Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 31st Dec., 1888
PESEDVE
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE of No. 46 Lincolns Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to quick firing guns, constructed to use metal case cartridges
of a given size, and comprises a wedge shaped falling breech block guided behind the
loading chamber at the rear of the barrel-and which is moved up and down by
means of a crank and a connecting piece connecting such crank with the breech
block.
.
In putting the breech block in the closed position the crank is moved somewhat
beyond the position in which it comes into line with the connecting piece, so that the
crank maintains the block in a raised position, whilst a set screw engaging in a groove
of the block limits the downward movement when the block is being put into the
opened position.
The firing pin is cocked by means of the connecting piece above referred to
through the following arrangement :-On one end of a shaft, that passes transversely
through the breech block and carries a part for pushing back the firing pin, is
mounted a pin which projects into the path of the connecting piece and which
is of such shape and so disposed that it is moved both on the opening and the
closing.
A transverse shaft situated below the rear end of the barrel carries the cartridge
extractor which consists of two arms, that extend under the raised rim of the
cartridge and of a horizontal arm upon which the breech block presses to put the
cartridge extractor into operation.
An example of breech block according to this invention is shewn in the annexed
drawings. Fig. 1 is a right hand side elevation of the breech block when the loading
chamber is closed and shewing the adjacent parts partially in vertical section on the
line XX of Fig. 5.

page_text: Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1, the loading chamber being opened.
C
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the line, ¹, of Fig. 5 shewing
the firing pin uncocked, and
Fig. 4 is a similar view shewing the firing pin cocked.
Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section on the line a², x2, of Fig. 3 shewing the contained
breech block in its upper position, that is the position in which the loading chamber
is closed.
As will be seen the breech block A bas an inclined rear surface, and is guided by
means of fillets a in grooves b of the cutaway portion of the body B of the gun
barrel.
The front surface of the breech block A serves as an abutment for the cartridge base
when closure is effected; it is provided with a striking plate a'. In the upper surface
of the block A is formed the loading recess a³ by means of which the cartridge is
inserted when the gun is being loaded.
C
The closing lever C is situated at the right hand side and serves to depress and raise
the breech block A, that is to say, to open and close the loading chamber. This lever
is mounted upon a short shaft c which is situated in bearings in the right hand part
of the base piece. The inner end of this shaft c carries within a recess a³ formed in
the right hand side of the block A, a crank c¹ whose crank pin connects a connecting
piece D with a pin a-of the breech block.
C
The raised position of the block A, and consequently the closure to be effected,
corresponds to the forward position (shewn in Fig. 1) of the closing lever C.
The breech block A does not occupy the highest position into which it can be
brought (by being moved along the grooves through the crank e¹ and connecting
piece D), but the connecting piece between c¹ and D is moved forward in consequence
of a small further movement of lever C beyond the point at which the extension c¹
and D are in line. In consequence of this arrangement the block A cannot be depressed
automatically by the action of the return closure.
To open the loading chamber, the closing lever C is brought from the position in
Fig. 1 into that shewn in Fig. 2, the breech block A being thereby first somewhat
raised by means of the hereinabove described arrangement, before it begins to
descend.
The amount of the depression of the block A is limited by a set screw E which is
screwed in the left hand side wall of the base piece B and projects into a groove a° at
the left hand side of the block A.
Below the connecting piece D is arranged in the block A a transverse shaft F
which carries in a central slot a of the block A a cam for cocking the firing
pin G.
In order when opening the loading chamber to rotate the shaft F automatically
through the amount required to cock the firing pin, its right end, which projects into
the recess a³ of the block A, is provided with an arm f1, which, when the firing pin is
not cocked, is constantly pressed against the connecting piece by the pressure of the
striking spring, so that when the loading chamber is opened, it must be pressed
downwards by the connecting piece D.
By the rotation (caused by the operation of the arm f¹) of the shaft F, the ratchet
tooth on the end of the arm of the bent lever h h which is constantly pressed by a
spring against the boss of the cam f, falls into a notch f provided in this boss.
Near the other end of the lever (which is mounted in the slot a upon a
pivot H situated underneath the shaft F) is situated in the piece B a trigger.J having
the shape of a two armed lever whose lower end forms an eye for attachment to the
firing cord, and whose upper end is capable of pressing down the arm h¹.
The firing pin G is arranged in a channel of the breech block which when the
closure is effected; is situated in the axial line of the barrel, and the striker spring g
bears on one side against the head of the firing pin, and on the other against a screw
plug g' which is bored through to guide the firing pin and closes the above mentioned
channel.
The cam fengages with a nose 2 of the head of the firing pin..

page_text: On the depression of the breech block A, the arm is first pressed down to a
larger amount than is required to allow the ratchet tooth or lever arm to fall
into the notch, so that as in all percussion locks, there is the so called over
cock.
During the last portion of the movement of the connecting piece D, the arm f¹
rises again remaining in this way, constantly in contact with the connecting
piece d.
If the closure be now effected, the connecting piece D will press the arm f¹
again downwards to some extent before leaving the same.
Thus in case the ratchet tooth on lever arm when the loading chamber is
open, should by chance be released from the notch f, which would cause the firing
pin to move gradually forward during the closing, the notch " is again offered to
the ratchet tooth, so that the latter is caused to become re-engaged.
The circumstance that the connecting piece. D, moves away from the arm f¹ which
was pressed down by the opening of the loading chamber, only when the closure is
almost effected, has for result that the lock can only be fired by the trigger J when
the loading chamber is closed.
On a pivot K arranged below the rear opening of the loading chamber on the
body piece B, is mounted the cartridge extractor; it comprises a long boss k carrying
two arms which reach up to the side rims of the opening of the loading chamber
and are provided with cut away parts k² for the reception of the cartridge rim.
The boss also carries near to its left hand end a rearwardly bent arm ³ corre-
sponding to which is a vertical groove a' (Fig. 2) in the front surface of the breech
block A.
On opening the loading chamber, the rear end of arm ³ comes first in contact
with the lower end of the inclined base of the breech block so that the depression of
the breech block A has for result the rotation of the arm 3 and the loosening of the
cartridge case; and finally, when the upper part of the groove a strikes against the
arm 3, the cartridge case is thrown out.
On loading, the cartridge is pushed in up to the cartridge extractor, which is then
in the position shewn in Fig. 2, and the further insertion of the cartridge is effected
in an automatic manner by the inclined front portion as of the breech block.
Dated this 11th day of September 1888.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham.

page_text: I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of Number 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent 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 invention relates to quick firing guns constructed to use metal case cartridges
of a given size.
•
According thereto the breech action comprises a wedge shaped breech block that is
made with an inclined rear surface and capable of upward and downward movement
suitably guided behind the breech chamber and being operated by means of a crank
that is connected to it by a connecting piece, link or rod and is actuated by a suitable
hand lever.
In closing the breech the crank is moved somewhat beyond the attitude in which
its arm comes into line with the connecting piece, link, or rod, so that when the
stroke of the hand lever has been completed, the relative attitudes of the crank and
the connecting piece, link, or rod are such that they will maintain the breech.block
in the raised position in which it closes the breech chamber, and will prevent its
accidental movement.
A. set screw arranged to work in a groove in the breech block limits the downward
movement thereof for opening the chamber.
The firing pin is cocked by means of the connecting piece, link, or rod above
referred to, by the following arrangement :-
On one end of a spindle that passes transversely through the breech block, and
carries a projecting arm for pushing back the firing pin, is mounted an arm. which
projects into the path of the connecting piece, link, or rod, and is of such shape, and
so disposed, as to be operated both during the opening and the closing of the breech
block.
A transverse spindle, situated below the rear end of the barrel or breech chamber
(hereinafter called the chamber) carries the cartridge extractor, which consists of two
arms that extend in front of the rim of a cartridge contained in the said chamber, and
a horizontal arm upon which the breech block presses during its downward movement;
thereby operating the cartridge extractor.
Referring to the drawings filed with my provisional specification,
Fig. 1 is a right hand side elevation of the breech action, shewn closed; the adjacent
parts of the gun being partly in vertical section in the line of fig. 5.
Fig. 2 is a similar view to fig. 1, but shewing the breech open.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section, in the line a¹, a¹ of fig. 5; shewing the
firing pin in its fired or uncocked position, and
Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the firing pin
Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section, in the line ² of fig. 3, shewing the contained
breech block in its upper position, that is, the position in which the chamber
is closed.
cocked.

page_text: A is the breech block, formed with an inclined rear surface, and guided by means
of fillets a, working in grooves b, formed in the sides of the opening in the breech B
of the gun, within which the breech block moves. The front surface of the breech
block A serves as an abutment for the cartridge when the block is in its closed
position; and it is provided with a striking plate a¹. In the top of the block A is
formed a loading recess a², to enable a cartridge to be inserted into the breech chamber
when the gun is to be loaded.
C is a hand lever, situated at the right hand side of the gun; it serves to depress
and raise the breech block A, for opening and closing the breech. This hand lever
is mounted upon a short spindle c, mounted in a bearing in the right hand side of
the breech.
The inner end of this spindle c carries within a recess a³, formed in the right hand
side of the breech block A, a crank e', the crank pin of which has connected to it
one end of a connecting piece, link, or rod D; the other end of which is connected
by a pin at to the breech block. The raised (closed) position of the breech block A,
and consequently of the whole of the breech action, corresponds to the forward
attitude (shewn in fig. 1) of the hand lever C.
When this attitude of the hand lever obtains, the breech block does not occupy the
highest position to which it is raised in the grooves b by the moving over of the hand
lever because in moving the land lever quite over to the end of its stroke the axis of
the hinge pin connecting e and D has been carried past the point at which it would
be in a straight line passing through the axes of c¹ and a¹. Hence when the movement
of the hand lever has been completed the breech block occupies the closed position,
and the crank arm c¹ and connecting piece link or rod D are at an angle to one
another such as affords an efficient support to the breech block and will prevent its
being depressed by recoil.
To open the chamber the hand lever C is moved from the attitude shewn in fig. 1
to that shewn in fig. 2, and during this movement the breech block A is slightly
raised as the crank and connecting piece link or rod come into alignment before it
begins to descend.
The extent of the depression of the breech block A is limited by a set screw E
which is screwed into the left hand side wall of the breech B and projects into a
groove a at the left hand side of the breech block A, the top end of the groove coming
into contact with the screw when the breech block is in its lowest position.
Below the connecting piece link or rod D and passing through the breech block A
is a transverse spindle F that carries in a central slot a of the said block a small
arm for cocking the firing pin G.
In order to rotate the spindle F automatically during the opening movement of
the closing device to the extent required to cock the firing pin, its right hand end,
which projects into the recess a³ of the block A, is provided with an arm 1, which,
when the firing pin is not cocked, is constantly pressed against the connecting piece
link or rod by the action of the spring surrounding the firing pin, so that when the
breech is being opened, the arm f₁ will be pressed downward by the connecting
piece link or rod D.
By the partial rotation of the spindle F caused by the operation of the arm f¹ a.
ratchet tooth on the end of one arui of a bent lever which is constantly pressed
forward by a spring against the boss of the arm f, is caused to fall into a notch f**
12
provided in this boss.
Near the end of the other arm of the lever, h¹, (which is mounted within the slot a
upon a spindle H situated underneath the spindle F), there is pivotted in the breech B
a trigger J formed as a lever of the first order whose lower end is made with an eye
for attachment of the firing cord, and whose upper end is capable of pressing down
the arm /¹.
The firing pin G is arranged within a channel in the breech block the axis of
which channel is in alignment with the axis of the barrel when the closure is
effected.

page_text: The spring y bears at one end against the head of the firing pin, and at the othe
end against a screw plug g' that is bored as shewn to serve as a guide for the firing
pin and also closes the said channel.
The arm fengages with a nose g² on the head of the firing pin.
The arrangement is such that on the depression of the breech block A, the arm f
is first depressed to a somewhat greater extent than is required to allow the tooth on
the lever arm to fall into the notch f², so that as in other percussion locks, there is
provided a so called over cock.
During the last portion of the opening movement of the connecting piece link or
rod D, the arm will rise again a short distance remaining constantly in contact
with D.
If the closing of the breech be now effected, the connecting piece, link or rod D will
again press the arm downwards to some extent before leaving the same. Thus,
should the tooth on the lever arm / have become released by accident from the notch f³,
when the chamber is open and which would result in the firing pin moving gradually
forward during the closing movement of the breech block, the notch is again
brought opposite to the ratchet tooth, so that the latter is caused to become re-engaged
therewith.
In consequence of the connecting piece link or rod D, moving away from the
arm (which is pressed down during the opening of the breech action), only when
the closure is almost 'effected, it results that the firing pin can only be fired or
released by the trigger J when the chamber is closed.
On a spindle K arranged below the rear opening of the chamber in the breech B,
is mounted the cartridge extractor; it comprises a boss k carrying two lever arms &¹
which extend upward to the sides of the opening of the chamber and are formed
with recessed parts 2 for the reception of the rim of a cartridge.
The boss also carries near to its left hand end a rearwardly bent lever arm k³
corresponding to which is a vertical groove a² (fig. 2) in the front end of the breech
block A.
t
The groove is made with an inclined bearing surface becoming gradually shallower
or of decreasing depth from bottom to top as shown.
On opening the breech, the rear end of the lever arm k³ comes first in contact with
the lower end of the inclined bearing surface of the groove a' in the breech block
so that tho depression of the breech block A first causes gradual rotation of the lever,
arm and consequently also rotation of the lever arms ³ thereby loosening the
cartridge case; and then when the upper end wall of the groove a strikes against
the lever arm 3, the cartridge case is thrown out.
When loading the gun the cartridge is pushed into the chamber and up to the
lever arms of the cartridge extractor, which is then in the position shewn in fig. 2,
and the further insertion of the cartridge is effected in an automatic manner by the
inclined upper front portion as of the breech block.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
1 claim is
1. In a quick firing breech loading gun, a breech action comprising a wedge
shaped breech block able to move upward and downward in an inclined guide and
connected by a connecting piece, link or rod to a crank that is capable of being
operated from the outside, the arrangement being such that when the breech block
occupies the closed posision, the joint whereby the crank and the connecting piece,
link or rod are connected together occupies. a position to the front side of a straight
line passing through the centres on which those parts turn and thereby automatic
opening of the breech block is prevented.
2. In a quick firing gun provided with a breech action such as referred to in the
preceding claim, causing the percussion firing mechanism to be automatically cocked by
means of the connecting piece, link or rod in such a manner that even should the

page_text: sear be disengaged whilst the breech is open, the said connecting piece, link or rod
will, when the breech action is operated to close the breech, again effect the cocking,
and thus whilst the breech is open, release of the trigger will be prevented.
3. In a quick firing gun provided with a breech action such as referred to in
claim 1, a cartridge extractor in which two lever arms connected together and capable
of partial rotation about a horizontal axis, are made to engage with both sides of the
rim of a cartridge, a third lever arm connected with the other two projecting rearward
and the inclined part of a groove formed in the front face of the breech block and
which is made gradually shallower or of decreasing depth in the direction from
bottom to top of the block being so arranged in relation to the third lever arm that
when the breech action is being operated to open the breech the inclined part of the
groove will act gradually upon the third lever arm thereby actuating it and the
others to loosen the cartridge case, whereupon the upper end wall of the groove will
strike the lever so as to eject the cartridge.
4. In quick firing breech loading guns the construction and arrangement of
mechanism substantially as herein above described with reference to and shewn in the
drawings annexed for the purposes specified.
Doted this 22nd day of November iss8
W. LLOYD WISE