Improvements in Breech Loading Ordnance.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 25th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 15th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech Loading Ordnance.
We, ANDREW NOBLE, C.B. late Captain in the Royal Artillery, of Jesmond
Dene House, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Manufacturing Engineer, and GEORGE
HENDERSON of Elswick Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne aforesaid, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to guns in which the breech is closed by a breech piece
locked in place by divided screw threads.
To the breech end of the gun we hinge a bar and on this bar there is a pivot.
The pivot enters a cavity in the breech piece and the breech piece is mounted to
turn on the pivot.
The screw on the breech piece is formed in steps or otherwise as is described in
Captain Noble's Patent No. 4470 in the year 1885 and when the breech piece is
unlocked it can be withdrawn from the gun by a rearward movement of the bar
about the hinge. The bar carries a block which can slide upon it in direction to
and from the hinge. This motion is imparted to the block by a hand lever which
has its fulcrum upon the bar near the hinge and the hand lever is connected with
the block by a link. The breech piece has a pin projecting from it and entering
an elongated hole in the block.
The action in opening the breech is that the block is drawn by the hand lever
and link along the bar towards the hinge and the block being engaged with the
breech piece by means of the projecting pin turns the breech piece to unlock it.
By this time the block has moved along the bar as far as it is able and the
hand lever then in its further movement carries the bar rearward with it, the bar
turning about the hinge. As soon as the bar recedes from the breech of the gun
a catch upon the bar is thereby liberated and it engages with the breech piece
which then cannot turn. In closing the breech the movements occur in the reverse
order, the hand lever carries the bar up to the breech, the retaining catch is
thereby liberated and then the block moves along the bar away from the hinge
thereby turning the breech block and causing the screw threads to engage.
The joint connecting the link with the hand lever is so situate that the
mechanism is self locking.
The arrangement may be modified by dispensing with the sliding block and
connecting an arm forming part of the hand lever with the pin projecting from the
breech piece by an universally jointed link.
The opening and closing of the breech may be rendered automatic in the
following manner :-The gun is upon a recoil mounting and the springs of this
mounting yield when the gun is fired and then immediately bring the gun forward
again.
An arc of teeth is provided, it is fast with the hand lever and it is engaged with
the teeth of a rack carried by the mounting but moveable longitudinally upon it.
The gun when it recoils carries the rack back with it and thereby compresses a
spring, and a pawl prevents the rack going forward with the gun in the return
movement; the arc of teeth consequently during the advance of the gun, rolls
forward along the arc and so the hand lever receives the movement necessary to
open the breech. The arc of teeth is of the peculiar form necessary to enable it
to remain in gear with the rack throughout the movement.
When it is desired to
close the breech the pawl is released by hand, the rack which is thus liberated is
drawn forward by its spring and the arc of teeth is made to turn in the direction
opposite to that of its previous movement; the breech is thus closed.
The spring of the automatic mechanism is contained in a cylinder containing

page_text: oil, it is compressed by a piston moving in the cylinder with a clearance so adjusted
to regulate the speed of movement. A valve gives free passage to the oil whilst
the gun recoils.
The cataract or controlling cylinder is sometimes a separate cylinder from the
one enclosing the spring, in which case the velocity of opening is controlled by a
key or rod of the whole length of the cylinder, passing through an aperture in the
piston, the section of the rod being formed in such a manner as to throttle the
passage of the liquid from one side of the piston to the other and thus regulate
the speed of closing the breech to the required velocity.
Sometimes instead of having a separate axis for the working lever the mechanism
is made so that both the working lever and the breech screw carrier are carried on
the same axis.
Again we sometimes dispense with the spring and cylinder of the automatic
mechanism and merely use the rack and pawl for opening the breech mechanism,
while the closing is performed by hand by means of the working lever.
In guns of so large a size that a hand lever is not sufficiently powerful, it may
be replaced by a worm wheel concentric with the hinge and actuated by a worm
turned by manual labour or otherwise.
The firing mechanism may be arranged in the following manner :-Within the
pivot on which the breech piece is mounted the firing pin and its spring are carried.
A fork embraces the stem of the firing pin and abuts upon a head at its rear end.
The fork is hinged upon the bar and a projection at its outer end engages with a
flange or projection on the breech piece in which is an incline so arranged that as
the breech block is turned to unlock it, the firing pin is moved rearward. The
firing pin is then caught by a scar or hook which retains it until the sear or hook
is displaced by the pull of the lanyard in firing. The gun cannot be fired
prematurely as until the breech piece is securely locked the fork stands in the
way of the advance of the firing pin.
Dated this 26th day of May 1809
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech Loading Ordnance.
We, ANDREW NOBLE, C.B. late Captain in the Royal Artillery, of Jesmond
Dene House, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Manufacturing Engineer, and GEORGE
HENDERSON, of Elswick Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne aforesaid, 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 breech-loading guns which have a divided screw breech
piece. The breech piece is mounted upon a carrier arm; the carrier arm is jointed
to the breech of the gun, and a hand lever or actuating part is provided. This
lever or part is movable in a plane parallel to that in which the carrier arm moves
and it imparts to the breech piece both the rotary motion necessary for locking
and unlocking and the rearward and forward motion necessary for opening and
closing the breech.
The invention also relates to mechanism for automatically working the hand
lever or actuating part.
The invention also relates to firing mechanism for guns having divided screw
breech pieces mounted upon carrier arms.
Figure is a rear elevation of a gun having breech mechanism and firing gear
in accordance with our invention.
Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a plan of
some of the parts..

page_text: Figures 4 and 48 show another modification. Figure 4ª is a rear elevation and
Figure 4 is a plan partly in section.
Figure 5 is a rear elevation and Figure 6 is a plan of a gun similar to that
represented by the Figures 1, 2 and 3, but with a hand wheel and worm gearing.
replacing the hand gearing.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 relate to the firing and safety mechanism shown by the
Figures 1, 2 and 3, Figure 7 is a rear elevation and Figure 8 is a plan with parts
removed and partly in section and Figure 9 is a horizontal section, with the parts
in a different position.
Figure 10 is a rear elevation and Figure 11 is a longitudinal section of a gun
with breech mechanism similar to that shown by the Figures 1, 2 and 3 but with
other safety mechanism.
Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 shew a modification of the breech mechanism, and also
automatic gear in connection therewith.
Figure 12 is a rear elevation, Figure 13 is a side elevation, and Figures 14 and 15
are plans with the parts in different positions. Figures 16, 17 and 18 show another
[modification. Figure 16 is an end elevation, Figure 17 is a side elevation, and
Figure 18 is a plan.
Figures 19 to 23 shew a modification in which in place of the toothed rack bar
and toothed arc of the preceding figures a toothless bar and are or drum are
substituted and engaged the one with the other by chains.
Figure 19 is a rear elevation. Figure 20 is a side elevation. Figure 21 is a
longitudinal section of some of the parts in the firing position. Figure 22 shews
the same parts after recoil and Figure 23 shews also the same parts when the gun
has run forward and the breech open.
Figures 24 and 25 shew another modification in which a bar performing the
same movements as the rack bar transmits in a different manner this movement
to the breech mechanism which latter mechanism is the same as in the preceding
figures.
The Figures 24 and 25 shew also another form of retaining or catch
mechanism.
Figure 24 is a rear elevation and Figure 25 is a side elevation partly in
section.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3 the construction is as follows:-
To the breech end of the gun a we hinge at e' a bar e which we call the carrier
bar, and on this bar there is a pivot piece ². The pivot enters a cavity in the
breech piece b, and the breech piece is mounted to turn on the pivot.
The screw on the breech piece is formed in steps, and with segmental screw
threads upon it as described in Captain Noble's Specification No. 4670 in the
year 1885.
When the breech piece is unlocked it can be withdrawn from the gun by a
rearward movement of the bar c about the hinge c'. The bar c carries a block e
which can slide upon it in direction to and from the hinge. This motion is
imparted to the block e by a hand lever d which has its fulcrum d' upon the
bar c near the hinge, and the hand lever is connected with the block by a link f.
The breech piece has a pin 6' projecting from it and entering a surface block e²
which is fitted in an elongated hole e' in the block e.
The action in opening the breech is that the block e is drawn by the hand lever d
and link along the bar c towards the hinge c', and the block being engaged with
the breech piece b by means of the projecting pin turns the breech piece to unlock
it. By this time, the block e has moved along the bar e as far as it is able, and
the hand lever d then in its further movement carries the bar c rearward with it, the
bar turning about the hinge c¹. As soon as the bar recedes from the breech of the
gun, a catch upon the bar is thereby liberated and it engages with the breech
piece which then cannot turn. In closing the breech the movements occur in the.
reverse order, the hand lever carries the bar up to the breech, the retaining catch

page_text: is thereby liberated and then the block moves along the bar away from the hinge
thereby turning the breech block and causing the screw threads to engage.
The joint connecting the link with the hand lever is so situate that the
mechanism is self locking for it should be observed that the pivot f* on the hand
lever which takes the link is so arranged that the two pivots of the link and the
hinge care not in a straight line when the breech is closed but the pivot f* passes
a little beyond and comes to abut against the gun when the breech block is closed,
which renders it impossible for the breech block to unscrew when the gun is fired.
The lever and the link are arranged to form a toggle joint or Stanhope lever which
gives a maximum power when starting to unscrew the block.
To reduce the friction at the hinge c' when swinging the breech piece, we some-
times use anti-friction balls, rollers or washers. The firing mechanism and
apparatus in connection therewith shown in the Figures 1, 2 and 3 is described
later on.
Figure 4 shows a modification in which the block e on the hand lever has gear
teeth which engage with corresponding teeth on the breech block b.
Figures 4 and 4" show a further modification in which the block e and link fare
combined and take the form of a rack bar which is engaged with the hand lever as
well as with the breech block by means of gear teeth.
In guns of so large a size that a hand lever is not sufficiently powerful, it may be
replaced by a worm wheel and pinion gear and actuated by a worm turned by
manual labour or otherwise. This arrangement is seen in the. Figures 5 and 6.
The link is connected to an arm w which is pivotted at dupon the bar c... On
the arm w is formed a sector of a wheel which gears into a pinion w' pivotted on
the hinge c. Fast with ' is a worm wheel w2, which is actuated by a worm fitted
to a shaft w³. At the other end of the shaft is fixed a hand wheel w¹.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9 a suitable firing mechanism is shown.
The firing mechanism is so arranged that the powder charge may be fired either
by electricity or percussion.
For electric firing, the pint which is suitably isolated is held by its spring t¹ hard.
against the primer in the base of the cartridge. An electric cable connects the
firing pin with a battery, and completing the circuit by a trigger, we are enabled
to pass an electric current through the firing pin to the primer, and thus fire the
charge.
A handle 2 is fitted to the firing pin, and to fire by percussion we pull the firing
pin to the rear by hand until it is caught by a sear or hook which retains it until
the sear or hook is displaced by the pull of the lanyard in firing.
The gun cannot be fired prematurely as safety gear is provided.
The safety gear is arranged in the following manner. A lever p carried by the
bar c bears against the projection on the rear end of the firing pin. This lever is
fitted to a spindle p² to the bottom of which is fixed a lever which is made with
a projection on the underside. This projection is held in a cam groove cut in
the hand lever d; by this means the moving of the hand lever away from the
locked position moves a lever p, and thus withdraws the firing pin to the rear, and
before the breech piece has commenced to unscrew the firing pin has been with-
drawn a sufficient distance to effectually prevent it from making a contact with an
electric primer or from striking a percussion primer. During the first movement
of the hand lever away from the rear face of the gun, the projection p³ is moved
through an eccentric part of the groove into a concentric part, and while travelling
in the concentric part the sliding block e presses down a flat spring s into a recess
in the lever thereby retaining it in position while the hand lever is drawn
clear in unscrewing the breech piece. The flat spring is held in the recess, until
the projection p³ is again engaged in the concentric part of the groove in the hand
lever.
When the hand lever is in the locked position the spring s springs into another.
recess in the lever p², by this means the hand lever is held in the locked position
when the gun is elevated.

page_text: 12
In Figures 10 and 11 another suitable safety firing mechanism is shewn.
Within the pivot 2 on which the breech piece b is mounted the firing pin land
its spring are carried. A fork n embraces the stem of the firing pin, and abuts
upon a head at its rear end. The fork is hinged at n' upon the bar c and a toe
piece n² at its outer end engages with a flange or projection 62 on the breech piece
in which flange is an incline so arranged that as the breech block b is turned to
unlock it the firing pin is moved rearwards. The firing pin is then caught by a
sear or hook m which retains it until the sear or hook is displaced by the pull of
the lanyard in firing. The gun cannot be fired prematurely as until the breech
piece is securely locked the fork n stands in the way of the advance of the
firing pin.
The construction of the breech mechanism may be modified by dispensing with
the sliding block and connecting an arm forming part of the hand lever with the
pin projecting from the breech piece by an universally jointed link.
This modification is seen in the Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15. The link fin addition
to the joint f which connects it with the hand lever, has other joints f², f³, and it
terminates in a ring embracing the pin projecting from the breech piece b. The
hand lever d in this case is provided with an arm d² to receive the link f.
The opening and closing of the breech may be rendered automatic in the manner
shewn by these figures. The gun is upon a recoil mounting g and the springs of
this mounting at g₁ yield when the gun is fired, and then immediately bring the
gun forward again.
An arc of teeth d³ is provided it is fast with a hand lever d, and it is engaged
with the teeth of a rack carried by the mounting g but movable longitudinally
upon it. The gun a when it recoils carries the rack back with it and thereby
compresses a spring at i, and a pawl k prevents the rack going forward with the
gun in the return movement. The arc of teeth d³ consequently during the advance
of the gun, rolls forward along the rack and so the hand lever d receives the
movement necessary to open the breech. The arc of teeth d³ is of the peculiar
form necessary to enable it to remain in gear with the rack throughout the
movement. When it is desired to close the breech a pawl k is released by hand,
the rack which is thus liberated is drawn forward by its spring at i, and the arc
of teeth is made to turn in the direction opposite to that of its previous movement ;
the breech is thus closed.
The spring of the automatic mechanism is contained in a cylinder i containing
oil, it is compressed by a piston 2 moving in the cylinder i with a clearance
adjusted to regulate the speed of movement. A valve gives free passage to the oil
whilst the gun recoils. is a rod connecting the rack h and piston h². The
pawl k is provided with a spring k¹ and a handle k².
The cataract or controlling cylinder is sometimes a separate cylinder from the
one enclosing the spring in which case the velocity of opening is controlled by a
key or rod of the whole length of the cylinder, passing through an aperture in the
piston, the section of the rod being formed in such a manner as to throttle the
passage of the liquid from one side of the piston to the other, and thus regulate
the speed of closing the breech to the required velocity.
We sometimes regulate the speed of the swinging of the carrier and breech
block by means of a small hydraulic buffer attached to the carrier or the gun,
having a piston rod projecting which is forced into the recoil press when the
breech closes, and thus absorbs the energy of the breech block, and causes the
carrier to close gently against the gun.
.
Sometimes instead of having a separate axis for the working lever, the mechanism
is made so that both the working lever and the breech screw carrier are carried on
the same axis.
This modification is shewn by the Figures 16, 17 and 18.
Again we sometimes dispense with the spring and cylinder of the automatic
mechanism, and merely use the rack and pawl for opening the breech mechanism
while the closing is performed by hand by means of the working lever.

page_text: In guns of so large a size that a hand lever is not sufficiently powerful it may be
replaced by a worm wheel and pinion gear fitted to a pivot provided either on the
bar or on the hinge c¹, and actuated by a worm turned by manual labour or
otherwise.
Thus the rack h and the automatic mechanism may be dispensed with, and a
worm engaging with the teeth d³ may be substituted.
Both hand and automatic gear may be retained, suitable means being provided
for taking the hand mechanism out of gear when the automatic gear is being used
or vice versa.
In Figures 19 to 23 toothed gearing is dispensed with and in place thereof the
bar is connected by chains with the arc d³ or rather with the drum which as here
drawn replaces the arc. The operation of the parts is as already described; as
the spring is compressed by the recoil, the bar has a stop upon it and a catch,
on the hand lever k engages this stop and holds it whilst the breech opens during
recoil and until by a movement of the handle the bar is released; then the
spring carries the bar forward turning the drum d³ and the breech is closed.
In Figures 24 and 25 the gun breech mechanism is the same as previously
described. The teeth on the lever dengage with a bevil wheel B, through
which works a quick pitched screw. This screw is on the end of the bar h which
is square at * and to the other end of the bar is attached a packed piston ²
working in the cylinder i. In this cylinder is a spiral spring ), and on the top of
the cylinder is a tank H, containing liquid, and in this tank is a clack valve I,
opening into the cylinder i, and which is arranged to be opened by means of the
lever K.
The action of the breech opening mechanism is as follows:-
When the gun recoils, the screw with piston and rod is drawn back compressing
the spring the cylinder i is at the same time filled or partially filled with liquid
through the clack valve I. As the gun returns into firing position the clack
valve closes, the piston is held; and the quick pitched screw revolves the bevil
wheel B and opens the breech; the square part of the bar at the same time pre-
venting the screw from rotating. After the gun is loaded the lever K is lifted,
which allows the liquid to pass back into the tank, and the action of the spring
against the piston closes the breech. Sometimes we use a separate by-pass valve
instead of opening the clack valve as described. Sometimes instead of employing
liquid we use a pawl to hold the screw while the gun is returning into the firing
position. Sometimes instead of using a tank we pass the rod through both ends
of the cylinder i and employ a non-return valve or valves in the piston; the
piston being held by the liquid as before. A by-pass valve is then employed
to allow the liquid to pass from one side of the piston to the other. We also
can employ a force pump for transferring liquid from the tank to the cylinder
and thus working the breech screw by hand and independently of the recoil of
the gun.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. The combination of the gun, the breech piece locked in the gun by a
divided screw thread, a carrier arm hinged at one end to the gun and at its
other end pivotally connected with the breech piece, a handle or arm pivotally
connected at one end with the carrier arm, a link (f) pivotally connected with
the handle or arm at one end, a sliding block e, to which the other end of the
link is pivotally connected and which is carried by a carrier arm, and adapted
to move in a recess therein, and engaging a part on the breech block b and on the
sliding block e.
'
2. The combination of the gun, the breech piece locked in the gun by a
divided screw thread, a carrier arm on which the breech piece is pivotted and
which is pivotted at one end to the gun and a lever arın or handle serving to

page_text: operate the breech block and connected with it by a link and arm and a self
locking joint which prevents the breech block unscrewing when the gun is fired.
3. The combination of the gun, the breech piece locked in the gun by a divided
screw thread, a carrier arm on which the breech piece is pivotted, and which is
pivotted at one end to the gun, a lever arni connected to the carrier arm, a link
connecting the lever arm to the breech piece.
4. The combination of the gun, a mounting in which it is free to slide, the
breech piece locked in the gun by a divided screw thread, a carrier arm on which
the breech piece is pivotted, and which is pivotted at one end to the gun, a lever
arm connected to the carrier arm, a link connecting the lever arm to the breech.
piece, an arc of teeth connected with said arm, a rack bar connected with the
to move back with it during recoil before the breech is opened, a catch for holding
the rack in its retracted position and means for moving the gun forward after
recoil.
gun
5. The combination of apparatus in accordance with the preceding claim but.
with the substitution for the arc of teeth and the rack bar of an arc or drum and
bar connected by chains.
5a. The combination of apparatus in accordance with the fourth claim but with.
the substitution for the rack bar of a bar with a screw thread upon it and with a.
corresponding change in the gearing for transmitting the movement.
6. The combination of the gun, a mounting in which it is free to slide, the
breech piece locked in the gun by a divided screw thread, a carrier arm on which
the breech piece is pivotted, and which is pivotted at one end to the gun, a lever
arm connected to the carrier arm, a link connecting this lever arm to the breech.
piece, an arc or drum connected with said arm, a bar engaged with the arc or drum
and connected with the gun to move back with it during recoil before the breech
is opened, a catch for holding the bar in its retracted position, means for moving
the gun forward after recoil, and means for moving the rack forward after the
catch is released.
7. The combination of the gun, breech mechanism in accordance with our
invention and safety apparatus consisting of levers and p² with projection p³:
fitting into a groove in the hand lever together with spring catch s actuated by the
sliding block e, and a sliding spring actuated firing pin with which the lever p
engages.
8. The combination of the gun, a breech piece locked in the gun by a divided
screw thread, a swinging carrier on which the breech piece is pirotted, the forked
lever n pirotted on the carrier, a flange or incline 2 on the breech piece with
which the forked lever n engages by means of toe piece n² and a sliding spring
actuated firing pin with which the fork of the lever n engages.
9. The arrangement of worm and wheel mechanism operating a swinging carrier
bar and a breech piece pivotted on the said bar.
10. Breech mechanism for ordnance substantially as described and illustrated by
the annexed drawings.
Dated this 18th day of February 1893.
W. NOBLE.
GEORGE HENDERSON.