Improvements in Apparatus for Adapting Heavy Guns for Practice with Reduced Ammunition.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd July, 1892--Accepted, 10th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Adapting Heavy Guns for Practice
with Reduced Ammunition.
I, RICHARD MORRIS, of Bennett Park, Blackheath, in the County of Kent,
Engineer, do bereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In my Specifications No. 4846 of 1883, No. 6776 of 1884, No. 9356 of 1885 and
No. 3244 of 1886, I have described means of adapting heavy guns for practice
with miniature ammunition. In many cases it is now found desirable to employ in
practice with heavy guns not miniature ammunition, but ammunition of the kind
and on the scale used for quick firing guns of considerable calibre. My present
invention relates to means of firing and working in heavy guns practice barrels
suited for such ammunition. According to one arrangement, I fit the practice barrel
to slide longitudinally, subject to suitable recoil buffers, in a breech block which is
arranged with part screw to take the place of the ordinary breech block of the
gun, the end of the practice barrel being thus presented in a convenient position
for charging and firing at the breech of the gun, and the barrel being firmly held
central by the screw block in which it is fitted.
In some cases, it is preferred to fix the practice barrel in such a position that its
breech butts against the ordinary obturator. In such case, I fit the block in which
the practice barrel slides in the charge chamber of the gun, employing for centering
and holding it an expanding cone and divided cylinder arrangement similar to that
described in my former Specification No. 9356 of 1885. As, in large guns, perfect
centrality of the practice barrel is not absolutely essential, she frame which holds
the barrel may be made with three wings fitted as nearly as possible to the bore of
the charge chamber, with a wedge key let into one of them, which by means of a
screw can be set up so as to tighten the frame in the bore of the chamber. For
the purpose of charging or extracting when the practice barrel is thus placed in
front of the obturator, I remove the breech block and obturator and draw the
barrel far enough back to come within convenient reach of the operator, and then
by the introduction of the breech block and obturator the practice barrel is again
pushed forwards to its firing position. I interpose a spring between the fixing cone
or frame and a collar on the barrel so as to keep the breech of the barrel always
pressed close to the obturator. The charge in the practice barrel is fired either
electrically or by a striker sliding through the breech block and obturator.
Dated this 7th day of October 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Adapting Heavy Guns for Practice
with Reduced Ammunition.
I, SARAH RACHEL MORRIS, Executrix of Richard Morris deceased 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 be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In my Specification No. 4846 of 1883, No. 6776 of 1884, No. 9356 of 1885 and
No. 3244 of 1886 I have described means of adapting heavy guns for practice with
miniature ammunition. In many cases it is now found desirable to employ in
practice with heavy guns, not miniature ammunition, but ammunition of the kind
I Drino17

page_text: and on the scale used for quick firing guns of considerable calibre. My present
invention relates to means of fixing and working in heavy guns practice barrels
suited for such ammunition, as I shall describe referring to the accompanying
drawings. According to one arrangement, shewn in longitudinal and transverse
sections Figures 1 and 2, I fit the practice barrel A to slide longitudinally, subject
to suitable recoil buffers, which may be helical springs S, in a breech block B
which consists of three wings with part screw to take the place of the ordinary
Ireech block of the gun, the rear end of the practice barrel A being thus presented
in a convenient position for charging and firing at the breech of the gun, and the
barrel being firmly held central by the screw block B in which it is fitted.
In some cases it is preferred to fix the practice barrel in such a position that its
breech butts against the ordinary obturator, as shewn in longitudinal and transverse
section at Figs. 3 and 4. In such cases I fit the block B, in which the practice
barrel A slides, in the charge chamber of the gun, employing for centering and
holding it an expanding cone and divided cylinder arrangement similar to that
described in my former Specification No. 9356 of 1885. As in large guns perfect
centrality of the practice barrel is not absolutely essential, the frame B which
holds the barrel may be made with three wings fitted as nearly as possible to the
bore of the charge chamber, with a wedge key K let into one of them, which by
means of a screw can be set up so as to tighten the frame B in the bore of the
chamber. For the purpose of charging or extracting when the practice barrel is
thus placed in front of the obturator O, I remove the breech block and obturator
and draw the barrel A far enough back to come within convenient reach of the
operator, and then by the introduction of the breech block and obturator the
practice barrel is again pushed forward to its firing position. I interpose a spring S
between the firing cone or frame B and a collar on the barrel so as to keep the
breech of the barrel always pressed close to the obturator O. The charge in the
practice barrel is fired either electrically or by a striker sliding through the breech
block and obturator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim in respect of apparatus for adapting heavy guns for practice with reduced
ammunition is :-
1. The combination of the practice barrel A and its buffers with a block B made
with part screw to take the place of the ordinary breech block, substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
2. The combination of the practice barrel A with centering block B and screw
adjusted wedge key K, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.
Dated the 25th day of June 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.