IM- PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Noble, late Captain Royal Artillery, of
Elswick Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.”
Sealed the 9th May 1876, and dated the 1st December 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Noble at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 1st December 1875.
I, ANDREW NOBLE, late Captain Royal Artillery, of Elswick Works,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE," to be as follows:-
This improvement applies to that class of breech-loading ordnance
in which the escape of gas at the breech is arrested by the use of an
elastic metallic cup, the edge of which closes against the surrounding
surface by the pressure of the gas from within the cup.
The improvements consist in making the under side of the bottom of
the cup of a rounded or conical form, so that when the cup is flattened

page_text: upon its support by the pressure of the gas the lip or rim is extended
in circumference and pressed against the surrounding part of the bore
independently of the pressure of the gas on the lip itself; or the
bottom of the cup may be flat, and the support coned or rounded, or
both may be coned or rounded; the essential principle in all variations
being the leaving of such a vacant space beneath the cup as will render
the pressure of the gas on the opposite side operative for expanding the
lip. This vacant space must not be so great as to give a permanent
set to the cup when pressed home upon its seat so that the cup may
regain its normal shape after every discharge of the gun.
The advantages of this arrangement are,—
1st. That a more effectual contact is effected between the tightening
surfaces.
2nd. That the range of the cup's expansion being greatly increased
less accuracy of fit is required.
And, 3rd. That the additional expanding force derived from the
action of the gas on the bottom of the cup allows the edge of the cup
to be greatly increased in thickness, by which means it is rendered much
less susceptible of injury.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Andrew Noble in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 31st May 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANDREW
NOBLE, late Captain Royal Artillery, of Elswick Works, Newcastle-
upon-Tyne, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in
the thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Andrew Noble, Her special
license that I, the said Andrew Noble, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Andrew Noble, my exe-

page_text: cutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
“IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Andrew Noble, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Andrew Noble, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This improvement applies to that class of breech-loading ordnance
in which the escape of gas at the breech is arrested by the use of an
elastic metallic cup, the edge of which closes against the surrounding
surface by the pressure of the gas from within the cup.
The improvements consist in making the under side of the bottom of
the cup of a rounded or conical form, so that when the cup is flattened
upon its support by the pressure of the gas the lip or rim is extended
in circumference and pressed against the surrounding parts of the bore,
independently of the pressure of the gas on the lip itself; or the
bottom of the cup may be flat and the support coned or rounded, or
both may be coned or rounded; the essential principle in all variations
being the leaving of such a vacant space beneath the cup as will render
the pressure of the gas on the opposite side operative for expanding the
lip. This vacant space must not be so great as to give a permanent set
to the cup when pressed home upon its seat so that the cup may regain
its normal shape after every discharge of the gun.
In some cases I so arrange that before the charge is fired the lip may
be extended in its circumference, and pressed against the surrounding
parts of the bore by the breech-loading arrangement itself, and in this

page_text: What I claim is, the combination for closing the breech of a gun of
a breech block and a metal gas check cup, so arranged as to provide
a narrow cavity beneath the base of the cup, admitting of its being
temporarily deformed, thereby bringing the lip of the cup into forcible
contact with the interior of the gun, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Noble, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 29th day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.