IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Harry John Smith and William
Augustus Frederick Blakeney at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 17th May 1883.
HARRY JOHN SMITH. Ph. D. and WILLIAM AUGUSTUS FREDERICK BLAKENEY,
Captain Third Battalion Highland Light Infantry, both of Glasgow, in the county
of Lanark, "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE,"
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of breech-loading
ordnance.
In constructing breech-loading guns according to this Invention, a circular or
rifled bore, or what is known as a Whitworth hexagonal bore, is formed or cut
through the metal with its axis, at right angles to the axis of the longitudinal bore
of the gun, and at a convenient distance from the mouth of the breech. Into this
transverse bore is fitted a hollow cylinder or breech barrel which is shaped to fit
the section of the bore, and to slide or traverse within it. A solid plug of metal is
carried at one end of the sliding breech barrel by means of trunnions or snugs
formed on it and fitting into slots cut in the barrel. The traversing motion is
imparted to the barrel by means of a screw for the purpose of conveying the plug
from the centre or longitudinal bore of the gun, into which it partly fits to within
a short distance of the extremity of the transverse bore, and vice versa. In
addition to the motion of translation within the transverse bore, the breech barrel
has a motion of rotation imparted to it, to the extent of a fourth of a revolution or
thereby by means of rifling, or a scroll groove and feather or similar device, for the
purpose of bringing the plug round from a position in which its axis coincides with
the longitudinal axis of the gun to a position at right angles thereto, and in which
access can be conveniently had to the plug for fitting or removing a gas check or
ring through a slot cut transversely and perpendicular to the transverse bore. The
slots into which the trunnions of the plug fit at the end of the breech barrel are
cut at an angle to its axis, so that when the plug is brought by the traverse of the
barrel opposite to the bore of the gun, its further traverse to a slight extent causes
the plug to be pressed by a wedge action partly into the bore; and when the
barrel is traversed in the opposite direction it is withdrawn from the bore. The
breech is formed by a hollow screw of the kind known as the Armstrong breech
D.
5.71
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page_text: screw, through which and through slots in the breech barrel, the projectile and
cartridge are passed while the plug is out; and this breech screw is turned to press
hard against the plug when the plug is brought into position with its end within
the bore of the gun.
The screw which traverses the barrel carrying the plug is held by a collar and
fits within a nut formed on the sliding barrel. The screw is operated by a hand
wheel or by gearing worked by hand or by ropes or bands. Instead of the screw
other mechanical devices may be employed for traversing the breech barrel.
In the plug are bored a vent hole and a chamber for the reception of the small
cartridge which is usually employed to explode the charge in the bore of the gun.
The gas check is by preference formed to secure the firing cartridge, and it is fitted
or locked in its place on the plug by means of a key and handle passed through
the transverse slot. .