Improved Apparatus for Adapting Guns for Use with Miniature, Ammunition.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 19th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Adapting Guns for Use with Miniature,
Ammunition.
We, EDWARD WILLIAM LLOYD, formerly a Commander in the British Navy,
and ALBERT GEORGE HADCOCK, formerly of the Royal Artillery, both of the
Firm of Sir W. G. Armstrong, Mitchell & Co., Limited, of Elswick Works,
Newcastle on Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in mechanism to be applied to guns for
the purpose of using and firing smaller ammunition than that of the gun, during
firing practice, aiming practice or drill.
The mechanism consists chiefly of a practice barrel suited to receive and fire the
smaller ammunition which is intended to be used in drill or practice, fitted into and
carried by a frame which can readily be applied to a given class of gun; the
mechanism being so arranged that having been made to suit a given class of gun it
does not require further adjustment or tightening or freeing for the successive times
in which it may be applied to or removed from any gun of such class.
The mechanism, further, is so arranged as to complete automatically its own
adjustment in the bore of the gun by means of the ordinary operation of the closing
of the breech.
The mechanism also is so arranged that the extraction of the fired cartridge and
the placing of another charge may be easily and readily effected without the
removal of the barrel from the bore of the gun.
The practice barrel is carried in a frame having bearings, one at the rear end
and one at the forward end of the chamber of the gun. These bearings are fitted
to and carried by the practice barrel, and are so arranged that the practice barrel
can slide longitudinally in them to a sufficient extent to meet the differences of
diameter or taper of powder chambers which may exist between guns of a given
class. The practice barrel is held in the two bearings slightly to the rear of its
normal position, and it rests there bearing against a stout spiral spring in the
rear bearing, so arranged that when the breech mechanism of the gun is closed,
the practice barrel is pushed forward against the spring into the exact position
required with relation to the breech mechanism, and, by this spring the practice
barrel kept bearing hard against the breech mechanism so that the cartridge may
be fired by the percussion or electric arrangement of the gun.
The bearing in the forward end of the powder chamber of the gun has in some
previous arrangements been provided with an expanding screwed cone by which to
centre and tighten the practice barrel in position. In the present arrangement this
is replaced by a bearing carried on the practice barrel, or its frame, and free to
slide longitudinally upon it, so as to centre and tighten itself in the taper of the
powder chamber of the gun. A spiral spring on the barrel or its frame acts upon
the sliding bearing and forces it forward into position. The distance through
which the bearing can slide, under pressure of the spiral spring, enables it to meet
the manufacturing variations in the chambers of similar guns, and to keep the
barrel accurately centred in the gun.
Should it be found, however, that the adjustment given to a certain set of apparatus
is not correct, and that the practice barrel travels too far forward in the gun and
that its charge is not ignited by the blow of the percussion arrangement; or.
should it be found that the practice barrel does not travel far enough into the gun
and that, therefore, the breech of the gun cannot be closed, the apparatus is 80

page_text: devised that in either case, and very readily, the requisite adjustment can be
given, after which an unlimited amount of firing may be carried out without further
change.
"
For this purpose
the forward end of the practice barrel has upon it a screw
thread which works a nut. When the barrel is its rearmost position this nut
comes against the forward end of the frame and when the barrel is in its most
forward position the nut comes against bolts or stops carried by the frame. By
adjusting the nut and bolts the position of the barrel relatively to the frame and its
amount of travel in it can be varied.
The position given in adjusting the apparatus is such that the needle carrier
shall be struck by the breech screw of the gun before the breech screw has
completed its travel in closing. During the remainder of the travel of the breech
screw the barrel will be driven forward sliding in the guides compressing the spiral
spring.
Dated this 20th day of April 1893.
EDWARD W. LLOYD.
A. G. HADCOCK.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Adapting Guns for Use with Miniature
Ammunition.
We, EDWARD WILLIAM LLOYD, formerly a Commander in the British Navy,
and ALBERT GEORGE HADCOCK, formerly of the Royal Artillery, both of the
Firm of Sir W. G. Armstrong, Mitchell & Co., Limited, of Elswick Works,
Newcastle on Tyne, 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 improvements in mechanism to be applied to guns
for the purpose of using and firing smaller ammunition than that of the gun during
firing practice, aiming practice or drill.
The mechanism consists chiefly of a practice barrel suited to receive and fire the
smaller ammunition which is intended to be used in drill or practice, fitted into and
carried by a frame which can readily be applied to a given class of gun; the
mechanism being so arranged that having been made to suit a given class of gun it
does not require further adjustment or tightening or freeing for the successive
times in which it may be applied to or removed from any gun of such class.
The mechanism, further, is so arranged as to complete automatically its own
adjustment in the bore of the gun by means of the ordinary operation of the closing
of the breech.
The mechanism also is so arranged that the extraction of the fired_cartridge and
the placing of another charge may be easily and readily effected without the
removal of the barrel from the bore of the gun.
The practice barrel is carried in a frame having bearings, one at the rear end
and one at the forward end of the chamber of the gun. These bearings are fitted
to and carried by the practice barrel, and are so arranged that the practice barrel
can slide longitudinally in them to a sufficient extent to meet the differences of
diameter or taper of powder chambers which may exist between guns of a given
class. The practice barrel is held in the two bearings slightly to the rear of its
normal position, and it rests there bearing against a stout spiral spring in the rear
bearing, so arranged that when the breech mechanism of the gun is closed, the
practice barrel is pushed forward against the spring into the exact position required
with relation to the breech mechanism, and, by this spring the practice barrel
is kept bearing hard against the breech mechanism so that the cartridge may be
fired by the percussion or electric arrangement of the gun.

page_text: The bearing in the forward end of the powder chamber of the gun has in some
previous arrangements been provided with an expanding screwed cone by which to
centre and tighten the practice barrel in position. In the present arrangement this
is replaced by a bearing carried on the practice barrel or its frame, and free to.
slide longitudinally upon it, so as to centre and tighten itself in the taper of the
powder chamber of the gun. A spiral spring on the barrel or its frame acts upon
the sliding bearing and forces it forward into position. The distance through
which the bearing can slide, under pressure of the spiral spring, enables it to meet
the manufacturing variations in the chambers of similar guns, and to keep the
barrel accurately centred in the gun.
Should it be found, however, that the adjustment given to a certain set of
apparatus is not correct, and that the practice barrel travels too far forward in the
gun and that its charge is not ignited by the blow of the percussion arrangement;
or, should it be found that the practice barrel does not travel far enough into the
gun and that, therefore, the breech of the gun cannot be closed, the apparatus is so
devised that in either case, and very readily, the requisite adjustment can be given,.
after which an unlimited amount of firing may be carried out without further
change.
For this purpose the forward end of the practice barrel may have upon it a screw
thread which works a nut. When the barrel is in its rearmost position this nut
comes against the forward end of the frame and when the barrel is in its most
forward position the nut comes against bolts or stops carried by the frame. By
adjusting the nut and bolts the position of the barrel relatively to the frame and its
amount of travel in it can be varied.
In order that our said invention may be more fully understood and readily
carried into effect, we shall proceed to describe the drawing hereto annexed.
Figure 1 shews a general view of our said invention, in which a practice barrel X
is held in position, centred in the powder chamber of a gun by the bearings A
and C.
D is a frame rigidly attached to the rear bearing A, and to the drum B. The
bolts J are carried by the forward end of the drum. These bolts together with the
nut E, which is screwed on the barrel, are employed to govern the amount of travel
of the barrel in the guide A, and to determine the position of the barrel with
reference to the breech of the gun.
On placing the apparatus in a gun, it is pushed forward until it is arrested by the
grip of the guides or bearings A and C in the chamber of the gun. The result will
be the same, whether the pushing force be applied to the guide A or to the breech
fittings of the practice barrel. The guide A will travel forward till it grips the
chamber of the gun; and the guide C, sliding on the drum B, will be driven
forward by the spring F until it also grips the chamber; thus centering the
practice barrel in the bore of the gun.
The distance through which the guide C may travel on the drum B and the
distance through which the practice barrel X may slide through its frame are
sufficient to meet all the manufacturing variations between different guns of a given
class.
The position given in adjusting the apparatus is such that the needle carrier G
shall be struck by the breech screw of the gun before the breech screw has
completed its travel in closing. During the remainder of the travel of the breech
screw the barrel X will be driven forward sliding in the guide A and on the bolts J
compressing the spring K.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The combination of a frame, two bearings to fit the inside of the gun and
mounted on the frame in such manner that their distance apart can vary and a

page_text: practice barrel working in the bearings and adjustable longitudinally substantially
as described.
2. The means for determining and fixing the longitudinal position of the practice
barrel with respect to the breech mechanism of the gun consisting of a longitudinal
adjustment (such as a nut and screw) in combination with a longitudinal spring
brought into action by the closing of the breech of the gun substantially as
described.
3. The improved apparatus for adapting guns for use with miniature ammunition
substantially as described.
Dated this 15th day of Doomben 1902
EDWARD W. LLOYD,
A. G. HADCOCK.