Year: 1899

page_text: We, SIR W. G. ARMSTRONG, WHITWORTH & COMPANY, LIMITED, Manufacturing
Engineers, ALBERT GEORGE HADCOCK, late R.A., and STEPHEN MAGUIRE MURRAY,
Engineer, all of Elswick Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to breech mechanisins for quick firing, or other guns,
especially those having the De Bange, or kindred system of obturation, and its
object is to allow the breech block to be swung clear of the breech opening, after
the breech screw has been unlocked.
For this purpose, the shaft forming the pivot of the carrier arm of the breecli
block in place of working in fixed bearings as is usual, works in a groove or moveable
bearing, so that it can move rearwards when the carrier arm is being swung back.
The breech screw and obturator are pivotted to the carrier arm in the ordinary
way. On the carrier arm is a projection, which has a pin, or pins, formed on it,
which run in a groove, or grooves, cut in the gun. The grooves are of suitable form
to effect the purpose, and rollers, sliding blocks, or other means may be used on the
pins to reduce friction. Another groove, (or grooves,) of a suitable form, is or are
cut in the gun to receive the shaft of the carrier arm and to allow it to move
rearwards during part of the swinging action. These grooves may be bushed, or
eccentric blocks may be substituted for the grooves.
When the mechanism commences to swing, after the screw is unlocked, the
projection on the carrier arm bears against the gun, and pushes the shaft, which
is keyed in the carrier arm, rearwards along the second grooves, which are so formed
that they keep moving the mechanism into a convenient position for the obturator
to clear its seat in swinging. In closing the mechanism the pins on the carrier arm
bear on the opposite side of the first grooves and thus the breech screw can be
brought into position for locking the screw into the gun.
The grooves already mentioned as being cut in the gun, can be cut in the carrier
arm, and the pin or pins working in these grooves, will then be attached to the
gun.

page_text: Improvements in the Breech Mechanism of Guns.
We, SIR W. G. ARMSTRONG, WHITWORTH & COMPANY, LIMITED, Manufacturing
Engineers, ALBERT GEORGE HADCOCK, late R.A., and STEPHEN MAGUIRE MURRAY,
Engineer, all of Elswick Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to breech mechanisms for quick firing, or other guns,
especially those having the De Bange, or kindred system of obturation, and its
object is to allow the breech block to be swung clear of the breech opening, after the
breech screw has been unlocked.
For this purpose, the shaft forming the pivot of the carrier arm of the breech
block in place of working in fixed bearings as is usual, works in a groove or movable
bearing, so that it can move rearwards. when the carrier arm is being swung back.
The breech screw and obturator are pivotted to the carrier arm in the ordinary way.
On the carrier arm is a projection, which has a pin, or pins, formed on it, which run
in a groove or grooves, cut in the gun. The grooves are of suitable form to effect
the purpose, and rollers, sliding blocks, or other means may be used on the pins to
reduce friction. Another groove, (or grooves,) of a suitable form, is or are cut in the
gun to receive the shaft of the carrier arm and to allow it to move rearwards during
part of the swinging action. These grooves may be bushed, or eccentric blocks may
be substituted for the grooves.
When the mechanism commences to swing, after the screw is unlocked, the
projection on the carrier arm bears against the gun, and pushes the shaft, which is
keyed in the carrier arın, rearwards along the second grooves, which are so formed
that they keep moving the mechanism into a convenient position for the obturator to
clear its seat in swinging. In closing the mechanism the pins on the carrier arın
bear on the opposite side of the first grooves and thus the breech screw can be
brought into position for locking the screw into the gun.
The grooves already mentioned as being cut in the gun, can be cut in the carrier
arm, and the pin or pins working in these grooves, will then be attached to the
gun.
The drawings show three ways of carrying out the invention.
Figures 1, 1 and 1°, are longitudinal sections of the gun with the breech closed,
and Figures 2", 2" and 2°, are similar views with the breech open. Figures 3*, 3b
and 3, are rear elevations of the gun with the breech mechanism removed.
Figures 4ª, 46 and 4°, are horizontal sections of the rear of the gun with the breech
mechanism removed. Figures 5, 5 and 5º, are rear elevations of the carrier arm c.
Figures 6ª, 6b and 6c, are plans of the carrier arm c. Figures 72, 7b and 7°, are
elevations of the pin f. Figures 8ª, 8b and 8°, are plans of the pin f. Figures 9a
and 9 and 10 and 10b are respectively elevations and plans of the eccentric block
a is the gun, having fixed to it lugs b, between which the carrier arm c.works.
9.
d is the breech block pivotted to the carrier arm.
e is the handle pivotted to the carrier arm by which the breech is opened and
closed. The mechanism by which this is done forms no part of the present invention
and is not shown in the drawings. It may be of any of the usual types.
f is the pin forming the pivot of the carrier arm.
In the arrangement shown at Figures 1ª to 10% the carrier arm chas fixed to it
lugs c', which work in grooves b¹ in the lugs b on the gun. The pin f is fixed to the
lugs b, fitting the holes 62 in them. I is an eccentric block on the più f and working
in a hole in the arm c

page_text: In Figures 1b to 10b the carrier arm c has fixed to it lugs c', which work in grooves b'
in the lugs b on the gun, and the pin f is fixed to the eccentrics g, which work in
the holes 62, being prevented from dropping out by pins ), projecting into grooves in
them.
In Figures 1 to 8c the carrier arm c has fixed to it lugs c¹, which work in
grooves 6 in the lugs b on the gun; but the blocks 9 are dispensed with, the pin f
being fixed to the carrier arm c and working in elongated slots 62 in the lugs b.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The combination of a carrier arm, a breech block pivotted to it, a pivot about
which the carrier arm turns, and means for shifting the position of the pivot
during the turning.
2. The combination of a carrier arm, a breech block pivotted to it, lugs on the gun
between which the carrier arm works, a cam groove in one of the lugs, and a projection
on the carrier arm working in the cam' groove.
3. The modification of the arrangement referred to in the preceding claim in
which the groove is in the carrier arm and the projection is on the gun.
4. Breech mechanism for guns substantially as described and illustrated in the
drawings
.
Dated this 24th day of January 1900.
SIR W. G. ARMSTRONG, WHITWORTH & CO., LIMITED.
S. W. A. NOBLE, Director.
'
A. PHALP, for Secretary.
A. G. HADCOCK,
S. M. MURRAY.