Improvements in Quick-firing Guns.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 11th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Quick-firing Guns.
1, ANDREAS RADOVANOVIC, of Pilsen, Bohemia, Austria, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in quick-firing guns of the kind in which
the breech is closed by a block sliding at right angles to the barrel.
According to the said invention the opening and closing of the breech, the locking
of the breech block in its closed position, the cocking of the firing-pin and the
ejection of the empty cartridge case are all effected by the operation of a lever
pivoted to the breech block. The said lever moreover is caused to serve at the
same time as a safety-device for preventing the charge from firing prematurely and
also from hanging fire.
In order to be able to perform these operations by means of a single lever, there
is imparted to one point of said lever a rectilinear movement, parallel to the surface
of the wedge-recess along a determined portion of the travel, whereby the pushing-
out of the wedge at right angles to the axis of the gun barrel (opening of the
breech) and the pushing-in thereof (closing of the breech) are effected, whilst the
locking of the breech block in the closed position, and the execution of the other
operations referred to are effected by an angular movement of the lever as will be
hereinafter more fully described.
The movements of the lever may be effected or controlled either by providing
the said lever with a guide slot in which enters a pin fixed to the gun barrel; by
providing it with a pin adapted to move in a slot in the gun barrel; or by causing
the lever with its pin to move in an arc of a circle by a special guide link or rod.
The locking of the breech block in its closed position is controlled by a special
arrangement of slotted link or (when a guide link or rod is employed) by inflection
of the toggle beyond the extended or straight position.
The cocking of the firing pin is effected before the breech block has begun its
opening movement, and is controlled by the same means.
The ejection of the empty case is effected by the breech-lever by direct actuation
of the cartridge-extractor in opening the breech.
In the accompanying illustrative drawings,
Figs. 14 show a construction of the breech-closing device in which the breech-
lever has a guide slot,
Fig. 1 being a diagrammatic view of the breech lever and the parts actuated by
it, and
Figs. 2, 3 and 4, longitudinal sections of the breech end of the gun, with the
breech closing device respectively in the closed intermediate and open positions..
Figs. 5 to 7 show a modification in which the breech block carries a lever having
a pin adapted to move in a slot formed in the barrel,
Figs. 5 and 5 being sections showing the breech mechanism respectively in the
closed and open position;
Fig. 6 a vertical section through the breech block; and
Fig. 7 a vertical cross section through the breech mechanism in the closed
position.
Figs. 8 and 9 show a modification of the construction illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7.
Figs. 10 to 13 show a third construction in which the lever is connected with a
guide link or rod ;
Figs. 10 and 12 being part sections showing the end of the gun barrel, with
closed and open breech;
Fig. 11 a vertical cross section through the breech mechanism; and
Fig. 13 is a section through the breech block.

page_text: Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are detail views hereinafter referred to.
Figs. 17 to 23 show on a larger scale a special construction of the firing pin.
Referring to Figs. 1-4, V is the breech block which is arranged to more in the
breech in the well known manner at right angles to the axis of the gun barrel R.
h is the operating lever, which is mounted at one end of a short axle in the
breech block and is provided with a handle h. The upper end of this lever forms
the cartridge extractor. It is bent off at right angles and is V-shaped so that in
moving down the breech block it will enter between the rim of the cartridge case P
and the rear end of the barrel and so loosen the case. A is the guide slot in the
lever h. is the pin fixed, in this case screwed, into the breech portion of the gun,
and which enters the said slot h³, serving also as a stop. The lower end of the
guide slot is curved concentrically with '.
On the axle h' is a projection 2 which in the rotation of said axle in the direction
of the arrow strikes against a corresponding projection z' of the firing pin and
thus moves back the latter until a projection on the firing pin is engaged by a
catch. This catch is mounted on an axle 62 on which is a rod b whose lower
part formed as a spring bears against a fillet on the wedge V and thus rotates
the axle to cause the tooth to spring into engagement.
It is obvious that a separate spring may be used.
The short axle & also carries the trigger a which is mounted freely on a stud b
of the said axle, or may be formed in one with the rod b. The lanyard ẞ is attached
to this trigger a and when pulled, causes it to press upon a projection of the
rod thereby rotating the axle and drawing the tooth out of the catch 2* of
the firing pin, whereby the latter is released and springs forwards.
.
In order to prevent the gun being discharged prematurely and also to prevent
hanging fire the breech lever is provided a projection which is bent concen-
trically with the axle ', and which engages with a catch a¹ of the trigger a only
when the breech is completely closed. This catch has a spring-nipple a (Figs. I
and 14) which when the trigger is pulled, springs into a corresponding notch of the
lever h, out of which it must be removed by hand in the case of a miss-fire, in order
to be able to open the breech, whilst when the shot has been fired and during the
recoil of the barrel in the gun carriage, the trigger lever a is rotated with the latter
by means of the elastic connection B (Fig. 1) and thereby its nipple a² is pulled
out of the notch. The length of the elastic connection is of course arranged
suitably. In this manner the opening of the breech is not hindered after the
complete advance of the gun, and at the same time security is afforded against
hanging fire.
As shown in Fig. 15, the device for securing the trigger lever a so long as the
shot has not gone off, may also be arranged in the reverse manner, by the insertion
of a spring, into the projection of the breech lever h, said spring being
provided with a nipple which springs into engagement with a groove or notch a³
formed in the nose a¹ of the trigger lever.
The gun recoils in the gun-mounting L on which is a spring-bolts connected
with the lanyard.
The operation of the foregoing arrangement is as follows:-
To open the breech the lever h (Fig. 2) is grasped by its handle and rotated
in the direction of the arrow 1, until the pin g is clear of the bent portion of the
guide slot. The breech block which has until this time been kept locked by
reason of the engagement of the pin in this portion of the guide slot, is thus freed,
and the breech block can now be opened gradually (Fig. 3) when the lever his
. drawn down in the direction of the arrow 2.
In this movement the upper wedge-shaped end of the lever enters between the
rim of the case P and the forward surface of the wedge recess, and loosens the said
case. When the breech wedge has been drawn down entirely, the upper end of the
guide slot bears on the pin g and causes by reason of the relative positions of the
ping to the lever axle ', a rotation of the lever in the direction of the arrow 3,
as indicated in Fig. 4, whereby the empty case P is extracted.

page_text: The firing pin z is at the same time cocked by the rotation of the lever in the
direction of the arrow 1 before the commencement of the opening movement, the
nose striking against the projection ¹ and pushing the firing pin back until
the tooth of the rod b, engages in the catch 22 provided on the firing pin.
The closing of the breech is effected by moving the lever h in the reverse
direction, premature firing being prevented by the nose a' of the trigger lever being
only able to engage with the projection of the breech lever h, when the breech
is completely closed.
For the purpose of taking the breech mechanism apart, the stop screw
screwed out, whereupon the breech block can be drawn out.
g
19
In heavy guns the lever is preferably provided as indicated in Fig. 2 with a
second handle a and similarly a separate handle a' may be provided on the breech
block V (Fig. 2).
In the second arrangement illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7, of this breech mechanism,
the lever is guided by means of a pin gl in the guide slot c which extends entirely
through the side wall of the breech, and the said lever is actuated by means of
the handle mounted on a long arm.
The cocking of the firing pin is effected in a similar manner as aforesaid by
means of a nose of the axis of rotation, and by means of a tooth b³ located on
the rod.
In the rotation of the breech lever out of the position of Fig. 5 into the position
shown in Fig. 54, the pin g' moves in the guide slot c, whereby the breech block is
moved downward. At the same time the lever strikes against the nose e* of the
cartridge extractor e, which is pivoted at ³ to the breech wedge, and penetrates
with its wedge-shaped end between the rim of the cartridge case and the end of the
barrel, and the said lever rotates the extractor rearwardly, whereby the cartridge
case is extracted.
•
In closing the breech and as a consequence of the raising of the breech wedge,
the nose et is pressed against the inclined surface of the breech end, whereby the
cartridge extractor is rotated back into its original position.
When the breech is closed, the nose a¹ of the trigger lever a, enters into engage-
ment with a notch of the breech lever, so that premature firing is obviated in
this case also.
In order to take the breech mechanism apart quickly, the lever h is turned until.
it comes into the direction of the guide slot c, whereupon it is drawn out through
the same, and the breech wedge can be removed.
The guide slot e may also as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, be formed only in the
inner face of the side wall of the breech. The cartridge extractor is mounted in
this case on a shaft es supported in the gun barrel, and is operated by a projection
of the breech lever, which arm strikes against a projection e' of the cartridge
extractor, on opening the breech.
Figs. 10-13 show a third modification, in which the lever h pivoted to the
breech block, is connected to a guide link or rod k which is guided in a groove o of
the breech block, by means of the screw stop g that forms at the same time the
axis of rotation of the guide link or rod.
is connected
breech com-
the lever h
During the movement of the lever from the position shown in Fig. 10, into the
position shown in Fig. 12, the pin 4, with which the link or guide rod
with the lever h, describes an arc of a circle, and the opening of the
mences, as soon as the link or guide rod which forms a toggle with
assumes an inclined position.
When the breech is opened, the projection h presses against the projection e³ of
the cartridge extractor (which is also pivoted to the breech block) and thereby
effects the extraction of the cartridge.
The cocking of the firing pin is effected in the same way as in the preceding
constructions, except that in this case the rod b is subjected to tension whereas it is
subjected to compression in the arrangement shown in Fig. 6.
In closing, the nose e* of the cartridge extractor strikes against an inclined surface,

page_text: whereby the said extractor is placed upright, and the nose a¹ of the trigger lever
engages with the projection / as before, as soon as the breech is completely closed.
The security against hanging fire is obtained in a similar manner as set forth
with reference to the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The taking apart of
the breech mechanism is effected by screwing out the screw stop g.
In order that in case of breakage of the firing pin or of the firing pin spring, it
shall not be necessary to remove these parts separately, but that the firing pin with
spring and support shall be capable of being quickly removed and replaced, the
said firing-pin is provided with a head 2 which, after insertion of the spring f, is
secured by a bayonet joint in the support p and is pressed against the support by
the spring.
Figs. 20 and 21 show the firing-pin with the support.
After insertion of the firing pin through the slot p³ of the support, the firing pin
is turned through 90° until it springs into the recess p³. In the same manner the
support p which has two lugs p' that are furnished with projections, is inserted
through the recesses m (Fig. 22) of the breech block which also serve as guides for
the firing pin.
After insertion, the support is first bent in, then turned through 90°, whereby,
since the firing pin is prevented from turning, its head is pressed out of the recess ',
and the projections p³ (Figs. 18 and 20) enter the recesses n of the breech block in
which they are then held by spring power.
In Figs. 6 and 13, the support p is shown as a simple screw for the sake of
simplicity.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1892.
A. RADOVANOVIC,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Quick-firing Guns.
I, ANDREAS RADOVANOVIC, of Pilsen, Bohemia, Austria, Engineer, 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 improvements in quick-firing guns of the kind in which
the breech is closed by a block sliding at right angles to the barrel.
According thereto the opening and closing of the breech, the locking of the
breech block in its closed position, the cocking of the firing pin, and the ejection of
the empty cartridge cases, are all effected by the operation of a lever pivoted to the
breech block. The said lever moreover is caused to serve at the same time as a
safety-device for preventing the charge from firing prematurely and also from
hanging fire.
In order to be able to perform these operations by means of a single lever, there
is imparted to the said lever a rectilinear movement, parallel to the surface of the
recess in which the block works, during a determined portion of the travel, whereby
the pushing-out of the block at right angles to the axis of the gun barrel (opening
of the breech) and the pushing-in thereof (closing of the breech) are effected,
whilst the locking of the breech-block in the closed position and the execution of
the other operations referred to, are effected by an angular movement of the lever,
as will be hereinafter more fully described.
This angular movement of the lever is effected or controlled either by providing
the said lever with a guide-slot in which enters a pin fixed to the body of the gun;
or by providing it with a pin adapted to move in a slot in the body of the gun; or
by causing the lever to partially turn about its axis by means of a special guide link
or rod.

page_text: The locking of the breech-block in its closed position and the cocking of the
firing pin before the breech block has begun its opening movement is in some cases
effected by a special arrangement of slotted links; in others by the relative positions
of the breech-lever and the slot in which the pin of the breech-lever works; and in
the case in which a guide link or rod is employed by the inflection of the toggle
beyond the extended or straight position.
For preventing the charge from prematurely firing and also from hanging fire,
the breech lever is connected with special devices suitably controlled by the said
lever as hereinafter explained.
The ejection of the empty cartridge cases is effected by the breech lever by the
direct actuation of the cartridge extractor in opening the breech.
Referring to the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification,
Figs. 1-4 illustrate a construction of the breech-operating device in which the
breech-lever has a guide slot,
Fig. 1 being a diagrammatic view of the breech-lever and the parts actuated by
it ; and
Figs. 2, 3 and 4, longitudinal sections of the breech end of the gun, with the
breech mechanism, shown in elevation, respectively in the closed, intermediate, and
open positions.
Figs. 5 to 7 illustrate a modification in which the breech-lever is provided
with a pin or projecting part adapted to move in a slot formed in the body of the
gun,
.
Figs. 5 and 5 being longitudinal sections, each partly in elevation, showing the
breech mechanism respectively in the closed and the open position ;
Fig. 6 a longitudinal vertical section through the breech-block; and
Fig. 7 a vertical cross section partly in elevation, showing the breech-mechanism
in the closed position.
Figs. 8 and 9 show a modification of the construction illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7.
Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive show a third construction in which the breech lever is
connected with a guide link or rod,
Figs. 10 and 12 being longitudinal sections, partly in elevation showing the.
end of the gun barrel, with the breech in the closed and open positions
respectively;
Fig. 11 a vertical cross section, partly in elevation, showing the breech-mechanism
in the closed position, with part of the breech block broken away; and
Fig. 13 a longitudinal section through the breech-block.
Figs. 14, 15, and 16 are detail views hereinafter referred to.
Figs. 17 to 23 inclusive illustrate on a larger scale, a special construction of the
firing pin and a support therefor.
Referring to Figs. 1-4, V is the breech-block arranged to move vertically in the
breech, in the well known manner, at right angles to the axis of the gau barrel R.
is the breech operating lever. It is fixed to or formed in one with a short axle /'
journalled or pivoted in the breech-block, and is provided with a handle. The
upper end of this lever forms the cartridge-extractor for which purpose it is bent
at right angles to the main portion of the lever and is wedge-shaped in cross section,
so that when the breech block is moving downwards, it will enter between the rim
of the cartridge-case P and the forward surface of the recess in which the breech-
block works and so loosen the said case. 3 is a guide-slot in the lever . y is a
pin which is fixed, in this case screwed, into the breech portion of the gun, so as to
enter the said guide slot 3, and control the movement of the lever and also serves
as a stop for the breech block. The lower end of the guide-slot is curvel
concentrically with the axle h'.
On the axle is a projection which during the rotation of the said axle in the
direction of the arrow 1, (Fig. 2) strikes against a corresponding projection on
the firing-pin and thus moves back the latter until a projection thercon is
engaged by a catch. This catch is fixed on an axle having au arm whose
lower part is formed as a spring b and bears against a fillet on the breech block V

page_text: so as to partly rotate the axle
engagement with the projection
separate spring may be used.
and thus cause the catch to spring into
at the required time. It is obvious that a
The short axle 62 also carries the trigger lever a, which is mounted freely on a
stud projecting from the said axle; or the trigger lever may be formed in one
with the arm b. The firing lanyard ẞ is attached to this trigger lever a and when
pulled, causes it to press upon a projection on the arm b, thereby partly rotating
the axle and drawing the catch 3 out of engagement with the projection ³ on the
firing pin, whereby the latter is released and springs forwards.
In order to prevent the gun from being discharged prematurely, and also to
indicate when a shot has hung fire so as to avoid the danger arising therefrom, the
breech lever is provided with a projection which is curved concentrically with
the axle and which engages with a nose a' on the trigger lever a when the
breech is completely closed. This nose has a spring nipple a² (Figs. 1 and 14)
which, when the trigger lever is pulled, springs into a corresponding notch in the
lever h, out of which it must be removed by hand in the case of a miss-fire, in order
to be able to open the breech; whereas when a shot has been fired and during the
recoil of the barrel R in the gun carriage L, the trigger lever a is partly rotated
by the gun carriage by means of the lanyard ẞ and thereby its nipple a³ is pulled
out of the notch. The lanyard B is attached to a spring bolts on the gun
carriage L. In this manner the opening of the breech not hindered after the
complete advance of the gun, and at the same time security is afforded against
hanging fire.
The device for securing the trigger lever a as long as the shot has not been fired,
may also be arranged in the reverse manner as shown in Fig. 15, by the insertion
of a spring 8, in the projection of the breech lever h, the said spring being
provided with a head or nipple adapted to spring into engagement with a groove
trigger lever a, when this lever is moved into the
or notch a² in the nose a' of the
firing position.
The operation of the foregoing arrangement is as follows:-
To open the breech, the lever (Fig. 2) is grasped by its handle /* and rotated.
in the direction of the arrow 1 until the pin y is clear of the curved portion of the
guide-slot. The breech-block V, which has until this time been kept locked by
reason of the engagement of the pin g in the lower curved portion of the guide-slot,
is thus freed, and the breech can now be opened (Fig. 3) by drawing down the
breech block in the direction of the arrow 2.
During this movement the upper wedge-shaped end of the lever enters
between the rim of the cartridge case P and the forward surface of the recess in
which the breech-block works and loosens the said case. When the breech-block
has been completely drawn down, the pin g comes against the upper end of the
guide-slot and causes, by reason of the relative positions of the ping and the
lever axle ', a partial rotation of the lever in the direction of the arrow 3, as
indicated in Fig. 4, whereby the empty cartridge case P is extracted.
The firing-pin z is cocked by the partial rotation of the lever in the direction
of the arrow 1 before the commencement of the downward movement, the
projection striking against the projection and pushing the firing-pin back
until the catch on the axle 62 engages with the projection on the firing-pin.
The closing of the breech is effected by moving the lever in the reverse
direction, premature firing being prevented by arranging that the nose a¹ of the
trigger-lever a is capable of passing over the projection of the breech-lever h
only when the breech is completely closed.
When it is desired to take the breech-mechanism apart, the pin g is screwed out,
whereupon the breech-block and attached parts can be withdrawn from the breech.
In heavy guns the lever his preferably provided, as indicated in dotted lines in
Fig. 2, with a second handle a; and similarly a separate handle a¹ may be provided
on the breech-block V also as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.
In the modified construction of breech-mechanism, illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7

page_text: inclusive the lever is guided by means of a pin or projecting part arranged to
work in a guide-slot c which extends entirely through the side wall of the breech
the said lever being actuated by means of a handle mounted on a long arm
connected to the said pin.
The cocking of the firing-pin in this arrangement is effected by means of a
projection on the axle ' of the lever hand by a catch on the axle 2 of the arm b,
in a similar manner to that described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4.
In the partial rotation of the breech lever from the position shown in Fig. 5,
to that shown in Fig. 54, the pin ' moves in the guide slot c. whereby the breech-
block V is moved downward. Near the end of this movement the lever strikes
against the nose e of the cartridge-extractor e, which is pivoted at to the breech-
block, and penetrates with its wedge-shaped end between the rim of the cartridge-
case and the front end face of the recess in which the breech-block works; the said
lever thereby partly rotates the extractor rearwardly, whereby the cartridge-case
is extracted.
In closing the breech, and as a consequence of the raising of the breech-block,
the nose e is pressed against the inclined surface of the breech end, whereby the
eartridge-extractor is rotated back into its original position.
When the breech is properly closed, the nose a¹ of the trigger-lever a is able to
enter a notch or recess in the breech-lever h, but not otherwise, so that premature
firing is obviated in this case also.
In order to take the breech-mechanisin apart quickly, the lever is turned until.
it comes into line with the guide-slot c through which it is then drawn, thereby
liberating the breech block which can then be removed.
The guide-slot c may as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 be formed only in the inner face
of the side wall of the breech, the breech lever in this case extending through the
bottom of the recess in which the breech-block works. The cartridge-extractor e
in this case is mounted on a pin e supported in the gun barrel, and is operated by
a projection on the breech-lever h, which projection strikes against a projection e*
on the cartridge-extractor during the opening of the breech.
Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive show a third modification, in which the lever pivoted
to the breech-block, is connected to a link k with which it forms a toggle, the said
link & being pivotted to a pin g which is screwed in the breech of the gun, and by
being located in a groove o in the breech-block, serves as a guide and a stop for the
latter.
During the movement of the lever from the position shown in Fig. 10 to that
shown in Fig. 12, the pin k¹ by which the link k, is connected with the lever h,
describes an arc of a circle, and the opening of the breech commences as soon as the
axis of the said pin passes to the left (Fig. 10) of the line forming the axes of
the axle and pin g.
As the breech is being opened, the projection presses against the projection
on the cartridge-extractor, which in this case is shown pivoted to the breech-block,
and thereby effects the extraction of the cartridge.
The cocking of the firing-pin is effected in the same way as in the preceding
constructions, except that in this case the catch (Fig. 13) is subjected to tension
whereas it is subjected to compression in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 7.
In closing, the nose of the cartridge-extractor, strikes against the inclined
surface at the rear of the barrel of the gun, whereby the said extractor is placed
upright. The nose a' of the trigger lever a also engages with the projection /, as
before, as soon as the breech is completely closed.
The security against hanging fire is obtained in a similar manner to that set forth
with reference to the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The taking apart of the
breech-mechanism is effected by screwing out the pin g.
In order that in case of a breakage of the firing-pin, or of the firing-pin spring,
the firing-pin with its spring and support shall be capable of being quickly removed
and replaced, the said firing-pin is provided with a head (see Figs. 17, to 21
inclusive) which, after the insertion of the spring f in the firing-pin, is secured by a

page_text: bayonet joint in the support p against the outer side of which it is then pressed by
the action of the said spring.
For this purpose, after the insertion of the head of the firing pin through the
slot of the support (Figs. 20 & 21), the firing-pin is turned through 90° until it
springs into the recesses p³. In the same manner, the support p, which has two
lugs p each furnished with a projection p1, is inserted in the breech-block in such a
manner that the lugs pass through the recesses m (Figs. 22 & 23) of the breech-
block and the projections on the firing-p.n pass forward into other recesses in the
breech-block, which are in line with the former recesses m and serve as guides for
the firing-pin.
After insertion, the support is first pushed in, and then turned through 90°
whereby, since the firing-pin is prevented from turning, the head of the firing-pin
is brought out of the recesses p³, and the projections (Figs. 18-21) spring into
the recesses n of the breech-block, in which they are then held by the pressure of
the spring..
In Figa. 6 and 13, the support p is shown as a simple screw, for the sake of
simplicity.
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 I
claim is :-
1. In a quick firing gun of the kind herein referred to, breech-mechanism in
which the opening, closing and securing or locking of the breech-block in the closed
position, the cocking of the firing-pin and the ejection of empty cartridge cases is
effected by a lever journalled or pivoted directly to the breech-block, by an axle h¹
without intermediate links, the arrangement being such that the rectilinear move-
ment of the said axle h¹ of the lever in a direction parallel to the walls of the recess
in which the breech-block works, effects the opening and closing of the breech,
whilst the angular rotation of the lever caused by suitable means such as by a fixed
pin working in a guide-slot in the said lever, or by means of a pin on the lever
working in a guide-slot in the inner face of the breech of the gun, or by means of a
pivoted guide link jointed to the said lever, effects the cocking of the firing and the
ejection of empty cartridge cases.
2. Breech mechanism of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, in which
the lever pivoted to the breech-block is formed with a recess or with a spring
projection adapted to engage with the spring trigger lever or an extension thereof
when the breech is closed the arrangement being such as to prevent premature
firing and to indicate when a shot has hung fire, substantially as herein described.
3. In breech-mechanism of the kind referred to in Claim 1, the arrangement on
the breech-block, of a pivoted ejector-lever such as e adapted to be actuated by the
lever substantially as herein described.
4. In a quick-firing gun of the kind herein referred to, a self-contained firing-pin
secured within the breech-block after the manner of a bayonet-joint and connected
with the spring and spring support p substantially in the manner herein before
described and shown, so as to allow of the said firing-pin and spring being quickly
removed and replaced.
5. In quick-firing guns of the kind herein referred to, breech mechanism
constructed arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference respectively to and shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive; in Figs. 5 to 7
inclusive; in Figs. 8 & 9; and in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, whether the arrange-
ment for preventing premature firing be according to Fig. 14 or according to
Fig. 15 of the drawings.
Dated this 11th day of Santambes 1002