Improvements in Mechanism for Closing the Ends of Guns.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 13th May,
1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Closing the Ends of Guns.
We, EDWARD WILLIAM LLOYD, formerly a Commander in the Royal Navy,
and DUDLEY SINCLAIR MARJORIBANKS, Engineer, both of Elswick Works,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:―
For closing the muzzle end of a gun we employ an expanding tompion carried
at the end of a long stave so that it can be inserted into position from the breech
end of the gun when the breech is opened. The breech end of the stave is made
to pass through a hole in the centre of a metal frame which can be inserted
into the breech end of the gun and which at its rear end is formed with an
outwardly projecting flange corresponding to the flange at the rear end of a
cartridge case.
The tompion is pushed forward along the bore of the gun until it is stopped by
a ring on the stave coming against the frame. The ring or flange on the rear end
of the frame coming against the breech end of the bore.
The tompion can then be expanded and the breech of the gun afterwards closed.
The ring or flange around the rear end of the frame is covered with leather or
other suitable material to prevent action between the metal of the frame and the
gun and to make a tight joint.
The advantages claimed are these:
--
(1.) The tompion must always take up a determined position; (2) there is no
chance of the frame sticking to, or becoming jambed in the gun; (3) the
lengthening stave of the tompion can be completely withdrawn from the frame
and may then be used with other accessories to the gun; (4) making a damp-proof
joint at the breech as well as at the muzzle of guns.
Dated this 13th day of June 1892.
EDWARD W. LLOYD.
D. S. MARJORIBANKS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Closing the Ends of Guns.
We, EDWARD WILLIAM LLOYD, formerly a Commander in the Royal Navy,
and DUDLEY SINCLAIR MARJORIBANKS, Engineer, both of Elswick Works, .
Newcastle-on-Tyne, 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 :-
For closing the muzzle end of a gun we employ an expanding tompion carried at
the end of a long stave so that it can be inserted into position from the breech end
of the gun when the breech is open. The breech end of the stave is made to pass
through a hole in the centre of a metal frame which can be inserted into the breech
end of the gun and which at its rear end is formed with an outwardly projecting
flange corresponding to the flange at the rear end of a cartridge case.
The annexed drawing shows mechanism in accordance with the invention; the
dotted lines indicate the bore of the gun and the breech block; a is the stave, at
its fore end is an ordinary expanding tompion head consisting of discs and b² and
the compressible cylinder 3. The shoulder of the disc is fast with the stave but
the disc is loose and works as a nut on a screw which projects from the disc b¹.

page_text: e is a frame through which the rear end of the stave passes; this frame is shewn
in section.
By turning the stave which at its rear end is provided with a suitable handle at
the discs can be made to approach each other and compress the cylinder
between them. In the use of the mechanism the tompion is pushed forward along
the bore of the gun until it is stopped by a ring a² on the stave coming against the
frame c and the flange c¹ on the rear end of the frame resting against the breech
end of the bore.
The tompion can then be expanded and the breech of the gun afterwards closed.
The flange c¹ around the rear end of the frame is covered with leather or other
suitable material e² to prevent action between the metal of the frame and the gun
and to make a tight joint. At the same time that the tompion head is expanded
by turning the stave by its handle a¹ the flange c¹ is drawn tightly home to its
place.
The advantages obtained are these:-
(1) The tompion must always take up a determined position. (2) There is no
chance of the frame sticking to, or becoming jambed in the gun. (3) The
lengthening stave of the tompion can be completely withdrawn from the frame
and may then be used with other accessories to the gun. (4) Making a damp-proof
joint at the breech as well as at the muzzle of guns.
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 :-
In mechanism for closing the ends of guns the combination of the stave, the
expanding tompion head and the flanged frame e substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of February 1893.
EDWARD. W. LLOYD.
D. S. MARJORIBANKS.