IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE
Year: 1885

page_text: I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in
the county of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ORDNANCE" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
APPARATUS FOR FIRING
This invention has for its object, firstly, a complete gas-tight closure of the firing
chamber of the gun on firing, and secondly to insure greater simplicity, rapidity,
and also safety in firing. In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 shews the firing
mechanism partly in section and partly in elevation broken off; Fig. 2 shews a side
view of the upper end thereof; Figs. 3 and 4 are views of the outer end in two
different positions; Figs. 5 to 14 shew details, Figs. 5 to 13 being in elevation, and
Fig 14 in section; Figs. 15 and 16 shew the mechanism with inserted friction
igniter or electric igniter; Figs. 1 to 16 are about full size. The firing mechanism
consists principally of the screwed piece A Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 and the cover B
screwed on to the same. The screwed piece A is arranged as follows: On both
sides of the collar a is a screwed piece of which the front one v has an angular
thread, while the back one h has a trapezoidal thread. The front piece vis
concentric with the collar a; the back one h is however eccentric throughout. The
entire piece is bored through in the direction of the geometrical axis of the collar
to a diameter corresponding with the outer diameter of the touch hole plug and it
is screwed with the angular screw thread into a corresponding female thread in the
breech of the gun to such an extent that the collar bears firmly against the latter
and that at the same time the end of the touch hole plug is backward of the face
of the part h to the extent of only 04 of an inch. The touch hole of the touch
hole plug C, Fig. 1, is enlarged at the rear end to a diameter corresponding with
the diameter of the igniter tube. On the outer face of the collar a is situated a
curved spring eatch f, Figs. 2, 7, 12, 13 and 14, fitting in a corresponding recess
and pivoting at one end on a screw g, while at the moveable end it is provided
with a stepped head k which is guided by means of a cylindrical stud w in a

page_text: corresponding groove of the collar. Lastly, there are provided on the edge of the
ccllar a two geometrically opposite semicircular notches rr for the purpose of being
screwed and unscrewed by means of a key. One of these notches can also be
utilised for introducing the fixing screw which secures the screwed piece in position.
The cover B, Figs. 5 and 6, is constructed as follows. It is cylindrical and forms,
as above stated, the nut of the rear screwed piece h, the head of the same has a
curved opening eccentric to the axis and narrowed towards one end. This
opening is so arranged that when the cover is completely screwed on, the centre
of the narrow end of the opening corresponds with the geometrical axis of the bore
of the screwed piece, that is to say, with the bore of the touch hole. If, on the
other hand the cover is turned 90° out of this position, the centre of the large end
of the opening corresponds with the said axis. In addition, the cover has, at the
side, an elbow shaped handle, i pivoted to it as shewn at Figs. 3, 4, 10 and 11 and
which is curved on its outer surface. The pin u, Figs. 8 and 9, has a hemispherical
head at one end and is formed with a hook at the other end. The cover has also
two side notches m and n of which the first is semicircular and situated exactly
underneath the pivot of the handle; the latter on the other hand is extended and
formed with an incline and is situated 90° from m. Lastly it is to be observed
that the outer edges of the opening & are slightly rounded while the inner edges are
only bevilled off at the larger end of the opening. The mode of operating with this
apparatus is as follows. At Fig. 4 it is shewn in the open position; the cover B is,
in this position, screwed on to the piece A, to within 90° of the full turn. The
opening is situated with its larger end concentric with the touch hole of the touch
hole plug the head of the spring rests against the semi-circular side of the
incline n of the cover and prevents this from being screwed on further; and the
handle is situated in respect of the axial plane of the gun to the right hand at
top. If, now, the igniter is introduced through the hole into the touch hole and
the cover is then turned by means of the handle in the same direction as that of
the hands of a watch to the extent of 90°, the apparatus is in the closed position
Fig. 3. By this means, namely the narrow end of the opening is brought over the
head of the igniter, the cover rests with its inner face firmly against the latter, the
head of the spring rests in a corresponding notch m of the cover and prevents on
the one hand the unscrewing thereof and at the same time prevents the cover from
being screwed on too tightly; and lastly, the handle i rests with its limb S Figs. 10
and 11 loosely against the curved face p of the spring head . For the purpose of
firing, the igniter shewn at Fig. 15 has attached to its loop H', which projects
through the hole 1, an ordinary firing line provided with a hook with electric
igniters; on the other hand, the electrode wire, projecting through the hole 7, is
connected to the contact screw fixed on the gun in an insulated manner.
firing, the cover is turned, by means of the handle in the contrary direction to that
above described for the purpose of removing the casing of the igniter. By moving
the handle downwards and laterally for this purpose, the spring head k is moved
out of the notch m in consequence of the pressure on its rounded back, and as in
consequence of the motion of the cover the spring catch fis freed from the limb S
of the handle, the cover will, on the completion of a quarter revolution, be imme-
diately stopped by the head entering the notch n. In this position of the cover,
as above stated, the large end of the opening is concentric with the touch
hole, from which, consequently, the igniter tube can be withdrawn by means of
the loop.
After
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
1, The construction of the screwed piece A with eccentric action substantially
as herein described,
2, In combination with the cap B, the curved opening arranged and operating
substantially as herein described.

page_text: 3. The construction and mode of operation of the spring catch f for securing
the cap B in the open and closed positions substantially as herein described.
4, The construction and mode of operation of the cover handle i for releasing
the cap from its locked positions substantially as herein described.