or any other suitable gearing. A considerable space may be left with
advantage between the face of the sliding carriage and the rear end of the powder
chamber, so that there shall be no probability of the mechanism being jammed by
the fouling caused by any escape of powder gas, and so that the whole of the parts
shall be open for inspection and cleaning at all times.
The breech screw plug for closing the rear end of the powder chamber is screwed
into the sliding carriage, as in the excentric carriage described in my Provisional

page_text: Specification, No. 5033, of A.D. 1879, the front end of the said screw plug being fitted
with a metal expanding cap and valve face as hereinafter described, or with a
Broadwell gas ring for preventing the escape of gas from the chamber on the charge
being fired, and the rear end of the said screw with a tappet lever for screwing up
or unscrewing the said screw. Stops are fitted on the rear of the gun and on the
rear face of the sliding carriage to limit the travel of the said sliding carriage, so
that the face of the breech screw plug shall be brought dead fair for the powder
chamber when the gun is loaded, and after the gun is fired the sliding carriage
shall be arrested at the proper position for loading.
The base of the sliding carriage may, in very heavy guns, be fitted with small
friction rollers, to enable the said carriage to be moved with ease when it is fitted
to travel horizontally, that is, in a line with the trunnions.
The front end of the breech screw plug may be of considerably less diameter
than the rear of the chamber, the part of the plug entering the chamber being
formed with a double taper, so that its shape would be that of two frustums of
cones of equal size, the base of the forward frustum being on the top of the rearward
frustum. The gas escape check would consist of a ring or cap of copper or other
suitable metal covering the end of the breech screw plug, and fitting closely on the
coned part thereof, the periphery of the ring or cap being nearly cylindrical, and
fitting easily into the rear of the powder chamber. The metal cap is made slightly
concave on both sides of the disc or face presented to the powder, and the cylindrical
part is split in several places, or has saw cuts formed in it to allow of the expansion
or dilation of that part by the coned head of the breech screw plug as it is forced
home.
To prevent the powder gas escaping through the said splits or saw cuts, one or
more grooves are cut in the periphery of the said cap, into which steel or other
metal spring rings are fitted, the openings or joints in the said spring rings being
placed not in a line with the saw cuts or splits in the periphery. The rear end of
the periphery of the cap or ring would be made larger than the rear of the
chamber, and would consequently form a shoulder to butt against the end of the
chamber, so that as the breech screw plug is screwed up, the conical frustums will,
after the gas cap has begun to bear against the end of the chamber, cause the cap to
increase in diameter, until the chamber prevents any further dilatation or expansion
of the said cap. The rear of the powder chamber is thus closed with a paralel plug
expanded tightly into its cylindrical end, whilst there is also the butting of the
shoulder of the cap against the seating or rear of the chamber. The cap may be
attached to the breech screw plug by screws passing through the disc near the centre.
The disc near its maximum circumference is reduced in thickness to permit of a
small amount of forward and backward motion of the cylindrical part of the cap,
and to permit readily of its dilation and compression.
On the gun being fired, the pressure of the powder gas coming upon the surface
of the cap, tends to cause it to expand still more, and thus to close the chamber
perfectly gas tight. When the breech plug is unscrewed, the coned parts being
withdrawn somewhat permits the cap to contract as it is compressed by the
elasticity of the metal forming the chamber of the gun, and by the spring or
springs which encircle the cap. The shoulder of the forward cone on the breech
screw assists to withdraw the cap from its seating in the chamber.
Thus the gas check cap is expanded by the breech plug being screwed up, and is
permitted to contract in diameter as the breech plug is unscrewed.
The improvements in projectiles consist in forming the rear end in the shape of
two frustums of cones of equal size, the base of one being on the top of the other,
the small end of the frustums being towards the rear of the projectile. The forward
shoulder on the projectile formed by the cutting of the conical frustums is recessed
or undercut, and the conical surface is embraced by a wrought iron or other metal,
ring fitting it accurately and sprung unto it. The said metallic ring has one or more
saw cuts or splits in it to enable it to be sprung into the conical part of the

page_text: projectile, and the forward part of the ring is turned down to fit loosely into the
recess or undercut formed in the forward shoulder of the projectile. Stud like
projections may be formed on the periphery of the said ring to fit into the grooves
of the gun, or the periphery may be formed of a thin ring of copper or other soft
metal secured to the wrought iron ring by screwing or other means, which soft
nietal would be forced into the grooves of a polygrooved bore, by the expansion of
the ring on the firing of the charge. The gas is prevented from escaping through
the saw cut or splits in the ring by an ordinary spring ring fitting into a recess in
the gas ring, or a small filling piece may be fitted to "break joint," as in ordinary
piston rings. For guns of wide grooves, and having an increasing pitch, the ring
may be made free to rotate on the projectile, so that the studs may alway
accomodate themselves to the varying angle of the rifling. Where the rotation of
the projectile depends upon the gas check, the ring would be prevented from
rotating on the projectile by pins or grooves and feathers.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Quick in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st July 1880.
GEORGE QUICK, of 43, Warwick Road, Paddington, in the County of Middlesex,
Chief Engineer, Royal Navy. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING MECHANISM
FOR ORDNANCE, AND IN PROJECTILES."
The improvements which relate to the breech loading mechanism are applicable
to the conversion of muzzle loading guns into breech-loaders, as well as to new guns
constructed for the purpose.
My improvements consist, firstly, in mounting the breech screw for closing the
rear end of the powder chamber in a sliding nut or carriage formed to slide in a
grooved way cut in the breech of the gun at right angles to the bore.
To effect this I cut a slot or sliding carriage way only a part of the distance
across the breech of the gun, by which means much metal is left in the rear of the
chamber to resist transverse rupture, and also to resist any force which the powder
gas pressure, acting on the face of the breech screw, may exert on the carriage to
cause it to force wider apart the upper and lower sides of the carriage way. In
forming the carriage way in the gun I bore a hole in the breech, the centre of the
hole being in line horizontally or parallel with the centre line or longitudinal axis
of the powder chamber, and the diameter of the hole I make equal to the width or
height of the intended carriage way before the grooves are cut. This boring I
make as deep as I intend the carriage way to be long, that is, measured from
breech towards the muzzle of the gun, and I cut in the cylindrical surface of the
boring numerous parallel grooves of the requisite depth, width, and shape. I then
cut by means of drilling and slotting machines a rectangular slot from the exterior
or circumference of the breech to the boring just described, the slot being at a right
angle to the bore and horizontal, that is, in a line with the trunnions.
The vertical height of the said slot I make equal to the diameter of the said
boring in the breech, and its length, measuring from breech towards muzzle, equal
to the depth of the said boring. On the upper and lower sides of the said slot or
sliding carriage way I cut parallel grooves in line with and joining the grooves cut
in that portion of the cylindrical surface of the boring which remains after the
carriage way is cut. Into the carriage way so formed I then fit a block of steel to
slide easily, which block I call the sliding carriage for the breech screw,
the upper
and lower side of the block or sliding carriage having lands fitting into the grooves
in the upper and lower sides of the carriage way. The inner end of the sliding
carriage I form into a semi-cylindrical shape, and cut grooves therein to correspond
with and fit the lands formed in the semi-cylindrical part of the carriage way. I
prefer to fit this sliding carriage so that there shall be a considerable space between
the forward face of the said carriage and the rear face 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 bore a hole
right through the carriage, so that when the carriage is fair home on its seating the
hole in it is directly in a line with the chamber of the gun, and in this hole I cut a
coarse pitched female screw thread into which I fit a breech screw with its forward
end formed for closing the rear end of the powder chamber, and its rear end
projecting in the rear of the sliding carriage. A part of the rear end of the said
breech screw which projects in the rear of the sliding carriage I cut or plane into a
hexagonal or polygonal form and fit thereon a hexagonal or polygonal ring of steel
having one or more lugs on its exterior to be acted on by the tappet lever. In the
rear of this ring I turn the remaining part of the breech screw cylindrical and fit
thereon a tappet lever somewhat similar to those usually employed, but I make one
end of the tappet lever heavier than the other so as to cause the tappet lever when

page_text: free to assume a vertical position. On the rear end of the gun I fix a paul or catch
in such a position that when the breech screw is screwed up and the powder
chamber closed it shall drop into a notch or recess formed in the end of the tappet
lever, by which means the breech screw will be locked so that it cannot case back
on the powder charge being fired. I screw small pins into the rear of the gun on
either side of the axis or fulcrum of the paul to prevent the paul dropping or being
thrown out of place when disengaged from the tappet lever. On the sliding
carriage for the breech screw I fit a handle by which it can be easily moved direct
by hand when the gun is small, that is, under about fifteen tons in weight, but for
guns of great weight to move the sliding carriage I employ a coarse threaded screw
mounted in or on the breech of the gun, and gearing into a fixed nut secured to
the sliding carriage, but I prefer to use a pinion attached to the rear face of the
sliding carriage actuated by a crank lever and gearing into a rack fixed on the rear
face of the breech of the gun. To limit the travel of the sliding carriage and to
arrest it when the sliding carriage is in proper position for the gun to be loaded, I
fix a stop on the rear face of the breech of the gun or in the carriage way, as may
be most convenient, and a similar stop I fix on the sliding carriage. I fix these
stops by recessing them into the solid metal of the gun and into that of the
carriage, and securing them by screws. To reduce the amount of labour required
for moving the sliding carriage of the breech screw in heavy guns I mount rollers
or anti-friction wheels in the base of the carriage, which rollers run on the lands of
the carriage-way, and just raise the base of the carriage to enable it to slide easily.
To effect this I bore out four or more recesses in suitable parts of the base of the
carriage so that the weight of the carriage and its fittings shall rest fairly on the
wheels or rollers mounted in the recesses, and at right angles to the centre of
the recesses I bore holes and fit therein steel pins as axles for the wheels to
rotate on.
It is to be understood that the proportions of the grooves and lands of the
sliding carriage to those of the carriage way in the gun must be made to depend
upon the nature of the metal of the sliding carriage and of the gun. Thus if the
sliding carriage be of steel, and the gun of any other metal then the thickness of
the base of the lands should be in inverse proportion to the shearing strength of
the metal of the sliding carriage and of the gun respectively; but when the metal
is of the same shearing strength both in the gun and sliding carriage the thickness
of the base of the lands on the sliding carriage and in the carriage way in the gun
may be equal.
My improvements consist, secondly, in the application of a propelling fluid by
means of pipes, cylinders, pistons, and piston rods, to the actuating of the breech
screw and sliding carriage in very heavy guns, say, of forty tons to four hundred
tons in weight. To effect this I make the hexagonal part of the breech screw at
the rear of the sliding carriage much longer, and fit thereon a ring of steel, on a
portion of the periphery of which I cut some teeth suitable for gearing into a rack,
and I fit the tappet block ring and tappet lever on the breech screw in rear of the
said toothed ring. I fit a strong metal cylinder horizontally at the lower part of
the rear of the gun and bolt it securely thereto, in which cylinder I fit a piston
with a stout piston rod passing through a stuffing box and gland in the cover of
the cylinder. On the upper side of the cylinder I form a plane surface or guide,
and fit thereon a block of steel or other suitable metal, on the upper side of which
I cut teeth to form a rack to gear into the teeth of the metal ring on the breech
screw. The end of this metal block next to the end of the piston rod turns down
at a right angle and forms a cross head to the piston rod, which rod passes through
it, and is secured thereto by a nut. The piston is driven by compressed air,
which could be supplied on board ship by the air compressing engines for the
Whitehead torpedoes, although water under pressure may be used. I convey the
propelling fluid from the reservoir or accumulator by means of strong flexible
tubes, or where the service will allow by means of metal pipes having the necessary
union joints, telescopic joints, and connections through the centre pivot or fixed

page_text: pivot of the gun carriage or centre of the turn table or turret in which the gun
may be mounted to the centre of one of the trunnions of the gun, so that the gun
may be trained, elevated, depressed, and recoil freely without injury or distortion
of the said pipes and tubes. The propelling fluid for actuating the piston is
conveyed by a tube from the upper side of the trunnion to the rear of the gun,
and is admitted to either end of the cylinder as may be required, and is permitted
to escape from either end of the cylinder by means of a four-way cock worked by
a short lever in the ordinary manner. The cock is connected by pipes to both
ends of the cylinder, and has a discharge pipe attached for the fluid to escape
from. The upper side of the end of the metal rack nearest the piston I form into
a V shape to act as a guide and rest for the loading tray when the breech is open.
It is to be understood that a hole is bored in the centre of the trunnions of the
same size as the bore of the supply pipe, and that another hole of the same size is
drilled at a right angle down from the upper side of the trunnions to the centre
hole to afford a clear passage for the propelling fluid. A portion of the cap plate
of the trunnions I cut away to permit of the pipe being connected from the
trunnion to the rear part of the gun. For moving the sliding carriage I fit another
strong metal cylinder horizontally at the upper part of the rear end of the gun
and bolt it thereon securely. In this cylinder I fit a piston with a stout piston
rod passing through a stuffing box and gland, and on the sliding carriage I screw a
lug through which the end of the piston rod passes, and I secure it thereto in the
ordinary manner. The propelling fluid for actuating the piston is conveyed by a
short piece of tube from the main tube leading from the trunnions before described,
and is admitted to either end of the cylinder for actuating the sliding carriage as
may be required, and is permitted to escape therefrom by means of a four-way
cock worked by a short lever moving through a quarter of a circle.
When the guns are of small size the height of the sliding carriage will be equal
to the diameter of the powder chamber, and the guns can be loaded direct by hand,
but for guns of large size fitted with these mechanisms I prefer to use a semi-
cylindrical shot and cartridge bearer of metal, the forward part of which I make
to fit into the space left vacant by the sliding carriage being withdrawn, so that
the interior of the said bearer shall coincide with the bore of the gun. To prevent
the shot bearer from injuring the lands and grooves in the sliding carriage way I
cover the exterior of the said bearer with leather, wood, india-rubber, or other
similar material; and when studded or ribbed projectiles are to be used I form
the interior of the said shot bearer with rifle grooves and lands to coincide with
those in the bore of the gun to guide the projectile, so that its studs or ribs may
accurately enter into the grooves in the bore of the gun.
My improvements consist, thirdly, in fitting the forward end of the breech screw
with an expanding cap to close the rear of the powder chamber gas-tight.
To effect this I turn down the front end of the breech screw considerably less
in diameter than the rear of the powder chamber, and in such manner that its
shape is that of two or more frustums of cones, the base of the forward frustum
being on the top of the rearward frustum. I then form a cap of copper or steel,
or other suitable metal, by boring and turning; the forward part of the periphery
of the cap I make nearly cylindrical and to fit easily into the rear of the powder
chamber; the rear part of the periphery of the cap I make of greater diameter
than the rear of the chamber, so that it shall form an annular valve face to the
said powder chamber by butting up against the rear thereof. The interior of the
cap I bore out to fit accurately on the conical part of the breech screw, and the
crown of the metal cap near the periphery I hollow out somewhat. To permit
the cap to be forced unto the end of the breech screw, and to permit it to be
expanded and contracted as required, I cut through the periphery of the cap in
several places from the rear end towards the forward face, and to prevent the gas
escaping through these saw cuts when the powder charge is fired, I cut one or more
grooves in the periphery of the said cap, into which 1 fit a metal spring ring or
rings; and I cut rectangular slots or holes in the cylindrical part of the cap

page_text: across the saw cuts, and accurately fit therein small filling pieces which "break
joint" in the saw cuts to prevent the powder gas escaping. The slots or holes
across the saw cuts and the filling pieces are larger in the interior of the cap than
in the exterior, so that the filling pieces cannot be removed from the cap when the
latter is on the breech plug. It is to be understood that in the breech loading
mechanisms hereinbefore described any other form of gas ring can be used in lieu
of the expanding cap or any other form of head for the breech screw.
My Invention consists, fourthly, in fitting the rear end of projectiles with an
expanding ring, the expansion being effected and limited by the conical form of the
rear of the projectile. To effect this I cast, and when necessary turn the rear end
of the projectiles in the shape of two or more frustums of cones, the base of the
rear one being on the apex or top of the forward frustums, the small end of the
frustums being towards the rear of the projectile, and the base of the frustums I
nake of less diameter than the body of the projectile, and in the shoulder forward
of the base of the foremost frustrum I cut an annular recess to grip the forward
part of the expanding ring. For those projectiles which are to be used in guns
having wide rifle grooves I form a ring of malleable iron or steel in the ordinary
manner, and make the external diameter a little greater than the diameter of the
projectile, and I cut grooves in the periphery of the said ring corresponding with
and fitting loosely on the lands in the bore of the gun, and by consequence leaving
projections or lands on the periphery of the said ring to fit into and correspond
with the rifle grooves in the bore of the gun. The internal part of the ring I bore
out to correspond with the conical surfaces on the rear of the projectile, and the
forward part of the ring I turn down to fit into the annular recess, the external
diameter of the part of the ring fitting into the recess being about one tenth af an
inch less than the maximum diameter of the annular recess. The internal diameter
of the ring I make the same as the minimum diameter of the annular recess, so that
it shall fit closely thereon. The ring having been shaped and bored to the required
size, I then saw through it in one place only to enable the said ring to be sprung into
its place on the conical part of the rear end of the projectile. I also cut a rectangular
slot or hole in the ring across the saw cut, and accurately fit therein a small "fitting
piece," which shall break joint in the said saw cut and prevent the passage of the
powder gas through the saw cut, when it is caused to open by the ring being forced
up the conical part of the projectile on the firing of the charge. The slot or hole
across the saw cut and the filling piece are larger at the interior of the ring than at
the exterior thereof, so that the filling piece cannot be removed after the ring has
been sprung unto the projectile. It is to be understood that I form the conical
frustrums of such an angle that on the ring being forced up them by the pressure
of the powder gas the ring shall be expanded until it completely fills the bore of the
gun, its further expansion being prevented by the shoulder on the projectile arresting
the further progress of the expanding ring up the conical surface, so that no wedging
action shall be exerted on the bore of the gun by the expansion of the ring. The
object of the fore part of the ring being fitted into the annular recess in the shoulder
of the projectile is to prevent the ring flying away from the projectile after it has
been discharged from the gun.
For those projectiles which are to be used in guns having polygroove rifling, and
which will be caused to rotate by means of the expanding ring, I form the rear end
thereof as hereinbefore described, and in addition cut feather ways in the conical
surface from the rear ends towards the forward part thereof. I cast the expanding
rings of copper or of any alloy of ductile metal, and fit them similarly as the
malleable iron or steel rings hereinbefore described, but having the exterior or
periphery plainly cylindrical, with connelures formed therein, but no rifle grooves
or lands. In the interior of the rings I cut feather ways corresponding to those in
the conical surface of the projectile, and fit steel or other metal feathers therein
rather loosely. On the foreward part of the feathers I form a small head or projection
on one side, so that the feathers cannot be removed when the ring is placed on the
projectile. I cut or split these metal rings as hereinbefore described, and after

page_text: springing them on to the conical part of the projectile I subject them to pressure
circumferentially to close them tightly on the projectile.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING.-Figure 1 is an elevation of the rear end or breech of
the gun, with the breech screw and its sliding-carriage in position as when the gun
is ready for firing; Figure 2 is an elevation of the same with the breech screw eased
back and the sliding carriage drawn into position for the gun to be loaded; Figure 3
is a longitudinal elevation showing the right hand side of the gun; and Figure 4 is
a vertical section of the gun at a, b, in Figure 1, with the breech screw in position
as when the gun is ready for firing. In these Figures A is the body of the gun;
B is the sliding carriage carrying the breech screw; C is the breech screw. The
carriage B and carriage way are fitted with parallel grooves, but they may be of
any section; E is the tappit lever working on the rear end of the breech screw C
for screwing it up and unscrewing it; P is a paul or catch for locking the tappet
lever E and breech screw C when the latter is screwed up; S is a stop recessed into
and secured to the gun by screws; 8 is a stop secured to the sliding carriage of
the breech screw to limit its travel; F is a coarse quick threaded screw working
in a female thread or nut cut in a metal block secured to the upper side of the
sliding carriage. The screw F is worked by the crank lever d, and by this the
sliding carriage is moved into position for loading the gun after the breech screw
has been eased back, and by which after the gun has been loaded the carriage is
again moved to bring the breech screw into proper position for closing the rear
end of the powder chamber. The screw F is held in position but left free to
revolve by the screw pins y, y 1, and y 2; h is a handle by which the sliding carriage
may be moved direct by hand without the intervention of any gearing in small
guns, and by which the carriage may be lifted when it is removed from the gun;
W₁, w₁, w, are rollers or antifriction wheels on which the sliding carriage is
mounted. It will be seen from the foregoing that there are only two motions
required for opening and two for closing the breech mechanism. Thus for opening
the powder chamber, the paul being disengaged from the tappet lever, the tappet
lever E is turned to the left hand a half turn or more according to the pitch of the
screw thread, to withdraw the forward end of the breech screw from the rear of
the powder chamber; next the crank lever d is turned to the left hand to with-
draw the sliding carriage B until the carriage is arrested by the stop S when the
chamber is open ready for loading. For closing the chamber the movements are,
first, the crank lever d is turned to the right hand by which the sliding carriage B
is moved back into its seating when the breech screw C is in line with tho
chamber; second, the tappet lever E is turned to the right hand by which the
breech screw C is forced up into its seating in the powder chamber, which is thus
closed gas tight, and the paul P falls into the notch in the tappet lever E, and the
breech screw is thus locked, the gun being now ready for firing. It is evident that
the screw with its crank lever d for moving the sliding carriage may be fitted
on either side of the gun as may be most convenient; thus for guns mounted in
turrets one may be fitted with the crank lever on the right hand side of one gun,
and one on the left hand side of the other gun, or in larger guns to obtain rapidity
of movement the screw may be continued right across the breech of the gun and a
crank lever fitted on each end of the screw. The screw F when fitted on the right
hand side of the gun should have by preference a left handed thread.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 show a modification of the gear for moving the sliding
carriage of the breech screw; Figure 5 is a rear end elevation shewing the sliding
carriage and breech screw in position as when the gun is ready for firing. The
tappet lever and tappet block ring are not shown in these Figures so that the
mechanism may be more clearly exhibited; Figure 6 is an elevation of the same
with the sliding carriage and breech screw moved back and the chamber
open for the gun to be loaded; Figure 7 is a plan of the breech screw sliding
carriage showing the grooves and lands for gearing into those of the carriage way
in the gun. In these Figures A is the gun; B is the sliding carriage; C is the
breech screw, and K is the powder chamber; h is a handle for moving the sliding

page_text: carriage direct by hand in small guns, or for lifting it when it is removed from the
gun; c is a pinion with crank lever mounted in the arm or bracket b, which
bracket is secured to the sliding carriage by screws. The rack and pinion may be
fitted below the sliding carriage if the size of the gun or other circumstances of any
particular case would cause that position to be more convenient. The breech
screw is actuated by a tappet lever similar to that shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Thus the chamber is opened for loading by two left hand circular motions, that is,
by turning the tappit lever to the left hand, and then turning the crank lever of
the pinion to the left hand, and the chamber is closed ready for the gun to be
fired by two right hand circular motions, that is, by turning the crank lever of the
pinion to the right hand until the carriage is arrested, and then turning the tappet
lever to the right hand until the breech screw has entered and closed the rear end
of the powder chamber.
In Sheet 2, Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 show the method of arrangement of the
mechanism for actuating the breech screw and sliding carriage by means of a pro-
pelling fluid; Figure 8 is an elevation of the rear end of the gun with the breech
screw, sliding carriage, and pistons in position as when the gun is ready to be fired;
Figure 9 is an elevation of the same with the breech screw rotated by means of the
piston rack until the teeth of the toothed ring are clear of the teeth of the rack,
and with the sliding carriage forced over so as to open the powder chamber ready
for the gun to be loaded; Figure 10 is a longitudinal elevation of part of the left
hand side of the gun, showing the method of bringing the propelling fluid to the
centre of the trunnion and thence to the mechanism on the rear of the gun;
Figure 11 is a longitudinal elevation of part of the right hand side of, the gun as
when ready for firing. In these Figures the tappet lever and tappet block ring are
not shown on the breech screw, so that the other mechanism may be more clearly
seen and understood. In these Figures A is the body of the gun; B is the sliding
carriage; C is the breech screw; and K, in Figure 9, is the powder chamber; T is
the steel ring fitting on the hexagonal part of the breech screw, and having teeth
cut in a portion of its periphery to gear into the rack O; O is the metal rack for
actuating the toothed ring T-; L, is a telescopic pipe fitted with suitable joints and
stuffing boxes to prevent leakage and to permit the free working of the parts,
which joints and stuffing boxes any ordinary engineer would know how to construct
to suit the circumstances of any particular case.
The pipe L, is connected to the centre of the trunnion by means of a stuffing
box and screwed gland, by which it is packed air-tight but free to revolve to permit
of the elevation or depression of the gun. L is a pipe secured by means of a
stuffing box or flange unto the upper side of the trunnion, and communicating with
the telescopic pipe L, through the holes in the trunnion indicated by the dotted
lines. The supply pipe L runs from the trunnion to the rear of the gun, and is
connected by short branch pieces or elbows to the two fourway cocks attached to
the cylinders M and M. M is a cylinder bolted, as shown, on the rear of the gun;
N is the piston rod; and O is the cross head rack gearing into the teeth on the
steel ring T, by which the breech screw is caused to rotate; U is a fourway cock
for admitting the propelling fluid as required to either end of the cylinder M to
actuate the piston rod N and rack O to turn the breech screw, and u is the lever
by which the plug of the fourway cock is moved; d and are two guard pins to
arrest the lever u at the proper points but allowing the lever to move through an
are of ninety degrees. La is the inlet for the propelling fluid from the cock U to
one end of the cylinder M when the breech screw is to be unscrewed, and it becomes
the outlet from the same end of the cylinder when the breech screw is to be
screwed up. L is the inlet for the propelling fluid from the cock U to the other
end of the cylinder M when the breech screw is to be screwed up, and it becomes
the outlet from the same end of the cylinder when the breech screw is to be
unscrewed; V is the discharge pipe through which the propelling fluid escapes
from either end of the cylinder M; R is a guide bolted to the rear of the gun to

page_text: support and guide the crosshead and rack O in its travel when unscrewing or
screwing up the breech screw.
M, is a cylinder securely bolted to the upper part of the rear end of the gun;
N, is the piston rod, and n the bracket secured to the sliding carriage B, by which
the sliding carriage is forced to move as required after the breech screw C has been
eased back; U, is a fourway cock for admitting the propelling fluid as required
to the cylinder M, to actuate the piston rod N, and the sliding carriage B; and u, is
the lever by which the plug of the fourway cock is moved; a, and x, are two guard
pins to arrest the lever u, at the proper points for admitting the propelling fluid
to either end of the cylinder; L, is the inlet, when the lever u, is at the guard
pin a, for the propelling fluid from the fourway cock U₁ to one end of the
cylinder M, when the sliding carriage is to be moved away for the chamber to be
opened and the gun loaded, and it becomes the outlet from the same end of the
cylinder when the lever u, is placed at the guard pin ₁, and the sliding carriage
is to be brought into position after the gun is loaded for the screw to be screwed
up and the powder chamber closed; L, is the inlet for the propelling fluid from
the cock U, to the other end of the cylinder M, when the sliding carriage is to be
brought into position after the gun is loaded for the breech screw to be screwed up,
and it becomes the outlet for the fluid from the same end of the cylinder when the
lever น is moved to the guard pin a₁, and the sliding carriage is to be moved away
for the gun to be loaded; V is the discharge pipe, which is common to both
cylinders M and M₁. Now although a tappet lever and tappet block ring are not
shewn in these Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11, I fit them on the breech screw for use in
case of accident to the other gearing, and also to enable the breech screw to be
moved through a small part of a revolution by hand the better to assist the teeth
in the rack to gear into the teeth of the steel ring when commencing to screw up
the breech screw.
ալ
From the foregoing it will be seen that to open the chamber for the gun to be
loaded the cock lever u is to be moved through a a quarter revolution, that is, from
the pin X to the pin a, by which the breech screw is moved through a half revolution
or more as required, and the teeth of the rack become disengaged from the teeth in
the steel ring on the breech screw. The cock lever u₁ is then moved through a
quarter revolution, that is, from x₁ to a₁, and the sliding carriage is immediately
forced over from the centre towards the exterior of the gun, and the chamber is
open ready for loading, as shown in Figure 9. To close the chamber the lever is
moved over to the guard pin x, by which the sliding carriage is brought back to
the centre position shown in Figure 8. The breech screw is rotated slightly to the
right hand by means of the tappet lever, which is not shown in these Figures, and
the lever u is then moved over to the guard pin X by which the rack O is brought
over by the piston rod N of the cylinder M, and gears into the teeth on the steel
ring T by which the breech screw is forcibly screwed up and the powder chamber
effectually closed. The tappot lever may be used to assist in screwing up or
unscrewing the breech screw, and locking gear similar to that shown in Sheet I,
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, may be fitted to lock the tappet lever and breech screw.
It is to be understood that guns so fitted may be vented in the rear or by a side
vent.
In Sheet 1, Figure 12 is a longitudinal elevation, Figure 13 is a section, and
Figure 14 an elevation of the front end of a breech screw armed with a metal cap
for preventing the escape of the powder gas from the rear of the chamber on the
charge being fired.
In these Figures C is the breech screw, the end of which is turned with two
frustums of cones, as shown in Figure 13; R is a metal cap having saw cuts α, a₁,
A₁, as, as, α, a, a, in its periphery or cylindrical part to permit it to be expanded
as it is forced up the conical part of the breech screw C; 8 is a small spring of an
angular or semicircular section inserted in a recess in the cap R, which spring, on
the gun being fired, will be forced outwards and expanded in diameter by the

page_text: sudden and temporary compression of the metal of the cap at the recess by the gas
pressure on the face of the cap. It is obvious that the spring rings would be forced
out in a similar manner if they were fitted in angular or semicircular connelures cut
in the periphery of a solid breech screw; r r., T₁, T, 17, are fitting pieces to prevent
the passage of the gas through the saw cuts in the cap.
Figure 15 is a longitudinal section of the rear end of a projectile fitted with an
expanding gas check ring; Y is the body of the projectile; Z is the expanding
ring which has a saw cut through it, not shown in the Drawing; n is an under-cut
annular recess formed in the metal of the projectile. The gas is prevented from
passing through the saw cut by a fitting piece somewhat similar to those shown in
Figures 12 and 13 for the gas cap of the breech screw.
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, but I claim as my Invention, the com-
bination of mounting the breech screw for closing the powder chamber in a sliding
carriage.
And I claim, the method of cutting the aperture or way for the sliding carriage
only a part of the distance across the breech of the gun, and the method of forming
the grooves in the said aperture or way for the sliding carriage.
And I claim, the method of using a cylinder with piston, piston rod, and rack
attached to the breech of the gun for rotating the breech screw by means of any
propelling fluid, and the use of. a similar cylinder and piston with piston rod to
move the sliding carriage as required.
And I claim, the method of constructing expanding gas caps for breech screws,
which caps are caused to expand by means of conical surfaces on the breech screw,
and the method of fitting metal springs in connelures in the periphery of the gas
caps.
And I claim, the method of constructing projectiles with a gas check ring, which
ring is caused to expand, on the charge being fired, by being forced up conical
surfaces on the rear of the said projectiles, the ring being prevented from becoming
detached from the projectile on leaving the gun by means of a projecting part
on the fore-side of the ring fitting into an under-cut annular recess in the
projectile.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Quick, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, the Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
night hundred and nighty
GEORGE QUICK. (L.S.)