Improvements in or connected with Horizontal Wedge Breech Closing Mechanism for Guns.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 21st Oct., 1898-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Horizontal Wedge Breech
Closing Mechanism for Guns.
I, AUGUST REICHWALD, of 9, New Broad Street, in the City of London, Steel,
Iron, Metal, and Mineral Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion (a communication to me from abroad by the Firm of Fried Krupp, of Essen,
in the Empire of Germany, Cast Steel Manufacturers), to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a horizontal wedge breech mechanism for guns, in
which the opening and closing of the breech wedge is effected by means of a
guide shaft formed with conveying screw thread. The conveying screw thread
is constructed in such a manner that the breech wedge, in opening, moves at first
very slowly, and then afterwards very quickly. A collar provided on the guide
shaft, holds the latter after the manner of a bayonet joint in the breech wedge,
and locks the latter. with the gun barrel when the breech is closed.
The breech mechanism as hereafter described is represented in the accompany-
ing drawings, Fig. 1 shewing a side elevation of the breech. Fig. 2 is a horizontal
section taken through the middle of the breech block (Figs. 1 and 2 show the
breech block closed and cocked) Fig. 3 a side elevation of the breech block, and
Fig. 4 a horizontal section through the middle of the breech block. Figs. 3
and 4 shew the operating lever sufficiently swung upward-34 degrees thus
allowing the firing pin to be cocked by turning the guide shaft and the brecch
block is at the same time withdrawn slightly out of the slot: Fig. 5 shews a
side elevation of the breech block as shewn in Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 a top view of the
breech block. Figs. 5 and 6 shew the operating lever so far turned as to allow
of the breech being completely opened. The movement of the breech block is
limited by the extractor; Fig. 7 shews the back elevation of the breech block
(breech closed and cocked); Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through the middle of
the breech block (breech closed and gun discharged) and Fig. 9 shews the mode
of removing the extractor out of the gun.
Figs. 10, 11 and 12 shew the unwound screw threads of the guide shaft and
the guide shaft nut (the latter hatched), viz.:
Fig. 10 the position of the screw threads, when the breech is closed.
Fig. 11 the position of the screw threads after swinging the operating lever
34 degrees upward.
Fig. 12 the position of the screw threads, when the breech is open.
Figs. 13, 14 and 15 shew the position of the locking collar o of the guide shaft,
viz.:
Fig. 13, when the breech is closed.
Fig. 14, when the breech is open.
Fig. 15 the position of the locking collar, in which the guide shaft can be with-
drawn out of the breech wedge.
Figs. 16, 17 and 18 shew a part of the safety device, which prevents the dis--

page_text: and, the rotation being continued, enter into them, thus allowing of the breech
block to be quickly withdrawn from the slot.
The relative positions of the screw threads of the guide shaft and the guide
shaft nut, are shewn in Figs. 6 and 12.
The position of the locking collar of the guide shaft G, when the breech is
closed or open, is shewn in Figs. 13 and 14. It may be remarked, that the locking
collar o must also lock the guide shaft with the breech wedge.
If the guide shaft is turned more than is necessary for opening the breech,
which can be done after the removal of the extractor, the locking collar o then
lies above and opposite to the corresponding recess in the breech wedge, and the
guide shaft can be withdrawn (Fig. 15).
During the opening and closing movement of the guide shaft viz. when the
breech is open, it is impossible to discharge the gun, for as soon as the guide shaft
in opening the breech has turned 34 degrees, the safety lug h at the extremity
of the right arm of the sear F is opposite to the safety channel r on the inner
side of the stop plate n Fig. 3. By turning the guide shaft further, the safety
lug h enters the channel and slides in it, until the breech is closed again (Fig. 5).
The sear F is thus rendered immovable and so prevents the gun from being dis-
charged.
When the breech is closed, the guide shaft rests with its top plate n on a pro-
jection on the front face of the breech wedge (Figs. 1, 3 and 5); for this purpose
a small part of metal is taken away on the inner side of the stop plate.
The cocking groove of the guide shaft passes during the last part of the
closing movement of the latter over the came of the cocking lever which has re-
mained forward from the moment of cocking the firing pin, pressing the right
arm of the cocking lever backward. The left arm of the cocking lever conse-
quently moved forward, thus leaving room enough between the shoulder of the
firing pin and the catch c of the cocking lever for the firing pin to advance;
the cocking lever therefore cannot be struck by the firing pin being thrown for-
ward when discharging the gun (Fig. 2).
In order to fire, the hook of the lanyard is connected with the eye 7 of the
sear F and the lanyard is pulled by the handle to the rear. The sear then pivots
round its pin f, the stop g leaves the notch of the firing pin, which is then thrown
forward by the action of the main spring D and strikes with its point the priming
cap in the base of the cartridge case, thus discharging the gun (Fig. 8).
To prevent the gun from being fired when the breech block is closed, the safety
knob H (Figs. 1 to 8) is pulled back and turned 180 degrees.
n of the
The safety device acts to prevent any movement of the sear F. For this pur-
pose a bolt t surrounded by a spiral spring u is fitted in the stop plate
guide shaft G and firmly connected with the safety knob H by means of a pin
(Fig. 8). The locking bolt t enters with its cylindrical tenon, from which a part
has been cut away in a lengthwise direction, into the bearing collar m of the guide
shaft, and consequently also into the breech wedge (Fig. 8).
When the breech block is not secured against firing the position of the locking
bolt is such, that its tenon lies in the cylindrical bearing collar of the guide
shaft (Fig. 16). When the breech block is secured against firing, the bolt t
has its tenon out of the bearing collar of the guide shaft and enters the semi-
cylindrically cut out safety lug h of the sear F, thus rendering any movement
of the latter impossible (Fig. 17). The locking bolt t at the same time enters into
a semi-cylindrical cavity in the breech wedge, thus also excluding any movement
of the guide shaft and preventing the opening of the breech block while the gun
is being transported.
The breech block is secured against accidental opening during transport after
the discharge of the gun by the locking bolt t entering the corresponding cavity
in the breech wedge (Fig. 18), thereby preventing the guide shaft from being
turned, and the breech from being opened accidentally during transport; in this

page_text: is a plan of the breech mechanism. In Figs. 5 and 6 the guide shaft lever has
been rotated to the extent which is sufficient for the complete opening of the
breech. The movement of the breech block is limited by the ejector.
Fig. is a rear elevation of the breech mechanism (the breech being shewn
closed and the mechanism cocked).
Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through the middle of the breech (the breech being
closed and the gun having been fired).
Fig. 9 illustrates the removal of the ejector out of the gun barrel.
Figs. 10, 11 and 12, are views illustrating the developed screw threads of the
guide shaft, and of the guide shaft nut, (the latter being hatched).
In these figures, Fig. 10 shews the position of the screw threads when the
breech is closed.
Fig. 11 shews the position of the screw threads after the guide shaft has been
raised through 34°.
Fig. 12 shews the position of the screw threads when the breech is open.
Figs. 13, 14 and 15 illustrate the position of the locking collar o of the guide
shaft. In these figures, Fig. 13 shew's the breech when closed, Fig. 14 shews the
breech opened, and Fig. 15 shews the locking collar in the position in which the
guide shaft can be drawn out of the breech wedge.
Figs. 16, 17 and 18 illustrate a portion of the safety device which prevents
the loaded gun from being fired, and the breech from opening, automatically,
when travelling. In these figures, Fig. 16 shews the position of the safety
bolt t, when the breech is not safely locked. Fig. 17 shews the position of the
safety bolt when the breech is locked. Fig. 18 shews the position of the safety
bolt when the gun has been fired, and then the breech locked; the safety bolt
now only prevents the automatic opening of the breech when the gun is travelling.
Fig. 19 shews the position of the retaining pin of the ejector in the breech
wedge.
The breech wedge A receives the guide shaft G (which is provided with a
handle p) in a hollow cylindrical recess which is open towards the top (Figs. 0, 7,
and 13-15).
The proper mounting of the guide shaft is effected by the engagement of its
end pin, and of its cylindrical collar m, in corresponding holes in the breech
wedge, which holes are completely closed, peripherally. The guide shaft G is
secured by means of a shoulder or collar o (Figs. 6 and 7) from moving in the
breech wedge, or being drawn out of the breech wedge. The collar o consists of
a righthanded screw thread which extends with a slow pitch not quite over the
half of the periphery of the guide shaft, and of which so much is cut away on
the side facing the handle 7, (along a plane which is at right angles to the
longitudinal axis of the guide shaft), as to leave on that side only a short piece
of screw surface.
This collar o works, when the guide shaft is rotated, usually in a cylindrical
recess (Figs. 6, 7, 13 and 14) of the breech wedge, the depth of which recess is
equal to the vertical distance of the plane edge of the collar o from the highest
point of the screw edge, and the length of whose periphery, complements that of
the collar o, so as to constitute a complete circle (Fig. 15).
It will be readily understood that an axial movement of the guide shaft G
relatively to the breech wedge A is impossible, so long as the collar o is situated
wholly or partly in the recess in the breech wedge which is intended for its
reception, (Figs. 13 and 14). But if the collar o assumes the position shewn in
Fig. 15, the guide shaft can then be drawn out in the direction of its longitudinal
axis out of the breech wedge.
The collar o cannot assume the position shewn in Fig. 15, whilst the guide
shaft is being rotated for the purpose of effecting the usual to and fro movement
of the breech wedge, except and only when, as will be hereafter described, the
breech wedge (after the cartridge ejector has been removed) is drawn beyond its
loading position out of the wedge aperture.

page_text: empty cartridge case is effected. The collar o of the guide shaft assumes at
this moment the position shewn in Fig. 14.
If now, for the purpose of taking out the guide shaft, the breech wedge is to
be moved still further out of the wedge hole, it will first be necessary to remove
the ejector. This is effected by pulling the retaining pin E (Fig. 6) out of the
breech wedge, and then closing the breech again to such an extent that the
noses of the ejector are situated opposite the recesses that have become vacant
by the removal of the retaining pin and then pressing the ejector by means of its
handling piece against the forward surface of the wedge (Fig. 9), and finally
rotating the guide shaft so as to again move the breech wedge out again together
with the ejector. In this last operation, whilst the quick screw thread of the
guide shaft moves out of the actuating nut K, the collar o of the guide shaft will
move into the position shewn in Fig. 15, so that the guide shaft can be drawn
out of the breech wedge.
On the end plate n of the guide shaft there is further provided an eccentrically
situated groove q (Figs. 1 and 3), which serves for cocking the firing lock, and
also a concentrically arranged groover (Fig. 1), which latter prevents premature
firnig of the firing lock. Further there is formed through the end plate na
hole which is designed for the reception of the safety device. These arrange-
ments will be further referred to hereinafter in the course of this description.
The percussion lock consists (Fig. 2) of the firing pin or striker C with the
firing spring D and the firing pin screw y, also of the two-armed cocking lever B
which is pivotted on the pin b, and of the pivotted trigger F which forms a bent
lever and is pivotted on the pin f. When the breech mechanism has been closed
and the gun fired, the parts of the percussion lock assume the position shewn in
Fig. 8. The cocking lever B in this arrangement as may be better seen from
Figs. 1 and
has its pin de in the above mentioned cocking groove 9 of the
guide shaft G. As this cocking groove has an eccentric direction, the pin de
will be pressed forwards, (Figs. 3 and 4), when the guide shaft is rotated for the
purpose of opening the breech, whilst the other arm of the cocking lever with its
nose c, will move the firing pin C to such an extent backward that the latter will
be engaged by the nose g of the trigger F which is under the action of the leaf
spring. During the further left or right hand rotation of the guide shaft (which
effects firstly the complete opening, and secondly the closing of the breech) the
nose de will slide along the outer edge of the end plate n. In the last part of
the closing movement of the guide shaft the cocking groove 9 will take again
over the nose de and will move the cocking lever B back again into its original
position (Fig. 2). By this means the space necessary for the uninterrupted
forward movement of the firing pin will be provided between the forward edge of
the firing pin and the nose c of the cocking lever (Fig. 2). When it is desired
to fire, the hook of the trigger cord is connected to the ring i of the trigger F
(Fig. 2), and the cord is pulled back. The trigger is thereby rotated about the
pin f so that its nose g releases the firing pin, and the latter is shot forwards by
the firing spring D, and strikes with its point upon the percussion cap which is
situated in the base of the cartridge case, whereupon the gun is fired (Fig. 8).
Whilst the guide shaft is being rotated for the purpose of opening and closing
the breech, it is impossible to fire the gun. When the guide shaft is rotated to
such an extent that the trigger F moves inwards for the purpose of engaging the
firing pin with its arm, provided with the claw g, a nose h provided on the
trigger (Figs. 3 and 4) comes into the path of the above-mentioned safety groove r
(Fig. 3), which is provided on the inside of the guide shaft plate n. On further
rotation of the guide shaft the nose h moves into the groover and slides therein
until the breech has been closed again. It will be clear from the previous de-
scription, that so long as the nose is situated in the groove the trigger is
completely locked, and regains its freedom of movement only at the time and
after the nose h moves out of the groover when closing the breech.
In the guide shaft itself there is also mounted as already herein before men-

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A horizontal wedge breech closing mechanism for guns characterized by a
guide shaft G which is mounted or carried in the breech wedge, and is formed
with quick-pitch conveying or actuating screw threads, and on which shaft there
is also a locking shoulder or collar o, in such a manner that the said collar engages
(when the breech is closed, and for the purpose of locking the breech wedge)
in a recess in the gun barrel, and, when the guide shaft is rotated, acts, by means
of a helical surface formed on said collar, to move the breech wedge, until said
collar has moved out of the recess in the gun barrel, and the quick pitch con-
veying or actuating screw threads of the guide shaft, being brought opposite to
the conveyer nut which is mounted in the gun barrel is brought into action.
2. A form of construction of the wedge breech closing mechanism for guns
specified in Claim 1, in which the guide shaft G, by its rotation, effects the
cocking of the firing pin or striker, by means of a cocking groove which is
formed in the end plate n of the guide shaft, and which acts upon the cocking
lever B.
3. A form of construction of the wedge breech closing mechanism for guns
specified in Claim 1, in which the guide shaft G is provided on its end plate n,
with a concentrically arranged groove r, in which a nose of the trigger slides
in opening and closing the breech of the gun, with the object of preventing
premature firing of the gun.
4. A form of construction of the wedge breech closing mechanism for guns
specified in Claim 1, in which a safety bolt Ht having a partially cut away
shank is mounted pivotally in the guide shaft G, in such a manner that the said
safety bolt can be rotated into a recess in the breech wedge, and, when the firing
pin is cocked, into a recess in the trigger, and thus prevents the breech from being
opened, and the gun from being fired.
5. A form of construction of the wedge breech mechanism for guns specified in
Claim 1, in which the locking collar o is arranged on the guide shaft G in such
a manner that said collar prevents the guide shaft from being drawn out during
the opening and closing movement of the breech block, but allows the guide
shaft to be drawn out when the said collar is brought opposite to a recess pro-
vided in the breech wedge.
Doted this 20th day of October 1898