Improvements in Firing-mechanism for Breech-loading Guns.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 7th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by DIE ACTIEN-GESELLSCHAFT GRUSONWERK, of
Magdeburg Buckau, in the Empire of Germany.]
Improvements in Firing-mechanism for Breech-loading Guns.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to firing hammers for breech-loading guns and more especially
to guns in which metallic cartridges are employed.
In guns of the above mentioned kind or class the explosion of the detonating-cap
has heretofore been effected by means of a firing-pin actuated by a spring. In this
arrangement it is necessary to first compress the spring by drawing back and
retaining the firing pin by means of some suitable device. If the detonating cap fails
to act the said spring requires to be again compressed by opening and closing the
whole breech before again attempting to discharge the gun.
The main object of my said invention is to obviate the above described defect in a
simple manner by the employment of an improved firing-hammer hereinafter
described.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide a vertical breech-block which
is raised and lowered by turning a sliding crank. In a cavity in the said breech-block
is pivoted a firing-hammer which is preferably constructed of a U-shaped form. The
lower shank of the said hammer is pivoted in the said breech-block in such a manner
that it can turn or pivot freely upon a horizontal bolt and the upper or striking
portion of the said hammer terminates in suitable points forming a firing pin. The
equilibrium of the hammer is so arranged that the point of gravity of the said hammer.
is always, even when the latter is in its highest position, situated behind a vertical
plane passing through the axis of the bolt, thus the hammer, by reason of its weight,
falls backwards far enough for a part of the same, for instance, a suitable projection
on the shank to bear normally against a portion of the said breech-block.
An extension is moreover provided having a suitable eye or hole for the reception
of a firing-cord. When the said firing-cord is pulled, the weight of the hammer is
overcome and the firing-pin is caused to strike sharply upon the detonating-cap of the
cartridge placed in the gun. Directly however, the pull on the firing cord is relaxed
the hammer falls back to its original position, its point of gravity tending to pass to
the lowest position.
In this arrangement of firing hammer the firing pin of the said hammer can be
caused to strike repeatedly upon the detonating-cap by simply relaxing and pulling
the firing-cord, in case the cap should fail to explode at the first blow, without any
necessity for opening or closing the breech.
By means of this device great simplicity of construction is obtained as compared
with the ordinary arrangement and at least ten separate parts are dispensed with.
I prefer to employ a hammer of the U-shaped form hereinbefore described with its
turning or pivoting axis placed below the firing-pin.
In a modification of my said invention the U-shaped form of hammer is replaced
by a hammer provided with a suitable counterweight which draws back the said
hammer as soon as the pull upon the firing-cord is relaxed.
In a further modification the turning or pivoting axis and the counterweight of the
said hammer are placed above and the firing-pin below.
In another modification the axis of the said hammer is situated above and the
counterweight is formed by making the firing-pin heavier.
In all these modifications, (which could be further increased) the characteristic

page_text: feature is that the firing-hammer falls back to its original position by reason of its
own weight as soon as the pull upon the firing-cord is relaxed.
Moreover although I have hereinbefore described my improved firing device as
applied to a gun having a vertical breech-block it. is obvious that it is also applicable
to guns having horizontal breech-blocks, or screw-threaded breech-blocks; in the
latter case the hammer is constructed of smaller dimensions than that employed in
the breech-block hereinbefore described, and the firing cord passes through the
breech-block or along the wall of the reinforce.
Dated this 13th day of November 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45. Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Firing Mechanism for Breech-loading Guns.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex 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 :-
This invention relates to firing-hammers for breech-loading guns of the kind or class
in which metallic cartridges are employed, or in which the explosion of the powder-
charge is effected by means of a detonating cap or primer.
In guns of this kind or class, the detonating-cap of the cartridge has heretofore
been exploded by means of a firing pin or hammer actuated by a spring. In such
guns, it is necessary to compress the said spring by drawing back or cocking the
firing pin or hammer and to retain the latter in its cocked position by means of a
sear or other suitable device. Should the detonating cap fail to act when first struck
by the firing-pin or hammer, the latter has to be again drawn back or cocked so as to
compress the said spring before another attempt can be made to discharge the gun.
The cocking of the firing pin or hammer usually involves the opening and closing of
the breech; consequently considerable loss of time is frequently occasioned in the
working of a gun.
According to the present invention, I obviate this defect in a simple and efficient
manner, that is to say, I so construct and arrange the firing hammer that it may be
actuated by a cord or lanyard, and when the said cord is relaxed the said hammer
will under the action of gravity fall back or return to its original position.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how the said invention may be con-
veniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, of a field-gun fitted
with one form of my improved firing-hammer.
Figure 2 is a vertical section, drawn to an enlarged scale, showing details of
construction.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are vertical central sections, drawn to the same scale as Figure 2
showing other forms or modifications of the said invention.
Like letters indicare corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is the gun, B is the carriage thereof, C is the breech aperture, D the breech-
block, E the crank-lever for opening and closing the breech. F is a cartridge, and F¹
is the detonating cap thereof.
a is a cavity or recess provided in the breech-block D. bis the firing hammer
which is pivoted at in the said cavity or recess a. The firing-hammer shown in
Figures 1 and 2 is made U shaped and pivoted in such a manner that it can turn
freely about a horizontal axis. The upper portion of the said hammer terminates
in a pointed pin or striker 62. The said hammer is so arranged that its centre of
gravity is in a vertical line in rear of its pivot and it has therefore, a tendency to fall
backward until a projection 63 on the shank of the said firing hammer bears against
the underside of the breech block D, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2.

page_text: A
The firing-hammer bis provided with an arm or extension 6 forming the short
arm of a lever of which the said firing hammer forms as it were the long arm.
suitable eye or hole 6 is formed in the arm & for the reception of one end of a firing
cord or lanyard c by means of which the said firing-hammer may be operated. When
the said cord or lanyard c is forcibly pulled, the weight of the firing-hammer is over-
come and the pointed pin or striker is caused to strike the detonating-cap F¹ of the
cartridge F. Directly however the pull on the said cord c is relaxed, the firing-
hammer falls back under the action of gravity to its original position, as shown by
dotted lines in Figure 2.
In the modification of the said invention illustrated in Figure 3, the hammer bis
provided with a suitable counterweight d which causes the said hammer to fall back
as soon as the pull upon the firing cord or lanyard c is released.
Figure 4 illustrates another modification wherein the pivot or axis and the
counterweight d of the firing-hammer bare placed above the firing-pin or striker b³.
In this case the centre of gravity of the hammer and counterweight must be in a
vertical line forward of the said pivot or axis.
In the modification of the said invention shown in Figure 5, the counterweight dis
dispensed with and the hammer is so formed that its centre of gravity will be forward
of its pivot or axis.
It is obvious that the construction of the parts can be somewhat further modified
if desired, the characteristic feature being the arrangement of the firing-hammer bin
such a manner that it will fall back to its original position by its own weight, as soon
as the pull upon the firing-cord e is relaxed.
It will be seen that the improved firing hammer above described can be caused to
strike repeatedly upon the detonating-cap of the cartridge by alternately slackening
and pulling the firing-cord. Thus several attempts may be rapidly made in succession
to fire the detonating cap, in case the said cap should fail to explode in the first or
other attempt, without the necessity for opening and closing the breech of the gun,
and with but little delay.
Moreover, by the above described improvements great simplicity of construction is
obtained and the number of working parts is greatly reduced, as compared with the
ordinary firing-mechanism.
Although I have hereinbefore described the improved firing device as applied to a
gun having a vertical breech-block, it is obvious that the improvements are also
applicable to guns having horizontal breech-blocks, or screw-threaded breech-blocks.
In the latter case the firing-hammer is preferably constructed of smaller dimensions
than that employed in the breech-block hereinbefore described, and the firing-cord
or lanyard is passed through the breech-block or along the wall of the reinforce.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
I claim.
First. In a breech-loading gun, a firing-hammer so constructed and arranged that
it may be actuated by means of a cord or lanyard, and will when the said cord is
relaxed fall back or return to its original position under the action of gravity, for the
purpose above specified.
Second. A breech-loading gun provided with my improved firing-hammer con-
structed and arranged substantially as described with reference to either of the
forms or modifications shown in the accompanying drawing and operating as above
specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.