Breech-loading Ordnance.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May,
1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Breech-loading Ordnance.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM SPONSEL, residing at No. 1 Flower Street, in the City
of Hartford, County of Hartford and State of Connecticut, United States of
America, Foreman Gun Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 that class of breech-loading ordnance in which the
opening of the breech, extracting the empty shell, and cocking the gun are accom-
plished by the movement of an actuating-lever in one direction, and the closing of
the breech and the making ready for firing are accomplished by a movement of the
actuating-lever in a contrary direction.
The object of the invention is to provide an organization of mechanism in
which all the operative parts may be carried on by the breech-block, and be
removable therewith; so that the gun may be quickly dismantled by removal of
the breech-block, so that the size and weight of the breech-piece may be reduced,
while preserving sufficient strength; also to reduce the cost of manufacture by
assembling all the working details on the breech-block, whereby the machining
operations are much simplified and reduced.
In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this Specification,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a breech-loading cannon embodying my improvements,
the barrel and shoulder-rest being broken away.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the barrel, from which the breech-block has
been removed.
Fig. 4 is a rear view of the cannon, showing the breech-block in its upper, or
normal position.
Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the breech-block down, or in its lower position,
the cannon being ready to receive a cartridge.
Fig. 6 is a central vertical section of the cannon, the parts being shown in the
same positions as in Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a similar view wherein the positions of the several parts correspond to
their positions in Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a plan view of the breech-block removed from the cannon, and having
the extractors in place.
Fig. 9 is a rear view of the same.
Figs. 10 and 11 are views of the right and left hand sides, respectively, of said
block, with some of the minor details in place.
Fig. 12 is a cross section of the cannon, the view being taken in line a a of
Fig. 6.
Figs. 13 and 14 are side and edge views, respectively, of one of the extractors.
Figs. 15 and 16 are end and side views, respectively, of the firing-pin.
Figs. 17, 18 and 19 are, respectively, an end, a section, and a side view of the sear,
the sectional view being taken in line, Fig. 19.
Fig. 20 shows an alternate form of the breech-block in plan view.
Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 11, showing how a coiled spring may be used in
place of the flat spring shown in Fig. 11.
Fig. 22 is a detail view of the cocking-lever shaft, as seen from the right hand in
Fig. 11.
Figs. 23 and 24 are a plan side view, respectively, of the trigger, showing said
trigger in detail.
Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures.

page_text: The cannon consists of a barrel, B, united to or formed integral with the
enlarged breech-piece, C, which is divided to form the two sides C¹ and C², between
which is located the vertically-movable breech-block D. On the inner sides of
said sides C and C, respectively, are. formed the grooves or recesses 2 and 4,
for receiving the correspondingly-formed projections or ribs, 6 and 8, of said
sliding block D. Said grooves 2 and 4 are formed somewhat inclined to the
vertical, so that as the block D is slid down, as in Figs. 5 and 7, it is carried
rearwardly a short distance, thus relieving the pressure against the head of the
cartridge (not shown) in the gun-barrel. In Fig. 20 I have shown an alternate
form of the projections 6 and 8, in which the lugs, 94 and 96, thereof engage the
grooves, 93 and 95, that are formed in the sides C and C to receive the arms.
The said projections or bearers, 6 and 8, of the breech-block fitting the slots 2
and 4 of the breech-piece, act as guides for the said block. in its up and down
movements, to close or open the breech of the gun, and by engaging the abut-
ments, 82 84, on the breech-piece, sustain the breech-block against the shock of the
discharge when the gun is fired. It will be plainly seen from Figs. 6 and 7 that
the front face 5, of the breech-block and the guides above described are cut on a
slight angle when the block D is up, the face 61 of the recoil-plate 56 stands
close to the channel 70 for the cartridge-head, but as said block is gradually
lowered, said face 61 is withdrawn rearwardly, until in the lowest position of the
breech-block, as in Fig. 7, said plate 56 stands a short distance from the line of
said cartridge-channel. The vertical movements of the breech-block D are accom-
plished by means of a hand-operated crank or lever, 7, which is fixed to the outer
end of a short shaft, 9, that is journaled in the said block. This shaft has secured
thereto by the key or spline 75, a crank or arm 10, provided with a stud or
roller 11, which is fitted to play in a slot 12, that is formed in the lower part N of
the breech-piece C. The said shaft 9 is set in the block D at right angles to the
front face 5 of said block; a recess 13, Figs. 1 and 6, is formed in the lower
part of the front face of the said block D, to allow the crank 10 to be turned by
the lever 7.
In Figs. 4 and 6 the block D is shown in its upper position, closing the breech of
the gun; in Figs. 5 and 7, said block is shown in its lowest position, and the breech
is open ready to receive a cartridge; the block is lowered by turning the lever 7
to the right and downward, through a little more than one half of a circle, and
during the said turning of the lever the stud 11 has passed to the left in the slot 12
and returned again to the right, as shown by dotted lines in said Fig. 5; when the
movement of the actuating lever is reversed, the breech-block is moved upward and
the breech of the gun is again closed, as in Figs. 4 and 6.
The shell remaining in the firing-chamber after a discharge, is effectually ejected
during the downward movement of the breech-block, by means of the extractors 14
and 16, which are fitted to slide horizontally in the grooves 18 and 20 that are
formed in the right and left hand' sides, respectively, of the block D near the upper
end thereof, and in the mortises 90 and 92 that are formed therefor in the guide-
bearers 6 and 8, respectively, of said block. In the detail views, Figs. 13 and 14,
the construction of one of the extractors is more fully shown, being furnished with
the hook end, as 15 or 17, to engage the head of the cartridge shell, and with the
lugs, as 19 or 21, which fit in the cam grooves 22 and 24 that are formed in the
right and left-hand inner sides, C and C, respectively, of the breech-piece C.
After a discharge has taken place, the breech-block is lowered as above described,
and the extractors are carried down with it until the hook ends thereof have
engaged the shell; when, on the further downward movement of the said breech-
block, the above-described lugs 19 and 21 pass into the lower and angular portion
of the cam-grooves 22 and 24, and are thereby suddenly retracted, to throw out the
shells. For proper co-action with the extractors, the breech-block is hollowed out
at the top, so as to form a trough, 23; the forward part. 25, of which trough is
inclined as shown in the drawings, so that the cartridge-shell may begin to with-
draw from the bore 60 before the lower surface of said trough 23 comes into

page_text: alignment with said bore. To re-load the cannon, the operator inserts a cartridge, P,
Fig. 7, into the bore of the barrel, pushing it in as far as possible, or until the
flange thereof comes in contact with the hook-ends of the extractors. The breech-
block now being raised, the angular forward part 25 of the trough 23 engages said
cartridge-head, and, after the manner of a wedge, forces the cartridge forward,
following closely the forward or return movement of the extractors. The final
forcing home of the cartridge is accomplished by the forward movement of the
breech-block, due to the inclination of its guide-bearers, as hereinbefore set
forth.
The firing-pin, designated in a general way by 26, is shown in detail in Figs. 15
and 16, and partially in section in Figs. 6 and 7. Said pin is fitted to move longi-
tudinally in the bore 27 of the breech-block; and preferably consists of the stem 28,
flattened on the upper side for a portion of its length, and having an opening or
mortise formed therein to receive the upper end of the cocking-lever 46. A notch
is also formed in the upper side thereof, the shoulder or face 29 of said notch
engaging with the sear 32; the enlarged forward part of the pin has a series of
grooves, 30, for the escapement of air or gases; the firing point of the pin is
designated by 31.
The sear, designated in a general way by 32, is shown in full view in Fig. 12, in
detail in Figs. 17, 18 and 19, and in section in Figs. 6 and 7. The sear is notched
to form the detent-point or catch, 33, to engage the detent-face 29 of the firing-
pin 26, when the gun is cocked; as shown in Figs. 10 and 12, the scar is carried
in the bore 34 of the breech-block. For disengaging the sear 32 from the firing-
pin 26, a rod, 35, denominated the sear-rod, is provided which rod stands in the
recess 36 that is formed for receiving the same in the right-hand side of the breech-
block D, and is pivotally connected to the sear 32, by a pin 37, in the ears 38 that
are formed therefor on said scar. The scar-rod 35 has, formed thereon a flange 39,
against which the upper end of the spring 40 bears, and is also provided with a
loosely fitting washer 41, to take the downward thrust of said spring; said washer
resting against the shoulder 42 of the recess 36. (See Fig. 10.) The scar-rod 35 is
also pivotally connected to the trigger 43 by means of a pin 44; the trigger has a
pivot-pin or stud 45, formed thereon or fixed thereto, by means of which it is.
pivotally supported in the breech-block at the lower end thereof; said trigger
being held in place by the lug 86 that is formed thereon, and which engages the
recess 87 that is formed therefor in the breech-block. (See Figs. 9 and 10.)
means of the trigger 43 and the rod 35, the scar is disengaged from the firing-pin,
allowing said pin to be thrown forward in a well-known manner, to discharge the
cartridge, the firing-point 31 striking the usual percussion-cap in the head of the
cartridge.
By
The cocking-lever 46 is carried on the cocking-lever shaft 47, which is fitted to
turn freely in the bore 48 of the breech-block; and said shaft has an arm, 49,
formed on the left-hand end thereof, against which the main or firing-spring, 50,
bears. As shown in Fig. 11, said spring 50 consists of the two leaves 76 and 78,
joined at 77, and having a projection, 74, at said junction, which projection fits into
the recess 73, for the purpose of retaining the said spring in the recess 51, that is
formed in the left-hand side of the breech-block therefor. The end 79 of the leaf 76
of said spring, engages a notch formed in one side of the recess 51 to receive it; the
end 80 of the leaf 78 engages the arm 49 of the cocking-lever shaft 47. In Fig. 21
I have shown an alternate form of main-spring, in which said spring is a coil spring,
designated by 100, carried in the recess 51, and having a plunger or slide, 102, to
engage the arm 49, in a manner easily understood. The shaft 47 has a squared
part, 52, to fit the similarly formed hole, 53, of the cocking-lever 46, Figs. 6, 7,
and 22, so that the said shaft and lever are fixed and move together as if one part.
The cocking of the gun is effected as follows: The hereinbefore mentioned shaft 9,
which may also be denominated the cocking-cam shaft, has a key-slot or groove, 54,
cut therein; the stem, or shaft, 45, of the trigger, acts as a key fitting in said
groove and holding said shaft in place, as will be understood from Figs. 6 and 7.

page_text: Said shaft 9 has formed thereon the cocking-cam 55, a proper form of which is
shown in section in Fig. 12, and which acts through the lever 46 to cock the gun
when the operator turns the crank-lever 7 toward the right hand as hereinbefore
stated. The recoil-plate 56 is inserted in the front face of the breech-block, and
is removably held in place by screws, 57, in a well-known manner; a hole, 58, is
formed in the same recoil-plate, through which the firmng-point 31 reaches to strike
the cap of the cartridge. A pair of stop-pins, as 62 and 64, Figs. 1 and 3, are
fixed in the right and left-hand sides, respectively, of the breech-piece C, and
project into the oppositely-disposed grooves or slots 63 and 65, that are formed in
the sides of the breech-block. Said pins and slots are provided for the purpose of
preventing the breech-block from falling or sliding out of the breech-piece during
the disassembling of the cannon; and also to limit the downward movement of the
breech-block and take the blow thereof, so that the crank will be relieved of the
force of said blow.
The general operation of cocking and firing this my improved cannon may be
described as follows:
Fig. 6 shows the parts in their normal position; if a discharge has previously
taken place, the shell of the discharged cartridge is still in the bore 60 of the
barrel B; the operator by means of the crank-lever 7 throws down the breech-
block D as above described, which operates through the extractors to first gradually
withdraw the shell, and then to quickly further and fully withdraw and throw out
to rearward the said shell. At the same time the cocking-cam 55 operates through
the cocking-arm 46 to draw back the firing-pin 26 to the position shown in Fig. 7,
when the detent-face 33 of the sear is thrown into engagement with the detent-
face 29 of said firing-pin by means of the spring 40, locking the firing-pin in said
position; this operates also to contract the main-spring in a well-known manner.
The operator now inserts a cartridge in the bore of the barrel, and then by a reverse
movement of the crank-lever 7 raises the block D, which closes the breech; the
weighs or guides of the breech-block, and grooves therefor in the breech-piece being
formed on a slight angle to the axis of the barrel, as above described, the raising of
the breech-block gradually forces the cartridge home as before stated. The reverse
movement of the crank-lever does not affect the position of the firing-pin and its
accessory parts, they being still locked by the sear. When the breech has been
closed as above described, the operator, by means of the trigger 43, disengages the
sear from the firing-pin, which is immediately thrown forward by the main-spring,
to effect the discharge of the cartridge.
The block-actuating shaft 9, being carried by the breech-block itself, is thereby
made readily available for operating, the firing-pin, by means of a cam on said
shaft and the crank-arm 10 engaging a groove of the cannon, which groove is
crosswise to the breech-block movement, the turning of the shaft carried by the
block not only actuates the block, but also locks the same at the extremes of its
sliding movements, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 respectively. The shaft 9 has its
axis in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the plane of the bore 60 of the
barrel B, so that the arm on said shaft engages directly with the front wall N of
the breech-piece and so that the rear end of said shaft passes up between the
breech-block sides C' and C2, when said block is raised to its uppermost position.
The sides C and C² being entirely unconnected at their rear ends, the block D
may be removed from the breech-piece at the top thereof while the shaft 9 is in
place, if the crank-arm 10 be removed.
;
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 1
claim is
1. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the barrel and the breech-
piece thereof, of the sliding breech-block, and the block-actuating shaft carried in
said block and having an arm engaging with the body of the cannon, whereby said
shaft is carried with the breech-block in its movements, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the breech-piece having a
groove crosswise to the breech-block movement, of the sliding breech-block, the
block-actuating shaft carried by said block, and a crank-arm on said shaft and
engaging said groove, whereby the block is actuated by the turning therein of the
shaft carried thereby, and is locked at the extremes of its movement by said crank,
substantially as described.
3. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the breech-piece having the
sides thereof unconnected at their rear ends, of the breech-block sliding between
said sides, and the block-actuating shaft carried by said block and engaging the
front wall of the breech-piece, all being constructed and combined substantially as
described, so that the block may be withdrawn with said shaft projecting from the
rearward side thereof.
4. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the breech-picce, and with
the movable breech-block and its crank-shaft carried therein, of the firing-pin
located in said block above and substantially parallel with said shaft, and a cam on
said shaft constructed and connected substantially as set forth to draw back the
firing-pin on the turning of the shaft in the block to open the breech, substantially
as described.
5. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the breech-block, of the
firing-pin and the block-actuating shaft both carried by said block, a cam on said
shaft, and the cocking-lever pivoted in said block and connected to actuate the
firing pin from said arm, substantially as described.
6. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the breech-block, of the
shaft 9 having the cam 55, the firing-pin, and lever 46 pivotally supported in said
block and engaging said pin, and constructed to be operated by said cam, substan-
tially as described.
7. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the breech-block, of the
shaft carried thereby and having the cocking-cam, the cocking-lever, the firing-pin,
and a main-spring connected to throw forward said pin, substantially as described.
8. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination, substantially as described, with
the breech-piece, and with the movable breech-block and its actuating crank-shaft
carried therein, of the firing-pin located in said block above and substantially
parallel with said shaft, the cocking-cam on said shaft and operatively-connected,
substantially as set forth, to actuate said pin to draw back the same on the turning
of the shaft to lower the breech-block, a main-spring connected to throw forward
the firing-pin, and the sear engaging the firing-pin when this is retracted, substan-
tially as described.
9. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the breech-block, of the
firing-pin, the block-actuating shaft carried by said block and having the cocking-
cam operatively-connected to actuate said pin, a main-spring connected to throw
forward said pin, the sear 32 fitted to revolve in said block and engage said firing-
pin, and a trigger operatively-connected to disengage said sear, substantially as
described.
10. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the breech-block, of the
firing-pin having notch 29, the shaft carried by said block and having the cocking-
cam, the lever operatively connecting said cam and firing-pin, the sear 32 having
the catch 33 engaging said notch, and means substantially as described for operating
said sear by hand, substantially as described.
11. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the breech-block, of the
block-actuating shaft carried thereby and having the cocking-cam, the firing-pin,
the lever operatively connecting said cam and firing-pin, and carried by the shaft 47
having arm 49, and a main-spring bearing on said arm to throw forward said firing-
pin, substantially as described.
12. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the breech-block and with
the firing-pin 26, having the notch 29, of the sear 32 fitted to turn in a bore in
said block and having a catch engaging said pin, and having an arm connected by a

page_text: rod with the trigger, whereby said scar may be turned to release the firing-pin,
substantially as described.
13. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the breech-block, and with
the block-actuating shaft carried thereby and grooved for a shaft-retaining pin, of
the trigger carried on a stem extending into the groove of said shaft, and con-
stituting such retaining-pin, substantially as described.
14. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the breech-block, and with
its actuating shaft carried therein and having the groove for a retaining-pin,
of the trigger having a stem constituting such retaining-pin, and having its arm
extending under a lug on said block for holding the trigger in place, substantially
as described.
15. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the breech-block moving
between the sides of the breech-piece, of a reciprocating extractor carried by the
block and constructed to have a movement in the block crosswise to the movement
of the block, and engaging a cam-groove in the breech-piece, substantially as
described.
16. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the breech-block moving
in the breech-piece substantially as described, of the extractors constructed with a
projection engaging the groove 22 in the breech-piece, substantially as described.
17. In breech-loading ordnance, the combination with the breech-block moving
in the breech-piece substantially as described, and having the guide-bearer 6
mortised for the extractor, of the extractor 16 sliding in said mortise and provided
with the extractor-hook, and with a projection engaging a cam-groove in the
breech-piece, substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of November 1890.
CHARLES WILLIAM SPONSEL.