Improvements in or connected with Horizontal Wedge Breech- Closing Mechanism for Guns.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1808
Complete Specification Left, 21st June, 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1899
Improvements in or connected with Horizontal Wedge Breech-
Closing Mechanism for Guns.
I, AUGUST REICHWALD, of 9, New Broad Street, in the City of London, Steel,
Iron, Metal, and Mineral Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion (a communication to me from abroad by the Firm of Fried Krupp, of Essen,
in the Empire of Germany, Cast Steel Manufacturers) to be as follows:-
-
In consequence of the introduction of quick firing guns of large calibre, it
has been found necessary to construct the horizontal wedge breech-closing
mechanisms for guns in such a manner as to render them capable of being operated
as easily as possible, for the purpose of facilitating the handling of the gun,
and also of ensuring that the cartridge case shall be ejected on opening the
breech.
Now these objects are effected in a simple manner according to the present
invention, by mounting the breech closing wedge on rollers, so that rolling fric-
tion is substituted thereby, for the sliding of the breech closing wedge.
The rollers are arranged between the upwardly directed cheeks of roller hous-
ings or casings which are let into the lower face of the breech closing wedge.
The rollers are arranged to rotate about an axle which is mounted (in bearings)
in the cheeks.
The recesses provided in the breech wedge for the roller housings, have a
depth such that the lower face of the roller housings is flush with the lower face
of the breech wedge. But the rollers are mounted in the roller bearings in
such a manner that the said rollers project to a slight extent beyond the lower
face of the breech wedge, whereby the breech wedge is compelled to run on the
rollers.
Improvements in or connected with Horizontal Wedge Breech-
Closing Mechanism for Guns.
I, AUGUST REICHWALD, of 9, New Broad Street, in the City of London, Steel,
Iron, Metal, and Mineral Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion (a communication to me from abroad by the Firm of Fried Krupp, of Essen,
in the Empire of Germany, Cast Steel Manufacturers), and in what manner the
[Price 8d.]

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement: -
In consequence of the introduction of quick firing guns of heavy calibre, the
necessity has arisen for imparting to the horizontal wedge breech closing mecha-
nism of the gun, the easiest possible travel in order that the service of the gun
may be facilitated and that the ejection of the cartridge case shall be ensured
on opening the breech.
According to the present invention this is attained in a simple manner, by
mounting the breech wedge upon rollers, so that in place of a rubbing contact
of the breech wedge, there is now only a rolling contact.
In the accompanying drawings there is shown in Figures 1 to 3 a horizontal
wedge breech mechanism for ordnance in which the breech wedge runs upon
rollers, Fig. 1 being a sectional end elevation, Fig. 2 a detail sectional view of
one of the rollers shewn at Figure 1 and Fig. 3 a plan view. Figs. 4 shew in
elevation and plan respectively, a roller casing for double rollers detached from
the gun, Figs. 5 being similar views shewing a casing for a single roller, and
Figs. 6 shew in side elevation and vertical cross section one of the rollers
detached.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures of the
drawings.
The rollers a lie between the upwardly turned cheeks of the roller casing b,
which is secured to the underside of the breech wedge by screws d, and revolve
upon an axle c journalled in the checks. (Figs. 1 to 6).
The recesses provided in the breech wedge for the roller casing (Fig. 1) are
of such a depth, that the lower surface of the roller casing is flush with the lower
surface of the wedge and as will be readily seen by reference to the enlarged
view Fig. 2. The rollers a however are so journalled in the roller casing b
that they project slightly beyond the lower surface of the wedge thus compelling
the wedge to travel upon the rollers.
As the roller casings lie wholly within the wedge, the axle c is prevented from
working out of the cheeks of the casing.
The number of roller casings and rollers depends upon the size of the breech
wedge.
Instead of a single roller casing, (Fig. 5), which holds only one roller, there
may be under certain circumstances double roller casings employed which hold
two rollers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:―
1. A horizontal wedge breech mechanism for ordnance, in which the breech
wedge runs upon rollers a for the purpose of facilitating the serving of guns
of heavy calibre and to ensure the ejection of the empty cartridge case.
2. The arrangement and combination of parts composing the aforesaid im-
provements, in or connected with horizontal wedge breech-closing mechanism
for guns, constructed and acting substantially as, and for the purposes described,
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1
.
"
1200
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.