Improvements in Breech-loading Ordnance.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1892-Accepted, 4th June, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breech-loading Ordnance.
I, WILLIAM HALE DRIGGS, of Number 1146, 17th Street, Washington, D.C.,
United States of America, Lieutenant U.S. Navy, 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 :-
My present invention relates to certain improvements in the mechanism for
opening and closing the breech and for firing breech-loading guns which are so
mounted as to recoil in the line of fire.
This invention consists especially in automatic devices for opening the breech
block upon the counter recoil, for locking the breech block when it is closed, and
also in a device for firing the gun by means of a trigger pivoted to some part of
the mount which does not move when the gun recoils.
The counter recoil being less violent than the recoil, the shock to the parts of the
automatic mechanism for opening the breech-plug is not so great, and moreover the
fact that the breech block remains closed during the entire recoil, and opens only
upon the counter recoil, ensures absolute safety against the premature opening of
the breech of the gun.
By firing the gun by means of a trigger pivoted in the gun mount and not
recoiling with the gun, the necessity for the excessive lost motion in lanyards and
other kindred devices now in use is obviated, and the gun-captain may keep his eye
on the line of sights and fire the gun at the right moment.
These and other advantages obvious to one skilled in the art will be understood
by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same numerals of reference
indicate corresponding parts in the several views.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a gun constructed in accordance with my
invention.
Fig. 2 represents a plan view partly in section on the line ³, of Fig. 3.
Fig. 3 represents a view of the gun from the muzzle.
Fig. 4 represents an elevation of the left hand side of the breech of the gun, the
slotted plate being removed to show the locking mechanism.
Fig. 5 represents an elevation of the breech of the gun as seen from the rear,
parts of the rocking frame being broken away..
Fig. 6 represents an elevation of the right hand side of the breech of the gun,
showing the trigger arrangement.
Fig. 7 represents a vertical sectional view on the line of Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 represents an elevation of the slotted plate, showing it removed from the
bar in Fig. 4, and turned over to show the slot therein.
Fig. 9 represents a vertical sectional view on the line y y, of Fig. 8.
Fig. 10 represents a detail sectional view on the line z 2, of Fig. 4.
Fig. 11 represents a detail view of the slotted arm for moving the shaft.
Fig. 12 is a detail view showing a modification in which the operating mechanism
is placed on the right hand side of the gun.
Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view on the line vv, of Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is an elevation of the left hand side of the rear end of the gun, showing
the locking device to be used when the operating mechanism is placed on the right
hand side.
1 designates the body of the gun; and 2 designates a band which is screwed
upon the gun at or near its centre of gravity, and carries the recoil cylinder 3.
The said band 2 has longitudinal projections 4, 4, along the sides thereof, which
slide in corresponding grooves 5, 5, in a rocking frame 6. The rocking frame 6 has
two parallel sides open to the rear and connected at the front by an angular frame 7

page_text: preferably cast in one with the parallel sides, and has the usual trunnions 8 cast
integral therewith which are mounted in the usual manner in any suitable gun
mount. This rocking frame may be cut off as shown at the dotted lines 9, 9, in
Fig. 3, or the two sides may be connected together beneath the gun as shown at 10.
From the centre of the frame 7, a piston rod 11 extends rearwardly into the
recoil cylinder 3, and carries at its rear end a piston 12, (shown in dotted lines in
Fig. 1), snugly fitting the interior of the said cylinder. A stiff coil spring 13 also
shown in dotted lines, is placed around the piston rod between the piston and the
front head of the cylinder, this spring is strong enough to run the gun back to the
firing position after the recoil; contracting passages for the liquid may be arranged
either in the interior of the cylinder or on the exterior of the piston.
The closing of the breech is similar to that described in British Patents granted
to myself and Seaton Schroeder, Numbers 5,317, dated April 12, 1887; and 3,000,
dated Feb. 28, 1888; but with slight modifications my improvements may be
adapted to any guns wherein the slotted screw system of closing the breech is
adopted.
In the method of closing the breech shown in the Patents above referred to, the
breech block is first moved downward in opening, and then swings backward and
downward clear of the bore, allowing free access to the powder chamber for
reloading &c. As this is not a part of my present invention and is fully described
in the said Patents it will not be herein described in detail.
On one end of the shaft 16, preferably on the left hand side of the gun is secured
a lever 17, by means of which the shaft may be turned to open and close the
breech of the gun, and one of the objects of the present invention is to utilize
the movement of the gun during its return after recoil to open the breech
automatically.
Extending rearward from the left hand side of the rocking frame 6 is a bar 20
which is bent downward as at 21, and then extends parallel with the gun terminating
a little lower than, and just in rear of the lever 17. A plate 22 is bolted upon the
side of the bar 20 at its rear end and extends upward at the side of the lever 17,
and said plate is cut away as at 23 to allow free inspection of the-connection of the
lever 17 and shaft 16, this plate is further provided at its rear edge with a down-
wardly-extending curved slot 24, the lower end of which is inclined upward to the
surface of the plate as at 25.
When the breech is closed, the lever 17 stands in the position shown in Fig. 4,
that is pointing toward the front of the gun and inclined a little above the horizontal;
upon the upper side of the lever and inclined forward is a lug or arm 26 having at
its upper end a hollow boss or cylinder 27 in which is arranged a spring-actuated
plunger 28, normally pressed outward against the plate 22. From the foregoing it
will be understood that when the gun recoils the breech with the lever 17 and
mechanism attached thereto will be carried rearward, while the bar 20 and plate 22
remain stationary. The plunger 28 slides along the inner surface of the said plate
until it passes over the inner edge of the slot 24, when it is pushed outward into
the said slot by the spring. This slot is open at its rear side to allow the plunger
to move further should the recoil of the gun be greater than usual.
When the gun begins to move forward to the firing position, as hereinbefore
stated, the plunger 28 will be caught by the forward edge of the slot 24, and the
further movement of the gun will move the shaft 16 forward while the plunger and
arm 26 are held in the slot thus causing the lever 17 and shaft 16 to turn in the
direction of the arrow in Fig. 4, which is the proper direction to open the breech
of the gun.
As the gun advances the plunger 28 will be forced to ride down the curved
forward edge of the slot until the shaft 16 and lever 17, have arrived at the position
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, when the breech will be open and ready to receive
another cartridge, the empty case having been ejected by the extractor during the
opening of the breech. As the parts near the end of their movement, the plunger
will ride up on the inclined bottom 25 of the slot and thus be pressed back

page_text: within the cylinder 27; and when the breech has been fully opened the said
plunger will pass out of the slot and be free to slide upon the inner surface of the
plate 22.
After the cartridge has been inserted, the breech is closed by turning the
lever 17 back to its initial position by hand as in the Patents previously
referred to.
To prevent accidental displacement of the breech-block, I employ a locking
device shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 10, in which numeral 30 designates a
plate which is rigidly secured to the lower rear corner of the left hand side of the
gun, and is cut away at its front edge to coincide with an arc struck from the centre
of the shaft 16, and the said plate is bored out in line with the centre of the shaft
as at 31, the bore being reduced at the rear end as at 32.
A plunger 33 having an enlarged inner end 34, a head 35, on its rear end, and a
lug 36 extending outward from its side adjacent to the head, is fitted in the bore of
the plate 30, and held in a forward position by a spring 37 placed around the said
plunger in the enlarged part of the bore in position to bear against the enlarged
inner end of the plunger.
A plate 4 having a boss 41, bored out to fit the shaft 16, is placed upon the
left hand end of the shaft and held in position by a key or feather 42, this plate is
cut away at its rear end to correspond with the curvature of the plate 30 and is
bored out in line with the centre of the shaft as at 43, to receive the enlarged end 34
of the plunger 33 by which it and the shaft 16 are locked in the proper position to
hold the breech closed. The plate 40 is provided with an inclined or cam surface 44,
which will depress the end of the plunger 33 as the plate is turned into the position
to be locked, and when the slot 43 is reached, the plunger 33 is pressed forward
engaging in the hole 43 and locking the breech-block.
The lever 17 is made to fit over the boss 41 upon the plate 40, and to turn freely
thereon, and has a rearward extension 45, the extremity of which is formed into a
cam 46 and arranged to act upon the lug 36 of the plunger 33, as will be seen by
reference to Fig. 4. The plate 40 is provided with lugs 47 and 48 which extend
outward above and below the extension 45 of the lever 17, but far enough apart to
allow the lever to move a short distance without affecting the plate.
When the breech is closed, the aforesaid parts assume the positions shown in
Fig. 4; from an inspection of which it will be seen that when the lever begins to
turn the first effect of the movement will be to cause the cam 46 to act upon the
lug 36 and force the plunger 33 backward, thus unlocking the plate 40 ; when this
has been accomplished the lower edge of the extension 45 will come in contact
with the lug 48 upon the plate 40, and further movement of the lever 17 will
cause the said lever, plate, and shaft 16 to turn all together, to open the breech of
the gun.
In closing the breech the extension 45 will act upon the lug 47 to turn the
plate 40 and shaft 16, in the opposite direction.
From the right hand side of the rocking frame 6 a bar 50 extends rearwardly
parallel with the gun, and to the rear end of this bar any suitable shoulder piece 49
may be attached.
A casting or plate 51 is bolted to the bar 50 at a point about even with the rear
end of the gun, and this casting has on its outer side a "pistol grip" 52 for the hand
to grasp in firing the gun.
The casting 51 is bored to fit a rock shaft 53 which carries at one end a trigger 54
and at its inner end a toe 55. The trigger 56 of the gun is secured to a rock
shaft 57 which extends into the breech of the gun and is there connected with any
suitable device for tripping the firing pin. The same rock shaft 57 is journaled at
its outer end in a lug 58 secured to the side of the gun, and the trigger 56 projects
below the said lug; and when the gun is in position for firing, the lower end of the
trigger rests lightly against and to rear of the toe 55 of the rock shaft 53, (as shown
in dotted lines in Fig. 6, and solid lines in Fig. 7); thus if the trigger 54 be pressed
backward it will transmit motion to. the rock shaft 53, and move the toe 55 in the

page_text: same direction, thus pressing the trigger 56 backward to trip the firing pin and
discharge the gun.
When the gun recoils the trigger 56 will simply move backward from the toe 55,
and when the gun returns to the firing position the trigger will also return with it.
The position of the parts is regulated so that when the gun has moved as far forward
as possible, the trigger will come against the toe 55 in the position for firing.
In Figs. 12, 13, and 14, I have illustrated a niodification of my invention in which
I place the slotted plate for operating the breech mechanism on the bar 50, ou the
right instead of the left side of the gun, thereby simplifying the construction; since
the bar 50 is necessary in order to sight the gun from the shoulder, and may
be made to carry all the breech actuating mechanism, thus doing away with the
bar 20.
In a suitable opening in the bar 50) is hinged, as at 60, a plate 61, the upper edge
of which is secured in place by the screws 62, this plate is provided on its inner
side with a downwardly-curved slot 63, similar in all respects to the slot 24 on the
plate 22, with the exception that instead of opening through the back edge of the
plate it is extended rearwardly as at 64, to allow for variations in the recoil of
the gun.
In this instance the crank 65 upon the right hand side of the shaft is
substituted for the arm 26. and carries at its upper end the cylinder 27, and
plunger 28, herein before described, the operation being the same as in the former
instance.
In this modification the trigger and tripping mechanism will be placed further
back in any suitable position, so as not to interfere with the plate 61; and in lieu of
the locking attachment hereinbefore described, the hand lever 66 for closing the
breech, will be placed upon the left hand side of the gun; and will have a rearward
extension 67 carrying at its end a spring catch 68, which, when the breech is closed,
will take into a recess 69 in the side of the gun, and thus hold the shaft from
accidental displacement. The recess 69 has one side sloping or inclined as at 70 to
allow the catch to pass out when the shaft is turned, and yet to cause sufficient
friction to hold the parts from accidental displacement.
While I have shown the device for opening the breech of the gun as actuated
by the counter recoil of the gun, it will be obvious that, by a simple transposition
of parts, the same object may be accomplished upon the direct recoil.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The mechanism for automatically opening the breech block herein described,
and shown in the drawings hereunto annexed.
2. The mechanism for firing a gun mounted on a recoil mount herein described,
and shown in the drawings hereunto annexed.
3. The mechanism for locking the breech block herein described and shown in
the drawings hereunto annexed.
i
4. In a breech loading gun, the combination with a trunnioned rocking frame
having a bar protruding to the rear of and rigidly attached to said frame; of a cam
attached to said bar; a rock shaft set transversely across the breech of the gun and
actuating the breech block; an arm on said rock shaft; and a spring plunger
attached to said arm and adapted to engage said cam, and so turn said rock shaft,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
of a
5. In a breech loading gun, the combination with a trunnioned rocking frame and
a device for returning the gun to the initial position after it has been fired;
bar rigidly attached to said rocking frame and protruding to the rear; a cam
attached to said bar with cam surface towards the breech of the gun; a rock shaft
set transversely across the breech of the gun and actuating the breech block; an
arm on said rock shaft; and a spring plunger attached to said arm and adapted to
engage said cam as the gun moves forward on the counter recoil, substantially as
and for the purposes described.

page_text: 6. In a breech loading gun whose breech block is opened or closed by turning a
rock shaft, a device for turning said rock shaft, and for locking said rock shaft and
breech block in any desired position, which consists of a slotted arm keyed on said
rock shaft; a spring plunger adapted to engage in said slotted arm, the said spring
plunger having a shoulder thereon; and a cam lever fitting loosely on said rock
shaft and adapted to first engage said shoulder and withdraw said spring plunger,
and second, engage said slotted arm and turn said rock shaft, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
7. In a breech loading gun of the character described, a device for locking,
unlocking, opening and closing the breech block, which consists of a rock shaft 16;
an arm 40 keyed thereon and having slot 43 and lugs 47 and 48; a spring
plunger 33 adapted to engage in said slot; and having a shoulder 36; a hand
lever 17 fitting loosely on said rock shaft; and an arm 45 attached to said hand
lever, moving freely between and adapted to engage either of the lugs 47 or 48, the
said arm 45 having a cam face at its rear adapted to engage the shoulder 36 and
release the spring plunger 33, substantially as and for the purposes described.
8. In a device for locking, unlocking, opening and closing the breech block of a
breech loading gun of the character described, the combination with the rock
shaft 16; of the arm 40 keyed thereon and having lugs 47, and 48, slot 43, and
cam 44; the spring plunger 33 attached to the breech of the gun and having
shoulder 36; the hand lever 17; and the arm 45 moving freely between said
lugs 47 and 48 and adapted to engage either of them, and having a cam at its
outer end adapted to engage the said shoulder 36, of the plunger 33, substantially
as described.
9. In a recoil mount for a breech loading gun of the character described, the com-
bination with the rock shaft for actuating the breech block of a hand lever mounted
on said rock shaft; two arms attached to said hand lever, the one arm carrying a
spring plunger and the other a cam; a third arm rigidly attached to said rock
shaft and having a cam face and a slot therein; a cam attached to said recoil
mount and adapted to engage said spring plunger, and a locking plunger attached
to the breech of the gun and having a shoulder adapted to be engaged by the cam
on the arm attached to said hand lever, the head of said plunger being adapted to be
raised by said cam on said rock shaft arm and to fit in said slot therein, substantially
as described.
10. In a recoil mount for breech loading guns, the combination with a trigger
attached to the mount, of a rock shaft attached to said trigger and having a toe at
its opposite end; a second rock shaft mounted in the breech of the gun and having
a tripping device for the firing pin connected thereto, with a lifting toe adapted to
press against, and to rear of said toe on the trigger rock shaft when the gun is run
out, substantially as and for the purposes described.
11. In a recoil mount for breech loading guns, the combination with rocking
slide having the bar 50 attached thereto and protruding to the rear thereof, of the
rock shaft 53 mounted in said bar and having trigger 54 and toe 55 at either end
thereof; and the rock shaft 57 mounted in the breech of the gun and having the
lifting toe 56 at one end, adapted to bear against the rear face of the toe 55, and a
device for tripping the firing pin of the gun at the other, substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of April 1892.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.