AN IMPROVED BREECH-LOADING CANNON
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
" AN
IMPROVED BREECH-LOADING CANNON." A communication from abroad by
Joseph Richardson Nimmo Owen, of Hamilton, in the County of White
Pine, in the State of Nevada, one of the United States of America, Gentleman.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Edward Gedge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th February 1876.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED BREECH-LOADING CANNON." A com-
munication from abroad by Joseph Richardson Nimmo Owen, of Hamilton, in
the, County of White Pine, in the State of Nevada, one of the United States of
America, Gentleman.
This Invention relates to an improved arrangement or device for loading cannon
of all kinds through the breech, and it consists of a peculiar interior configuration
of the breech of the gun, together with a breech key eo shaped as to enter the
breech by a direct movement from the rear, and then by a quarter turn close and
lock the same securely.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a
.cannon embodying this Invention, a portion of the breech being removed to shew
construction of the interior of same; Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the above; and
Figure 3 is a separate view of the breech key, with guide and hand lever complete.
A represents a cannon having any desired construction of barrel and bore. The
breech arrangement consists of a key chamber B at the base of the bore and key
slot C. The key chamber is a cylindrical space formed within the breech of the gun
immediately behind the powder chamber, with its axis coincident with that of the
bore. Its transverse diameter is much greater than that of the bore, and its axial
depth should be sufficient to accomodate a block of metal capable of resisting
effectually the rearward impact of the charge when the gun is fired. The angular
recesses within this chamber should be rounded in slightly for the sake of greater
strength along those lines. The key slot C is an oblong opening leading directly
through the cascable at the rear end of the gun along its axis into the key chamber.
Its length or greater diameter (which for obvious reasons should be placed vertically)
is precisely equal to the diameter of the key chainber, while its width or lesser
D

page_text: Its
diameter is considerably less, though a little greater than that of the bore.
axial depth should be a little more than that of the key chamber, about three times
the diameter of the bore being deemed a fair and full allowance for the united
depth of both chamber and slot. Where this slot enters the key chamber two stout
shoulders d, d, of solid metal are left, one on each side of the slot, with their faces
looking forward into the chamber. These faces are finished by giving to each a true
spiral inclination of a low degree of pitch around the axis of the chamber.
The breech key consists of a stout stem E carrying upon its front end an oblong
solid head block F, which is fixed upon it transversely, while upon the other end is
fastened transversely to the block a lever handle y, by which the key is moved and
turned.
For the sake of greater strength the stem and head block should be wrought
together in one solid piece of metal, perferably of steel, but the handle need only be
keyed upon the stem.
The head block of the key is shaped to fit and fill the key slot somewhat loosely,
so as to pass easily through it either into or out of the key chamber.
The front face of the head block is made plain and level, but its rearward face
has a circular projection rising from-its-central portion, equal in diameter to the
width of the block, from the centre of which projection the stem E of of the key rises..
The surfaces of this face nearer the ends of the block are finished in true spiral
inclines to correspond with the inclined faces of the shoulders in the breech, upon
which they are made to glide and bind when the block is turned towards a
transverse position in key chamber. These spiral inclines run out upon the sides
of the central projection of this face without jogging or interfering with each
other.
For a gas check where metal shells for the powder are not used, the bottom of the
bore should be turned out so as to receive a ring of suitable metal, and the rearward
edge of this ring should project very slightly into the key chamber, so as to bear
the impact of the front face of the head block where the breech is strongly locked.
But where metal shells are used each shell is made to serve that purpose.
The thickness of the head block in the axial direction is made to correspond with
the axial depth of the key chamber, so that when it is pushed home and a quarter
turn given to it the inclined surfaces on its posterior face gliding upon those of the
shoulders of the breech, cause it to bind fimly in a fore and aft direction within the
key chamber, thus securely closing and locking the breech of the gun.
A guide or carrying frame is also herein illustrated which is probably the most
convenient and simple device for the purpose on guns of ordinary weight and calibre,
but for very heavy guns a radical modification of this arrangement has been devised
and might be substituted with advantage; this carrying frame consists of, first, a collar
or swivel barrel I which embraces the stem E of the key over its whole length
from the head block to the handle, so as to hold the key steadily while it turns
freely on its axis in the collar; second, a slide or guiding stem J which is some-
what longer than the collar I, and which moves freely in and out under the gun on
a friction roller m which is secured in a bracket N fastened to the under side of the
breech; and third, an upright part p which connects the two succeeding parts, and
holds them firmly in position parallel with each other.
The extreme front end of the slide E is curved downward like a claw and should
be so shaped as to catch upon the friction roller when the slide is drawn backward
to its full length, and prevent its complete separation from the bracket, while it
allows the rear end with the key to drop down and rest upon the ground or hang
upon the roller. In this position the gun is ready for loading which may be accom-
plished very conveniently by means of a tray with a very thick bottom, and a
moveable handle held loosely in a collar at its. rear end. Upon this tray the charge
is introduced into the breech through the key slot, and then by means of the tray
handle used as a rammer pushed forward out of the tray and into the bore of the
The tray is then removed and the key lifted and pushed hoine where by a
quarter turn upon its axis it locks the breech and the gun is ready for firing.
gun.

page_text: The firing may be effected by means of a percussion needle through the axis of
the key as represented in the present instance or by any other means that may be
preferred.
In this application for Letters Patent I do not desire to embody any special
device for carrying or handling the key, or any method of pressing the charge or.
firing the gun, but what I do claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First. The cannon A provided with the key chamber B at the base of its bore or
powder chamber, and having the key slot or passage C leading from said chamber
through the cascable of the gun in combination with the breech block F, with its
stem E, and lever handle g, all constructed, combined, and arranged to operate
substantially as and for the purpose above described.
Second. The cannon A provided with the key chamber B and key slot or passage
C when the rear faces d, d, of the key chamber are constructed on a spiral or
incline in combination with the breech or head block F with its corresponding
spirally arranged or inclined rear faces, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.