Improvements in Apparatus for Working the Breech Mechanism of Heavy Guns.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th June, 1890-Accepted, 19th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Apparatus for Working the Breech Mechanism of
Heavy Guns.
1, JOHN EDWARD COMPTON-BRACEBRIDGE of 3 Whitehall Place in the City of
Westminster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
I fit a vibrating arm in rear of the gun.
The vibrating arm is attached to a cylinder which works on a piston and rod and is
moved by hydraulic power in a plane parallel to the axis of the gun.
The arm is moved in a plane at right angles to the axis of the piece by a second
hydraulic cylinder.
The arm is provided at the end remote from its centre of movement with a segmental
slot which engages the projecting part of the breech screw and-in its movement across
the breech the arm rotates the breech screw.
The arm also carries a loading tray.
The apparatus acts thus,
The vibrating arm is pushed over in a plane at right angles to the axis of the gun,
by the second cylinder, and the segmental slot engages the breech screw and the
further movement of the arm turns and unlocks the screw..
The arm is then drawn bodily. back by means of the 1st cylinder in line with
the axis of the piece then withdrawing the screw which is held in the segmental slot.
The 2nd cylinder then carries the screw to one side and the loading tray opposite to
the breech.
"
The loading tray is then slid into the gun and the gun loaded in the usual manner,
after which the notions described above are reversed.
In cases where the weight of the breech screw is too great to allow of its
overhanging the arm in the arrangement described, I fit a curved rail on the breech
of the gun on which runs a telescopic support which is also connected with the
arm. The breech screw is received on to this support as it is withdrawn from the
gun and the support is pulled out from the vibrating arm as the latter recedes from
the gun.
The loading tray may also engage in the same rail and, he pulled out in a
similar manner, the fore part being pushed into the breech when the tray arrives
opposite to it.
Sometimes I do away with the cylinder in the axis of the vibrating arm and support
the latter in suitable bearings.
The vibrating arm may be attached to the gun itself or to its carriage or slide or to
the structure on which the mounting rests.
In place of actuating the vibrating arm and withdrawing gear hydraulically, I may
do so by other means.
Dated thin 17thiday if Coudrudinë 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Working the Breech Mechanism of
Heavy Guns.
1, JOHN EDWARD COMPTON-BRACEBRIDGE of 3 Whitehall Place in the City of
Westminster; Engineer, 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 has for its object improvements in apparatus for working the breech
mechanism of heavy guns.

page_text: Mechanism in accordance with my invention is shown by the drawings annexed.
Figure 1 is a sectional view looking sideways at the apparatus, the breech screw
is shown in position in the breech of the gun and the mechanism is ready for its
withdrawal.
Figure 2 is a rear view with the parts in the same position.
Figure 3 is a rear view with the parts in the positions which they occupy
when the breech screw is withdrawn and swung out of the way, and the loading tray
in place.
Figure 4 is a plan of the support for the breech screw.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of the loading tray.
The dotted lines in the several figures show other positions of the parts.
In these figures A is the gun, B is the breech screw, C is a vibrating arm.
The vibrating arm is fitted with a cylinder D, in which slides a piston E, attached
to a piston rod F, the ends of which are secured to brackets G. The brackets G are
fixed either to the gun slide, to the roof, or floor of the turret or turn-table or to the
saddle or to the carriage or to the gun.
On the back of the cylinder D, radial teeth H, are formed, two or three of which
extend the whole length of the cylinder. A second cylinder I, placed at right angles
to the cylinder D, and fitted in the same manner, is placed above it. On the cylinder 1
are rack teeth J, which gear with the teeth H.
On the back of the breech screw is a projection, K, and a groove L₁, surrounding
it. A corresponding grooved flange piece M, is provided upon the arm which when
the apparatus is in operation engages with the groove L, and serves to hold the breecli
screw during and after its withdrawal. Teeth are provided upon the projection K,
to engage with similar teeth formed in the part M.
To aid in supporting the breech screw when withdrawn, a curved angle rail O, is
attached to the breech of the gun, upon which flanged wheels P, travel. These
wheels are attached to a carriage Q, which is provided with two bars R, sliding in
slots in the armi C.
The arm C, also carries the loading tray which is shown in more detail in Figure 4.
It is composed of three parts, a lower fixed to, the arm ; a middle portion sliding in
the lower and fitted with a hook S, which engages in the curved rail when the
arm travels across the breech, and an upper portion T, which is pushed into the
breech by means of the handle U, and connecting link V, and serves to protect
the thread of the screw.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The gun being in its loading position, water under pressure is admitted into one
end of the cylinder I, and the arm C, is thereby moved across the breech of the gun.
The piece M then engages in the groove L on the breech screw and the tooth or
teeth attached to the arm engage in those on the breech screw. In this way the
breech block is turned and unscrewed sufficiently to allow the interruptions in the
screw to correspond with those in the screwed part of the gun. At this moment
the piece M, is close home in the recess I. Both ends of the cylinder I, are now
closed and the liquid is imprisoned in it. Water is then admitted in to the front of
the cylinder D, and the arm C is moved to the rear, carrying with it the breech
screw B. During this movement the arm is held in its proper position by the teeth H,
engaging in those on the cylinder I. As the breech screw is withdrawn, the wheels P,
being held to the rail O, by their flanges, keep the carriage Q, up to the gun.and the
bars R, draw through their slots in the arm C, the breech screw travelling over them.
The projection S, on the loading tray also engages in the rail O, and when the arm
retires the loading tray is kept up to the gun and slides through its support upon
the arm.
When the breech screw is withdrawn a sufficient amount to clear the gun, water is
again admitted into the cylinder, I, and the breech screw and arm are thrust across
the face of the breech until the loading tray comes opposite the bore of the gun.
The
handle U, is then worked and the portion T, of the loading tray is advanced over the
screw threads in the gun. The shot and charge are then rammed in. The operations

page_text: are now reversed and the arm C, swung away clear of the gun, which is then fired in
the usual manner.
As an alternative, I propose to effect the operations of unscrewing and withdrawing
the breech screw by means of a single hydraulic cylinder. This is shown in
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation looking from the side.
Figure 6 is a rear
view also partly in section; Figure 7 is a plan; and Figures 8 and 9 are
details.
A is the gun as before; B is the breech screw; C is the vibrating arm; M is the
hook piece or grooved flange to engage with the breech block; P, Q, and R the wheels
carriage and bars as before.
The arm is supported by means of a long bearing sliding on a rod a, supported
by means of brackets b. Upon the back of the arm C, are formed inclined teeth d,
which extend round the long bearing at either end for a portion of its circumference,
and straight along the middle part. A bydraulic cylinder e, sliding in guides, and
fitted with a piston and rod g, attached to the roof or other part is placed at right
angles to the rod a, and is fitted throughout its length with inclined teeth, which
engage with the teeth d, upon the arm C. To the brackets 61, is fixed a slotted
guide-plate h, shown in detail in figures 8 and 9. A roller i, attached to the arm C,
at its upper extremity, engages in the slot in the guide-plate h.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
Liquid is admitted into the cylinder e, which is thereby moved and the teeth on
it engaging in the circumferential teeth on the arm C, the latter is swung across
the breech of the gun, engaging with and unscrewing the breech screw as in the
previous arrangement.
During this time, the roller i, has been moving from the point k, in Figure 9 to the
position, and has prevented the inclined teeth from moving the arm C, in any
direction except that at right angles to the gun. When the roller i, arrives at the
point 1, the breech screw is ready to be withdrawn, and the inclined teeth now being
prevented by the guide plate from moving the arm further in a direction at right
angles to the axis of the piece, pull the arm from the gun and withdraw the screw.
When the screw has been withdrawn, the roller i, has arrived at the point m, and
further movement in this direction is prevented by the guide-plate. Movement in a
direction at right angles to the axis of the piece is now resumed, and the roller i,
moves to the point n. The breech screw is then clear of the opening in the gun and
a loading tray is opposite the bore of the gun. The breech screw is replaced by the
converse of these movements.
A further alternative is shown in Figures 10 and 11.
In this case the arm C, is shown pivotted below the gun and does not move in a
direction in line with the axis of the gun. The breech scrow is withdrawn by means
of an hydraulic cylinder p, carried upon the arm and moving up and down a rod q.
The cylinder has rack teeth on the back, engaging with a pinion », fitted to a cross
shaft, s, upon which is keyed another pinion, and this pinion comes to engage with
a rack on the breech screw itself. In order to avoid a fong projection on the back
of the screw, other pinions 71, 71, are geared with that on the cross shaft so as to
convey the movement as close to the breech of the gun as possible. The locking and
unlocking of the breech screw is done in the same way as before by the arm C
which is pushed across the gun by an oscillating hydraulic cylinder t. Pipes to
supply water to the cylinder p are conveyed through the centre of motion of the
arm C.
In case it should in any instance be found inconvenient to supply water through
the centre of motion I provide the method of withdrawing the breech screw shown in
Figure 12.
In this case the withdrawal is effected by means of a cylinder 1 with a rack on
its exterior surface gearing into a pinion 2 revolving on the shaft of the pivoting
arm C.
The pinion 2 is fixed to a bevil wheel gearing into a bevil pinion 3 keyed on a

page_text: shaft bearing another bevil wheel on its other end 5 gearing with a similar wheel
keyed on the end of the cross shaft. S previously mentioned.
A clutch may be introduced if necessary between the pinion 2 and its bevil wheel
so that during the movement of the arm across the breech no movement may be
imparted to the withdrawing mechanism.
Steam or hand gear may be substituted for hydraulic cylinders to actuate the
gear.
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. Apparatus for working the breech mechanism of heavy guns and consisting
of an arin moveable about an axis parallel to the bore of the gun and also longitudinally
in relation thereto; such arm rotating the breech block engaging with it and carrying
it from place to place substantially as described.
2. Apparatus for working the breech mechanism of heavy guns and consisting
of an arm moveable about an axis parallel to the bore of the gun; such arm rotating
the breech block and carrying it from place to place and also by gearing upon the arm
transmitting longitudinal movement to the breech block thereby conveying the block
into and from the breech of tho gun substantially as described.
3. Apparatus for working the breech mechanism of heavy guns substantially as
described and represented by the annexed drawings.
Dated this 25th day of April 1890.