Improvements in Apparatus for Adapting Guns for Use with Miniature Ammunition.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1894
*Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 27th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Adapting Guns for Use with
Miniature Ammunition.
We, EDWARD WILLIAM LLOYD, late Commander, R.N., and ALBERT GEORGE
HADCOCK, late R.A., both of the Elswick Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention is especially in connection with guns or rifle barrels used for
purposes of drill or exercise inside the barrel of a larger gun, and to improving
existing arrangements for doing this. Its principal objects are to simplify the
centering of the smaller barrel and the means of firing the small charge and to
provide for firing either by electricity or percussion without altering any of the
fittings of the larger or parent gun or the cartridge of the smaller one.
The centering of the smaller barrel may be .accomplished as shown on the
annexed drawing by placing in the chamber of the parent gun a frame A which
fits at the forward end into the cone of the chamber contraction and is thus
prevented from moving too far forward. This frame has tapered ribs A' and the
small barrel is accurately and automatically centred on it by means described in
our Specification. No. 8102's which applies to centering barrels in quick-firing.or
other guns with tapered chambers
It is very desirable that the miniature or practice cartridge should be fired by
the same mechanism or appliances as the charge of the parent gun.
With most
quick-firing guns this can be done by allowing the striker to impinge either
directly, or through a firing pin, on the percussion cap of the miniature ammunition
or to rest on an electric primer screwed into the cartridge of the miniature
ammunition; but with other parent guns not using cartridge cases for their charges
a different arrangement as now invented by us must be provided.
With our practice barrels we prefer to use a breech block B, in some cases
screwed, which can be completely removed from the gun and to which we
temporarily attach the base of the cartridge of the miniature ammunition by means
of the following or some similar device :-
An undercut half ring is formed on the face of the breech block; the rim of
the cartridge is entered into this and in some cases a corresponding half ring
hinged at one extremity is closed over the cartridge rim. Or the cartridge may
be passed through a complete ring and the ring screwed or connected to the face
of the breech block.
Through the axis of the breech block B we pass the firing pin C, but on the
rear end of this firing pin we form a head of appropriate diameter.
When the breech of the parent gun is closed and the practice barrel is in place
its rear or breech end is pressed against the face of the breech screw D of the
parent gun by the helical springs E and E' as explained in our Specification
No. 8102. It will therefore be observed that the head formed on the striker of
the small or practice barrel comes just opposite and close up against the vent of
the parent gun.
To fire the practice cartridge the ordinary tube or primer either electric or
percussion is placed in the vent of the parent gun and discharged by the ordinary
appliances but the gases thus generated impinge against the head of the striker of
the practice barrel and cause it to fly forward and strike the percussion cap of the
practice cartridge with sufficient force to explode it. If the tube or primer used

page_text: with the parent gun does not contain sufficient powder to cause the above effect it
may receive assistance by inserting in the vent an additional charge made up in a
quill or other convenient method. Or we can fire the practice cartridge by the
use of a special dummy primer which may be inserted in the vent of the parent
gun in exactly the same manner as the service primer. The dummy primer is
made with a rod of sufficient length to pass through the vent and strike against the
striker or the primer of the practice barrel. The dummy primer may also be fitted
with a spring to keep the rod in either the forward or backward position.
When the striker of the parent gun is released it will strike against the dummy
primer and the blow will be transmitted to the cap of the practice charge through
the rod of the dummy primer. Similarly if the cartridge of the practice barrel be
fitted with an electric primer the current may be transmitted to it, when the firing
key is pressed, through the striker of the parent gun and the rod of the dummy
primer. The latter inay be insulated and be made serviceable for either electric or
percussion firing.
Dated this 9th day of June 1894
EDWARD W. LLOYD.
A. G. HADCOCK.
Improvements in Apparatus for Adapting Guns for Use with
Miniature Ammunition.
We, EDWARD WILLIAM LLOYD, late Commander, R.N., and ALBERT GEORGE
HADCOCK, late R.A., both of the Elswick Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 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:-.
Our invention is especially in connection with guns or rifle barrels and for
purposes of drill or exercise inside the barrel of a larger gun, and to improving
existing arrangements for doing this. Its principal objects are to simplify the
. centering of the smaller barrel and the means of firing the small charge and to
provide for firing either by electricity or percussion without altering any of the
fittings of the larger or parent gun or the cartridge of the smaller one.
The centering of the smaller barrel may be accomplished as shewn on the
annexed drawing.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus, it is shown in its place in the
bore of the gun, with the breech closed behind it.
Figures 2, 3 and 4 are sections of the apparatus taken respectively on the
lines 2, 2; 3, 3 and 4, 4, in Figure 1.
There is placed in the chamber of the parent gun a frame A which fits at the
forward end into the cone of the chamber contraction and is thus prevented from
moving too far forward. This frame has tápered ribs A' and the small or practice
barrel is accurately and automatically centred on it by means described in our
Specification No. 8102 which applies to centering barrels in quick-firing or other
guns with tapered chambers.
The practice barrel is carried in two bearings X X
turning it can elide for a short distance limited by stops.
press the bearings forward along the practice barrel and
the tapered ribs.
through which without
E E' are springs which
hold them in place upon
It is very desirable that the miniature or practice cartridge should be fired by
the same mechanism or appliances as the charge of the parent gun. With most
quick-firing guns this can be done by allowing the striker to impinge either
directly, or through a firing pin, on the percussion cap of the miniature ammunition
or to rest on an electric primer screwed into the cartridge of the miniature

page_text: ammunition; but with other parent guns not using cartridge cases for their charges
a different arrangement as now invented by us must be provided.
With our practice barrels we prefer to use a breech block B, in some cases
screwed, which can be completely removed from the gun and to which we
temporarily attach the base of the cartridge of the miniature ammunition by means
of the following or some similar device :-
An undercut half ring is formed on the face of the breech block; the rim of the
cartridge is entered into this and in some cases a corresponding half ring hinged at
one extremity is closed over the cartridge rim. Or the cartridge may be passed
through a complete ring and the ring screwed or connected to the face of the breech
block.
Through the axis of the breech block B we pass the firing pin C but on the rear
end of this firing pin we form a head of appropriate diameter.
When the breech of the parent gun is closed and the practice barrel is in place
its rear or breech end is pressed against the face of the breech screw D of the
parent gun by the helical springs E and E' as explained in our Specification
No. 810283. It will therefore be observed that the head formed on the striker of
the small or practice barrel comes just opposite and close up against the vent of
the parent gun.
The breech block B represented in the drawing has a divided screw thread or
divided rings upon it and is received into a breech piece fixed on the end of the
practice barrel; a partial turn locks and unlocks it. F is a spring latch to secure
the breech block in the locked position. G is a half ring fixed to the face of the
A second similar half
breech block to hold the practice cartridge Y against it.
ring aids in holding the flange of the cartridge, it is fixed upon a stem H which is
received into a passage formed for it in the breech block.
To fire the practice cartridge the ordinary tube or primer either electric or
percussion is placed in the vent of the parent gun at P and discharged by the
ordinary appliances but the gases thus generated impinge against the head of the
striker of the practice barrel and cause it to fly forward and strike the percussion
If the tube or
cap of the practice cartridge with sufficient force to explode it.
primer used with the parent gun does not contain sufficient powder to cause the
above effect it may receive assistance by inserting in the vent an additional charge
made up in a quill or other convenient method. Or we can fire the practice
cartridge by the use of a special dummy primer which may be inserted in the vent
The dummy
of the parent gun in exactly the same manner as the service primer.
primer is made with a rod of sufficient length to pass through the vent and strike
The dummy primer may
against the striker or the primer of the practice barrel.
also be fitted with a spring to keep the rod in either the forward or backward
position.
When the striker of the parent gun is released it will strike against the dummy
primer and the blow will be transmitted to the cap of the practice charge through
the rod of the dummy primer. Similarly if the cartridge of the practice barrel be
fitted with an electric primer the current may be transmitted to it, when the firing
key is pressed, through the striker of the parent gun and the rod of the dummy
primer. The latter may be insulated and be made serviceable for either electric
or percussion firing.
Figure 5 shews the arrangement for electric firing. Q is the dummy primer
consisting of a rod with suitable insulation inserted into the vent of the parent gun;
at its fore end it abuts upon the firing pin C of the practice barrel which pin also
in this case is insulated. R is the striker of the parent gun which transmits the
electric current.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
5 claim is: -
1. The frame A fitting within the chamber of the gun and having tapered ribs

page_text: or sides A¹ supporting the bearings X X in which the practice barrel is able to
slide, whilst the said bearings are held in place by springs E E'.
2. A practice barrel with a frame supporting it centrally within the chamber of
the parent gun, such practice barrel having a removeable breech block B with
appliances substantially as described for securing the practice cartridge to the face
of the breech block.
3. The method of firing practice ammunition from a practice barrel contained
within a parent gun by so arranging that the gases resulting from a tube or primer
exploded in the vent of the parent gun, impinge on an enlarged head on the firing
più of the practice barrel and drive the pin forward against the priming of the
practice cartridge.
4. The method of firing practice ammunition from a practice barrel contained
within a parent gun; by the use of a dummy primer placed in the vent of the
parent gun and so arranged that it transmits from the striker of the parent gun to
the firing pin of the practice barrel, the mechanical or electrical impulse which
determines the ignition of the practice cartridge.
5. Apparatus substantially as described and represented by the annexed
drawings.
EDWARD W. LLOYD.
A. G. HADCOCK.