IMPROVE- MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE, AND BREECH-LOADING AND OTHER SMALL ARMS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE, AND BREECH-LOADING AND OTHER SMALL
ARMS." A communication from abroad by Lewis Wells Broadwell,
residing at Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Sealed the 13th November 1863, and dated the 21st May 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 21st May 1863.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE, AND BREECH-LOADING AND
OTHER SMALL ARMS," to be as follows:-
The first part of this Invention consists in an improved breech block or
vent piece for ordnance, and in an improved method of working the same.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is an end view thereof, and
Figure 2 a sectional plan, showing it applied to a gun, and in position for
firing. a, a, a, is a double-ended eccentric lever attached to the breech
block A by a pin b. To withdraw the block from its chamber, turn the
lever a round forward upon the pin b until the block is free, then pull out the
block by means of the handle c far enough to bring the loading chamber f of

page_text: the block in a line with the bore of the gun. When the charge is inserted
the block is pushed back, the lever a having previously been returned to its
normal position, in which it is retained by a spring catch d. The distance to
which the block is withdrawn is determined by a pin e passing through the
top of the gun, and entering a slot in the block. The block is made slightly
tapered to facilitate its movement.
*
The Invention also consists in the employment in ordnance of an expanding
ring h fitted in a chamber formed in front of the breech block A, as shown in
section in Figure 2. When the charge is ignited the gas rushes into the
recess of the ring, and while it presses the ring back against the breech block
it expands it in its own chamber, so that all escape of gas at the breech is
prevented." I 'make a circular recess s in the face of the block of the same
diameter as the bore at that point, and about one-fourth of an inch in depth,
in which the gas deposit is received, and the face of the expanding ring
thus prevented from being cut by the movement of the block.
The next part of the Invention is for improvements in the construction of
breech-loading small arms, and is also applicable to transforming muzzle-
loading into breech-loading arms. Figure 3 is a longitudinal section, and
Figure 4 a sectional plan, showing a muzzle-loader transformed into a breech-
loader according to these improvements. a is a breech piece, set into an
old stock, and to which the barrel is screwed, part of its rear end having a
screw thread cut thereon for that purpose. The nipple piece b is on the
breech piece a, and occupies the same position relatively to the lock as the old
nipple piéce, the lock therefore requires no alteration. A slot a little wider
than the diameter of the bore of the gun is cut vertically through the breech
piece, in which slot a breech block c is fitted, and is moved down and up in
order to open and close the breech by means of a nut d attached to the
trigger guard e. The breech piece is hollowed out at f behind the breech
block to the same diameter as the bore of the gun, thus leaving shoulders or
bearings g to support the block when the piece is fired; the hollow at f also
facilitates the insertion of the charge when the block c is lowered. The block
is also slightly hollowed at top, so that when lowered it may be in a line with
the bore of the gun, and guide the cartridge into its chamber. When a
charge is to be inserted, move the trigger guard e round to the right into the
position represented in Figure 3, and the nut d which takes into the thread
on the block c will cause the block to be lowered. When the charge has
been inserted, return the trigger guard to its normal position, the block c will
be raised, and the piece ready for firing. In order to take out the block c,
move the trigger guard e round to the left, which will detach the block from
1

page_text: the nut d, and allow of its being lifted from the slot. To prevent the trigger
moving while loading, I form a notch on the trigger plate, into which the
end of the guard brass m takes, as shown at Figure 3, so that the trigger is
held until the trigger guard is returned into position for firing. h is an
expanding ring in a chamber or recess at the rear of the barrel, and which is
When the charge is
shown detached in end view, and in section in Figure 5.
exploded, the gas rushes through the opening i into the recess k of the ring,
and while it presses the whole ring backwards against the block c, it also
expands the ring in its chamber, and thus prevents all escape of gas from
the breech.
The next part of the Invention consists in a new arrangement of lock for
small arms, by which I am enabled to take the lock to pieces, and clean and
oil it in a shorter space of time than hitherto. Figure 6 is a side view, showing
the interior of the lock, Figure 7 a plan of the same, Figure 8 a washer to
cover the opening in the lock as the hammer turns, Figure 9 the tumbler,
Figure 10 the sear, Figure 11 the spring, and Figure 12 the lock plate. The
hammer A is placed on its pin B, which forms part of the lock plate C, in
which a curved groove D is formed to receive the pivot of the tumbler E,
which pivot forms part of the hammer. Another pivot F serves as an axis to
the sear G, and a stop H forms part of the lock plate. On turning back the
hammer A on its pin .B the notches of the tumbler (Figure 9) are presented
successively to the nose of the sear G until the piece is cocked. The spring
(Figure 11) seizes the upper part of the tumbler by means of a slotted
claw at the extremity of its long arm, and presses with its short arm against
the
arm of the sear.
The next part of the Invention consists in an improved self-priming hammer.
Figure 13 is a side elevation thereof; the dotted lines a, a, indicate the position
of the chamber in which a cylindrical double chambered magazine containing
priming wafers lies; this magazine is represented in longitudinal sections in
Figures 14 and 15. The dotted lines b, b, (Figure 13) indicate the position
of the slide which feeds the priming wafers, one at a time, as the hammer falls,
and which is shown detached in Figures 16 and 17; Figure 18 is a top view
of the hammer, showing a spring c (detached views of which are given at
Figures 19 and 20) for arresting the magazine in its revolution at the exact
point to supply a priming wafer or not as may be desired; the action of the
spring c is more clearly shown in Figure 13. Figure 21 is a rear view of the
hammer, showing the head E of the magazine in its chamber, and the head of a
pin d which releases a spiral spring from a catch at the rear of each chamber of
the magazine after the magazine has been placed in its chamber in the head of

page_text: the hammer; the springs are thus allowed to act upon the priming wafers and
press them forwards so as always to supply one wafer to the slide each time
the hammer falls. The spiral springs will be seen on reference to Figures 14
and 15. The top of the magazine is cut away, as shown in Figure 15, so as
to form a long narrow opening or slot in each chamber; a pin g in the plug
attached to the fore end of each spiral spring works backwards and forwards
in these slots. Four small holes are made in a recess around the head of the
hammer to receive the point of the spring c, as seen in Figure 13. The
operation is as follows:-Raise the spring c until its point is released from the
head E of the magazine, and withdraw the magazine, compress each spiral.
spring by pulling back the pin g until it catches behind a shoulder at the rear
end of the chamber, then fill each chamber with priming wafers and replace
the magazine in the head of the hammer, where it will be securely held by the
spring c, push back the head of the pin d, which will release the two pins g
from the shoulder, and allow the spiral springs to press the priming wafers
forward to the feeding slide. The pin e at the lower end of the slide fits into
a hole in the lock plate, so situated, that by the act of bringing the hammer
to full cock the slide is withdrawn sufficiently to permit a priming wafer to be
pressed in front of it by the spiral spring, so that when the hammer falls the
slide pushes the wafer out just in time to be caught between the hammer and
the nipple, and exploded. It is therefore only necessary. to cock the hammer
and pull the trigger in order to fire the gun. When the magazine is placed
so that its two chambers are in a vertical line, or one above the other, then,
and only then, will wafers be supplied to the feeder, and always from the upper
chamber; the slide does not move far enough down to allow the wafers from
the lower chamber to be supplied. When all the wafers in the upper chamber
are exhausted, turn the magazine half round, when it will be caught and held
by the spring c, and the wafers from the other chamber will then be supplied.
If it be desired to work the hammer without firing the piece, turn the magazine
so that its two chambers are horizontal, or side by side, in this position the
slide does not move far enough down to allow the wafers from either chamber
to be supplied. In order to know if the magazine is in position for supplying
wafers, it is only necessary to observe the position of the head of the pin d; if
the pin d is in the centre the wafers will be supplied, but if it is on either side,
as seen in Figure 21, they will not be supplied.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st November 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special licence that I, the said Richard
Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE, AND BREECH-LOADING AND OTHER
SMALL ARMS," (communicated to me from abroad by Lewis Wells Broadwell,
residing at St. Petersburg, Russia,) upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:
The first part of this Invention consists in an improved breech block or
vent piece for ordnance, and in an improved method of working the same.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a horizontal section of the
breech end of a cannon with the improvements applied thereto, Figure 2 is a
transverse section of the same, shewing the face of the breech block, and
Figure 3 is a side elevation. I form a horizontal chamber or aperture
through the breech at right angles to the bore, and slightly tapering on the

page_text: a, a, is a
When it is
rear side. In this chamber I fit a breech block A sliding on ribs in the
chamber, and with a passage B therein of the same diameter as the bore,
through which passage the charge is inserted, the block A having been
partially withdrawn for that purpose, as about to be described.
double-ended excentric lever attached to the block A by a pin b.
desired to open the breech for the insertion of a charge, the lever a must be
moved round forward upon the pin 6 until it occupies a position at right
angles to the bore of the gun; in this movement the excentric ends of the
lever bear against the side of the gun on each side of the chamber, and the
block A is thus released and slightly withdrawn from its chamber; it may
then be pulled out by a handle f until a set pin c moving in a groove c¹ comes
against a shoulder d, when the passage B will be in a line with the bore of
the gun, and the charge may be inserted through the continuation C of the
bore and the passage B. To close the breech after the charge has been inserted,
push back the breech block A into its chamber until the ends of the lever a
come in contact with the side of the gun, then move the lever back upon the
pin 6 into the position shown in Figure 1, where it is held by a spring catch h;
in this backward movement of the lever the excentric ends thereof take under
projections e on the side of the gun, and force the block A into position for
firing; i is a cavity or recess in the block A behind the breech chamber, in
case the force of the explosions should in time cause the block to yield at that
part where it has no support. To lighten the block I remove portions from
the solid part thereof, as shown at D.
The Invention also consists in the employment in ordnance of an expanding
ring or gas valve n fitted in a chamber in front of the breech block A; k is a
ring or washer of copper or other suitable material placed in the block A
behind the ring n, and forming a bearing thereto; the ring k is slightly
undercut at o, for the purpose of admitting the gas produced by the explosion,
which reacts and forces the rim of the ring k forward against the face of the
ring or valve n, which is thereby expanded in its chamber, and effectually
prevents the escape of gas at the breech; p. is an internal projection on the
ring or valve n to impart greater strength thereto, and r is a flange to prevent
its being forced too far into its chamber and breaking the contact between the
two rings n and k when the breech is closed and the gun ready for firing.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section shewing a modification of the arrangement
before described. Instead of the charge being inserted through a continuation
of the bore it is inserted through an aperture C into a chamber B in the
breech block A; first the projectile is placed in the chamber B through the
aperture C, the block is then moved sideways, as in the arrangement previously

page_text: described, until the chamber B comes exactly opposite the bore of the gun; a
rammer is then pushed through an opening S and forces the projectile out of
the chamber B into the breech end of the bore; the block A with its
chamber B is next moved back into its original position, the charge of powder
is inserted in the chamber B, and the same operations are repeated as for the
projectile, the block A is again returned, and the piece is ready for firing.
The other parts of the gun are the same as in the previous arrangement, and
similar letters refer to similar parts.
k.
In this case I insert the
Figures 5 and 6 represent another modification.
charge through the side of the gun into a chamber B in the block A. The
block A is then withdrawn sufficiently to bring the projectile in a line with
the bore of the gun, when it is pushed into it by a rammer worked through
an aperture S. The cartridge is then placed in the chamber B without
moving the block A, as in the previous case, and is also pushed into the gun
by means of the rammer, the block is then shoved home, and the gun is ready
to be fired. The expanding ring or valve n, or the washer k may be dispensed
with in any of the arrangements. Or instead of the expanding ring or valve n
being of the construction represented in Figures 1 and 4, it may be conical,
as shown in Figure 6*; in this arrangement I prefer to dispense with the
washer k, and recess the block A, as shewn. In guns of large calibre
especially, the ring n may be dispensed with, and the undercut copper
bearing ke depended upon to make the gun gas-tight as shown in Figure 6.
The next part of the Invention is for improvements in the construction of
breech-loading small arms, and is also applicable to transforming muzzle-
loading into breech-loading arms. Figure 7 is a longitudinal section, and
Figure 8 a sectional plan showing a muzzle-loader transformed into a breech-
loader according to these improvements. a is a new breech piece set into an
old stock, and upon which the old barrel is screwed, its rear end having a
screw thread cut therein for that purpose. The nipple piece b remains
undisturbed, the lock therefore requires no alteration. A slot slightly tapered
at back or not, and a little wider than the diameter of the bore of the gun is
cut vertically through the breech piece, in which slot a breech block c is
fitted, and is moved up into the position shewn in Figure 9, and down as
shown in Figure 7, in order to open and close the breech, by means of a
nut d'attached to or in a piece with the trigger guard e. The breech block c
is shown detached in Figure 10. When no wad on the rear of the cartridge
is used, a recess p. must be formed in the face of the block, as represented in
Figure 11, to receive the gaseous deposit. The breech piece is hollowed out
at behind the breech block to the same diameter as the bore of the gun,.thus

page_text: leaving shoulders or bearings g to support the block when the piece is fired;
the hollow at falso facilitates the insertion of the charge when the block c is
lowered. The block is also slightly hollowed at top, so that when lowered it
may be in a line with the bore of the gun, and guide the cartridge into its
chamber.
Figures 7 and 9* represent a modification of the arrangement shown in
Figures 7, 8, and 9. The breech block c and the screw c¹ are here separate,
and the block is threaded internally to correspond with the threads of the
screw c'. The screw is formed in a piece with or attached to the trigger
guard e, and is prevented coming out by a ring or flange e'. When the
trigger guard is moved round forward into the position shown in Figure 9*,
the screw c¹ is turned, and the block c is thereby caused to descend. When
the trigger guard is returned to its normal position, Figure 7*, the screw c¹ is
turned in the opposite direction, and the block c raised. When a charge is to
be inserted in the arrangement, Figures 7, 8, and 9, move the trigger guard e
round to the right into the position represented in Figure 7, and the nut d,
which takes into the thread on the block c, will cause the block to be lowered.
When the charge has been inserted return the trigger guard to its normal
position, Figure 7, (where it comes against a projection n, which prevents its
moving too far,) the block c will be raised and the piece ready for firing. In
order to take out the block c, remove the screws which secure the guard brass
and lining to the stock, when the block, trigger guard, and plate in com-
bination will be detached from the gun. To prevent the trigger moving while
loading, I form a notch 7 on the trigger, into which the end of the trigger
guard m takes, as shewn in Figure 7, so that the trigger is held until the
trigger guard is returned. h is an expanding ring in a chamber or recess in
the breech piece in front of the breech plug; when the charge is exploded the
gas rushes through the opening i into the recess k of the ring, and while it
presses the whole ring backwards against the block c, it also expands the ring
in its chamber, and thus prevents all escape of gas from the breech. When
a greased felt wad is used on the rear end of the cartridge the gas ring h may
be omitted.
The next part of the Invention consists in a new arrangement of lock for
small arms. Figure 12 is a side view showing the interior of the lock;
Figure 13 a plan of the same; Figure 14 a shield sunk in the lock plate to
cover the opening D therein as the hammer turns; Figure 15, the tumbler;
Figure 16, the sear; Figure 17, the spring; and Figure 18, the lock plate.
The hammer A is placed on its pin B, which forms part of the lock plate C,
in which a curved groove D is formed to receive the pivot of the tumbler E,

page_text: which pivot forms part of the hammer. Another pivot F serves as an axis to
the sear G, and a stop H forms part of the lock plate. On turning back the.
hammer A on its pin B the notches of the tumbler (Figure 15) are presented
successively to the nose of the sear G until the piece is cocked. The spring
(Figure 17) seizes the upper part of the tumbler by means of a slotted claw
at the extremity of its long arm, and presses with its short arm against the
arm of the sear. In order to take the lock to pieces, after having detached it
from the stock, press down the long leg of the spring, Figure 17, sufficiently
to release it from the pin of the tumbler, when all the parts are unlocked and
may be removed, first the spring, then the tumbler, next the sear; the hammer
is then turned until a pin in the pin hole thereof comes in a line with a slot a
in the pin B, when the hammer and the shield may be removed. The same
process reversed will put the pieces together again, when the lock will be
ready for use. There are no screws used in this lock.
The next part of the Invention consists in an improved self-priming hammer.
Figure 19 is a side elevation thereof; the dotted lines a, a, indicate the
position of the chamber, in which a cylindrical double chambered magazine
containing priming wafers lies; this magazine is represented in Figures 20
and 21. The dotted lines b, b, (Figure 19) indicate the position of the slide
which feeds the priming wafers one at a time as the hammer falls, and which
is shewn detached in Figures 22 and 23; Figure 24 is a top view of the
hammer, showing a spring c (detached views of which are given at Figures
25 and 26) for arresting the magazine in its revolution at the exact point to
supply a priming wafer or not, as may be desired; the action of the spring c
is more clearly shown in Figure 19. Figure 27 is a rear view of the hammer,
shewing the head E of the magazine in its chamber, and the head of a pin d
which releases a spiral spring from a catch at the rear of each chamber of the
magazine after the magazine has been placed in its chamber in the head of
the hammer; the springs are thus allowed to act upon the priming wafers and
press them forward, so as always to supply one wafer to the slide each timo
the hammer falls. The spiral springs will be seen on reference to Figures 20
and 21. The top of the magazine is cut away, as shown in Figure 21, so as
to form a long narrow opening or slot in each chamber; a pin g in the plug
attached to the fore end of each spiral spring works backwards and forwards
in these slots. Four small holes are made in a recess around the head of the
hammer to receive the point of the spring c, as seen in Figure 19. The
operation is as follows:-Raise the spring c until its point is released from the
head E of the magazine, and withdraw the magazine, compress each spiral

page_text: spring by pulling back the pin g until it catches behind a shoulder at the rear
end of the chamber, then fill each chamber with priming wafers and replace
the magazine in the head of the hammer, where it will be securely held by
the spring c, push back the head of the pin d, which will release the two
pins g from the shoulder, and allow the spiral springs to press the priming
wafers forward to the feeding slide. The pin e at the lower end of the slide
fits into a hole in the lock plate, so situate that by the act of bringing the
hammer to full cock the slide is withdrawn sufficiently to permit a priming
wafer to be pressed in front of it by the spiral spring, so that when the
hammer falls the slide pushes the wafer out just in time to be caught between
the hammer and the nipple and exploded. It is therefore only necessary to
cock the hammer and pull the trigger in order to fire the gun. When the
magazine is placed so that its two chambers are in the same vertical line, or
one above the other, then and only then will wafers be supplied to the feeder,
and always from the upper chamber; the slide does not move
far enough
down to allow the wafers from the lower chamber to be supplied. When all
the wafers in the upper chamber are exhausted, turn the magazine half round,
when it will be caught and held by the spring c, and the wafers from the
other chamber will then be supplied. If it be desired to work the haminer
without firing the piece, turn the magazine so that its two chambers are
horizontal, or side by side; in this position the slide does not move far enough
down to allow the wafers from either chamber to be supplied. In order to
know if the magazine is in position for supplying wafers, it is only necessary
to observe the position of the head of the pin d, if the pin d is in the centre
(either above or below) the wafers will be supplied, but if it is on either side,
as seen in Figure 27, they will not be supplied.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as the "Improve-
ments in Breech-loading Ordnance, and Breech-loading and other Small
Arms,"
First, the employment in breech-loading ordnance of a breech block, con-
structed and operating substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings, whether the said breech block be secured in
its chamber and released therefrom in manner herein-before described, or
otherwise.
Second, the employment in breech-loading ordnance and small arms of an
expanding ring or gas valve, formed as herein-before described, and placed in
a chamber or enlargement at the rear end of the bore or barrel, substantially

page_text: in manner and for the purpose herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings, and whether employed alone or in combination with
the undercut bearing k.
Third, constructing breech-loading small arms, substantially as herein-before
described with reference to Figures 7 to 11, inclusive, of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourth, the new arrangement of lock for small arms, herein-before
described with reference to Figures 12 to 18, inclusive, of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fifth, the double-chambered magazine of the improved self-priming hammer,
and the pin d for releasing the spiral springs, also the spring c, by means of
which the magazine is held in position, and the hammer rendered self-priming
or not, as may be desired.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
R. A. BROOMAN. (L.S.)