GB900520A - Improvements in and relating to a breech for an artillery device of the muzzle-loading type - Google Patents

Abstract

900,520. Muzzle loading artillery devices. HOTCHKISS-BRANDT. April 28, 1961 [May 10, 1960], No. 15417/61. Class 92. Relates to a firing mechanism for mortars and other artillery devices of the muzzle-loading type in which the striker pin is held for automatic percussion in a protruding position so as to strike the primer of the cartridge at the rear of the projectile when the latter has completed its downward travel inside the gun barrel and in which, in the position of controlled percussion, the striker pin is in a withdrawn position, percussion being then obtained by movement of a percussion lever. According to the invention, an internally screw-threaded ring 33, 35, Fig. 1, is rotatably mounted on a cylindrical face 11 of the breech-block 2 and engages the threaded ends 45, 45a of a transverse rod 46 housed in a diametral chamber 10 in the breechblock, the chamber 10 having an elongated cross-section. The rod 46 passes through the head of a striker guide 28 and the striker 17 extends through the rod 46, the arrangement being such that when the ring 33, 35 is rotated, the rod 46, striker guide 28 and striker 17 are moved longitudinally from a position of automatic percussion to a position of controlled percussion and inversely. A spring 21 is located inside the hollow striker body 19 and its rear end presses against a push-rod 22 formed with a slot 23 and connected to the striker by means of a pin 24 extending through the push-rod 22 and engaging two longitudinal slots 26 formed in the body 19. The striker guide 28 slides in an axial bore 8 of the breech-block. A spring- loaded stud 49, Figs. 1, 4, ensures the movement of the striker with the striker guide 28 when the latter together with the rod 46 are moved forwardly to the automatic position, and the stud 49 also causes a housing 50 of the controlled percussion mechanism to participate in this movement. A recess 56 on the stud 49 is adapted to co-operate with a catch 57 of a member 58 pivoted at 60 and constituting both a cocking lever by virtue of a nose 59 and a trigger by virtue of the catch 57. A controlled percussion lever 61 is fixed to the pin 60. The nose 59 engages the elongated slot of the pushrod 22. The trigger 58 is also provided with a catch 62 adapted to be engaged by a safety lock 65 which can be moved upwardly and downwardly by means of a nut and screw arrangement 66, 67. On withdrawal of the lock 65, the lever 61 is swung in the direction of arrow #<SP>1</SP> so that the nose 59 moves the push-rod 22 forwardly to compress the spring 21, the striker being held stationary by the stud 49. Subsequently, the catch 57 moves the stud 49 upwardly to release the striker which is then thrown forward to fire the cartridge. Change from controlled percussion to automatic percussion is possible only when the safety lock 65 is in the withdrawn position and when in the position of auto-percussion the lock 65 cannot be moved to the safety position. If the percussion lever 61 does not fully return to its initial position, the curved profile 64 of the trigger 58 prevents the lock 65 being moved to the safety position.