Improvements in Breech-mechanism for Quick-firing and other Breech-loading Ordnance.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th June, 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-mechanism for Quick-firing and other
Breech-loading Ordnance.
We, SAMUEL VICTOR DARDIER, Engineer, and CHARLES GUSTAV
MELLSTRÖM, Civil Engineer, both of 32 Victoria Street, in the City of
Westminster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to breech-mechanism for quick-firing and other breech-
loading guns.
The chief feature of the said invention is that the breech-block and carrier-
bracket which are formed in one piece, or are firmly secured together, are carried
by an external ring mounted on the gun in such a manner that when the breech-
block is turned about its axis to lock or unlock the same, the carrier-bracket, the
hinge-pin, and the beforementioned external ring turn simultaneously therewith.
We thus avoid the use of locking rings such as have been heretofore used in com-
bination with a breech-block and carrier-bracket rigidly connected together, and
we also secure other advantages not heretoforé obtainable in this form of breech-
mechanism.
Our said invention is applicable to all the ordinary or well-known shapes of
screw breech-blocks whether cylindrical, conical, conoidal, or stepped on their
screw-threaded surface.
In carrying our invention into effect we place on the gun, at or near the
rear end thereof, a ring of suitable strength, and furnished at one side with a
hinge-pin to which the carrier-bracket is hinged. The breech-block is preferably
made whole, or in one piece with the carrier-bracket, but if not so made it
is rigidly secured to the said bracket. The aforesaid ring is so mounted that
it can turn on the gun through a limited angle, determined by a fixed stop,
and does so turn with the carrier-bracket and breech-block when the last
named is rotated to lock and unlock the same to and from the breech. The
said ring is moreover so arranged that when it is turned it has a slight axial
movement, the same in direction and degree as the movement of the breech-block
so that the ring and breech-block always maintain during such movement the same
relative positions. A simple mode of ensuring this fixity of relative positions is by
screwing the ring on the gun, the pitch of the screw-threads of the ring being the
same as those of the breech-block. Other modes of effecting the same result may
be employed; for example, the ring may be held in positiou by radial pins which
are secured in the ring by preference, and project into spiral grooves formed in the
gun, the inclination of said grooves being the same as that of the screw-threads of
the breech-block.
To ensure, when closing the breech, that the external ring shall not be turned
about its axis until the breech-block is inserted in the gun we provide as follows,
that is to say, we form a projection or lug on the hinge of the carrier-bracket and
a corresponding recess in the side of the gun in such a position that the said lug
or projection on the hinge is opposite the said recess in the gun when the breech-
block is unscrewed, but not at any other time. The carrier-bracket can be turned
on its hinge only when the lug or projection is opposite the recess, and when
the bracket is so turned the said lug or projection enters the recess. In so doing it
locks the external ring to the gun for the time being, that is to say, it prevents the
rotation of the ring on the gun until the breech-block has been pushed forward
again into the gun, and the lug or projection thereby withdrawn from the recess. The
ring can therefore be turned about its axis only when the breech-block is in the gun.

page_text: We provide on the rotatable carrier-bracket near the hinge, a cam-like pro-
jection which when the said bracket is turned on its hinge strikes the tail end of
an extractor pivoted in the gun, and operates said extractor to withdraw the spent
cartridge. The said cam-like part is constructed to first press more or less
gradually on the tail of the extractor until the cartridge is loosened and then
more rapidly afterwards to jerk the cartridge out of the gun in a well-known
manner.
We provide for operating the breech-mechanism as follows, that is to say, if the
gun is of very small calibre and the breech-mechanism is therefore light and easily
movable we simply provide the carrier-bracket with a handle by which the said
bracket can be turned about the axis of the gun to unlock the breech-block and
then pulled rearwardly to withdraw the breech-block and vice versa when closing
the breech. For guns of somewhat larger calibre, we fix a toothed wheel preferably
a bevel wheel on the hinge-pin to which the carrier bracket is in such case firmly
fixed, and we provide another toothed wheel which is carried in suitable bearings
and geared with the first named wheel, and to which or to its shaft or spindle is
fixed a handle for turning the same. In opening the breech, the gunner first uses
the handle for turning the external ring and breech-block about the axis of the
gun to unlock the breech-block during which time the gear wheels cannot be
rotated, and then by continued pulling on the handle after the carrier-bracket can
turn no further about the axis of the gun but is free to turn on its hinge he rotates
the gear wheels and so turns the hinge-pin thereby withdrawing the breech-block
from the gun. By moving the handle in the contrary direction the breech-block
is first pushed into the gun and then locked.
For still heavier guns we prefer to use mechanism substantially such as that
described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 13173 dated 21st August 1890
with reference to Figures 3 to 9 of said Specification, the same being slightly
modified to adapt it to the present breech wherein the hinge-pin of the carrier-
bracket turns with the breech-block about the axis of the gun. Such modification
consists in providing an operating shaft separate from the hinge-pin but geared
therewith, and in mounting the said operating shaft in bearings carried by the
external ring so that the shaft will turn with the said ring and therefore with the
hinge-pin during the locking aud unlocking of the breech-block, and further in
fixing the pin or tooth, which engages the helical groove in the sleeve on the
operating shaft, in the gun instead of in the breech-block. The said pin or tooth
therefore remains stationary, and the breech-block, carrier-bracket, and external
ring with the hinge-pin and operating shaft turn about the axis of the gun during the
period of locking and unlocking the breech-block.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-mechanism for Quick-firing and other
Breech-loading Ordnance.
We, SAMUEL VICTOR DARDIER, Engineer, and CHARLES GUSTAV MELLSTRÖM,
Civil Engineer, both of 32 Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster, 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 breech-mechanism for quick-firing and other breech-
loading guns.
The chief novel feature of the said invention is that the breech-block and
carrier-bracket which are formed in one piece, or are firmly secured together, are

page_text: carried by an external ring so arranged on the gun that when the breech-blockK IS
turned about its axis to lock or unlock the same, the carrier-bracket, the hinge
pin, and the aforesaid external ring turn simultaneously therewith. We thus avoid
the use of locking rings such as have been heretofore used in combination with a
breech-block and carrier-bracket rigidly connected together, and we also secure
other advantages not heretofore obtainable in this form of breech-mechanism.
Our said invention is applicable to all the ordinary or well-known shapes of
screw breech-blocks whether cylindrical, conical, conoidal, or stepped on their
screw-threaded surfaces.
In carrying our invention into effect we place on the gun, at or near the rear end
thereof, a ring of suitable strength and furnished at one side with a hinge-pin to
which the carrier-bracket is hinged. The breech-block is preferably, made in one
piece with the carrier-bracket, but if not so made it is rigidly secured to the said
bracket. The aforesaid ring can turn on the gun through a limited angle,
determined by a fixed stop, and does so turn with the carrier-bracket and breech-
block when the latter is rotated to lock and unlock the same to and from the breech.
The said ring is moreover so arranged that when it is turned it has a slight axial
movement, the same in direction and degree as the movement of the breech-block,
so that the ring and breech-block always maintain during such movement the same
relative positions. A simple mode of ensuring this fixity of relative positions is by
securing the ring on the gun by screw-threads having the same pitch as those of the
breech-block. Other modes of effecting the same result may be employed; for
example, the ring may be held in position by radial pins, which are secured in the
ring by preference, and project into spiral grooves formed in the gun, the pitch and
inclination of said grooves being the same as that of the screw-threads of the
breech-block.
In the accompanying drawings, we have shown our invention applied to three
classes of guns.
Figure
calibre.
is a side elevation of the breech end of a quick-firing gun of small
Figure 2 is a rear end elevation, and
Figure
is a central horizontal transverse section of the same, shewing the
breech closed.
Figure 4 is a rear end elevation showing the improvements applied to a gun of
larger calibre, but drawn to a smaller scale, the breech being closed.
Figure 5 is a similar view partly in section, but showing the breech-block
unlocked and ready to be withdrawn from the breech.
Figure 6 is a horizontal central longitudinal section of the same showing the
breech open.
Figure 7 is a rear elevation of a still larger gun having the present improvements
applied thereto, the breech-block being closed and locked.
Figure 8 is a similar view but partly in section and shewing the breech-block
unlocked ready to be withdrawn.
Figure 9 is a horizontal central section with the parts in the same position as in
Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of the left side of the breech end of the gun.
Figure 11 is a horizontal section taken on the line x, x, Figure 8, and
Figure 12 is a transverse section taken on the line y, y, Figure 11.
Figures 13 to 20 show in rear elevation and plan various shapes of breech-block
to which the present improvements may be applied.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the gun, B is the breech block, C is the carrier-bracket, D is the external
ring, E is the extractor, F is the firing pin in the breech-block, G is the operating
lever. The ring D is formed with jaws D' to which the carrier-bracket is hinged
by a pin C. The extractor E is hinged or pivotted to the gun by lugs formed
thereon at E⁹.
In the gun shewn in Figures 1 to 3 we provide for preventing the untimely

page_text: adjustment of the block and ring, that is to say, for ensuring when closing the
breech, that the external ring D shall not be turned about its axis until the breech-
block is completely inserted in the gun. For this purpose we form a projection
at C' on the hinged arm of the carrier-bracket C and between the extractor and
one of the lugs E° to which the extractor is pivoted we provide a recess Co. This
recess is in such a position that when the breech-block is turned to the right and
thereby unscrewed, but not at any other time, the projection C¹ on the hinged arm
will be opposite the said recess. Therefore the carrier-bracket C then but not till
then can be turned on its hinge to withdraw the block, as the said projection C¹ can
then enter the recess. In so doing it locks the external ring D to the gun for the
time being, that is to say, it prevents the rotation of the ring on the gun until the
breech-block has been pushed forward again into the gun, and the projection C
thereby withdrawn from the recess C°. The ring can therefore be turned about its
axis only when the breech-block is home in the gun.
The extractor E is a lever pivoted at E' to the lugs E°, E° formed with or
secured to the gun, and is formed with a tail E2 projecting outward from the hinge.
We provide on the rotatable carrier-bracket near the hinge, a cam-like projection
or tappet C³ which when the said bracket has been turned, with the ring about the
axis of the gun to unlock the breech-block will be opposite to or in contact with
the tail E; then if the bracket is turned on its hinge pin C2 it strikes the said tail
end E of the extractor E and operates the said extractor to withdraw the spent
cartridge from the gun. The said cam-like part of the carrier is so constructed
and arranged as to act first gradually on the tail of the extractor until the cartridge
is loosened, and then more rapidly to jerk the cartridge out of the gun in a well-
known manner.
In guns of small calibre such as that shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3, wherein the
breech-mechanism is light and easily movable we provide for operating the breech-
mechanism as follows, that is to say, we form or fix on the carrier-bracket a hand
lever or handle G by which the said bracket can be turned about the axis of the
gun to unlock the breech-block and can then be pulled outward to turn it about its
hinge to withdraw the breech-block, and can be moved in the reverse order and
direction when closing the breech. H is a screw plug secured in the ring D and
working in a helical groove H¹ formed in the breech. Said plug and groove serve
to limit the rotary movement of the breech-block in both directions.
For guns of somewhat larger calibre such as that shewn in Figures 4, 5 and 6
we provide for facilitating the opening and closing of the breech as follows, that is
to say, the carrier bracket C which is hinged to the ring D as above described is
keyed or otherwise tightly fixed on the hinge pin C on which is also fixed a
toothed wheel, preferably a bevel wheel or a segment of such a wheel, as shewn at I.
This wheel or segment I gears with another wheel or segment I' attached to the
boss of the operating lever G which turns upon a strong stud or pin J that projects
rearwardly from the upper bearing of the hinge pin C. In opening this breech-
mechanism the gunner first uses the handle or lever G for turning the external
ring D and with it the breech-block B and carrier and the above described gearing
about the axis of the gun to unlock the breech-block; during this operation the
gear wheels I, I cannot be rotated because the block is not freed from the screw
threads of the breech, and therefore the carrier cannot move about its hinge, but
by the continued movement of the handle in the same direction (when the carrier-
bracket C can turn no further about the axis of the gun by reason of the stop H
arriving at the end of the groove H₁ but is free to turn on its hinge) the gunner
rotates the gear wheels and hinge-pin thereby moving the carrier about the hinge,
and withdrawing the breech-block from the gun. By moving the handle in
the contrary direction the breech-block can be first pushed into the gun and then
locked.
For still heavier guns, we use mechanism substantially such as that described in
the Specification of Letters Patent No. 13173 dated 21st August 1890 with
reference to Figures 3 to 9 of said Specification, the same being slightly modified

page_text: to adapt it to the present breech wherein the minge-pin of the carrier bracket turus
with the breech-block about the axis of the gun. This construction is illustrated
in Figures 7 to 12.
The carrier-bracket C is secured to the hinge-pin as in the modification last
described, and the hinge-pin is geared by toothed wheels I, I' to a transverse hollow
shaft M which is supported directly at one end and indirectly at the other end
in bearings D', D' on the external ring D without capability of endwise movement
in said bearings. Within the shaft M is mounted a sleeve N which fills the interior
of said shaft M and when in place is incapable of end wise or axial movement therein.
Passing axially through the shaft M and sleeve N is a spindle O one end of which
is screw threaded as shown at O' and screws into a female screw thread M° formed
in the shaft M. The said female screw thread does not extend completely through to
the end of the shaft M but terminates a slight distance from the end so that when the
spindle O has been screwed into the female thread as far as it will go the continued
rotation of the spindle in the same direction will cause the shaft M to rotate. On
the outer end of said spindle O is fixed a toothed wheel G. The said spindle is
square in section and passes through a square hole in the sleeve N or is provided
with a feather key or otherwise connected to the sleeve N so that the sleeve and
spindle must turn together when the latter is rotated while the spindle is permitted
to slide axially through the sleeve. The handle G is supported by a bearing D'
formed on the bearing D' and on its axis is mounted a wide toothed pinion G³ which
gears with the aforementioned wheel G¹ so that by turning the handle G the
spindle O can be rotated in either direction. The pinion G' is made very wide to
allow for the axial movement of the wheel G' while maintaining the two wheels in gear
with each other. The spindle O has a collar O2 at the outer end which is supported
in the bearing D'. Said spindle forms at this end the support for the shaft M and
sleeve N. On the circumference of the sleeve N is formed a spiral or helical
groove N which merges at one end into a circular groove N that extends
somewhat less than a whole turn around the sleeve. This circular groove coincides
in position with a corresponding circular slot M' extending partially around the
shaft M. Said groove N' is preferably rectangular in cross section. In the shaft M
is also formed a long curved slot M³, the radius of its curvature being equal to the
distance of the slot from the axis of the gun. The said curved slot terminates at
one end in the circular slot M'. K is a pin or stud which is secured in the breech
and projects through the slot M2 of the shaft M into the spiral groove N' of the
sleeve N. A part of the breech at B is removed to admit the shaft M and its
contained parts above described.
The action of this mechanism is as follows, that is to say, assuming the breech
to be closed and the breech-block locked as shown in Figure 7, then by turning the
handle G, the spindle and sleeve N are rotated in the direction which causes the
spindle to screw into the shaft M and the spiral groove N' to travel along the fixed
stud K. Since the sleeve N cannot move endwise in or relatively to the shaft M
the result of the rotation of the said sleeve is that the shaft M is forced to travel
endwise, and in so doing it moves its bearings D' and consequently the external
ring D and breech block with it thus unlocking the breech-block. By the time
the stud K has arrived at the end of the spiral groove N¹ the breech-block has
become completely disengaged from the screw threads of the breech, and the spindle
has been screwed into the shaft M as far as it will go. The continued rotation of the
spindle O now causes the shaft M to rotate, which it can do since the stud K has
now entered the circular slot M¹ of the said shaft. Moreover the effort to turn the
external ring D about its axis has ceased since the stud K has also passed into the
circular groove N² in the sleeve N. The rotation of the shaft M acts through
the wheels I, I' to turn the binge-pin C and so withdraw the breech-block from
the breech. By turning the handle G in the reverse direction, the breech-block is
first caused to enter the breech, and then it is turned about its axis to lock the
same, the operations above described taking place in reverse direction and order.
While the ring D is being rotated, the stud is traversing the curved slot M².

page_text: It is important that in closing the breech the external ring shall not commence
turning before the breech-block is properly inserted in the breech, which it might
do at the moment when the pin K is passing from the circular slot M' to the
longitudinal slot M2 in the absence of the following devices. A lever R is pivoted
at R' to a bracket R² carried by the external ring D. One end of said lever is
adapted to bear against the side of the wheel G' when the breech-block is unlocked
as shewn in Figure 11 and the other end bears at the same time against a lug or
stop S formed on or fixed to the gun. The lever is caused to bear against the
stop S by the turning of the external ring in the unlocking of the breech. It will
be obvious that when the lever R is in this position, the wheel G¹ cannot move
axially unless the said lever R can turn on its pivot and so move out of the path
of the said wheel G¹. Such turning movement of the lever cannot take place by
reason of the stop S unless the external ring D rotates and carries the lever away
from the stop, and hence it follows that the wheel G¹ cannot move axially until the
piu K enters the spiral groove N' and so begins to turn the ring D and lock the
breech. That end of the lever R which engages the wheel G is somewhat longer
than the other end that engages the stop S and therefore the lever R will not be
jammed by the wheel G₁ and stop S when the wheel begins to slide axially.
To prevent the untimely adjustment of the block and ring, that is to say, to
further ensure that the external ring D shall not be rotated while the block is out
of the breech and that the block shall not be withdrawn until the screw threads
are properly unlocked we provide a modification of the devices described with
reference to Figures 1 to 3 said modification consisting of a stop P dovetailed in
or otherwise secured to the side of the gun in combination with two heel
pieces C, C formed on the hinge of the carrier. When the breech-block is
unlocked, the said stop is opposite the space between the said heel pieces C³, C³
and in this position the carrier can be turned outward about its hinge, and when
so turned the heel pieces C5, C³ pass one on each side of the stop P and thereby
prevent any rotation of the external ring D. In closing the breech, the heel
pieces are turned clear of the stop, and the ring D can then be turned to lock the
block. The faces of the heel pieces C³, C are arranged to just clear the end of
the stop P when and only when the breech-block is completely inserted in the
breech, and it follows that the carrier cannot begin to turn on its hinge until the
external ring has turned sufficiently about its axis to bring the space between
the heel pieces C, C, exactly opposite the stop.
The present improvements can be applied to all existing types of screw
breech-block, several forms being shewn by way of example in Figures 13
to 20.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. A breech-block attached to or fixed on the carrier-bracket and connected to
an external ring which is so fitted to the gun that in the opening or closing of the
breech the said block, carrier and ring move together about the axis of the gun,
for the purpose specified.
2. The external ring formed with a hinge on which the carrier bracket can turn,
and so fitted to the gun that it will move axially or longitudinally with the block,
for the purpose specified.
3. The combination, with the said breech-block and ring, of devices which
prevent the untimely adjustment of the same, substantially as set forth.
4. The extractor so arranged in combination with the aforesaid external ring
and breech-block that a cam or tappet on the carrier although moving about the
axis of the gun while the extractor remains stationary will operate the extractor
as, and for the purpose, specified.
5. The modification of our invention wherein we combine with the aforesaid
breech-block, hinged carrier, and external ring, a lever which is connected by

page_text: toothed gearing with the said carrier, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 4, 5, 6 of the drawings, for the purpose specified.
6. In breech mechanism having the breech-block, the hinged carrier and the
external ring as above described, the transverse shaft and sleeve carried in bearings
on the ring and geared with the hinge pin of the carrier, and so arranged in
combination with the fixed pin or stud in the gun that in the opening and closing
of the breech the said shaft and its adjuncts move with the ring about the axis of
the gun to unlock the breech-block and turn the carrier about its hinge, as, and for
the purpose, specified.
7. The combination, with the external ring on the breech, of the hollow shaft,.
the spirally grooved sleeve N, the pin K fixed to the gun, and the spindle O,.
constructed, arranged and operating, substantially as described, for the purposes
specified.
8. A gun provided with breech-mechanism such as that described with reference
to Figures 1, 2 and 3 or to Figures 4, 5 and 6 or to Figures 7 to 12 of the drawings,
and operating as, and for the purposes, specified.
Dated this 6th day of Tune 180.1
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.