Improvements in Breech-loading Cannon.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1892-Accepted, 25th June, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-loading Cannon.
I, SAMUEL SEABURY, Lieutenant United States Navy, of Schuyler Place,
Bergen Point in the State of New Jersey, United States of America, 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 improvement relates to breech-loading cannon having a mutilated screw-
threaded breech block, which is withdrawn in a rearward direction, and which is
held by, and works within, a carrier, which is hinged to one side of the breech of
the gun.
In such a gun there are three movements necessary to open the breech,
vi. (1) the turning of the breech block to a position in which it can be with-
drawn directly backward; (2) the withdrawal of the said block backward out of
the breech of the gun; and (3) the swinging aside of the carrier with the block in
it. Three corresponding reverse movements have to be made for closing the breech.
The principal object of the present invention is to provide, in a more simple
manner than heretofore, for effecting all these movements in proper succession by
the continuous movement of a single lever, which lever may also be employed to
effect the cocking of the firing pin employed for the ignition of the charge, and
the operation of a cartridge-shell extractor in a gun in which fixed ammunition
is used.
I will now proceed to describe the invention with reference to the drawings, and
afterwards point out its novelty in claims.
Fig. 1 is a rear view shewing the breech of a cannon embodying my invention,
with the breech block closed.
Fig. 2 represents a top view corresponding with Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 represents a transverse vertical section in the line x-x of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 represents a central horizontal section corresponding with Figs. 1, 2,
and 3.
Fig. 5 is a side view, corresponding with Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Fig. 6 represents a central vertical section corresponding with Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5, except that in this fig. the firing pin is represented as cocked, and in the
previously mentioned figs. it is represented in the position it occupies after firing.
Fig. 6 is a back view of the sear.
Fig. 7 represents a central horizontal section of the breech, and a top view of
the breech block and its operating mechanism, shewing the breech block as turned
preparatory to its withdrawal from the breech.
Fig. 8 is a plan view, partly in section, representing the breech block as drawn
back within the carrier, ready to be swung back with the carrier.
Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1, except that the breech is represented open.
Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding with Fig. 9.
Fig. 11 is a diagram which will be hereinafter explained.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figs.
A is the breech of the gun, B is the breech block; and C is the breech block
carrier, hinged on a pin D, to one side of the breech. In the example represented,
the lug or member E' of the hinge, which is affixed to the breech, is constructed
on a metal band E, which is shrunk, or so firmly secured upon the breech A, as to
be practically a part thereof. This construction of the fixed portion E¹ of the
hinge on a band, is only a matter of convenience for adapting my invention to a
gun, already made. It is obvious that the fixed portion or lug E' of the hinge may
be constructed directly upon the breech of the gun.
The breech block B is of the well known kind, having upon its exterior mutilated

page_text: screw threads, corresponding with mutilated screw threads in the breech of the gun.
The carrier C consists of a strong ring having upon one side of it, hinge lugs C'C',
through which' and the fixed lug E' on the breech, the pin D passes. The external
circumference of the ring of the said carrier is fitted to a cavity a in the breech,
the said cavity being, in the example represented, in the fixed band E, which, as
hereinbefore mentioned, is substantially a part of the breech. The fit of the said
ring to the breech is represented as slightly taper, to insure closeness and facilitate
opening. The opening of the carrier C, in which the breech block is received,
consists, as shewn in Fig. 3, of three concentric arc formed bearings c, and three
intermediate arcs c¹ of larger radius, concentric with c, the circle of the bearings c
fitting the mutilated cylindrical portion of the breech block between and behind
the screw threads, and the spaces within the arcs c¹ corresponding with the
mutilated portions of the interior of the breech, to permit the breech block to slide
back through the closed carrier, during the act of withdrawing the block from the
breech. The breech block has a portion d of its circumference in rear of its screw
threads, of plain cylindrical form, as shewn in Figs. 7 and 8, that it may turn freely
in the bearings c in the carrier, and on the rear end of the block there is secured,
by screws e, e, a plate B¹, the edges of which project around the block in the form
of a flange f, the said plate and flange being practically a part of the breech block.
The said plate B¹ serves also the purpose of carrying a rearwardly projecting
yoke B2, through which passes the hand lever F, which serves the purposes of
turning the breech block, giving the said block the requisite longitudinal movement,
and moving the carrier on its hinge, and may also serve the purpose, as in the
present example, of cocking the firing pin and operating the cartridge-shell
extractor.
The said lever F has its fulcrum upon a pin g between the lugs C¹ C¹ of the
carrier C, upon which pin it is capable of moving towards and from the breech of
the gun, the said lugs C₁ C₁ being extended in a rearward direction beyond
the pin D, as shewn at C C in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, for the purpose of carrying the
said fulcrum pin g. The pins D and g are secured in place by a button 12.
The slot h, provided in the yoke B for the lever F to work in, is of such form,
that the lever, in moving backwards within said slot, from the position shewn in
Figs. 1 and 2 in which the breech is closed, will turn the breech block far enough
to bring the screw threads thereon opposite to the mutilations of the screw threads
in the breech, and to the recesses or spaces c¹ c¹ between the bearings c. c. in the
carrier, and thereby permit the breech block to move backward. The form which
I give this curved slot is shewn in the diagram Fig. 11, which shews the outlines
of the yoke and its slot, and a transverse section of the lever, the full outlines
shewing the relative positions of the slot and the lever, when the breech block is
screwed up, and the dotted lines shewing their relative positions when the block is
unscrewed. It will be seen that the forward or lower portion of the curve is in
lines substantially parallel with the bore of the gun, and with the plane of move-
ment of the lever, and that the curvature is thence developed somewhat in the form
of a screw thread, with a gradually diminishing pitch, so that the lever will operate
most effectively to turn the breech block in commencing to unscrew it and in com-
pleting the screwing it up; moreover, when, in firing the gun, there is tendency to
turn the breech block, this tendency to turn is resisted normally by the lever, which
serves as an abutment to the portion 13 of the slot. In this resistance the lever is
sustained, in part, by the long support which is provided for it on the fulcrum
pin g, and in part by engaging with the breech in a notch y provided in the latter
to receive it, and during the movement of the lever on the slot h, the said lever is
supported vertically in part by the fulcrum pin, and in part on the opposite side
of the carrier to the fulcrum pin, by two horizontal guides g' g³, provided one above
and the other below it on the carrier C, which is then supported in the cavity a in
the breech.
The longitudinal movement of the breech block within the carrier, to withdraw
it from the breech, as shewn in Figure 8, after it has been unscrewed, and the sub-

page_text: sequent swinging aside of the carrier and block, to open the breech, as shown in
Figure 10, are effected by the direct action of the lever against the rear portion 14
of the slot h.
The breech block is, during its longitudinal movement, guided rectilinearly in
part by a guide H, which projects from the rear of the carrier through an opening
in the lever, and in part by a pin (see Figures 3 and 10), which is screwed
into the carrier from the outside thereof, and the point of which projects
within the carrier, and enters a straight groove m (see Figures 7, 8, 10) in the
block.
This pin also prevents the breech block from turning during its backward and
forward movement, and acts as a stop against the front end of said groove, to limit
the backward movement of the block within the carrier, and also serves, by the
engagement with the said end of the slot against it, to make an operative connec-
tion between the carrier and the lever, for swinging the carrier backwards ou its
hinge. The said groove m is prolonged at its rear end in the form of a female
screw thread m', so that although the pin is always in it, the said pin does not
prevent the turning of the block in the screw-threads of the breech. The guide H
is represented as secured to the carrier by a screw k.
To provide for locking the carrier to the breech of the gun when the latter is
closed by the breech block, and until the block has been drawn back within the carrier
and out of the breech, there is provided, in the carrier, a latch bolt i (see Figures 3
and 9), the said bolt having a bevelled end, to allow it to enter easily into a notch i
(see Figures 9 and 10) in the cavity a of the breech.
The said latch bolt is pivoted to the outer end of a small lever " (sec
Figures 3, 4, 7 and 8), which works on a pin in a cavity provided for it in the
carrier, and the inner end of which has an inward projection, which enters a
longitudinal groove j in the breech block, and works back and forth in the said
groove as the block moves with the carrier during its movements back and forth,
from and into the breech; and the said has applied to it a spring * (see Figure 3),
which tends to keep its projection in the said groove, and press out the latch bolt i
from the carrier. The said groovej has its front end bevelled as shown at jin
Figure 8, in such manner, that just as the withdrawal of the breech-block from the
gun is completed, the said bevelled front end will act as a wedge on the projection ³,
and so automatically withdraw the latch bolt within the carrier, and unlock the
latter from the breech. In front of the bevelled end j' of the groove j, is a notch j³,
for the reception of the projection ³, to lock the breech-block within the carrier, as
shown in Figure 8. The said groove has at its rear end a lateral turning ³, to
receive the projection %, and permit the breech block to turn in the carrier while
screwing it up and unscrewing it within the breech.
In order to provide for unlocking the carrier from the breech, in case of any
failure of the automatic operation above described, I provide an opening from the
notch directly through the side of the breech, as shown at 15 in Figure 3, and in
this opening I place a pin i, which projects outwards in such manner, that pressure
may be applied to it by the thumb or finger, to press in the latch bolt clear of the
breech. This pin has its inner end so enlarged that it can neither be pulled
out of the breech, nor pressed into the hole provided for the latch bolt i in the
carrier.
I is the firing pin, passing centrally through the breech block, and working
in a guide at n in the front part of the block itself, and a guide n¹ in the
plate B. The main spring J, which is coiled around the firing-pin, and contained
within a central cavity in the breech block, abuts against the plate B', and presses
against a collar or shoulder o on the pin. The pin is prolonged backward, and
passes through a slot in the lever F, and is provided with a cross-head p
with which the said lever engages, for the purpose of drawing it back to the
cocked position.
J* (see particularly Figures 6 and 6*) is the sear, consisting of a plate which
slides against the back of the breech block, and in which there are two openings p*, q

page_text: through one of which the firing pin passes, and which is large enough for the larger
portions of the firing pin to pass through it, and the other of which receives the
sear spring r. The upper edge of the opening, which constitutes the tooth for
engaging in the cocking notch o' of the firing pin, is bevelled as shown at p' in
Figures 6 and 6*, so that the shoulder o' on the pin may pass by it, in the act of
cocking. The sear is guided by a box J', which is secured by dove-tailed edges
and a screw to the plate B' or breech. In this box, is a square projections',
which passes through the opening 7 of the sear, and which constitutes a bearing
for the sear spring ", which pushes downwards against the lower part of the said
opening. The screw passes through this projection s¹.
K (Figures 5 and 6) is the trigger, fitted to a stock K', which is inserted and
secured in a dove-tail groove t (see Figures 1 and 3) in the bottom of the breech
of the gun. This trigger liberates the firing pin by pushing upwards against the
sear, but is only in contact therewith when the breech is closed.
L (Figures 4, 7, 9, and 10) is the cartridge shell extractor, which is like that
which is part of the subject matter of my English Patent No. 5697, dated April 15th
1890, consisting of a slide which works back and forth in a guide u in one side of
the cavity which receives the breech block. This extractor is, as described
in that Patent, provided with a flange ', which engages with a flange u
on the front of the breech block, for the purpose of starting the cartridge
shell by the slight backward movement given to the block by unscrewing it,
the said flange being mutilated as shewn at 3 in Figures, 7, 8, and 10, to
allow it to escape from said flange u¹, as the unscrewing of the breech-block is
completed, and to permit the block to move back without taking the extractor L
with it. To provide for pulling back the extractor after the breech has been
opened, I now provide, within the carrier hinge, a small lever M, which I call
the extractor lever, and which works horizontally on a fulcrum pin v secured in
the hinge in front of the pin D, the said pin being, in the example represented,
in the hinge lug E¹ of the breech band E, and the said lever working in a mortise
in the said lug. The inner end of this extractor lever M engages in a groove v¹ in
the extractor, and the outer end projects through the lug E', in such manner, that
when the carrier C with the withdrawn breech block are swung aside by the move-
ment of the hand lever F, the part 2 of the carrier will come in contact with the
said projecting outer end of the extractor lever, and as the said movement is
continued, the carrier, by its action on the said projecting part of the extractor
lever, will draw back the extractor, and with it the cartridge shell, far enough for
the latter to drop or be easily taken from the breech. This operation of the
extractor is illustrated in Figure 10. A spring w (see Figure 10) is applied to the
extractor lever in such manner as to tend to move the extractor inwards, when not
operated upon either by the flange 2 or by the part of the carrier. This spring
returns the extractor as shewn in Figure 7, when the flange ² of the breech-
block having started the cartridge, escapes from the flange u of the extractor.
Having described the construction and separate operations of the different parts
of a gun embodying my invention, I will now proceed to summarise briefly the
operations of the whole in proper order, first supposing the gun to have been fired,
and the parts to be left in the positions and conditions represented in Figures 1, 2, 3,
and 4. All that has to be done for performing the several operations, is to pull
back the lever from the position in which it is shewn in the figures above mentioned,
and return it. During the first part of the backward movement of the said lever,
it moves in the slot of the yoke B, and unscrews the breech-block, as shewn in
Figure 7, and, at the same time, it draws back the firing pin to the position to be
caught by the sear, the unscrewing of the block at the same time starting the
cartridge shell. The continued movement of the lever in contact with the back of
the sloth, withdraws the breech block from the gun, as shewn in Figure 8, and
just before this withdrawal is completed, the wedge-like portion of the breech
block acts upon the lever, and thereby draws in the latch bolt i, and unlocks
the carrier C, and as the withdrawal is completed, the front end of the slot m

page_text: iz
comes against the pin l, and the projection drops into the notch, and the carrier
is thus compelled to move with the breech block during the further continued
movement of the lever, by which the breeeh block and carrier are together swung
aside on the pin D, as shewn in Figures 9 and 10.
The still further continued movement of the lever and the carrier brings the
part 2 of the carrier against the extractor lever M, and pulls back the extractor,
and with it the empty cartridge shell. The said movement of the lever is,
however, not intermitted between the several operations above described, but is
continuous. The cartridge shell having been removed, and a new charge having
been inserted into the chamber of the gun, the lever is returned to the position shewn
in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4.
During the first part of this return movement, the spring w returns the extractor,
and as, by the continued movement of the lever, the carrier passes into the cavity a
of the breech, the bevelled end of the latch bolt i running into the said cavity,
causes the said bolt to be pressed inward, and at the same time causes the
projection of the lever to be thrown out of the recess, to liberate the breech
block, which then commences to move forward, while the latch bolt is sprung into
the notch in the breech to lock the carrier. By the continued forward movement
of the lever, the block must be pushed forward, as the block is prevented from
turning by the pin l, until, when the part m' of the groove m m³ in the block arrives
at the pin, the lever, by its action in the yoke, screws up the block. All is now
ready for firing. It will be understood by reference to Figure 4, that the firing
could not take place until the lever F has entered the notch g in the breech, and the
block has been securely locked, as, if the firing pin should accidentally let off while
the lever is not locked, the cross head of the pin would strike the lever, and the pin
would be arrested with its point short of the cartridge or priming.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with the gun, the breech-block-carrier hinged thereto, and
the breech block fitted to turn within the carrier and the gun, of a yoke affixed
to, and projecting rearward from the said block, and a lever having its fulcrum
in the carrier, and arranged to move backward and forward relatively to the
breech, and operating within said yoke, to turn the said block, substantially as
herein described.
2. The combination with the gun, the breech-block-carrier hinged thereto, and
the breech block fitted to turn within the gun and the carrier, of a curved yoke
projecting rearward from said block, a lever having its fulcrum on the carrier,
to move backward and forward relatively to the breech of the gun and within
the said yoke, for turning the block, and having an engagement with the breech, to
make it serve as an abutment to the yoke for locking the breech, substantially as
herein set forth.
3. The combination with the gun, the breech-block-carrier hinged thereto, and
the breech-block fitted both to turn and to move lengthwise within both said carrier
and the gun, of a lever having its fulcrum in said carrier, and having a yoke connection
with the said block, for the purposes of producing said turning and lengthwise move-
ments, substantially as herein set forth.
4. The combination with the gun, the breech-block-carrier hinged thereto, and
the breech-block fitted both to turn and to move lengthwise within both said
carrier and the gun, of a lever having its fulcrum in said carrier, and having
a yoke connection with said block, for the purpose of producing said turning
and lengthwise movements, and a stop for limiting the lengthwise movement of the
block within the carrier, and for engaging the block with the carrier, to make
operative connection between the carrier and the lever, substantially as herein
set forth.
5. The combination with the gun, the breech-block-carrier hinged thereto, and

page_text: the breech block fitted to turn within the gun and the carrier, of a curved yoke
projecting rearward from said block, a lever having its fulcrum in the carrier
to move backwards and forwards relatively to the breech, and within said
yoke, for turning the block, and a guide on the opposite side of the carrier to the
fulcrum pin, for sustaining said lever, substantially as herein set forth.
6. The combination with the gun, the breech-block-carrier hinged thereto, the
breech block fitted to turn within the gun and the carrier, and the firing pin passing
through the breech block, of a lever having its fulcrum in the carrier, and having a
yoke connection with the block for turning it, and having an engagement with the
firing pin, for the purpose of cocking it during the turning of the block, substantially
as herein set forth.
7. The combination with the gun, the breech-block-carrier hinged thereto, the
breech-block fitted both to turn and move lengthwise within the gun and the
carrier, a locking device for locking the block in the carrier, to cause them
to move together on the hinge, a firing pin passing through the block, and a
lever hinged to the carrier, and having a yoke connection with the block, for
turning it and moving it lengthwise, and swinging the carrier on the hinge
and having an engagement with the firing pin, said lever serving the several
purposes of turning the block and moving it lengthwise, swinging aside the
carrier and block, to open the breech, and cocking the firing pin, substantially as
herein set forth
8. The combination with the breech block and the firing pin passing through it,
of a sliding sear having an opening in it through which the firing pin passes, and a
sear spring pressing against the sear, to push its tooth towards the firing pin, sub-
stantially as herein set forth.
9. The combination with the breech block and the firing pin passing through it,
of a sliding sear having two openings, one of said openings having the firing pin
passing through it, and one end of said opening constituting the sear tooth, and the
other of said openings containing both the sear spring and an abutment, between
which and the sear, the said spring operates with a pushing action, substantially as
herein set forth.
10. The combination with the gun, the hinged swinging breech-block carrier, and
the extractor, of the extractor lever M, arranged in the hinge of the carrier, with its
fulcrum pin in the breech in front of the hinge pin D, and to be operated upon by a
portion of the carrier, substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 17th day of M 1900
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.