Improvements in Ordnance.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1887
Complete Left; 3rd Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 11th May, 1888
Improvements in Ordnance.
I, GEORGE QUICK, of Victoria Mansions, in the City of Westminster; Fleet
Engineer Royal Navy Retired, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to an improvement in the construction of self-cocking
percussion-locks with rebounding action described in the specification of my Letters
Patent for "Improvements in ordnance" No. 11132 and dated 11th August 1884,
and to an improvement in the mechanism for extracting the percussion or electric
firing-tubes and consists,
Firstly, in fitting a trigger or "firing-bar" with a pivotted hook near the front or
striking end of the hamuier of the lock, which pivotted hook is caused to engage with
the said striking end of the hammer by means of a flat spring fitted into the said
trigger or firing-bar.
The said trigger or firing-bar is forced into contact with the hammer so as to allow
the pivotted hook therein to engage with the haminer by means of a flat spring
secured at one end to the side of the lock and with the other end of the said spring
acting on a notch formed in one side of the said trigger. The main spring for
actuating the striking hammer has the shorter arm connected with the short arm of
the hammer and the long arm of the main spring is passed under the long arm of the
hammer.
The extreme end of the long arm of the spring is forked so as to pass under two
shoulders formed on the sides of the striker by which the said striker and hammer are
lifted or caused to rebound together immediately.
Secondly, the improvement in the mechanisin for the extraction of the percussion
or electric firing-tubes consists in actuating the extractor proper by means of a
tappet lever mounted on the same spindle as the extractor, the said tappet lever
being actuated by a stud or projection formed on the side of the percussion-lock.
The said tappet lever and spindle on which it is mounted have cam surfaces which
DQ37

page_text: permit the tappet lever to move through a portion of a revolution without the
spindle being moved. The tappet. lever is held in the normal position by means
of a flat spring acting on the back thereof, but permitting a certain amount of
movement when the tappet lever is pressed by the stud or projection on the lock.
The extractor is forced into its seating also by means of a flat spring acting on the 5
end thereof so that it is impossible for the percussion or electric firing-tube to be
insorted behind the extractor.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ordnance.
I, GEORGE QUICK, of Victoria Mansions, in the City of Westminster, Elect
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 :-
This invention relates to an improvement in the construction of self-cocking
percussion-locks with rebounding action described in the Specification of my Letters
Patent for "Improvements in Ordnance" No. 11132 and dated 11th August 1884
and to an improvement in the mechanism for extracting the percussion or electric
firing tubes and consists,
Firstly, in fitting a trigger or "firing bar" with a pivotted hook near the front or
striking end of the hammer of the lock, which pivotted hook is caused to engage with
the said striking end of the hammer by means of a flat spring fitted into the said
trigger or "firing bar."
The said trigger or firing-bar is forced into contact with the hammer so as to allow
the pivotted hook therein to engage with the hammer by means of a flat spring
secured at one end to the side of the lock and with the other end of the said spring
acting on a notch formed in one side of the said trigger. The main spring for
actuating the striking hammer has the shorter arm connected with the short arin of
the hammer and the long arm of the mainspring is placed under the long arm of the
hammer.
The extreme end of the long arm of the Spring is forked so as to pass under two
shoulders formed on the sides of the striker by which the said striker and hammer are
lifted or caused to rebound together immediately.
Secondly, the improvement in the mechanism for the extraction of the percussion or

page_text: electric fring-tubes consists in actuating the extractor proper by means of a tappet
lever mounted on the same spindle as the extractor, the said tappet lever being
actuated by a stud or projection formed on the side of the percussion-lock. The said
tappet lever and spindle on which it is mounted have cam surfaces which permit
the tappet lever to move through a portion of a revolution without the spindle
being moved. The tappet lever is held in the normal position by means of a flat
spring acting on the back thereof, but permitting a certain amount of movements
when the tappet lever is pressed by the stud or projection on the lock.
The extractor is forced into its seating also by means of a flat spring acting on
the end thereof so that it is impossible for the percussion or electric firing-tube to
be inserted behind the extractor.
And in order that my Invention may be understood and carried into practice
I have caused to be annexed to this Specification the accompanying sheets of
drawings, whereof Sheets 1 and 2 represent my improved lock and Sheets 3 and 4
the new arrangement of extractor mechanism, and shall now refer to the figures
and letters of reference marked thereon.
In Sheets 1 and 2, Fig. 1 is a vertical section of my improved construction of
self-cooking percussion lock, showing the hook in engagement with the nose or front
end of the hammer, that is the lock is ready to be cocked and fired, the teeth on
the underside of the lock not being shown.
Fig. 2 is a similar vertical section only showing the hook disengaged from the
hammer and the latter commencing its descent.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of one end of the lock.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the side of the trigger or "firing-bar," with its pivotted
hook and spring removed therefrom.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of the back of the trigger or
book and spring.
"
firing-bar," with its pivotted
Fig. 6 is a plan of the lock, with the upper part of the lock case cut away and the
trigger or "firing-bar" in section, the trigger or "firing-bar" and its pivotted hook
being of the same construction as that shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
Fig. 7 is a plan of the trigger or "firing-bar" containing an alternate form of
pivotted hook and spring.
Fig. 8 is a trigger or firing-bar" in section, containing the same form of pivotted
hook and spring shown in Fig. 7.
In all these figures similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A is the trigger or "firing-bar," which is provided with an eye at its upper end to
permit of a lanyard being used, "a" is the hook pivotted therein and placed at the
front or striking end of the hammer, and "a" is the spring for forcing it into
engagement with the hammer B. B is the long or striking end of the hammer B
which turns on a pivot screwed into the side of the lock case and B³ is the short arm.
of the hammer B. This short arm B is provided at its outer end with a link ""
adapted to engage with the forked end of the short arm of a spring C. The long arm
of the spring is forked at its outer end and takes under two shoulders formed on the
striker D, and the lower end of the striker D works through a corresponding hole cut
in the bottom of the lock case. E is the spring for retracting the trigger or "firing-
bar" A, after the hammer B has been disengaged from the pivotted hook of the latter
and the lanyard has been released. The free or active end of the spring E is placed
in a notch cut in the trigger or firing-har" A, whilst the other end is fixed to the
lock case by a screw or otherwise. F is the guide or slot cut in the side of the lock
case for the trigger or
" firing-bar" A to slide in.
"
In Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5 and 6 I have shown a spring "a" which is inserted sideways
into the trigger or "firing-bar" A and acts on the back of the pivottor hook "a".""
In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown another form of spring "a" which is inserted from
above into a dovetailed slot and acts on the front of a projection or continuation of
the pivotted hook "a'."
The said springs may be in both cases further secured by means of a screwed pin, .
s shown.

page_text: The action of the lock is as follows-
The operator will give the necessary pull to the lanyard which will draw the
trigger or "firing-bar" A with it and in consequence of the pivotted hook "a" being
kept under the nose of the hammer B by the action of its spring "a" and the lock
case the hammer B will be drawn upwards turning on its axis-The hammer B will
he released at that point of the radial path of its lower edge which intersects the
rectilinear line of motion of the front edge of the pivotted hook "a." The hammer B
will then fall and hit the striker D which after it has dealt the proper blow to the
primer will be retracted by the action of the long arm of the spring . The lanyard
being then released by the operator the trigger or firing-bar" A will be retracted by
the action of its spring E and the end of the pivotted hook "u" be borne against the
nose of the hammer B, which will cause it to be driven back. When the upper edge
of the pivotted hook "a," comes below the level of the lower edge of the front end of
the hammer B the pivotted hook "," will be urged forward by the action of the
spring "a" and the lock will be again ready for firing.
"
I may use a cover, if desired, whereby I make the whole lock dirt-proof. I have
shown the position of this cover by dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 6.
In Sheets 3 and 4, Fig. 9 is a vertical section of a breech-screw, breech screw lever
and firing-lock, with a primer inserted in the vent.
Fig. 10 is an elevation of the rear face of the breech screw lever, with the firing
lock removed.
Fig. 11 is an elevation of the left side of a breech-screw lever, with the firing-lock
inserted in its place in position for firing, and with the breech-screw and locking-lever
and its pinion removed.
-- b,
Fig. 12 is a sectional plan of the breech-screw lever taken along the line a - - - -
Fig. 10, with the lock inserted in its place.
Fig. 13 is a sectional plan of part of the breech-screw lever, taken along the
line
d Fig. 10.
Figs. 14, 14, and 14° are detailed views on an enlarged scale of the tappet lever
and its cam shaft.
I have shown in these figures a lock of the same external and internal construction
as that shown in Figs. 1 to 8 on Sheets 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, but it
will be readily understood that I may use a lock of any other construction.
In all these figures similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
F is the firing-lock which is provided with a projection or lug """ so located that
it shall not butt against the tappet lever G till the striker end of the firing-lock F has
which
passed the flat surface of the forked end of the extractor H. The extractor H,
is forked at its lower end so as to fit behind the shoulder of and grasp the primer, is
mounted on a cam-shaft I which is provided with bearings at both ends to rest in the
breech-screw lever. The tappet-lever G is provided with a cam shaped hole to fit on
a corresponding cam-surface on the cam-shaft I and the extractor H with a square
hole to fit on a square part of the cam-shaft I.
This cam-shaft I is provided with a cylindrical or plain part "" which rests in a
bearing formed in the breech-screw lover, a cam-surface "2" which fits into a corre-
sponding but somewhat longer cam-shaped hole in the tappet-lever G, a cylindrical or
plain part which rests in a bearing provided in the breech-screw lever, and a
square part ""upon which the extractor H is mounted, and a cylindrical or plain
part ""which rests in a bearing provided in the breech-screw lever. The end"
of this shaft is screwed to receive a cap-nut ".” The cam-shaft I is inserted
end-ways, and the tappet-lever G and the extractor H being placed in their recesses
are mounted on the same and by tightening the cap-nut the whole is securely
fastened in its place.
The extractor H is provided at its upper end with a lug or projection against which
a spring L presses, which is provided to retract or return the extractor H to its
norinal position.
A similar spring K presses against the back of the tappet-lever G, and is provided
for the purpose of returning the said tappet-lever G to its normal position. Both of

page_text: these springs K and L are fastened to the breech-screw-lever by means of screws
or otherwise, the breech-screw lever being suitably recessed to permit of their
reception and to allow of their backward motion.
The firing-lock F is provided on its under surface with teeth which gear into a
pinion formed in one with the locking-lever, the two forming a rack and pinion motion
to move the firing-lock F to and from the centre or axis of the breech-screw, as will
be readily understood.
The action of the extractor mechanism is as follows-
When the gun has been fired and it is required to extract the primer the operator
will give the required motion to the locking lever. This will move the firing lock F.
from the centre of the breech-screw and the projection "f" of the firing-lock F will
be caused to butt up against the tappet-lever G. The extractor H. being then free to
move outwards as already explained, will do so by reason of the cam-shaped hole of
the tappet-lever G. acting against the corresponding cam surface or projection""
in the cam-shaft I, and the extraction of the primer will be effected by the further
motion of the locking-lever. The tappet-lever G will be released from the pro-
jection "on the firing-lock F as the lock moves further outwards and the
tappet-lever G, and the extractor H, will then be returned to their original positions
by the retractive action of their springs K and L.
When the firing-lock F. is returned to its original position by the reverse motion of
the locking-lever the projection "f" on the firing-lock F will be caused to press
against the tappet-lever G which is free to turn on its shaft to the requisite amount by
reason of the cam-shaped hole in the same being longer than the corresponding cam
surface on the cam shaft I. When the tappet-lever G has reached a certain
part of its radial path it will be released from the projection "" on the firing-lock F
and will be returned to its original position by the spring K.
"
I do not bind myself to the exact details of my invention as they may be
considerably varied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,
1st. In a rebounding self-cocking percussion-lock the combination of a trigger or
firing-bar" within which is pivotted a hook capable of engaging with the front or
striking end of a hammer, the haminer itself, and a striker, all of the several parts
being provided with springs to return them to their original positions when dis-
placed therefrom substantially as described and illustrated with the aid of the
accompanying drawings.
2nd. In a rebounding self-cocking percussion-lock the combination of a trigger or
"firing-bar" A. and its spring E a pivotted hook "a" and its spring "a" the
two-armed baminer B. and its link "," a striker D and the Spring C the forked end
of the short arm of which engages with lugs formed on the link "" of the
hammer B. while the forked end of the long arm of the Spring C takes under two
shoulders formed on the Striker D. substantially as described and illustrated in figs. 1
to 8. of the accompanying drawings.
3rd. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved
mechanism for the extraction of vent-sealing primers substantially as described and
illustrated by sheets 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
1000
GEORGE QUICK.