Improvements in and relating to the Breech Mechanism of Guns.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Breech Mechanism of Guns.
We, EUGENE SCHNEIDER, of Cruezot, Saone-et-Loire, Ironmaster, and JEAN
BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE CANET, of 1, Boulevard Malesherbes, Paris, Engineer,
both in the Republic of France, 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:
-
The invention relates to certain improvements in the class or type of breech
mechanism described in the specification of a prior Patent No. 24377 of the year
1895 granted to one of us.
In this class of mechanism the breech block B is so constructed as to be limited
at its forward part by a portion or segment of a spherical surface, at its sides by
two parallel planes whereon there is provided a series of concentric fillets or-
rings A, and at the back by a concave semi-cylindrical surface. This breech
block as is well known may be used concurrently with an obturating device of
any suitable type and in particular with a plastic metal plug secured either by
means of a metal sleeve or simply by a base as indicated in the accompanying
drawings.
The movements of the breech block in opening or closing are performed either
about a horizontal axis or about a vertical axis and the manner in which the
block is manipulated through the medium of a simple lever connected to a journal
provided on the side of the block has already been described in the aforesaid
prior specification
Now the object of the present invention is to provide various operating devices
based on the same principle which consists in the interposition between the
operating lever and the breech block of intermediate mechanism for affording
the operator a point of support on the gun so as to diminish the effort or strain
required in manipulating the block. Or we may effect the movements of the
breech block about a vertical axis; so as to neutralise to a great extent the effect
of the weight of the breech block in the opening and closing operations. The
intermediate mechanism may be varied according to requirements and it is only
by way of example that we have shown in the accompanying drawings some of
the forms in which our invention may be carried into practice.
Figures 1 to 9 inclusive represent several forms of mechanism for operating a
breech block of the above mentioned type swinging about a horizontal axis; and
Figures 10 to 16 represent mechanism for operating a breech block of the same
type, swinging about a vertical axis.
Referring first to the form of mechanism illustrated in Figures 1 to 3;
Figure 1 is a side view of the rear part of the gun with the
Figure 2 is a similar view with the breech closed; and
ech open;
Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the mechanism along the axial line of the
gun barrel.
The journal E (Figure 3), which forms a lateral extension of the breech block R
and controls the movements thereof, carries a crank F upon the end of which

page_text: there is mounted through the medium of a pivot U a crank arm M which
terminates in the operating handle N.
The movements of the crank arm M are limited by the faces CD and GH
which are adapted to come alternately against corresponding faces of the abutment
or stop T of the crank. In the two terminal positions, the crank arm is capable
of being arrested by means of a tooth L which takes up its position alternately
in the two recesses () and S. These two recesses which are formed by projections
on the crank F, are connected with each other by means of a cam surface I K
along which the tooth L is compelled to slide in order to pass from one recess to
the other. To enable these several movements to be accomplished this tooth is
mounted upon a sleeve J of which the handle N forms part and which is adapted
to slide upon the crank arm M and compress the helical spring P. The crank
arm M is furthermore provided with a toothed segment which gears with
another correspondingly toothed segment R integral with the gun.
The operation of the mechanism is as follows:-We will suppose the breech to
be closed as indicated in Figure 2. In this position the face CD is in contact
with the stop T; the tooth L rests within the recess 0 and is retained therein
by the action of the spring P. As the toothed segments Q and R are in gear with
each other it follows that the breech block is fully locked in its closed position.
To open the breach, it is only necessary to press the handle N rearwardly, when
the spring P will be compressed and the tooth L will leave the recess 0 and
permit the crank arm to be depressed by turning rearwardly on the pivot U. The
tooth L then moves along the cam surface IK until the face G H comes into
contact with the stop T. The tooth L under the action of the spring P then
drops into its second recess S and retains the crank arm M in this new position
(Figure 1). During this rotary movement the toothed segment Q is moved along
the segment R, thereby causing the crank 1 to be turned and consequently the
complete opening of the breech block which is rendered immovable in this
position. As the opening movement is completed the block, through the medium
of its shoulder Y, operates the short arm of the extractor Z and withdraws the
empty cartridge case.
The closing of the breech is accomplished by reversing the operations above
described.
Figures 4 and 5 are elevations of another arrangement, one of the figures
showing the breech closed, and the other shewing it open.
Upon the journal E which forms a lateral extension of the block B there is
keyed an arm 1) carrying a pinion Q actuated by a crank F. As the opening
movement is being performed, the effect of the rotation of the crank F from left
to right is to cause the pinion to descend along the toothed segment MN, secured
on the right hand side of the gun, thereby turning the arm D downwardly about
its axis and so actuating the block to open the breech. The dotted line a b c
indicates the course followed by the crank handle in effecting the aforesaid
movement. To close the breech the movement is reversed.
Figures 6 and 7 and Figures 8 and 9 represent further modifications, with the
breech closed and open, respectively, in each case.
In the example shown in Figures 6 and 7, the toothed segment MN is keyed
to the journal E of the block B outside the gun and gears with the pinion Q,
which is in this case carried by a pivot or spindle secured to the gun, and is set
in motion by means of the crank F. The course along which the crank handle
travels is in this case circular.
In the example shown in Figures 8 and 9 the pinion and toothed segment,
instead of being arranged externally, are placed within the breech chamber. By
turning the crank F from right to left, the pinion Q, which gears with the toothed
segment RS, formed on the right hand side of the block B, is set in rotary motion
and through the intervention of the said toothed segment causes the block to
descend until the breech is fully open,

page_text: Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 show an arrangement for actuating a breech block
that is adapted to turn about a vertical axis.
In this arrangement the operating lever actuates the breech block directly,
without any intermediate mechanism.
The shape of the breech block is substantially the same as in the foregoing
arrangements and is supplemented by a curved or cylindrical extension C forming
a charging channel for guiding the ammunition into the gun.
The block has a journal E which serves as a pivot and oscillates in a socket
provided in the lower rear portion of the gun. This journal is retained in position
by a set screw F which, when screwed home, merely prevents said journal from
being withdrawn from its socket without impeding its rotary motion. The
operating lever D (bent at right angles) is connected with the breech block by
a dove-tail joint G (Figure 12). It terminates in a movable handle H (Figure 10)
which by its vertical downward displacement and compression of the internal
spring M, exercises a direct action upon the outer end of a lever I pivoted at J
(Figure 11). The other end of the said lever I is formed with a tooth which is
adapted, under the action of the said spring M, to enter either of two recesses K
and L formed in the wall of the socket that receives the journal E, such recesses
corresponding, respectively, to the fully open and closed positions of the breech
block. The spring M within the handle, constantly tends to cause the tooth at
the end of the lever I to engage with one or other of the two recesses K L such
engagement depending upon which of the said recesses for the time being happens
to be in front of the said tooth. The extractor Z oscillates on a vertical pivot
and is acted upon, as the opening movement is being completed, by a shoulder O
provided on the breech block.
The operation of the mechanism is as follows:-
-
Supposing the breech to be closed as indicated in Figures 10, 11 and 12; it
is only necessary, in order to re-open it, to press upon the handle H, which will
compress the spring M and cause the tooth at the inner extremity of the lever I
to leave the recess K. The handle H is then turned through an angle of 90° with
the result that the breech block will participate in such movement and be brought
into the position indicated in Figure 15 The pressure exerted on the handle H
by the operator, being then released, the ing M will cause the tooth on the
lever I to enter the recess L and will retain it therein. The mechanism is in this
manner locked in either of its terminal positions. When the breech is fully
open, the charging channel C takes up a position in alignment with the axis of
the gun barrel and permits the projectile or the loaded cartridge to be properly
guided as it is inserted into the breech chamber. The breech is closed by per-
forming the aforesaid operations in the reverse order.
Figures 14, 15 and 16 illustrate another arrangement for operating a breech
block that is movable on a vertical axis.
The breech block is similar to that shown in Figures 10 to 13, described above,
and only differs therefrom by the addition of bevel teeth I at its upper part
gearing with corresponding bevel teeth or a bevel pinion D mounted on a shaft G.
This shaft is adapted to turn in bearings KL at the breech end of the barrel, and
1s provided with an operating crank arm M furnished with the controlling
handle N.
The pivot E of the breech block is retained in its socket by means of a pin
or stud F.
The opening and closing movements are effected by releasing and turning the
crank M in the required direction until the corresponding rotary movement is
completed.
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. The combination with a breech block of the kind or class hereinbefore

page_text: specified, of mechanism interposed between the operating lever and the breech
block substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. Breech mechanism for a gun in which a block of the kind herein before
specified, is actuated by devices constructed arranged and operating substantially
as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, or Figures 4 and 5, or Figures 6
and 7, or Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings for the purpose specified.
3. Breech mechanism for a gun in which a block of the kind hereinbefore
specified, is actuated by devices constructed arranged and operating substantially
as described with reference to Figures 10 to 13 or Figures 14 to 16 of the
accompanying drawings for the purpose specified.
Dated this 15th day of September 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.