Improvements in Quick-firing Guns.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1801
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Quick-firing Guns.
I, EMIL RITTER VON SKODA, of Pilsen, Bohemia, in the Empire of Austria,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in quick firing guns and comprises devices
by which a spring or combination of springs, which is compressed during the recoil
and stores up energy to move the barrel forward again into the firing position, is
also caused to effect the opening of the breech, the extraction of the cartridge, and
the retention of the breech block in the open position, until by the introduction of
a fresh cartridge the said breech block is released and caused to close the breech.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the devices constructed according to
this invention.
Fig. 1 illustrates the gun before firing.
Fig. 2 illustrates the gun after firing at the termination of the recoil.
Fig. 3 illustrates the breech end of the gun at the moment when the breech
begins to be opened.
Fig. 4 shows the position of the breech mechanism when the breech is kept
open by the cartridge extractor.
Fig. 5 is a rear elevation partly in section of the device for guiding the
barrel, and
Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section, illustrating the connection of the
brake piston rod with the mechanism for effecting the closure of the breech.
As will be seen, on the gun barrel R is pivoted a lever e¹ for actuating the
sliding breech block or wedge which may be of any suitable form. This lever is
provided with a pin which works in a slot 2 at the extremity of a lever H.
The lever H has a projection against which the arm a¹ of the lever A strikes.
The lever A is pivoted at a* on the stationary frame F which is fixed in the
gun carriage and carries the brake B. On the axle of the lever H there is
formed a recess or catch h (Fig. 6) which engages with the extremity k of
the brake piston rod K. The brake B is provided with a spring or combination
of springs arranged in any convenient manner for storing up energy on the
recoil of the barrel, which energy serves to effect the forward or return movement
of the gun.
The cartridge extractor p3 which is pivoted at p, is provided at its lower
extremity with a projection p (Fig. 4) against which the breech block or a
projection thereon strikes in opening, and thereby causes the partial rotation of
the cartridge extractor, and the ejection of the empty cartridge. The cartridge
extractor moreover has mounted on the axle thereof a small lever which in
the rotation of the cartridge extractor engages with a catch or projection c³ of
the breech lever c¹.
The barrel R is supported in a sliding carriage or cradle S by the trunnion
bearings and is secured thereto by a pin t, the said carriage S, moving in a
straight path in the frame F and carrying at its rear end a rotary shaft S' on
which the lever shaft h³ is mounted. The frame F is mounted in the gun
carriage by means of trunnions provided on the said frame F. The operation
of the different parts is as follows:-
On the gun being fired the barrel R recoils with the sliding carriage or
cradle S. In this movement, which is limited by stops f, s, the projection h¹
on the lever H, mounted on the cradle S, passes from the position shewn in
Fig. 1, beyond the end of the arm a' of the lever A mounted on the gun
carriage as shewn in Fig. 2. The lever A is thus released, and is moved

page_text: downward by the striking of the lower edge of the cradle S against the upper
lever arm a³, and also by the pressure of the spring a on the rear end a³ of
the lever.
The energy stored up in the brake B, effects now the forward movement of the
barrel R, the front side of the projection striking against the lever arm a¹ as
shown in Fig. 3, the lever H being thus rotated backwards until the stop h¹ is
moved below the edge of the lever arm a', (Fig. 4).
During this rotation of the lever H, the breech-operating lever c¹ connected
therewith is moved into the position shown in Fig. 4, whereby the breech wedge
or breech block is moved downwards, and the breech is opened. During the
opening of the breech, the cartridge extractor p³ is rotated backwards, ejects the
cartridge, and the small lever p² of the same moves under the pin c³ of the breech
lever c, whereby on one hand the cartridge extractor is firmly held in its position,
and on the other hand, the closing of the breech is prevented.
The energy of the brake spring is not however as yet completely exhausted
because the recess or catch 4 formed on the axle of the lever H, in the position of
the latter in Fig. 4, prevents the piston rod K assuming the position shown in
Figs. 1, 3 and 6.
On introducing the cartridge by hand, its flange strikes against the lever arm p³
of the cartridge extractor, thereby disengaging the catch from the projection c³,
whereupon as the projection h' is now below the arm a' of the lever A the energy
still remaining in the brake spring moves the parts back into their original position
and closes the breech.
It will readily be understood that if in lieu of the spring brake B there is
employed a hydraulic or other similar brake, a separate spring may be employed
for effecting the closing of the breech, acting upon the extremity K' of the piston
rod K.
It is obvious moreover that instead of a bent lever H having a slotted
extremity to receive the pin C, I may employ a more or less straight lever as
indicated at H¹ Figure 4, this lever being connected to the pin C by means of a
link, the lever H being provided with a projection similar to that on the bent
lever H.
Dal 1001 3
1 1001
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Quick-firing Guns.
I, EMIL RITTER VON SKODA of Pilsen, Bohemia, in the Empire of Austria,
Manufacturer, 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 quick-firing guns and comprises
devices by which a spring or combination of springs, which is compressed during
the recoil, and stores up energy to move the barrel forward again into the firing
position, is also caused to effect the opening of the breech, the extraction of the
cartridge, and the retention of the breech block in the open position, until by the
introduction of a fresh cartridge, the said breech block is released and caused to
close the breech.
When the recoil is taken up by a pneumatic hydraulic or other brake, the breech
closure can also be actuated by means of an independent spring.

page_text: structed according to this invention.
Fig. 1 illustrates the gun before firing.
Fig. 2 illustrates the gun after firing at the termination of the recoil.
Fig. 3 illustrates the breech end of the gun when the breech begins to be
opened.
Fig. 4 shows the position of the breech mechanism when the breech is kept open.
by the cartridge extractor.
Fig. 5 is a rear elevation partly in section of the device for guiding the
barrel, and
Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section, illustrating the connection of the brake
piston rod with the mechanism for effecting the closure of the breech.
As will be seen, on the gun barrel R is pivoted a lever c¹ for actuating the sliding
breech block or wedge which may be of any suitable form. This lever is provided with
a pin which works in a slot 2 at the extremity of a lever H. The lever H has a
projection h' against which the arm a' of the lever A strikes. The lever A is pivoted
at a on the stationary frame F which is fixed in the gun carriage and carries the
brake B. On the axle h³ of the lever H there is formed a recess or catch /*
(Fig. 6) which engages with the extremity k¹ of the brake piston rod K. The
brake B is provided with a spring or combination of springs arranged in any con-
venient manner for storing up energy on the recoil of the barrel, and which power
serves to effect the forward or return movement of the gun.
The cartridge extractor p³ which is pivoted at p, is provided at its lower
extremity with a projection p² (Fig. 4), against which the breech block or a pro-
jection thereon strikes in opening, and thereby causes the partial rotation of the
cartridge extractor, and the ejection of the empty cartridge. The cartridge
extractor moreover has mounted on the axle thereof a small lever p¹ which in the
rotation of the cartridge extractor engages with a catch or projection c³ on the
breech lever c¹.
The barrel R is supported in a sliding carriage or cradle S by the trunnion
bearings s¹ and is secured thereto by a pin t in the said carriage S, moving in a
straight path in the frame F and carrying at its rear end a rotary shaft S¹ in
which the lever shaft h³ is mounted. The frame F is mounted in the gun carriage
by means of trunnions of provided on the frame F. The mode of operation of
the different parts is as follows:-
On the gun being fired the barrel R recoils, with the sliding carriage or cradle S.
In this movement which is limited by stops fis, the projection h¹ on the lever H
mounted on the cradle S passes from the position shown in Fig. 1, beyond the end
of the arm a¹ of the lever A. mounted on the gun carriage (as shown in Fig. 2).
The lever A is thus released, and is moved downward by the striking of the lower
edge of the cradle S against the upper lever arm a², and also by the pressure of the
spring a on the rear end a³ of the lever.
The energy stored up in the brake B, effects now the forward movement of the
barrel R, the front side of the projection striking against the lever arm a¹ (as
shown in Fig. 3), so that the lever H must rotate backwards until the stop h¹ is
moved below the edge of the lever arm a¹, (Fig. 4).
During this rotation of the lever H, the breech-operating lever d¹ connected
therewith is moved into the position shown in Fig. 4, whereby the breech wedge or
breech block is moved downwards, and the breech is opened. During the opening
of the breech, the cartridge extractor p³ is rotated backwards, ejects the cartridge,
and the small lever p₁ of the same moves under the pin c³ of the breech lever c',
whereby on one hand the cartridge extractor is firmly held in its position, and on
the other hand, the closing of the breech is prevented.
The energy of the brake spring is not however as yet completely exhausted,
because the recess or catch on the axle of the lever H, in the position of the
latter in Fig 4, prevents the piston rod K assuming the position shown in
Figs. 1, 3 and 6.

page_text: On introducing the cartridge by hand, its flange strikes against the lever arm p³
of the cartridge extractor, thereby disengaging the catch p¹ from the projection c³,
whereupon, as the projection h¹ is now below the arm a' of the lever A. the energy
still remaining in the brake spring moves the parts back into their original position
and closes the breech.
It will readily be understood that if in lieu of a spring B there is employed a
hydraulic or other similar brake, a separate spring acting upon the extremity of
the piston rod K may be used for effecting the closing of the breech.
It is obvious moreover that, instead of a bent lever H having a slotted extremity /³
to receive the pin e I may employ a more or less straight lever as indicated at H
Figure 4, this lever being connected to the pin c² by means of a link l, and the
lever H¹ being provided with a projection similar to that on the bent lever H.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a quickfiring gun, an arrangement for actuating the breech closure, com-
prising the lever H provided with the projection h', the breech operating lever c',
the brake piston rod K having the extremity adapted to engage with the catch /*,
and a lever A having arms a a, pivoted to the fixed gun frame, all combined and
operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
2. In the arrangement set forth in Claim 1, the fixing of the breech in the opened
position by the cartridge extractor whose lever p¹ engages in a tooth of the
breech lever and is released therefrom by the introduction of the cartridge,
whereupon the spring acting upon the tooth, causes the closing of the breech.
3. The hereinbefore described improvements in quickfiring guns constructed
and operating substantially as set forth with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.