Improvements in Breech Loading Ordnance.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1896
LOOD
2005
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech Loading Ordnance.
We, VICKERS SONS & Co., LIMITED, of River Don Works, Sheffield, in the
County of York, Steel Manufacturers, ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON, of Oak Park,
Sheffield, Superintendent of Orduance Works, and GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM, of
River Don Works, Sheffield, aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to breech loading ordnance and consists in improvements
in the firing mechanism which is arranged so that the gun can be fired by
electricity or by friction and is actuated preferably by the horizontal sliding bar
in the carrier of the mechanism described in Specification No. 9780 of 1895, but
is also adapted to be worked by the moving parts of other breech mechanism.
We describe it by way of example as applied in connection with breech
mechanism such as is described in the Specification above referred to.
Upon tho breech plug carrier is fitted a vertical slide covering the primer aud
having on it a spring pin which engages in an inclined groove in the sliding
bar above referred to. The slide also, when the primer is arranged to be fired
electrically, carries a spring conductor pin, which when the slide is up, makes
contact with the metal of the primer; but, when the sliding bar begins to move in
the act of opening the breech, the vertical slide begins to descend and a lateral
stud on the conducting pin is moved a fixed incline so that the pin is moved out
of contact with the primer.
When the primer is arranged to be fired by a friction tube, for the spring
conducting pin is substituted a spring pin having attached to it the firing trigger
and provided with a fork which engages under the head of the friction firing
piu. In this case, when the sliding bar begins to move for the opening of the
breech, causing the vertical slide to descend, the fork is withdrawn from the
friction firing pin, rendering a pull of the trigger ineffective. The slide may be
modified so as to operate when the primer is arranged to be fired either by electricity
or by a friction tube. For this purpose, the descent of the slide is arranged to
move a lever, an arm of which pushes away laterally a spring conducting pin,
breaking its contact with the primer, and another arm is brought over so as to
cover the friction firing pin, so preventing the lanyard from being attached to it.
The vertical slide arranged to operate in any of the ways above set forth, has
on it a lateral stud which as it completes its downstroke, the breech being then
open, acts as one arm of a lever, the other arm of which is engaged under the
flange of the primer, moving this lever so that it extracts and ejects the primer.
The vertical slide being engaged with the inclined groove of the sliding bar
by a spring pin entering that groove, can at any time be disengaged and removed
by retracting the spring pin, withdrawing it from the groove.
Dated this 20th day of November 1896.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: We, VICKERS SONS & CO., LIMITED, of River Don Works, Sheffield, in the
County of York, Steel Manufacturers, ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON, of Oak Park,
Sheffield, Superintendent of Ordnance Works, and GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM, of
River Don Works, Sheffield, aforesaid, Engineer, 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 loading ordnance and consists in improvements
in the firing mechanism which is arranged so that the gun can be fired by electricity
or by friction and is actuated preferably by the horizontal sliding bar in the carrier
of the mechanism similar to that described in Specification No. 9780 of 1895,
but is also adapted to be worked by the moving parts of other breech mechanisin.
We will describe the invention by way of example with reference to the
accompanying drawings as applied in connection with breech mechanism such as
is described in the Specification above referred to, in which
Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the electric firing gear.
Figure 2 is a section on line 1. 1 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan with part section on line 1'. 1' of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the friction firing gear.
Figure 5 is a section on line 4. 4 of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a plan of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a rear elevation of the combined electric and friction firing gear.
Figure 8 is a section on line 7. 7 of Figure 7.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3,-upon the breech plug currier, ar preferably
on a bracket on the end of the obturator bolt, where such a bolt is used, is fitted
a vertical slide A which covers the end of the primer and having on it a spring
bolt A' which engages in an inclined groova B in the sliding bar above referred to.
When the primer is arranged for electric firing the slide A carries a spring
conductor pin As which makes contact with the primer when the slide A is up.
Attached to the conductor pin As but suitably insulated from it is a lateral stud
or arm A which engages on an inclined part A of the carrier or of the slide
bracket thus causing the conductor pin A to break contact from the primer when
the slide A is moved downwards.
A suitable form of electric contact A' is provided to connect the conductor pin A³
with the electric battery.
Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6. When the primer is arranged for friction
firing in place of the spring conductor pin A is substituted a spring bolt A5 fitted
in the slide A, and having attached to it the firing trigger A which is so arranged
as to be fired from the rear or from either side of the breech. The trigger A is
provided with a fork A which engages under the head of the friction firing pin.
In this case when the slide descends the fork A' is drawn from the friction firing
pin rendering a pull of the trigger ineffective.
The slide may be modified so as to operate when the primer is T headed, and is
arranged to be fired either by electricity or by friction, and described hereafter
in reference to Figures 7 and 8.
For this purpose a double lever having arms A and A" and also containing
the conductor pin A is suitably pivoted on the plug carrier or bracket holding the
slide. The slide A has a groove in which engages a pin or stud on the arm A" in
such a manner that when the slide descends it causes such a movement of the
lever that contact is broken between the conductor pin A and the primer, at the

page_text: same time the arm A10 is moved over and covers the friction firing pin at X, so
preventing the attachment of the firing lanyard while the slide is down.
The slide A is arranged in all cases to be moved down a sufficient amount to
allow of the primer being ojected or withdrawn.
The action is as follows:-
When the sliding bar of the breech mechanism before referred to is moved,
on opening the breech, it causes the slide A to be drawn vertically downwards
and thus, in the case of the electric firing gear described with reference to
Figures 1, 2 and 3, causing the conductor pin A to be drawn away from the
primer by means of the lateral stud or arm A³ being forced to the rear by the
inclined part A of the carrier or bracket. In the case of the friction firing gear
described with reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6, the vertical movement of the
slide A draws the fork A' from under the head of the friction firing pin thus
rendering a pull on the trigger ineffective, and in the case of the combined
friction and electric gear, described with reference to Figures 7 and 8, causing
such a movement of the lever that the contact is broken and the firing pin covered,
preventing attachment of the firing lanyard.
The vertical slide A as above described may have on it a lateral stud or projec-
tion which on its downward movement may actuate an ejector or extractor as
described in D. Vickers and others Specification 10606 of 1896.
The vertical slide A being engaged with the sliding bar by a spring bolt, can
at any time be removed by retracting the pin and withdrawing the slide
downwards.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what wo
claim is :-
1. An electric firing and safety gear constructed and operating substantially
as described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3.
2. A friction firing and safety gear constructed and operating substantially as
described with reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6.
3. A combined electric and friction firing and safety gear constructed and
operating substantially as described with reference to Figures 7 and 8.
Dated this 18th day of August 1897.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.