Improvements in Quick-firing Guns.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 25th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 31st Jan.,
1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Quick-firing Guns.
I, EMIL RITTER VON SKODA, of Pilsen, Bohemia, Empire of Austria,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to breech-loading guns of the kind described in the
Specification of my Patent No. 13,142 of the year 1888, that is to say, to guns in
which a breech block adapted to slide transversely in any direction inclined toward
the axis of the barrel is connected by a link to a crank of the shaft that carries the
operating lever, and in which the percussion lock is cocked on the breech being
opened.
The invention has for its objects so to arrange the percussion lock as to enable
the same to be directly cocked by the said link; to simplify the percussion lock
by dispensing with a separate scar spring and so arranging the main spring that it
presses directly upon the firing pin and the sear; and so to gear the cartridge extractor
with the breech block as to ensure more exact operation of the said extractor.
According to the invention, the shaft of the said link has formed on it a cam,
which, on the breech being opened, forces backward the firing pin sufficiently far to
admit of the sear taking into the bent of the said pin. The scar is made in the
shape of an angular lever pivoted behind the firing pin and having its horizontal
arm provided with the hook destined to engage the bent of the firing pin, while the
other vertical arm has bearing against it the main spring, which acts directly on the
firing pin. The cartridge extractor is formed of one or two arms arranged at
the rear end of the chamber of the barrel on either or both sides of the breech
block, and movable round an axis perpendicular to the plane containing the axis of
the barrel and the direction in which slides the breech block, the said arm or arms
being provided with projections engaged in grooves of the breech block.
In the annexed sheet of drawings, several modifications of the breech action
hereinbefore referred to are shown.
Fig. 1 is a sectional side clevation of a breech action the breech block of which
is shewn in elevation and has the crank and connecting piece or link arranged at
one side.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of this breech action.
Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional side elevations of this breech action, shewing the
percussion lock cocked and uncocked respectively.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the percussion lock having its main spring formed as
a coiled spring instead of a plate spring.
Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional side and end elevations respectively of a breech action, in
which the crank and link are arranged in a recess in the middle of the breech block,
the breech being shewn closed.
Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation shewing the breech block and cartridge
extractor in elevation.
Fig. 9 is a cross section of the receiver or the rear end of the barrel with the
cartridge extractor but without the breech block.
Fig. 10 shews a modified arrangement of the percussion lock.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 6, the breech is opened by turning the hand lever a in
the direction of the arrow a. The effect of this is that the crank a (made integral
with the shaft a', to which the lever a is secured,) turns the link B from its propping
position which lies beyond its position in line with the crank, whereby the breech-
block A is allowed to lower.
For the purpose of directly utilizing the described small displacement of the link
or connecting piece B for the cocking of the percussion lock, the shaft of the said

page_text: In
link has formed on it a cam 6, by which the firing pin C is forced backward.
the case of the ecrank a² and link B being arranged at the side of the breech block,
the shaft of the link B is extended to the middle of the block (see Fig. 2) where
it carries the cam adapted to act on a projection of the firing pin è so as to
force the said pin backward and compress the spring d.
When the link B is arranged in a recess in the middle of the breech block, as
shown in Figs, 6 and 7, the shaft extends entirely across the breech block A. and
the link B and cam 6' form together a two-armed fever B6, the shorter arm bª of
which presses upon the projection of the firing pin C.
In order to admit of the main spring d, which may be a plate spring or a coiled
spring as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, being caused to press directly upon the firing pin
and the sear, the Intter is made in the shape of an angular lever pivoted behind
the firing pin at, and the main spring d is interposal between the vertical or
depending arm of the sear and the firing pin, so as to exert its pressure on both
parts. When the main spring is compressed by the firing pin to a given point, the
hook of the sear engages in front of a projection for bent of the firing pin C
(see Figs. 4 and 10), whereby the spring at is kept in the compressed state and the
firing pin drawn back (rocked).
For firing (disengaging the hook of the sear from the bent of the firing pin)
pressure must be exerted on the arm of the sear, and to this end a lever or
trigger, Figs. 3 and 6. may be provided. However, when the hook of the sear is
arranged below the firing pin C, as shown in Fig. 10, the sear can be disengaged by
traction directly acting on the arm el.
The sear shown in Fig. 3 and 6 is merely hooked to its pivote, and its upper
extension abuts against a shoulder formed on the breech block, whereby the
rotation of the sear under the action of the spring d is limited.
The cartridge extractor G, Figs, 6 and 8, is movable round an axis perpendicular
to the plane in which moves the geometrical axis of the breech block: . in the
ease shown, the said plane is vertical, the axis of the extractor is horizontal, and
it may be arranged either below or above the rear opening of the chamber of the
barrel. Inwardly projecting studs g of the extractor arms extend into grooves g²
formed in the Interal inces of the breech block and having their top portions
curved rearward in an inclined direction.
On the breech being opened, the described extractor first loosens the cartridge
case, as the lower portions of the grooves are parallel to the inclined guide grooves
along which the breech block slides, and when the studs genter the rearwardly
inclined portions of the grooves g, a sudden rearward motion is imparted to the
extractor arms, whereby the empty case is ejected.
It will be readily understood that the described extractor may also be made with
but one arm or but one stud g².
Dated this 8th day of Soutoubor 1890
E. R. vox SKODA,
Per L. W.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Quick-firing Guns.
1, EMIL RITTER VON SKODA, of Pilsen, Bohemia, Empire of Austria, Manu-
facturer, 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 :—
4
This invention relates to breech-loading quick firing guns of the kind described i
in the Specification of my Patent No. 13,142 of the year 1888, that is to say, to
gimis in which a breech block adapted to slide transversely in any direction inclined
toward the axis of the barrel is connected by a link to a crank of the shaft that
carries the operating lever, and in which the percussion lock is corked on the
breech being opened.

page_text: The invention has for its objects so to arrange the percussion lock as to enable
the same to be directly cocked by the said link; to simplify the percussion lock by
dispensing with a separate sear spring and so arranging the main spring that it
presses directly upon the firing pin and the sear; and so to gear the cartridge
extractor with the breech block as to insure more exact operation of the said
extractor.
According to the invention, the shaft of the said link has formed on it a cam,
which, on the breech being opened, forces backward the firing pin sufficiently far
to admit of the sear taking into the bent of the said pin. The sear is made in the
shape of an angular lever pivoted behind the firing pin and having its horizontal
armi provided with the hook destined to engage the bent of the firing pin, while the
other vertical arm has bearing against it the main spring, which acts directly on
the firing pin. The cartridge extractor is formed of one or two arms arranged at
the rear end of the chamber of the barrel on either or both sides of the breech
block, and movable round an axis perpendicular to the plane containing the axis of
the barrel and the direction in which slides the breech block, the said arm or arms
being provided with projections engaged in grooves of the breech block.
In the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification several modifications of
the breech action hereinbefore referred to are shown.
Referring to these drawings
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a breech action the breech block of which
is shown in elevation and has the crank and connecting piece or link arranged at
one side.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of this breech action.
Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional side elevations of this breech action, shewing the
percussion lock cocked and uncocked respectively.
Fig. 5 is a side clevation of the percussion lock having its main spring formed as
a coiled spring instead of a plate spring.
Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional side and end elevations respectively of a breech
action, in which the crank and link are arranged in a recess in the middle of the
breech block, the breech being shewn closed.
Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation shewing the breech block and cartridge
extractor in elevation.
Fig. 9 is a cross section of the receiver or the rear end of the barrel with the
cartridge extractor but without the breech block.
Fig. 10 shews a modified arrangement of the percussion lock.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 6, the breech is opened by turning the hand lever a in
the direction of the arrow a. The effect of this is that the crank a² (made integral
with the shaft a', to which the lever a is secured) turns the link B from its propping
position which lies beyond its position in line with the crank, whereby the breech
block A is allowed to lower.
For the purpose of directly utilizing the described small displacement of the link
or connecting piece B for the cocking of the percussion lock, the shaft of the said
link has formed on it a cam, by which the firing pin C is forced backward. In
the case of the crank a and link B being arranged at the side of the breech block,
the shaft of the link B is extended to the middle of the block (see Fig. 2), where
it carries the cam adapted to act on a projection of the firing pin C' so as to
force the said pin backward and compress the spring d.
When the link B is arranged in a recess in the middle of the breech block, as
shewn in Figs. 6 and 7, the shaft extends entirely across the breech block A and
the link B and cam form together a two-armed lever B b', the shorter arm &¹ of
which presses upon the projection e of the firing pin C.
In order to admit of the main spring d, which may be a plate spring or a coiled
spring as shewn in Figs. 3 and 5 respectively being caused to press directly upon
the firing pin and the sear, the latter is made in the shape of an angular lever
pivoted behind the firing pin at e, and the main spring d is interposed between the
vertical or depending arm e¹ of the sear and the firing pin, so as to exert its

page_text: ام
pressure on both parts. When the main spring is compressed by the firing pin to a
given point, the look of the sear engages in front of a projection el or bent of the
firing pin (see Figs, 5 and 101), whereby the spring d'is kept in the compressed
state al the firing pin ( drawn back (cučked),
For firing (disengaging the book of the sear from the bent of the firing pin)
pressure must be exerted on the arm of the sear, and to this end a lever or
rigger Figs. 3 and 6, may be provided. However, when the hook of the sear is
arranged below the firing pin C, as shewn in Fig. 10, the sear can be disengaged
by traction directly acting on the arm.
The sear shewn in Fig. 3 and 6 is merely hooked to its pivot e, and its upper
extension abuts against a shoulder formed on the breech block, whereby the
rotation of the sear under the action of the spring d is limited.
The cartridge extractor G. Figs, 6 and 8, is movable round an axis perpendicular
to the plane in which moves the geometrical axis of the breech block; as, in the
case shewn, the said plane is vertical, the axis g of the extractor is horizontal, and
it may be arranged either below or above the rear opening of the chamber of the
barrel. Inwardly projecting studs g' on the extractor arms extend into grooves y
formed in the lateral faces of the breech black A and having their top portions
curved rearward in an inelined direction.
On the breech being opened, the described extractor first loosens the cartridge
case, as the lower portions of the grooves of are parallel to the inclined guide
grooves along which the breech block slides, and when the stils enter the
rearwardly inclined portions of the grooves, a sudden rearward motion is
imparted to the extractor arms, whereby the empty case is ejected.
It will be readily understood that the described extractor may also be made with
but one armi or but one stud g².
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a breech loading gun having its breech block adapted to slide transversely
and connected by a link to a crank of an operating shaft journaled to the barrel, a
cam on the shaft of the said link, this cam being adapted on the opening of the
breech, to push the firing pin backward sufficiently far to enable a sear to engage a
bent formed in the firing pin, substantially as herein described.
2. In a breech loading gun, having its breech block adapted to slide transversely
and connected by a link to a crank of an operating shaft journaled to the barrel, a
percussion lock consisting of a firing pin movable endwise in a passage in the breech
block, a sear having the form of an angular lever pivoted behind the said firing pin,
and a spring interposed between the dependent arm of the sear and the firing pin;
the other or forward extending arm of the said sear or lever carrying a hook
adapted to engage a bent formed in the firing pin, substantially as herein
described.
3. In a breech loading gun having its breech block adapted to slide transversely,
a cartridge extractor consisting of one or two arms pivoted at the rear end of the
chamber of the barrel near either or both sides of the endwise movable breech
block so as to be movable round an axis perpendicular to the plane in which the
axis of the breech block moves; the said arin or arms each having a projection
that extends in front of the rim or flange of a cartridge in the barrel and also
another projection that is guided in a groove formed in the face of the breech block
on either side of the said plane of movement, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 25th day of September 1890.
EMIL RITTER VON SKODA,
By L. W., per F. B.