US1073298A

US1073298A - Ordnance.

Info

Publication number: US1073298A
Application number: US54897410A
Authority: US
Inventors: William D Smith
Original assignee: W D SMITH ORDNANCE Co
Current assignee: W D SMITH ORDNANCE Co
Priority date: 1910-03-12
Filing date: 1910-03-12
Publication date: 1913-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1930-09-16

Description

W. D. SMITH.

ORDNANGE. APPLIGATON FILED 111111.12, 1910.

1,973,298. l Patented sept. 16,1913.

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W. D. SMITH.

ORDNANGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 12, 1910. 1,073,298. Patented sept. 16,1913.

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ORDNANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 12, 1910.

Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

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WILLIAM n. SMITH, 0F WASHINGTQN, vinsmeren: or COLUMBIA, AssIGNon,y 'ro w. D. SMITH OBDNANOE COMPANY, Or I'Irrseunon, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION vor DELAWARE.

ORDNNCE.

' Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept.. i6, i 9i 3.

Amma@ and .March 12, 194e. serial No. 545,974.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. SMITH, of Washingtom in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in IOrdnance, of which the Afollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being 'had to the accompanying draw ings, formi-ng ,part of ,this specification.

This invention relates to ordnance of .the breech loading type which is provided with a mushroom head, wherein it is .customary to "provide a gas check between the breech block and the mushroom head to prevent the escape of the gases rearwardly through .the breech of the gun.

The Object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap and eiiicient mechanism to :flush the gun after it .has been tired and before the breech lblock has been translated, without materially changing the general type of guns now in use.

Another .object .of my invention isto .proj `vide mechanism which will automatically open .a lvalve and .admit fluid pressure behind the mushroom head to advance it and .allow fluid to pass out between the gas check and the mushroom head, to cool the pad and flush the gun.

Another object of my invention is to provide nleans for sealing the opening in the breech containing the breech block, gto prevent. the rearward escape of gas and fluid pressure after the breech,.bl ock has been rotated to loosen the gas check to allow fluid pressure to pass between the .gas check land the bore of the gun.

Still another Object of my invention Ais to provide means -t'or admitting `a proper lubricant into the breech Ot the gun, which will be forced over the .gas check into the bore of the gun by the fluid pressure.

The precise nat-ure of my invention will be best understood by reference to :the accompanying drawings, which will .now be described, it being premised, however, that various changes may be made in the vdetails oi' construction and general arrangement of the parts without departing from the, spirit and scope of .my invention as defined .in 4the appended claims.

in the accompanying drawings; Figure l is a plan view oit the breech ,portion .of a gun equipped .with one form of my mproxted the is being initially flushed. Fig. 5A

is a view similar to Fig.v 4 showing the breech block rotated to partially withdraw the gas check and allow fluid to be forced overthe gas check. Fig. 6 is a View similal` to Fig. 3, sh.o WLI1g .a modified arrangement and showing .the parts in the position they assume when the gun is being flushed. Fig. 7 `is a .View similar to Fig. 4, showing a modified arrangementof ports in the stem of the ,mushroom head, and Fig. 8 is a sectional View on the line VIH-VIII of Fig. 7.

In Figs. -1 .to 5, the numeral 2 designates the A'breech portion of the gun, which is adapted to receive .the threaded breech block 3 of the ordinary type. 4 is a mushroom head having a spindle -5 which extends through an Orifice in the breech block 3. Surrounding the stem 5 and interposed between the mushroom head 4 and the breech block 3 is a gas check 6 of any well known construction, and 7 is a `follower' plate interposed between the gas check and the breech block. Mounted near the end of the spindle 5 of the mushroom head is a vcollar 8 which is held from longitudinal movement o-n the spindle. Surrounding the spindle and interposed between the collar 8 and the breech block is a spring 9, arranged to normally hold the mushroom head against the gas check. The inner vportions of .the threads for Securing the breech .block are out away Eto a depth equal to the depth of the threads as shown -at 10, and the forward portion .of the breech block .is cut away to form a chamber l1, between the ,breech block and the Offset between .the bore of the gun and :the enlarged recess for the breech block. 12

lis a split packing ring in the cut-away porblock through which the stem of the mushwith an annular groove 15, and 1G are ports.

or inlets whichl connect with the annular groove and extend inwardly through the stem 5 to a point slightly to the rear of the gas check whenthe mushroom head is in its rearward or firing position, as shown in Fig. 3. lVhcn the mushroom head is advanced into the bore of the gun the ports will admit pressure to the bore of the gun between the mushroom head and the gas check, as shown in Fig. 4. y The chambers 11 and 13 areconnected to each other by means of the radially disposed channels 17 in the breech block. Surrounding the body of the gun is a fluid pressure pipe 18, 'and extending radially through the body of the gun are the channels 19. The outer end of each of .these channels is connected by means of a pipe 20 with the

pressure pipe

18, and 21 are short tubes extending fromv the inner ends of these channels into the chamber 11. The inner ends of these tubes are bent inwardly so as to direct the fluid pressure over the gas check, as shown in Fig. 5. 23 is a pressure inlet pipe leading from any suitable source of pressure supply to the

pressure pipe

18, and 24 is a valve in the pipe 23 arranged to open and close the connections between the

pipes

18 and 23. Mounted on the top of therbreechof the gun is a tank 25 adapted to hold a lubricant for lubricating the bore of the gun. 27 is a pipe connecting the pressure i-nlet pipe 23 with the tank 25, and is provided with a valve 27 to cut off the pressure from the pressure inletv pipe when desired. 28 is a pipe which is connected to the -lower ends of the tank, and to the pressure pipe 18. 29 is a valve for adjusting the flow of lubricant from the-tank 25 to the

pressure pipe

18, and 30 is a valve in the pipe 28 for opening and closing the connection through the pipe 28, from the tank 25 to the pressure pipe 18.

I have -shown mechanism for automatically opening and closing the valves 24 and j 30 after the-gun -has been fired, and which will now be described, it being understood, however, that the valves may be opened and closed by hand if desirable. It will also be understood that the lubricant may be supplied from any suitable source instead of from a tank mounted on the gun. Connected to any stationary portion of the gun is a rod 31, having a downwardly projecting pin 32, and which is in the line of movement of a lever 33 connected to the stem of the valve 24. Pivotally connected to the valve lever 33, and slidably mounted on the

guides

34 and 35 on the is a s rin ressed rod 36 the outer endgdilwhichpis grgvided with :i downwardly rojecting arm 37. Slidably mounted on t e rear of the gun is a latch bar 38. This latch bar is mounted so as to slide-concentric with relation to the bore of the gun, on the screws or being provided with suitable slots through which the screws pass to permit such movement.

is a-spring bearing against one end of the latch bar-'to hold it in the position shown' in Fig. 2, and41 is a cam face'at the other end of the latch bar, and is arranged to retain the rod in its forward position when the valve 24 has been opened by the recoil of the gun. Connected to the outer end of the stem of the valve 30 is a lever 42, having a slot and pin connection with a Spring actuated lever 43, ivoted to the rear end of the gun. Pivotal mounted on the outer face of the breech b ock is a lspring actuated lever 44, having a pin 45 in line with one end of the lever` 43, and lis arranged to actuate said lever to open the valve 30 when the breech block is rotated a predetermined distance and to pass beyond the lever and allow the valve to be closed by means of the spring connected to said lever, just before the breech block has rotated the required distance to free its threaded engagement with the breech of the gun. l

47 is a pin on the latch bar and is in line of movement of the lever 43, and is adapted to be struck by the lever just before the pin 45 passes beyond said lever, to. shift the latch bar and allow the spring connected to the rod 36 to shift said rod and close the valve24, just prior to the translation of the breech block.

48 is a hand hold which is connected to the latch bar 38 for shifting it by hand to reins 39, the barl lease the rod 36 when it is desired to do so.

Th-e operation is as follows: The various parts of the gun before firing 'are in the position shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, in which the end of the valve lever 33 is in contact with the pin 32, on the rod 31. As soon as the gun recoils, the lever 33 will be shifted to open the, valve 24, and admit pressure to the chambersv 11 and 13. The movement of the lever 33 will draw the rod 36 against the action of its spring, and the arm 37 thereof will strike the cam face 41 of the latch bar 38 and move it against the action of its spring 40.- When the end 37 of this rod has passed the latch bar, the spring 40 will force the latch bar into the position to lock the rod against the action of its spring, and hold the valve 24 in its open position, as shown in Fig. 4. The pressure in the chamber 13 will act on the enlarged portion of the-stemof themushroom head and force it into the bore of the gun, as shown in Fig. 4. The fluid pressure passes through the groove 15 and ports 16, and thence to the bore of the gun between the gas check and the mushroom head,- to iush the gun. The

' breech block is now rotated a sufficient distance to allow the pin 45 to engage and move the lever 43 to open the valve 30,- and also to release the gas check, and allow pressure to escape from the chamber 1l into the bore of the gun over the gas check, thereby reducing the pressure inthe chamber 13. The spring 9 will draw the mushroom rearwardly against the gas check, as shown in Fig. G. The opening of the valve 30 will allow the lubricant to pass into the tubes 21 and it will be blown over the gas check into the bore of the gun by means of the 'luid pressure. It may here be stated that the lubricant in the tank 25 is under pressure by means of the pipe 26 which connects it with the pressure inlet pipe. During the rotary movement of the breech block a tight joint is maintained between it and the chamber 11 by means of the packing ring 12, which is forced back with the breech block by the pressure in the chamber 11, such rearward movement being permitted by the cut away portion 10. After the gun has been properly flushed and lubricated, the breech block is rotated sufficiently to clear the threads on the breech block from the threads in the breech of the gun, as Well known in the art. Just prior to the complete rotary movement of the breech block the pin 47 on the latch bar will be struck and the bar moved by means o f the lever 43, which will release the rod 36 and allow its spring to act and close the valve 24; and shortly after the releasing of the rod 36 and just prior to the complete rotary movement of the breech block, the pin 45 will pass`beyond the lever 48, and allow its spring to close the valve 30. After the breech block has been rotated a sufhcient distance to clear the threads in the breech of the gun, the

L breech block is translated, and the gun is reloaded. The breech block is now replaced in the breech of the gun, the lever 44 being rocked on its pivot during the engagement between the pin 45 and lever 43, when screwing the breech block into place. If desired th-e rod 31 and the lever 44 may be removed and the valves opened and closed by hand.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, I have shown the parts in t-he same positions as shown in Fig. 5, and I have used the same reference numerals to designate similar parts with the letter a added thereto. In this figure I have eliminated the ports connecting the chamber 13 with the chamber 11. A tight joint is maintained between the breech block and the opening in the breech in which it is seated by means of one or more packing rings 50, which are held in place by means of a ring 51 secured to the breech block. The operation of this construction is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 5, excepting that the gun is not initially flushed by advancing the mushroom head,^but is flushed and lubricated during the first portion of the rotation of the breech bloc.' s'

ln Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a modifiedv arrangement of ports for admitting pressure from the chamber 11b to the chamber 13b. In these figures I have also used the same reference numerals with the letter added thereto, to designate similar parts. In this construction pressure is admitted from the chamber 11b to the chamber 13b through the grooves 52 in the follower plate 7", and the grooves 53 on the stem 5b of the mushroom head. The operation of the device 4shown in this construction is precisely the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

The advantages of my invention result from the provision of a fluid pressure chamber in the breech of the gun and in front of the breech block, which Yis sealed to prevent the rearward escape of the pressure between the breech block and the Walls of thc recess in which it is seated, during the rotation of the breech block for removal therefrom. Another advantage results from the provision of means for injecting iuid pressure over the gas check into the bore of the gun to flush the gun; and to cool the gas check or pad, and the gun. Also in the provision of means for supplying a lubricant to pressure inlet Itubes to lubricate the gun. Still another advantage results from the provision of means for opening and closing the valves controlling the pressure inlet pipe and the lubricant feeding pipe, after the tiring of the gun and before the breech block has been rotated asuiicient distance to release it from the breech of the gun, prior to the translation thereof, and before the pressure chamber has been opened to the atmosphere through the breech of the gun. Still a further advantage results from the provision of means for automatically advancing the mushroom head by Huid pressure after the gun has been fired to initially Hush and cool the gun, before the breech block has been rotated.

I claim:

l. In a gun, a mushroom head having a spindle, a iuid inlet port arranged to be opened and closed by the movement of the mushroom head, means to supply fluid pressure to said port, and means actuated by the Huid pressure to advance the mushroom head to open the port to iiush the gun; substantially as described.

2. In a gun, a breech block, a valve having a spindle, a pressure chamber within the breech block, there being a {iuid inlet port arranged to be opened and closed by the movement of the valve, means to supply fluid pressure to said chamber, and a p18-,

t0n in said chamber arranged to be actuated by the fluid pressure to -shift the valve to open the port to flush the gun; substantially as described. v

In a gun, a mushroom head havlng a spindle, a fluid inlet port arranged to be opened and closed by the movement of a mushroom head, a p1ston connected to the spindle of the mushroom head, and means to admit fluid pressure back of said'piston to advance the mushroom head to open the port to flush the gun; substantially as described.

4. In a gun, a breech block, a chamber 1n the breech of the gun, a portion olts walls being formed by the breech block when the breech block is seated in the breech of the gun.l a packing ring arranged to seal .the opening between the breech block and the wall of the opening in which the breech block is seated, means to supply fluid pressure to said chamber, a gas check, the breech block being arrangedv to be moved rearwardly to permit the gas check to move rearwardly to allow the fluid pressure to pass over the gas check to cool the gun before the seal formed by the packing ring 'is broken, substantially as described.

5. In a gun, a breech block, a c amber in the breech of the gun, a portion of its walls being formed by the breech block, when the breech block is seated in the breech of the gun, a packing` ring in said chamber arranged to follow the breech block when it is rotated to seal the opening between the breech block and the wall of the open-V ing in the gun in which the block is seated, a mushroom head, means to supply luid pressure to said chamber, a gas check between the mushroom head and the breech block, the mushroom head being arranged to withdraw the gas check when the breech block is drawn rearwardly to allow the fluid pressure to pass over the periphery of the gas check into the bore of the gun; substantially as described.

6. In a gun, a breech block, a chamber in the breech' of the gun, a portion of its walls being formed by the breech block when the breech block is seated in the breech of the gun, means to supply fluid pressure to said chamber, a valveffor controlling the fluid pressure, a packing ring arranged to seal the opening between the breech block and the wall of the opening 1n which the breech block is seated, a gas check, the breech block being arranged to be moved rearwardly to permit the gas check to move rearwardly to allow the fluid pressure to pass over the gas check to cool the gun before the seal formedby the packing ring is broken; substantially as described.

7. In a gun, a breech block, a chamber in the breech `of the gun, a portion of its walls being formed by the breech block Amoved rearwardly to permit the 'when the breech block' is seated in the breech of the gun, means to supply fluid pressure lo said chamber, a valve for controlling the fluid pressure, a packing ring arranged to seal the openin between the breech block and the wall o the opening in which the breech block is seated, a gas check, the breech block being arranged to be moved rearwardly to permit the gas check to move rearwardly to allow the fluid pressure to pass over the gas check -to cool the gun before the seal formed by the packing ring is broken, and means controlled by the recoil of the gun for Opening the valve; substantially as described.

8. In a gun, a breech block, a chamber in the breech of the gun, a portion of its walls being formed by the breech block when the breech block is seated in the breech ofthe gun, means to supply fluid pressure to said chamber, a valve for controlling the fluid pressure, a packing ring arranged to sealy the opening between the breech block and the wall of the opening in which the breech block is seated, a gas check, the breech block being arranged to be moved rearwardly to permit the gas check to move rearwardly to allow the fluid pressure to pass over the gas check to cool the gun before the seal formed by the packing ring is broken, and meansl for automatically opening and closing the valve; substantially as described.

9. In a gun, a breech block, a chamber in the breech of the gun, a portion of its walls being formed by the breech block when the breech block is seated in the breech of the gun, a pressure supply pipe for said chamber, a lubricant supply pipe connected to said pressure supply pipe, a packing ring arranged to seal the. opening between the breech block and the wall ofthe opening in which the breech block is seated, a gas check, the breech block being arranged to be moved rearwardly to permit the gas check to move rearwardly to allow `the fluid pressure to pass over the gas check to cool the gun before the seal formed by the packing ring is broken; substantially as described.

l0. In a gun, a breech block, a chamber in the breech of the gun, a portion of its walls being formed by the breech block, when the breech block is seated in the breech of the gun, a pressure supply pipe for said chamber, a lubricant supply pipe connected to said pressure supply pipe, a valve for controlling the fluid pressure, a valve in the lubricant supply pipe, a packing ring arranged to seal `the opening between the breech block and the wall of the opening in which the breech block is seated, a gas check, the breech block being arranged to be as check t0 move rearwardly to allow the uid pressure to pass over the gas check to cool the f gun before the seal formed by the packing ring is broken; substantially as described` ll. In a gun, a breech biock, a chamber in the breech of the mln, a. portion of its walls being formed by tie breechblock-when the breech block is seated .in -tiie'breech of the gun, a pressure'supply pipe for saidcham` ber, a lubricant supply-'pipe vconnected to said pressure supply pipe, 'a valve for con-A trolling the fluid pressure, a valve in the lubricant supply pipe, a packing ring arranged to seal the opening between ythe breech block and the wall of the opening in which the breech block is seated, a gas check, the breech block being arranged to be moved rearwardly to permit the gas check to move rearwardly to allow the uid pressure to pass over the gas check to cool the gun before the seal-formed by the packing ring is broken, and means for automatlcally opening and closing bot-h valves;l substantially as described.

12. In a gun, a breech block seated therein and having a screw threaded engagement with the breechof the gun, a chamber in the breech of said gun, a. portion of its walls being formed by the breech block, an annular recess in said chamber of a diameter greater than the top o f the thre. ds in the breech of the gun, a. packing ring cated in said recess and arranged to seal the opening at the threaded engagement between the breech block andthe breech of the gun, means to supply fluid pressure to said chamber, a gas check, the breech block being arranged to be moved rearwardly to permit the gas check to move rearwardly to allow the fiuid pressure to pass over the gas check to cool the gun before the seal formed by the packing ring is broken; substantially as described.

13. In a gun, a breech block, a chamber in the breech of the gun, a portion of the walls being formed by the breech. block when the breech block is seated in the breech of the gun, a mushroom head having a spindle, a fluid inlet port arranged to be opened and closed by the movement of'the mushroom head, a packing ring arranged to seal t-he opening between the breech block and the wall of the opening in which the breech block is seated, means to supply fluid pressure to said chamber, a piston connected to the spindle of the mushroom head, and means to admit fluid pressure back of said piston to advance the mushroom head to open the port to fiush the gun; substantially as described.

14. In a gun, a mushroom head having a spindle, a fiuid inlet port arranged to be opened and closed by the movement of the mushroom head, a piston connected to the ymushroom head, means to admit Huid presthe gun, valve arranged to cut ofi the fluid pressure-Supply, and actuating moans conopen said valve; substantiallyas' described.

15. vIn a gun, a breech block, a chamberin the breech of the gun, a portion of its walls, being formed by the breech block when the` breech block is in the breech of the gun, a packing ring arranged to seal the opening betweenv the breech block and the wall of the opening -in which the breech -block is seated, means to supplyluid pressure to Said chamber, a gas check'arrauged to seal the opening between the breech block and the breech 'of the gun and arranged to bek moved rearwardly when the breech block is rotated, to permit fuid pressure to pass over the gas check into the bore of the gun, the packing ring being arranged to seal the opening between the walls in the 'breech of the gun in which the breech block is seated and thebreech block during a portion of the rearward movement of said breech block;

substantially las described.

16. In a breech loading gun, a removable breech block having a fluid pressure chamber therein. a mushroom head having a stem extending through the breech block into said chamber and carrying a piston therein, and means for admitting fiuid pressure behind said 'pistonftogether with means for permit-ting the escape of fluid pressure from said chamber into the bore of the gun when said piston is moved; substantially as described.

. 17. In a breech loa-ding gun, a removable breech block having a fluid pressure chamber therein, a mushroom head having a stem projecting rearwardly into said chamber and carrying a piston therein, means for admitting fluid pressure behind the piston, a spring arranged to return the piston, and air passages leading from said chamber into the interior of the gun, said passages being normally closed bythe mushroom head; substantially as described.

18. A gun of the character described, having a rotatable breech block, means for iiushing the gun after the gun has been fired, including pressure'means, and means actuated by the rotation of the breech block for supplying a lubricant to said Huid pressure means when the gun is flushed; substantially as described.

19. In a gun, a breech block. a mushroom head extending through the breech block, Huid inlet ports arranged to be opened and closed by the movement of the mushroomhead, a fluid pressure supply pipe arranged to supply fluid to the inlet port-s, and means to supply a lubricant to said fluid pressure supply pipe during the unlocking move` ment of the breech block; substantially as described.

20. In a gun, the combination with a trolled the recoil-,o thegun arranged to l 'head and breech block, of a mushroom head located in the chamber of the gun inwardly of the breech block, and mounted forreciprocation, a gas check between the mushroom breech block, a chamber at the rear of the mushroom head, and a conduit leading into such chamber, the port of the vconduit into the chamber being located in such position' relatively to Vthe position of the mushroom head that when the same is in engagement' with the gas check communication from the said conduit to the chamber of the gun will be cut off and when the mushroom head is moved from the gas check such communication will be opened, and elastically yieldable means for normally retracting the mushroom head and holding the same in engagement with the gas check, the elastically yieldable 4means being tensioned for'yielding to fluid pressure behind the mushroom head for permitting the fluld producing such pressure to pass freely from'the said conduit to ,the chamber of the gun.

21. In a gun-iiushing device, a fluid pres sure supply, a mushroom head mounted for movement in the gun and arranged to control the said supply, and means for causing the mushroom head to be moved by the fiuid to thereby admit fluid to the gun to flush the same, substantially as described.

In testimony whereoLI have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM D. SMITH.

Witnesses:

l E. G. MGCARTHY,

B. G. FOSTER.