Improvements in Breech-loading Ordnance.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Sept., 1889-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1889
Improvements in Breech-loading Ordnance.
I, GEORGE QUICK, of 2, Victoria Mansions, in the City of Westminster, Fleet
Engineer, Royal Navy, Retired, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
These improvements relate to those breech-loading guns, in which the breech is
closed by means of the French breech-screw with interrupted thread and consists of
means for giving the rotatory or unscrewing and withdrawing motions to the breech-
screw and also sliding the breech-screw so withdrawn to one side of the gun.
In order to effect this I employ a cylinder the interior of which is provided with a
female multi-threaded screw surface. This multi-threaded female screw surface is
adapted to engage with a corresponding multi-threaded male screw surface formed on
the end of the breech-screw or a piece attached to the same.
The front end of this cylinder is open and is secured in a sliding plate but is free to
turn therein. This sliding plate moves in grooves or guide-ways cut in, or formed at,
the rear end of the gun. The rear end of the cylinder is partly closed by a plate. The
front end of the cylinder is provided with an arm having at its end a pin which
engages in a groove cut in the rear face of the breech of the gun. This groove is
formed partly concentric to the bore of the gun while that part in which the pin
travels during the movement of the sliding plate is vertical. The rear end of the
cylinder is provided with an arm or hand lever by which the cylinder itself is rotated.
The abovo described arrangement is intended for ordnance of, or under, 8 inches in
calibre but for heavy guns in which a multiplication of power is required for operating
the breech-mechanism I employ the sliding-plate and cylinder with multi-threaded
female screw surface as before described and on the exterior of the said cylinder I fix
a toothed wheel and on the sliding-plate 1 fit a pinion to gear into the said wheel on
the cylinder by which the same may be turned. The pinion is provided with a crank
or hand lever by which it may be turned. On the rear face of the breech of the gun
I fix a rack suitable for the said wheel to gear into. A portion of the teeth of the
said wheel are removed for, say, or of the circumference, so as to allow the said
wheel to pass the rack whilst the breech-screw is being unscrewed and withdrawn
from the gun.
At the moment when the breech-screw has been completely with-
drawn from its recess in the gun, the teeth of the wheel on the exterior of the said
cylinder come into gear with those of the rack and further rotation of the pinion and
wheel will cause the sliding-plate to move to one side of the gun by which the chamber
is opened ready for loading. After the gun is loaded the reverse motion of the
pinion causes the cylinder and wheel to revolve and the rack brings the sliding
When brought
plate, cylinder, and breech-screw back to the rear of the chamber.
completely back the wheel ceases to engage with the rack and the continued
revolution of the pinion and cylinder forces the breech-screw forward into the gun
and finally screws up the breech-screw.
As a modification of this mechanism for actuating the said cylinder and moving the
breech-screw of heavy guns, I may employ a worm fitted across the breech of the gun
to gear into a wheel on the said cylinder which worm may be actuated direct by a hand
lever or crank worked at the side of the gun; or the worm may be turned by means
of wheels and pinions with crank lever where further multiplication of power or any
change in the direction of the application of power may be desired.
Or I may use the arrangement described in the Provisional Specification of my
Application No. 7919, dated May 30th 18SS, for moving the breech-screw of heavy
guns instead of the above described arrangement or its modification, whereby I obtain
a slow and powerful motion for unscrewing the breech-screw and a rapid motion for
sliding it out from the centre of the gun. The worm above referred to may be turned

page_text: by means of a pinion fixed on its shaft, gearing into a rack screwed to a part of the
carriage which does not recoil on the gun being fired. By this pinion the worm may
be actuated automatically by the recoil and running out of the gun.
In order to secure the proper sequence of movements for effecting the unscrewing
and withdrawal (either partial or whole) of the breech-screw and the sliding out
of the breech-screw and sliding plate together I fix a pin or stud in the sliding
plate which engages in a corresponding groove cut in the breech-screw thereby
stopping the breech-screw from further rotation when it has been sufficiently un-
screwed to be withdrawn either wholly or partly from its corresponding recess
in the gun.
In some of the above arrangements this groove in the breech-screw
is continued so as to enable the cylinder with internal female screw surface to
rotate in the said sliding-plate during the sliding out motion of the cylinder and
breech-screw. The form of groove required will depend on the mechanical means
adopted for giving the three necessary movements to the breech-screw as will be
understood by referring to the accompanying drawings.
In order to open the breech of the gun motion will be given (in the proper direction)
to the cylinder, the multi-threaded female screw surface on the interior of which
cylinder will operate the corresponding male screw surface on the end of the breech-
screw and unscrew the breech-screw. By continuing this motion the breech-screw
will be withdrawn by the action of the multi-threaded screw surfaces either wholly or
partly into the said cylinder. When withdrawn to the desired amount the breech-
screw will be stopped by coming against the end plate and also by means of the before
mentioned pin and its groove. The breech-screw and cylinder will thus be locked
together as one piece and will either rotate in the sliding plate or remain stationary
with respect to the same, but in all cases will move outwards with the sliding plate.
This sliding out motion is effected in the arrangement described for lighter ordnance
by means of the pin on the arm at the front end of the cylinder bearing against the
side of the vertical part of its groove as a fulcrum as described in the Specification of
my Letters Patent No. 2251 dated 24th May 1881, and in the arrangements for heavier
ordnance by continued turning of the pinion or worm by the actuating handle.
In the drawings accompanying this specification no firing apparatus is shown though
1 prefer to use an electric firing apparatus.
A stop is provided where necessary to limit the outward travel of the sliding plate.
The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the rear of a gun fitted with this mechanism, the breech
being closed.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the rear of the gun, the breech being open.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the rear of the gun, the breech being closed.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the rear of a gun, the breech being closed.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section along the front part of the said sliding plate, the breech-
screw being unscrewed.
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the arrangement described for lighter ordnance, and
Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the arrangement for heavier ordnance.
Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a gun showing the pinion wheel and rack arrangement
above described.
Fig. 7 is an end elevation of a gun showing the modified arrangement of worm and
worm wheel above described.
Fig. 8 is a plan of the rear end of a gun with the worm and worm wheel arrangement.
Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the rear end of a gun with the worm and worm wheel
arrangement.
Fig. 10 is a plan of breech-screw showing the form of groove in which, in this
arrangement the pin works. In the arrangements shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6,
the groove would have to be continued in the breech-screw so as to permit of the
breech-screw and cylinder together rotating within the sliding plate during the sliding
out motion.
In all these figures, similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A is the cylinder. B is the multi-threaded male screw-surface formed at the end

page_text: of the breech-screw. C is the sliding plate. D is the arm (in Figs. 1, 2, and 4) at
the front end of the cylinder A; and E is the groove cut in the rear face of the
breech; F is the hand lever or arm (in Figs. 1, 2 and 4) at the rear end of the
H is the pin
cylinder A. G is the closing plate at the rear end of the cylinder A.
or stud in the sliding plate C which secures the proper sequence of movements to the
breech-screw, and H is the groove in which it moves.
In Fig. 6 Í is the pinion, I¹ is the hand lever or crank for actuating the same. J is
the wheel formed on exterior of cylinder A and K is the rack.
In Figs. 7, 8, and 9, L is the worm fitted across the breech, L' is the handle for
actuating same. M is the worm wheel formed on exterior of cylinder A. N is the
stop for limiting the outward movement of the sliding plate.
Dated this 24th day of December 1888.
GEORGE QUICK.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-loading Ordnance.
1 GEORGE QUICK of Chipping Campden in the County of Gloucester (formerly of
2 Victoria Mansions in the City of Westminster) Flect Engineer, Royal Navy,
Retired, 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:-
These improvements relate to those breechloading guns in which the breech is
closed by means of a breechscrew with interrupted thread and consists of means for
giving the unscrewing and withdrawing motions to the breechscrew and also sliding
the breechscrew after withdrawal to one side of the gun without any lifting or
swinging motion; these being improvements on the Invention of William Peake
Improvements relating
described in the Specification of his Letters Patent entitled "
to Breech Mechanism for Ordnance" No. 5161 dated 7th April A.D. 1888.
In order to effect this I employ a cylinder the interior of which is provided with a
multithreaded female screw surface, which surface is adapted to engage with a corre-
sponding multithreaded male screw surface formned on the rear end of the breechscrew
or on a metal plate attached to the rear end of the said breechscrew.
'
The front end of the cylinder is open and is secured in a sliding-plate but is free to
turn therein as described in the Specification accompanying my Application for Letters
Patent No. 18785 of A.D. 1888. This sliding plate moves in grooves or guide ways
cut in or formed at the rear end of the gun. The rear end of the cylinder is partly
closed by a plate; the front end of the cylinder is provided with an arm having at its
end a pin which engages in a groove cut in the rear face of the breech of the gun.
gun while that part in
This groove is formed partly concentric to the bore of the
which the pin travels during the movement of the sliding plate is vertical. The rear
end of the cylinder is provided with a hand lever by which the cylinder is rotated.
The above described arrangement is intended for Ordnance of about eight inches in
calibre or under but for heavy guns in which a multiplication of power is required for
operating the breech mechanism I fix or form a tooth wheel on the exterior of the front
part of the cylinder and on the sliding plate I fit a pinion to gear into the said wheel by
which the wheel and cylinder will be rotated. The pinion is provided with a crank lever
by which it may be turned. On the rear face of the breech of the gun I fix a
rack suitable for the said wheel to gear into. portion of the teeth of the said
wheel are removed for, say, one quarter or one third of the circumference so as
to allow the said wheel to pass the rack whilst the breechscrew is being unscrewed
and withdrawn from the gun. At the moment when the breechscrew has been
withdrawn sufficiently from its recess in the gun the teeth of the wheel come into
gear with those of the rack and further rotation of the pinion and wheel will
cause the sliding plate to move to one side of the gun by which the chamber is
opened ready for loading. The reverse motion of the pinion causes the wheel and
cylinder to revolve and the wheel being engaged with the rack brings the sliding

page_text: ртате, супитет
preecuscrew DICK LO the rear of the chamber of the gun.
When the cylinder and breechscrew are in line with the chamber the teeth on the
wheel cease to engage with the rack (the blank part of the wheel then passes
the rack) and the continued rotation of the pinion and cylinder forces the breech-
screw forward into the gun and finally screws it up.
As a modification of this pinion, wheel and rack mechanism for actuating the
said cylinder and sliding-plate I may employ a worm fitted across the breech of
the gun to gear into a worm wheel on the said cylinder which worm may be
actuated direct by a hand lever or crank worked at the side of the gun or the
worm may be turned by means of wheels and pinions or ratchet lever when further
multiplication of power or any change in the direction of the application of power
may be desired. Or I may use the automatic arrangements for actuating the said
worm as described in the Specification of my Letters Patent No. 7919 of A.D. 1888
some modification thereof for utilizing the energy of recoil of the gun for
opening and closing the breech of the gun.
ог
In order to secure the proper sequence of movements for effecting the unscrewing
and withdrawal of the breechscrew and the sliding out of the breechscrew, cylinder
and sliding-plate together and the reverse operations when required I fix a pin or stud
in the sliding-plate which engages in a corresponding groove cut in the breechscrew
whereby the breechscrew is stopped in the proper position for it to be withdrawn
either wholly or partly from its recess in the gun. In some of the above described
arrangements the groove in the breechscrew is continued partly around the front part
of the breechscrew so as to permit the cylinder with the breechscrew to rotate in the
sliding-plate during the sliding motion of the said cylinder and breechscrew. The form
of groove required will depend somewhat on the mechanical means adopted for giving
the necessary movements to the breechscrew as will be understood by referring to the
Drawings left with the Provisional Specification.
And in order that these improvements may be thoroughly understood and carried
into practical effect I shall now refer to the figures and letters of reference marked on
the Drawings left with the Provisional Specification. In those Drawings no firing
apparatus is shown but I prefer to use an electric firing apparatus.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the rear end of a gun fitted with this mechanism for hand
power only, the breech being closed.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the rear end of the gun the breech being open ready for
loading.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the rear of the gun the breech being closed.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the rear of the gun the breech being closed.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section along the front part of the sliding-plate (), the breech-
screw being unscrewed and ready for withdrawing.
The foregoing Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the arrangements for Ordnance, say,
of eight or nine inch calibre and under; and Figures 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the
arrangement for heavy ordnance.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of the end of a gun showing the pinion, wheel and rack
arrangement for actuating the cylinder and breechscrew.
Fig. 7 is an elevation of the end of a gun showing worm, and worm wheel arrange-
ment for actuating the cylinder and breechscrew.
Fig. 8 is a plan of the rear end of the gun with the worm and worm wheel
arrangement.
Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of the rear end of the gun with the worm and worm
wheel arrangement showing the breechscrew withdrawn into the cylinder ready for
sliding on one side.
Fig. 10 is a plan of the breechscrew showing the form of groove in which the pin
in the sliding-plate fits when the worm and wheel arrangement is employed.
In the arrangements shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 this groove would bave to
be continued partly around the forepart of the breechscrew so as to permit of the
breechscrew and cylinder together rotating in the sliding-plate during the sliding
motion of the said sliding-plate.

page_text: In all these figures similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. A is
the cylinder; B is the multithreaded male screw surface formed at the end of the
breechscrew C is the sliding-plate; D is the arm (in Figures 1, 2, and 4) at the
front ene of the cylinder A and E is the groove cut in the rear face of the breech for
the pin in the arm D to work in; F is the hand lever or arm at the rear end of the
cylinder A, see Figures 1, 2 and 4; G is the closing plate at the rear end of the
cylinder A; H is the pin or stud in the sliding plate C; and, H' is the groove for
the pin II to secure the proper movements of the breechscrew.
In Fig. 6, is the pinion; is the hand lever or crank for actuating the same;
J is the wheel formed on the exterior of cylinder A or secured thereto; and K is
the rack secured to the breech of the gun.
In Figures 7, 8 and 9 L is the worm fitted across the breech; L' is the crank lever
for actuating the same; M is the worm wheel formed on exterior of cylinder A or
secured thereto; and N, which is shown only in Figures 1, 2 and 4, is the stop for
limiting the outward movement of the sliding-plate.
The action of the mechanism shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 is as follows:-
To open the breech of the gun motion will be given in the proper direction by
the hand lever F to the cylinder A, the multithreaded female screw surface on the
interior of cylinder A will operate on the corresponding male screw surface B and
unscrew the breechscrew until further turning of the breechscrew is prevented by
the stop H when the brecchscrew will he in position to be withdrawn from the
gun. By further rotation of the lever F and cylinder A the breechscrew will be
by the action of the multithreaded screw surfaces withdrawn either wholly or partly
into the cylinder A. When the breechscrew is withdrawn to the required extent
the breechscrew will be stopped by coming against the end plate and also by the
pin H as the front end of the straight or longitudinal part of the groove H¹ will
then have arrived at the pin H. The pin in the arm D will now be engaged in
the straight slot E and by further rotation of the lever F the breechscrew and
cylinder A will rotate as one piece in the sliding plate C and will move outwards
with the sliding plate somewhat as described in the Specifications of iny Letters
Patent No. 2251 of A.D. 1881 and No. 18466 of A.D. 1888 and No. 18785 of
A.D. 1888.
To permit the breechscrew to turn during the sliding motion of the sliding plate C
the groove H will be continued around a portion of the circumference or cylindrical
surface of the front part of the breechscrew, but this portion of the groove is not
shown in the drawings.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the continuous motion of the lever F firstly,
unscrews the breechscrew; secondly withdraws the breechscrew into the cylinder;
lastly, slides the breechscrew and cylinder on one side of the gun clear of the chamber,
and thus opens the gun ready for loading without any lifting or swinging motion of
the breechscrew. The reverse motion of the lever F slides the plate C, the cylinder A
and the breechscrew back in line with the chamber and then the multithreaded screw
surface of the cylinder A forces the breechscrew into the gun and finally screws it up
thereby closing the breech ready for the gun to be be fired.
The action of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6 is as follows -The sliding plate C
and cylinder A before described are retained, and the cylinder is provided with the
wheel J on the front part of its exterior, and a pinion I mounted on the sliding plate C
engages therein. The rack K is fixed on the rear face of the breech of the gun with
which rack the teeth of the wheel J can become engaged. When motion is given to
the pinion I by the crank handle I¹ the cylinder A is rotated and the breechscrew is
thereby unscrewed and withdrawn from the gun into the cylinder A as hereinbefore
described. On one part of the wheel J no teeth are formed so that the wheel can turn
a certain distance without engaging in the rack K until the breechscrew is withdrawn
sufficiently into the cylinder A to be slid on one side when further motion of the
pinion 1 will cause the teeth on the wheel J to engage with the teeth in the rack K
by which the sliding plate with pinion I and the cylinder A with the breech-
screw will be slid on one side and thus the breech of the gun will be opened by

page_text: the continuous rotation of the crank lever I' without any lifting or swinging motion
of the breechscrew. The reverse motion of the crank handle I will close the breech
as hereinbefore described. With this mechanism the groove H' must be of the
same form as that employed with the mechanism illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3
and 4 hereinbefore described.
.
The action of the mechanism illustrated by Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 is as follows:-
The sliding plate C and cylinder A are similar to those before described but the
cylinder is caused to revolve and with the sliding-plate to slide by the action of the
worm or multithreaded screw L acting on the worm wheel M which is secured to or
forms part of the cylinder A. The crank handle L' is employed to turn the worm L
by which the cylinder A will be caused to revolve, by which motion the breechscrew
will be unscrewed and withdrawn into the cylinder A. When the breechscrew has
been withdrawn sufficiently and has arrived at the end of the cylinder A the cylinder
will cease to revolve and further rotation of the worm wheel L will force outwards the
sliding plate and the cylinder A with the breechscrew therein, and thus the opening
of the breech will be effected by the continuous rotation of the crank lever L' without
any lifting or swinging motion of the breechscrew.
By reference to Fig. 10 it will be seen that the groove H¹ is partly circumferential
at the rear end of the breechscrew that it then proceeds forward longitudinally in a
straight line and that it terminates without being continued circumferentially at the
front end. The stop H in this case prevents the breechscrew and cylinder from
turning during the sliding in or out of the sliding plate C.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination consisting of the gun, the breechscrew with interrupted thread,
the cylinder A having the multithreaded female screw surface adapted to receive the
multithreaded male screw surface B on the rear end of the breechscrew, the sliding
plate C, the arm D with pin to work in groove E to give the sliding motion to the
plate C, the hand lever F, the pin H and the groove H¹ in the breechscrew substantially
as described for the purpose of opening and closing the breech of the gun without
any lifting or swinging motion of the breechscrow.
2. The combination consisting of the gun, the breechscrew with interrupted thread,
the cylinder A having the female screw surface adapted to receive the male screw
surface B, the sliding plate C, the interrupted toothed wheel J on the cylinder A, the
pinion I, the crank lever I¹, the rack K the pin H and groove H¹ substantially as
described for the purpose of opening and closing the breech of the gun without any
swinging or lifting motion of the breechscrew.
3. The combination consisting of the gun, the breechscrew with interrupted thread,
the cylinder A, the male screw surface B, the sliding plate C, the worm wheel M, the
worm L, the crank lever L' the pin H and groove H' substantially as described for the
purpose of opening and closing the breech of the gun without any swinging or lifting
motion of the breechscrew.
4. The combination of the gun, the breechscrew with interrupted thread, the
cylinder A, the male screw surface B the sliding plate C, the worm wheel M
the worm L, the pin H and groove H with the mechanism described in the Specifi
cation of my Letters Patent No. 7919 of A.D. 1888 (referred to in my Provisiona
Specification No. 18837 of A.D. 1888) for automatically operating the said worm by
the energy of recoil of the gun substantially as described for the purpose of opening
and closing the breech of the gun without any swinging or lifting motion of the
breechscrew.
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