US1079314A - Hang-fire device for breech-loading ordnance. - Google Patents

Description

A. T. DAwsloN & G. T. BUGKHAM. HANG FIRE DEVICE FOR BBEEGH LOADING ORDNANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 1911.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

3y M Y Mii/i?! A. T. DAWSON a; G. T. BUGKHAM.'

HANG FIRE DEVICE FOR BREECH LOADING ORDNANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. 1911.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NaroN. n. c,

coLuMmA PLANou UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON AND GEORGE THOMAS BECKHAM, OF WESTMINSTER, LON- DON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS T0 VICKERS, LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

HANG-FIRE DEVICE FOR BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE.

Original application filed January 10, 1910, Serial No. 537,155.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that We, ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON, knight, and GEORGE THOMAS BUCK- HAM, both subjects of the King ot Great Britain, residing at 32 Victoria street, Westminster, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hang- Fire Devices for Breech Loading Ordnance, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus known as hang fire devices which are used with breech loading guns for the purpose of preventing the breech from being opened by the breech actuating mechanism in the usual 'Way, if for any reason the gun :tails to become discharged after operating the firing mechanism.

. According to this invention the improved hang lire device comprises a spring catch situated within a cavity near the boss of the lever that operates the breech mechanism, and a contrivance aixed to a non-recoiling part of the mounting, the said catch being adapted to engage in a pocket formed in the gun.v The said spring catch is in engagement with said pocket during recoil and the said contrivance is of such a character that, unless the gun recoils, it will prevent the catch from being moved from its pocket and the breech actuating lever from being operated to open the breech, without first releasing the catch by the use of a special tool or a portion of the gear not otherwise used in operating the mechanism and requiring a special movement. Thus in the event of a hang lire occurring, safety is insured without interfering with the ease and rapidity of the ordinary working of the gun. By means of our improved device the spring catch is, after recoil of the gun, liberated from its pocket so that the breech actuating hand lever can be operated by hand.

In order that our `said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into eiiect, we will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan, partly in section, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the breech end of a gun provided with our hang iire device, showing the parts in the normal or locked position. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views showing the position of the parts dur- Speciication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

Divided and this application led March 8,

Serial No. 613,145.

ing the recoil. Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views showing the parts in the position they occupy at the end of the return or run out movement of the gun. Figs. 'T and 8 are also similar views showing the parts in the position they occupy during the locking movement of the breech actuating lever in closing the breech. Fig. 9 is a cross section taken approximately on the line l, 1 of Fig. 7.

A is the breech end of the gun, B the breech actuating lever, and B the handle for operating the same.

C is 'the spring catch having a beveled nose CX.

C is a recess or pocket formed in the gun for the reception of the nose CX, and Cx is a beveled face leading to the said recess.

D is the contrivance which is fixed to the cradle or other non-recoiling part of the mount-ing for coperating with the Said spring controlled catch C. The spring cat ch C is situated in a cavity near the boss of the breech actuating lever B and is adapted to be actuated by an arm F pivoted t-o the said lever and controlled by the bar or horn D on a non-recoiling part of the mounting. When the gun is loaded and the breech closed, a projecting nger f on said lever lies beneath the said horn D and the breech actuating lever B is thereby locked as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the gun is tired and recoils the said finger f leaves the horn D and the spring c slightly displaces the catch C in a forward direction. The inclined projection fo on the said catch bearing against the lower part of a toe f of the pivoted arm, causes the linger f to be angularly displaced and to assume the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 so that on the return movement of the gun to the ring position, the said finger will ride upon an incline d on the said horn D and lie above the said horn. As the said nger f assumes this position the toe f on the aXis of the pivoted arm F acts in conjunction with the projection fo to withdraw the spring catch C and thereby liberates the breech actuating lever B so that it can be operated to open the gun breech. This position of the mechanism is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. When the said lever B is swung to open the breech, the said finger f is moved away from the said horn D, and the catch C, under the iniiuence of its spring c, assumes its protruding position relatively to the cavity in Which it is mounted. In so doing it causes the pivoted arm F together with its finger f to resume the position in which said finger Will rengage With the under side of the horn D when the breech is closed again.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show the parts in the position they occupy just before the breech actuating lever B has assumed the locked position7 the finger f being guided to the under side of the horn D by the inclined face d formed thereon. In the event of the gun failing to recoil after operating the firing mechanism the breech actuating lever B remains locked by the spring catch O which can only be released by a special tool or by the actuation of a part of the catch not otherwise used in the operation of the mechanism.

Although the said hang fire device has been described above in connection With a breech actuating lever arranged at the upper part of the gun, the said device is equally applicable to a breech actuating le ver occupying other positions.

I'Vhat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. In a hang fire device for breech loading guns, the combination with the breech actuating lever and its boss, of a catch situated Within a cavity near the boss of said lever, a stationary device on the gun With which said catch is adapted to engage, means for retaining said catch in engagement with said device, and means for automatically moving said catch out of engagement as the gun reaches its run-out position after recoil.

2. In a hang fire device for breech loading guns, the combination With the breech actuating lever and its boss, of a catch situated Within a cavity near the boss of said lever, a pocket formed in the gun, said catch being adapted to engage in said pocket, means for retaining said catch in engagement with said pocket, and means fo-r automatically moving said catch out of engagement as the gun reaches its run-out position after recoil.

3. In al hang re device for breech loading guns, the combination With the breech actuating hand lever and its boss, of a catch situated Within a cavity near the boss of said lever, a pocket formed in the gun, said catch being adapted to engage in said pocket, means for retaining said catch in engagement with said pocket, a contrivance on a non-recoiling part of the gun, and a contrivance coperating with the other contrivance for moving said catch out of engagement as the gun reaches its run-out position after recoil.

4. In a hang fire device for breech loading guns, the combination with the breech actuating hand lever and its boss, of a spring controlled catch situated Within a cavity near the boss of said lever, a pocket formed in the. gun, said catch being adapted to enga-ge in said pocket, means fo-r retaining said catch in engagement with said pocket, al horn fixed to a non-recoiling part of the gun, and an arm pivoted to said hand lever' and adapted to coperate with said horn to move said catch out of engagement with said pocket as the gun reaches its runout position after recoil.

In testimony whereof We aiiix our signa tures in presence of two Witnesses.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON. GEORGE THOMAS BUOKHAM.

Witnesses OHAs. M. DRURY, HENRY KING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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