IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE
Year: 1874

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 25th June 1874.-A communication from abroad by Achille
Thomas-Anquetil and Achille Greneu, both of Paris, France.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS AND
ORDNANCE," to be as follows:-
This Invention of improvements in breech-loading fire-arms and
ordnance is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, Figure, 1 of
which is a longitudinal section of a central-fire single gun with the lever
brought home and the cock down.
Figure 2 shows the action apart from the stock, the hammer being
cocked and the lever drawn down.
Figure 3 shows a side view of the lever detached; A, cam slot; B,
pivot hole; C, spring catch of lever engaging with guard plate; D, heel
of lever by which the hammer is cocked,

page_text: Clark & Improvement I
Figure 4 shows a detached view, and Figure 5 a plan of the breechi
lump on which the breech end of the barrel is supported and having a
mortise E for the breech block to slide in, a corresponding aperture
being made in the guard plate; R, lug to which the extractor is
pivoted.
Figure 6 shows the trigger guard plate which is continued along the
stock, and slotted at x, y, to receive the locking lever; 2, screw by which
the guard plate is fixed.
5
Figure 7 shows.a. back view of the sliding breech block which is
undercut or dovetailed at I, I, as shown, to slide in corresponding 1
grooves in the end of the barrel (as indicated by dotted lines I', Figures
1 and 2), and provided with a spring J, shown detached at Figures 10,
11, and 12; L, passage for striker.
Figure 8 is a plan of the breech block and also showing the position
of screw K for adjusting the striker; M is a recess at one side of the 1
breech block to allow the extractor to be drawn back.
Fig. 13 shews the striker whose head bears against the spring J when
the cock is down; K, adjusting screw before-mentioned received in a
groove in the striker. -
..
Figure 14 shews a rear elevation of link to which a screw is connected
loosely at N. This screw connects the link with the sliding breech
block, but is independent of the link and slides through it when the
latter is raised by the lever..
--
t
Figure 15 shews a side view of the link and hole for screw O. on which
is mounted a small friction roller P, Figure 16, received in the curved s
slot of the locking lever, by which movement is, transmitted to the link.
Figure 17, spiral spring upon screw N between the link and breech
block.
In opening the breech the pull of the lever is transmitted through the
link to the head of screw N to draw down the breech block; but in
closing the latter the movement of the lever is transmitted by the com-
pression of the spring between the link and the breech block. It is by
this arrangement that the opening and closing of the breech is effected
in a perfectly smooth and uniform manner without wear and tear of the
working parts. Should the sliding block become worn the spiral spring

page_text: will still keep the parts in position and maintain a perfectly tight
closure. This spring also on unlocking the lever before opening the
breech slightly presses the lever downwards, so that it may be the more
readily grasped and pulled open.
Figure 18 shows the extractor which is received in a vertical recess
made in the thickness of metal at one side of the breech. This Figure
shews the position of the extractor when the hammer is down; S, claw
of extractor; R, pivot.
Figure 19 is a side view of the extractor, also shown in Figure 2, as
drawn back after removing a spent cartridge case; T, lug on which the
sliding block bears in its downward movement, whereby the extractor is
oscillated, it being returned to position on the upward movement of the
breech block by the pressure of the latter.
In order to still further ensure the proper action of the extractor a
small flexible spring may be applied to act on its tail end and return it
to its normal position, or a second extractor may be placed on the
opposite side of the former.
Also in order to obviate any possible inconvenience in using the
locking lever, owing to the position of the sling, it will suffice to provide
an upper band as usual, and to place another band as near as possible to
the lever without interfering with its action, while for slinging the fire-
arm a spring-hinged stud recessed in a plate is fixed on the butt between
the trigger guard and the plate. Thus arranged when manoeuvring or
firing the sling would be attached to the two bands by a buckle, while
at other times when the fire-arm is to be slung the sling is unbuckled
and attached to the said hinged stud.
Double guns are constructed in an exactly similar manner, except that
the two hammers are separated by a partition plate. One lever and
breech block only are used for the two barrels with two extractors.
The above improvements with modifications, necessitated by the
increased weight and proportions, are also applicable to breech-loading
artillery; including field and mountain guns, and siege, garrison; coast, or
marine artillery.
Figure 20 shows in side elevation the breech end of a gun mounted on
its carriage, both sides being similarly arranged, as shown more clearly in
the rear elevation, Figure 21.

page_text: A, hand wheels fixed at each end of a horizontal shaft B, B, supported
in bearings C, C, and carrying two bevel pinions D, D, which gear with
two other pinions E, E, on vertical screw shafts F, F, turning in
bearings G, G. The breeching closing block whicli is similar to that
described with reference to the small arm is represented in dotted lines;
Ọ is the bore. The sliding block is connected at two or four points I, I,
to a cross head K which is fitted at L, L, with nuts for the screw shafts
F, F, to work through; J, J, springs between the breech block and K;
M, M, two plates fixed to the gun by screws N, and connected by the
rods, between which plates the mechanism works.
When metallic cartridges are used in loading instead of a fuse the
hammer and extractor previously described would be applied.
The mechanism above described may also with but slight modifications
be utilized for clevating the charges.
]
To open the breech the screw shafts F are rotated by means of the 1
hand wheels A, whereby the cross bar K and with it the breech block. H
is lowered until the bore of the gun is uncovered.
In order to close the breech the motion is reversed, whereupon the
cross head K will exert pressure on the springs, and force the breech
closing block up into its seat.
bis
2
Figure 23 shows a vertical section of the breech end of a field gun
with the improvements applied; Figure 23 a horizontal section, and
Figure 24 a rear elevation of same; H, H, breech closing block mado of
a wedge form; I, I, bolts connecting the block with cross head K, K,
which is provided with loops P, P, on its under side; J, J, springs a
attached to K and bearing on breech block; M, M, covering plates.
The checks of the gun carriage R, R, are each provided with a socket S,
as shown in Figures 23 and 24, into which is introduced the pivot of a
hand lever T, whose point U is inserted in one of the loops P of slide K.
V, V, two keys (one only being seen in Figure 23) which are thrust a
through the plates M, and serve to support the slides K in the raised
position. These keys are attached by chains and fixed by means of
cotters. Figure 25 represents different views of the slide K detached,
and Figure 26 views of the springs J.
In order to open the breech the hand spike or lever is first inserted a
and slightly depressed so as to enable keys V to be withdrawn. The

page_text: point of the handspike is then made to bear on the loop P so as to
lower the breech block on to the tie rods of plates M, which limit its
motion. To close the breech pressure is brought to bear in the reverse
direction, after which the keys are replaced.
Figure 27 shows a side view of the improvements as applied to a
small field gun or mountain howitzer, using a metallic cartridge and
provided with an extractor. A, hammer disposed a little to one side of
the piece so as not to interfere with the sighting; this hammer is
released by a cord attached to an eye B, the charge being exploded by
the mere fall of the hammer on the striker, without requiring a violent
pull which would be liable to affect the pointing of the gun; C, C¹,
framing between which the breech mechanism works; D, slide con-
nected to the breech block by bolts and springs y, as in the former
arrangements; E, E, spindle mounted in bearings I, I, and carrying at
each end an arm F, F, identical in purpose with the pull lever of the
small fire-arm before described provided with a curved slot F¹. One of
these lever arms is disposed at the front and the other at the back of the
breech X. On spindle E is a barrel having several holes made in it,
the largest one J being for the insertion of a handspike, and the others
for receiving safety pins should the pawls K fail, which pawls engage
with ratchet teeth on F to retain the breech block Z after it has been
driven home. An extractor is also provided in this case and operated as
before by the motion of the breech block.
Figure 28 shows a rear elevation of the gun. The striker is arranged
11
11 n