Improvements in Breech-loading Ordnance.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 19th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Breech-loading Ordnance.
I, GEORGE QUICK, of 2, Victoria Mansions, in the City of Westminster, Fleet
Engineer, Royal Navy, Retired, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be.
as follows:
These improvements relate to breech-loading guns in which the breech is closed by
the French breech-screw with interrupted thread, and consists :-
Firstly, in giving the rotatory or unscrewing and withdrawing motions to the
breech-screw and also sliding the breech-screw so withdrawn to one side of the gun
by means of a multi-threaded screw working into the said breech-screw, the said
multi-threaded screw being operated by a lever as hereinafter described.
The breech-screw when withdrawn from the gun is received into a cylinder which
is secured to a metal sliding plate which plate is made to slide in grooves or guide-
ways preferably cut in the rear end of the gun or where the so-called "hood" is fitted
this sliding plate may be made to slide in grooves in the said "hood."
On the front end of this cylinder an arm is formed or fitted with a projecting pin
which pin gears into a slot cut in the rear face of the breech of the gun as described
in the Specification of my Letters Patent No. 2251 of 1881 and dated 24th May, or
a long slot can be formed in the lever to embrace a pin fixed in the rear face of the
breech of the gun by means of which the cylinder with its sliding plate and breech-
screw complete can be slid or moved to one side of the gun without any lifting or
swinging motion.
The multi-threaded screw above referred to may be, if desired, mado duplex, that
is of two parts, one working inside the other, so as to shorten the recess to be formed
in the breech-screw.
The multi-threaded screw, whether in one piece or in two parts, is held in position
concentric with the axis of the breech-screw by means of a plato fitted into the rear
end of the cylinder before referred to and turns freely in the said plate during the un-
screwing and withdrawing motions given to the breech-screw.
A stop is formed on the rear part of the breech-screw and a corresponding
segmental recess is cut in the sliding plate to limit the turning of the said breech-
screw and a straight groove is cut on the interior of the cylinder to receive the said
stop and thus to act as a guide to the breech-screw and to prevent its turning whilst
being withdrawn from the gun and slid to one side.
When the breech-screw has been withdrawn from the corresponding recess in the
gun the breech-screw will have arrived at the end of the said cylinder and further
motion of the multi-threaded screw will lock the breech-screw, the multi-threaded
screw and cylinder together and the three will revolve as one piece in the said
sliding plate.
When the cylinder begins to turn the pin at the end of the arm forming part of
the cylinder will move in the vertical groove in the rear face of the breech of
the gun and the said pin, by bearing on the side of the said groove as a fulcrum
will cause the sliding plate to travel outwards in its groove from the centre of the
gun or vice-versa.
These improvements relate secondly to the extractor and ejector mechanism for use
in those guns, in which fixed ammunition or metal cartridges are used and consists in
using an extractor fitted in a groove in the lower part of the breech of the gun, and
actuated by the breech-screw when being un-screwed and withdrawn from the gun.
This extractor is not entirely withdrawn from the breech of the gun but remains
therein and withdraws the cartridge case only a certain distance from the chamber.

page_text: The groove is deepened at its rear end so as to allow the extractor to become dis-
engaged from the breech-screw and this dis-engagement is assisted by means of an
inclined plane formed on a stop which stop is secured in, or formed at, the rear end of
the deep part of the said groove. Thus the cartridge case having been withdrawn a
certain distance by the action of the extractor and breech-screw, the said breech-screw
becomes disengaged from the extractor and the further withdrawal of the breech-
screw ceases to operate the extractor or withdraw the cartridge case. One advantage
of this arrangement is that those metallic cartridges can be used in which the electric
or percussion primers project behind the base of the cartridge and fit into a recess
in the face of the breech-screw. I have shown the extractor in the lowest position,
but I may fit it somewhat on one side of the breech-screw chamber rather than at the
lowest portion thereof.
The cartridge case ejector consists of a short lever of the necessary bell-crank form
which lever is fitted in that side of the gun towards which the breech-screw and
sliding plate will move in opening. The end of the ejector which will strike against
the rim of the cartridge case lies in a recess cut in the gun clear of the breech-screw
threads. The other arm of the ejector is arranged to be struck by a stud or projection
formed on the front face of the sliding plate, on that side of the sliding plate, which,
when the breech is closed is furtherest from the said ejector, so that this stud or
projection can strike against the arm of the ejector only when the sliding plate has
moved a considerable distance outwards from the chamber of the gun, and the chamber
is clear for the cartridge case to be thrown out. Whilst the breech of the gun is open,
the ejector stands well out in the breech-screw chainber and prevents the loailed
cartridge being inserted too far when the gun is being loaded.
These improvements relate Thirdly, to a firing apparatus to be used in conjunction
with the before described multi-threaded screw arrangement and in those guns
in which metallic cartridges or fixed ammunition with percussion primers are
employed.
It consists essentially of a striker impelled and retracted by spiral springs and a
spring catch located in a piece attached to the rear-end of the said striker. The said
catch engages in a groove cut in the interior of the said multi-threaded male screw
by which the firing gear is cocked on the closing of the breech and is released there-
from by the action of a trigger and lanyard when the striker and spring catch together
are shot forward and the cartridge fired. In order to re-cock the firing mechanism
in case of a miss-fire I provide a second lanyard to pull the striker and the spring
catch back, when the latter will spring up into its groove.
It is necessary to cut a groove in the interior of the multi-threaded male screw and
also to make it hollow to enable the central part of the breech-screw and the firing
apparatus to travel backward during the withdrawal of the breech-screw.
A stop is provided to limit the outward travel of the sliding plate.
The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention :-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the rear end of a gun fitted with this mechanism, having
the breech closed.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the rear end of the gun, having the breech opened. In
both these Figures the firing mechanism is omitted.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale of the rear end of the gun, having
the breech closed.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the rear end of the gun, having the breech closed.
Figs. 5 are detail views, on an enlarged scale of the firing apparatus shown in
Fig. 3.
In this arrangement a vertical spiral spring catch is used."
Figs. 6 & 7 are views, on an enlarged scale, of an alternative arrangement of the
firing apparatus, in which a pivotted spring catch is employed.
Figs. 8&9 are vertical and horizontal sections respectively of the rear end of a
gun showing the arrangement of extractor and ejector mechanism, and
Figs. 10 are detail views, on an enlarged scale of the said extractor.
In all these figures similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

page_text: A is the multi-threaded screw. B is the cylinder. C is the sliding plate. D is
the lever for operating the multi-threaded screw A. E is the arm at the front end of
the cylinder B with pin engaging in slot F cut in rear face of the breech. G is the
plate fitted into the rear end of cylinder B. H is the ejector and H is the lug
provided on the front face of the sliding plate C to actuate the said ejector and H³ is
the lug for returning the ejector H to its normal position. I is the extractor and J is
the longitudinal groove, shaped as described, in which it moves. K is the annular
groove formed in the front end of the breech-screw for extractor 1 to engage in.
L is the stop for limiting the travel of the extractor I.
M is the striker of the firing gear. N is the spring catch. O is the groove in
which the spring catch N engages. P is the spring trigger. Qis a wire attached to.
rear end of spring catch chamber, having a loop for the attachment of a lanyard for
the purpose of re-cocking the firing apparatus. R, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. is
the stop for limiting the travel of the sliding plate. S is the stop formed on the
rear part of the breech-screw and T is the corresponding seginental slot in the
sliding plate and T is the corresponding straight slot formed on the interior of
the cylinder B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-loading Ordnance.
I GEORGE QUICK of Chipping Campden in the County of Gloucester, Fleet
Engineer, Royal Navy, Retired 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 :-
These improvements relate to breechloading guns in which the breech is closed by
the French breechscrew with interrupted thread and consist :-
Firstly, in giving the unscrewing and the withdrawing motions to the breechscrew
and then sliding the breechscrew so withdrawn to one side of the gun by means of a
multithreaded male screw working into the said breechscrew, the said multithreaded
screw being operated by a lever thereon in combination with a cylinder with arm
thereon and a sliding plate fitting in grooves in the gun.
Secondly of a cartridge extractor fitted into a groove in the lower part of the
breech of the gun and actuated by the breechscrew when being withdrawn from the
gun, in combination with a cartridge ejector consisting of a short lever of bell crank
form fitted into a recess in one side of the breech of the gun and actuated by means
of a lug on the sliding plate which carries the cylinder and breechscrew to one side of
the gun.
Thirdly Of a percussion firing apparatus which is cocked by the closing of the
breech of the gun and which can be recocked by hand, in case of misfire, without the
breech of the gun being opened.
And in order that these improvements may be thoroughly understood and carried
into practical effect I shall now refer to the figures and letters of reference marked on
the Drawings left with the Provisional Specification.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the rear end of a gun fitted with this mechanism and
having the breech closed.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the rear end of the gun having the breech open. In these
Figures 1 and 2 the firing mechanism is not shown.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale of the rear end of the gun having
the breech closed.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the rear end of the gun having the breech closed.
Figures 5 are detailed views, on an enlarged scale, of the firing apparatus shown in
Fig. 3. In this arrangement a vertical spiral spring catch is used.
Figures 6 and 7 are views on an enlarged scale of an alternative arrangement of
the firing apparatus in which a pivotted spring catch is employed.

page_text: Figures 8 and 9 are vertical and horizontal sections respectively of the rear end of
a gun showing the arrangements of the extractor and ejector mechanism, and
Figures 10 are detail views, on an enlarged scale, of the said extractor.
In all these figures similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A is the multithreaded screw; B is the cylinder secured to the sliding plate C so
that it can revolve freely is the sliding plate fitting in grooves cut in the breech
of the gun; D is the lever for operating the multithreaded screw A; E is the arm
at the front end of the cylinder B with pin engaging in the slot F cut in the breech of
the gun G is the plate fitted into the rear end of the cylinder B which plate supports
the rear end of the multithreaded screw A; H is the cartridge ejector and H' is the
lug provided on the front face of the sliding plate C to actuate the said ejector and H³
is the lug for returning the ejector H to its normal position; I is the extractor and
J is the longitudinal groove in the gun in which it moves; K is the groove cut
around the front end of the breechscrew for the extractor I to engage in L is the
stop for limiting the travel of the extractor I; M is the striker of the firing gear
with spiral springs; N.is the spring catch; O is the groove in which the spring
catch N engages; P is the spring trigger ; Q is a wire attached to the rear part of
the spring catch chamber and having a loop or ring for a lanyard for the purpose of
recocking the firing apparatus in case of misfire; R, shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4,
is the stop for limiting the travel of the sliding plate C; S is the stop formed on the
rear part of the breechscrew and T is the corresponding segmental slot in the
sliding plate C and T'is the corresponding straight slot formed in the interior of
the cylinder B.
The operation to open the breech is as follows:-The multithreaded screw A is
turned by the hand lever D by which means the breechscrew is caused to turn through
a part of a revolution until the stop S is arrested in the segmental slot T and the male,
screw threads on the breechscrew are disengaged at the interruptions from the female
screw threads in the gun and the breechscrew is in such a position that it can be with-
drawn. The stud S on the breechscrew is now in line with the straight groove T' in
the cylinder B. Further rotation of the multithreaded screw A does not turn the
breechscrew but withdraws it into the cylinder B until it is stopped by the closing
plate G and further motion of the lever D will cause the multithreaded screw A
the breechscrew and the cylinder B to turn together as one piece in the sliding
plate C.
As soon as the cylinder B begins to turn in the plate C the pin at the end of the
arm E will bear on one side of the groove or slot F as a fulcrum and as the lever D
is moved the breechscrew, the cylinder B, and sliding-plate C will together travel
outwards from the centre of the gun until the sliding plate C is arrested at the proper
position by the stop R when the breech will be open as shown in Fig. 2.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the breechscrew is moved to one side of the
gun and the breech opened without any lifting or swinging motion of the breech-
screw, and that it is caused to slide by means analagous to those described in the
Specification of my Letters Patent No. 2251 of A.D. 1881 which I have before cited
in my Provisional Specification No. 18785 of A.D. 1888.
The reverse movement of the lever D will bring the sliding plate C, the cylinder B
with the breechscrew and multithreaded screw A back to the centre of the breech,
when further motion of the lever D will cause the multithreaded screw A to force the
breecbscrew out of the cylinder B into the gun and then turn the said breechscrew
thereby screwing it up and closing the chamber.
The operation of the cartridge extractor and cartridge ejector mechanism is as
follows The cartridge extractor I is fitted in the longitudinal groove J in the lower
part of the breech of the gun, the rear part of which groove is deeper than the front
part of the groove. The front.part of the extractor is adapted to act on the rim of
the cartridge and the rear part is formed with an inclined plane corresponding to the
inclined plane on the stop L which stop L limits the travel of the said extractor and
causes it to disengage from the breechscrew. K is a groove cut around the frontipart
of the breechscrew, into which groove a projection on the extractor:I fits so that when

page_text: the breechscrew is being withdrawn it drags the extractor and cartridge case with it
until the extractor I reaches the stop L when the rear part of the extractor is forced
down by the action of the inclined planes so that the projection on the extractor I
comes out of the groove K, and the breechscrew continues to be withdrawn into the
cylinder B, leaving the cartridge case resting on the extractor the front part of
which remains above the groove J. When a fresh cartridge is inserted in the gun the
long arm of the ejector Harrests the rim of the cartridge so that the said rim is just
about in contact with the front part of the extractor I. When the breech is closed
the ejector will be retired from its position by the action of the lug H2, and as the
breechiscrow is pushed into the gun it will push the cartridge before it which will
cause the extractor I to advance and the rear part of the extractor will be raised as
passes up the inclination at the bottom of the groove J so that the projection on the
rear part of the extractor will engage with the groove K and will remain therein
during the screwing up of the breech screw and until it is again disengaged on the
withdrawal of the breechscrew.
The ejector acts as follows:-The breechscrew having been withdrawn. into the
cylinder B, leaving the cartridge case at rest on the extractor, the sliding plate C with
all its attachments is moved outwards sufficiently far for the cartridge case to be
thrown out and at this instant the lug H' on the front face of the sliding plate C
strikes against the short arm of the ejector H which causes the other arm of the
ejector H to strike with considerable force against the rim of the cartridge case by
which the said case is thrown from the gun, and the long arm of the ejector H then
remains in the position to arrest the entering cartridge at the proper position to
engage with the extractor when the gun is being loaded. When the sliding
plate C is being brought back in order that the breech may be closed the lug H
returns the ejector H to its recess in the gun, see Figures 3, 8, and 9. Thus the
cartridge case is first of all extracted by the extractor I for a certain distance from
out of the chamber, the breechscrew becomes disconnected from it and it then
comes to rest until the sliding plate C is clear when the ejector H throws the
case out.
The firing apparatus consists essentially of a striker M impelled and retracted by
spiral springs (similar or analogous to that described in the Specification of my
Letters Patent No. 15833 of A.D. 1884) and the spring catch N located in a piece of
metal attached to the rear end of the striker M, see Figures 3 and 5. The catch N
engages in a groove O cut in the interior of the multithreaded screw A by which
engagement the striker is held back whilst the breechscrew is advancing somewhat
and thus the firing gear is cocked on the closing of the breech. On pulling the
trigger P the catch N is released from the groove O when the striker M and spring
catch N are together propelled forward by the action of the rear spiral spring and the
cartridge is fired.
In order to recock the firing mechanism in case of misfire I provide a wire Q and
attach it to the rear end of the spring catch chamber and secure a lanyard thereto by
which the striker M may be drawn back until the catch N engages with groove
by which the mechanism will be recocked without the breech of the gun being opened
or the breechiscrew turned.
A modification of this firing gear is shown by Figures 6 and 7 in which a pivotted
spring catch is employed the action of which will be easily and fully understood
from the drawings and the description given above of the spiral spring catch
arrangement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that I
do not restrict myself to all the details as herein described as such may be varied
somewhat without departing from the principles of the said invention but what I
claim is :-
1. The combination consisting of the gun; the breechscrew with interrupted
thread; the multithreaded male screw A with hand lever D thereon adapted to turn

page_text: the breechscrew and to pull or push it longitudinally as required; the sliding plate C
carrying the cylinder B with its end plate G; the arm E with pin to work in the
groove F to open the breech transversely without any lifting or swinging motion of
the breechscrew substantially as described.
2. The combination consisting of the gun; the breechscrew; the multithreaded
screw A; the cylinder B; the sliding plate C; the cartridge extractor I the stop L
and the cartridge ejector H to cause the cartridge case to be withdrawn a certain
distance from the chamber and subsequently to be ejected from the gun substantially
as described.
3. The combination consisting of the gun; the breech screw; the multithreaded
screw A the cylinder B; the sliding plate C; the striker M; the spring catch N ;
the groove O in the interior of the multithreaded screw A; the trigger P and the
recocking wire Q substantially as described.
4. The combination consisting of the gun; the breechscrew; the multithreaded
screw A; the cylinder B; the sliding plate C; the hand lever D; the arm E; the
cartridge extractor I; the cartridge ejector H; and the firing apparatus with
recocking wire substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 18th day of September AD 1889