CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Krupp, of Essen, in the Kingdom of Prussia,
Cast Steel Manufacturer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE."
Sealed the 13th April 1865, and dated the 10th February 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Krupp at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
February 1865.
I, ALFRED KRUPP, of Essen, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Cast Steel Manu-
facturor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE," to be as follows:-―
My Invention has relation to improvements in the method of closing, and
opening the breech of breech-loading ordnance, and has particular reference
to improvements upon the method already patented by me on October 29th,
1862, and numbered 2910, and is as follows:-
The purport of my present improvement is, firstly, to more effectually operate
upon the sliding valve or wedge used for closing the breech, and to prevent all

page_text: possibility of the wedge or valve being driven out by the force of the explosion
when firing the gun. For this purpose I use a spindle having for a portion of
its length at one end a screw cut upon it which takes either into the thread
of a female screw tapped in the outer end of the wedge or valve or through a
lug projecting from the back of the wedge at its larger end. The opposite end
of the spindle has keyed to it a handle for the purpose of turning the spindle.
When the spindle is tapped directly into the end of the wedge there is formed
upon it one collar, but when the screw is working through a lug as before
described, then I use two collars on the spindle with a space between them.
In that side of the gun into which the valve is inserted, and which for con-
venience is the right-hand side, is cut a y or other shaped groove running at
right angles to the spindle, and into this groove is fitted a sliding piece forked
at the end opposite the spindle, the opposite end being turned up so as to
form a handle, or a handle may be fitted into it.
gun
The method of operating with this improved arrangement is as follows:-
Presuming the wedge to be withdrawn for the purpose of loading, the sliding
forked piece is necessarily drawn back to liberate the spindle. When the
is charged the sliding valve or wedge is pushed into its place, which brings the
space between the collars (when two are used) in the spindle opposite the
forked end of the sliding piece, which is then by means of its handle pushed
forward until the forked end embraces the spindle between the collars. The
screw is then turned once, which brings the lower collar tight up against the
under side of the forked sliding piece, and thus completely prevents the valve
from being driven out by the force of the explosion when the gun is fired.
I would also observe that to prevent the sliding forked piece from being driven
out the inner collar on the spindle is turned with a conical recess in its face
which when it is brought into contact with the under side of the forked sliding
piece by turning the handle takes into a semicircular projection on the sliding
forked piece, and thus effectually prevents it from moving when the gun is fired.
To open the breech the sliding piece is drawn back, having previously turned
the screw in the opposite direction so as to liberate the collar from the fork.
This turning of the screw also brings the opposite collar on the spindle (when
two collars are used) against the outer side of the fork, and slightly draws the
valve so as to "start" it should it have become in the slightest degree fast.
This arrangement of the two collars on the spindle is used when the screwed
end of the spindle is tapped directly into the end of the wedge, but when the
screw is. tapped through a lug on the back of the wedge, then the end of the
screw abuts and works against a hardened steel piece let into the bottom of

page_text: the recess in the breech, into which the lug on the valve passes. When the
forked piece is moved back the valve is at liberty to be partially withdrawn so
as to open the breech. A spring stop is passed through the top of the gun and
fitting into slots cut in the upper side of the valve to regulate the exact
position of the valve and to prevent its being drawn out too far. The forked
piece is also prevented from being pulled out more than necessary by a pin
which takes into a slot cut in the bed of the groove.
gun
To accomplish this samo object of preventing the wedge or valve being
driven out when the gun is fired I make use of the following modification of
the above arrangement:-Through the valve and on a line with the bore of the
I cut a slot into which is fitted a bolt, one end of which is tapered off and
takes into a recess cut in the breech of the gun. This bolt has cut in it an
upright oblong slot into which fits a pin which projects excentrically from the
end of a spindle placed at right angles to the bolt. This spindle is turned by
means of a handle, the boss of which is partially cut away so as to admit of the
bandle only being turned round half a revolution when operating on the bolt.
The remaining part of the boss of the handle at every half revolution comes in
contact with a stop on the side of the gun to prevent the handle being turned
round more than necessary. The recess in the breech into which the end of
the bolt takes is furnished with a hardened steel cup, and there is also provided
a holo through the breech and in a line with the bolt so that should at any
time the excontric pin on the end of the spindle become broken a tool may be
passed through the hole, and the bolt driven back so as to liberate the wedge.
Secondly, my Invention has relation to the form given to the wedge or valve
for closing the breech. This has hitherto been shewn as made of a rectangular
shape in cross section, or nearly so, but I find it advantageous to make the cross
section of this valve of a partially circular or elliptical or other curved form, the
flat face of such shapes being the part that abuts against the breech end of the
bore of the gun.
In guns of a larger calibre the sliding valve or wedge
becomes necessarily of a heavy weight, and I therefore propose to use in the
bed or bearing surface of the valve friction rollers on which the valve will
traverso when being inserted into or withdrawn from the gun. These friction
rollers may if desired be inserted into the under side of the valve. These
friction rollers may be applied to guns of all sizes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Krupp in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th July 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
KRUPP, of Essen, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Cast Steel Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of
Iler reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Alfred Krupp, Her special licence that I, the said Alfred
Krupp, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alfred Krupp, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alfred Krupp, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Krupp, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention has relation to improvements in the method of closing and
opening the breech of breech-loading ordnance, and has particular reference
to improvements upon the method already patented by me on October 29th,
1862, No. 2910, and is as follows:-
The purport of my present improvement is, firstly, to more effectually
operate upon the sliding valve or wedge used for closing the breech, and to
prevent all possibility of the wedge or valve being driven out by the force of
the explosion when firing the gun. For this purpose I use a spindle having

page_text: for a portion of its length at one ond a screw cut upon it which takes either
into the thread of a female screw tapped in the outer end of the wedge or
valve or through a lug projecting from the back of the wedge at its larger
end. The opposite end of the spindle has keyed to it a handle for the purpose
of turning the spindle. When the spindle is tapped directly into the end of
the wedge there is formed upon it one collar, but when the screw is working
through a lug as before described, then I use two collars on the spindle, with
a space between them. In that side of the gun into which the valve is
inserted, and which for convenience is the right-hand side, is cut a V or
other shaped groove running at right angles to the spindle, and into this
groove is fitted a sliding piece forked at the end opposite the spindle, the
opposite end being turned up so as to form a handle, or a handle may be
fitted into it.
The method of operating with this improved arrangement is as follows:-
Presuming the wedge to be withdrawn for the purpose of loading, the sliding
forked piece is necessarily drawn back to liberate the spindle. When the gua
is charged the sliding valve or wedge is pushed into its place, which brings
the space between the collars (when two are used) in the spindle opposite the
forked end of the sliding piece, which is then by means of its handle pushed
forward until the forked end embraces the spindle between the collars. The
screw is then turned once, which brings the lower collar tight up against tho
under side of the forked sliding piece, and thus completely prevents the valvo
from being driven out by the force of the explosion when the gun is fired.
I would also observe that, to prevent the sliding forked piece from being
driven out, the inner collar on the spindle is turned with a conical recess in
its face, which, when it is brought into contact with the under side of the
forked sliding piece, by turning the handle, takes into a semicircular projec-
tion on the sliding forked piece, and thus effectually prevents it from moving
when the gun is fired. To open the breech the sliding piece is drawn back,
having previously turned the screw in the opposite direction so as to liberate
the collar from the fork. This turning of the screw also brings the opposite
collar on the spindle (when two collars are used) against the outer side of the
fork, and slightly draws the valve so as to "start" it should it have become in
the slightest degree fast. This arrangement of the two collars on the spindle
is used when the screwed end of the spindle is tapped directly into the end of the
wodge, but when the screw is tapped through a lug on the back of the wedge
then the end of the screw abuts and works against a hardened steel piece let into
the bottom of the recess in the breech into which the lug on the valve passes.

page_text: When the forked piece is moved back the valve is at liberty to be partially
withdrawn, so as to open the breech. A spring stop is passed through the
top of the gun and fitting into slots cut in the upper side of the valve to
regulate the exact position of the valve, and to prevent it being drawn out
too far. The forked piece is also prevented from being pushed out more
than necessary by a pin which takes into a slot cut in the bed of the
groove.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed I have shown the manner of carrying
out this my improvement.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of so much of a gun as is necessary to explain
my Invention; Figure 2, an end view; Figure 3, a section of the breech,
with the sliding valve in plan; Figure 4, a separate view of the valve;
Figures 5, 6, and 7, back view, section, and end view of the sliding forked
piece.
Figure 8 is a plan of a gun on a similar scale fitted with my improvements.
A is the gun; B, the sliding valve, having in this case the lug C formed on
the back of it. D is the spindle, the screwed end of which is tapped through
the lug C. a is the inside collar on the spindle, and 6 the handle for turning
the screw.
E is the sliding piece having the forked end d, d, the opposite
end e being turned up so as to form a handle, in order to move it to and fro
in the V-shaped groove G. f is the pin which passes through the sliding
piece E and takes into the groove g to prevent the piece being withdrawn too
far. is the hardened piece of steel against which the screwed end of the
spindle D abuts. I is a handle on the end of the valve B to facilitate its
manipulation when opening or closing the breech.
To accomplish this same object of preventing the wedge or valve being
driven out when the gun is fired, I make use of the following modification of
the above arrangement:-Through the valve and in the line of the bore of the
gun I cut a slot, into which is fitted a bolt, one end of which is tapered off
and takes into a recess cut in the breech of the gun.
This bolt has cut in it
an upright oblong slot, into which fits a pin which projects excentrically from the
end of the spindle placed at right angles to the bolt. This spindle is turned
by means of a handle, the boss of which is partially cut away so as to admit
of the handle only being turned round half a revolution when operating on
the bolt. The remaining part of the boss of the handle at every half revolu-
tion comes in contact with a stop on the side of the gun to prevent the
handle being turned round more than necessary. The recess in the breech
into which the end of the bolt takes is furnished with a hardened steel cup,

page_text: and there is also provided a hole through the breech and in a line with the
bolt, so that should at any time the excentric pin on the end of the spindle
become broken, a tool may be passed through the hole and the bolt driven
back so as to liberate the wedge.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed I have shewn the method of carrying
this modification into effect. Figure 10 is a side elevation of a portion of a
gun; Figure 11, an end view; Figure 12, a section with the valve in plan;
Figure 13, a separato view of the wedge; Figure 14, an end view of same;
and Figures 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19, details of the parts used for securing the
valve.
A is the gun; B, the sliding valve or wedge; C, a bolt (shown separately
in Figure 15), which is used for securing the wedge from being pushed or
blown out when the gun is discharged. This bolt passes through a slot in
the wedge, and has cut through it an oblong opening a, a; one end of this
bolt is tapered off, and takes into the hardened steel cup b, b, fitted into the
breech of the gun. Figure 17 is a separate view of this cup. D is a spindle
shown separately in Figure 16, which passes through the end of the sliding
valve, and at right angles to the bolt C. The inner end of this spindle has an
excentric pin d turned upon it, which takes into the oblong opening a, a, of
the bolt C. E is a handle, fitted on the square end of the spindle D, and is
used for turning the spindle, and thus operating to insert or withdraw the
bolt C according to the direction in which the handle is turned. It is only
essential that this handle should make half a turn for the insertion of the
bolt C; and for this purpose one portion of the boss of the handle is cut
away, so that the remaining part forms a projection, as shewn at c, c; f, f, is
a stop secured to the end of the wedge, and against which the projection c, c,
abuts, and thus prevents the bandle from receiving more than a half turn in
either direction. H is a hole drilled through the breech of the gun, and in a
line with the bolt C, so that should the pin d on the spindle D become broken
from any mishap, then the bolt C can be driven out from the cup b, and thus
liberate the valve B. This hole, when not required to be used, is closed by a
screwed pin 1. Figure 20 is a plan of a gun fitted with this arrangement.
The method of operating with this modification is as follows:-Presuming
the wedge B to be withdrawn for loading the gun, then the bolt C is with-
drawn also. When the wedge is pushed into its place, then the handle E is
turned half round, which causes the excentric pin d to traverse the slot a in the
bolt, and at the same time to insert the taper end of the bolt into the cup b.
When it is desired to open the valve the handle E is turned in the opposite

page_text: direction, which withdraws the bolt C from the recess b, and thus liberates
the valve.
Although I have shown in the Drawings hereunto annexed that the cross
section of the sliding valve for closing the breech of the gun is rectangular,
or nearly so, yet I do not confine myself to this form, but if essential,
secondly, I make the cross section of this valve of a partially circular or
elliptical or other curved form, the flat face of such shapes being the part that
abuts against the breech end of the bore of the gun and closes the breech.
In Figure 9 of the Drawings hereunto annexed I have shown the cross
section of the valve as being of a partially circular form. The flat portion a, a,
being the part that abuts against and closes the breech.
In guns of a larger calibre the sliding valve or wedge becomes necessarily
of a heavy weight, and I therefore propose to use in the bed or bearing surface
of the valve friction rollers, on which the valve will traverse when being
inserted into or withdrawn from the gun. These friction rollers may, if
desired, be fitted into the under side of the valve, and can be applied to guns
of all sizes.
In order to prevent the dirt and deposit of powder, &c. from choking up the
space between the sliding valve and the end of the breech (when cleaning the
gun, for instance,) and thus interfering with the free action of the valve,
I have found it an improvement to insert into the circular bore L in the end
of the wedge B a short tube of copper or other suitable metal, which is free
to slide to and fro in the bore L, according as the wedge or valve is drawn
out of or pushed into its place. In Figure 12 of the Drawings hereunto
annexed I have shown in dotted lines this arrangement. L is the bore in the
end of the wedge (shown also in Figure 13), and M, the short tube. This
tube has on its upper and lower sides projecting studs m, which fit into
grooves n, n, cut in the upper and lower surface of the space in which the
valve slides. These grooves n, n, are parallel to the face of the breech, so
that as the wedge is withdrawn the short tube M slides forward in the bore L,
and the front end of the tube is thus always kept close up against the breech,
particularly at the slight projecting circle round the breech end of the bore of
the gun. When the bore L comes in a line with the bore of the gun, the
wedge is then in exactly the proper position for loading, aud also for sponging
out the
gun,
and the short tube M being thus up against the breech, the space
between the wedge and the breech is thus closed, and no dirt can pass down
to choke up the free action of the wedge. Slots are cut through the wedge,
as shown at o, to allow the studs M to work to and fro.

page_text: And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as my
improvements in breech-loading ordnance are as follows:-
First, I claim the methods herein-before described and exemplified, and
similar modifications thereof, for more effectually operating upon the sliding
valve or wedge used for closing the breech, and for the locking arrangements
for preventing the wedge from being driven out by the force of the explosion
when firing the gun.
Second, I claim the making the cross section of the valve or wedge used for
closing the breech of a circular, semicircular, elliptical, or other curved form,
as herein-before described and exemplified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Krupp, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
ALFRED KRUPP. (L.S.)