Improvements in Breech-loading Ordnance.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1895-Accepted, 6th July, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-loading Ordnance.
1, LOUIS LABADIE DRIGGS of 700 Fomteenth Street in the City of Washington,
in the District of Columbia, United States of America, Treasurer of Driggs
Orduance Company, a citizen of the United States, 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.
My invention relates to breech-loading ordnance, and it consists in supplying a
rolling breech block, and merhanism whereby the same may be rolled into and out
of position in rear of the breech, aud also caused to assume the same relative
positions during each part of successive revolutions, whereby it is possible to
operate by contact with the said breech block extractors, or firing mechanism; and
it consists also in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed
Reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein the same letter of
reference indicates corresponding parts in the several views

page_text: gun, and round at its opposite side, and communicates with the bore at its front, and
opens through the breech at the rear
On the inside of the chamber A' are formed ribs A' which extend at an angle of
about two degrees with a plane at right angles to the axis of the gun, the said ribs
extending from the open side of the chamber around the round side thereof.
The breech block B is cylindrical in form and provided with annular ribs B¹
which, when the block is in the gun, fit in the spares A between the ubs A, thus
the block is free to roll and out of the chamber in the gun, but the ribs
and spaces on the block and in the chamber prevent it from moving in any
other way.
A toothed segment 13 is set in one of the bs of the block B so that the pitch
cncle of the teeth coincide with the cucumference of the sand rib, the teeth on the
seginent B mesh with a rack A' secured in one of the spaces A, so that the block
is prevented from shipping as it rolls to the side, this rack and segment also cause
the block to return to exactly the same position after each operation of loading has
been performed
A pan of lugs a are formed upon, or secured to, the side of the gun near its rear
end and just below the chamber A', and the said lugs are perforated to receive a
shaft C, which is jounalled therem This shaft C has a cived aim C secured
thereto which latter extends into the cat end of the chamber A1, in the side of the
gun and is pivoted to one end of a link D. The opposite end of the link D is
perforated as at d, to receive a boss B, in the centro of the rear end of the breech
block B, in order to give a longer bearing for the breech block a groove b 18
formed around the boss B, and a con esponding flange or boss d', is formed upon
the link D around the opening d, to enter the groove b, the boss 13 of the breech
block thus being free to revolve in the link D
A handle C is keyed upon the rear end of the shaft C, and by turning the gaid
handle in the direction of the arrow in Fig 1, the arm C₁ will, though the medium
of the link D, draw the breech block to the side as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, causing
1 to roll out leaving the breech open, the block making a little more than a quarter
of a revolution. By returning the handle to its origial position the breech block
will be returned to its closed position, and when forced home the pivoted point c, of
the arm C and the link D, will pass below the line between the centre of the
shaft C, and the breech block B, and the adjacent pivoted ends of the arm Chand
link D resting upon the bottom of the chamber in the gun, as shewn by dotted
lines in Fig. 1, will lock the breech block securely in its closed position
To prevent the breech block from rolling entirely out of the gun a stop a¹.
extending slightly over the chamber A' is bolted on the side just below the
opening as shewn in Fig. 2
Referung now to Fig 5 it will be seen that the bs A' in the guu nie formed at
a slight angle, (about two degrees), and that the breech block in rolling out also
moves back a little away from the cartridge. The front end of the block is cut
off at an angle with the rest of the block so that when in its closed position (as in
Fig. 5), it will be at right angles with the bore of the gun and will form a firm
back for the head of the cartiidge On one side of the front end of the block 18
formed an inclined plane 62, set in such position that as the block rolls in, should
the cartridge not be entuely in, the said incline will be the first part of the block to
come in contact with the head of the cartridge and will forco it home as the block
moves in.
The extractore, shewn more clearly in Fig 12 are two muumber, the lower
one E, being pivoted in the lower part of the chamber A' by mcaus of a spindle e,
secured to the said extractor and extending into a corresponding opening in the
lower part of the gun, and the upper extractor E' is pivoted in the upper side of
the chamber A', by a similar spindle e' extending through a corresponding opening
in the upper side of the gun, and 18 held in position by a washer e' placed on the
upper end of the spindle and a dowel pin e' which passes through the spindle above
the said washer.

page_text: The inner end E² of the extractors are formed to take under the flange of the
cartidge in the usual manner, and their outer ends are curved to lie in the path of
the end of the block as it rolls out.
The outer end of the lower extractor 18 curved rearwardly as at E³, viz. :-
1epresents a parabolic curve at the upper edge of the extractor and e* a similar
curve with shorter rad at its lower edge, and e an inclined curved plane con-
necting the two cm ves As the block rolls out the periphery of the first ub B* on
the beech block impinges against the slow part of the curve e', where the dotted
line intersects, and begins to move the extractor out very slowly accelerating the
speed as it deals the end of the movement. The movement of the upper side of
the block being much faster than the lower side the parabolic curve is formed in the
periphery of the front b B as at B, the shape of this curve being shewn in the
diagram, Fig. 12, at B. The upper extractor E' is curved out in the path of
the curve B as at E. By reference to the diagram, Fig. 12, it will be seen that
the block begins to act upon the extrictors when its centre has moved out to
position No. 1, at this time the inclined sui face has just left the flange of the
cartridge, and the movement of the block from position 1 to 2 moves the ends E'
of the extractors from then position 11 to 21 with a very slow but powerful move-
ment which starts the empty cartridge case from its place in the gun
The next
movement of equal distance, from 2 to 3 of the block, moves the extractors through
a greater distance, as fiom 2' to 3', at an increased speed, and as the block moves
onward to 4, 5, and 6, the speed of the extractors increase until with the movement
from
to 6 of the block, they are thrown from then position 51 to 6¹ with a quick
movement which will how the empty case clear of the gun. This leaves the
breach open ready to receive another cartridge, which is pushed in until its flange
comes against the extractors, when the breech block is returned to its place, the
inclined plane thereof forcing the cartridge and extractore into their proper
position, when they are finally pushed home by the inclined end of the breech
block which at that time comes in position to press squately against the head of the
cartridge.
The breech block B is bored though centrally as at B, to receive the firing
pin F, which latter 18 formed, as shewn in Fig. 17, with an enlarged comical
head, and the front part of the opening B' through the breech block is enlarged
as at to receive a spiral spring G, and also to allow of the conical head F¹ of the
firing pin being drawn back into the said opening. The head F, of the hung pin
forms a shoulder f, around the front end of the pin, against which the front end of
the sping G, is airauged to press; and at the apex of the cone which forms the
front extremity of the pin is formed the point", which strikes the cap in the
cartridge. The front of the breech block 1 bored out and screw-theaded as at 66,
to receive a nut &, which is perforated at the centre as at 6, to allow the firing
pout, to protrude, and this uut serves as a stop for the fung pin in its forward
movement.
The rear end of the firing pin is flattened as at ³, and provided with a pin or
stop, upon which is pivoted a link H, which forms the connection between the
said fing pin and the cucking mechanism.
The rear end of the breech block B, is recessed as at Be, and within this recess is
pivoted a bell-crank lever 1, having a long arm 1', and a short arm 12. The said
bell-crank lever is perforated with a square opening, through which passes the
square portion j, of a fulcrum pin J, which has bearings at each end in the breech
block, a screw J, 16 screwed in the enlarged outer end of the hole for the fulcrum
pin to keep the latter in ite place.
The longer arm I', of the lever I, is hooked and bifurcated as at i', and the link H,
1s arranged to fit between the two arms, and is held there by a piu or stud h
which passes through and is secured to the luk II, thus the lever 1, is flexibly
connected to the firing pin F.
The shorter arm 1, of the lever 1, is curved as shewn at 1, and projects slightly
out of the recess B', at the rear end of the block, from the foregoing it will be seen

page_text: that should the bell-crank lever I, he forced to the position shewn in dotted lines in
Fig 11, it will draw the firing pin back against the tension of the spring G. The
inner end of the liuk D is enlarged to form a cam D', against the lower sido d, of
which rests the projecting end of the bell-crauk lever 1. When the hand-level C',
18 moved to open the bieceh the fist movement of the link D, as the centre c, of
its outer end, crosses the Ime c', causes the cam D', to pices against the end, of
the bell-crauk lever I, and start the firing pin backwards withdrawing its point from
the cap, as the block rolls out, the end of the lever I is caused to travel around
the cam face d³, which torces it outward from the centre of the block thereby
withdrawing the firing pin, as will readily be understood by reference to Figs. 1, 3,
and 11, of the drawings.
The rear end of the breech block B 18 recessed as at B', and a catch K 18 pivoted
therein at the point k, (see Fig. 10), so as to lie and move at right angles to the bell-
crank lever 1, a spring keeps the said catch normally against the side of the short
arm I, of the bell-crank lever, and when the said arin is forced back beyond the
point, of the catch K, the spring k¹, will force the said point into the recess.³
of the said bell-crank lever and thus hold the latter, together with the firing pm, in
the cocked position when the breech block returns to close the breech. The catch K
has an aim 1, which extends out nearly to the periphery of the breech block, at
which point the recess B' is open, the car part of the said recess being closed by a
plate B. A recess A' is formed in the gun adjacent to and opening into the edge of
the recess B', (when the breech block is in the closed position), and within this
recess is pivoted as at m, a firing hammer M, which hes normally within the
recess A as shewn in Fig 10. A cord N is secured to the hammer M, in any
suitable manner and passes round the pivoted end thereof which is grooved as at m³,
to receive it, the said cord then passes downward through an opening in the gun
under a sheave O, and to the rear of the gun from which point it may be operated.
By reference to Fig. 10 of the drawing it will be seen that a pull upon the cord N,
will throw the end m upward and into the recess B' of the breech block causing it to
strike against the arm of the catch K; this will force the said catch backward
against the tension of the spring, and release the lever 1, which holds the fung
pin, allowing the latter to be thrown against the cap by the sping G, as will be
readily understood. When the cord N is released the hammer M will fall back
to its normal position by its own weight.
חוון
Should it be required to cock the gun without opening the breech provide
another recess B in the breech block on the opposite side of the lever I, through
which the square portion of the fulcrum J passes and is exposed to view, by
inserting a wrench or key P, such as is shewn in Fig 23, made to ht the said square
portion of the fulcium pin J, the latter may be turned and with it the lever 1, thus
cocking the gun by hand.
The operation of the device will be clearly understood without further explanation,
and it will also be evident that many modifications in the details of construction
may be made without departing from the spuit of the invention.
Having thus particularly ascertained and described the nature of my said inven-
tion, I declare that what I claim 18:-
1. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with the body of the gun having a
chamber in the bicech in rear of and communicating with the bore, and extending
laterally to one side thereof, with ibs on the interior of said chamber, of a
cylindrical breech block having ribs fitting between the ribs in the chamber of the
gun, and means for rolling the said block to and liom its seat in the chamber,
substantially as described and shown.
2. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with the body of the gun having a
chamber in the breech in rear of aud communicating with the bore, and extending
laterally to one side thereot, ribs ou the interior of said chamber, and a toothed rack
in one of the spaces between the said ribs of a cylindrical breech block having
aonular ubs fitting between the ribs in the chamber of the gun, a toothed segment in

page_text: one of the ribs meshing with the ack in the said chamber, and means for rolling the
said block to and from its seat in the chamber, substantially as described and shewn,
3. In a gun of the character described, the combination with a gun having a
chamber in the breech in reat of and communicating with the bore, and extending
laterally on one side thereof, a shaft journalled in the rear of the gun, an arm
secured to the shaft and extending into the chamber, and a handle upon the said
shaft of a cylindrical breech block, a link Journalled on the breech block and
pivoted to the said aim upon the shaft, by means of which the said breech block
may be rolled to and liom its seat in tho chamber, substantially as and for tho
purposes described.
4. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with the body of the gun having a
chamber iu the breech in rear of and communicating with the bore, and extending
laterally to one side thereof, with ribs on the interior of the said chamber, the faces
of said ribs being in planes nearly but not quite perpendicular to the axis of the
bore, of a cylindrical breech block having annular ibs fitting between the ribs in
the chamber of the gun, and means for rolling the said block to and from its soat
in the chamber, substantially as described and shewn.
5. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with the body of the gun having a
chamber in the breech in ear of and communicating with the bore, and extending
Jaterally to one side thereof, ribs on the interior of the said chamber, the faces
of said ribs being in planes nearly but not quite perpendicular to the axis of the
bore, and a toothed rack in one of the horizontal spaces between the said bs; of
a cylindrical breech block having annular ribs fitting between the ribs in the
chamber of the gun, a toothed segment in one of the ribs meshing with the rack u
the said chamber, and means for rolling the said block to and from its sent in the
chamber, substantially as described and shewn.
6 In a breech-loading gun, the combination with the body of the gun, having a
tiansverse chamber in the breech in rear of the bore, and an extractor mounted
in said chamber, of a breech block adapted to roll in said chamber and to operate
said extractor, and means for rolling said block, substantially as described aud
shewn.
7. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with the body of the gun having a
transverse chamber in rear of said bore, and an extractor pivoted in said chainber;
of a breech block adapted to roll in said chamber and provided with cam faces on the
fiont end thereof, adapted to wedge the cartridge home as said block 18 rolled into
position in rear of the bore, and to operate said pivoted extractor as said block is
withdrawn, substantially as described and shewn."
8 In a breech-loading gun, the combination with the body of the gun having a
transverse chamber in the breech communicating with the bore; of extractors
pivoted in said chamber and adapted to take at their inner ends under the flange
of the cartridge, and at their outer ends curved to he in the path of the breech
block a cylindrical bi eech block adapted to roll in said chamber, an inclined plane
in the front end of the block to press the cartridge home, and means for rolling the
said breech block to and from its seat in the said chamber, substantially as and for
the purposes described and shewn.
Dated this 7th day of May 1895
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.