Improvements in the Breech Mechanism of Quick Firing Guns.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by DIE ACTIEN GESELLSCHAFT GRUSONWERK, of
Magdeburg, Buckau, in the Empire of Germany.]
Improvements in the Breech Mechanism of Quick Firing Guns.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex 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 the breech mechanism of quick firing guns and more
especially to such guns having wedge-shaped breech-blocks.
The object of the said invention is to simplify the mechanism for cocking the
firing pin, for which purpose we reduce the number of moving parts and thereby
materially simplify the mounting and dismounting of the breech block.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how the said invention may be
advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a central longitudinal vertical section through the breech end of the
gun and breech block.
Figure 2 is a similar section through the gun with the breech block removed.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line x, x Figure 1.
Figure 4 is section similar to Figure 1 but showing the breech open.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the breech, a portion of the reinforce wall being
removed to show the breech block and
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the breech block alone.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the gun; B the breech block which is of the vertical wedge-shaped type;
and C is the crank arm or lever whereby the breech block is raised and lowered
to close and open the breech. On the axis c¹ of this hand lever is fixed a crank a,
the pin of which engages with an inclined groove c formed in the side of the
breech block, said pin and groove forming the connection between the breech block
and the arm or lever C. Another groove d is formed in the side of the breech
block opposite to that on which is formed the groove c, and a screw pin e is fixed
in the wall of the re-inforce in such a position that its end projects into the said
groove d.
When the breech block is moved up and down, the groove d slides over
the pin e, and the downward movement of the breech block is limited by the
engagement of the end of the groove with the pin.
The firing pin fis acted upon by a spring in the usual manner. For cocking
the said firing pin I provide as follows, that is to say, on a shaft or axis / mounted
in the breech block, I fix a lever or finger g, the upper end of which engages in a
well known manner with a slot formed in the firing pin.
On the end of the said shaft or axis h is fixed a crank lever i the pin k of
which engages with an inclined groove / formed in the wall of the reinforce.
During the downward movement of the breech block, the pin k slides in the
groove and owing to the inclination of the said groove the shaft his caused to
turn slightly about its axis and the finger thereby caused to withdraw or cock the
firing pin.
When the firing pin is fully withdrawn into the cocked position, the trigger
bolt m rises into engagement with the pin and holds or locks the same ready
for firing.
The trigger consists of a bell-crank lever n, one arm of which engages with
an opening in the trigger bolt m and has fixed thereto or formed therewith a
plate spring n'. This spring is arranged to act not only on the trigger bolt m
tending to force the same upwards but also on a tail piece g¹ of the lever or

page_text: finger in such a manner as to tend to force the said finger forward when the
firing pin is in the cocked position as clearly shown in Figure 4.
A characteristic feature of the said plate spring n' is that it is rigidly connected
with or forms part of the trigger lever n whereby several parts that would be
otherwise required are saved.
The downward movement of the breech block can take place only after the
point of the firing pin is withdrawn from the cartridge casing, it is therefore
necessary to provide for moving back the said pin a little before the breech block
itself is displaced. For this purpose a part of the groove in the breech-block is
made concentric with the axis c¹ so that a small amount of rotary motion of the
said axis may take place without moving the breech-block; and a projecting
piece a¹ is formed on the boss of the crank a and so arranged as to engage with
the pin o¹ of a crank lever o fixed on the axis . By this construction when the
lever C is operated, the lever o is first actuated to slightly withdraw the firing pin
before the breech block begins to descend, and then when this has been accomplished
the further movement of the lever C causes the breech block to descend by reason
of the engagement of the pin b with the inclined portion of the groove c. To
admit of the said slight rotary movement of the axis before the breech block
begins to descend, the upper end of the groove is enlarged at las clearly shown
in Figure 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
-
First. In a quick firing gun having a wedge-shaped breech block the employ-
ment of an inclined groove in the breech wall or reinforce for automatically
cocking the firing pin during the descent of the breech block substantially as
described.
Second. In a quick firing gun having a wedge-shaped breech block the means
for withdrawing slightly the firing pin before the breech block begins to descend,
substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Third. In a quick firing gun having a wedge-shaped breech-block, a spring
rigidly connected to the trigger and which presses upon the trigger bolt and upon
the cocking lever, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Fourth. The breech mechanism of a quick firing gun constructed substantially
as described with reference to the accompanying drawings and operating as
specified.
Dated this Fourteenth day of October 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.