US270953A - hotchkiss - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

B. B. HOTGHKISS.

BREEGH LOADING CANNON.

No. 270,953. Patented Jan.23,1883

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. B. B. HOTOHKISS.

BREEGH LOADING CANNON.

No. 270,953. Patented Jan.23, 1883.

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(N0 Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. B. B. HOTOHKISS.

BREEGH LOADING CANNON.

No. 270,953. Patented JaJLZ3, 1883.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

B. B. HOTOHKISS.

BREEOH LOADING CANNON.

No. 270,958. Patented Jan.23, 1883.

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ilmrn STATES ATENT @rricn.

BENJAMIN B. HOTCHKISS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BREECH-LOADING oANNoN'.

SFECIFIQATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 270,953, dated January 23, 1883.

Application filed October 14, 1882. (N0 model.) Patented in France December 6, 1881, No; 116,914, and in England December 24,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN B. Ho'rcn- Kiss, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, county ofNew York, and State of New York, (temporarily domiciled in Paris, France,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech-Loading Uannons, fully described and representedin the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same,

This invention relates to that class of breechloading ordnance in which the opening of the breech, extracting the empty shell, and cooking the gun are accomplished by the movement of an actuating-lever in one direction, and the closing of the breech and the making ready for firing are accomplished bya movement of the actuating-lever in a contrary direction.

The invention consists in an improved construction and combination of the hammer, its mainspring, scar, and ,cockinglever, all of which are connected with the sliding breechblock, so as to partake of its reciprocating movements, an actuating-lever mounted in the breech and vibrating a crank that moves the block, and a cam that actuates the cocking-le ver, and the trigger located in the breech, the arrangement being such that many of the parts liable to injury are housed and protected, while the structure and operation of some of the devices enables the loading of the gun and closing its breech to be efl'ected without the possibility of premature discharge.

The invention also comprehends an improved structure of cartridge-feeding and shell-discharging guideways, allot which features of invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Figurel represents aside elevation of a breechloading machine-gun in which the breech-block is closed and the mechanisms arein the position after the gun has been fired, said gun being provided with a shoulder-piece and hand-grip. Fig. 2 is a plan or top viewof the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, exposing the internal mechanisms in their position when the breech is closed and the gun is ready to be tired. Fig. 4. is a transverse vertical section of the same. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same'as the parts appear when the breech is open. Fig. 6 is a side elevation,

showing the parts in the same position, and illustrating by parts in section the structure of feeding and discharging troughs. Fig. 7 is a rear elevation, showing the feeding-trough in section. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation, showing the parts in the positions had immediately after firing. Fig. 9 is a side elevation, showing the position of parts when the crank is moved to the rearward position reached before it operates to depress the block. Fig. 10 is a side elevation, showing the positions of the actuating and cooking levers and firing-pin when the gun is ready to be fired. Fig. 11 shows the position of the same parts after firing the gun. Fig. 12 is a horizontal section, showing the structure of trigger and sear. Fig. 13 is a view of the extractor detached, and Fig. 14- a view of the same in its place of operation.

The cannon consists of'a single barrel, 1, united to or formed integral with the enlarged breech-piece or re-enforce 2, which latter is pierced vertically by a recess, 3, (see Figs. 2 and 4,) in which a sliding block, 6, reciprocates. This recess extends rearwardly through the breech, but is contracted to dimensions adapted to the passage of cartridges and cartridge-shells, and thus provides vertically elongated shoulders 5, against which the rear face of the sliding breech-block 6 bears in its movements up and down to close or open the breech of the gun, said shoulders and the unremoved lower portion, 60, of the breech forming a solid (though in part divided) abutment to sustain the breech-block against the shock of discharge when the gun is fired. This breechblock 6 is guided in its vertical movements by bearers 8, that project inward from the opposite sidewalls of the recess 3 and enter grooves 33 in the sides of the block 6. The

breech-block 6 is slightly tapered or wedgeshaped, and the bearing shoulders or faces 5, against which it rides, are correspondingly inclined, as are the guiding-bearers S, which are thus arranged parallel with the shoulders or faces 5, whence-it results that, while the rear face of the block will always move in contact with the shoulders or faces 5, its front face,2l, which rests snugly, or nearly so, against the breech of the gun only when the block is elevated, will, as the block descends, be gradual- IOC '25, inclines rearward at quite Q Meets 1y withdrawn until in its lowermost position it stands a short distance from the breech, asin Fig. 6. The vertical movements of the breechblock are accomplished by means of a handoperated actuating-lever, 7, fast to the end of a short shaft, 9, that is journaled in one of the walls of the breech and .extends into the recess 3. This shaft carries on its inner end a crank, 10, that plays in a side recess out into the block 6, and is provided with a stud or roller, 11, that enters and runs in a cam-groove, 12, cut transversely in the s ide of said block. This cam-groove has a rearward portion, 14, that forms the cam proper, and aforward portion,.13, so curved as to be concentric with the shaft 9 when the breech-block-is in its uppermost position, (see Fig. 1,) whence it results that, as the actuating-lever 7 is drawn rearward, the stud 11 will for a time, or during its transit through this portion'l3 of the camgroove, move idly, thus permitting a lost mo- .tion, which takes place without moving the breech-block. As soon, however, as the stud 11 passes into the cam part 14 the cam action will be efi'ected and the breech-block will be quickly moved downward and the breech of the gun opened, as in Fig.6. When the movement of the actuating-lever is reversed the breech-block will be quickly moved upward and the breech closed as the stud 11 travels in the cam portion 14, after which the stud 11. will again idlytraverse the concentric portion 13, during which movement the actuating-lever will move forward some distance, for a purpose to be explained. The range both upward and downward of the vertical movements of the breech-block is limited bya keepscrew, 19, whlch passes through one side of the breech and enters a recess, 20, in one side of the block. (See Figs. 3 and 8.)

To effectually eject the shell remaining in the firing-chamber after the discharge requires a peculiar movement ofthe ejector, to be accomplished during the downward movement of the breech-block, which opens the breech, ready to receive a new charge. The extractor 15 for this purpose is mounted in a horizontal guiding-groove, 16, in the breech, and has its reciprocations imparted to it by a lug, 17, that projects into a compound cam-groove, 18, that is cut in the side of the breech-block and has vertical and inclined portions. Thelower part, 24, of this groove is made parallel, or nearly so, with the block-bearers 8, and its upper part, an abrupt angle. For proper coaction with this extractor the breech-block is hollowed out upon its upper side, so-as to form a forwardly-inclined trough,

as 23, so that while the front sides, 22, of its top, when the block is elevated, are flush with the top of the breech the bottom of the trough will be but a short distance above the upper wall of the chamber 4. (See Fig. 3.) From this it results that during the first part of the downward movement of the block 6, while the log 17 of the extractor is controlled by the part 24 of the groove 18, the empty shell will only be started rearward or drawn slightly out of the chamber; but when the forward end of the bottom of the trough 23 has reached the level of the bottom of the cham'ber4 of the barrel 1 the cam part 25 of the groove 18 will begin to act upon the lug 17 and draw the extractor rapidly back, and thus operate to quickly throw the shell rearwardly out of the chamber 4.

The cartridge is inserted into the chamber 4 by being thrust forward in the trough 23, and its explosion is accomplished by the direct action of a hammer, 29, carried by a shaft, 28,

, that is mounted in hearings in the lower part of the breech-block, which shaft is extended through the block, and also carries outside the block a cooking-lever, 27, which isacted upon by a cam, 26, on the shaft 9.

The mainspring 30, which accomplishes the percussive blow of the hammer, is a two-leaved spring bent around' a pin, 31, and confined between a lug, 41, projecting from the heel of the hammer and the bottom of its recess in the block. (See Fig.8.) The cocked position of the hammer is secured by means of a catch, 42, on the heel of the hammer, with which engages a scar, 43, formed on a lever, 44, that is pivoted near the front lower partot' the breechblock, the tail of said lever projecting rearward, so as to protrude from the block in a position to be engaged by the trigger proper, as will presently be explained. This sear is held to duty in holding the hammer cooked or continually pressed upward by means of a light spring, (not shown,) that properly bears upon its lever portion.

The trigger 37 is pivoted in a pistol-grip, 53, attached to the right-hand lower side of the breech, and has aright-angular-extendingarm,

'45, that projects forward at a proper point to be in vertical alignment with the lever 44 of the scar, and thus to trip the sear at the proper time; but it will thus be observed that the hammer 29, its mainspring 30, the sear 43, and the cocking-lever 27 are all maintained in bearings formed in the breech-block, and

that they are thus housed and protected while caused to make the upward and downward movements imparted to the block, which movements of course carry the lever of the sear away from and into contact with the extension or arm 45 of the scar. The hammer is automatically cocked during the operation of opening the breech by means of the cam 26, upon which the cocking-lever rests when the firing has taken place. (See Fig. 9.) When the actuating-lever 7 begins its movement rearward this cam 26 immediately acts upon the cocking-lever 27, which, after the firing has taken place, rests upon said cam, as in Fig. 8, and thus carries it and the hammer rearward I I C for asufficient distance to withdraw the firing-pin from the exploded shell in the chainjber 4, so that the block may not be obstructed in its downward movement by said pin, and this is accomplished while the stud 11 on the crank 10 is making its idle movement in the eccentric part 13 of the cam 12, and before said stud l1 begins to cause the descent of the block. When the stud 11 enters the cam part 14 of the groove 12 the block will begin its descent, and during this descent the cockinglever 27 slides against or travels over the high part of the cam 26, and is thus farther forced rearward and far enough to effect the cooking of the hammer, which is accomplished when the sear 43 on the lever 44 is free to spring int-o engagement with the catch 42 of the hammer. This operation is the same with both constructions of cocking-lever shown; but in the structure shown in Figs. 1, 5, 6 its forward edge is curved to a greater extent than is the structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9, in which case the said edge is nearly straight for a considerable distance and then has a quick curve, the purpose of which difference will presently be explained. When the reverse movement of the actuating-lever is made the block will be raised to close the breech of the gun, and the tail or lever 44 of the sear 43 will be brought beneath the extension 45 of the trigger, so that when the trigger is pressed the sear will be released to allow the hammer to act upon and explode the charge.

The premature discharge of the gun is prevented by the construction, whereby, until the breech-block is fully elevated and the actuatin g-lever 7 has fully reached its forward position, the cam 26 will be in such position as to arrest the cocking-lever 27 at some point which will prevent the firing-pin on the hammer from reaching the cartridge. This results from the structure of cocking-lever, Figs. 1, 5, and 6, because its bearingt'ace is so curved that during the ascent of the block this curved face will be in contact with the concentric part of the cam 26 while the latter is rotating until the block reaches its highest elevation, and the low part of the cam 26 becomes exposed while the crank-arm is moving idly in the slot 13, said low part of the cam thus clearing a space for the forward movement of the cocking-lever coinciding with the throw ofthe hammer, and when the low part of cam 26 is exexposed for this purpose thelever 44 willhave engaged the extension 45 of the trigger, and thus the cocked position of the hammer will be maintained throughout the upward movement of the block, and during the reversing or forward movement of the actuatinglever.

1n the structure, Figs. 10 and 11, the curved face of the cocking-lever is such that during the last portion of the ascent of the block the said lever is not in contact with the cam 26; but this period of non-contact occurs at a time when the sear-carrying lever 44 would, iffreed, strike the extension 45 of the trigger, and the forward movement of the hammer to cause premature discharge thus be prevented.

To facilitate the management of the gunwhich is designed to be of large caliber, and therefore to be heavy and ponderous-it will be mounted by its trunnions in a pivotal hearing, as in United States Patent No. 211,849, and provided with a shoulder-piece having handles,

and with a pistol-grip, which devices afford a bearing for the left shoulder, a grasp for the left hand, and a handle for the right hand, whereby the gunner obtains a perfect control of the gun, and may conveniently impart toit any movement to its training, and apply his whole strength in pointing or steadying the gun, while with one finger he may fire the gun.

The shoulder-piece consists of a horizontal bar, 46, provided with a vertical member or stock, 47, which latter has an upper member or horn, 50, against which the shoulder is applied, and a lower member, 51, provided with one or more handles, 52, which may be seized by the left hand. This shoulder-piece is secured to the breech of the gun by means ofits bar 46 into a dovetail groove, in which enters a guide-piece depending from the left side of the breech ofthegutna bolt, 49, passingthrongh a web-like part of the bar, entering a tapped hole in the breech. The pistol-grip 53,for the right hand of the gunner is provided with the usual trigger-guard, and furnishes a housing for the principal part of the trigger.

For the purpose of aiding the introduction ofthe cartridge into the gun a trough-like feedway, 54. is formed upon or attached to the bar 46. This feedway may be inclined, as shown in Fig. 6, or horizontal, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 1], and is aligned with the recess 3 and chamher 4. A cartridge laid in this guideway may,

when the breech is open, be readily pushed forward into the chamber of the gun. When the trough is inclined a supplemental guideway beneath the plane of the other guideway, as 55, may be provided, and, being inclined downwardly, furnishes a suitable aperture, through which the empty shell will drop when discharged from the cham ber4 by theextractor.

The combination of trigger herein claimed may be embodied in the arrangement of breech mechanism shown in my two applications filed respectively April 28, 1883, and October 11, 1882.

What I claim is 1. The combination, with a vertically-slidingbreech-block in which. the hammer, its mainspriug, sear, and cocking-lever are mounted, so as to partake of its reciprocating movements, of an actuating-lever whose shaft is mounted in the breech-piece, and carries a crank that moves said block, and a cam, as 9, that 00-01)- erates with the cocking-lever connected with the shaft of the hammer, substantially as described.

2. The combination, witha vertically-sliding breech-block in which the hammer, its mainspring, sear,and cocking-lever are mounted, so at; to partake of its vertical movements, an actuating-lever whose shaft is mounted in the breech-piece, and carries a cam, as 9, that cooperates with a cocking-lever connected with the shaft of the hammer, of a trigger mounted in the breech-piece and adapted to engage with the sear-lever, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the hammer, mainspring, sear lever, and cocking lever, all

mounted in the breech-block, so as to partake of its vertical movements, with a trigger mounted in the breech, an actuating-lever arranged to play at one side of the breech, and operating to move the breech-block and cock the hammer, the arrangement being such that the sear-carrying lever is brought within the range of action of the trigger only when the block is raised and the breech closed, all substantially as described. I

' 4. The combination, withthe actuating-lever carrying a cam co-operating with a cockinglever having a curved face or edge, ofa sliding breech-piece carrying the hammer and said cocking-lever, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a cannon provided with a training-handle located at one side of I the breech, and a shoulder-piece at the opposite side, a breech mechanism consisting of a sliding breech-block and mechanism operating to cock the hammer during the descent of the block and bring the parts into the tiring position upon the ascent of said block, of a hammer and sear located in the breech-block, and a trigger located in said handle, said trigger being provided with an extension, as 45, for carrying motion from the triggerto the sear, located near the central part of the breech, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the breech of the gun, its sliding breech-block, and trainingstock or shoulder-piece extending rearward from one side of the breech, of a laterally-projecting feedway, as 54, formed on the bar, as 46, for guiding a cartridge in the loadingoperation, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the breech of the gun and its sliding breech-block, of a shoulderpiece or training-stock provided with a feeding-way, as 51, for guiding the cartridge to the chamber, and a separate rearward guideway openingfor the ejected shell, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing wit- 45 HGSSBS.

I B. B. HOTGHKISS. Witnesses:

T. H. PALMER, GEO. H. GRAHAM.

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