An Electrical Firing Apparatus for Ordnance.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 29th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Electrical Firing Apparatus for Ordnance.
I, RICHARD MORRIS, of Bennett Park, Blackheath, in the County of Kent, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to electrical firing apparatus for ordnance applicable when the
firing is effected by the blow of a spring striker on a percussion cap, as, for instance,
when heavy guns are fitted for practice with small bore tubes firing ordinary rifle
ammunition or in any other case where a detonator is employed.
According to my invention, there is attached to the breech of the weapon a tube
containing a spring striker which can be drawn back by means of a handle at the
breech end of the tube. When it is drawn fully back compressing the spring, a sear
in the form of a stud sliding in a hole of the tube transversely to the striker, is
caused by a spring to engage in a recess of the striker, holding it back in cocked
position.
The sear is connected with certain freedom of motion to the armature of an electro-
magnet which is fixed on the side of the tube. One end of the armature is hinged to
one end of the core of the electro magnet and the other end of the armature is held
by a spring at some distance from the other end of the core. An arm projecting
from the armature has a pin entering a circularly slotted hole in the scar. The coil
of the electro magnet is connected by two insulated wires to a suitable battery or
other source of electricity (or connection is made through the electric firing apparatus
of the gun) through a contact key which may be at a distance. On depressing this
key, a current passes through the coil of the electro magnet and the armaturo is
attracted.
During the first part of the movement of the armature its pin noves freely in
the slot of the sear, but at the last part of its movement this pin, meeting the
end of the slot of the sear, causes the sear to make an outward stroke releasing the
striker which is thereupon forced forward by the spring thus striking the cap or other
detonator.
Dated this 9th day of Max 1889
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Electrical Firing Apparatus for Ordnance.
I, RICHARD MORRIS, of Bennett Park, Blackheath, in the County of Kent, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to he
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
-
My invention relates to electrical firing apparatus for ordnance, applicable when
the firing is effected by the blow of a spring striker on a percussion cap, as, for
instance, when heavy guns are fitted for practice with small bore tubes firing ordinary
rifle ammunition, or in any other case where a detonator is employed.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal section of electrical
firing apparatus according to my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view and Fig. 3
a plan.
When
Attached to the breech of the weapon is a tube A containing a spring striker B
which can be drawn back by means of a handle at the breech end of the tube.
it is drawn fully back compressing the spring, a sear in the form of a stud ( sliding
DI

page_text: in a hole of the tube transversely to the striker, is caused by a spring D to engage in
a recess E of the striker holding it back in cocked position.
The sear is connected by a pin in a slotted hole, giving certain freedom of motion,
to a bell crank F which carries the armature of an electromagnet G fixed on the
tube A. The bell crank armature F is pivotted to the base of the core of the electro-
magnet G, the armature being held at some distance from the pole piece H by the
spring D acting on an arm d of the armature lever. The coil of the electromagnet is
connected by two insulated wires to a suitable battery or other source of electricity or
connection is made with the electric firing apparatus of the gun through a contact
key which may be at a distance. On depressing this key, a current passes through
the coil of the electromagnet and the armature is attracted; during the first part of
the movement of the armature its pin moves freely in the slot of the sear C, but at the
last part of its movement this pin meeting the end of the slot of the sear, causes the
sear to make an outward stroke releasing the striker B which is thereupon forced
forward by the spring, thus striking the cap or other detonator.
I have shewn the tube A attached to the barrel K in the same manner as that
described in my former Specification No. 9356 of 1885 by means of horns M
projecting from the barrel to engage in bayonet catch notches in the front end of the
tube which is pushed on to these horns and then turned partly round to engage them.
Within the front part of the tube is the extractor L which, as described in my former
Specification, is capable of turning partly round within the tube to an extent limited
by a screw pin the end of which enters a groove in the side of the extractor. When
the tube A is pushed on to the barrel K, the hook ends of the extractor enter notches
in the breech of the barrel and the extractor is by them prevented from turning
while the tube A is partly turned to engage the horns M, this arrangement and
operation being the same as that described in my previous specification above
referred to. In thus pushing on the tube A there might be danger if the striker B
happened to be thon drawn back on cock. In order to provide against this, I cut
a shouldered groove near the front end of the striker B, and provide a screw
pin which passes through the wall of the extractor L, its point engaging in the
groove b.
When the tube A is partly turned to be disengaged from the horns M, the
pin comes behind the shoulder of the groove b, and prevents the striker from being
drawn back so as to be put on cock. And it is not until the tube A is pushed on the
barrel and partly turned to engage on the horns M that the. pin is withdrawn from
behind the shoulder of the groove band consequently it is not until the firing
apparatus is firmly secured on the barrel, that it is possible to draw back the
striker.
Although I have shewn the electric firing apparatus mounted on a tube that.
can be secured on a small barrel as described in my previous Specification
No. 9356 of 1885, obviously the tube and firing mechanism might be secured in
other ways to the breech of a gun.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
Electric firing apparatus for ordnance, consisting of a tube attached to the breech
of the gun, having within it a sliding spring striker, in combination with an electro-
magnet, armature lever and transversely sliding sear constructed and operating
substantially as described.
Dated thin Qih Jof Thak 1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.