Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 19th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 12th Feb., 1889
1 JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE CANET, of 91 Avenue Malakoff, Paris,
France, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements on my Patent No. 9813 dated 12th July 1887,
and consists in a new arrangement of breech mechanism and of the breech screw.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The breech screw A is provided at its rear end with a toothed sector B, which gears
with a rack C. This rack is shaped out of a bearing E in which turns a nut cast in
one with the pinion H; this nut works on a screw D supported in bearings MI and N
secured to the breech end of the gun.
The teeth of the pinion H are helicoidal, and are cut so as to gear with the threads
of the breech screw itself, and not with a special rack as in the arrangement described
and shown in my prior patent above referred to.
A worm wheel G mounted on, the axis of the screw D, receives a rotary motion
from the endless screw F, which is actuated by a crank handle when the mechanism is
to be worked by hand. This endless screw and the worm wheel will not be required
when hydraulic power is employed. When the crank handle is actuated the motion
transmitted to the worm wheel G will cause the screw D to revolve. The bearing E
being maintained in position by a guide piece I moving in a groove in the bracket,
and the pinion H similarly held by lateral guides which embrace two of its teeth,
cannot turn and consequently the nut and pinion piece rises, and the rack acting upon
the toothed sector causes the breech screw.to, turn..
When the rotary movement has been sufficient to. completely disengage the breech
screw the bearing E will abut against the support of the screw D.
At this position

page_text: the guides which held the teeth of the pinion are cut away, and, under the action of
the screw D, the rotation of which continues, the nut turns, and with it the
and causes it to
pinion H, which has then engaged the threads of the breech screw,
come out.
At the end of the period of rotation a hook L passes through the slot Y in the
collar Z, and supports the bearing until it again arrives opposite the slot, the return
movement of the breech screw having been effected.
When the breech has arrived at the end of its course, a bolt K, similar to that
described in my prior Patent above referred to, locks the screw to the screw carrier,
but this bolt is arranged beneath the carrier instead of at the side thereof, as
hitherto.
From this moment the pinion H forming so to speak one with the carrier, the
whole system under the action of the endless screw turns round the axis of the
screw D, and the breech screw is turned to the side.
The operations are reversed to effect the closing of the breech.
I further make two important improvements relating to the breech screw and to the
firing mechanism, whereby I modify the arrangements shown in the drawings of my
previous patent above referred to, in the following manner :-
The axial stem a of the mushroom head is fixed, instead of being movable as
hitherto it is screwed at b into the breech screw.
The mushroom head is formed in two parts, the mushroom c, and the spindle d,
which are screwed together.
The hollow spindle d is slipped over the axial stem a, and it can slide on it when
the pressure of gas on firing the charge drives back the mushroom head.
On the end of the axial stem is mounted a sort of nozzle piece on which is screwed
a short metallic tube f, the end of which is cut slanting, forming an obturating cup
when under the pressure of the gas, ensuring a perfectly tight joint between the
mushroom head and the axial stem.
The axial stem being fixed I make the firing slide in one piece, and effect the
following improvements in the firing gear.
The firing slide has a tail piece g which rests against the outer edge of the circular
frame h.
The shape of this frame is such that the percussion lock cannot pass into the position
necessary for firing except when the breech being entirely closed, the tail of the lock
has arrived opposite a notch i which permits the whole of the lock to descend.
The cocking and the extracting actions are effected automatically.
In carrying out this improvement I employ the following arrangement:
The hammer is provided with a roller k against which bears the end of a rod
acted upon by a spiral spring 4, and the hammer is formed with a tail piece m.
Besides at the point on the breech screw is fixed a horizontal axis, on which a
mall two armed lever o can turn. The main arm constitutes the extractor.
When, after firing, the breech mechanism is actuated, the tail piece y travels up the
aclined plane p carrying the pin with it.
The tail piece m of the hammer then abuts against a stop q fixed to the breech, and
his movement has the effect of cocking the hammer. At the same time a tappet r
fixed to the lock is brought to bear against the tail of the extractor.
turns sharply and causes the primer tube to be expelled.
The latter
It will be understood that the materials, proportions, and dimensions, as well as
the accessory arrangements may be varied without departing from the principle of my
invention.
Dated this 18th day of May 1888

page_text: Improvements in Ordnance.
1, JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE ADOLPHE CANET, of 91 Avenue Malakoff, Paris,
France, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performned, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements on my Patent No. 9813 dated 12th July 1887,
and consists in a new arrangement of breech mechanism and of the breech screw.
My invention is illustrated in the drawings accompanying my provisional
specification.
The breech screw A is provided at its rear end with a toothed sector B, which gears
with a rack C. This rack is shaped out of a bearing E in which turns a nut cast in
one with the pinion H; this nut works on a screw D, supported in bearings M and N
secured to the breech end of the gun.
The teeth of the pinion H are helicoidal and are cut so as to gear with the threads
of the breech screw itself, and not with a special rack as in the arrangement described
and shown in my prior patent above referred to.
A worm wheel G mounted on the axis of the screw D, receives a rotary motion
from the endless screw F, which is actuated by a crank handle when the mechanism is
to be worked by hand. This endless screw and the worn wheel will not be required
when hydraulic power is employed. When the crank handle is actuated the motion
transmitted to the worm wheel G will cause the screw D to revolve. The bearing E
being maintained in position by a guide piece I moving in a groove in the bracket,
and the pinion H similarly held by lateral guides which embrace two of its teeth,
cannot turn and consequently the nut and pinion piece rises, and the rack acting upon
the toothed sector causes the breech screw to turn.
When the rotary movement has been sufficient to completely disengage the breech
screw the bearing E will abut against the support of the screw D. At this position
the guides which held the teeth of the pinion are cut away and under the action of
the screw D, the rotation of which continues, the nut turns, and with it the
pinion H, which has then engaged the threads of the breech screw, and causes it to
come out.
At the end of the period of rotation a hook L passes through the slot Y in the
collar Z, and supports the bearing until it again arrives opposite the slot, the return
movement of the breech screw having been effected.
When the breech has arrived at the end of its course, a bolt K, similar to that
described in my prior Patent above referred to, locks the screw to the screw carrier,
but this bolt is arranged beneath the carrier instead of at the side thereof, as
hitherto.
From this moment the pinion H forming so to speak one with the carrier, the
whole system under the action of the endless screw turns round the axis of the
screw D, and the breech screw is turned to the side.
The operations are reversed to effect the closing of the breech.
I further make two important improvements relating to the breech screw and to
the firing mechanism, whereby I modify the arrangements shown in the drawings of
my previous patent above referred to, in the following manner :-
The axial stem a of the mushroom head is fixed, instead of being movable as
hitherto; it is screwed at binto the breech screw.

page_text: The mushroom head is formed in two parts, the mushroom c, and the spindle d,
which are screwed together.
The hollow spindle d is slipped over the axial stem a, and it can slide on it when
the pressure of gas on firing the charge drives back the mushroom head.
On the end of the axial stem is mounted a sort of nozzle piece on which is screwed
a short metallic tube f, the end of which is cut slanting, forming an obturating cup
when under the pressure of the gas, ensuring a perfectly tight joint between the
mushroom head and the axial stem.
The axial stem, being fixed 1 make the firing slide in one piece, and effect the
following improvements in the firing gear.
The firing slide has a tail piece 9 which rests against the outer edge of the circular
frame h.
The shape of this frame is such that the percussion lock cannot pass into the
position necessary for firing except when the breech being entirely closed, the tail
of the lock has arrived opposite a notch i which permits the whole of the lock to
descend.
The cocking and the extracting actions are effected automatically.
:-
In carrying out this improvement I employ the following arrangement :-
The hammer is provided with a roller k against which bears the end of a rod acted
upon by a spiral spring ; and the hammer is formed with a tail piece m.
Besides at the point n on the breech screw is fixed a horizontal axis, on which a
small two armed lever o can turn. The main arm constitutes the extractor.
When, after firing, the breech mechanism is actuated the tail piece g travels up
the inclined plane p carrying the pin with it.
The tail piece m of the hammer then abuts against a stop q fixed to the breech,
and this movement has the effect of cocking the hammer. At the same time a
tappet fixed to the lock is brought to bear against the tail of the extractor. The
latter turns sharply and causes the primer tube to be expelled.
It will be understood that the materials, proportions, and dimensions, as well as
the accessory arrangements may be varied without departing from the principle of my
invention.
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 improved construction whereby the opening of the breech of guns can be
effected completely by a rotary movement always in the same direction, the rotation
of the breech screw being effected by the action of a rack mounted upon an endless
screw, upon a toothed sector on the breech block; the longitudinal movement of the
breech screw being effected by the direct action of a pinion upon the threads of the
breech screw; and the pivotting of the bracket being effected by the direct action of
the operating shaft upon the endless vertical screw.
2. The construction of breech screw with a fixed axial stem and movable mushroom
head, the sealing of the axial vent being obtained by means of a short metallic tube.
3. The construction of the firing lock and the automatic cocking and extracting
mechanism.
4. The construction and arrangement of the accessory parts, above described.
Dated this 21st day of Decambes 1000