provements in and relating to Breech Mechanism for Guns
Year: 1895

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in and relating to Breech Mechanism for Guns
A communication from LAURANCE VINCENT BINET, a citizen of the United
States, residing at 11 Rue Chardin in the City of Paris, Republic of
France, Artillery Engineer, and HENRI ALBERT MERCIE, a citizen of
the Republic of France, residing at 21 Rue Royale, in the City of Paris,
Republic of France, Mechanical Draughtsman
We, THE HOTCHKISS ORDNANCE COMPANY, (LIMITED), doing business at
49 Parliament Street, in the City of London, England, 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
-
Our invention relates to that class of guns wherein the powder charge and primer
are contained in, and the obturation performed by a metallic cartridge case, and
particularly to that class of gun wherein its breech is opened and closed by a
horizontal movement of the wedge or breech block
The object of our invention is to furnish an improved percussion mechanism for
this class of gun with improved means for cocking, maintaining and releasing the
firing pin, improved means for assembling and dismounting the mechanism and
improved methods of preventing the discharge of the gun before the breech block
18 fully closed and locked
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate our invention,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bieech of the gun, with the breech closed and
its hammer cocked and ready for firing
Figure 2 is the corresponding rear elevation of the breech of the gun
Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the axis of the gun, showing the hammer
in full
Figure 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Figure 1
Figure is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4,
Figure
6 is a bottom view of the breech block
Figure 7 is a front view of the same with the firing plate and hammer removed
and Figure 8 is a top view of the same,
Figure 9 is a section of the breech block on the line 9-9 of Figure 7.
Figure 10 is a front face and Figure 11 a section of the filing plate
Figure 12 is an elevation and Figure 13 is a plan view of the locking screw and
cocking cam
Figure 14 is a section of the same on the line 14-14 of Figure 12, and Figure 15
is an elevation of the outer end of the locking screw
Figure 16 is an elevation, and Figure 17 a plan of the working handle and
shaft,
Figure 18 is a plan and Figure 19 a rear elevation of the hammer, and Figure 20
is a plan of the firing pin
Figure 21 is a plan, and Figure 22 section of the spring box on the line 22-22
of Figure 21,
Figure 23 is a plan of the tugger shaft and spring
Figure 24 is an elevation of its outer end and Figure 25 a section of the same on
the line 25-25 of Figure 23
Figure 26 is a plan view of the lanyard hook
In all of the figures like letters designate like parts
For the sake of illustration we have shown our mechanism applied to the breech

page_text: we
block of the well known Hotchkiss mountain gun, and in connection with the
breech block is indicated the well-known Hotchkiss extractor and stop bolt
shall first describe our mechanism in detail, and finally describe its action as a
whole
It
In the drawings the gun body is shown as a single forging, comprising in one piece
the barrel and the enlarged breech for the reception of the breech mechanism
is obvious, however, that the breech may be formed in a separate Jacket, shrunk or
otherwise attached to the tube or bariel of the gun
As the breach block located in a horizontal mortice B in the gun breech and
having a horizontal movement, which controlled in the following way
In the bottom of the breech mortice is formed the projecting guide a, Figure 1,
which enters and egi ters with the corresponding recess a¹ in the bottom face of
the breech block, Figures 16 and 9, thus guiding the breech block in its horizontal
movement This recess a¹ is inclined to the axis of the gun at such an angle
(Figure 6) that is the bree h blocl is withdrawn it is pushed a certain distance to
the rear, thus carrying the front fice of the breech block away from its forwud
abutment face in the breech mortice and the enti ince to the bore of the gun
permit of this movement the rear face a² of the breech block and the rear face of
the mortice in the gun breech are inclined at an angle parallel with the breech
block recess a while the front face a³ of the breech block the front face b¹ of the
gun-breech mortice and the moitice guide a ne substantially perpendicular to the
axis of the gun
To
The inner end of the front face a³ of the breech block is inclined rearwardly
at a (Figures 3 and 7) in order to piss over the projecting head of the cartridge,
and to drive the cartridge fully into the bore of the gun, as the breech block is
being inserted
10 limit the extent to which the breech block A can be withdrawn, the under
face of the breech bloc is formed with a groove C (Figure 6) which is parallel
to the inclined real fact a² of the breech block Through the underside of the
bretch is screwed a stout bolt C', Figures 1 and 2, the extremity of which projects
into the mortice through the breech and engages in the groove C, thus limiting
the horizontal motion of the breach piece when withdrawn To prevent the
accidental unscrewing of the bolt (a spring washer C3 is inter po ed between the
head of the bolt ind the under surface of the breech of the gun On the under
surface of the washer are formed lugs c which engage in corresponding recesses
in the upper fice of the bolt head, and cause the washer to tuin with the
bolt On the upper surface of the washer are rounded lugs 2 which engage in
corre ponding rounded recesses in the lower surface of the breech of the gun
The bolt head ( is cut away at under the lugs in such manner th t if sufficient
force hic exerted to turn the bolt, the wn her will be able to spring back permitting
the lugs to ride out of their nee thus allowing the bolt to be ready
unscrewed
C
A¹, Figures 2, 3 and 7, 18
a encular aperture in the end of the breech blocl,
which registers with the bore of the un, ind the cnlarged aperture B' in the biccch,
to permit the scation of the e ridges when the biccch block has been withdrawn
to the full extent permitted by the bolt (1 and groove C
The extractor D, (Figure 1) of well known construction, consists of a single
piece of metal, which is lodged in T-shaped mortice d' (Figure 2) formed in the
breach of the gun Its front end is provided with a claw (Figure 1) for
grasping the head of the cartridge, and a stud d³ formed on its lower surface which
engages the grooved (Figure 8) formed in the upper surface of the breech block
parallel to the front face of the breech block for a certain distance, and then
inclined abruptly to the real As the breech blocl 15 withdrawn the stud
engaging the groove d cu es the extractor D to follow the rearward motion of
the breech block thus starting the cartridge from the chamber of the gun
When the breech block is so far withdiawn as to nearly bring the opening
and B in line, the stud of the cxtractor stinking the abruptly inclined portion of
1'

page_text: the groove d is caused to move sharply to the real, ejecting the fired cartridge case
from the gun
The breech block is withdrawn by means of the handle E (Figures 1, 2, 4, 16
and 17) mounted on a shaft E Journalled in the breech block, and sensibly
perpendicular to the vertical plane of the gun On the shaft E' is formed a key or
splinee which engages in a key way e' cut in the locking screw D³ (Figures 4, 12 and 15)
The locking screw E2 is formed in one piece with the cocking cam I hereafter
described The locking screw E² is preferably cut as shown in Figures 12 and 13,
with a thread of rectangular section and engages in partial female screw E³
(Figure 4) cut in the rear face of the breech mortice When the locking screw is
home, the breech is locked, and the filing mechanism substantially in line with the
axis of the bore The thread of the locking sciew makes but one revolution around
its axis and terminates at e² Figures 12 and 13, so that when the handle E and with
it the locking screw E2 is given a half tuin to the eat, its thread - disengaged
from the female thread in the breech of the gun, and the breech block is then free,
or no longer locked, and may be withdrawn
On the shaft E¹ is formed a disc on the inner side of which is cut a recess Fi
limited at each end by the two abutment sui faces ƒ ƒ¹ In the recess engages a
projection or stop f, which is formed in a recess in the breech block, wherein the
disc is lodged and may freely revolve The abutment surfaces f and f' are at such
a distance part that they strike the stop 2 according as the locking screw is fully
home, or given a half turn to the rear to withdraw the breech block, that is to
sir, the abutment surfaces f and f¹ with the stop f2 operate to limit the rotary
motion of the handle E together with the shaft E and the locking screw E²
shaft E is held in place and the force applied to the handle E for withdrawing the
breech block is resisted by the shouldei o' of the tugger shaft O, as hereinafter
described, and the shaft E2 cannot be removed from the breech block without first
removing the tiigger shaft
The
To automatically cock the hammer on closing and locking the breech, we provide
the following mechanism
A trigger shaft O (Figures 4 and 23) hereinafter more fully described, is
enclosed in a spring box G (Figure 21) capable of limited longitudinal play on
the trigger shaft as an axis Around the shaft O within the box is coiled the main
spring H having one end abutting against the shoulder o¹ of the trigger and the
other against the bottom of the sping box The spring box G and the trigger
shaft are located in a longitudinal cylindrical cha nberg (Figures 4 and 9)
formed in the breech block in which the trigger shaft O is stationary in respect to
longitudinal motion On one side of the sping box is formed the cocking toe or
lug g which, projecting through a longitudinal slot g² in the wall of the chamber g
pai illel with the axis of the chamber, engages with the cocking cam I The cocking
cam 1 (Figures 4, 12 and 13) is formed in one piece with the locking screw E² and
takes of its rotary motion when the handic E is turned to the front or to the
1 car
2
The surface of the cocking cam has a helical thread extending upward from
its tip and making but part of a complete revolution around its axis, so as to leave
plain surface 2¹ extending along the axis unoccupied by a thread or any
obstruction, see Figure 12 When the breech is locked, and when the spring
box G is pressed inwards by the mun sping H, the cocking toe g¹ rests against
the tip end of the helical thread of the cocking cam On tuining the handle E
to the rear to unlock the breech block the coching cam I partakes of the 1otary
motion and the helical thread causes the cocking toe o¹ and with it the spring
box G to move longitudinally outward on the tugger shaf, thus compressing the
main sping H between the bottom of the box against which it abuts and the
shoulder o of the trigger shaft The spring box G is prevented from turning
about its axis by the coching toe in the slot g² Just before the han lle E has
reached its extreme position, that is just before the surface f has stiuch the stop f²,
the plane surface of the cocking cam pas es over the oching toe holding it
positively to the rear

page_text: The hammer J (Figures 3, 4, 18 and 19) consists of a single piece of metal,
provided with a detachable or permanent firing pin (Figure 20) and is located in
a slot or mortice K (Figures 3, 7 and 9) in the axis of the breech block (which
permits it to rock within certain limits, while a further mortice K¹ at right angles
to the mortice K affords space for its shaft ¹ On the shaft is formed the
tooth 3, one or more, which engages between the two or more teeth 9 9 of
the cocking rack G¹ formed on the spring box G (Figures 4 and 19)
As the shaft
of the hammer is free to revolve in journals, it is evident that it will revolve to
the rear or the front according as the spring box moves outwardly or inwardly
under the action of the cocking cam upon the cocking toe On one side of the
shaft or axis of the hammer is formed a lug or tail 13, to facilitate the removal of
the hammer when dismounting the mechanism
The extremities of the shaft of the hammer (Figures 18 and 19) e reduced in
diameter, and Journal in bearings k¹ (Figure 7) formed in the upper and lower
faces of the mortice K¹ in the breech block These holes are cut away towards
the front face of the breech block, forming channels through which the axis
of the hammer may be shipped into place As shown, the extremities of the axis of
the hammer are cut away at 1 in oider that when turned to a given position they
may pass through the channels 2 into their bearings k¹ This position is determined
in such manner that the hammer can only be slipped into place and the tooth j²
register with the cocking rack when the spring box G has been withdrawn a
greater distance than it moves under the influence of the cocking cam I
to dismount or mount the hammer it is necessary first to remove the mainspring,
when the sping box may be sufficiently withdiawn to permit the extremities
of the shaft or axis of the hammer to engage in and move along the channels Z²
Hence
In the front face or the breech block in front of the mortice K in which the
hammer rocks, is a recessed seat L in which is seated a firing plate M (Figures 3, 10
and 11) removably secured in place by a sciew thread formed around it which
registers with a coiresponding thread formed in the filing plate seat L
Two or
more recesses mm (Figure 10) in the firing plate M are provided by which the
plate may be removed with a wrench In the axis of the firing plate M is formed
a shouldered or stepped aperture m' which registers with the piimer and with the
firing pin of the hammer when the latter is in the forward position
Into this
aperture is forced a hardened and removable bushing N, wherein is formed a
passage for the firing pin (Figure 3) When the passage has become corioded
through the leakage of defective primers it may be replaced with a new bushing,
thus obviating the necessity of renewing the firing plate as a whole
The trigger shaft (Figures 23, 24 and 20) consists of single piece of metal
and performs the functions of trigger, sear, support of mai sping, and lock for
mechanism Beginning at the innci end we find the shaft O on which is placed
the main spring H, which abuts against the shoulder o¹ Near this shoulder is the
projecting sea o² which can engage in the cocking notch y³ formed in the walls of
the spring box G In Figure 4 the sea is shown engaged with the cocking notch,
and it is clear that if the trigger shaft be tuined to the rear about its
longitudinal axis the sear will leave the notch permitting the spring box to fiv
forward, causing in its turn the hammer to strike and explode the piime of the
cartridge
To the rear of the projecting sear o² of the trigger shaft is formed the annular
shoulder o which engages in the annular groove o in the breech block, both the
shoulder o³ and the metal covering the groove o ire cut way so as to form a
bayonet joint, in such manner that the trigger shaft may be slipped into place and
given a half turn, when it will be locked In order that the annular shoulder o³
may pass the disc 1 of the shaft of the handle I, a cucular pissage 73 (Figure 1)
is formed in the di c In such manner that the handle L being turned to an
essentially vertical position, the passage f³ registers with the cylindrical chambei g
which contains the spring box G and tigge shaft O In this position the trigger
shaft may be introduced into its place and when locked its head O' (Figure 1)

page_text: being against the disc F prevents the withdrawal of the handle E and its
shaft E
It is obvious that the tugger shaft cinnot be unlocked and withdrawn except
when the handle E is in the vertical position, is in any other position the fice of of
the annular stop o³ will strike the real wall on the inner recess of the
dis F
Ihe sear o² of the trigger shaft is made to engage with the cocking notch g³
of the spring box G by means of the face of of the annular shoulder o as
follows
When the handle E is turned to the real to unlock the breech, the fire f¹
formed in the recess F¹ of the disc F trikes the face o, just before it strikes the
stop in the brcech block, thus causing the tugger piece to revolve sufficiently
to bing the star o² in line and into engagement with the cool ing notch q³
On the end
Once the sear engaged in the cockin notch and the handle D turned to the
fint, the spring, box G will be entirely supported against the pressure of the main
spin by the sear If now, the trigger shaft be turned to the rear disengaging
the stai from the cocking notch, the sping box will fly inwards under the impulse
of the main spring causing the hammer to revolve and fire the gun
of the trigger shift is formed projecting lug or trigger P which is eccentric to
the axis of the trigger shaft Tormed on or attached to the breech block is a
projecting hook Q, which when the gun is cocked abuts against the trigger P
10 ming an eye or aperture R To fire the gun an ordinary lanyard is provided,
t the end of which is attached a hook-shaped piece S (Figure 26) of metal
Introducing the lanyard hook into the eye R a smart jerk on the lanyard will cause
the tigger shaft to evolve, freeing the sear from the cocking notch, and fing the
gun At the same time the lanyard hook passes between the trigger P and the
Thi disengaging
projecting hook R, thus disengaging the lany aid from the gun
iriangement is necessary in all mountain, held and siege guns having a great recoil,
in order to prevent injury to the hand grasping the lanyard
The action of the mechanism is as follows
The
The gun having been fired, the handle E is given a half turn to the rear
locking screw E revolving with the handle iele ises its thread from the female
thead in the breech of the gun, thus unlocking the breech The cocking cam I
being in one piece with the locl ing screw revolves with it, and its helical thread
dives the coching toe g¹ outward, diawing with it the spring box G which slides
the trigger shaft O and compresses the main sping H between the bottom of
the box and the shoulder o¹ of the trigger shaft at the end of the motion the
cocking notch g³ has slightly passed the sear o² As the sping box (r moves to
the side, the inward tooth of the rack G' acting against the tooth 2 causes the
hammer to revolve to the cocked po ition Just before the handle E and with
it the disc F has completed its revolution, but after the spring box G his been
fully retracted, the face f¹ strikes the face of causing the tigger shaft to revolve
to the front, bringing the seal 02 in line with the cocking notch g³ and the trigger P
in contact with the hook Q The breech may now be opened by pulling the
hundle smartly outwards from the gun, until its lateral movement is airested by
the stop bolt C¹ As the bicech block is pulled outwards it moves slightly to the
en following the guide a As the block moves outwards, the extractor following
the parallel portion of the guide d moves slowly away from the chamber of the
When the
gun, thus staiting the fired cartridge case with a powerful leverage
extricto stud strikes the abruptly inclined portion of the groove d, the extractor
15 caused to move violently to the rear, throwing the empty cartridge case clear of
the gun
I he gun is now ready for loading, the new cartiidge is passed into the chamber
of the gun through the openings B₁ A¹ until its head or flange takes against the
claw of the extractor The breech of the gun is now closed by pushing the
handle smartly tow uds the breech of the gun The inclined face a of
the breech block acting against the head of the cartridge causes the latter to enter

page_text: As the
fully to the bore of the gun When the breech is closed, further motion is
prevented by the last thread of the locking screw E str king the first thread of
the female screw in the breech of the gun The breech is now locked by turning
the handle E fully to the front when the fore portion of the locking sciew E' engages
with the female thread in the breech of the gun When fully locl ed, fuither
movement of the handle is prevented by the face f striking the stop f
handle turns to the front, the helical thread of the cocking cam 1 previously in
ergagement with the cocking toe gl, which it had driven outward in the proces. of
coching, is rotated away from it, leaving the spring box G locked and the ha nmer
coched, as alıcady described so that when the handle is fully tuned and the block
locked, the unthreaded or plain surf ice of the axis of the cam I registers with the
Locking toe, leaving the latter fiee to move inward under the impetus of the
spring when the spring box is unlocked The mechanism is now as shown in
Figure 4 The lanyard hook is now inserted in the eye R and the gun is ready
for firing Pulling the lanyard he trige piece is caused to revolve, freeing
the sear o² from the cocking notch g', the spring box G flies inwards under the
impulse of the main sping, the outward tooth of the rack G' acting on the
tooth causes the hammer T to revolve about its axis, and the firing pin
pa sing through the hole in the bushing of the filing plate strikes the primer of
the cartridge, fining the gun
To dismount the mechanism, proceed as follows Turn the handle E to a nealy
vertical position, when the passage f³ will register with the cylindrical chamber g
A screw driver is now engaged in the slot formed in the head O' of the trigger
shift and the latter tuined until the bayonet joint formed by the shoulder o³
and the groove o¹ is unlocked The trigger, and with it the min spring may
now be removed The handle E with its shaft are now free and may be
withdrawn The locking screw and cocking cam are now fiee and may be
removed, passing the finger under the tail of the hammer the latter may
be removed, and finally the spring box, which is now free To remove the bieech
block, unscrew the stop bolt and pull out the block, finally remove the extractor,
which is now free Ihe breech lock and mechanism are mounted in the reverse
order, but it is evident that the percussion mechanism may be completely mounted
and dismounted with the breech block either in or out of the gun
Having now particularly descubed and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim, is
-
1 In a bicech loading gun closed by a breech block moving essentially at
right angles to the bore, the combination with the breech block having suitable
recesses, of a locking sciow, a cam integral with said locking screw and consi ting
of a helical thread making a partial revolution around the extended axis thereof,
a spring actuated percussion mechanism, and suitable intermediate devices
operatively connected to the spring of the percussion mechanism and ari inged
to be acted upon by the cim, all contained and moving with said block, whereby
when the block is unlocked, the sud percussion mechanisın 19 cocked, substantially
as described
2 In a breech loading gun closed by a breech block moving essentially at
right angles to the bore and having a locking screw mounted on the breech block,
the combination with the locking screw of a helically threaded cam located in
the breech block and forming an extension of the axis of the locking screw, and
integral therewith a helical sping located in a chamber in said breech block
parallel to the axis of said cam, and suitable intermediate devices arranged to
be acted upon by sud cum and opciatively connected to sand sping, all contained
within and moving with said blocl whereby when said locking sciew is unlocked
and spring is compressed, sul stantially as described
3. In a breech loading gun closed by a breech block moving essentially at right
angles to the bore and having a locking screw mounted in the block and hummer

page_text: Journilled in a suitable recess in the block the combination with the locking strew
of helically thiended cocking cam located in the breech block forming an
extension of the axis of the locking screw and integral therewith a helical spring
located in a chamber in said breech block parallel to the axis of said cam,
suitable intermediate devices arranged to be acted upon by said cam and
operatively connected to said spring, and suit ible connecting met harism between
said spring and hammer all contained within and movable with sud block whereby
when said locking screw is unlocked said spring is compressed and the hammer is
cocked, sub tantially as described
4 In a breech lo iding gun closed by a breech blocl moving -sentially at right
angles to the bore and having a locking screw mounted in the block the
combination with the locking sciew of a helically threaded cocking cam located in
the breech block forming an extension of the axis of the locking screw and integral
therewith, said cocking cam having a surface partially helically threaded and
partially tight angles to its axis, a spring box located in a chamber in said
breech block paralel to the axis of said cam, adapted to move longitudinally in
said chamber, and having a laterally projecting lug which engages with said cam
surfaces through a longitudinal slot in said chamber wall, and a helical sping
located in said sping box, having one end abutting against the bottom of sand
spring box and the other against a bearing in said chamber, all contuned within
and moving with sad block, whereby when said locking screw is unlocked, ud
spring is compressed, substantially as described
5 In a breech loading gun closed by breech block moving essentially at right
angles to the borc aud having a locking screw mounted in the block and a hammer
Jounalled in a suitable recess in the block the combination with the locking sciew
of a helically threaded cocking cam located in the breech block forming an
extension of the axis of the locking sciew and integral therewith, said cocking
cam having surface partially helically threaded and partially at right angles to
its axis, a spring box loc ited in a chamber in said breach block parallel to the axis
of said cam, adapted to move longitudinally in said chamber and having a laterally
projecting lug which engages with said cam sui face through a longitudinal slot in
said chamber wall, a hammer having shaft jou nalled in a suitable recess in
said breech blocl, sail shaft being at right angles to said spring box, one or
more teeth upon said shaft, two or more teeth upon said spring box in engagement
with the teeth upon said shaft, and a helical spring located in said spring box
having one end abutting against the botton of said box and the other against a
bearing in said chamber, all contained within and moving with said block, whereby
when said locking screw is unlocked, said hammet is coel ed, substantially as
described
6 In a breech loading gun closed by a breech block moving essentially at right
angles to the bore and having a locking sciew mounted in the block, the combination
with the hammer journalled in a suitable recess in the block, of the hammer shaft,
a tooth upon said shaft, a sping box located in a chamber in said breech block at
1ight angles to the shaft and adapted to move longitudinally therein, teeth upon
said sping box confining between them the single tooth upon said shaft, a helical
spring located in said spring box and abutting as described, and a device mounted
upon the block which imparts a longitudinal movement to sud spring box against
the stress of the spring, all of said parts being removable with said block whereby
the hammer is cocked, substantially as described
7 In a breech loading gun closed by a breech block moving e sentially at right
angles to the bore the combination with a spring box located in a chamber in said
breech block and adapted to move longitudinally therein, and having a section of
its wall removed and a sear notch thereon, of a helical spring located in said
chamber and having one end abutting against the bottom of said sprin box and
the other against a bearing in said chamber, and a rotating trigger shaft iemovably
and rotatably secured to the breech block and passing axially through said helical
spring and spring box, and having a sear adapted to register and to lock with said

page_text: sear notch on the spring box when said spring is compressed and the trigger iotated
substantially as described
8 In a bieech loading gun closed by a breech block moving essentially at 11 ht
angles to the bore the combination with a spring box located in a chamber in sa d
breech block and adapted to move longitudin iliy therein and having a section of
its wall removed and a scar notch therein, of helical spring located in
chamber and having one end abutting against the bottom of said spring box, a
rotating trigger having a head removably and rotatably secured to the breach
block and a shaft passing axially through said helical spring and spring box, a
shoulder on said trigger shaft forming an abutment for the other end of sud
spring, a sear on said shaft adapted to register and lock with aid seat notch on
the spring box, when the spring is compressed and the trigger rotated, an eccentric
lug upon the trigger head, a hook upon the gun breech forming closed eye
with the tugger heid lug, when the spring is compressed and the sear locl ed,
and a device for opening the eye to release the spring, substantially as described
9 Inbreech loading gun clo ed by breech block moving essentially at right
ngles to the bone and having a locking screw mounted in the block and a hammer
Journalled in a suitable recess in the block the combination of the locking screw,
the helical cam located in the breech block forming an extension of the axis of the
locking sciew and integral therewith having a surface partially helical and partially
at right angles to its axis, a spring box located in a chamber in said breech block
parallel to the axis of said cam adapted to move longitudinally in said chamber
and havin laterally projecting log which engages with said cam surface through
a longitudinal slot in said chamber wall, a hammer having a shaft journalled in a
suitable recess in said breech block at 1ight angles to said spring box, one or more
teeth upon said shaft, two or more teeth upon said spring box in engagement with
the teeth upon said shaft, a helical sping located in said sping box and having
one end abutting against the bottom of Sud box, a rotating trigger having a head
removably and 1otatably secured to the breech block and a shaft pa sing axially
through said helical spring and spring box, a shoulder on said trigger shaft forming
an abutment for the other end of said spring a sear on said trigger shift a sear
notch on said spring box adapted to register and lock with said trigger shaft seu
when the spring is compressed and the trigger rotated, an eccentric lug upon the
tugger head, a hook upon the gun breech forming a closed eye with the trigger
head lug when the spring is compressed and the sear locked, and a device for opening
the eye to release the spring, substantially as described
10 In a breech loading gun closed by a breech block moving essentially at right
angles to the bore the combination with a removable locking screw and helical
cam integral therewith, consisting of a helical thread making part of a complete
revolution around the prolonged axis of the locking screw, located in the breach
block, of a handle aul shaft removably secured to the locking screw, substantially
as described
11 In a breech loading gun closed by a breech block moving essentially at night
angles to the bore and having the within described spring compressing mechanism,
the combination with a removable locking screw having a spring actuating cam
integral therewith consisting of a helical thread making part of a complete evolu-
tion around the prolonged axis of the locking screw, a cylindrical axial chamber
and a key way in said chamber, of a removable handle having a shaft jour nalled
in said breech block and locking sciew, and having a key on the shaft which
engages the key way on the locking screw, a disc shaped head on the shaft handle
rotating therewith and having a recessed guide way on its under surface next to
the breech block, and a stop on the breech block engaging in said guide way,
substantially as described
12 In a breech loading gun closed by a breech block moving essentially at right
angles to the bore and having the within described spring actuated percussion
mechanism, the combination with the removable handle journ₁lled in the breech
block as described, and the disc shaped head rotating therewith and having a

page_text: circular notch in its periphery, of the removable trigger shaft mounted in the
breech block adjacent to and parallel with the handle, having a rotatable bayonet
Joint adapted to lock with the breech block below said handle disc, and a bead
adapted to bear against the outer surface of said handle disc and retain it in
place against the breech block when the trigger shaft is locked, substantially as
described
13 In a breech loading gun closed by a breech block moving essentially at right
angles to the bore and having the within described spring actuated mechanism,
the combination with the spring box having the sear notch, its contained spring,
and rotatable trigger shaft with its scar, all located as described, of the annular
trigger shaft shoulder o³ having the face of and the handle and shaft rotatably
mounted on the block, having the disc with the recess F' and abutment f¹ on its
under periphery, which engages with said trigger face of to rotate the trigger when
the handle is turned substantially as described
14 The combination with the breech block A having the chambers K and K'
and the recessed bearings k' and then entrances k² for introducing and mounting
the hammer and its shaft, of the removable hammer T and its shaft ¹ having
the extremities of reduced diameter and cut away to pass through the entrance k³
and fit into the bearing k¹ in the breech block, substantially as described
15 The combination with the breech block A having the chambers K K',
the recessed bearings k¹ and then entrances 2 for introducing and mounting
the hammer and its shaft, of the removable hammer J and its shaft 7' constructed
as described to fit into the chambers, and bearings in the bieech block, and
the tail on the hammer shaft for removing the hammer, substantially as
described
16 The combination with the breech block A having the chambers K K',
the recessed bearings k' and their entrances 2 for introducing and mounting the
hammer and its shaft, and the screw threaded filing plate seat L, of the removable
haminer J and its shaft ' constructed as described to fit into the breech block,
the removable screw threaded firing plate M having the removable bushing N
and wrench holes m m, and the tail 3 on the hammer shaft, substantially as
described
Dated this 30th day of April 1895
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, WC, Patent Agents