IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING CANNON
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Raphael Hunter Brandon, of No. 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris, in
the Republic of France, Engineer and Patent Agent, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING CANNON." A communication by
Benjamin Berkley Hotchkiss, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Raphael Hunter Brandon at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th December 1881.
RAPHAEL HUNTER BRANDON, of No. 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Engineer and Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING
CANNON." A communication by Benjamin Berkley Hotchkiss, of Paris, in the
Republic of France.
These improvements relate to breech-loading cannon; their object is,-
Firstly. To produce by one single motion the opening of the breech, the
extraction and the ejection of the cartridge previously fired, and the corking of the
gun, and by another single motion the closing of the breech and the throwing of
the trigger in gear, so that the gun is then ready for firing.
Secondly. To provide convenient and steady means of directing and firing the
gun.
Thirdly. To provide a convenient way of ejecting the fired cartridge and of
introducing the new one without interfering with the man who points and fires
the gun.
For the first part of my Invention I make use of a long sliding breech-block
operated by the partial or the complete rotation of a lever or arm attached to the
breech-receiver, and connected to the breech block by a shaft and a crank provided
with a stud working in a slot cut in the breech-block; the motion of the lever is
utilised for working the hammer and that of the block for working the extractor.
For the second part I attach to the rear of the gun a shoulder piece or stock
provided with convenient handles for the left hand of the gunner, and a pistol-grib
which is seized by the right hand; this arrangement enables him to use-with
Davis CJ1

page_text: In this arrangement, which is a modification of the one above described, the
main differing feature is that the percussion is direct and that the percussion
mechanism is lodged in a cavity or recess cut in the breech block 3 instead of
placing it in a casing fixed to the breech-receiver 27.
0
The opening and closing of the breech as well as the extraction are similar to the
arrangement above described.
The external cocking lever 15, hammer pin 16x, hammer 16, inainspring 19,
and sear 39 are attached to the breech-block 3 as represented, the trigger 21
and pistol-grib 28 remaining attached to the breech-receiver 27 as well as the
stock 31, 34, 35.
During the opening motion of the actuating lever 7 the cocking lever 15 is first
brought backwards by the eccentric 14, thereby withdrawing the hammer 16
before the block begins to move. During the movement of the block, the cocking
lever 15 slides against the shaft 8 by its front face, which is formed so as to bring
the hammer far enough back for the cam or nose 30 to be caught by the sear 39,
then the gun is cocked. On closing, the tail of the sear 30 comes in contact with
the trigger 21, so that on pulling the latter the hammer 16 is released.
eccentric 14 however on which the cocking lever 15 buts during the fall of the
hammer prevents the possibility of the said hammer 16 striking the primer before
the actuating lever 7 is closed that is well home in position.
The
The stock 31, 34, 35, the pistol-grip 28, and the trigger 21 are attached to the
breech-receiver 27, as in the first arrangement above described.
SECOND PART, FIG. 1, 2 AND 6, SHEET 1.
I provide convenient and steady means of direction and fixing the gun by
making use of an improved stock consisting in a T piece with a horizontal limb 31,
which is preferably formed of metal and attached to the breech of the gun by a
grooved part running over the guide piece 32 arranged under the breech and
by a bolt 33 which attaches it to the rear face of the breech; its vertical limb
consists of an upper part 34, against which the gunner applies his shoulder, and of
a lower part 35 provided with one or more grasps 36 which he seizes with his left
hand whilst his right hand is applied to the pistol-grip 28, the three together
(shoulder and two hands forming an efficacious means of directing and holding
the gun, whilst with one finger of his right hand he can at all times and in all
circumstances readily pull the trigger and fire the piece with the same precision as

page_text: way 37 on the upper face of the horizontal limb 31, as shewn more clearly in cross
section, Fig. 6.
THIRD PART, FIG. 7, SHEET 2.
I have shewn in this Figure in a longitudinal sectional elevation how I raise or
incline the feeding way 37 and thereby procure room for a distinct or separate exit
for the cartridge shells after firing, one of which is indicated by 38.
Having thus explained the nature of my Invention as well as the best means
I am acquainted with for putting the same in practice, I claim,-
Firstly. The opening and closing of the breech of a cannon by means of a sliding
block actuated either by the partial or by the complete rotation of a lever; this
claim whatever may be the arrangement of the block or of the mechanical organs
connecting it with the working or actuating lever as above described.
Secondly. The cocking of the gun by the motion of the aforesaid lever whilst
opening or closing the breech or by the motion of the breech-block itself, as above
described.
Thirdly. The arrangement of a last motion allowing the actuating lever to
draw back the hammer or firing-pin before the breach block begins to move, as
above described.
Fourthly. The construction and arrangement of the gun with the percussion
mechanism placed in a recess adapted for that purpose either in the breach receiver
or in the breech-block, as above described.
Fifthly. Actuating the extractor by the motion of the breech-block and the lever,
as above described.
Sixthly. The adaptation to a single barrel pivot gun of a stock or shoulder-piece
provided with hand grips, allowing to direct the gun by the simultaneous action of
the shoulder and the hands, as above described.
Seventhly. The adaptation of a pistol-grip for the hand which is not employed
on the stock, whether the said pistol-grip be provided with a trigger or not as
above described.
Eighthly. The adaptation to the stock of a gun of a special trough or way for
the purpose of guiding the cartridges into the chamber of the gun when the breech
is open, as above described.
Ninthly. The arrangement in this trough of a lower passage for the ejected
cartridge cases through which they drop without interfering with the feeding or
loading, as above described.
Tenthly. The arrangement of the firing hammer within the breech-block and of
operating the same by the motion of the breech-block as above described and
illustrated in the seven Figures of Sheet 2.
Eleventhly. The combination of several or of all of the above points.
In witness whereof, I, the said Raphael Hunter Brandon, hath hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Tenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witnesses,
HENRY MEA.
D. H. BRANDON.
R. H. BRANDON (L.S.)