IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING CANNON AND FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Josiah Human, Civil Engineer, of 33, Osnabúrgh
Street, Euston Road, London, County of Middlesex, for the Invention
Sealed the 29th November 1867, and dated the 26th June 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Josiah Human at the
Office of the Commissioners of. Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th June 1867.
I, JOSIAH HUMAN, Civil Engineer, of 33, Osnaburgh Street, Euston Road,
London, County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING CANNON AND FIRE-ARMS," to
be as follows:--
The first part of my Invention is for closing gas-tight a slotted breech of
the
gun or cannon, which slot is to be of the length of the shot or cartridge
and of the diameter or width of the bore of the cannon or barrel; such slot
to be either cut at the top or side of the barrel for the easy introduction of
the shot and cartridge and leaving so much of the barrel at the rear or breech
end as is necessary to resist the discharge of the piece or cannon.
The following description has reference to the slot or opening of breech
being at the "top" of the barrel. Into this slot or breech opening fall two
breech blocks of nearly equal lengths which fill up the opening solidly to the
level of the outside of the barrel. The two said breech- blocks turn to the
right hand about one quarter of a circle, being centered upon a sliding bar or

page_text: rod fixed to the outside of barrel as near to the centre of bore as the thickness
of barrel permits and parallel with the axis of the bore. The breech block
(No. 1.) nearest to the muzzle of the gun is provided with a solid piston at the
front end, being a part of the solid block, so as to enter into the bore or
chamber a short distance and fitting the same gas-tight, and which block
slides longitudinally upon the sliding bar or rod so that the said piston part
and breech block may be withdrawn back from the bore or chamber of the
gun and afterwards raised and turned, on, one side by a detached handspike
(to be afterwards described), and turning on the sliding bar as a centre, thus
leaving the slotted opening clear for the introduction of the charge. The said
breech block No. 1 has a long hollow axis with a collar at the end of said
axis, and slides and turns on the sliding bar herebefore mentioned, and which
also forms an axle and sliding bar on which No. 2 breech block turns and
slides. The said breech block No. 2 turns freely upon the hollow axis of
No: 1, and slides longitudinally as far as the collar upon such hollow axis,
and striking the collar thus withdraws by a blow the breech block No. 1 with
its piston from the chamber or bore of the gun. Both breech blocks have
lugs upon the rear of each outside of the sliding bar, and with sockets, so that:
by a handspike being attached they can be easily turned on the sliding bar
and also slid backwards or forwards on the same. When both breech blocks
are down and the piece discharged the breech is opened as follows:-The,
handspike is attached to the breech block No. 2, and on being pressed down
the breech turns on its centre clear of the slot; it is then slid back quickly,
and on striking the collar at the end of the hollow axis of No. 1 breech block
forces back the same from the chamber or bore of the gun, when by applying
a handspike to No. 1 breech block it is lifted from the slot, thus clearing the
slot or opening for the introduction of the ammunition, and which is then
pushed forward into the chamber of the gun by a loading rod which is passed
through a longitudinal hole in the rear of the gun. To close the breech of
the
gun No. 1 breech block is lowered or turned into the slot and then pushed
forward by a sliding blow from No. 2 breech block in the rear, and which
latter is then turned into its place in the slot, locking No. 1 breech block in
its place, the two breech blocks thus completely filling the slot through which
the ammunition is introduced and effectually closing the breech against the
escape of gas. The breech is opened, and closed by the aid of handspikes
which are afterwards withdrawn, and are made to do so with facility.
The second part of my Invention relates to the closing and opening of the
vent of the gun in connection, with the closing and opening of the breech of
the gun. For this purpose I attach to the foremost end of the rear breech
'

page_text: block (described as No. 2). a projecting stud which, when down, presses and
pushes forward a slide bar fitted to the breech blocks and breech of the gun,
which when so moved forward uncovers the vent for firing the gun, and upon
opening the said breech block the slide bar is pushed back by a spring. or
springs (forming a portion or part of the slide bars) and covers the vent,
preventing the
gun from being fired until the breech is in its proper and
intended position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Josiah Human in the Great Seal Patent Office on, the
23rd December 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSIAH
HUMAN, Civil Engineer, of 33, Ospaburgh Street, Euston Road, London,
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by' Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Josiah Human, Her special licence that I, 'the said Josiah Human,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Josiah Human, my executors, 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 makė,
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 CANNON: AND FIRE-ARMS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Josiah Human, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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.
i
NOW KNOW. YE, that I, the said Josiah Human, 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:-.
day
The first part of my Invention is for. closing. gus-tight a slotted breech of

page_text: the gun or cannon, which slot is to be of the length of the shot or cartridge,
and of the diameter or width of the bore of the cannon or barrel; such slot
to be either cut at the top or side of barrel for the easy introduction of the
shot and cartridge, and leaving so much of the barrel at the rear or breech end
as is necessary to resist the discharge of the piece or cannon.
The following. description has reference to the slot or opening of breech
being at the top of the barrel. Into this slot or breech opening fall two
breech blocks of nearly equal lengths which fill up the opening solidly to the
level of the outside of the barrel. The two said breech blocks turn to the
right hand about one quarter of a circle, being centered upon a sliding bar
or rod fixed to the outside of barrel as near to the centre of bore as the
thickness of barrel permits, and parallel with the axis of the bore. The breech
block (No. 1) nearest to the muzzle of the gun is provided with a solid
piston at the front end, being a part of the solid block, so as to enter into the
bore.or chamber.a. short distance and fitting, the, same gas-tight, and which
block slides longitudinally upon the sliding bar or rod so that the said piston part
and breech block may be, withdrawn back from the bore or chamber of the
gun, and afterwards raised and turned on one side by: a detached handspike
(to be afterwards described), and turning on the sliding bar as a centre, thus
leaving the slotted opening clear for the introduction, of the charge. The
.said breech: block (No. 1) has a long hollow axis. with a collar at the end of
said axis and slides and turns. on, the sliding bar herebefore mentioned, and
which also forms an axle and sliding bar on which. No. 2 breech block turns
and slides. The. said. breech block No. 2.turns freely upon, the hollow axis of
.No. 1 and slides longitudinally as far as the collar upon such, hollow axis, and
striking the collar thus withdraws. by a blow the breech block No. 1 with its
piston from the chamber or bore of the gun. Both breech blocks have lugs
upon the rear of each outside the sliding bar, and with sockets, so. that. by a
handspike being attached they can be easily turned on the sliding bar and
also. slid backwards. or forwards on the same. When both. breech blocks: are
down and the piece discharged the breech is opened as follows:-The hand-
spike is attached. to. No. 2. breech block, and on being pressed down the breech
turns on its. centre clear of the slot, .it is. then slid back quickly, and striking
the collar at the end of the hollow axis of No. 1. breech block, forces back, the
same from the chamber or bore of gun, when by applying a. handspike to
No. 1 breech block it is lifted from. the, slot, thus clearing the slot or opening
for the introduction of the ammunition,. and which is then pushed forward into
the chamber of the gun by a loading rod which is passed through a longi
tudinal hole in the rear of the gun. To close the breech of the gun No. 1

page_text: breech block is lowered or turned into the slot and then pushed forward by a
sliding blow from. No. 2 breech block in the rear, and which: latter is then
turned into its place in the slot locking No. 1 breech block in its place, the
two breech blocks thus completely filling the slot through which the ammu-
nition is introduced and effectually closing the breech against the escape of
gas. The breech is opened and closed by the aid of handspikes which
are afterwards withdrawn and are made to do so with facility. .
The second part of my Invention relates to the closing and opening of the
vent of the gun in connection with the closing and opening of the breech. of
the gun.
For this purpose I attach to the foremost end of the rear breech
block (described as No. 2) a projecting stud which when down presses and
pushes forward a slide bar fitted to the breech blocks and breech of the gun,
which when so moved forward uncovers the vent for firing the gun, and upon
opening the said breech block the slide bar is pushed back by a spring or
springs (forming a portion or part of the slide bars) and covers the vent pre-
venting the gun from being fired until the breech is in its proper and
intended position.
And in order that the Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
"
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an end elevation of gun with the breech closed; Fig. 2, cross
section of breech on line A, B, Fig. 3, shewing one breech block open;
Fig. 3, top view shewing one breech block open; Fig. 4, longitudinal section
of breech and blocks shewing both breech blocks closed; Fig. 5, side
elevation shewing the relative position of breech blocks when open; Fig. 6,
longitudinal section on line T, V, Fig. 1, shewing slide bar and axis. of both
blocks. Like letters indicate like parts in all the Figures.
u :.
I,, represents the chamber and breech of gun, h the slot. The mechanism
of the breech parts consist of the breech block c with. a cylindrical or piston
head or plug c which enters the bore or chamber n of the gun (the herme-.
tical closing is obtained by the use of tin cups placed on the end.of plug or by.
expanding metallic rings which are well known may be applied and un-
necessary to describe); c an axle forming part of block c with a collar e
fixed to the same; d the rear block made to turn and slide upon the axle C.
Both blocks have a socket r for the handspike s, and when open the blocks
are steadied in that position by the heel of the blocks resting against the
outside of breech at o; Fig. 2; F a bar fitted or screwed into the chamber i

page_text: .
at and through the fixed stud g, it is the centre upon which, the blocks
turn and slidė; m, central hole for the loading rod. The breech is opened by
dépressing handspikes and raising block d from the slot; it is then drawn
back by the handle sliding on axis c, and on striking against the collar e
withdraws the block c from the chamber, which block is then raised by a
handspike and leaves the slot open for the introduction of the charge. To
close the breech the operation is reversed. The covering and uncovering of
the vent is effected by the stud y acting on the slide rod w, which movement
is communicated to the upper slide T by the bar u; two springs Z, Z, Fig. 4,
reverses the action of the slides on raising the block d. I may make the vent
through the block c, c', in which case the slide rod w and its spring Z alone
will be retained and placed on the top of block d.
Having thus fully described the nature of the Invention and the manner in
which the same is performed or carried into practice, the novel features and
improvements which it is intended to claim under the above in part recited
Letters Patent, are,-
First, the general form of the breech blocks and the principle of their
siding axles by which a portion of the forward block is made to enter the bore
of the gun, and the rear block is also made to support and secure the forward
block in its place, and also the combination or arrangement by which both
blocks fill the slot in the gun in a solid manner, substantially as herein shewn
and described.
Secondly, that the rear breech block is used as a ram to force the forward
block into and out of the bore of the gun as berein shewn and described.
Thirdly, the arrangement by which the faces of the breech blocks are planes
at right angles to the axis of the bore of the gun, and by which the said
breech blocks are worked by bandspikes only, and without wedges, screws,
levers, or other appliances as herein shewn and described.
Fourthly, the self-acting vent stopper working in combination with the rear
breech block, as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Josiah Human, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JOSIAH HUMAN. (L.S.)